TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities » Internet Highlights

How Heavy Is the Internet? [The Internet Weighs 498,438,559,990kg and Rising]

Chris Smith — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:48:49 +0000

It’s not every day that we discover the answer to such a simple question. And because it’s the weekend, we might as well have some fun talking about the weight of the Internet.
(...)
Read the rest of How Heavy Is the Internet? [The Internet Weighs 498,438,559,990kg and Rising]

Future PS3 Firmware to Bring Stereoscopic 3D [Sony to Rule 3D World, Playstation 3 Gets 3D Gaming, 3D Movies Soon After]

Alex Ion — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:25:11 +0000

Just when we thought that the PS3 firmware 3.10, which brings Facebook integration among other goodies, was Sony’s latest attempt to get some attention and possibly new customers, a late night report came in stating that the company’s next firmware upgrade is going to bring 3D stereoscopic capabilities for the games played on their consoles.

(...)
Read the rest of Future PS3 Firmware to Bring Stereoscopic 3D [Sony to Rule 3D World, Playstation 3 Gets 3D Gaming, 3D Movies Soon After]

Opening Up Domain Names to Non-Roman Languages [Domain Names Planned in Arabic and Mandrin]

Katie Gatto — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:20:12 +0000

Icann, the group that regulates domain names on the Internet, is about to open up a whole new world of URL’s to the international community. Currently, domain names can only be registered in the Roman alphabet, which has left the number of domain names in the world limited. This move will open up millions of new domain names to users around the globe.

(...)
Read the rest of Opening Up Domain Names to Non-Roman Languages [Domain Names Planned in Arabic and Mandrin]

HP to Acquire Networking Giant 3Com for $2.7 Billion [HP to "Transform the Networking Industry" and Bring Next-gen Infrastructure]

Alex Ion — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:56:18 +0000

A late afternoon update just came our way stating that HP is going to acquire network giant 3Com in an all-cash deal valued at $2.7 billion, or $7.90 a share. Although the deal is yet to be approved by 3Com’s stockholders and to get government approval, sources have confirmed that the boards of directors of both companies have sealed an agreement to complete the transaction sometime in the first half of next year.

(...)
Read the rest of HP to Acquire Networking Giant 3Com for $2.7 Billion [HP to "Transform the Networking Industry" and Bring Next-gen Infrastructure]

Google 16TB Cloud Drive Available for $4,096 per Year [Cheaper Storage Solutions Available Too]

Chris Smith — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:31:14 +0000

Google officially announced in a blog post today that it’s ready to offer “twice the storage for a quarter of the price.” In other words if you need a piece of the cloud then Google will happily rent it to you every year. The offer sounds especially good as most of us have various files that we’d like to be able to retrieve at any given point without having to carry around portable storage solutions.
(...)
Read the rest of Google 16TB Cloud Drive Available for $4,096 per Year [Cheaper Storage Solutions Available Too]

Rumor: New PS3 Firmware Update to Bring Facebook Integration? [Manage Your Facebook from Your PS3, Change Gamer Card Colors & New Photo Organization]

Alex Ion — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:30:53 +0000

It looks like the old saying “no day without some PS3 news” confirms. After hearing yesterday that the Netflix streaming is official, today we laid our eyes on a set of screenshots that hint to some sort of Facebook integration that would allow you to manage your account straight from your console.

(...)
Read the rest of Rumor: New PS3 Firmware Update to Bring Facebook Integration? [Manage Your Facebook from Your PS3, Change Gamer Card Colors & New Photo Organization]

Google Offers Free Wi-Fi in 47 US Airports For the Holiday Season [Free Wi-Fi Access Till 15 January Confirmed]

Chris Smith — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:53:27 +0000

Google, the giant company that is slowly eating its way through the Internet is ready to impress us with another initiative. Google is going to offer free Wi-Fi connectivity to quite a few airports in the USA over the holidays.
(...)
Read the rest of Google Offers Free Wi-Fi in 47 US Airports For the Holiday Season [Free Wi-Fi Access Till 15 January Confirmed]

Google Dashboard Knows Everything About You [Are You Comfortable with Google Knowing All Your Secrets?]

