Within 30 minutes of finding BitTorrent Sync yesterday, I realized that I had a permanent solution to my DropBox space problems. Given that I work in an academic institution, I am not really confident in putting anything with BitTorrent branding on my work desktop – at least until the tech becomes a little more mainstream and torrents become associated with more than piracy. For the time being, I’ll continue to allow DropBox to handle that part of the syncing. As the folder fills up, I will shuffle stuff across – it isn’t really a big deal. At any rate, keeping one’s personal files is the tip of the iceberg as far as Sync functionality goes.

Perhaps the biggest potential application, in my line of work at least, is for collaboration. I live in rural Japan but I collaborate on different projects with people elsewhere in Japan and as far afield as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. My method of issuing editing assignments has always been to email a copy with a carefully formatted subject heading so that I can pull up relevant details when I need them via a search of my work-related Gmail account. This has a lot of advantages – but then the type of editing work that I do does not require a lot of back-and-forth collaboration. For that sort of thing, people tend to use Microsoft SharePoint – which is pricey and complicated. How much better would it be to have a well-organized folder for each of my editors? Set the due date as the folder name in a YYYYMMDD format load the files on and ping the relevant editor with an IM about the job details. No more losing attachments in long conversation threads. With an always-on computer and some remote access voodoo such a system could be managed easily from a smartphone.

That led me to think about secure communications. Let’s say you are a dissident who is stuck behind a ridiculous national firewall – at best Gmail and Twitter are blocked, at worst they are being monitored so that your communications can be used against you in a court of “law.” In such situations Sync, or a system like it, would provide a discreet way to communicate with the outside world – especially when coupled with something like Tor. Rather than send an email, you could save an encrypted document in a shared folder – way more discreet than a webmail account. I can’t help but think that if this had been around a couple of years ago then David Petraeus might not be looking for a job. Granted, this is all stuff you would be able to do if you had your own mail server, but ISPs have a nasty habit of blocking port 25, which makes mail server setup a more complicated affair.

BitTorrent Sync might still be in Alpha, but it already offers quite a few interesting possibilities. It will take a while to iron out some of the kinks and improve the functionality, but we are talking about truly private sharing, without expensive storage space or shady, obnoxious middlemen. When it all comes together it will be truly awesome.

Link to the original article…

The holiday season is fully upon us and the importance of bringing something unusual, yet memorable to the table (or in this case to a martini glass or two) and bring back a bit of surprise to the holidays. Well, how about Limited Edition Kahlua Gingerbread rum and coffee liqueur. Even better yet, how about a tasty Kahlua Gingerbread Cookie Martini?

Kahlua Cookie Martini
1/2 part Kahlua Gingerbread
1 1/2 parts Absolut Vodka
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy.

You’ll be talked about until next year! Kahlua Gingerbread is a limited edition with gingerbread, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove and totally worth the $17.99 per bottle.

And while you and the family and friends are keeping warm, Kahlua is spreading the cheer to those lesser fortunate by participating in One Warm Coat drive to support coat drives across the U.S. Those who click the “Share the Warmth” button on Kahlua’s Facebook app will prompt Kahlua to donate $1 to One Warm Coat, with a maximum goal of raising $100,000.

[ Links: Kahlua One Warm Coat Drive, Kahlua Gingerbread ]

Nike has a invested a great deal into Lunarlon as their future material for comfortable shoes that require maximum cushioning over repetitive motions. In fact, Lunarlon draws its inspiration from the NASA lunar walks – thus the name – and the weightless motions and the implicit cushioning necessary.

History lesson aside… or rather not, the Nike Pre-Montreal Vintage pairs a faded suede upper with a modern, yet past inspired by past events (see above) for a rather unique look that will satisfy any sneakerhead.

Nike’s VNTG Lunar + Collection utilizes classic styles with aged colors to ensure a retro look. The Pre Montreal features a faded suede and nylon upper with a white leather swoosh, white lining, and a white mudguard. The Pre Montreal is updated by using a blue Lunarlon sole with the ability to use Nike+ technology.

For ordering information, head over to Kith NYC and be prepared to shell out $125.00 USD.

[ Links: Nike Pre Montreal VNTG Lunar+ ]

Lytro, the world’s first commercial light field camera, now has finally been updated to 2.0 and with it comes a whole slew of neat updates and abilities to the camera including:

Perspective Shift – interactively change the point of view in a picture
Living Filters – dynamically change the colors and textures of your pictures
Windows 8 64-bit Support
Miscellaneous bugfixes

Meanwhile the desktop software has been updated to 2.0.0, the camera also receives an update to 1.1.1 and the new Perspective Shift feature is pretty darn cool. What also seems to have happened is that Lytro is no longer using an Adobe Flash version and is using HTML5/JavaScript embedded player as well.

