Daily Bits

No Need for Wristbands if You Have iPod Nano Magnets

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Arm Magnets iPod Nano holder
iPod Nano magnets
The latest generation iPod Nano is brilliant in more ways than one, but it seems that with all its brilliance, there are still some people who are not totally satisfied with it.

Ever had the problem of how to hold your Nano, or where to place it, securely?

If you’re simply sitting or lying down while listening to music, there really shouldn’t be any issue. However, if you are the kind who uses the Nano while walking, jogging, running, cycling, or whatever it is that you like doing, then you probably have had your share of shopping for wristbands, straps, and other contraptions to hold the mp3 player in place. [Read more…] about No Need for Wristbands if You Have iPod Nano Magnets

Pretty Soon, You Can 3D Print Your Own Guitar

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3d printed guitar
Spider Guitar - 3D Printed
Are you one of those who get mesmerized by an awesome-looking guitar in the hands of a talented musician? I sure am, and I cannot count the times that I have (almost) drooled over a really good guitar. Not that I can really play well, but a beautiful guitar (that sounds good as well) is something that I always appreciate.

If you are the same way, then you will like the idea of the Spider Guitar, which is a 3D printed guitar. The idea is “owned” by Olaf Diegel, a mechatronics professor at Massey University. What a mechatronics professor does exactly – don’t ask me! ((Wikipedia on mechatronics))

Diegel used to only dream about his 3D printed guitars, but thanks to the development of 3D printers – and the fact that his school is fortunate enough to have several desktop 3D printers – the professor was able to create real guitars, albeit rather small. The limitation, obviously, is the size of the printers. However, Diegel is already looking forward to the possibility of the school having a large-scale printer before the year ends. [Read more…] about Pretty Soon, You Can 3D Print Your Own Guitar

Wi-Fi Blocking Wallpaper to Keep Signal Thieves Away

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Wallpaper blocks Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Wallpaper
How many stories can you tell about your neighbors stealing your Wi-Fi signal? Or maybe it is the other way around? If you live in a building, then the chances are that you will have quite some stories to tell.

If you are tired of having people leeching off you, you will love what a team of researchers from Grenoble Institut Polytechnique and the Centre Technique du Papier (France) have developed: Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper.

The researchers may or may not have had their own experiences with Wi-Fi thieves, but they seem to be passionate about keeping homes more secure. Sure, the first step is to make sure that you have a strong password, but just in case that is not enough for you, you just might be able to purchase this Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper some time next year. [Read more…] about Wi-Fi Blocking Wallpaper to Keep Signal Thieves Away

The Truth Behind Mobile Apps and Their Success

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How often do you download mobile apps? Are you one of those who check App Shopper on a regular basis to see which apps are available for free or or at a discounted price? On that note, how much do you spend on apps?

For sure, the answer will depend largely on the habits of the user, but you might just be surprised to find out how much people actually patronize mobile apps. As a result, the fact is that being a mobile app developer might not really be as glamorous a life as some might think.

BGR recently posted an infographic titled “Wake Up Call“, focusing on the truth behind success with mobile apps. It might not be as easy as one would think! [Read more…] about The Truth Behind Mobile Apps and Their Success

Church of Kopimism Weds First Couple

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File sharing religion wedding
Kopimism Wedding
Remember Kopimism, the first religion in the world which bases its tenets on file-sharing? Kopimism was officially recognized as a religion by the government of Sweden earlier this year, when they were about 3,000-member strong. Their main principle:

Information is holy and copying is a sacrament. Information holds a value, in itself and in what it contains, and the value multiplies through copying. [Read more…] about Church of Kopimism Weds First Couple

Control Your Computer Using the Doppler Effect

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Doppler Effect Costume
Sheldon Doppler Effect
Remember the Doppler Effect? If it doesn’t ring a bell (which would rather be surprising, actually), try googling it. Alternatively, take a closer look at Sheldon Cooper‘s Halloween costume, and your memory just might get jogged.

Seriously, though, the Doppler Effect refers to the phenomenon that is observed when the source of a sound (or any other wave) is moving with respect to an object. That object could be you. The result is a perceived change in the intensity of the sound as the source keeps on moving.

There are many applications of the Doppler Effect, and one of the newest applications which may be of particular interest to you guys is gesture control for computers. [Read more…] about Control Your Computer Using the Doppler Effect