Filed under: Computers, MySpace, Google, YouTubeHappy belated birthday, blogosphere! In case you didn't know, December 17 was the 10th anniversary of the term 'Weblog,' which was shortened to 'blog' at some point. The term started with a man, Jorn Barger, who used the phrase to describe his Web page where he posted links of interesting things he found around the Internet.Back in 1997, blogging was hardly the phenomenon it is today. Some of the most conservative estimates put the number of true 'weblogs' at that time in the lower double digits. These days no one can really say how many blogs are out there. Technorati, a blog tracking service, estimates that 120,000 new blogs pop up every day. In April the site was tracking just over 72 million blogs.The blog has morphed from its early days as a way of sharing cool finds (like Digg minus the voting), to the primary form of information dispersal on the Web. Blogging has become the format of choice in the fast-paced world of tech (like Switched.com) and politics, and has empowered a generation of new journalists. Now the New York Times has blogs, the Daily Kos is one of the most important forces in the Democratic party, and even CNN has the YouTube-esque iReport citizen journalism program. Like it or not, in less than 10 years time, blogs have completely altered the face of media.From the BBCRelated Links:Texas School District Sues Blogger MomBlogger Sued for Negative Book ReviewsArmy Cracks Down on Soldier BlogsBest Blogs on the Web Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Slideshows, Style Maven, Gadget Head, Creative TypeCheck this out: A new prototype dress may one day help dense men or women clue in on their partner's emotional condition. The Daily Mail reports that the Bubelle Dress, designed by scientists at the Dutch electronics company Philips, changes colors depending on the wearer's mood. The dress's development was prompted by a research venture dubbed the SKIN Probe Project, which imagines daily living in the year 2020. The garment has two connected layers, an inner layer equipped with biometric sensors that pick up physical information correlating to certain emotions, and an outer layer that casts different colors and patterns according to the information gathered. Sweat and temperature levels, the makers say, are key determinants in identifying a person's emotional condition. The garb is the latest "practical" application in the burgeoning biometric field. While it certainly is the most fashionable development to date, biometrics has been around for a while now, but has traditionally been used on security apparatus like locks and safes. Unfortunately, consumers intrigued by the prospect of such an outfit in their wardrobe will be disappointed to learn that the Bubelle Dress is not currently being produced for the public. On the plus side, this means that Cro Magnon males won't be able to masquerade as Dr. Phil anytime soon. From The Daily Mail %Gallery-12059%Related Links:Scented Movies Coming to a Theater Near YouSmart Bras Will Minimize Bounce and PainAlarm Wakes According to Body's Sleep Clock Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesWhile the name Bruckheimer may not inspire much confidence in those who prefer their movies to have deep meanings and thought-provoking storylines, you have to admit that the guy has made some of the greatest action movies of all time. ('Top Gun,' despite all its cheese, ranks up there pretty high on most peoples' lists.) So, it's with mixed thoughts that many will take the news of Bruckheimer forming a video game studio with MTV, a combination that will likely result in some big-budget gaming blockbusters in future years.The question, of course, is whether the games will be any good.MTV is spending $500 million on video games in the coming years, with its first big investment being 'Rock Band,' the 'Guitar Hero III' competitor which adds drums and singing into the mix. It's unclear just what Bruckheimer has in store for gamers, except that he says he will not produce games based on his movies. Ironically enough, Bruckheimer is flipping his rule, though: He's producing a movie based on a game called 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time', which is due for release in 2009.He also says his studdio's games won't fit into any existing genres like shooter or role-playing game. Instead, Bruckheimer plans to form new gameplay types and series where none exist today. Lofty goals, indeed.Will he succeed where other Hollywood to video game crossovers have failed? Time will tell, and while we're not expecting any paradigm shifts in the gaming world to come out of this, a little fresh blood wouldn't hurt. From ReutersRelated Links: Rock Band (under $250, Gamer) 'Guitar Hero III' Is Ready to Rock, Say Reviews Grateful Dead Comes to 'Rock Band' Video