Eureka has been Giz's celebration of inventors of all stripe, from Tesla to Popeil. But some of the most memorable inventors of our time were actually invented themselves. Here are ten fictional innovators near and dear to our hearts.    More

August 28 2010, 10:31am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Sub-$5 iPhone Cases That Will Get the Job Done

http://gizmodo.com/5620015/sub+5-iphone-cases-that-will-get-the-job-done

dealzmodo

Forty bucks for an iPhone case? Scam of the century. Here are seven cases that will keep your new iPhone 4 pristine and cost less than a couple of apps.    More

August 27 2010, 4:33pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

This Week's Best Apps

http://gizmodo.com/5624078/this-weeks-best-apps

apps

In this week's rootin' tootin' roundup: Gmail, pushed; Don Draper, emulated; Phantasy Star II, had on your iPhone(!); pets, rescued, your Netflix instant queue, chewed through at any and every moment, and much much more!    More

August 27 2010, 4:32pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Website Aims to Connect Commuters Through Social Serendipity

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/bumped-in/

This post is part of Mashables Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.Name: Bumped.inQuick Pitch: Bumped.in is an online community for people on the move. Every time we travel, we cross paths with people who could potentially enrich our lives. But oftentimes, were missing an outlet that allows us to connect, network and interact.Genius Idea: For years, sites like Tripit and Dopplr have existed to give travelers a simple and potentially fun way to share their itineraries and trips with friends. Bumped.in takes a similar approach to travel plans but hopes to throw in a bit of social media serendipity to create fruitful connections for frequent commuters and travelers.After signing up and filling out your profile, you can use Bumped.in to add plane and train trips to start your own digital travel logs a.k.a Bump Walls. You can use the Bump Walls to share photos and status update-like notes about each trip. Trips can be one-time-only voyages or of the everyday commuter variety, and you can share them privately with friends or publicly with others.You can also use the site to uncover nearby hotels or dining hotspots, and take advantage of the Facebook integration to publish travel log entries to the social networking site, and to find friends already using Bumped.in.Bumped.in also works to introduce and connect travelers with similar interests who are destined to cross paths (and may never know it) on the same flight or train ride.The idea is to play matchmaker only romantically if users so choose for people looking to connect with fellow passengers and commuters. The matching engine is designed to help you search for and match up with other users both before and during a trip. Find a match, request a meeting through Bumped.in, and voila, youre one step closer to cementing a new relationship and making a travel buddy.Bumped.in is brand new so its promise to enhance the entire travel experience is a bite premature. Should enough users start to use the site, however, it could be an interesting way to find and connect with like-minded people that otherwise would have passed you by.Sponsored by Microsoft BizSparkBizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.[img credit: salimfadhley]Reviews: Dopplr, Facebook, TripItMore About: bumped.in, startup, travelFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 4:14pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Our Favorite YouTube Videos this Week: The Science Edition

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/youtube-roundup-science/

Do you ever stare off into the cosmos, wondering about all the matter and particles swirling about in the universe? Or gaze into the spiraling petals of a rose and contemplate the Golden Ratio and all it connotes?No? Well, take some time out from your weekend of quietly quaffing to think, really think, about why, oh why the forces of nature chose to forge us within this mighty smithy we call life. Strain your mind, dear reader, and test the mettle of your brain fibers ruminating on the fact that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophyOr, you could just watch this weeks YouTube roundup, the theme of which is science!Take a look down below and get yourselves some education, you desk set daredevils. Bill Nye The Science Guy on Heat (Full Clip) Ben Parr: SCIENCE RULES! "The Elements Song" Erica Swallow: There's nothing sexier than high school chemistry. These two lads really get the ladies screaming with their rendition of Tom Lehrer's ode to the Periodic Table, "The Elements." William Li: Can We Eat to Starve Cancer? Ben Parr: William Li discusses how angiogenesis and eating certain foods could be the key to fighting cancer Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert Explains Pioneer Laserdisc (1980) Christina Warren: Man, I wanted a LaserDisc player so bad and my parents were all, "No Christina, we will not buy you this expensive player and then buy you $99 movie discs." Fortunately the movie collecting bug really hit me in 1999 or so, when the DVD was exploding and I was 16 and had a job at the mall to feed my habit. Dexter's Laboratory, Dollhouse Drama Stephanie Marcus: Dexter's Laboratory is cartoon science goodness (I miss the '90s). Riva Starr feat. Noze "I Was Drunk" OFFICIAL VIDEO - OUT 26TH SEPTEMBER Brenna Ehrlich: Some horrible... or wonderful scientific glitch has resulted in this baby sprouting facial hair. I enjoy Balkan music videos... Dawkins vs. Tyson Amy-Mae Elliott: (some NSFW language) In this short clip American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson quite correctly criticizes British scientist Richard Dawkins's tone, but it's Dawkins who has the last laugh with a hilarious NSFW anecdote. It makes for a lovely moment between the two great men, both of whom have done so much in their respective countries to popularize science.Image courtesy of iStockphoto, TommLReviews: YouTube, iStockphotoMore About: favorite-youtube-videos, humor, pop culture, Science, viral video, youtubeFor more Web Video coverage:Follow Mashable Web Video on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Web Video channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 3:09pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

