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 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Ford Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/#comments Seat belts are the foundation of automobile safety, and they are receiving a high-tech makeover from none other than Ford Motor Company.

According to a Ford press release, rear passengers in the company's 2010 Explorers will be the first to experience inflatable seat belt technology. The seat belts look just like traditional seat belts, but inflate within 40 milliseconds following a crash (video after the break). Ford says, "inflatable belt helps distribute crash force energy across five times more of the occupant's torso than a traditional belt," essentially expanding the protection and redistributing pressure, keeping rib cages safer and impact less direct. The increased area of protection is particularly beneficial to children and the elderly, who can find the physically jarring crash particularly traumatic.

Continue reading Ford Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs

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Ford Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> car accidentCarsFordseatbeltTechnologytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Knockoff Michael Jackson Cell Phone Redefines Gaudy]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/#comments When King of Pop Michael Jackson passed away earlier this year, we knew the line of people waiting to profit from his death would be a long one. These bling-tastic exploitations, though, took us by surprise.

The Michael Jackson phone, manufactured by a Chinese imitation goods company, is in the very poorest of spectacularly poor taste. It boasts enough faux gold and jewels to make a Liberace impersonator cringe, and it has the audacity to come packaged with a Michael Jackson DVD. (We can only assume that the manufacturer and distributor of this shiny P.O.S. made sure the accompanying DVD was a bootleg of the highest order.)

This phone is garish, disgusting, and exploitative. That being said, at least the phone gaudily admits the fact that it's exploitative. It's honest, in a way. And that's a lot more than we can say for that streaming biopic from last month. [From: Mashable]

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Knockoff Michael Jackson Cell Phone Redefines Gaudy originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bootlegcell phoneCellPhoneChinaMichael JacksonMichaelJacksontopweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Gift Guide: Garmin Approach G5 GPS Golf Companion]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-garmin-approach-g5-gps-golf-companion/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-garmin-approach-g5-gps-golf-companion/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-garmin-approach-g5-gps-golf-companion/#comments
Garmin Approach G5 (Sports Fan, Under $500)

To some, the game of golf is nothing more than a good walk spoiled. For the true disciples of the game, it is a test of character and mental fortitude. Both parties agree that it can flat out embarrass you.

For those who could use an ace up their sleeve (we're talking to you, everyone that isn't Tiger Woods) the Garmin Approach G5 might be just what is needed need to kick start their game. This golfer-friendly GPS device comes preloaded with thousands of courses' information, providing users with real time info on shot distances, hazards, and weather/wind conditions. The G5 also doubles as a four-person score card.

Golf can be a humbling endeavor. Tell your golfers to prepare themselves accordingly.

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Gift Guide: Garmin Approach G5 GPS Golf Companion originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> garmingiftguidegolfgpshgghgg-500hgg-sportsfansports switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Silk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/#comments Biology and technology are increasingly crossing paths these days, so it comes as no surprise that researchers have found a way to literally fuse the two, creating implantable technology for the 21st century.

Researchers have developed a new type of super-thin silicon transistor, which can be embedded on a dissolvable silk-based film (pictured). Brian Litt, associate professor of neurology and bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, told Technology Review, "Current medical devices are very limited by the fact that the active electronics have to be 'canned,' or isolated from the body, and are on rigid silicon." These new silicon-silk implants are much easier to place within a body: the silk sheet "melts away," and the transistors are small enough that they don't irritate tissues.

Continue reading Silk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos

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Silk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> implantneurologyresearchsciencesiliconetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[iPhone App, Where's My Car?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/#comments We love holiday shopping as much as the next person, but we could do without the mammoth parking lots (and our embarrassing inability to navigate them). Honestly, is there anything more demoralizing, after a successful raid on Walmart, than not being able to find your own car when you get outside? We think not.
Thankfully, there is hope for the parking-lot challenged, and it comes in the form of 'Car Finder' [App Store link]. Using augmented reality (real-time video overlaid with computer-generated graphics), this marvel is available from Apple's App Store for $0.99. It sounds cool, and it is. Simply use the app to mark your car's location, and walk away. On your way back, Car Finder, in conjunction with the iPhone's built-in GPS, lets you view your surroundings in on the iPhone's screen. Simply rotate your body until the screen displays the general direction of your wayward automobile, and a big red arrow will guide you to the icon that represents your car's location. Neat, huh?

Continue reading iPhone App, Where's My Car?

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iPhone App, Where's My Car? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appiphone3gsIphoneAppsmartphonetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[United Airlines Messes With Wrong Traveler... Again]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/united-airlines-messes-with-wrong-traveler-again/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/united-airlines-messes-with-wrong-traveler-again/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/united-airlines-messes-with-wrong-traveler-again/#comments A near celebrity in the eyes of anyone who's logged onto YouTube (or Switched) in past months, Canadian singer David Carroll was less than pleased when United Airlines baggage handlers broke his guitar last summer. United initially refused to pay the $1,200 repair fee, but -- after Carroll's song 'United Breaks Guitars' (video after the break) attracted millions of YouTube viewers and got nearly all of them riled up -- United finally tried to cut its losses by paying Carroll back. The strong-willed Canadian declined. This was, after all, about the corporation's inappropriate treatment of all its customers, not just his broken guitar.

