Switched http://www.switched.com Switched. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Google's New Crossword-Style Trivia Game Wants Puzzlers to Search]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/a-google-a-day/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/a-google-a-day/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/a-google-a-day/#comments a google a day Fellow puzzle fans, Google has brought us joy. The engine's newest venture, A Google a Day, asks cunning participants not to use the knowledge they have but rather the knowledge they can unearth with Google search to solve riddles. Much like crossword puzzles (possibly your author's favorite pastime), the questions ask the solver to change the way they think. For today's riddle, searching "two presidents signed" automatically gives some good hints -- but the Google Gods seem to want us to rely more on search suggestions rather than our own acquired trivia.

Using agoogleaday.com instead of the regular Google shields you from real-time questions and answers, so your network and top hits won't spoil the fun. Searching down the 'Net's rabbit hole is kind of interesting, but Google really needs a way to track your success. After all, puzzle fiends solve for the glory and the feeling of completion, not the quiet satisfaction of "knowing things." Duh.

Google's New Crossword-Style Trivia Game Wants Puzzlers to Search originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> googlegoogle a daygoogle labsGoogleADayGoogleLabspuzzlepuzzlestoptrivia Leila Brillson Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[PEW PEW! U.S. Navy Fires Lasers at Sea]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/pew-pew-u-s-navy-fires-lasers-at-sea/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/pew-pew-u-s-navy-fires-lasers-at-sea/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/pew-pew-u-s-navy-fires-lasers-at-sea/#comments Good news, everyone! The future is finally here, and we'll soon leave bullets behind for a much sexier laser alternative, filled with "PEW PEW" and plenty of cat-shaped guns. The U.S. Navy successfully fired a high-energy laser at another boat, continuing its research into using lasers to blind or disable smaller vessels. The BBC has video but no sound, so you'll have to improvise the "BEYOO! BEYOO!" on your own.

PEW PEW! U.S. Navy Fires Lasers at Sea originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> lasersmilitaryMilitaryTechsciencetopUsNavyUsNavyLasers Leila Brillson Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Level Up Your MMORPG Character Using Developing Economies]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-reports-mmorpg-gold-mining/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-reports-mmorpg-gold-mining/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-reports-mmorpg-gold-mining/#comments 'world of warcraft' Next time you are scoring that amazing Amethyst Helm of Schadenfreude for your Level 38 Warlock Raider (I just made that up, but I hope something like that exists), you may be helping people in developing countries to make some cash. According to the BBC and a report released by the World Bank -- which is apparently now studying the effects of 'World of Warcraft' (PDF) on the economy -- when Western players want high level items or mined gold, they'll often use real currency to buy from players in Vietnam and China who are paid to level up.

These virtual goods are nothing to sniff at, with certain accounts laying out megabucks for whatever helms and chainmail they fancy. The report estimates that the largest Chinese suppliers of in-game "gold" net nearly $10 million, while other firms can make up to $1 million; the whole worldwide virtual market is nearly an $8 billion dollar industry. The good news is that, because there are no real supply costs, a large portion of the profits go into the hands of the worker, directly benefiting them instead of a corporation. The bad news is that, with Western gamers shelling out all of their money to buy better in-game goods, they'll never be able to save up money to move out of Mom's basement. Bad-um!

Level Up Your MMORPG Character Using Developing Economies originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> chinadeveloping worldDevelopingWorldmmommo-industrymmorpgtopvietnamvirtual currencyvirtual-worldsVirtualCurrencyworld bankworld of warcraftWorldBankWorldOfWarcraft Leila Brillson Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[About Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/#comments Not to make gross generalizations, but it is pretty amazing that 'This American Life,' the NPR talk show hosted by hip geek Ira Glass, took this long to get to the iPad. NPR and iPads should have an intrinsic relationship, like Volkswagens and Macs, Starbucks and the New York Times. Once again, these are broad assumptions, but the Cult of Mac's reputation as NPR-listening, Toms-wearing folk isn't for naught. Too bad it's text only, but we certainly hope "Squirrel Cop" makes an appearance.

Disclaimer: This author works on a Mac and listens to NPR, and this was written while sipping a soy chai latte in a Brooklyn coffee shop.

About Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appscult of macCultOfMacipadira glassIraGlassmediathis american lifeThisAmericanLifetopyuppies Leila Brillson Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Tony Montana Would Not Approve of a 'Scarface'-Motivated Killing]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/alejandro-garcia-kills-cousin-over-scarface-video-game/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/alejandro-garcia-kills-cousin-over-scarface-video-game/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/alejandro-garcia-kills-cousin-over-scarface-video-game/#comments 'scarface: the world is yours' Well, this is the world that we live in now: 22-year-old Texan Alejandro Garcia pleaded guilty to shooting his then-17-year-old cousin over who would get the next turn to play 'Scarface: The World Is Yours.' The world certainly doesn't belong to either cousin now; Garcia has a sentence of 30 years, and his cousin was killed in the tragic event. Life imitates art, which sucks when the "art" is Al Pacino with a bad accent, killing people over drug deals gone awry and whoever is shtupping his wife.

Tony Montana Would Not Approve of a 'Scarface'-Motivated Killing originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alejandro garciaAlejandroGarciacrimegamingscarfaceScarface-The-World-Is-Yourstony montanaTonyMontanatop Leila Brillson Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/#comments empire avenue Social networking is a numbers game. Not only do you try to get the "right" amount of friends on Facebook and a good follower/followed ratio on Twitter, but it's all about wielding some social currency: who knows whom, where you get invited, if you'll get the scoop on the latest celeb death. Nowadays, social networking is quantifying the power of your friendships.

