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SNL's Top 10 Greatest Fake Tech Commercials

Jon Chase — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Columns, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Playroom

Despite the dozens of iconic characters 'Saturday Night Live' has spawned over its 35 years, the most consistently funny and memorable moments have come from its hallmark spoof ads. After striking comedic gold in its very first season with a sketch about Mel's Char Palace, SNL's writers soon keyed into the parodic potential of America's longstanding obsession with technology, resulting in Dan Aykroyd's seminal Ronco send-up, the Super Bass-O-Matic '76. Since then, tech continues to serve as a golden goose for the series, allowing the writers to celebrate -- or stick it to -- an endless variety of ad campaigns, products or social trends. Switched sifted through the three decades of tech-related parody commercials available online, and came up with our top ten list for the ages. (Our caveat: NBC has cracked down so unmercifully that virtually no SNL clips exist anywhere other than on Hulu.com and NBC.com, which means all of them have brief ads. Sorry kids!) Hit up the comments for any winners we missed or ones you'd like to nominate.

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SNL's Top 10 Greatest Fake Tech Commercials originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bad Men: The Five Worst Tech Ads and Five Who Got It Right

Jon Chase — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Columns, Top Lists, TV, Reviews, Playroom

While we'd love to think we're immune to the coercive powers of advertising, we're confident that a lie detector test would shame us all. For the companies hoping to sell us their wares, that would seem like great news, but the blade of advertising cuts both ways; a bad commercial or ad campaign can conversely turn out to be a powerful disincentive. In the tech world, biases toward or against a brand are especially important, since many of us attach an emotional response to our gear. Simply put, many of us, consciously or not, feel like we are what we use.

With those thoughts in mind, Switched took a look at the advertising landscape from the perspective of a gadget hound, and found what we think are five of the worst ads we've seen in years. Truly awful stuff. In the spirit of cooperation, we pointed out the errors of their ways, and have offered up five more ads that took the same approach yet came out shining. As a wise man once said, knowing is half the battle.

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Bad Men: The Five Worst Tech Ads and Five Who Got It Right originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 10 May 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seattle Ranks as America's Most Dangerous City... Online

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Web

Symantec, maker of the Norton line of security products, conducted a study in which it analyzed the number of cyber-attacks, malware infections, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other factors in order to determine the 50 riskiest online cities. Not surprisingly, Forbes magazine's 2009 most wired city is Symantec's 2010 riskiest city. Seattle, Washington was the most vulnerable city by a large margin, thanks to its ranking in the top ten for every individual metric. It ranked second for both risky behavior and Wi-Fi hotspots, and sixth for number of cyber-attacks per capita.

The overall number two spot was occupied by Boston, with Washington, D.C. landing in third place. Surprisingly, the States' most populous city, New York, came in at 24th place, meaning we must be doing something right here in the Big Apple. Hit the source link to check out the rest of the list, and to see how well (or poorly) your own hometown fares against the competition. [From: Symantec, Via: Fox News]

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Seattle Ranks as America's Most Dangerous City... Online originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $15

Leila Brillson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Editor's Picks, Top Lists

A yearly expression of love. The Hallmark holiday. An easy excuse to munch chocolates and watch 'Mermaids.' Whatever Valentine's Day is for you, it certainly is coming up. We, for one, look at the day of hearts and cupids as another excuse to put together a world-famous gift guide for the geeky, a frugal but festive selection of booty that is guaranteed to get your some. From bling boomboxes to tiny dinosaurs, we're presenting quite a selection of inexpensive, but still romantic, nerd presents on the Net.

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15 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $15 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Music Is the Future: 22 of the Greatest High-Tech Vids, From Air to TLC

Switched Staff — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Editor's Picks, Celebrities, Top Lists

Musicians imagine themselves vanguards, leaders of the path forward. Their music can light the way into the future, bringing revelations that will allow humankind to be elevated to the next level of evolution. Either that, or they just like wearing spacesuits and silver eyeliner. Whichever it may be (and it is often a bit of both), the world of tomorrow is frequently explored in music videos, whether by The Police or TLC.

In Switched's ongoing exploration of the way technology and music collide, we've investigated the most futuristic videos made by modern musicians, rounding up some of the most (bizarrely) fun, cutting-edge music vids of all time. Firstly, each video we picked had to be set in a future time -- not just have a 'futuristic' feel. Also, we once again opted out of space videos. (We'll save the cosmos for another round-up.)

