Mick Darling's posterous http://mickdarling.posterous.com All my blogging in one spot. (mostly) posterous.com Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:43:24 -0700 ‘XCOM’ Reboot Will Thrill Die-Hard Fans and Noobs http://mickdarling.posterous.com/xcom-reboot-will-thrill-die-hard-fans-and-noo http://mickdarling.posterous.com/xcom-reboot-will-thrill-die-hard-fans-and-noo

If you're a fan of high-level strategy games and want to kick alien butt Will Smith-style, you'll be excited to play XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The game, out in two weeks for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, is a reboot of X-COM: UFO Defense, a 1994 strategy classic gamers still reminisce about. The new game, like the original, is made by Firaxis, and will be published by 2K Games.

Aliens have invaded Earth, and a shadowy council has organized the world's major powers into XCOM (Extraterrestrial Combat Unit) to fight the global siege. If you fail, the planet is toast, so you'd better put your strategizing hat on.

Mashable spent some quality time with Enemy Unknown on the Xbox 360, and it…
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More About: 2k games, Gaming, features, review, xcom enemy unknown


from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/xcom-enemy-unknown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_...

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:43:20 -0700 20 TV Shows With the Most Social Media Buzz This Week http://mickdarling.posterous.com/20-tv-shows-with-the-most-social-media-buzz-t-82394 http://mickdarling.posterous.com/20-tv-shows-with-the-most-social-media-buzz-t-82394

Last week, The X Factor topped the chart as the most watched weekly broadcast, and even the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards couldn't dethrone its popularity this week.

But the award show did come in second place, managing to aggregate almost 1.6 million social interactions — across Twitter, Facebook, GetGlue and Viggle — an increase of approximately 459,000 from last year. Women comprised 61% of social activity, and men swooped up the remaining 39%.

SEE ALSO: Parker Posey Teaches You How to Accept an Emmy [VIDEO]

Even with plenty of chatter about Amy Poehler's $2 accessory and Sofia Vergara's zipper popping, the most social moment happened when Tracy Morgan faked fainting on s…
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More About: Entertainment, TV, Trendrr, infographics, social tv, social tv charts

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/social-media-tv-chart-9-25/?utm_source=feedbur...

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:29:49 -0700 Social TV Data for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards [Infographic] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/social-tv-data-for-the-64th-primetime-emmy-aw http://mickdarling.posterous.com/social-tv-data-for-the-64th-primetime-emmy-aw

Last night’s Emmy Awards garnered 1.0 million social media comments – a 148% year-over-year growth from the 2011 awards, but not enough to break into the list of top social TV events.

The biggest spike in social TV conversation occurred during Tracy Morgan’s stunt. During the ceremony, host Jimmy Kimmel had Tracy lie down onstage and then asked audience members to Tweet and post to Facebook ”OMG Tracy Morgan just passed out onstage at the #Emmys. Turn on ABC now.” In the 2 minutes after, there were 27,864 comments posted!

Omg Tracey Morgan just passed out on stage at the Emmy’s! Look on abc now!! #Jimmytoldmeto #emmys2012

— Sarah Sherman (@SSherman108) September 24, 2012

I would love to see if the Emmy’s got a ratings bump cause of that Jimmy Kimmel/ Tracey Morgan stunt.

— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) September 24, 2012

 

Here’s our social TV infographic for the 64th Primetime Emmys:

 

from BostInno http://bostinno.com/channels/social-tv-data-for-the-64th-primetime-emmy-award...

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Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:49:29 -0700 If Social Sharing Determined Emmy Winners [INFOGRAPHIC] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/if-social-sharing-determined-emmy-winners-inf http://mickdarling.posterous.com/if-social-sharing-determined-emmy-winners-inf

Sunday night's Emmy results disappointed Breaking Bad and Mad Men fans everywhere. But how would the shows fare if social media determined television's biggest winners instead?

The infographic, created by social advertising company RadiumOne, details the number of social shares about popular Emmy shows, including award recipients Modern Family and Homeland.

