Monday, October 22, 2012

Austrian Skydiver "Flies" at 833 MPH During High-Altitude Free Fall

A few days ago Felix Baumgartner floated to an altitude of over 128,000 feet in a helium balloon -- then jumped out. He free fell for 4 min 20 sec, reaching a maximum velocity of 833 mph and breaking the world records for highest free fall and highest manned balloon flight. He made the incredible jump on the 65th anniversary of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier for the first time.

Check it out:


Kourtney Kardashian's Post-Baby Weight Loss Secrets

Kourtney Kardashian recently had her 2nd child and, just like the first time around, she was able to lose most of the post-pregnancy "baby weight" very quickly. So far she's lost 30 pounds out of a total of 45 lbs she gained during the pregnancy and she says she didn't resort to any extreme weight loss tactics. So no QuickTrim Extreme Burn or Belly Bandits we assume.

Ms. Kardashian say she was able to achieve the quick weight loss by eating a healthy diet and jogging. She says that after her first baby she was breastfeeding and ate a box of Nilla Wafers nearly every day. This time she's taken to snacking on another nearly-as-delicious treat: edamame!

We say: Good for Kourtney. But for some reason we're pretty sure she's done a lot more than just eat boiled soybeans and go for morning jogs on the beach with her sexy sister Kim. Being as rich as she is means a lot less body fat and very little cellulite -- plastic surgeons are a celebrity's best friend!

Learn some mo': How Kourtney Kardashian Slimmed Down Really Fast After Having New Baby




Saturday, October 20, 2012

Google Releases $250 Ultralight, Ultra-thin Chromebook Laptop

Google has introduced a new, cheaper version of their very light, very thin "Chromebook" laptops. The Samsung computer will cost only $250, putting it into direct competition with all the new low-cost tablets being released, including Google's own Nexus 7 tab.

According to top Google development manager Sundar Pichai:

"It's the BEST laptop that's ever been designed at this price... We assume that you have a Windows machine in your home, or maybe a Mac. This isn't built to replace those machines but instead be an additional computer... We really want this to be for everyone in your family... We really want users to think about this as one extra computer for your kitchen counter, one near the bed, maybe a computer for your kids or family."

The New Samsung Chromebook features specs just below those of the popular Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. It runs on a microprocessor designed for tablets and smartphones, the Exynos dual-core ARM processor, and features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of memory storage. Buyers also get 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage space free for 2 years. It also has a 11.6 inch screen, a weight of just 2 and a half pounds, and an ultra-thin 0.8 inch thickness

You can buy your own Google/Samsung Chromebook on Amazon and the Google Play online marketplace, as well as at several special "Chromezone" kiosks in Best Buy stores.

We say: This is REALLY good news. We love our tablets but not having a real keyboard often sucks. It's hard to "blog" using a normal tab!

Learn some mo': Google debuts $250 laptop -- the Chromebook

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Coming Soon: The Galaxy "Smart" Camera

Good news for photography-nerds: Samsung is set to release a new digital camera/phone hybrid product called the Galaxy Camera. It's one of the first Android-based "smart" cameras on the market and some experts expect it to become another big seller for the company.

Samsung reps say the new camera is unlike anything else currently on the market. It features a built-in 4G cellular network connection and basically the same user interface that's found on the Galaxy 2 and Galaxy 3 android smartphones. It has an incredibly powerful 21X zoom and can take photos up to 16-megapixels in size. It also features no external buttons -- all the controls are accessed through the back panel touchscreen.

The new camera has a lot of things in common with the new Galaxy S3 phone. It has a big, nearly-5-inch 720p display, 1.4 GHz microprocessor, and built-in GPS for those times when you forget where you're taking a photo. The photo app that comes with the device allows you to do nearly everything a high-end digital camera can do, including edit the pics right on the camera using the touchscreen.

Probably the coolest thing about the new Galaxy Camera is the sharing and "social" functionality built into it. It will connect to the internet through 3G and 4G cell networks as well as via a normal Wi-Fi connection. So you can instantly upload photos to social sharing sites like Instagram or just email them to a list of your best friends. It can also be set to automatically "backup" your photos to Samsung or Google cloud storage sites.

We say: Something tells us this cool new digital camera is gonna cost a lot of money. Plus it will give AT&T another excuse to rob us blind. Still... we want one now!!!

Learn some mo': Samsung's Galaxy Camera is half phone, half point-and-shoot



Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Lockitron: New Device Lets You Control Your Front Door With Your Smartphone

Ever want a cheap, simple way to lock and unlock your front door with your iPhone or Android smartphone? If so, then you're in luck. The new Lockitron keyless entry device is a very innovative gizmo that attaches to your door's deadbolt and makes it incredibly easy to control who can enter your house, apartment, bungalow, or mansion.

By moving your app-enabled phone nearby, or even by sending the Lockitron a text message (if you happen to be on the other side of the planet), you can open or secure your door. Apigy, the maker, has designed the product to communicate via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (4.0 only so far), and simple text message.

The Lockitron app even allows you to "share" door-opening abilities with friends and dog-walkers you choose. The device can also lets you know when the lock has been opened or closed. So you know when your kid gets home... or when your crazy ex-girlfriend decides to drop by unannounced.

