Even without dropping any hardware this week, Apple made a ton of news at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, unveiling Mac OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 — along with many accompanying features in each. But how will these updates affect your Apple experience? Mashable hosted a MashTalk Hangout on Air Wednesday to answer these questions, and also discuss how these moves will impact other companies. What questions do you have about Apple’s latest unveilings? Share them in the comments below or tweet them with the hashtag #MashTalk. Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/04/apple-wwdc-2014-hangout/
History of Windows Startup Sounds 1. Microsoft Windows 3.1 Startup Sound Back in 1992, 3.1’s startup sound was jarring and unpopular. This prompted Microsoft to create a more aurally pleasing version for its next operating system. 2. Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Sound In 1994 Microsoft asked Brian Eno to create a piece of music that was (in his words) “inspiring, universal, blah- blah, da-da-da, optimistic, futuristic, sentimental [and] emotional.” The resulting seven seconds — about twice as long as Microsoft’s initial brief requested — has made tech history as a recognizable “sonic logo.” 3. Microsoft Windows NT Startup Sound In 1996, Windows NT 4.0 revealed a fresh, futuristic sound. Legend has it that the shutdown sound played the startup sound backwards. 4. Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Sound Microsoft audio producer Ken Kato is credited with the creation of the Windows 98 sound. 5. Microsoft Windows 2000 Startup Sound Microsoft tinkled the ivories with its professional “2000” operating system. 6. Microsoft Windows ME Startup Sound The consumer-aimed “Millennium Edition” shared the same audio. 7. Microsoft Windows XP Startup Sound The startup chime (and other system sounds within XP) are based on live orchestral recordings. Composer Bill Brown worked with Emmy-award winning sound designer Tom Ozanich to create the audio. 8. Microsoft Windows Vista Startup Sound The Vista startup sound was a collaboration among progressive rock guitarist Robert Fripp, record producer, musician and composer Tucker Martine and Microsoft’s own engineer (and musician) Steve Ball. In a blog post, Microsoft described the tune as having “two parallel melodies played in an intentional ‘Win-dows Vis-ta’ rhythm,” with four chords — one for each color in the Windows flag. 9. Microsoft Windows 7 Startup Sound Finally, Windows 7’s default startup audio is the same as Vista’s. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/24/windows-startup-sounds/
Wootfatigue earns a living working on antique cars and shooting odd photography jobs. When he’s not at work he scours the internet to find the answers to some of life’s toughest questions, such as “will pee damage tires?” Now, while that might seem like an outright stupid question, when a gaze of raccoons takes up residence in your garage, anything is possible. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); That’s right folks, this is what happens when you give a raccoon a cookie. If you give a raccoon a cookie, he’ll ask you for one more… Reddit / wootfatigue googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBM_BTF’); }); And before long, there’s two more standing at your door. Reddit / wootfatigue If you give a raccoon a cookie, even just a bite… Reddit / wootfatigue These tiny, furry critters, will never leave your sight. Reddit / wootfatigue googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI1_BTF’); }); If you give a raccoon a cookie, he’ll ask you for a drink. Reddit / wootfatigue And before long he’ll start doing some pretty questionable things. Reddit / wootfatigue If you give a raccoon a cookie, he’ll think he’s human too. Reddit / wootfatigue And he’ll eat up all your scrumptious human food. Reddit / wootfatigue googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI2_BTF’); }); When a man runs out of cookies, he’ll settle for some nuts. Reddit / wootfatigue “It’s shopping time. More cookies please! No ifs, ands, or buts.” Reddit / wootfatigue All kidding aside, Wootfatigue has grown to love these raccoons as though they were his own children. Let’s just say his cookies bring all the raccoons to the yard. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/raccoon-takeover/
“Hotel California” is one of the most iconic rock songs of the 1970s. The Eagles released this masterpiece in 1977, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone today who hasn’t heard it at least once. From the dark meaning behind the lyrics to the instantly recognizable riffs, this jam has it all. But you’ve never heard it like this. These six men formed an a cappella group and decided not only to do a cover of the song, but to knock it way out of the park. If the thought of missing out on that famous guitar solo bums you out, have no fear. Just keep watching. (via Shareably) That guy can seriously shred, and he doesn’t even need a guitar to do it! It takes so much work to reinvent a beloved song like this, and these guys pulled it off beautifully. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/hotel-california/
