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Google (Finally) Releases Picasa for Mac

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Jan 6th 2009 at 4:47PM

One of the best photo organizers out there, Google's Picasa, has finally come to Mac after literally years of waiting to coincide with this year's MacWorld Expo. The free program, available now as a public beta, provides users an easy way to organize, view, edit, and upload photos. It also supports video to a limited degree.

Now why would any Mac user want to use Picasa when it's likely that they already have/use Apple's own iPhoto? First and foremost, Picasa is tightly integrated with Google services, from Gmail to Blogger, so if you're more a Google guy than a MobileMe guy, that's a huge benefit. It also sports arguably better performance than iPhoto, and has some nifty features iPhoto doesn't, including startlingly accurate facial recognition technology, making tagging your friends a breeze. Regardless, the program's free, so give it a shot -- you might be surprised just how good it is. [From: Wired]

Obama to Webcast the Inaugural Ball Live

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Jan 6th 2009 at 1:45PM


It's no secret that President-elect Barrack Obama ran one of the most "connected" campaigns in history. With YouTube videos, Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr accounts, and even a spankin' iPhone application, was there anywhere (or anyone) Obama couldn't reach? Those of you who thought all his tech-centric escapades would end after the election, think again: Obama will be Webcasting his first dance on inauguration night, for everyone in the world to see.

Said the President-elect: "This is an Inauguration for all Americans. I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country. Michelle and I look forward to joining our fellow Americans across the country during this very special event."

More details will be announced at a later date, but for now, we can say that making the historic day as accessible as possible is one of his best -- and most logical -- moves yet. Bravo, Mr. President-elect, bravo. [From: Politico]

Gift Tip: iFrogz Custom Headphones for iPhone/iPod

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Dec 5th 2008 at 7:48AM

If there's anyone who's raking in the iPhone cash besides Apple, it's the third-party accessory makers. From cases to speakers to, um, telescopes, there is no shortage of add-ons to tailor your iPhone to whatever your needs may be. ifrogz, a fairly well-known Apple accessory and custom-skin maker, hopes to take things to another level, though, with its customizable iPhone/iPod EarPollution headphones.

Starting with your choice of base headphone, you can then customize the color of the bands, side pieces, speakers, and cushions. Then, if you're feeling especially perky, ifrogz allows you to choose from one of a wide assortment of art patterns that overlay the outside shell of the headphones. Of course, if you choose the earbuds as a base, your customization options are more limited.

While the selection of prints isn't too shabby, letting people use their own photos for designs the way Pure Digital's Flip cameras do would surely broaden the headphones' appeal. Our only other issue? There doesn't appear to be a built-in mic or remote on any of the headphones, once again limiting the headphones' appeal, especially to iPhone users. Then again, even Apple's own headphones with mic and remote don't completely support the iPhone (the volume buttons won't work), so maybe the point is moot... [From: Walyou]

Mall Displaying Mugshots of Convicted Shoplifters

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 11:01AM


Finding an effective way to deter crime is obviously preferable to stopping a crime in progress. The question is, how do you do it? At home, people bar their windows, put up "Beware of Dog" signs, and conspicuously display security system signage in hopes of scaring off criminals before they commit a crime. But what if you're a shop owner inside a mall? The Staten Island district attorney thinks he has the solution: advertise criminal mugshots on HDTVs throughout the building.

Already in effect at the Staten Island Mall on 11 in-mall displays, district attorney Daniel Donovan used $8000.00 of forfeited criminal money to buy the "ads." By mid-January, the selected mugshots will have been shown over two million times to an uncountable number of shoppers. The company serving the incriminating photos, Adspace Digital Mall Network, owns numerous video displays in 105 malls across 39 cities, so if proven successful, chances are you'll be seeing eye-to-eye with the mugshots of some convicted local criminals.

While we can generally see the benefits of this concept, there are many variables here that have to be taken into consideration. Kara Gotsch, advocacy director of The Sentencing Project, a civil liberties group makes one especially good point: "Their sentence was whatever the judge gave them. This is punishment above and beyond," said Gotsch . "It's stigmatizing these people." Even though Donovon stresses that only chronic cases are getting the ad treatment, don't people deserve the right to start over? [From: WalletPop]

Michael Phelps Video Game On Its Way

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 9:55AM

Being famous has its perks. Take, for instance, Olympic superstar, Michael Phelps. Besides being the greatest Olympian of all time with 14 career gold medals, the 23-year-old swimming superstar undoubtedly has millions of dollars on the way through various sponsorship deals. Next on Phelps' list? His very own video game.

While details are scarce at this moment, this isn't the first time Phelps' name has been associated with video games. The real answer we want right now is, if we choose Phelps as our character, do we automatically win every race? This is, of course, assuming his game is a swimming-based affair. Why wouldn't it be? Well, just take a look at rapper 50 Cent's upcoming game. Yes, friends, anything is possible. [From: Joystiq]

Even With $199 Players, Blu-ray Sales Are Struggling

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 7:25AM

Back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, Blu-ray and HD-DVD coexisted in a competitive market that frustrated consumers with a lack of high-def disc formats. The result was no one really upgrading to either format due to fears of one or the other going obsolete. Then HD-DVD officially gave up, and Blu-ray was declared the winner. Happily ever after, right? Not quite.

