Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Daily Crunch: Landscape Portrait Edition

Meet The Robostir, A Robotic Soup Stirrer Must-Have For Minecraft Fans: Grass Block Mousepad Review: ThinkGeek iCADE iPad Arcade Game Bowers & Wilkins Announce The Tiny PM1 Audiophile-Class Compact Loudspeaker Do Not Swallow: Olympus Releases Tiny E-PL Promotional Cameras

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/06/15/daily-crunch-landscape-portrait/

INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM)

Worn-Out, Pre-Skidded Tires for ?Fixie? Fashion Victims

Hey, “fixie” riders: You have the skinny pants, the Kryptonite Evo Mini lock, and you convinced your parents to let you have a sleeve tattoo. You even even managed to pick out a my-first-bike color-scheme more eye-searingly colorful than those of your friends. But what you lack is cred. To be more specific, what you [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/01/worn-out-pre-skidded-tires-for-fixie-fashion-victims/

SYNNEX SYNOPSYS

SEO Services

It’s hard to find reliable SEO Services these days. Heck make a single seo related post on Twitter and you’ll magically find yourself with 25+ new followers all trying to sell you their seo services. Get yourself on the first or second page of Google and you’ll start getting phone calls. It’s annoying because if [...]

Source: http://winewithmark.info/archives/676

Ricky Carmichael Roger De Coster

Ipad Headrest Mount ? The Best For Moving Around

When driving, moving around, traveling, or simply riding in a car, things can get hectic, and distractions abound. If you?re driving you don?t want to take your eyes off the road in order to move forward with typing or utilizing your ipad in anyway. In some states doing so could result in a hefty fine and ticket, which is bad news no matter how you slice it. Getting moving forward with a way to make sure that you can use [...]

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/ipad-headrest-mount-the-best-for-moving-around/

SYNTAXBRILLIAN SYNTEL

IBM Buys HTML5 App Development Company WorkLight For $70M To Expand Mobile Enterprise Services

worklightIBM just announced the purchase of WorkLight, an Israeli startup that provides a mobile app development and infrastructure software. IBM says the acquisition will help expand the enterprise mobile capabilities it offers to clients. Financial terms were not disclosed but we've heard that the acquisition price is around $70 million, according to Israeli publication Calcalist. WorkLight, which has raised $18 million in funding, allows organizations develop and deliver HTML5, hybrid and native applications with, and deliver these applications with mobile middleware, security features and integrated data management and analytics. Worklight dramatically reduces time to market, cost and complexity while enabling better customer and employee user experiences across more devices.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/r_VRpt9Co9k/

SYNTEL TAKETWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Phonak Aud�o PFE 232 Earphones Review

I?m torn about the PFE 232 Earphones from Phonak Audeo. They are about the best sounding universal-fit earphones I?ve yet heard. They are well made, extremely comfortable, customizable (more on that later), and have replaceable cables. But wow, are they expensive. There is no getting around that. It?s an elephant in the room you can?t [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/01/29/phonak-audeo-pfe-232-earphones-review/

SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED SYMANTEC

Scrabble Helper helps you improve your Words With Friends gameplay

scrabblehelper
If you play Scrabble (or a scrabble-like game) from time to time, you may want to check out Scrabble Helper. This simple website is a godsend when you're at a loss for words. Simply enter whatever letters you have, and the word you'd like to connect with. Scrabble helper comes up with a whole bunch of suggestions sorted by score.

The site lets you select one of five dictionaries - Scrabble International/US, Lexulous International/US, and Words With Friends. Some people might say this constitutes cheating -- I think if the other side knows you're doing it, it's definitely not cheating. And it doesn't take the challenge out of the game, because implementing Scrabble Helper's suggestions and deciding which words you'd like to connect with still takes a fair bit of thought.

Very handy, though perhaps not one for the Scrabble puritans in the crowd.

