I was reading an article the other day about how Facebook has grown and how it dominates the picture hosting arena. The figures are staggering with around 40 million photos being uploaded a day. That’s 2000 photos per second! The server power needed for that amount of data transfer is pretty huge and Facebook is already pretty well known for their customised server solutions which are hosted at various companies.
Facebook's Data Center
Robot Bartender
We wrote about the Heineken Bot that rolls around and serves you drinks (Heineken Draft). We have just come across another booze serving robot that does something similar but does not look so cute. Chapek the “Barbot” is actually one of my robots that server alcohol that will be featured at the annual festival of Cocktail Robotics – BarBot 2010.
The other day we heard a rumour about a Blue Bulls TomTom and the rumour has been confirmed by TomTom themselves.
Blue Bulls TomTom Start
It will be based on the TomTom Start with a few cosmetic changes. No they have not put 2 horns on it and no they have not put how many times they have won the Currie Cup on it either. Also TomTom have confirmed that it won’t direct you to Loftus no matter where you enter even if it is ABSA Stadium in Durban.
Windows 7 RC Expiration Notice
For those of you who got the Windows 7 Release Canidate last year it is now time to move on. In roughly 14 hours (from the time of this post), your RC license will expire and your computer will blow up. Ok it won’t really blow up and to be honest I don’t really know what will happen. I take it as a guess that you will be given a nice big message saying you cannot use your machine until you purchase a valid license for Windows 7.
It seems as if everyone had totally forgotten about D-Day for the Windows 7 RC. Everyone except for Microsoft.
Open Source
It’s a well known fact that Microsoft has dominated the workplace, no one will dispute that. Now a not so well known fact is that all the tools you use on a daily basis actuallyhave a free alternative if you know where to look. This article is not going to pit Microsoft against open source vendors but rather enlighten you to your options.
A couple of questions to get you thinking:
Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700
I am a tech geek through and through but I am one that loves my sport as well. So after an intense game of touch rugby there is nothing better than collapsing on my bed /couch and catching up with the latest tech news on my laptop. This is where the Speaker Lapdesk from Logitech could come in very handy.
Lapdesks are nothing new, throw a cushion onto a piece of wood and there you go. Those home jobs generally will do the job but there are two factors that come into play, heat and comfort. By the sounds of it Logitech has got this right and added a bit of entertainment value.
Update: The device has been confirmed and will be available at the end of March. Imagery coming soon. By the way, the picture below does not represent the Blue Bull’s device as it is based on the TomTom Start which is NOT pictured below.
Update: Go look here to see what it really looks like.
Blue Bulls TomTom Start
We heard about a TomTom and Blue Bulls collaboration for a new GPS the other day, in other words a Blue Bulls GPS that gives you directions to Loftus. We obviously had a look around and have no solid information other than a tweet from the TomTom South Africa Twitter account.
It apparently has a few of the Blue Bulls players giving you directions, one of them being Victor Matfield. Imagine that, “I got lost so called up ol’ Victor and he gave me directions, great guy that”. Let’s hope some of the players stick to Afrikaans though.
Sony Ericsson Vivaz
HD is quickly becoming the norm with almost every LCD monitor that is being sold out there having it as a non-optional extra. It would only be natural for the mobile market to follow and Sony Ericsson have come to the game with the Vivaz. Welcome to the next generation multimedia phone… we hope.
The phone does sound like it will have it all. The ability to capture, view and share HD video makes it seem like a very good phone to have, that is if it does it right.
Ultimate Ears Logo
For more than a decade, Ultimate Ears custom monitors – read earphones – (by Logitech) have changed the way music is performed for the biggest names in the industry. These guys have some serious ear gear starting from $49 (R450 after imports) all the way to about R10 000 for a custom made earphone that is handmade to perfectly fit your ear – yes, you actually have to get an ear impression for the earphones to be made for you. These earphones are definitely made for music professionals and die hard music fans who only accept the best sound quality.
For those music lovers, Ultimate Ears has developed a free iPhone App. The Ultimate Ears App lets you measure sound pressure levels and decibels with an SPL Meter. You can also watch artist interviews, see artist backstage photos and view videos of live performances from musicians that rock with Ultimate Ears’ in-ear monitors. The Ultimate Ears iPhone app is available now as a free download from the iPhone app store.
Blackberry Storm2
BlackBerry are taking South Africa by storm, and they could be doing this quite literally with the new BlackBerry Storm2. Like the first version of the Storm2, it is fully touch-screen keeping as few buttons on the phone as possible. I must admit, I quite like the look of it.
BlackBerry have also introduced a new SurePress technology on the Storm2 which gives feedback when the touch-screen is pressed. The screen also has multi-touch meaning that using Shift or Alt-key combinations are easier and allows typing on the screen to be faster and more efficient.