How Non-Profits are Exploring Augmented Reality Tech

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/augmented-reality-non-profits/

Geoff Livingston co-founded Zoetica to focus on cause-related work, and released an award-winning book on new media Now is Gone in 2007.Augmented reality promises a new level of interaction between people and data. Now, even the newest for-profit applications can turn heads by utilizing this new advanced technology.The non-profit sector has started to experiment with augmented reality. One of Sunlight Labs early entries is their Recovery.gov mashup. Another example is Amsterdams Allard Pierson Museum, which highlights virtual reconstructions of Satricum and the Forum Romanum. But while there are early leaders, non-profits generally lag behind in market experimentation.Several technical non-profits are currently experimenting with augmented reality, said Nathan Makino, Chief Executive Officer of Immersive Tech, a non-profit focusing on the adoption of immersive technology. Other non-profits support and participate at the International Symposium for Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) Non-technical NPOs may need a few more years for AR to become mainstream enough to warrant its adoption.Looking into this adoption cycle shows several reasons why non-profits are not experimenting as much with augmented reality as other business sectors. There are, however, clear trends toward the future of non-profit augmented reality that can help guide early adopters.Non-Profits Need More than Just CoolNon-profits are often cash strapped. In fact, this year alone has seen 40% of non-profits receive less funding. Engaging with a new technology often requires funding or a clear return on investment, whether that be education, fundraising or activism.Many non-profits are limited in resources both money and time as well as staff technical expertise, said Beth Kanter, author of The Networked Nonprofit. If the technology requires a high price to entry, then it takes longer.For the average non-profit, augmented reality just cant be about playing with a cool, new shiny object. There needs to be a real valuable use, either for the organization or its funders. In that sense, non-profits can learn from some of the endeavors of for-profit industry. Even major corporations that dont feel budgetary pressure as much as many non-profits are hesitant to jump into augmented reality because of concerns over proof of ROI.To me, the biggest challenge is simply finding a reason to do it beyond were using augmented reality, said Christopher Barger, director of global social media at GM, who has used augmented reality to promote some of its automobiles like the Chevrolet Camaro. Whenever theres a hot new technology or application, theres a lot of pressure much of it self-imposed to just dive in or get in there, start using it so that you can say that you are and that youre cutting edge.Our biggest challenge was, and continues to be, cracking that code of finding ways to apply the technology that are useful to an audience, added Barger. The trick [for non-profits], though, will be the same as for a for-profit business: Find a use for AR that provides actual value for the user, gives them a reason to use your app over the hundreds or thousands of others they might download.Further, augmented reality has been met with mixed responses, according to Immersive Techs Makino. I see two main causes for this: Hardware limitations and gimmicky software applications, said Makino, either of which could decrease user value a key component of AR success, according to Barger. Makino echoed Bargers concerns that apps must provide real value to users in order for them to make sense for non-profit investment. For non-profits, AR will be adopted as long as it significantly aids the organization and its mission. the killer app will have to offer utility that standard web based delivery cannot.Full disclosure: Beth Kanter is a co-founder of Zoetica.Some Non-Profit Breakthroughs?Even though non-profits may not be leading the pack towards augmented reality adoption, there are many clear use cases, and adoption by a handful of major organizations indicates that more non-profits may get on board. Especially since development costs are starting to come down.Think about the opportunities for engaging people with service delivery organizations. If someone can actually see where everything is and how to get there, they are probably more likely to go, said Amy Sample Ward, global community development manager for NetSquared, who also pointed out how there are also plenty of opportunities to use AR in teaching environments. Or the opportunities for education (and support appeals) for historic or natural spaces that can integrate with someones experience exploring the space.Though the Allard Pierson Museum has already demonstrated that augmented reality can be useful for educating, the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative said in their 2010 Horizon Report that theyre still a few years out from widespread adoption. Still, augmented reality is establishing a foothold in the consumer sector, and in a form much easier to access than originally envisioned, the report concluded.Another non-profit use could be for the arts. Consider the physical nature of both visual and performing arts; extending those experiences with data-enhanced information viewed on a screen is a natural progression. I could also see apps that have some simulations that drive advocacy calls to action for museums [or] exhibits, Kanter said. In fact, some visual artists are already exploring the potential of AR.So while the use cases are clearly there, there isnt wide adoption of AR in the non-profit community just yet. It is likely coming, though. Im sure non-profits will begin experimenting with augmented reality this year, said Frank Barry, professional services manager at Blackbaud and blogger at NetWits ThinkTank. Barry said that non-profits need a good proof-of-concept from a pioneer in the space to show others the way. Once that happens others will get a vision and follow.What non-profit uses of augmented reality do you foresee in the near future?More Non-Profit Resources from Mashable: - How CrisisCommons Is Helping the Tech Community Help Others - 5 Social Fundraising Alternatives to Facebook Causes - 5 Non-Profit iPhone Apps You Should Know About - 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign - How Non-Profits are Using Social Media for Real ResultsImage courtesy of iStockphoto, BliznetsovReviews: iStockphotoMore About: AR, Augmented Reality, business, non-profit, non-profits, nonprofit, techFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 2:32pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Mozillas Mobile Browser Alpha Hits Android and Nokia N900 [PICS]

