CES 2010 Meta-Coverage: TWiT TV, CNET TV, TechVi & CrunchGear, Streaming from Vegas, Side by Side in This Post

by Don Rose

Recession busted your budget? No time to trek to Vegas? Just feeling lazy? Never fear, lover of gear, The LA Report has collected cool content feeds so you can sit back and watch CES 2010 convention coverage right here, all in one post! It's our first-ever CES meta-coverage, or "coverage of the coverage", to satisfy your info-gathering needs.

The first feed below is TWiT TV - arguably the best tech program-podcast online (a Dream Stream Team, if you will). TWiT stands for This Week in Tech; the host (likable Leo Laporte) does an excellent job, and TWiT content is archived on the Web as well as on iTunes (free). For CES 2010, Leo brought a mega-powerful mobile rig and a team of techheads who share his passion for top tier gear. Watch below (click play button) and check out www.twit.tv/ces as well as the TWiT CES blog.



Watch live video from TWiT Live on Justin.tv

Part 2 of our CES 2010 meta-coverage is from CrunchGear on livestream; like TWiT TV, the Crunch bunch is streaming from the Vegas show with a combination of live and recorded content.

Watch live streaming video from crunchgear at livestream.com

Part 3 of our meta-coverage is from CNET TV. We especially love their Buzz Out Loud show, which features a quartet of pundits going over tech headlines/news with rapidfire commentary. Watch CNET's CES coverage below (click play button).







Part 4 of our meta-coverage is from TechVi and their CES 2010 feed. Watch below (click play button) and check out www.techvi.com.

Watch live video from techvi on Justin.tv

For those of you who prefer reading to watching video, below are some notes summarizing TWiT TV's CES 2010 coverage at Pepcom's Digital Experience, one of the two can't-miss press events at CES every year (the other being ShowStoppers). The most visually appealing (or was it appalling?) sights at the Pepcom pressxpo were the bouncy-boobed booth babes dressed as animals. Oh, you wanted tech info? Okay, read on:

COPIA - a social e-reading experience; some say it may be a Kindle killer. Cost: from $199-299. Book content: over 1 million titles at launch, including newspapers and magazines. From their website: "Any eReader can hold your book. But only one holds your entire reading experience. Introducing the copia reader - the first and only reader with social networking built in." "Holds 1500 books and all of your friends."

BOXEE BOX - brings the TV-content service offered by Boxee* (which provides viewers oodles of content choices ranging from TWiT TV to justin.tv, fora.tv, KidMango, radiotime, PBS, NPR, the often hilarious FailBlog and many more) to an actual mini-settop-box (about the size of a Rubik's Cube with askew angles). One nice feature: you can go to websites and search for content you want, and watch it on the Boxee Box. The box/hardware is made by D-Link, with fast wi-fi, a remote with QWERTY keyboard on the back, and a USB port if you want to plug in a USB drive with video content to watch. *Boxee is "cross-platform freeware media center software with ... social networking features designed for the living-room TV" that lets you "enjoy entertainment from the Internet and computer on your TV" and is "available as a free download for Windows, Mac OS X, AppleTV."

MOPHIE: maker of iPod/iPhone accessories, showed off a credit card reader -- and Leo loves their Juice Pack (the mophie website says juice pack air™ is a rechargeable external battery concealed inside a protective case for the iPhone 3G & 3GS that offers the protection of a hard-shell case while providing virtually twice the battery life of the iPhone alone - all in an ultra-thin, light-weight, low-profile design.

LENOVO U1: under $1000, the U1 features a pullout Linux tablet within a laptop!

GOOGLE NEXUS ONE: new cell/puter handheld gizmo is the first Android phone actually made by Google themselves (rather than a phone made by others that has Google's Android software); buy Nexus One direct from Google for

$529 (website: "B

uy the phone without service and insert your own SIM card. Includes a Nexus One phone case, wall charger, and USB cable. Free shipping") or $179 if you sign up for a 2 year service plan with T-Mobile (official cell phone service of The LA Report, who we love for their near-perfect coverage, superior customer service and super reasonable rates).

Other tech products/services mentioned during the TWiTcast:

CLICKFREE (automatic backup; their website says they are "the worlds easiest computer backup solution. Clickfree carries the widest array backup devices : Hard Drives, DVD Backup, Flash Backup")

GOODREADS (share book recommendations, see what your friends are reading, keep track of what you've read and organize your book lists into shelves, join a book club to discuss favorite books)

SHELFARI (social media site focused on books where members can build virtual bookshelves, discover, rate and discuss books, and participate in online groups)

ZOOM (popular portable microphone used by CBS Tech journalist Larry Magid, who did a simulpodcast with Leo as each veteran technojourno interviewed the other at the same time!)

OOMA (free home phone service - why don't they use Uma Thurman as spokeswoman?)

ENELOOP (Sanyo's electric hybrid bike - which one attendee wheeled by).

CES 2010: SNL's Seth Meyers "Thanks Technology" During Microsoft Ballmer Keynote

TECH TOOL TIP: Posterous.com Lets You Blog Via Email & Post to Multiple Sites At Once

by Don Rose

My favorite new tech tool is the service provided by POSTEROUS - and it could be the simplest/easiest blogging system yet devised. Want to update your Posterous blog? Just send an email, containing whatever you want to post, to post@posterous.com and bam -- that email is (almost) instantly posted on your blog (located at namethatyouchoose.posterous.com). The email subject becomes the blog post subject; the text in the email becomes the post text.

But it gets better: you can set up your Posterous blog so that you automatically post that same email to your other sites at once -- like Twitter, Blogger, etc (dozens of choices available). Write once, post many.

Or, you always have to option to target specific sites by adjusting the email address you send to (for example, sending email to twitter@posterous.com posts just to your Twitter page).

And yes, you can post to your P-blog from your mobile phone via SMS. Plus, according to their website, "Posterous does more! Custom domains. Bookmarklet. Group blogs. Private blogs. Video. Audio. Photo galleries. Instant iTunes Podcasts."

And no, I didn't get paid to say all of these nice things. That would be... preposterous.

