FEPY

In the world of keyboard controlled launch utilities, the two big choices are Quicksilver and LaunchBar. With the upcoming release of LaunchBar 5, I think the clear-cut choice has been made clear.

There’s a ton of little changes that make this update a big deal. Firefox 3 bookmark support, clipboard history, and an improved calculator highlight some of these improvements.

The early beta builds had their rough edges but the current release is smooth and solid so far.

I constantly use LaunchBar and can’t see myself using a Mac without it. If you haven’t tried this app yet, I strongly encourage you to dive right in. It’s still in beta so the app is a free download.

[Pic from Objective Development]

Related posts:

• Boost Your Productivity with Launchbar
• Mac Pick: OpenOffice 3
• Having Fun with Skitch

• No Related Post

A sewage plant in Japan’s Nagano prefecture has started mining gold from sludge, earning a cool 5 million yen ($56,000) in its first month of operation.

On January 28, sewage plant operator Nagano Prefecture Suwa Construction Office announced that approximately 1.9 kilograms (4.2 lbs) of gold can be mined from each ton of molten fly ash generated when incinerating sludge at its facility in the town of Suwa.

Located in central Nagano prefecture, the Suwa Basin is home to numerous precision machining companies, metal plating facilities and hot springs, which may explain the high concentration of gold in the wastewater sludge.

Joint research conducted in 2007 by Nagano prefecture and the Japan Sewage Works Agency found that the concentration of gold in the ash was comparable to that of a high-grade ore. But because the cost of extracting the gold outweighed the potential profit, the operator continued treating the ash as an industrial waste material.

However, with the recent rise in the price of gold, Suwa decided to start mining their molten fly ash. Last October, they sold 1.4 tons of the ash to a smelting company. At the end of January, Suwa is scheduled to receive its first payment of 5 million yen ($56,000) for the recovered gold.

By the end of March 2009, Suwa plans to mine a total of 5 tons of ash for a profit of 15 million yen ($167,000). The sewage operator says they will use the revenue to help pay for plant maintenance and operating costs.

The facility treats about 100,000 tons of wastewater each day, generating about 3 tons of ash in the process.

[Sources: Yomiuri, Nagano Nippo]

• No Related Post

As a man, mammaries, whether they are modestly proportioned or mindbogglingly massive, are amazing — mesmerising even. However, regardless of their size, rollers it would seem are required to really make the most of them.

A rigourous — if one is up for it — bout of daily rubbing for ten minutes or so with something that’s nice and knobbly,

leaving the parts in question both perfectly proportioned and positively perky.

Apparently.

Beautiful Japanese breasts?

Originally from Tokyo Times

• No Related Post

With the somewhat cumbersome but quite possibly comfortable loincloth (fundoshi) making a comeback of sorts, it’s perhaps not surprising to now see the ladies looking to get in on some loose undies action.

But no plain and boring white ones for the fairer sex. No, there are designs that are a bit daring.

Some even devilishly so.

And others that can be donned when doing the housework.

Plus, for those who don’t want to get a bite round their bits in the summer, there are even a couple of mesh-based offerings imaginatively made to keep those maddening mosquitoes out.

Maybe.

(click images for full-sized but still badly photographed fundoshi)

Japanese female fundoshi

Originally from Tokyo Times

• No Related Post

The strong yen and sluggish sales have, understandably, caused massive damage to Japan’s main car manufacturers, with a new round of temporary closures and large job losses hinting at further hardships on the horizon.

But that’s not say that the current crisis is confined to car makers of course, and rather surprisingly the nation’s usually far from flaccid sex industry seems to be suffering too, resulting in that veritable mainstay of many merchants, the vibrator, being sold at apparently preposterously low prices.

Which, as stimulus packages go, is novel to say the least.

Japanese sex industry slump?

Originally from Tokyo Times

• No Related Post

Considering that it’s now winter in Tokyo and so not exactly warm, one could be forgiven for thinking that nipple enhancers are be a bit unnecessary — if indeed they are warranted whatever the weather.

However, that apparently isn’t the case, as these plastic protrusions have now gone from a mere fashion fad,

to a feisty, pheromone infusing feature.

A product that, at least according to the packaging, is big in America.

Presumably quite literally.

(click images for full-sized pheromones)

Nice and noticeable Japanese nipples

Originally from Tokyo Times

• No Related Post

A while back, I wrote a post on how to import a DVD into iMovie ‘08. This solution worked well but I think Apple released a software update that caused this method to often crash. With the release of iMovie ‘09, I thought I’d give it another go.

The results? Zero. iMovie ‘08 would recognize the image file and start importing the video immediately. It looks like iMovie ‘09 doesn’t even know such an image file even exists.

So I’m back to using either VisualHub or HandBrake to convert the DVD into a more iMovie ‘09 friendly file. I guess progress doesn’t always mean that you get what you want.

The bottom line, try to convert your DVD into DV using a third party utility. Video import should then be smooth sailing. If you’re desperate, convert the DVD to MP4 using HandBrake and then import, but be warned that this process can take a long time.