But talking analytics will make the average Facebooker's eyes glaze over. Transitioning it into a buy/sell/trade stock market game, however, suddenly turns your socialite friend into a hot commodity. Empire Avenue, a "social influence stock market" has now launched its Facebook app, which allows players to "buy and sell" the people they know, leveraging profit. The idea is that active, socially "fluent" people are worth more -- the more you tweet, post and share, the higher your value is. Then, you can take the game's currency, called "eaves," and purchase in-game items, which can also increase your value. The more people you invite, the greater access you'll have.

Continue reading Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game

Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appsempire avenueEmpireAvenuefacebookgamingsocial networksocial networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingstock marketStockMarkettoptwitter Leila Brillson Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[FBI Turns to Crowdsourcing to Crack Unsolved Code]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/06/fbi-turns-to-crowdsourcing-to-crack-unsolved-code/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/06/fbi-turns-to-crowdsourcing-to-crack-unsolved-code/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/06/fbi-turns-to-crowdsourcing-to-crack-unsolved-code/#comments code Crowdsourcing unsolved codes has been done before. (Remember the San Francisco Chronicle appealing to the masses to crack the Zodiac killer's mystery missives?) But, it hasn't been done often by the FBI. So it is strange to see the Bureau open up a 12-year-old case, in which a man was found murdered with nothing but a bizarre note in his pocket, to the public. Perhaps the distance between the date of death and now makes it a good tool to get amateur crackers, erm... cracking, but the truth is that the FBI may be banking on the public's love of a good puzzle.

FBI Turns to Crowdsourcing to Crack Unsolved Code originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> codeCodeCrackingcrowdsourcingfbitopUnsolvedMysterieswebZodiacKiller Leila Brillson Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Royal Wedding Won't Be Filmed in 3-D, We Cry Lifelike Tears of Sorrow]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/#comments The royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William is swelling to an unceasing, deafening and overexposed roar. We Yanks have been barraged with imitation wedding rings, iTunes soundtracks of the event and commemorative plates galore (SO. MANY. COMMEMORATIVE. PLATES.) But one sensory assault we won't have to endure is the hyperreal 3-D experience, despite the fact that the Queen Mother is totally down with the technology.

The Facebook updates, live Twitter feeds and other real-time media covering the wedding will still swarm us, but the third dimension is officially out. A royal spokesperson writes: "I know you have all become increasingly enthusiastic about 3-D and I'm sorry that this will come as a disappointment." Apparently, says the New York Times, the size of the 3-D equipment is simply too large for the lobby to handle. Nuts.

Royal Wedding Won't Be Filmed in 3-D, We Cry Lifelike Tears of Sorrow originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 3-D3DcelebritiesKateMiddletonmediaPrinceWilliamRoyalWeddingtop Leila Brillson Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[NYC Renters Can Find the Worst Landlords on Craigslist]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/nyc-renters-can-find-the-worst-landlords-on-craigslist/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/nyc-renters-can-find-the-worst-landlords-on-craigslist/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/nyc-renters-can-find-the-worst-landlords-on-craigslist/#comments 'nyc's worst landlords' Not even 48 hours ago, your author completed one of the most arduous, mind-and-body-destroying adventures any New Yorker can undertake: moving within the five boroughs. With space at an ongoing premium, the city's horrid rental reputation is well-earned and frankly nightmarish. (I actually had one landlord show me a place without a sink. He did, however, argue that the bathtub is a great place to do dishes. He had a point.) Sure, there are a couple of great resources, like the incredible NakedApartments.com, but these all require a modicum of tech savvy for brokers to use. In NYC, there are virtually no centralized sources, and nothing is more terrifying than giving large amounts of money to an unknown individual whom you only know by the information they themselves provided on Craigslist.

So, the C-List has partnered up with the office of Bill de Blasio, New York's city public advocate, to hold slumlords accountable by naming the worst of the worst. By culling infraction information -- tallied by four levels of violations -- Craiglisters can now see if their potential landlord is on the dreaded top 50 list of the city's worst landlords. Where was this when I needed it last month?

Continue reading NYC Renters Can Find the Worst Landlords on Craigslist

NYC Renters Can Find the Worst Landlords on Craigslist originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Bill de BlasioBillDeBlasiocraigslistcraigslist.orgmayor bloombergmayor michael bloombergMayorBloombergMayorMichaelBloombergnew york real estatenew york rentalsnew yorks worst landlordsNewYorkRealEstateNewYorkRentalsNewYorksWorstLandlordsrentalsrentersslumlordstopweb Leila Brillson Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Paying For an Online Reputation: Fair, Or Gaming the System?]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/paying-for-an-online-reputation-fair-or-gaming-the-system/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/paying-for-an-online-reputation-fair-or-gaming-the-system/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/paying-for-an-online-reputation-fair-or-gaming-the-system/#comments For everything we do now -- from scheduling a mover to choosing a restaurant for a first date -- we turn to the Web. Yelp, Twitter, Facebook, Citysearch and even Google immediately pull up reviews and hear what the collective voice of the Internet has to say. In fact, when scheduling a doctor, your author crosschecks what her insurance provides with what the consensus says; negative reviews are a big, fat red flag.

While businesses and providers have always had word-of-mouth reputations, these days, with Google caches and irate Yelpers, negative reviews can leave indelible marks. The New York Times tracks those who have been burned by Google: a man trying to erase his history with his ex-wife online, a doctor targeted by a consumer advocacy site, and a former sex columnist that was targeted by Gawker. Google them, and you'll see all sorts of sordid gossip. That's where companies like Reputation.com or Metal Rabbit Media come in, to erase the past to which the Internet so firmly clings.

Continue reading Paying For an Online Reputation: Fair, Or Gaming the System?