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/fennec-alpha-android/

Mozilla has just released the Fennec 2.0 Alpha for Nokia N900 and Android 2.0+ devices.Fennec is the code name for Firefox mobile and includes the ability to install browser add-ons and sync with the desktop version of Firefox. The new version comes with built-in support for Firefox Sync (what was known as Weave), so that tabs, passwords and bookmarks that you use on your desktop can be easily synced and transferred to your mobile device.The alpha also includes support for pinch-to-zoom on Android, location-aware browsing, the ability to save a site as a PDF, and built-in site sharing via Facebook, Twitter or Google Reader.Like the pre-alpha, Fennec for Android, Fennec has been optimized for the Google Nexus One. However, other ARM 7 devices like the HTC EVO 4G, the Samsung Galaxy S and the Motorola Droid series should also support the alpha.We installed the Fennec alpha on our Samsung Galaxy S Captivate and it was clear that the app is still very much in alpha mode and is possibly not even evolved enough to be labeled alpha, to be honest. In our tests, the app was extremely slow and crashed frequently. This is very clearly still in development and is not in any way, shape or form ready for everyday usage.The app needs 30MB of free memory to run, so be sure to close out any running apps before launching Fennec.The release notes highlight some of the known issues, like the inaccessibility of FTP sites and non-working file uploads. Additionally for Android users, Adobe Flash and other plugins arent supported right now. Also, while multi-touch zoom works on some devices (like the Nexus One and the Samsung Galaxy S), it doesnt work on all devices. The Motorola Droid, for instance, doesnt support multi-touch zoom in Fennec.Having said that, we do like the direction that the browser is taking.Check out our gallery to see screenshots of Fennec 2.0 alpha in action on Android 2.1. Fennec Welcome Screen Fennec Home Screen Fennec Tabs Fennec Bookmarks Fennec Search Mashable on Fennec New York Times on Fennec More About: android, Android apps, Fennec, firefox mobile, mozilla, web browsersFor more Mobile coverage:Follow Mashable Mobile on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Mobile channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 2:03pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Microsoft Co-founder Sues Apple, Google and Facebook

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/microsoft-co-founder-sues-apple-google-facebook/

Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen is suing Apple, Google, Facebook and eight other companies through his current firm, Interval Licensing LLC.The lawsuit alleges that 11 different companies, including YouTube, Netflix and AOL, have violated four different patents associated with web search and e-commerce. As the Wall Street Journal notes, Interval Licensing LLC is a firm that holds IP developed at the now-defunct Interval Research. Interval Research was an incubator that Allen financed during the Internet bubble of the late 1990s.In a statement, Interval describes the patents at the center of the alleged infringements:United States Patent No. 6,263,507 issued for an invention entitled Browser for Use in Navigating a Body of Information, With Particular Application to Browsing Information Represented By Audiovisual Data.United States Patent No. 6,034,652 issued for an invention entitled Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device.United States Patent No. 6,788,314 issued for an invention entitled Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device.United States Patent No. 6,757,682 issued for an invention entitled Alerting Users to Items of Current Interest.What is frustrating about this lawsuit, from an outsiders perspective, is that the nature of these patents while based in software and technology also have clear ties to business methods. Unfortunately, the Supreme Courts recent ruling in the Bilski case didnt make the blurry lines between these two areas any more clear.Well update this post with more information after we obtain the actual court filing from PACER.[img credit: Thomas Roche]Reviews: Internet, YouTubeMore About: apple, facebook, Google, interval licensing, lawsuits, patents, Paul AllenFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 1:00pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Net Neutrality: 7 Worst Case Scenarios

