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Now You Can Shop JCPenny From Facebook

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:01 AM PST


In what is sure to be the start of a very big trend, JCPenny is announcing their new Facebook application that allows Facebook users to browse and purchase items directly from JC Penny’s Facebook page. Users will be able to browse and search JC Penny’s catalog, as well as “like” products and purchases. I’m not sure I see the point of “liking” your purchase of a new pair of boots, but then again I also don’t use Facebook.

I admit I’m a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to online shopping. I dislike buying from anyone other than Amazon, most of the time. Even if I were a regular Facebook user, I’m not so sure that I’d rely upon Facebook to execute my shopping transactions. There’s the obvious concern about Facebook’s ever-changing attitude toward privacy, for one. But there’s also the concern that Facebook would be learning way more about me than I might care for them to know. And then there’s the question of whether online shopping really benefits much from becoming a social activity. Finally, there’s the question of just what Facebook is: a site to “connect and share with the people in your life”, or an all-encompassing platform for all the things you might wish to do online?

I guess it’s a good thing for some people, so don’t let my skepticism interrupt your enthusiasm at all.

JCPENNEY LAUNCHES FACEBOOK E-COMMERCE APPLICATION POWERED BY USABLENET PLATFORM
In Time for Holidays, JCPenney Offers All Items for Purchase and Sharing on Facebook

NEW YORK, NY AND PLANO, TX (Dec. 14, 2010) — Usablenet, a leading provider of mobile Web, applications, kiosk, tablet, and assistive solutions, today announced its first fully integrated Facebook e-commerce application for its client JCPenney. The new integrated Facebook application, powered by Usablenet's platform, sets to revolutionize the convergence of shopping and social media by extending full e-commerce functionality to retailers' Facebook pages. Usablenet customers can now enable their users to search, share, like, discuss, and even purchase products within their branded Facebook pages. This powerful application allows companies to effectively reach the 500 million active Facebook users, many of which spend the majority of their online time browsing the social network.
Usablenet now powers the following functionality on the JCPenney Facebook page:

  • Transactions: Supports a full e-commerce experience within the Facebook page, including add to cart, checkout, edit and remove products from cart, specify shipping address, ship to store, and pay with credit card.
  • Curated Inventory: Selected categories and products from the traditional e-commerce website are now extended to Facebook.
  • Search: Enables full search of all products currently included in the brand's product pages.
  • Like and Share: Facebook users can like and share items and purchases with their friends.
  • Review: Product display pages are integrated with reviews API allowing users of the community to comment on a product.
  • Analytics: Usablenet supports Google Analytics to understand and maximize ROI by tracking campaigns, page metrics, and e-commerce conversions.

"By extending the Usablenet platform to Facebook, we now allow our clients to leverage the same robust, reliable, secure platform to the world's largest social network as an additional channel to increase sales," said Nick Taylor, Usablenet President. "Retailers, such as JCPenney, can now drive revenue by engaging with fans, displaying products, supporting full purchase, and tracking analytics within their Facebook communities."

"With over 1.3 million friends and growing, our Facebook page remains a vital tool for engaging our customers as they explore and share the JCPenney brand," said Tom Nealon, group executive vice president for JCPenney. "By introducing commerce capability, we are able to take our Facebook experience to the next level, providing convenient features that encourage social integration and user contribution as our customers shop."

Usablenet's platform extends this new integrated Facebook application to any industry, which gives brands the ability to engage with consumers through a new channel. Usablenet's 300 plus clients can now extend products, information, and services available on their websites to the world's largest social network.


10 Tasteful Gifts For The Aspiring Chef

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:00 AM PST


While there are some of us for whom even boiling water correctly is a challenge, there are also future Top Chefs just waiting to be given the chance. You probably have one among your family or friends. And while great cooks don’t necessarily need great tools (it’s-a all in the spirit, eh?), it can’t hurt to have a few high-quality items around the kitchen. A beautiful new knife and cutting board may be the excuse he or she needs to stay home and brew up something delicious instead of going out.

And remember, a high-quality knife or pot can last a lifetime! So don’t be afraid to lay out a little scratch. Consider some of the following items to set your foodie on the right path.

TB Groupe Evercut Knife

I wrote this up the other day, and just had to include it in this round-up. The unique titanium carbide-steel combo is supposed to last up to 25 years without even needing a tune-up. And it’s less likely to chip than ceramic. The only trouble is it costs a mint: $225. But If it’s the last knife you ever buy, technically you could be saving a lot of money.

