It's a Bird, It's a Plane... No, It's a Flying Car!

The 21st century car has finally arrived, you guys. Several media outlets have confirmed that a flying car could be on the road -- and in the air -- by the end of next year.

Ever since cars were invented, we've been dreaming about ways to get them in the air. From "The Jetsons" and Chitty Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the '60s to Back to the Future's DeLorean and Ron Weasley's Ford Anglia more recently, many concepts for the flying car have been dreamt up. But this decade will bring the real thing -- the Terrafugia Transition.

This flying car will be a two-seat plane made of carbon-fiber that you can drive straight out of your garage, fly to work (beat the annoying rush hour traffic!), and land to get that perfect parking space. The car can go 115 mph in the air and 62 mph on land, the wings fold up in about 15 seconds, and it is about the size of a large sedan... so, if parking is a problem, hey, just land on a rooftop!

CEO Carl Dietrich received $60 million from the Defense Department to build the ultimate flying car in just 5 years. Last week, The U.S. National Highway Safety Administration said the car is cleared for takeoff for the nation’s highways! With the next impending Carmageddon 11 months from now, they must have known the importance of getting around those typically backed-up freeways.

The Terrafugia Transition will be sold for $227,000, but this price tag is certainly not scaring away potential owners. Around 100 people have already put down a $10,000 deposit for their first flying car. Dietrich says his creation is expected to go global (of course!), and Europe says they want in on the action too. So do about 20 Britons.

To fly a Terrafugia Transition, you will need a light-aircraft license and 20 hours of training, so start enrolling in those flight classes now. Oh, and don't forget the insurance too…

Viddy App Allows You To Capture Life On Video

What has more than 450,000 downloads and just keeps growing and growing and growing? No surprises here that the answer is a great new phone app!

With a new way to pull the ‘viddy’ographer out in you, Viddy is a premier social mobile application presenting you with a unique way to create and share video. With the option to utilize multiple movie styles, the short films that you create will give you access to a cinematic aesthetic that you usually only see on the big screen... As you can imagine, it's all the rage here in Hollywood.

Once again, count on Paris Hilton to be at the cutting edge of another great new trend, as she gushed to me about how Viddy is her new favorite app, saying “You can make videos that look really old school... I love it.” But she isn’t the only one getting her film on. Lauren Conrad is a new fan; a friend of Pete Wentz’s actually helped create it; Snoop Dogg is down; and Charlie Sheen has announced that Viddy is winning! Considering the brand did very little to no advertising, they just turned it on and with the help of some very prestigious word-of-mouth, it became a hit!

Taking its rightful place amongst our virtual lives, Viddy is also described as being like Twitter with video updates instead of status updates; seems to me that using a video clip as a status update is a big step in a new and exciting direction. You can even follow other viddyographers in the community and see the world from their artistic point of view. The best part about it is that it costs nada -- you can make the same hot videos as the celebs for FREE!

If you're the type to always have a cell phone on you to capture those once in a lifetime moments, then you should most definitely consider checking out viddy.com, and be amazed at how awesome your videos can look and then share them with the world!

BlackBerry Aiming for the Top of the Tablet Game with the PlayBook

It hasn’t even been released to the public yet, but already the word on the street for the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is outstanding. And since I am a guy who appreciates a great gadget, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of them last week during the SXSW conference. All I can say is, get your touch-screen fingers ready for this tablet, guys!

Some of the PlayBook’s key features include: a 7” touch screen, up to 64 GB of memory (with 16 and 32 GB model options), dual front and rear facing cameras, HD video and audio playback, and the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously, making multi-tasking a breeze. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet also weighs less than a pound and is ultra thin, which means you can take it just about anywhere; it could easily fit in the front inside pocket of a man’s coat, or a woman's clutch purse!

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is hitting the streets April 19th, at prices as low as $499. To get a sneak peek of just how amazing this thing is, be sure to check out our exclusive SXSW coverage on the site!

TurboTax SnapTax Makes Taxes a... Snap!

Once a year (and usually at the last minute) we all find ourselves scrambling to file our taxes and get square with the Government again. Fortunately for us, this year could be a breeze thanks to the folks at TurboTax. Their SnapTax App allows you to do your taxes from start to finish just by, believe it or not, using your iPhone or Android device.

