March 2009 - Posts

American Idol 8: Top 9 Night 1
31 March 09 08:33 PM | Zach | with no comments

I know the site was down last week and those of you who participate in "The Un-Influenced" contest couldn't receive information about this week's contest. So, anyone who participates or wishes to participate in the contest will AUTOMATICALLY receive 4 points. Then, after tonight's show and before tomorrow night's show, if you wish to, you can guess who the bottom 3 will be. If you get all 3 correct, you will receive a bonus point. You can do that by emailing me!

Tonight's post will no longer take the form of the Artist, song, How I think they did, and rank. I'm just going to post my opinions. 

Tonight's theme is any song that was a popular song on iTunes. I don't think there was a mentor tonight... The top 9 visited Ryan at the AT40 studio.

Anoop was up first tonight singing Caught Up by Usher. He said he wanted to get back to the upbeat style of music. The backup singers sounded terrible for this one! It was an interesting performance... He was pretty good vocal wise, wasnt the greatest song for him. Kara said he played it safe and it was like a bunch of frat guys daring him to get up and sing an Usher song. Simon thought it was a complete mess and he acted like a wannabe. 

Megan Joy stepped up on the stage next with a Bob Marley song. She brought back the mic stand...  I thought it was the worst I've ever heard her on stage. Kara thought she should have sung Chasing Pavements by Adele, I would have thought that would be a good performance. Simon made fun of Paula a few times. Simon said it was boring. I would be SHOCKED if she didn't go home tomorrow. Randy said it was like watching paint dry, it took forever.

Hopefully Danny Gokey will bring the energy back to the stage with What Hurt's the Most by Rascall Flatts. He had trouble with the vocals a bit right at the beginning of the song but he got right back on track. His performance was a billion times better than the first two. The audience really loved it. Paula said this is a performance she'd listen to it over and over again in her car. Simon thought it was his best performance to date. Randy thought the show started right now but he's gotta Rock it... whatever it meant...

Right after him was Allison Iraheta. She's using her guitar to sing Don't Speak by No Doubt. She's got the vocals... She rushed the song a bit... It was good, not the best but good! Kara said the same. Simon said that the outfit was like something out of the Adams Family. He also thought it was a bit fake. 

Scott MacIntyre is singing Just The Way You Are by Billy Joel. He said during the interview that he was going to strip it down a bit, just him and the piano... I dont see the difference from that and last week's performance to be honest... This performance was MUCH better than weeks prior, however the piano has GOT to go! Simon said that this was his best performance by a country mile. Randy said it was one of the best of the night... I wouldn't go that far. 

Matt Giraud brings to the stage You Found Me by The Fray. One of my favorite songs these days... It was off.... It didn't work for me. Simon said he's becomming too general and he didn't get it. Randy said that it was the total wrong song choice for him. Kara said he didn't deserve to go home. 

Lil Round really thought about the song choice before choosing I Surrender. Three words, Lil is Back. I wasn't sure that was going to be that good but it was worthwhile. Kara said that Lil is back in the round. Simon said it was a safe song and it was similar to a wedding performance. 

Slicked-back, cleaned up Adam Lambert singing Play that Funky Music.  Blew everyone else out of the water tonight! Simon said it was very brave and it was very original. Randy thought it was gonna be corny but he got it dude. haha.

Finally tonight is Kris Allen. Singing Ain't No Sunshine and he promised to make it his own. I gotta say, I had to look up the song because I thought I had never heard that song before. Paula said it was his best performance to date. Simon said it was very original and really worked. 

Tomorrow night they have Lady Gaga and David Cook storming the stage! It's going to be GREAT!

Remember that if you are in "The Un-Influenced" contest, send in your bottom 3!

3-31 Dish: Simon Cowell Struggling with TV Workload
31 March 09 07:33 AM | Zach | 1 comment(s)

Welllllcome back! Sorry about the downtime this weekend, I didn't do it I swear!! I've been so busy lately it's not even funny. I actually came to school today on my DAY OFF to get more work done on campus. Plus with starting work, this should be fun :/ Anyway, enjoy the dish today

Also, for those who are participating in "The Un-Influenced" contest, look for an email here shortly!!!

And for those of you who are reading this on Facebook, check out the main blog here! 

Hartnett Hospitalized in LA...
Josh Hartnett's publicist says the actor was admitted Monday to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for observation after complaining of abdominal pain.
The 30-year-old actor has starred in the films Black Hawk Down, Blow Dry, Pearl Harbor, Sin City and Lucky Number Slevin.

