Dr. Horrible star (and everyone’s favorite kid doctor) Neil Patrick Harris lends his musical talents to one of the latest episodes of Cartoon Network’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold. In it he stars as the main villain–the Music Meister. True, a musical Batman is just wrong and doesn’t make much sense. Also true, NPH’s musical ability is so good that you should just sit back and enjoy this short clip.
[Via EW]
At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus showed off its Lexus LF-A Crystallised Wind, an illuminated acrylic glass model of a real car.
Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto explains: “The term ‘wind’ addresses not only the flow of wind, but also symbolises a flow or current in a greater sense. It is a new horizon where the natural and the artificial co-exist in space.”
Check out a few more images of this beauty in the gallery below.
In an effort to establish new platforms for public art and performance, the multimedia duo SWEATSHOPPE has developed a new interactive technology that enables them to explore the relationship between video, mark making and architecture. Dubbed “video painting,” this technology allows them to essentially “paint” video onto any surface.
Wooster Collective does some ‘plainin’: “The software controlling the video was written in Max. The paint roller does not use any sort of paint, it simply contains green LEDs. The software tracks the color green and outputs the x y position which are sent to drawing commands and the strokes are textured with video.”
[Via Gizmodo; vimeo page; WoosterCollective]
Now this is neat. In “Vodafone Symphonia,” Vodafone New Zealand has utilized over 1000 cellphones to sync 53 different ringtone alert sounds from 2000 sent text messages to recreate Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 overture. Oh, and it’s real. Look after the break to see how they did it.
[Via Engadget]
Continue reading Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture performed by cell phones
Techno-pop goodness. And the video sequences are good too.
[Via KanyeBlog]
[Via WorldStarHipHop]
Someone over at Motorola accidently spilled with beans the other day when they accidently revealed the product specs of the upcoming Motorola Droid (codename Sholes) smartphone (of “Droid Does” fame). Though the product page was taken down shortly after it was posted, the guys over at Boy Genius Report were able to screen capture all the juicy details: “550MHz Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor, separate PowerVR GPU, 256MB of RAM, CDMA Rev A., Wi-Fi, GPS, a digital magnetometer, accelerometer, proximity sensors, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, notification LED, four touch-sensitive navigation buttons, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB port.” It sports a 3.7 inch, 16:9 capacitive touch screen with 480 x 854 resolution, a 1400 mAh Li-ion battery (up to 385 minutes usage time/ 270 hours standby time), and comes pre-installed a 16GB microSD card. It weighs six ounces and has measures 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5-inches. Also, BGR says that the browser supports HTML5 and Flash 10 is coming in 2010.
Here’s some even more interesting news. Apparently “Droid” is not just a device; it also represents a brand–Verizon’s Android-powered devices. Although the discussed device here is called “the Droid” the name will be carried with other Verizon/Android phones. In fact, the second phone in the line-up has been leaked. According to Engadget’s source, what the tech world has been calling the HTC Desire will be the “Droid Eris.” The source claims that the Eris will be released on November 6, shortly after the Droid will likely be released. Speaking of release dates, an official date has not been pegged yet, but Verizon is holding a special event for the press on October 26. More information will be relayed then. For now, indulge yourself in BGR’s up close and personal shot of the Droid in the gallery below.
Barnes & Noble recently unveiled their entrance into the e-reader business with their announced of Nook, a two dual-screen WiFi/3G enabled wonder, really. One of its selling features is what B&N calls LendMe, or the ability to virtually lend a book you purchased on the device with friends and family who also own a Nook, an iPhone/iPod touch, other cellular devices, or a PC/Mac. The person who receives the lent book has fourteen days until it expires to read it. So is there a catch? Well, it’s not so much a “catch” than it is a set of rules that always seems to follow around DRM-encrypted stuff. Those rules are as follows: Once you lend a book to someone, you can never lend that same book ever again; during the fourteen day lending period, you cannot read the lent book that you purchased in the first place; lastly, every book sold in the B&N e-reader store will not have the ability to be lent out (it’s up to the publisher’s discretion). Though these rules are rather lame, having the ability to lend a book is better than not having it, right?
