Facebook “Home”

Mark Zuckerberg , FacebookFirst off, thank goodness it wasn’t a Facebook phone announcement.  If you are buying a phone based off of Facebook you might have a serious problem. But the big announcement today was Facebook “Home”, and will be a family of apps that centers around a users social connections.

Light of details, Facebook teamed with android because, Google makes its software available to anyone who wants to design something cool (suck it Apple).  “Home” is basically a launcher that will be available on April 12th from Google Play.  The experience, is designed to tie the users social network and previously downloaded apps together.  Not sure really why this is needed, but let’s just go with it.

Full review will come after we get our hands on it next week.  Should be interesting.

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Last Day of the Year… Bored?

It’s the 31st… creeping into the afternoon… and most of you are bored to death!!!  I mean come-on, the year is over, almost all of your vacation time is either spent or going to be used up soon, the coffee has officially worn off… and you are b-o-r-e-d!!!  By now I’m sure you’ve gone waaaaaaayyyyyy back and read all of our amazing posts and you need something to do.  Well, did you know that Apple is not just known for their super-awesome-cool technology???  They also have tons of bitchen Movie Trailers!!!  The latest and the greatest movies getting ready to hit the cinema hard, for your gloriously-time-wasting pleasure.  All neatly stacked together for you to see in huge panoramic HD screens (if your bandwidth can handle it).  Now you know… so finish reading a few things on the WGUB, then go check it out HERE.

Happy Birthday Angry Birds!!!

They’ve brought us hours upon hours of glorious time-wasting joy… and today, they are turning 3.  For their b-day they have a gift for all of us! 30 new fantabulous levels with all kinds of fun stuff. Thank you little birdies for being so angry… and for just being you.

Get it if you haven’t already… and grab the update if you do.
Enjoy!

20121211-090750.jpg

Are these the titles to the new Star Wars trilogy?

Surprising Star Wars fans around the globe The Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday that is has acquired LucasFilm Ltd. for 4.05 Billion.  LucasFilm had been 100% owned by founder George Lucas.  Lucas, who arguably made one of the best decisions in Hollywood history in asking 20th Century Fox for the merchandising rights to his Star Wars characters will be able to add a cool 4 Billion to his fortune.  Even bigger news announced by Disney is the 2015 release of Star Wars Episode 7.  It will be followed by Episodes 8 and 9 which will released in 2017 and 2019 respectively.  As Star Wars fans already know, Episodes 7-9 were released in book form several years back.  Will Disney turn these fantastic novels into the next film trilogy or will they be starting from scratch?  Disney is not showing their cards as of yet nor have they revealed plans for that other small franchise owned by LucasFilm…Indiana Jones.

One other note…Disney can rest easy now as they pulled off quite a feat in not only securing the comic rights through the Marvel acquisition in 2009, but now also have the film rights to everyone favorite quack from outer space…Howard the Duck.  It only cost them 8 Billion.

Windows 8

It is day four of my upgrade to Windows 8, and I thought I would share some thoughts on Microsoft’s newest reinvention of windows. I unpacked a new Samsung 500gig, 4mb, Windows 8 machine last Friday and from the moment I powered it on, I was very, very pleased.

This was a major upgrade for me as a personal computer. I was running an Acer 1mb Vista machine for the last five years or so. And while I didn’t have any issues with that machine in general, aside from it being slower than molasses in the winter. Anything a little faster was going to be a major upgrade for me. 

First off, if you have a smart phone and you like the feel of it you are going to love Windows 8. It has the flow and feel of using your Smartphone on a larger scale. The new “home” screen is basically a docking station for your programs and apps allowing you easy access to everything that is available to you. Preloaded bloatware was minimal and easy to remove.  Navigation through the home screen is as simple as scrolling your mouse button (or flicking if you have a tablet). I really like the integration of the email app. It was much like a Smartphone would do with one app housing multiple email addresses. I liked it so much I didn’t even install Outlook on this computer because I didn’t see a point. I did install Office 2007 on this machine and it runs with no issues. The system came with the newest form of Office, but I don’t own it or need it so it was uninstalled fairly easily. 

