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Fancake Allows Sports Fans To Interact With Each Other In Realtime During Televised Sports Games

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Justin Ruiz Justin Ruiz | NO COMMENTS
Sports fans have yet another way to enjoy their favorite games, thanks to Kwarter’s Fancake app. Utilizing the two-screen viewing experience, fans can chat, capture medals, and make in-game predictions while watching the big game.

The Basics of Fancake

Fancake is an interactive and free iOS app that offers four during-game activities:
1. Chat with other sports fans
2. Capture medals for points and to increase one’s profile
3. Make in-game predictions – i.e. whether the next goal will be a 3-pointer, free throw, etc.
4. Play for tangible rewards, such as discounts off of purchases, free apps, and other items, by scoring well in games and by simply checking into many games
In each game, there will be a “Game Master,” who not only updates the scores and welcomes users, but also releases medals when a prominent event takes place – such as a touchdown, dunk, or first down. The medal will flash onto the screen, allowing the user to touch it and claim it. Some medals are limited, such as the gold medals that are to one person.

In addition, bonuses are offered to those who get the most points in a game. In the past, Fancake has held exciting challenges, with prizes that include giving a big-screen TV to the user who gets the most points during the March Madness tournament.

Fancake is certainly young (founded in 2011), but I think that it is bound for greater things. Already, users spend an average of 1 hour, 13 minutes per use – with a total of 21,148 hours of use so far, according to Devon Glenn.

Watch this video demo to see the basic features Fancake offers:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fancake

Interactivity is the name of the game with this app. Getting to know some of the “regulars” is one of the cooler things the app offers. Of course, there is the added element of competing for medals and points that can be redeemed for real prizes. It’s incredibly fun to chat with other sports fans, capture some great prizes, and test your ability to guess what will happen next.

Merging positives and negatives together – Fancake is incredibly young. It has already undergone changes, from the app itself to the sports it offers. Thus, it may take time to reach a level where it offers all the games anyone might want, but it’s certainly getting there. Currently, Fancake is only available for iOS, though an Android version is in the works.

Fancake can take some getting used to, as well. While it may not be for everyone, even the most casual sports fans will enjoy playing in the app, competing for prizes, and talking to other fans. Some may only go in there to talk with their friends that they have made.

Have you tried Fancake yet? What do you think of it?
Posted in Apps, Fun | Leave a reply
Injuries From Distracted Walking Have Quadrupled In The Past 7 Years (Does This Mean More Funny Videos?)

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Adam Thompson Adam Thompson | NO COMMENTS

From a post title “Distracted Walking Injuries Quadruple — Mobile Devices to Blame?” on TechCrunch:

The number of citizens wandering into ditches, on-coming cars, and each other while staring at electronics has “quadrupled”, according to the Associated Press.

While some localities are pushing to make distracted walking illegal, I’m not sure that you can legislate common sense effectively.

Appreciating the humor of the situation

If YouTube is an accurate guide, this increase in distracted walking is also leading to some pretty hilarious videos. (I don’t want to make light of tragic accidents, so these videos are of incidents that did not result in serious injury – just serious hilarity!) Check out these gems:

Man nearly walks into bear:

Lady falls into fountain while texting at the mall:

The moral of the story? Watch where you are going. (I don’t know about you, but my Mom taught me that rule when I was 2 years old.)

Posted in Fun | Tagged Funny, texting, Videos | Leave a reply
Will 3D Printing Be The Next Personal Technology Revolution?

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Tim Tim | 2 Comments

This figure was created in
a single 3D printing
session in 15 hours,
with no construction
or painting required.

3D printing, or rapid prototyping as it is sometimes called, is a truly incredible technology. It’s actually been around since the mid-80’s, but it is only within the past decade that it has gained momentum towards becoming mainstream. 3d printing works by taking digital data (i.e. a digital 3d design) and using it to physically create three dimensional objects.