L’Econome Paring Knife Set

This one comes with a caveat. These wood-handled paring knives are solid and endearing (the lacquer wears off, leaving a nice patina on the handle), but what you really want is the three-knife set with sheep’s-foot and bird’s-beak as well as traditional paring — and the set is no longer available! You may still be able to find it in-store at Sur La Table, or on eBay, but if not, the original knives are available online for only $8 bucks each.

Boos Cherry Cutting Board

There’s a lot of noise about bamboo cutting boards these days, but I think a hulking, end-cut cherry board like this is way more dignified, and will probably last longer, especially if you don’t mind doing a little sanding and work on it. I love the finish on this one from Williams-Sonoma, but $120 might be too much. This Sagaform has a little less old-world charm, but it’s bigger and only $75.

Ozeri Touch II Kitchen Scale

While you can always guess the size of a steak or pile of chopped veggies, if you’re going to be doing anything really interesting with them (like slow-cooking), it’s important to know the weight. And who wants to do it on the bathroom scale, the way you weigh your dog? No, an understated accessory like this Ozeri scale will help turn good cooking into precise cooking. At under $30, it’s not too much of a hit on the wallet, either.

Meat thermometer (newfangled or “original”)

If your little chef is planning on doing much in the way of meat, a thermometer is absolutely essential. I personally prefer the old-school metallic poker with the radial dial, but that’s just because I’m weird like that. Still, it’s a classic, and you can probably find one on sale for five bucks. The newer ones, however, have handy stuff like temperature alarms, timers built in, and all kinds of stuff that make them indispensable after a few months of relying on them. This Polder model is on the plain side, but the reviews tend to praise its longevity.

Silpat Baking Mat

The waxy feel of these things always creeps me out when I handle them, but pastry chefs around the world swear by them. It’s a nice alternative to the classic baking sheet, and its cool industrial-looking finish will make your cook feel like they’re a real pro. They range from $15-$30, and I’d say go ahead and get the big one. No sense doing two batches of cookies when one will do.

Steel Dough Scraper

Although this simple device is made for lifting the remnants of dough from your cutting board or counter, it’s really just a great all-purpose kitchen tool. Use it to split scones, scrape melted cheese off dishes, or for a hundred other tasks. Don’t go with a wood or plastic handle! You want a single piece of steel. I’ve been using this one from Progressive for years, but Williams-Sonoma has a gorgeous undecorated one (shown above) that’s sturdier and costs almost the same. At under $10, these are great stocking stuffers for pretty much anybody.

Something made of cast iron from Le Creuset

The thing about Le Creuset stuff is that you really have to know how to use it, it can be a pain to clean up, you need a gas stove, and you’re likely to burn yourself because they get hot all over. But everyone has them because… well, they’re just so solid. I’m afraid my Ikea non-stick pan would break if I handled it roughly, but I’d feel safe playing a double-header with my Le Creuset skillet. If I had to pick one item from their selection for someone just starting out, I’d go with a square skillet grill and panini press. That’ll do any meat you throw at it, and sandwiches to boot. Don’t feel like dropping $200 on the Le Creuset name? This Lodge version looks like a bargain.

High-quality Olive Oil

A new chef might be wary about spending a lot of money on certain ingredients, just because, well, who wants to spend $30-$50 on olive oil? But if you take that step for them, they’ll indulge themselves and make something deserving of the ingredient, and might just invite you over for dinner, too. These oils are from the St. Helena Olive Oil Company, though there are plenty to choose from elsewhere. Just go to a fancy grocery store and buy something that looks delicious.

Cooking shows on DVD or iTunes

Shows like Good Eats and The F Word have been gaining popularity in recent years, and although there is a whole network dedicated to food (I forget what it’s called), it’s nice to have these things on demand. A nice gift for a tentative cook would be an episode with a particularly difficult but delicious dish that you could watch and then make together. The gift of teamwork! Buy ‘em here, at Amazon, or look in the miscellaneous section of your local kitchen store.

Well, that’s what we’ve got. I’d welcome any one of these as a gift, and even established chefs are probably missing one or could use a replacement. As a last caution, try to resist the urge to buy overly-specific kitchen gadgets like cherry pitters and such. They’re almost always underused, hard to clean, and end up languishing in cabinets while high-quality basics like a good knife or pepper grinder are in daily use. Cookbooks are another good idea, but there are so many to choose from, and only you know which would be a good one to give.

