You've probably heard of people proposing at sporting events using the Jumbotrons, but this is ridiculous.

To help document the excitement surrounding the June 2006 grand opening of the 5th Avenue store in New York City, Apple setup a special time lapse webcam to capture the first 24 hours.

The store opened at 6pm. By midnight, the crowds were starting to die down. By 1am the crowd control barriers were removed. By 3am the crowds had vanished.

But if you keep watching the time lapse video, sometime after 5am, an unknown man stands in front of the webcam with 3 giant pieces of paper. The first piece of paper just has a name: Uschi Lang. The second piece got a little more personal: I love you. And the third piece got to the point. It said: Will you marry me? Obviously someone had decided to take advantage of the webcam and use it to do a time lapse wedding proposal.

Here's the video if you want to check it out:




So after watching this video, your first question will probably be "Did she say yes?" According to Jason Kottke from kottke.org, Uschi Lang did indeed say yes. Apparently Uschi and her fiancé, James (that's his name by the way), were both in line earlier that night for the Apple Store grand opening. While in line, James noticed the camera and got the webcam proposal idea. While Uschi was sound asleep, James snuck out of bed around 4:30 am, grabbed some giant pieces of paper and went back to the Apple Store. He then held up his 3 signs for 5 minutes each to make sure that they were captured on video. Those were probably some of the longest minutes in his life. If you watch the video carefully, you can see several people staring at him like he's nuts.

So was Uschi watching the webcam at 5am when James was holding up the signs? If not, how did he present the video to her? After hundreds of blogs starting speculating on the rest of this story, Uschi decided to send another email to kottke.org with some more of the details:

"... a few days later, James set up a romantic trail of candles leading up to his G5, showed Uschi the video -- which she had not seen despite some coverage on the web -- and she of course said yes."

And there you have it. The full story behind the Apple Store webcam wedding proposal. Was it nerdy? Yes, but it was also timeless, opportunistic and creative. Let's just hope that James and Uschi have a long and happy marriage. Not everyone gets their wedding proposal forever preserved in a time lapse video on Apple.com. Not to mention that it was immortalized online by thousands of bloggers (including this one).

Good luck James and Uschi.

digg story | revver | methodshop

Want to make your own carbonated gas rocket? You've probably already seen someone make a Mentos Coke Geyser. Just drop a few Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke and you'll see a violent 16 foot fountain of Coke explode out of the bottle. Although that may sound somewhat exciting, the geyser is the boring "science teacher" version of this experiment. If you really want to unleash the carbon dioxide power in a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke, try making a Mentos Coke Rocket. Here's how:

1. Buy a 2 litter bottle of Diet Coke and a roll of Mentos. You can use any soda but room temperature Diet Coke for some reason is the best performer.
   
   
2. Find a big open area to launch your Mentos Coke Rocket. Don't do it indoors. Trust me.
   
   
3. Slide the paper cover off the Mentos (leave the foil wrapper on) and slip the roll into the bottle.
   
   
4. Quickly cap the bottle and shake it.
   
   
5. Gently unscrew the cap, just a little, until you start to hear fizzing.
   
   
6. Throw it down and cover your face!

You can see the video here.

digg story | revver | methodshop

Microsoft Windows assigns drive letters to disk volumes to help tell them apart. For example, the default letter assigned to your computer’s hard drive is probably ‘c.’ Each time you dock the iPod to a PC, Windows will assign the iPod the next available drive letter, such as ‘f’ or ‘g.’ But isn’t the letter ‘i’ the most appropriate drive letter assignment for the iPod?



Here’s a simple tutorial on how to assign the drive letter ‘i’ to an iPod connected to a PC using Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Tutorial: Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Windows Drive Letter ‘i’


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Labels: gadgets, ipod, tutorial

The Sony VRD-MC1 DVDirect multi-function DVD recorder allows both video and digital photos to be recorded to DVD without using a computer. Features include a built-in color LCD screen to preview video and pictures, software for burning CD/DVDs and easy USB connections for making copies to share with friends and family.

SonyStyle: "The new Sony VRD-MC1 DVDirect allows both video and digital photos to be recorded to DVD without requiring a PC. DVDirect has video inputs on one side for direct connection of a camcorder/VCR/PVR for easy direct recording of video to DVD+R/+RW discs. DVDirect also has memory card slots for the 5 popular camera memory cards and will directly record images from the memory card to DVD-R/-RW as a DVD slideshow. It’s even possible to connect a compatible PictBridge printer to DVDirect and directly print photos from camera memory cards or photo DVDs created with DVDirect. DVDirect can also be connected to a PC via USB 2.0 and make copies of Video/photo DVDs, advanced DVD projects, and much more."