Among the victors of "Outstanding Shares": Game of Thrones for the Drama series category, Girls for Comedy Series and The Voice for Reality Series.

SEE ALSO: 10 Emmy-Nominated Shows You Can Watch Online

Old standby The Simpsons gets the distinction of being the nominated show with most Facebook likes, clocking in at 54.8 milli…
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More About: Emmys, Emmys 2012, emmy awards 2012


from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/social-sharing-emmy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm...

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Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:23:18 -0700 Repel Houseflies with Cloves and Clove Oil [Household] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/repel-houseflies-with-cloves-and-clove-oil-ho http://mickdarling.posterous.com/repel-houseflies-with-cloves-and-clove-oil-ho If you prefer natural pest repellents in your home, the folks at The Kitchn explain that whole cloves, or even clove oil in homemade cleaning products, will keep flies at bay. More »


from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com/5945789/repel-houseflies-with-cloves-and-clove-oil

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:03:49 -0700 Twitter CEO reveals plans for interactive tweets, content curation, reinforces belief in syndication http://mickdarling.posterous.com/twitter-ceo-reveals-plans-for-interactive-twe http://mickdarling.posterous.com/twitter-ceo-reveals-plans-for-interactive-twe

Twitter CEO reveals plans for interactive tweets, content curation, reinforces belief in syndication

Twitter has ruffled a few feathers recently, so when CEO Dick Costolo took the stage at the Online News Association conference in San Francisco, he took the opportunity to put some minds at rest. First he dismissed the idea that the service would become a media company by forcing users to the site or official app for content, before reasserting his belief in syndication. Costolo then went on to imply that the reason behind the tighter (and unpopular) API controls was ensuring quality -- stating that Twitter would reach its full potential now there's more control over how tweets are delivered. With boots strapped, we can look forward to some new features, such as the option to curate messages that are published (such as during live events) plus tweets with interactive features like polls during live sports games. The famous 140 character limit is to remain, but will also serve as a "caption for additional functionality." Perhaps of most interest to disenfranchised developers, however, was the mention of application functionality in tweets, where short messages could contain small interactive apps. Something for devs to get potentially get back on board with? We hope so. But until further details unfold, we're still left considering our options.

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Twitter CEO reveals plans for interactive tweets, content curation, reinforces belief in syndication originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/22/twitter-ceo-reveals-plans-for-interactive-...

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Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:03:45 -0700 Twitter CEO wish list — curation tools, tweet downloads, Tom Brady? http://mickdarling.posterous.com/twitter-ceo-wish-list-curation-tools-tweet-do http://mickdarling.posterous.com/twitter-ceo-wish-list-curation-tools-tweet-do

Perhaps reacting to the growing tension in its relationship with journalists, Twitter will offer free tweet curation tools that newsrooms will be able to use to better depict the flavor or “the roar of the crowd” at live events, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said at the Online News Association conference on Friday.

According to the Poynter.org blog, Costolo said:

We have known for a long time that when events happen in the real world, the shared experience is on Twitter and we want to create an ability to curate events.

In theory this tool could be used to add more context and allow the aggregated tweets to paint a better picture of what’s really going on, focusing on the narrative rather than the noise. Think Storify or Tweetmeme only without leaving Twitter itself. (The ONA conversation is here.)

Twitter and journalists: a love-hate affair

Costolo also promised that people will be able to download their full tweet stream by year’s end, a claim that took blogging pioneer Dave Winer by surprise since Twitter has started to exercise more control over the content that runs on its service. Winer wrote:

I was amazed by this. And I don’t believe it will ever happen, or if it does it will be in GIF format or PDF, some format that makes it virtually impossible to move the data somewhere else. It would be completely inconsistent for Twitter to offer freedom to its users when it’s paying such a high price in goodwill to take away that freedom.