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/net-neutrality-worst-case/

Many consumer advocacy groups, web companies and startups are ranting about the perils of losing net neutrality. Net neutrality, they say, is what made the Internet what it is today by giving small companies the opportunity to become big companies, and it rightly puts the user in full control of what he views on the Internet.Huge telecommunication companies like Verizon, and cable providers like Time Warner, however, could potentially profit a good deal from charging websites like YouTube for priority treatment and faster loading times. They argue that prioritization is necessary for a functional internet and that regulated net neutrality will stunt innovation. Thus the battle between the two groups has commenced.A federal court decided in April that the FCC lacked the authority to impose net neutrality. The FCC fought back in May by deciding to reclassify broadband transmission as a regulable telecommunications service. Verizon and Google spurred additional controversy this month by releasing a joint proposal for a legal regulatory framework.Both sides - those opposed to FCC regulation of net neutrality and those who think its necessary - proclaim that their defeat would be Armageddon. But should we really be this worked up about this? The following are the worst-case scenarios that might emerge from how the conflict could pan out.1. Government Regulation Makes the Internet More Like TVWhen the FCC starts regulating an industry, it has a tendency to continue to add regulations. Some fear that if the FCC starts enforcing net neutrality it would open the door for the FCC to decide what is appropriate content for the web.The government already attempts to determine whats appropriate for you to so see, like R-rated movies during prime time, says Dave Farber, a former chief technologist for the FCC and a professor of computer science and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. You could see a future FCC doing the same thing with the Internet.2. Provider Discrimination Makes the Internet More Like TVIf the FCC doesnt regulate net neutrality, theres still a chance that the Internet will increasingly end up functioning like television. The fear is that if priority access becomes available, only giant companies will be able to purchase it. Whereas now consumers have infinite choices of Internet content that loads the same way, there will be limited sites available that will enjoy superior access.It could be like cable: A company delivering mediocre content and ads to your home for an inflated fee, says Chris Riley, a policy council at a public advocacy organization that promotes net neutrality called Free Press.Art Brodsky, the communications manager for consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, says that this sort of content restriction would most likely take the form of a select channel section of the Internet. I dont know if they would prevent anybody from surfing, he says. But they could do it the opposite way and say, here are the best things.3. Government Regulation Stunts InnovationA technological detail that many miss in the net neutrality debate is that some web services require differential treatment in order to be functional. Faber, who says he switches between defending and attacking net neutrality based on his mood and the definition in use, points out that innovations like voice over IP would be useless if there were no way of prioritizing that traffic.Wireless, too, has different technological hurdles than broadband Internet that a strict net neutrality policy might make impossible to clear. Opening up the ability to purchase better access times would pave the way for innovations that require superior bandwidth, like high-definition or 3D video. Restrictions on net neutrality, however, could cut off these potentially profitable new innovations.We want the broadband infrastructure to be a platform for innovation, argued Verizon and Google in their joint blog post. Therefore, our proposal would allow broadband providers to offer additional, differentiated online services It is too soon to predict how these new services will develop, but examples might include health care monitoring, the smart grid, advanced educational services, or new entertainment and gaming options.4. An Unfair Playing Field Stunts InnovationGiving priority treatment to companies that can pay fees also raises some concerns about fair play.It freezes out the potential for the next innovators and puts the smaller guys at a disadvantage, Brodsky says. And as we know, its the smaller guys who made the Internet what it is today. And they had a chance to grow into big guys because the Internet is an open place.Instead of becoming the next Google, the fear is that the next Google will instead have to pitch their idea to Google itself. Startups wont be able to afford the fast-lane fee themselves.5. Consumers Pay to Access Internet ContentAs with cable TV, its possible that some of the cost to put websites on the Internets fast lane will be passed on to the consumer.Suppose someone set up a system where, if only I paid a certain amount of money would my IP address get through a sort of cable-ization of the net, Brodsky says. The worst case scenario is that if you want to go to ESPN, it will cost you so much.Faber thinks its more likely that the fees would be passed on to consumers in the form of a micro-increase in the prices of advertisers products. For instance, the price of a bottle of Coke might go up a cent because the websites that Coke advertises on are paying a fee for priority treatment.6. Wireless Networks Overload, the Internet Slows DownVerizon and Google included a phrase in their proposal that allows service providers to engage in a reasonable network management. This would include the power to reduce or mitigate the effects of congestion on its network.Which begs the question: What would happen if the FCC created regulations that banned service providers from mitigating these effects? Would the Internet overload?Well, actually yes, according to some. Steve Largent, the president and CEO of CTIA, the trade association of the wireless communications industry, argues in an editorial for USA Today that the wireless Internet has a finite amount of spectrum that needs to be managed.7. Super Mergers Control the WorldSome fear that without net neutrality, an Internet provider would be able to merge with a media company and make its own content the fastest to access, leaving the consumer with a choice between a long download or viewing that companys content. Some fear that it could get even worse than a collaboration between provider and media company.It might not be Comcast and NBC. It might be Microsoft, Comcast, and NBC, Riley says. Theyd control the software, theyd control the content, and theyd control the pipeline that delivers that content to you.Others, like Faber, argue that a super merger would violate existing Federal Trade Commission regulations and anti-trust laws. Also, aligning with one media company wouldnt be the most profitable route.I just dont understand the economic motive to do it that way, Faber says. If theres any competition at all, thats not going to work.Faber says he has no problem with some companies buying priority treatment from Internet providers as long as all companies have the opportunity buy equal access. As long as everyone can have it, he says, its fair and far preferable to government regulation.Now that youve read the worst that can happen, what do you think? Will any of these become reality? Is the future rosie? Tell us in the comments below.More Tech Resources from Mashable: - HOW TO: Self-Publish Anything Online - 5 Innovative Tech Camps for Kids and Teens - 10 Great Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses of Google [VIDEOS] - 10 Fun Microsoft Facts You Might Not Know - Can Robots Run the News?Images courtesy of iStockphoto, CostinT, Camrocker, subju, titaniumdoughnut.Reviews: Google, Internet, YouTube, iStockphotoMore About: Art Brodsky, Chris Riley, Free Press, Google, net neutrality, public knowledge, time warner cable, verizonFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 12:46pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Google's Latest Acquisition Is All About Facebook

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/angstro-google-me/

Google has acquired Ångströ, a service for delivering intelligent search results about a person’s professional network.

August 27 2010, 12:26pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Facebook Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Like Buttons

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/facebook-class-action-suit/