The golden age of YouTube is over. The popular video sharing service just modified their terms and now many YouTube users are contemplating switching to competition sites like REVVER.

According to their new terms, anything you upload to YouTube becomes the property of YouTube. This means they can now do anything from sell your videos (Best of YouTube; DVD Vol. 1) to use them in commercials and advertising.

Here's a scary excerpt from the new YouTube terms:

"...by submitting the User Submissions to YouTube, you hereby grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the User Submissions in connection with the YouTube Website and YouTube's (and its successor's) business... in any media formats and through any media channels."

The little bit about "YouTube and its successor's" means that anyone who buys YouTube will inherit the content as well. YouTube is currently estimated to be worth $1 Billion dollars. Our sister blog, e-Fuze, suggests you "think twice" before you upload something important to YouTube and always read the fine print.

If you want a website that is kind enough to actually let you own your own videos, check out Revver. They have the same video hosting features as YouTube and they will also give you 20% of any ad revenue made from your videos on their site. When people click and watch, you get paid.

Screw you YouTube. It's time to download your videos from YouTube and upload them to Revver.


methodshop

Labels: tech news, video

At just 11.4 by 4.5 by 1.2 inches, the Logitech mm28 is a marvel of modern technology. Using NXT's flat-panel speaker technology, Logitech has created a portable speaker that sounds remarkably rich and full for its size.

This speaker is a sensation. By simply hooking this up to your iPod you essentially have a home audio system that sounds great with great portability.

We tried the Logitech mm28 with the following albums...some of the best for testing speakers.

In an earlier test of the Onkyo D-302E we learned a valuable lesson about the type of music to bring out the true characteristics of a speaker.

• Complete Recordings on DeUtsche Grammophon 3
• Limited Edition Beethoven Box Set
• Chopin: The Piano Works

These musical choices will bring out the true character of any system.

The Google Vision Concept is a new concept device that is aimed to provide a true automated search tool powered by Google. The device utilizes GPS with an integrated camera with photo recognition software to give you information and search results on physical items it recognizes through the camera.



For example, if you are vesting a new city, and want to learn more about landmarks, you can simply point the device at an object and if it recognizes it, it will give you essentially all the information you need through Google Search.

e-fuze | methodshop

What if you were able to access your home television system wherever you went? The World Cup in your cubicle. Your local news station from overseas. Dirty Jobs in your backyard. Even Emeril Live in your kitchen. Now what if you could do all that without a television, cable box, satellite dish, or subscription fee (screw you TiVo)? If you want to start "placeshifting" your TV viewing habits, then all you need is a Slingbox.


The Slingbox is a fantastic product. Any computer with an Internet connection will allow you streaming video access to your home TV system. My boss has one in his office so he can watch the in-house cable TV feed at home. But as a Mac user, I have one major problem with the Slingbox... It's not Mac compatible.

Well that limitation may soon be coming to an end. Sling Media VP Jeremy Toeman posted a request for Mac beta testers in the Sling Media forums. If you are interested, sign up now. The online application will only be online until 07/26/06.

"We are now taking applications to be part of the Mac private beta program. The application will be live for the next 2 weeks (14 days - it closes on 07/26/06)... due to the expected high number of applicants, you will only hear from us if you are selected. Finally, you must be able to sign an NDA/non-compete with the company in order to be part of the private beta pool. "

When could Apple users see a final version of the SlingPlayer for Mac OS X? Probably in Q3 2006 according to the Wikipedia Slingbox page.

Now we just need a high-definition version of the Slingbox...

digg story | methodshop

Want to upgrade the RAM in your Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you can install that extra RAM, you'll need to take a walk down to your local hardware store and grab a couple putty knifes. Thanks to the Mac Mini, the putty knife is now becoming part of the standard set of essential computer hardware tools.

Traditionally, Apple computers have easily come apart with a few screws and levers. In fact, some Apple machines, like the PowerMac G5, almost come apart entirely without tools. However, brute force, patience and a putty knife are required to crack open the Mac Mini.


Many people speculate that Apple made opening the Mac Mini difficult on purpose. Apple would prefer that you let an authorized Apple service provider handle all hardware upgrades and part replacements with their consumer level products.

So grab a putty knife and don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose.

Tutorial: Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial



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Labels: mac, tutorial

The Harman Kardon TC30 is a great remote. It does everything it should do and does it intuitively. It feels good in your hand, won't roll off the couch, and is easy to program.