This app makes the dreaded and often time-consuming obligation of filing taxes as simple as taking a picture on your smart phone. First, just download the application, which is free (awesome); next, take a picture of your W-2 (where the "snap" part comes in); then, answer a few simple questions, review, and that's it! Consider yourself e-filed. No standing in lines, no paying an accountant... This app just saved you tons of time and money. Can't argue with that.

Even for those filing on their own for the first time this year and feeling a bit intimidated, don't worry -- TurboTax has your back. There are no more excuses for not being able to get your taxes done by the April 18 deadline!

Here's a short video to show you how the SnapTax app works:

Bubble Ball Bounces Its Way to the Top of the App Store

 

Watch out Angry Birds, there’s a new app in town. It may not be as aggressive as our feathered friends, but this new addictive creation is courtesy of Robert Nay, an eighth grader from Utah. It bounces, it slides, it glides down walls to reach your target flag... With its moving walls and weird angles, Bubble Ball relies heavily on the laws of physics, which, of course, we are all familiar with, right?

Bubble Ball is currently the #1 free app on Apple’s App Store list, knocking Angry Birds out of the pedastal and putting this bouncy ball at the top of everyone’s smart phone play list.

The fourteen-year-old creator, Nay, is something of a boy wonder. He taught himself how to use the mobile developing program to create the game, which he thought up after his friends challenged him to make a game of his own after seeing how much he enjoyed using his iPod touch. Since its release on just before the new year, its popularity has reached soaring heights, scoring more than 2 million downloads in just the past two weeks. But that’s just a start – apparently, playing games like Bubble Ball are good for your brain!

The app is currently free for the downloading, so get your physics mind in gear and be prepared to put your fingers (and brain) to the test!

The "Angry Birds" Obsession

Several times recently, when I've been interviewing celebrities at the YH Studio, I noticed them obsessively playing this game on their phones. That game turned out to be "Angry Birds". I had to try it out for myself, and I, along with about 50 million other people worldwide, understand the obsession.

"Angry Birds" isn’t just our new favorite past time -- it’s a phenomenon. Over the holidays, the app broke records with a million downloads a day! Your goal, as one of five birds with unique powers, is to be slingshot into evil pig territory in order to retrieve stolen eggs. You strategically knock down structures and destroy pigs to score points. As the levels grow harder, it also gets harder to restrain your index finger from doing the flinging motion, and the fact that there are 200 million minutes of "Angry Birds" played daily can attest to that.

The game was initially released back in December of 2009, and ever since then has been steadily soaring to the top of the mobile app gaming world. It's gotten so big that stuffed plush angry birds and pigs are flying off toy store shelves.

Even though most of us like it when the birds are angry, a new phenomenon just isn't complete without a viral video, in particular this one which was filmed by the Israeli version of SNL featuring a Peace Treaty between the birds and pigs -- but where is the fun in that?

It is a lot easier to understand the world’s obsession if you have given a go at the "Angry Birds", now available on multiple smart phone devices for your gaming pleasure.

Don't Leave the House Without Tripit!

We all know just how stressful traveling can be at times. There are so many different factors you have to consider, like plane tickets, lodging, rental cars, restaurants, leisure activities, and everything in between. Inevitably, something ends up getting overlooked. 

Well, let me introduce you guys to my new traveling buddy: Tripit.

All of the different traveling sites out there try to offer you kushy package deals that include transportation, hotels, etc., but how do you know you're actually getting the best deal out there? I for one like to keep my options open in order to score the best deal, and that is why Tripit is my go-to app for traveling and keeping organized. Tripit keeps all of your travel details in order and produces a master itinerary online, so no more carrying around a stapled paper book of all your plans while worrying about losing a piece a paper.  Your itinerary automatically includes maps, directions, and even the weather surrounding your trip, to help you plan your days more efficiently. You also have the option to add a bit of a personal touch with travel notes, pictures, and more. So, really, there is no reason to pull your hair out or silently curse that shyster travel agent anymore.

You can download the app for free, but if you are feeling a little more "first class", you can purchase TripitPro and take part in some of the bonuses, like knowing if your flight is going to be delayed or cancelled before you even get to the airport, or avoid being placed on hold for 20 minutes and have all of your frequent flyer account information conveniently at your fingertips.

