All posts by Scott Meisner

Turbine Light illuminates roadways with wind-power

Design, Images, Technology, , , , , , , ,

From TAK Studio comes the latest innovation in green roadways–the attractive Turbine Light.  Here’s how it works: These wind-powered lights line up highways and streets and illuminate when cars pass by them.  If enough energy is generated by the passing cars, the lights will shine the path to your destination.  Problem is, the keyword here is IF.  Would such implementation promote faster driving?  It would make sense for something like this to be installed in windy cities that already generate enough energy for illumination. For all the rest, what about solar powered lights, hm?

[Via Inhabitat; Gizmodo]

Ferrari F1 lounge chair

Cars, Design, Images, , , , , ,

Molded by Hungarian designer Alexander Christoff, this lounge chair is inspired by the Ferrari Formula 1 racecar.  It’s made out of fiberglass and features chrome legs and an adjustable headrest.  Me likey.  Check out additional images (and a shot of it next to its inspiration) in the gallery below.

[Via Gizmodo; BornRich]

Heinz unveils new ketchup packet for the masses, begs the question: squeeze or dunk?

Design, News, , , ,

For years Heinz has been experimenting new methods to give their customers a way to consume ketchup on the go, and they think they’ve finally done it with the ‘Dip & Squeeze’.  H.J. Heinz Co. unveiled a brand new ketchup packet that features a top that can be peeled back for dipping and an end that can be torn off for squeezing.  By keeping the squeeze method onboard, Heinz has made sure not to neglect ketchup traditionalists but at the same time they are breathing new life into the long established ketchup packet found at fast-food restaurants all around the world.  In fact, the new packet/container holds three times as much ketchup as the regular tear-and-squeeze packet.  Heinz is pushing out the new ketchup packets to fast-food restaurants nationwide.  They will continue manufacturing the traditional packets until the new ones prove to be a success.  If I were given the option to squeeze or dunk, I would always take the latter.  But it certainly doesn’t hurt to have both!

[Via ABCNews]

Facebook gets a redesign; Twitter is updated

News, Technology, , , , ,

On Friday Facebook received a facelift; what else is new, right?!  It feels like the Facebook devs are constantly updating the site’s user interface.  Though having to re-learn how to navigate the site every few months is an annoying task, you have to remember it’s all being done to make the experience more streamlined and faster to get around.  So what does this latest redesign bring with it?  The Top Menu is the area where you’ll find your newest notifications, friend requests, and inbox messages in drop-down menu form.  The Left Menu brings together Messages, Events, Photos, and Friends all in one space.  An extension of your Friends List is also found here; it lists the people you chat with most and can be expanded to its usual spot in the bottom right-hand corner.  There have also been updates to the Applications and Games dashboards, making it easier to discover and play new apps.  The center of the page prominently features your News Feed.  All in all, since the redesign only affected the home page (your profile and friend’s profiles look and function the same) there isn’t much to re-learn.  In fact, I find the new look freshing and definitely a step up from their recent upgrades.  But that’s what it’s all about, right?  (Side note: This redesign comes on the heels of Facebook’s 6th birthday.)

Twitter’s update is not as drastic but it still brings a few welcome features.  Hovercards give users a new way to access profile information without having to leave the homepage to visit someone else’s profile page.  Twitter Spokesperson Jenna Sampson explains: “Hovercards are cards which appear when you hover over a username or avatar.  The cards display additional information about the person and allow you to interact with them while staying within the context of your page.”  Hovercards reveal the person’s name, profile information, location, and whether or not you follow the person.  You also get an options panel with follow, block, mention, or report buttons.  Less clicks and page redirections are the result.  A welcome update indeed.  Twitter is also giving users the ability to narrow the range of the Trending Topics list.  Instead of being forced into watching worldwide trending news, users can specify their country or US city.  They are currently working on adding more locations to the list.

For those of you who have not received the Facebook or Twitter updates yet there’s no need to worry.  It takes time for such updates to reach all users.  (I was one of the first to receive the Facebook redesign, but I have yet to play around with Hovercards in Twitter.)

[Via FacebookBlog; Mashable]

Xbox Live for first gen consoles & games is shutting down

News, Technology, , , , , ,

On April 15, 2010 access to Xbox Live on all original Xbox consoles and games will come to a grinding halt.  Microsoft is flipping the switch to the off position, so to speak, so if you own an original Xbox console and/or play Xbox Originals games on the 360 you will no longer be able to access Xbox Live features, ie. multiplayer and achievements.  Why is Microsoft doing this, you ask?  Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten: “…we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games.”  In other words, original Xbox content is becoming stale and simply cannot forge its way into the new generation of gaming.  If you happen to be living in the past (or still can’t afford an Xbox 360, oh come on!) Microsoft has plans for you: “We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process.”  All you Halo 2 fanboys better get your multiplayer gaming on before it’s too late!  Soon you’ll be stuck with playing Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST; what a shame!

