Archive for February 6th, 2010

What Superbowl Ad Has Google CEO Eric Schmidt All Atwitter? [Google]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on February 6th, 2010

Curious. Very curious. Eric Schmidt, head Googler, just Tweeted about his excitement for tomorrow's Superbowl. But he's not nearly as pumped for the gridiron action as he is for a mystery commercial running during the third quarter. Here's what he had to say:

Can't wait to watch the Superbowl tomorrow. Be sure to watch the ads in the 3rd quarter (someone said "Hell has indeed frozen over.")

Well, color us intrigued. What exactly will Google be advertising, if it's even a Google advertisement to begin with? A minimalist Nexus One spot? A rehashing of Apple's famous 1984 ad? If you have any guesses, let's hear 'em in the comments. [Eric Schmidt]

Update: BusinessInsider spotted a blog post by search guru John Battelle which suggests tomorrow's ad will be this one, entitled "Parisian Love":

Sure, it's sweet and all, but really? That's it? Not to mention that the idea of running off to France to live a life of truffles and Truffaut and true love might not exactly resonate with the segment of our nation that will be tuned in tomorrow.



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A Brief Survey of Recent Tape-Based Anamorphic Illusions [Opticalillusions]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on February 6th, 2010

With just a roll or two of painters tape, some patience, and a willingness to forfeit the respectability of their apartments (except, maybe, from a single perspective), some clever artists have created a very impressive collection of tape-based illusions.

Earlier today, Boing Boing posted this neat Back to the Future-inspired piece featuring an impressively detailed DeLorean rendered with painters tape. Kudos to YouTube user Wablamo for immortalizing everyone's favorite time traveling automobile in such an appropriately mind-boggling medium.

But the true hero of the anamorphic painters tape illusion is a YouTube user who goes by the name of BrussPup. I've watched BrussPup evolve over these last few weeks from his first experiments in the form—when he was, indeed, just a pup—up through our current moment in which BrussPup stands as a titan of tape-based illusions.

But let's start back with his humble beginnings. BrussPup's first piece, "X Room Illusion!," was a relatively simple undertaking but it betrayed the artist's natural ability for this particular endeavor:

A week later, we were treated to "Crazy Cube Illusion!," a more complex, confident effort that garnered a corresponding increase in YouTube views and blog notoriety:

Emboldened, BrussPup quickly offered up his next piece, "Pac-man Illusion!," which was noteworthy for spanning all the way down his hallway and incorporating a piece reflected by a mirror, which just piled extra mind-boggling on top of the regular mind-blogging to which we had grown accustomed:

BrussPup's most recent piece, "Nintendo Illusion!," is certainly his most ambitious effort to date. In this illusion, which took BrussPup fifteen hours to complete, blacklights and white paper were employed to create a glowing Nintendo controller:

There's no telling what's next in the world of tape-based anamorphic illusions. Has BrussPup retired his tape roll forever? Will Wablamo usurp his title as preeminent anamoprhic illusionist? We'll just have to wait, squint our eyes, scratch our heads, and see. [BrussPup's YouTube Channel and Boing Boing]



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Windows Phone 7 Rumors: Zune HD Inspired Interface, No Multitasking [Rumor]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on February 6th, 2010

PPCGeeks is offering up a whole bevy of rumors regarding Windows Mobile 7 and what will be revealed at MWC next week. What they're referring to as Windows Phone 7 has a Zune-like interface and Xbox integration but no multitasking.

PPCGeeks and Mobile Tech World claim that Windows Mobile 7 will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress, though it will be announced under the new name Windows Phone 7 and the presentation will focus on the user interface without offering too much detail on specific functionality. Here's a breakdown of what PPCGeeks and Mobile Tech World have heard:

The UI goes by the codename Metro and is heavily influenced by that of the Zune HD. The interface has been described as "clean," "soulful," and "alive," and offers a fully reimagined Start page. Third party UIs like HTC's Sense will no longer be supported. Windows Phone 7 will ditch Windows Mobile Device Center in favor of Zune's syncing software, and will offer integration with social media networks, Zune devices, and Xboxes, including friends, gamer tags, achievements and the like.

Apps will only be able to be installed via the Marketplace, which supports an API as well as a try before you buy system. Flash will not be supported initially. Windows Phone 7 also won't offer multitasking, though apps will be able to receive push notifications while paused in the background. WP7 will also reportedly lack NETCF backwards compatibility.

MobileTechWorld's report includes the tidbit that the browsing experience is faster than that of the iPhone 3G, and that Microsoft believes that Windows Phone 7 devices will roll out by September though they themselves won't manufacture any of them.

With all the rumors surrounding Windows Mobile 7, there's no telling if this particular batch will hold water. But with MWC just around the corner, it's definitely possible that this could contain some nuggets of truth. Hopefully it's just not the no-multitasking nugget. [PPCGeeks and MobileTechWorld via Engadget]



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Kindle Development Kit Now Available In Limited Beta [Kindle]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on February 6th, 2010

A few weeks ago Amazon announced they were opening up the Kindle for development, and as of today they are accepting requests for the Kindle Development Kit in limited beta. Head over to Amazon to sign up to be a beta developer and to request the KDK. The site also has updated Kindle Developement Kit FAQs and API information. [Amazon]



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Stow This DSi In Your Stomach, Not Your Pocket [Imagecache]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on February 6th, 2010

Like the Virgin Mary before it, an impression of a Nintendo DSi appeared on this piece of toast. Now it just needs a salami screen protector and a vegetable stylus and this mouthwatering gadget will be complete. [Tiny Cartridge]



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