Minggu, 01 Agustus 2010

Mashable: Latest 5 News Updates - including “10 Cool Konami Code Easter Eggs [PICS]”

Mashable: Latest 5 News Updates - including “10 Cool Konami Code Easter Eggs [PICS]”

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10 Cool Konami Code Easter Eggs [PICS]

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 07:22 PM PDT

Konami Code Image

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. If you were a video gamer in the late ’80s, there’s a very good chance you’ll have pressed that combination of buttons more than a few times.

The code was a secret cheat that appeared in many of Konami’s early video games. Of all the goodies it could grant, it is most remembered for giving the player extra lives in Contra, a notoriously difficult NES game. Since then, the Konami code has been adopted outside the video game industry and there are a ton of websites that offer secret Konami code Easter eggs.

We’ve scoured the web for the best examples, from a huge swath of options. If you want to try them out yourself, just head over to the respective sites and hit that magical key combination (substituting Enter for the Start button on a game controller). In the meantime, if you like unicorns, rainbows and bacon, then click on through the gallery and feast your eyes.


1. BBC Glow




The BBC's Glow JavaScript resource site offers a particularly geeky Easter egg: A photo of K9, the little robo dog from British sci-fi series Doctor Who, and a promo link for the BBC's Cult TV site.


2. Marvel




Entering the code on Marvel's official site brings up this particularly sinister-looking squirrel sporting a Deadpool mask.


3. Scott Pilgrim - The App




Adding the Konami code to the site for the Scott Pilgrim iPhone app gets you an e-mail address that, if contacted, will tell you where you can find one of the various unlockables in the app. Fun and useful - we like!


4. Tweetshare




Tweetshare's Easter egg takes you directly to Sam Fisher's (the protagonist from the video game Splinter Cell) profile page.


5. YourMapper




YourMapper's secret trick is a good one and very much in keeping with the Konami theme. Typing the code gives you a map of all the levels from the Contra video game. It was the first major game in the U.S. market to use the Konami code.


6. Activate Media




Activate Media offers a great Easter egg: A YouTube clip of the "truffle shuffle" moment in the classic '80s film The Goonies.


7. NetLog




The special code on NetLog gives you a green dragon eating the logo. Yum!


8. FrankDeals




Delightfully random, FrankDeals will redirect you to a classic Sesame Street clip.


9. Dandelion & Burdoch




Staying with the retro theme, how's about some free Pong courtesy of Dandelion & Burdoch?


10. SoundClick




Mmmmm, bacon. Yup, that's it.


BONUS: Cornify




Cornify ("unicorns and rainbows on demand") gets a special bonus status. The Konami code triggers a riot of rainbows and unicorns on its own site, but Cornify has also put together a cool piece of jQuery code that lets you do the same with your own site. Thanks guys!


More entertainment resources from Mashable:


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- 9 Fantastic Facebook Pages for Fashion
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[Img Credit: Pixel Fantasy]

More About: cheat code, easter eggs, gaming, Konami, konami code, Lists, video games, websites

For more Entertainment coverage:


New Gmail Design Revealed in Leaked Screenshot

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 05:15 PM PDT


A version of Gmail used by Google employees has been revealed in a screenshot included with a Chromium OS bug report, and the image reveals more than a half dozen changes to the Gmail most of us are using today.

The blog Google Operating System posted the image yesterday, and we’ve also featured it below. Note that Google Operating System originally posted it as two images — the top bar that says “report issues” and so on was its own image, so we’re not sure how it’s really oriented in relation to the rest of the stuff you see.

Also remember that this internal version of Gmail may differ from future public versions.

Savvy Gmail users immediately picked apart the screenshot looking for new features and interesting changes. Most notably, Mail, Contacts and Tasks have all been featured in the top left as the three pillars of the user experience. Right below those, you can see that “Compose Mail” is now an actual button, not just a text link. That’s simply an aesthetic change, but it’s an interesting choice regardless.

Following that theme, there are no longer text links to actions such as “Select All” or “Select None” — those appear to now exist under a textless drop-down box above the Inbox. Drop-down boxes are ubiquitous in general, actually. Note that the e-mail address at the top menu is accompanied by a drop-down box — could that be the Gmail account switcher that Google promised? We’ll all find eventually, I’m sure.

Look in the chat window and you’ll see a new “Call Phone” button. That might be Google Voice integration. You’ll also see two little buttons in the top-right corner of the Google Talk window; one of those could be a rejiggered settings menu, but it’s hard to tell for sure.

Do you see anything else interesting in this image? Let us know in the comments.


Reviews: Gmail, Google, Google Voice, google talk

More About: chromium os, gmail, Google, image, pic, picture, screenshot, trending

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5 Things the Internet Will Do for $5 [VIDEOS]

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 03:06 PM PDT


When we first heard about Fiverr — the service which asks, “What are you willing to do for $5?” — we were seriously skeptical. Who would actually advertise to do anything for the cost of an overpriced coffee?

