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Create your own Doctor Who-inspired theme

Posted on 29 January 2012 by Bethany Smith

Let’s face it…The Doctor Who theme song is boss. You can try to say otherwise, but you’d be wrong (and the Daleks might hunt you down for your inferior theme song appreciation). doctor who

All the whirring, and then the epic ooo–ee-ooohs. So simple, yet it says so much. There have been countless tributes to it from a video that showcases the theme through the ages & another that covers it with a didgeridoo and a cello. But perhaps the coolest tribute to the theme song is Radiophonatron.

Radiophonatron is a BBC site that created buttons out of different sounds that went into the Classic Doctor Who themes. With a simple roll-over these buttons, you can create your own Whovian tune.

Create and have fun at Radiophonatron here.

 

Bethany Smith

I'm a geek; I love music, technology and grammar.

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Check into TV Shows for Real Rewards with Viggle

Posted on 19 January 2012 by Andrew

In the social-tech age we live in today, its common for all of us who live socially connected have garnered the titles, badges and stickers via “checking in”. We check into venues,  TV shows, music and movies using Apps and services like GetGlue and FourSquare. Sure these all play to our vanity or knack of collect things, but what are we actually getting back?

Viggle is a rewards-based loyalty program for television allows for users to check into TV shows to get real world rewards like  gift cards, movie tickets and music.

Users will gain points by checking into the shows they watch(even news shows) and will be able to redeem their points for real rewards with companies like Fandango, Hulu Plus, Burger King and Sephora. Users will also be able to covert their points and turn them into charitable donations.

Viggle will automatically work with more than 100 channels and they are also collaborating with several networks and production companies to create show-specific engagements. They will posses the ability to engage viewers with content, polls and quizzes in real-time and reward them for their loyalty.

The App will of course come complete with syncing up with both Facebook and Twitter so that viewers may engage in conversation.

Though this service is not live yet, they are only taking requests for invites on their website. According to a press release today, the company announced that this service would be available  for download soon (and for free) in the iTunes App Store for all iOs devices. Versions for iPad, Android and Web will become available shortly after.

 

Andrew

Avid movie goer, music aficionado and Netflix junkie. I also strive to quote Jurassic Park on a daily basis and I sing like no one is listening when in the car.

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Steve Jobs: 1955-2011

Posted on 07 October 2011 by Nathan

Steve Jobs, the visionary founder and former-CEO of Apple has passed away. I know that you are probably thinking, “Do I really need to read another post about his death?” But I am not so much interested in his death as I am in his life. As I type on my MacBook Pro, while listening to music from my iPod with my iPhone at arms-length, I can’t help but feel that Steve has impacted my life (yes, I’m a fanboy). Remembering Steve Jobs

The thing that made Steve so interesting was the extremes in his life. He was so public at Apple press conferences, but guarded his private life well. He was applauded for his hands-off approach toward filmmakers working at Pixar (a company that he purchased after he was ousted from Apple in the mid-80′s), yet he seemed almost tyrannical in his handling of all things Apple. He was a practicing Buddhist and searched for spiritual enlightenment, but was also one to hold a grudge (my personal favorite being the one with Dell that started when he said that they sold un-innovative beige boxes.) In other words, Steve was a person, just like you and I.

Steve founded Apple, NeXT (a company that laid the groundwork for many software developments that would be later implemented in Apple’s OS X operation system), purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, spun it off into Pixar and then merged it into Disney, and became the “House of Mouse’s” largest shareholder.

While his legacy will be primarily tied to the personal computer it shouldn’t be forgotten that he has changed the software, film, phone, tablet (perhaps created this one), and camera (the iPhone 4 is the most popular device whose pictures are uploaded to photo blogs) industries in the process.

He will be dearly missed.

 

Nathan

Nathan enjoys film, music, sports and most of all, speaking in the third person.

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Sony PlayStation to Release 3-D Gaming Display

Posted on 19 August 2011 by Nathan

Are you a gamer? Do you enjoy multiplayer gaming, but hate that it cuts your screen in half (not to mention that your friends are all screen-peeking cheaters)?

Sony has announced a new monitor that allows two people to play simultaneously without giving up screen space. The new 24” LCD display from the electronics giant also has all of the features that you would expect from a display in 2011: 1080p, LED edge-lighting, 240Hz refresh rate and 3-D capabilities.

A traditional 3-D monitor uses glasses that sync to the television and control which eye sees a picture. The left frame receives an image from the monitor while the right frame is darkened; then the next frame is sent to the right frame while the left frame is darkened. This method also works for multiplayer gaming.