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Facebook in a Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that the company commercially misappropriated the names and likenesses of minors without parental consent. The plaintiffs are seeking financial restitution for revenues and profits the company and third-parties earned from the alleged charges.In the suit, David Cohen v. Facebook (case #BC444482), the plaintiffs argue that there have been more than one million instances where Facebook has misappropriated a minors name or likeness for profit.At the core of the class action lawsuit is Facebooks Like button, and the Facebook ads that include photos and text descriptions of Facebook users who Like the company or the ad. The plaintiffs believe that Facebook is obligated to get parental consent before using minors Likes for commercial gain.When a teenager sees that their Facebook friends Like an ad, it piques their curiosity, making them more likely to click the ad or visit the page, says Los Angeles plaintiff attorney John Torjesen of John C. Torjesen & Associates. We believe it is a clear case of exploitation of children for the sake of profits.The text of the suit further details, Facebook encourages the participation of children on its social networking website, stressing the authenticity of the experience of communicating with friends. It then markets the names and likenesses of those children for us by advertisers, representing to advertisers that the use of the name and/or likeness of the child as an endorsement of the advertisers product can increase marketing returns by 400% compared to advertising that does not include an endorsement from the name or likeness of a child.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all Facebook members affected by the companys alleged wrong doing minors whose names and likenesses were used in a Facebook advertisement or landing page.Facebook denies any wrongdoing. We believe this suit is completely without merit and we will fight it vigorously, said Andrew Noyes, Facebooks manager of public policy communications, in a statement provided to Mashable.In 2009, Facebook settled a class action lawsuit for $9.5 million over its now-defunct Beacon program.[img credit: Thomas Roche]Reviews: Facebook, MashableMore About: class action lawsuit, facebook, Facebook Like, lawsuit, legalFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 12:06pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

The Little Black Dress of the Future Doubles as a Cellphone

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/cellphone-dress/

London-based fashion company CuteCircuit has just upped the ante in the Little Black Dress category.

August 27 2010, 11:50am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Hands-On: Netflix for the iPhone Brings Big Movies to the Small Screen

http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/netflix-iphone-review/

As we noted yesterday, Netflix has just released its long-awaited iPhone app.The app, which is free for Netflix subscribers (subscriptions start at $8.99 per month), works with iPhones or iPod touch devices running iOS 3.1.3 or later. Like its iPad app, Netflix for the iPhone allows users to search for movies and TV shows as well as playing titles already in their Instant Q.The app has not been optimized for iOS 4 or for the iPhone 4, but we expect that some of those updates may come in the future.The app operates very similarly to both its iPad counterpart and the newest Netflix interface on Roku. It makes us curious if an iOS iTV app might not be on the horizon too.The only real downside of the app is that like its iPad counterpart (and like the set-top box Netflix solutions), it isnt possible to manage your DVD or Blu-ray queue from the application itself. This means you still have to use a third-party queue manager to add, browse or re-arrange the order of your physical Netflix titles. It would be really, really great to have that ability built into the official application.All in all, we think this first release is a winner. Although I find myself spending more and more time watching video on the iPad, the iPhone experience is solid enough that it will definitely make longer trips or waits in line more enjoyable.What do you think about Netflix for iPhone?Check out our gallery below for a closer look at the app and our thoughts on its features. Home Screen This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue. Home Screen Continued This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue. Titles Like View On the Home Screen, you're treated to a selection of "titles like X" where it shows you films similar to ones you have recently enjoyed.I'm a big fan of King of the Hill, so the app shows me that Family Guy and Futurama -- two recent Netflix Watch Instantly additions -- are available for me to enjoy. Genres The Genres section is just what it sounds like. You can browse titles by genre and then watch titles or add them to your queue. Search Search works just as it does on the iPad app or on the recently overhauled Roku interface. This means that only Watch Instantly titles show up, so if you want a title that isn't available to Watch Instantly, you can't even find it to add to your DVD or Blu-ray queue. Movie View By browsing through genres or searching through titles, you can find movies or TV shows to watch. You can then start playing that movie or add it to your queue. Rating Netflix's rating algorithm will try to come up with a best guess for you. It's usually pretty accurate, but in this case, it underestimated my love of Gary Hustwit. Post Rating After you've rated a title, the stars are in yellow, not red. Instant Q You can scroll through your own Watch Instantly queue. Tapping on the play icon on the left will resume or start playback, while clicking on the right arrow or on the title itself will take you to a screen that offers more information and the option to select an episode if it's a television show. Instant Q View - Television For a TV show, you'll see the description of the series and an option to resume or start playing where you left off in the series, or to start from the beginning.Scrolling down on this screen will show each episode in the season or seasons and how far along you have watched that episode, with the option to play or resume. Instant Q View - Movies Just like the regular movie view, except it's already noted that it is in your Instant Q. Movie Playback This is the playback screen. It's just like Netflix for iPad and similar to any other iPhone or iPad video app in how the controls are displayed: volume at the bottom, time scrubber at the top, the option to fill the full screen in the upper right. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.Reviews: BluMore About: Film, iOS, iphone, iphone apps, Movies, netflix, ONLINE VIDEO, television, videoFor more Mobile coverage:Follow Mashable Mobile on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Mobile channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

August 27 2010, 10:58am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Free Wireframing Kits, UI Design Kits, PDFs and Resources - Smashing Magazine

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/08/27/free-wireframing-kits-ui-design-kits-pdfs-and-resources/

In this post, we’ve prepared an overview of useful web and mobile user interface kits, handy PDFs and resources that you can use in your projects. We’ve carefully selected the most useful kits and resources to get you going in the early stages of a project.

