Survival

Had a highly unproductive day today...would've been good to have had one of these die. However, I did read this interesting article in Wired about how Apple has reached its staggering level of success. Talking of large music organisations, it has emerged that a women in America who was sued for music pirarcy, has overturned the charges and decided to sue the RIAA for consipiracy! Check the story here. Can't wait for the new Portishead album tomorrow, check out this mashup featuring the Beatnuts. Also spent time today watching Bear Grylls, who is a living action man. I don't care if people say he is a fraud, he does know a fair few tricks...and it takes a real man to do this...

Changing Technology

If you don't regularly read it, it's worth checking out MP3 Insider, a music blog. Here's a post from this week about the changes we've experienced since adopting MP3s. I personally empathaise with a lot of what he's written, to such an extent that I've whacked Nick Drake on; if, on the off chance, you haven't heard his stuff, check his profile here. On another note, don't download AVG 8.0 if your computer tells you to; it slows your whole PC down. In other news, The Roots are releasing their new record tomorrow...can't wait! Here's an interview with ?uestlove this week. Also out this week is the new series of Peep Show...if you've missed the last 4 series, definitely tune into Channel 4 this Friday, it's amazing.

Revision

Haven't been posting much recently because of revision; 15 hours of exams crammed into 8 days is going to be brutal. Anyway, here's a cool video showing how the Wii remote is going to be used in the new Star Wars game; although I have to say the graphics look shabs. News here that the new iPhone, to be released in a couple of months, will be radically different from the current model. Also worth checking this Russian collection of anti-Nazi cartoons.

Clinton points US voters in the direction of Obama

It looks like Obama may just have edge over Clinton after what Bill said this week. Apparently young people are too easily fooled by political statements, read up here. Also worth watching Apples latest product launch...

Shoe Vending Machine and iPlayer on your PS3

Thought this book cover was hilarious! Asics have just opened the UKs first vending machine for trainers in London. Head here for the story or just go straight to Carnaby Street to bag yourself a pair! Also, if you have a PS3 and want to take advantage of BBC iPlayer, head to ps3iplayer.com via your PS3's browser. Turns out the BBC are so impressed by this hack that they are offering the mastermind a job, head here. Head here for The Guardian's 24 hours in pictures.

Inventions and National Geographic

Head here for some pretty awesome desktop backgrounds courtesy of the National Geographic. On another note, I'm proud to share the name of this Professor, who has found a way to greatly increase the storage capacity of iPods, read up here. Also check out this pretty cool way of using your brain to control video games. Talking of heads, it's hard not to look twice at Sony's new headphones...review is here.

Comedy

Thought you might enjoy this cheeky cartoon. Thanks to Sarah for introducing me to Adam Buxton, check out his site here as well as the little clip he did below. I also thought this was pretty funny. These pictures are just a bit weird.

On another note, I was checking big Trev on radio 1 the other day and thought Jaguar Skillz was pretty awesome. Download his mixtape here. Also check out his myspace.

Bits and bobs

Off to see DJ Format tonight...thought you might like this ultra old poster of a Grandmaster Flash gig. Also worth checking out is this entirely analogue digital watch. As well as this amazing video of Tron made of cardboard. Plus, if you're addicted to Facebook, try this web browser.

iPlayer

The hugely successful iPlayer has been in the news this week; turns out some of the major ISPs think that the beeb should contribute to their increasing development costs. This is due to a staggering 42 million shows being downloaded since Christmas, when it was launched. On top of this, Ofcom has estimated ISPs will need to invest £800m in order to keep up with the growing demand for video. I'd have to defend the BBC on this one; it would be ridiculous to demand they pick up the bill. UK TV license owners fund the majority of the BBC whilst most ISPs in the UK are part of global multinationals. You don't find them demanding contributions from YouTube and Amazon who arguably account for much more traffic on the net. On top of this, the BBC would have no control of how these contributions would be spent.

BBC have also announced this week that they will bringing their iPlayer to the similarly successful Nintendo Wii...head here. No such luck for owners of other next-gen consoles; the BBC have said that agreements have not been made between Microsoft and PS3...yet. Speculation is also growing around Apples next iPhone, rumoured to be released this summer. Nike have announced they will be bringing their Nike+ system to the phone...read up here.

Finally, head here to download a brilliant Dolly Parton/Jungle Brothers mashup. It's better than it sounds!

Essays

Haven't posted for a while due to writing an essay...boo. Few random bits and bobs to check out;

- Loving the look of this festival in Portugal; headliners included RATM and Bob Dylan.
- This Sandman mashup by Astro Snooze is pretty cool.
- As is this mobile phone watch.
- Also of interest is the shenanigans going on at Stonehenge at the moment!

Back soon...

Free Bytes

Listened to Radiohead perform live on Radio 2 this evening, mainly in anticipation for when I see them in June...I can't wait! If you missed it, listen again here. I was reminded of the pioneering way they distributed their last album and came across a few articles concerning the value of not only music but all digital content in the future. In the National Post today, it was argued that P2P downloading is simply a form of digital gluttony, read up here. However, in Wired this month, Chris Anderson argues that $0.00 is the future of business models; you can read the article here. I found it very interesting and not too difficult to fathom. Talking of the future, thanks to Leo for showing me this video of what society could be like in the next century.



In relation to the above image, scientists at the University of Rochester have compressed a music file to 1,000 times smaller than mp3, read up here.

April Fools for Geeks

Here is a list of the 10 best April Fools' Gags as chosen by Wired magazine; the 1976 one is my fav. Also an interesting article here about Mozilla Firefox 4; I'll be happy when number 3 is finally released! In the tech world today, Google launched Custom Time as part of their April Fools shenanigans...it upset a few people. Finally, a link to some slow-mo bullet photography.

Legend of Zelda...The Movie

I am proud this is my 50th post. Why oh why is it only an April Fools joke!?!

Reading and Stuff

So Reading Festival is sold out and I failed to get a ticket due to my terrible internet connection...despite using five laptops! Guess the only way to see Rage Against The Machine now is to talk to the dreaded touts...why do they have to ruin people's lives!?! On a lighter note, Joystiq launched a dedicated Grand Theft Auto IV site yesterday, I can't wait to see Liberty City in HD. Also found a review of Samsung and Adidas' answer to the Nike+ iPod setup.