Traveling should be an enjoyable occasion, guys, and Tripit aims to keep it that way. Definitely check it out before the next time you hit the road. I'll definitely be using it when I head to Vegas for CES next month!

Quora: What Do You Want To Know Today?

It’s the Information Age, guys, and you’re gonna know stuff whether you like it or not!

The Internet is more than just a haven for funny cat pictures and videos of people singing Beyonce tunes. The ‘Net is also the biggest library on the planet. Everything you could ever possibly want to know about any topic is just a click away. But, just like a real library, sometimes you have to jump from aisle to aisle in order to gather all the info you need on one subject. In steps Quora to help.

Using the combined talents of Google, Yahoo! Answers, and Wikipedia, Quora has created what they hope to be a one-stop shopping experience for Internet information. It works like this: First of all, you have to register (for free), and you HAVE to identify yourself – no anonymous trolling here. Then, you can browse and follow certain topics that interest you the most. Under each topic are questions that other users have submitted, which are open to any other registered user to answer, which you can vote on to keep the best information near the top. It’s an information-sharing community, built on the topics YOU want to discuss.

And because everyone has to be truthful about their identity, the info that’s offered holds way more weight. For example, if someone asks a question about all the latest trends in Hollywood right now, an answer from yours truly, the CEO of Young Hollywood, would be considered totally credible!

This site is poised to become the next big go-to portal for Internet searches. Sign up now and check it out!

Xtranormal Makes Animation Accessible

If you’ve ever sat through a movie and thought to yourself, “Self, I should make movies,” then you definitely need to check out Xtranormal.com.

This amazingly innovative Website can provide you with the tools you need in order to put your creative ideas in motion. And, folks, there is no time other than now to take advantage and get involved. All you need is the ability to type and a little imagination. After picking a set and choosing characters, your movie is already well on its way. You can use the site to help with school projects, storyboarding films, greeting e-cards, or just plain entertainment. Once you have a finished your movie, you can post it to other sites like YouTube or Facebook and share your brilliance with the world!

With over 9 million projects created so far – ranging from Obama spoofs to scary movies and even cuddly animals carrying on conversations about acting – there is not much that this site can’t do to assure you a great animated project. Everyone needs a creative outlet, so plug into Xtranormal!

Dashfour: iPad’s Social Community Solution

Good news for us iPad users looking for a way to connect with our city and the people around us…

After Foursquare took over mobile phones everywhere, the iPad was feeling a little left out, but now it can get in on the action with DashFour, the social city guide application Foursquare built just for the iPad. 

To get and keep us connected to our community, Dashfour delivers detailed maps of streets and different venues that we come across daily.  Basically, all the same great stuff that Foursquare offers for the smartphones. The fun of checking-in, telling your friends where you are, and becoming Mayor is here to stay, and it’s easy to use.

Check it out!

Gotta GetGlue!

If you love social networking and want to take it a step farther than Facebook, you ought to give GetGlue a try.

I recently discovered this site, and it’s bound to be the next social addiction. It's a network strictly for entertainment – certainly right up my alley! A cross between Facebook and Netflix, GetGlue allows you to see what your friends are reading, watching, and listening to. You can rate books, movies, and music to get suggestions on what’s new (or even not so new) that you should check out. Who knows better than your friends, after all, right?

With awesome apps for smartphones and the iPad, GetGlue keeps you connected no matter where you are. And the best part is that you can win free stuff from the site's partners.

So, if you need a break from playing Farmville and Mafia Wars, head over to GetGlue and start finding new ways to entertain yourself!

iPad Only Gets Cooler with New Flipboard App

As if iPad couldn’t be any more ahead of the game, they go and unleash the amazing Flipboard on the world.

Flipboard for iPad brings all your favorite online content together and forms a personalized “magazine” that you can flip through to get all the latest updates from your friends on Facebook and Twitter, links and photos they have shared, articles from your favorite news sites, feeds from blogs, etc, etc. The app is able to organize all this content into different sections (just like a magazine) that you can browse through, keeping you updated on EVERYTHING that is going on in your social networking world, all in one convenient location!

The best part about Flipboard? It’s totally free. So, if you are an iPad owner, you MUST download this now!

But first, check out this informative video about Flipboard:

And be sure to visit the Young Hollywood section in your Flipboard mag!