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Along with the Launch of Mafia Wars 2, Zynga has managed to get a new 270,000 square feet of space in San Fran. The place was decorated by some guy called the "Minister of Cool", who led internal Zynga teams focused on intergrating unique lighting, interior design and functionality. This includes a laser tube doorway, random dog bowls, and many other weird things.

The Wii is so five years ago. But, could this bring it back? There is a possibility, which is exactly what the people at Nintendo jumped on. The new and improved Gamecube-free Wii is coming to North America. Not only that, but it comes with a copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack (wow I've always wanted this) and is designed to lie on its side. The new Wii refresh has been advertised in Europe for around $150, so no big price drop. However, there is a twist to this story, folks. The old and Gamecube-compatible Wii will remain available, at the SAME  $150 price tag. So, really. What's the point? Making it the same price is only going to confuse people, and sales might not be as high as they want. 

Steve Wozniak likes to be the first person in line to buy the latest Apple products. This evening, the Apple co-founder and designer of the Apple I and II, was #1 on line outside the Apple store in Los Gatos, California to get the iPhone 4S. He tweeted about it and he'll be staying up all night. TechCrunch TV caught up with Woz and asked him why he does it. He explains what feature the new phone has that will change his life. Woz also tells us why "search engines should be replaced by answer engines."

Wemo Media has partnered with top animators from Avatar and Tron, the director of MIT's Media Lab and other high profile activists for an ambitious, underwater animation project called theBlu. TheBlu is a project to replicate the entire ocean system, from North America to Asia. It is part social network, part educational tool and part art project. The program will also have a feature where newly designed aquatic creatures can be bought and sold at theBlu's marketplace, which will feature common fish, user creations and exotic or rare animals tied to "philanthropic missions." Currently theBlu is in a closed beta.

Voice control has been part of Android smartphone's since "the dawn of time," and then the superior Siri came along and the android voice control is becoming history.  However, an industrious team of folks from Dexetra.com, led by Narayan Babu, built a Siri-alike in just 8 hours during a hackathon, namely Iris[Siri backwards]) Iral allows you to search various subjects ranging from conversations to art.  "You can ask it "What is a fish?" and it will reply with a paragraph from Wikipedia focusing on our finned friends." Although initially created as a humorous idea, the application' worth was starting to show while they were designing it and the app itself will be available to the Android Market. 

The new and improved OS for Blackberry, and its name? Blackberry BBX. BBX will be installed in Blackberry phones and tablets, with the possibility of systems in cars, next year. Apparently, it couples both "the best of QNX," which was the OS they bought out last year, and the current OS. BBX will have the capability to support all WebWorks and HTML5 apps that are currently being designed, with software for the Blackberry Playbook. Hopefully, this OS will be better than the current one, and on a side note, we can all pray that a certain company won't crash again for three days *ahem RIM cough cough*.

Twitter is testing out new design changes which makes the main Twitter timeline expandable so that you can see media and related information right in the timeline instead of off to the side or clicking off to another page. They have started the testing on a few clients and if it is successful, they plan to make it permanent. I think this is a bad idea because it will just add complications. Besides, if I wanted to see the news, i would just go on another page.

Twitter is testing out new design changes which makes the main Twitter timeline expandable so that you can see media and related information right in the timeline instead of off to the side or clicking off to another page. You can now open a tweet and see how many people retweeted it, see the threaded conversation related to the tweet or related photos or vidoes. When looking at a picture, you wont have to open another page just to see it, it will come up on the same page and you will be able to exit it.

Any Twitter users out there? Twitter is reportedly testing some new design changes, which features your main timeline becoming expandable, so you can see media and related information smack dab in the timeline, as opposed to beside the timeline or on another page. This can speed up and shorten the time you spend on Twitter, and improve users' feelings and experiences. Trying to get more people online, Twitter? If this tests well, we will see a new Twitter, and maybe a lot more people tweeting.

 THIS IS SO ODD?! Facebook says it will soon allow you to get help from your friends when you get locked out of your Facebook account. According to a post on Facebook's official Security page, you'll be able to designate three to five friends as "Trusted Friends" who will be sent special codes in the event that you're locked out of your Facebook account and unable to access your email.

Google Reader is a useful tool to help keep readers updated on current news. Google is updating this "long-ignored RSS app", giving it a new, modern design but removing the social features of this site. The problem? The social aspect of this site is not as in-your-face like Facebook, but instead enables your friends to keep you updated on things that you may not be subscribed to in Google Reader. The writer of this article even accuses Google of taking away the social features on Google Reader to drive people to Google +, which sadly, I can see them doing. Haha, nice try Google.

Apparently Macs can get viruses. The ESNET security company is reporting that the Tsunami Trojan originally developed for Linux systems has been ported to OSX. The Trojan is designed to hijack an infected system and use its network connection in DDoS attacks or to automatically download more malware. 

this a new invention apple came up with is a case for your iPhone and a dumbbell in one. this case is good for the people who like to jog and listen to music at the same time, you can put one dumbbell in your hand and your case in the other and you can connect your earphones into your case and listen to your favorite music . in my opinion this is a pointless invention because this is another way apple is trying to take our money away from us. we can easily just use 2 dumbbells and put our phones in our pocket. this is my opinion on the dumbbell case.