Campbell-Bower Cast in Twilight...
British newcomer Jamie Campbell-Bower says he has landed the key role of vampire leader Caius in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
The 20-year-old actor had small part  in the films RockNRolla and Sweeney Todd, and is a cast member in the upcoming remake of the TV series The Prisoner.
He told the BBC that being hired for the second big-screen adaptation in the series based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novels is "very exciting."

Tim Allen's Wife Gives Birth to Daughter...
Tim Allen's wife Jane has given birth to a daughter in Los Angeles, the film and television actor's publicist said.
Baby Elizabeth was born Saturday and is the couple's first child together.
Tim Allen also has a 19-year-old daughter Katherine from his first marriage.
"Tim and Jane are thrilled with the arrival of their daughter and are doing great," publicist Marleah Leslie said in a statement.

VIDEO: Britney Wishes Fans a Merry Christmas at Concert...
Ha!

 

 

Bundchen Eyes Adoption...
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen is considering adopting a child from her native Brazil with her new husband Tom Brady.
The Victoria's Secret model and football star Brady exchanged vows in Santa Monica, California in a Catholic ceremony in front of close family on February 26.
The newlyweds have reportedly invited friends and family to Costa Rica for a celebratory dinner on April 3, to be followed by a second wedding ceremony and reception.

Ruling in Madonna Adoption set for Friday...
Madonna is expected to hear Friday if she will be permitted to adopt a 4-year-old African girl, officials in Malawi said.
The 50-year-old recording artist already has two biological children and a 3-year-old son she adopted from Malawi as a baby.
A spokeswoman for Malawi's Attorney General's Office told CNN that Madonna, who attended a hearing Monday in the case, should appear in person to hear the judge's decision regarding the possible second adoption Friday.

ABC, Survivor Producer Launch Bailout Program...
ABC is teaming with Survivor producer Mark Burnett for a new series that offers a bailout to struggling entrepreneurs.
The network has ordered seven episodes of Burnett's Shark Tank, an adaptation of the U.K. reality hit Dragon's Den in which eager entrepreneurs pitch their business ventures to five multimillionaire tycoons. The pitchmen have to convince the investors (the "sharks") to part with the requested amount of their own money, or they leave empty handed. The format originated in Japan and has since become a worldwide success, with BBC Two's Dragon's Den running for six seasons and airing domestically on BBC America.
Shark Tank marks the first collaboration between ABC and Burnett, who has popular shows on the other three major broadcast networks. The parties hope the project strikes a chord with viewers given the current economic climate.

Cowell Struggling with TV Workload...
Music mogul Simon Cowell finds life as a international TV star exhausting - he is considering cutting down his grueling schedule of filming back-to-back reality shows.
The American Idol judge spends many months a year on the show, as well as jetting over to his native U.K. for his other TV projects The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.
Cowell also runs his own record label and production company in between giving reality contestants his opinion on the TV shows.
But the heavy workload is taking its toll on the star, and he admits, "Something may have to give."
In an interview with Britain's The Sun newspaper, Cowell says, "Last year was tough and I really felt it around about the end of the year. There's a lot of pressure that comes with making the shows, running the record label and running the TV production company.
"I got to the point where I was doing Idol, finishing auditions, getting room service at 10pm and then working for another six or seven hours on the British stuff. You do that week after week, month after month and it takes its toll on you."

gadget.Garmin nuvi 465T
27 March 09 02:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

 

Garmin International Inc. is a common name when it comes to satellite navigation, and this time round they show that they do not only care about ordinary drivers like you and I, but they also have the interests of over-the-road, long-haul navigation and delivery trucks in their hearts by announcing the new nüvi 465T. Unveiled at the Mid America Truck Show that is currently going on till the 21st, the Garmin nüvi 465T is able to support multiple truck profiles and features advanced routing and guidance to support truck-related road restrictions including height, width, length, weight and hazardous materials. All you need to do is clue in the device by entering the truck’s dimensions and load restrictions, and the nüvi 465T will get to work straight away by adjusting the many routes ahead based on your truck’s profile. Pretty neat - hopefully the map data is updated though as you wouldn’t want to drive into a tunnel or under a bridge that is too low for your rig just because Garmin says so.