How does 3D printing work?
Extremely thin layers are added to each other to form 3D objects. The main strength of 3D printing and the thing that separates it from all other manufacturing technology, is the fact that highly intricate, multi-material objects can be created in just a few hours. 3d printers can create things that are literally impossible to create by any other means.

When will 3D printing be affordable for consumers?
As with most new technology, 3d printing must make the transition from being expensive and only used in industry to being cheap enough for widespread, personal use. Based on what has already been achieved by 3D printing, it is safe to say that in the future it will play a massive part in our lives. The only question is how long will it take for 3d printing to become a common consumer technology?

What’s already been done with 3D printing

Originally intended to be used solely for creating detailed prototypes (hence the name ‘rapid prototyping’), 3d printing is now used for a wide range of applications. Aerospace, defense and automotive companies all use 3D printing as part of their design and manufacturing processes.

An example of a replacement lower jaw,
created on a 3D printer.

Replacement jaw created using 3D printing
Some of the most impressive uses of the technology have occurred in the medical industry. Last year a medical team in the Netherlands successfully implanted a replacement jaw into an elderly woman. The jaw was created using a 3D printer. This meant that it was a perfect match for the patient and was ready for dental implants immediately. The transplant was a resounding success, despite the fact that the procedure was the first of its kind using a printed implant.

3D printing for personal use – now and in the future

3D printing services
3D printing, or at least a form of the technology, is already being used for personal/consumer applications. There are various websites that offer a custom 3D printing service. Customers are invited to upload their designs: toys, jewellery, ornaments or other accessories. The companies then print the items from your designs and send you the finished article. It’s a fantastic idea.

Buying a 3D printer
The recent media attention given to 3D printing has caused a huge increase in interest – as a result, a number of companies have produced printers that anyone can buy and use. These home 3D printers, available from around $1250, allow people to design and produce their own 3D creations. Although the products that can be created on these home printers are fairly rudimentary, it shows that the potential is there.

The possibilities are endless

Some experts are predicting that it won’t be long until people can download designs and print useful items such as replacement parts for household appliances. This will completely revolutionize the way we live, as well as the way companies work. In theory it will make some products much cheaper as manufacturing, labour and distribution costs will be slashed.

There is even active research being carried out into the idea of people being able to print their own custom medication, to save them going to the doctors or the pharmacy. The team responsible for the research, based at the University of Glasgow, have already printed organic compounds housed in what they call ‘reactionware’ which is printed at the same time. If this becomes a reality, healthcare will never be the same again.

The potential of 3D printing is hard to fathom. What has already been achieved and what is around the corner will help to push the boundaries of science and change the way we live. Hopefully in the near future there will be a multi-use 3D printer in every home, printing spare parts, personalized medicine and other items, making 3D printing the definition of personal technology.

This model of Fenway Park was printed in 40 interlocking parts then slotted together:

This article was provided by Laser Lines 3D Printing.

Posted in Fun | 2 Replies
Google Now Lets You Handwrite Your Search Queries

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Adam Thompson Adam Thompson | 2 Comments

Google has just announced the release of Handwrite, a feature that allows smartphone and tablet users handwrite their search query (using their finger) instead of typing it.

Handwrite enables you to search by just writing letters with your finger most anywhere on your device’s screen – there’s no keyboard that covers half of the screen and no need for hunt-and-peck typing.

Here’s a video that shows how the feature works:

Useful, or cool-but-useless?

I did try out handwrite on my Android smart phone. It’s pretty cool (it even works with autosuggest), but I question how useful it will be. I find Google’s search by voice feature useful, especially when I need driving directions on my Android. But I’m a bit skeptical about searching via handwriting. I find that typing is faster, easier, and more precise than writing letters with my finger.

What do you think? Will you use Google’s handwrite feature?