August 27 2010, 6:33am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

How to Stop the Government From Tracking Your Location

http://gizmodo.com/5622807/how-to-stop-the-government-from-tracking-your-location

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals just decided that it was legal for the police to put a GPS tracking device on your car, sitting in your driveway, on your property. Here's how to protect yourself.

August 26 2010, 11:34am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Vocab Lesson: Vapor-Metalized Plastic

http://gizmodo.com/5622105/vocab-lesson-vapor+metalized-plastic

A piece of plastic goes in, a piece of metal comes out. At least, that's what vapor metallizing seems to accomplish, at least to our immediate senses. It's gilding, except it's been updated for the electronics age. And it's everywhere.

August 26 2010, 11:07am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

What's Apple Announcing at Their Music-Related September 1 Event?

http://gizmodo.com/5621837/apple-holding-music+related-event-on-september-1

Apple has finally made their September event official, and it's coming sooner than many expected—the "special event" will be held September 1 in San Francisco, and from the look of things it's going to involve music.

August 25 2010, 3:20pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

The Great App Bubble | Fast Company

http://digg.com/gadgets/The_Great_App_Bubble_Fast_Company

When I recently received my new iPhone 4, I took great delight in organizing my apps into folders, finding new apps in the app store, and seeing how beautiful various apps looked on the new screen. Then I used it for a couple of days and realized, not counting pre-loaded Apple software, I use exactly five apps...

August 25 2010, 3:03pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Google now lets you make calls...for free (in the US)

http://gizmodo.com/5621741/google-voice-gets-integrated-into-gmail

This....is....crazy/awesome/scary?

August 25 2010, 2:05pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

How Intellectual Ventures Wants to Reinvent Invention

http://gizmodo.com/5621679/how-intellectual-ventures-wants-to-reinvent-invention

"Did airplanes come from the R&D;department of a train company or a steamship company?" Nathan Myhrvold asks, rhetorically, his voice cracking. He's explaining how his company, Intellectual Ventures, is going to reinvent the way things are invented.

August 25 2010, 1:47pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

Please Stop Making New Phones With Old Firmware

http://gizmodo.com/5620828/please-stop-making-new-phones-with-old-firmware

We've reached the point where buying a "new" Android phone could still mean you're using firmware that's 18 months old. There's got to be a better way.

August 25 2010, 7:42am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

How Blind People See the Internet

http://gizmodo.com/5620079/giz-explains-how-blind-people-see-the-internet

Your eyes are absorbing this webpage. They're passing over this, this, then this word, right now. That's how reading works, online: you take this for granted. But what if you couldn't?

August 24 2010, 11:09am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

The Secret Scam of Cheap Earbuds

http://gizmodo.com/5617200/the-secret-scam-of-cheap-earbuds

Those cheap earphones you keep buying year after year? The ones with the cool designs? They all kinda sound the same, huh? There's a pretty good reason for that: They actually are all the same earphones.

August 24 2010, 9:02am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

TiVo Slide Remote Lightning

http://gizmodo.com/5619996/tivo-slide-remote-lightning-review-finally-entering-text-doesnt-suck

Anyone who's tried to type on a TiVo - searching for YouTube, or viewing Netflix, or trying to find that show you want to record - knows it's both tedious and rage-inducing. TiVo Slide fixes this problem, plus, it's a better remote entirely.

August 23 2010, 9:34pm | Comments

Posted to delicious.com

Home : Design Is History

http://www.designishistory.com/

August 17 2010, 5:42pm | Comments

Posted to delicious.com

500 Internal Server Error

http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/rss/plasticbag_de?count=15

500 Internal Server Error

August 9 2010, 12:00am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

150-Meter Outdoor Infinity Pool // Marina Bay Sands

http://digg.com/design/150_Meter_Outdoor_Infinity_Pool_Marina_Bay_Sands

Luxury hotel, Marina Bay Sands recently opened the doors of its microcosm to the public and has already wowed tourists with its unique and luxurious design.