With the functionality covered, let's get the point of buying such an item. This remote is simply one of the coolest looking pieces of technolgy going...all other remotes look a 1950s toaster compared to this.

According to Harman Kardon, "There’s a good reason that the "TC" in "TC 30" stands for "Take Control." This unique product does more than just operate single components; it dramatically changes the way you configure and use a remote control. Setup is done directly with our Web site, where plain language "wizards" recognize the brand and model of all your equipment and automatically send the right codes back to the TC 30. The TC 30 remote groups all the needed commands, including "Watch TV," "Listen to CD," "Watch a DVD" and "Listen to The Bridge," into unified activities. All you need to do is look at the color LCD screen, select the icon that matches the activity, and the TC 30 does the rest. It’s easy, it’s fun and it makes operating otherwise complex systems a breeze."

National Semiconductor received a lot of press last month for announcing plans to give every employee a 30-gig video iPod. About 8,500 people currently work at National Semiconductor. The iPods were a nice way to say thank you to their employees for helping give the company their "best fiscal year" of all time.

Well, I hope National Semiconductor enjoyed all that positive press while it lasted. It just went sour.

After giving all 8,500 employees iPods, the company then laid off 35 people from their Arlington plant and demanded they give their iPods back. National Semiconductor claims that the iPods were just loaners.

First you get fired. Then you have to give back the iPod. How's that for a bad day? Kind of reminds me of the movie Office Space when Milton got moved to the basement and Bill wouldn't let him take his red stapler.

Bill Lumbergh: Milt, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?
Milton Waddams: Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

Anyway, National Semiconductor didn't give a reason for firing the 35 employees at their Arlington plant. Maybe they needed a way to pay for those 8,500 iPods? The 30GB video iPod normally retails for about $300.

So 8,500 x $300 = $2,550,000... Oops. I forgot to subtract 35 from 8,500 first. Let's hope someone (like Milton) doesn't set the Arlington plant on fire.

digg story | methodshop

It was just two weeks ago that the British Medical Journal warned of the dangers of using a cell phone during a thunderstorm. The doctors said having such devices near your head when hit by lightning can result in even more severe injuries... Maybe they should add iPods to that list.

On July 6th, a Colorado (USA) teenager named Jason Bunch was mowing the lawn and listening to his iPod. The next thing he knew he was lying in bed bleeding from his ears and vomiting. Believe it or not, Jason's iPod was struck by lightning.

As you can see from this Denver Post photo below, the lightning seriously burned the inside of his ears. Unfortunately, he's also lost some of his hearing.


To make things worse, Jason had a big date that night. According to the Denver Post, he called the girl the next day from his hospital bed and told the girl "I did not stand you up. I was struck by lightning."

In case you are curious, the Denver Post also details what happened to Jason's iPod:

"The wounds follow the line of his iPod, from his ears down his right side to his hip, where he was carrying the device. The iPod has a hole in the back, and the earbuds dissolved into green threads."

One weird thing about the Denver Post article is that they mention Jason was listening to Metallica when he was struck by lightning. It seems like an irrelevant fact unless he was listening to the Metallica album called Ride the Lightning. It just seemed kind of weird.

If Jason was listening to Engelbert Humperdinck would the Denver Post still have reported what he was listening to?

digg story | methodshop

In a March business briefing, Sony Computer president Ken Kutaragi announced several new accessories for the Sony PSP including a GPS receiver called the PSP-290. Someone at the briefing was able to secretly snap a quick photo of a slide detailing the PSP-290 (photo on left). According to this blurry photo, the tiny silver PSP-290 will attach to the top of the PSP. The unit will have a 1 second update rate and take about 40 seconds to get its first reading when you first turn it on (cold start). The PSP-290 is slated for release sometime in October 2006. No prices were mentioned in the briefing.



If you can't wait until October, you can try to make your own PSP GPS unit like a PSP homebrew genius named Art. He created a PSP homebrew GPS system (photo on right), called GPSP, by hacking together a Garmin GPS unit with some PSP graphical navigation software. The GPSP software reads the GPS location data and then displays it on the PSP screen.

Art recently made some refinements to his PSP GPS creation and had this to say on QJ.net:

"There is a parts list in the new package, the position fix data is now extracted from an NMEA sentence common to the Garmin and the Sony unit from eBay, the new circuit has no need for the 4.7K resistor tied to +5 Volts because the MCLR is turned off in the pics software. The current limiting resistor is now 22K to better protect the PSP. this is the highest value I tried where it still worked reliably, There are small improvements and bug fixes to the software. The GPSP-V2.zip package is complete, and the original package should be discarded. Cheers, Art."

