Flashback to 2006, but we’re trying to solve the challenge of searching and indexing the audio in videos again. Case in point: TechCrunch Disrupt finalist Koemei, for example. Another new one hitting the startup scene today: Mobento, a company which not only finds videos where words you search for are spoken, but which also shows you a timeline indicating where in the video those words can be… → Read More
I was just watching the documentary GET LAMP, a movie about text adventure games. As gripping as that sounds, I wondered if I could find the first text adventure game in the world online. In mere moments I was presented with the COLOSSAL CAVE ADVENTURE in glorious green-screen. Thank you, Internet! → Read More
Timberland, makers of boots and outdoor wear, and GSI Commerce, the e-commerce company behind the online presence of Timberland and many other companies, might just owe you some money. After a heap of unauthorized ad-filled text messages were sent out between January 2003 and August 2008, frustrated recipients banded together for a class action lawsuit. Though the companies insist that the blame… → Read More
Those dumb captchas may actually serve a purpose now. A gentleman by the name of Luis von Ahn at Carnegie Mellon University (Biggs went there!) has devised a system whereby software-unreadable words are sent to captcha providers. Since the software is unable to discern what the words are, captchas then step in, and we humans get to identify them when logging into our favorite sites. As people… → Read More
In what’s sure to be recognized as one of the greatest inventions of 2008 (by me, at least), here’s a shelf that can be bent every which way, thanks to the miracle of “elastomer” AND displays your favorite RSS feeds and any incoming text messages. → Read More
Need something immediately? Want to check on a price? Text your search term to 262966 (“AMAZON”) and Amazon will hunt down a few items from its online store. Reply and Amazon will call you to confirm your order. The usage model is fairly compelling: you’re in a store, and you see something you want. You simply text Amazon to confirm that it’s cheaper online and then spit in… → Read More
After watching King of Kong a few weeks ago I’m really enjoying this gaming movie trend. This new film by documentarian Jason Scott is all about text adventure games and the people who made and loved them. If you’ve ever stared at wonder at a PC telling you about a world that doesn’t exist in clear prose and whimsical detail, this is a movie for you. All you kiddies and your WoW… → Read More
This is starting to get a little silly. Once reports of Verizon Wireless’ unlimited voice plan hit the Web last week, all the other carriers have followed suit issuing their own releases for unlimited voice plans. This morning we were informed of AT&T’s switch and now T-Mobile is announcing an unlimited text and voice plan for $99.99. The new plan is set to begin on February 21… → Read More
Good riddance! Apple today finally pulled the plug on the outdated office suite known as AppleWorks. I remember getting my first Mac, a G3 iBook, and having to deal with this craptastic software. Terrible word processor and a useless paint utility come to mind. Last true version was 6.0 and died out in the 1990s. So what to use instead? OpenOffice, xPad, TextEdit, and plenty of others come to… → Read More
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