Paying For an Online Reputation: Fair, Or Gaming the System? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> googlenew york timesNewYorkTimesonline reputationOnlineReputationreputationsearch engine optimizationsearch enginesSearchEngineOptimizationSearchEnginesseotopwebyelpyelp reviewsYelpReviews Leila Brillson Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Kicks Picks: Memes, Star Wars Dreams and Outer Space Stylus Schemes]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/kicks-picks-memes-star-wars-dreams-and-outer-space-stylus-sche/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/kicks-picks-memes-star-wars-dreams-and-outer-space-stylus-sche/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/kicks-picks-memes-star-wars-dreams-and-outer-space-stylus-sche/#comments kicks picks We've selected our favorite and most promising Kickstarter projects, and spoke with the creators about why they deserve your time (and money). Check them out for yourself, and if these bright young things inspire you, maybe you can help launch their dreams into reality.

Kickstarter doesn't have to be about changing the world -- the simple design of a well-crafted stylus may be groundbreaking enough anyway. But projects that aim to tell stories from all over -- about a visionary artist from a powerful, secretive country or a couple of kids with a 'Star Wars' dream -- is a good way to start.

Continue reading Kicks Picks: Memes, Star Wars Dreams and Outer Space Stylus Schemes

Kicks Picks: Memes, Star Wars Dreams and Outer Space Stylus Schemes originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ai wei weiai weiweiAiWeiWeialison klaymanAlisonKlaymancosmonautcrowdsourcingempire strikes backEmpireStrikesBackfeaturesinternetiphlykicks picksKicksPickskickstartermemefactorystar wars musicalStarWarsMusicalstylustopweb Leila Brillson Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Summify Distills Your News Into Five Bites of Personalized 'Net Goodness]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/summify-distills-your-news-into-five-bites-of-personalized-net/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/summify-distills-your-news-into-five-bites-of-personalized-net/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/summify-distills-your-news-into-five-bites-of-personalized-net/#comments summify The Web 2.0 idea of the Internet -- that it is a vast landscape with feral stories running alongside civilized, "official" ones, a place where liking a story becomes "Liking" a story, and a place where you haphazardly broadcast everything from your dinner location to your fight with your girlfriend -- is getting old. Too many choices. Too much information. The barrage of feeds or check-ins or retweets makes our collective eyes glaze over. Time to simplify.

So Summify, in its Zen-like approach to the Web, offers the five stories that you need to read every day. By surfing your feeds and quietly culling from your friends, the Web app provides a nicely packaged, streamlined version of The Web That Matters to Only You. The basic, straightforward approach is not for privacy freaks. In order to access your reading habits and data, Summify goes into your social networks and your Google life to pick and choose the stories that are popular among your friends and feeds.

Continue reading Summify Distills Your News Into Five Bites of Personalized 'Net Goodness

Summify Distills Your News Into Five Bites of Personalized 'Net Goodness originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> feedreaderInternetsummifytopweb Leila Brillson Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Wikipedia's Articles Are Printed and Bound to a Massively Tree-Killing Book]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/robert-matthews-prints-wikipedia-featured-articles/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/robert-matthews-prints-wikipedia-featured-articles/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/robert-matthews-prints-wikipedia-featured-articles/#comments In a strange exercise regarding our ongoing fascination with how much crap is actually one the Internet (answer: a lot), U.K.-based photog/artist Robert Matthews printed out all 2,559 featured articles on Wikipedia and bound them in a massive, footstool-sized tome.

We have a couple of questions: Why didn't he use a double-sided printer? Is that paper stock unnecessarily thick? Why are his shoes from 1978? How inconsequential and tiny do you feel next to the massive expanse of knowledge and expertise, and all of those intangibles that flutter around the World Wide Web at every moment?

Wikipedia's Articles Are Printed and Bound to a Massively Tree-Killing Book originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artfuturephotographyrobert matthewsRobertMatthewstopWebwikipediawikipedia printedWikipediaPrinted Leila Brillson Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Electric Wands May Snuff Out Fires, But More 'Star Wars' Than 'Harry Potter']]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/electric-wands-may-snuff-out-fires-but-more-star-wars-than-h/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/electric-wands-may-snuff-out-fires-but-more-star-wars-than-h/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/electric-wands-may-snuff-out-fires-but-more-star-wars-than-h/#comments Aguamenti! Firefighters, it appears, may be invoking wand-like magic in order to put out the flames. (Sadly, 'Harry Potter' incantations won't be needed.) Ludovico Cademartiri, a Harvard University physicist, will be unveiling an electrical solution to extinguishing the fires of the future. Employing large electric fields to disrupt a fire may help to eliminate blazes more quickly, and will prevent the sort of damage caused by foam and water. By attaching a wand-like controller to the end of an electrical amplifier, Cademartiri has been able to put out a flame nearly a foot high. Just think: firefighters may no longer need hoses and hydrants. And they'll have wands, which is pretty rad too.

(Geek note: Wouldn't this be a bit more like Force lightning than a Harry Potter spell? Just sayin'.)

Electric Wands May Snuff Out Fires, But More 'Star Wars' Than 'Harry Potter' originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> electricityFireFightingForceLightningHarryPotterharvardsciencetop Leila Brillson Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Read This: How the iPod Has Changed Our Cultural Fabric]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/#comments
The danger now is different. The man no longer needs a monopoly on musical taste. He just wants a few cents on the dollar of every song you download, he doesn't care what that song says. Other times he doesn't even care if you pay that dollar, as long as you listen to your stolen music on his portable MP3 player, store it on his Apple computer, send it to your friends through his Verizon network. To paraphrase Yeltsin's famous offer to the Chechens, take as much free music as you can stomach. We'll see where it gets you.
n+1's Nikal Saval undertakes a thorough and disheartening examination of digital music, the iPod and the pluralistic state of taste, drawing on sociological and cultural texts from Pierre Bourdieu and Theodor Adorno. In it, he contends that the personalized experience of the iPod is isolating, consumerist and deafening. When sound is everywhere, the most valuable cultural commodity is silence.