In addition, the nüvi 465T holds the distinction of being the first navigational device that offers locations in the National Truck and Trailer Services (NTTS) Breakdown Directory, whihc is actually a comprehensive guide to semi-truck repair facilities nationwide. This preloaded guide offers drivers access to over 30,000 repair and heavy duty towing services for the continental United States, making it easy for drivers to easily find truck-specific points of interest, such as truck repair, towing and recovery, tire sales and repair, glass repair, fuels stops and more.

Each purchase of the nüvi 465T will be accompanied by subscription-free lifetime traffic alerts in most major metro areas nationwide courtesy of NAVTEQ Traffic, and drivers will be better able to plan their route by being notified of traffic delays and road construction in order to detour around the incident. Warnings of upcoming road conditions will also help drivers be more careful of possible hazards right up ahead including sharp curves, steep grades and road narrows among others. In the rare event where the driver loses his/her co-ordinates, there is the nifty “Where am I?” feature that will display one’s current exact latitude and longitude coordinates, closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations and nearest address and intersection.

Filed under: Garmin

American Idol 8: Top 10 Night 2
26 March 09 08:55 PM | Zach | with no comments

I finally finished watching last night's show, wow! They were all amazing! Well, I take that back, the bottom three is pretty obvious...

Tonight's lineup is amazing too! Ruben Studdard, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Joss Stone and of course the results!

The intro was WAY cool tonight, they tried something new again. Over 36 million votest last night! Highest amount of votes this season and highest EVER for ANY top 10 on the show! 

Dont forget about the Judges save... And with that you have your OWN Save! If you want to switch your bottom 3, you can any point on the day of the results show, that's until MIDNIGHT. You can only change 1 person in your bottom three and you can only use it once. 

They did the montage, I noticed though, it wasn't live! That was totally pre-recorded! Then a break and to the Ford Music Video. They sang Pocketful of Sunshine... 

Now it's time for Ruben Studdard!! Woohoo! Is it just me or did he loose a bit of weight? The song was GREAT!! I cant wait til his next album comes out! 

Time for some results. Adam Lambert is safe. Matt Giraud is in the bottom 3! What?! Kris Allen is Safe. Lil Rounds and Michael stood up... Michael Sarver is also in the bottom 3. That's 1/2 for me tonight.

Break time, Joss Stone and Smokey Robinson are singing next!!

During the break was the Angels & Demons trailer, I honestly CANT WAIT til it comes out!!!

Next up are more results!! Allison Iraheta is safe. Anoop Desai is safe. Danny Gokey is safe. Scott MacIntyre and Megan Joy stood up... and the person in the bottom three is Scott! Ryan sent him back to the bench, he's safe tonight.... Darn...

Time for Stevie Wonder!! He was amazing!!!

The person who may go home tonight is Michael Sarver. He sings for the judges and they do not use their save. They were having a hard time making a decision! 

Final point standings for the night... 

Zach- 18
Shawn- 6
JoJo- 3
Fleur_de_lis- 0

gadget.Logitech Laptop Coolers
26 March 09 02:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

 

Many of us own a laptop and love it to bits. In fact, when we first got our hands on it, we’d make sure it receives the best treatment possible, safe from all sorts of knocks and drops while ensuring it remains cool at all times. What better way than to purchase a viable laptop cooler from Logitech? After all, these peripheral masters are no slouch when it comes to product quality, so let’s take a look at the Logitech Cooling Pad N100 and the Logitech Notebook Riser N110 in greater detail right after the jump.

The laptop is definitely a much more convenient tool to have around the house as it is highly portable, but plenty of users are concerned about laptop heat with the common belief that the hotter the laptop gets, the slower it will perform (not to mention damage the innards as well). Logitech hopes to combat these problems by offering its Cooling Pad N100 and Notebook Riser N110. The former aims to improve airflow around your laptop, regardless of whether you’re using the device on a couch, bed or at a desk with an external keyboard and mouse. It comes with a slotted surface that helps protect you from heat thanks to the USB-powered fan which distributes air quietly and evenly. A rear air intake is used to create a steady, unobstructed airflow. It is enclosed in a durable chassis that protects the internal fan from dust and damage. Don’t worry about the Cooling Pad N100 sipping up even more juice from your laptop when connected - it relies on a low power-consumption USB cable so that it will have a minimal impact on your laptop’s battery life.

