The Mechanical Toaster

For the Ultimate Fanboy...Your Very Own R2-D2 Unit...

2010-01-25T01:07:00.003-07:00

I can just hear the thousand jealous cries of trekkers everywhere...Let's see a phaser do this...

Microsoft Surface...Tabletop Computing with a Major "Wow Factor"

2010-01-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

In case you missed this one with all the focus and hub-bub on the Apple touch devices...check out what Microsoft has been doing for a couple years now...not exactly practical for everyone but it does make you dream and hope for the day when you can get one...

When Technology FAILS...(And the people that use it)...

2010-01-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't even wanna speculate how I can get a urine sample onto the internet...I sure wouldn't want to receive that attachment in my email...

see more Epic Fails

When Technology FAILS (or the people behind it)...Obama's New Look...

2010-01-24T23:55:00.000-07:00

I can't even comment on this one...close, but no cigar...

see more Epic Fails

When Technology FAILS...New Gender Choice...

2010-01-24T23:52:00.001-07:00

Apparently, "Black" has been decreed the new gender...I wonder how you can get into that one...

see more Epic Fails

When Technology FAILS...Microsoft Using Apple...

2010-01-24T23:45:00.000-07:00

You know it's gotta be bad when Microsoft is turning to Apple during their conferences...

see more Epic Fails

When Technology Fails...Hands-Free Communication

2010-01-24T23:42:00.002-07:00

Seriously guys...like who is the genius that came up with this brilliant idea?

see more Epic Fails

When Technology FAILS...Firefox Release...

2010-01-24T23:38:00.002-07:00

Here's another beautiful technology failure...seriously guys...what does 2.0.0.14 release even mean - maybe a changed letter or number in the options menu?

When technology FAILS...French Missiles...

2010-01-24T23:33:00.003-07:00

An impressive display of French technology if I do say so myself...enjoy!

Jan 27th nears...Will there be a new iPhone?

2010-01-23T12:47:00.075-07:00

Source: http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/4g-iphone-multitasking-gestures-galore-cutting-edge-maps-cloud-itunes-20100119/ /

Ah the blessed date...you know the day...it's not your birthday this year...it's not about Christmas or 4th of July...the new date everybody is anxiously looking forward to and saving up for is Jan 27th...the new D-day...the new Demo Day....

Besides the announcement of the much-anticipated iSlate...what we are all waiting for is the announement of the next generation of iPhones...the iPhone 4G.

Look at the following youtube clip to get started...I'm not sure exactly where it came from...or even how official it is...but it does give you some good visuals to get your brain ticking...

The first image posted up top from geek.com is a wonderful little creation that showcases what we can expect - the boys over there have concocted the basic probability of some of the rumors floating around...we'll just touch on a few of the more toastworthy features now...

5 Megapixel Camera

This is the very least Apple can get away with...any more megapixels will definitely be welcome...but considering Google has slapped Apple in the face with the Droid's 5 megapixel camera...I would hope Apple can answer back with a decent challenge...Obviously this camera will be capable of video...the thought of not having video on your cell phone these days...it's absurd!

One of the most impressive rumor quotes circulating is that this release will,

put Apple ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers more than any other phone to date. (geek.com)

Put short...Apple is putting together a veritable coup-de-tat this year...between the iSlate, iPhone, and the new cloud iTunes...Apple is going to be a hard name to get away from...

Much Improved Graphics and Function

Check this out...trusted Apple sources were also heard saying that,

the iPhone 4G as having an OLED screen and front-facing camera for videoconferencing. It should run “dual-core processors and powerful graphic chips that can deliver higher video resolutions and better still images,” in addition to – surprise, surprise – a removable battery.

I'm not sure what I'm more excited for here...an awesome new graphical experience complete with dual-core processor and OLED screen...or A REMOVABLE BATTERY! Ugh...how many times have I wanted to switch batteries in a hurry, or just remove it to charge....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE APPLE GOD...MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

Just to get an idea of OLED...here is a perfect, pristine example of the display that Sony made quick use of to deliver even better graphics than previous televisions...

In addition to improved graphics and speed, the Apple iPhone 4G should be showcasing the ability to multitask much more efficiently...including da da da dum....third-party apps! I can hear the cheers in your head as you read this...How many times have I accidently exited Pandora in the middle of a wonderful song to check a new email...only then to be surrounded by silence....WELL NO MORE ACCORDING TO SOURCES! Apple will deal with this....

Upon introspection...the feud between Google and Apple does seem like a healthy antibiosis...at least for us the consumers...

More Storage, Slimmer Design, iPhone OS 4.0, Enhanced Gestures and Improved Contact Syncing and Mapping...Too much stimulation....but I like it...

If the two preceeding rumors weren't enough to get you going...then how about these!

