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Latest Gear Live Videos
“Lost” creator JJ Abrams has released footage from the new Star Trek prequel in London. Actors include Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock and Simon Pegg (“Shaun of the Dead”) as Scotty, who considers himself a “fully paid up geek.” There are also four segments that feature Leonard Nimoy as the elder Spock, including one in which he delivers the line, “Live long and prosper.” Expect the film to have a May 8, 2009 release in both the UK and the U.S (even though the trailer says Christmas.)
Read More 
| BBC
Gallery: Star Trek XI Footage Screened in UK
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The new Rubik’s cube may look simple without the colors, but the Mirror Block has 9 different sizes of blocks on each face. Solve it with different patterns and it will turn it into an irregular shape. Those who can do the original cube at breakneck speed will jump at the change to challenge themselves with the new puzzle for ~$20.00, while those who still have yet to master it might want to hold off until your more talented friends are done and will lend you one.
Read More | DVICE
Gallery: Rubik’s Mirror Block
Dreams6 DJ Speaker
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Videos, USB,
Now anyone with an iPod, MP3 Player, laptop or other audio device can be a mini DJ. The Dreams6 DJ Speaker plays your tunes and has 3 variations of mixed scratches to really impress the crowd. Small enough for a pocket or backpack, it comes with a USB cord for recharging through your PC. The DJ Speaker is available in red, black or white at a price of $45.99. We are thinking that this may be one of those gadgets that’s fun for the first 10 minutes, as evidenced by the demonstration.
Read More | Audio Cubes
Gallery: Dreams6 DJ Speaker
Gmail Introduces Voice and Video Chat
Posted by Patrick Phelps Categories: Google, Internet, PC / Laptop, Videos,
Tired of using emoticons to express what only your face can truly convey? So are Google‘s Gmail software engineers, hence, Tuesday’s introduction of Gmail Voice and Video Chat. In order to enjoy the new video/voice experience you need to first download and install the voice and video plugin. Once you’ve installed the plugin, to start a video chat, just click on the “Video & more” menu at the bottom of your Gmail chat window, and choose “Start video chat.” You’ll have a few seconds to make sure you look presentable while it’s ringing, and then you’ll see and hear your friend live, right from within Gmail. You can click the “pop-out” icon to make the video larger, or click the fullscreen icon in the upper left-hand corner for a more lifelike experience. “But what if I don’t have a webcam?” Well, Google knows the right people and is offering a few discounted models through November 30th. Check out the video (up top) for a demonstration.
What’s next? Video chat on your iPhone? We can only hope…
Read More | Gmail Blog
Gallery: Gmail Introduces Voice and Video Chat
Microsoft’s Windows Celebrates 25 Years
Posted by Patrick Phelps Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Videos,
It was 25 years ago today that Bill Gates unveiled Microsoft Windows; of course, it wouldn’t be released in stores for nearly two more years, but it was undeniably the start of a revolution.
There are those who love to hate the software giant, but the Seattle-area economy has nothing to offer but gratitude – in King County, which includes Seattle and Microsoft hometown, Redmond, there are some 70,000 households with a net-worth of at least $1 million. My dentist once told me that his two brothers, who went to Microsoft while he went to dental school, both retired at the age of 36; he is well past 36 and definitely not retired. Some people have all the luck…
In honor of Windows’ anniversary, we’ve posted a video (up top) of current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer doing his best cheesy car salesman impersonation in this ridiculous Windows commercial from the 80’s; proving that dignity is not always a prerequisite for success.
Gallery: Microsoft’s Windows Celebrates 25 Years
Record Your Voting Experience
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Editorial, Internet, Videos,
A little nervous about voting? We won’t mention the term “hanging chad” (oops) but poll experts suggest that you not only bring your ID with you but take a picture of your ballot as well. Video the Vote goes one step further and suggests you record your experience to share with other citizen journalists, indy filmmakers, and media pros. You can upload them on the site and they will cross post to YouTube. We would love to see them, too! Now get your butt out there and do your American duty!
Read More | Video The Vote
Gallery: Record Your Voting Experience
TokyoFlash To Give Away Watches, NES DSis
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Videos,
TokyoFlash, of the unique timepieces, has all kinds of kewl things going on this week. They are giving away a Limited Edition Midnight Tibida everyday for a given period. They are offering a ¥1000 ($10.00) off any watch, also for a finite time, if you enter the coupon code HA26 during checkout. Best of all they are giving away 3 Nintendo DSis. The Tibida works like the others with LEDs displaying the hours, minutes, and 5 minute progression, and is available for ¥14,900 ($151.16.)
Read More | Tokyo Flash
Gallery: TokyoFlash To Give Away Watches, NES DSis
MIT Student Straps A Wii On His Guitar
Posted by Patrick Phelps Categories: Mods / Hacks, PC / Laptop, Video Games, Videos,
Tired of changing effects pedals with his feet while performing with his band Vivian Darkbloom, MIT graduate student Rob Morris attached a Nintendo Wii remote to his guitar with a strip of Velcro. Mapping acceleration and button press values from the Wii, Morris set his Mac to translate the movement of his guitar into a variety of audio effects. The result: a new hybrid instrument that you’ll have to see to believe!
How does it work? The Wii controller sends data to a laptop, so the computer knows where the instrument is positioned, and it knows when he’s pressing buttons on the Wiimote. Morris takes this information and smooths it out a bit with some computer code (MIT grad student, hello…); the data is then sent out of the computer through a firewire cable. This firewire cable then sends the data to his stompboxes and other effects. So, essentially, he’s controlling guitar effects by pressing Wii buttons and gesturing with the instrument, rather than pressing a pedal on the floor.
Check out the above video for a demonstration.
Gallery: MIT Student Straps A Wii On His Guitar
N55 Walking House
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Science, Transportation, Videos,
This house can hustle. The Danish art collective N55 teamed with MIT to make a walking house. Standing 10 ft. high, it is both solar and wind powered, and features a living room, kitchen, bathroom, bed, wood stove and a computer for its leg control. They are hoping that the legs can be mounted under any structure and that modules can be linked for larger living spaces. One of the designers, Øivind Slaatto, plans to live in it in Copenhagen. What a great thing it would be if this prototype became real and could get out of the way of tornadoes, overflowing waterways, and nasty neighbors.
Read More | Telegraph
Gallery: N55 Walking House
Less than 2 weeks to go before the vote that changes America (we hope.) We just got a peek at the latest in silly endorsements. This time Andy, Opie/Richie, and Fonzie are involved in getting you to vote. Listen, if it’s good enough for Arthur Fonzarelli, then you know it’s something you want to do, too. You can find other political commercials on Funny or Die, including some with Paris Hilton, John Stewart, and Gina Gershon doing Sarah Palin.
Read More | Funny or Die