Here is what we've learned (and please feel free to confirm or deny these assumptions via Twitter or in comments): The late '90s and early '00s loved to imagine the future. Furthermore, while modernistic electronic music made an appearance, it was pop divas and rappers who time-traveled the most. And any subject matter can be fodder for a future-y video. (Just ask Shania Twain.) Lastly, and most importantly, when trying to convey the future -- always use silver eye makeup.

To discuss your own favorite future videos, find us @Switched on Twitter, and share the word with hashtag #FUTUREvids. And remember, as the now irrelevant Backstreet Boys have proven, the future is bound to change.

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Music Is the Future: 22 of the Greatest High-Tech Vids, From Air to TLC originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All We Don't Want For X-Mas (And What You Should Get Us Instead)

Jon Chase — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Advice, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Holiday Gift Guide

The only thing we hate worse than seeing other people toting around lackluster, craptastic gear is finding it underneath our own Christmas tree. That may seem like materialistic nitpicking in a season that's about generosity -- and it is -- but what really inspires us is the idea of always getting the absolute most out of your money, and the joy of giving (or receiving) a truly excellent item. Also, it's really fun to slam items we think are overrated or just plain lacking. So save yourself a little holiday heartache and time spent in the returns department with a look at our panned products and sure-fire picks that are guaranteed to please.

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All We Don't Want For X-Mas (And What You Should Get Us Instead) originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Data Shows the Most Obscenity-Obsessed U.S. Cities

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:25:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Google, Web

Last year, The Business Insider -- inspired by an obscenity case in Pensacola, Florida -- checked out the Google Trends data for each of the "seven dirty words." The defense attorney in the case had planned to use Google search data to show that Pensacola's morals were lax in comparison to the rest of the country. The research never saw the light of day, but that didn't stop The Business Insider from performing its own analysis of search statistics to determine the most obscene cities in America.

A year later, The Business Insider decided it was time to update the rankings, and last year's surprise winner -- Louisville, Kentucky -- really cleaned up its act and dropped to number 10. Several major cities are featured on the list, including Boston and Philadelphia, but, amazingly, New York avoided placing in the top 10. Take that, other East Coast metropolitan areas!

Continue reading Google Data Shows the Most Obscenity-Obsessed U.S. Cities

Google Data Shows the Most Obscenity-Obsessed U.S. Cities originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best New Bluetooth Headsets for Your Phone

Evan Shamoon — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:22:00 EST

Filed under: Cell Phones, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, BlackBerry, iPhone, Reviews, Mobile Phones, BlackBerry 101

A few years ago, Bluetooth headsets were rarely seen in public, and early adopters were accused of making both fashion and etiquette faux pas.

But the proliferating bans on driving while holding a phone, coupled with people's discovery of hands-free convenience, has rendered the devices standard-issue these days.

And headsets continue to improve in both sound quality and features. Most new devices utilize one or more noise-canceling technologies, such as dual microphones and voice optimization (which suppresses ambient noise for less distortion). Some headsets use a boom (which extends the microphone closer to the mouth), and better in-ear designs either eliminate the dorky ear loop altogether or relegate it to an optional add-on.

Some of these Bluetooth devices boast A2DP technology in order to wirelessly stream music from a phone. And designers are finally paying attention to fashion, not just functionality.

To help you find the best match for your ear, we've taken some of the newer Bluetooth headsets out for a test drive, using them on calls everywhere from noisy city streets to wireless-saturated offices and homes (where there's a lot of potential interference). We evaluated them on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent) for sound quality, ease of use (especially for tasks like pairing and answering calls on the fly), comfort, and aesthetics (you know, so you don't look like a 'Bluetool' while you're wearing it). Take a look at our favorites.

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Best New Bluetooth Headsets for Your Phone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14 Annoying Tech Types

Dan Reilly — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:21:00 EST

Filed under: Editor's Picks, Top Lists

Though technology generally makes our lives better, it can also turn us into idiots. Inspired by Blue Tools -- those people who never remove their wireless headsets -- we've compiled a list of personality types who irritate by misusing gadgets and the Internet in ways that are mean, rude, or simply clueless.

Are we stereotyping a bit? Sure, but ultimately, we're here to help. Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step to recovery. So take that headset off for a moment and ask yourself: "Is this what I've become?" If so, just look up from the screen, turn down the volume, and your friends will be happy to have you back. But first, take a look at 12 types who we think should take their technology and shove it.

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14 Annoying Tech Types originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12 Gadgets Every Student Needs

Chris Morris — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Advice, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Back to School 2008

Going back to school may not be fun, but it's a great excuse to buy new gear. Whether it's college or high school that calls you back, rest assured that the dozen gizmos the Switched.com crew has found will make your weekdays less painful.