64GB Storage - In case you didn't have copious amounts of space already...try having double what you've experienced with the 32GB phone...ah...the sigh of having a seemingly infinite amount of space...Throw in more ram...and I am about to hit a climax...

And to think...who knows if you are even going to need that storage considering the release of iTunes Cloud...??

Improved Contact Syncing and Mapping - Not much is known about these two rumors but to think about it logically...Apple hates Google...so instead of the iPhone relying solely upon Google Maps...they are going to have to dish out a new, improved contender...iMaps? iGuide?

Little was heard about it, but Apple quietly acquired a new startup company called Placebase...an innovative take on the cartographing ways...

For the rest of the features, we will just have to wait like everyone else for that grand highlight of the year...Mark it on your calendars folks...put a reminder in your iPhone...

Jan 27th.

Here's another list of the features along with the probability they'll actually show up on the new iPhone....as shown on geek.com...just to make sure you mark it on your calendar if you haven't... :)

•Glowing Apple logo on the back: 1 percent

•removable battery: 30 percent

•Built-in RFID: 30 percent

•Portable DVR functionality: 30 percent

•full metal case (unibody): 40 percent

•LED flash: 50 percent

•64GB NAND flash memory model: 60 percent

•front-facing video camera: 70 percent

•contacts on home screen: 70 percent

•touch-sensitive case: 75 percent

•Dual-core processor and more RAM: 80 percent

•OLED display: 90 percent

•Five-megapixel camera: 90 percent

•Availability between May and July: 99 percent

To summarize everything...one word...uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (profuse Homer Simpsonesque drooling)....I am speechless....it looks like this decade may very well be the decade of the Apple....Live long and prosper Johnny Appleseed! Long live the new king!

Here's the final, blown away, give-me-more, can't wait TOAST RATING:

Images courtesy of wikipedia.org, geek.com, hightechideas.com, touchmyapps.com

iTunes Going to the Clouds...

2010-01-21T00:28:00.001-07:00

If you're like me, you enthusiastically purchase a new computer, only to realize the daunting task of moving your media library over. Well that issue is about to be done for, that is, when Apple completes their launch of iTunes.com - the rumored cloud version of iTunes.

It was only a matter of time until this happened, especially following Apple's latest acquisition of lala.com - the hugely popular, online cloud music service. This is a great move for Apple, and a great deal of "strategery" seems to be taking place under Steve Jobs' watchful eye. That is, with release of the iSlate, or Apple Tablet, or whatever you want to call it, an online cloud sort of environment is just what the doctor ordered.

If it is truly a cloud service, implying no need to download videos, music, and other media...that could be absolutely awesome in terms of memory management. Now it isn't such a bad thing to go with a thin, chic-looking little tablet, because you don't need the 100+ GB for all your plethora of media. Just let Apple handle it with their bundles of money they are going to earn this year. Not a bad trade I reckon...

Look for the iTunes preview page sometime this quarter, just to get a taste...

For now, you may just to make use of Mojo - the best way I've found to share your library with other computers...It looks like Apple shut it down on their main site, but if you go to the following link, you can download it...not sure for how long...but get it while you can and you can share your iTunes library with others on your network...It is definitely toastworthy!

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,77079-order,3/description.html

Until then, we'll just have to wait until the mass of circulating rumors over Apple's head clears up...it should be an exciting year!

Anticipatory Excited-to-not-Hack-iTunes-Anymore Rating:

Images courtesy of:

http://www.filecluster.com/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/itunes-logo-296x300.jpg

9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/question_cloud.jpg

For Your Viewing Pleasure...Nerd Comics...

2010-01-19T23:41:00.001-07:00

Source: http://xkcd.com/185/

Project Natal...Microsoft swings...it scores big...(perhaps)

2010-01-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

image courtesy of http://geeksyndicate.files.wordpress.com/

With all the talk about the advent of 3D TV's those who are salivating right now are just thinking of all the ways they can play new movies, games and other electronics just to see something in 3D that should be 2D after all these years...

One of those new toys that could change the way we game as much as color TV changed the way we watch movies will come in two words and a beautiful twelve inch package.

It's none other than Project Natal...

If you have been on hiatus or sabbatical the past year, and haven't been able to even conceive how advanced video games are getting, then this post is for you!

The details are locked up pretty tightly, but nowhere near as hush-hush as the steel chest in which Apple keeps its iSlate. Here...try out this video for starters...it will get you salivating...

While many out there claim that this has nothing on the Wii...I beg to differ...let's see you try to kick while holding a wiimote and let's see what happens...yeah...just as I thought. It would appear though that Microsoft is attempting to tap into the interactive gaming market and take a break from the hardcore gamers it usually caters to...good move in my book. Those who are fans of the Wii will be bought over...the only thing they may not find is Mario or Metroid...but who knows maybe that'll change one day...

Let's take a look at some of the details we do know about the enigmatic Project Natal...