The Lockitron box is removable so even renters can use it. And if you lose your phone you can easily log into a special website and reset the entry code so no one can steal your stuff after jacking your Droid. Right now, Apigy is running a "discount" special and you can pre-order your very own Lockitron for just $149!

We say: High-end iPhone and Android-controlled web cams and home security systems are about to get really, really popular... but right now most of them are also really expensive. It's nice to know there's a low-cost alternative for us cheap-asses!

Learn some mo': Lockitron: Let a smartphone open the door for you

Friday, October 5, 2012

Jersey Kid Makes Crazy, Video Game-Style Dodgeball Move

Recently a Kean University student made what is possibly the greatest dodgeball "move" of all time. Check it ou:



Wow.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Cheap Home 3D Printing: The Next Big Thing?

The New High-End, Low-Cost 3D
Printer from MIT
Tired of having to go out to the store to buy every little thing you need? Imagine being able to create the plastic piece that broke off of your expensive new television set, a pair of high heel shoes, a new bicycle, or even a hand gun in the comfort of your own home? Cheap 3D printing technology will soon allow you to do that, according to many experts.

"Personal" 3D printers are getting more powerful and less expensive every day. They've been used in industry for over 20 years but, up until very recently, they were way too costly to be accessible to most people. New technology innovations are changing that very quickly.

In fact, many experts believe that in-home 3D printers will become almost as common as normal inkjet paper printers eventually. Even "professional-grade" 3-dimensional printing technology is quickly becoming more affordable.

One group of engineers from MIT recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a new type of very "high-resolution" 3D printer -- called the "Form 1" -- that will sell for less than $3,000... far less than the $30,000+ price tag high-end printers were selling for just a couple of years ago. The group has already raised over a million dollars for the project.

According to Formlabs engineer Maxim Labovsky:
"The product is definitely not targeted towards the mass consumer... It produces parts like you can't get anywhere else with any other low-cost machine... It's a complete package -- easy to use and well-designed -- and I think it's a first of its kind."
3D printing may not become a totally mainstream phenomenon for several more years. But already thousands of hobbyists, including many engineers and designers, are using the machines to create plastic products and metal parts. Some chefs are even using them to created very intricately detailed food products!

One of the companies leading the pack in the home 3D printing field is Makerbot. Their machines are very affordable (a new model, the "Replicator 2", recently went on sale for $2,200) and can use thousands of open-source, downloadable designs from the company's "Thingiverse" database.

Makerbot is planning to open stores where potential customers can see with their own eyes just how amazing this new, lower-cost technology is.

We say: We want one! If cheap home 3D printers will allow us to avoid making trip to Home Depot and Walmart we predict they will quickly become the best-selling consumer product in the world!

---

Learn some mo': Home 3-D printing is getting affordable

And check out this cool video:



Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Google Smart Watch Coming to a Store Near You (Maybe)

patent drawing of new Google smartwatch product
More good news for high-tech gadget geeks: Google is developing a new "smart watch" that uses technology similar to their Google Glasses product released a few months ago. According to a new patent filed by the web giant, the watch features a flip-up lens that can "see" nearby objects and written words and then provide up-to-date info related to what it sees.

So in many ways it's Google Glasses for people who don't use glasses. According to the patent, the smart watch will communicate with your smartphone so you can view info on the screen. But it will also feature a built-in screen, underneath the bezel/lens, to view fresh data from the comfort of your own wrist.

Among other uses, a Google Smartwatch could potentially be set to always be scanning the area around you, giving you real-time info related to buildings, products, streets, signs, and maybe even people. Obviously things like GPS directions and "best price" information would be easy to serve to the wearer... as would all those lovely Google advertisements.

We say: This is great because we don't wear glasses and want more ways to view more Google ads all day long (Gmail, search, YouTube, Android apps, etc just aren't enough for our unquenchable ad-thirst!).

Learn some mo': Google patents smart watch with flip-up display that could reveal everyday objects' secrets


Low-Carb Diets: Effective for Fast Weight Loss & Better Health

Low-carb diets really may have some big health benefits, according to new research from Duke University. A clinical review of 17 studies, involving over 1100 obese patients, found that most low-carb dieters lost a very significant amount of weight -- about 18 pounds in 6 months to a year!

Besides losing pounds and several inches in their waists, most study participants experienced lower blood pressure, lower C-reactive protein levels, better triglycerides numbers, and an increase in good "HDL" cholesterol... among other benefits.

According to researcher William Yancy:
"These improvements occurred during weight loss which is known to lead to some of these changes."
This new research ads to several years' worth of evidence showing that low-carb diets like the Atkins diet are almost definitely effective for rapid weight loss, body fat reduction, and overall health/fitness. Since the late 90's several studies, as well as a ton of anecdotal evidence, has pointed to the fact that cutting carbohydrate consumption (especially sugar consumption!) leads to fast, healthy weight loss and a reduced risk of heart disease.

We say: It's time many doctors and "health experts" stop lying to the public, saying that Atkins and other low-carb diets are very unhealthy  They may not be the "best diets" in the world, but for many overweight and obese people they are viable options for losing body fat and improving overall health!

Learn some mo': Low-carb diet gets more support from new analysis