Image from lbphotovn

Read This: How the iPod Has Changed Our Cultural Fabric originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> DigitalMusicfutureipodmediamp3musicPierreBourdieuPortableMusicTheodorAdornotop Leila Brillson Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Time's Ever-Relevant 140 Best Twitter Feeds]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/#comments tweet from margaret atwood Time Magazine, master of the almighty listicle, has put together a list (two years too late) of the 140 best Twitter feeds. No-brainers like Lady Gaga and Ashton Kutcher obviously make the cut; suspiciously missing is the newly anointed warlock Charlie Sheen, or the acerbic insight of The Awl co-founder Choire Sicha. In their place lies the banal: the giggly ramblings of Taylor Swift, the ever-relevant Alyssa Milano (who tweets in quantity, not quality) and Margaret Atwood, who we love but just isn't fun to follow. RSS feeds and self-promotion does not a good Twitterer make, Time.

Time's Ever-Relevant 140 Best Twitter Feeds originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alyssa milanoAlyssaMilanobest twitter feedBestTwitterFeedcelebritiescharlie sheenCharlieSheenchoire sichaChoireSichamargaret atwoodMargaretAtwoodsocialnetworkingtaylor swiftTaylorSwifttoptwitter Leila Brillson Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Odd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/#comments tyler creatorOdd Future, the group of relatively unknown teens from So-Cal who suddenly got the entire music world buzzing, are now known for many things. Eating and regurgitating roaches, hating on cops and storming out of shows are a few new trademarks, but member Tyler the Creator can now add romantic human flesh searches to his weird resume. This weekend, he tweeted, "Back In October I Met The Girl i Want To Marry. Still Havent Found Her" along with this oddly sweet picture. Tyler's public persona is all piss and vinegar, but clearly he's looking for love. May we suggest Reddit?

Continue reading Odd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection

Odd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> HumanFleshSearchMissedConnectionsmusicOddFutureredditSocialNetworkingtoptwitterTylerTheCreator Leila Brillson Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Cloud Girlfriend' Makes Sad Guys Feel Worse About Being Single]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/cloud-girlfriend-makes-sad-guys-feel-worse-about-being-single/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/cloud-girlfriend-makes-sad-guys-feel-worse-about-being-single/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/cloud-girlfriend-makes-sad-guys-feel-worse-about-being-single/#comments cloud girlfriend It's easy to feel sorry for lonely dudes. Beyond the fact that they are desolate, there are entire industries devoted to making them feel worse and taking their money. (The same goes for lonely ladies, as well, but let's keep the focus on guys for a moment). So, when apps like 'Cloud Girlfriend' come along, offering to create the "perfect woman" who will fake a loving relationship with someone on Facebook, we can't decide what concerns us more: the fact that individuals might actually pay for this service out of desperation, or that the creators actually thought it could be a lucrative service.

Continue reading 'Cloud Girlfriend' Makes Sad Guys Feel Worse About Being Single

'Cloud Girlfriend' Makes Sad Guys Feel Worse About Being Single originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appscloud+girlfriendCloudGirlfriendfacebookFacebookAppsLOLZrelationshipstopVirtualGirlfriend Leila Brillson Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/#comments Nintendo 3DS The best way for me to start off my hands-on with the Nintendo 3DS is to be completely honest about my relationship with the Nintendo DS; I love the little split-screened device. I have a white Lite from 2007, and have never found the need to upgrade. That was until the E3 Expo last year, when Nintendo trotted out these little guys to a crowd practically electrified with excitement. But the 3-D hype, unless we are missing something, has failed to move past "hype" to "trend." Even the 3DS's initial promise as being the little device that could (without glasses) has been slapped with health warnings, and is not as cost-friendly as its Lite little bro. So, to be frank, I had high expectations, and the 3DS had quite a task ahead of itself.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy

Nintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 3dsaqua blueAquaBluecosmo blackCosmoBlackfeaturesgaminghands-onhandsonmiinintendonintendo 3dsNintendo3dsNintendogsreviewsvideo gamingvideogamesVideoGaming Leila Brillson Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Audiofile: Cut Copy Shows Off Synths and Talks Todd Rundgren]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/audiofile-cut-copy-shows-off-synths-and-talks-todd-rundgren/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/audiofile-cut-copy-shows-off-synths-and-talks-todd-rundgren/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/audiofile-cut-copy-shows-off-synths-and-talks-todd-rundgren/#comments One of the reasons that Aussie dance quartet Cut Copy is constantly on our iPods is because the band, with its electro-pop-meets-arena-rock stylings, is one of the most forward-thinking dance acts around. The boys use the futuristic preoccupations that were pervasive in the '70s and '80s -- think classic synths or dreamy vocals that owe a bit to Boy George or OMD -- to make incredible music that sounds incredibly "now." We got to know them with 'Bright Like Neon Love,' 2004's stellar send-up of New Wave and uplifting house music, and still jam to 2008's groove-filled "Lights and Music," a dance song played with real instruments that could be at home in either 2011 or 1977.

Switched caught up with lead singer Dan Whitford to talk tunes: how he makes them, what he loves, and what equipment he cannot live without. He let us into his studio and allowed us to peruse his iTunes. We weren't surprised by his vast influences, like Windows start-up sound designer Brian Eno or Cut Copy's current labelmate Ariel Pink. Cut Copy proves music isn't "electronic" or "rock-and-roll" anymore. For their new album 'Zonoscope,' music, instruments and technology have an intertwined, symbiotic relationship.