Well, Sunday, at the Denver airport, Carroll was treated just like the rest of United's customers when his bag was "delayed," the New York Times reports. Apparently unaware of his Internet stardom, the United employees told him that he couldn't leave the terminal until it arrived. An hour later, they finally proclaimed the luggage lost and sent him packing. Carroll, who ironically enough was in Colorado to speak about customer service, did not get his bag back until yesterday. Now supplementing his musician's wages with such speaking engagements, Caroll spoke on the mistreatment of airline passengers like the 21st-century, mobile-class Woody Guthrie that he is: "It crosses all income levels and languages and geographies. We all don't like feeling disrespected or insignificant." [From: The New York Times]

Continue reading United Airlines Messes With Wrong Traveler... Again

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United Airlines Messes With Wrong Traveler... Again originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> airlinestopunited airlinesunited broke my guitarUnitedAirlinesUnitedBrokeMyGuitarviralvideoyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['This Is Why You're Fat' Twitter Contest Involves... Eating]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/this-is-why-youre-fat-twitter-contest-involves-eating/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/this-is-why-youre-fat-twitter-contest-involves-eating/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/this-is-why-youre-fat-twitter-contest-involves-eating/#comments With obesity levels rising, the U.S. population's affection for junk food is obvious. In case you needed further proof of our flabby nation's torrid love affair with gut-bombs, we would like to present the Eat N Tweet Challenge.

Created by This is Why You're Fat, the Web site dedicated to all things artery-clogging, the Eat N Tweet Challenge pits contestants in a race against time, each other, and New York City traffic. The ultimate goal for each participant is to be the first to a take photo of him- or herself with each of the six New York street vendors (and their coma-inducing wares) that are involved in the competition.

Continue reading 'This Is Why You're Fat' Twitter Contest Involves... Eating

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'This Is Why You're Fat' Twitter Contest Involves... Eating originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> contestfoodfunnyhealthobesitysocialnetworkingthis is why youre fatThisIsWhyYoureFattoptwitter switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Science of Mona Lisa's Smile]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/the-science-of-mona-lisas-smile/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/the-science-of-mona-lisas-smile/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/the-science-of-mona-lisas-smile/#comments
The subtle complexity of Mona Lisa's sly smirk has captivated generations of casual art enthusiasts, academics, and even scientists. In reality, it is a fine sliver of paint, but in the realm of art, it acts as a monument to the indefinable. But it's time to end the infernal debate: is it a smile or not?

According to a study conducted at the Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, Spain, the answer is both. Arggggg!

Continue reading The Science of Mona Lisa's Smile

The Science of Mona Lisa's Smile originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artmona lisaMonaLisaneuroscienceresearchsciencetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Solid Alliance's 'Crazy Earphones' Are Just That]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/solid-alliances-crazy-earphones-are-just-that/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/solid-alliances-crazy-earphones-are-just-that/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/25/solid-alliances-crazy-earphones-are-just-that/#comments A new line of earbuds from Solid Alliance has drawn attention for its, shall we say, less than palatable designs, and as a public service to our readers, we would like to agree with all the haters. Beauty may reside in the eye of the beholder, but so does ugly.

The increasingly derided and aptly named Crazy Earphones line consists of four truly dumbfounding designs: sushi roll, banana, cat paw, and Frankenstein bolt. (And they're only $22, or ¥2,000, a pair!) The kitty paw and Frankenstein 'buds may appeal to a certain consumer, but sushi? Ripened bananas? We have a sneaking suspicion that whatever niche market Solid Alliance was attempting to target is nonexistent. Or, at best, still too small to cover production costs.

We could be wrong. For all we know, this line of earbuds could explode into a culinary-cute-tastic headphone phenomenon. We just doubt it, that's all. [From: Geek Stuff 4 U, via Engadget]

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Solid Alliance's 'Crazy Earphones' Are Just That originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> earbudsheadphoneshideousnoveltysolid allianceSolidAlliancetopweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Scubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/#comments
Hybrid automobiles may be the future of mass terrestrial transport, but their vanilla styling and performance simply do not compare to the sheer awesomeness of one new aquatic counterpart. Put it this way, we just don't see James Bond tearing through a foreign metropolis in a Prius. Put Bond in a boat/submarine hybrid in a Venice canal, however, and he looks right at home.

The Scubacraft is precisely as cool as it sounds. It is a boat capable of operating above or below the waves at the whim of its operator, and it has, in our eyes at least, rendered all other forms of aquatic transport obsolete. (We really have a thing for James Bond). While above water, the Scubacraft is propelled by a healthy 160-horsepower engine. When submerged, the craft can reach a depth of nearly 100 feet. Electric thrusters move the Scubacraft along its way while underwater. To be clear, this is not an enclosed submarine, so SCUBA gear will have to be worn in order to dive below.

Continue reading Scubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k

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Scubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> boatluxuryscubacraftsubmarinetoptransportationweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[GE Debuts Vscan, the 'Stethoscope of the 21st Century']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/21/ge-debuts-vscan-the-stethoscope-of-the-21st-century/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/21/ge-debuts-vscan-the-stethoscope-of-the-21st-century/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/21/ge-debuts-vscan-the-stethoscope-of-the-21st-century/#comments One of the medical profession's most iconic instruments is getting a serious upgrade. The "stethoscope of the 21st century" was unveiled yesterday at the Web 2.0 summit by General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt. The Vscan, which looks like the lovechild of a Motorola RAZR and an iPod, places the power of ultrasound into the palm of a doctor's hand, and is set to increase the ease and effectiveness of the routine check-up.

Continue reading GE Debuts Vscan, the 'Stethoscope of the 21st Century'

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GE Debuts Vscan, the 'Stethoscope of the 21st Century' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> healthmedicalstethoscopetopultrasoundvscan switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:21:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Video Games, Hurricanes, and Generators -- a Toxic Trifecta]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/video-games-hurricanes-and-generators-a-toxic-trifecta/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/video-games-hurricanes-and-generators-a-toxic-trifecta/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/video-games-hurricanes-and-generators-a-toxic-trifecta/#comments
In light of their alleged emotional ramifications on children, certain video games are often labeled as "dangerous." But it turns out a number of children almost literally lost their lives last year by playing their favorite games, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Last autumn, families in areas of Texas affected by Hurricane Ike were forced indoors due to the brutal storm and its messy aftermath. In the wake of the storm, some parents turned to the one thing they knew would distract and appease their restless children: video games. The problem wasn't that the children were playing the games, though. The problem was that there was no electricity, so the gaming systems were being run by gasoline-powered generators. In case you didn't know, the improper use of generators can lead to carbon-monoxide poisoning and, ultimately, death.