Simple, easy to use, easy to understand, fast, free. Could be the next big thing in blogging. www.posterous.com

Posted via email from thelareport's posterous

TOP TWELVE BETTER NAMES FOR THE IPHONE

Commentary by Don Rose

The great irony of the iPhone is that the Phone part is now but one small sliver of what this device does. People seem to spend much more time doing the NONphone activities afforded by the iPhone than the phone part. The sprouting of thousands of applications for this device makes it, as Leo LaPorte says, more of a mini superportable computer than a phone, something worthy of a new category of device.

Perhaps, then, the iPhone needs a new name.
At least that is what iThink. Here are my iNitial iDeas:

iRony - see first sentence above.

iVerything - since it does, just about, everything.

iKnow - with the iPhone, you truly can know it all, you know-it-all -- thanks to the net connection and all the apps.

iApps - again, the apps is the haps; they truly make the iPhone the versatile wonder that it is.

iAll - you can do it all, in the palm of your hand (sorry, Palm, if you think I'm Pre-mature).

iT - since this really is the current "it" device. Plus, iT can also stand for "internet technologies" or "integrated tech".

iThink -- therefore, I app. See, I even wrote a new ad slogan for you, Apple.

iThere - the i(nternet) is, like, there! And it takes me there. There, another new name and slogan. You taking notes, Apple?

iDo - since users truly are married to this device, and it lets you do almost anything.

iLoveit - users do.

iDeal - since the device really is ideal for most people, and it is a great deal for what you get.

iFun - my favorite new moniker of them all. Listen: iFun even sounds like iPhone!

There you have it. New names for the iPhone that better fit its awesome, broad capabilities.

And as for Apple itself, well, maybe they need a new name too. A subtle change. Like... APPle.

TOP TWELVE THINGS THAT MAKE TWIISTUP TERRIFIC

by Don Rose

Today's Valentine's Day. It's also Tw+Two -- that is, two days since the terrific Twiistup (Episode 5) took place at Santa Monica's Hangar 8 space with roughly 1000 excited guests, the techtelligentsia of LA, the cyber cream of the crop enjoying top notch exhibit booths, food, drinks, games, networking and much more. So, I thought, why not combine the two themes? Here goes: a dozen reasons (think of them as a dozen virtual roses) why I love Twiistup:

1. Showoffs Shine - Twiistup, at its heart, is all about showing off the best new tech startups, many of which are based in the Los Angeles area. Wake up, Silicon Valley -- LA Alley has arrived big time. The LA tech scene is healthy and growing and may just overtake you. Some of the showoff startups that won praise at Twiistup 5 included: Scour (social search, where you get points for surfing that you can redeem for Visa giftcards, sweet!), Cogi (record phone conversations or use it for dictation, sounds like it could be a journo's dream), Chi.mp (free websites to organize your online social life), Socialsimple.com (also aims to org your soc life, see your social networks on one page, etc), Heavybagmedia.com (they held a cool SMS scavenger hunt where clues were texted to players' cellphones, which holds great promise for promoting businesses who have specials, can you imagine flashmobs suddenly swamping, say, Subway after getting texts for special deals?), Cybercoders.com (tech talent recruiters who place professionals in all sorts of tech jobs, they had a kind of cyberdome to hang out in at the show, and friendly founder Heidi is a joy to talk to), Fixya (largest online tech forum community, said their booth), Userplane (a showoff that has been there with a Twiistup booth since the early days, very friendly and helpful staff explaining their services - you may know them for their enhanced IM app) and many more. Even Jake Steinfeld was there (of "Body by Jake" fame, the guy who trained Spielberg) promoting his new book about business. For the full Showoffs list, go to http://www.twiistup.com/.

2. The amazing venue for Tw5 -- the huge hangar meant more room to roam; since these events are so awesomely cool they always attract a packed crowd, but this time everyone could luxuriate with space galore. Plenty of nearby parking too.

3. Twiistup founders Mike and Stephanie Macadaan -- two of the nicest people you will ever meet, who are always making sure their guests have a great time, always pick the coolest venues, and always select the most unique and exciting Showoffs at each event. They deserve huge kudos for taking Twiistup to greater and greater heights with each edition (Twiistup 1 was at Zanzibar in Santa Monica with a few hundred people, while Twiistup 5 had an astounding thousand).

4. Shira -- a wonderful MC, the hot host with the most: sharp, fun, generates buzz and excitement for whoever she is interviewing during the event. Shira: she rocks.

5. Twiistup.com -- an excellent website, with tons of info, and myriad ways to connect with folks and win valuable prizes before the actual event occurs; check it out and get social with the coolest tech minds around.

6. The networking -- you leave with pockets full of valuable business cards when you attend Twiistup. Even waiting in the (fast moving) line to get in you'll meet a dozen people you resonate with. The top talent of the LA tech scene always comes out for Twiistup in mass quantities.

7. Value -- Think about all they provide: Twiistup 5 had over a dozen showoffs to meet, 1000 top creative cybertechgeeks to socialize with, open bars (including ), cigars (see item 11 below), giveaways and raffles, food from Kogi BBQ, 5 full hours of fun, all for $75; quite the deal. Do the math: food and a few cocktails at any eatery worth its salt and pepper would set you back 75 smackers -- and get you lots less biz cards. (I also loved how the Tw5 bars had plenty of Honest Tea, one of The LA Report's favorite non-alcoholic drinks, in pomegranate and punch. No, I was not paid for that plug. Hansens' new line of natural energy drinks also pleased partygoers.) The best testament to Twiistup's bang for the buck can be found in the sales stats: 1000 people bought Tw5 tickets, with 300 more on a waiting list wishing they were in.

8. Fun -- yes, the fun factor was in full force, with Tw5's 80s theme, cool outfits, retro chairs to lounge in (remember those eggish roundish cushioned chairs from the 70s/80s?), chic geek heaven all around. And an essential element of Twiistup fun is the fact that you always get...