Chris Smith — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:35:27 +0000

Google is undoubtedly one of the best resources the Internet has to offer. The company has so many tools available which most of use every day that we’d simply hate to see the Internet without Google. Sure we can complain all we want about various aspects concerning Google’s services but we won’t be able to deny the fact that, in the end, we don’t mind seeing Google taking over the Internet.
(...)
Read the rest of Google Dashboard Knows Everything About You [Are You Comfortable with Google Knowing All Your Secrets?]

Verizon Wireless Announced Prepaid Mobile Data Plans [Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem to be Available from November 16]

Chris Smith — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:16:11 +0000

Don’t blame us for all the Verizon-related news today. It’s not our fault that Verizon decided to officially launch the HTC Droid Eris, the LG Chocolate Touch or the BlackBerry Curve 8530 on the same day. Furthermore the carrier decided to also announce prepaid mobile data plans for its customers.
(...)
Read the rest of Verizon Wireless Announced Prepaid Mobile Data Plans [Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem to be Available from November 16]

Apple TV 3.0 Software Update Pushed Out [iTunes Store T&C Change, Reveal Release Date for Apple TV 3.0 is Soon]

Alex Ion — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:46:44 +0000

Today, Apple have made a change to their iTunes Store terms and conditions, and somebody with a sharp eye and a lot of time on his hands, discovered something useful after ploughing through all the legal mumbo-jumbo — apparently Apple’s TV 3.0 software update is coming soon. A new paragraph added under the “iTunes LP and iTunes extras’ says that they can only be used with computers running iTunes 9 or higher and Apple TV with software 3.0 or higher.

(...)
Read the rest of Apple TV 3.0 Software Update Pushed Out [iTunes Store T&C Change, Reveal Release Date for Apple TV 3.0 is Soon]

Microsoft Earnings Down by 14-percent [MSFT's Third Consecutive Decline in Quarterly Revenue, But Profits Beat Expectations]

Alex Ion — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:03:20 +0000

We’re not much into earnings and sales, but when it’s Microsoft publishing their third consecutive decline in quarterly revenue, something clicks and we’re intrigued. After making the official announcement for Windows 7 yesterday, today the business brains from MSFT have taken the time to report on the company’s total revenue, which dropped by 14-percent year-over-year to $12.92 billion (compared to $15.06 billion, last year).

(...)
Read the rest of Microsoft Earnings Down by 14-percent [MSFT's Third Consecutive Decline in Quarterly Revenue, But Profits Beat Expectations]

Dell Streak 5-inch Android MID With 3G & WiFi [Dell Leaks Android 2.0 Mobile Internet Device, Looks Neat]

Alex Ion — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:33:22 +0000

Dell is obviously not happy with the fact that the Taiwanese from Acer have kicked them off from the second place slot in the world’s PC manufacturer rankings, hence why, as of late, they’re doing everything possible to get media attention. If last week Michael Dell broke it that the company is actually going to bring their Android smartphone to the US, today we caught wind that all those Dell MID rumors are actually true and that the Dell Streak is real.

