Verizon at Home

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The massive gaming conference, E3, was held this week in Los Angeles.  I’ve attended this show before and it’s a mostly-enjoyable assault to the senses.  CNN has a quick video that gives a taste of it all, for those of us who missed it this year.  Just remember, all you online gamers, that the speed, reliability and latency of the network you play on can be the difference between defeat and victory.

If you’re more into smartphone games than single shooters, check out Seth Schiesel’s New York Times story on what he considers the best games for phones, and the best phones for games.  Though it didn’t make his list, the addictive game “Jewels” has gotten me through many a long wait in the doctor’s office.

Now here’s something fun for everyone.  You’re probably familiar with the legendary changing graphics atop Google’s home page.  This week Google honored Les Paul with a guitar graphic that can actually be played by running your cursor over it.  On top of that, you can record and play back your songs.  I wonder how much productive time went down the drain in offices across America this week as people (myself included) fiddled with these cyber strings?

Verizon is a big believer in using technology to support sustainability, so this item caught my eye.  Dayton, Ohio, is testing public trash cans that incorporate compactors in order to allow for fewer trash pickups, thus less carbon emissions from garbage trucks.  But wait, there’s more!  These trashcans can also send an e-mail to the city, communicating exactly when they are full and need to be emptied.  Though costly at $4,000 each, the receptacles are part of the “Internet of Things” – smart machines that in the long term, save money and make the planet more green.

Have a great weekend, everyone.