Just in case anyone was still confused, this meteorologist is setting the record straight. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/portland-meteorologist-explains-why-earth-is-definitely-not-flat/
This little boy is Noah — and he loves Spider-Man. So, when he went outside to play and saw Spider-Man, he was thrilled! He ran up to the superhero and gave him a huge hug. But then…Spider-Man took off his mask. Spider-Man was great, but DAD? That’s even better! Spider-Man (a.k.a. “Jason”) flew home from serving in Afghanistan to surprise his son and wife. Their daughter Kali was just born, and he wanted to give the entire family a huge treat. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/spiderman-dad-surprise/
It’s no secret that a lot of work goes into building elegant pieces of furniture, which is why most people opt to leave it to the professionals. But for Chris, he knew that he couldn’t put any part of his wife’s 20th wedding anniversary gift in someone else’s hands. In an effort to show just how much she means to him, he made her a priceless gift. And watching him craft it from scratch is absolutely mesmerizing… Amazing! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/table-build/
Tuesday’s town hall-style presidential debate at Hofstra University was a slug fest. President Obama and Governor Romney escaped the podiums of the previous round and danced all over the stage, trading jabs and interrupting each other and the moderator, CNN political correspondent Candy Crowley. If you were watching your social medias simultaneously, there was plenty of fun to be had. As they’ve done with the previous two debates, our friends at Hark.com have collected the night’s best audio moments into the graphic below. Click your favorite quotes and share them with your friends on the web. This time, we’ve got some fun surprises in the audience, as well. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/17/hofstra-debate-sound-bites/
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons stars in a new digital short for “Battle For Your Ballot,” a non-partisan grassroots movement raising awareness about voter suppression. The video is the first in a series of PSA-style YouTube clips from The BRPR Group. The movement’s website, BattleForYourBallot.com, will house the videos, inform viewers about their voting rights and let people report voter irregularities by submitting audio, videos or photos. “We want to utilize the followings of celebrities and high-profile individuals with fans who are most effected by voter suppression tactics — younger voters and minority voters,” BRPR Group’s agency director Christopher Renz tells Mashable. He says the next figures in the movement will be a politician and Hispanic celebrity. The website also details state-by-state information for voters, including rights as an employee on Election Day and a list of necessary documents to bring to the polls. “This is not about a red or a blue state, Republican or Democrat,” says Gerard Bush, co-founder and chief creative director of The BRPR Group, who also has a prominent role in the video. “It’s actually not partisan at all; it is about the most valued right of every American citizen to have our voices heard at the ballot box.” Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/01/battle-for-your-ballot/
A pilot practices flying his "quadcopter" drone while wearing goggles connected to the small camera seen at the bottom center of the craft.Image: Mel Evans/Associated Press An unidentified drone flew dangerously close the flightpath at Vancouver’s international airport on Monday, prompting a search by police. The drone was flying over a runway when someone at air traffic control spotted it, according to local reports. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police searched the area, setting up road blocks, but were unable to find the pilot of the drone. The police said they might press charges for mischief and criminal negligence, if they do. “It puts people in danger and puts them at risk, puts the community at risk,” RCMP Sgt. Cam Kowalski said, according to CBC. “It’s incredibly dangerous and incredibly stupid, so we will investigate this every way that we possibly can.” This is the second time in less than a year that a drone has flown close to Vancouver’s airport. Last November, someone posted a video of a landing airplane shot from a drone, which prompted an investigation by Canada’s transportation agency. Canada has relatively lax rules concerning the use of drones. If the flying robot is under 77 pounds, its pilot can fly it freely as long as he or she keeps it within line of sight and doesn’t fly it too close to populated areas or restricted airspace. In the U.S., on the other hand, drones can’t be flown closer than 5 miles from an airport. Despite this rule, similar incidents have happened in the United States. Last year, an airline pilot spotted a drone a few miles from New York City’s JFK airport. More recently, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration revealed that a drone and an American Airlines jet came very close to crashing into each other 2,300 feet above the ground near the Tallahassee Regional Airport in Florida. For more on Mashable‘s coverage of unmanned aerial vehicles, check out Drone Beat. Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/07/02/drone-flies-dangerously-close-to-planes-at-canadian-airport/