Via Sony PlayStation

The display, while it still has this functionality, will also allow you to press a button on the glasses to turn both frames of the first player’s glasses to be “left” and both frames of the second player’s to be “right.” With the monitor’s fast refresh rate the players will still be able to see their game smoothly.

The monitor, available this fall for $499.99, comes with an HDMI cable, one pair of 3-D glasses and a copy of the yet-to-be-released Resistance 3. Gamers can purchase extra pairs of glasses separately for $69.99.

Check out Sony’s PlayStation blog for more info.

Nathan

Nathan enjoys film, music, sports and most of all, speaking in the third person.

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Is Google+ In Your ‘Circle’ of Social Media Networks?

Posted on 31 July 2011 by AJ

At long last, Google+ has finally arrived after a year speculation of a super secret project in the works at Google headquarters. So what’s so special about this social network? Google claims that their newly launched project is not a mere social product, but simply, it’s an added feature to their entire Google experience.

There are numerous, identifiable nuances on Google+ that can easily be compared to social media giant, Facebook –the continued use of 2D iconography- though, Google+ offers a more intuitive experience than it’s renowned competitor.

One nuance is the use of ‘Circles’ –a simple way of grouping friends and contacts through Gmail and Google Contacts.

 

Another distinct feature of Google+, ‘Sparks,’ is similar to the recently offered Bing-Facebook integration. ‘Sparks’ is a search engine field that will generate findings based upon the user’s interests, such as blogs, news, videos, etc. The user can then click on the relevant found item, add it to their interest list, and friends within the user’s Circle are able to see what others are liking.

‘Huddle’ is a messaging application that overlaps iPhone, Android, and SMS, so users can communicate with people within their Circles.

Just as Facebook contracted a relationship with Skype to optimize video chat to Facebook users, coincidentally, Google+ offers ‘Hangout’ -think of a 10-person capacity chat room with video chat enabled. The idea is to have a virtual social mixer, where people can hold open-to-exclusive conversations with one another. Hangout also allows for anyone to share content, like a YouTube video and watch the video within the coterie.

Although it’s only been a month since the launch of Google+, Google continues to implement fresh, intuitive add-ons to their new ‘baby,’ and compete against social media rival, Facebook. ‘Begun, the Social Media Wars has!’

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Spotify Yourself With The New Music-Streaming Kid On The Block

Posted on 28 July 2011 by AJ

The Swedes have done it again! First it was chic, ready-to-assemble home products company, Ikea; then affordable, avant garde retailer, H&M; now, the highly acclaimed music service, Spotify.

Spotify, a free streaming music service originally launched in Sweden in 2008, has recently made it’s U.S. premiere in mid July. Winning over a plethora of users throughout Europe, the eminently praised service hopes to do the same stateside. Spotify offers a unique service: a free, robust music catalogue that can be aggregated into playlists, which can be played on any device with internet service. In contrast to it’s other music streaming counterparts, Spotify’s overly simple user interface –and likeness to Apple’s iTunes layout- allows for easy use-ability, and appeal to all age music aficionados.

 

One added feature of the U.S. version of Spotify is the Facebook integration where users can create playlists with friends and “like” them.

Despite Spotify’s free service and simple user interface, the Swedish designed music service has some drawbacks. The free version of Spotify is accessible through invitation only, and the version is ladled with a few advertisements, along with a listener cap-off: unlimited access for six months; afterwards, 10 hours per month and 5 plays per track.

Anticipators who cannot wait for an invitation can subscribe to two plans: $4.99 per month “Unlimited” subscription includes, no advertisements and unlimited listening; $9.99 per month “Premium” plan offers additional features, such as mobile access and off-line listening.

From all things Swedish, comes another treat –not to mention Swedish meatballs- Spotify, the simple way to stream music.

 

 

 

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Warped Tour:There’s an App For That

Posted on 24 June 2011 by Andrew

Going to Warped Tour this year? Don’t forget to download The Official Vans Warped Tour 2011 App on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Complete with a full line up listing of the bands and shows that make up the tour, a Warped Tour survival guide, and a schedule and alert function to keep you from missing your favorite artists perform or meet and greet opportunities.

To check out and download this app click here.

To view tour dates and locations for Warped Tour 2011 click here.

Andrew

Avid movie goer, music aficionado and Netflix junkie. I also strive to quote Jurassic Park on a daily basis and I sing like no one is listening when in the car.

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