Hasta La Gadget!

Intel has signed a $50 million deal with Creative Technology to acquire ZiiLabs, a UK-based subsidiary responsible for Android-optimized chip designs like the ZMS-40 and the ZMS-20. Of that $50 million, $30m will be for asset sales and engineering resources while the remainder will be for patent licensing in regards to ZiiLabs GPU technology, which might indicate a move away from PowerVR. We’re not sure if this means Creative will soldier on with OEM-focused devices like the HanZPad, but at least now it’ll have more money in the bank to explore alternative endeavors.

Filed under: Misc, Intel

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Source: The Inquirer, CNET Asia

This post sponsored by Lenovo® IdeaPad U Series Ultrabook™ laptops

With the advent of the IdeaPad Ultrabook™, portable computing has gotten faster, lighter weight and more stylish than ever before. These portable powerhouses have enabled a whole new level of creativity for users that was once reserved for the desktop and heavy laptops. With that in mind, I’ve assembled a list of some of my favorite applications and add-ons for IdeaPad Ultrabook users, to extend and enhance their usefulness in creative projects.

Whether you’re a budding artist or sell your work on Etsy, Art Rage 3 Studio Pro ($60 USD) is an incredible bit of software, letting you use your computer as a virtual canvas. It can simulate real media like oil paints, watercolors and charcoal, and colors mix together just like the real deal. It even can simulate paper textures and the variety of realistic brushes provides tremendous creative control. It also provides tools for tracing photos and stenciling, and supports the use of graphic tablets for added control and precision.

A perfect complement to Art Rage Pro is the Wacom Bamboo series of tablets ($79 to $199 USD).  I’m a big fan of these compact input devices, which plug into your computer’s USB port and can be easily stashed in a backpack or bookbag. The Capture and Create models support both pen-based input and multitouch gestures, and can be used to draw, paint and manipulate images like a pro, replicating pressure and angle of your pen strokes. And there’s even a wireless option available, so you don’t have to lug a cable around with you.

If you’re more into motion images than still ones, you’ll want to check out Magix Movie Edit Pro 18 MX Plus ($100 USD). This powerful video editing application is optimized for fast performance, and lets you create professional quality video work on a budget. It includes support for full HD video editing, numerous transitions and effects, and even Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and path-based animation tools. Also includes professionally-designed templates to get you up and running fast, and sharing tools to quickly publish to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook.

Of course if you’re into music, there’s something for you too – the Novation Launch Pad ($149 USD) is a great creative input device for digital music composition. The compact (9.4″ square) device plugs into a USB port, and gives you 64 multi-color, backlit buttons for sequencing music, samples and controlling live performances. Comes with Ableton Live 8 Launchpad Edition, so you can compose tracks out of the box without any additional software.

While trackpads are great, some of us still move fastest with a mouse. Logitech’s M515 Couch Mouse ($50 USD) is the perfect gadget for pointing wherever life takes you. That’s because it works on any surface. Yep, you can even use it on your couch, or your pants leg and it’ll work flawlessly. It also supports “hyperscrolling” which lets you zip through long web pages at supersonic speeds, and an astounding 2 year battery life. It also has hand-detection technology, so your cat can’t accidentally move your cursor when you’re not looking.

For something a bit more whimsical, check out the L8 Smartlight ($69 USD). Recently launched through a successful Kickstarter campaign, this little programmable LED gadget connects via Bluetooth and lets you truly express your creativity. Display custom animations, use it for notifications, or just have it light up when somebody enters the room. Its onboard sensors can detect proximity, temperature and luminosity, and it’s fully programmable to your creative whims. If you didn’t get in on the initial Kickstarter batch, you’ll have to wait a few months to get one – but it’ll be worth the wait.

Last but not least is something that helps you quickly and neatly connect your mobile gadgets to your Ultrabook on the go. Instead of carrying around a bunch of long and tangled USB cables in your bag, the AVIIQ Ready Clip Kits ($20 USD/set of two) are just the perfect thing. These 5.5-inch-long cables are exactly the same length as a pen, so they fit into the pen compartment of backpacks and bookbags. They’re available in USB to Mini-USB, USB to Micro-USB, and USB to 30-Pin versions for connecting just about any gadget.

Armed with these add-ons and apps, you can take your Ultrabook laptop to the next level, providing new outlets for creativity and productivity whether you’re at home, school, traveling or at the coffee shop. And if you are in the market for a new computer, be sure to check out Lenovo’s IdeaPad U310 and U410 Ultrabooks, which weigh in at under 4 pounds, offer battery life up to 9 hours, and look great doing it.

See what you can do with the Book of Do, the IdeaPad® U Series Ultrabook™, at Lenovo.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” Technabob received compensation for writing it, however, we only recommend products or services we find interesting or have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

Life’s tough. Sometimes, it feels good to hash things out with friends or family to get rid of the negativity. But when you feel like keeping things to yourself but want to express your emotions, then you’ve got the Corezone to turn to.

The Corezone is a ‘closed ceramic space’ which you can use as a piggy bank of sorts for your emotions. Write them down, roll them up, and slip them inside one of the veins or arteries, and let it go.

There is comfort in knowing that you’ve ‘told’ someone – even though you just did it on paper. And the Corezone helps you keep whatever it was a secret.

And when you’re ready, just break the Corezone open to reflect on the hurts of your past. Or you can just throw those strips of paper away and let it all go.

The Corezone is available on Etsy for $65(USD).

[via Ian Brooks via Neatorama]

The name ‘Darth Vader’ doesn’t exactly conjure up images of sunshine and butterflies. Neither does ‘Boba Fett’. They’re two of the most sinister villains from Star Wars and there’s really not much to like about them, given that they’re the bad guys and all.

But not if Tennessee-based artist Kelly Kerrigan had her way.

You probably didn’t see that one coming, did you? Yeah, neither did I.

What Kelly did was paint these characters and portray them in a totally different light. The story behind Kelly’s art project is pretty sweet as well, because it was her late husband who inspired to do this series.

Her husband had always said that bunnies were his ‘spirit animal’, so Kelly came up with these portraits of Darth Vader and Stormtroopers cuddling baby lambs and rabbits as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

[via Huffington Post via Geeks Are Sexy]

Halloween is still a month away, but I think it’s never too early to begin stocking up on ideas for awesome and unique costumes. At least this way, you can avoid dressing up as a slutty whatever if you don’t find anything good at the costume rental shop anymore.

But did you ever think of making up an entire costume by using balloons? Yeah, I figured you didn’t too. But the guys from Balloon Distractions did, and they ended up looking pretty awesome.

They came up with Buzz Lightyear and Ninja Turtle costumes that were put together using twisted-up balloons and the results are nothing short of amazing.

Check out Buzz Lightyear, who can really go to infinity and beyond (until someone comes along to pop his balloons):

And here’s a balloony Michaelangelo who likes to yell, just because he can:

[via Geekologie]