Want to be $1 million richer? I know I'd love to! (I need to rid of my student debt!) Netflix is offering $1 million to the person who gives the best ideas on how to perfect the company's Cinematch movie-recommendation system, which predicts whether someone will enjoy a movie based on how much they liked or disliked other movies they rented.

According to Netflix.com, "We provide you with a lot of anonymous rating data, and a prediction accuracy bar that is 10% better than what Cinematch can do on the same training data set. If you develop a system that we judge most beats that bar on the qualifying test set we provide, you get serious money and the bragging rights. But (and you knew there would be a catch, right?) only if you share your method with us and describe to the world how you did it and why it works."

The contest is already running, and will continue through at least October 2, 2011. Yep, that's right--until 2011!! So it'll be awhile until you'll actually have a chance to win that million dollars.

But $1 million isn't all you could win. Netflix is also offering a $50,000 Progress Prize each year the contest runs. "It goes to the team whose system we judge shows the most improvement over the previous year's best accuracy bar on the same qualifying test set. No improvement, no prize. And like the Grand Prize, to win you'll need to share your method with us and describe it for the world."

The cool thing is that you can work in teams. That's a good thing, considering you're going to have to think of special algorithms in order to win. For your tram to be eligible, complete the Participant registration form at netflixprize.com.

As of today, there are 8,379 contestants on 6,857 teams from 97 different countries. And 36 submissions have been valided so far. So get cracking!

[via New Launches]

For Apple users, retro can sometimes refer to a product from last year, not to mention five years ago. The original iPod with video? So five minutes ago. My 15GB 3rd-gen iPod? Extinct. But if retro is what you're into, you may not be able to pass up on a refurbished Mac for as low as 58 smackaroos. For instance, an Apple iMac with a 15-inch CRT, OS 8, 333Mhz PowerPC 750 G3 processor and a 6 GB EIDE Hard Drive is only $58. I remember using those in grad school--in aqua!

You can also get a PowerMac with OS 9, a 300 MHz PowerPC 750 G3 processor and a 6 GB Ultra ATA hard drive for $60. Not exactly cutting edge, but could be good for simple tasks.

 

So go retro and go cheep with Geeks.com. Find this deal and more on dealhack.com.

 

A new arms race is developing all over the world, and this time it doesn’t have anything to do with nukes.  Just last week LG Phillips announced the “slimmest LCD ever” which came in at a skinny 1.3mm.  Not to be outclassed, Toshiba Matsushita showed off its own teeny-weeny LCD at CEATEC today that measures a cool .99mm.  The TFT-LCD display will sport a 2-inch screen with a QVGA resolution of 240 x 320.

 

The thin and lightweight (it tips the scales at 3.2 grams) display module is aimed at cell phone manufacturers who want crisp displays in a compact design, but really want to capitalize on a market that gushes over the thinnest and smallest phones in stores.  Details are thin on the LCD right now, but look for it to hit the cell phone manufacturer’s in April and store shelves in your next slick cellie late next year.

 

Source: blog.scifi.com

 

Post by Don Reisinger

 

 

 

Anyone who takes video gaming seriously (and everyone in my world does) will tell you that when the fragging gets tough, you're going to break a sweat. Saving the world from alien invaders or playing a full game of Madden can be hard work for couch-bound athletes. But it isn't that forehead moisture that affects your gameplay; it's your slimy hands on the controller that could cost you a victory.

Fortunately, the Logitech ChillStream for PS3 ($39.99 list) will arrive just in time for the upcoming launch of Sony's PlayStation 3. The gamepad has a built-in 40mm fan that can circulate up to 3.41 cubic feet of air every minute, while generating little noise or vibration. Three vents on each side will keep your fingers cool and dry, even if your shirt is soaked. The device works with three fan settings, for casual (Off), serious (Low) and hardcore (High) gaming  OK, the company didn't label the settings that way, but I know that's what they meant!

Now if Logitech could only help with the rest of a gamer's hygiene...

Post by Peter Suciu

Is a life without yo-yos any kind of life at all? Not according to reigning yo-yo world champion F. Patrick Cuartero. After moving to New York City 3 years ago, he was aghast at the empty lives of yo-yo-less New Yorkers.

So he set out to change all that with yoyonation.com: an online store and community for yo-yo professionals, amateurs and newbies alike. From a low-end Yomega Fireball Glow (it glows in the dark!) to the deluxe AnY Free Rider (pictured), they've got something for everyone.