9. Surprises! -- like The Dating Game at Tw5. Who else but Twiistup would concoct the idea to have a fun version of this popular TV show where tech PR babe Heather Meeker had to select among three eligible techgeek bachelors. Again, the fun factor. I was humming the original TV theme by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in my head. (Bet you never thought you'd get a Herb Alpert reference here. See? Surprises! And by the way, his music during one period sold more than the Beatles; wikipedia him. Bet you never saw wikipedia as a verb before. See? Surprises!) And you never know who will show up --- for example, a dead-ringer Bono double held court at a previous Twiistup and you'd absolutely swear the Irish U2 frontman was right there mingling amongst us mere mortals. See http://www.bonodouble.com/. His name's Pavel, but his body's Bono. Where else but Twiistup could you see a sight like that? (Fun fact: I actually worked with Pavel a few years ago, when a firm hired a dozen lookalikes for a party; his Bono rocked, as usual, while I got to channel Garth from Wayne's World; yep, blonde wig, black glasses, drumsticks and all. I might even send you a pic if you e-me...)

10. Giveaways -- Twiistup is superswagolicious, since showoffs like to shower guests with goodies -- some promotional, sure, but always creative. Scour even went so far as to staple dollar bills to the flyers they were handing out (a tad enticing in tough times, and a brilliant marketing ploy to lure Twiistuppers into grabbing a flyer -- hey, a buck ain't chopped liver, and it gets the point across that you do make dough using their social search service). The raffles by Showoffs were also stellar, including an XBOX by Socialsimple and a cool electric Trikke by Cogi. And there was a brand-new giveaway during this latest Twiistup... cigars! Yep, you could even get handrolled cigars outside by the heat lamps and enjoy some Puffy action for a while. (No, not P.Diddy. Come on. And no, no sight of President Clinton.)

11. Games - even before Twiistup took place, you could get some fun gaming action via Ringorang (www.ringorang.bom), which ran a trivia game that incorporated Twiistup people into the gameplay. At the actual event, you could partake in classic arcade games via Multicade (remember that 80's theme!) as well as more modern mayhem via a 3D shoot-em-up and, of course, the greatest gaming hit in recent memory, Guitar Hero.

12. The joy of anticipation -- for Twiistup 6. (They may have to hold it in the Superdome...)

TECH REVIEW: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 10; Speech Recognition Software Allows Easy Fast Dictation

They finally got it right, baby!

Tech Review by Bruce Braunstein

After decades of trying, and millions of man-hours of frustration, they finally got it right. Nuance Corporation has got the nuance down. The "Holy Grail" has been achieved -- speech recognition finally works the way it was supposed to! The software that does it: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 10.

For decades I have been futzing around with various versions of speech recognition programs. I tried IBM's Via Voice. I tried earlier versions of Dragon. Each time I have given up in frustration. But finally, version 10 works the way you want it to.

I'm using the product right now to write this review, sitting at my desk talking to it as I would talk to a person. The text is coming out almost perfectly. Of course, some editing is required, but the editing is easy and almost painless. You can go back, highlight words and correct them. Not only that, they've improved the speed of the program as well. Now, words appear on the screen almost as soon as you speak them.

The preferred edition allows you to use a Bluetooth headset so you can walk around the room and dictate. Also, you can dictate into a wave or MP3 recorder. These files can be uploaded to the computer. Dragon will analyze the files and type them up for you. The productivity benefit of this product is enormous.

The hardest part in writing is getting the first draft down. Now, getting your first draft down can be fun. The thought and care that went into the program will really make your life easier. As a writer, no longer can you use writers block as an excuse. With Dragon you can simply talk out your ideas.

As a writer I find the most important thing is to get your ideas down quickly, then edit them later. If you confuse the editorial and the creative processes you will get writers block. This can stymie you. Using a program like NaturallySpeaking takes you one step closer to getting the work on paper. It removes a level of frustration. You don't have to worry about spelling. You don't have to worry about typing. You don't have to worry about the technical difficulties of writing. You just need to concentrate on the content.

One of the features I like most is the program's ability to sense when a sentence is over, and automatically insert a period and a capitol letter at the beginning of the next sentence. Little details like that make the program easy to use.

After you dictate it's important that you go back and reread your work carefully. Even though words are correctly spelled sometimes, a similar word can be substituted for the one you meant to use. Sometimes sentences are not broken at the correct spot. And sometimes your words just need to be rewritten. In short, you have to be careful editing your work later. It's much easier to go back, edit and review than it is to type it up in the first place.

Dragon's latest version works seamlessly with Microsoft Word. You can use all the features of the program with ease.

Here are some suggestions for future versions of the program. I would really like to be able to save a wav file or MP3 file from what I say to the computer. The program should have a recorder feature that lets me export and save the .WAV or .MP3 file. As an alternative, you can record your text into an audio editor such as Audacity, export it as a wav file, then process the text in batch mode.

Another suggestion: a kids training program for reading text, so pre-teen children could use this program to help with their homework. Voice recognition software could be a help or a handicap. It would be like having a calculator when they are doing math. It would be a great tool for students — provided they learn how to write by hand as well.

A third suggestion: screenplay formatting macros built into the program, for automatically formatting dialogue and action by voice.

Finally, I think the next version should update the DragonPad word processor that comes with it. It hasn’t been updated in years and could stand a revision. One problem is that if you set a font and then go to a new paragraph, the font you set up is lost and it reverts back to the default. Thus, for any real work, you have to use Microsoft Word. Fortunately, Dragon works flawlessly with Word.

In the end, I'm having a blast with this program. I think it's great. It's something I have looked forward to my whole life, and I think they finally have gotten it together in a great program. Check it out for yourself at http://www.nuance.com/.

TECH NEWS FLASH: GOOGLE RELEASES CHROME, ITS NEW BROWSER; WILL IT KILL BILL'S WINDOWS?

Bill Gates and Microsoft may be a bit worried these days about their signature creation, Windows. The new OS Vista has many haters out there (there are legions of PC lovers who prefer XP), and now arch-rival Google has released a new browser named CHROME. Some in the tech media are saying it's a Windows-killer; whether that proves true or not, Google seems to have built a product definitely worth trying.

To learn more and to download Google's Chrome browser - free for Windows XP or Vista - go to: http://www.google.com/chrome.

Make sure to check out Google's cool e-comicbook that describes Chrome in a fun, informative way. We were especially pleased and intrigued by the part that describes how Chrome is designed to be less of a memory hog than other browsers, because it does a better job of reclaiming memory once you close processes/tabs. Also, if a site or program within one tab has a problem, Chrome is designed so you can just kill that tab and not close down the entire browser.

Another cool feature: the address bar is now more of a super address-search tool that can, among other things, intelligently find recent pages you visited, so that you can go back to useful pages without over-reliance on bookmarking.

