Posted by admin on Feb 9, 2010 in
books,
geekery,
news 
Forget thumbing through novels filled with indescribable stains, the library of the future will provide you with germ free digital copies that can be easily read on your e-reader. The library of the future does away with fines and books that smell of toilets and trauma, instead you’ll have pristine digital versions that time out after 30 days. Whether you’re reading these novels on your iPad or your Nook, it doesn’t matter, as the future of eBooks is all about the software and less about the hardware. Sure, you need a screen of suitable size to peruse your novel on, but once you’ve made your initial purchase you’re sorted.
Once books are fully digitized and able to be rented online from public libraries we’ll know the era of the eBook has truly landed. We’re pretty close already, as so far there are three libraries in the UK that run a virtual lending scheme- Luton, Essex and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with more scheduled to follow suit.
These schemes are by no means perfect as they have a limited selection of books on offer and the search functions could be majorly improved, but compared to sites which only offer free eBooks (those that are out of copyright) these sites are hugely progressive, as are the counties that have funded them.
Lending libraries mainly work by using a system called Overdrive, which has already been very popular in the USA. Perhaps it’s no surprise that eBook libraries are well established there as they have had eReaders for a significantly longer timer than us, with the major player in their market being the Kindle. The Overdrive system allows you to virtually check out books which you can then read on various devices till they ‘time out’, and then you can renew them. The limited selection of authors may have something to do with royalties, but a quick browse was reasonably impressive, with the latest releases from James Patterson, Meg Cabot, and um, Fern Britton on offer. Read more…
Tags: ebook, ebook library, eReader, essex library, library, overdrive, virtual library
Posted by admin on Jan 25, 2010 in
news,
technology 
Mobile manufacturers are getting more creative with the way they lure customers in. Previously deals would include cashback options (and pesky statement sending in on particular dates) or other incentives such as free iPods, TV’s and laptops. True, if you’re getting these freebies, you do tend to pay a premium, by being tied into a longer contract or having a slightly sub-standard handset, but many opt for instant gratification, as a shiny new iPod can assuage many guilty feelings about owning an Android G1.
Well, I’ve just discovered that there are even kookier offers available for new mobile purchases, as now not only can you opt for the lovely Wii’s, XBOX’s and LCD TV’s, you can also choose to get free EXERCISE EQUIPMENT with your handset. Yes, forget about pocket sized tech, how about a nice cardio machine to complement your shiny new handset? Read more…
Tags: cardo machine, ipod, mobile contract, Mobile phone
Posted by admin on Jan 18, 2010 in
geekery,
news,
random 
What does the above look like to you? The innocent 2012 logo or some salacious Simpsons behaviour by our beloved Lisa Simpson? Some Facebook users are so convinced this image has a pornographic slant they’ve started a group denouncing this, which currently has 702,776 fans, all convinced Lisa is doing unseemly things to Bart. What say you?
Join the Facebook group here!
Tags: 2012, 2012 Simpsons Logo, sexy 2012
Posted by admin on Jan 11, 2010 in
beauty,
news,
technology 
Overeating is an unfortunate but natural side effect of food tasting so DARN Good. Seriously, if that plate of fish and chips before you tasted like you were exhuming the contents of a tramps mildewing sock then you wouldn’t be guzzling so much down. Scientists, doctors and people trying to make a fast buck have come up with various solutions for the overeating endemic that’s making most of our teenagers aspirational American citizens (broad stereotyping, I know) but aside from a couple of questionable products (Sensa sprinkles that you drop on your food to make it taste less moreish and the Alli pill that makes you poop out the extra fat) no one has yet solved this crisis. A worldwide ban of sugar might help, but till then, we need to learn to control ourselves and have a little more sense when making food choices.
The Mandometer aims to do just that, as it’s an electronic scale that you place your plate of food on. The plate plots how quickly the food is reduced from the plate, and aims to train you to eat slower and savour each mouthful. This makes you more aware of how much you’re eating and should help you realize when you’re full. Read more…
Tags: Childhood Obesity Clinic, Eat Slowly, Mandometer Machine, slimming, weightloss
Posted by admin on Jan 7, 2010 in
beauty,
geekery,
news 
‘There are things that you can Not Imagine
There are things that you can Not Tell
There are things you can Only See!’