As for the Logitech Notebook Riser N110, this peripheral is meant to elevate your laptop to improve your comfort level whenever you’re working at your desk. After all, it boasts an ergonomically designed riser which will elevate your laptop display to an optimal viewing position. The Notebook Riser can be used with an external keyboard and mouse, where each peripheral will be arranged individually so that your typing posture can be enhanced. In addition, it comes with an adjustable tilt – with 20-, 30- and 40-degree angles – complete with a rubber-soled swivel base. The Logitech Cooling Pad N100 and Notebook Riser will be out in US this March and Europe next month, retailing for $29.99 and $39.99, respectively.

Filed under: Laptop Cooler

Last Night's Idol cont.
26 March 09 07:16 AM | Zach | with no comments

Well, I watched about half of last nights show so far... Adam was by far the best out of anyone last night. Here's the post I promised you Note, I didn't write it so thanks Elaina for helping me out!

But first, here's the chart of who we think will be in the bottom 3!

All entrants think that either Megan or Michael are going home this week. I also offered a bonus point for this week, but the point will not be awarded until after the competition hits the top 3...   Here's THAT chart! I gotta say, results are shocking!

EVERYONE picked the same top 3! Wow!

 

The top 10 American Idols performed Wednesday night to see if they could get one step closer to becoming the next Idol.

The theme for the night was Motown music with Smokey Robinson as the mentor.

Matt Giraud was up first performing “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye and Smokey said that Matt’s performance “would have floored him [Gaye].” It was good because Matt finally stepped away from the piano and showed more of a stage presence. Kara said, “there’s a lot of girls out there saying ‘yeah let’s get it on.’” Enough said.

 

Kris Allen was next up singing “How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye and Smokey said that Matt “blew it away.” He did a great job and put a very different sound on the song. Randy said that Kris has “hit his zone” but Simon said that he basically wanted Kris to be a little more conceited and have a "swagger."

Scott MacIntyre stuck with the piano and sang “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes. Smokey said that he enjoys Scott’s performances always and he made the song contemporary. I’m not sure about the pink jeans he was wearing; however the performance was fun and entertaining but maybe not enough to take him to the top 9. Paula, after telling Scott to leave the piano behind the week before, said that although he didn’t give up the piano he brought a new level to it this week. Unfortunately, Simon said that besides the piano playing, “it was a bit cheap.”

Paula also brought crayons and coloring books for Simon because he gets bored so easily.

Megan Joy Corkery sang “For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder and Smokey liked how different and original her performance was. She did a good job of working the whole stage and looked beautiful but her jazzy sound is getting a little old. Randy said the “song was a train wreck.” The other judges also didn’t like the performance.

Anoop Desai was next up singing “Oh Baby, Baby” by Smokey Robison and The Miracles and Smokey said he blew him away. It was a little boring but he has an amazing voice. Simon said that Anoop “looked half asleep.”

Michael Sarver sang “Ain’t Too Proud Beg” by The Temptations and Smokey said he needed to be a little less smooth and little more abrasive about it. It was a very different performance for Michael and he really sang it to its fullest. Paula said it was “a little old Las Vegas” and Simon really ripped into him, saying it was bad song choice.

Lil’ Rounds was next on stage singing “Heat Wave” by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and her and Smokey connected over how far Motown has come and Lil’ said she wanted to do her performance for them. Not surprisingly, Lil’ killed it and looked gorgeous. Randy like the end but felt like the beginning of her performance was “torture” but Paula thought it was “fresh” and “classic.”

Adam Lambert sang “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and Smokey liked how he kept it slow and soft. He had a very different look with slicked back hair and suit keeping in tempo with his performance. Smokey Robinson gave Adam a standing ovation and Kara said she had to stand because it was “one of the best performances of the night” but Simon said “it was THE best.”

Danny Gokey was next up singing “Get Ready” by The Temptations. It was a little cheesy but his voice sounded good as always. Paula said he always gives a “first class performance” but Simon said “it was clumsy and amateurish.”

Allison Iraheta sang “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by The Temptations and Smokey said she sang it her own way and that was a good thing. It was amazing especially for a 16-year-old and the whole audience was on their feet. Kara said “that was from God!” while Simon proceeded to draw a sharpie mustache on Paula.

 

American Idol 8: Top 10 Night 1
25 March 09 09:23 PM | Zach | with no comments

Well tonght is the first episode of the Top 10

I unfortunitly will not be able to watch it tonight due to the amount of school work I have this week plus some family issues. I'll have a filler post for you tomorrow. Again sorry bout this, school comes first!!