JUL 18: SUMMER MASH LA BRINGS MASHABLE.COM PARTY TOUR TO RUBICON IN SANTA MONICA (COOL EVENT OF THE DAY)

SummerMash LA is The LA Report's COOL EVENT OF THE DAY for July 18, 2008...

...and with good reason! It will be a blast and a half. Catering by renowned PartyCharlie, a great location (the Rubicon Project HQ in Santa Monica, a huge office space with plenty of room for digerati partying both inside and on their patio), and no work tomorrow. Taking place the day after the amazing Twiistup 4 (review coming shortly), SummerMash LA will be the perfect way to keep the SocialMedia-Tech-Web2.0-Party vibe going. All the cool kids will be there.

Mashable.com (the number one blog in the area of Web 2.0 and social media) takes their Summer Mash show on the road for their U.S. Summer Tour, and stop number three is Los Angeles (actually, Santa Monica, but who's GPSing). This is Mashable’s third time in L.A. so they admit having some big shoes to fill, as past times have produced great stories. Paparazzi be warned: celebrities will be on hand, including Mashable's own Pete Cashmore, Adam Hirsch and Karen Hartline. Food, drinks and good times are on the agenda as well, and your name is on the guest list. Just go to http://summermashla.eventbrite.com/ for details and to reserve your spot!

NOKIA 6263 CELLPHONE HITS SWEETSPOT OF FEATURES: 3G, 1.3MP CAMERA, VIDEO, MUSIC PLAYER, XHTML WEB, STEREO BLUETOOTH & MORE; T-MOBILE'S 2ND 3G PHONE

Tech Review by Don Rose

I just renewed my T-Mobile contract for another 2 years, since I have been extremely happy with their combination of customer service, call quality and overall coverage in the LA area (very few dead spots or dropped calls, especially in the past year). And thanks to an extremely friendly/helpful Joel in T-mobile's Customer Loyalty department, I got a lot of perks for reupping my contract, including: a free NOKIA 6263 cell phone (more on that baby below), free shipping and handling, waived $18 upgrade fee, and even a free month credit on service (worth $39.99 on my plan, which continues to be 1000 anytime minutes per month plus unlimited nights and weekends, an unbeatable deal if you shop around).

The Nokia 6263 lists at $199 and is normally $49 or so when you upgrade, but since I told Joel that many companies offer similar or better phones gratis, he was able to get me the 6263 for free. (One example of the plethora of free deals out there: you can currently get money back - yes, beyond free - when you order a T-mobile Shadow smartphone via Amazon.com -- once you sign up for T-mobile service through Amazon, of course; I didn't do this since I would have had to end one contract and start another (a hassle), which also means an activation fee, and a plan that cannot match the one I have now.)

I'm telling you all this to help you in your decision process, should you be near the end of your contract. Let me know your experiences. Now on to the phone...

How is the Nokia 6263? Excellent. It packs a lot into a reasonably small size that passes The LA Report's Pocket Test (fits easily, and jacks are located on top to avoid cord hassles). I like the fact that, for a clamshell phone, it has just about every feature you would want in a phone. Not always the best at each feature, but decent-to-excellent on most dimensions, especially when it comes to what cell phones are really about, after all: call quality. (One feature where the 6263 IS the best is its display: over 16 million colors, TFT, a big bright and sharp 2.2 inches of visual va-va-voom; no other phone in this price range came close.)

Another sexy selling point: the 6263 is one of only two T-mobile phones (as of this writing) that is 3G capable. With higher speed 3G cell service rolling out across the country, this phone's 3G capability makes it future-focused (T-mobile already has 3G in New York, and I was told Los Angeles should have it by the end of 2008). What does 3G mean? Better call reception/coverage (because the frequency used is higher, hence the signal penetrates more areas, even if dense with buildings)... faster web downloading... and, according to phone specs on cnet.com , "3G Services / Included Services: Video Call". Wait -- did I actually see the words "Video Call"? Can it finally be here? Wow. We can't wait to try it. (I assume other callers must have 3G too to do Video Calls, but since 3G is coming fast, expect most folks to have it by year's end or sooner.)

Even without 3G, the Nokia 6263 has a winning combination of features. We especially like the dedicated music controls on the front of the closed clamshell (play/pause, back, frwd), which lets you play tunes when the phone is closed (e.g., in your pocket) and is suitable for airplane playing (they even call it Airplane Mode). These outer controls are located just under the large color external display, which is also pleasing and good for self-shots using the 1.3 megapixel (MP) camera, which takes good photos (despite the so-so MP rating). There is also an FM radio built-in (the included wired headset acts as the antenna), with many presets possible. The phone box also includes a 512MB microSD card, for storing and transporting tons of data (songs, video clips, photos, and other digifiles), and the phone's microSD slot (smartly located on the left rather than inside under the battery, like some phones) can accommodate SD cards up to 4GB. You can also sync with your PC (and Microsoft Outlook), by using the included mini-USB cable to hook the 6263 up to your PC and running the free PC Suite software that Nokia makes available on their website.

Final note: since July 1st officially launched California's Hands Free Only While Driving cellphone law, and since stats show less accidents overall when drivers keep both hands on the wheel during cell calls, the 6263's Stereo Bluetooth capability can literally be a lifesaver.

Nokia really covered all the bases with their 6263 cell phone. It simply has the best sweetspot of features I have seen in any phone of this size and price. For more info on the Nokia 6263, including an informative video overview of the phone and its features, click on this PhoneScoop.com link: http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=172.

JUN 10: LA SIGGRAPH PRESENTS MAKER FAIRE, FEATURING JEFF BOYNTON AND MARK FRAUENFELDER

The Los Angeles Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH presents "Maker Night" with Jeff Boynton & Mark Frauenfelder

by Don Rose, Editor, TheLAReport.com

MAKER FAIRE Participants also include Circuit Bending - univac; Bronco Table - kingv100; & Ghost Phones - gerG. When: Tuesday, June 10th, 2008. Here is the breakdown schedule:
6:30 - 7:30pm - Social Hour Science Fair
7:30 - 8:30 - Program
8:30 - 9:30 - Meet the Makers
Contact: makers@agentxray.com

Where: WRITERS BOOT CAMP at Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg #I Santa Monica, CA, 90404. The directions from the 10 Freeway West:
Exit 10-Fwy at Cloverfield, go Right, / North
Right at 1st-light @ michigan, go to the end of Michigan
Left at Gate, Enter and park towards the South-West end. - FREE Parking
Walk to Bldg. I, the furthest South-West
Public Transit: Use City of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, routes 11 or 7.

