Shiny Shiny

Bebo + AOL / AIM = $850 million

2008-03-13T14:57:53Z

Well, there's been another yard sale in the world of Web 2.0, and this time AOL has taken the opportunity to snap up Bebo for a mere $850 million. Whilst it's unclear if this valuation is the result of every single paperclip being counted and every expense check being cleared, it's something the two UK founders aren't worrying about too much.

AOL's reasoning is that they can use the 40 million members of Bebo to extend the reach of their AIM messenger service. The UK is Bebo's largest market, where it's the second most popular social networking site, behind Facebook. AOL is not as ubiquitous in the UK as it is in the US, which is presumably one of the reasons that AOL has purchased the site. There was a certain amount of 'meh' heard over on these shores when Apple announced that AIM would be available on the iPhone, but perhaps it's becoming a more attractive proposition.

So, are you looking forward to Bebo having a live chat option? Or do you prefer to keep your social networking non-real time? I have to say, one of the attractions of Facebook is the fact that I can dip in and out when I want to.

Shiny Poll: Things wot we 'ave lernt

2008-03-13T13:56:23Z

It's been quite a month. There's been... well, there was... ok, well don't forget that time you... Nah, you're right. There was not much new knowledge being imparted in the past 30 days. Still, here's some things we learned about you.

- The majority of people we looking forward to better quality camera phones from Mobile World Congress. Sorry about that.

- 39% of you rotters have snooped in a partner's texts or emails

- 16% have broken up with someone over text or email

- 45% of you still think that high definition is too expensive to invest in

- 27% of respondents were gutted with the demise of HD-DVD as they owned a player

- Facebook was the most popular user generated website, followed by YouTube and Wikipedia

- 7% of people have never heard of The Beatles. 6% are probably being obtuse

Super Mario corset goes beyond geek chic, needs whole new term...

2008-03-13T12:48:31Z

... or maybe "fugly" would do it. And yet I really like it! I mean, not that I'd wear it, but I have nothing but fondness and respect for anyone who would go to this much trouble to unite goth and geek style.

With such attention to detail, too, with great choices of fabric and a neat, elegant finish. I think it's the addition of the ra-ra skirt that made it all a bit too much for me, to be honest. But if you wanted to come up with a new term for stuff that takes geek chic to the limit, what would it be? Answers on a postcard (or in the comments, that works too).

The Super Mario Brothers Nintendo 80s Corset can be snapped up from Etsy for just under $100 (£50) if you're quick off the mark.

[via technabob]

Like that? Read this: Vote ~~Clinton/Obama~~ Mario/Luigi in the '08 campaign | Get bitter with Luigi this Valentine's Day | Nintendo news at WiiWii

Shiny Video: Which surface is best for Miidio speakers?

2008-03-13T12:18:17Z

You've probably already read all about what I thought about the Miidio speakers, which use the surface they're resting on for amplification. But what happened when we used a Terribly Scientific Method to test out which surface is best? Watch on.

Miidio / Twisted Carbon

Ann Summers Aquarius: Fitting for the Pisces of today

2008-03-13T11:59:55Z

I know, I know, I should have mentioned this product last month when it was actually the star sign, but hey Pisces is still watery/fishy as well right? The Aquarius vibe, also known as the Trigasm gives you three prongs of loving and stimulates three erogenous spots simultaneously. it has three pulse setting for differing levels of buzzy pleasure, as well as being waterproof. Me, I'm just trying to work out what my three pleasure zones are.. I'll keep you posted.

£18 from Ann Summers

Like that: Read this: Shiny Video Review: Ann Summers iGasm vs Lovehoney iBuzz Two, sex toys that buzz to the beat I Shiny Video Review: Ann Summers Rampant Rabbit: The Wave

Probe sparked by fiery Apple iPod nano

2008-03-13T11:27:40Z

In what appears to be a slight overreaction to an isolated case, an investigation has been launched into the safety of the iPod nano.

The investigation is focused on a particular lithium ion battery in model number MA099J/A, after the claims surfaced in Japan. A nano produced some sparks whilst charging, and the resultant seriousness with which the complaint is being handled might be more a result of fears about lithium ion batteries and laptop fires than specific concerns about iPod safety.

