If you were looking for some new games you could play at work, stop looking! Ok, for reals. PocketMac creators, Information Appliance Associates, is getting into games, namely ones designed for adults to help relieve the stress of the work-a-day. While they are offering no-brainers like Tic-Tac-Toe and Hangman, they are also offering their take on Mahjongg, called Taiwan Tiles. While they have pre-formed tilesets, they also offer an innovative random tileset generator. They also offer a cute little title called Lunar Mines where you use a spotlight to freak out moonmen intent on shutting down mining operations. Tic-Tac-Toe is US$9.95 while the others are US$19.95 and they are available now exclusively for the Mac.

written by Tyler Regas

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. PodCastingNews has published its annual list of iCrap, a list of the worst in iPod accessories. Heed the list well when choosing gifts for the holidays. Also keep in mind that some of the items are not for younger audiences. For some more questionable product griping, also take a look at Popular Mechanics list of the 10 worst gadgets of 2007. They’re both a real hoot.

UPDATE: Engadget found an abusive little device you can use to torture your fish with an iPod. I can’t even begin to imagine.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: fun, ipod, news

I was scanning the headlines at MacWorld and I found this article. It references a report made by Arbor Networks ASERT team, who seem to have it bad for Apple for some reason, which states that the iPhone will be a major security target in ‘08. Its odd that I couldn’t find the report MacWorld was referring to, but hey. Those guys are on the ball. Right? I’m reading a short blog entry at ASERT’s own site and they reference a report from Symantec [!] which discusses security trends for 2008 (talk about the pot calling the kettle black, then slapping the stove). Here’s a snippet from the report where they discuss Google’s Android project:

“In contrast, Apple’s iPhone has currently taken a reverse model approach where third-party on-device applications are not allowed, preventing the vast majority of malicious code for the average user—those that haven’t unlocked their phone.”

Wow! That makes sense. Of course, I generally don’t go to the company whose entire business is invested in selling security products to get my security news. Apparently Arbor Networks does, though. I can’t help but think that someone, somewhere read something the wrong way. Personally, I tend to take things as they come and not freak out because someone told me to… or in this case, someone told someone else something, reversed it, mixed up the attribution, and then didn’t give proper attribution.

Hmmm…

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: iphone, mobile, news, security

Yes. Sold to Specialty Equity, CompUSSR is going to be shut down and liquidated. If you’re expecting a rash of fantastic Fire Sale-like deals, though, don’t get too excited. Gordon Brother Group, the owners of Specialty Equity, is known to hold off on steep discount deals until the 11th hour. Combine that with the fact that there are only 103 active stores, very few of which are in major metropolitan areas (check your city) and you’re not going to find much.

Two of the possible reasons behind this collapse are Apple and the market. Apple now holds anywhere from 15-20% of laptop sales and the Halo Effect (not the game) from its very, very significant iPod/iPhone business combined with Microsoft spectacular failure with Windows Vista (Blista?) have been driving upgraders to Apple’s online and retail stores better than any slick Apple advertising campaign.

Second, the market has been evolving for years and that includes people’s decreasing need for a monolithic brick & mortar establishment. Like cars, computers are being built better and, despite Microsoft’s claims that people need Vista, XP is a solid platform with proven tools and support and companies like Dell and HP are building better machines based on a wide range of improved technologies. Tie all of this together with low system prices, a drive towards portable and all-in-one systems, and it wasn’t hard to see coming.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: business, news

Wow. At least Clinton was caught with a human being! Anyway, I just thought I’d offer well wishes to all Dojo readers in the U.S. who are celebrating Thanksgiving. This is a truly American holiday as its not directly related to any specific religious sect. We simply give thanks for what we have and how hard it was to get it.