Continue reading Audiofile: Cut Copy Shows Off Synths and Talks Todd Rundgren

Audiofile: Cut Copy Shows Off Synths and Talks Todd Rundgren originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audiofileaudiofilesCutCopyElectricLightOrchestrafeaturesmusicToddRundgrenvintage synthsVintageSynthsYamahaCs80 Leila Brillson Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[TV on the Radio's Newest Video Pays Tribute to Virtual Reality, Amazing Beards]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/tv-on-the-radio-will-do-virtual-reality-video/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/tv-on-the-radio-will-do-virtual-reality-video/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/tv-on-the-radio-will-do-virtual-reality-video/#comments
Before she won an Oscar for 'The Hurt Locker,' Kathryn Bigelow made 'Strange Days,' a futuristic sci-fi movie imagining a world where people did "playback," a virtual-reality drug that allowed users to live in another body. Brooklyn art rockers TV on the Radio tapped into Bigelow's tale with 'Will Do,' which puts each of the guys in wire-laden, blinking BluBlockers to experience a techno fantasy where, amongst other things, adorable frontman Tunde Adebimpe brings his love back to life. Fun fact: Adebimpe, who was in 'Rachel Getting Married,' will be releasing a video for each song on TVOTR's newest album 'Nine Types of Light,' out in April.

Continue reading TV on the Radio's Newest Video Pays Tribute to Virtual Reality, Amazing Beards

TV on the Radio's Newest Video Pays Tribute to Virtual Reality, Amazing Beards originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> futuremusicNineTypesOfLightStrangeDaystopTundeAdebimpetv on the radioTvOnTheRadioTVOTRVirtualReality Leila Brillson Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Google Goes Gaga When the Lady Drops by Mountain View]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/#comments
If the Google facility were suddenly transported to another dimension, most of the more influential individuals in the Western world would disappear. And, in many ways, The Googleplex was transported the other day -- by the weird and wonderful Lady Gaga, who stopped by for a marathon interview with Google's Marissa Mayer (using fan-voted questions). She talked bullying, her next single and playing Cole Porter. Props to her for volleying the semi-awkward and over-rehearsed geekiness of Mayer. We like Mayer, but would've preferred it if she had not pulled out her own Lady Gaga Halloween photos.

Google Goes Gaga When the Lady Drops by Mountain View originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> celebritiesgooglegoogle+gagagoogle+goes+gagagoogle+lady+gagagooglegagagooglegoesgagagoogleladygagagoogleplexlady+gagaLadyGagaMarissaMayermusicmusicianstopyoutube Leila Brillson Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Yelpers Now Tell You Where Greasy, Girlfriend-Stealing Hipsters Lurk]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/yelp-adds-hipster-category/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/yelp-adds-hipster-category/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/yelp-adds-hipster-category/#comments Hipster PizzaYelp has officially added "hipster" to its stable of listing descriptors. Yes, that's right, the uninformed critics who enjoy reviewing places like post offices and other assorted businesses can now tell you where to go, should you have an aversion to or affection for tight-fitting jeans and neon wayfarers. Look, man, we don't want any mouth-breathing app freaks to tell us what it means to frequent our local pizza joints. And isn't actively avoiding "hip" places in pursuit of the "authentic" super hipster-y, anyway?

Yelpers Now Tell You Where Greasy, Girlfriend-Stealing Hipsters Lurk originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hiphipsterssocialnetworkingtopwebyelpYelp.com Leila Brillson Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Kicks Picks: DIY Movies, MPAA and Computational Couture]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/kicks-picks-diy-movies-mpaa-and-computational-couture/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/kicks-picks-diy-movies-mpaa-and-computational-couture/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/kicks-picks-diy-movies-mpaa-and-computational-couture/#comments Kicks Picks We've selected our favorite and most promising Kickstarter projects, and spoke with the creators about why they deserve your time (and money). Check them out for yourself, and if these bright young things inspire you, maybe you can help launch their dreams into reality.

Imagine using your purchasing power to support a brand new, totally original idea. From intellectually challenging porn movies to overflowing architectural archives, these current Kickstarter projects offer a chance to get involved with something on the verge of realization. Take a look at the four start-ups that we'll give our hard-earned money too -- even if it's just a dollar at a time.

Continue reading Kicks Picks: DIY Movies, MPAA and Computational Couture

Kicks Picks: DIY Movies, MPAA and Computational Couture originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> andrew gellerAndrewGellerbrett and melanieBrettAndMelaniecontinuumhow to make movies at homeHowToMakeMoviesAtHomejake gorstJakeGorstjenna fizelJennaFizelkickspickskickstartermary huangMaryHuangmorgan nicholsMorganNicholstony comstockTonyComstocktop Leila Brillson Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Blade Runner's Mike Fink: Sound Sells a Fictional Computer]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/blade-runners-mike-fink-sound-sells-a-fictional-computer/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/blade-runners-mike-fink-sound-sells-a-fictional-computer/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/blade-runners-mike-fink-sound-sells-a-fictional-computer/#comments michael fink
Sound goes a long way to selling futuristic interfaces. Especially with the new graphical interfaces -- they are non-tactile. No more clicking switches, turning things over that go 'clunk', little motors aren't turning gears to make needles move, nothing makes noise anymore. So you really have to add a sound component to give a tactile sensation to the audience.
One of the first names in futuristic interfaces, Michael Fink has worked designer the computer systems seen in movies like 'Wargames,' 'Blade Runner' and 'Batman Returns.' Fink believes that, like the famous *clickclick* of the 'Bladerunner' search system, sound in interface design is more important than ever.