Got a favorite kitchen gadget or gift idea we didn’t think of here? Sound off below! We love to hear from you guys.

Check out the rest of our 2010 holiday gift guide!

Dusenberg Circular & Rectangular Art Deco Themed Watches

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:00 AM PST

Good thing it is a German speaker (Swiss German) who revived the Dusenberg name! The brand with the same name as the classic car that almost epitomized F. Scott Fitzgerald era art deco cars has two new models that will come out in 2011. The watches are the Dusenberg Rectangular and Dusenberg Circular. Can you guess which is one is each!? The design really does feel as though it hails from the roaring 1920's. Why is it that the past always seem to be have been better than it actually was? I am really fascinated by the "grass is greener in that other era syndrome." Anyhow, let's focus on these upcoming watches from Frenkendorf, Switzerland (they also have a Austrian location).


Daily Crunch: Safe Edition

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

Automated Road Trains: More Than Cars, Less Than Robocars

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 07:15 PM PST


Automated vehicles are coming. That’s for sure. But until a computer can really be trusted with the lives of everyone on the road, there will be some intermediate steps that may improve mileage and traffic. The SARTRE system (Safe Road Trains for the Environment, not the best acronym I’ve seen) uses a road train system where cars would follow each other closely, guided by a human-driven front vehicle.

Most of what you need to know is shown in the illustration above. The trouble, of course, is that you’d need a hell of a lot of “lead” vehicles in order to accommodate demand. And the long stretches of two-lane road wouldn’t be navigable, since these immense road trains would be hazardous to pass.

It’s still an interesting idea, and it’s based on existing or realistic technologies, so it could be built. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing this one any time soon, unless your city or county has spare cash to pay hundreds of convoy leaders.

[via Auto In The News]

Video: Every Zombie Death in The Walking Dead

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 07:12 PM PST

We’re big fans of The Walking Dead around here. Well, we’re big fans of the TV show never having read the comics. But both John and I both feel like there could be a bit more zombie action in the show. I mean, this video easily condensed all the zombie deaths into 69 seconds. Lame but still awesome at the same time. [via io9]

Did Super Mario All-Stars Deserve More Than A Collectors Edition?

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 06:42 PM PST


You’ve probably seen some reviews and hype surrounding the re-release of Super Mario All-Stars for the Wii. It’s Mario’s 25th birthday, and Nintendo appears to have put out a memorable edition of the game. But is that really all they ought to have done?

1UP’s review of the game gives an interesting criticism of Nintendo’s treatment of their most valuable asset:

Publishers like Nintendo are quick on the trigger to protect their works, launching cease-and-desist letters and DMCA takedown notices at the drop of a hat, which means it’s ultimately up to them to be the curators of the history their creations have established. If the best we can hope for to mark the silver anniversary of one of the most monumental video game masterpieces is a quick and dirty rerelease with a bit of pretty but insubstantial packaging, it’s little surprise that so few people take gaming seriously as a medium. Why should they, when even its most influential creators can’t be bothered, either?

It’s true, isn’t it? This release should have been monumental, with souvenir gold cartridges, extensive interviews with the creators, new or forgotten levels and materials, and so on. If a company like Valve can put together an interactive developer’s commentary, isn’t it incumbent on a Nintendo to meet or exceed that level of respect for its properties?

I’m surprised they’re even treating it like a normal game. If I were them, I would have practically given this away, not only as a “thank you” to the gamers of the world for supporting Nintendo and Mario for the last 25 years, but as a way of creating goodwill in a community where Nintendo is often criticized for being less than generous.

Having a truly special edition, maybe with a live playthrough by Miyamoto or poster-sized maps of the game levels, would have made this anniversary an affair to remember. As it is, it’s merely competent. Doesn’t Mario deserve more than that?

Microsoft To Show Off New Tablets, Possibly New Windows At CES

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 06:16 PM PST


“People familiar with Microsoft’s plans” have told the New York Times that Microsoft will be unveiling a new line of slates at CES in January. Well, yeah. But beyond that, these mysterious tipsters seem to think that Ballmer might even give us a taste of Windows 8. I’d believe it if I thought Microsoft could move that fast, but I just don’t see it happening.

It seems to me that Windows 8, likely much more touch-friendly and web-integrative, must still be quite a ways off (end of 2011 is what we’ve heard), and in order to demo it, they’d have to have it at least visually complete and in a form that could be squeezed onto one of their partners’ new tablets. It’d be cool if true, but… nah.