Sure, we stole this country from the natives, we stole Hawaii from their sovereign king, and we’ve perpetrated a wide range of other human rights abuses and outright crimes, but hey! We’re here, right? So, let’s give thanks to George W. Bush for all of the wonderful things he has given us and the strong and positive legacy he will have left us when he leaves office next year. Joy to the world, everyone!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: bush, cigars, clinton, head, holidays, lorena bobbit, thanksgiving, turkey

Wow. I know its a PC and all, but cramming Mac OS X onto one of these things is nuts/cool/illegal/wicked. Check out Uneasy Silence for all of the details. If you are so inclined there are even detailed instructions on how to do it. I ask, however, that you do not steal  Mac OS X from Apple. I’m okay with license infringement since I believe in Fair Use, but piracy is verboten, capische?

written by Tyler Regas

What would you say if I told you that there was a power source that lies right under our noses, presenting itself on a daily basis? You’d likely say that there couldn’t be since we have some really smart people (smarter than you, Tyler!) working on all kinds of advanced energy sources and they wouldn’t miss anything so obvious.

Well, and I can say this smugly secure in the knowledge that I am a smart person, I know of a power source which could very likely dramatically reduce the amount of power we expend on a wide range of common, everyday things; Gray Water. Yes, that water which we run down our drains, out of our tubs, down the sink, and down other drains.

The question is, how do we tap gray water as a power source, and what benefits would it provide if we were able to. Here’s where my lack of smarts shows through, but I’m pretty sure I have a workable idea here. First, we need to figure out ways to collect that power as a coherent energy source.

I thought about putting little paddle wheels on drains everywhere, thinking that the collective collection power of lot of little sources could be routed into one large gain, but then I thought about plumbers. We stick a little wheel in everyone’s drain and we’ll be asking plumbers to come clean them out all the time, at $150/hr. for the privilege!

I wrangled back and forth over how to achieve a paddle configuration which could de-gunk and/or clean itself, and I soon realized that I was working at the wrong end of things. We need to collect that power at its point, or points, of greatest potential. The Los Angeles River is a good start. We have lots of bridges that go over the LA River and its various “tributaries”.

My first idea would be to place flotillas connected to the bridges over the LA River so they could rise and fall as the water did the same. The paddle wheels would always be spinning, collecting energy would could then be put back into the power supply and pay back on the cost of producing the water in the first place.

Another thought I had was that the aqueduct over which the water is dropped into the LA area could also be tapped for energy recovery. In fact, a large percentage of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system could be tapped for such power recovery purposes. If you have no idea how large and complex the LA water system is, take a look at this.

Of course, we’re not just talking LA, here. We’re also not just talking about gray water as a power source. We clearly need to rethink the idea of what hydroelectric means. It doesn’t have to be Hoover Dam sized to work! Imagine flotillas of paddle wheels lining large parts of the Ohio river. Think of all of the water sources which flow that can be tapped for this kind of energy recovery.

Most people, I’m sure, think of water-based power as being some large scale project, but I assure you it doesn’t have to be. I’m sure that there are a number of scientists out there who may read this and be able to do some helpful calculations on how this can all work. Let’s keep in mind, however, that I envision this as a way of reducing or canceling the cost of the power produced to create the water source in the first place.

To recoup the cost of that energy expenditure would be great, but if we could get more power out of it than we put into it to get it to where it needs to be, then we can start reducing the amount of power produced to do it in the first place. Imagine, if you will, the possibility of closing the loop and using the power of water to generate energy to move the water!

Wow!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: COT Migration

I live in Los Angeles. As I write this I am watching KTLA news covering the obscenely large number of wildfires burning the storied Southern California. So far 500,000 people have been evacuated and nearly 600 structures have been destroyed. 10-15,000 people are being cared for at the Qualcomm stadium in San Diego. Its unclear where the remainder are. I love California and I love my country, but if Katrina wasn’t enough, now we have four times as many people displaced. I wonder now who will come to our aide since we’ve allowed our leaders to estrange us from our international friends. I bet the French pitch in first. My thoughts to all who have no home tonight.

written by Tyler Regas

If this were a real site, I wouldn’t be surprised. I really dig the “Hilton Handcuffs” and the “My Little Carbine”. Turns out, however, that you can’t really purchase a “Hello Kitty AK-47″ or a Mother Theresa-themed bazooka dubbed the “Motha’ T”. They may, however, have trouble arranging licensing for the “Care Bears Babysitter Kit” which includes a Care Bears Bulletproof Vest, a handy spent shell identification chart, and a first-aid kit with the charming “Sucking Chest Wound Bear” emblazoned on the front. Wow.

written by Tyler Regas

Check out Leah taking on hordes of baddies at NextFest 2007!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Laugherating