But it isn’t all a love affair with Windows 8. Microsoft is going to have some blow back from people who love the normal work and flow of windows. And don’t see this operating system making a smooth transition into most businesses because frankly a lot of people just won’t get it. There is a traditional “desktop” screen that mirrors Windows 7 nicely. But there isn’t the traditional start screen that we have all come to know and love. There isn’t a lot of clicking to get places, it is more hover and click. If you are busy and trying to fly though things, it could become complicated. You can access the start menu, by hovering and clicking in the lower left hand corner, but it will simply take you to the default “home screen” to pick your “app” or program. Another small annoyance is unless you close out of programs, you could easily get a lot of stuff running and not know it. To take a gander at what you have running, this involves hovering near the upper left hand corner where bubbles pop up with running programs. I find myself constantly closing things that I thought should be closed already.

Allow me a moment to talk about apps. By now we all know that Microsoft doesn’t have the apps that Apple or Google have. And that is understanding. However, the apps that are available seem to be enough to get you going. I browsed the free apps mostly and found many of the productivity apps that I like, along with others that I thought might be worth checking out. Installation happens in the background and removing the app doesn’t require a trip to the control panel.

A feature that many business users might find helpful is the new syncing with Microsoft online. By signing into the machine with a Microsoft profile your settings sync to your profile. Meaning that anytime you log onto a Windows 8 PC with your Microsoft account your settings and feel will be the same as if you are sitting at your computer at home or the office. Couple this with Skydrive or Google Drive and you can easily access any files and have a positive experience.

Is this a true reinvention of the Windows wheel? A bit. It is exciting to see the functions that Microsoft will build in with the anticipated Windows 8 phones. Yours truly is actually quite interested in those for a few reasons. I like my Smartphone to be an extension of my home computer, which is why I love my Atrix 2. If some of the syncing possibilities come to fruition that Microsoft is going to try to do with new Windows 8 phones, I am going to give them a hard look at the next upgrade time. The success of these phones will really depend on the app store and experience. If Microsoft can mirror Google’s app store, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a viable option for many people.

Is it a glowing endorsement from me yet? I’d say it is about 50/50 right now. With a new computer it is all about getting familiar with it and I think Windows 8 will have a steep learning curve for some users. That right there kind of troubles me.  We’d love to hear your thoughts on Windows 8 too.

Zombie Apocalypse Survival (2012): The Clothes

Waaaaaaaay back in 2011 we gave you a siiiick series featuring the best-of-the-best in zombie survival gear… from clothes & gadgets to weapons & surveillance, and everything in between.

(Revisit those magical days right HERE)

Well, with the end of the world a mere 2 months away we thought it might be the perfect time to give you an update (with a few of the same items as before… because, quite frankly, they’re still the best). After all… we really have no clue what those crazy Mayans foresaw. Zombie Apocalypse, Switching of the Earth’s poles, Rapture, Snowman Apocalypse, World-wide power outage or maybe it will be the Spice Girls reunion tour… whatever it is, we’re going to do our damnest to make sure you are geared up and ready to tackle them all!!!

Starting with: the Clothes. While putting on something light, movable and easy to pack is a no-brainer… what do you do when you are almost certain you’re going mano y mano with someone for the last can of beans (or so you’re not the next meal)? We wouldn’t be the WGUB if we didn’t get, and test, the best-of-the-best in survival gear! Sidenote – While we are making sure you’re outfitted with the ultimate in survival gear… assuming you have the foresight to prepare… everything below will, of course, be free if you have a crowbar and a few B&E skills after the world has gone to shit. Most everything we’re mentioning can be found in your local Army Surplus store or Sporting Goods shopapalooza.

