Square Wheel Gears

When you think about gears, mots people will immediately think of perfect circular teethed wheels.

Some might even think of oval shaped gears. But... what if i told you - or even better, showed you - you can have gears of any shape perfectly transferring movement amongst eachother?

Yes, I do mean you can have triangular, pentagonal, and even square "wheels".

Google Halloween 2010

This year, Google celebrates Halloween with Scooby Doo. :)

Check today's Google Doodle:

Micro Maze Solving Robot Mouse

This micro mouse robot can find its way through a maze in just 5 seconds.

In a first stage in must transverse the entire maze at a more leisurely pace, mapping its surroundings; but once it finishes its task, it goes ahead in full-speed mode!

White iPhone 4 is No more?

Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. But the fact remains, the illusive white iPhone 4 remains to be seen, and officially it has been delayed once again to Spring 2011.

Now... with the yearly iPhone cycle restarting soon after... with a new iPhone 5 coming up - does this mean Apple simply intends to delay the white iPhone into oblivion?

Some say the issue is the white color not matching the white button; others say the white case allows light leaking in (which I find odd to believe, as image sensors are usually covered by the lens assembly.)

We'll have to wait and see... but I wouldn't put up too much faith in getting a white iPhone in the upcoming months.

How to make Calls on Locked iPhone

It's not the first time this has happened, and Apple engineers are still seemingly unable to properly lock down a locked iPhone.

You can make phone calls, send SMS, MMS and even send emails on a locked iPhone.

The process is simple:

1. From a locked iPhone press the “Emergency Call” button
2. Dial a non-emergency number (such as “###”)
3. Quickly press “Send” followed by the iPhone’s lock key

You'll now be in the “Phone” App, with access to the phone favorites, contacts, dial pad, call history and voicemail.
If you go to contacts, you can proceed to send emails and MMS through the “Email” and “Share contact” options.

Help Translate Steam

If you're an avide Steam user, how do you feel about the chance to help get steam into your own native language?

The Steam Translation community, recently closed to but a few members, is now open to the general public at:

https://translation.steampowered.com/

You'll not only be able to help translate Steam itself and game descriptions, but actual Valve games as well (Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead, Portal, etc.)

So... what are you waiting for, lend a hand into bringing Steam into your country in a language accessible to all your country mates.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Review Coming Up...

After some delays, Samsung finally managed to send me a Galaxy Tab for review! Yes! :)

I won't promise it will be as detailed as the ones I usually post on my Portuguese blog, but I'll try to still make it worth your time! :)

Toyota Projection Mapping

Absolutely mesmerizing, this awesome example of projection mapping applied to a car. This Toyota "Get Back Your Energy" campaign would make anyone stop in awe, trying to figure out how a parked car can become so much "alive".

There are no words to describe it: see it for yourself!

Instant Heart Rate on the iPhone

Ever wished to track and monitor your heart rate?

Well... if you happen to carry your iPhone 4 or iPod Touch (latest generation) around, you can do it in an instant!

This Instant Heart Rate measures your heart rate using the iPhone's 4 built-in camera and tracking the slight color changes in the light that passes through your finger caused by the blood flow.

You need only place your finger gently over the camera, hold it steady for at least 10 seconds, and you you'll know your heart rate. It even calculates training zones and shows you which zone you're in.

Available at the App Store for $1.99. (You can also find similar Apps for Android, if you're wondering :)

World's Smallest Rubik Cube

The Rubik cube is still one of the world's largest problem for many people (like me.)
So, how about minimizing this problem, by reducing the cube size itself?

Sure, it won't make it any easier - quite the opposite - but it's amazing to see a pro solving the world's smallest Rubik cube.



You can also find lots other ethereal Rubik devices being solved here.

The World Is Full of Interesting Things

If you have a couple of minute - better yet, a couple of hours! - to roam around the web, checking interesting things around the world, I suggest you check this amazing compilation by Google aptly named:

The World Is Full of Interesting Things

In there you'll be able to find a keyboard for Gmail, the amazing Newsmap, the ever interesting Goollery, and lots of other stuff that will amaze you!

