During the battle of NYC against Hurricane Irene, one videographer took to the streets to document what looked like an apocalyptic event marking the beginning of THE END. The video is quite interesting as the streets of New York City (Manhattan) are virtually empty. This creative dramatization deserves its merit as it is probably the best production to portray this tragedy that continues to plaque those who were in the path of Irene. Check out the video for yourself and try not to go into a panic is it is really not the end of the world, at least we don’t think it is.
I am one of those bandwagon techie guys that has join the ranking of over 5 million people on Google Plus (Google+). Over the past few days I have played around with Google+ wondering if it was ever going to be something to compete with Facebook and I have come to an early conclusion that it won’t.
It was inevitable that a Facebook competitor, or one with the same concept, would come along and inject the interwebs with their new social world. No one has been bold enough to face Facebook in the interim. The ill-fated MySpace never stood a chance even though good ol Tom (MySpace founder) was considered to be the most friended guy in the world while Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, was pimping his nerd fro on the Harvard campus.
Google+ does not fail in terms of its interface and usability because, after all, it is very similar to Facebook’s. Where Google+ fails to really get me is the non-techie people. The ones who I have friended over Facebook when I never would have any otherwise. These people make up the bulk of Facebook even the ones who choose to use their computers maybe once a month if that. Lets face it, people are lazy and they just do not have the time for another social network. Who is going to manage two social networks if they see no real value in it? I know I won’t.
Facebook has over 750 million users. How long did it take to get that many people? Well, Facebook launched in 2004 officially as ‘Facebook’ after ‘The Facebook’ was born in a Harvard dorm room. Google could very well have 100 million users in a matter of a few months if there are enough tech savy people on this planet. Why do I keep associating Google+ with more tech savy people? Simple, tech guys sport Android phones, know the innerworkings of services that Google offers outside of just being a search engine and tech guys have the time to socially network over another network besides Facebook. The non-tech people, as mentioned earlier, have no desire to join ANOTHER social network nor do they have the time and full understanding of what Google is offering.
When you say ‘Google’, most of the world will instantly recognize it as a search engine and nothing else, Nothing! Facebook, on the other hand, is known as THE SOCIAL NETWORK and will go down in history as the only social network to have over 700 million users. Even though you have billions who access Google to simply search the internet, they won’t get that new association of Google+ unless it becomes mandated one day by the governments around the world. Good luck with that.
Anywho, that’s my scoop on Facebook vs. Google+ and I am sticking to it until further notice of Google+ reaching a user level anywhere near Facebook’s.
A new video has gone viral showcasing a Gorilla at the Calgary Zoo in Canada getting down and dirty with some break dancing. The Gorilla shown in the video below is demonstrating natural behavior the Zoo keepers have witnessed over some time. The 9-year old Gorilla, named Zola, was not taught any of these specialized dance moves, or what some may call ‘break-dancing’.
This is probably one of the most playful and exciting Gorillas you will see. Check him out below breaking it down for us all to see.
Some have said it was a serious and profound moment when describing the released image of President Obama and White House staff during the raid that resulted in the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Others are wondering what exactly they were looking at during the precise moment that the image was taken. The CNN video below draws one conclusion that it could have been live images of the Navy Seal Team 6 conducting their mission to take out Bin Laden.
Since the White House has announced that they will NOT release photos of Bin Laden’s body, this is one of the few ‘real’ images that we get to look at for now. All of those conspiracy theory mongers will have to draw their own conclusions which may be defined by President Obama’s serious ‘Death Stare’ in the image below.
By now you have probably seen on the news or a media website reporting that the Apple iPhone can track your location potentially evading your privacy. Lately there has been a big uproar about privacy and the US Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and others are now having a conversation about all of the hoopla involving iPhones and other mobile devices and their ability to track locations without the user knowing about it.
Senator Al Franken has summoned Apple and Google to participate in an upcoming hearing with the Judiciary Subcommittee to talk about privacy, mainly Mobile device privacy.
“Recent advances in mobile technology have allowed Americans to stay connected like never before and put an astonishing number of resources at our fingertips,” Franken said in a statement. “But the same technology that has given us smartphones, tablets, and cell phones has also allowed these devices to gather extremely sensitive information about users, including detailed records of their daily movements and location. This hearing is the first step in making certain that federal laws protecting consumers’ privacy-particularly when it comes to mobile devices-keep pace with advances in technology.”
Sure the media has attempted to make a mountain out of a mole hill in talking about how the iPhone purportedly records your location and it can be retrieved in some form or fashion. What Apple may be claiming is that data is only accessible by the iPhone user but we all know if there is a way hackers will find it.
So far, Google nor Apple have admitted to being summoned by Franken to go over these ‘Privacy issues’.
What do you think about iPhone and other mobile device privacy? Is it a major issue? Should they address it NOW instead of later when several lawsuits are smacking Apple in the face?
It was 30 years ago that NASA tested the first Space Shuttle pioneering a new era of space flight. That era is entering into a new endeavor as the Space Shuttle program is put to rest. What a lot of people are wondering, aside from where the Shuttle vehicles will be placed on display, is what will transport our American astronauts into space and beyond after the shuttle program has ended?
Ever heard of Elon Musk? Some of you may know him to be the CEO of Tesla, an innovative electric car company that builds the Tesla Roadster electric powered sports car or maybe the co-founder of PayPal. Musk also has his hands in a private space startup company called SpaceX. SpaceX will be at the forefront of transporting astronauts into space slated to have its first launch from Cape Canaveral in late 2013 or early 2014.