While the processing on the perspective shift pictures seem to take a longer time to process, the output will make even the most jaded person go “ooh” the first time. But it’s a gimmick that’s invariably going to be boring sooner than later unless you tap the prior update that included the manual controls as well.

The Living Filters feature is analogous with many Instagram filters, but some add the ability to desaturate background colors while keeping the main focused item or area black and white, then click the background and the foreground goes black and white while the background goes to full color. There’s a few others artistic filters – line art, glass (refraction), blur, film effects and many others – that actually make it cool to test them out but once the novelty goes away, the star of the show will still be the perspective shift. And maybe the Carnival filter – it really plays havoc on your eyesight but in a fun mirror type of way.

Per usual, the recommendation of taking Lytro pictures in a good amount of light, natural or artificial – still remains the case. Lower light pictures will still bring with them a lot of noise. But I’m still loving my Lytro. Just need to get out more and take more pictures with it! Here’s a sample of the new perspective shift by moi.

[ Links: Lytro, Lytro new features, Lytro on sale at Target ]

You’re probably wondering why I think I’m qualified enough to tell you not to purchase the Apple iPad Mini. It’s new, it’s shiny, it’s from Apple. Of course, you should want it, right? It’s what people do whenever Apple releases anything, they should flock to it, right? Nevermind that Steve Jobs laughed about making a 7 inch tablet not too long ago.

Okay, let me check my sarcastic tone for a moment and state that most people already have the Apple iPad. 100 million in total and counting, over 90% of the tablet market belongs to the Apple iPad and all they’ve sold so far was the 9.7″ version that now carries (3rd generation) their Retina Display technology on their display effectively displaying 2048 by 1536, doubling what the iPad 2 offered when it was released in early 2011.

But the Apple iPad Mini is just like the Apple iPad 2. It has the same A5 CPU. It has the same 1024 by 768 resolution at a smaller 7.9″ and with a much thinner bezel – I hate thick bezels personally. It’s built with the same Apple fit and trim, a matte aluminum back that’s either black or white, a better front-facing camera than the 3rd Generation iPad.

7.9-inch LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
1024 by 768 resolution at 163ppi
Dual-core A5
1.2 megapixels forward facing FaceTime camera (720p HD)
5.0 megapixels back camera with Autofocus (1080p HD)
0.68 pound (308g)
10 Hour Battery
802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Bluetooth 4.0
16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacity

So it’s a tad bit over a half of a pound, a lot less than its big brother which weighs almost 2.5 times more.

I have to admit though. I love the form factor. It’s the perfect size for when traveling, reading on the toilet go and honestly the non-Retina Display optimized apps seem to not suffer as much as you’d think for a device with a lesser than Retina Display device display. It’s not a bad deal after all; however if you’re an avid reader of books or comic books, the lacking resolution does play a bit of havoc with legibility and sharpness (of comic book art especially).

Should you buy one? Only if you don’t have a tablet already. Should you buy the Apple iPad Mini? Only if you’ve invested a ton of time and money into the iTunes ecosystem and are totally unwilling to consider an Asus Google Nexus 7 or Amazon Kindle Fire HD – which both have higher resolutions but lack the iPad Mini’s back camera.

For the same amount of storage – 32gb for instance, the Apple iPad Mini is $429 whereas the 32gb Asus Google Nexus 7 is only $249. No, I did not transpose the 4 and the 2. The Apple iPad Mini does cost that much more.

My take? Wait until the inevitable display update with Retina Display is announced next year. Or buy one for a college student that doesn’t want to carry the heavier 9.7″ Apple iPad.

[ Links: Apple, Apple iPad Mini ]

The one thing I love about Otter Box, they secure the ever-living daylights out of your gadgets without adding a prohibitive amount of bulk to combat typical clumsiness. Just announced this morning, the Apple iPad Mini won’t go for long without a case to secure your gadget safely.

Despite its size, the Apple® iPad® mini promises to have a big impact on mobile computing. As pre-orders are tallied and the newest tablet is shipped, records will likely be set by the trailblazing company. Once again, OtterBox® will deliver PROTECTION for what’s next from Apple with the new Defender Series® case for iPad mini, available for pre-order today.