A study performed by researchers at the University of Texas found that 75-percent of the children treated for carbon-monoxide poisoning had been playing video games. The good news behind this frightening statistic is that there were only nine total cases of generator-related carbon-monoxide poisoning (and that no one died). The bad news is that some people still don't understand the proper way to use a gas-powered generator. (Hint: put it outside, dude.) [From: Live Science]

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Video Games, Hurricanes, and Generators -- a Toxic Trifecta originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> carbon monoxideCarbonMonoxidegeneratorhealthkidstopvideo gamesVideoGamesviolence in video gamesViolenceInVideoGames switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Intelligent, Unmanned Boat to Attempt Trans-Atlantic Journey]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/intelligent-unmanned-boat-to-attempt-trans-atlantic-journey/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/intelligent-unmanned-boat-to-attempt-trans-atlantic-journey/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/intelligent-unmanned-boat-to-attempt-trans-atlantic-journey/#comments
Once again, a team of well-meaning scientists is giving an intelligent, autonomous robotic vessel everything it needs to take over the world. Sigh...

According to CNN, eight third-year engineering students from the university ETH Zurich in Switzerland have created a four-meter-long, carbon-fiber yacht potentially capable of piloting itself across the Atlantic Ocean. Avalon, as its creators like to call it, will use a complex array of sensors and power sources to complete its journey. If successful, the Avalon will not only be one step closer to rendering humans inconsequential, it will also set a new world record for a vessel of its type.

Continue reading Intelligent, Unmanned Boat to Attempt Trans-Atlantic Journey

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Intelligent, Unmanned Boat to Attempt Trans-Atlantic Journey originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 28 May 2009 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aiboatgpsnauticalrobottop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 28 May 2009 09:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[South African Calls Boss a "Serial Masturbator" on Facebook, Gets Fired]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/south-african-calls-boss-a-serial-masturbator-on-facebook-get/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/south-african-calls-boss-a-serial-masturbator-on-facebook-get/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/28/south-african-calls-boss-a-serial-masturbator-on-facebook-get/#comments With so much pain and humiliation caused by Facebook around the world, we were less than shocked to hear that the cycle of embarrassment had traveled south of the Equator.

According to an AFP article, hosted on Google, a South African man was recently terminated from his job after calling his boss a "serial masturbator" on Facebook. What did he think was going to happen? Did he expect a cookie and a tummy rub? Apparently, the 23-year-old wasn't a huge fan of his boss, and decided that a virtual, worldwide forum was the perfect place to vent his frustration. We have to wonder why he even bothered with the "serial masturbator" tag line. He just described half the people on Planet Earth for goodness sake (not to mention primates!).

Brothers and sisters around the world! Heed our advice! Facebook is a place to post pictures of you with beautiful people you barely know. Facebook is a place to be witty and slightly politically incorrect to people you want to impress. It is not a place to vent about people that could potentially fire you! Follow those simple guidelines and you should be just fine. [From: AFP/Google]

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South African Calls Boss a "Serial Masturbator" on Facebook, Gets Fired originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 28 May 2009 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfacebook face lossFacebookFaceLossfiredfiringfunnyjobsocial networkingSocialNetworkingsouth africaSouthAfricatopworkplace switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 28 May 2009 07:11:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Colonel Sanders' Face Blurred By Google Street View on All KFCs]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/24/colonel-sanders-face-blurred-by-google-street-view-on-all-kfcs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/24/colonel-sanders-face-blurred-by-google-street-view-on-all-kfcs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/24/colonel-sanders-face-blurred-by-google-street-view-on-all-kfcs/#comments It seems Google Street View's facial recognition technology may actually work better than we thought.

Apparently, the iconic face of Colonel Sanders has been blurred on every Kentucky Fried Chicken location. This gives Google some much-needed ammunition in the fight against those who believe the service invades individuals' privacy. Complaints directed toward Street View technology have been passionate, so we're sure a high profile success story like this sits well with top Google brass.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Google says it's choosing to blur Sanders' face because he is 'a real person'. Sanders, of course, died in December 1980. We're happy to see that Google is taking the privacy of individuals seriously, but there is still room for improvement. Privacy advocates contend that some individuals are still recognizable. Well, now Google can simply point to Colonel's face and say, "See...it works!" [From: Daily Telegraph]

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Colonel Sanders' Face Blurred By Google Street View on All KFCs originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 24 May 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> googlegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewkentucky fried chickenKentuckyFriedChickenkfctop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sun, 24 May 2009 11:09:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[FBI, U.S. Marshals Hit By Mystery Computer Virus]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/fbi-u-s-marshals-hit-by-mystery-computer-virus/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/fbi-u-s-marshals-hit-by-mystery-computer-virus/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/fbi-u-s-marshals-hit-by-mystery-computer-virus/#comments

The U.S. already spends a ton of money on cybersecurity, but it may need to dig a little deeper if something like this happens again: According to the Associated Press, The FBI and the U.S. Marshals offices were forced to shut down sections of their respective networks on Thursday after they were hit by a mystery virus.

The U.S. Marshals office even had to disconnect from the Justice Department's computers as a precautionary measure. While the mysterious nature of the virus, along with its origin is a concern to both organizations, Nikki Credic, a spokesperson for the Marshals Office, said "At no time was data compromised."

We have written on the potential for cyber-terrorism before, and though the source of this virus is unknown, it will surely serve as potent reminder of the potential threats that abound in cyberspace.[Via: Fox News]

Continue reading FBI, U.S. Marshals Hit By Mystery Computer Virus

FBI, U.S. Marshals Hit By Mystery Computer Virus originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 May 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> fbihackingsecuritytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 22 May 2009 17:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Parents Using Smartphones as Modern Day Rattles]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/parents-using-smartphones-as-modern-day-rattles/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/parents-using-smartphones-as-modern-day-rattles/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/parents-using-smartphones-as-modern-day-rattles/#comments

Advances in technology have enabled humanity to achieve all sorts of amazing feats (landing on the moon, debasing oneself on YouTube, etc). Despite our long list of collective accomplishments, a new trick that's being employed by tech savvy parents might just take the cake.