'Blade Runner's Mike Fink: Sound Sells a Fictional Computer originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blade runnerBladeRunnerfictional user interfaceFictionalUserInterfacemichael finkMichaelFinkmoviessxswsxsw-2011Sxsw2011tactiletoptropic thunderTropicThunderuser interfaceUserInterface Leila Brillson Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[SXSW Dispatch: Gamasutra's James Portnow on the Hidden Politics of Games at SXSW]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gamasutras-james-portnow-on-the-hidden-politics-of-games-at-sxs/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gamasutras-james-portnow-on-the-hidden-politics-of-games-at-sxs/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gamasutras-james-portnow-on-the-hidden-politics-of-games-at-sxs/#comments james portnow
Interactivity is a much better way to learn than passive reception. Studies have shown that. But knowing that, we must also be wary. In games, it is very easy to hide our own perspectives. It is very easy to incentivize people for agreeing with us. There is a danger to us all when we make propaganda, instead of actual proper experiences.
At a South By Southwest panel on using games as agents of mass communication, James Portnow -- moderator, Gamasutra writer and Escapist contributor -- discussed the responsibility of developers to stay conscientious. By "gaming" education, Portnow -- along with Gamesalad's Michael Agustin, Benjamin Taylor of Super Fun Club and "Game Evangelist" Brett McCall -- suggest we can create environments conducive to exploration and learning.

SXSW Dispatch: Gamasutra's James Portnow on the Hidden Politics of Games at SXSW originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> gamasutragamingjames portnowJamesPortnowsxswsxsw-2011Sxsw2011top Leila Brillson Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:53:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Radiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond)]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/#comments radiation screening in japan In both horror and sadness, the world is watching the crisis unfold in Japan. The damage to the Fukushima nuclear facility adds another menacing dimension to the disaster. As murky reports emerge, so does increasing panic, made only worse by the viral aspect of social networking. Frantic messages have been pervasive on Twitter, where Tokyo residents report fleeing, encouraged by the international community. LivingSafely tweets, "Japan/Tokyo: We continue to urge evacuation of Japan due to radioactivity; otherwise, shelter in place, seal windows. #earthquake." A user named miscastdice fearfully shares, "...this is only the FIRST DAY of uncontrolled release. Levels in #Tokyo have nowhere to go but up! Plan for shelter or evacuation now." Twitter messages range from terrified to positively apocalyptic.

As the government struggles to regain its footing, it may be beneficial that Tokyo residents are turning to new media to locate supplies, ways to leave the island and breaking news, effectively bypassing traditional or official sources; they're crowd-sourcing solutions. But fear and hyperbole are spreading at a rapid pace, and as the swine flu panic, the Haiti earthquake and the BP oil spill have demonstrated, scammers and ne'er-do-wells immediately latch on to worldwide tragedies for phishing scams. The BBC reports that it is not behind the circulating e-mail suggesting that residents of Asian countries should stay inside because radiation is leaking beyond Japan. Whether or not this e-mail has any malicious software associated with it is unclear, but it certainly is a hoax.

Continue reading Radiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond)

Radiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond) originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> FukushimaFukushima nuclear facilityFukushimaNuclearFacilityjapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamipanicradiationscamsSocialNetworkingtoptwitterweb Leila Brillson Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:37:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[SXSW Dispatch: Hunting the Lobster Dog]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sxsw-dispatch-hunting-the-lobster-dog/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sxsw-dispatch-hunting-the-lobster-dog/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sxsw-dispatch-hunting-the-lobster-dog/#comments
We bring out the costume a lot. I think we wear it once a year, for Halloween. But I think this might come as a shock, but I don't think dogs like wearing clothes. I think they hate it, actually. It may be wrong to do it, but I love my dog, and if she really didn't like it, I wouldn't put her through it. We have done a hot dog. The dog's aspect ratio is 7:1, so you get all these cool costumes like hotdogs or school buses.
Dave Lewandowski, who helped design the absurdly high tech and beautiful user interfaces of 'Tron: Legacy' in 2010. However, Dave is also known as being the father to our very favorite grumpy canine in a costume, the Lobster Dog.

SXSW Dispatch: Hunting the Lobster Dog originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> david lewandowskiDavidLewandowskifictional user interfacesFictionalUserInterfaceslobster doglobster dogsLobsterDogLobsterDogslolzmake it soMakeItSomemessxswsxsw 2011sxsw-2011Sxsw2011toptron legacyTronLegacy Leila Brillson Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:37:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Etsy's Privacy Policy is Beginning to Look a Bit Like Facebook's]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/etsys-privacy-policy-is-beginning-to-look-a-bit-like-facebooks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/etsys-privacy-policy-is-beginning-to-look-a-bit-like-facebooks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/etsys-privacy-policy-is-beginning-to-look-a-bit-like-facebooks/#comments edward cullen's eyes Here's a Regretsy not made of yarn and 'Twilight' fantasies: Indie shop Etsy has made all of its user activity public, linked its profiles with Facebook's and published real names. The Facebook-like move has irritated Etsy fans, but blog Etsy Bitch has figured a way to undo the settings: just go your profile and editing choices. The site has not yet commented on this baffling move, but did mention why buyer feedback was public.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Since we ran this story, Etsy has contacted us to say that all of the purchases and feedback on Etsy are set, by default, on private.]

Etsy's Privacy Policy is Beginning to Look a Bit Like Facebook's originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> etsyetsy privacyEtsyPrivacyprivacyregretsytopUser AgreementUserAgreementweb Leila Brillson Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:46:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[After Tsunami, AT&T Offers Free Calling and Texting To Japan]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/#comments From now until the end of March, AT&T is offering free calls to Japan for anyone who dials from an AT&T line. Any long distance or texting directed to our Pacific brethren will be credited to post-paid accounts, with up to 60 minutes of talk time.

The offer is back-dated to March 11th, when the earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck the country, so those who made frantic phone calls from their iPhones needn't worry. It's surely a PR stunt, but one that provides a small amount of comfort to those who are worried for colleagues, pals and family.

