As even BlackBerry moves away from its emphasis on physical keyboards, we’re all slowly learning to adapt to the cold, slick reality of touchscreens and virtual keyboards. If you’re one of those who yearns for the feeling of a real keyboard, or whose ears perk up at the clickity-clack sound of keys, all hope is not lost.

One intrepid Etsy seller has created a way to use your iPad while typing on a typewriter. The USB Typewriter, sold by Etsy member Jack Zylkin, offers you somewhere to dock your iPad, essentially turning it into a screen while you type happily away on one of several styles of classic typewriter.

[ Last week’s Must-Have: Never run out of batteries again with device-charging bags ]

What makes these particularly cool is the fact that they are real, classic typewriters that have been converted to work with the iPad. If you don’t own an iPad but want one of these machines anyway, fear not: USB Typewriter works when plugged in as a keyboard to PCs and Macs as well. It

Read More »from Must-Have Monday: Take your iPad on a vintage typing journey

Raspberry Pi model
There's a delicious new treat in the digital world.

It's the size of a credit card, costs just $25 and may be starting a quiet revolution in how people work with computers.

It's called Raspberry Pi — a micro-sized computer that's making some serious waves among educators, businesses and geeks alike.

Originally conceived by computer developers in the U.K., it's been built with the intention of inspiring kids to learn computer science. The Pi is a very bare bones computer — it's basically a stripped-down motherboard when you get down to the core of it — but has a surprising number of features that most modern computers have, including an HDMI port, USB ports, video and audio output and can be connected to a TV or laptop (among other things).

Here's how it's laid out:

Raspberry Pi breakdown

So far, the Pi has been making waves with schools in Britain, Europe and the Middle East that want kids to learn how to program. Yet with such a cheap cost and surprising amounts of power for such a small device, there's

Read More »from Three reasons you should pay attention to Raspberry Pi

With Valentine’s Day coming next week, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how much that special someone means to you — and how they could royally screw you over if you’ve shared all your passwords with them, and then break up.

The results of McAfee Canada’s annual Love, Relationships and Technology survey don’t bode well for people who feel the need to show their love through electronic means. According to the survey, about 10 per cent of adults have had personal content leaked to others by their partner without permission. And considering the type of ‘personal’ content that is sent over Valentine’s Day, that can lead to some pretty embarrassing situations.

[ Related: Sheriff posts billboard to wish constituents a happy Valentine’s Day ]

When you start looking at the numbers of the survey, it’s easy to see how those personal files can end up getting out. Only four in ten users lock their mobile devices with a password, yet 60 per cent say they have personal or intimate photos, emails

Read More »from Love can lead to leaked personal data, depressing pre-Valentine’s Day survey finds

It seems kind of amazing that these posts are still going around, but once again, it looks like some people are being duped by a chain letter-style Facebook post telling them that the social network won't be available February 29-31, 2013.

And it's kind of funny, because they're right.

While the website won't be making any changes or shutting down for maintenance in the foreseeable future, it won't be accessible on those days -- because those days don't actually exist. February 29 only comes up in leap years (which this year is not), and February 30 and 31 aren't real calendar days.

[ Related: Facebook privacy notice is a hoax, so don’t bother posting it ]

Nevertheless, many people have likely seen this post appear on their Facebook wall, asking them to spread the word:

"Share this message with at least 15 of your friends for the best chance of alerting everyone," reads a message circulating on Facebook, according to Mother Nature Network. "Many people will try to log in from February

Read More »from Facebook isn’t going anywhere on February 29

Visitors play with Microsoft's Xbox 360 consoles at the Tokyo Game Show. (REUTERS)Well, there goes the neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood video game stores, specifically, which have already suffered greatly at the hands of big box retailers. Their last glimmer of hope was the used video game market (and even that has been largely dominated by GameStop, EB Games and Best Buy). But if the rumours about Microsoft’s new upcoming game console are true, selling back your used games or trading them in for a new title may soon be a thing of the past.

The latest rumour about the upcoming Xbox 720 (not necessarily its final name) is that the system will require an ‘always on’ Internet connection to function, likely integrated with a new iteration of Xbox Live, according to a story from Edge Online.

[ Related: SimCity developers’ Reddit AMA turns sour over copyright protection ]

Unnamed sources have told Edge that games will be made available in physical form on 50GB Blu-ray discs, and will ship with activation codes that will only be usable for the initial user. Wanted to share a

Read More »from Xbox 720 rumoured to have ‘always on’ Internet connection, effectively killing used game market

Luigi and Toad in 'Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon' (Nintendo)It’s common for most people who approach their 30th birthday to get a little melancholy as they reflect back on their lives. For one mustachioed, green hat-wearing plumber, his life has largely been spent in the shadow of his shorter and much more famous brother.

Ahead of Luigi’s approaching birthday on June 1 — which was the release date of the Mario Bros. arcade game back in 1983 — Jose Zagal, assistant professor of game development and interactive media at DePaul University’s College of Computing and Digital Media, is lamenting Luigi as the unloved brother of the Super Mario Bros.

"Robin at least was his own character," said Zagal, comparing Luigi and Mario to Robin and Batman. "Though Robin was young and inexperienced, he was portrayed as competent and even somewhat cool. Luigi, however, is often portrayed at best as a clone of Mario and, at worst, the more cowardly brother who still pulls through in the end."

[ Related: Nintendo to post unexpected loss as Wii successor falters ]

Read More »from Luigi celebrates his 30th birthday still in Mario’s shadow

Photo of Zach Bussey from @asponsoredlife on TwitterZach Bussey, a Toronto-area blogger, has decided to let the pitches and product reviews he receives as part of a job sustain him for the rest of 2013.

The Globe and Mail reports that Bussey, who is also a social-media consultant, has cleared his apartment of all his belongings and is attempting to go an entire year living off product reviews and advertisements posted to his blog, asponsoredlife.com.

Advertisers can buy ad space on his website, with rates dependent on the day of the year. January 1 was only $1, and by December 31, an ad will cost the buyer $365. Alternatively, companies can sponsor Bussey with food, clothing or services and get a mention on his blog.

[ Related: Buy yourself a Facebook girlfriend for only $39 ]

Bussey says that despite the sponsorships, he is still writing objectively about the products and services he receives.

“Just because a company is providing me with something does not mean that I’ll give them a favourable review,” he said to the Globe. “I have to

Read More »from Toronto blogger hopes to survive only on online sponsorship

Without question, the most awesome thing to come out of Budweiser's top-secret research laboratories since talking frogs is their new Budweiser Red Light.

And if you're a hockey fan, this officially tops your must-have list.

The Budweiser Red Light is a life-sized replica of the iconic goal light that syncs via WiFi to the scores of your favourite team. When your team scores, the light springs to life by spinning and flashing, and a horn sounds to celebrate the goal. It's like being at the game ... without being at the game, of course.

The light made its debut during the Super Bowl through an offer by Budweiser Canada to install one in your home. The offer was taken up by thousands of Canadians, as the light sold out in less than a day. The next batch is scheduled to be shipped out in May — just in time for the playoffs.

The Budweiser homepage is right — Watching hockey will never be the same.

The lamp is a lightweight, aluminum replica of the real thing and can be placed on top of

Read More »from The Budweiser Red Light brings the game right into your living room