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Currently the release date is listed as Nov 10, 2010

No price has been released yet, though some speculate it may be around $100

Rumors are also going on that Project Natal will serve as the basis for the new Xbox 360 to be released some time later

Using gestures, vocal commands, and objects the user will be able to control the game - No controller except for your body!

This Jimmy Fallon clip shows how that will look...pretty awesome start, and this was back in June '09...

While many gamers will be a gung-ho to run out and play Halo or Call of Duty, they might be disappointed because there's not much hope of having too many advnaced games like that starting out. Just like the Wii in its humble beginnings with Wii Sports, you may want to wait until some of the high-end games come out...

But can you imagine the feel of an invisible assault rifle or plasma gun in your hand...yesssss....

I checked and it does appear to be listed on Amazon.com at the following URL:
http://www.amazon.com/Natal-Xbox-360/dp/B002BSA298/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1263881674&sr=8-1

Bottom Line - It's going to be AWESOME!

Final Anticipatory Ants-in-your-Pants Toast Rating:

First Impressions from Beta-toasting Microsoft Office 2010 | Word

2010-01-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.microsoft.com

For all those who want to give the new Office 2010 a try...go to the following:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/whats-new/default.aspx

Clink on Get it Now and it's all yours FREE...

And don't be afraid, if you have Office 2007, it will install it without overwriting your previous copy.

To start off, I wanted to give you all a firsthand look at how this new version plays out...Will it be as powerful an upgrade as the previous version was? Will it flop? Let's check out the facts and you can decide for yourself....

The first little screen that greeted me after installing was this little beauty...not exactly encouraging...

I'm not really sure what this means, but now it shows up for my other version of Office...but just click ok and think of it as a friendly startup greeting...because it will start up just fine after that....

To be completely honest, when I first opened up the new Word, I wasn't exactly blown away...in fact if it hadn't been for the cool new startup screen, I would have thought I accidently clicked on my old version.

The following is a side by side comparison of each of the ribbons from Word 2007 and the new Word 2010...the major differences are circled for you...

Home Ribbon

Insert Ribbon

Page Layout Ribbon

Review Ribbon

View Ribbon

Developer Ribbon

Having compared the two, let's look at what Word 2010 can do...

The Good:

Builds off a successful, intuitive interface from 2007

Snapshot tool - Favorite! The snapshot tool, under the insert ribbon allows the user to incorporate an image from a current open window into a Word doc. Pretty awesome!

Image edit options - With the ability to erase background, and other basic photo edits, Word 2010 bypasses going to an outside photo editor to make changes.

New Smart Art, clip art, security measures, and overall visuals make this a prettier program to stare at for hours...

Awesome new print settings makes it much easier to print what you want.

Jumplist integration with the new Windows 7, and a much easier way to open recent docs

Finally, check this one out! One of the coolest features that Word 2010 builds upon is collaboration...Just look at the info pane under the File Ribbon...you can actually load up past drafts of your doc, edit authors, and other collaborative features from this pane...

As stated by Micrsosoft (www.microsoft.com):

"Accomplish more when working together - Brainstorm ideas, provide better version control, and meet deadlines faster when you work in groups. The co-authoring experience for Microsoft® Word 2010, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, Microsoft® Excel Web App and Microsoft OneNote shared notebooks let you work on a file with several people at once - even from different locations."

Pretty smart move since the internet is moving to be THE way to collaborate...

Now let's look at

The Bad:

For those who are expecting a new, stunning interface (like me) you will be disappointed...as you can see from the first clips above, there isn't a heck of a lot of difference between the two versions...Looks like Microsoft is playing it safe...(as usual)

One big disappointment for me is not including an integrated way to open up a .pdf in Word. Sure you can save a doc as a pdf, but there is still no way to open a pdf in Word...guess Adobe and Microsoft are good friends...

I would have liked more integration with social networking sites such as flickr, Facebook, blogger, etc...I mean sure you have the ability to upload a post, but it still takes a lot more effort on my part if I want to upload a post with pictures. Flickr wouldn't even let me upload pictures...and for the common layman, a nice little button that integrates with Flickr, either for inserting images or otherwise would be leaps over what Word does now...

They took away the big yellow button...I liked that giant thing in the left-hand corner...now it is just a tiny File text link...

The Bottom Line:

With some added collaborative features that makes multiple authorizing easy and secure along with some pretty visuals, Microsoft has definitely improved upon Word 2007. Where it comes short is the guarded conservativity that Microsoft is known for. Add in the fact that Google Chrome OS will be coming out, and undoubtedly the collaborative tools and other features Google will bring to the table will be mind-numbingly cool. Microsoft must be a little scared...

Bottom line is that while this is a great program, it is definitely not a major impetus to lay down a $100+ to get a new copy. Word 2007 has just about the same features, just with a bit different layout.

