G.I.L.T. (gadgets I'd love to try).

There are many technological innovations out there that seem to have jumped straight out of sci-fi novels or movies. Many are already available to us; really nice thingamajigs are present in our everyday lives - MP9s, which have TV, phone and radio; bluetooth and infra-red devices, to name just a few of the most common ones. And some of them seem really useful or just fun, but they are either too expensive or way down low in the list of priorities we have. And by we, I mean me of course. But feel free to identify with me.
Some really mind-blowing ideas are still only concepts, and it is amazing that someone has even conceived their ideas.
Nokia has always been a top-of-mind brand for me, and that was before I knew about Morph.

Seems great, doesn't it? And self-cleaning on top of it all?
Now while Morph is not reality, here are some I would like to get my hands on - at least to try.
1) First and foremost, of course, the top wannahave gizmo: the iPhone, with all the features and applets you can download. I saw someone playing theirs like a flute, shaking and rolling dice and many other things. All very nifty.


2) Amazon Kindle or Kindle DX: a snazzy device for reading e-books. Need I say more?



3). A spotme - which honestly gives me the impression of a much improved pager, is an all-in-one communication service for events of all sorts - from 200 to 5000 participants.According to the company site, it "combines social networking via a searchable photo database, messaging, people radar, unique "Spotting" function and electronic business card exchange, with personalized agenda, audience response, Q&A sessions, messaging, lead retrieval, attendance tracking, electronic feedback forms".

I doubt it would be very useful, but it sure is really cute, check it out:


You may be thinking this is a pretty nerdy post, but wait til you see the next one:

4)The tricorder - "a location, orientation, and network-aware handheld device used to interface in real time to a wireless sensor network embedded in surrounding domestic and occupational environment. As the name suggests, the inspiration for the Tricorder comes from the fictional device of the same name from the original Star Trek science fiction television series. The fictional version of the Tricorder was a self-contained device capable of sensing relevant information about whatever it was being pointed at (e.g., life signs 50 meters back, magnetic disturbance above, or plot thickener ahead). Our Tricorder device aims to achieve the same goals, but rather than being self-contained, our Tricorder pulls sensor data off a surrounding wireless sensor network."

From http://www.media.mit.edu/resenv/tricorder/tricorder.htm

5). Sony PSP2, a handheld gaming device that looks really good too.


6). A real 3D photocamera. Wait, 3D photos? I don't even know what that looks like. Wouldn't it be nice to see one of those at work?
This one is the Fuji FinePix Real 3D



From http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/07/13/fuji-finepix-real-3d-shoots-what-you-think-it-does/

And to keep my coffee warm while I use my pc, it would be nice to have one of these:

A USB mug warmer.

Nice, huh? At least I think so.
The question remains though, should one really acquire all these gadgets and get to use them simultaneously, would they still be portable?
Holler if you know of any niftier, newer G.I.L.T.

Gadget Reference:
http://www.mobilemag.com/
AmazonKindle: http://twitthis.com/ix6aup
Fun USB gadgets:http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=258
http://www.readwriteweb.com/

TV and life worthwhile

I decided to watch TV today, after a long long time away from it. This happened because I had done something again after a long break: I bought, and read, a Veja magazine. In it I learned about the series "Som e Fúria" which was due to begin today and I got curious.
Was it worth it?

Well, I learned a few things:
-TV Commercials are growing more hysterical - how is it even possible?!?!


-I truly hate Casseta e Planeta. Critical though they may be, the short programme bits squeezed between the long long - so long - commercials are so not funny!!!


-Jô Soares is still too much himself. No, this is not a fat joke. As a fat person myself, I would never perpetrate one. I mean that he still speaks much more than the interviewee.

-Daniel Boaventura has a really good voice, and even though it could do with a bit of personality,I think it might make a nice gift for my dad. (4)

-Smile was said to have been Michael Jackson's favourite song.(2) And it makes some sense if you check the lyrics.

"Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, youll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
Youll see the sun come shining through for you


Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
Thats the time you must keep on trying
Smile, whats the use of crying?
Youll find that life is still worthwhile"


But it got me thinking... According to Veja and The Sun (1), MJ was on a daily drug regime which included from muscle relaxants, sedatives and anti-depressants, among which Zoloft and Prozac. Was his life still worthwhile? I don't think so.

What about the initial motive for my TV time today, the series?
The series produced by Globo are among the few things worthwile on TV, in my opinion. About this one in particular, I like the fact that it set in a theatre and that Shakespeare is present in the. We, average Brazilians, are not familiar enough with the theatre. The TV on the other hand, is sovereign in our family routine. I also like the cast, which includes Pedro Paulo Rangel, Andréa Beltrão and Felipe Camargo (who seems amazingly serene in the role of Dante). Som e Fúria(3) is an adaptation of the Canadian "Slings and Arrows". I liked the first chapter, let's see how it develops. Let me know if you guys think it is worthwhile.


(1)http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2504175/Michael-Jacksons-daily-drugs-cocktail.html
(2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKiCN9gSUtM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf8AOgZB1jI
(3)http://somefuria.globo.com/
(4)http://www.songs4u.blogger.com.br/

Where does it go?

This is a lot of food for thought!

Did you know?

First goosebumps, now for some scary stats:



Here's an older version:



So, what DOES it all mean?

Thanks Marcelo.

To give you goose bumps

No matter who you are
No matter where you go
You goin' need somebody
to stand by you
No matter how much money you got
Or friends you got
You goin' need somebody
to stand by you

Thanks Antoine