As Winer’s words make clear, the relationship between journalists (and other users) that rely on Twitter and Twitter itself is getting complicated.  Some of Twitter’s actions raise questions about who owns the tweetstream, the people who create and post it or Twitter itself. And, the company ‘s new API, which initially affects third-party developers could end up impacting newspapers and blogs that use it to build Twitter-based features or services. As GigaOM’s Mathew Ingram put it:

[Twitter] moves to lock down its network and control more of the content have raised some hackles in the journalism community, however, even as Twitter expands on its partnerships with select media entities such as NBC and MTV — and those stress points are only going to increase as the company’s ambitions and desire for revenue continue to grow.

Twitter wants Brady

Twitter has also been a huge platform for celebrities or would-be celebrities to build their brand and connect with fans. (As an example, Lady Gaga has more than 29 million followers.

On a lighter note at the conference, Costolo was asked what celebrity he would most like to see on Twitter. He didn’t hesitate: It’s Tom Brady. It turns out that the New England Patriots quarterback and Costolo are both University of Michigan alums. (For what it’s worth, Brady’s supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen has been tweeting for some time.)

Tom Brady photo courtey of Keith Allison

from GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2012/09/22/twitter-ceo-wish-list-curation-tools-tweet-downl...

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Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:46:20 -0700 Top 10 Brands With Highest Social Media Engagement This Week [INFOGRAPHIC] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/top-10-brands-with-highest-social-media-engag http://mickdarling.posterous.com/top-10-brands-with-highest-social-media-engag

Samsung topped this week's chart for brands with the highest social media engagement.

The Korean electronics maker continues to dominate the social landscape, thanks to its recent product launches of the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note 10.1, according to Starcount. The data aggregator, which tracks metrics from 11 networks to measure social popularity, compiled a top 10 list for this week.

Samsung's new video for its Galaxy Note tablet garnered 2.5 million hits in a little more than seven days, helping push the company's total YouTube views to nearly 8 million this week.

In other findings, ecommerce retailer Amazon's activity surged on Facebook this month, while Red Bull broke 30 mil…
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More About: Social Media, Starcount, brands

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/22/top-10-brands-social-media/?utm_source=feedbur...

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Sun, 23 Sep 2012 09:03:27 -0700 Translating Trends – Fall Menswear 2012 http://mickdarling.posterous.com/translating-trends-fall-menswear-2012 http://mickdarling.posterous.com/translating-trends-fall-menswear-2012

Curious about this season’s trends?

Here’s a rundown of the 9 most popular themes in menswear this fall and sage advice on how to incorporate them into your look. Perhaps more importantly pointers for how not to be the painfully trendy guy whose clothing screams “I’m trying too hard”.

When interpreting trends into reality it’s a good idea to remember that looks coming down the runway are styled deliberately to have the focus be on the clothes, the model is the backdrop. In real life, you’re the focus, not the backdrop for your clothes.

Leather – Call it Matrix nostalgia. Black leather with a fighting feel, prominently inserted as panels into wool coats or at times worn head to toe, was part of more collections than not.

Do: A classic motorcycle cut leather jacket, sans mega heavy metal hardware and in a low shine or distressed finish will look masculine, and remain of the moment, long after the all leather trend has passed.

Don’t: Go for a full length leather flasher trench coat. Sure, you may attract attention, but it’s mostly gonna be from security.

Tweed – Perhaps no other fabric has a more autumnal feel than tweed, this rough surfaced wool is a chilly weather staple perfect for transitioning from summer to fall.

Do: Put a tweed vest or sport coat over an oxford button down and knit tie and pair with a great fitting jeans.

Don’t: When incorporating a texture like tweed, best to combine it with contrasting fabrics like denim, thin wale cord, or smooth wool rather than another tweed.

Turtlenecks – If designer collections are any indication, the fashion forces that be seemly want the turtleneck to become the new dress shirt. Placed underneath vests, blazers, tuxes, and jackets, designers left no neck exposed. But be forewarned this is a garment that should be worn with care.

Do: Wear a rugged cable knit turtleneck underneath a structured jacket to strike a balance between soft and hard.

Don’t: Wear a thin body clinging turtleneck by itself or worse don it with a chain.

Murses – The man bag was once a controversial little item, now it seems no look is complete without one. Designers showed carry-alls in every color and shape so even the die-hard Jansport carrier can find something he likes.

