WATCH: http://www.johnnolanstudio.com/films/nolans-cheddar/

Why it’s hot:

Well, there is no Nolan’s Cheese. But there is a John Nolan. And he makes animatronics and special effects for films. You know, like this viral one that you just watched.  Which won’t sell a pound of non-existent cheese but well may garner work and inquiries for Mr. Nolan.

This is a spot for a cheese billed as “Seriously Strong” and “Award Winning Cheddar Since 1859.”  Over :90 rather amusing seconds, we watch the adventure of a mouse as he plays with fire by eating cheese off a trap, falls victim to the spring arm, and then battles back mightily.

After a partnership with Apple that includes integration in Siri in iOS 8, music identification service Shazam is getting even cosier with Cupertino with a new Mac app available now. The app is free on the Mac App Store, and installs as a menu bar application that runs in the background, listening to the music being played around your computer (or through its speakers) and identifying them via a simple notification while keeping a history of what’s been played.

WHY IT’S HOT:

It’s neither complicated nor feature-ridden, but it’s a handy little app if you’re using your computer while watching TV and are curious about the soundtrack to a show or the show itself (it tags TV, too), plus it could come in handy if you’re working in an office setting while listening the to radio and working on your Mac.

sources: http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/31/shazam-mac-app/

Moto X smartphone users can now unlock their device by tapping it against a so-called “digital tattoo.”

On Tuesday, Motorola Mobility released a video showing off its latest smartphone accessory. Not quite a tattoo, in the permanent sense, the item is actually an adhesive bandage equipped with near-field communication technology.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15uIFmysZV4

Why it’s hot:

According to a post on the company’s blog, the average person takes 2.3 seconds to unlock his or her phone. This happens usually 39 times a day. Motorola isn’t the first company to release a hands free password technology. Apple released a fingerprint scanner with the iPhone 5S, and Samsung has also released a hand gesture capabilities to unlock a mobile device.

sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/23/digital-tattoo-moto-x_n_5613988.html?utm_hp_ref=technology

Workplace productivity has gone out the window once again thanks to “Tiny Birthday for a Tiny Hedgehog,” the latest time-wasting video from agency HelloDenizen that has first-worlders convulsively hitting replay.

The Los Angeles shop, on a self-promotional odyssey of precious proportions, unleashed “Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos” in April. It has nearly 8 million YouTube views (though you can watch it below if you’re late to the fiesta). Now the hamsters join their hedgehog pal for a bash that’s racked up 1 million views since launching a week ago.

watch below:

Tiny Hamster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOCtdw9FG-s#t=62

Tiny Birthday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqbYVr5jBVk#t=63

The surprise hit of Google I/O was without a doubt Cardboard. Google’s paper product –or phone-based VR viewer — made its debut during yesterday’s keynote, and today, David Coz, the project’s founder, revealed its origins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZXjoMMigJU

Why it’s hot:

So why use cardboard? Coz said he started working with it because it was an easy way to hack together a prototype, but he also liked it because he wanted the viewer to look really simple. All the processing, after all, is handled by the phone. In addition, he noted that Google wants anybody “to just take scissors and staplers and modify it.”