This is the world’s most expensive LEGO brick, worth more than $14k. It’s made from 14-karat gold and measures the same size as an original LEGO brick. The gold bricks are extremely rare and were only given out to select business partners and LEGO employees who had been with the company for 25 years—and that was only between 1979 and 1981. That means even if you won Powerball you’d never acquire enough to build a golden LEGO house… which sucks because that was always my go-to “if I win the lottery” fantasy. Well, that and owning a swimming pool shaped like a dollar sign. Oooh and penguin butlers.
We've taken you through a tour of Window Managers in Linux, and now it's time to show you the Window Manager's bigger brother: the desktop environment, or DE for short. With a sea of choices out there, we can see where Linux newbies might feel a bit overwhelmed. Catch us after the break and we'll show you some of our favorites, along with a few honorable mentions.
Continue reading How-to: Picking a desktop environment in Linux
Filed under: Software
The LA Auto Show isn't just loaded with flashy concept cars from auto industry heavyweights, it's also a breeding ground for innovation in the transportation industry as a whole. While cruising the halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center, a unique contraption caught our eye. Pictured above is the Hybrid Sports Bicycle (HSB), a triple threat that runs on gas, electricity and good old fashion human pedaling. The project is currently seeking investors, with its creator Tomas Bubilek targeting a retail price somewhere between $6,000 to $7,000. For those of you who might think that this is a high premium, we've definitely seen hybrid bikes that far exceed this toll. So, if you're in the business of being an early adopter, check out the video below to see what might be replacing that segway you bought a few years back.
Continue reading Hybrid Sports Bicycle eyes-on (video)
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
Do you want to smell like one of the houses from Game of Thrones? Maybe the Lannisters? How about the Starks? Let’s face it, you wouldn’t want to smell like most characters from Westeros. Except for Denerys. You know that she smells good. You can’t look that good and not smell good – even if you have been walking through the Red Waste for weeks. But everyone in the seven kingdoms might smell nicer if they had these soaps.
These house sigil soaps by GeekSoap are pretty neat. They will evoke sweet scents that make you think of each house. There’s Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, and Targaryen. The Lannister scent is “Pride” made from patchouli, plumeria, and orange. I guess that seems about right. Stark’s scent is “Betrayal,” a crisp combination of pine, cedar, and eucalyptus with just a hint of campfire. Yep. That’s how I always imagined they would smell. You get the idea.
There’s no Greyjoy because no one wants to smell like salt water and seaweed. They are just $6(USD) each. Or you could just pay the iron price.
[via Nerd Approved]
Instead of combing through the gift card aisle for just the right iTunes denomination, you'll soon be able to get one of these newly released variable gift cards. Just bring the card to the cashier, pick an amount between $15 and $500, and it'll get validated for that amount. The Cupertino company has offered variable pricing for regular Apple Store gift cards for awhile now, but iTunes cards had previously only been available in $15, $25, $50 and $100 options. These cards should also be compatible with an iTunes 11 feature that lets you redeem gift cards by scanning the code with your computer's camera. We're not sure which third-party retailers are offering these just yet, but it sounds like a decent last-minute impulse gift for your iOS-loving pals.
Source: 9to5 Mac
Hate someone so bad you’re willing to spend money sending them a booty burp in the mail? You have problems! But you’re also in luck, so congrulations and let me introduce you to Fart By Mail. It’s a mail order service that sends a smelly-ass greeting card complete with a fart sound. Wheeeeeee! Before we run out and buy one for everyone we know hate, a few quick questions: First, how do they trap those nasty gasses? Second, and more importantly, why? Third, I don’t wanna live on this planet anymore. I realize that’s not actually a question, but… does it even matter? Just put me out of my misery already!
It wasn't so long ago that Facebook and Zynga were making beautiful music (and money) together, but it seems that each is now looking for a bit of fresh air in the relationship, according to Reuters. A new agreement will give Zynga more freedom to offer games on its own website, while also allowing Facebook to develop its own -- though for now, the social network said it "was not in the business of building games and we have no plans to do so." For its part, Zynga now has the option of opting out of Facebook's payment mechanism and display ads, according to a recent filing by the Farmville maker. Both companies have seen their share of foibles, lately, but Facebook would perhaps be wise to not let its main dance partner too far out of sight -- Zynga still kicks in more than 15 percent of the now-public company's revenue.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Facebook
Via: Joystiq
Source: Reuters
If you’re into retro style beep and bleeps and beats, then here’s a fun way to discover lots of cool chiptune acts – many of whom you’ve never heard of before. A group of chiptune artists and fans has compiled the Chiptastic Chipmusic List, or as I like to call it The Ultimate Chiptune List.
The Facebook-compiled list currently showcases over 360 different chiptune performers, including links to their websites, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, or Facebook pages, as well as links to a number of streaming chipmusic radio stations. Whether you’re into chiptunes or just like retro gaming, you’ll discover all kinds of sweet new electronic music by clicking around to the artists on the list. Some of my faves: Abducted by Sharks, Mario Frog Suit, I Set My Pixels on Fire, Solarbear and PandaSTAR.
And while we’re on the subject of chiptunes, here’s some cool sounds from the monthly Philadelphia chipmusic showcase show 8static:
After you’re done listening to the concert footage above, head on over to the Chiptastic Chipmusic List on Facebook. Be sure to post a comment below and us know who your favorites are!
[Thanks for the tip, Jesse!]
Developer kits for the Ouya were given a ship date of December 28th today, alongside news that the system's software development kit ("ODK") will be available that same day. In case it wasn't already clear how small the Android-powered console is, the folks at Ouya included the picture you see above to further illustrate that point -- the thing is really small. Ouya expects the dev kits to get into backers' hands "within a couple days" of the 28th. Final units are still intended to ship some time in March 2013, though no final date is available just yet.
How different are these dev units from the final run, though? Not that different, we'd guess, considering the company's continued promise that "every Ouya will be a dev console." The only hint given of their difference is a note in today's update calling them, "pretty special." Beyond just getting a jump on game development with the Ouya in mind, dev unit buyers will also be the first to try out Jelly Bean gaming. Of course, if you're a dev unit-level backer and you'd like to share your thoughts with us, we're all ears.
Source: Kickstarter