If the final release doesn't change much I wouldn't recommend the switch...

Final Toast Rating:

Let me know your thoughts...do you agree/disagree with this rating? Why?

Wi-Fi Woes...Man allergic to wi-fi takes neighbor to court...

2010-01-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

You've had the neighbor...You know...the one that uses a cell phone, internet, and bluetooth...Oh wait...I guess that is most everyone in the United States, at least the major cities. Well, Arthur Firstenburg is just plain fed up...and has been for years.

Carrying on a crusade to end electromagnetic rays everywhere, Firstenberg first realized he was allergic, or hypersensitive to electromagnetic rays as a medical student at Cornell. From that point on, he dropped out to become an advocate against any type of electromagnetic-promoting behavior (such as cell phones, wi-fi, etc...)

Now, I am not doubting the existence of hypersensitivity to electromagnetic rays...I mean I am allergic to penicillin, and I have to annoy doctors by asking for prescriptions they don't hand out to everyone else.

Where we run into a little problem is the direction this story has taken. While I am allergic to penicillin, I haven't sued any neighbors for their use of it.

But that is exactly what Firstenberg has undertaken. As reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Firstenberg says, "he suffers from electromagnetic sensitivity [and] is suing his next-door neighbor for refusing to turn off her cell phone and other electronic devices."

Can you say extreme? Imagine this happening to you...sure you've had noisy neighbors and neighbors who have their whole living room on their front yard...but have you ever been sued for googling or facebooking?

The story gets worse...let's venture on...

As a result of this pesky neighbor's continued web surfing, Firstenberg has taken up temporary residence in his car, as a means of escaping the rays...but does anyone else realize a little problem with this? There are sure a heck of a lot of rays floating in the air these days in case you have noticed...we have radio waves, microwaves, not to mention all the plethora of waves in between...

Says Firstenberg's lawyer, he "cannot stay in a hotel, because hotels and motels all employ wi-fi connections, which trigger a severe illness...If (Firstenberg) cannot obtain preliminary relief, he will be forced to continue to sleep in his car, enduring winter cold and discomfort, until this case can be heard."

It should also be mentioned that Firstenberg has been complaining for year to his neighbor, Monribot, regarding her use of electronics. While she has been much more attentive to his pleas than most people would, she finally drew the line about using her iPhone.

I don't blame her...With so many great apps like Fieldrunners, Bejeweled, and Scrabble, I don't think I could go a day without my phone...

Time will tell how this monumental case will turn out...The only problem I can see is that the judge, lawyers and jury are going to have to get rid of their phones beforehand and the stenographer will have to pick up a typewriter along the way...

Though the news story is definitely entertaining, I give the man's adamant efforts a final electronic-infested toast rating of:

Original story located at: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/

Wi-Fi image via: http://ipodtouchtricks.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/wifi.png

Dedicated to Jon Ames...The Mechanical Toaster's First Follower....

2010-01-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

In recognition of the brave efforts of Mr. Jon A. to become the #1 follower...On behalf on the Mechanical Toaster, I would like to present him with the following honorary certificate (Not that it really has any authority behind it, though it is signed by Yoda...but I consider you an honorary jedi in my book :)

Congratulations!

The Peregrine Glove | Control in the Palm of Your Hands...Eat it Tom Cruise!

2010-01-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

We may not have the ability yet to predict crimes before they happen...or even cool holographic screens that we can move around like an iPhone interface...but there is one thing we do have, and that is a cool black glove that enables us to control our computer...Whahahha!

Codenamed the Peregrine, this little sophisticated piece of technology enables multiple keyboard shortcuts (up to 30 actions) - Check out this video for a nice intro to how this all works out...

As you can see, using multiple contact point along your finger and palms, you can customize actions your keyboard hotkeys would have taken a second to touch with the tip of your finger.

Plus, the fact that this is made from military-grade fabric is pretty awesome...I usually don't hesitate to put military-grade things on me, no matter what article of clothing it is...

The only obvious limitation with the Peregrine I can see is that you still have to use a mouse...I mean how cool would it be to just move your hand for mouse actions...now that's something I would pay good money for.

But, before you discount this glove and decide to wait another decade until technology catches up fully with Tom Cruise, check out this next video, demoing the gameplay using the glove. I think I could actually keep up with the computer on Warcraft III if I had one of these...

Granted, the guy's Asian demoing the product, so naturally he is going to be ten times better than me at a computer game, but this could actually level the playing field.

If you are interested, you can get yours preordered today for a mediocre $129.99, which isn't bad I guess if you're a serious gamer...How much do you spend on flashy lights and other gizmos just to make your computer look like a rice rocket at a LAN party.

The URL is located at http://www.theperegrine.com/buy/ if you want to put your order in...

Overall, the Mechanical Toaster gives this cool little piece of technology...