This article talks about how they are thinking of making ATM machines that can read your palm. It can access your account just by scanning your hand. Then you can easily take out money without scrambling for your credit card. Now you don't need to worry about losing your credit card or even forgetting your pin number. I believe this is a good idea because it can make it easier for everyone to just scan their hands and get the proper amount of money out. I personally like this method better than using credit cards. This relates to the course because it takes a lot of programming to get these ATM machines to work, and also the actual ATM machine is a hardware.

Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank in Japan has revealed that it will introduce the nation's first ATM that lets you withdraw money just by scanning your palm. You wouldn't even need your credit card to verify that you can withdraw money from your account. I think this is a great idea. In Canada, we already have the device where it scans your chip, but it doesn't always work. For example, my dad had to send back his credit card 3 times before he finally got the chip to work. This is also very safe because every person has a different hand shape and "design" on their palms, no one would be able to imitate it. I hope that they come out with this machine in Canada soon, i'm sure it would be less stressful for many people.

This article talks about how in Japan they will soon have ATMs that let you withdraw money just by scanning your palm. This will come in handy when you have lost your card. Customers would first have to show identification for verification then they would scan your palm and can easily withdraw money from the bank. This new type of technology can be convenient because there would be less people stealing credit cards from other, and can withdraw anytime even when you forget your card.

People tend to get upset when they are trying to hear the person on the other end of the phone. It could be very irritating not not hear the person and we tend to struggle to higher the volume. Now RIM has created a handset that changes the volume determining how far the device is away from your ear. It has detectors that adjust the volume. Its very cool because it can sense when you are walking and talking so it can change the volume. It relates to this course because it take in operating system to know what to do and it is on a hardware. It also needs to be programmed to work. 

This is an article that explains and acknowledges that evolution of the iPod. From the original iPod models, to the iPod shuffle, and now to the iPod touch, this Apple invention took everyone by surprise and through they years, it has made a historic mark in the world of technology. This evolution is impactful to our world because everyone at some time or another has owned or used some form of an iPod and despite its high price tag, this is nothing that stopped consumers to contribute to more than 220 million iPods sold, comprising over 70% of the market for all portable audio players. It is astonishing to see how far this one creation has come with each generation improving in memory, megapixels, features, ports, size, weight, and much more. The iPod is certainly a revolutionary piece of technology and hardware and as much contributions and success this device has made to the lives of many, it can only be assumed that another one is on it's way. The improvements and advancements to the external and internal design will present itself in various ways, that is sure to catch the eyes of millions of people worldwide, making another mark to the impact of the iPod. 

The Evolution of the iPod. This article talks about the numerous iPods sold throughout the past several  years. More than 220 million Ipods have been sold as of 2009. These iPods are always improving and changing size that seems to best suit people in many ways. Technology always has a huge impact on people and the way they  use things. These iPods have a social impact throughout and will continue to do so. Some people want an iPod that is strictly for music, and there are iPods for that. Whereas others would like more of a variety within, that's where the iPod touch is necessary. It contains a browser, email, camera, and Apps to play games on. 

This article is about this great new product called google glasses. This product that their making is basically like Siri in the Iphone 4S. The experimental "augmented reality" glasses--from the same team that is developing self-driven cars--can snap photos, initiate videochats and display directions at the sound of a user's voice. The prototype digital glasses, unveiled on the company's Google+ social network on Wednesday, are still being tweaked and tested, and are not available in stores yet.

This article is about a special designed PAPER airplane set to release in June of this year, called PowerUp 3.0. It is a paper plane that you can fold yourself and can be controlled by an iOS or Android device. The product itself is just a thin metal wire which clips onto the top of the paper plane with a Bluetooth module on one end and a propeller on the other. You just have to throw the paper airplane and once its in the air, you then can control it with your phone. The app is free, and is similar to a flight simulator, in which you can control the plane to go up and down, or left and right by tilting your phone. The paper airplane is crash-proof, and is run by a USB rechargeable battery. It costs $50 and it comes with a spare propeller and rudder. I think this a very creative, and great product because you are taking something basic like a paper airplane, and turning it into an amazing piece of technology, and a magical RC Vehicle.

In Italy, a Perceptual Robotics Laboratory is creating a revolutionary robot exoskeleton. The suit allows the user to more freely than any other exoskeleton built up to date and it also lets you lift up to 220 pounds with ease. It is being made specifically for people to use in disaster zones such as areas where earthquakes have struck. In my view I believe that it is great that humanity has been able to create these machines to save lives. Although, a new age in technology creates a new age of warfare. It would not be the first time that something made for the benefit of mankind would cause death and destruction. Such as gunpowder, with was accidentally created when the Chinese were trying to create an elixir of life.