July 7, 2008 / 0 Comments
It looks like China has erected a new landmark structure that is composed of over 2,200 LED lights over 24,000 square feet. It uses photovoltaic technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The picture on the right is a photovoltaic tree in Sydney, Australia.
The structure was created by a New York based architect who says it functions like an organic system. The system takes all the power it can get during the day and stores it for displays at night.
[ Read more at CNN.com ]
July 7, 2008 / 2 Comments
Well I was browsing around a bit on the Internet today and I noticed that there are some really, really horrid case modifications that made their way to the ‘net. I tend to lead toward case modifications that add some functional value and maybe the occasional aesthetic tweak. These cases are just absurd.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Worst Case Mods of All Time.
10. The "Pulling open a hole in the side of my computer" mod
Ok. What is this all about? I get it, you’re pulling open a hole in the side of your case with what looks like hands. There must be something really powerful inside to deserve a red light. Seriously?
9. The "Tortise Beetle"
I think I’m stuck in the middle of a rave. What is this? Is this a computer or the geekiest glow stick ever created. Two thumbs down. Wayyyy down. [mini-itx.com]
8. The "Magna Doll" Mini-ITX Computer
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I found a case that some poor old chap converted into a doll. Perhaps he thinks his computer is a real woman? This just creeps me out.
7. The "Put all my computer parts in a cardboard box" mod
This is by far a horrible case mod. This is no new trick but yet people still seem to stuff their parts in a piece of cardboard and think it’s cool. I think this is a bad idea. What if you need to take your computer out of the house when its raining? Sure, use an umbrella, but if any water gets on the "case" your hard drive might fall out. Oh and also, I’ve seen power supplies catch on fire…. if it were a real case it wouldn’t be used as kindling to start a house-destructing fire.
6. The "I just crapped out something, plugged it in and it’s now my computer" mod
No further comment needed.
5. The "Let my gerbil run through my PC" mod
Well.. this case mod is pretty cool if you’re a gerbil lover. I’m not sure that the heat or the noise would really be a good thing for your animal. This person spent over forty hours on this case. I really don’t see this as time well spent š
4. The "I have too much free time" mod
This case mod is almost as creepy as the girl above. The difference betweent his one and the one above is that this one looks like it took longer to make. I’m not sure why people spend their time making things like this but maybe it’s their real passion. Weird.
3. The "I ran out of ideas so I just sprayed foam-sealant all over my computer parts" mod
This modification baffles me. Why would someone spray foam all over their parts? I’m not quite sure how the video card or other add-on cards breathe for that matter. I bet this was a good idea at first. When the video card dies… might as well spray a whole new "case" on. [More here]
2. The "almost cooler than a regular cardboard box" mod
Why must people insist on stuffing their parts into a cardboard box? /facepalm
1. The "Hang all my parts from cat5/6 strands because I don’t want a case" mod
Wow. Well… This is the crappiest case mod of all time because it really isn’t a case mod at all. This is … lazy and a bit amusing at the same time.
Conclusion
Please be sensible when modding your cases. Sure its all about fun but really functionality should be considered. Also, making your computer into a woman is a little scary š
July 2, 2008 / 0 Comments
Some of these really scare me.
July 2, 2008 / 0 Comments
Most of us already have Firefox 3 downloaded and installed. If you donāt, head over to Mozilla.com and download a copy.
So here it is, a quick list of the top downloaded themes for Firefox 3.
1. Aero Fox
I like this template because the black is a bit easier on the eyes. The icons are a little nicer and seems to have a more futuristic look to it. Get it here.
2. NASA Night Launch
This theme is pretty interesting. I guess it just depends on how much of a NASA enthusiast you are. I really like the dark looking theme that most people are going with. This theme should be supported more on the soon to come Ubuntu 8.10 as theyāre working more on dark theme support. Get it here.
3. Aero Silver Fox
Not quite as nice as the original black Aero Fox but I really like the rounded feel. The black is still the best in my opinion. Get it here.
4. Aquatint Black Gloss
Can you see an obvious trend lately? It looks like the masses really enjoy the black background and rounded icons. I really like this theme as its simple yet effective. Get it here.
5. Pitch Dark for Fx
This one is a little odd for me but it has a good place in our top downloaded selection. This theme was designed to keep maximum visibility, usability and to provide maximum screen real estate. This one really works well on my widescreens. Get it here.
6. Vista on XP
This theme is a top download probably because people want the Windows Vista āfeelā on their XP systems. Why I do not know :-). I think itās because they want to experience the glamour without the suck. Get it here.
7. Qute
It seems like the masses really believe in simple and effective themes. I couldnāt agree more since the internet seems to be laden with useless junk. Why not have a browser that is simple and just does what itās supposed to do? Get qute here.
8. myFireFox
Just when you thought the Vista on XP theme was a little odd. This theme lets your Firefox look just like IE7. WHAT? Why would you want to take away the look of Firefox and convert it to one of its less-worthy counterparts? I donāt get it /facepalm. If you want to steal the soul from Firefox get the theme here.
9. Abstract Zune
Yet another odd name/theme. It looks like the Microsoft theme is still prevalent here. I do, however, like the black look that this theme has. Not too keen on the orange, however. Get it here.
10. iFox Smooth
Iām not too sure about this theme either. I like the idea and I like the clean interface. Firefox just isnāt an iPod no matter how hard you try. Get it here.
It looks like China has erected a new landmark structure that is composed of over 2,200 LED lights over 24,000 square feet. It uses photovoltaic technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The picture on the right is a photovoltaic tree in Sydney, Australia. 
The structure was created by a New York based architect who says it functions like an organic system. The system takes all the power it can get during the day and stores it for displays at night. 