The tipster seems to confirm the Samsung Gloria tablet we saw the other day, and it goes further, saying that, like Dell’s recent convertible netbook/tablet, it’ll have a tablet-specific UI layer running only when the device is in tablet mode. Hopefully they do better than Dell did.

Staying Safe Online This Holiday Season

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

Given the recent rash of hacks, let’s talk a little about staying safe this holiday. You probably don’t need this guide, so pass it on to someone who does, like your brother-in-law, dad, or parole officer.

Online safety and security is no laughing matter and this holiday thousands of us will wake up to empty bank accounts and zeroed PayPal balances if we’re not careful. What’s worse, your family will probably turn to you as the de facto Christmas Dinner IT guy so you’ll have to spent most of the 24th killing malware and spyware. To that end, here are a few tips and tricks to help you and yours through the season.

Give the Gift of Linux – The best thing you can do for your non-computer-savvy relative or friend is install Linux. Before you laugh, hear me out. Linux is great if all you’re doing is surfing the Internet and maybe writing some documents. Everything else, including photo sharing, is all cloud-based now anyway. Best of all, you won’t have to spend hours deleting junk out of the browser cache and you can do it all remotely via a VNC or an SSH connection. What more could you ask for?

Ubuntu is probably your best bet for a Linux install and it’s virtually indistinguishable from any other windowed environment. Barring that, get them an OSX machine like a Mac Mini and call it a day. Either way you’re avoiding the heartache that is Windows maintenance.

Strong Passwords All The Time – Use a formula for making and remembering passwords. For example, use the first two or three letters of any particular website, then tack on the same static suffix. Your password for Amazon might be “AM4binky” or “AMAunderwear”, while your password for CrunchGear would be “CR4binky” or “CRUunderwear”. In this way, you can easily remember what your unique password is to each website.

Ideally you should use a punctuation mark in the password somewhere, but many sites still have stupid limitations restricting you to numerals, and upper- and lowercase letters.

Corollary: Do not let your browser save your passwords. Using a simple formula like this removes the need for your browser to remember your passwords for you. If your computer is stolen (or even just used by someone else), someone could easily log into websites as you if your
browser is saving your passwords.

Use “Icognito” or “Private Browsing” Mode Surfing porn? Please use your browser’s private browsing mode. (Or use a separate browser.) This prevents those porn sites from accessing your browser history.

Use Different Browsers – For day-to-day browsing, use something comfortable and easy to use. I use Chrome, but maybe you’d prefer Firefox. Whatever. For banking, or other sensitive operations, launch a different browser. Use that other browser *only* for doing those sensitive tasks. This might be a bit overkill, but with the recent spate of attacks on browsers’ histories, it might be prudent to take an extra step to stay safe.

Make One Password For Junk Accounts Feel free to use a weak password for sites you’re trying and will never visit again. Flarpr.com, Publ.com, and Gignong.org asking you to register? Your password can be “cowhorse” for all of them. Live a little. It’s Christmas! Just change your password if you plan on going back.

Use Two Email Addresses Create a Gmail account that you use for registering for junk and use your real, personal email account for real, personal email. Barring that you can add a “+” sign and a word to your current email address on your own domain to create a sort of “one off” email for each site. For example, you can set “john+amazon@porkloinlovers.net” as the email for your Amazon account and “john+folkdancing@porkloinlovers.com” for your private passion. This allows you to filter emails into buckets in your email program.

Pay With a Credit Card When you pay with a debit card, you’re putting up your own cash. When you pay with a credit card, you’re technically putting up the bank’s cash. If someone steals your credit card number during a transaction, you’re not out the cash once your credit card company sends the fraud prevention folks after the perpetrator.


The iGrill Turns Your iPhone Into The World’s Flashiest Meat Thermometer

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:51 PM PST

People are coming over, and it’s finally time to prove that you’re a better cook than big-mouthed Bob in accounting. But the game is on — and for some reason, you put the TV about as far from the oven as physically possible. Fortunately, friend, you live in the future. A future where there’s an iPhone app for absolutely everything — and if it’s something the iPhone can’t handle out of the box, there’s a whacky hardware add-on that’ll do the trick.

At CES in just a few weeks, a company called iDevices will launch their first product, and it’s one that’ll let you watch the game and show up Bob with your bangin’ roast. Meet the iGrill, the world’s first.. Bluetooth meat thermometer. Yep.

