Thursday, July 5, 2012

Mashable: Latest 18 News Updates - including “Watch San Diego’s Fourth of July Fireworks Fail [VIDEO]”

Mashable: Latest 18 News Updates - including “Watch San Diego’s Fourth of July Fireworks Fail [VIDEO]”


Watch San Diego’s Fourth of July Fireworks Fail [VIDEO]

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 04:26 AM PDT




Call it a case of premature detonation.

San Diego's Fourth of July fireworks show was supposed to last 15 minutes. Instead, all the projectiles went off in 30 seconds about five minutes before the show was supposed to start. Confused attendees waiting for the show to start were told that they'd already seen it and to head home. Authorities blamed a "technical difficulty" for the fizzle.

Luckily, the moment is immortalized in video.

Bonus: More fireworks fails below.

More About: fourth of July, San Diego, viral videos


Samsung’s New 75-Inch LCD Looks Incredible, Will Set You Back $17,400

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 03:14 AM PDT




Samsung's new top-of-the-line LCD is now available in South Korea, bringing a 75-inch diagonal and an impossibly thin bezel into the hands of a lucky buyer with a thick wallet.

The ES9000 has a 7.9mm bezel, Samsung's Diamond Black Panel which should bring big improvements in clearness, contrast and brightness, and an array of smart TV features.

The TV is also equipped with a webcam, which is used for video conferencing, face recognition and Samsung's recently introduced gesture control system.

The price for this beauty is ₩19.8 million in Korea, which translates to about $17,443.

More About: LCD, samsung, Samsung ES9000, TV


Stephen Hawking: Higgs Boson Discovery Cost Me $100

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 12:08 AM PDT




One of the world's leading physicists, prof. Stephen Hawking, hoped for different results from CERN yesterday, which announced the discovery of the Higgs boson with a high degree of certainty.

In fact, the announcement cost him $100 dollars, as he made a bet that the results would be different.

"This is an important result, and should be rewarded with a Nobel prize, but it is a pity in a way, because the great advances in physics came from experiments that gave results we didn't expect,' Hawking said in an interview with the BBC.

SEE ALSO: What Does the Discovery of Higgs Boson Mean? [VIDEO]

"For this reason, I had a bet with Gordon Kane of Michigan University that…
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More About: CERN, Higgs boson, Stephen Hawking, trending


Placed Makes Your App Smarter by Contextualizing Location Data

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 04:22 PM PDT




The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Placed

Quick Pitch: A service that lets marketers and app developers analyze location data.

Genius Idea: Contextualizing data about a user's location for free to provide a better understanding about how our digital lives overlap with our physical ones.

Being mobile and connected has made life a lot easier and more enjoyable, from checking your email on the go, to playing games with your friends and checking in to your favorite restaurants. Mobile devices can tell…
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More About: bizspark, location-based


How Android Phone Owners Use Their Devices [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 04:12 PM PDT




If you have a Samsung Galaxy-S and live in Sweden, chances are you like to talk on your mobile device using Bluetooth while on-the-go -- that's according to a recent study that shows Swedes use Bluetooth and wireless headsets more than people from any other country (47%). And owners of Samsung Galaxy-S phones use the most minutes per month of all Android devices (431).

Tawkon, an Android app that measures how much radiation your phone is emitting, and by the company inneractive, which is a mobile app monetization exchange, created this infographic based on Tawkon's data for Android devices. This data was gathered from Tawkon's millions of daily data points over a period of several months…
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More About: android, infographics, Mobile


7 Spectacular Fireworks GIFs for the Fourth of July

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 02:26 PM PDT


1. Fireworx by Alfredo Álvarez




Don't try this one at home, kids.

Click here to view this gallery.




If like us, you consider fireworks to be an absolutely essential part of any Fourth of July celebrations, then we have a treat for you.

We have gathered up seven top fireworks-themed GIFs that will see the explosive action continued on your computer screen long after Independence Day is over.

SEE ALSO: 10 Patriotic 4th of July Tech Accessories

Take a look through our animated gallery for some awesome pyrotechnics. If you've captured any amazing fireworks imagery, then share your links in the comments below.