CTR Choas Adrenaline Multi Tasker Pro

The head… while its rare to sport the perfect dome to go hairless, let’s be honest… surviving an apocalypse isn’t exactly a fashion show. Buzz that hair off!!! Soap and running water will become a rarity pretty soon… luscious locks will get tangled between bony Zombie fingers… and the bugs will be out in force without the Orkin man around! However, if you still can’t do it or need something for the cooler weather… then here are a couple of pretty neat alternatives. #1 – CTR Choas Adrenaline Multi Tasker Pro ($29) designed to keep you cool and protected against the elements with great breath-ability. Ideal for layering under a helmet or by itself (also gives you the element of anonymity if you don’t want people to know who’s out playing ninja) #2 – Buff Headwear ($Various). A bitchen variety of face, neck & head covers depending on your location. With a ton of options for hot weather, cold weather, under-helmet and just all-around lookin’ badass. With built-in UV coverage this is protection personified. Perk… you get to keep that last-man-on-earth desperado look intact. #3 – Ball-cap (Whatever) the main reason for head-gear is to keep your luscious locks out of your face and sweat out of your eye… if all you really need is an old-school trucker cap then so-be-it. But keep in mind that anything the evil undead can grab (ie. the bill of your hat) they will!!!

Your Face! Let’s be real… its pretty likely that the spread of a human ending plague is from either a bite or some goulie’s yummy juices ending up in your face or open wound. Yeah, its gross… but a necessary conversation to have! That being said… you really need to cover up all of those holes on your face if you’re slicing n’ dicing your way through a crowd of zambinos. Hell… maybe it went from 98 & balmy to -5 & snowing and you need to keep your eyes from freezing out of your head. Here are a couple of cool options.

#1 – Zeal Optics Z3 GPS ($550). We choose the Z3 above all others not just because they’re AMAZING goggles (anti-fog, UV, Impact resistant, Polarized, etc.) but also because they have built-in GPS and 16:9 on-screen specs (temp, altitude and way more). Assuming the power isn’t out (or you picked up a solar-charger like we recommended) then these will help you keep track of your location, while protecting that sexy face of yours!!! #2 – Oakley Airbrake Snow ($250) Keep those infected juices out of your eyes (the window to your soul) with these anti-fog pieces of optical badassery. Moisture wicking and anti-fog these are a great option not only because of how light and hi-tech they are… but also because they have a super-quick and easy option to change lenses (called their Switchlock technology). From tinted to High Intensity yellow… you can see clearly and stay protected with ease.

Okay… now the all of the super delicates are covered. Let’s talk about your body. A superior under-armor used by the pro’s behind motor-cross (and easily found at any sports bike shop) is the SixSixOne EVO Pressure Suit Body Armor ($200).With eight different protective pads covering your special places, including an advanced spine protector (in case of falls), large chest plates, hi-tech Lycra Spandex for breathable movement and all with highly movable lightweight materials… this intense hand-to-hand combat armor is perfect for keeping you protected and intact! (Think Batman without all the money). Of course any good armor will have straps that those bastards can grab hold of, so you need an additional layer. The Massif Army Combat Shirt ($170) is the perfect cover. Lightweight and versatile, this ultra-light, flame-resistant top will keep you moving in every way you need!

Something else to keep in mind while wielding your preferred weapons of mass destruction (I almost said murder… but hey, if they’re zombies that thing is already dead) is your hands! Absolutely one of the most important tools you have left. You need to keep them warm, but not too hot… movable, but not exposed… and armored, but not bulky. For this we found the Oakley Factory Pilot Glove ($70). Leather Palm with unobtanium grips on the fingers for a tight hold, Carbon Fiber Knuckle Plating for punching your way free of a death-grip & Airprene four-way stretch joint for flexibility.

Legs. Fighting is always important… but we also have to recognize when to run away! To keep your legs safe and sound we found Tru-Spec XFIRE Tactical Pants ($100). We recommend Flash pants over your typical tactical gear because you never know when you may need to douse the ground with a little gasoline behind you and light’er up as a barrier to gain a little extra distance. It’s the apocalypse people… nobody is going to fight fair! And wear a belt for god sakes. Yes, the fashion police are all dead, but you still need to hold your damn pants up. Do you really want to try to outrun a hoard of brain-munching monsters with your pants falling down? NO!!! I’d rather you feel like Urkel, and live… than bust a sag and be fodder for legions of the undead.