 

There are also forums on the site for trading tricks even finding cool ways to trick out your yo-yo. Who knew it was possible to "pimp" your yo-yo?

Yoyonation was a runner up in PC Magazine's first annual small business awards, which judges how well (and creatively) companies use technology to drive business.  

Related Links:

A Yo-Yo For Clumsies

   

This Week on Gearlog Radio: Recycling week on Gearlog continues with an interview with Elizabeth Grossman, author of High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxics, and Human Health. We explain how Dell is leading the industry when it comes to post-consumer e-waste managament. Jen goes after Sprint for sneaking text messaging fees onto her cell phone bill. Plus, we make plans for the first ever Gearlog reader meetup at Digital Life.

Posts discussed on this week's show:

• Question of the Week: Do You Recycle Your Electronic Gear?
• PCMag.com Q & A: Recycling Toxic Tech
• Costa Living: A Green Tax on Tech
• "Casual" Text Messaging: Sprint's New Way to Take Money From You
• Geek Your Cube: Unotron Washable Wireless Keyboard
• Want to Meet Gearloggers? Come to DigitalLife!

DOWNLOAD THE MP3 HERE.

Hosts: Dan Costa, Jen DeLeo

Panelists: Carol Mangis,  Molly McLaughlin
Audio Engineer: Scott Bernstein

Theme Music by Terry Sullivan

 

Subscribe Now:

-> Subscribe to the Gearlog Radio podcast in iTunes

-> Subscribe to the Gearlog Radio podcast via RSS

Whenever I use public restrooms, I always get annoyed when there is an electric hand dryer instead of paper towels. Why? Well, let's face it: hand dryers suck! They never completely dry your hands! And I'm not about to stand there and wait five minutes to get my hands to dry! If I'm not wearing pants that I care about, I'll just wipe my hands on them! But why should I have to do that?

And did you know that modern-day electric hand dryers use 60-year old technology and that the air in bathrooms contain harmful fecal germs and bactera? So that means when you power these hand dryers, these germs and bacteria are blowing onto your shoes, clothes and hands. Eeewwww! Gross!!

Fortunately, there's no reason to panic. Dyson, maker of those awesome vacuums, is coming to our rescue with its latest revolutionary product: the Dyson Airblade. The company claims that it's "more hygienic, more energy-efficient and more than twice as fast as any conventional electric washroom hand dryer currently in use." James Dyson says that existing hand dryers take up to 35 seconds to dry your hands, but most people don't wait. The Airblade takes only 10 seconds for your hands to completely dry, and doesn't use heat. WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW IT WORKS!!

The Airblade contains the Dyson Digital Motor, which is a much smaller and energy efficient motor than what's used in existing hand dryers. Here's a tidbit: "it spins faster than a Formula 1 racing car engine and produces enough air pressure for Dyson Airblade to dry hands without the need for heat." It also uses an iodine resin micro filter to collect the wasted water from drying hands and removes 99.9% of its bacteria. The disinfected water is then released back into the air as an invisible mist.

The Airblade is currently being tested in hospitals, restaurants, and schools. Companies can buy or lease the Airblade for £549 plus VAT (which I believe is $1,027 USD) and will be available for purchase in late November.

[via Guardian Unlimited]

Thanks to PCMag News Editor Mark Hachman for the tip!

Do the T-Mobile towers in New York City look any different to you than they used to? The Tea Mob has already started to build 3G UMTS high-speed wireless in New York, according to a transcript of a speech to be delivered later today by T-Mobile USA CEO Richard Dotson. The carrier's big wins in the recent wireless spectrum auction sets the scene for exciting new services, he says. Dotson also had some things to say about UMA cellular/Wi-Fi convergence and what T-Mobile wants to have in common with Apple.

Will T-Mobile be the home of the iPhone? Find out more in my news story on PCMag.com.

The days of buying card readers for more money than a ticket to a Jimmy Buffett concert will soon be history. Put this small-in-size, but big-in-functionality toy on your wish list. The MediaGear Mini AllCards will let you pop in and read (or write to) 15 types of memory cards, including MMC, MS, MS MagicGate, MS Pro MagicGate, MS Pro, MS Pro Duo, MS Select, SD, xD PLUS RS-MMC, Mini SD, MS Duo MagicGate, MS Pro Duo MagicGate, and TransFlash (the last six need adaptors). The Mini AllCards also has a recessed USB 2.0 cable built in; you won't have to worry that Fido thinks the cord would make a great chew toy.

All this, and it costs just a cool $19.99. Look for it at the company's site in November.

Post by Don Reisinger