[Via Engadget]
Although the official specs and release details (date & price) have yet to be released, additional images and a revealing video have surfaced of the forthcoming Dell Adamo XPS laptop.
This thing is light. And this thing is THIN. At 1.5 pounds and 9.99mm thin, the Adamo XPS is the cream of the crop of stylish new laptops that will ship with the just released Windows 7. A video has been circling the interwebs showing how one goes about opening the Adamo’s lid. The front lip of the lid is touch-sensitive and requires the touch of a finger to lock and unlock.
“Fall in love” (Adamo translated from Latin) with the images in the gallery below, and make sure to feast your eyes on the unconventional method of opening the lid.
[Via LaptopMag]
Here’s a couple treats for you. Apple has already started the anti-ad war against Windows 7 with this latest (and in my opinion, one of the greatest) “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” advertisement. Look after the break for two more new Windows 7 bashing ads.
Nerd alert: Remember the picture of the Windows 7-branded burger from Burger King? Well here’s proof that it existed and that people paid the premium to eat it. Gross. Look after the break for a second burger video.
[Via Engadget here & here; Gizmodo]
Continue reading Windows 7, the day after: Apple fights back, gigantic burgers are eaten
The day has finally come. Windows 7, Microsoft’s next major operating system, is out today. Will it turn out to be the “Vista fix” and live up to its positive initial reviews? Only time will tell.
Alongside the release there has been a handful of Windows-related news to peruse. First there’s a slew of new Windows commercials featuring a new tagline; “I’m a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea.” Heck, it works. Check out one commercial here, and look after the break for two others.
Next up is the grand opening of the Microsoft Store. The first MS retail store opened in Scottsdale, AZ today, exciting hundreds of Windows fanboys (and girls) who camped outside the mall overnight. The first four people on-line received free Zune HDs and other early customers received some other freebies. From some YouTube video footage and in-store images the Microsoft Store looks very much like an Apple Store, except with more vibrant colors and, obviously, Windows-related products such as Surface tables and Xbox 360s. The video below is the fascinating countdown of the store’s morning launch; the countdown starts (so appropriately and to the glee of the rabid fans) at 7. For a glimpse at the inside of the store, look after the break for a video featuring the welcoming colorful staff and see the gallery below for some stills. [Also noteworthy is that the online Microsoft Store is up and running, too. It offers MS and third party products and services to purchase online.]
Two more less significant but equally relevant newsbits. Today in Paris a “Microsoft Cafe” opened its doors to the public. Besides it being the onlyofficial Windows-themed cafe in the world, there isn’t much else to say about it. It offers free WiFi service to its customers and there are a myriad of Windows products for customers to play with as they sip their coffee and eat their pastries. See the gallery below for some stills of the Windows Cafe.
This last bit of news is quite freaky, actually. In Japan, Burger King introduced the “Windows 7 Whopper,” a 5-inch tall beast of a burger that packs (you guessed it) seven patties. Customers are forced to pay a premium for this…unique treat (777 yen/$8.53).
Oh, one more thing. Remember that over-the-top awesomely awkward “How to throw a Windows 7 party” ad Microsoft made some time ago? Well the good patrons at Funny or Die have created the ultimate parody of it. Check it out in the video below.
And that’s a wrap. Now that Windows 7 is out…what are you waiting for?! If you are a Vista user or looking to purchase a new PC, upgrading/adopting is a no-brainer. If you are still using XP, hesitance is natural (thanks, Vista) but you should definitely consider jumping into the next generation OS. If you’re that skeptical about it, it doesn’t hurt to wait for Service Pack 1. If you’re a Mac user–I’ll just shut up. Windows 7 is finally here. PARTAY…or don’t.
—> Continue reading Windows 7 release day — it’s all about ‘7’