Toast Rating (Out of 5)

images courtesy of http://www.pocket-lint.com/news-gallery/30730/peregrine-minority-report-gaming-glove/1#image

videos courtesy of http://www.theperegrine.com/videos/

3D TV's...Bomb or Blossom?

2010-01-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2010/01/_mg_4314.jpg

If you haven't heard of the latest and greatest at CES 2010, then this post is for you. Dominating displays and excitedly hushed whispers frequented the show regarding 3D Televisions. Yes, they are coming...this year - August more or less. Yes, they promise a beautiful display of colors and interactive entertainment. Yes, the Super Bowl will supposedly be broadcast in 3D next year...

The only question that remains then is will this be another failed venture, or will it be a revolutionary mark in history?

You be the judge - Here are the facts...starting with a Forbes video showcasing the new technology...

Personally, the man in this video wasn't exactly brimming with confidence...and if I'm correct, I don't think he even got a full sentence out without another question firing from the interviewer's lips...

I think everyone is a bit full of skepticism when it comes to products like this - Let me refresh your memory a little, take a trip down Nostalgia Lane, visiting some of the past "great" ideas that failed miserably...

1 | Picture Phone

Believe it or not, but the picture phone was invented back in the 1960s. Riding the wave of Star Trek, everyone who had tons of money must have wanted one...the only drawback apparently was that if 4 or 5 people used them in even the largest cities, they would crash the entire city phone system...

(Source: http://blogs.bnet.com/salesmachine/?p=430)
(Img source: http://www.porticus.org/bell/telephones-picturephone.html)

Great idea...bad timing...

2 | DigiScent iSmell

Not exactly the most appealing of names...having any connotation of stinking never sells well for products...The idea was too be able to send aromas over the internet...now how they were supposed to accomplish this is beyond me, but as you would surf the internet you could be presented with electronic fragrances to heighten the surfing experience...only problem was...no one wanted to have to buy software in addition to popup blockers...plus there are a lot of pages out there I wouldn't want a smell coming from...

(Source: http://www.cnet.com/1990-11136_1-6313439-1.html)

(Img source: http://komar.cs.stthomas.edu/qm425/02f/Yang2.htm)

3 | Virtual Keyboard

This one is actually pretty cool, and I am hoping it will catch on one day so I can get my hands on one. It is no other than a holographic sort of virtual keyboard that you can plug into your computers, PDA's, and other accessories. I just don't think it has been marketed too well, and according to the review at CNET it was one of the worst products because "Unfortunately, when we tested it, we got the following message during setup: "The device does not offer any usable services. Please enable any desired services on that device or choose another one." Definitely not a good way to start...not impressing CNET can have lasting repercussions...and for the price of $169.99, I'm not really to enthralled to dive in and try it...

(Source: http://www.cnet.com/1990-11136_1-6313439-1.html)
(For more product information and img source visit: http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/)

Doubts aside, let's review the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself if these TV's will sink or swim...

Pros

Source: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/63421

One of the predominant comments made by testers at CES was that "the 3D image does seem to stretch behind the screen, with moments that deliver a sublime sense of depth, such as, say, the ballroom floor during the "Alice in Wonderland" trailer or even the foreshortened spinning wheel in "Wheel of Fortune." Sounds pretty good eh? Having the game winning pass of the Super Bowl thrown right at your face sure sounds appealing.

The other great thing is that with a lot of the TV's demoed, you can actually switch back and forth between 2D and 3D, which I think is essential considering the wide array of movies, tv shows, and video games that may not be made for 3D.

In two words...sleek design - check out this picture from engadget...

(http://www.engadget.com/photos/sony-oled-3d-tv-eyes-on/2594506#2594505)

Cons

The one unraveling thread I can see with all the vibrancy, luster, and brilliance in contrast from these TV's is the use of glasses. Being the sole manner of viewing the TV's in 3D, each viewer must be equipped with special glasses that operate just like the old school red-blue glasses we've always had as kids. These new ones are not too much different, though they have definitely been Oakley-ized to look significantly cooler.

The reason why I don't see this working is the impracticality of putting on glasses just to watch TV. Now instead of spending hours finding the remote, in addition you'll have to find your glasses. Then you have tiny glitches when viewing due to the refresh rate, which no matter how fast you make it, you might always see a minor glitch when refreshing. Consider vision problems too, what happens to people blind in one eye, or with less visual acuity in one eye? I'm not sure how companies are going to get around this one. The last issue with these glasses is the idea that each TV only comes with 1-2 glasses. This means if you have a big family like mine, or if you are psyched to invite your buddies over for the big game, you are going to be out a few hundred dollars. Speaking of cost, we haven't even gotten to how much the actual TV unit costs...you are going to be down a whopping $3000 or more (up to $12,000)

Yes...that's three zeroes after the twelve....

