Cloudy with a chance of useful

A brief history of computing

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:07:00 +0000

Via NPR. I was in London this past weekend and saw a Cray 1a supercomputer from the 1970's. Ten times slower than today's smartphones.

What the writing process looks like

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:05:00 +0000

Very true. Via BoingBoing.

Sad storm troopers

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:09:00 +0000

Music video. Just goes to show that Storm Troopers get sad as well.

Genetic algorithm car evolution

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:53:00 +0000

This is one of the most interesting things I've found on the internet to date. It's basically an evolution simulator which tries to evolve the best cars possible for a given track. So in the beginning, the first generation of cars is randomly generated and most of them don't really get far. Afterwards, the algorithm takes the best cars of each generation to produce new cars, thus the cars get better and better with each generation. The user can vote a car up or remove it from the 'gene pool' as it were, and can also play with the mutation rate (this adds in random mutations). There are quite a few different tracks, and you can also design your own car (or try to improve on an already evolved car). Here's the main site, the FAQ and a list of best cars.

What's interesting is how this draws you in... you just sit there looking at the little cars and you find yourself rooting for the little guys, hoping they make it over the next hill. Here's a screenshot:

Edit: Also, this is post #300 on this blog. Not bad, given that I started a good year ago (on the 10th of February, to be specific).

Batman crossed with Star Wars

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:21:00 +0000

Just goes to show that everything can be made better by adding Batman. Or was that by adding Star Wars?

Via LaughingSquid.

Highly detailed Lego minifigs

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:50:00 +0000

Love Legos.

Awesome map of scientific collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:53:00 +0000

This is so, so cool. Via FlowingData (click for more, as well as a couple of close-in shots of Europe and the US).

Visualising your LinkedIn connections

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:11:00 +0000

I already mentioned the LinkedIn career tree a while ago, now they've come up with a visual representation of your network of connections - InMaps. Very, very cool. Note that you need at least 50 connections and 75% of your profile completed.

Tablet, slate and iPad search frequency

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Mentioning this because it's pretty interesting - basically, people are searching the internet for the term 'iPad' more than either 'tablet' or 'slate'. Via MacHoopla.

Also, I've slowed down posting here because of my new job. We'll see how things go, for now, don't expect too much.

What happens when a hacker gets his machine stolen?

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:17:00 +0000

Very fun video, via Gizmodo.

Google docs animation

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:42:00 +0000

Just goes to show that creative people are creative no matter the tools. Via Laughing Squid.

The Periodic Table of Sports Cars

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:20:00 +0000

From Car and Driver. Two things to note: the list does come from an American magazine (and as such has more American cars than most of us from Europe would consider worthy of being on such a list), and the positioning of the Lotus Seven.

Yet another Windows tablet

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:26:00 +0000

In what seems like Deja-vu, Wired reports that Microsoft will 'announce iPad-challenging slate next month'. Don't companies do this constantly nowadays? I've tried a Windows 7 based tablet (just recently, in fact), and it was complete and utter rubbish (for those who care, I tested a 2Go Pad).

The fact of the matter is that Windows 7 is a desktop and laptop operating system. It's not optimized (or in any way designed) for a touch experience. They will shovel a skin on to the OS, even though that's never worked, and I wonder what excuses they'll come up with this time when it fails.

Right now, the iPad has no competition. None. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is alright, but way overpriced. I'm sure we'll see some good tablets in the next few months (I hope HP doesn't screw up their WebOS tablet), but right now, Apple have the game to themselves.

Why most hardware specs are useless

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:18:00 +0000

A good post from Gizmodo on why most hardware specifications are complete bullshit. There are more which I could mention (*cough* megapixles *cough*), but these are all very good to know. I hate hearing people who are convinced that these specifications are what separate good products from bad ones, even though they make no difference at all.

Top iPhone and iPad apps of 2010

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Apple has listed the top apps of 2010, here's an organized list from Boy Genius Report, and here's the iTunes link. After a quick run-through, it seems that the Angry Birds apps were the most popular all around.

Tech journalism

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:54:00 +0000

Here's a great article from David Pogue, the technology writer for The New York Times on tech writing. I've been in this field for about five years now and I whole heartedly agree with him. It sometimes feels like the tech field is snowballing so fast that it's hard just to keep up. But it's interesting and generally fun writing about most of this stuff.

Settlers of Catan for iPhone and Android

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:53:00 +0000

I recently got an Android phone (a Samsung Galaxy S to be precise), so I now follow Android apps as well (besides iPhone and iPad apps). One of the coolest I've come across so far (recommended by an acquaintance) is Island Settlers, which is basically a Settlers of Catan clone. In case you're unfamiliar with Settlers of Catan, it's an incredibly popular board game, and though I've yet to play it, I can't wait to give it a try (based on my experiences with the Android game). An official game is also available on the iPhone.

Pictures of sulfur mining

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:47:00 +0000

I've already mentioned the always-brilliant blog called The Big Picture (from The Boston Globe), but this recent posting of a sulfur mine is one of the best and most unusual in a while.

Create a LinkedIn career tree

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Recently came by this neat web app from Newsweek and Bocoup which allows you to create a graphic tree from your LinkedIn profile. Here's the tree of Barack Obama:

Via FlowingData. Also, this seems like a good time to update my LinkedIn profile (though my tree is already pretty cool-looking :) ).

Facebook's global reach, visualized

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:37:00 +0000

I'm not on Facebook, but here's an interesting visualization of how people are connected around the world:

Here's the original post from Facebook, where you can also get the high-resolution version (and no, you don't have to be signed up for Facebook).

And while we're on the subject, I've just started reading the book The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World by the journalist David Kirkpatrick.

A bike ride home

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:20:00 +0000

A video of one guy's ride home.

What generation do you belong to?

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:05:00 +0000

Cool interactive website from USA Today, though it is US-specific. My age was only off by two years, which isn't bad.

Smartphone stress test

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:20:00 +0000

Smartphones are generally considered more delicate than cheaper phones, mainly because of their large screens. This is especially true with the latest iPhone, which has glass on the back as well as the front. Well, someone has finally gone through the trouble of seriously stress-testing these devices - and the iPhone4 is actually quite good.

Check it out: Gadget Stress.

Some Angry Birds coolness

noreply@blogger.com (JureF) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:52:00 +0000

First off, this very funky cake, second, a cool stop-motion animation. For those who don't know, Angry Birds is one of the most popular games ever to hit the iPhone (it's also available on the iPad and on Android, and even in Nokia's Ovi store). Here's the official site.

Update: Some angry birds costumes, and official plush toys. Just to add a bit of seriousness - Rovio, the guys behind Angry Birds, are hiring.