News From the Nerdiverse

The iPhone...

2007-01-11T15:56:00.000-06:00

Behold the power of the iPhone! And all the earth didst bask in the glory, and the rotation sensors, and the multi-touchscreen. And it was good.

Seriously, this is the coolest phone ever made. But beyond the obvious, there's a lot more coming I suspect. Imagine that tech in a full laptop form factor. Or in just a new iPod. Freaking cool.

But, here's the biggest innovation of all: AFAIK it still uses the iPod dock connector. Just let that sink in for a minute. That means I already own a car charger, a way to hook it up to my car stereo, a computer sync cable, an extra wall charger, etc. from my previous iPod purchases! No more of this "make you rebuy all your accessories" crap that happens now when you buy a new phone FROM THE SAME EXACT MANUFACTURER. Forget that multi-touch nonsense, this is the real revolution!

The iPhone

There aren't words...

2006-12-14T12:26:00.000-06:00

Ummmm...yeah. In case you aren't making the connection, just check out the video below. You've just found the perfect gift for your uncle Ned. Or your boss.

Links: Humping Dog USB Drive | The Demonstration Video

I've been MIA

2006-12-11T15:31:00.000-06:00

Hey it's Tim, Master of the Nerdiverse (dun-dun-duuun). I'm writing to apologize for the serious lack of posts the past few months. Things have gotten k-to-tha-krazy. I will hopefully be writing some more snarky commentary on all things nerdy - so don't give up on me yet!

New Blogger coming!

2006-08-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

For everyone that writes their blog here on Blogger like me, they've announced a massively upgraded new version! It seems they're adding tags and categories for posts, RSS feeds for comments and other stuff, new templates, more control over who reads your blog and finally and end to the accursed "publishing" system. That's right, when you post in the new beta version, it's live instantly - no more finding out that blogger is down after you've watched that publishing graphic spin for 5 minutes. And there was much rejoicing.

Links: New Blogger Upgrade

Star Wars Lost Scenes on Youtube!

2006-08-09T21:36:00.000-05:00

If you're a Star Wars fan (and really, if you're reading a blog called "News from the Nerdiverse" how could you not be?) you've probably heard about a bunch of different scenes from the original trilogy that hit the cutting room floor, never to be seen again. Until now. While these aren't all the scenes I'd love to see, a user posted 2 deleted scenes and 1 extended rough cut from A New Hope. The 2 deleted scenes feature Luke on Tatooine hanging out with his pals (if you've listened to the radio dramas you know what I'm talking about) and the extended rough cut scene is the cantina scene. For the record Han shoots first. In fact it's not even "first" - he kills Greedo so dead he doesn't even get off a shot.

Links: Star Wars Cut Scenes on YouTube | Web Site Home of Star Wars Deleted Scenes

Shiny Apple Goodness...

2006-08-08T09:44:00.000-05:00

So yesterday was the opening keynote for the Apple WWDC, and Steve Jobs showed off some fun new toys including new "Mac Pros" - quad-Xeon behmoth computers, new Xserves (a rack computer only a geek could love) and a sneak peak at the next Apple operating system! So if you're a mac fan, revel in the Reality Distortion Field and go check out the new mac hotness!

Links: Mac OSX Leapord Preview | The Mac Pro | Watch the Keynote

The Dark Knight

2006-08-01T10:27:00.000-05:00

I seem to have a lot of movie and entertainment news this week. Warner Bros. have just announced the new title of the next Batman movie, it's called "The Dark Knight". They also confirmed that Heath Ledger will be playing the Joker, and there's rumors that the Penguin and Two-Face might make appearances in the film. I'm not sure about Ledger as the Joker, but as long as they stear clear of Tommy Lee Jones this time around I should be ok.

Links: The Dark Knight

New Star Trek movie with Matt Damon?

2006-07-31T13:20:00.000-05:00

Not sure if this is accurate or not, but IMDB has a new entry for the next Star Trek movie, with non other than Matt Damon as James T. Kirk and J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, MI:3) directing. She's dead Jim!

Links: Star Trek XI

Next Up On Movie Trailer Monday...

2006-07-31T11:13:00.000-05:00

You must stop everything. And go watch the new trailer for The Fountain. Be amazed.

Links: The Fountain Trailer | The Fountain Site

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

2006-07-31T11:07:00.000-05:00

How come i'm the last to know when they are doing some crazy remake of part of my childhood? The animation in this trailer actually looks pretty dang impressive. We'll have to wait and see how the movie actually is.

Links: TMNT Teaser Trailer

iPhone coming?

2006-07-31T10:50:00.000-05:00

This post on Apple Insider details hidden stuff in the latest iPod software update dealing with a lot of different phone features. Is Apple really going to come out with the uber-cool iOnePhoneToRuleThemAll? Sign me up!