Read More

TechCrunch TRON LEGACY Screenings In New York And San Francisco

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:40 PM PST

Longtime TechCrunch readers know we like to have movie screenings on opening day for cool science fiction type blockbusters. Sometimes we get into legal trouble, but let us worry about that. It always works out in the end.

TRON LEGACY officially opens this Friday, December 17. We’ve reserved and prepaid two big theaters for the 3-D version of the movie, one in New York (470 seats) and one in San Francisco (404 seats). Movies in both locations start at 11:15 pm (EST or PST, depending on the theater) Thursday night, December 16.

Want to go? We’re releasing tickets starting right now. Click for details.

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Gift Guide: The Ultimate Multi-tool Round Up

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:30 PM PST

Whether you just need a knife and screwdriver or a whole suite of doodads, there’s a multi-tool out there for you. But there are a lot to choose from, so we contacted some of the top manufacturers and had them send us their best gear. Gerber, Buck, SOG, Leatherman, and CRKT all sent us their top-of-the-line tools so we could give them a fair and honest comparison.

We took a look at their durability, sharpness, warranty, and tool selection among other things, and now pronounce our judgment:


SOG Power Assist Black Oxide – MSRP $122

  • 15 Tools In One
  • Power Assist (geared) Pliers
  • User Replaceable Tools
  • Assembled in the USA
  • Lifetime Warranty

Review: SOG is predominantly known for their knives more then their multi-tools, but perhaps the PowerAssist should change that perception. As far as multi-tools go, the PowerAssist has the standard tool set (a Philips head screwdriver, a standard screwdriver, a knife, and a can opener), as well as the SOG V-Cut (for cutting webbing), and one serious saw. The pliers portion of the tool has a gearing option in order to give you extra power when using the cutting tool. In the video on SOG website, they cut a washer in half with it, and it seems almost effortless. This wasn’t just marketing BS, it works. I tried the washer test myself and it worked exactly like they showed. I liked the SOG overall, I found it to be the easiest tool to use the pliers function on, and the knife blade locking system works extremely well. I did have a minor complaint about the tool locking system — it’s extremely difficult to unlock a tool once you have it open. Other then that minor complaint, I found the SOG to be a quality product.

SOG has obviously put a large amount of time and effort into making a multi-tool that’ll do pretty much everything. It’s large, and heavy, but can do it all.

Leatherman Super Tool 300 – MSRP $85

  • 19 Tools in one
  • Clip point knife and and serrated knife
  • Replaceable Wire Cutting Blades
  • 25-year Warranty

Review: Tim Leatherman created the first multi-tool in 1980, and the Super Tool 300 is the ultimate version of that multi-tool. The Super Tool 300 is Leatherman’s ultimate tool designed for pretty much what ever you need it to do. It has every possible attachment you might need, including a saw, awl, file, bottle opener, and multiple sizes of screwdrivers. If MacGyver had carried a multi-tool instead of a pocket knife, this would have been the one. The Super Tool 300 also comes with a ballistic nylon case, intended to be attached to military webbing. This is one serious multi-tool.

Leatherman is the original, and still making the multi-tool of choice of many people out there. The Super Tool 300 continues that tradition by bringing a full compliment of accessories to the table.

Gerber Strata – MSRP: 104.00

  • 13 Tools in one
  • 1/2 Fine edge & serrated blade
  • Scissors
  • Retail package opener

Review: Gerber’s Strata is one of the more elegant looking multi-tools (let’s face it, the majority of them look pretty utilitarian), and it has a unique locking system. Instead of pushing on a release lever, you slide a portion of the handle down to unlock whatever tool you’re decided to use. The Strata has several different tools, covering everything from the standard pliers with wire-cutters to scissors, standard and Philips screwdrivers, a saw, and even a file. Gerber warranties their products for life, so you won’t need to worry about defects or quality issues, which aren’t a problem at any rate. There were a couple of issues I noticed about the Strata; the handle seemed loose and moved from right to left in a manner other then designed. Not a major problem, but one that could become a warranty issue.

The Strata looks nice, but I’m a little reluctant to recommend it given the quality issues. It could have just been the unit they sent me, but I’d be careful before buying this one.