According to USA Today, creative (or desperate) parents are transforming their cell phones into mobile-baby-hushers. Parents are using rattle apps for the iPhone to soothe cranky kids, white noise apps to keep 'em quiet, and even good 'ol e-mail apps to keep them entertained. Jenny Reeves, a mother in San Antonio, Texas, lets her boys play with her BlackBerry. She told USA Today, "It's almost as good as lollipops."

The portability of cell phones lets parents provide much needed on-the-go entertainment at any time. Whether it's a rattle app or a full-fledged word game, mobile phones have proven themselves useful to a new generation of parents that will surely accept all the help they can get. [From: USA Today]

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Parents Using Smartphones as Modern Day Rattles originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 May 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> babiesbabykidsphonestop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 22 May 2009 11:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Girl Almost Dies Saving iPod]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/girl-almost-dies-saving-ipod/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/girl-almost-dies-saving-ipod/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/girl-almost-dies-saving-ipod/#comments
We all like our gadgets. Still, even though we can't imagine our morning commute without our trusty MP3 player, there's no way we're risking our lives for it. Then again, we're not 16-years old.

A Tampa teenage girl was almost killed on Tuesday when she tried to save her beloved iPod from certain doom. While crossing the street, she noticed she had dropped her iPod Nano in the road. Instead of saying a quiet prayer for the health of her musical companion, she blindly rushed into oncoming traffic -- this, we imagine, greatly dissatisfied the driver of the pickup truck driver that subsequently plowed into her, leaving her with a broken leg and untold damage to the truck.

So remember kids/adults: An iPod is replaceable, even in this economy. If you have to... just let it go. [From:Twirlit]

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Girl Almost Dies Saving iPod originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ipodipod nanoIpodNanokidskiller gadgetsKillerGadgetsteenstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 22 May 2009 09:24:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Toddler Accidentally Buys $12K Construction Digger Online]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/toddler-accidentally-buys-12k-construction-digger-in-online-auc/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/toddler-accidentally-buys-12k-construction-digger-in-online-auc/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/toddler-accidentally-buys-12k-construction-digger-in-online-auc/#comments

A New Zealand toddler gave her parents a shock (to say the least) when she purchased a $12,000 Kobelco digger on an auction Web site. According to Australian newspaper The Age, Three-year-old Pipi Quinlan woke up before the rest of her family and made her way to the family computer. After booting up Internet Explorer, Pipi navigated to an online auction site called Trade Me. Since her mother's account was still logged onto the site, Pipi was able to click her way to a winning bid for the massive industrial digger.

The precocious little scamp said nothing about her purchase until her mother received an e-mail notification from the site confirming the sale.

Luckily for the Quinlan family, a quick phone call to the auction site cleared the mess up, and the digger was re-listed for auction. Is their toddler the next super cyber-hacking genius? We doubt it. She would have used Firefox. [From: The Age via Fark]




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Toddler Accidentally Buys $12K Construction Digger Online originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 May 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> auctionbigmoneydiggerfunnykidsmoneyshoppingtoptoy switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 21 May 2009 19:39:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[iPod Earbuds: We Will Shock You]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/ipod-earbuds-we-will-shock-you/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/ipod-earbuds-we-will-shock-you/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/ipod-earbuds-we-will-shock-you/#comments

Turns out those lovable little earbuds may deliver more than pleasant sound waves.

According to a support bulletin issued by Apple, the cans are a possible conduit for static electricity. The company has issued some tips to keep the voltage down--which essentially tell you to stop using the player.

Among the dangerous conditions are dry or windy environments (sorry U.S. Southwest, Midwest, and coastal zones). Motion is also a troublemaker, so Apple advises against exercising with the iPod or frequently taking it in and out of your pocket, especially if you are wearing synthetic fabrics such as nylon. Sure, who does that with their iPod anyway?

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iPod Earbuds: We Will Shock You originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appleearbudsearphonesheadphonesipod switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 21 May 2009 11:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Rolls-Royce of Wig Purifiers Kills Grody Hairpiece Bacteria]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/16/rolls-royce-of-wig-purifiers-kills-grody-hairpiece-bacteria/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/16/rolls-royce-of-wig-purifiers-kills-grody-hairpiece-bacteria/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/16/rolls-royce-of-wig-purifiers-kills-grody-hairpiece-bacteria/#comments

What do you get that friend/lover/boss that has everything -- except hair? Why a high-end wig cleaner of course!

At $367, the Wig Purifier can only be described as the Rolls Royce of wig maintenance accessories. Simply place the hairpiece inside the handsome cabinet and allow the Wig Purifier's secret weapon (ozone particles) to do the rest. The trioxygen filtering through the chamber eliminates bacteria and odor as it disinfects.

The price for this gadget is pretty steep, but did you watch the commercial? No wonder it's so pricey -- just look at those production values. Seriously though, the technology is sound, and we'd like to see a more affordable version of the device. Forget the wood accents, we want more chrome. Also, we wonder if we could jam our heads in there and ozonate our mane while it's still attached to our heads. Saving money on shampoo... And how! [From: DVICE]

Rolls-Royce of Wig Purifiers Kills Grody Hairpiece Bacteria originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 16 May 2009 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> beautyhairpiecehouseholdhygieneozonetopweirdwigwigs switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sat, 16 May 2009 17:53:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Sexting' Not Just About Sex, Study Finds]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/sexting-not-just-about-sex-study-finds/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/sexting-not-just-about-sex-study-finds/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/sexting-not-just-about-sex-study-finds/#comments According to a new study, 'Sexting' may have less to do with sex than its titillating title implies.

