Blog

Usability and condoms

· listen

1 minute read

Pronto condoms has invented the ultimate condom: less than 2 seconds to put it on, there are no more excuses. Ivo, what about a usability analysis on this?

PlayStation 3

· listen

1 minute read

For all those who I tried to explain why I'm not buying the Xbox this Christmas, but I'm awaiting for the PS3, one word: PlayB3yond.

Demo of an exploding notebook

· listen

1 minute read

This guys intentionally created the conditions in which the Li-ON battery pack would explode inside a generic portable. The results are dramatic:

News from Google

· listen

1 minute read

A few links about evolutions in some Google services, and a brand new idea for cellphones selling:

  • Google CEO: free cellphones for all - Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, sees a future where mobile phones are free to consumers who accept watching targeted forms of advertising. Schmidt said Saturday that as mobile phones become more like handheld computers and consumers spend as much as eight to 10 hours a day talking, texting and using the Web on these devices, advertising becomes a viable form of subsidy.
  • Google Earth in 4D - Google skipped right past the third dimension and landed directly in the fourth (time) by offering historical maps on Google Earth. Don't expect detailed high resolution photography from days gone by, but it's still interesting to see old maps overlaid on the satellite imagery of today.
  • New Gmail Features - There are a couple of new Gmail features being currently rolled out: dropdown menu at the top right; new icons; embarrassment-reducing message notifications; The details menu has been revamped; and a "forward all" feature to keep others up-to-date if they missed a conversation. A visual clue on the next picture (stolen from Google Blogoscoped).

Hand gesture control

· listen

1 minute read

A camera points down towards the user's keyboard from above, letting the user control on-screen windows with hand movements. See it in action here:

I wonder how it works with a white keyboard...

Via New Scientist Technology Blog.