With the Apple iPad Mini due to ship on November 2nd and the Otter Box iPad Mini Defender series case set to ship on November 6th, your Apple iPad Mini will be secure in no time for $69.95 USD.

[ links: Apple iPad Mini, OtterBox Defender Series Apple iPad Mini cases ]

Link to the original article…

Link to the original article…

Hackers. Builders. Inventors. All are being called together while probably suffering from caffeine induced hyper-craziness via Red Bull for their 2nd year of the Red Bull Creation competition. I’m so there!

Red Bull Creation, the 72-hour themed innovation competition, is returning for its second year with a new digital format, upgraded technology and higher stakes. Last year’s marathon brought the best groups of four to Brooklyn to create side-by-side. This year, the competition goes TO the top makers, individually or in teams across the country…taking place in their own domain, using their own tools. The possibilities are endless.

Red Bull Creation will predominately live online starting with any interested possible competitors registering after June 15 and receiving a “Bullduino”, our version of an Arduino—an open-sourced single board wiring platform. Show us your skills by making something using the Bullduino and upload a video by July 3. No specific topic this round, just a maker and his or her thoughts. Twelve teams or individuals will be selected by a panel of experts by July 5 to participate in the 72-hour live build.

The real action takes place while the dozen “chosen ones” work simultaneously around the country in their own workshops, hackerspaces or homes to innovate around a common theme. That theme will be announced at the beginning of the 72-hour build set to begin on July 19 – 22.

Mark it down on your calendars. Participate. Hit up the Red Bull Creation website for more information for a chance to win $10,000.00. Live it.

And if you win it, don’t forget to share your winnings

[ Links: Red Bull USA Creation, Red Bull ]

Microsoft released what everybody thought they were going to, but with a few twists… a new tablet. The Microsoft Surface was announced at 6:30pm EST on June 18th to an online and rather intimate crowd in Los Angeles with a few turns and twists that most people did not expect. First off, the inclusion of Nvidia and their Tegra line was rather surprising for the Windows 8 RT version that should be available shortly after the release of Microsoft Windows 8. That version will include a 32GB and 64GB version that will be competitive with current generation tablets.

One of the twists was that there was a higher screen resolution, Intel version that will basically be an Intel i5 inside of a slightly deeper enclosure and with a higher capacity internal capacity for storage. This higher spec and invariably higher cost version will come out later in the year.

The other twist, the announced “smart cover” that includes a keyboard and touchpad in a 3mm or so form factor. Take that Apple!

Windows RT (version)

• 676 g
• 9.3 mm thick
• 10.6” ClearType HD Display
• microSD, (full-sized) USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• VaporMg Case & Stand
• 32 GB, 64 GB Capacity

Unlike Apple which usually announces at the end of the conference that their new hardware/software is shipping and for what price, Microsoft decided to disclose no real delivery dates and/or prices which means we will all have to wait until Windows 8 is released before we know the final specs. I can’t wait… I’m already digging the new Touch Cover.

[ Links: Microsoft Surface ]

Apple just had their rather boring WWDC where iOS 6.0 and dropping Google Maps finally announced as well as the updates to their MacBook Pro line. The worst kept secret was the 15.4 inch Retina Display enabled MacBook Pro that’s been rumored for months was also finally announced.

• Retina display: 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
• Supported resolutions: 2880 by 1800 pixels (Retina); scaled resolutions: 1920 by 1200, 1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, and 1024 by 640 pixels
• 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor or 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6MB shared L3 cache
• 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory (configurable up to 16GB)
• 256GB – 768GB flash based storage (SSD)
• 720p FaceTime HD camera
• MagSafe 2 power port
• Two Thunderbolt ports (up to 10 Gbps)
• Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
• HDMI port
• Headphone port
• SDXC card slot
• Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (sold separately)
• Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter (sold separately, available July)
• 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking
• Up to 7 hours wireless web

With many upcoming apps, like Mail, Messaging and Aperture being updated for the Retina Display, I’m going to need a loan to afford all that I’m going to buy. The price? All starting at $2199 to $2799.

[ Links: Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display specs, Apple MacBook Pro ]

Not unless you’re triskaidekaphobic, that’s the phobia of the number 13, you have no real reason not to update to Firefox 13.0.

Memory usage seems to be the same as versions 11.0 and 12.0 (which I totally skipped), but developer tools, speed via SPDY, extra CSS3 code support and other performance enhancements make 13.0 that much better than the prior versions.

My take… worth the download. Go get it.

[ Links: What's New, Mozilla Firefox 13.0 ]