Around 425,000 iPods of that particular model have arrived in Japan courtesy of Apple; although it's as yet unclear how many of these are actually in consumer hands, the model was discontinued two years ago so if this were more than an isolated incident other reports surely would have come to light by now?

[via Daily Mail]

Like that? Read this: Make your own cutecutecute star-shaped iPod Nano case

3 launch the lime green Sony Ericsson K660i

2008-03-13T11:24:20Z

If purple was Winter '07, lime green is Spring '08. By which I mean that there is a Sony Ericsson being launched in that colour, rather than any kind of fashion prediction.

This is the Sony Ericsson K660i, which is getting a green paint job exclusively at 3. The K660i is HSDPA enabled, and it's all about getting you using internet on the go. You can video blog and upload stuff there and then, get RSS feeds delivered to the 'desktop' of your phone, you can even browse the internet pages horizontally, making full use of the screen.

Check it out here at 3from Monday.

Like that? Read this: Purple K770 Sony Ericsson

The MiBody Analyser Scale knows far tooooo much about you

2008-03-13T11:03:35Z

Now I realise I can only speak for myself here but I tend to find going on the scales a fairly traumatic experience. Every week you perch on them with your fingers crossed behind your back hoping the results will be favourable, whilst sucking in your stomach. Well now it seems that this tortuous experience has just taken a massive leap forward with the MiBody scale. As well as reading your weight, body fat, body water, muscle mass, BMI and BMR (umm, as well as? I thought that was pretty comprehensive) it now has a USB PC Data Tracking Device. In layman's terms, when you've had a bad weigh in you can no longer go scoff some chocs and pretend the scales were wrong, as all weigh in data is stored on a USB stick attached to the scale.

All data can be uploaded to your computer and you get to see some nicely laid out bar charts to view the varying ups and downs of your weight. 30 results can be stored per user and the results can be customised to fit your body type, as an active female will have different body fat expectations than that of a fifty year old male. It's a nice was to monitor the changes diet ad exercise can have n your body, but a little chilling to think that those weekend binges will be recorded forever.. or at least till you delete them.

£59.99 from Argos

Like that? Read this: USB Scale Tracks Your Weight So You Can't Keep Kidding Yourself Don't Have To I Overweight? Let Hello Kitty be the one to tell you...

Venus Fly Trap plastic plant for bug "study"

2008-03-13T11:02:03Z

Okay, so I was won over by the animated gif but admit it; it caught your eye too. It's a mechanical, motion-sensing, battery-powered plastic plant, and you need splash out just $20 (around £10) on it. Basically you smear some bait (ew) in it, and it traps bugs, just like its namesake.

Unlike a real Venus Fly Trap, however, it does not kill bugs but holds them harmlessly for you to release out of the window / study up close for a while if you've a budding Durrell or Attenborough lurking about the house. I can't help feeling some kids might just use it as an excuse to prolong insect torture, though...

Venus Fly Trap [via DVICE]

Like that? Read this: Electronic Venus Flytrap actually works as fly catcher

Swarovski gadget of the day: retractable earphones

2008-03-13T10:36:38Z

They're earphones with cable tidies, but Swarovskified against a white or black background. It's an adjective if I say it is.

There's a lot of colourful ~~tat~~ bling on these $50 earphones, but at least they do something useful and tuck neatly away without getting in a tangled mess. Then again, there are plenty of earphones that do that without being multicoloured. Still, as Guardian of the Grim, Custodian of the Crystal and Pessimist Poster of the Pink, I deem that we cannot hide from such things and must embrace the fact that some women (and men) like sparkling alarmingly.

Swarovski Crystal Retractable Earphones [via Geeksugar]

Like that? Read this: iPhone bling, Swarovski style... It's pink, too | Philips partner with Swarovski to make blinged-out headphones and USB memory sticks

Canon Digital IXUS 970 IS "most optically powerful" IXUS model to date

2008-03-13T10:25:45Z

Another addition to the IXUS range comes in the form of the "most optically powerful" model in the range to date, according to Canon.

