Oct 26
If there is one thing in life that just oozes nerd cred, it would have to be the Rubik’s Cube. This classic puzzle has stumped many over the years, leading to stories of frustration, grief, and depression.
Now, two geek worlds have collided to produce this thing of beauty.
The Transformers edition Allspark Rubik’s Cube. Basically, I want this. For the nerd cred. Totally.
(via Crunchgear)
Oct 20
So Apple just released some new computers today. Well not new, I guess, but updated. An updated polycarbonate Macbook. A revamped iMac line. And a refreshed version of the Mac Mini. But the one that really caught my eye, was this little beauty right here:
Yes, that is a Mac Mini running OSX Server. This little box has already got me thinking of so many possibilities I would love to try if I had the money. This would make the perfect home media server. It has all the connections of a normal Mac Mini, so it could easily be stashed in a home theater cabinet. With gigabit ethernet and Wireless N, file transfer and streaming would be no problem.
Here is my ultimate home theater set up idea: Mac Mini Server hooked up permanently to a nice big LCD HD screen. Install Boxee media front end, and set up server for access from any other computer in the house. I could leave Boxee running all the time for fast access, while using other computers to the house to centralize all my media onto the built-in dual 500 GB hard drives. I could stream to any computer using iTunes Home Sharing, or launch Boxee at any time to play media on the full home theater system.
The possibilities don’t end there. It is the perfect system for a small business looking for an internal server solution. Allowing collaboration on a amazingly simple level, this could turn any small business with haphazard networking into a humming hive of productivity.
And its the same price as a MacBook. $999. Ok, where did I leave my credit card?
Oct 9
Image via Gizmodo
Gadget blogs and Apple rumor websites have been buzzing about the new LightPeak connector standard Apple has been working on with Intel.
In a nutshell, LightPeak is a super high-speed, universal connector that uses optical technology is a port about the size of a USB port. What is the importance of this? Basically, LightPeak can serve as a hub for any other kind of connector, routing data from DisplayPort connections for monitors, to FireWire connections, to even the brand new and speedy USB 3.0 specification.
So, one port to rule them all? Sounds perfect for Apple, right? This is where the rumors start getting interesting. Why would Apple be so interested in developing this technology, if they weren’t working on a new product with limited space for connectors and ports? Such as, a tablet computer of some sort?
In any sense, its exciting technology, and I can’t wait to play with it my self.
<via Gizmodo>
I have to admit, I kind of want one of these… While they may seem useless, they have that kind of geeky charm that make them seem more useful than they should be. Notepods are basically just regular notepads, that look like iPhones. The backs of each sheet are printed with grid lines, perfect for sketching app ideas, or schematics for the next atom bomb… or something like that.
It’s amazing how people can make something so entirely mundane, and make it into something so nerdtastically cool!
I have seen some weird stuff come from Japan. Here is one perfect example. The Miruko.
It’s a robotic gaming interface meant to work with an iPhone. The eye is a robotic camera with facial recognition, and it “sees” things that are invisible in the “real world.” Things such as monsters attached to peoples faces. You can capture them with the iPhone, somewhat like Pokemon.
While the tech behind this is kind of cool, and that knitted sleeve looks pretty stylin’… I still have to ask…
Why?
Sep 20
Now THIS I am interested in.
The DFI Hybrid Motherboard is two systems in one. It has a low-power netbook style on one side, and a high-end desktop style on the other, allowing you to run both at the same time. This is something I could see as being very useful… somewhere…
Personally, I would use this as a combo home media server/gaming rig. With the low-power side, I could serve music, movies, and photos to other computers and devices around my house. On the high-end side, I can play any game I want and never have to worry about slowing down the media server.
This is one of those products that I think many people would buy, set up, and then be stumped as to what to do with it. There are many possibilities, one just has to figure out what the best one is.
Sep 20
Eee Reader
Many people have already heard of the Amazon Kindle, the revolutionary Ebook reader that allows consumers to download almost any book from Amazon, and read it on the go. This in it self is an amazing technology that I can’t wait until is adopted more widely.
However, Asus has a new kind of reader that puts the Kindle to shame. Using dual, full-color screens, the Asus Eee Reader could become my new favorite toy.
Readers in general I think could become very useful, especially in the classroom. As a college student myself, I know I get sick of hauling around heavy books every day, and the frustration of getting to class, only to realize I forgot the book I needed. Digital textbooks would be the students dream come true.
The Amazon Kindle would be a good first step, but because of it’s monochrome screen is limited to mostly just text. The Asus Eee Reader however uses full color, giving it the ability to display all graphics that textbooks have. With its dual, folding screens, it can display books in the traditional format, as well as offering internet abilities like a browser, a webcam, and microphone for applications like Skype.
I have high hopes for this, I can only hope my school can adopt something like this, before I graduate?
Sep 10
So I have finally gotten around to posting my first entry on my new blog. This may be for a class project, but I hope it can also become a regular habit.
The theme for this blog is “Tech that should be used, but isn’t (yet!)”. What i mean by that is gadgets and online services that are available, or soon will be, that can be used in non-traditional applications. Like Twitter in the classroom setting.
I may refine the topic more as I go. Hey, it’s the Internet, right? I can do whatever I want! But for now, let’s see how this goes.
Enjoy the ride!