Do you have a preferred method of importing DVDs into iMovie ‘09? Please share them in the comments section.

Related posts:

• How to Import a DVD into iMovie ‘08
• Easy DVD Conversion via HandBrake
• What are Your HandBrake Settings?

• No Related Post

If you have more than one computer, you most likely realize the hassle of keeping your bookmarks synchronized. With Firefox and Foxmarks, this issue is a thing of the past.

Foxmarks is a simple Firefox add-on that connects to a central online account that you set up. This account works as a central hub for all your bookmarks. Any changes you make to your bookmarks are quickly synchronized.

Your transmitted information can be encrypted and you also have the option of syncing your passwords. Best of all, Foxmarks is free.

I’ve been using Foxmarks for the past several months. This service does what it’s supposed to do without getting in your way. The end results are bookmarks that are perfectly synchronized between my Macbook and Vista desktop.

I give this add-on a 5 out of 5. Simple implementation with flawless results. Get your copy here.

[Pic from Foxmarks.com]

Related posts:

• Upgrade Your Router with Tomato Firmware
• Setup Your iPhone with Gmail IMAP
• 10 Must Have iPhone Apps Part 1

• No Related Post

Getting rid of the USB cord/receiver is the main reason people buy a Bluetooth mouse. I was considering getting the wireless Mighty Mouse but cleaning issues with the scroll ball kept me away. So after a weekend with the Logitech V470 Bluetooth Mouse, I’m ready for the review.

The Feel

The V470 feels solid. It doesn’t have the plastic creakiness found in cheaper mice. The base has a comfortable matte black finish and as you can tell from the photo, the top has a nice glossy blue look.

This mouse takes 2 AA batteries and I think the extra weight further gives the Logitech a solid feel.

The V470 is meant for notebooks, so it’s much smaller than your average desktop mouse. It took a couple of days to get accustomed to this smaller form factor.

I guess I have slighter larger than average hands and after the initial training period, I now find this mouse is comfortable to use even during extended sessions with the Macbook.

The buttons make your typical mechanic clicking sound and the scroll wheel has the same feel as your average desktop mouse. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

The Setup

This part was simple. I ran Apple’s Bluetooth setup wizard and answered a few questions. After that, the mouse was all set to go.

You have the option of installing the driver software from Logitech, but I recommend using Apple’s solution first before considering the Logitech software. I find that a less complicated solution is often better.

Performance

Using the bluetooth mouse driver software that’s built into OS X Leopard, the mouse pointer tracked smoothly and using the scroll wheel felt normal.

If you leave your mouse unattended for more than 10 seconds or so, it will go into sleep mode. When you get back to using the mouse, there will be a split second where it needs to wake up. This causes the pointer to stutter for a bit. Not a big deal for me but I can also see how it can annoy certain individuals.

In another test, I wanted to see how long it would take my Macbook to recognize this mouse after I started it up from a cold boot. On average, it took only one second for the mouse to pair up with my Macbook from the time I first moved it.

Conclusion

I’m very satisfied with the performance of the Logitech V470. It feels solid and offers excellent tracking performance. If I had to be picky, it would be nice if Logitech could extend the time it takes for the mouse to sleep from 10 seconds to 1 minute or more.

If you’re tired of plugging into those few precious USB ports on the side of your Macbook, I think this mouse will work well in most situations.

[Pic from Logitech.com]

Related posts:

• Review: Logitech VX Nano Mouse
• Review: Jawbone Bluetooth Headset
• Review: Bang & Olufsen Earset 2 Bluetooth Headset

• No Related Post

A University of Tokyo research team led by professor/computer graphic artist Yoichiro Kawaguchi is developing robots designed to imitate primitive life forms. Mockups have been put on display at a Confucian temple in Tokyo, and working versions of the robots are scheduled for completion in two years.

According to the researchers, these robots are being developed as a way to explore artificial life and gain insights into how living things survive in a world governed by the law of the jungle.

Kawaguchi and his team are developing a basic reflex system for the primitive artificial life forms, as well as a visual processing system equipped with eyes that recognize and instinctively track certain objects.

In addition, the researchers are working to create powerful biomimetic actuators for locomotion. As part of their research, Kawaguchi and his team have conducted computer simulations to investigate the use of neural oscillators in a locomotion system that imitates the way centipedes crawl. They are also working on simple, mechanical tentacles that extend and contract to move the robot in a specified direction. If all goes according to schedule, they will have a fully functional robot in two years.

With a more thorough understanding of how primitive life forms survive, the researchers believe they can provide robots with a better ability to move, hunt, sense danger, and escape. They suggest that strong survival and hunting skills can be put to use in applications ranging from security guard dog robots to swarm robots tasked with exploring the surface of an alien planet.

Kawaguchi, a professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, has become known for creating artistic computer graphics programs that exhibit “lifelike” behavior such as self-organization and self-propagation. The robot mockups, which are three-dimensional models of his previous computer graphics work, will remain on display at Yushima Seidō temple until February 8.

[Source: Robot Watch]

UPDATE: More photos HERE.

• No Related Post