Fees/Registration: The event is FREE to Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH members and $20 for non-SIGGRAPH members. New members that sign up on site and pay the $40 annual membership fee (checks or cash only) do not have to pay the $20 fee.
Makers who present at this meeting will get in for free.

Special Thanks go to Jeff Boynton & Mark Frauenfelder, Craig "Xray" Halperin, Joan Collins Carey, Diane Piepol, and all of the members of the Executive Council and volunteers and MAKERS.

BIOS

Mark Frauenfelder is a writer and illustrator living in Los Angeles, and the editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine (see makezine.com). He is the founder of the popular blog boingboing.net (which has won top awards for three years running at the SXSW conference) and was an editor at Wired from 1993-1998.

For several years, he wrote a monthly technology column for Playboy magazine and has written for The New York Times Magazine, Popular Science, The Hollywood Reporter, and Business 2.0.
Mark is the author of several books, including The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead) a guide to offbeat pop culture, Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle) a book of bizarre science experiments for kids, World’s Worst (2005, Chronicle) a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer, an illustrated history of computers (2005, Carlton books), and a guide to online tricks and tips, called Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins).

His illustrations have appeared in Wired, The Industry Standard, Children’s Television Workshop, Turner Cable, and Time Warner.

Mark has a degree in mechanical engineering and worked in the diskdrive industry in the 1980s.

Jeff Boynton brings multiple Roland Microcube amps (as many 16) and distributes them throughout the entire space - on the floor, suspended with chains, sitting on shelves, etc. Each circuit bent instrument has it's own amp. It becomes a sort of "surround environment" but with way more "channels". Jeff has built dozens of amazing instruments based on discarded consumer products. He's performed at events ranging from Disney Hall openings to the Doo-Dah Parade. He was in the 80's New Wave band Wazmo Nariz and opened for The Police, Devo and the B-52's.

LA SIGGRAPH presents "Maker Night", Tuesday, June 10th, 2008. 5:30 pm - Makers Load In and Set up; 6:30-7:30pm - Social Hour Science Fair; 7:30-10:30pm - Presentation. Where: The Writers Boot Camp at Bergamot Station Art Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg #1, Santa Monica, CA, 90404. $20 for non SIGGRAPH members. You can join LA SIGGRAPH for $40 a year. Makers who present at this meeting will get in for free. Contact: makers@agentxray.com.

GTA DAY TODAY - "GRAND THEFT AUTO IV" VIDGAME HITS SHELVES AT 12AM WITH CUTTING EDGE GRAPHICS AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS

by Bruce Braunstein, Writer, TheLAReport.com

Here are the official Grand Theft Auto IV Midnight Store Opening Locations in the greater Los Angeles area (note: Best Buy website says locations are subject to change; check with your store for full details):

Atwater Village Map
Rancho Cucamonga Map
San Bernardino Map
Sherman Oaks Map
West Hollywood Map
West Los Angeles Map
Westminster Map
Woodland Hills Map

Best Buy promises "Grand Theft Auto-related giveaways, but quantities will be limited." Which means going early is a good strategy (and will help you snag a parking space, too). Another Best Buy tidbit of potential interest to gamers or their parents -- the website Kotaku.com reports the following deal:

Buy GTA IV along [with] any version of the Xbox 360, and get a $50 gift card as a sweet bonus. If you've been one of those woulda, coulda, shoulda gamers still holding out on this generation of systems, it's probably not a bad time to make the leap.

We at The LA Report have to agree. Finally, the great gamer/tech site Joystiq.com reports that the videogame chain Gamestop "released a mega-PDF of every store (in the States) opening at midnight for the Grand Theft Auto IV launch." So now you have some choices for your Midnight Madness Mania Mayhem; you can buy GTA IV as the clock strikes 12 am Monday night (Tuesday morning) at Best Buy... Gamestop... and, of course, some 24-hour Walmarts.

MAR. 20: AeA GREEN EVENT AT UCLA: HOW GOING GREEN IMPACTS THE BOTTOM LINE

"Going Green" encompasses strategies and practices that aim to protect, support and enhance the natural resources that will be needed in the future, while meeting the needs of company stakeholders today. How can your company embrace a serious commitment to the environment, while also ensuring that this commitment has a favorable impact on your profitability as well? Is your company at a disadvantage for attracting top talent by not having sustainability initiatives in place. The panel will highlight success stories of companies that have made their green initiatives translate to more green in the corporate coffers, and share insights into the concept of the triple bottom line - Profits, Planet and People.

About AeA Los Angeles Council

The AeA (http://www.aeanet.org/) is the largest non-profit national association of high-tech companies in the United States - with about 2,300 companies - representing all segments of the industry and 1.8 million employees. The LA Council, lead by chair Lee Fox (www.linkedin.com/in/leefox1), is leading a local effort to educate high tech executives & future decision makers on the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, Advocacy and Governance.

How Going Green Impacts The Bottom Line, March 20, 2008, UCLA - Anderson School of Management, Executive Dining Room B208, 1100 Westwood Place, Los Angeles, CA. 5:30 PM - 8:30 pm. For more information, see their blog at http://aeala.blogspot.com/, or see www.aeanet.org.

TEXT TECH: ODIOGO CREATES AUDIO FROM TEXT; TURN BLOGS INTO PODCASTS, READERS INTO LISTENERS

Imagine you don't have time to read someone's cool blog (like, say, The LA Report Daily Edition), or some other website with text. Instead of driving and reading (a taxing test of your multitasking skills), imagine you can just get the audio version of that same text and listen on the go on your iPod (Apple didn't pay for the iPod plug, but we always accept donations, Steve Jobs).