Posted in Websites & Web Apps | Tagged Google, handwrite, Search | 2 Replies
10 Firefox Extensions For Security + Anonymous Browsing

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Brandon Steele Brandon Steele | NO COMMENTS

Looking for better tools to help you avoid hackers, viruses, government censorship, and other hazards on the internet? Here are my personal favorite Firefox extensions that I use for anonymous and secure browsing.

1. NoScript

Viruses and other malware often gain access to your computer via malicious scripts on a website you visit. NoScript allows you to disable scripts on all sites, except for ones that you trust. This blocks malicious code from installing viruses on your computer.

2. HTTPS Everywhere

HTTPS Everywhere is currently being used in Tor. HTTPS Everywhere automatically encrypts your connection to any websites that supports SSL. Using SSL makes it harder for hackers to access your data or for corrupt governments to censor content on sites.

3. BetterPrivacy

Some websites use Flash cookies (also called “LSO”), which are difficult to delete since most browsers’ cookie clearing functions don’t delete Flash cookies. BetterPrivacy can be set to automatically delete Flash cookies when the browser closes.

4. Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus is a free Firefox extension that will automatically block ads and tracker cookies on websites. For Adblock, I use EasyList for blocking ads and Fanboy’s Tracker List for blocking tracking scripts.

5. User Agent Switcher

When you browse a website, your browser identifies itself using a “user agent” that tells websites what browser you’re using. User Agent Switcher allows you to spoof your user agent, which can help you stay anonymous online.

6. anonymoX

A proxy is a service that allows you to browse the web without providing your IP address to the websites you browse. There are several Firefox extensions that give you access to proxies, especially fast and secure proxies. AnonymoX is the fastest and probably the most efficient proxy extension I’ve seen.

7. Lastpass Password Manager

Lastpass is an extremely secure password manager for Firefox. Lastpass stores your (heavily encrypted) passwords and autofills them into the appropriate website. This keeps your saved passwords safe from hackers. Lastpass does require you to log in, in order to decrypt the passwords.

8. Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster is a cookie management extension for Firefox. I use it to block cookies from all sites, then I manually unblock sites that I trust.

9. Quick Proxy

Quick Proxy is a proxy extension for Firefox. Unlike anonymoX, Quick Proxy requires you to use your own proxies (free public proxies can be found with a Google search). Quick Proxy is extremely lightweight and easy to use.

10. WOT – Safe Surfing

Web of Trust (WOT) helps you browse safely by simply warning you if the website you visit has been marked by other users as dangerous.

Posted in Apps | Tagged anonymous, censorship, Firefox, plugins, security, virus | Leave a reply
7 Easy Google Search Tricks

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Adam Thompson Adam Thompson | 1 Comment

Not finding what you want by just typing a keyword into Google? Try one of these search tips to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

1) Find out about a photo with reverse image search

Get an image via email or Facebook and want to know where it came from or what it is? Try Google’s Reverse Image Search – just upload an image and Google will return information and webpages about that image. Here’s how to do it:

Go to Google Image Search and click on the camera icon in the search bar:

You can then search by pasting an image URL or uploading an image, after which you’ll see results like this:

2) Filter results by date

Looking for recent, up-to-date information on a certain topic? Filter search results by date so Google only returns webpages that have been updated recently. Here’s how to do it:

After you do a Google search, click “Show search tools” in the left sidebar, then click on one of these links:

3) Find businesses near you with map search

Not only will Google maps let you find businesses in the city you’re in, you can search for businesses near the specific building or address you are at. Here’s how to do it:

Go to Google Maps and search for “keyword near location” like this:

4) Get a definition

Need a definition for a word? Instead of going to a dictionary, just type define:word into Google, like this:

5) Use Google Shopping to find products for sale at local stores

Not only can Google help you find local businesses, Google can help you find specific products (including pricing and user reviews) at local stores. Here’s how to do it:

Go to Google Shopping and do a search for the product you want. Once the results are displayed, click to enter your zip code:

Once you enter your location, you can click on any product to view nearby stores that sell it:

6) Get info from other people in real time

This isn’t even a Google search tip, but I couldn’t resist including it in this article. If you want to know what’s going on just minutes or seconds ago, use Twitter search.

