Karaoke File Sharing site for Gleekaholics: Karaoke-World!

There are many, many filesharing sites out there, from the infamous Pirate Bay to the smaller but equally popular BTJunkie and Isohunt. They provide users with a great many options, but sometimes the sheer amount of files they have can be a little overwhelming. This is where Karaoke-World comes in, a dedicated filesharing site that ONLY features Karaoke torrents!

You may wonder whether there is a need for this service, and that is debatable, but considering the continued popularity of games like SingStar on gaming consoles, and public karaoke bars such as Lucky Voice and K-Box, I do think the demand is growing. Shows like Glee and X-Factor put the idea of Karaoke style singing right onto the front page of the newspapers, and if you enjoy this activity you’ll probably want to know more about the recently launched Karaoke-World. Read more…

Tags: bitorrent, Glee Karaoke, Karaoke, karaoke filesharing site, Karaoke-World

The iida Light Pool Mobile: A true contender for the prettiest phone prize

The iPhone has long held the crown as the prettiest Mobile on the market. Its slick curves, glossy screen and its pretty display of apps make it ultra desirable for every style hunter. It tends to be pretty much unrivalled in the style stakes- till now! What you see above you is a real life handset- NOT a concept model and is currently available to buy in Aisa.

It’s called the iida Light Pool phone and is more than just a pretty face. The phone may not be quite smartphone calibre, but it isn’t short of specs. You’re getting an 8 megapixel CMOS camera, a built in USB connector, expandable memory to 16GB, and a 3.2 inch TFT screen. The device has a flip phone design and has the rather rare (for Brits) inclusion of a digital TV receiver, so you can get you fave show on the go. What really intrigues me is the ethereal looking  diamond shaped LED’s that coat the outside of the phone. What are they there for- and what do they do? Read on to find out! Read more…

Tags: iida Light Pool Mobile, Light Pool phone, pretty handset

Chatroulette gets medical with Healcam

The premise behind ChatRoulette was fiendishly simple. Utilise the webcam that’s built into most people’s computers and add an element of sex to it. Rather than create a paid for service, Andrey Ternovskiy decided to create a live version of the popular hot or not game, where users log on to flirt with each other and ‘next’ anyone they don’t find attractive or interesting. Annoyingly, the site is pretty much useless for anyone who doesn’t want to watch masturbation, as a quick play around reveals that 90% (a completely made up statistic) of users seem to be men.

Nonetheless, there’s something about this level of instant interaction that’s appealing, and if used correctly could be really positive. Healcam is a brand new service (barely been launched a month) which aims to take the premise of instant video chat to a new level, by putting people with various illnesses in touch with each other. Sure, if you have Diabetes or Cancer you already have a ton of support groups and forums, but that doesn’t mean you get to chat face to face with someone whenever you feel like it. Counselling sessions need to be scheduled, appointments made- sometimes you just want a one on one with someone who understand your issues.

It’s completely free to use the site, you simply go to the Healcam website, select your sex, say whether you’d like to talk to a male, female or ‘anyone’ and then choose your condition. At present there are 5 to choose from: Back &Neck, Diabetes, Cancer, Pregnancy and Childbirth, and Heart Disease. There’s a button saying sub topic next to them, but only the Diabetes one expands into the options of Type 1 and Type 2 (guessing this will expand as their user base grows). Their blog does mention that they will have health channels that will include ‘Weight Loss & Dieting’ and ‘Depression’, but at present they’re not on the site yet.

The concept is fantastic, and I’m hoping that the people who use the site will respect that, and that we will find those willing to share information and advice about their conditions to those who need it.

The Healcam creators say, ‘We envision the site as a large meeting place, where people can exchange information, get or give moral support, and learn from others’. It’s a resource I can imagine using, so I’m hoping others will feel that way.

The next step is working out whether the site will be able to keep afloat from advertising. Considering the topics involved, monetizing it once it gets popular should be fairly simple, as I’m sure many charities and organizations would want to get behind this.