I'll try to rank them in the AM as well.

gadget. Shuttle X50 Nettop
25 March 09 02:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

Shuttle has recently unveiled the X50, an all-in-one touchscreen nettop. I’m not really even certain what a nettop is, but this one looks like it could become quite popular.

The thing that makes me want to buy it is the “lunchbox” handle on top, which just screams portability. The screen is a big 15.6 inch (1,336 x 768 resolution), and all the applications on its Windows XP Home operating system can be accessed with a fingertip or stylus.

The computer is 1.4 inches thick, and comes with WiFi b/g/n, of course. Other features include an Atom 330 processor, 1GB of RAM, plus a 160GB hard drive. The X-50 also has a 1.3 megapixel webcam, as well as ezCam software. It also comes with a 4-in-1 memory card reader, VGA output, audio in and out, and five USB ports. The big thing is that it is powered by an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor.

Maybe I am new to this whole All-in-one PC nettop thing, but I don’t see any keyboard on this thing. I suppose you could attach one via USB, but maybe there is a possibility of using the touchscreen of a keyboard.

Interested in the X50? You will have to wait until the end of the month to get it, for a price of about $499.

 

Filed under: nettop

3-25 Dish: Survey suggests Rihanna is to blame for Brown beating
25 March 09 07:34 AM | Zach | with no comments

Sorry bout the gadget mixup this week... I accidentally must have had the posts cross wired. They will pop up here at 2:00 PM ET here this week, ant 10:00 AM on the gadget.X blog this week. I'm not going to fix them until next week probably. This will also be the last week there are 2 gadgets a day....

Hargitay Back at Work Following Health Woes...
Actress Mariska Hargitay has returned to the set of TV drama Law & Order: SVU after taking a three-week break to recover from a partially collapsed lung.
Tabloid reports suggested Hargitay's health crisis will keep her off the set of the hit show, with sources claiming producers "have written her out of the rest of the season".

3 Million Twilight DVDs Sold Last Weekend...
Summit Entertainment says more than 3 million copies of its Twilight DVD were sold in the United States during the weekend.
The DVD release began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Thousands of fans across the country took part in a "Twilight at Midnight" promotional program, which allowed participating retailers the opportunity to stay open late as fans lined up to buy the DVD, Summit said Sunday.
Some enthusiasts were even treated to appearances by the movie's director and cast members.

Swayze: Richardson's Death is a Great Loss...
Patrick Swayze called the recent death of his Waking Up in Reno co-star Natasha Richardson a "great loss."
The pair acted in the 2002 comedy alongside Charlize Theron and Billy Bob Thornton.
Richardson, who was married to actor Liam Neeson and was the mother of his two sons, died last Wednesday of head injuries sustained in a skiing accident at the age of 45. She was buried Sunday in upstate New York.

Steve-O, Wozniak Score Low on DWTS...
Injured contestants Steve-O and Steve Wozniak competed on Dancing with the Stars in Los Angeles Monday but racked up the night's lowest scores.
Former Jackass star Steve-O, who was nursing a back injury, earned 15 points doing a foxtrot Monday night, while Apple co-founder Wozniak garnered 10 points for what judge Bruno Tonioli described as the "worst samba" he'd ever seen, the New York Daily News said. Wozniak reportedly pulled a hamstring while rehearsing last week and fractured a foot two weeks ago.

Bush to Present Chuch Norris with Award...
Former President George H.W. Bush is set to present the McLane Leadership in Business Award to film and TV star Chuck Norris
Norris is to be recognized for his achievements as a martial arts legend, entrepreneur and humanitarian at an event Tuesday in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library Center in Texas.
The McLane Award is co-sponsored by the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and serves to recognize the role of prominent individuals for their contributions in business and public service, the center said.

Hudson's Sister Steps Out On Catwalk After Family Shooting...
Jennifer Hudson's sister Julia walked down a fashion show runway this weekend in her first public appearance since her mother, son and brother were gunned down five months ago.
The siblings' mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason, were found shot dead at their home in Chicago, Illinois on October 24. The singer/actress' seven-year-old nephew, Julian King - son of Julia - was also killed; his body was found in an abandoned car three days later.
Julia's estranged husband, William Balfour, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder and home invasion.
Also, tonight after the live Idol show, Hudson will perform for the audience. The showing date of this performance is unknown at this time.