Susan Lipkins, a psychologist from Port Washington, NY, found that people who sent sexually explicit messages were more focused on attaining power and control than people who didn't send explicit messages.

View Poll


According to USA Today, Lipkins polled 323 people, of which a surprising 66-percent admitted to sending some type of explicit messages. Although participants ranged in age from 13-72, most were 26 and younger. (A nice little side-stat for you: 6-percent said that they started text messaging at age 9.)


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'Sexting' Not Just About Sex, Study Finds originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> sexsextingstudiesstudyteenstexttext messagingtextingtextmessagingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 15 May 2009 15:03:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Top 10 Scariest, Funniest, and Craziest Audio Recordings]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/top-10-scariest-funniest-and-craziest-audio-recording/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/top-10-scariest-funniest-and-craziest-audio-recording/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/top-10-scariest-funniest-and-craziest-audio-recording/#comments If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a recording worth? Way more than that if the RIAA has anything to say about it. The folks over at Listverse have compiled a top 10 list of incredible audio recordings, and my is it a potent one.

The range of emotions we experienced when listening to each selection was as varied as the recordings themselves. The most startling is a recording of the final moments of People's Temple leader Jim Jones and his nine hundred and nine cult followers as they poison their children and then themselves. Honestly, don't listen to it if you think you can't handle it -- it requires a strong stomach. There is also a scary recording of a Russian exorcism complete with voice-shifting screaming.

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Top 10 Scariest, Funniest, and Craziest Audio Recordings originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audiolistmusicrecordingrecordingssuperlativestop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 15 May 2009 11:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Increased Gadget Use Offsetting Efficiency Improvements]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/increased-gadget-use-offsetting-efficiency-improvements/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/increased-gadget-use-offsetting-efficiency-improvements/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/increased-gadget-use-offsetting-efficiency-improvements/#comments
Thanks to tech goodies like cell phones, TV's, and computers, our modern world is more connected than ever -- but does our unquenchable desire for round-the-clock access come with a price that's greater than a dollar sign? The International Energy Agency (IEA), according to Reuters, would say yes.

The IEA believes that demand for tech gadgets is undoing efficiency gains in other areas of energy consumption. That means that, for every air conditioner we make more efficient, there's another more power-hungry TV hitting the market. The IEA is urging governments to draft efficiency standards that account for the rapid development of hot industries -- such as smart phones or plasma televisions -- since IEA told Reuters that the energy used by household electronic devices may triple by 2030.

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Increased Gadget Use Offsetting Efficiency Improvements originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> efficiencyenergyenvironmentieatop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 15 May 2009 06:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[3 More Optical Illusions You Just Gotta See]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/14/3-more-optical-illusions-you-just-gotta-see/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/14/3-more-optical-illusions-you-just-gotta-see/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/14/3-more-optical-illusions-you-just-gotta-see/#comments

We here at Switched have found some great optical illusions online in the past. We are always on the lookout for more, so we were delighted when we came across these three illusions below, thanks to Inside Science News. Just last weekend, these three illusions were chosen as the world's best at a gathering of neuroscientists and psychologists in Naples, Florida. Enjoy!

1. Jerky Curveball - The title says it all. Do this one in two stages. First, stare directly at the spinning ball. On the next pass, try concentrating on the little blue dot to the right of the screen. You will understand immediately how and why this illusion got its name. Pretty trippy.

2. Colored Dove - This one didn't particularly do it for us, but the boys and girls down in Naples thought highly enough of it to rank it number two. Simply stare at the black dot in the middle of the white dove and wait for the red flash. The dove remains colored after the flash thanks to your eyes retaining an afterimage. Interesting? No Doubt. Number two? We have our reservations...

3. Sex Illusion- Sit back, relax, and get your mind out of the gutter. This simple illusion, courtesy of Richard Russell of Harvard University, consists of two pictures of the same person's face. However, each photo has been digitally altered by adjusting the light and dark places in the image, which makes one face look like a boy's and the other a girl's. It's a great effect, and it provides a succinct little study into gender perception. Isn't learning fun? [From: Inside Science News Service, via Livescience]

3 More Optical Illusions You Just Gotta See originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 14 May 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> optical illusionoptical illusionsOpticalIllusionOpticalIllusionssciencetimewasterstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 14 May 2009 16:26:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Hacker Wants $10M Ransom for Stolen Virginia Private Patient Data]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/hacker-wants-10m-ransom-for-stolen-virginia-private-patient-dat/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/hacker-wants-10m-ransom-for-stolen-virginia-private-patient-dat/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/hacker-wants-10m-ransom-for-stolen-virginia-private-patient-dat/#comments
On April 30th, an unidentified individual, or group, hacked into the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program's Web site, WikiLeaks first reported Sunday. A full week after the hack occurred, the perpetrator is still holding hostage the private data of over 8 million Virginia patients.

The party responsible for this security breach didn't hack into the prescription-drug-abuse-tracking site for fun, either. The hacker, or hackers, posted a ransom note on the Web site that, according to WikiLeaks, read:
I have your [expletive]! In *my* possession, right now, are 8,257,378 patient records and a total of 35,548,087 prescriptions. Also, I made an encrypted backup and deleted the original. Unfortunately for Virginia, their backups seem to have gone missing, too. Uhoh :(For $10 million, I will gladly send along the password.
For days, Virginia state police and FBI investigators have been trying to get to the bottom of the theft, which could ultimately result in the misuse of those 8 million packets of personal information. The government has not yet publicly identified the 8 million victims, nor has it notified them privately.