(...)
Read the rest of Dell Streak 5-inch Android MID With 3G & WiFi [Dell Leaks Android 2.0 Mobile Internet Device, Looks Neat]

Twitter Real-Time Video Tweets In the Pipeline [Video Tweeting Seen as Means of Boosting Twitters Social Networking Prominence]

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:40:12 +0000

Having only earlier today offered you a heads up concerning Twitter and Facebook coming to Xbox Live we continue with the Twitter related news as, whilst specific details are, as yet, in particularly short supply its being reported today that Twitter’s founders are looking at rolling out the integration of real-time video to supplement Twitters standard text based tweeting which will allow end users to post video tweets from notebooks and mobile devices alongside text based updates.
(...)
Read the rest of Twitter Real-Time Video Tweets In the Pipeline [Video Tweeting Seen as Means of Boosting Twitters Social Networking Prominence]

Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! Passwords Leaked Online [Security Breach Affects More Than 20,000 Accounts]

Alex Ion — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:51:54 +0000

You may have missed it, but yesterday Hotmail faced some serious security breaches and had to warn a fair number of their customers that they are potentially at risk of being defrauded after more than 10,000 accounts have been hacked into. Today, however, the whole thing got even more serious with the likes of Google Mail and Yahoo!Mail being affected, too.

(...)
Read the rest of Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! Passwords Leaked Online [Security Breach Affects More Than 20,000 Accounts]

Internet Eyes: Earn Money Spotting Crimes on CCTV [Cash Prizes for Remote CCTV Snoopers, Civil Rights Groups Unhappy (For A Change)]

Andrew Tingle — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:20:57 +0000

The internet is about to get a new reality game, known as Internet Eyes, that already has civil rights groups up in arms on account of the fact that you’ll be cast as a ‘remote snooper’ who’ll get paid cash for spotting real crimes via CCTV cameras installed in shops and shopping centres through out the UK.
(...)
Read the rest of Internet Eyes: Earn Money Spotting Crimes on CCTV [Cash Prizes for Remote CCTV Snoopers, Civil Rights Groups Unhappy (For A Change)]

Apple Announces 2Bn App Downloads and 85k+ Apps [Apple iTunes App Store For iPhone/iPod Touch Reaches 2 Billion Downloads and 85,000 Apps]

Shailpik Biswas — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:48:29 +0000

Whilst you were wasting time (yet again) playing your favorite iPhone/iPod Touch game, Apple’s App Store was crossing two more milestones in terms of total number of downloads and total number of available apps in its 20 strong categories.

(...)
Read the rest of Apple Announces 2Bn App Downloads and 85k+ Apps [Apple iTunes App Store For iPhone/iPod Touch Reaches 2 Billion Downloads and 85,000 Apps]

Audi Playstation Home Debut Confirmed [Audi Space to Showcase e-Tron Concept Courtesy of Vertical Run Multiplayer Game]

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:48:13 +0000

Audi have confirmed that they are set to enter the Playstation Home online universe in order to promote their e-Tron concept – which basically takes the form on an electric powered Audi R8 – which will be known as Audi Space and which will feature a multiplayer game known as Vertical Run featuring the aforementioned e-Tron concept car.
(...)
Read the rest of Audi Playstation Home Debut Confirmed [Audi Space to Showcase e-Tron Concept Courtesy of Vertical Run Multiplayer Game]

Opera Release 10 [New Enhanced Browser Interface, Compression Technology to Increase Browsing Speed, Integrated Email Client]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:05:30 +0000

Where once Microsoft Internet Explorer reigned supreme, the world of web browsers is certainly opening up. With players like FireFox and Safari making significant in-roads with less complicated, far less bloated browsers, it is no surprise that the developers at Opera Software are vying for their piece of the pie. Their Opera browser has just entered Release 10 status and its list of improvements is garnering some impressive press. The new Opera 10 browser promises to increase browsing speed and enjoyment through its integrated site compression and enhanced UI. Have we gotten your attention? Then read on. (...)
Read the rest of Opera Release 10 [New Enhanced Browser Interface, Compression Technology to Increase Browsing Speed, Integrated Email Client]

Twitter Botanicalls Kit [Get Plants Tweeting You To Water Them]

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:55:49 +0000

Yesterday we covered the Tweet-a-Watt Kit that serves to tweet your household’s power consumption in a little KWH tweeting action and now, thanks to this Botanicalls Kit, you can have your plants tweeting you to inform you of their soil moisture levels and even tweet you to tell you they need watering (or just tweet you to offer thanks for having watered them).