[Via Engadget; Microsoft Gamerscore Blog]

AT&T & Sling make nice; Slingplayer to stream live TV over 3G

News, Technology, , , , , , , , ,

When Sling released the $29.99 Slingplayer app for the iPhone back in May, AT&T restricted it from streaming live TV over its 3G service because they were worried the overload of data would bring its cell service to its knees.  Poor AT&T.  This week AT&T has come out and stated they have been working closely with Sling to optimize Slingplayer’s streaming capabilities so that it would not hurt AT&T’s customers.  As soon as Apple approves it, a free update will allow Slingers to stream their content over 3G, in addition to WiFi.  With news of AT&T approving VoIP calls and now Sling streaming over 3G, it seems as if AT&T at long last has come to accept the fact that restricting significant features on its most popular device is a major no-no.

[Via Engadget]

Comic books will look fantastic on the iPad

Comics, Images, News, Technology, , , , ,

When the iPad was announced, Steve Jobs hinted that app developers would have the option to port their apps as they are from the App Store (aka do nothing) or they could rebuild their apps to support and take advantage of the large screen, faster processor speeds, and better graphics.  Comic book app maker Panelfly is going to do just that.  Panelfly, along with developer team SugarCube, plan on reinventing the way comics are purchased and read with a new comics app made specifically for the iPad.  Here’s how the app works on the iPhone: You download the Panelfly app from the App Store for free and you add comic books to your library with in-app purchases.  According to Stephen Lynch, CTO and designer at Panelfly, the iPad version will experiment with different purchasing models (subscription-based possibly?) and also commented that the app UI will be very reminiscent of Apple’s native UI, and that’s a good thing.  Though he couldn’t spill the beans on pricing and go into much detail about the UI, at least we have these images to glaze over until the app likely releases alongside the iPad in late March.  If developers follow in Panelfly’s footsteps the iPad will quickly generate a whole new market for app devs and will certainly make the iPad a desirable product.

[Via Gizmodo]

The Big Bang Theory sans laugh track makes things ..awkward

Hilarity, Television, Video, ,

The laugh track is something we all take for granted in today’s sitcoms.  (Although it is worthy to note that a handful of shows like The Office, Parks & Rec, and Modern Family are taking a different route.)  Watch how things quickly become awkward for Sheldon Cooper in this scene from an episode of CBS’ The Big Bang Theory that’s stripped of a laugh track.

[Via EW]

David S. Goyer steps down from FlashForward

News, Television, , , , ,

Just before ABC’s FlashForward went on its lengthy hiatus in December, a number of production-related changes came to light.  Namely, co-creator and co-showrunner Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone) dropped out to focus on other projects.  Today brings news that fellow co-creator and head showrunner David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) is also stepping down from his top position.  A new showrunner has yet to be announced.  There’s no need to fret, FlashForward fans.  Goyer will remain behind the scenes in some form, and he assures that the show will be put into “great hands:” “As my feature projects have started ramping up again, I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I’m proud of the show and excited about the relaunch. It’s in great hands.”  I am excited about the relaunch, too.  During its first run of episodes, FlashForward proved to have much potential and this reshuffling of showrunners might just add a pinch of freshness the show needs to step things up to whole new and exciting level it certainly can achieve.

FlashForward returns March 18 on ABC.

[Via IGN]

Andy Samberg is coming to Parks & Rec

News, Television, , , ,

Andy Samberg joins Fred Armisen as the second Saturday Night Live alum to guest star on the NBC comedy Parks & Recreation.  According to the NYPost he is going to play “Carl, the head of park security who butts heads with Leslie (Amy Poehler) after someone gets mugged in one of their parks.”  And it gets even better.  Parks’ Aziz Ansari (he plays Tom Haverford) twittered that the Samberg episode is going to be “a great Jerry heavy episode.”  Let’s just say I’m already in knots.

[Via IGN]

Lost premiere a ratings winner, finale moves, Darlton takes questions

Hilarity, Television, Video, , , , , , , ,

Lost: The Finale Season premiere event lived up to the hype and proved to be a mind-bending good time.  The premiere captured an average of 12.1 million viewers, and according to EW, this “is 1 million more than the series’ average audience for season 5 and less than 1 million more than the audience for its season 5 premiere. About 6 percent more people tuned in at 9 p.m. than finished the two-hour episode at 11 p.m.”  This is interesting to say the least…you’d think that Lost would maintain a steady viewership this far into its lifespan, especially because it’s a highly serialized show.  (You can thank the marketing blitz for the recent upsurge.)  Anyhow, I’m glad it fared well.

The Lost series finale (I can’t believe I just said that) will air May 23 from 9PM to 11PM.  Note the 23rd is a Sunday, not a Tuesday.  Though it won’t really matter for Lost fans, the move to Sunday was likely decided so that the finale does not pit itself against part one of American Idol’s season finale.  On Sunday there’s virtually no competition.  Sunday, May 23 will be LOST DAY.  Per usual, a special one hour recap episode will lead into the finale starting at 8PM.

Lastly, on the night of the premiere Lost fanatic Jimmy Kimmel had Darlton (that’s Lost exec producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof) on his show.  Jimmy framed his questions looking for “coincidence or fate” answers, and Darlton did their best to answer them appropriately without giving away too many spoilers.  Check out the interview in the video below (there are two parts).  Also, look after the break for a comedy sketch where Jimmy places himself in the Hurley-Jacob scene from the premiere.

[Via EW, here, here & here; IGN]

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