Category Archives: Technology

How the decade was supposed to turn out

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This commercial for Nuveen Investments aired during the Super Bowl in 2000.  It imagined a future with major advancements in the struggle against AIDS, cancer, and spinal cord injuries.  That’s right–the late Christopher Reeve makes a touching appearence when he walks onto the stage.  The ad promises “In the future, so many amazing things will happen in the world.”  Though it’s interesting to see what an investment firm envisioned for the first decade of the 2000’s, what’s even more impacting is that we still aren’t there yet.  Support your charities; we can all lend a helping hand in the fight against deadly diseases and injuries and make the world a better and safer place to live in.

[Via Gizmodo]

New logos for Nick & AOL

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Nick

I reported back in late July that Nickelodeon’s “splat” logo was about to undergo a transformation, and now it’s time to follow up.  After much deliberation, the creative team at Nick decided go with what you see above (right).  Obviously the focal point of the new logo is the stretched “i” that resembles a kid.  Cyma Zarghami, president of Nick and MTV Networks’ Kids and Family Group: “We wanted to clean it [the logo] up and allow Nick to be the stamp on all of these channels.  In asking ourselves if everything could live under the splat, we decided that the splat was dated.  It just couldn’t be done in a streamlined way.”  To celebrate Nick’s 30th anniversary, the new logo was unveiled this past fall and is now in full force.  Rest in peace, splat; you will never be forgotten.  Peek after the break for all the new streamlined Nick logos including those for Nick Jr., TeenNick, NickToons, and Nick@Nite.

AOL Logo, Before and After

From “AOL” to “Aol.” America Online has gone through its paces over the years.  First it was everyone’s portal to the Internet during the dial-up days.  Then they merged with Time Warner and became the butt of many jokes since it lost its dominance due to high speed Internet the introduction of the sole Internet browser as the main portal to the other side.  On December 10, AOL detached itself from Time Warner, thus ending a short-lived and unsuccessful merger, and decided to enter the next decade with a whole new identity.  Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL: “Our new identity is uniquely dynamic. Our business is focused on creating world-class experiences for consumers and AOL is centered on creative and talented people — employees, partners, and advertisers. We have a clear strategy that we are passionate about and we plan on standing behind the AOL brand as we take the company into the next decade.”  Sure AOL lost its steam as computer users began to realize they didn’t need it any longer as a source for email and browsing; but it is still relevant today.  AOL owns a bunch of content and their plan for the next decade is to push this content harder.  Besides maintaining the unpopular AOL software, they also continually update AOL Instant Messenger (still used by many as a communication service) and they own popular blogs like Engadget and TMZ.  As a reinvigorated content-driven organization free from the shackles of Time Warner, Aol. enters 2010 with fresh vision and slightly different logo for a new generation.

[Via UnderConsideration, here & here]

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Google Chrome OS netbook specs leaked (looking good!)

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Out of the boring status quo comes a netbook with specs that don’t mention Intel Atom, NVIDIA Ion, HDD, and standard def.  Chrome OS, that browser-as-your-operating-system concoction from Google, is coming soon and it will come installed inside a Google-designed netbook of their own.  According to the IBTimes, the “Google netbook” looks to be one beast of the netbook: it will be powered by an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s Tegra graphics chip; it will feature a 10.1-inch TFT HD multi-touch display, 64GB SSD, 2GB RAM, and other goodies such as WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, an Ethernet port, USB ports, a webcam, a 3.5mm audio jack, a multi-card reader, and more.  According to the latest rumors, the device will be subsidized with a 3G plan and will end up in the sub-$300 category.

I really hope these specs are fact, not rumor.  A netbook with an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s sweet Tegra graphics would be a welcome addition to the netbook mix.  Tegra can only be found inside Microsoft’s Zune today, and it deserves more than that!

In related Google news, Google will be holding a press conference on January 5 where they will likely announce the coveted “Google phone,” the Nexus One.  Search, browsers, cell phones, netbooks, oh my!  Google world dominance is starting to gain hold.