After Tsunami, AT&T Offers Free Calling and Texting To Japan originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ATTcellphonesJapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquaketop Leila Brillson Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Read This: The Depressing Loneliness of a Video Game Addict]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/read-this-the-depressing-loneliness-of-a-video-game-addict/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/read-this-the-depressing-loneliness-of-a-video-game-addict/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/read-this-the-depressing-loneliness-of-a-video-game-addict/#comments
It was a world I could fully understand and control, in marked contrast to the chaos of being a teenager, with a home life ripe with conflicts I could neither escape nor resolve. In the case of my teenage self, and, I suspect, in the cases of many addicts, the world of the game was a private and unassailable refuge from a seemingly hostile world.
The Guardian's own Tom Meltzer reflects on his dangerous addiction to video games, and the need for psychiatrists and doctors to approach, consider and treat chronic gamers' symptoms like they would any other disease.

Read This: The Depressing Loneliness of a Video Game Addict originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> addictiongamingmmoonline gamingOnlineGamingpsychologyreadthistopvideo game addictionvideo gamesVideoGameAddictionVideoGames Leila Brillson Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Embrace Your Inner Furry: Microsoft Patents 'Fringe Interests' Dating Service]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/microsoft-patents-fringe-interests-dating-service-for-embracin/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/microsoft-patents-fringe-interests-dating-service-for-embracin/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/microsoft-patents-fringe-interests-dating-service-for-embracin/#comments An ingenious idea: Let those with "incongruous" dating appetites admit their kinks and quirks quietly, and, when no one is looking, have a match service pair them with potentially like-minded weirdos mates. Microsoft filed a patent in 2009 -- but made public last week -- for its own online dating service, with an algorithm into which users can secretly enter "private affinities," thus matching up with people of similar "fringe interests" (especially those conflicting with the user's public persona). The example of "interests" Microsoft refers to is, of course, people who dig comic books. Yeah, COMIC BOOKS. Wink-nudge.

While there's no news as to whether or not this service will ever become a reality, it'd be interesting to see an online dating system that lets singles be more honest and forthright. The patent reads: "Most users of such conventional systems understand that any affinity (or other information) included in an associated profile or space can be viewed by any third party who accesses that profile. This situation can substantially serve as a chilling effect on self expression or at least result in a profile that is a less accurate or less comprehensive representation of the associated user."

Continue reading Embrace Your Inner Furry: Microsoft Patents 'Fringe Interests' Dating Service

Embrace Your Inner Furry: Microsoft Patents 'Fringe Interests' Dating Service originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> internet datingInternetDatingKinkskinkymicrosoftonline datingOnlineDatingpatentsocialnetworkingtopweb Leila Brillson Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Placekitten Pairs Web Design, Placeholder Pics and Pretty Kitties]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/#comments Placekitten For those who design for the Web, securing a placeholder image -- a temporary picture that'll save a spot while the website is under construction -- is often a headache. On top of needing to resize hundreds of images that'll just be tossed anyway, merely locating a group of suitable pictures is a tedious task to which no self-respecting Web guru looks forward. Enter Placekitten, a simple service that lets Web pros enter in requisite dimensions and automatically generates a perfectly sized picture... of a kitten. The simple "placekitten.com/600/250" link equation makes grabbing images effortless, and adorable. The width is entered first, followed by the height. And there you have it: "aww"-inducing images, made on the fly.

Now only if Placekitten could put a furball in the most important spot: our outstretched arms, primed for kitten cuddling. (Each kitty randomly generated based on size specs, of course.)

Placekitten Pairs Web Design, Placeholder Pics and Pretty Kitties originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> designkittenslolcatslolzmemsplaceholderplacekittentopwebweb designWebDesign Leila Brillson Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Situationist' App Asks Strangers To Touch You]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/situationist-app-asks-strangers-to-touch-you/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/situationist-app-asks-strangers-to-touch-you/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/situationist-app-asks-strangers-to-touch-you/#comments Call me a jaded, anti-social New Yorker, but I spend an awful lot of my time avoiding awkward situations with complete strangers. So the 'Situationist' app for iPhone -- which allows you to upload a picture, geo-tag yourself and choose things that are "acceptable" for a stranger to do to you -- makes me a bit nervous.

Sure, it might be a nice icebreaker to have an anonymous person come up to me and shake my hand as if I just saved her life, but that person also knows where I am, what I look like and what type of fancy phone I'm carrying. She could see me pinpointed on a map and what "situation" I may be looking for, from "Help me rouse everyone around us into revolutionary fervour and storm the nearest TV station" to "Tell me I'm beautiful."

Gallery: The Situationist

Continue reading 'Situationist' App Asks Strangers To Touch You

'Situationist' App Asks Strangers To Touch You originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appscrazy appsCrazyAppsiosiphonepersonal spacePersonalSpacesituationistsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtop Leila Brillson Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Celebrate International Women's Day, Google Doodle-Style]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/google-doodle-celebrate-international-womens-day/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/google-doodle-celebrate-international-womens-day/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/google-doodle-celebrate-international-womens-day/#comments Google Doodle Today's Google Doodle, the seasonal reminder of whatever worldwide event/holiday/anniversary is occurring, celebrates International Women's Day. Three women whimsically demonstrate that they can be students, doctors and, er, women. In conjunction with International Women's Day, Google has helped Women For Women International establish "bridge events," where feminists of any persuasion can march across bridges worldwide in support of women. Vague in its purpose, but touchingly symbolic, you can virtually check in here.