(...)
Read the rest of Twitter Botanicalls Kit [Get Plants Tweeting You To Water Them]

Netflix PS3 Movies on Demand Service Looming? [Netflix for PlayStation 3]

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:16:11 +0000

Whilst Sony have played down speculation concerning the Netfix TV and Movies on demand service coming to their PS3 console – to the point of abjectly denying that the service will ever be made available via their PlayStation 3 – a survey presently being conducted would indicate that Netflix could indeed be PS3 bound as well as potentially set to hit other gaming consoles.

(...)
Read the rest of Netflix PS3 Movies on Demand Service Looming? [Netflix for PlayStation 3]

Nintendo DSi App Store Worldwide Rollout Pending [DSiWare International Availability]

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:25:18 +0000

Japan may have had Nintendo’s DSi app Store, known as DSiWare, for a while now but those outside of Japan will be encouraged to learn that Nintendo’s DSiWare Store looks like its going to get its international rollout in the (possibly not so near) future.

(...)
Read the rest of Nintendo DSi App Store Worldwide Rollout Pending [DSiWare International Availability]

Safari 4 Beta Now Available [CSS3, HTLM5, Cover Flow, Top Sites Tumbnails]

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:04:32 +0000

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking to try out new iterations of browsers to test out their new functionalities (before all to inevitably falling back once again to Firefox) so you’ll no doubt be positively itching to give Apple’s new Safari 4 Beta (public release) which comes with a host of new features – including iTunes inspired Cover Flow display of bookmarks and browsing history as well as a top sites list with thumbnails – a quick spin.

(...)
Read the rest of Safari 4 Beta Now Available [CSS3, HTLM5, Cover Flow, Top Sites Tumbnails]

GlobeSurfer X1 From Option [Router Cum Wi-Fi Hotspot]

Piyush — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:07:11 +0000

The GlobeSurfer X-1 from Option is a wireless router. When connected to a USB modem, the unit becomes a Wi-Fi internet hotspot. The X-1 does not require any installation software, a built-in browser GUI lets you access the features via any internet browser.

(...)
Read the rest of GlobeSurfer X1 From Option [Router Cum Wi-Fi Hotspot]

BT Business Total Broadband Hub [Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspot]

Piyush — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:41:03 +0000

The BT Business Total Broadband hub offers free public Wi-Fi hotspots to its business customers. Businesses can thus provide their customers with free Wi-Fi or sell BT Openzone vouchers for accessing Wi-Fi.

(...)
Read the rest of BT Business Total Broadband Hub [Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspot]

Trackle Online Web Monitoring Service Goes Beta

Piyush — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:35:55 +0000

Although not a gadget but interesting enough to warrant a mention here on this blog, Trackle is a web tracking service that lets you do all your tracking from a single source – so no more going to Google Alerts for news stories and PriceProtectr to track prices of your favorite items being retailed online.

(...)
Read the rest of Trackle Online Web Monitoring Service Goes Beta

Verizon Hub VoIP Touchscreen Phone [Supports VZ Navigator, Chaperone, V CAST]

Piyush — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:40:03 +0000

The Verizon Hub VoIP phone offers VoIP users an alternative to calling cards for VoIP phones. It is a one-time investment that allows you to make use of the broadband connection at home and in the process save on recurring costs of calling cards. The Verizon Hub acts as a communications command center facilitating both wired and wireless connectivity – regardless of the provider so long as you have high speed broadband, you’re fine.

(...)
Read the rest of Verizon Hub VoIP Touchscreen Phone [Supports VZ Navigator, Chaperone, V CAST]

US Judge Rules YouTube Must Give Viacom Full Viewing Log [Including All YouTube User Log-in IDs]

Andrew Tingle — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:26:47 +0000

A US judge has ruled that Google, the owners of YouTube, must make its entire viewing log available to Viacom who are presently engaged with Google concerning allegations of copyright infringement in what the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has termed as being ‘set-back to privacy rights’.