Bottom Line

Here's the final toaster take on these possibly ground-breaking TV's. They are awesome, no doubt about it...with picturesque demos at CES and beautiful contrast, it could make watching movies at your house a lot more fun that going to the theater. However, with issues such as cost, appeal, and practicality to be dealt with, it may be a risky investment initially.
That's why my advice to anyone reading this blog is to wait...at least 1 year if you have ants in your pants to get one...wait and see how things go. And if you can wait, I would wait 2-3 years until all the kinks are worked out. That's my practice with Microsoft Windows, and it hasn't steered me wrong yet....

Final Skeptical, Unsure, Maybe Just Maybe Toast Rating:
(out of 5)

Wanted: Level 42 Enchantress seeking Level 16 Dwarf....WoW

2010-01-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

Now this is one I have never heard before..brace yourselves...you know our world is a little bit tipsy when a 42 year old woman enters into an online relationship with a 17 year old boy culminating in their reunion in Canada....

Ok, you might be thinking...well that's not so strange in our world...you never know who you are talking to online...even if their username is Hottgirl1786...

But...in this case..it gets a little strange, even by modern standards. The two met while playing WoW and after thousands of long journeys, deep dungeons, and successful quests, their plutonic relationship culminated into something much deeper...

Romance...

Undoubtedly, it could happen any day for a teen raging with hormones. But, the woman involved, at 42 years of age and being a mother of four, and living in Texas, should know much better. Hopefully, this is one quest she will earn a infinite amount of experience from.

Their meeting came to fruition as the woman arranged a meeting with him in Ontario. Of course his parents denied him when asking permission to meet with the fellow comrade from Texas..but that didn't stop the 16 year-old.

Leaving in the middle of the night, and disappearing for two days, (probably to fight the orc army) they were finally found outside a Future Shop, much to the relief of the parents, (and if she is married, to the chagrin of the husband).

A modern day Romeo and Juliet tale...

Worthy of the following TOAST...

source: alientrap.org

Full Story: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/teen-found-after-meeting-his-42-year-old-online-soulmate/article1416257/?ok

"God Mode" for Windows 7....

2010-01-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

God Mode?

Yes, it is true - There is a mode for Windows 7 that lets you have all of the control panel functions in one very thorough, completely full folder. If you are like me, you spend minutes and minutes hunting around in frustration, as if you are hunting for a warp whistle on a Mario 3 level with no time left...and after a dozen clicks, you finally get to your destination...

Why this function didn't come with Windows 7 in the first place, I'll never know, and why it suddenly appears now, I'll never know...but there is one thing I know...it works... (although it may crash your computer if you try it on Vista 64 bit...so don't get mad if your computer crashes on you...it should definitely work on Windows 7.

Here's what you do:

Go to any area within your computer (i.e. c:/ or documents or some folder)

Create a new folder and push enter to keep the name new folder

Right click on the folder and rename it the following:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Push enter and voila! You'll instantly see the folder change to say "God Mode" and an icon of the control panel appears...

I've tried it out myself and I like it already....

We give this a grand total rating of:

Feel the power of omnipotence....

Apple Tablet Gossip...the latest...

2010-01-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5434566/the-exhaustive-guide-to-apple-tablet-rumors?skyline=true&s=x

Ah, the Apple Tablet, probably the most looked-forward-to, sought-after, and mysterious piece of technology around. Will it be little more than an IPhone? Will it be another revolutionary piece of technology we have come to expect from Apple as of late? Who knows...well some people think they may know, and after researching some of the lastest gossip...I would like to share my thoughts...

Keep in mind these are all just guesstimates made by an Apple fan...I in no way take responsibility for these answers and your potential excitement...

What will it be called?

ISlate - The Mechanical Toaster predicts this name of all names, based on the evidence presented at by the peeps at Gizmodo and Macrumors. The image at the left shows Apple's registration for the domain islate.com back in 2007.

It seems only fitting given the whole "i" theme.

There have also been an abundance of rumours based on other "slate" deviations, but the most prevalent appears to be "Islate" - at least it has the most buzz...

What are the specs?

The boys over at islate.org seem to have picked up the following numbers floating around the world wide web...

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache and 1066MHz system bus

2GB of RAM, but will support up to 8GB

120GB SATA hard drive 4200RPM

Sure it may not seem that impressive if you have a choice between an IMac and these specs, but compare it to a Netbook, and you have a serious competitor - usually high-end netbooks sport the following specs:

•Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz

•1GB DDR2

•160GB HDD

Throw in 8 GB of ram on that ISlate, and you have an incredibly fast little machine...

What are the important dates?

Announcement Date:

Jan. 27

Let me remind you that everything on this post is complete GOSSIP - but it is fun to speculate. I say Jan 27 because of the following tidbits of info from Gizmodo -

"The Financial Times said two days ago that Apple is expected "make a major product announcement on Tuesday, January 26th" at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where Apple's rented a stage for "several days." Silicon Alley Insider says that Apple is going to demo a tablet in January."