Thumbnail image courtesy of tsuacctnt

More About: features, fireworks, fourth of July, gallery, trending


Watch Joey Chestnut Eat 68 Hot Dogs in 10 Minutes [VIDEO]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 02:03 PM PDT




It wouldn't be the Fourth of July without hot dogs -- or more specifically, hot dog eating contests.

Every year at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, competitive eaters race to see who can down the most hot dogs and buns in ten minutes. Tens of thousands of fans gather to watch the event live and ESPN broadcasts it on its network.

This year, reigning champion Joey Chestnut won his sixth straight Mustard Belt, downing 68 hot dogs and buns. Chestnut has won every contest at Nathan's since 2007 and in 2009 set the world record with 68 hot dogs.

He tells the AP that he was trying to break his world record but a bad minute halfway into the competition ruined his shot. "I'm a little bu…
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More About: hot dog eating contest, joey chestnut


What Does the Discovery of Higgs Boson Mean? [VIDEO]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 01:02 PM PDT




Earlier today, CERN's scientists confirmed the existence of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson. So what exactly does that mean?

The "God particle" is predicted by the Standard Model in modern physics. It is understood to give other particles mass -- including the quarks that make up the protons that make humans and other forms of life.

As Mashable's Pete Pachal explained last December, the existence of the Higgs boson essentially completes and affirms the Standard Model of particle physics. It also shows how particles acquire mass, which will help with the next phase of research and study.

SEE ALSO: Cartoon Explains Higgs Boson [VIDEO]
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More About: Higgs boson, mashable video, physics


24 Highlights From The Flaming Lips 24-Hour Tour

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT




After spending 24 hours on the road and playing 8 shows in 8 different cities, the Flaming Lips are Guinness World Record holders.

The band broke the previous record of 7 live performances in 24 hours, held by Jay-Z, with a sold out show at the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA. The tour began evening of Wednesday, June 27 in Memphis, TN and stretched overnight, with performances in the middle of the night and early in the morning in towns across Mississippi.

Though by mid-afternoon on Thursday it looked as though there was a chance they might not achieve their goal, they eventually broke the record with 20 minutes to spare, finishing their final set around 6:10 P.M. CDT. Represent…
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More About: features, flaming-lips, mtv, Music, o music awards


How Microsoft Could Rebrand Itself [PICS]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 10:56 AM PDT




With Windows 8 on the way, this is clearly a turnaround year for Microsoft. But will that mean a new look and attitude as well?

We'll know for sure this fall, but in the meantime, a Los Angeles-based design student is giving the software giant some unsolicited advice. Andrew Kim, who is enrolled at the Art Center College of Design, laid out a fairly comprehensive rebranding plan for Microsoft, which is detailed below.

What do you think? Did Kim nail it? Let us know in the comments.

More About: Advertising, design, Marketing, microsoft, Windows 8


Jelly Bean Successfully Fields 40+ Voice Searches [VIDEO]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT




Eager to get your hands on a Jelly Bean-powered phone or tablet? If not, this may persuade you.

This video shows Jelly Bean performing more than 40 successful searches based on voice commands. The maker of the video, who is identified as "JLeshere," throws all kinds of tricky questions and commands at his Galaxy Nexus, including "listen to Real Estate [the band]," "Is it going to rain tomorrow?" and "When is Mother's Day in 2014," all of which the device performs flawlessly.

A Google fan, JLishere writes that he wanted to display voice command features that Google didn't highlight at I/0.

It's possible the video may have been doctored, but if not, this represents a big challeng…
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More About: android, apple, Google, iphone, jelly bean, siri


Get Pumped For London 2012 With Official Music Video

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:59 AM PDT




The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has posted an epic music video for the official song of the London 2012 Olympics.

English rock band Muse wrote the song, titled "Survival," specifically for the games. The track is a perfect anthem for the Olympics, but it's the YouTube video that really gets us excited.

The video opens with a reverse highlight reel of the Summer Olympics, beginning in 2008 and going back to the start of the modern games. It then ushers in a more linear and determined timeline of iconic Olympic moments throughout the years.

