Introducing Google Nose

It is, according to Google, the new “scentsation” in search: Google Nose.

“Google Nose,” still in Beta, “leverages new and existing technologies to offer the sharpest olfactory experience available.” Scratch and sniff books are one way to use Google Nose; self-driving new car smell is another possible experience.

Google Nose is not real; it’s among the company’s many April Fool’s Day jokes. But the idea of a an artificial nose—something that would navigate the world solely using its sense of smell—isn’t a joke at all.

At least not to Cyrano Sciences, a California-based company that is hard at work developing an electronic nose that will come pre-programmed with a database of all sorts of smells—a database like the one at the heart of Google’s joke.

What, exactly, is the value of an electronic nose? “This American Life’s” Nancy Updike did a piece on it last year, and found a few.

“Factories could put electronic noses throughout their plant to detect dangerous gases that might be leaking during the manufacturing process,” she reported. “Doctors could use a handheld electronic nose to diagnose pneumonia and other conditions that have distinctive smells.”

In one especially unique example, Updike reports that Germany has considered adding a unique smell to its currency as a means of combating fake money. While its not yet possible to smell this radio segment, you can listen to it right here.

Big cartel

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/01/google-nose-is-fake-the-artificial-nose-isnt/

Google Glass for Eyeglass Wearers Revealed

Mark Shand, a Google Glass engineer with a long history in tech, shows off a prototype Google Glass fitted for prescription glasses. (Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

May 15, 2013: Google Glass team members wear Google Glasses at a booth at Google I/O 2013 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The Google.com/glass microsite from the web giant offers specs and images of the forthcoming Google Gass product, such as this one. (Google)

FoxNews.com's Jeremy Kaplan tests Google Glass, a futuristic head-mounted computer that Google hopes will change the world. (FoxNews.com / Perry Chiaramonte)

Hey four eyes! How about a fifth?

A special, prototype version of Google Glass for eyeglass wearers was spied on the faces of at least three engineers and developers at the Google I/O conference, CNET’s Seth Rosenblatt reported.

'Wearing prescription Google Glass is no harder than [dealing with] sunglasses.' - Glass engineer Adam Haberlach

Rosenblatt said he saw Mark Shand, a Google Glass engineer with a long history in tech that stretches back to Xerox PARC, wearing a prototype model fitted for prescription glasses. And two other Google employees at the show also wore what appeared to be exactly the same prototype model.

"Wearing prescription Google Glass is no harder than [dealing with] sunglasses," said Glass engineer Adam Haberlach, who was spotted wearing the same frames.

Glass for the eyesight-impaired replaces the titanium band in the standard model with a generic pair of black plastic glasses, onto which the display arm and other components are melded. The module did not appear to be removable.

Many experts have surmised that manufacturers such as Warby Parker, which has refocused the eyeglass industry through online sales of inexpensive eyeglasses and sunglasses, could offer Google Glass as an option for consumers. Alternately, the manufacturers of protective eyewear for sports -- such as Oakley, which has a history with high-tech gear -- may offer integrated modules.

Google’s weird, cyber-gizmo may not be ready to leave the nest, but it’s finally reaching adolescence, following a series of other announcements and revelations from the developer-centric Google I/O conference that wrapped up in California Friday. Chief among them: the release of half a dozen or more apps to augment the device’s functionality.

In addition to The New York Times app, which was released about two weeks ago, new tools from Evernote, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, CNN and Elle were pushed out to the approximately 500 developer model glasses in the wild.

Rather than accessing them through an app store as on iPhones or Windows 8 computers, the apps simply appear when the MyGlass app is updated on the Android device paired with Glass. The Facebook app, for instance, lets users share pictures and other content with that network's billion-plus users, rather than the struggling Google Plus.

Still, with only the developer price tag of $1,500 to look at and concerns over privacy escalating, consumers appear hesitant about the bleeding-edge device.

A new poll from BiTE Interactive claims that only one in 10 American smartphone users would use Google Glass regularly.

“Google Glass represents a profound social barrier for the average consumer,” BiTE vice president Joseph Farrell said.

Courtesy: Fox News, Google Glass

David Beckham Retires From Soccer, Ending Storied Career

David Beckham, who starred for Manchester United, Real Madrid and England's national team before heading to the United States and Paris, is retiring. The news was confirmed Thursday by England's Football Association.

The midfielder played his first game for Manchester United in 1992 and eventually rose to become captain of England's international team for more than 50 games, including several World Cup tournaments. He appeared in 115 matches for the squad.

The site of the English national squad posted these comments from Beckham, on his retirement:

"I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level.
"I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.
"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy."
"I'm fortunate to have realised those dreams."
As he rose to international fame, Beckham also became a style icon and gained fame for his deadly ability to beat goaltenders on free kicks, a talent that even inspired a movie, Bend It Like Beckham.

"Despite the offer of an extended one-year deal at Paris Saint-German, the 38-year-old has played his last game, bowing out on a high after helping Carlo Ancelotti's side win the French title for the first time in 19 years," reports The Daily Mail.

Before this season, Beckham spent six years with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, where he helped boost interest in the league. The team won two championships in Beckham's final two seasons with the squad.

Prior to this season, Beckham returned to Europe with his wife, Victoria, and their children.

"We're never going to replace David Beckham," Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told the Los Angeles Times this week. "David Beckham is a global personality, and he was tremendous for our franchise, tremendous for the league."