My intuition is that Apple is going to draw out the suspense, and wait for a day at the convention to make the grand announcement...

Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/apple-tablet-aka-islate-to-ship-in-march-says-wsj/?news=123

Shipping Month:

June

While the WSJ claims it'll be shipping in March, I am going to have to disagree on that one. Apple typically favors June as its favorite month to release amazing new technology - take the IPhones for examples, always released in June. It seems to work out pretty well for them, so why break something that's not broken?

Over at http://www.ilounge.com/ it looks like they agree with the June date....

Other than these multitudinous rumours, little has been said regarding the specific capabilities of the ISlate...

What I would speculate though is that it will not be too much different from the other Mac computers. Though it will more than likely rely on a 3G or 4G internet, for portability purposes. It will probably have a webcam, with all the fun features that Apple packs into taking pictures.

What is left now is shrouded with doubt and speculation...

You be the judge...if you have any ideas, The Mechanical Toaster would be more than happy to hear them...especially if you catch wind of juicy gossip - feel free to share!

One thing is for sure though, the ISlate is going to be a beautiful machine that people will be clamoring to just to have a flick or a swipe at...

Consider this topic hypothetically toasted...

Apple Tablet Rumors....Mythical creatures, you're out...

2010-01-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

It seems a change is taking place in the mythical creature world - Big Foot and Loch Ness Monster are out...make room for the Apple Tablet - the new mythical creature in town.

Rumors abound and people are clamoring to get a whiff of news about this beast. Is it big, is it little? Does it use apps, or an OS? Can I watch TV on it - can I edit movie on it?

If there is one thing that Apple is good at, it is keeping secrets. The IPod hit the market by storm, just when we thought Apple would be a relic at a museum. Then there was the IPhone, which you can't help seeing if you go out anywhere in the world.

So what will the Tablet be like?

One source says the following:

"The device, which I've held mock ups of, is going to have a 10 inch screen, and when I saw it looked just like a giant iPhone, with a black back— although that design could change at any time" they said, "with the same black resin back, and the familiar home button." That's obvious.

"But it will come in two editions, one with a webcam and one for educational use."

Educational use?

They continued to explain the device as something that would sit between an iPod/iPhone and a MacBook, and would cost $700 to $900—"More than twice as much as a netbook," they said.

To make up for that cost and make the device more than just a big iPod there was, this person claimed, there was talk of making the device act as a secondary screen/touchpad for iMacs and MacBooks, much like a few of the USB screens that have come out in recent months from Chinese companies. Very interesting.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5335942/an-insider-on-the-apple-tablet

Salivating yet? I know I am...

It has been confirmed by some insiders that the Apple Tablet will take some time to get used to, just as the IPod or IPhone user interfaces took some getting used to. But it shouldn't be a bad change by any means...Who doesn't love the swiping interface of the IPhone?

Set to come out at some TBA date sometime early this year, the Tablet promises to be an exciting kickoff to the new decade.

There have also been rumors that apparently a PC version (Slate) is supposed to be released, by Microsoft, and they are trying to get it out before the Apple Tablet...ah the beauty of free market competition...

Source: http://ngbbpc.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/big_foot.jpg

So take a seat Big Foot...

Your sighting days are on sabbatical now...

More to come as rumors abound.

Anticipatory Toast Rating: (out of 5)

Hot toast of the day...Verilux Sunshine Simulator

2010-01-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Now who out there has got a case of the winter blues? If you're like me, then you're stuck three months living in the middle of a beautiful, hazy gray inversion which does wonderful things for your tan. Heck, I have friends that are polynesian who end up after winter being whiter than me, and I am pretty palid looking.

Many out there actually get pretty depressed due to S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the wintertime, and this company is proposing something will counteract those effects.&nodysp; A little dose of sunshine (aoout 30 min a day) is what this company says you need to fight S.A.D. How do you get that when you live in a place like me...make sunlight!

Source: http://www.amazon.com/

The National Institute of Health has released the following findings regarding the effects of light exposure (in blue) over time. If this happens to you during the month of January especially, you may be a good candidate to get a daily dose of sunlight.

Source: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1262735921485

One customer who reviewed the light stated:

I ordered the HappyLite about 4 months before they even shipped the product, because it was the first reasonably priced (and sized) light to help treat SAD. Living in Minnesota, I tend to get depressed in February, so wanted to see if the light would help. Starting in Oct/Nov 2003, I began turning it on at desk height at my work for the suggested amount of time. I did not use it on weekends.

Anyway, I think that it helped me keep from sinking so low with the SAD blues in February, but it did not completely keep SAD away. I spent 4 days on the beach in Florida during the 3rd week of February, and that helped the most.