August 6 2010, 3:02pm | Comments

Posted to twitter.com

New! Philipp - Summer/Deep/House (2010-08-06) on #SoundCloud http://bit.ly/c2hO6X

http://twitter.com/plasticbag/statuses/20460579905

August 6 2010, 1:23pm | Comments

Posted to delicious.com

Synaptic Stimuli

http://synapticstimuli.com/

July 23 2010, 8:17am | Comments

Posted to digg.com

25 UI Inspiration and Design Pattern Resources

http://digg.com/design/25_UI_Inspiration_and_Design_Pattern_Resources

Are your fresh design ideas no longer fresh or are you a designer who continually re-uses the same old and trusted design patterns that have followed you for many a year? Or, you might just be a UI designer that is stuck in a rut? If you are looking to change all that, then this is the post for you.

July 22 2010, 9:20pm | Comments

Posted to digg.com

20 Free Web UI Element Kits and Stencils

http://digg.com/design/20_Free_Web_UI_Element_Kits_and_Stencils

RoundUp of 20 Beautiful and ergonomic Free UI Elements Kit

July 22 2010, 11:07am | Comments

Posted to twitter.com

RT @neuedigitale Feels like a time travel through TV advertising. This epic list of epic ads is just, well, epic. http://bit.ly/d57nBw

http://twitter.com/plasticbag/statuses/19240298867

July 22 2010, 10:45am | Comments

Posted to twitter.com

Pure awesomeness... ;) http://twitter.com/AngryPaulRand

http://twitter.com/plasticbag/statuses/19238438463

July 22 2010, 10:00am | Comments

Posted to delicious.com

Flipboard for iPad

http://www.flipboard.com/

July 22 2010, 8:14am | Comments

Life.stream

That’s fun... YouTube - tippexperience's Channel http://bit.ly/af2Gmf

Corporate Identity Portal : startseite

cidoc

Bureau AEIOU

Fantasy Football: Top 10 Resources for Fans

Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]

The 10 Greatest Fictional Inventors of All Time

inventors

Sub-$5 iPhone Cases That Will Get the Job Done

dealzmodo

This Week's Best Apps

apps

Website Aims to Connect Commuters Through Social Serendipity

Our Favorite YouTube Videos this Week: The Science Edition

How Non-Profits are Exploring Augmented Reality Tech

Mozillas Mobile Browser Alpha Hits Android and Nokia N900 [PICS]

Microsoft Co-founder Sues Apple, Google and Facebook

Net Neutrality: 7 Worst Case Scenarios

Google's Latest Acquisition Is All About Facebook

Facebook Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Like Buttons

The Little Black Dress of the Future Doubles as a Cellphone

Hands-On: Netflix for the iPhone Brings Big Movies to the Small Screen

Free Wireframing Kits, UI Design Kits, PDFs and Resources - Smashing Magazine

How to Stop the Government From Tracking Your Location

Vocab Lesson: Vapor-Metalized Plastic

What's Apple Announcing at Their Music-Related September 1 Event?

The Great App Bubble | Fast Company

Google now lets you make calls...for free (in the US)

How Intellectual Ventures Wants to Reinvent Invention

Please Stop Making New Phones With Old Firmware

How Blind People See the Internet

The Secret Scam of Cheap Earbuds

TiVo Slide Remote Lightning

Home : Design Is History

500 Internal Server Error

150-Meter Outdoor Infinity Pool // Marina Bay Sands

New! Philipp - Summer/Deep/House (2010-08-06) on #SoundCloud http://bit.ly/c2hO6X

Synaptic Stimuli

25 UI Inspiration and Design Pattern Resources

20 Free Web UI Element Kits and Stencils

RT @neuedigitale Feels like a time travel through TV advertising. This epic list of epic ads is just, well, epic. http://bit.ly/d57nBw

Pure awesomeness... ;) http://twitter.com/AngryPaulRand

Flipboard for iPad

Search

Popular Tags

Recent tweets

Twitter Updates