Survey Suggests Rihanna is to Blame for Brown Beating...
More than half of the young people who took part in a Boston Health Commission survey in Massachusetts feel Rihanna was to blame for her bust up with Chris Brown, for which the "Kiss Kiss" singer faces a five-year jail spell.
The alleged beating on February 8 left Rihanna with a black eye and swelling, and turned Brown into a media target. But the teenagers and 20-somethings asked for their opinion of what happened in Brown's rented Lamborghini voted to apportion the blame for the fight on Rihanna.
Reports suggest the singer flew into a rage after coming across a text message from a former lover of her boyfriend. Brown allegedly punched his girlfriend while driving through Hollywood, threatening to kill the "Umbrella" hitmaker.
The couple has since reconciled. R&B star Brown has been charged with two felonies - one of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, and one of making criminal threats. He is due in court next month.

Condoleezza Rice to Appear on Tonight Show...
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has agreed to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC announced Monday.
Rice is to stop by the late-night show Tuesday to "discuss her years of high-profile public service, and her new areas of focus following the presidency of George W. Bush," the network said in a news release.
Rice was the first female National Security Adviser and the first African-American woman to be appointed U.S. Secretary of State. She served in the Bush administration from Jan. 20, 2001 to Jan. 20, 2009.

Just a funny news blurb for ya!

A man from New York has won the lottery - after using Bernard Madoff's prison numbers as inspiration! According to the 'New York Daily News', Ralph Amendolaro, a construction worker from Queens, noticed the numbers on the disgraced financial fraudster's prison mugshot, and decided to have a punt. He said: "I'm going to be a winner with this guy even though everyone lost money with him. Somebody had to get a little lucky with him." He went on to win $1,500, and is planning to splash out: "I'm not going to invest it, put it that way!"

That's The Dish!

gadget.Microsoft Surface 2
24 March 09 02:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

I’m sure that you probably have heard of the Surface, Microsoft’s touchscreen table. I believe they cost about $10,000, and I’m not certain how much they are worth it. However, you got to admire its Picture Manager that allows you to group pics as if they were all on the table.

It would appear that Microsoft has upgraded the Surface with version 2.0, or as they like to call it, the SecondLight. Surface 2 has a second projector, which allows the Surface to layer one screen over another. This will allow a satellite overlay to be projected onto a city map, or render a completed building over a set of blueprints.

I’m not certain why a second projector is needed for this sort of thing. I’m guessing the projections won’t be hovering over the Surface table like holograms or anything. By the way, the SecondLight plans to have high definition cameras and infrared sensors, so it can detect hand gestures. That’s right, you won’t even need to touch the table on the Surface 2.

All this new technology sounds pretty neat to me. It reminds me of the scene in Iron Man where you see Tony Stark assemble the blueprints for his armor with holograms and gesture-based controls.

We will see what kind of use the world can get out of the Surface 2. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to it.

Filed under: Microsoft, touchscreen

gadget.The Tissue Box with a Hidden Camera
23 March 09 02:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

This gadget is yet another reason being a devious teen with tech savvy parents makes life just a bit more difficult.  Granted, well behaved teens that never sneak out or attempt to have parties while their parents are away won’t be bothered by such things.  However, for those parents that really just don’t trust their kids or they want a little more in home security, this is a great gadget to have around.  It’s highly doubtful that anyone would suspect that this plain black tissue box would have a hidden camera inside.

It can record during the day as well as at night.  It also can be set up to begin recording at scheduled times, so that you don’t have to keep it running at all times and could save battery life.  If anyone were to pick up the entire device, they might notice something a bit different about it.  For those that never touch it though, there wouldn’t be any issues.  It has a hidden SD card slot underneath and a rechargeable 6 hour battery.  You can pick this up through BrickHouse Security for $599.95, which might be a bit pricey for the average household.

 

Filed under: spy, camera

gadget.Dell Adamo
23 March 09 10:00 AM | Zach | with no comments

Well, I had a post of about 10 gadgets all ready for you today since the posts I had up last week didnt work... but when I hit post, I lost everything I wrote So instead of going back and re-writing everything for the post again, I picked the main story and will probably have another gadget for you later today. I will also post 2 gadgets a day for you... One at the usual 10:00 AM and another at 2:00 PM every day this week! (To make up for lost time...)