GPSP runs on the PSP homebrew code loader software called LUAplayer 0.11 (PSP 1.5 firmware or higher). Once you have LUAplayer installed on your PSP you can download Art's GPSP homebrew software here: GPSP (GPS front end program for PSP).

Happy hacking!


read more | digg story | methodshop

Does your iPod look more like the photo on the right or the left? Chances are the average iPod owner will collect a few scratches here and there over time. That's especially true for iPod Nano owners. But if your iPod looks like it got into a fight with a gang of alley cats, then you might want to check out a company called ColorEnvy.


ColorEnvy provides scratch repair and custom paint jobs for your iPod. To help promote their services, they they are currently running a contest to find the world's "worst scratched iPod." The winner will receive a full refurbishing and custom coloring of their choice, as well as a free iPod scratch removal kit for any future accidents.

To enter, just email them a picture of your scratched iPod. If you want to see who you are up against, check out the other contestants on display in the ColorEnvy gallery. The contest ends August 1st. Good luck and next time get yourself a good protective iPod case.


digg story | methodshop

Klipsch says, "After setting industry standards with the acclaimed personal audio system, Klipsch Audio Technologies introduces a new and enhanced version. The Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 augments the performance and style of the award-winning ProMedia 5.1 with an even more impressive subwoofer, updated crossover networks, and new cosmetics on the satellites and control module. It is currently available in 120 volt and a 230 volt version."

Obviously Klipsch thinks pretty highly of their own product, but what are other people saying about the ProMedia Ultra 5.1?

Barron's: "...if the mood strikes you, you can crank up a Foo Fighters CD , stomp you feet and clear your head. In fact, you can turn your desktop computer into a full-blown concert hall with Klipsch's ProMedia 5.1 surround-sound speaker system. The 200-watt subwoofer and five 60-watt speakers deliver sound that is clear, crisp and, when desired, astonishingly loud. In a Barron's test, they shook the windows of a sturdy suburban home."

Home Theater Magazine: "At low volume, the ProMedia 5.1 system can subtly imbue a workspace with the full ambiance of any elaborately mastered DVD or wrap the listener in a warm musical blanket. Cranked up, this thing simply and effortlessly rocks the house."

Once you get a new system, the next step is to try some new tunes. Here's an eclectic list of tunes that offer a great mix of lyrical artistry and outstanding sound.

• Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
• Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
  

read more | digg story | treblemaker

Ever notice how different computers are in the movies from real life? Movie computers are always more powerful, full of special features and can do anything in the matter of seconds if the right person is behind the keyboard.

For example, movies have taught us that anyone can launch a nuclear missile if you know the password (War Games) and infecting the entire Internet with a devastating computer virus is as simple as typing "UPLOAD VIRUS" (Fortress). But these are just a couple examples.


Read More: Computers in Movies - Fact vs Fiction


digg story | methodshop

Are you trying to eject your iPod from your computer but the "Do Not Disconnect" screen won't go away? Sometimes that flashing red icon can be pretty annoying - especially when you are in a hurry. However, the iPod's disconnect screen does serve a good purpose. It lets you know when it is safe to unplug your iPod from your computer's USB or FireWire port. Incorrectly disconnecting an iPod while it is in use can damage data on the iPod and/or the computer's hard disk.

But what should you do if the "Do Not Disconnect" message remains on your iPod even after you properly ejected it? Don't worry, this is a common problem with a fairly easy solution.

Tutorial: "Do Not Disconnect" Won't Go Away


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Labels: ipod, tutorial

There's been a lot of hype behind Flock - especially within tech communities. At this point, even the average person might have heard the name "Flock" but not known exactly what it was all about.

Flock is a web browser, like Safari or Internet Explorer, but with a big difference. Flock is considered a "social browser" because it integrates blogging, photo sharing with Flickr or Photobucket, "favorites" (a.k.a. bookmarks) using del.icio.us or Shadows, and other collaborative features with communities throughout the Internet. It is these social features that have gotten people so excited about Flock.



Flock is primarily focused on supporting the social dimension of the web, and on bringing information closer to the user. Right now this includes a heavy emphasis on the photo experience (from upload through discovery to notification), RSS support, dramatic improvements to the search box (including a new take on favorites), and blogging.

Some people may chose to only surf the Internet and not contribute content. However others who like to upload videos to YouTube, have a page on Myspace or like to blog will love a "social browser" like Flock. Using Flock basically turns your web browser into a broadcast tool.

Have you had enough of Internet Explorer? Looking to go beyond FireFox? Want to give back to the Internet? Give Flock a try. It's a free download from http://www.flock.com/download.

read more | digg story | methodshop