I will indeed use the light again this winter, because it helps--but does not eliminate--SAD for me.

Source: http://www.amazon.com

Bottom Line - If you can get away to Florida during the winter, go for it...but if you are less fortunate like most of us, then you will have to make due with other means...

Source: http://www.allmoviephoto.com

With all this talk of S.A.D. it really makes you wonder...do Vampires suffer from S.A.D. ?? I know they don't exactly get a lot of sun...it would explain a thing or two about this whole phenomenon...

Just a thought....

Anyway, back to the reviewing...Pros for the Verilux HappyLite include the chic ambience it can give to your home. Sleek design and small, it can fit in most spaces, which means you can take it where you want. If it does work for you, then it is more than worth it if you can improve your mood for the 3-4 months you are stuck with winter. Finally, Verilux has a pretty nice three-year guarantee with their products, where they will replace it, no questions. That's a lot of self-trust...

Cons include the inability to take this portable...it solely runs on power from outlets, so you are limited in that respect. But more than likely, how many times are you going to attach it to your dashboard? One of the biggest setbacks for many people is the cost - running at $180 for this version, and even a tidy sum for some of the smaller versions, if you don't have the money, then you'll just have to scour sunlight in your backyard. But if you do have it, then no problem...it's yours!

Bottom Line - Great investment for those affected by S.A.D. - especially for an improvement in mood and function, the price will not matter if you can chase away the winter blues. The bulbs and the products itself are supposed to last for years, supposedly well over 10 years, which means replacement issues and costs associated with replacements should not be much of a problem. With high customer ratings, it seems that those who use it would agree that it is worth the investment. Sleek design and small size means you can put it anywhere and not feel too ashamed of yourself...you can even take it to your next party if you'd like...

Toast Rating: (Out of 5)

Consider this topic toasted!

For more information, please visit: http://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLite-Deluxe-Sunshine-Simulator/dp/B0001ATEJ2

Check out the Verilux HappyLite Deluxe at Amazon.com - Get it now for $180

Technorati claim code: ZMV3T3ZVXNHT

Ugly People Beware...

2010-01-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

You know it's sad when the internet doesn't let unattractive people use certain websites...if it were that way, Facebook would definitely oust most of us.

That's the goal of beautifulpeople.com, a dating classifieds site bent on bettering the gene pool with its hot hookups. Sorry ugly people, you have to go to match.com - The standards are far too high here...

After the holidays, Beautifulpeople apparently dropped a significant amount of its members - according to this statement: "many members posted photos of themselves celebrating Christmas and the New Year--revealing that they have let themselves go. Vigilant members, who take pride in the standards demanded by the site, called for action."

One word...sad... :(

It gets even worse...check out this tweet by LizOstroff: ''Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded.''

Urge to kill rising...

Who doesn't let themselves go during the holidays...come on people...that's why we have New Year's resolutions!

Anyway, it was reported that several thousand users - 5000 actually - suddenly found their accounts deleted due to the sudden drop in their hotness scale...

Oh, but at least you get this consolation when you go to their website...YOU CAN SURF THEIR SITE AS A GUEST!

(hold back laughter)

Thank goodness they are willing to allow us less attractive people to at least look at beautiful people.

Anyway, hope you enjoy this titillating tidbit...and hopefully it brightens your day.

Beautifulpeople.com, on behalf on The Mechanical Toaster, we give you a solid, overcooked...unattractive...

Consider this topic TOASTED....

For more information, please visit http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10423877-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome

Hot Toast of the Day | Corel VideoStudio Pro X2

2010-01-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Selling at 50% the usual price at Amazon, if you are in need of some great editing software for video, Corel Video Studio Pro X2 is supposed to be a veritable mecca for video editing.

Pros - With full HD video support, this software should appeal to home video fans. Tons of transitions make this popular, including the montage effect, which gives your video a real professional look. The PIP effect is really sleek looking. Overall the program has a fairly short learning curve.

Cons - You may be wondering, sounds great, but why do I want to switch from Windows Movie Maker or Apple IMovie. Some people may not want to switch, because they are so used to the interface of those programs. The one con that many emphasize is the overall slow speed of the program - it takes a while to install, to run, etc... so it may require some patience on your end.

Bottom Line - Powerful editing tool, especially for the price of $50 - for the aficionados, this is a perfect fit, though it may not fit for novice video editors. Especially with the advent of HD video, this is one of the best options out there to produce great HD video. With more options than Movie Maker and IMovie, it can give you an edge that others may not have. Be wary of the slow running speed at times, which may be a turn off for some people.

Toast Rating: (out of 5)

Download a free trial version at: http://www.brothersoft.com/corel-videostudio-pro-225435.html

Buy it on Amazon!

Images taken from http://download.cnet.com/Corel-VideoStudio-Pro/3000-13631_4-10029706.html - Please visit for more review information.