Take Secret Photos with the iPhone

With a camera in every iPhone, it's bound to happen: you'll want to snap a photo with your iPhone... but do it in an inconspicuous way no one notices.

As always: there's an App for that! And you can get several to aid you in taking secret photos.

Take, for instance, Camera Camouflage, this App pretends to be an incoming call (even rings your iPhone) so you can pick up your iPhone.

So, how do you take the photos?... It's quite easy: the App is voice activated, and as soon as you speak into your iPhone, it will snap photos - and you can keep snapping away for as long as you keep talking.
(On the iPhone 4, it inteligently disables the Flash, or else it wouldn't be that much "secret" anymore.)

Although it's not free, it might come in handy when you least expect it; but you can also find similar Apps in the App Store: Disguised Cam, Cam-u-flage, and YKW Stealth Camera.


[via Cult of Mac]

Asus - Get the Name Right

Speaking a number of different languages, I can really relate to how many ways there are to say a name with different pronunciation, intonation and/or accentuation.

When it comes Asus though, I'm sure english people have a much harder time getting it right.
Though, if that's what it takes for brands to come up with such funny commercials... Please do say it "wrong"! :)

Safe Messages While Driving with Drive Safely

As smartphones become the norm, it's inevitable that you'll want to keep updated on your emails and messages wherever you are... and that includes: while driving.

While our cars don't drive themselves (like Google's self-driving car), our only option is to use a service/app like this one: Drive Safely.

Available for Blackberry and Androids, this App reads your emails and allows you to use your smartphone without taking your eye off the road. You can even answer your messages and emails by voice!

I've always told this kind of stuff should come as standard on this type of devices... But I guess it's better to have an App doing it, than none at all.
(Besides drivers, this type os thing will also be of great help to disabled users.)

TomTom Navigate to Photo

The latest TomTom for iPhone update has several improvements. Not only you now have retina display support on your iPhone 4 and faster operation, you can now navigate to places where photos were taken.

Of  course, this doesn't involve any sort of advanced image recognition (like Google Goggle) - it simply uses the geotagged photos of your iPhone so you can quickly return to any place you've been... provided you snapped a photo there.

Not exactly rocket science, but a nice touch nonetheless! :)

Three Year Time Lapse Video

If - like me - you already feel proud by doing a time lapse video spanning a couple of hourse; what can we say for someone who makes one spanning... three years!?!

Yes, you're reading it right: three years, 45 thousand photos taken by a Pentax K100D of a building being demolished and rebuilt in Paris.

The result is this:


3 Years At The Same Place from Ramon on Vimeo.

Update: Video seems to be down, here's a YouTube version:


Impressive, isn't it?

Diminished Reality

Although one obviously relates augmented reality with the adding of virtual elements on a real life setting, this doesn't have to be necessarily the case.

In this interesting project by Dr. Wolfgang Broll — Head of the Department of Virtual Worlds and Digital Games at the Technische Universität in Ilmenau, Germany - we can experience exactly the opposite: the creation of a virtual diminished reality, where you can erase real-life elements in real-time.

Watch the video:

Google Blue Arrow

It didn't take them long. After launching Google Instant Search, Google now makes it easier for anyone loving keyboard navigation and shortcuts to search for stuff.

If you've noticed the blue arrow in your Google search results, that's your new cursor pointer you can easily move up and down using the cursor keys.



Not only is this useful for "keyboard pros", it also comes in handy for everyone with special needs - making it a lot easier to control using non-standard methods.
Now you can do instant searching without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Nokia N8 as a Portable "Desktop" Computer

Ever wished to use your smartphone as a desktop computer replacement? We're getting there; in fact, you can do it today, if you happen to have a Nokia N8.

