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Latest Gear Live Videos
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
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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
Gallery: Opie and the Fonz Endorse Barack
Drobo Gets Apps To Serve You
Posted by Aaron Zollo Categories: Accessories, USB, Internet, Movies, Music, Peripherals, Software, Storage, Videos,
Drobo has been out for quite some time and serves the purpose of a “set-it-and-forget-it” backup solution. Drobo has added a few apps that bring a nice “value-add” to their storage capability. Data Robotics has released 19 applications for Drobo, and they seem to be highlighting three of those specifically due to their value to the average consumer. First, there’s the DroboApps Admin Utility, which allows you to manage your DroboApps via a web interface. The second is Yoics, which gives you remote access to your Drobo and DroboShare from a web browser or mobile device like the iPhone. Lastly, they are highlighting the Firefly iTunes Media Server that allows you to store all of your music, TV, and video content on the Drobo, and then serve that content to iTunes devices or computers around your home.
If you don’t yet have a storage solution and need a very reliable backup which also serves your media, then you should check out Drobo. They range in price from $349 to $1049 and offer USB 2.0 and Firewire depending on the model you choose. In order to take advantage of the apps, you’ll also need the DroboShare NAS module, which will run you $199, on top of the cost of the Drobo itself.
Read More | Drobo
Gallery: Drobo Gets Apps To Serve You
Taito Chokkan Classic Music Application
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Music, Software, Videos,
Game maker Taito has teamed with NTT DoCoMo and come up a clever app that lets users play in an orchestra with their fingers. The Chokkan Classic software is part of their i-mode Internet service. Participants move a finger in front of their cell phone’s sensor. Once they remove their finger, the music stops. The application allows the ability to sync with others to create a concert. This demonstration certainly makes it appear simple but then again the participants look a little silly.
Read More | MSNBC
Gallery: Taito Chokkan Classic Music Application
Michael Moore’s “Slacker Uprising” Free Download
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies, Videos,
Michael Moore joins with Leo DiCaprio by using the Internet to get his political ideas across. The filmmaker is offering his latest movie, Slacker Uprising, as a free download. Not only that, he is giving everyone full rein to email, burn, air, or otherwise share it with anyone in the U.S. or Canada.
“This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans. The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November,“says Moore. Sign up with your email addy on the Slacker Uprising site and feel free to donate the $9.95 price. And if you are looking for more fun concerning the election, check out the new YouTube videos by P Diddy and Justin Timberlake.
Read More | Slacker