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Hacker Wants $10M Ransom for Stolen Virginia Private Patient Data originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 May 2009 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crimegovernmenthackhackershackingidentity theftIdentityTheftprescription drugsPrescriptionDrugssecuritytopvirginia switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 07 May 2009 12:16:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nuclear Testing Helps to Sniff Out Counterfeit Whiskies]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/nuclear-testing-helps-to-sniff-out-counterfeit-whiskies/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/nuclear-testing-helps-to-sniff-out-counterfeit-whiskies/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/07/nuclear-testing-helps-to-sniff-out-counterfeit-whiskies/#comments

Apparently, something positive came out humanity's insane urge to produce and proliferate nuclear arms over the past century.

Carbon-dating has been used by researchers in myriad scientific endeavors, and it turns out that nuclear testing has made the process that much more effective, according to Scientific American. Or, more effective at determining the age of an expensive bottle of whisky, anyway.

Researchers at England's Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit have found that barley grown in the Nuclear Era contains a higher level of carbon 14 than barley grown before the late '40s and early '50s (The first nuclear weapons test was in 1945.). Accordingly, any whisky distilled since 1950, or so, bears an increased level of carbon 14. This hallmark make it easy for researchers to distinguish the poseurs from genuinely old vintages.

Continue reading Nuclear Testing Helps to Sniff Out Counterfeit Whiskies

Nuclear Testing Helps to Sniff Out Counterfeit Whiskies originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 May 2009 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alcoholdrinkingnucleartopweirdwhisky switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 07 May 2009 09:39:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Why Are Text Messages Limited to 160 Characters?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/05/why-are-text-messages-limited-to-160-characters/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/05/why-are-text-messages-limited-to-160-characters/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/05/why-are-text-messages-limited-to-160-characters/#comments

If you've ever wondered why (or cursed the fact that) text messages are limited to 160 characters, this story, courtesy of the LA Times, may just put your mind at ease (or at least provide a target for your rage).

In 1985, German communications researcher Friedhelm Hillebrand realized that, after using a typewriter to type out random sentences, each message almost always came in under 160 characters. Hillebrand and his colleagues had been developing what would become known as text messaging, and, before the typewriter epiphany, the 160-character limit had been a point of debate.

View Poll



In 1986, Hillebrand was working as the chairman of the non-voice services committee within the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). While there, he pushed for all cellular carriers and cell phones to support the short messaging system (SMS). Since bandwidth was one of the major stumbling blocks in front of SMS, Hillebrand suggested using a secondary radio channel that was already present on mobile networks. At first, only 128 characters could fit in this space, but, after some reorganization and trimming down of possible characters, Hillebrand's team was able to make the 160-character text message a reality. Whether or not that reality is one that can satisfy a text-crazy world is another topic altogether.

As for the technology's adoption, Hillebrand told the Los Angeles Times, "Nobody had foreseen how fast and quickly the young people would use this." [From: LA Times]

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Why Are Text Messages Limited to 160 Characters? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 May 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> historysmstextingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Tue, 05 May 2009 07:17:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Ambulance Drivers Told to Use Old-Fashioned Maps Again]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/03/ambulance-drivers-told-to-use-old-fashioned-maps-again/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/03/ambulance-drivers-told-to-use-old-fashioned-maps-again/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/03/ambulance-drivers-told-to-use-old-fashioned-maps-again/#comments

It seems that normal civilians aren't the only people experiencing difficulty with their GPS systems these days.

According to the Telegraph, England's North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has told its employees not to rely solely on their ambulances' GPS systems anymore. Paul Liversidge, the company's director of ambulance operations, told the paper that the change was necessary, since his crews' frequent over-reliance on the systems often led to delays getting to patients.

So are the drivers expected to return to paper maps? That looks to be the case, although a NEAS spokesperson said in a statement that there is no substitute for local knowledge when it comes to navigating with ease. You think?

We are happy to see such logic win out in this case, but, unfortunately, the warnings may have come a bit late. Last year, a woman died before she could reach the hospital when the ambulance drivers transporting her were misdirected by a GPS device. If you find yourself needing to go from Point A to Point B in a situation of life and death, you may be better off with instincts and a good ol' fashioned map than you are with your Garmin. Or you could use the ultimate satellite navigation system -- your trusty sextant and the North Star. [From: Telegraph]


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Ambulance Drivers Told to Use Old-Fashioned Maps Again originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 03 May 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ambulancesdumb gadgetsdumb techDumbTechgpshospitalskiller gadgetsKillerGadgetsmedicinetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sun, 03 May 2009 13:16:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Warhol's Apple Computer Masterpiece Up For Auction]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/01/warhols-apple-computer-masterpiece-up-for-auction/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/01/warhols-apple-computer-masterpiece-up-for-auction/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/01/warhols-apple-computer-masterpiece-up-for-auction/#comments Okay Mac and/or art lovers... prepare to make your ultimate wet-tech dream come true.

An Andy Warhol serigraph is currently up for auction at O'Gallerie in Portland, Oregon. This signed silkscreen print, which is expected to fetch between $20-30,000, was commissioned by Apple's first COO Del Yocam, and would surely be the prized piece of any tech aficionado's collection.

We know we're in a recession, but some things are just too good to pass up (if you have the money, that is). The auction begins on May 6th, so grab your best auction tux and head for the Pacific Northest. [From:TUAW]

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Warhol's Apple Computer Masterpiece Up For Auction originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 May 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> andy warholAndyWarholappleartauctionsexpire-images:2010-5-1macintoshtoptuaw switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 01 May 2009 08:56:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LumiGram's Cool, Colorful, and Useless Bed Cover Literally Lights Up]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/30/lumigram-offers-coolest-most-useless-bed-cover-ever-created/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/30/lumigram-offers-coolest-most-useless-bed-cover-ever-created/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/30/lumigram-offers-coolest-most-useless-bed-cover-ever-created/#comments
We love ill-fated, awesome products that make little to no sense.

In this case, we are talking about fiber-optic bed covers, of course. We couldn't have been more thrilled to hear from OhGizmo about this delightfully useless offering from manufacturer LumiGram.

