1 in 5 US Households Never Used Email

Topic: Other Stuff

According to a new study from Parks Associates 1 in 5 US households have never used email. That is pretty hard to fathom for technophiles out there. However, it not too hard to consider lots of people haven’t used email with people from our parents or grandparents generation composing a lot of the population who are resistant to technology.

The study shows that age and education are main factors in this digital divide. Half of those users who haven’t used email are over 65 and 56% had no education beyond high school. The National Technology Scan found that of the 20 million homes in America without an Internet connection only 7% plan to get one this year. Read more

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:32:35 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Scary Kitty Torch is environmentally friendly

Topic: Other Stuff

Why would someone design a flashlight in the shape of a kitten? And then even give it the color yellow. During the day the kitty torch looks harmless, but at night, the two LED eyes will scare the hell out of you (see photo below).

Still, the $11 Kitty torch is a great role model for cheap electronic gadgets, it does not need batteries.
The power needed for the LEDs is generated with a hand pressing charger. Read more

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008 07:39:58 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

11.5 Billion Online Videos Viewed in March

Topic: Other Stuff

According to research firm ComScore the number of online videos viewed in March 2008 jumped 13% to 11.5 billion. That number represents a 64% gain when compared to March 2007. Google sites were number one for online videos during the month with a 38% share of all the videos watched online.

YouTube accounted for 98% of the videos viewed at Google websites. Second place went to Fox Interactive Media with 477 million videos watched; Yahoo was next with 328 million videos with Viacom Digital recording 249 million videos watched. The last place site that was measured by ComScore was ESPN with 89,760 videos watched. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 12:41:17 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Launches WorldWide Telescope Public Beta

Topic: Other Stuff

Microsoft announced today that its really cool WorldWide Telescope was now in an open public beta. The application is from Microsoft Research and allows students and fans of Space view seamless images of the night sky composed from land and space-based telescopes.

"The WorldWide Telescope is a powerful tool for science and education that makes it possible for everyone to explore the universe," said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. "By combining terabytes of incredible imagery and data with easy-to-use software for viewing and moving through all that information, the WorldWide Telescope opens the door to new ways to see and experience the wonders of space. Our hope is that it will inspire young people to explore astronomy and science, and help researchers in their quest to better understand the universe." Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 11:32:04 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Apple announces WWDC 08 Keynote and Conference Details

Topic: Other Stuff

The WWDC 08 has what it takes to be one of the most exciting Apple Developer Conferences. Today Apple announced the details about the WWDC 08 conference and keynote that will of course be led by Steve Jobs.

The WWDC 08 will showcase two development platforms, the OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 09:46:22 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Reports Huge Sales for Office Mac Version

Topic: Other Stuff

Microsoft’s Mac Business unit reports that since the launch of Office 2008 for Mac at Macworld Expo 2008, sales for the Office suite have soared. The Mac BU reports that Office 2008 for Mac has sold faster than any Mac version of the last 19 years.

The new version was designed to use a Mac like interface and to operate like a native Mac application. Today Microsoft’s Mac BU announced that it had released SP1 for Office 2008. SP1 provides increased security, stability, and performance enhancements. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 07:42:18 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sportline TQR 775 Heart Rate Watch

Topic: Other Stuff

Sportline has released a new heart rate monitoring watch that is attractive enough to be worn all the time. The TQR 775 has the look of a fashionable analog watch and you can hardly tell it’s designed to measure heart rate until you activate the heart rate monitor.

Behind the watch hands is a LED display that provides your heart rate. Sportline claims that the heart rate monitor is ECG accurate. The watch uses heart rate measuring technology specifically designed for the analog watch that requires no belts or chest straps. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 06:43:58 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Apple Bottoms

Topic: Other Stuff

What is more popular than Apple Laptops? Right, Apple Bottoms - on Google at least. Apple Bottoms is the 2nd most searched Apple related search term just right after "Apple".

Apple Bottoms has nothing to do though with Apple, the Cupertino based consumer electronics and computer giant. Apple Bottoms is a fashion label by famous rapper Nelly. Read more

Posted on Mon, 12 May 2008 06:52:32 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

I4U Community powered by Flux officially launched

Topic: Other Stuff

We are happy to officially announce our new I4U Community service. We have been running the Flux powered social network platfrom on the Review and Gadget Model sections of I4U News for a while to test and optimize the integration. Now I4U Community features are available site wide.

The most important feature of the I4U Community is commeting. You now can post questions and feedback to every story and review we publish. Read more

Posted on Sat, 10 May 2008 00:10:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

eBay Unveils Top 10 Areas for eBay Sellers

Topic: Other Stuff

eBay has revealed its top 10 markets across the US for selling the most items on eBay. eBay says that Fort Lauderdale, Florida alone generated $630 million in eBay revenue last year. Other hot markets for eBay sellers include LA, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Orange County, Washington D.C., Houston, and more.

eBay says that these cities and counties in all generated over $7 billion in sales in 2007 and accounted for 55% of sales of all eBay sellers in the US. It seems that eBay revenues will be ever larger this year as millions turn to the auction site to sell items in order to pay for the skyrocketing costs of food and fuel. Read more

Posted on Fri, 9 May 2008 08:54:50 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

NASA Starts Artifact Loan Program with Shuttle Tires

Topic: Other Stuff

NASA announced a new artifact loan program today that will kick off with the chance for organizations that don’t normally work with NASA to get artifacts on a loan basis. The first loan item will be tires from the main landing gear of the space shuttle fleet. Some of the tires available for loan were even flown on missions.

NASA says that the tires will be made available to proposing organizations best meeting the agency’s goals of education and outreach. NASA has a form on its website for interested organizations to apply for a loan. Read more

Posted on Thu, 8 May 2008 10:27:29 CDT | by Shane McGlaun