Do: Try something other than black, especially if you wear a lot of neutrals. Whether it’s olive, crimson, or eggplant. A bag is one of the safest ways to add color and edge to your style.

Don’t: Purchase something you’re not 100% confident carrying.

Saturated Colors & Unique Textures – The runways were filled with in your face colors like, mustard, electric blue, and dark burgundy and also a fair amount of brocade, embossed, and embellished fabrics.

Do: If you’re starting out with bright colors or ‘blingy’ fabrics, incorporate them into your accessories like a belt, socks, and shoe laces.

Don’t: Choose a bright shade purely because it’s your favorite without regard to how it will look with your skin tone and coloring. Bright red looks hot on a Maserati, not so much on a pale white guy. Also, pants are an easier way to wear a bolder color or fabric because it won’t be fighting with your face for attention.

Statement Shoes - All of the trends we’ve been seeing in clothes the past few seasons like mixed materials, metallic finishes, prints and bold colors, have finally made it below the ankle.

Do: Break out of your black and brown rut by adding a differently hued or even pattern shoe to a plain white button and jean look.

Don’t: Have a ton of other colors and stuff going on and then add crazy shoes into the mix.

Bold Prints: Stripped of stripes, painterly prints (think Monet using an overcoat for his canvas), literal animal prints like owls and flocks of birds, abstract art and cartoon sketches ruled the runways.

Do: Wear underneath a simple sweater or sport coat for some added visual interest and uniqueness.

Don’t: Let the print overtake you by showing it off in it’s entirety. You should be the focus, not the print.

Double Breasted Jackets – After being abused and abandoned by the oversized 80′s a new trim tailored double breasted jacket is back.

Do: The double breasted cut widens a man’s silhouette, so wear it if you have a lean or slender frame.

Don’t: Pull out 30 year old suits from storage and think they’re finally back in. The wide lapels, giant shoulder pads and wide armholes instantly show that it expired decades ago.

Velvet: Traditionally worn for holiday parties, designers tried showing velvet isn’t a one trick pony by incorporating it into everything from casual pants to sneakers.

Do: Pick one item to go velvet, like a trim blazer, well cut pant, or shoes.

Don’t: Go fuzzy head to toe Velveteen rabbit style.

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from Emmi's World http://amansworldco.com/wordpress/translating-trends-fall-menswear-2012

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Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:30:02 -0700 Fall TV Goes Social: 6 CW Shows to Watch http://mickdarling.posterous.com/fall-tv-goes-social-6-cw-shows-to-watch http://mickdarling.posterous.com/fall-tv-goes-social-6-cw-shows-to-watch

The fall 2012 television slate comes with improved digital strategies from all TV networks. This week, we've already looked at the online arsenals from NBC and Fox. Today, let's check in on the CW, which has amped up its offering on social, second screen and streaming to appease its young, digitally savvy audience.

Here are six trailers for new and returning CW shows; below the gallery check out CW's digital onslaught.

CW Looks to Tap Into Pinterest and GetGlue Audiences
How serious is the CW about social? Very. They even orchestrated a "social media boot camp" this summer to educate show producers about the network's strategy.

"This year, we see Pinterest and GetGlue as…
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More About: Entertainment, Fall TV Goes Social, TV, cw

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/21/fall-tv-goes-social-cw-shows/?utm_source=feedb...

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Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:25:27 -0700 ESPN Adds Twitter-Style News Feed http://mickdarling.posterous.com/espn-adds-twitter-style-news-feed http://mickdarling.posterous.com/espn-adds-twitter-style-news-feed

ESPN debuted a web app called the SportsCenter Feed on Wednesday, and the tool bears a striking resemblance to the service where many sports fans consume news and information these days: Twitter.

Instead of presenting ESPN.com visitors with the traditional format of splashy images and a small handful of clickable headlines, the SportsCenter Feed offers and alternate experience that streamlines content with a heavy emphasis on quick bursts of information and the most recently posted content.