Update at 11:25 a.m. ET. More From Beckham:

Beckham has posted a statement on his Facebook page that includes the paragraphs quoted above. Here is the rest of the statement:

"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country. I'm honoured to represent England both on and off the pitch.
"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams. I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period. I also want to thank Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support.
"I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.
"Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I'm fortunate to have been given many
opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."

Courtesy:

Bill Chappell 

npr.org 

dailymail.co.uk

Tribute to All Mothers!

'Dear Mom, 

Thanks for Rocking Those Gigantic Varicose Veins, Which I Caused'

In search of a greeting card that does justice to the drastic, often permanent physical changes women's bodies undergo when they become mothers...

Photo culled from The Atlantic

Every Mother is required to ...

"... For the love of Mothers"

Saturday Fashion News Roundup! Nigeria’s Tiffany Amber Takes Fashion Retail To Another Level

Tiffany Amber, creatively directed by Folake Coker- a 15 year brand developed in Nigeria has embarked upon its global expansion plans with three new retail outlets launching in the second quarter of this year. The Spring/Summer 2013 Collection of Tiffany Amber will now be sold at Italy’s Leading Department Store – La Rinascente from April 2013.

Folake Coker

In addition to Europe, Tiffany Amber is also concentrating its expansion efforts on the brand’s home Continent of Africa where they are launching an in-store concession in Ghana’s largest and most respected boutique, Viva on 27 April 2013 bringing its ready-to-wear label to the discerning Ghanaian fashionista.

This move to Ghana will be followed by a partnership with leading South African Salon Store, Merchants on Long in Cape Town, a store that specializes in contemporary African design stocking fashion, art and homeware sourced from around the continent.

Story by: Desola Ade-Unuigbe

British Vogue unveils Miss Vogue

The British edition of the fashion bible has welcomed little sister, Miss Vogue, into the fashion fold.

The first ever issue comes packaged with the June issue of Vogue and stars a smiling Cara Delevingne on its cover. It's the first time the British edition of the famed publication has turned its hand to catering to a younger readership.

"We hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed working on it," says Alexandra Shulman in her editor's letter, which is accompanied by an image of her 15-year-old self." 

Voguemagazine appeals to all ages but I wanted to produce an edition targeted at younger readers, created with your lifestyles in mind. As with the mother magazine, the fashion is meant to inspire even if you're a bit short on cash."

Contributors to the debut issue include Cara, who shot the cover just a matter of days after returning to London following her marathon month of catwalking at the autumn/winter 2013 shows, Pixie Geldof, Henry Holland, model Sam Rollinson and wacky design due Meadham Kirchhoff.

Cover star Delevingne, the brightest modelling talent of the moment, is described by Shulman as " Miss Vogue made physical" thanks to her "maverick sense of style and fun" - and in a nice parallel, Kate Moss, the mother of all British models, appears on the cover of the flagship issue, her 32nd for the publication.

The issue has been put together by members of the existing Vogue team but it's not yet known whether further issues will be produced.

Kate Moss covers the June issue of Vogue. Photo: Patrick Demarchelier

Story by: Bibby Sowray, Telegraph.

The Daily Beast, HuffPost Live and New York Times among Webby Award winners

The annual awards for 'excellence on the internet' recognised a number of news and media outlets

News organisations such as the New York Times, BBC and Forbes joined digital-only news outlets including Pitchfork, The Daily Beast and the Huffington Post on the list of Webby Award winners for 2013 published today.

The awards are given for "excellence on the internet", and are organised into main categories, such as web, online film and video, mobile and apps, and social. Each category is then broken-down into sub-categories, which feature a Webby Winner, decided by a panel of judges, and a People's Voice winner, based on an online public vote.

The Daily Beast was named the Webby Winner in the web category for news for the second year running. The Daily Beast is part of Newsweek which announced a move to digital-only at the end of last year. The Huffington Post won the People's Voice in the same category.

Other winners include Pitchfork in the web category for best visual design and function in recognition for its cover stories, such as this feature on Bat For Lashes.

BBC Olympics took away the People's Voice award in the web category for best use of moving image or video.

The New Yorker won the Webby Award in the web category of best writing (editorial), while the Verge picked up the People's Voice in the same category.

Forbes Media was the Webby Award winner in the web category for magazines, with Wired named at the People's Voice. Mashable was named both Webby Winner and the People's Voice in the web category for business blogs, while Nate Silver's New York Times blog FiveThirtyEight won the Webby Award in the web category for political blogs.

In the online film and video category HuffPost Live was the Webby winner for best news and information channel. Journalism.co.uk spoke to president and co-creator of HuffPost Live Roy Sekoff just last month, six months after the launch of the live video discussion platform.

Also in the online film and video category Vice was named both Webby Winner and People's Voice for both news and politics (individual episode), in recognition for its Mexican Morman War video and the news and politics (series) category for Vice News.

In the mobile and apps category, CNNMoney's mobile web won the Webby Award for news (handheld devices), while TechCrunch took the Webby Award in the news (tablet and other devices) category.

Al Jazeera English's new iPad magazine, which launched in September last year, took the People's Voice award in the news (tablet and other devices) category.

In the social category the New York Times received both the Webby Award and the People's Voice award. Last year Journalism.co.uk reported on the different ways the New York Times uses social media to engage with its online community.

Courtesy: Journalism.co.uk
Story by: Rachel McAthy

Jon Hamm on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jon Hamm discusses the sixth season of "Mad Men" and his pending marriage to Aasif Mandvi. 

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.




Courtesy:
Youtube