The camera packs a 10 megapixel lens, but 5x optical zoom, enhanced image stabilisation and brand new four-group lens configuration technology which is behind the boasted optical power. Motion detection, face detection and a revamped autofocus should banish blurry shots along with the noise-reducing image processor. It's available later this month for £299.

Canon

Like that? Read this: Canon releases actual product! Hurrah! (It's a Digital IXUS 85 camera)

Canon's digital IXUS 90 IS just released!

2008-03-13T10:23:19Z

Now I'm probably the biggest Canon camera fan on the planet, and having managed to work my way through two models in the last twelve months (one broken, one stolen), I was justifiably excited to read the deluge of press releases this morning, revealing three new models! They've added to their existing range with the IXUS 90 IS, which comprises of a 10 megapixel camera in a smooth titanium shell. It has a 3.0 PureColor LCD screen, as well as a 3x optical zoom with image stabilization. The camera also has 19 dedicated shooting modes, for everything from sunsets to snow (not that you'll ever use all of them). A quite nice feature is the flat key control panel for easy navigation through all the options they've give you (high ISO settings/re eye correction/face detection technology).

See after the jump for another pic.

£259 from end March at Canon

Like that? Read this: Shiny Video Review: Canon IXUS 960 IS I Canon roll out two new models in their IXUS range

Thursday Tech Tip: Your own personal music magazine

2008-03-13T10:11:13Z

The internet has finally eaten itself. In the past two days, I've had to 'magazines' land in my inbox, which work almost like PDFs you flick through at your leisure. The second, Idiomag, is personalised to me, which serves the dual purpose of being endlessly interesting and making me feel pretty special.

You stick in a couple of your favourite artists toy our profile and then receive a daily newsletter with articles regarding them, regarding artists similar to them and with each page you have the option to listen to the track it's discussing. There's a last.fm element in the way you 'train' the service regarding the kind of articles you're interested in, and you can even update your likes and dislikes directly from your last.fm or Facebook profile.

It could be that this is a fabulous idea, and is the future of the internet. It could be that this is a weird place between online and offline. I'm really not sure, but I sure do know a lot more about Nick Cave than I did 15 minutes ago.

Get your own Idiomag here.

Like that? Check out more tech tips here.

Canon releases actual product! Hurrah! (It's a Digital IXUS 85 IS camera)

2008-03-13T09:47:39Z

Canon has saved us all from a tech news drought with a clutch of product announcements, including this successor to the popular IXUS 70. The 85 packs a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, 3x digital zoom and 3x optical zoom behind a 2.5" LCD screen.

The silver case has been rounded and softened and the details are now picked out either in matching silver or piano black (pictured). Inside there is also motion and face detection technology, image stabilisation and a Face Select & Track feature to ensure fewer blurry snaps. That's further helped by 19 shooting modes, high ISO and 30fps VGA video capture. It's available later this month for £239.

Canon

Like that? Read this: Canon decide 2008 is the year to go video cam crazy, and release 10 new models! We take a look at the High Def cameras on offer | Canon camera announcements continue with new PowerShot A-series additions

Things you don't want to see on Blu-ray...

2008-03-12T16:04:18Z

- Mariah Carey
Historically, someone who is not a stranger to the old Photoshop hop, and who is probably better looking in your head than in full 1080p glory.

- Porn
When a sheen and a spank becomes a slick and a squelch, it's time to go back to YouTube quality.

- Kevin Bacon
He will never again look Footloose. He is now forever Hollow Man.

- Shiny Video Reviews
YouTube are increasing the quality of their video streaming? Noooooooo

It's a shame then, that Mariah Carey has chosen to release The Adventures of Mimi concert disc on Blu-ray. No good can come of this (except perhaps the Spike Jonze-directed mini-documentary that comes included).

Click on over for the full extent of the airbrushing according to Perez Hilton.

That's Gisele you see on the photo below. That's Mimi's face you see on the top photo. An amazing case of coincidental copying of the exact pose? We say not.