Scrabble Helper helps you improve your Words With Friends gameplay originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/14/scrabble-helper-helps-you-improve-your-words-with-friends-gamepl/

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Scoop the Spectator and Win a Kindle Fire

We're a little over a week away from Wine Spectator unveiling their 2011 Wine of the Year. As we have the past couple years, we're running a contest to see who can guess the top wine ahead of time.

This year we're playing for a Kindle Fire ($199 value!) sponsored by New York wine retailer Grapes the Wine Company.

Here are the Rules:
  1. Submit your guess as a comment on this blog post.
  2. One guess per person.
  3. The first person to guess a specific wine "owns" that wine as their entry.  Subsequent guesses of the same wine aren't useful so look at the previous comments before submitting your entry.
  4. If nobody guesses the 2011 Wine Spectator Wine of Year, the guess with the highest position on the list will win the prize.
  5. Not that they'd try, but Wine Spectator editors aren't allowed to enter. And if you have inside information please don't spoil the fun for others by entering. But if you do know please E-mail me and let me know. ;)
  6. Since the Kindle Fire is US-only at this point, a winning entry from outside the U.S. will receive a $199 Amazon.com gift card.
Wine Spectator describes their criteria as follows:
  • Quality (represented by score)
  • Value (reflected by release price)
  • Availability (measured by cases made or imported)
  • An X-factor we call excitement.
    But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect our editors? judgment and passion about the wines we tasted.
Last year's winner was the 98WS/$67 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles. With only 950 cases produced this wine was never in play for folks not on Saxum's mailing list which made the wine a surprising pick to me.

The year before, the 95WS/$27 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve was more in line with what I think makes Spectator's Wine of the Year interesting. The wine was widely available at warehouse clubs in the high $20s prior to the announcement and now sells for over $100 at auction.

To be successful, I think you need to have a sense for what category the publication would like to make a statement about. After the Saxum announcement heavy coverage came out about Paso Robles, and Saxum seemed to capture the essence of what's going on in the region. With the Columbia Crest Reserve the sentiment seemed to be value.

What will they choose this year? 2009 California Pinot Noir? (best vintage evar!) 2006 Brunello? Bordeaux (2005) and Chateauneuf (2007) seem to be in a lull until 2009/2010. Napa Cab hit a peak in 2007 and didn't make the cut last year. Is there a new region they might like to highlight?

The thing is - and sometimes this is forgotten when crunching the numbers - the wine needs to stand up to the scrutiny of all the Spectator editors. Not just the person covering the region. That's where I think there's some merit in tracking down wines in the Spectator Top 10. They tend to be pretty darn good wines if you can get your hands on them.

Interesting side note: Last year's winner went on to do some freelance writing for Wine Spectator. Demonstrate your savvy here and you could work your way into a wine writing job in the big leagues!

Ready, set, GO! Leave your entry below as a comment.

Drop me an email (wellesleywinepress@gmail.com) or hit me up on Twitter (@RobertDwyer) if you have any questions.

And let's let Grapes the Wine Company's Daniel Posner know we appreciate his making this contest more interesting by signing up for his mailing list (he offers some amazing deals) and/or giving him a shout-out on Twitter (@grapestwc). 

Contest closes Friday, November 11th at 11:59 pm Eastern.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/3mN7dCXZwYo/scoop-spectator-and-win-kindle-fire.html

WESTERN DIGITAL VOLT INFORMATION SCIENCES

Monday, January 30, 2012

First Look: Lunch at The Capital Grille Boston

It seems like just yesterday, but The Capital Grille Boston moved from Newbury to Boylston Street this past August. I had my first look at the space when I stopped in for lunch with a friend recently. The new restaurant is grand - graciously proportioned, sophisticated, and comfortable. More than twice as large as the original, the location is now open for lunch, served primarily in a sleek lounge area with large windows overlooking the adjacent Boylston, Dalton and Hereford streets.
I arrived shortly before they opened to take some photos of the space. The style is somewhat similar to the Burlington, Massachusetts Capital Grille but the build quality feels a touch higher at the downtown location. It also feels more spacious which is surprising given that this is a downtown location.