Checking back in a few weeks after launch, we were amazed to see that the site appears to be flooded with offers from people prepared to do many, many things — good and bad, funny and not — for a price. So, we decided to put the service to the test and find out what we could get for five greenbacks.

Do we think the service is exploitative? Potentially. Is it a fascinating social experiment? Despite our mixed feelings on the topic, undoubtedly. Have a browse below of the various and varied tasks our fellow netizens carried out for us for $5, and have your say in the comments below.


1. I will plant a tree in my garden for $5


It may not be the best shovel work we've ever seen, but there is a nice feeling in knowing that there's a tree planted just for you in some far flung part of the globe.


2. I will sing any song for you for $5


If you're a little low and want an ego boost, how about getting a talented singer to serenade you with your favorite song? This acoustic rendition of Ray LaMontagne's "You Are The Best Thing" by Joe Marson is definitely worth $5 in our book.


3. I will let you rent 3 inch by 3 inch property for an entire year for $5


Thanks to Fiverr, there's now a 3-inch by 3-inch patch of land (or as we like to tell others, holiday home) with our name on it in Chesterfield, Michigan. Can you imagine the look on the face of the landlord if we actually turned up to visit?


4. I will make a puppet show from your suggestions for $5


The WonderSpark Puppet company offers a novel way to advertise for grown-ups. Their personalized puppetry also makes a great gift for little ones.


5. I will have my cartoon cat sing you a song or say anything for $5


Who wouldn't want a cute cartoon cat singing them a silly song? Whether you want your own feline footage or are looking for an unusual greeting for a friend, it's yours for, you know it, $5!


More Social Media Resources from Mashable


- 10 Cool Facebook Status Tips and Tricks
- 13 Internet Slangs with Unexpected Alternate Meanings
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More About: fiverr, humor, social media, video, web, web video, youtube

For more Social Media coverage:


5 iPhone Apps to Help You Learn to Dance

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 01:03 PM PDT


It’s National Dance Day, so listen up: You’ve got to get movin’. Some people are born with rhythm and simply know how to move. Others aren’t so lucky. While our mothers may have toted us to childhood ballet classes, some were only in it for the tutu.

But if you’re yearning to learn some of that fancy footwork again, have no fear, because, well — there’s an app for that. With a little help from the iPhone and these five downloads, your feet will be moving in no time. And who knows? You may even be on on your way to preparing for a role in Swan Lake.

If you’ve achieved Dancing Queen (or King) status with iPhone assistance, let us know which apps helped get your groove back in the comments below.


1. Tap App


Personally, I’ve wanted to learn to tap dance since first seeing “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” from Annie, but I just couldn’t get the timing right. Tap dancing is not as easy as it looks… scratch that, it doesn’t look easy at all. If you don’t have natural rhythm, this type of dance is going to be tough, but as with anything, practice makes perfect.

This app offers 12 basic tap dancing steps to get you started. YouTube videos offer very short instructions on how to move your feet and the tempo to use. The instructor takes you through the steps slowly and is really clear on how to move. Once you know how to “Shuffle,” move on to the “Ball Change,” and you’re on your way to tapping your heart out.

Cost: $1.99


2. Salsa


Because you have to salsa with a partner, this isn’t the easiest dance to learn via an iPhone application, but it definitely helps. By watching the videos, you’ll learn the follower and leader positions and steps, as they are different. You can also virtually practice with a male or female “partner,” and hey, why not learn how to do both parts? You never know when you’ll have to lead.

Cost: Free


3. Ballet For Beginners


If you’ve always wanted to take ballet classes but never had the chance, Ballet For Beginners is a good place to start. And if you’re taking an adult beginners ballet class, this is a handy companion to help you practice what you’ve learned.

The app offers 20 instructional YouTube videos that take you step-by-step through the five classical ballet positions, as well as basic moves from different angles, all taken at a slow pace so you can keep up. The videos are divided up and relatively short so you can watch them repeatedly until you commit the moves to memory. The videos include increasingly more difficult moves and steps, and as ballet is far from easy, you’ll probably find yourself needing a lot of practice.

Cost: $4.99


4. Pole Dancing


Pole Dancing App Image

Are you ready for a “life changing journey of discovery” that will make you more “feminine, sensual, elegant and spicy?” Do you have a secure eight-foot pole you can swing around on? If so, you’re ready to pole dance.

Edith Aboul-Hosn has over 15 years of experience dancing, teaching and choreographing, and has been dancing professionally for the last seven years. She’ll teach you the art of pole dancing with GoLearn’s Pole Dancing app.

Edith is a great instructor, as she’s studied everything from classical ballet to modern dance to belly dancing. The app offers some good tips to know before starting out. For example, you should always point your toes, focus on your core, and remember to arch your back.