Such is the promise of ODIOGO, a service that could just be what's next in text. I assume Odiogo is a play on the word AUDIO and GO (yes, we are sharp folks here). Bloggers or other webmasters may find this tool very useful indeed, to turn text readers into audio listeners without having to do much extra work (add an Odiogo button to a posting and visitors can get an audio version of that post's text). More info at http://www.odiogo.com/ -- where you can read text like this description excerpt:

Turn readers into listeners, and transform your blog into a high quality, ad-supporting broadcast that can vastly expand your audience reach!

Automatic podcast generation

“Near-human” quality text-to-speech

Listen Button feature deployed in next to no time for WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, BlogEngine.NET and Terapad platforms

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2008 OSCARS & STEVE JOBS MACWORLD KEYNOTE IN 60 SECONDS (THANKS, MAHALO DAILY!)

Mahalo Daily with Veronica Belmont presents Steve Jobs' Apple Keynote in 60 Seconds. Also recommended: Mahalo's "OSCARS in Sixty Seconds".

Some things (especially Internet inventions) have a habit of becoming instant essentials. Such is the case with Mahalo's "X in Sixty Seconds" feature (for various X's), my new fave video thingamabob! What a timesaver. And, another benefit: easier to remember the key points, since those are all you see! Think of it as a highlighter pen for video. Of course, editing is crucial for this to work, and Mahalo's editing is nearly perfect. Even humor gets injected in the mix with the Apple keynote video. First we see Apple CEO Steve Jobs hitting the main points of his 90 minute keynote (key new stuff: 1 terabyte AirPort+harddrive combo, $499, can backup all your Macs wirelessly; software upgrades for iPhone and iPod Touch; new Apple TV with no computer required to use and can rent movies in HD; iTunes movie rentals: 3 to 4 bucks each, you get 30 days to start, then 24 hours to watch; new ultrathin MacBook Air laptop, fits in manila envelope). Then we're treated to 2 seconds of Randy Newman (sings "You've Got a Friend In Me" - yes, just those words). Finally, the icing on the cake: a few seconds appending adoring Apple adjectives adjacently. Oh, if only life could be condensed like this sometimes.

SUPERBOWL GADGET YOU GOTTA GET: THE MAGIC BULLET PLATINUM PRO & BULLET TO GO

The Must-Have Superbowl Supergadget is Perfect for Tailgating or Home Partymaking

It's Super Bowl 2008 -- do you know where your supergadgets are? We do. This is THE one that can make your life easier, and more fun to boot. The MAGIC BULLET, which comes in two varieties: the PLATINUM PRO and the BULLET TO GO.

Serve up your favorite Superbowl recipes from frozen drinks to fabulous dips. Whether you’re entertaining at home or heading to the game, there’s a Magic Bullet for all occasions! The Magic Bullet Platinum Pro is an entirely new concept in labor-saving devices. Unlike bulky blenders and unwieldy food processors that most of us only pull out of storage for specific recipes and special occasions, the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro is so handy, so versatile and easy to use that you'll put it to work EVERY single day (probably several times a day). Best of all, it saves you time because it does almost any job in the kitchen in 10 seconds or less!

The Cyclonic Cutting Zone^® Process

The secret to the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro's time-saving efficiency is the specially designed blade and unique bullet-shaped design that automatically circulates food back into the Cyclonic Cutting Zone^® region with so much force and speed that it can do virtually any job in 10 seconds or less.

Using the Magic Bullet^® Platinum Pro^TM blender couldn't be easier. There are no buttons to press, no complicated manuals to read. Simply place one of THE BULLET^™ Cups or Party Mugs on to the High-Torque Power Base and press...it's a snap! With the easy-to-use Magic Bullet Platinum Pro, you can make delicious party dips like salsa, guacamole and bean dip, refreshing frozen margaritas and pina coladas, a variety of tantalizing pasta sauces, decadent desserts such as creamy chocolate mousse or frosty milkshakes and more. All with virtually no effort and no clean up. And all in 10 seconds or less.

Using the Magic Bullet^® Platinum Pro^TM Blender is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Load the ingredients into the Short Cup, Tall Cup, or Party Mug.
2. Twist on the Cross Blade or Flat Blade until the blade and cup have a tight seal.
3. Line up the tabs, place THE BULLET^™ on the Power Base and press down on the cup to turn it on.

Here's how it works: As long as you're holding it down, the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro is on. When you want the blades to stop, simply let go. Or, for hands-free operation: Press down and gently turn the cup clockwise until the tabs lock under the lip of the Power Base. Now the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro is in Lock On mode where the motor runs continually. To turn it off, simply twist the cup back counterclockwise and release the cup.

Mastering the Magic Bullet^® Platinum Pro^TM blender "Mixing" techniques is a snap. Lock On Mode is the hands free mode you use to blend foods until they achieve a smooth consistency. This is the technique for preparing creamy dishes like chocolate mousse, smoothies and frozen cocktails.

And here is one stat that any sports-party host will love: The Bullet to Go runs on batteries and serves up to 25 cups before needing to be recharged!

The Magic Bullet® Platinum Pro and Bullet to Go. Available at magicbulletplatinumpro.com for $99.99, or bullettogo.com for $99.99. The LA Report highly recommends it.

(Jott from Don Rose) This is a test message to see if the Jott service will transcribe this message a...

"This is a test message to see if the Jott service will transcribe this message and post it on my blog called the LA report blog. If hopefully will work if you are reading this now." Listen to Don's message Brought to you by Jott.com - 1-866-JOTT-123 300 East Pike Street, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98122

Interested in joining Jott? Jott is a free service that turns your voice into tasks, e-mail and text messages. Go to www.jott.com or just call (866) JOTT 123

LIFE ALERT FEATURED ON THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW IN HEALTH-TECH SEGMENT; MARTHA AND DR. BRENT RIDGE RECOMMEND LIFE ALERT SERVICE TO THEIR VIEWERS

Life Alert, known for protecting the lives of seniors and increasingly younger adults, captures the attention of Martha Stewart and Dr. Brent Ridge, VP of Martha Stewart Healthy Living, who touts Life Alert’s “inexpensive yet vital” service on national TV show

(January 30, 2008 – Encino, CA) Life Alert is widely known for its popular TV commercials, featuring its trademarked slogan “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” Now, Life Alert is being featured on TV shows itself. The service -- which saves a life every 40 minutes, on average -- is essential for maintaining the health of its members, and no TV program embodies healthy living more than “The Martha Stewart Show,” where Life Alert was recently featured. The national TV program, which attracts the highest concentration of women 25-54 with incomes of $75,000-plus among all first-run daytime series, selected Life Alert to be part of its January 23rd segment on tech gadgets for your health.