The comforter is constructed from a patented material called Luminex. When plugged in (yes, it has to be plugged in), the entire cover (which is available in white, blue, gold, black, pink, red or green) glows from top to bottom in your choice of sparkling white, blue, red or green. If you know much about fiber-optics, you already know that no warmth is emitted and there is no threat of electrical shock. The covers are hand-washable and cost a hefty $660.

We think this is a supremely cool idea. We would probably never buy a fiber-optic cover (we don't have the money and can't sleep unless it's pitch black in the room.), but we fully support the future production of such whimsical, abstract home decor. [From: LumiGram, Via: OhGizmo]

LumiGram's Cool, Colorful, and Useless Bed Cover Literally Lights Up originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> fiber opticFiberOpticgeek chicGeekChichome decorHomeDecorhouseholdlumigramluminexnoveltysleeptopweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:11:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Faith Fighter' Game Taken Offline Due to Muslim Group's Protest]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/faith-fighter-game-taken-offline-due-to-muslim-groups-protest/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/faith-fighter-game-taken-offline-due-to-muslim-groups-protest/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/faith-fighter-game-taken-offline-due-to-muslim-groups-protest/#comments
According to Yahoo Tech, 'Faith Fighter,' the popular Internet game that pitted religious deities against one another in battle, was taken offline by its creators on Tuesday after a prominent Muslim organization protested.

The game, which debuted in 2008, has been played by millions of people and has offended that many folks several times over. In an interview with the AFP posted on Yahoo Tech, a spokesman for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference's Islamophobia Observatory described the game as "incendiary in its content and offensive to Muslims and Christians."

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'Faith Fighter' Game Taken Offline Due to Muslim Group's Protest originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> christianitycontroversyfaith fighterFaithFighterislamislamophobiaonline gamingOnlineGamingreligionsatiretopvideo gamesVideoGames switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:57:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Zillow iPhone App: Real Estate in Real Time]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/zillow-iphone-app-real-estate-in-real-time/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/zillow-iphone-app-real-estate-in-real-time/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/29/zillow-iphone-app-real-estate-in-real-time/#comments
If you're looking to buy a house -- it's a buyer's market! -- there is a new iPhone app that may appeal to you.

As we learned from Textually, the Zillow iPhone app lets on-the-go users view on-the-go real estate information; users can drive through a neighborhood and view, among other things, home values, homes for sale, and what has recently sold in the area. The application uses GPS to pinpoint a user's location, feeding her information about the surrounding structures in real time as she drives by.

Zillow, if you didn't already know, is a massive real estate Web site that lists approximately 95-percent of the homes in the U.S. The Web site's corresponding app seems more appropriate for a real estate professional than a prospective buyer, but a person can never have too much information when making such a huge financial decision. [From: Textually]

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Zillow iPhone App: Real Estate in Real Time originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> app storeAppStoregpsiphone appsIphoneAppsreal estateRealEstatezillow switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:31:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Man Gets $62K Bill for Mexican 'Wall-E' Download]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/27/us-man-gets-62k-bill-for-wall-e-download-in-mexico/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/27/us-man-gets-62k-bill-for-wall-e-download-in-mexico/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/27/us-man-gets-62k-bill-for-wall-e-download-in-mexico/#comments

Next time you are traveling abroad and feel the need to download a movie, you may want to think twice. If you don't believe us, just listen to the sad story of this man that called into CNN to chat with Financial Expert Clark Howard.

The caller, whose name is Alberto, was on a trip to Mexico when, as a gift for his nephew, he downloaded the film 'Wall-E' to his computer. Alberto, who used a mobile broadband card from his wireless carrier to perform said download, assumed everything was fine. He was wrong.

Upon returning to the States, Alberto received a bill from his wireless carrier requesting that he pay a total of $62,000. Alberto, stunned at the amount demanded in the bill, protested to his wireless company. The company -- which has remained unidentified -- relented and gave him what it considered to be a break. It dropped the bill from $62,000 to $17,000. We're sure that made Alberto's day. We can only hope that Alberto's nephew enjoyed what would have to be the most expensive movie-viewing of all time.

Let this man's misfortune be a lesson to the rest of us. Use mobile broadband cards carefully, or suffer the consequences (as in, bankruptcy). [From: CNN and Arstechnica]

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Man Gets $62K Bill for Mexican 'Wall-E' Download originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> big billsBigBillsbillsdownloadtopwireless billwireless carrierWirelessBillWirelessCarrier switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Power to the Poo: Yamaha's Methane-Powered Golf Cart]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/power-to-the-poo-yamahas-methane-powered-golf-cart/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/power-to-the-poo-yamahas-methane-powered-golf-cart/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/power-to-the-poo-yamahas-methane-powered-golf-cart/#comments
Here's one for you...what do you get when you take Japanese ingenuity, cow dung, four-wheeled transportation, and a bio-fuel processing plant and mix them all together? Why a poo-powered golf cart, of course.

Okay, Yamaha's experimental golf cart runs on methane, but that gas is developed from cow dung. This magical process takes place in Japan's Kartori region at a lovely sounding 'burg called Biomass Town, where the, ahem, solid waste is processed into bio-fuel.

The golf cart comes equipped with a newly-developed 'active carbon' tank filled with low pressure methane, which allows the it to hold up to 30 times its own volume in gas. An added bonus -- it also costs less than a high pressure system.

We aren't sold on methane as a sustainable source of energy (it is still a green house gas, you know), but the process is a fascinating one nonetheless... as long as your not stuck behind it in traffic. And how! [From: DVICE]

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Power to the Poo: Yamaha's Methane-Powered Golf Cart originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> earth dayEarthDaygardeninggolfpoopsportssummer funSummerFuntopvehicleyamaha switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Stolen State Worker's Laptop Holds Personal Info of 1M People]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/stolen-state-workers-laptop-holds-personal-info-of-1m-people/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/stolen-state-workers-laptop-holds-personal-info-of-1m-people/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/stolen-state-workers-laptop-holds-personal-info-of-1m-people/#comments
When a person gets a laptop stolen, it sucks. When that person is an employee of the Department of Human Services (DHS), it sucks a lot worse for a lot more people.