SpaceX has a variety of rockets that can be outfitted with transport vehicles and cargo. Of those rockets, they have ones that rival the famous Saturn V rocket that propelled brave men from the Earth to the Moon. To put things into perspective, below you will find charts of SpaceX’s rockets, the Space Shuttle and Constellation project Ares rockers in comparison to the largest and most powerful device man has ever built, the Saturn V rocket.
This should give us some type of indication of what is to come in the space program provided they have the proper funding. Another good aspect about SpaceX is that have claimed to save an estimated $1 billion a year with a program using SpaceX rockets vs. the previously axed Constellation project rockets and designs.
The Falcon 9, created by SpaceX, became the first commercial vehicle to launch a spacecraft into orbit and have it return to Earth safely. We will look to future developments in space exploration and the bitter sweet retirement of the Space Shuttle as we know it.
There are a few vehicle ideas on the drawing board but as of now nothing has been put in concrete. The old Gemini and Apollo program has resurrected a pod design idea that looks to be very promising for sitting atop a SpaceX rocket for transporting astronauts into space in the near future.
To understand the magnitude, innovation, technology and bravery of the space program and the people at NASA, check out the video below of a Saturn V launch in slow motion captured on a high-speed camera at 500 frames per second and the famous space shuttle launch video below that.
Recently America isn’t too happy with government and politics and for good reason. Recently a 3-year old boy was filmed sobbing that he wanted to be governor of New Jersey. Can he get his way? Well, yes he can because after this YouTube video started to get noticed by hundreds of thousands of people, current New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a proclamation naming this 3-Year old boy Honorary Governor of New Jersey.
I guess if you cry hard enough and long enough over a YouTube video you can get anything these days. This shows how powerful social media really is. Check out the video below and tell us what you think!
Now that the iPad 2 has gone on sale and people are literally in amazement at the super-thin size and built in cameras, have you decided exactly what it is?
The first iPad literally redefined the power of Apple and how they can introduce a new device that isn’t exactly a replacement or upgrade of any other electronic gadget on the market but yet make people want and “need” it. Just like the MP3 player, Apple pretty much filled a void that people did not know existed with the introduction of the iPod. The new iPad 2 is a thinner, faster and better iPad that can take photos and video. We know exactly what the iPad 2 replaces, the first iPad. So what is the iPad and iPad 2?
Is it a tablet computer, a netbook replacement, an e-reader? It is in a nutshell a hodgepodge of all of these things but more along the lines of something that makes a statement to others. Toting around an iPad or new iPad 2 says something about a person. Does it say they have the money to spend on a device that they really did not need or something that has filled a very small void in their life such as what the iPod did about a decade ago? I can’’ place my finger on it but I will bet you that owners of iPads and the new iPad 2 have owned other Apple devices before and they are not exactly poverty stricken people.
Apple and Steve Jobs are probably sitting back and wondering what all this fuss about an economic downturn is all about. Apple has been literally banking in the past few years surviving what economic experts have said to be the worst economic conditions since the great depression. The Apple iPad and new iPad 2 are just another one of those “insanely successful devices”, which is how Cnet put it in the latest iPad 2 review video below.
Who from 1984 would have dreamed that some type of one-inch thick tablet device have a dual core processor or better yet, a touch screen used as the interface? More more more is the motto of today when America consumes three times as much oil than it produces and a country that is literally infatuated with portable electronic gadgets. I have come to the conclusion that the iPad and iPad 2 can be for virtually anyone. Yes, even those Android fan boys who hate Apple or even the poverty stricken person (that still has food on the table of course) who may end up spending their last dime on something that is cool as the iPad just so they can keep up with the Jones. Yes, the Apple iPad and iPad 2 is just that powerful and has that type of effect on people. I mean really, look at it. Isn’t it just full of awesome?
During my perusing of the Internet for something interesting to share with my readers, I stumbled upon an update to an application Synergy that lets you share your Keyboard and Mouse on Multiple computers. The best part about Synergy is that it works and it is Free!
The guys at Lifehacker were so generous enough to explain in detail how Synergy works and how to setup your ‘server’ (the computer that your mouse and keyboard is physically connected to) and the clients (Windows or Mac computer that does not have a keyboard or mouse).
Way back in the day two jobs ago, I use to use three PCs all with only one keyboard, monitor and mouse. This was done through a KM switch. Now with today’s technology this can be done virtually through software and your network. All you need is a working network, two or more computers connected to the same network and the free Synergy app.
The video below is a tutorial of Synergy on how to set it up and how it all comes together.
Try it for yourself if you have two or more computers that you wish to use the same keyboard and mouse for. Be sure to leave your comments below about the Synergy app.
In preparation for the infamous Super Bowl commercials, Volkswagen has decided tease everyone with new commercials including the introduction of the new Beetle and the 2012 VW Passat. I am not too much of a car guy but the videos below, especially “The Force”, are excellent entertainment. Volkswagen has seriously pulled out the thinking caps for this one because the Volkswagen Commercial “The Force” is going viral with over 1.4 million views in one day’s time.
If the Super Bowl game somehow turns out to be not-so entertaining, you can always bet your butt that there will be some interesting commercial to keep your attention. Go Commercials!!!
I am one of those bandwagon techie guys that has join the ranking of over 5 million people on Google Plus (Google+). Over the past few days I have played around with Google+ wondering if it was ever going to be something to compete with Facebook and I have come to an early conclusion that it won’t.