Unlike other devices where the video output needs special apps or works only in a few select modes, the N8 outputs its screen via HDMI. Meaning, you can simply connect it to a HDMI monitor, pair a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and it's done!
(Sure, you'll have to settle with an upscaled 640×360 resolution, doubled to 1280x720 "HD").



Just like their "pre-Tablet craze" MIDs like the N770, I think Nokia is once again ahead of its time. You can bet this type of stuff will become increasingly normal in the upcoming years; but my guess is: it's still too soon.

Nevertheless, kudos to Nokia for enabling us to do this kind of stuff... today!

Play Asteroids on Any Web Page

Want to try browsing the web in a completely different way?
Wish you could blast you favorite website's ads into smithereens?

Well, now you can, thanks to this Asteroids booknarklet. Although you can try it out on its page, it's great advantage is that you can actually play the classic Asteroids game in any website you choose; and I don't mean playing "over" the web site background image... No; you'll be playing a full interactive asteroids game with any web page of your choosing.

You can shoot down paragraphs, ads, and whatever else you wish to desintegrate. It really is a fun way to "destroy" your most hated web site! ;)

Google Latitude now Easier to Use

It was a shame Google Latitude was so poorly implemented on the web. Thought it's logically oriented for mobile devices, your desktop web browser still is one of the best places to manage all our services. Thankfully, Google Latitude now has its own site where you can do pretty much anything you want regarding Google Latitude: http://google.com/latitude

Besides making it easier to manage your privacy settings and friends, you also get a brand new dashboard allowing to see how much time you spend at home, at work, and "outside" - as well as the most recently/frequent/furthest places you've visited.

Flying with Wing Suits

The closest thing a human can get to flying like a super-hero, is wing suit flying.

If you think they're still dropping like rocks, Alvaro Bulto, Santi Corella and Toni Lopez flew for 12.7 mi over the Strait of Gibraltar on June 23, 2005, after jumping from an aircraft at an altitude of 35,000 ft.

Watch the amazing video below. Though I guess it still requires an healthy dose of insanity to do this stuff...


Phoenix-Fly: The Need 4 Speed from Phoenix Fly on Vimeo.

Gmail Tips

It isn't nothing new, but considering most of my friends still act surprised when I tell them, here are a couple of useful tips regarding Gmail.

In cas you didn't noticed yet, Gmail completely ignores periods in your gmail address.

So, if your Gmail email address is: myemailaddress@gmail.com, then all of the following are still valid email addresses for you:

• my.email.address@gmail.com
• my.email.add.ress@gmail.com
  -or even-
• m.y.e.m.a.i.l.a.d.d.r.e.s.s@gmail.com

Perhaps a more useful tip, is using the "plus sign" to better manage your email.

You can give out your email address as:

• my.email.address+work@gmail.com
• my.email.address+friends@gmail.com
  - or even -
• my.email.address+trash@gmail.com

You'll still receive the email in your account, but you'll know be able to better sort all out using filters.
It's also handy to figure out if an email you used in a specific site (myemail+site@gmail.com) ends up being used by some other company to send you spam.

Day Ten Ten Ten

Here's another "odd" date... today is: 10/10/10

To celebrate this date, a Flickr group was created in order to share worlwide photos taken today. All you have to do is take a photo today and share it at:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tententen/

The photos will be accepted until the 20th - in order for those taking analog photos to have time to develop and digitize it.

Prevent Windows from Shutting Down

Tired of your windows shutdowning and restarting on its own (like, after a scheduled windows update?)
Here's a small and free program that will allow you to regain control over your Windows PC:
Shutdown Guard

Your computer will never shutdown again unless you allow it to! Show it who's the boss! :)

iPhone 4 Glassgate

After the well known Antennagate, here comes a new hyped-up "problem" regarding the iPhone 4: the Glassgate.

Critics are saying the iPhone 4's flat glass back is prone to shattering. Well, I don't know what else is new here: water is wet, rocks are hard, and glass - in case you haven't noticed before - shatters!

