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The speak-er speakers
3 people recommended this item
Description
Cool concept for desktop speakers. It looks like they're not available for sale just yet (I'm not sure why they wouldn't take pre-orders), but the manufacturer is saying they'll make 1000 sets sometime in 2009. (via Gizmodo)
Updated Feb 3, 2009
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Palm Pre
3 people recommended this item
Description
Palm just announced the Pre, their first attempt to compete directly with the new class of smartphones from Apple, Google and RIM. With hardware that compares well to the iPhone and a brand new OS (the Linux based WebOS), the Pre looks to be a serious contender when it launches this summer (probably around the time the 3rd generation iPhone will be available).
Engadget has a full review (link under the Buy button), but the highlights are:
- 3.1 inch, 480x320 touchscreen (same res as iPhone, slightly smaller)
- slide out keyboard (similar to the G1)
- Wi-fi, Bluetooth, 3G (EV-DO on Sprint initially, GSM soon after)
- 3 megapixel camera
- Webkit based browser
- Accelerometer
- applications can be built with Javascript, CSS and XML
As a software developer, the idea of building full applications using the same technologies used to build web applications is interesting and cool. The review notes how this might hamper game development (e.g. how do you do graphics or access the accelerometer with javascript), so it'll be interesting to see how the platform develops.
The only negative I see (for some people) is that this will phone will initially be a Sprint exclusive. I've been a happy Sprint customer for years, but friends and family have had a tough time with their customer service/tech support in the past.
As someone who has been using a Treo since the Treo was cutting edge (say 5 years ago), it's nice to see Palm coming back with a great looking phone. I'm looking forward to reading the reviews when it launches.
Updated Jan 13, 2009
Valeo Body Ball
First to recommend
Description
These are balls are great for stretching and working a variety of muscles. We just got one yesterday for my wife. Inflating these can be time consuming/painful because the air pump supplied with the ball is made for someone the size of a squirrel.
Updated Oct 20, 2008
Sony VAIO VGN-CR510E/J 14.1-inch Laptop
First to recommend
Description
I recently purchased this laptop, and for the most part I've been happy with it. The specs (2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, integrated webcam) are pretty nice for a sub-$1000 laptop, and the design is pretty nice (although not as nice as the considerably more expensive MacBooks and MacBook Pros).
This is my first Windows Vista machine, and yes, it's pretty annoying with all the "confirm it was you that's running this program". I'm planning to install Ubuntu soon, but haven't decided between dual boot or VMWare.
My only complaint with the hardware is that the battery life seems pretty short (typically a little over an hour for me, and I'm not even using the DVD drive), and occasionally the machine runs out of battery without any prior warning. I think I need to contact Sony and get a replacement battery.
UPDATE: I never contacted Sony, but the battery did seem to get better after a few weeks of use. It's still not quite what I'd like, but I can usually get about 2 hours on Vista and 3 hours on Ubuntu.
Overall, I'm happy, and really impressed that I can get a machine with at least 4x the processor and hard drive, and with 6x the RAM as my last laptop, for about one thrid of the old laptop's price.
Updated Dec 31, 2008
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Hive Game
First to recommend
Description
Hive is a game we discovered while on vacation last weekend. It's a fairly simple strategy game for 2 players, who each get a set of six sided insect tiles. There are 5 types of insect, and the goal is to surround your opponent's queen bee first.
This is a really fun game. It usually takes around 15 minutes, but still stretches your mind quite a bit. If you like the idea of a thinking game but chess feels like overkill, Hive might be for you.
Updated Oct 6, 2008
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Cray CX1 Supercomputer
First to recommend
Description
Cray is famous for selling the world's fastest (and most expensive) supercomputers back in the 80s. The company eventually went bankrupt and the name has been sold several times since then.
The Cray CX1 is a "low cost" (e.g. about the price of a nice new car) supercomputer based on Intel Xeon processors. It does run Windows, but the awesome looking case makes up for that, and I imagine you could run Linux on it if you wanted to.
Updated Sep 29, 2008
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Gadget Nation
3 people recommended this item
Description
If ThisNext were a book, it would be Gadget Nation. Many of the wacky fun products people put on ThisNext (Clocky, Octodog, cupcake cases, etc.) are featured in this book, along with some that probably haven't made it onto ThisNext yet.
A great guide to some strange and wonderful inventions - makes a great gift or coffee table book.
Updated Sep 26, 2008
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FloweringTea Set
2 people recommended this item
Description
Looks like a cool gift.
Updated Sep 26, 2008
Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture by Martin Fowler
First to recommend
Description
I'm a practical software developer who usually focuses on rapid development, so a book with a title like this normally puts me off. However, I've been thumbing through a copy at the local bookstore and am really impressed with the practical advice it offers to application developers.
It's not specific to the web or database backed applications, but most of the patterns covered are directly applicable, and will help web app developers think through possible solutions.
Updated Sep 11, 2008
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Electric Technician Sunglasses
First to recommend
Description
I got a pair of these for skiing last season, and I've been wearing them for pretty much everything these days. They're comfortable, look great and are kind of in between fancy designer sunglasses and plain sports sunglasses. I'm hoping I can avoid losing these.
Updated Sep 10, 2008
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Lists
Movies that I like
Updated Jun 23, 2009
Here are some movies that I watched and liked, which are all available on DVD.
Thai Curries
Updated Jan 21, 2008
I've been a fan of curries (Thai and otherwise) for a long time, but haven't ever made any at home. We recently got a family...
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