Finally… the Boots! We say boots instead of shoes because you want something that will kick the literal shit out of anyone (ie. steel toed), cover your ankles from those surprise crawlers you didn’t hear or see and wrap up your little piggies that work their hardest to keep your fat ass from sitting still for too long. For this we found the Striker™ II GTX® Side-Zip Non-Metallic Toe ($210). All of the extreme function of a high-end military boot with the everyday use needed to get the hell out of Dodge! The strength of a steel-toe without the weight and heat/cold transfer that actual steel brings, water-proof, oil and slip resistant sole, only 58 oz to keep you from getting tired faster and a side zipper to quickly and easily get on the move… these boots are not only bad-ass, but functional as hell and ready to stomp in some undead heads!!! If it’s good enough for special forces, it’s good enough for the last special force on Earth… you!

Yeah, this might seem like a bit much… but at the end of the day, when you’re kicking ass and taking a body count later (all while keeping your family safe) you can remember back and think “Damn, those WGUB guys were pretty cool to do all that work for us. I wonder if they ever made it or if they became a lunchable for some raging loony”. Well WGUB buddy… the answer is that we’re probably dead, or maybe un-dead. We’re glad we helped, but sadly we didn’t listen to our own advice.

For our entire WhiteGlossApocalypse Survival Series… check it out HERE.

iPad Mini

Apple dropped the much anticipated iPad Mini yesterday, and the whole world had a collective orgasm.  Well, a least all the tech nerds.  But you want to know who didn’t?  This guy.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that the iPad Mini will fit a lot of people’s needs, but what I was really hoping for was an iPad that cost around $200.  The Mini, which is coming in at $329 frankly just isn’t a value to me.  All things equal, I would probably just shell out the extra 180 dollars for a full-sized iPad.  What I was personally hoping for was a 7 inch (or so) table that would compete with the Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus by Google.  Not that Apple needs to compete with them, because clearly Amazon and Google are playing catch up in the table wars.  But if Apple had any kind of killer instinct in business it would have tried to get closer to the 200 dollar mark because it would have been the equivalent of killing the Kraken.

Soap box aside, the iPad Mini is still a pretty neat tablet.  And I am sure that I will get blasted for my comparisons.  The Mini has more memory true, but I call bullshit on that one.  If you are any kind of nerd you have all your media in the cloud so there is really no need for a device with huge storage.  Unless you have a million apps, there really isn’t much need for a tablet with over 8 gigs in my opinion.  Of course I am speaking of the casual user that will use a tablet for entertainment, not professionals that use it for other things.

Either way, just in time for the shopping season, the iPad Mini will be hitting the shelves.  With too many specs to really list you can start the pre-order bonanza beginning on October 26th.

Marvel 2…DC 0

If one movie universe can make multiple billions why not have two?  That must be Marvel’s thinking as Marvel and 20th Century Fox execs revealed that they have hired comic guru Mark Millar to oversee Marvels (Fox) Cinematic Universe.  This is not to be confused with Marvel’s Phase 2 slew of films which will feature Avengers 2 and The Guardians of the Galaxy.  But will be a separate movie universe that includes both X-Men and Fantastic 4 franchises that 20th Century Fox have locked up the rights to for the foreseeable future.  Millar is promising plenty of crossover opportunities in both Mathew Vaughn’s new First Class sequel ”Days of Future Past” and the Fantastic 4 reboot by director Josh Trank.  Also, look for some Fantastic 4 cameo’s in the upcoming solo “Wolverine” movie.

For those of you unfamiliar with Mark Millar’s work, he is the writer that brought “Wanted” and “Kick-Ass” to the big screen and is also done plenty of work for Marvel Comics Ultimate series.  As for DC Entertainment…they are now looking at a rival with two movie universes while they have zero.  Maybe this will wake them up and that Justice League of America the fans are clamoring for will finally see the light of day.

 

 

 

iPhone 5, ShmiPhone Shmive – WE HAVE THE IPHONE 6!!!!!

iPhone 6 Spec Art

While dumpster diving behind some huge complex in Cupertino, we came across some top-secret specs of the… are you ready for this… The iPhone 6… just days before the iPhone 5 hits the shelves. Here is a quick wrap-up of what we found and even some scans of top-secret doodles.  Apparently Apple nerds are really shitty artist.