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12 Gadgets Every Student Needs originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7 Signs You're a Fantasy Football Nerd

Caleb Johnson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Web

Soon, summer will give way to fall -- and, most importantly, to football season. While on-the-field action surely won't disappoint (unless you're a Detroit Lions fan, maybe), an ever-growing number of people believes the real excitement is on the Web. We're talking fantasy football, folks.

For years, it's rewarded those who are devoted enough to pore over stats for hours on end, allowing them to satisfy a gambling urge without having to break the bank. But lately, some fantasy players have upped their games, often to ridiculous extremes. Are you one of them? Check our list to find out.

Continue reading 7 Signs You're a Fantasy Football Nerd

7 Signs You're a Fantasy Football Nerd originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best and Worst of Viral Movie Advertising

Terrence O'Brien — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Web

Viral marketing campaigns are are an accepted part of advertising these days. Even the makers of soft drinks and jeans feel it necessary to flood the YouTube with thinly veiled ads. But arguably the first, and best, exploiter of viral gimmicks has been Hollywood.

Total Film, a cinema blog, has compiled a list of the best and worst viral campaigns for movies. The list tracks the evolution of the viral campaign beginning with the first major (and arguably effective) example: 'The Blair Witch Project.' The low-budget horror movie used the Internet in a way no other film had before, posting "found footage" and police records regarding the disappearance of the film makers.

Of course, not every attempt at subversive marketing was nearly as successful. Take, for instance, 'Wanted,' which tried to stir up a buzz with a popular video featuring grainy surveillance footage of an office dweller flipping his lid and destroying his cubicle. Unfortunately, the creators forgot to give even a tiny inkling that the video was an ad for the film.

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Best and Worst of Viral Movie Advertising originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pricey Toys for Nerds at This Year's Comic-Con

Caleb Johnson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists

Comic-Con is the Garden of Eden for nerds, and what do nerds love most of all? Collectible toys. From hand-painted action figures to life-sized statues, they'll vacuum seal it or enclose it in a glass case, never laying a hand on the goodies again. An expensive hobby, for sure, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Comic-Con.

The bloggers at io9 compiled a list of the 17 most expensive toys on the convention floor in San Diego this past weekend, and it's enough to make your jaw drop. These aren't the toys you'd find on the shelf at Target or Wal-Mart. Instead, convention goers get a likeness of Christopher Reeve as everyone's favorite hero, Superman, with silicone skin, hand-punched hair, and a $2,000 price tag. For Harry Potter fans, there's a life-size statue of Dobby, one of the franchises' most annoying characters, priced at $750. However, one of the most expensive, and possibly most bizarre, collectibles has to be a bronze bust of communist leader Mao Zedong... wearing Mickey Mouse ears -- a steal between $3,000 and $4,000.

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Pricey Toys for Nerds at This Year's Comic-Con originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21 Office Supplies Too Great to Be Real

Leila Brillson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Web

Solitaire for urinals? A La-Z-Boy office chair? If it sounds too good to be true, it is -- but that's because Cracked.com has come up with 21 of the coolest office supplies that would be too awesome to actually exist.

The Web site had an open call to its Photoshop-wielding readers to imagine a world where technology only improves the office setting (like automatic fly-detecting machines in the bathroom alerting users to "XYZ.") instead of making it more of a daily grind.

Number one on the list is surprisingly NSFW, but should appeal to anyone that deplores mindless data entry. Other gems include "Boss Approaching Vision" and "Cubicle-ready Rear-View Mirrors." Take a look at the entire list here. [From: Cracked]

21 Office Supplies Too Great to Be Real originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 100 Most Unfortunate URLs on the Internet

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Web

Last month, we put together our own list of unfortunate URLs, culling six of the most ridiculously named sites on the Web. Highlights include therapistfinder.com (for finding therapists) and penisland.com (a site dedicated to writing instruments). Now there's an entire Web site dedicated to the idea.

Slurls is a message board that collects the worst-named sites on the Web. In honor of its 100th submission, the message board members compiled all the "Slurls" in one easy-to-read list. Some are priceless, like childrenslaughter.com (a children's charity); some are creepy, such as molestationnursery.com (a defunct plant nursery); and others -- innocent in their native tongue -- are hilarious in English, like Campanal.com (a Spanish restaurant).

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The 100 Most Unfortunate URLs on the Internet originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Use Your iPhone to Control Almost Anything

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:35:00 EST

Filed under: Cell Phones, Computers, Video Games, Top Lists, iPod, iPhone, Mobile Software, Web

You may not realize it, but your iPhone is even more powerful than you think. Sure it can place calls, browse the Web, and even play 3-D games, but did you know you can use it to control almost any other gadget in your house? Seriously.

