Metal Geek: Grave Digger, Blind Guardian, and Van Canto Share a Stage!
It's not everyday that three of the biggest names in heavy metal share a stage, but sometimes the universe makes exceptions for events as awesome as Wacken Open Air, Germany's premier annual metal super-festival. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, German legends Grave Digger performed the entirety of their classic album Tunes of War for the crowd, which is a treat in it's own right.
But when they decided to invite other metal celebrities like the a capella group Van Canto and Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kursch onstage for a full-on, kilts-on rendition of "Rebellion," that treat turned into a once-in-a-lifetime event for the thousands gathered around the stage. Handy thing that the crew at Wacken had cameras at the ready to capture it!
Read on for the video.
Video Double-Feature: Keyboard Sound Test & Keycap Swap!
For those of you who haven't run out and bought mechanical keyboards on the basis of TheGeekery's strong recommendations (you've read and watched them, right?), what manner of madness is still holding you back from such a ludicrously expensive purchase? Obviously, it must be that you're not sure just how loud keyboards like the Filco Majestouch really are. Well, it's a good thing that we've got your back. Check out this video comparing the sound of ultra-clicky Cherry Blues, ultra-mushy rubber domes, and laptop-esque scissor switches:
Read on for a simple (very simple) guide to swapping out basic keycaps on Cherry MX-style keyboards.
Video Review: Filco Majestouch in Metallic Blue
For those of you too lazy to read all those words in the previous text review, here's a quick recap of the Filco Majestouch in Metallic Blueco Majestouch mechanical keyboard's features, pros, and cons presented in handy-dandy video format. I'll simply have to ask that you ignore what the auto white balance did to my skin in this video; it's quite horrific.
Keyboard Review: Filco Majestouch in Metallic Blue
Mechanical keyboards: the stuff of legends, history, and mystique. From the fondly remembered IBM Model M to the ludicrously overpriced "Porche-of-keyboards" Topre Realforce, these input devices have gone from everyday to rare and are now on an upswing back through novelty into niche. Expensive, complicated, and typically hard to find, mechanical keyboards can represent a culmination of design, workmanship, and ergonomics unheard of in standard "rubber dome" keyboards. . . or they can be convoluted, overpriced disasters.
My newest acquisition is, I believe, one of the former sort: a $155 Metallic Blue "Click Action" Full-size. Diatec's popular Filco Majestouch line has been around for some time now, but irreconcilable differences with EliteKeyboards of Diamond Bar, CA forced the Japanese-designed, Taiwanese-built mechanical boards out of US distribution for months after a rapid rise to popularity. Now back in force with a new distributor and new models on the horizon, the Filcos are poised to retake their position as a major mechanical keyboard for enthusiasts--if their time away from the market hasn't left them lagging behind the competiton.
Unsure of what a mechanical keyboard is? Curious about how Diatec's latest effort has turned out? Confused about the distribution of these devices? Read on to find out the answers to all your questions and more!
Video Game Music Nets First Grammy Win
Civilization IV's opening theme, "Baba Yetu," is without a doubt a modern classic. Its soaring majesty and haunting vocal track are seared into the brains of countless Civ-maniacs the world over. It was recently re-released as part of composer Christopher Tin's first solo album Calling All Dawns and was subsequently nominated for the just-aired 53rd annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) (the album was also nominated for the Best Classical Crossover Award).
In a historic moment, "Baba Yetu" went on to win the Grammy (as did the album as a whole, certainly making Tin's evening), making it the first video game song or composition to ever win such a prestigious award. Tin, after thanking his family and girlfriend, made note of this fact in his acceptance speech, earning him an impressive bout of applause and cheers.
Check out the acceptance speech and a video of the song after the break!
Google Disappoints, Still No Music Streaming
Oh sure, you could say that Google's new Honeycomb OS for tablets is outrageously cool, dangerously slick, and unbelievably desirable, and you could also say that the online version of their Android Market is exactly what the otherwise horrible marketplace needed to finally catch up to Apple's App Store, and of course, you could even say that having Cee-Lo Green video-call in and be smooth as butter for two minutes was pretty fantastic. . . but nothing changes the fact that Google completely failed to show their new music streaming service during their live video broadcast yesterday afternoon. That's alright though; services still exist to fill this hole in the Android product, just waiting to get AppBrain'ed.
What are these mystery services? Just how smooth was Cee-Lo? What is AppBrain'ing? Read on to find out!
FAA Condemns Directionally Challenged to Wander Forever
My Android device does a lot of cool stuff--audiobooks, internet radio, 3d gaming, emulation, ebooks, weather, email, and more--but the chief reason I decided to bump up to a smartphone after years of using their dumber cousins was Google Maps and its astoundingly awesome, free, voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation. To say that I'm hopeless with directions is a massive understatement: I could get lost on the way to the bathroom if it weren't for the soft blue glow of my LED nightlight.
Nintendo 3DS “Launch Window” Titles Announced, Disappointment Sets In
Like virtually every launch in recent memory, it looks like the software lineup for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS American debut is decidedly underwhelming. Given that Nintendo is also claiming that anything released between the 3DS's opening day (March 27) and a seemingly random date in the future (June 7) is part of the handheld's "launch window," one has to wonder why they're in such an awful hurry to get it out the door.
Think I'm too pessimistic? Well, I'll let the 23 announced titles speak for themselves, after the break.
Starcraft Tournament Updates
While Starcraft 2 tournaments are largely a Korean affair, between casters like HuskyStarcraft, TotalBiscuit, and Day[9] and major events like the MLG Pro-Circuit, the game is picking up steam in the West. Non-Koreans were in the news this week. As this does spoil the results of some recent high-profile matches, don't click through unless you already know the results of the SCRI Finals and GSL S4 Round of 8.
Android 3.0, New Devices Highlighted at CES
Android 3.0 was announced and shown at 2011's CES Expo.
At this year's CES expo in Las Vegas, NV, all manner of consumer electronics are on display and the atmosphere is somewhere between PAX and a fashion show. While a great number of companies will have new products and services on exhibit when the show starts officially tomorrow, that hasn't stopped some announcements from hitting the web already, including juicy details about mobile products from Google and Motorola.