[Via IBTimes; Gizmodo; Engadget]

3D programming is coming to a non-compatible TV near you via DirecTV

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According to the HDGuru, DirecTV plans on launching the first 3D HDTV channel in the US sometime next year.  It’s been reported that DirecTV recently shot a brand new satellite into orbit that supports the addition of a 3D channel plus other regular HD stations.  The satillite becomes operational in March 2010, so that’s the earliest a 3D channel could pop up.  HD Guru’s “sources” tell him that all current DirecTV set top boxes will receive a firmware upgrade that will enable it to receive the 3D programming.  But remember, in order to watch 3D on your television, you need a TV that supports it.  DirecTV is expected to make this announcement at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show; TV manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic are planning on showing off their latest 3D HDTVs as well.

Thing is, I don’t think we are ready for 3D programming yet.  Hell, we are just getting used to high definition!  A hefty percentage of America finally owns decent HDTVs, and now the industry expects us to go out and buy a new 3D-supported TV.  I think not.  Let’s stick with 3D in the theatres for now (Avatar and Up were the first 3D movies I thoroughly enjoyed); slowly but surely the industry should allow it to enter the home.

[Via HDGuru; Gizmodo]

Fireplace + HDTV integration

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Helex’s “I-Vision” integrates the two main focal points of your living room–a fireplace and a flat-screen television.  The HDTV is covered with a glass panel and completely disappears above the gas-powered fireplace when it’s turned off.  This fireplace-HDTV hybrid holds a modern, sleek look that can turn any ordinary living room into a technological marvel.  And now it’s on my list of things to install into my future home.  Additional shot after the break.

[Via Bornrich; Gizmodo]

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That’s right, you’re drinking “milk”

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Milk Glass LED Night Light (Images courtesy Amazon)

Glass Of Milk LED Night Light.  Designed by Andrew Liszewski.

Liszewski created these white LED-infused acrylic drinking glasses to serve not only as cups but also as night lights.  The way I see it, he’s got it all wrong.  The real purpose of these glasses is to camouflage with “milk” that alcoholic beverage you are forced to sneak around the house.

[Via OhGizmo; Gizmodo]

Man cures blindness with stem cells

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Russell Turnbull lost eyesight in his right eye when a squirt of ammonia shot into it as he intervened in a fight between two men.  The chemical caused significant damage to his right eye and was diagnosed with a condition called Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD).  LSCD is very painful and requires many trips to the hospital for care.  Because he had this rare condition, doctors used him as a guinea pig in stem cell trials.  Fifteen years after the frightful incident, Turnbull was miraculously cured of blindness thanks to the stem cells.  The treatment involved taking small samples of stem cells from his healthy eye’s cornea, growing it in the lab, and implanting them into his damaged eye.  Only eight weeks after the operation, Turnbull regained full eyesight in his right eye.  He was cured of blindness.  He remains “one of eight patients with impaired vision who have been treated successfully by surgeons at the North East England Stem Cell Institute.”

Though this treatment surely won’t cure all blind people, it is a huge step in the right direction for science and health.  Stem cell research is a controversial topic in today’s heated political and religious debates.  No matter what side you stand on, you cannot deny that this miraculous story of Turnbull and the advances in science and technology are pointing to a brighter future where incurable diseases become curable ones.

[Via Gizmodo; Channel 4]

“The original spiral nebula” like you’ve never seen it before

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Thanks to image post-processing technology, scientists have digitally remade the image of the NGC 5194, or what is known as “the original spiral nebula.”  Enjoy the 51st entry in Charles Messier’s famous catalog (aka M51) in all its high resolution glory.

Over 60,000 light-years across, M51’s spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy (right), NGC 5195. Image data from the Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys has been reprocessed to produce this alternative portrait of the well-known interacting galaxy pair. The processing has further sharpened details and enhanced color and contrast in otherwise faint areas, bringing out dust lanes and extended streams that cross the small companion, along with features in the surroundings and core of M51 itself. The pair are about 31 million light-years distant. Not far on the sky from the handle of the Big Dipper, they officially lie within the boundaries of the small constellation Canes Venatici.

[Via Gizmodo; NASA]

Kid Cudi wants you to augment your reality

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Bored?  Got nothing else better to do?  Have (a little) fun with this quick activity that involves your webcam and a piece of paper with a QR code on it.  First click here to view and print the special marker.  Then click here and scroll down to find a box that prompts you to allow access to your webcam.  Then hold up the printed market to the camera and let the fun begin!  Need help setting up?  Watch the video above as a guide to getting started.

[Via DatNewCudi]