SoBeTECH

space invaders cutting board invades kitchens

Whether you’re slicing, dicing, or making julienne fries, this Space Invaders themed cutting board will help you get your Mise en Place in order.

As you chop your way through celery and onion, imagine your knife as a laser cannon, blasting its way through all but the most stubborn of alien invaders.

This wooden cutting board was crafted by 1337motif (great name, btw) using individual “pixels” of walnut and hard maple, and glued with FDA approved waterproof glue. The whole thing is then sealed with mineral oil and beeswax to keep the pesky alien from escaping.

The handmade board measures appx. 17.5 X 12 X 1.25″ and is available from the artist’s Etsy shop for $125. (Be sure to check out his new Zelda Tri-Force cutting board while you’re at it).

(Via technabob.)

We7 launched, offers 500,000 DRM-free MP3s at no cost

The free download service We7 is finally here, and claimed to offers 500,000 tracks of music from Sony BMG label and independent artists. These tracks are available to users for free and not protected by any kind of DRM, however it comes with pre-roll advertising that starts before the music track begins and lasts only several seconds

The unprotected MP3 files can be use on virtually any portable audio player that supports MP3. We7 also provides advertising free tracks of the same files that have been downloaded by the user after 28 days later – it is however limited to 20 tracks a month.

All registered users can download up to 100 free tracks daily and a maximum of 500 free tracks weekly. We7 also provides full album download without the advertising for a fee. Don’t expect huge catalog collections on We7 as there are only one major record label behind it.

[via PCPro]

(Via SlashGear)

Top Secret: 7 Confessions of an Apple Mac Specialist

The Consumerist has come across some top secret infotainment that they’re calling “7 Confessions of an Apple Mac Specialist.”

7. iPods have two fixes. Resetting and Restoring.

6. We have 4 things that we will try to sell you when you purchase a computer.

5. If you have a return outside of the return policy we will most likely take care of you.

4. We do not know ANYTHING about when some product will come out.

3. Apple Employment: If you want full-time, do not get into this company.

2. Why we will ask you for your e-mail at checkout.

1. If you fill out the survey and rank us 6 or lower, a manager will call you the same day or the next, corporate policy.

(Via MacDailyNews.)

LaCie add capacity to 500GB Rugged external drive

LaCie has announced an update to its ruggedized external storage range, ideal for the clumsy traveller who insists on carrying all their media around with them.  Now available in a 500GB version, with almost no size increase on the older, smaller capacity models, LaCie have given the drive a shock-resistant rubber bumper and scratch-proof aluminium shell.  Inside, there’s a well-swaddled 2.5-inch Hitachi Travelstar 5K500 HDD.

Two versions are being released, one with a single USB 2.0 port and the other with both USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 and 800; maximum data transfer speeds of the latter model reach up to 800Mbits/s.  Power is courtesy of the connection, rather than requiring an external power brick.  As for software, LaCie include their “1-Click” backup app for PC and Mac, as well as SilverKeeper for Mac.  When initially plugged in, a preloaded Setup Assistant offers to format the drive depending on what machines you’ll be using it with, as well as transferring the user manuals onto your computer.

The distinctive design is by Neil Poulton, and frankly you’ll either love it or hate it.  Prices are $339.99 for the single USB 2.0 model or $399.99 for the “triple-interface” model.  Both versions are available now.

[via Gizmag]

(Via SlashGear.)

Foxconn wins 3G iPhone contract, 3 million units shipping in June?
Need more unsubstantiated evidence that the 3G iPhone is near. Good, the Chinese language Commercial Times is quoting sources claiming that Foxconn (aka, Hon Hai) — the maker of the 1st gen iPhone — is ramping up 3G iPhone assembly by “the end of May” to ship 3 million units in June. It’s expected to produce some 24-25 million units before the product reaches end of life. If those numbers are true then Apple had better be prepared for a proper global launch without those pesky revenue sharing schemes seen holding back world-wide uptake.

(Via Engadget.)

The more powerful iMac. Now running at speeds up to 3.06GHz.
Just when you thought iMac had everything, now there’s even more. More powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processors. And more memory standard. Combine this with Mac OS X Leopard and iLife ’08, and it’s more all-in-one than ever. iMac packs amazing performance into a stunningly slim space. Check them out HERE!

Apple touts 5th iTunes birthday, 10m song catalog
Apple on Monday celebrated the fifth anniversary of iTunes with a look at back at all “all of the great music, video, and exclusives” that users discovered on iTunes and highlighting the songs and shows that defined each year.
On its iTunes store, Apple offered a brief history along with a collection of “best sellers”. The company, which launched iTunes on April 28, 2003, claims grew its music catalog of more than 200,000 songs and a handful of exclusive tracks to more than 10 million, according to info available at the online store — up 66 percent from the 6 million song catalog announced in early April.

Earlier this month, the company announced that the iTunes Store surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US based on data from January and February of 2008. Apple also touted that it had served over 50 million customers and sold more than four billion songs.

iTunes accounts for approximately 70 percent of digital music sold worldwide. Wired notes that in the next five years, Apple’s media service may well account for a staggering 28 percent of all music sold worldwide.

(Via MacNN.)