Daniel Williford proudly presents this week's edition of TowleTech. Enjoy.
In time for Pride Celebrations everywhere, Yahoo launched a GLBT portal this week. Aside from the cute banner image, there isn't exactly anything really new here. Instead the site rounds up all the queer content across Yahoo's many offerings: look at past pride photos on Flickr (including a hand-picked set of favorites by Yahoo editors, including the above photo); look up pride-related events at Upcoming.org; and read GLBT blogs and podcasts on Yahoo's network. Browse the “Gay To-Do on Yahoo” links, or plug in your zip code to view gay-related non-profit organizations that need volunteers.
A brand new site lets users buy and sell used CDs for $1.49 and gives 20% of each sale to the artist. LaLa.com users lists the CDs they have to give away and select the CDs they want. The site matches “haves” to “wants” and provides pre-paid envelopes for the exchange. Determined to be industry-friendly, the site will soon incorporate catalogs from local independent record stores. Read Wired's review here.
Engadget does a thorough review of the technology used in bringing the World Cup to the fervent masses (which includes just about everyone in the world except Americans.) From the RFID-embedded tickets to the text-message updates to the High-Def streams that broadcast every sweaty, free-balling, tense-thighed, shirt-lifted, hand-on-ass detail. Futbol: soon to be gay America's pastime.
U-Verse, which promises to deliver high-quality on-demand content over fiber-optic cable. Like digital cable or satellite television, the first generation of U-Verse features a slick interface and DVR integration that allows you to select from a channel guide and record content for later viewing. But since the service is delivered over the internet, future plans include a more thorough integration, including video and game purchasing on-demand, on-screen caller-ID, remote DVR control using a web-browser or cell phone, and other internet-based features.
Japanese manufacturer Citizen announced the first consumer Bluetooth wristwatch that is designed to communicate with your many other Bluetooth devices. The watch will vibrate and flash to indicate an incoming call from your cell phone, and will also notify you if you leave your cellphone behind. The design on this particular model is lacking, but we could see a Bluetooth watch being the must have gadget in a year. [via i4u]
Are there times when you need a friend, and Manhunt just isn't cutting it? You look at your robotic vacuum cleaner; your robotic vacuum cleaner looks at you…it's the classic story of love brought into the 21st century. Cute-a-phobics be forewarned. MyRoomBud first introduced “costumes” for robotic vacuum cleaners such as iRobot's Roomba to make the independent little workers have a friendlier personality. Now, they've taken the concept further, introducing pre-programmed behaviors to make your Roomba move and act in character. “Roobit the Frog hops around, Roor the Tiger growls then pounces, and RoomBette La French Maid wiggles its behind at you before vacuuming your room.” Who says you're in desperate need of human interaction? [via news.com]
For those of you who still don't use Firefox, here's yet another reason why you should. Google released a custom Firefox plug-in that syncs your bookmarks and settings across your various computers, and also saves your browsing session when you have to close out unexpectedly (“Nothing! I wasn't looking at anything! It was a virus!”). More importantly, the software release demonstrates Google's continued support and favoritism of the free, open source browser that has threatened Microsoft IE's market-share in the past year.
Le budget minister of France doesn't take criticism well. Only a short while ago, he was overheard saying “You think it's so easy to balance a 373 billion-dollar budget? Then you try!” And this week, France launched Cyber-Budget, an online game that has Grand Theft Auto and Madden NFL in a panic. “Budget Minister Jean-Francois Cope says the game will allow citizens to pretend they are in charge of the national finances. They can make decisions about spending revenue and cutting taxes.” Et si vous preniez les commandes du budget de la France? We didn't think so… [via BBC]
That's it for this week. Visit author Daniel Williford at his blog, Until Today….