Will we get sued and put out of business for leaking this info?  Probably… but screw it!!!  We are journalists dedicated to the truth, and our people (that’s you).

The scans that we found, featuring some pretty incredible tech, for the iPhone 6 are bellow (click on images for a larger view)… and yes, the details for each picture is listed down there as well. You can bet your sweet ass cheeks that we will be camping out like some über Star Wars nerds to pick up this one at midnight..

  1. It will only obey short, one word commands much like a dog. It will also sulk when you yell at it for dropping a call.
  2. Yes, it will provide you with an Asian massage. A complete Asian Massage.
  3. Hidden in the code is a picture of Steve Job’s tumor.
  4. It’s new 20 megapixel camera has x-ray, heat vision, and night vision. As well as target lock function.
  5. It is water, dirt, chemical and outer space proof.
  6. Instead of Bluetooth technology, you will be able to communicate with it telepathically. Yes, you can think about porn and it will show up on your iPhone.
  7. For men it offers a built-in shaver, for woman a home Microdermabrasion kit. However the shaver can only be used on pubes, and the Microdermabrasion on backne.
  8. Hold approximately 1.5 oz. (a single shot) of any liquid
  9. Doubles as a one-time-use taser for debilitating a mugger/robber/drunkwhoresatthebar
  10. Has a 3D screen, for porn.

3D Screen

Flask

Telepathy

X-Ray

Taser

Manscaping

Massage

Review: Ram Mount (Bicycle iPhone Holder)

That’s right… I said bicycle iPhone holder!!  Think about it… you jump on your bike to cruise over to your friend’s house, to work (if you’re one of those environmentally savvy people), to the bar (yes, DUIs still happen… but much less likely) or simply out for a little exercise… what do you do with your phone?  Your pocket???  Ew… that’s so archaic!!!

If its music… navigation… phone calls… or one of those snazzy health-related GPS trackers, nothing takes your cycling experience to the next level quite like a well-made and well designed mount for your mobile device.  Enter the Ram Mount ($30-ish).

Here’s a quick snippet from their website:

Bicycle Mount Description Mount an iPhone, iPod, GPS, or cell phone quickly and easily with a RAM bicycle mount. Designed to fit most common handlebar sizes, these compact and durable mounts are ideally suited to the open road or trails. Adjustable to allow for the best viewing angle, these mounts are perfect for any cyclist and their compact electronic device.

 

Let me start by saying that, while I don’t by any means consider myself “avid, I ride my bike.  I have a car… so you can stop all of those negative thoughts about me being a poor writer living in my parent’s garage.  I enjoy riding my bike!!!  A few nights a week I’ll take a bike ride after dinner, occasionally ride my bike over to my buddy’s house a few blocks away from me and have even peddled over to the quik-e-mart for a quick 40.  I ride my bike.  Because my phone is an absolute necessity, my bike rides usually consisted my phone awkwardly jostling around in my pocket (even something as small and unassuming as my iPhone).  Occasionally (like when visiting the store) I would carry along a backpack, and that would comfortably cocoon everything I need just fine, but in cycling “less is More”  is almost always the rule to live by.

So… I started hunting for something I hadn’t seen yet… an iPhone mount for my bicycle.  I asked all of my fellow cycle-enthusiasts and, other than a few rather expensive options seen at special events or trade-shows, none of them had seen an affordable option.  Being that we are the one-and-only White Glossy Underground Board we set our nerd-hounds to the task and they almost immediately sniffed out today’s object of affection… the Ram Mount.  We got our hands on one and set to reviewing.

The Set-Up: While not quite a snap-on-with-ease kinda set-up… the Ram Mount wasn’t difficult to set in place.  All I really needed is a steady hand and a socket wrench.  Once attached the double ball-socket arm is incredibly easy to bend and twist into the perfect extension.  Warning: it does look a little awkward protruding from your handlebars at first… but once you telescope it around to your ideal spot it tightens down perfectly (and with ease).