Celebrate International Women's Day, Google Doodle-Style originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> googlegoogle doodleGoogleDoodleinternational womens dayInternationalWomensDaytopwomens rightsWomensRights Leila Brillson Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Can You Beat an Adaptive Computer at Rock-Paper-Scissors?]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/rock-paper-scissors-game/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/rock-paper-scissors-game/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/rock-paper-scissors-game/#comments rock paper scissors First Watson, now Rock-Paper-Scissors? Can't our flawed, spontaneous and nonsensical brains catch a break? The New York Times hosts a rock-paper-scissors computer that attempts to use patterns and frequent tendencies to beat its human foe. We tried reasoning our way through the game like we would with a human, but the results were crushing. Once we started clicking randomly, though, our inconsistent human thoughts wiped the virtual floor with that pattern-seeking A.I. Score one for meatbags!

Can You Beat an Adaptive Computer at Rock-Paper-Scissors? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AIartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencegamingnew york times rock paper scissorsNewYorkTimesRockPaperScissorsrock paper scissorsRockPaperScissorstopwatsonweb Leila Brillson Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Roger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/#comments Ebert at TED It's no secret that Team Switched is a big fan of Roger Ebert: his witty Tweets, on-point reviews and fascinating blog posts are both entertaining and thoughtful (even if he once bemoaned the idea of art in video games). And, as a Chicagoan, your author was often lulled to sleep by late-night airings of 'At the Movies,' during which Ebert's know-it-all voice often overpowered the measured calm of Gene Siskel. Last year, however, the critic received attention not for his opinions, but for his newfound silence, when Esquire wrote a heart-wrenching article about his bout with thyroid cancer, after which Ebert lost both his jaw and ability to speak.

Eventually, Ebert took to Twitter and blogs, constantly retweeting and posting his thoughts, ideas and reviews as normal. He continues his post as the resident critic at the Sun-Times (though he did lose his show on PBS), and he is one of the most read tweeters on the micro-blogging site, boasting a strong following of almost 373,000.

Continue reading Roger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks

Roger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bloggingcelebritiesmovie criticsMovieCriticsmoviesRoger EbertRogerEbertSocialNetworkingtedted talksTedTalkstoptwitterWeb Leila Brillson Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Samsung Thinks Its Galaxy Tab Is 'Inadequate' Next to iPad 2]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/samsung-galaxy-tab-dubbed-inadequate-to-ipad-2/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/samsung-galaxy-tab-dubbed-inadequate-to-ipad-2/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/samsung-galaxy-tab-dubbed-inadequate-to-ipad-2/#comments Since your writer is an Apple fangirl, there is nothing she enjoys more than a bit of corporate schadenfreude whenever tech manufacturers grit their collective teeth at Apple's latest release of yet another much-hyped device. Poor Samsung, the maker of the Android-based Galaxy Tab, has decided to reconsider its tablet's pricing, and, according to Executive VP Lee Don-Joo, "improve the parts that are inadequate." He didn't say what that meant, but, if Samsung wants to compete in the tablet game, it better start rhyming with winning.

Samsung Thinks Its Galaxy Tab Is 'Inadequate' Next to iPad 2 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> androidappleCharlieSheenGalaxyTabIpad2samsungSamsungGalaxyTabtabletpcstop Leila Brillson Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Kicks Picks: The Best of Kickstarter Features Minecraft, Marbles and Movies]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/kicks-picks-best-of-kickstarter-minecraft-marbles-more/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/kicks-picks-best-of-kickstarter-minecraft-marbles-more/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/kicks-picks-best-of-kickstarter-minecraft-marbles-more/#comments kickstarter projects Crowd-sourcing is not just a hot buzzword. When done right, turning to the Internet and its many voices can raise money, awareness and the profile for a project, putting a really great idea into practice. Kickstarter, the site that allows anyone with an e-mail account to invest in whatever great proposals they find (with some perks, of course), is a great example of the collective power of the 'Net.

We're thrilled to introduce our newest feature: Kicks Picks. We've selected our favorite and most promising Kickstarter projects, and spoke with the creators about why they deserve your time (and money). Check them out for yourself, and if these bright young things inspire you, maybe you can help launch their dreams into reality.

Continue reading Kicks Picks: The Best of Kickstarter Features Minecraft, Marbles and Movies

Kicks Picks: The Best of Kickstarter Features Minecraft, Marbles and Movies originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfeaturesjoystickerskickspickskickstarterKickstarter.commarble trackMarbleTrackminecraftminecraft movieMinecraftMovieopensourceproteithe future of facebookTheFutureOfFacebooktopworlds longest marble trackWorldsLongestMarbleTrack Leila Brillson Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[DreamWorks Snatches WikiLeaks Book for Julian Assange 'Thriller' Film]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/wikileaks-julian-assange-thriller-film-by-dreamworks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/wikileaks-julian-assange-thriller-film-by-dreamworks/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/wikileaks-julian-assange-thriller-film-by-dreamworks/#comments The era has come wherein movie makers are no longer content exploring shared cultural events, or mining moments in history for inspiration. Instead, they have started turning to stories that, in many ways, haven't even been finished. The award-winning film 'The Social Network' is about a website that we continue to use daily, and one that still occupies our headlines. And now DreamWorks, the studio co-founded by Steven Spielberg, has snatched up the rights to the books 'WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange's War On Secrecy' and 'Inside WikiLeaks.'

According to the Guardian, the movie will plot the story of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, from his days in Australia to the site's inception in 2006. Editor-in-chief of the Guardian Alan Rusbridger, who was pivotal in releasing the leaked documents, has suggested that the film will be "Woodward and Bernstein meets Stieg Larsson meets Jason Bourne."

Continue reading DreamWorks Snatches WikiLeaks Book for Julian Assange 'Thriller' Film

DreamWorks Snatches WikiLeaks Book for Julian Assange 'Thriller' Film originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dreamworksguardianJulianAssangemoviestopwebWikileaksWikileaksMovie Leila Brillson Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST Switched