One of the things I still don’t understand is why haven’t AMD and nVidia started making external video cards?

Obviously, one problem is going to be what do you plug it into.  But it would sure be handy to be able to bring home my laptop and plug it into my docking station and be able to play some mega cool games on it.

This was an early engine test. The guys made me promise to put a disclaimer that the final game will not look like this and that it’s MUCH better looking than this.

http://www.bushnell.com/general/weather_fx_95-0003.cfm?section=General%20Use

You just plug it in, enter your city and voila.

I think it’s pretty cool. I would imagine something like this in the kitchen.  They have 5 day and 7 day versions too.  I think the 7 day version would be kind of pointless but the 5 day one looks really cool too.

Only downside is they’re pretty expensive: $90+.

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_throttle_esata_flash_drive

My new PC has powered eSATA ports right on the front next to the USB ports.  The difference in performance between eSATA and USB is night and day (think 20MB/sec max vs. 100MB per sec).

What this means is that when 32GB or better yet 64GB eSATA sticks start coming out I could carry around some sort of virtualized version of my machine and just plug it into someone’s box and get going rather than lugging around a laptop everywhere.

We’re still a bit off from the above fantasy scenario but it’s good to see powered eSATA starting to get supported.

Now, looking at SanDisk, hurry up with a Cruzer® eSATA!

http://www.duracellflash.com/

This seems to be something I wouldn’t expect them to get into.

http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/ted-digital-six.html

LONG BEACH, California -- Students at the MIT Media Lab have developed a wearable computing system that turns any surface into an interactive display screen. The wearer can summon virtual gadgets and internet data at will, then dispel them like smoke when they're done.

Some light reading, more stories to post later today:

WIRED

http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/02/stardock-openin.html

Gamasutra

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22173

WorthPlaying:

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=59508

Joystiq

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=59508

VoodooExtreme

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/44502/State-Tax-Breaks-Allow-Stardock-to-Create-New-Jobs

Gamespy

http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/951/951081p1.html

BluesNews

http://bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewstory&threadid=95401

Shacknews
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57090

Gamer’s Hell

http://www.gamershell.com/news/68738.html

Gamepolitics:

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/02/04/michigan-guv-gives-stardock-shout-out-state-state

Big Download just posted:

www.bigdownload.com

Joystiq update:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/stardock-talks-staying-afloat-in-the-great-lakes-state/

Update:

TechDirt (woot!)

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090205/0401163660.shtml

GameIndustry.biz

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/stardock-to-open-michigan-studio

Gamedaily newsletter (woot!)

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/stardock-to-open-michigan-studio

GameFreaks365

http://www.gamefreaks365.com/newsarticle.php?sid=2998

IGN

http://pc.ign.com/articles/951/951084p1.html

1up

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172625

Zergwatch

http://www.zergwatch.com/Newsfeed-105149/interview-stardock-to-develop-new-rpg-resume-society-production-elemental-war-of-magic.html

Quick video demo of Fences in action.

Download at https://www.stardock.com/products/fences

If you have a Windows PC you should download this program. Seriously.

http://www.womansday.com/wd2/Content/Family-Lifestyle/Evolution-of-the-Household

This article really brings home (not intentionally) how much our standard of living has improved over the last few decades even as wages have “stagnated”.