At long last - the Dell Adamo will finally be made available to the masses. I can safely say that this is the best looking Dell notebook to date, even though Dell has moved forward pretty much in terms of design over the years, nothing holds a candle to the Adamo once you lay your eyes on it. The Adamo is also the first product under the new Adamo by Dell brand, and it offers premium craftsmanship and design inspires new aesthetic across Dell family of products. In a marketing propaganda, Adamo by Dell was specially created to disrupt people’s perceptions of what personal computing is today. I guess Dell didn’t send me the memo as I personally don’t think personal computing is boring and backwards-looking in design at all. Ah well, enough nitpicking - let’s take a look at what this svelte new notebook offers.

Touted by Dell to be the world’s thinnest notebook, the Adamo will definitely have MacBook Air fans up in arms as their favorite notebook has just been usurped, of all things, not by one of their own, but a Windows-powered machine instead. Bitter rivalry aside, the Adamo (meaning “to fall in love” in Latin) will be the flagship model in a line of products that was developed to disrupt the personal computing space by merging new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies. The chassis itself is milled from a single piece of aluminum (sounds familiar here…), boasting precision detailing and a scalloped backlit keyboard. As for the display, you get a stunning high definition edge-to-edge glass display for all your entertainment needs, while it remains fully connected with a plethora of options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an optional integrated mobile broadband service. No hard drives here to keep the bulk level down, which means you will enjoy speedy response with its built-in solid state drive.

The Dell Adamo will come in Onyx and Pearl colors, accompanied by a broad range of complementary accessories. Prices start from $1,999 upwards.

Press Release

 

Filed under: Dell

3-23 Dish: Gettin' Back into the Swing of Things
23 March 09 07:56 AM | Zach | with no comments

Today is the first day back from break... I wrote a longggg gadgets post and it didnt post, so I'm trying to fix that, I also wanted to post a link to this week's "The Un-Influenced" contest page... and then call it a day...

Maybe tomorrow I'll have all the ducks in a row so we can get everything back in gear...

Here is your "The Un-Influenced" contest page for this week!

American Idol 8: Top 11 Night 2
18 March 09 09:01 PM | Zach | with no comments

On this stag, 11 people stand before us. One will face the fire. Here are the results that may shock you... This is American Idol!

Before we begin with the show... here is the graph of "The Un-Influenced" Contest!

 

Hopefully Megan will go home so everyone receives points tonight! We watched the clip of last nights show... There were a few that really stood out! Then the group sang Trouble, not sure who that's by.... After the break was the Ford Music Video! Song was Here It Goes Again by OK GO. You'd think they would pick a country song... but whatev...

To tie into the new format for Idol, they are now showing what happens after the the show before the people sent home actually go home. 

Time for some results! Danny Gokey is safe.  Lil Rounds is safe. Anoop Desai is safe. Allison Iraheta and Michael Sarver stood up. Allison is in the bottom 3. And with that, 3 points for me However, Michael Sarver is also in the bottom 3! No one gained points with that one.

On the stage now is Brad Paisley singing his latest single Then.

Back from the break time for more results. Scott MacIntyre is safe. Megan Joy Corkrey is safe. Matt Giraud is safe. Kris Allen is safe. Alexis Grace and Adam Lambert stand up.... The person in the bottom 3 tonight is Alexis. 

Ryan makes it easier for one of them.... And that person is Allison Iraheta.

Before we find out if it's Michael or Alexis going home, we see Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis singing I Told You So. It was more a Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis song but was very good!

Ryan asked Simon if one of the bottom two was worth using their save on and he said they would. My guess is they would probably save Michael if he was sent home. 

After the nationwide vote, Michael is safe! Alexis is goin home! Simon says she was the one they were thinking about saving... If they save her, 2 will go home next week. 

Alexis sang the song poorly I felt... Last night was much better in my opinion. I think the judges would waste their save on her. They decided not to save her and she is going home...

Current point standings for "The Un-Influenced" Contest

Zach- 12
Shawn- 0
Fleur_de_lis- 0

Next week Idol is going to be Wednesday for 2 hours, and Thursday is the results show! They will be celebrating the 50 years of Motown! See ya then!

I will open the next round of "The Un-Influenced" contest tomorrow morning! Good Luck!

Dont forget, if you would like to save yourself some points, thats due by MIDNIGHT tonight!!

