If you are having a hard time finding someone who will listen to you...

At least now you can talk with your browser.

Those of you who are familiar with Google Search on Android phones know that to initiate a search, they can go into Google Search (aka, Google Now) say:

OK, Google

You can now do that on your browser on your PC with the free Chrome extension from Google available here:

• http://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-voice-search-hotwo/bepbmhgboaologfdajaanbcjmnhjmhfn

Unfortunately, it looks like this version is not as connected as the Android version as the Android version will check your personal information to help answer your questions.

Here is a sample list of Google Voice searches you can perform:

(Graphic from TrendBlog.net.)

More references:

• http://lifehacker.com/everything-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-google-voi-512727229
• http://techblog.tv/google-now-commands-google-voice-search-commands-android-video/
• http://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2842392?hl=en

As mentioned above, some of these commands are specific to be used with your Android device. However, many can still be used on your PC.

Just as an example:

When does Target close?

Lots faster than trying to find it yourself. Unfortunately, not all questions are answered directly, and instead, Google will do a Google search on what you said, but still…

OK, Google. Who is the fairest of them all?

See more progress on: be entertained

I want one...

BBC reports Yves Rossy flies around Mt. Fuji in his own jetpack.

Click the above image for the video report from BBC.

“Fly in the most natural way possible, just like a bird”??? Does a bird fly 186mi/300km per hour?

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

Even though seeing is believing...

You shouldn’t necessarily believe your own eyes if you see ghosts…

Click the above image for the video…

See more progress on: be entertained

Super slo-mo firebreathing is always entertaining

Click the above image for the video.

See more progress on: be entertained

They've finally built a prototype transporter!!

Yes, like the one in Star Trek!

Yes, this was recorded live from a shopping mall! Not trick photography!

Click the image for the video. I’m not sure I like the part where they don’t quite know where you’ll be teleported, though.

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

This is cute. They've now built robots who know how to ask for help...

Click the above image to see how robots can ask for help when they are not able to do their programmed tasks and need a human to help out.

Or in other words… we’ve now learned how to build LAZY robots!!

See more progress on: be entertained

Apple announces the new iPhone 5s and 5c

Here is a video which covers what you may have missed in today’s announcements and identifies the target audience for the new products.

Click on the above image for the video.

See more progress on: be entertained

Technology is very entertaining...

as well as amazing…

I’m sure all of you can remember Minority Report where Tom Cruise works on a computer just by using gestures with his hands. Future smuture. That’s old hat now. Both Xbox Kinect and the Leap controller can do that today.

I mentioned the Leap controller in this post and you can go to their website here to see how you can Minority Report like capabilities today.

I haven’t watched Iron Man yet. None of them. Not because I don’t want to, but I haven’t had time to watch movies. Work gets in the way. (I hate when that happens.)

Anyway, some of you who did see Iron Man, in particular these scenes apparently from Iron Man II where ‎Robert Downey Jr. does design work in 3D. You can see a videoclip from YouTube of this by clicking the image below. It’s a 6-minute video. You can watch just the first montage to get the idea.

Future smuture. That’s now old hat too. Elon Musk demonstrates his 3D design software. Click the below image to see a demo of his software.

See more progress on: be entertained

In a continuing series of

“Why do dogs get all the coolest gadgets?” (for example, here), a Swedish company is developing a floating carpet which can hold small pets.

Of course, I don’t know if this image is just photoshopped or not.

References:

• http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/07/play/swedish-house-mafia

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

Sayings for the new world...

Courtesy of Doghouse Diaries

See more progress on: be entertained

Finally someone helps us understand the difference between geek and nerd

as described here: http://slackprop.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/on-geek-versus-nerd/

There’s also a useful infographic to help:

Click the above for a more detailed image.

So, it’s fairly close, but seems like I’m more of a nerd than a geek.

See more progress on: be entertained

I want one of these...

Not for a dog which I don’t have, but for me!

This allows a dog (or a human in my case) to play fetch all by oneself. Click the above image for the video or you can go to the Kickstarter page for a different video.

This is not too different than the device which I posted in 2008: http://www.43things.com/entries/view/2887213

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

Self-driving and hands free parking cars seems like old hat...

Even parking your car with your phone as I posted here seems like old hat…

But what about autonomous self-parking cars? Imagine you can drop yourself off near the door at the shopping mall and then just let your car find an free parking spot and park itself? And then your car can come pick you up when you’re done shopping.

How cool is that?

Click on the above image for a video.

No more battling for parking spots. Then you can have battling self-parking cars.

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

I don't bike, but this would be a good reason to start...

You can click the above image for the Kickstarter project working on this product.

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

This looks promising...

A way to control your home stereo with your smart phone…

A video of how it works is available from the above page (available by clicking the image). They could have at least taken a better picture of the product. The reflections make it look like it has smudges on it.

