Wednesday: July 7, 2010
- State of the GLM: Yes, I'm still here. No, I'm not dead.
You may have noticed that GLM has gone rather quiet for the past two-three months or so in terms of any and all content on the site. This post serves as a status update to alleviate any fears that GeekLikeMe is gone for good. Quite the contrary my dear friends. And yes, while I could run down the list of excuses as to why the site hasn't been updated, I'm sure they would just bore you to tears. To save us all some time I shall sum up in two words: work and parenthood.
For work I have been diving into the grand world of Objective-C programming for the past six months and I still haven't managed to come up for air. Hopefully when I'm actually able to take a deep breath I'll have an array of iPhone and iPad apps to show for it. Also on this note I'd like to state that I very well may have taken the most ass-backwards route in getting into a new programming language. Nevertheless, it's been a rewarding and infuriating process thus far but I'm learning a lot and I think it'll turn out well in the end.
I don't think I have to say much about parenthood other than sleep is a sought-after commodity and there are only so many hours in a day. This has turned out to be a major contributing factor to the current lack of posting. Shocker.
But now onto much better news: a new version of GeekLikeMe.net is in the works yet again and I've decided to make a design choice right off the bat. I recently took a trip down memory lane courtesy of archive.org's wayback machine. After feeling somewhat nostalgic about the old GLM design I decided that maybe it was time to return to the minimalist roots yet again. More details and information about the new site coming soon!
P.S. You can also follow me on Twitter even though I have yet to tweet anything. Oops, scratch that.
Tuesday: May 18, 2010
- Microsoft to give Hotmail service a makeover at some point this summer.
...users will encounter a first screen that’s on overview of new messages, sorted into categories, with e-mails from known contacts in the top heap, updates from services like Facebook and Twitter at the bottom, and a bar up top that lets you send a status message.
- A handy tutorial on how to create your very own realistic soda bottle in Photoshop.
An interesting tutorial for those interested in dabbling with some photo-realistic effects from scratch. When all is said done you'll be way more familiar with the pen tool as well as the ancient art of dodging and burning. Now if you'll excuse me, I am in dire need of a cool glass of Crystal Pepsi.
Monday: May 17, 2010
- YouTube now gets about two billion hits on a daily basis.
YouTube has decided to share this information just as they turn a whopping five years old. According to the source article, the first video ever posted to the service can still be found on their site to this day (and you can view it here). Congratulations and a happy birthday, the Interwebs have enjoyed many a rickroll thanks to you.
- Ten ways to upgrade your morning routine according to Lifehacker.
Covers everything from contemplative morning thinking to ditching the morning java and cranking out some push-ups. Fun fact: for the past five years GLM was exclusively done as a morning blog. Don't look so shocked.
- A gallery of the world's worst playgrounds through the playful eye of Photoshop.
As a kid did anyone ever actually play a game of Tic Tac Toe on one of these things? Who thought this was a good idea? Oh, and be careful going down that twisty slide, you may get wet.
Wednesday: May 12, 2010
- Apple seems to have lost yet another iPhone prototype.
Here we go again - not sure how Apple would've been able to make the same mistake twice given the publicity of the last prototype that was lost. A teardown of the device has revealed an Apple branded microchip, just like the iPad.
- Marvel and Disney character mashups through the mutated eye of Photoshop.
Mike Wazowski is Bruce Banner as The Incredible Myopic Hulk - and there's your plot for The Incredible Hulk 2 (or 3?) and/or Monsters Inc 2. The scary part is that legally, this can actually be made (Disney owns Marvel) and someone in Hollywood probably thinks its a good idea.
Tuesday: May 11, 2010
- Scientists discover that colossal squid is actually just a lazy pink blob.
The researchers found that the colossal squid would have had a slower metabolism and so moved slower than expected, waiting for prey rather than running it down. 'Everyone thought it was an aggressive predator, but the data suggests otherwise,' Rosa told LiveScience.
- Have a peek at some near-final screenshots of the Windows Phone 7 interface.
I find parts of this user interface to be very depressing (granted it's not final but near-final sounds like their pretty close). The data entry screens are bland, colorless, and lifeless. Almost as if you're signing a death warrant on someone when you want to add them as a contact. Not very inviting.
- A showcase of blogs with unique post designs for your viewing pleasure.
It seems like these days everyone is using the same old blog template or the same tired Wordpress theme (although I've seen some pretty amazing Tumblr themes). Regardless, I'm a sucker for blogs that don't actually look like your average blog and stray from the formula. The end result is what some are calling a 'blogazine'. Enjoy.
- Microsoft would like you know that Natal will launch this October.
Get your imaginary baseballs and soccer balls (anything imaginary will do really) ready because Project Natal will be available for your beloved Xbox 360 this October. Microsoft hasn't nailed down an exact date that month but they think they'll have that ironed out by the time E3 rolls around.