Sure, it's hardened glass, but it's common sense that if you place a tiny piece of "hard stuff" between two flat surfaces, one being glass... you're asking for trouble - just ask anyone that transports glass panes around.

Anyone buying a "glass" gadget should know that.

What will come next? Someone complaining their ice statue is melting in the Sun?

Google aquires BlindType

Remember the miraculous BlindType?

Well, I've always said that it would be very difficult for it ever make an appearance on the iPhone... As for the Android platform, that would be a much more likely approach. And it is !

Google has acquired BlindType, which means Android users will soon have a very special soft keyboard to use!

Google Goggles for iPhone

It took a while, but Google Goggles is now available for the iPhone in the latest update to Google Mobile App.

For those who don't know what this is, Google Goggles is a visual search engine, allowing you to quickly snap a photo and find info about what you're looking at. No longer will you have to stay in the dark when trying to figure out which monument or landmark you're looking at.

But don't think this is all it does, Google Goggles can also decode barcodes, recognize book covers, recognize text and logos, and even translate foreign text.



Google Goggles was available for the Android platform and is now available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

Skype for Android is Out

Not that there aren't other alternatives (like Fring, Tango, etc.) but the ever popular Skype is now available for Androids allowing you to make free calls between Skype users, and at reduced rates for international landlines or mobile phones.

Skype for Android runs whether you're using WiFi or a 3G data connection.

It seems there are some issues with Skype running on the Samsung Galaxy S devices - let's hope they sort that out soon.

Google TV site Goes Live

Google wants to be the first in the race for the Internet connected TVs of the future, and it sure will give Apple a run for its money as it speeds up its product: Google TV is coming.



You can check it's official website here:

Google TV



Not even Twitter missed the opportunity to jump to TVs.

AdBlock Anti-Malware

Indispensable for millions, hated by others, the browser extension AdBlocker has saved countless browsers from annoying ads.
But, on the other hand, it also keeps you from supporting your favorites sites by "watching" their ads.

The truth is, even if you opt to choose seeing those ads, AdBlocker can still be of great help blocking malicious content.

You just need to subscribe to this malware list (it's on the bottom of adblocker's official page), and you can safely navigate around the web.

If you're using Firefox be sure to use Ad Block Plus, on Chrome you just need to go to "manage extensions" (right click on the extensions area) and add the same link manually to the AdBlock list.

You can even find a list to block the popular (but annoying) rickrolls! :)

The Future of Internet

Some interesting perspectives of how internet might be in the future, and not every one is pretty - but I've selected the one I'm rooting for, and I hope you share this same vision:

The Secret Behind Shazam

A sure way to impress your friends is to pick up your smartphone, capture a few seconds of music playing, and identify which song it is.

Music recognition programs like Midomi and Shazam are not only useful, they're "must have's" in any modern smartphone.

I imagine everyone has dreamed of such a thing ever since they first heard a music they'd like to find out.
Maybe you were in a coffee shop, or maybe the music was playing during a TV commercial or movie.

Now, we can finally use technology to make that dream com true.

But, how does it all work? How can anyone figure out which music it is based on just a couple of seconds - which often contain ambient and background noise?

Well, it's not easy, and I don't recommend the following link to anyone not wanting to hear things like spectograms, peak intensities, and similar jargon; but if you want to know what "secret" allows Shazam to masterfully recognize nearly any music in existence.... you can read about it here. :)

Google URL Shortener goes Public

It has been around for a while for Google's internal services (like feedburner), but only now does Google's URL shortener service become available to the public, and here it is: Goo.gl

Besides providing the URL shortening service (something that grew exponentially since micro-blogging/messaging platforms like Twitter showed up, turning every saved character into a precious commodity) Goo.gl also provides detailed statistics about who is clicking on your links (and when).

Be sure to give it a try... At least you know it's not likely this URL shortener will go bust anytime soon...