Forget selfies -- make way for 'dronies'

By Doug Gross, CNN

- Forget selfies. Those are so 2013.

Make way, instead, for a new way so show your handsome, or lovely, mug to the Internet -- a budding Web movement that combines high-tech geekery with the human desire to be seen.

Call them "dronies."

As personal drones find their way into more and more hands, folks have begun using the personal, unmanned aircraft, kitted out with video cameras, to add a little flare to the Internet's ubiquitous "look at me" self-shots.

"Let's be honest, selfies aren't going anywhere," said Alexandra Dao, a community development manager at video site Vimeo. "But the dramatic reveal aspect adds another level of interest."

There may be no such thing as a "dronie expert" just yet. But Dao does claim the distinction of coining the term.

About two months ago, she saw that a friend had commented on a video posted to the site by tech entrepreneur Amit Gupta. It was shot on San Francisco's Bernal Hill, starting with a closeup of Gupta and two friends, then panning up and out to show the San Fran skyline.

The friend "proclaimed it a new kind of shot," she said, "and I jumped in with the suggestion of 'dronie'."

A few more dronies popped up the following day, leading Dao to begin collecting them on a new Vimeo channel.

From there, it started the march to becoming a Web trend. A Web trend with a silly name? Sure. But, hey ... it's no "owling."

iReport: Remote aerial photography

Twitter got into the action last month. At the Cannes Lions advertising festival in France, the social-media service garnered some free publicity using drones to create scenic Vine videos of employees with other festival attendees.

The first was of "Star Trek" actor and social-media star Patrick Stewart, who appears in a new Twitter documentary.

Twitter's not alone. As these things go, some early Web celebs are emerging in the dronie world.

The Works family, Josh, Jessa and their son, Jack, sold all their stuff and took off on a permanent road trip in their Airstream bus in 2011. (Both parents have jobs that let them work from anywhere). They're documenting the trip with often stunning photos on Instagram and, somewhere along the way, got their own drone.

Voila! The "first family" of dronies is born.

There was the one three weeks ago from Camp Creek in Oregon, where the drone flies up to showcase the towering trees in the site's old-growth forest. Or their first, a vertigo-inducing zoom-out on Vance Creek Bridge in Washington, the second-highest built bridge in the United States.

It remains to be seen whether dronies will become just another flash in the pan on the fast-twitch Web, or a more enduring Web presence like the venerable animated GIF.

Dao says she's seeing some momentum.

"I've definitely noticed more interest in using drones for photography and filmmaking, even amongst my friends," she said.

"Drones just open up so many possibilities for interesting compositions and they're a lot more accessible than some of the professional equipment that filmmakers have had to use in the past to get these kinds of shots."

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Things You Feel WHen You Get a Bad HairCut:

Things You Feel WHen You Get a Bad

 HairCut:

When it comes to bad haircuts, there are two things that every person can agree on: A) When they happen to you, they’re more awful than anyone else can imagine, and B) they must be stopped at all costs. Those, plus the fact that your stylist never means just one inch when they say that’s all they’ll trim. Seriously, never. But, unfortunately, as long as there are salon chairs to be sat in, there will inevitably be bad haircuts. And each time someone falls victim to one, they’ll probably most likely feel a mixture of all of these emotions:

 “Nononono, you’re cutting too much!” 

Way too much, always too much

“I have to pretend that I love it.”

 To spare your hairstylist your sad, sad tears.

 “Maybe I can fix it.”

 You can’t. You shouldn’t.

“How am I supposed to replicate this style after I wash my hair for the first time?”

 Straighten it, curl it or some weird combination of the two? Wand it? UGH.

“How long is it going to take to grow back?”

 It’s been, like, 17 minutes since it was cut and it’s still just as terrible. Time is torturous.

“No one look at me.

 Or look at me, but just know that I already know what you’re thinking and I’ve thought it 50 times already just today.”

“Maybe I can make hats my new thing.” 

Yeah, that’ll work.

“Eh, I guess it isn’t so bad.”

 From a precise angle and in a specific light. The important thing to remember is that it could be so much worse.

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Brazil wins, but Neymar ruled out of World Cup

Brazil wins, but Neymar ruled out of World Cup

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) -- Not long after celebrating another all-important win at the World Cup, Brazil was jolted by the loss of Neymar.

The tournament's poster boy with the dyed-blonde fauxhawk fractured a vertebra in his back during Brazil's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Colombia on Friday. The injury has ruled the striker out of the rest of the competition, dealing a massive blow to the team's chances of finally winning a World Cup at home.
Brazil advanced to the semifinals for the first time in 12 years, with the goals coming from defenders Thiago Silva and David Luiz. But the jubilation was quickly tempered when Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar broke his third vertebrae and is expected to be out for several weeks, ruling him out of Tuesday's semifinal match against Germany in Belo Horizonte.