- Instruments + Animals + Photoshop = Instranimals
Start your morning right with a little bit of Photoshop and you'll see what happens when an entirely new species is created. All glory to the hypno-trumpet-toad!
Monday: May 10, 2010
- Seven simple and useful command line tips just for you.
Ever had a hankering to dive into some Terminal-related tasks? This post serves as a good guide (or refresher for some of us) for those looking to get back into some command-line action. Go ahead, have a bash.
- A new crop of images have surfaced online for the upcoming Tron sequel.
I'm loving the upgrades to some of the items from the original Tron and seeing how they've been reimagined for this generation. C'mon, you know you'd want to take a ride on a light cycle. And remember kids, Tron Legacy is due in theaters this December. END OF LINE.
Monday: April 26, 2010
- NASA releases brand new Hubble images in honor of the telescope's 20th birthday.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured over 570,000 images of roughly 30,000 objects in our known Universe? What, you didn't know that? Then go ahead and start your day off right with some additional cosmic photography.
Tuesday: April 20, 2010
- Apple would like their device back from Gizmodo, sends official letter.
Well, this whole story just keeps getting more interesting every minute. Apple has acknowledged the existence of said missing device and sent notice asking for return. Gizmodo has decided to post the letter along with a casual smart-alecky response as well. Not a good way to win brownie points or future media event invitations.
- Everything you need to know about that recently leaked iPhone and the story thus far.
If you haven't heard by now (which you probably have but we'll continue anyway) Gizmodo mysteriously got their hands on a prototype of the next generation iPhone which was supposedly left in a bar by an Apple employee. This breach of Apple security and the entire story itself is raising all kinds of questions about media ethics.
- Some amazing photos of that pesky volcanic ash for you to gawk at.
If you happened to be doing some overseas traveling over the past few days you might have noticed a delay or two (possibly more numerous than that). While this would've made for a really good excuse to justify the lack of recent GLM postings, sadly (or happily - depending how you look at it) it wasn't the case. More on that later.
Tuesday: April 13, 2010
- Twenty of the greatest Monty Python sketches for your silly viewing pleasure.
Minister: lt's not particularly silly, is it? I mean, the right leg isn't silly at all and the left leg merely does a forward aerial half turn every alternate step. Mr Pudey: Yes, but I think that with Government backing I could make it very silly.
- Unlikely underwater sports through the aquatic eye of Photoshop.
In the future we will all be able to take part in the great spectable that is Dolphin Racing. I wonder if anyone submitted anything of the Blitzball variety - that would have just been nerdtastic.
Friday: April 9, 2010
- Honest products through the truthful eye of Photoshop.
You can always count on a Photoshop contest to reveal the true nature of popular products and services. You'll also get a quick education about the popular consensus of said product and/or service. Handy and redundant.
- Always wondered what America's top fifty franchises are? Wonder no more.
Wow, look at all those orange slices. If you're thinking that McDonald's is the top American franchise, your close - but try again. I'll give you a hint: their best-selling product rhymes with Shmurpee.
Thursday: April 8, 2010
- A collection of twenty-five outstanding Photoshop lighting effect tutorials just for you.
Yes, this post is just lighting effects galore. you can learn (or attempt to learn) everything from solar eclipse effects all the way over to retro-style Tron grids. End of line.
Tuesday: April 6, 2010
- Microsoft sends out press invitations for mystery event on April 12.
Microsoft seems to be a little tired of Apple hogging all the spotlight these days. The only information on the invite is something vague about it being 'time to share'. Hold on to your hats and/or excitement - whichever comes first.
- Edible architecture through the delicious eye of Photoshop.
Yet another quality Photoshop contest from the folks at Worth1000.com. Be warned, viewing some of the submissions in this post may cause hunger pangs and/or a strange desire to go play Candyland. Now exit my burger hole.
Monday: April 5, 2010
- Google acquires Episodic, will be folded into YouTube in the near future.
Episodic, a San Francisco-based start-up founded by Noam Lovinsky and Matias Cudich, describes itself as a 'comprehensive platform for broadcasting live and on-demand video to the web or any web-enabled device.' Episodic announced the acquisition in a blog post Friday.
Thursday: April 1, 2010
- Walt Mossberg's review of the Apple iPad now online.
It's qualitatively different, a whole new type of computer that, through a simple interface, can run more-sophisticated, PC-like software than a phone does, and whose large screen allows much more functionality when compared with a phone's.
Tuesday: March 30, 2010
- Alternative Easter bunnies through the fuzzy-tailed eye of Photoshop.
Looking at some of these entries brings up joyful memories of that Cadbury bunny try-out commercial which you can watch for yourself over on YouTube. Buck-meow, buck-meow, Buck-ROAR!
Friday: March 26, 2010
- Celebrity neanderthals through the palaeolithic era of Photoshop.
You may very well be looking at the next line of those Geico ads (quick, hide this post from the suits). And yes, being a celebrity is so easy even a cavemen apparently could do it.