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Microsoft Store Looks Eerily Similar to Another Store

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:18:51 -0500

If you've ever been to an Apple store, you'll recognize the new Microsoft store.

Wood floors - check
White walls - check
Employees with T-Shirt and black pants - check
Tables in the center with notebooks - check
Employees with lanyards - check
Ad with tons of app icons on a white background - check

They even open the stores the same way. With clapping employees giving high fives.

We half expect to see iPhones being sold.

This is your grand plan Microsoft? To copy Apple in every way possible?

Oh wait...

Metal Detector App for iPhone - It Actually Works!

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:11:08 -0500

Developer Patrick Giudicelli decided to take the compass on the iPhone and use it to help us figure out who's bringing weapons to the sales meeting. The Metal Detector ! app is $.99 and is available now. [iTunes link]

The app detects ferromagnetic metals like steel and iron using the iPhone's built-in compass feature. We don't have any guns at work today--Thursday's are knife day--but the app did detect the metal in our staplers, wire in-boxes, and random metal external drives.

Speaking of knife day, because the knife on my desk is stainless steel, the app couldn't detect it. Stainless steel is usually an alloy metal that isn't magnetic. Which means I can continue my stabby ways without fear of detection.

Command Line That'll Send You to a Galaxy Far Far Away...

Roberto Baldwin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:46:22 -0500

Sure the Command Line can be confusing and even a but scary, but every once in a while, it gives the world something magical with very little effort on the end user's part.

Started in July 1997, the ASCII version of Star Wars: A New Hope is a great way to kill time and remind yourself that if you put your mind to something, you can do anything.

To begin watching this text-based version of the second-best Star Wars movie launch the Terminal App: Utilities>Terminal

Copy and paste the below text into the Terminal window:

telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl

Hit Return.

Enjoy The magical world of Luke Skywalker.

The film stops at Princess Leia being rescued for now. Hopefully the film will be finished before 2012. Because we all know what happens then.

Say What? - AT&T Discount, Not So Good

Ray Aguilera — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:42:33 -0500

I think I'll pass on this "discount."

I logged into my AT&T account today to pay my bill and just out of curiousity hit the Check Upgrade Options link. It's pretty obvious that new iPhone hardware is on the horizon, but I was curious what kind of deal AT&T might offer on an iPhone 3G now that I'm approaching the halfway mark on my existing contract. And here's what they had to say.

As a valued AT&T customer, we can offer you a discounted iPhone upgrade at a higher price, along with a 2-year commitment and an $18 upgrade fee.

Admittedly, I'm no rocket scientist, but "discounted iPhone upgrade at a higher price." WTF does that even mean?

Della Cool? (FAIL)

Amy Keyishian — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:28:35 -0500

Sigh. Just when you think we wimmins are making some inroads toward getting respect in the tech world... here comes Dell with mediocre laptops in pretty skins.

Look, I'm not going to pretend smart women never make foolish choices. But really, am I going to go out of my way to buy a laptop that not only runs Vista, it also screams, "Lookit over here! Something to steal! Steal it, steal it now!"?

(Never mind that my laptop is carbonite-black and has a a glowing Apple on it. At least that broadcasts "I am a fashionable geek" as opposed to "I'm a dum-dum who values form over function.")

Dudette, you're getting a Dell. Bummer.

Moron With Knife Forgets About AppleCare - Gets Stabby with MacBook air

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:15:11 -0500

So you bought a MacBook air and the hinge broke. You could just take it to Apple and point out that your six alleged friends have had the same issue and that apple needs to fix the problem.

Of course, if you did that, you couldn't show the world what an idiot you are, and that while people are losing their jobs and cutting back on expenses, you can afford to get all stabby on your Mac.

A few notes. It takes a few stabs to break the LCD, the IBM has a darker screen, and AppleCare is cheaper than a new laptop. Let's just hope this guy never gets a pet he doesn't like.

Via MacEnstein

iPhone Vs. Asus Netbook Typing Challenge - In a Rally Car!

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:47:05 -0500

Many have complained about the iPhone's keyboard and have expressed a desire for an Apple-branded netbook that will allow them the ability to type faster while on the road. Because a hardware keyboard, even a small one, is better than an on-screen one. Right?

Crave UK decided to put the typing argument to the ultimate test by typing on an Asus netbook and iPhone while being chauffeured in a Citreon C4 rally car flying around corners at 80MPH.

Check out the video for the results.

Mac|Life would like to throw it out there that if anyone wants to drive us around in a rally car while we type on our iPhones, just give us a call.

Sword Swallower Attempts to Swallow iPod shuffle

Roberto Baldwin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:25:12 -0500

Gizmodo had a great idea. "Hey, let's get someone to swallow an iPod shuffle." In theory it sounded like a plan the entire Internet could get behind. Video of a sword swallower placing the button-less iPod shuffle in a safe place.

Unfortunately, the iPod shuffle lacks the weight to be properly swallowed. Still, Heather Holiday, from the Coney Island Circus, should be commended for her multiple attempts. We do get to see her swallow a large spoon, so we got that going for us.

Heather says she'll do some more training and may return with a fully swallowed iPod shuffle in the future. Check out the video below.

Can the iPod shuffle be swallowed? from Gizmodo on Vimeo.