Mount the Phone: A really sweet design aspect that the guys at Ram incorporated with this particular mount is it’s ability to future-adapt.  Meaning?  It’s a universal style device holder that is not limited to a single device type.  iPhone 3G, iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5, Android, Windows Phone, iPod Touch… whatever your mobile poison is, this mount is designed to handle anything you throw at it (INCLUDING being adaptable for your device placed snuggly into any of the huge variety of different cases available!!!).  A feature I’m especially fond of since I tend to upgrade my tech (iPhone 5 has been ordered) every other year or so… and hate the idea of needing to buy a whole new bike mount too.  Big props for this! (More Pictures At the Bottom)

In Action: So now the real question… how does the Ram Mount stand up to real-world interaction?  Answer: Continue reading

Audyssey Desktop Magic… Without the Wires

If you’ve paid even half-attention to what we’ve been blah-blah’ing about over the past 2 years you probably noticed that we are quite fond of a speaker company named Audyssey (You can find past Reviews of their amazing gear HERE).  They create some of the best audio speakers we’ve ever had the happenstance to wander across… and they tickle our audiophile bone with a tremendous force.

In one of our more recent endeavors we told you about their move from Media Center / Living-Room Audio juggernaut to beloved desktop speaker (Feel free to remember along with us HERE).  Well… I think we can honestly say that the brilliant audio-nerds (said with the greatest of bromantic loves) at Audyssey never just roll into work and play Angry Birds all day.  Nope… these guys drop brilliance on our laps, then go into work the next day trying to figure out how they can make it better.  And they have yet again… Introducing Audyssey Wireless Speakers ($299)…

All of the brilliance and masterminded power behind the Lower East Side media speakerand Wireless!  Yes… WIRELESS!!!  Kick clutter and all of that disorganized desk-mess in the ass with the best damn desktop speakers we’ve EVER heard… made wireless!!!  Dudes… I have to admit, I’m a little giddy over the idea of these speakers finally being wished into existence by nerds and audiophiles alike.  There is a definite Wow-Factor behind the sound design in Audyssey speakers… and I, for one, am stoked they’ve taken it to the next level (AGAIN!).

Here’s a quick blurb from the speakers page… and a fun little video to tell us all about it.  Yay Audyssey!

A new class of desktop wireless.

Our Wireless Speakers offer freedom, ease and great sound with the help of Bluetooth® wireless technology. You get all the clarity and power of Audyssey EQ, Dynamic EQ and BassXT. You just lose the wires.

 

#1: iPhone 6??? It Sure Is!!!

iPhone 6 Spec Art

Originally Posted Aug 31st, 2011

While dumpster diving behind Steve Job’s house recently, we came across some top-secret specs of the… are you ready for it????  The iPhone 6…Way before the iPhone 5 iPhone 4s even hits the shelves (October 4th). Here is a quick wrap-up of what we found and even some scans of top-secret doodles.  Apparently Steve Jobs is a really shitty artist.

Will we get sued and put out of business for leaking this info?  Probably… but screw it!!!  We are journalists dedicated to the truth, and our people (that’s you).

Those scans that we found, featuring some pretty incredible tech, for the iPhone 6 are bellow (click on images for a larger view)… and yes, the details for each picture is listed down there as well. You can bet your sweet ass cheeks that we will be camping out like some über Star Wars nerds to pick up this one at midnight..

  1. It will only obey short, one word commands much like a dog. It will also sulk when you yell at it for dropping a call.
  2. Yes, it will provide you with an Asian massage. A complete Asian Massage.
  3. Hidden in the code is a picture of Steve Job’s tumor.
  4. It’s new 20 megapixel camera has x-ray, heat vision, and night vision. As well as target lock function.
  5. It is water, dirt, chemical and outer space proof.
  6. Instead of Bluetooth technology, you will be able to communicate with it telepathically. Yes, you can think about porn and it will show up on your iPhone.
  7. For men it offers a built-in shaver, for woman a home Microdermabrasion kit. However the shaver can only be used on pubes, and the Microdermabrasion on backne.
  8. Hold approximately 1.5 oz. (a single shot) of any liquid
  9. Doubles as a one-time-use taser for debilitating a mugger/robber/drunkwhoresatthebar
  10. Has a 3D screen, for porn.

3D Screen

Flask

Telepathy

X-Ray

Taser

Manscaping

Massage