Links: iPhone clues in latest nano firmware update?

Another Dell Laptop Explosion

2006-07-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

It seems our ~~bitter enemy~~ favorite computer maker Dell is up to it's old tricks again. More of their laptops are exploding all the time - this one went up while it was in sleep mode. Although I guess going in your sleep is the way to go.

Links: Another Dell Laptop Burns via: Gizmodo

They say there's nothing on TV these days...

2006-07-21T15:36:00.000-05:00

We've all heard about network TV ratings slipping, but word just got out that the during the week of July 4th network TV ratings were the lowest in history. That's right, more people were out enjoying the sunshine or watching Dave Chappelle skits on YouTube then ever before. To get more people to watch they promise to make commercials better yada yada...but I'm holding out til they start offering me cash to stomach CSI reruns. I'm thinking $30 a half hour would do nicely.

Links: Worst week ever for TV ratings

10 Stupid ideas that made money

2006-07-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

There seems to be this craze on the net right now to make "Top 10" lists of everything under the sun, and most of them are pretty lame. This one caught my eye however, it's 10 dumb ideas that made people lots of money. Stuff like the "Million Dollar Homepage" or a company that makes plastic turkey wish bones (to avoid injuries during the fights that ensue after thanksgiving dinner) are really dumb ideas that people somehow make work. Now why can't I think of something like that?

Links: Top 10 Dumbest Online Business Ideas

Games lower crime rate?

2006-07-18T22:59:00.000-05:00

Here's a fascinating article that examines crime rates - it seems that among teenagers violent crime is at it's lowest ever recorded. Could playing video games actually cause violent behavior to decrease? I certainly think so, but just don't tell that to Jack Thompson.

Links: Violent Video Games and Violence

New computer virus will take over the world!

2006-07-18T11:05:00.000-05:00

It's only a matter of time. Anti-virus companies announced that they have found a "rootkit" virus that is for all intents and purposes invisible to every virus scanner on the market. This little bugger hides itself so well that even God might not know it's there. Well, He probably does but He's the only one. As always, this only effects Microsoft products (including the yet-to-ship Vista), so you might want to head over to one of those Apple stores and pick up a nice juicy Macbook.

Links: "Invisible" Rootkit Found

Q-Tips are for shooting...

2006-07-18T10:58:00.000-05:00

Check this out: instructions on how to build a q-tip gun out of common household items. It's supposed to launch an unsuspecting q-tip between 30 and 50 ft! Anyone have the time to try this out?

Links: Q-Tip Gun

You Can Help Save the Superman Franchise!

2006-07-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

According this article, the word on the street is that unless Superman Returns breaks $200 million in the US, they aren't going to make any more sequels. So far it's grossed only $106 million. So everyone, go forth to the theater and see Superman Returns again. No haters allowed (Matt Porter I'm looking at you).

Links: Superman or Else?

The Death Metal Parrot

2006-07-13T09:07:00.000-05:00

It seems I've missed one of the net's biggest musical success stories - it's Hatebeak the Death Metal Parrot. I'm serious. This is a death metal band who have a parrot for a vocalist. The slogan on the bands t-shirts? "Avian Supremacy." Classic.

Links: Hatebeak at Reptilian Records | Hatebeak mp3 sample!

Kiss Responsibly

2006-07-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

This is too funny: it's a breathalizer that tells you whether your breath is good enough to kiss someone or not. So when that tender good-bye moment comes you should stop and make sure you're not going to kill your date with your dragon breath first.

Links: Kiss Me Meter

Darth Grizzly

2006-07-12T11:53:00.000-05:00

This is cool, in Vancouver they have commissioned a series of bear statues to populate their downtown area, and one of them is dressed up like Darth Vader! I just couldn't bear to pass it up.

Links: Vader Bear on Flickr

When you want to look like a dork

2006-07-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Here's something nerdy - a program that converts your new Mac laptop into a lightsaber. Well not a real lightsaber. It's uses the motion sensor in the newer Powerbooks and Macbooks to play lightsaber sounds as you swing your laptop through the air. There's even a video of these oh-so-cool guys duking it out, Macsaber style. Just don't come crying to me when your screen doesn't work after you belt your sister with it.

Links: Macsaber 1.0

Droppin the F-Bomb

2006-07-12T10:39:00.000-05:00

Now this is awesome: a new gaming laptop named the "F-Bomb". It's got a 17" display and all the graphics horsepower you could want. It's heavy though: at 15 pounds you might be uttering the F-bomb while lugging it up your stairs.

Links: F-Bomb Gaming Notebook Reviewed

Flame On

2006-07-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

So check out this story of a Dell laptop bursting into flames at a tech conference in Japan. They even have pictures. Fantastic!

Links: Dell laptop explodes at Japanese conference