Tron Inspired Kicks
Adidas UK has released a pair of shoes inspired by the movie Tron.
I like the Lightcycles design and throwback to the movie, but I’ll pass.
Unsolicited Junk Mail from Friends?
Do your friends ever send you unsolicited junk mail? You know those chain emails that you’re supposed to forward to 5 more individuals or those cheery (and sappy) words of inspiration. Or better yet, how about info on the latest hoaxes going around the Internet or worse yet, notices about team building events?
What to do, what to do? Send them over to Thanks. No. The message here is clear, thanks but no thanks. Here’s a snippet:
In any case, you might want to go back and have another look at the email they’re replying to. They asked you to visit here because, while they love getting one-on-one, personal messages from you, they really don’t want to receive more messages like the one you just sent. Cool?
Last Chance to Vote for Your Top Chef
My on-line poll of “Who Will Be Top Chef?” is still open for votes. Here’s the current tally.
The choice is now between Harold and Tiffani, so make your pick of who will be Top Chef come Wednesday’s finale.
Technorati Tags: television, Top Chef
Fun with MacBook’s Sudden Motion Sensor
The MacBooks and MacBook Pros are both equipped with Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor technology that is designed to protect your data. By sensing sudden acceleration typical of a dropped/falling laptop, the Sudden Motion Sensor will park hard drive heads to minimize the chance of a hard drive crash, thereby protecting your information.
Despite this data-saving intent, folks have figured out how to have some fun with the sensor. Witness the MacSaber app. This app plays Star Wars light saber sounds to match the movement of a MacBook. Swing your MacBook around and hear your Mac-turned-light-saber go! Defeats the purpose of the Sudden Motion Sensor but sounds like fun. Go grab someone else’s MacBook to try this out.
Up Close with the MacBook
Went to the Ala Moana Apple Store and got to play around with the new MacBook. I gravitated to the black MacBooks since they’re so distinctive in the sea of white Apple products. These MacBooks look nice. The finish is a matte black, not a high gloss that’ll scratch easily. The funky looking keyboard feels and works great.
The MacBook’s glossy screen is reflective but sure does accentuate colors. Looking at the regular screen of a MacBook Pro next to the glossy screen of the MacBook, you can easily see the difference in colors and reflectivity. While I like the richer colors displayed on the MacBook, the 13-in widescreen display feels small. Compared to the 15-in screen of a MBP, I kept feeling like images were squished on the MacBook. Looking at iPhoto pics on both a MacBook and MBP, you can appreciate the difference in screen real estate.
The basic MacBook configuration comes 512 MB of RAM. That’s too little. Starting up iPhoto and viewing pictures felt slow. According to the Ars review, the MacBook and MBP have similar specs, but the MBP I played around with had more RAM and wasn’t pokey like the MacBook so I gotta figure the added RAM was the difference.
The MacBook is a solid laptop for its price, but the smaller screen was a deal breaker for me. If you got the funds, I’d say go with a MacBook Pro with the glossy screen option.
Ars Reviews the MacBook
The techies of Ars Technica have written a thorough review of Apple’s new MacBook laptop. After reading this review, I’m amazed how this laptop beats the recently-released MacBook Pro that also costs more. Yeah, the MBP has extra neato stuff but performance-wise, the MacBook keeps pace. I guess that’s why Apple speed-bumped the MBP, to keep a performance difference.
Maybe a black MacBook instead of a MBP??
Apple Store in New York
Just check out the architecture for the entry way of the new Apple Store in New York scheduled to open on Friday, May 19. This store will be open just like 7-Eleven – 24x7x365!
Must make a pilgrimage to the Mac mecca.
Technorati Tags: Apple
It Is What It Isn’t on Top Chef
It is what it isn’t on Part 1 of the Finals of Top Chef. I can’t believe Dave Martin was eliminated in the QuickFire, leaving Harold and Tiffani. It just didn’t make sense.
I purposely haven’t read the judges’ blogs (yet) to understand their decision. Given the criteria for the elimination, Dave seemed to have the upper hand over Tiffani. Harold won two of the decisions, and Dave won the third. Tiffani didn’t win any, and most of her dishes didn’t wow any of the guest judges. Okay, okay, Dave screwed up on the last round and only made two dishes, not three as specified. So disqualify Dave from that round which Harold won anyway. Dave did get good reviews for his two dishes while Tiffani’s dishes got comments of “rubbery,” “fishy,” and “salty.” Seemingly, Tiffani finished last in each round but still made it past Dave. What’s cooking here? Was the decision based on drawing higher ratings with a finals of Harold going up against Tiffani? A finals of Dave and Harold wouldn’t be as exciting so was this the factor in Dave’s elimination?
So it is what it isn’t on this episode of Top Chef.
It was fun to see the last three eliminated chefs (Lee Anne, Stephen, and Miguel) return as “high rolling” guest judges. From the previews of next week’s final episode, it looks like they (along with eliminated Dave) will be playing a part in determining the winner.
Oh yeah, the polls are still open to submit your vote of who will be Top Chef.
Technorati Tags: television, Top Chef
MacBook Pro Speed Bump
With the announcement of the MacBooks along comes a quiet speed bump to MacBook Pros. The 2.0GHz model goes to 2.16GHz while the lower end 1.83GHz MacBook Pro moves up to 2.0GHz.
You can also get the “glossy” screen option that is standard on the MacBook. According to MacNN, the glossy screen “makes graphics, photos, and videos appear with richer color and deeper blacks and is ‘great for watching DVD movies. If you prefer a display with anti-glare coating for a matte rather than glossy viewing experience, choose the standard widescreen display.'”
Maybe it’s time for a MacBook Pro…
New MacBooks Released
Apple has just added new MacBooks to its computing family. Following Apple’s new moniker for laptops, the MacBook replaces iBooks as MacBook Pros replaced the PowerBook line. These new beauties are available in Michael Jackson’s favorite colors, black or white. They feature a 13-in screen and are supposedly 5x faster than previous iBooks. The iSight camera is built-in and of course, Front Row is bundled. Prices start at $1099 for a basic model
The black MacBooks are reminiscent of the old “Blackbird” PowerBook G3 line – a favorite of mine. I’d still go for a Pro for work use.
Differences Between Blogging and Traditional Media
What does Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban do after a Mavs game? He blogs of course! In his latest entries, he has some interesting thoughts and commentaries about blogging and traditional media, namely newspapers.
He does have a point about same old, non-original stories on the Net. Blogs are interesting because they offer various viewpoints and fresh perspectives compared to online news sites.
Although he does realize the financial limitations put forth on traditional media:
Bloggers drive blogs, share price drives traditional media. Blogging is personal, traditional media is corporate.
Which is exactly why blog readership is going up, while traditional media is consolidating, if not contracting. Traditional media goes to work, bloggers live their work.
So my takeaway from all of this is if you want good ideas to share, you first need to become a whiny millionaire then you need to buy an NBA club so that you can go to the games for free. Then after the game, still amped up, go home, think up good ideas, then write about them in your blog.
Technorati Tags: blog
High Tech Kicks
Wired.com along with Forbes.com discusses the infusion of technology with sneakers. And it’s not only Nike innovating in the high tech kicks space. Adidas, ASICS, Puma, Reebok, Brooks Sports, Geox, Mizuno, and New Balance all feature specialized technology.
The Adidas 1 features a computerized motor to adjust cushioning. The Brooks Sports Trance 5 has a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to prevent overheating. Nike’s Air Max 360 uses 65 layers of nitrogen-encapsulating microfilm to give the wearer the sensation of running on air.
Of course, further research is needed to verify these claims. I’ll take a pair each for evaluation purposes.