The Life Alert service received a strong recommendation from Dr. Brent Ridge, who co-hosted the segment and serves as Vice President of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. When discussing Life Alert, Dr. Ridge told the show’s studio and national audience that “we recommend this to all of the patients at the Martha Stewart Center for Living,” adding that the service is “so inexpensive yet so vital for people.”

Members of Life Alert can get assistance 24/7 in the event of an emergency (medical, fire or intrusion). As Martha and Dr. Ridge explained to their audience, one press of a small pendant quickly puts the wearer in touch with a Life Alert dispatcher, who talks to the member via a base unit (installed in the home) and sends help immediately if the member is injured, unable to speak, or in danger.

“We are pleased that Martha Stewart chose Life Alert for her show about health-related technology, as we know how selective she is on featuring products and services,” says Isaac Shepher, Life Alert’s founder and CEO. “We are extremely proud to serve our members with state-of-the-art equipment and services, as we have done for over 20 years.” The company, which has members nationwide, saved over 15,000 lives from catastrophic outcomes in 2007 alone. As Dr. Ridge pointed out in the TV segment, Life Alert handles over a million calls a year.

While Life Alert has primarily been servicing seniors and the elderly for the past 20 years, their service is becoming increasingly popular among Boomers and younger adults, whose parents may have the service as well. The reality is that adults of any age can benefit from Life Alert protection, especially when living alone.

Other devices featured on Martha's segment about tech gadgets for health: GPS-enabled sneakers (you can look up the wearer's location on a map via computer -- useful, for example, to keep track of someone with Alzheimer's disease), Glow Caps (can "illuminate, play a melody, and even ring a home phone" as a reminder to take medications) and the Ultreo Toothbrush ("the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound wave-guide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action").

About Life Alert

Life Alert is a Personal Emergency Response company that saves lives from catastrophic outcomes, using a unique technology to provide superior home monitoring and protection. Life Alert was founded in 1987, provides services nationwide, and is the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop.

The Life Alert service solves an issue that is especially important for seniors: home-based protection. Life Alert enables seniors, the handicapped and anyone needing protection to keep living at home with independence and comfort, living their lives the way they are used to, without drastic changes. The average senior Life Alert member keeps living in their own home for an extra six years, compared to those of a similar age without Life Alert. In addition, an ACNielsen study showed that 87% of subscribers called Life Alert’s protection a main or important factor in their decision to keep living at home, rather than move to a retirement home. As Dr. Koop says, “Thanks to Life Alert, you can live alone without ever being alone, and that’s why I wear one.”

For more information on Life Alert, call 1-800-360-0329 or visit www.lifealert.com.

About The Martha Stewart Show

“The Martha Stewart Show,” also known as “Martha,” is a U.S. daytime television syndicated talk show that began airing in September 2005. Hosted by Martha Stewart, each episode includes segments on cooking, interior design, gardening, crafts, health and other topics. “Martha” attracts the highest concentration of women 25-54 with incomes of $75,000-plus among all first-run daytime series, according to Nielsen Media Research. It ranks second to only “The Oprah Winfrey Show” among women 25-54 in households that earn $100,000-plus annually. The Martha Stewart Show is produced by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Productions in association with Mark Burnett Productions.

The show, which also features celebrity guests, is taped live in New York City at 10 a.m. and airs at various times in several markets. “Martha” also airs nightly on the digital cable network Fine Living. The show is distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, in a partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. In November 2007, “Martha” was renewed for a fourth season. NBC Universal renewed in over 60% of the U.S. Station groups picking up the how-to program include the NBC-owned stations, Fox, Belo, Fisher Communications, Scripps, Hearst-Argyle Television, Allbritton Communications and Clear Channel Communications.

Media Contact: Dr. Don Rose, Head of Public Relations, Life Alert Emergency Response. 1-818-700-7000 x103 or drose@lifealert.com .

MOLI.COM LAUNCHES TODAY AT DEMO 08 CONFERENCE

A PRNewswire news release states that Mainstream Holdings, Inc., an Internet technology and digital media company, announced today that it entered into an agreement with private investors to receive $29.6 million of funding for the company. The funding will be used to accelerate the international expansion and enrich membership development programs of its subsidiary MOLI. MOLI will be launched today at the DEMO 08 conference.

What is MOLI, exactly? Here are some excerpts from a press release on their website:

Addressing the market need for better privacy and control of social networking member data, MOLI launched at DEMO today, its next-generation community site based on a robust patent-pending platform that allows users to have significantly greater control over their privacy than current options in the market. Designed by financial transaction veterans who understand the need for secure transactions, MOLI's members, consisting of enterprising individuals, groups and small businesses, can control their privacy by managing multiple profiles in one account. Members can then segment their social, business and family relationships as well as attain more control using three levels of permission - public, private and hidden - to determine who can and cannot access their profile information. In addition, members can add low-cost, online store capabilities to sell their products and services within the global community. MOLI membership is free as are most of the interactive tools; MOLI communities are located in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland.

"MOLI has implemented its social networking community in an inventive way to create a new approach to the online social market," said Chris Shipley, executive producer of DEMO. "MOLI will be a company to watch as the market continues to unfold."

MOLI is an online community designed for enterprising individuals and small business owners - a segment of users just beginning to explore the power of social networking. The site uses Web 2.0 capabilities that are ideal for multimedia interactive collaboration and visitors and members can view both professionally created original content (text and high definition video) and user-generated content that appeals to the MOLI community.

Founded by Dr. Christos M. Cotsakos, ...MOLI is the flagship subsidiary of Mainstream Holdings, Inc., a company that focuses in four industry segments: e-commerce, behavioral marketing, high-definition video production, and software and infrastructure development. "We are very excited for the opportunity to launch MOLI at the critically acclaimed DEMO 08 conference," said Dr. Cotsakos. "We have listened to users, marketers, advertisers and industry experts during our beta, to create and build MOLI into the next-generation social media platform..."