Some familiar portraits convey from the old site, but this is very much a 100% new space. I was thinking I might miss the old restaurant with its ornate dark wood and good old boys club feel. But after a short walk around the room I felt right at home. I can't wait to make it back for a birthday dinner.
We took a seat in the lounge for lunch, as did most others that day. Seating near the bar in the old location was tight but this one is very comfortable. A "Plates" menu option provides a good value - a choice of soup or salad along with a protein and a side for $15.
We split a wedge salad -- I feel cheated if I visit and don't get one -- along with selections from the Plates menu and a Tres Picos Garancha by the glass. I really want to try more Grenache in the coming year and this wine is a good example of why. Rich fruit flavors with caramel notes in the background. Quite affordable at retail too from around $12 (search for it at retail on wine-searcher.com).
Our server and several others recommended the Porcini Bisque. I'm glad we took their advice - it was fantastic. It's a dark creamy soup served with a streak of chive oil. Mix that in and you've got a delicious hearty start to your meal.
I couldn't pass up the Mini Tenderloin Sandwiches with Truffle Fries. Our server recommended the Lobster Roll or the "Knife and Fork" BLT but we couldn't be swayed. The tenderloin sliders were very good, but I've never been blown away by their truffle fries. Even if they sound and look delicious they're just so-so. I probably should have gone with one of the vegetable sides.
That said I enjoyed every bite, along with a wine off their higher end by-the-glass list: A 2010 Markham Pinot Noir that's unfortunately a Capital Grille exclusive. Highly recommended next time you stop in.

The Plates menu is designed to get you in and out in 45 minutes. We must have lingered a little more than normal (we were on vacation) and ended up spending about 2 hours there. Note they don't have valet service at lunch. I was able to find nearby street parking (bring your quarters) but I hear the garage near the Kings bowling alley is a good option.

The Plates menu evolves in early January to feature more wintery selections including -- get this -- a Wagyu Cheeseburger with Fried Egg and Crisp Onions.

I snapped the photo below on the way out. I think it captures the new location brilliantly. Polished and solid as a rock, but in the reflection you can see the old charm of the Back Bay neighborhood it is situated within:
Check 'em out:
The Capital Grille Boston
900 Boylston Street
617-262-8900
http://www.thecapitalgrille.com

Coming Soon: The WWP Top 25 Wines of 2011 - subscribe and you'll be one of the first to hear.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/G7294aBul5Q/first-look-lunch-at-capital-grille.html

Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels

Sky Anytime+ achieves impossible, will carry iPlayer (and ITV Player)

Sky Anytime+ achieves impossible, will carry iPlayer (and ITV Player)
Sky's burgeoning Anytime+ VOD platform is getting a hefty boost today. It was previously open only to customers who also hitched to Sky Broadband, but that restriction's being gently relaxed: opening it up to all five million Sky+HD box owners. It's also somehow sweet-talked deadly rivals BBC and ITV into letting their offerings onto the platform -- with ITV Player arriving tomorrow and iPlayer slated for arrival later in the year. Head past the break for the official line while we sit here and grumble about the company buying up all the UK rights to Mad Men and charging a kings ransom.

Continue reading Sky Anytime+ achieves impossible, will carry iPlayer (and ITV Player)

Sky Anytime+ achieves impossible, will carry iPlayer (and ITV Player) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/fCVRMgIs2RI/

Intel INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Eater Giveaways : Score Gratis Advanced Tix to Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2012/01/25/score_gratis_advanced_tix_to_jiro_dreams_of_sushi.php

LINEAR TECHNOLOGY LSI

No podcasts tonight, see you Wednesday!