Even the product name is rather interesting…

Blu moo

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

In honor of the upcoming Star Trek moving coming out this summer

here is a video of the old Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and the new Spock (Zachary Quinto) in an Audi spot:

It’s sort of long, but worth it (if you’re a Trekkie).

See more progress on: be entertained

How disappointing! How could Scion

take such a beautifully sculpted concept car

and turn it into:

When I compare the concept car to the production car, it’s not just the color in these pics, and it’s not just the difference in the headlights. I’m going to guess that the concept car sat lower and definitely the concept car has more details. I don’t know why they would have eliminated those details. I imagine costs had something to do with it, but they are going to lose market share if they focus purely on costs rather than design.

References:

• Scion concept car from 2011 New York Auto Show: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/scion-fr-s-concept-official-photos-and-info-news
• 2013 Scion FR-S images from http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-scion-fr-s-second-drive/#photo-4985149

See more progress on: research and compare

You know, I'm not that keen on getting a pool...

A pool… Nah. But an island? Yes!

From: http://freshome.com/2013/04/03/gorgeous-contemporary-home-inspired-by-the-summer/
Designed by: Canny

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

Have you hugged your storage device today?

Today is World Backup Day

There’s even a website:

http://www.worldbackupday.com/

And why is this under entertainment? The website even has a game…

See more progress on: be entertained

Documentary on the Destruction of the Death Star--A conspiracy?

This “documentary” tries to prove that the destruction of the Death Star was no fluke.

Click the above image for the video. (OK, image is not related to the video.) And perhaps you really have to be a Star Wars fan to appreciate it. The video is 7 minutes long.

I already posted the latest Star Trek trailer, replacing the original one I posted, but it looks so good, I’ll provide the link again here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NztelRacqY8

See more progress on: be entertained

Good design

is always entertaining…

Here’s a new website for weather information: forecast.io

See more progress on: be entertained

Someone decided to see if geeks are funny...

So James Percelay, Gabe Johnson, and David Carr put together this video of geeks telling jokes:

#

And the answer is a resounding

Yes!!!

_{OK, I guess “resounding” is a relative term…}

Click the above image for the video.

_{I wonder how many people are going to stick their earbuds up their nose now…}

See more progress on: be entertained

Google Shoes?

First, Google Glass.. Now, Google Shoes?

At first, I thought it was some type of spoof, but Google did show off some “smart shoes” at SXSW.

However, Google says they have no interest to be in the shoe market.

Click the above image for the video…

And speaking of Google Glass, you can see the real video of Google Glass in action in my post here or you can see this video of how guys will really use Google Glass.

Click the above image for the video.

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

Google Glass

gets knocked because it looks very dorky…

but Google has released a video of the experience of using Google Glass.

You can click the above image for the video.

It’s still cool.

Bonus: Click here for a video of the skydiving jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uh-liQDE3cM

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

A manufacturer has debuted

a transparent TV!

So I suppose it can be practical when you don’t want your TV to be an eye sore. Since it is transparent, you could have nice decorations behind the TV…

However, for TVs to work, you need a source for the backlighting. In this case, they’ve separated that from the TV but the backlight is immediately behind the screen… So it’s not quite clear how practical this is yet.
Oh well, did I mention, it’s 3D!!!!

Picture from: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/10/hisense-transparent-tv

---

I think everyone is familiar with the Microsoft Kinect which can detect your movements, so you can play video games without a controller… and people have used the Microsoft Kinect for various projects, like creating a Minority Report type of interface to the computer to drag and drop by just moving your hands.

Another manufacturer Leap Motion is coming out with a product which is meant to be an attachment to your computer… So you can have all the advantages of a touch interface without actually touching the screen. And you know what this means, no more fingerprints and smudges on your touch-enabled screens!

Click the above image for their website and a demonstration video.

---

And speaking of smudges on your devices, don’t you hate it when you have fingerprints and smudges on your tablet? So why not get a Roomba-like cleaning device for your tablet!

Sorry, no video.

---

But why flail your arms around which can be tiresome anyway? Another manufacturer has made it possible to navigate on your computer just by looking at your screen. Moving your eyes will move the mouse pointer. It will also allow you to scroll content on your screen. But left blinking and right blinking can be tricky. Just kidding. No left blinking or right blinking.

Can be useful for those with disabilities… or those with hands full at the moment… or those of us who are just too lazy!

Click on the above image for the video on the product. No price yet, but the developer’s model is $995. Ouch!

---

Earlier I posted here that if life can be a game, then you may be more motivated to do things.

What if cleaning can be made fun, too? Perhaps with a remote control duster and remote control garbage can, it can!

Click the above image for the commercial. Warning: You’d better have your credit card ready because I’m sure you’ll want to buy it as soon as you see how much fun cleaning can be!

See more progress on: get the latest gadgets whether they are practical or not

The Android rolling cat live wallpaper and rolling dog live wallpaper are adorable!

Hmmm, does any adjective describe them better than that?

You can click on the respective image for a video of the live wallpaper. Hours of fun just watching, I would think!

See more progress on: be entertained