The main problem will be assessing the potential of abuse that could happen if people give others bad advice, as that could prove dangerous to people with medical conditions. As long as the site is used therapeutically and not as a replacement for a doctor I see no reason why this shouldn’t do very well.

At present there are very few users, but as this gains popularity I’m hoping a huge community will spring up.

Check out Healcam here.

Source: Medgadget

Tags: Andrey Ternovskiy, Chatroulette, Healcam, health help

The future of 3D is all about the glasses

As a journalist I get asked all too frequently what I think of this ‘3D rubbish’. The statement is then normally qualified with ‘well, I know it takes a lot in the box office,’ and then I’m looked at expectantly like I’m suddenly going to drop some amazing secret or share my wisdom on what the next big thing to replace the ‘3D phenomena’ is.

I got rather sick of trying to explain that 3D probably wasn’t going anywhere and that the main reason people get frustrated by 3D was the WAY they had to view it, as both anaglyph and active shutter glasses require -you got it, glasses. Then there are the EXTREMELY PRICEY TV’s that require no specs, but hey, you can only view them from a really small field of vision, so that’s not too helpful now.

Having given this topic a rather huge amount of thought, I’ve now come up with what I feel is a reasonable, if vaguely Matrixy conclusion.

It’s the glasses folks. It’s not about replacing them, it’s about creating some which become so essential to everyday life that they’re part of the shower and shave routine- wake, teeth, glasses, breakfast.

Read more…

Tags: 3D, 3D glasses, 3DTV, designer 3D glasses, future of 3D, Gucci 3D glasses, RealID, Vuzix glasses

Four boring but useful websites

There are many things in life that are boring but necessary. These include taking out the garbage, having a cleaning rota  if you share a house, and making sure you see the dentist once or twice a year. To go with those lovely mundane chores I have a selection of yawn inducing websites for you to peruse, that will nonetheless prove invaluable should you need any of their services. Entertainment definitely not included, but service is free.

Opening Times

It’s 10.50pm on a Saturday, you’re starving for a pizza, yet reluctant to pay an over inflated price for a grease ridden delivery. You know there’s a Tesco just round the corner, but will it be open? After ten minutes of debating it ‘Maybe’ ‘Maybe not’ ‘Umm’ you decide to search for it online. Once you’ve navigated through the Tesco website, narrowed you locale down by town and borough and then edited out the metro versions, whaddya know? It’s 12.01 and it’s most definitely shut.

Opening Times lists the various local businesses in your area and will give you a definite yes/no and till what time for anywhere you should choose to go. You’d be surprised how useful this is when nipping out for some emergency ice cream/toilet roll, but it most definitely comes under ‘boring’ in terms of websites. Read more…

Tags: boring websites, opening times, useful times

The Seven games that shaped my formative years

The first game I ever played was likely one of those £4.99 handhelds that featured Space Invaders and made the most annoying beeping noises ever. My parents were known to randomly throw it out the house/lose it accidentally and looking back I can see why they resorted to that as the constant beeep, b-b- beeep must have done their head in. I really count my first forays into gaming via the PC and console, and have decided to share them with you here.

The first one: Alex Kidd and the Enchanted Castle

This came pre-installed on the Sega Master system 11, which I bought for the pricey sum of £34.99 from Toys’R'Us. If I remember correctly I think a good portion of the price was paid for in pennies,with my Dad tutting in the background and saying it was  waste of time. I couldn’t afford any games, so all I played was the pre-installed Alex Kidd and grew to love and despise the pixelated character. An hour of gameplay could vanish with one lecherous swipe of a monkey/ octopus and as there was no save point it was straight back to the beginning if you ever messed up. Don’t think I ever actually completed the game due to this annoying factor, but many hours were spent acquiring extra lives to allow Alex to make it to the next level. Read more…

Tags: Alex Kidd, Baldur's Gate, Crash Bandicoot, gaming, Prince of Persia, Tekken 3, Worms 2

Buy a phone, get a free exercise bike

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