''It's a situation that leaves us in a difficult position for the match against Germany,'' Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. ''But we have great players and if I have to change something I will do it and we will be OK.''
The 22-year-old Neymar has been the focal point of both the Brazilian team and the entire World Cup, and he lived up to expectations with four goals in the first three matches.

But he took a knee to the back late in the match against Colombia at the Arena Castelao in a collision with Juan Camilo Zuniga. The Brazilian star was crying in pain as he was carried off the field, and was taken to a private clinic. He has since been released.

''He will not be in condition to play, he will need a few weeks to be fit again,'' said Lasmar, the team doctor. ''He is very, very sad.''

The foul on Neymar came toward the end of one of the dirtiest games of the tournament as Brazil committed 31 fouls and Colombia had 23.

Brazil will also be without Silva for Tuesday's match against Germany. The captain must sit out after getting his second yellow card of the tournament after impeding Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.
Brazil, which is trying to become the first host to win the World Cup since France in 1998, had been eliminated in the quarterfinals at the last two tournaments. The ''Selecao'' lost to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in 2010 and to France in 2006 after winning its fifth title in 2002.

Back in 1950, Brazil needed only a draw in the final match to win the World Cup, but the team lost to Uruguay in a match known as the ''Maracanazo.''

This time around, Brazil won its group and then beat Chile on penalties in the second round.
On Friday against Colombia, Silva gave Brazil the lead in the seventh minute, scoring with his left knee after a corner from Neymar passed through the Colombian defense. He celebrated the goal by pointing to the emblem on his jersey and shouting, ''This is Brazil, this is Brazil.''

Luiz added the second from a free kick in the 69th, side-footing a long-range shot into the top of the net.
Colombia got one back in the 80th. James Rodriguez scored his tournament-leading sixth goal from the penalty spot after Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar brought down substitute Carlos Bacca inside the area.
Rodriguez tried to control the pace of the match, but it was Brazil that created most of the scoring chances as Ospina had to make a series of saves in the first half alone.

The Colombians tried to pressure after Rodriguez's late penalty, but Brazil held on with solid defending.
Colombia, playing at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and in the quarterfinals for the first time ever, had entered the match after scoring 11 goals, second only to the Netherlands.

''After not playing in the World Cup for so long, we were able to show the value of the Colombian football and the talent of some of our players,'' said Colombia coach Jose Pekerman, an Argentine. ''They showed great spirit and presence of mind. They came to play a great World Cup, not just to participate.''

There was a lot of talk about Rodriguez and Neymar before the match, but the 22-year-old forwards didn't really deliver in Fortaleza. Rodriguez scored the late penalty but was otherwise mostly ineffective, as was Neymar before he left on a stretcher.

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Ariana Grande Grandpa is Not Well:

Ariana Grande Grandpa is Not Well:

Ariana Grande‘s beloved grandfather has not been doing well these days and it looks like she needs us to send over our prayers to help him push through this tough time.

“love u grandps i need u please pull thru,” the 21-year-old singer tweeted while spending the July 4th holiday alongside her family in Florida.

“thank u for the prayers. my loves u are so powerful… u are in my heart. i wish Frankie were here. grandpa said ‘no he gotta win the game!’”Ariana added. Her older brother is currently playing on Big Brother‘s new season, which started this past week.

“gonna try my best to put my selfishness aside thru this… as much as i want grandps here with me.. i should just want him to be comfortable,” Ariana continued. “wish u knew how incredible he is…. humble, respectful, hardworking, polite, thoughtful, humorous, generous. an example for all gentlemen. he is all things wonderful.”

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Apple poaches another luxury executive as iWatch nears

(Reuters) - Apple has poached a senior executive from Swiss luxury watch brand Tag Heuer, which could be to help it with the launch of its iWatch expected this autumn.

Tag Heuer, part of luxury goods group LVMH, said on Friday its vice president for sales, Patrick Pruniaux, who had been with the brand for seven years, was leaving on Monday to join Apple. It did not say what his new job would be.

Apple declined to comment.

The iWatch will be the closest the U.S. company has come to selling a fashion accessory and marks its first foray into the personal luxury goods market.

It is in a race against Samsung Electronics and Google to turn computers into wearablefashion and must-have items as smartphones, increasingly becoming commoditized items, start loosing their appeal.

