Best New Technology

Its always nice to see a happy outcome, a Cuban blogger, who recently had her own site blocked by the Cuban government has won an award for that very site. Yoani Sanchez who writes the Generacion Y blog as a journal of her daily life in Cuba was given the Ortega and Gasset prize for digital journalism. This prize comes as an annual event that is presented by the Spanish newspaper El Pais. According to the paper, Sanchez was awarded the prize for “shrewdness in overcoming hurdles to freedom of expression in Cuba, her vivacious style and her drive to join the global space of citizen journalism.”

According to reports she hosts her blog on servers in Germany and was able to attract 1.2 million hits this past February. But perhaps more important than the award, Sanchez who spoke with Reuters via telephone was quoted as saying that “this is great encouragement for Cuban bloggers who are still at an embryonic stage.”

Thankfully the Cuban government has been getting a little looser lately when it comes to ‘modern’ freedoms such as cell phones, computers, DVD players and toasters. Hopefully some of this new found ‘freedom’ will find its way to the Internet access, which is currently still controlled by the government and we can only hope that Yoani Sanchez does not receive any unwanted attention courtesy of her blog, award and new found attention.

Read [Reuters]

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Craigslist launched its official blog several days ago, giving itself a new way to reach out to users, other than through founder Craig Newmark’s own personal web site. Basically, it’s a stripped down version of a blog with a very minimalist design, rudimentary comment system, and it doesn’t even have its own RSS feed. Now this event in itself would’ve been news-worthy right off the bat, but something else in relation to this is happening at the same time in the Interwebs, and causing CL quite a hassle.

This “something else” is the existence of an unofficial Craigslist blog, called CraigslistBlog.org, which recently added the moniker “unofficial” at the end of its name to appease CL CEO Jim Buckmaster’s pleas. Here’s an excerpt of the short email exchange between CL CEO and CraigslistBlog.org webmaster, Tim.

Jim: “We need you to stop using the infringing domain CRAIGSLISTBLOG.ORG immediately, and arrange for transfer of it to us asap…”
Tim: “Thanks for your message. I think you have received bad legal counsel and that this is potentially a really bad PR move for cl.”

Unfortunately for CL, the unofficial blog won’t back down. And although this is not the first time a third-party has tried to chronicle the latest updates about a famous personality/company online, CL seemed bent on trying to drive the unofficial blog out of the game, at least at first. The good news is that Buckmaster has finally come to his senses, admitting to self-defeat in a post on their official blog.

At this point, it’s hard to say just where CL’s latest move is headed. So they launched an official blog, but any problogger would know at first glance that what they have so far isn’t even half of one. I think Craigslist could learn a thing or two from Wordpress. Or Blogger. Or Tumblr. Or…

Via [TechCrunch]

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Fans of pop phenomenon Hannah Montana would be glad to know that the August release of the Blu-ray Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour will be available in both 2D and 3D viewing modes, which makes this the first Blu-ray release to offer 3D. Both viewing modes will be in 1080p video and offer uncompressed PCM 7.1 surround audio. Disney is scheduled to release the Blu-ray version of the live concert film around August 19 while the regular CD/DVD version is set to hit the market next week. So, parents with Hannah Montana obsessed children may have to negotiate with their kids on whether they would rather have the CD/DVD version or wait a couple of months for the release of the Blu-ray version, or most likely end up purchasing both, thanks Disney. The Blu-ray concert release is expected to retail for $35.98.

Via [High-Def Digest]

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The $15 USB Moody Clock Hub might be square in design, but it sure as heck ain’t so when it comes to function. Not only does it offer a quartet of USB 2.0 slots (two on each side), it also feature a built-in digital clock and a colorful LED light from within that casts a glow in your surroundings in various colors. The clock part isn’t really that important, since all computers already come with some form of digital clock within. I would’ve preferred to see a memory card reader instead.

It might border on the blasphemous, but the Jisus laptop from Van Der Led will certainly appeal to those who prefer form over function. This isn’t a powerhouse by any standards, although the wide variety of colors will definitely appeal to many people. Here are the specifications on paper :-

• 1GHz processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB flash memory
• WiFi connectivity
• Stereo speakers
• Pre-installed Ubuntu

The Jisus laptop will hit Europe this April 25th for €299 a pop. Will this pose a serious challenge to the Asus Eee PC? Only time (and sales figures) will tell.