Buck X-Tract – MSRP: $55

  • 4-Ever Warranty
  • Quality knife blade
  • One Handed opening on all the tools
  • Nylon carry sheath

Review: The Buck X-Tract is unique in that all of its tools can be opened with one hand. The pliers slide forward, the can opener can be opened via a small metal stud, and even the standard and Philips screwdrivers can be opened single handedly. The Buck also has the best knife blade of all the multi-tools, which is quite impressive considering it’s one of the smaller and less expensive multi-tools I checked out. The Buck X-Tract has a lifetime warranty, and judging from the quality of the pliers, you’re probably going to need it. To be honest, the quality of the pliers on the X-Tract isn’t exactly the highest quality. The blade on the other hand, is great. So if you’re looking for a multi-tool that has fairly low quality pliers but an extremely high quality knife blade, the Buck X-Tract is your product.

I actually like this tool. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that most of the others have, but it does have the best blade.

CRKT GoNerd Flux – MSRP: $69.99

  • TSA Friendly (no blade)
  • Designed for your modern nerd
  • Changeable screwdriver heads
  • Built in LED light

Review: CRKT is a bit of an odd man out. I really like their product though – it’s customizable based on your needs, making it the only tool that doesn’t require the purchase of a specific tool for a specific job. CRKT send me the GoNerd Flux; it’s a specialized tool for someone who works on computers. The GoNerd Flux has a build in (removable) 2GB USB drive, interchangeable bits (standard and Philips), and a built-in LED light. It attaches via a carabiner clip, making it ideal to attach to a belt loop or tool bag. If I still worked as an IT repair tech, I’d want one of these tools. If the GoNerd Flux has any shortcoming, it’s the lack of a knife blade. It does make it TSA-friendly, but there’s no way to trim or remove a zip-tie from inside a computer for example. Also, no pliers. Because the GoNerd Flux is customizable, you can buy a module that has a knife blade and a pair of pliers, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the “nerd” features CRKT built in. Overall, the GoNerd Flux is a well built, quality tool.

The GoNerd Flux is a completely customizable tool. I like that. You don’t necessarily need a saw and a file when you’re work on a computer. But you can change out the module if you decide you want to take it camping with you.

Bonus Review: CRKT M21-14SF – MSRP: $129.99

  • Combat Folding Knife
  • Designed by Kit Carson
  • Automatic Safety lock
  • Entire knife covered in non-reflective black

Review: CRKT also sent along a bonus with their GoNerd Flux, a combat folding knife. Now it just so happens that I personally like knives, so I was quite excited to take a look at their folding combat knife. Make no mistake, this is a combat knife. It’s designed for a soldier who needs a knife while deployed. Most of CRKT’s combat knives are designed by Sergeant Major Kit Carson of Vine Grove, Kentucky. The M21-14SF is an aluminum knife, made with black anodized metal, and locks open using a dual “AutoLAWKS” system that instantly transforms the knife from a folder to a fixed blade, making it an ideal combat weapon.

This knife is pure awesome. While I’ll never put it to it’s intended use, it’s still nice to have a good sharp knife with you at times. Plus, it looks really bad-ass.

Conclusion: I’ve loved doing this gift guide. I love multi-tools, I love what they represent, and I’ve typically had one strapped to my belt since my first Leatherman Wave. Much like Les Stroud, I never go hiking or camping without my trusty multi-tool. Which is why, to my surprise, I have to declare the SOG the winner. To be honest, I’ve always been partial to Leatherman products, but the SOG Power Assist really impressed me and caused me to change my allegiance.


Boxee Box Gets Its First Major Firmware Update, Local Media Can Now Be A Priority

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:19 PM PST

The Boxee Box is great, but not perfect. The company just rolled out the first major firmware update that address many of the common complants. Owners can now specify whether local or Internet files take precedent over the other, making for a much more user-centered feel. If you have a bunch of files stored on a NAS that are watched regularly, you’ll probably selecte the  ”Mostly my own files.” But if you got the Boxee Box to watch online content, the “Mostly stuff from the Web” option is probably for you.

The update solves a bunch more updates and bugs though. Click through for the complete rundown.

