Super multi core chips leading to software programmer HELL but the product potential is AMAZING

I read on Gizmodo about an article on the Technology Review, about Intel's new 128 core terascale superchip. The superchip is just a little bit larger than the size of a postage stamp, yet has the ability to perform a teraflop, which is a trillion operations per second, or as gizmodo puts it, the ability to play Halflife 3 at 60fps and full resolution. The processing power of this chip equals that of what was produced by a computer the size of a 2000 square foot room in 1996. Wow!
The article states that while processor manufacturers have been aware for a long time of the speed benefits of multi-core processors, they have been unwilling to make them due to the major overhaul of software programming that would be required. Programs would need to be written so that their processes could be divided efficiently and effectively among the various cores, called parallel programming, to avoid situations like bottlenecking; when one process finishes early but has to wait for other processes to catch up before it can move on.
Chip manufacturers have been able to avoid the change for a long time, by their ability to continually increase the speed of the single core processor. Recently, however, the manufacturers came to an impasse, when the single core processors simply required too much power than was feasible to be able to improve on their speed any further.
The thing is, once programming techniques evolve to be able to handle the new situation, and these chips are able to be installed in everyday devices like mobile phones, the sky's the limit with new product functionality. One idea I was particularly taken by was the real time translation of phone calls. We're really heading towards star trek now, when everyone walks around with a communicator device attached to their shirt (or where ever works for you), that translates speech from all languages right to you. Forget the need to actually study languages anymore, sounds amazing.
One thing though, I just don't wanna see any of those artificial intelligence nuts anywhere near one of these chips. The movies and books show that it just wouldn't be worth it.
Can anyone think of any other uses for this much processing power in a small device?

Inspector Gadget Remix

To continue with the beatbox theme, check out this guy's unusual talent of beatboxing while still managing to play the flute quite well. The choice of the theme song for Inspector Gadget doesn't detract from the appeal of the performance either. Aah the memories...

Beatbox guy makes a new hit

It's been ages since my last post, so I prominse to post more soon, but for now enjoy the beatbox guy again with another well made production.

Japanese Grocery Store Crazyness!!

The things you can find in a Japanese grocery store are often a bit strange and a bit of a laugh, but not normally disturbing like this. Happy Valentine's Day, the European way. I can just see it. "Here you go love. I'm sure you've always wanted a shooter of sperm coloured liquid in a sperm shaped container". Funnily enough, I couldn't get anyone to purchase one and check on the taste.

I'll take 10, thanks

These micro compact homes would be perfect for housing near the snow resorts in Hokkaido, and I would love to get myself a patch of land and plonk down a whole swag of them. You've gotta check them out! Not exactly spacious living quarters, but when you only want somewhere to flake out after a busy day of getting out and about, they seem pretty perfect to me. Living in Japan for a number of years sure helps to make you realise how much space is truly needed for comfort. Utilising aircraft and motorhome innovations, they manage to fit two double beds inside a 2.6 metre cube, with a toilet and a table that supposedly seats up to 5 people. The cubes are transported by truck, and either craned into position or even helicoptered in. Nice! The option is also there to attach solar and wind power generation to the cubes, though I would hate to be out there wiping off each time it snowed (a good long broom would probably do the job I suppose).
Designed and developed as a University Project in Munich Germany, they are currently only available for sale and delivery in Europe, but will soon be available in the US. I think I might fire them off an email to check what they are doing about the potential market in Japan.

BTW- Another option is the 'mini home', developed in California. It is a much more expensive option and meant to be your only home, not just a holiday home. It is also built to be as eco friendly as possible, with the potential to live a completely off the grid life.