Game  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Cell Phones, Video Junkie, Jock/Sports Fan, Handheld Devices, CellphoneIn a move destined to give gadget heads with gridiron proclivities a reason to rejoice, Verizon has announced that its V Cast customers will have access to live, full-length NCAA college football bowl games on their cellular phones this season. While the major BCS championship bowls will not be offered, subscribers with V Cast-outfitted phones will be able to view 24 of the less-heralded contests, starting with the Poinsettia Bowl on December 20, which pits Utah versus Navy. BetaNews and the Silicon Alley Insider report that ESPN Mobile TV, CBS Mobile and Fox Mobile will provide live coverage of the games through Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile broadcast service.An indication that competition among service providers is in the streaming video sphere, the announcement is also another example of companies trying to outdo each other by offering exclusive, premium content. We also see it as a sign of the times, as consumers clamor for their cell phones to be do-it-all computers rather than relatively simple communication devices. But, alas, that notion is the stuff of a different post, as we leave you with a question: Will you be streaming the Auburn/Clemson Chic-fil-A Bowl or the Georgia Tech versus Fresno State Roady's Humanitarian Bowl? From Verizon (via BetaNews and Silicon Alley Insider)Related Links:ESPN Games and Shows Now Available on Xbox LiveHype Check: Verizon VCast TVIt's Video. It's Free. It's For Your Mobile Phone. It's Not YouTube.Facebook Comes to the Blackberry Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car Tech, Video GamesThe older people get, the harder it is to drive -- reflexes slow, eyesight goes, and one's level of awareness drops as the years pass. These unfortunate realities of aging can make driving a potentially lethal proposition for those getting on in years (not to mention the drivers around them).Governments, however, are not about to start confiscating drivers licenses when people are old enough to collect social security, so the challenge becomes how to minimize the danger involved with putting those in their golden years on the road.Toyota is teaming up with Professor Ryuta Kawashima, who worked for Nintendo to develop the DS hit 'Brain Training,' which uses simple and fun puzzles to sharpen the mind and tell you how old your brain is. Toyota and Dr. Kawashima are working on a system that will monitor the moves of aging drivers and help them avoid dangerous behaviors. Theideas currently on the drawing board are an automatic braking system that can curb unnecessary accelerating, a navigation system (duh) and climate controls that will help keep the driver alert and comfortable. "Ultimately, we hope to develop cars that stimulate brain activity so that driving itself becomes a form of brain training," Dr. Kawashima says. Toyota and the professor hope to have a basic form of the system ready for deployment within five years. Toyota's system isn't the only game in town, though, that is looking to save some lives by keeping drivers alert, Nissan has been working on its Intelligent Transportation System for some time now.Nintendo has cornered the market on electronics marketed to the elderly at this point. 'Brain Training' and the 'Brain Age' series on the handheld DS and 'Wii Sports' and 'Wii Fitness' have also proven to be huge hits with older consumers looking to dull the effects of aging.From Daily MailRelated links:Study Shows Video Games Make Senior Citizens' Brains SharperTop 11 Free Brain GamesNintendo Targets Women and GrandparentsNissan Saving Pedestrians' LivesSwitched Holiday Gift Guide Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, $100 and Under, $500 and Under, $1000 and Under, Gift News, Holiday Gift GuideDo we send too many discounts and deals your way? Hardly. In gift-giving, it is indeed the thought that counts but that doesn't mean you should also count away all your dollars when we can easily help you save a few. Something you may not know is you can often find great deals at so-called regional electronics chains instead of only relying on the big nationals or Amazon.com. And the good news is that all of these retailers let you get the same deals online and have merchandise shipped wherever you want. Here are three that could work for you.Abt Electronics, a stalwart of the Windy City and one of the biggest consumer electronics retailers in the country that still happens to be family owned, is offering a Panasonic 32-inch high definition LCD TV for only $698 and free shipping. This normally goes for about $200 more.Go West to Frys.com, which has the iRobot Roomba 400 for only $89.99 while it lists for $119 elsewhere. This little automatic vacuum cleaner seems smarter than some small dogs - or that kid you knew in school who ate the paint chips.Finally, look to New York's B & H Photo and Video for a decent deal on the Samsung BD-P1400 Blu-ray Disc player. They're listing it for $289.95 while it often goes for about $100 more.Happy shopping folks! Let us know how it goes. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Celebrities, MySpace, GoogleThe Internet has turned us all into a bunch of stalkers. Don't believe us? Then check out this poll from the Pew Internet research center. The same report that found that most American's hadn't Googled themselves reveals, by contrast, that a majority has Googled a friend or family member.Why Google someone else? Well, many (36 percent) said that they searched for a friend they had lost touch with. Another good chunk (19 percent) were out looking for information on professional contacts, such as coworkers and competitors, with 11 percent specifically using Google as a tool to help weed out applicants for jobs.Shockingly, though, only nine percent of adults have searched online for information about someone they weredating or a significant other. We would have thought it would have been a lot higher, but apparently it's okay to hop in the sack with any John or Sally, regardless of their Google-search-results profile.Still, a full seven percent of fully embrace stalkerdom and return on a regular basis -- defined as more than "once or twice" -- to see if the information available online about the target of their creepy obsession has changed. So, if you're regularly looking up information about anyone on Google, it might be time to take a good long look in the mirror and ask if you've crossed the line from curious to creepy. And yes, do this even if you're Googling yourself every few days, you self-centered jerk.Check out the full report here (warning: PDF).From ValleyWagRelated links:Most Americans Haven't Googled Themselves, Study Finds"iPhone" at Top of 2007 Google Search ListJohn Mayer Googles Himself, Doesn't Like What He Sees Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Features, Holiday Gift Guide'Tis the season to spread holiday cheer by inserting photos into ridiculous cartoons (after you've finished shopping, of course)! Here are the top 7 options that you can use to keep things fresh, because friends, family, coworkers, and all of your targets deserve a uniquely festive brand of e-spoofing.What are these crazy foreigners doing? Dive in and find out... Next >> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, YouTube, Green TechThe last time you were on YouTube, what were the most popular vids on there? You'd probably expect something with a funny baby, something political, something featuring cats, and probably a video focusing on the average male's favorite human anatomy part. What you likely wouldn't expect, though, is a video featuring a teacher talking about global warming, which is precisely what has turned out to be one of the most popular videos on YouTube so far this month. The video features high school science teacher Greg Craven chatting for nine minutes and 33 seconds about global warming. He doesn't spend much time talking about doom and gloom (submerged cities, global famine, etc.), nor does he go on and on about the scientific causes. Instead, he cuts to the chase, making a sound logical argument about why global warming should not be ignored. It comes down to this: Given our options of either doing something about the (potential) problem or not doing something, we're still better off doing something, because inaction is very, very risky. It may seem obvious, but the guy is compelling.Take a few minutes and watch the video above. It's a lot more exciting than a 90-minute PowerPoint presentation. From USA TodayRelated Links: It's Video. It's Free. It's For Your Mobile Phone. It's Not YouTube. Negative YouTube Clip Assails Huckabee Campaign Al-Qaeda Invites Online Questions, YouTube-Style  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Score one for the punching bags of the animal kingdom: Deep in the jungles of Indonesia, scientists have discovered a giant rat and a tiny possum that are apparently new to the world of science. The rat? Huge. The possum? Tiny. The duo? Awesome. The rat is "about five times the size of a typical city rat," according to Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Helgen also described the possum as "one of the world's smallest marsupials." The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province -- the Conservation International calls the area a "Lost World," because humans have so rarely explored it."It's comforting to know that there is a place on Earth so isolated that it remains the absolute realm of wild nature," said the leader of the expedition, Bruce Beehler. "We were pleased to see that this