Apple has plucked several executives from the luxury sector in recent months. Burberry ex-Chief Executive Angela Ahrendts started as its new head of retail and online sales in May, and former head of French fashion brand Yves Saint Laurent Paul Deneve was hired last year to work on special projects.

"I think he was probably head-hunted," a Tag Heuer spokeswoman said of Pruniaux, adding a replacement had already been found.

Analysts and industry executives say the jury is still out on whether smart watches will disrupt the luxury Swiss watch industry.

"I don’t believe that an iWatch will be a threat to luxury Swiss watches," said Jon Cox, analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux in Zurich.

"But where I do see some potential impact is at lower, for example below $1,000, price points where there could be a temporary dislocation if there is super high demand for iWatches."

Jean-Claude Biver, head of watch brands at LVMH and chairman of watch brand Hublot, said he believed the threat of smart watches had to be taken seriously by the Swiss watch industry.

"The iWatch will have the same status symbol power as many other Apple products, especially at the beginning," he said. "I personally believe it has the potential to be a threat for the industry, and it should not stay with its arms crossed."

Apple applied for a trademark for the "iWatch" in Japan, a patent official said earlier this week, signaling the iPhone maker could be moving ahead with plans to launch a watch-like device soon.

Speculation has been mounting that Apple was preparing to launch an iWatch which would include multiple health and fitness sensors and access to features such as messages and notifications through integration with the iPhone and iPad.

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This robot valet will park your car

By Jessica Plautz,

(CNN) -- In Germany, high tech has come to airport parking.
Last week, Düsseldorf airport (DUS) introduced robot valets to take the hassle out of parking for travelers.

Travelers can leave their cars at the arrival level of theParking PLUS structure. As they leave, they confirm on a touch-screen that no one is in the car. The robot valet, nicknamed "Ray," takes it from there.
The robot measures the vehicle, picks it up with a forklift-like system, and takes it to the back area, where it will position it in one of the 249 parking spots reserved for automated valets. The machine is capable of carrying standard cars weighing up to 3.31 tons.

The robot valet is even connected to the airport's flight data system, and by checking customer trip data with the database, Ray knows when the customer will return for the vehicle. A traveler can note any itinerary changes in a parking app, which is available for iOS and Android.

Düsseldorf's airport is relatively small, and officials touted the convenience of heading to the terminal from the parking structure entrance. Ray "makes the distances between planes and passengers' vehicles even shorter," according to a statement from the airport.

"Our product is especially appealing to business travelers, who arrive at the airport shortly before the flight, seek efficient parking, and return within a few days," said Thomas Schnalke, the airport's managing director.
The introductory rate for robot valet parking at Düsseldorf is 29 euros ($39.59) per day or 4 euros ($5.46) per hour. Although the airport is targeting business travelers in a hurry, the service is open to anyone.

If airport customers use the robot valet, airport officials said they would consider expanding the system.
Ray was produced by Serva Transport in the Bavarian town of Grabenstätt. Serva previewed the robot valet in 2013; Düsseldorf is the first installation of the system.

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'Smart' luggage will text you when it gets lost

By James O'Toole

cnn money

"Help, I'm in Vladivostok!"

When an airline loses your luggage, it can take hours or even days to get someone to tell you where it ended up -- if it ever turns up at all. Wouldn't it be easier to hear from the luggage itself?

That's the promise of "smart luggage," in which GPS tracking chips are embedded in bags capable of transmitting their locations to travelers and even contacting airlines directly when they get lost.

The jumbo jet maker Airbus introduced a concept design for smart luggage at the Paris Air Show last year. The product, known as Bag2Go, can be tracked via a smartphone app. It also allows for self-service check-ins and can weigh itself to ensure that it meets airline requirements.

AT&T (T, Tech30) unveiled a similar concept at a demonstration of its "next-generation technologies" in May. The company envisions integrating the product with standard suitcases and bags -- perhaps through an attachable tag -- though it could also be built into suitcases directly.

The ultimate plan is to for the luggage to work with airlines' IT systems, contacting the carriers directly and arranging for delivery to your home or hotel.

These products are still in the developmental stage and will need approval from federal regulators, but they're sure to find some grateful customers: U.S. airlines mishandled over 141,000 bags in April, according to government statistics, or about three bags for every 1,000 passengers

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BMW 3D prints new thumbs for factory workers

BMW 3D prints new thumbs for factory workers

Samuel Gibbs

Guardian News 

German car manufacturer BMW has turned to 3D printing to physically augment its car-plant workers, giving them stronger, augmented thumbs.

