This Java applet is a visualizer for the history of music sampling. A timeline with colored dots represents some of the most widely circulated tracks; click to see all the tracks they spawned, click the tracks they spawned to see what other tracks they sampled. Nice.

Portable Firefox is a version of the Firefox web browser that’s been optimized for USB keychain drives. Well done, geeks. Suck it, Bill.

This was rolled out a few months ago, but I must have missed it. Amazon searches the text of some of the books it sells, analyzes it, and publishes various metrics. The last book I read was Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon, so that will be the example.

• Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
  grand wazir, substitution alphabet, data haven, hive mind, dive plan
• Concordance
• Other text stats like:
  Words/Dollar: 50,204
  Syllables/Word: 1.5

This is a foot pedal that you hide under your desk at work. When Lundberg strolls up to your desk you give the pedal a tap with your foot. Only a moment ago you were in an intense game of Doom 3 (or Minesweeper), but after the tap all Lundburg sees on your screen is your TPS report in progress. As soon as that asshat leaves, another tap returns you to cyberdemon fragging bliss. Make sure you watch the demo.

Caveat: This found under features:

• Play distinctive StealthSwitchâ„¢ sound when hiding windows