American Idol 8: Top 11 Night 1
17 March 09 09:27 PM | Zach | with no comments

Tonight is all country music... That means it probably won't be entirely great, however, the American Idol may have their genre, but they can sing anything. That is what the true definition of an American Idol should be. Tomorrow night, Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis will be singing I told you so AND Brad Paisley will be singing Then so if you are a country fan, this is your week on Idol!

These performances are in order so if you are still up until 12:00 PM EST tonight, you can still call in! Remember the number is 1-866-IDOLS(43657)-(their two digits eg. 01 or 12) OR if you have a AT&T Wireless phone, you can text the word VOTE to 57(their two digits). ((OK now I really feel like Ryan)). I'm excited this year because I have a DVR! That means I can pause the show more and make sure I spell names right the first time lol.

 

01. Michael Sarver sang Ain't Goin Down Til The Sun Comes Up by Garth Brooks.

            Gotta be one of my favorite country songs... I like most of the older country songs, from the 90s... practically what I grew up listening to. He forgot some of the lyrics in there... This song doesnt really show any range but you can totally tell he was in his comfort zone. It was fun tho...

I agree with Randy.

My Order (This week: 8) (Last week: 7)

02. Allison Iraheta sang Blame It On Your Heart by Patty Loveless.

            Every time I see her on stage, I instantly think of Kelly Clarkson. Her song was AMAZING, I didn't recognize it from the original. She's going to be one to watch this year

I agree with Kara.

My Order (This week: 4) (Last week: 4)

03. Kris Allen sang To Make You Feel My Love by Garth Brooks.

            He is a very strong ballad singer... It seemed very short to me for some reason. He found his niche it was right on with everything tonight.

I agree with Simon.

My Order (This week: 5) (Last week: 9)

04. Lil Rounds sang Independence Day by Martina McBride.

            Another one of my favorite country songs. A very different song for Lil... Listening to what she said after the performance, she said she wanted to show that she can sing songs other than R&B and I 100% agree with that decision!

I agree with Kara. Agreed FINALLY a judge that says what I'm thinking.

My Order (This week: 3) (Last week: 3)

05. Adam Lambert sang Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.

            Well that really was a weird arrangement of the song. It reminded me of what Chris Daughtry did during the country week back then, he picked a country song, found it in the rock genre and went with it. It is a country song, but the arrangement does not fit the genre. I do have to give him props for making the song new and not what it was back in the day.

I agree with Randy and Simon... a little bit.

My Order (This week: 2) (Last week: 1)

06. Scott MacIntyre sang Wild Angels by Martina McBride.

            It took me some time to even remember this song! There is something about Scott that I really can't stand. It's hard to put my finger on it. I think it may be that I feel a disconnection between him and us, the audience. It might be the piano too... I'm not 100% sure. He needs to really mix it up a bit. It's very forgettable

I agree with Paula and Simon on replay. Ok, I SWEAR I wrote that before Paula spoke. He did say that he isn't going to drop the piano anytime soon and I think that will hurt him.

My Order (This week: 7) (Last week: 5)

07. Alexis Grace sang Jolene by Dolly Parton.

            Ton of pitch problems... Not a good performance, I wasn't feeling the performance and she sounded like she knew that.

I agree with Randa and Kara.

My Order (This week: 10) (Last week: 8)

08. Danny Gokey sang Jesus, Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood.

            Yikes, I'm not sure, before the performance, if he'll succeed with this song. One of the rules I have is never sing a previous Idol's song. It was a bit rushed until it reached the chorus. Then it became a star's performance!

I agree with Kara.

My Order (This week: 1) (Last week: 2)

09. Anoop Desai sang Always On My Mind by Brenda Lee.

            That was actually fairly good. I was shocked.

I agree with Simon.

My Order (This week: 9) (Last week: 12)

10. Megan Joy Corkrey sang Walkin' After Midnight by Patsy Cline.

           I am really getting sick of the mic stand with her. She has no idea what do do with her hands when she doesnt hold the mic. Actually, I don't think she's even tried holding the mic. I do give her props, she's been in the hospital this week. I didnt like it at all...

I agree with none really...

My Order (This week: 11) (Last week: 11)

11. Matt Giraud sang So Small by Carrie Underwood.

            It was actually pretty good... Giving him props...

I agree with Simon.

My Order (This week: 6) (Last week: 6)

See ya tomorrow night where we will see if we have a Top 10 (or still a top 11). We will also see the results of "The Un-Influenced" Contest!