little piece of Eden remains as pristine and enchanting as it was when we first visited."They're no dinosaurs, but cute rats and possums are pretty mind-boggling nonetheless. From CNNRelated Links:Mousetrap Gases Rodents, Texts You When It's DonePet-Powered Paper Shredder Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cameras, Computers, iPod, iPhone, Gadget Head, $50 and Under, $100 and Under, $500 and Under, Gift News, Holiday Gift GuideDo we have a deal or three for you!This week it was easy to find a few good prices on product the big box electronics retailers are trying to move off their Web sites. Some small items, some big. All still in time for you to be the Santa of everyone's dreams. (We couldn't find a good deal on coal, so we hope there are no naughty boys or girls on your lists.)Find your way to BestBuy.com for a deal on an HP M632 Photosmart 7.2 megapixel digital still camera. It's only $79, which is a decent price. It qualifies for free shipping but in-store pick-up may suit you better just to be sure it's under the tree in time.Amazon.com has the 8 gigabyte iPod Touch waiting for you at $369 and its free super-saver shipping should still get the package to you by Friday if you order right away. The Touch is the iPod that looks like the iPhone. No, it's not a phone but the display is cool enough to make you cool enough, which is part of the allure, right?And while we're on the topic of iPhones and the iPod Touch, J&R Computer World has a little deal going on some "open box" protective screens for these devices. We know, we know -- "open box" makes you nervous but when it comes to products with no moving parts or plugs, a good deal is a good deal. Take a look.Only one week to go before the big day. Snap to it! You don't want to disappoint. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car TechWho needs Preparation H when you've got food-warming lights? Apparently those big infrared radiating bulbs are the secret to hemorrhoid relief. Hemorrhoids form when veins where the sun don't shine become inflamed. It turns out that when a concentrated form of the same infrared light used to keep Big Macs warm is shined on the affected area, for less than a second, it helps shrink the inflamed area.Doctors say the blast of heat is relatively painless, but then again, they always say that. Recovery takes about a day, then you can get back to your pre-inflamed derrière routine.From ABC7Related Links:Smart Bras Will Minimize Bounce and PainNew Super CT Scanner Could Change MedicineResearchers Kill Viruses With Lasers Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Cell Phones, YouTubeThe social networking phenomenon is pulling in new users and new applications every day, it seems. Add to the growing maelstrom of activity a new service from mywaves, a Sunnyvale, CA-based firm that brings even more video to mobile phone users.Now available in Nokia's content catalog -- called Download! (we like their enthusiasm and want to see more exclamation points) -- mywaves purports to make video content captured and posted by amateurs and pros alike available on a slew of channels, all for the purpose of creating social networks, similar perhaps to YouTube's channels but primarily for mobile phone users.Since its launch a year ago mywaves claims an enormous viewership, with more than 4.5 million unique visitors monthly.We logged on via our Palm Treo 755p and went straight to the "Start Cooking" channel (one of the most popular, according to the home page) to view a recipe for butternut squash soup (it's a chilly day here in New York and we want soup - don't judge). After several starts and stutters the video didn't quite play through, leaving us without a recipe and still sitting in the cold. We see the appeal of the service, though, and the interface is attractive and easy to navigate. We'll bookmark the page and return another day, and get back to you.From mywaves Related Links: Nokia Readying Unlimited Music Download ServiceFacebook Comes to the BlackBerryMobile MySpace To Launch Any Moment Now Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video Games, iPodThe iPod has hardly taken off as a gaming platform. Sure, there have been some ports of classic puzzle games, and a 'Guitar Hero' rip off, but nothing truly exhilarating. But there is proof now that Apple takes the iPod seriously as a gaming platform.Sega has ported over arguably its most classic game and character, Sonic the Hedgehog, to the iPod. Sure the idea of controlling this little blue speed demon with a scroll wheel sounds daunting, but we have faith that Sega wouldn't have released it if it wasn't playable.Sonic is available now for $4.99 from the iTunes store.From GameDailyRelated links:'Guitar Hero' for Your iPodEA Gives More Love to the iPod Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments