This is a habit of all AD-DC converters, and they should be unplugged as much as possible when not in use. The green movement is still only a trickle here and there from large companies like this, but it’s a good sign that it is growing. There are already similar products that try to cut vampire power; these power bars check your PC and peripherals with USB to check if they are still active and to cut electricity when necessary.

Along with the standardization effort in place from all the major players towards micro-USB, which should reduce the landfill contribution of proprietary chargers this is a good start. AT&T also plans to start working to minimize the materials used in accessory packing. They also say that they will be using more and more recycled materials in the packing and manufacturing of their devices. Get Al Gore to come in and verify that this more than just a marketing blitz and we’ll be tipping our hats to you. Hopefully this inspires others to join in.

[EverithingUSB via CNET]

It’s pretty hard to make out in androidandme’s video, but Sling are showing the client running on both a Google Nexus One and a Motorola DROID.  According to the company rep, the UI for the app hasn’t been completely finished, but it’s expected to resemble the interface on their iPhone version.

No word on how much the SlingPlayer for Android app will cost, though the iPhone, Windows Phone, Symbian and BlackBerry are all priced at $29.99.

[Android Community via UltraMobilePCTips]

The Grand Canyon Skywalk which is located in Arizona is the World’s highest structure that uses glass floor. It is near the Colorado River and it is operated by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. The famous skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped glass located 4,000 feet (1219m) above the ground.Glass floor technology is also used by tall structures like the Empire State Building, Gateway Arch, Sears Tower and Petronas Towers.

Here’s a description from their website www.grandcanyonskywalk.com:

“This amazing ability to withstand weight as well as the forces of nature is due to the Skywalk’s 2 inch thick steel frame which is designed specifically to flex in the heat, cold, and wind. This frame is anchored to the Grand Canyon by casens and micro piles measuring 46 feet down into the solid bedrock. The specially-made German glass which forms the platform for our guests to walk the experience also plays a big part in the durability and beauty of Skywalk. Each of the 46 panes forming the walkway are constructed of 5-layers of glass bonded together and laminated, weighing in at 1,200 lbs a piece, and making the glass incredibly strong while still providing a crystal-clear view of the canyon below.”

The admission fee to the Skywalk is $29.95, and you can stay as long as you like but personal items such as cameras and cellphones are not allowed inside.

[via Daily World Buzz]

Well, Simon Cowell has always been known not in a good mood or usually irate and often seen at the American Idol judging table in a bad temper. While, Ryan Seacrest is more calm but very vocal about his opinions– “he says what he thinks.”

So, the Ryan Seacrest Simon Cowell Fight started when Simon Cowell wasn’t amuse with Michael Lynche`s performance of “Miss You”, added with a bit of disappointment on his face and thinks the dance moves were “corny!”

So, the opinionated Ryan Seacrest asked Simon what was so desperate about his performance. Well, Cowell replied: “Do you want me to talk to you or talk to Mike?”

And there it goes! Ryan, marched down to confront Simon… he backed away, and begged Seacrest to get back on the stage. Hmm.. is this a publicity stunt? Check out the video below and tell us what you think.

Ryan Seacrest Simon Cowell Fight Video :

[via lugaluda]

[via TvCrunch]

Alex Chilton’s Big Star band mate Jody Stephens confirmed the news. “Alex passed away a couple of hours ago,” Stephens said. “I don’t have a lot of particulars, but they kind of suspect that it was a heart attack.”

According to The Commercial Appeal, Chilton had been complaining of about his health earlier today. He was taken by paramedics to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead.

Alex Chilton was born William Alexander Chilton on  December 28, 1950. He was just 16 years old when the Box Tops, in which he sang and played guitar, had a No. 1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967. When that group broke up in 1970, Mr. Chilton formed Big Star with Mr. Stephens, a drummer, and the musicians Chris Bell and Andy Hummel. Their music, gentle and introspective songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo” and “September Gurls,” and exuberant anthems like “In the Street” , had a profound impact on generations of pop and indie acts that followed.

Alex Chilton is survived by his wife, Laura, and a son Timothy.