Just to give an example…a couple weeks ago I couldn’t get Gmail to load, and I wanted to know whether it was a problem with my PC or ISP, or if others were experiencing the same problem. I did a quick search on Twitter and found out that a lot of other people were tweeting about Google being down.

7) Use advanced search for more options

Need more options? Try Google’s advanced search options by clicking on the gear icon in search results:

Then you’ll get an advanced search page with tons of options like this:

Google offers a ton of features and advanced options. I just included a few of the tricks that I think are the easiest, most useful ones. What are your favorite Google search tips and tricks?

Posted in Websites & Web Apps | Tagged Google, Search | 1 Reply
Digitizd Is Back!

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Adam Thompson Adam Thompson | 2 Comments

Aaaaaand we’re back! Starting this coming week, Digitizd will once again be actively maintained and written.

Hello, readers! My name is Adam Thompson, and I am the new editor of Digitizd. The site will feature articles from several regular authors as well as posts from guest authors.

My goal is for Digitizd to continue providing top-notch tech advice that’s easy to understand and fun to read. I would love to get input from you (the readers!) on the topics you would like to see us write about. Please vote in the poll below and/or leave your thoughts in the comments. Thanks!

Posted in Links | 2 Replies
Signing Off

Posted on October 7, 2011 by David Pierce David Pierce | 7 Comments

As of this past Monday, I’m a Reviews Editor for The Verge. It’s a new (well, not-yet-born so far) site, where we’ll be covering news, writing reviews and features, and doing much more. It’s a fantastic team and a fantastic publication that I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of.

There’s only one downside: I don’t have time to write Digitizd anymore. (I don’t have time for anything anymore, actually, but that’s a different story.) This site has been my baby, the thing I’m most proud of over the last few years, and has introduced me to people and opportunities I never dreamed of being able to get. As sad as I am to see this phase end, it’s time.

I’ve written this post a million times, and it’s different each time, but the one running theme has been how grateful I am to all of you, the readers and friends of Digitizd. You’ve all made this site fun, useful, and hopefully worthwhile. You’ve corrected me the billion times I’ve been wrong, shown me cool things, inspired me to keep working, and much more. I’m grateful to each one of you.

The Verge is going to be amazing, and I can’t wait to show you what we’re working on when the site launches. I’ll be writing ’til my eyes bleed over there, so if you miss me make sure you come say hi!

Posted in Thoughts, What's New Here | 7 Replies
Don Draper pitches Facebook Timeline

Posted on September 28, 2011 by David Pierce David Pierce | NO COMMENTS

Don Draper’s much better at this than Zuckerberg. I’d be a whole lot more excited about Timeline if he’d pitched it in the first place.

(Via Kottke)

Posted in Apps, Fun, Linklog | Leave a reply
Google Wallet: Fixing What's Sort of Broken

Posted on September 20, 2011 by David Pierce David Pierce | 2 Comments

Google Wallet is supposed to be the Earth-shattering thing that completely changes forever how we deal with money. And to be fair, it might, but as Matt Buchanan reports, it’s not. Not because the product doesn’t work well, but because the thing that sucks about money isn’t the swiping of your credit card:

But then I still had to tell the dumb credit console whether I was paying debit or credit. And then I had to wait for my receipt to print out, all ten miles of it. Which made my attempt at being a mysterious stranger with mysterious magical technology quickly disappearing into the night fail miserably since it wouldve been mad awkward to stare directly into each others eyes for 45 seconds without saying a word.

Google Wallet is clearly a close-up glimpse at what the seamless, slippery future of money looks like—MasterCard is an appropriate enough vector for a technological Mark of the Beast, I suppose—but its still very much in 2011. Friction abounds.

Posted in Apps, Linklog, Live Digitally, Must Reads, The Future | 2 Replies