Gravité, by Renaud Hallée.
Witness the force of gravity translate into rhythmic sounds.
[Via Gizmodo]
Google search gets a new look & feel
So have you noticed something different about Google lately? This past week Google rolled out a new look and some welcome features to their search platform. Least significant but still noticable is the refreshed Google logo on the home page; it’s definitely more colorful, isn’t it? Moving right along.. Google has added a “contextually relevant, left-hand navigation” panel to the search results page. Now whenever you search a keyword, a navigation panel reveals itself to help refine your query. There’s three parts to the panel. First there’s Universal Search; “the top section suggests the most relevant genres of results for your query and lets you seamlessly switch to these different types of results.” Everything is selected be default, but you have the option to switch the search feed depending on the type of information you’re looking for about the query. For example, if you search “wind power”, Google automatically does a normal search for the term, but now it also helps you find that term within other relevent places such as news, blogs, images, and books. Next there’s Search Options; this “enables you to get a different view of your results” by sorting search results by time, timelines, “wonder wheels”, image previews and more. Lastly there’s Google Squared; this addition utilizes Google’s “Something different” feature which “helps you find and compare entities” by offering other related topics to search. All of these new parts are built right into the left-hand navigation panel. Welcome to the modern age of Google search. Look after the break for a brief video rundown of the new features described here.
[Via GoogleBlog] Continue reading Google search gets a new look & feel
Nintendo DS handhelds surpass Game Boy sales
In their latest quarterly earnings report, Nintendo happily announced that their DS line of handhelds (DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL) has officially sold more units than the their Gameboy predecessors. The DS family has sold around 129 million units, briskly passing the 118 million Game Boy handhelds sold. Although this makes the DS line the best selling handheld gaming device in history, the Sony PlayStation 2 still wears the crown when it comes to all video game devices with 140 million units sold. Anyhow, way to go Ninty! Nintendo 3Ds, come out, come out wherever you are.
Android steals silver crown from iPhone OS in US smartphone market
According to The NPD Group, a market research company, Google’s Android smartphone OS pushed past Apple to claim second place among smartphone operating systems. Here’s the official standings for Q1 2010: #1-RIM (36%), #2- Android OS (28 %), #3- iPhone OS (21%). Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, shares the reasoning behind the shift in dominance: “As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share. In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones.” And how do the popular US carriers size up, you ask? #1- AT&T (32%), #2- Verizon Wireless (30%), T-Mobile (17%), Sprint (15%). With the recent HP-Palm aquisition and iPhone OS 4, BlackBerry 6, and Windows Phone 7 mobile OS previews, the smartphone market is asking for a healthy shakeup. As a customer and gadget enthusiast, I say bring it on.
[Via NPD]
iPad goes international on May 28
On Friday, May 28 the following nine countries will join the U.S. with iPad launch festivities: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Eager customers who can’t wait to get their oily hands all over the magical device can preorder it online on Monday, May 10. Apple pledges to release the iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore sometime in July. Look after the break for the full PR and price listings.
[Via Apple; Engadget; Mashable] Continue reading iPad goes international on May 28
Microsoft Kin now available online, in Verizon stores May 13
Generation Upload, listen here: Microsoft Kin devices are now available to purchase online and you can pick one up in a Verizon Wireless store near you come May 13. The Kin One goes for $49.99 and the Kin Two sits at $99.99, both after a $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement, of course. Big Red reminds us that “to get the most from Kin” you must subscribe to the Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk ($39.99) and an Email and Web for Smartphone($29.99) plans. A bit pricey for a smart dumbphone that’s limited in functionality if you ask me. But alas, it won’t be long until you can get your Kin Loop, Spot, & Studio on; it’s just a mere three days away! PR after the break.
[Via Verizon; Engadget] Continue reading Microsoft Kin now available online, in Verizon stores May 13
‘Super 8’: Top secret movie from J.J. Abrams & Steven Spielberg gets a teaser trailer
Those of you who have seen Iron Man 2 in theatres were treated to a first glimpse into the next cinematic project from J.J. Abrams.
Here’s what we know so far about Super 8. It’s a sci-fi film set in 1979 written and directed by J.J. Abrams (M:I3, Cloverfield, Star Trek). Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and Bryan Burk serve as executive producers. It’s being distributed and promoted by Paramount Pictures and produced by Abrams’ Bad Robot and Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment teams. According to Deadline, Super 8 is “a personal passion project for Abrams, an homage to the films he loved as a teen.” Abrams recently squashed rumors by confirming that it has no relation to Cloverfield. It will cost around $45 million to shoot and it will be shot in traditional style (unlike Cloverfield‘s shaky cam ways).
So what’s it about? Well, up until today zero plot detail was spilled, just the way Abrams likes it. But now that there’s a teaser trailer out in the wild there are some pertinent facts to be divulged. Please watch the trailer I’ve posted above; it’s good for your health, really. Here’s what we get. There’s a truck, it veers onto a train track and heads straight towards an incoming train. We get these words: “In 1979, the US Air Force closed a section of Area 51. All the materials were to be transported to a secure facility in Ohio.” Truck slams into train, big explosion. The camera looks at a train car that seems to contain some sort of destructive beast, erm, alien? “Next summer, it arrives.” End scene. Yup, I’m salivating.
Production for Super 8 begins this fall and it’s expected to hit theatres Summer 2011.
[Via Deadline]
‘Lost’ execs Lindelof & Cuse fend off Muppets as series end nears
With just two episodes left until the series finale of Lost, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse find themselves getting bombarded with lingering questions from Rizzo the Rat and a bear of Muppets fame.
Kanye West guest spot on ‘The Cleveland Show’ results in ultimate rap battle
Last Sunday’s episode of The Cleveland Show featured a guest voice from rapper Kanye West. He played Stoolbend’s greatest rapper “Kenny West” and the character made a number of nods to the real life West. If there’s anything to gain from watching this episode it’s the culmination of animosity between Kenny and Cleveland Jr. Things play out in a rap battle that cannot be missed. If you have some extra time, “Brotherly Love” was one of the season’s finest episodes; watch it here. Also, peek after the break to watch a short gag from the episode that had me in knots. Continue reading Kanye West guest spot on ‘The Cleveland Show’ results in ultimate rap battle
Darth Vader recording session for TomTom nav systems
Google proves just how fast its Chrome browser is with “unconventional” speed tests
The three speed tests involve one potato cannon, sound waves, and lightning. Enjoy.
[Via GoogleBlog; Engadget]