[Via The Daily Inquirer]

But things have not always been easy for the actor cum comedian. In an NPR radio interview with Terry Gross in 2004, Aykroyd talked about his childhood struggle with neurological disorders Tourette and Asperger Syndrome.

During the half-hour long interview, Gross asks the star whether he was diagnosed with schizophrenia aged 12 because he heard voices in his head.

The now 57-year-old answered that he was analyzed as a Tourette’s and Asperger’s child, not so much schizophrenia, adding that the former can also be associated with hallucinogenic voices.

“I grew up being pulled one way by my mother, who was very very strict, and then being relaxed by my father, who was very passive. I had the Tourette’s pretty badly there, and I went to a therapist about it,“ Aykroyd said.

“At 12 years old I was able to have the luxury of sitting down with a therapist and talking through all kinds of things, books and music. She was quite influential in kind of evening me out.“

The actor commented on doctors’ willingness today to just give kids pills, but said that back in his day, they didn’t have the benefit of sophisticated medicine:

“Whether it works or not, I don’t know. I think time will tell on that,“ he adds laconically.

Dan Aykroyd has been able to gain control of his condition without medication, but still has “a little touch“ of it today. He talked about physical tics such as grunting and nervousness, adding that the Tourette’s had pretty much allayed by the time he was 14.

“I really haven’t had too much occurrence except on the Asperger’s side, where I have a fascination with police, and I always have to have a badge with me.“

Dan Aykroyd is one of less than 1% of children who are diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Tics experienced by the sufferer can vary greatly in intensity and in half of all patients symptoms disappear by the age of 18. Other neurological disorders such as Asperger’s, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD),  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy often come hand-in-hand with Tourette Syndrome.

The star himself comments: “I just find in my research and reading today that there’s a lot of people who have this kind of mild condition, and some of them get over it, and [for] some of them, it spins out where it affects them quite negatively.“

[via Cwd]

But she issued a statement to film studio Warner Bros. on Wednesday saying that “due to unforeseen personal reasons a trip abroad to support ‘The Blind Side’ has been deemed impossible at this time.

“I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your continued support of the film,” her statement said.

The British premiere of the movie was due to take place in London on Tuesday. Warner Bros. declined to comment.

The announcement came as In Touch magazine published an interview with a California model who claimed she had slept with Bullock’s husband of five years while the actress was away in Atlanta filming “The Blind Side” last year.

Bullock married custom motorcycle manufacturer and reality TV star Jesse James, 40, in 2005. In several award ceremonies earlier this year, the actress attributed much of her recent success to her happiness at home.

Bullock’s publicist could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.

If the claims of infidelity by James prove correct, Bullock will join a long list of actresses whose relationships have fallen apart shortly after they won an Oscar.

Recent previous winners afflicted by what has come to be known in Hollywood as the “Oscar curse” for best actresses include Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts.

British actress Kate Winslet, who won the Oscar last year for her role in the “The Reader”, announced on Monday that she and her film director husband, Sam Mendes, had separated.

[via Reuters]

The tattoo model (aka “Bombshell”) recently claimed that she and Sandra Bullock’s husband had an 11-month affair while Bullock was away filming “The Blind Side.”

Trying to save some face, McGee told press, “I would never have hooked up with him if I thought he was a married man. He gave me the impression they were separated.”

Meanwhile, Sandra has cancelled her trip to London for the British premiere of “The Blind Side” and issued this statement: “Due to unforeseen personal reasons a trip abroad to support The Blind Side has been deemed impossible at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your continued support of the film.”

[via Celebrity Gossip]

Most of this is speculation, but still, this is technology that is worth mentioning.  With the iPhone becoming one of the most popular handhelds, Novell capitalized at the right moment.  This year seems to be shaping up quite nicely in terms of iPhone gaming, with the iPhone 4G assumedly releasing in the summer, Unreal Engine 3 running on iPhone, and of course, this new piece of information.

We’ll have more information as they become available, but I’m definitely excited to see how this all plays out.

[no dpad via Modmyi]