Gizmodo: elements

Periodic Table of Videos Makes Chemistry Extremely Watchable

Elaine Chow — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:30:00 EDT

Science nerds and fans of British accents rejoice! University of Nottingham scientist/professor Martyn Poliakoff and video journalist Brady Haran have put together what they've dubbed The Periodic Table of Videos, where each square contains a link to a video showing some fascinating facts about its element. Who knew Bismuth was so pretty (quite honestly, who knew what Bismuth was in the first place)? Best of all, the project is continually updated, so even after you're done with the 117 videos currently on the site, you can come back later to check for newer ones. The introductory clip gives you a taste of what you'll find on their site. [ via Neatorama]

Are Gadgets Using Up Some Elements?

matt buchanan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:40:00 EDT

Gadgets are using up the earth's elements. Like, the basic elements that make up all chemical matter according Armin Reller, a materials chemist at Germany’s University of Augsburg.

Gallium is apparently critical for making LCDs. We'll be out of it in a few years. Hafnium (part of Intel's breakthrough with Penryn) will be gone by 2017 says Dr. Reller. We're also blowing through our supplies of zinc and copper, even though we have a shitload of it. Obviously, it would seriously cramp our gadget style, since copper is in like, everything. Oh yeah, and an element going extinct might not be good for the environment. [Asimovs via Valleywag]

Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac Ships Today

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:52:09 EDT

Photoshop Elements' return to the Mac is complete today. Adobe officially ships the $90 program—$70 if you're upgrading from a previous Elements—running on Mac OS 10.4.8 and 10.5. [Adobe]

Dealzmodo: 500GB Western Digital Hard Drive for $100, a Sign of Things to Come?

Benny Goldman — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:16:18 EDT

Buy.com has the 500GB Western Digital Elements external hard drive for $100 shipped, marked down from $140. (Around the web, this drive sells for $115-$140.) Now that Time Machine is compatible with any hard drive networked to an Airport Extreme, some of you might be interested in picking up something. This is the best deal that we could find, but we're sure you've seen better. See any deals?? [Dealhack]

Adobe Brings Back Photoshop Elements for Mac

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:46:10 EST

The good news: the promise that Photoshop Elements would come back to Mac (after skipping version 5) has been kept—just in time for Macworld 2008, a $90 version of the Intel-native PSE is up for pre-order. I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 these days, but couldn't be happier about this. Remember that trick I told you about, where you take two group photos and select the bits you like from both to get one really good shot? PSE only. And how about batch editing? Pop quiz: Which app is easier to use if you're resizing and tweaking brightness on 12 image files? Yep, the cheap one. The link will give you the goods on the new PSE, which is careful not to go after iPhoto on the organizational side. Now, Adobe, it's time to get crackin' on Premiere Elements for the Mac. Or can't you do any better than Final Cut Express 4? [Adobe]

Adobe Picks Blu-ray over HD DVD and Plots Anti-iLife Mac Strategy with New Elements Suite

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:15:00 EDT

As Adobe launches its latest Photoshop and Premiere Elements editions for Windows &mdash still $99 each or $149 as a combo &mdash there was plenty of talk why it chose Blu-ray over HD DVD, and about the return of a low-end product for the Mac OS aimed to challenge iLife at a moment of vulnerability.

A version of Photoshop Elements will ship for Mac OS in "early 2008," says senior product manager Mark Dahm, who said that instead of an iPhoto-like album organizer similar to the one in the Windows version, a Mac PSE would have something like the Bridge application that comes with full-fledged Photoshop CS3.

More tantalizingly, a Premiere Elements for the Mac is not such a far-fetched idea, says Mike Iampetro, senior product manager for consumer video. Citing critical disappointment surrounding the latest, completely redesigned iMovie, Iampetro told me:

"With iMovie 08, there is a better opportunity for us on the Mac than ever before."

Iampetro also confirmed that only Blu-ray burning would be supported in Premiere Elements, because Adobe didn't think there was enough player support for HD DVD, or as many titles available for it.

But let's not let the politicking get in the way of today's improvements:

• Photomerge, in Photoshop Elements, lets you take multiple shots and combine them seamlessly. Panoramas and collages look great, but a smart feature lets you combine the best parts from different group shots for one perfect image. (See the three kid shots in the gallery: the third is a "best of" version of the other two.)

• Automatically generate an SWF Flash gallery for your photos, like the one in the gallery below: a simple tool lets you select how many birthday candles and what number should be on the cake. There are plenty of other super interactive themes like that.

• In Premiere Elements, there are now quick and easy movie themes that automatically shake up your clips and apply transitions and effects. All of that is editable once it's in place. You can also upload a song and the software will analyze its rhythm, snapping photos or clips to the nearest beat.

• In today's YouTube obsessed world, it would be weird if the announcement didn't include an easier way to upload video, and also use mobile devices to capture content, not to mention view and share it. [Adobe Consumer]