Sadly there will be no Apps and Accessories Live or ZEN and TECH tonight as Rene is delayed en route back from Macworld 2012 and Seth is, according to Rene,


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/musuturCnDI/story01.htm

Mike Harris Mike Hawthorn

Engadget Mobile Podcast 123 - 01.29.2012


If a BlackBerry falls from the bush in the forest, but there are no bloggers to blog about it, does it make a sound? The Engadget Mobile Podcasters answer this question at length with the help of the one and only CrackBerry Kevin.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen
Guests: Kevin Michaluk, Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:04:24 - Editorial: RIM's new CEO isn't the shakeup it needed






Hear the podcast


Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)

Contact the podcast

podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.

Follow us on Twitter
@tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile @sean_cooper @crackberrykevin

Engadget Mobile Podcast 123 - 01.29.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/engadget-mobile-podcast-123-01-29-2012/

Rick Burgett Ricky Carmichael

Value Alert: 2009 Ninety+ Cellars Pinot Noir Lot 47 Reserve

The day after I tasted this wine I ordered a case. To give you an idea of how rare that is, I haven't ordered a straight case of any wine since 2005.

I've tasted over 100 different Pinot Noirs this year and the 2009 vintage from California has been a winner - more on that in this tasting report. I was leafing through Spectator's Wine of the Year issue last night and their crowning of a Cali Pinot Noir felt like a statement that California Pinot Noir deserves attention in serious wine enthusiasts' rotation.

90+ Cellars is a Boston-based company whose business model is to take finished, bottled wines from producers with a pedigree of 90 point ratings and deliver them to consumers at a fraction of the cost of the original label.

Their selections have come from all over the world. Their "Reserve" designation tends to be assigned to wines with a higher price point and esteem than their regular label - but their wines rarely exceed the $20 retail mark. This wine is available at retail for around $15 and I think it would fool a lot of people in a blind tasting of $40-$60 wines. Ample production should make this relatively easy to attain.

My Notes:

2009 Ninety+ Cellars Pinot Noir Lot 47 Reserve
14.5% alcohol
$17.99 (compare to $27.99)
2,400 Cases Produced

I think our friends at 90+ have caught lightning in a bottle with this one. Confusingly similar to Sanford on the low-end and Sea Smoke on the high-end. Utterly delicious.

Perfect floral/fruit-driven SoCal Pinot aromatics are the first things I noticed followed up by a satisfying experience on the palate. This one will sell out in a flash. I'm curious who the producer is. Fantastic stuff. Wow.

92/100 WWP: Outstanding

For more information or to purchase this wine directly from 90+ Cellars visit their website. I'll look forward to comparing notes.

Sample for review.

Question of the Day: Have you tried this wine? If so - what did you think?


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/WhYCM7s9hQw/value-alert-2009-ninety-cellars-pinot.html

JDA SOFTWARE GROUP JDS UNIPHASE

Corel releases VideoStudio Pro X4, we go hands on (video)

videostudioprox4
Corel seems to be on a roll lately; after releasing WinZip System Utilities just last week, this morning the company announced VideoStudio Pro X4.

VideoStudio Pro is aimed at home users and small business professionals who want to create professional-looking videos, but without the hassle, steep learning curve and price of Adobe Premiere Pro and the likes.

This new version introduces several features:
  • Stop motion animation: You can now capture still frames using a webcam, camcorder or DSLR and use them to produce an animation. Tools such as "onion skin view" let you compare the previous image in the sequence with the current one and make the animation as smooth as possible.
  • Processor optimization: Corel says the app is optimized for Intel's new Sandy Bridge systems, and have shown us some graphs with very impressive numbers. We've been unable to test this particular point, but if you have a recent-generation Intel or AMD Fusion system, VideoStudio performance should be blazing. Even on our older test system performance was quite impressive.
  • Customizable workspace: You can drag the video preview window to your secondary monitor (if you have one) and tweak just about any other element in the window layout. Once done, you can save your ideal workspace in one of three slots.
  • Share-to-Web: VideoStudio Pro X4 hooks directly into YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and Flickr, so you don't even have to launch a browser to upload your final product. Edit, produce and share from within the app itself.
  • Smart Package: Video projects typically consist of many files; Smart Package lets you bundle all video assets for a given project into one ZIP file which you can password-protect and keep in a safe place once you're done editing.
I've had a chance to play around with a pre-release version for a few days, and have put it through its paces editing a short video for my day job. Overall, I've been impressed with how easy it was to create pro-looking results. If you do any sort of video editing but are leery of the investment other apps require (both in dollars and effort), VideoStudio Pro is well worth checking out. To see a bit of the interface itself and what the app can do, watch the video after the jump.