From the Boxee Box blog,

Improvements and additions:

  • Enabling user flavor selection (online/local files inclination) during first login and via Settings
  • Added alphabetical scrollbar for local files
  • Enhanced sorting options in browse screens (A-Z, Z-A, most popular, newest/oldest…)
  • Add Genre filter support for local files
  • Mark movies as watched/unwatched from the Action menu
  • Added option for hourly scan of SMB/UPnP/USB sources
  • Added SMB client defaults to Network Settings
  • When watching side-by-side or over/under video, the subtitles and OSD would not be visible when wearing 3D glasses. The user now has the option, under Settings, to have the user interface properly displayed when watching 3D videos

Bug fixes

  • Do not de-interlace of video when the TV is in interlaced mode (e.g. 1080i)
  • HFS+ volumes display UUID instead of volume name under some conditions
  • Video OSD text background too small for text title when playing video with long titles
  • When connecting to VPN, Boxee didn't refresh region code
  • Boxee doesn't change DNS configuration when VPN is set up
  • Can't connect to hidden wireless networks
  • Can't connect to network using WPA passcode with special characters
  • When Internet connection is restored, menu doesn't show online channels
  • DVD .iso playback aspect ratio incorrect
  • DVD playback displayed some artifacts
  • "Resume From" doesn't work on DVD ISO/Folders
  • Zoom on DVD (.iso and folder) video does not work as expected
  • .vob files playback (standalone files) is stuttering and low FPS
  • DVD .iso playback over Wireless N: excessive buffering, playback speed issues, random exits
  • "Vietnamese" character set is misspelled in System Settings
  • Show "Remove From Favorites" button in episodes list, even if no episodes are available
  • SMB credentials are not saved upon restart
  • Write failure when accessing Box-attached disk over SMB
  • SMB file sharing of external HD size reporting is wrong
  • Become unresponsive and hang during playback of AVC .mkv file from SMB mapped drive
  • Crashes when indexing some videos inside .rar files
  • Crashes indexing mp3 file with corrupt embedded thumbnail
  • Stretch 16:9 and Stretch 14:9 not working properly
  • Shoutcast and Radiotime: Switching stations or Cancel causes interface to freeze and console output to crawl
  • Some .mkv files do not playback properly (some flavors of H.264)
  • Support packed bitstream muxing mode in .avi
  • Some .wtv files do not playback properly
  • Constant buffering on 1080p BD .mkv files accessed wirelessly on Boxee
  • Boxee crash when browsing into unidentified Files
  • Playback choked and crashed during viewing of .mp4 file

Tips For The Winter Bicyclist

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST

The hardcore bicyclists out there (I am not among their number) are probably prepared for all the wet and slippery inevitabilities of winter, but if you’re just planning a few rides or are new to bike commuting, you might want to take a look at this handy guide to staying safe on the road. It’s not just about hand signals.

A nice, bright rear LED and reflectors on your wheels are probably the most important parts of alerting motorists to your presence. After that, it’s all about staying warm, keeping your bike in working order, and not being afraid to look like a dork.

Check out the rest of the tips over at the Toronto Star.

That illustration (and the biking in the winter in general) reminds me of Calvin’s dad, am I right?

[via Treehugger]

Video: EyeWriter 2.0 Eye-Tracking Hardware

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 01:00 PM PST


You might remember a post last year about a graffiti artist, sadly paralyzed by a neural disorder, who got a second chance at creating art by using a home-brewed eye-tracking rig made by some friends and colleagues. The EyeWriter, as it was called, has now been improved, and the EyeWriter 2.0 uses a new system that enhances its usability. Check out the video.


They demonstrated it at the Cinekid festival, where they actually had it hooked up to a robot drawing arm that “printed” their tags. Looks like a pretty sweet setup, and it’s way, way cheaper than a commercial eye-tracking setup.

Lots more pictures and stuff over at FAT.

[via Switched and Make]

Video: Fan-Made Lego Black Ops Is Exactly What It Sounds Like

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:31 PM PST

Ha, this is pretty funny. It’s "Lego Black Ops," fan-made video showing everyone’s favorite building block toys totally destroying each other, Black Ops-style. It’s worth your time if you like silly stuff, which I assume you do.

Mark your calendars: I had something nice to say in a post involving Black Ops.

12 Days Of Christmas: Kobo E-Reader And E-Books

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:00 PM PST


We’re kicking off our 12 days of giveaways with an e-reader from Kobo. You might have seen our first review, or our more recent one; it’s a bare-bones, straightforward little e-reading device that is now graced with onboard w-ifi and a store for magazines and newspapers. And we’ve got one with your name on it for our first daily giveaway.

All you need to do is leave a comment below mentioning your favorite non-existent piece of tech from a book you love. For example:

I love the thumper from Dune, the device the sand people use to attract and distract the sand worms. When global warming renders this world a sandy hell, I’ll be the first to market this must-have accessory. I AM THE KWISATZ HADERACH!