On April 3rd, a laptop containing up to 1 million people's personal information was stolen from an Oklahoma DHS worker's car, KOCO News in Oklahoma City reported on Thursday evening. According to DHS officials, the laptop contained the names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates of people that have received state aid through programs like Medicaid and Child Care Assistance. Those affected by the possible security breach (officials say it is unlikely that the data could be accessed because it requires a password) will be alerted via mail sometime this week. As of now, no one's information has been accessed or compromised by the thief.

We were already a little paranoid about giving out our personal information, and situations like this don't help. [From: KOCO.com]

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Stolen State Worker's Laptop Holds Personal Info of 1M People originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crimegovernmentsecuritytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Federal Bill Says Silent Cars a Threat to Pedestrians]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/federal-bill-says-silent-cars-a-threat-to-pedestrians/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/federal-bill-says-silent-cars-a-threat-to-pedestrians/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/25/federal-bill-says-silent-cars-a-threat-to-pedestrians/#comments

Hybrid cars may be designed to save the atmosphere, but there is growing concern that they may actually pose a health risk to a large number of people, most notably the blind.

With the potential hazards of silent vehicles firmly in mind, the senatorial odd couple of John Kerry and Arlen Specter has introduced the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, according to AutoBlogGreen. The bill, intended to protect pedestrians of all kinds, acknowledges that "New Vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other."

Continue reading Federal Bill Says Silent Cars a Threat to Pedestrians

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Federal Bill Says Silent Cars a Threat to Pedestrians originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> accessibilityhybrid carsHybridCarshybridspedestrianpedestrian safety enhancement actPedestrianSafetyEnhancementActtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Video: Model Plane Almost Runs Into Real Plane]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/video-model-plane-almost-runs-into-real-plane/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/video-model-plane-almost-runs-into-real-plane/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/video-model-plane-almost-runs-into-real-plane/#comments
Certain people do certain things that they certainly should not do. The person responsible for this awesome video (which we picked up from Gadling) is definitely one of those people.

The CAA (the Australian Version of the FAA) is investigating after a man nearly flew his model plane into a real Virgin Blue jetliner as it landed in western Australia. The man had outfitted the model with a video camera, so there is spectacular footage of the entire idiotic episode. In the video (which is set to the audio of 'Top Gun!'), you see the model plane come to being within approximately 100 feet of the jet, before the jetwash causes the model to crash to the ground.

The CAA is obviously not thrilled by this stunt, and rightfully so. We can only imagine what would have happened if the Jet had sucked the much smaller plane into one of its engines. [From: Gadling.com]

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Video: Model Plane Almost Runs Into Real Plane originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> airplanemodel airplaneModelAirplanetopvideoviral videoViralVideoweb videoWebVideo switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:08:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Traffic to Seattle P-I's Site Falls After Newspaper Goes Online Only]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/traffic-to-seattle-p-is-site-falls-after-newspaper-goes-online/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/traffic-to-seattle-p-is-site-falls-after-newspaper-goes-online/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/traffic-to-seattle-p-is-site-falls-after-newspaper-goes-online/#comments
Back in March, we wrote about the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I) and how it was printing its last edition and shifting completely to a digital format. It seems that the transition has been a bit rough for the paper, fueling speculation that a paper's print division actually drives its online readership.

The Nielsen Online numbers from March are in, and, according to them, the Seattle P-I is no longer one of the top 30 newspaper Web sites in the U.S. The paper fell to the number 32 position after attracting only 1.4 million unique users this March. That is a 23-percent drop over the past year and, most likely, a bit of a kick in the pants to the Seattle P-I.

We that the occasional, slight drop in online readership is to be expected, but 23-percent is a big, bad number. In fact, it may just scare off other periodicals that consider going completely digital. Either way, the Seattle Times is loving it. In March, the P-I's primary competitor posted a year-over-year growth in online readership of 70-percent, garnering a 2.2 million unique viewers that month. This is even more remarkable considering the Times trailed the P-I as recently as February. That is an instant reversal in fortunes if we've ever seen one. However this story develops, you'd better believe the rest of the industry will be watching intently. [From: Editor and Publisher]

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Traffic to Seattle P-I's Site Falls After Newspaper Goes Online Only originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> death of printDeathOfPrintnewspapernewspaper industryNewspaperIndustryonline newspapersOnlineNewspapersseattle post-intelligencerSeattlePost-intelligencertop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:17:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Obama Getting New Super-Secure BlackBerry]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/obama-getting-new-super-secure-blackberry/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/obama-getting-new-super-secure-blackberry/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/24/obama-getting-new-super-secure-blackberry/#comments
Soon, Barack Obama will finally be getting a beefed-up BlackBerry worthy of his office, the Washington Post reported yesterday.

The President, whose affection towards his BlackBerry is well documented, has actually been using a combination of two devices (a regular BlackBerry and an NSA-supplied security attachment called the Sectera Edge) while awaiting delivery of his uber-secure, top-secret Blackberry 8830. The new phone will be equipped with SecureVoice -- a high-security software developed by Genesis Key, Inc. that turns any Blackberry 8830 or Curve into a hacker-proof line of communication.

When Obama finally receives his new phone (expected to be within a few months), he will be able to call, e-mail and text other people who have appropriately secure BlackBerry models. It is expected that top aides to the President, along with his wife Michelle, will be among the recipients.

We are sure the President is thrilled to be getting his new toy; we just hope that the thing is as secure as advertised. [From: Washington Times]

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Obama Getting New Super-Secure BlackBerry originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> barack obamaBarackObamablackberrygovernmentnational securityNationalSecurityobamaobamas blackberryObamasBlackberrypoliticssecuritytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Peter Mychalcewycz) Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:37:00 EST Switched