Note: We'll be running a give-away of ten VideoStudio Pro X4 licenses later today, each worth $100 USD. Keep your eyes peeled for the giveaway post!

Continue reading Corel releases VideoStudio Pro X4, we go hands on (video)

Corel releases VideoStudio Pro X4, we go hands on (video) originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/22/corel-releases-videostudio-pro-x4-we-go-hands-on/

Damon Hill Graham Hill

Last Minute Deals for the 2012 Boston Wine Expo

 
Looking for coupon codes for this year's Boston Wine Expo? A couple last minute deals have surfaced...

The first is from Groupon and offers $50 tickets for Sunday. The current price for Sunday is $85 so this represents a good last minute savings. You may recall the early bird Sunday price was $70 so in this case you can actually save a little by procrastinating.

The second is a $25 off coupon code for Wine Spectator subscribers for the Grand Cru Lounge which reduces the price from $175 down to $150.

I'm planning on attending the Expo Sunday so ping  me on Twitter @RobertDwyer or drop me an email (wellesleywinepress@gmail.com) if you're going to be there. I'd love to say hello.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/AQuyD55la9M/last-minute-deals-for-2012-boston-wine.html

Damon Hill Graham Hill

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Gold lunch box, Osechiriyori priced at $234,000

People who have lived on this earth with a silver spoon in their mouths can afford to spend $234,000 to have a grand meal from a luxurious and elegant lunch box. To celebrate the 180th anniversary of Japanese company, Takashimaya in grand style, this departmental store has introduced a three storey lunch box, Osechiriyori. This [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/koNW3EEMWbw/

Insight Enterprises Intel

Notable Boston-area Weekend Wine Tastings

a glass of wine On Saturday from noon to 5 pm, Wine ConneXtion in North Andover is hosting a 90 Points and Above tasting. Whether you love the points or not, it might be worth heading out to try the 2008 Anderson's Conn Valley Estate Reserve Cabernet they're pouring. The wine was rated 98 points by Robert Parker and is currently carrying an impressive 95 point CellarTracker rating. Best price in the country on Wine-Searcher is $85.99 - they've got it for $62.99 (plus no tax in MA). Nice price. Start calculating how much the gas will cost you to get there!

You might not have heard about The Boston Globe's 2011 Plonkapalooza (since it's all paywalled up these days) but on Saturday, from 3 pm - 5 pm West Concord Liquors is having a tasting of a lot of the winners from Plonkapalooza.

On Sunday from 1 pm - 5 pm, Fifth Ave Liquors in Framingham is having a Tasting Extravaganza. Check the link for a list of over 100 wines they'll be pouring - a nice range of styles and price points. All non-sale wines on sale 20% off for the day.

Also on Sunday, from 1 pm - 4 pm is a Turkey & Wine Tasting at Bin Ends in Braintree. They're serving up the classic New England Thanksgiving dinner, with turkey, trimmings, and pie along with a selection of fine wines, sparklers, and dessert wines.

Photo Credit: Jenny Downing

Question of the Day: Any other cool tastings going on this weekend?


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/-tt0tnjW-LY/notable-boston-area-weekend-wine.html

TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS

Everything You Need to Keep Your Teeth from Rotting Out [Toolkit]

Poor oral hygiene is the surest way to make sure you have a bunch of personal space all to yourself. At all times. With no exceptions. Which probably isn't something that you really want! So here's a list of stuff that'll keep your loved ones close and your dentist the hell away from you. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/WkF7HAn3DQQ/

JDS UNIPHASE Jimmy Button