The winner will be chosen randomly and awarded the following prize:

Kobo e-reader, $20 Kobo gift card and a selection of gift books we think you’d like

Official rules:

  • One comment per person and yes, we can check these things
  • Entries must be in by December 13th, 11:59pm PST.
  • The winner will be chosen randomly
  • Use a valid email address as that’s how we’ll notify the winner
  • US shipping addresses only

Be sure to use your real e-mail address! It will not be shared with anyone, period. It's just for this contest. Keep your eyes out for more giveaways over the next two weeks and don’t forget about our big Santa item: a gaming rig valued at  nearly $2,300. This contest runs through Christmas Eve!

What Makes People Act Like Jerks Online?

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 11:30 AM PST

It’s no secret that people can be jerks on the Internet. Lord knows that I’ve seen my fair share of flame wars all over the place in my travels. Penny-Arcade noted as much six years ago with the famous equation: normal person + anonymity + audience = total fuckwad. And check your work… yup, fuckwad. Even given this bulletproof equation, the question becomes why.

Part of the reason, says the Observer, is, indeed, anonymity. Plenty of people seem to think that because no one knows who they are, well, all bets are off. It’s carte blanche to be a total jerk. I’ll never understand that mentality: why go out of your way to be a jerk, even if you can reasonably expect to "get away with it"?

Perhaps that partially helps to explain the furor surrounding Blizzard’s Real ID during the summertime?

Another reason could be the idea of narrowcasting. Rather than use the Internet to expand our horizons as people, we tend to congregate with like-minded people. It sorta makes sense: if you’re a baseball fan why would you spend your time posting in a college football message board? But that’s the innocent version of, say, a white supremacist message board, where small-minded people can huddle together and think that everyone other than me and mine are awful and should be kicked off the planet. That’s pretty silly, but let’s not pretend these sites don’t exist.

In closing, all I can say is do unto others as you would them have done unto you. It’s called the Golden Rule for a reason. There’s no reason to be a jerk just because you "can."


World Of Warcraft: Cataclsym Becomes Fastest Selling PC Game Of All Time: 3.3 Million Copies Sold In First 24 Hours

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 10:00 AM PST


This is Wabiy, my new Worgen Priest. He’ll be popping up from time to time.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has become the fastest selling PC game of all time. Blizzard sold 3.3 million copies in a mere 24 hours. Assuming everyone paid $40 for the game, that works out to $132 million in first-day sales alone. Not too shabby!

For comparison’s sake, the previous expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, sold 2.8 million copies in its first day of availability.

Also for comparison’s sake, Call of Duty: Black Ops is estimated to have done some $360 million in first-day sales, which works out to 5.6 million copies sold.

Not that sales are indicative of a game’s quality, but it must be nice to be an Activison stockholder these days. If you can’t turn a healthy profit with those kinds of numbers you’re probably doing something wrong.

Ex-Wikileaks Folks Start Openleaks, The Next-Generation Of Leaking

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 09:30 AM PST

That certainly didn’t take long. The former number two at Wikileaks, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, has said that he will launch the next-generation of leaking software (I guess you’d call it software) in the "coming months." It’s to be called Openleaks, previously covered here, and it will try to fix some of the problems associated with the Wikileaks model, namely centralization.

Unlike Wikileaks, Openleaks will be a "conduit" of information rather than a publisher of information (it "aims to provide the technological means to organizations and other entities around the world to be able to accept anonymous submissions in the forms of documents or other information," said Domscheit-Berg. Whereas Wikileaks receives information, vets it, then released it on its site, Openleaks will simply exist to pass information along. It’ll be up to other organizations, like NGOs and "other interested entities," not to mention traditional news outlets, to vet everything.

One of the big things that Openleaks will do away with is any sort of person becoming synonymous with it. When you think of Wikileaks you naturally think of Julian Assange, which is not how Openleaks wants to go about doing things. It doesn’t want a public "face" lest ego get involved, nor does it want any perceptible single point of failure.

That’s why Domscheit-Berg and others originally left Wikileaks, that it became too much about Wikileaks itself (and Assange, as it were) than about the information the site was publishing.

Openleaks will establish some sort of foundation in Germany to help build its legitimacy.

In other Wikileaks news, The Guardian, which is pretty much the go-to place for English-language Wikileaks news, has a lengthy story about the people behind the denial of service attacks against companies like Amazon and MasterCard. Worth a read if you have a minute. (And lol at The Guardian for using Colloquy for IRC—real men use X-Chat.)
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