Chaz Royal, King of the UK burlesque scene, spoke the above lines in honor to the burlesque world, and how true he is. Naturally, this saying doesn’t just apply to the world of burlesque, as there are so many things which are better experienced in person than read about in books (though Philip Pullman’s film adaptation is glaring example of when the statement is falsified). The idea of 3D burlesque seems like such an obvious pairing you wonder why no one has come up with it earlier. Prior to the recently released Avatar and Up, people were starting to get rather tired of 3D, as though it’s still an exciting innovative way to explore the film genre, the spectacles are unflattering, can tire the eyes, and prices for 3D films are still higher than their 2D equivalent. One was wondering what the huge fuss was about till Avatar came along and now it seems people are willing to be open minded once more.
CES 2010 (on at the moment) is showcasing a whole range of 3D enabled televisions and related gizmos, but though these may make viewing easier at home, the content has to be there first. And what better way to entice people into this medium than jiggling ostrich covered boobs? Saucy titillation seen behind the haze of anaglyph glasses (those that use red and cyan lenses to give you a blurry 3D image) make every sweep of the fan or swing of the tassels that little more risque. Read more…
Tags: 3D, 3D sex, 3D strippers, burlesque, Burlesque Vivo
Posted by admin on Nov 29, 2009 in
beauty,
news,
style 
Not so long ago I mentioned how honoured I was to have been asked to judge a category in the UK Beauty Awards 2010. A box arrived the other day with a plethora of products for my category- Best New Hair Product, and the information about the event went live on the Clothes Show London site. At last count there were 38 judges involved in this affair, and when I realized who they were my heart went all aflutter. Though all 38 are impressive individuals, there were a few that I couldn’t believe I was working alongside, as they’d been idols of mine for many years. Amongst the judges was the lovely Eve Cameron who mentored me when I first started in beauty journalism and Sarah Vine whose columns my Mum religiously cuts out and quotes back to me.
I’m looking forward to the event, but can’t chat for long- I have hair to wash!
[from L-R: Victoria White, Editor, Company magazine, Debbie Djordjevic, Editorial Director, Handbag.com, Eve Cameron, Beauty Director, Good Housekeeping, Jane Cunningham, Beauty Editor, www.beautyandthedirt.com, Row 2: Mandie Gower, Editor Zest Magazine, Olivia Falcon, Health and Beauty Director, Tatler (looking identical to Blake Lively), Sarah Vine, Beauty Editor, The Times, Zara Rabinowicz, Beauty Expert]
Tags: Debbie Djordjevic, Eve Cameron, Jane Cunningham, Mandie Gower, Olivia Falcon, Sarah Vine, UK Beauty Awards 2010, Victoria White
Posted by admin on Nov 17, 2009 in
geekery,
news 
Early adopters are keen to get to grips with newest, latest tech on the market, and nothing is more frustrating to these savvy gadget hunters than the object of their desire being put out of their reach. We all suffered frustration with the slow release of the Amazon Kindle into the UK, (as we’ve had to wait two years for this bit of kit) and Microsoft’s much-loved Zune player is still absent from our shores (though we’re finally getting some of its services on the XBOX).
But what strikes terror in every aspiring technology frontiersman is the idea that other people will have a chance to form opinions before they do, thus meaning the comments sections of Gizmodo and Engadget will look woefully threadbare or filled with noobs.
Invite only software is the plague of this particular crowd, with many a’cursing they didn’t download the beta version of Windows 7 when it was still available. Google Wave is the current must-have-a-play flavour of the month, but seeing as invites are as elusive as an invitation to Amazon Vine, gadgeteers are looking elsewhere to get their fix. Read more…
Tags: Amazon Vine, Get Google Wave invite, Google Wave, Spotify Invite, Zune UK