"MOLI is a next-generation social media community allowing members to manage multiple profiles from one account. It is designed for enterprising individuals entering that next major lifestyle change, beginning in the late twenties, when control over personal privacy is a more compelling issue," said Judy Balint, President and COO of MOLI. "MOLI is a diverse, sophisticated site where professionally produced content coupled with interactive e-commerce features enable members to connect and conduct business with other discerning individuals, groups and businesses..."

MOLI produces and publishes high quality features about the community's multi-faceted members and stories that appeal to the discerning MOLI community. For advertisers, the appeal of professionally created content in specific channels provides a higher degree of confidence that their message will reside within an appropriate context for their brand.

MOLI offers three types of content for visitors and members to enjoy:
1 - user-generated content created from members in the community
2 - content selected by MOLI from third-party agreements suited for the discerning MOLI community
3 - compelling professionally created original content developed in-house and published in two forms: articles (MOLI View) and high-definition videos (MOLI Video).

- MOLI View is a daily collection of blogs written by well-known freelance writers appearing in various categories: Arts and Entertainment; Fashion and Design; Life and Love; Sports and Fitness; Travel and Leisure; Business and Technology; and Worthy Causes.
- MOLI Video is a compelling video showcase featuring two-minute magazine-style vignettes about MOLI's members. Called "MOLI Rollers" the high-definition, short-format video clips are created and produced in-house by Mainstream's subsidiary, Tertiary Productions. MOLI Video also features Tertiary's first original offbeat episodic series called Park Bench. Easy-to-Use Tools and E-commerce CapabilitiesMOLI provides its members with access to many free and low-cost features as well as premium-customized tools so their image on the site can look "polished and professional" or "cool and modern".

Each account has access to free features and tools, for example, blogs, message boards, RSS feeds, video players, audio players, games, media slideshows, and event calendars. The site uses Ajax technology, so members can customize and personalize their pages with drag-and-drop ease. On MOLI, small businesses can create a free public website to showcase their products and services, and use MOLI's multiple profiles with permissions to communicate in private with customers, employees or suppliers all from the same account. MOLI can be both an extranet and a private intranet.

Also, without doing any programming, members can easily add a fully-functioning store with a multi-media catalogue allowing video, audio, or text, shopping cart, and payment mechanism through PayPal or Google Checkout, for a simple, flat-fee of only $3.99 a month.

More robust than earlier-generation social networking sites, MOLI is built on a patent-pending technology platform designed for scalability and easy global deployment developed by CoVibe TECH, a sister subsidiary of MOLI. This platform has the ability to accumulate and analyze aggregate member data, and facilitate targeted behavioral marketing while protecting the member's personally identifiable information. For example, all members receive a basic version of this aggregated data called "CoVibe Live" for free. CoVibe Live is a real-time snapshot that highlights interesting tidbits of information about the people who visit a member's profiles, such as age, gender, and geographic location. More sophisticated renditions of this aggregated psychographic and demographic data will also be available for purchase in various cost-effective packages designed for individuals, groups, small businesses and advertisers.

MOLI members can access its knowledge-based customer support system that is similar to those found in consumer and financial industries. Members have two ways to obtain information: using the knowledge-based system for text-based and video answers as well as by live chat with MOLI customer support representatives. Live chat hours are available 9 to 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern. MOLI's customer support solution is a first in the social networking industry.

Summary: MOLI is a next-generation social networking site where members can manage multiple profiles in one account. Members can separate their social, business and family relationships and keep control over their privacy. Targeted at both enterprising individuals over 18 and small business owners, MOLI provides an easy to use, content-rich, multimedia interactive platform ideal for both community collaboration and e-commerce. MOLI sites are currently located in the U.S. (www.moli.com), the U.K. and Ireland. MOLI membership is free. Additional pricing for account customization: $1.99 per additional personalized URL after the first one that is free; $2.49/month for MOLI ad-free; $3.99/month to add store capabilities.

TECH CHECK: ZONET MULTIFUNCTION MOUSEPAD

Zonet's Multimedia Multifunctional Mouse Pad - Model: ZUP8020

Here is a very cool product, especially in this age where devices that do many things are "in." Optimize your work (or fun!) space and give a touch of style to your computer with the Zonet ZUP8020 – a true "Multifunctional Mouse Pad." The Mouse Pad produces an ambient blue glow around its clear acrylic base when connected to the USB port. It’s integrated with a four-port USB 2.0 Hub, allowing you to connect extra USB peripherals such as a Webcam, Flash Drive, and other USB devices. With the Stereo Speakers and Microphone, it's ideal for music listening, online chatting, and voice conferencing.

Features:
• Illuminated acrylic base mouse pad with smooth surface
• Built-in 4-Port USB Hub, fully compliant with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0
• Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Built-In Headset and Audio connectors
• Microphone On/Off Switch
• Included Mini-microphone for voice conference and online chatting
• Plug & play, no driver needed
• Dimension: W248 x D123 x H18mm
• Cable length: 120cm

This Zonet product comes with a one year Manufacturer Warranty. We like the fact that, in addition to the ZUP8020 mousepad, you also get the Mini Microphone (or, if you're a fan of Austin Powers, a Mini-Mike!). We dig it at The LA report, and we think you will too.

JAN.16: TWIISTUP 3 AT AIR CONDITIONED SUPPER CLUB, VENICE

The LA Report ranks Twiistup in its Top Ten Events of the year. Why, you ask? Well, for one clue, here is a description of the event, from the colorful Twiistup website:

Twiistup connects people from technology, media and entertainment. Held at a nightclub, our quarterly events feature several startups chosen to 'showoff' their products & services to influential bloggers, fellow tech-heads, investors, the media and those interested in learning about what's hot in tech. An alternative to traditional networking events, Twiistup mixes it up with tunes, video, bites, beverages, prizes, swag and the unexpected . Details for Twiistup 3

As you can see, Twiistup combines all the elements we love at The LA Report: intelligent stimulating attendees, fun (there was a dead-ringer Bono lookalike at Twiistup 2!), tech, entertainment and serendipity! We highly recommend this event.

Editor's Update: due to its popularity, Twiistup 3 is either sold out, or almost sold out, but their site does indicate a way you can win 2 tickets; visit http://www.twiistup.com/ for more details. If you are not able to get tickets, then bookmark their site and make sure to make plans early for Twiistup 4.