Assistant Editor Alex Hazlett summed up the feeling of the Mashable newsroom best, noting that she's "a sucker for heroic sports hig…
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More About: london 2012, muse, music videos, olympics, summer olympics


Happy 4th of July! Celebrate With Google Doodles

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:57 AM PDT


2000




The first ever Independence Day Doodle came in four parts.

Click here to view this gallery.




One thing we have come to love about national holidays is the tradition of Google Doodles, themed illustrations that appear on the company's homepage on special occasions.

Since 2000, Google has been marking the 4th of July with patriotic Doodles that incorporate the most iconic symbols of all things Independence Day.

SEE ALSO: 10 Patriotic 4th of July Tech Accessories

Take a look through the great designs in the gallery above. Let us know in the comments below what you think of this year's design.

More About: dev and design, features, fourth of July, Google, google doodle


British Comedian Eric Sykes Dies at 89

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 07:31 AM PDT




Eric Sykes, a British comedian known for his seminal work on the 1950s radio program The Goon Show alongside Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan and various sitcoms and movies popular in the U.K., has died at age 89.

Sykes "died peacefully this morning after a short illness," Norma Farnes, his manager, told the

More About: Eric Sykes, Media


Pandas Play on a Slide, Cuteness Ensues [VIDEO]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT




And now for something completely different: Pandas playing on a slide.

What better way to celebrate Chengdu Panda Awareness Week than with this video showing said pandas frolicking on a wooden playset? They slide, they hug...as US magazine might say, "Pandas, they're just like us!"

Bonus: A crow that enjoys sledding.

More About: pandas, viral videos


Photo Challenge: Show Us How You Celebrate

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 06:55 AM PDT




There are reasons to celebrate every day, big and small. We think of major holidays as celebrations, but there are also personal moments such as birthdays, engagements and promotions.

Here in the United States, we celebrate the anniversary of our country's independence on July 4th. Traditionally, we take the day off to spend time with family and friends. There's no one way to celebrate, but common staples include fireworks, parades, and grill-cooked fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers.

But it isn't just the 4th of July that's worthy of celebrating this time of year. Just recently, for example, our northern neighbors celebrated the birthday of their country with Canada Day on July…
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More About: Mashable Photo Challenge, photography


Strapless, Touchless Heart Rate Monitor Asks For Funding [VIDEO]

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 05:58 AM PDT




No chest strap needed. That's the main selling point of this new heart rate monitor called Alpha, which you wear like a watch.

Alpha creator Liz Dickinson explains how the device works in a video posted on her Kickstarter page, calling it the "holy grail" of EKG monitors. Dickinson says up until now there have been only two ways to monitor your heart rate while running and neither are ideal.

Devices with chest straps are uncomfortable, she says, and other watches require users to press buttons to activate them, like the MIO watch, which Dickinson also created 11 years ago. A simple device that would require no strap or even button pressing woul…
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More About: fitness, health, kickstarter


Google Doodle Wishes You a Happy Fourth of July

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 05:27 AM PDT




Google celebrated Independence Day in the U.S. with the company's 13th July 4-themed Doodle.

For Google of late, the design is fairly restrained -- there's no animation, games or puzzles, just the logo in red, white and blue with the words "this land was made for you and me" punctuated by an acoustic guitar for an "L."

Google has been offering a Fourth of July Doodle since 1999, making it the second-longest running Doodle next to Thanksgiving, according to Search Engine Watch.

Though the Doodle doesn't link to it, Google also dropped a video on Tuesday using the holiday as an occasion to drop a video making a plea for a free and open Internet. That video, promoted on Google'…
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More About: fourth of July, google doodle, SOPA


Dawson Leery Laments ’90s Tech

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 05:21 AM PDT


AOL Busy




This was the worst.

Click here to view this gallery.




Remember '90s tech? We do too.

Do we miss it? Not a bit. It even makes Dawson Leery, of Dawson's Creek, cry.

Simon Owens, assistant managing editor of the U.S. News and World Report, has claimed that he was the origin of this meme, as shown below via two Facebook posts.

Thank you, Simon.


More About: memes


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