February 19, 2010
Google prototypes real-time OCR and translation in Google Goggles
— incredible demo, simply tying existing pieces of Google tech together #
Music Journalism Is the New Piracy
— the problem isn't Google, but the DMCA and litigious media organizations #
OK Cupid covers the effects of age on dating and attractiveness
— as always, some incredible dataporn mined from their community (via) #
Bunnie Huang's forensic research into irregular MicroSD cards
— "Kingston is revealed as simply a vendor that re-marks other people's chips in its own packaging" (via) #
Plants vs. Zombies released for iPhone
— one of my favorite games from last year, a steal at $2.99 #
Esquire profiles Roger Ebert
— I've said it before, his journal is one of the best things around right now #
Clive Thompson on obscurity and social scaling
— "It's no longer a bantering process of thinking and living out loud. It becomes old-fashioned broadcasting." #
Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos augmented reality maps at TED
— in addition the recent Flickr integration, live geospatial video and space visualization #
Nathan Myhrvold's Death Star laser kills mosquitoes in flight
— built from parts found on eBay to fight malaria and demonstrated at TED #
Google Chrome for Mac beta gets extensions
— I switched primary browsers last month, my first change since Firebird in 2003 (via) #
Ars Technica covers moot's TED talk
— low-quality video of his talk; 4chan's raw nature is fueled by anonymity and no memory #
Bing Maps adds augmented Photosynth street views with Flickr photos
— a detailed window into time using every CC-licensed geotagged Flickr photo from Seattle, Vancouver, and SF; requires Silverlight #
Confused Facebook users think ReadWriteWeb is the new Facebook login page
— they're searching for "facebook login" on Google, using FB Connect, and posting hundreds of confused comments #
CNET's Daniel Terdiman digs into the evolution of Glitch's back story
— including rejected concept ideas, inspired by paper cutouts, automatons, and daydreams #
Adam Kempa helps spot the hidden image on New Yorker's 85th anniversary covers
— covers by Brunetti, Tomine, Clowes, and Chris Ware, who also wrote an essay #
Google launches Buzz, social updates and sharing
— Friendfeed makes its way into Gmail and mobile; now live, with Reader integration and APIs #
Tiny Speck announces Glitch, Flash MMO coming later this year
— CNET has the exclusive behind-the-scenes and in-depth preview of the game #
ChatRoulette, videochat with a random person
— like Omegle with a webcam, randomly NSFW; YouTube has some great video captures (via) #
Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread
— 1987 short film finally digitized by a fan; cameos by James Randi, Andy Warhol, and Whodini #
Choire Sicha interviews Paul Ford, Harper's web editor
— "YOU ARE THE STUPIDEST WEBSITE IN STUPIDTOWN BECAUSE I WANT EVERYTHING FREE RIGHT NOW!" #
Record Tripping
— turntablist-inspired game samples Alice in Wonderland and music by Gorillaz, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, and Spoon (via) #
Shutup, disable comments on popular websites
— related: Engadget disables comments and the Macheist team adds them to Daring Fireball #
Loudon Wainwright III on the Sound of Young America
— very personal interview and great performances inspired by Charlie Poole #