As seen in the screenshot above, a scrollable feed of headlines takes center stage. Clicking on a story displays content at the right of the feed, while another column on the lefthand side lets yo…
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More About: ESPN, Media, Sports

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/19/espn-sportscenter-feed/?utm_source=feedburner&...

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Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:40:05 -0700 Uber Launches Uber TAXI: Get a Cab With a Click of an App http://mickdarling.posterous.com/uber-launches-uber-taxi-get-a-cab-with-a-clic http://mickdarling.posterous.com/uber-launches-uber-taxi-get-a-cab-with-a-clic

Not every trip into Downtown Boston, or across the Charles River, calls for a luxury vehicle.

That’s why Uber, a car service that picks-up and drops off customers at the click of an app, will now being offering cab rides.

On Wednesday at noon, Uber will enter a new phase of its transportation business by offering Uber TAXI.

“We’re psyched to be able to offer Bostonians high quality, reliable transportation alternatives at multiple price points,” Uber representatives wrote in a statement.

The company said they are working directly with licensed city of Boston cab drivers to make it easier for clients to “e-hail” a TAXI and so that it generates for business for Boston cabs.

Before hailing a cab on the street, or using Uber to get a black car sent to your destination, customers will now be able to click the “TAXI” option within the smartphone app. Once selected, fares will be calculated using the in-vehicle taximeter on each vehicle.

A $1 “TAXI” fee and 20% gratuity will be automatically added to the ride, before the customer gets to their destination, most likely eliminating the hassle of trying to figure out how much to tip a cab driver.

“TAXI is the latest experiment from the Uber Garage – our workshop of sorts where we tinker with new ideas for urban transportation,” the company said in a statement sent to BostInno.

The company is looking for input from customers, too.

Using the hashtag #UberBlackorWhite on Twitter, riders can send messages to @Uber_BOS and gauge what their experience using the new app was like.

Last month, Uber ran into some serious road blocks with its original services.

State officials tried to put the brakes on the company’s operations, claiming Uber’s GPS-metered system did not fall in line with Massachusetts regulations and metering practices.

After much public outcry, the decision to “cease and desist” was reversed with help of Governor Deval Patrick.

from BostInno http://bostinno.com/2012/09/19/uber-launches-taxi-servic/

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:22:49 -0700 Time Warner Willing to Cede Control of User Interface in Potential Deals for Apple TV Products http://mickdarling.posterous.com/time-warner-willing-to-cede-control-of-user-i http://mickdarling.posterous.com/time-warner-willing-to-cede-control-of-user-i Two weeks ago, Bloomberg reported on Apple's struggles to reach television content deals that would enable the company to broaden its living room reach by providing set-top boxes to blend live and recorded material. The report noted that cable companies have generally been reluctant to work with Apple as they seek to retain control over the software and other aspects of their businesses, with Time Warner Cable said to be the major cable company most receptive to Apple's proposals.

The Hollywood Reporter now notes (via TechCrunch) that Time Warner Cable Chief Operating Officer Rob Marcus acknowledged at an investor conference today that his company would be willing to cede control over the user interface in scenarios such as those being rumored for Apple's proposals, as long as it can retain the existing customer relationship. The comments by Marcus appear to specifically address integration of the cable company's guide information with Apple's mobile devices, but could obviously extend to other products such as set-top boxes.

Time Warner Cable is "hard at work at a cloud-based [TV] guide experience" and is open to giving up control of the user interface as it looks to make its service accessible via new devices, including Apple's iPhones and iPads, president and COO Rob Marcus told an investor conference in New York on Wednesday.

But he emphasized that this does not mean that the cable giant is willing "to give up the customer relationship" as the company is committed to ensuring that people know its TV services are provided by TW Cable and not any device maker or other third party.

Apple is rumored to have been working on a television product for quite some time as it continues to toy with the current Apple TV set-top box, which the company has repeatedly referred to as a "hobby" that it will continue to pursue as it assesses whether there is a larger opportunity in the market.