(...)
Read the rest of US Judge Rules YouTube Must Give Viacom Full Viewing Log [Including All YouTube User Log-in IDs]

Microsoft Offer Free iPods As Incentive for Aussies to Use Live Search [MS Live Secret Search]

Andrew Tingle — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:49:24 +0000

Whilst Microsoft’s dislike of all things Apple is well documented – MS even have ‘iPod Amnesty Bins’ in their headquarters to allow its staff to liberate themselves from Apple’s clutches – its being reported that MS are offering free iPods (namely Apple’s iPod Nano, Shuffle and Touch models) as an incentive intended to coax Australian internet users to try out MS’s newly revamped Live Search service via a scheme known as Secret Search.

(...)
Read the rest of Microsoft Offer Free iPods As Incentive for Aussies to Use Live Search [MS Live Secret Search]

ITunes U Offers Phoenix Mars Mission Movies For Free Download [Free NASA Phoenix Mars Mission Multimedia Content]

Andrew Tingle — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:47:05 +0000

Having only just posted yesterday concerning the exciting news that the Phoenix Lander appears to have found ice just under the surface of Mars we thought it somewhat incumbent on us to offer a brief heads un concerning iTunes U now offering free Phoenix Mars Mission movies for download for those interested in the programme.

(...)
Read the rest of ITunes U Offers Phoenix Mars Mission Movies For Free Download [Free NASA Phoenix Mars Mission Multimedia Content]

MySpace Announce Beta Launch of MySpace Karaoke Social Singing Application [Anti Social Warbling Will Ensue]

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:41:22 +0000

MySpace, the world’s most popular social network, has today announced the beta launch of its MySpace Karaoke service, powered by kSolo, which will allow users to sing along, record and share up to ten licensed tracks with the MySpace community with just a microphone.

(...)
Read the rest of MySpace Announce Beta Launch of MySpace Karaoke Social Singing Application [Anti Social Warbling Will Ensue]

Online R2D2 Translation Tool – What’s Your Name in R2D2eese?

Andrew Tingle — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:26:10 +0000

We’ve previously featured an extremely cool R2D2 RC Home Projection System, designer Darth Vader and Storm Trooper Star Wars themed bags, and even a Millennium Falcon Retro Gaming Joystick so when we happened across this cool online R2D2 translation tool we just knew that we really ought to offer a heads up here for those of you who have not already happened across it.

(...)
Read the rest of Online R2D2 Translation Tool – What’s Your Name in R2D2eese?

Cassette Tape Nostalgia – A Blast from the Past Courtesy of Tapedeck.Org

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:31:13 +0000

As far as people of a certain age are concerned – and that very much includes myself – it is sobering to think that there are younger people out there who have never actually either used or ever even owned a cassette tape, but for those of us who experienced this particular, somewhat temperamental storage medium you may well be interested in taking a trip down memory lane whist spotting all the cassettes you may have owned.

(...)
Read the rest of Cassette Tape Nostalgia – A Blast from the Past Courtesy of Tapedeck.Org

Dolls from the Fringes of a Nightmare

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 17:45:55 +0000

In this new category Thoughts from the Sidelines will focus on internet sites that, in some way, stand clear from the crowd – and the first entry in this section certain servers to underpin what this section stands for as it is both cute and numbingly disturbing, and most certainly highly original.

Strangedolls offers exquisite, highly original hand made dolls that genuinely send shivers down the spine. These are dolls that have seemingly been born from the fringes of a tortuous nightmare, and it is testament to the artistic integrity of the designer that, rather than pander to cliché she has managed to produce dolls that are undoubtedly disturbing and thought provoking without being passé in that they are neither under, nor over stated.

(...)
Read the rest of Dolls from the Fringes of a Nightmare