According to a study by ABI Research, only 8% of consumers were considering upgrading to Blu-ray players this holiday season due to the cost involved. Not just the cost of the players (which have dropped dramatically over months, all the way down to $199), but the cost of an HDTV, a Blu-ray player, and the more expensive movies combined. Especially when you can now download HD content over the Internet and watch it on your TV with your PlayStation 3, XBox 360, Netflix box, or Vudu player. Given that many people don't care that much for high-def content (yet), or simply don't see much difference between SD and HD content, paying twice as much for a television, player, and movie seems like a waste.

So is Blu-ray out for the count? Maybe not. Let's not forget we're in a struggling economy that will one day get better. Additionally, PlayStation 3 sales have been skyrocketing, automatically giving millions of people a Blu-ray player in their house. Add onto that some DVD-like prices for Blu-ray movies on Amazon, and there's hope for the format yet. Regardless, we still buy physical media every now and then, mostly because digital options (like downloads) have yet to include all the special features included on discs. [From: Boing Boing]

Amazon's Kindle 2 Coming Early Next Year

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Nov 29th 2008 at 9:14AM

Remember those leaked Kindle 2 hardware shots from a while back? Well, they're real, but the rumored release date of sometime this past October is obviously wrong. Well, it was rumored to be correct, but sources are now reporting that the new release date is Q1 2009 due to Amazon head Jeff Bezos wanting a few changes in the software.

The Kindle is one of those strange devices where the high concept is fantastic: an eBook reader that ties directly into Amazon's huge selection of ebooks with a built-in (and free) 3G connection, courtesty of Sprint. Hell, even Oprah loves it. But the questionable design, lack of support for open and common ebook formats, charge for converting files not sent to your default Amazon email, and useless cellular connection when abroad (or in Montana or Alaska, strangely enough) have limited its appeal. Oh, and it costs $400.00.

We've personally been using Sony's eReader, both the PRS-505 and the new PRS-700. While they both lack a data connection and have a smaller selection of books available in Sony's online store, the ability to freely copy over PDFs and other document formats, as well as including support for everything from Adobe Digital Editions to the standard ePub format, makes Sony's readers a bit more palatable. Plus, the PRS-700 has a touchscreen and built-in LED lights for about the same price as the Kindle.

The ebook market is only going to grow as time goes by, so Amazon better have an ace up its sleeve if it wants to be the king of digital reading. [From: Engadget and TechCrunch]

Bill Gates an Usher at Friend's Wedding in Sweden

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Nov 26th 2008 at 2:17PM


Even if you're one of the wealthiest men in the world, given away billions of dollars, created a little thing called Windows, and have some mysterious new company on the horizon, you just can't escape some of life's more "normal" tasks. Take, for instance, the wedding of billionaire Charles Simonyi and not-as-rich-but-still-loaded socialite Lisa Persdotter. The one and only Bill Gates, and old friend of Simonyi's, was asked to be an usher in the ceremony, and usher he did. Also in attendance were Mick Jagger of Rolling Stones fame, and Ulf Ekberg of Ace of Base, er, fame.

If Simonyi's name sounds familiar, don't be surprised. He headed the creation of Microsoft's 'Office' applications, and dated Martha Stewart for 15 years. He also spent 13 days in space for the lowly sum of $25 million dollars, and plans to go again sooner rather than later. Simonyi has even been referred to as "a sort of combination of International Renaissance Man, Playboy of the Scientific World, Test Pilot of the Intellect, and Space-age Orbiter of the Mind as well as of the Planet" by scientist Richard Dawkins. So, uh, if you've got similar credentials and are in need of an user, Gates might be your man. [From: The Local]

TV Anchor Who Hacked Colleague's E-Mail Found Guilty

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Nov 25th 2008 at 7:40PM


Larry Mendte, a US TV news anchor and the first male host of the popular 'Access Hollywood' show, has been convicted for hacking into the email of Alycia Lane, a rival news anchor with whom he had a relationship with that was "a little too close." His sentence? Six months of house arrest, a $5,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service.

The full story is actually pretty wild and, ironically, made of the stuff perfect for 'Access Hollywood' headlines. The two were co-anchors on the evening news show for KYW-TV, a Philadelphia television station from 2004 to the beginning of 2008, and eventually started mixing pleasure with business. The wife finds out, Larry starts reading and leaking Alycia's e-mails to the press, and the whole situation spirals out of control to his eventual conviction.

If Alycia sounds like the only victim in this story, that's understandable. But she definitely has her own skeleton-filled closet, from sending a married man a picture of herself in a bikini, to punching a cop in the face. Seems like everyone lost in this situation. Check the video above for his full public apology. [From: Propeller]

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National Geographic to Make Video Games

by Kaiser Hwang, posted Nov 19th 2008 at 3:49PM

Games are recession-proof, right? Well, maybe not, but that's not going to stop National Geographic from making a videogame label. Dubbed National Geographic Games, the for-profit division will focus on creating software to further spread geographic knowledge. The new division's first game, 'Herod's Lost Tomb,' will be available as a free download for PC, Mac, and iPhone, while upcoming games will be developed for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and other handheld devices.

Believe it or not, National Geographic already has a game, made in partnership with Namco Bandai for the Nintendo DS, titled 'National Geographic: Panda.' Similarly, Sony has a National Geographic-like PlayStation 3 game released in Japan titled 'Afrika.' Could this the National Geographic: Africa game referred to National Geographic Games' press release? Hmm...

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