The 2010 TIME 100 List

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Every year TIME Magazine puts together a list of “the people who most affect our world.”  People are sorted into the following categories: leaders, heroes, artists, thinkers, and the TIME 100 Alumnae.  Some notable names include… Leaders– Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Scott Brown; Heroes– Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller, Phil Mickelson, Jet Li, and Serena Williams; Artists– Lady Gaga, Conan O’Brien, Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker!), Neil Patrick Harris (Dr.H!), Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (Lost!), Lea Michelle (Glee!), Neill Blomkamp (District 9!), Ricky Gervais, and James Cameron (Avatar!); Thinkers– Steve Jobs (Apple!) and Sonia Sotomayor.  Head over to the official website to find the full listing; you can click on every person’s name to read more about them.  There’s also a list of the Least Influential People of 2010 if you’re interested in that, too.

[Via Time]

28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad

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April 3 to May 3.  28 days.  1 million iPads sold.  The “revolution” has begun, wouldn’t you say?  The “magical” device Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced to the world back in January now sits in the hands of over one million people.  This impressive feat surpassed the rate at which the iPhone flew off store shelves, and Jobs was quick to make this fact known: “One million iPads in 28 days-that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone.  Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”  Also within this time frame, over 12 million apps from the App Store and over 1.5 million ebooks from the iBookstore were downloaded to iPads.  Read the full PR after the break.

[Via Apple] Continue reading 28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad →

Nintendo Wii gets a new coat of paint, beefier baseline package

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Nine months after being released in Japan, a black-coated version of the Nintendo Wii console is coming to America.  Come May 9 consumers will have the option to purchase a white or black Wii console.  Both models will remain at $199.99.  But get this–the baseline package now includes a copy of Wii Sports Resort and a Wii MotionPlus accessory.  These new additions bundle with the standard fare that includes the Wii console, one Wiimote, and Wii Sports.  Now you can finally match your black Wiimotes and nunchucks with a console of the same shade.

[Via Joystiq]

Aisha Tyler walks us through the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta

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Halo fans, check out this tutorial of sorts.  Actress Aisha Tyler breaks down game types, the new maps and environments, weapons, and more.  It’s an informative and helpful video; the only downside is the crazy amount of awkward  mentions of the phrase “kick your ass.”  Aren’t those oversized prop weapons she handles kick-ass, erm, awesome!?  To access the Halo: Reach beta you need a copy of Halo: ODST.  Happy fragging.

Boy Scouts can now earn video games badges

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The Boy Scouts of America recently announced the addition of two new badges scouts can earn, and they both involve video gaming!  The belt loop is awarded by “explain[ing] why it is important to have a rating system for video games”;  “creat[ing] a schedule for you to do things that includes your chores, homework, and video gaming”; and “learn[ing] to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.”  Earning the academics pin is a bit more involved.  Scouts must “create a plan to buy a video game that is right for [their] age group”; compare and contrast two game consoles; play a video game with a family member and friend; teach an adult how to play a video game; come up with tips on how to play a game; play a game that practices a skill that helps with schoolwork; decide the best place to purchase a game; and install a game console.  Man, if they had these badges back in the day I would have been inaugurated as the first scout to pick them up.

[Via Scouting]

3D input interface brings Project Natal-style gestures to a cell phone

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Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created an advanced motion-tracking camera that is designed to attach to a mobile device like a cell phone.  It allows for “in-air typing” or Project Natal-style gestures to type out text messages or emails by detecting finger movement.  The demo above shows how something like this could replace a physical and touch (virtual) keyboard on mobile devices.

[Via Ishikawa-Komuro Lab; Gizmodo]

45 gigapixel panorama is world’s largest

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With a Canon 7D and the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L zoom at 400mm, photographer Gerald Donovan captured the Dubai cityscape in the world’s largest panorama.  4,250 individual shots combined to make this highly detailed 45 gigapixel bohemoth of a photograph a reality.  Head over to Gigapan to explore the image in greater detail.  It’s incredible, actually.  You can zoom into individual buildings, streets, vehicles, and people.

[Via Gigapan; Gizmodo]

Underwater loft

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Five meters below the Indian Ocean sits a restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.  To celebrate its five year exsistence the hotel is converting it into a private bedroom for two.  This underwater loft is encased in plexiglass and is accessable by walking down a spiral staircase.  Tranquility is the first word that pops in my mind.

[Via Luxist; Gizmodo]

Cable Woman

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Connected, by Kasey McMahon.

Connected is a life-size self portrait sculpture created by artist Kasey McMahon.  It’s made entirely of CAT5 ethernet cables and other kinds of wire wrapped around a steel frame.  This modern piece of art is thought-provoking, isn’t it?  What do you think is the artist’s intent with it?  A splintered identity wrapped in digital culture, perhaps.  See the sculpture from different perspectives in the gallery below.

[Via AtypicalArt; Gizmodo]

Single: Drake – “Find Your Love”

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“Find Your Love” is the second single off Drake’s upcoming debut album Thank Me Later, due out June 15.  It’s no surprise that Kanye West produced the track.  His fingerprints can be found all over it; the heavy melodic beat takes cues from many of West’s hits off 808’s & Heartbreak.  Drake shared some kind words about Ye with MTV News:

“Before I ever got the chance to meet him, Kanye West shaped a lot of what I do, as far as music goes. We always, always, always took the time to listen to Kanye’s music and appreciate it beyond. We searched the samples and find out where his inspiration came from, because he has one of the best ears in music, period. He knows how to recognize great music that’s not his. He knows how to utilize great sounds and great music. So before I met him, I had the utmost respect for Kanye West. I’d even go as far as to say he’s the most influential person, as far as a musician, that I’d ever had in my life.”

This single is Drake’s third collab with West.  Previously they worked together on “Forever” (along with Lil Wayne & Eminem) and West directed Drake’s first music video for “Best I Ever Had.”  Drake just wrapped up the music video for “Find Your Love” in Jamaica, so be on the look out for that.

But for now, take a listen to the track below and download it here.  (It looks like the download link was taken down due to bandwith issues.  It should be back soon.)  Drake straight up sings in this one, about relationships.  He calls it “an extremely vulnerable song” and a “huge risk” because “it almost feels like the song should be performed by a woman.  I’m just hoping that men really hear the song and they’re honest with themselves.  I know a lot of men feel that way.”  After a first listen I’m not hooked yet.  But then again, I felt the same way with “Over” and now that’s one of my top played songs.

[audio: Drake – Find Your Love.mp3]

[Via DrakeBlog; MTV News; EW-MusicMix]