Jason Bradbury

You just have to check out Hobnox Audiotool. It’s a browser-based electronic music production tool - a bit like Reason - and it’s free! Read the pop-up instructions. Create yo’ funky vibe. Upload it to the web. Genius! Follow hobnox on Twitter @Hobnox.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZHxwtH7GXA

As I get ready for the launch of Dot Robot (5^th Feb 2009), I’m busy writing its sequel! Here’s a sneaky peek at one of the gadgets I’m planning for book two. I saw this Police Specialized Hardrock mountain bike at a cycle show in Earl’s Court, London this year. Now, a couple of these aluminum framed, blues and twos equipped, cruisers have made it into an action-packed chase sequence I’m working on. I wonder if Specialized would lend me one for a test ride?

Do you know any secrets?

There I was, on Amazon.co.uk, looking for last minute Christmas presents and I thought I’d see if Dot Robot is listed. And OMG, there’s my book! After such a long time writing it, it’s an incredible feeling to see my first book on the world’s biggest online book domain. Check it out here.

I can’t believe how soon my book will be out! In around seven weeks! It hit me when I was Christmas book shopping in my local bookstore and the manager asked me about the launch date for Dot.Robot - 5th of February 2009. I’ll let y’all know when the planned web stuff is live (hint: there’s going to be a really cool Flash game) It’s going to be a very exciting year.

Last weekend the dad-bike was stolen! I am now looking at replacements and I’ve decided it may be my chance to build the ultimate in rad two-wheeled dad transport. The image above is a Photoshop mash-up of the kind of gear I need. I don’t expect to tick all the boxes but with your help, I might get close. My requirements are: I need to be able to style-it-out while keeping under the radar of bike villains. I am considering a bike with some form of power assistance for when my legs let me down (a hydrogen system is featured above). I shop, therefore I… need a basket. Let me know your thoughts.

See my review of the Top Five Skateboards soon on The Gadget Show.

Ray Kurzweil is a brilliant scientist and futurist. His book maps out a startling vision of the fusion of biology (namely us) and technology. It’s a dense read, but it’s not a difficult book to understand because Kurzweil is fond of graphs! His sections on Moore’s Law are fascinating and he makes it clear that, because of the exponential growth in computing power,  those of us who are around for the next fifty years will see Star-Trekian advances in technology. ‘It is reasonable to expect [the] hardware that can emulate human-brain functionality to be available for approximately one thousands dollars by around 2020.’ I just wish it was lighter, so I could carry it with me on the tube! Check out more books from My Library.