Rumors of an Apple television set have largely given way to talk of a new set-top box in recent months, a device that would bring Apple's hardware and software expertise to the consumer cable industry in an effort to meld live television with recorded and on-demand content while integrating into Apple's existing ecosystem. But with both cable companies and content providers being reluctant to strike deals with Apple, progress has been slower than many had hoped for.


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A Realtime List of iPhone 5 Enabled Apps in the App Store

from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - Front Page http://www.macrumors.com/2012/09/19/time-warner-willing-to-cede-control-of-us...

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:59:03 -0700 LIFX: The Color-Changing, Wi-Fi Enabled, 25-Year Lasting LED Light Bulbs You Control With Your Smart Phone http://mickdarling.posterous.com/lifx-the-color-changing-wi-fi-enabled-25-year http://mickdarling.posterous.com/lifx-the-color-changing-wi-fi-enabled-25-year lifx-color-bulbs.jpg LIFX are dimmable, programmable, any-color-you-want, energy saving LED light bulbs that you can control from your smart phone. Want all the lights in your kitchen to pulsate to the music you're playing? THEY CAN DO THAT TOO. The future, ladies and gentlemen -- it's not super exciting, but it's still cooler that now. The bulbs are rated at 40,000 hours, and can last up to 25 years with average use (~5-hours a day). The project is currently an already-funded Kickstarter campaign (with the $100,000 goal exceeded by $750,000 in three days), so head on over there if you want to pre-order. $69 gets you one, $119 two, $196 four, $294 six, $392 eight and $490 for 10. Definitely NOT the kind of bulbs you want to leave in the sockets when you move. Hit the jump for the Kickstarter demo video.

from Geekologie - Gadgets, Gizmos, and Awesome http://www.geekologie.com/2012/09/lifx-the-color-changable-wi-fi-enabled-2.ph...

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/809209/ME.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4TeZSRpSSwQV Mick Darling mickdarling Mick Darling
Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:58:59 -0700 Get Google and iOS Living Together in Perfect Harmony [How To] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/get-google-and-ios-living-together-in-perfect http://mickdarling.posterous.com/get-google-and-ios-living-together-in-perfect No matter what kind of phone you use, a lot of us are pretty dependent on Google for organizing our lives. Luckily, you can actually get Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Voice, and other services working great with iOS—it just takes a little bit of setup. Here's what you need to do. More »


from Lifehacker http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/vSiV3Zkgesk/get-google-and-ios-...

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Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:37:01 -0700 Beyond duct-tape: 3 tools to take your home repairs into 3-D http://mickdarling.posterous.com/beyond-duct-tape-3-tools-to-take-your-home-re http://mickdarling.posterous.com/beyond-duct-tape-3-tools-to-take-your-home-re

My flip-top trashcan is on the fritz. It’s a simple machine, so as I started at the traveling pin that was responsible for the problem I thought, I could totally fix that. My husband suggested tape, but I was thinking we needed to mold a little piece of rubber onto it (I imagine that the piece that was originally on there had fallen off).

And because I’ve been recently entranced by the possibilities of moldable plastic after a visit to Chaotic Moon Studios here in town (I’ll write more on that later) I went looking for a solution that went beyond duct tape. Here are three tools I’ve found. For sure one or more of these are going to make their way into my little toolbox where I keep my hammers, screwdrivers and other small household fixits.

InstaMorph: For $10 on Amazon you can take home 6 ounces of these plastic beads, dump what you need in hot water and mold them into whatever shape you desire. They also sell the beads by the pound for larger projects. The beads cool into lovely little white blobs of plastic after about 2 minutes. For more conspicuous repairs there are also dyes you can buy to color your InstaMorph projects.

ShapeLock: This is the same type of material as InstaMorph, but it’s not clear if it has a bulk option for large projects. These are also white plastic beads that you can put in boiling water, wait until they turn clear and then use to create whatever shape fits your fancy. They cost $15 for 250 grams (roughly 9 ounces). They are re-usable, pretty darn strong when cooled and you can saw or file them into more refined shapes if your original mold looks off.