Silicon Alley Insider has compiled a list of 15 things you can control with your iPhone. If you have a TiVo, AT&T, or DirecTV DVR for your television, guess what? Control it with an iPhone app. There are home automation apps for your thermostat and lights, and any computer is at your command with Remote Desktop Protocol or VNC (Virtual Network Computing) on the iPhone. And, of course, there are the countless media players and media centers -- iTunes, AppleTV, XBMC, Boxee, SongBird, VLC -- all controllable on your iPhone.

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Use Your iPhone to Control Almost Anything originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subliminal Messages in Corporate Logos

Chad Mumm — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:10:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists

You've probably noticed the arrow in the Fed-Ex logo -- in case you missed it, it's right there between the 'E' and the 'X.' -- but did you realize that there are plenty of other corporate logos with similarly subliminal design elements? Graphic designers spend hours hunched over their graphics tablet, stylus in hand, trying to create logos that stick in our minds. Why not kill two birds with one stone and code some subtle (or not so subtle) information about the company into the logo design itself? Fortunately, Charlie Johnson from Graphic Design Blog tracked down a list of 25 logos with hidden messages, so check them out and show off your incredible powers of perception to your friends.

Even though some of them are obvious (like the arrow in Amazon's logo), we'd have never spotted the bear hidden in the logo of one of our favorite candy bars. Cool stuff. [From: Graphic Design Blog]

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Subliminal Messages in Corporate Logos originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 20 May 2009 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 10 Scariest, Funniest, and Craziest Audio Recordings

Peter Mychalcewycz — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a recording worth? Way more than that if the RIAA has anything to say about it. The folks over at Listverse have compiled a top 10 list of incredible audio recordings, and my is it a potent one.

The range of emotions we experienced when listening to each selection was as varied as the recordings themselves. The most startling is a recording of the final moments of People's Temple leader Jim Jones and his nine hundred and nine cult followers as they poison their children and then themselves. Honestly, don't listen to it if you think you can't handle it -- it requires a strong stomach. There is also a scary recording of a Russian exorcism complete with voice-shifting screaming.

Continue reading Top 10 Scariest, Funniest, and Craziest Audio Recordings

Top 10 Scariest, Funniest, and Craziest Audio Recordings originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Things Ruined by the Internet

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:39:00 EST

Filed under: Top Lists, Web

The Internet has mostly made our lives better. We love Google for putting piles of information at our fingertips, and, without the Web, there would be no Switched. That being said, it's undeniable that the Internet has ruined some good things, as well.

The blog OMG Lists has compiled a list of nine good things ruined by the Internet (one of those things being lists). So, what good things in life will never be the same thanks to the Interwebs? Cats (thanks to the efforts of I Can Has Cheezburger and the LOLcat meme) are the saddest thing to make the list. We used to think cats were adorable; now, we just stand around them with a camera waiting to take funny photos to pair with a funny caption. Rick Astley also made the list, thanks to our least favorite Internet trend ever -- Rick Rolling.

Journalism also made the list, and it's hard to argue. Journalism used to be a highly respected, well paying occupation. Now, journalistic publications are fading and being replaced by blogs and news aggregation sites like the Huffington Post (and, uh, Switched). Not that there is anything wrong with blogs, of course. It's just that saying, "I'm a reporter for the New York Times," still carries a lot more weight than saying, "I'm a blogger."

Check out the rest of the list here. [From: OMG Lists]

Next >> 'The Worst Celebrity Blogs'

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Best Things Ruined by the Internet originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Games for the Unemployed

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Top Lists

So, you've lost your job, your main squeeze (or mistress), and some creditors are about to repossess your car (if they can find your secret parking spot three blocks from your apartment). It's tough out there. On the plus side, now you've got more time than you could possibly imagine to play those video games you bought that are just collecting dust.

But what should you spend your new-found downtime on? Well 1UP.com has you covered and is offering up its suggestions for what games are most worth your seemingly endless time.

View Poll

You can lean Mandarin in an attempt to please our soon to be Chinese overlords, live a revisionist past where you become a Wall Street fat-cat, or just waste the hours away on the borderline nonsensical 'Metal Gear Solid 4.'

Of course you could use this time to take some classes, or you know, apply for jobs... but who are we to judge? [From: 1UP.com]

Gallery: 5 Loud Games That Might Get Your Neighbors Calling the Police

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Best Games for the Unemployed originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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