Space Invaders constructed with Star Wars mini-figs.

Space Invaders scenes constructed out of miniature Star Wars figures. Does it get any geekier? I’d love to see you find something that is. From the brain of Chris McVeigh, the Star Wars Space Invaders plaque would make a fine addition to any wall. Too bad it’s not my own. But hey, it’s motivation for myself to get out there and get crafty. Be sure to check out Chris’s other nerdy toom foolery on his Flickr page.

Like clockwork, Apple removes Camera+ due to oh so naughty hardware shutter feature…

And just like that, the super handy Camera+ hardware shutter feature that was unlockable via a simple Safari URL is no more. Apple has decided enough is enough, that they don’t like innovation, and that the generally hate each and every one of us. In laymens terms, Apple yanked Camera+ from the market after the interwebs lit up yesterday with tales of the handy volume button/shutter trick.

The mindless followers will defend Apple religiously, citing developers of Camera+, Tap Tap Tap, as in the wrong. But let’s be real — they were giving iPhone users options…OPTIONS! How dare they. Count your lucky stars if you picked up Camera+ before the gate keeper unleashed their rath…

Camera+ hardware shutter unlocked via simple Safari URL.

Camera+ is an awesome and well put together iPhone camera application. In a recent update, they made it even better by tapping into the volume +/- buttons to use them as a shutter button. Awesome! I along with countless other iPhone users know holding your precious iDevice and trying to poke the screen to aim and shoot isn’t always the best option. It’s nice to actually have…you know…options. But this is the iPhone and the infamous App Store approval process at work. So you know where this is going…

Apple rejected the app with the hardware shutter buttons saying it would confuse users. Stupidity is too nice a word. Moving on, Camera+ had the last laugh. While the latest version of Camera+ that’s in the App Store doesn’t have shutter button features enabled by default, an ingenious solution by the developers (Tap Tap Tap) is included to allow end users to enable and disable said feature easily and after the fact:

• To unlock the shutter button feature: type “camplus://enablevolumesnap” in the Safari URL bar.

• To disable shutter button feature: type “camplus://disablevolumesnap in the Safari URL bar

We’ve seen various apps and services get around Apple’s draconian App Store polices via Safari before. This is yet another notch in the belt if you will. Unfortunately as we’ve seen before, Camera+’s days in the App Store may be drawing to a close once Apple finds out (and probably already has because of our big mouths). When things don’g go their way, they get all ban happy. Best get to it while there’s something to be had…

Adobe shows the love, gives recent Macs hardware-acceleration in new 10.1 update.

Oh to be a Mac user (I actually am)… Seems we used to get the short end of the stick all too often. But now, mass defections of Windows users over the last couple of years have given Macs quite a spot in the limelight. A fair chunk of this new found popularity is also aided by the smashing successes of the iPhone and iPad. But that’s neither here nor there.

One thing that still pisses off plenty of Mac users is poor Flash performance. I know you’ve all witnessed your processor spike and/or fans spin up to deafening levels as your poor CPU deals with Flash all by its lonesome, putting off pretty alarming amounts of heat for such trivial tasks as watching a movie online.

Nevermore — Adobe has tossed in hardware-acceleration as a bullet point in the latest Flash 10.1 security update. The only bad thing I gather is my by-the-numbers-game-but-still-perfectly-capable-early 2008 Macbook Pro is not on the list of supported hardware to make use of hardware acceleration. Speaking of which:

• MacBooks shipped after January 21st, 2009

• Mac Minis shipped after March 3rd, 2009

• MacBook Pros shipped after October 14th, 2008

• iMacs which shipped after the first quarter of 2009

So I’m out. Looks like it’s still hot skin and lousy Flash performance for me. Did you make out any better? Hopefully more hardware gets added to the list.

• Download latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1 security update w/ hardware acceleration for Mac

Early TweetDeck for Android beta leaked. “Official” beta coming tomorrow, 8/12.

Well well well. That gloriously tasty looking TweetDeck Android app we talked about yesterday has found one of its early builds leaked (Download here). Based off of an early pre-review by Android Central, they note the app’s nicely styled UI, but knock it for it’s “waterfall approach” to grouping multiple account updates in one column. (Mind you, @username updates and DM’s are separate. Multiple accounts’ status updates such as Twitter, Facebook, Buzz, etc. are grouped together…to clear up any confusion.)

However, I have been begging for a social app like TweetDeck to support a host of social networking accounts *and* put them all in one view. With a total of 5 accounts that need to be simultaneously logged on, I don’t want to have to jump between account views. Thankfully TweetDeck looks to please.

But there’s even better news. Fresh off news that an early build of TweetDeck has been leaked, TweetDeck’s official Twitter account pushed out the update you see above — TweetDeck beta is coming to Android tomorrow! I’m stoked. Who’s going to be refreshing their Android Market app throughout the day…?

Are you going to jump on it early or wait for the real deal?

Stick it to the man: iSpot how-to hacking guide.

Last week we touched on the iSpot — a simple, WiFi/4G shotspot device for portable Apple devices. The real draw isn’t necessarily the 4G feature or even the steeply discounted price that has come and gone. Instead, it’s the $40 4G “unlimited” data plan that is making waves. One can certainly understand now why someone would want to hack a mobile hotspot device.

On that note, the iSpot is incredibly easy to hack in to. That is, it’s easy if you have a basic understanding of command line and Telnet matters. Don’t let that scare you off though. It’s only a few lines deep. Besides, the end result if mobile 4G awesomeness for a mere $40/month — waaaay cheaper than any other option out there. Have your way with the device by removing MAC address restrictions, preventing future firmware upgrades, and even allowing USB tethering. Put your thinking caps on and use that noodle when you head over to Wojo’s guide to hacking the iSpot.

Super Mario Brothers Filing Cabinets.

Chances are that if you work in a stuffy, cold, stereotypical business, these super sweet Super Mario Brothers filing cabinets will never see your eye’s gaze. But if you happen to trudge through the daily grind in a bit more friendly environment, pat yourself on the back, because you can rock something just like this in your little space.

Paired with countless other SMB themed material, you could create one hell of a work/play space.