Sugru: Instead of beads that turn into moldable plastic, Sugru is a putty-like substance that cools into a semi-flexible substance. It costs between $18 and $20 for eight packs containing 5 grams, depending on the color of the putty. It can be used to protect cords, add protective layers to clothes, replace a broken tine in a dishwasher or whatever else you have a mind to do.

For those readers who wonder if they’ve mistakenly landed on Lifehacker, there is a reason I’m sharing this. The idea of finding cheap and easy materials to fix a broken trashcan, or create a custom mold to build a homemade iPad stand may be as fundamental shift in our lives as broadband is. These materials and the experience using them are a gateway drug into doing more projects just like email was a gateway drug to blogging for some people.

Having the tools to fix my trashcan means I’m not throwing it away, which is at the very least, green. But like learning about or how to use any new tool it sparks ideas and creativity that permeate our lives and culture. Maybe I’ll never have a 3-D printer (probably because my neighbor does) but I’ve at least taken a step toward DIY, even if it’s just an opportunity to fix things around that house that I wouldn’t have tackled before.


from GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2012/09/17/beyond-duct-tape-3-tools-to-take-your-home-repai...

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Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:22:27 -0700 Jumpshare Is a No-Hassle File Sharing Webapp That Can Display Over 150 File Types [Webapps] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/jumpshare-is-a-no-hassle-file-sharing-webapp http://mickdarling.posterous.com/jumpshare-is-a-no-hassle-file-sharing-webapp Holy crap, there are a lot of file sharing services out there! Mentioning another always feels a little redundant, but Jumpshare offers several advantages that make it worthwhile. No accounts are required, it works via drag-and-drop, and most anything you upload can be viewed right from the browser. More »


from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com/5943030/jumpshare-is-a-no+hassle-file-sharing-webapp-th...

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Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:54:41 -0700 What Is Markdown, and Why Is It Better for My To-Do Lists and Notes? [Ask Lifehacker] http://mickdarling.posterous.com/what-is-markdown-and-why-is-it-better-for-my http://mickdarling.posterous.com/what-is-markdown-and-why-is-it-better-for-my I've heard a lot about using Markdown for writing and editing text, especially in the case of writing on tablets. But I'm not really sure what people like about it. Is it worth switching from plain text or Word to use it? More »


from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com/5943320/what-is-markdown-and-why-is-it-better-for-my-to...

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Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:54:36 -0700 iPhone 5 Gets More Positive Reaction on Twitter Than 4S http://mickdarling.posterous.com/iphone-5-gets-more-positive-reaction-on-twitt http://mickdarling.posterous.com/iphone-5-gets-more-positive-reaction-on-twitt

The Phone 5 is already off to a better start than the iPhone 4s, at least in terms of consumer feedback.

More About: Twitter, apple, crimson hexagon, iPhone 5, iphone

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2012/09/14/iphone-5-twitter/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_me...

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Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:08:14 -0700 Uros' Goodspeed hotspot packs 10 SIM cards, says roaming is for chumps http://mickdarling.posterous.com/uros-goodspeed-hotspot-packs-10-sim-cards-say http://mickdarling.posterous.com/uros-goodspeed-hotspot-packs-10-sim-cards-say

Uros' Goodspeed hotspot stuffs in 10 SIM cards, says roaming is for chumps

Snagging international data service usually involves either special agreements or steep roaming costs. Not Uros and its new Goodspeed hotspot. The pocketable, 21Mbps HSPA+ router carries a staggering 10 SIM cards and simply uses a local SIM for whichever destination country you visit. The brute force strategy helps Uros offer a relatively low flat rate for 1GB of data per day, no matter where you are on the coverage map: while the Goodspeed itself costs 273 ($352), Uros asks just €5.90 ($8) a day for occasional visits and €9.90 ($13) a month for frequent fliers. It's a very sizable bargain for the jetset, even with a current scope limited to Finland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. A number of "important" countries are due before Christmas, which could make Uros' hotspot a go-to choice for those who just can't stay settled in one place.

[Thanks, Antti]

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Uros' Goodspeed hotspot packs 10 SIM cards, says roaming is for chumps originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/15/uros-goodspeed-hotspot-packs-10-sim-cards/

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