The YouTube video demos are completely respectful, but could be considered a little racy; but if you want to learn pole dancing, it’s to be expected. The videos teach basic moves, proper technique, spins, inversions, combinations, and how to put it all together. It all actually looks like a lot of fun… like an adult version of swinging around on the jungle gym.

Cost: $2.99


5. Learn Dance


This is app is ideal for beginners who want to learn to dance so that when they hit the clubs they can do more than just stand there and bob their heads. You know who you are, and it’s time to learn how to get down.

This app offers some very basic tips, like listening to the rhythm, shifting your weight properly, keeping loose, and when and why you should throw your hands in the air. There is also a video wall that connects you to YouTube and offers 20 guides to some of the hottest moves from today’s best dancers and musicians, as well as a break dance tutorial. Just try not to hurt yourself… or anyone else.

Cost: $0.99


More iPhone Resources from Mashable


- 10 Free iPhone Apps To Learn A New Skill In 10 Minutes
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[img credit: Łukasz Strachanowski]


Reviews: YouTube, iPhone

More About: ballet, dance, dancing, iphone app, iphone application, iphone applications, iphone apps, learn to dance, national dance day, pole dancing, salsa, tap dancing

For more Mobile coverage:


Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 11:01 AM PDT

Twitter Chart Image

Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Inception (staring the palpably handsome Leonardo DiCaprio) nabs the top of the Twitter talk chart for the second week in a row.

What else is up in the Twitterverse? Talk to Brazilians. Their tweets about football, celebrity gossip, and Sylvester Stallone’s off-handed comments at Comic-Con took home the lion’s share of the trends this week.

Check out the stats below for the full skinny, lovingly collected by our friends over at What The Trend. Because this is a topical list, hashtag memes and games have been omitted from the chart.

You can check past Twitter trends in our Top Twitter Topics section as well as read more about this past week's trends on What The Trend.


Top Twitter Trends This Week: 7/24 – 7/30

Rank
Topic
Top Index This Week
Intensity
Description
#1
Inception (Movie)
1
3
Inception is a 2010 sci-fi action thriller film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio. Inception was released on July 16, 2010 and has international box office grosses of $227M after two weeks in theaters.
#2
Soccer/Football
1
3
Muricy Ramalho was chosen as the new coach of the Brazilian national soccer team, but turned the job down. It has gone to Mano Menezes instead. Diego Maradona, former football player and manager of the Argentine national football team since November 2008, was removed from his managerial post after the Argentine Football Association announced it would not renew his contract.
#3
Sylvester Stallone
2
1
At a Comic-Con panel on Thursday, Sylvester Stallone made comments that some Brazilians found offensive.
#4
Justin Bieber
1
2
Justin Bieber’s Twitter account @justinbieber has reached 4 Million followers. All the "Beliebers" are talking about it.
#5
Sinta & Jojo
1
2
Keong Racun or "Poisonous Snail" is a song now popular in Indonesia after two teens named SINTA & JOJO uploaded their lip-sync video on YouTube.
#6
Comic-Con
4
2
The San Diego Comic-Con, which took place from July 22 – 25, is a large annual convention for comic books and pop culture in general, featuring several panels with the stars and creators of popular movies and TV shows.
#7
Felipe Neto
1
2
Felipe Neto is a popular Brazilian video blogger. He has come under attack from fans of Brazilian pop singer Fiuk for some remarks made in a video and subsequent tweets.
#8
Pretty Little Liars (TV Show)
1
2
Pretty Little Liars is a hit ABC Family TV Show that airs on Tuesday night.
#9
StarCraft II
4
1
The highly anticipated StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty computer game was released Tuesday, July 27th.
#10
Edson Celulari / Claudia Raia
1
1
Edson Celulari is a Brazilian actor. His 17 year-long marriage with his wife, the Brazilian actress Claudia Raia, ended.


Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ricardoinfante


Reviews: Twitter, YouTube, iStockphoto, justin bieber, movie

More About: Brazil, comic-con, entertainment, inception, justin bieber, List, Lists, Movies, social media, sports, Top Twitter Topics, trends, twitter, twitter trends

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Twitter Hits 20 Billion Tweets

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 08:53 AM PDT


There have now been more than 20 billion tweets since Twitter's inception, according to tracking service GigaTweet.

The milestone comes just two months after the service hit 15 billion tweets and about five months since it reached 10 billion, indicating that activity levels on the microblogging service continue to accelerate.

While GigaTweet's count is unofficial, Twitter indicated earlier this year that they're seeing more than 50 million tweets per day. With the company recently breaking its own activity records during the World Cup, we imagine the numbers are fairly accurate.

Update: Here’s tweet 20 billion … translation anyone?:

How many of those 20 billion tweets are you responsible for? Let us know in the comments!


Reviews: Twitter, World Cup

More About: trending, twitter

For more Social Media coverage:


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