The 3D-printed apparel acts like support brackets for the workers’ thumbs, reducing strain and helping them to fit certain parts into the cars more easily.
Each "thumb" is created as a custom orthotic device using a portable 3D camera, which captures the unique size and shape of each line-worker’s thumb.

Lasers, plastic, scanners and thumbs

The scan is then used to build up a thumb guard made of a semi-flexible thermoplastic polyurethane plastic – a hybrid material mixture of hard plastic and soft silicone – which is create by a 3D-printing technique called selective laser sintering.
A laser is used to fuse plastic powder into layers, building up the structure one thin slice at a time until the full 3D structure is created.
The finished thumb guard flexes in a closed position. But because the structure is perfectly fitted to the wearer’s thumb the pieces lock into place when the digit is raised into a thumbs-up position.

Iron Man for the thumb

The locked splint resists strain and spreads the load of pushing something like a stiff rubber plug into holes in the car’s chassis – something that was causing pain and strain for production-line workers.
After small trials in the company’s Munich vehicle assembly plant yielded “very positive” feedback from workers, BMW is now looking to roll this and other schemes using custom built 3D-printed apparel to help production and prevent pain and injury.

3D printing for the last 25 years

BMW has been using 3D printing techniques as part of its prototyping of parts and cars since 1989 with around 100,000 pieces created a year using a variety of different techniques at the Rapid Technology Centre in Munich.
This is not the first ergonomic aid BMW has created used 3D printing. The German automotive company created customised wheelchair seats for the British paralympic basketball team in 2012 using similar methods.
The creation of the new thumb cots is part of a project at the Department of Ergonomics at the Technical University of Munich.

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Happy Fourth Of July

Happy  Fourth Of July :

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of theDeclaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain (now officially known as the United Kingdom). Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games,family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.

Best Flag Cake Recipe:

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter and flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.

Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature.

For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.

Spread three-fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe two rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.


What To Wear On Fourth July :


Independence Day style

An abstract, printed blue-and-white maxidress.When you mix prints and colors, make sure to contrast a rounded pattern with sharp-edged designs

Cool T-shirt and jeans

Trusty white-striped Breton shirt, try a navy-and-red combo in a slimmer cap-sleeve or tank-top cut. Bring in the white with a crisp pair of skinny jeans, and finish with a brown belt and tan ankle booties

Cute 4rth Of July Nail Art :

1. Paint all nails, except for your ring finger in 2 coats of opaque white nail polish. Paint the ring finger in dark blue.
2. Using striping brush, paint thin red stripes on middle, little and thumb nails. To make it easier, instead of painting the red stripes, simply attach pieces of red striping tape.
3. Paint your pointer finger nail with 2 coats of thick silver glitter polish.
4. Using blue polish and same nail polish brush, paint French manicure like tips (in one stroke) on middle, little and thumb nails.
5. Using a needle, pick up silver glitter stars and place them on the blue accent nail and ring finger. Then put them on the French tips, little and thumb finger nails.
6. Clean up around cuticles using angled brush dipped in acetone. Allow some time for your design to set, you don’t want to smudge the red polish. Then apply 3 or 4 generous layers of a quick drying top coat to cover up the stars and smooth your nail art. Done!

Be patriotic and love your country have a happy independence day.

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Samsung, too Abandons the Plasma TV Market

Following suite of multiple other vendors, Samsung has announced that by the end of 2014 (30th of November in fact), it will cease the production of its plasma TVs.

The announcement comes as a no surprise, as big names such as Sony, Hitachi and Panasonic had already called it quits earlier.

The company will instead focus on curved LED TVs and UHD (ultra high-definition, 4K) TVs. It blames plunging demand for the outcome.

Plasma TVs are often applauded by connoisseurs for their superior image quality and higher frame rates, though, they seem to have fallen back in recent times with the arrival of more-efficient LEDs/LCDs, which not only use lesser electricity, but are also notably thinner. 

Lastly (and most importantly), they’re also more expensive. In the battle between image quality and price, consumers have for long voted for their money. But thanks to advancements in recent times, the difference may not sound as radical as you might expect, further deteriorating the case for plasmas. The transition of 4K in plasma TVs was probably not as smooth as companies would’ve liked.

Samsung’s last notable specimen came in 2013 in its PNF8500, a 64″ 1080p TV which cost $4,400. That leaves LG as the only manufacturer still using this tech. It has been hinting at an exit lately but we don’t know for sure when that will happen. Being the last major player in the market, it can probably go on for years now.

But truth be told, the entire industry has been working hard to phase out plasma TVs for long. In the future, if you’ll ever want to get your hands on one, finding one new might get tricky.

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