It seems only fitting that after two weeks of feverish 3G iPhone rumor mongering there would finally emerge a photo of this mythical device. This one was fed to the ipod Observer, and if there’s any merit to it, your 3G iphone will be a shiny black little number, with a rear end clad in glossy black plastic instead of aluminum.

Based on the photo, the phone also appears to do away with the separate black plastic end piece that covers the antenna. Personally, I have to say it also looks suspiciously similar to Knight Creations’ customized TiAlN (Titanium Nitride/Titanium Aluminum Nitride) iPhones. And although Apple does include that black plastic end piece to help create a clear signal for the phone, I’m not convinced Apple would completely do away with aluminum.

So what’s the verdict, people: Pretty decent mock-up, obvious fake, or possibly the real deal?

[Via iPod Observer]

I guess one of the reasons the ipod has sold a fraction of a billion is due to the easy-to-pronounce name, which is also why the Egoman MP810RSTD-43 portable media player won’t really soar up the hardware sales charts despite boasting the following :-

• 4.3″ touch screen display at 480 x 272 resolution
• WVI and RMVB playback at 30fps
• Support for MP3, WMA, ADPCM, WAV, APC, FLAC and JPG,BMP,GIF formats
• Integrated FM tuner
• TV out
• USB 2.0 connectivity
• G-sensor for motion controlled navigation

Is the plural of thermos “thermoses” or “thermice”?

While you’re pondering that, allow me to introduce you to this fabulous new food thermos from Plastica. The problem with storing soups and stews in a traditional thermos is that the top is never wide enough to pour out a decent portion - leaving your chicken noodles or chunky vegetables languishing uneaten at the bottom of the flask.

Plastica’s Thermos Food Jar costs $30 and is made especially to store and pour any kind of hot food. It will keep your stew steaming for 12 hours and chill your gazpacho for 20. Even better, there’s an integrated spoon so you don’t have to gulp your soup out of a cup (I hate that).

I don’t think it’s too early to order one or two in time for your Memorial Day picnic, do you?

Via Mighty Goods.

God, I love new construction gadgets. Jay and Ryanne present the new, Pothole Killer!

Momentshowing: VIDEO: pothole_killer

The company that makes the Pothole Killer, Patch Management Inc., describes a more efficient way to fill potholes:

The traditional method of road repair - shovels, a dump truck and two or three workers - is not only inefficient and expensive, but it is ineffective in solving the problem or keeping up with the demand. That is why you should turn to Patch Management’s services.

Working closely with Patch Management, Scott Kleiger developed the PK2000, the most sophisticated spray patching system in the industry. Referred to as the “Pothole Killer”, this self-contained spray patching vehicle quickly and safely produces pothole and road surface repairs that are more effective, more economical and longer lasting than any other patching method - a claim supported by trade journals and government studies.

The pothole killer was featured in a town parade:

• pothole killer in a parade on Flickr

According to the photographer, candice quates, “It got cheers from the crowds…”

This latest winter has left us with all our streets in ruin. I wish Utah would invest in a couple of these machines.

Since its launch in January 2008, the Social Gaming Network (SGN), are offering now 60 games to Facebook users. SGN launches this week-end the Game Feed, allowing players to see who is playing what and to track scores and rankings. To get it, click this link and add the SGN app to your Facebook profile.

Their new addition to their popular game Jetman, JetDelegate, is fun to play. Pick one candidate: JetObama, JetMcCain or JetHilary, start to fly and avoid obstacles. Each user score is added to the global score in the race, since launch, JetObama and JetMcCain are neck to neck.

SGN is a social gaming platform for developers which helps them to cross-promote their games in Facebook with the SGN GameBar (see picture: the bar with icons just below Facebook menu). SGN supports also 6 games in MySpace and and has some others in Bebo.When I asked Shervin Pishevar, SGN CEO, how his company is different from its competitor Zynga, he answered that SGN is more developer oriented.