New Technology 2012 – Most Anticipated this New Year

19 DECEMBER 2011 5 COMMENTS

As we gracefully welcome the New Year, we are also looking forward to a number of new innovations and advancements in technology like we do year-after-year. Technology is one thing that has never witnessed its core end or the ultimate satisfaction. Everybody wants more and more in the upcoming years. Talk to a geek and you will realize how restless he is to know “What is next”.

So what is next? Just like the recent past years, 2012 seems to be yet another promising tech year. Though many of these technologies may not have come up with a promised release date, they are the definite ones to emerge as upcoming gadgets for our new year. Here are few of the most anticipated and rumored gadgets for 2012.

The iPhone 5 and its Rumors

Rumored picture of the iPhone 5 (may not be accurate)

The iPhone 4S emerged at an event when the iPhone 5 was gestated. Though there could have hardly been any regrets, it was like expecting to see the queen and finally ending up meeting her minister. However, the iPhone 5 is still on the cards and is strongly rumored to be released in the mid of 2012. Some even believe that the delay is for the good and the greater the time Apple consumes, the better is their chances of coming out with a great product. Now let’s see some of the strongest rumors revolving around the iPhone 5.

To start with, the device is expected to feature a larger screen (probably 5-inch) and a completely new design and a new casing. As usual, they will be rich, tempting and would live up to what Apple is always known for its superiority. Based on the mobile phone chip developments so far, it can be incurred that the iPhone 5 would be debuting with its quad-core 5 processor (could be called Apple A6).

It cannot be too long before the Apple announces its version of 4G mobile phone. So this could be seen in the iPhone 5. Other rumors say that the new iPhone could be released in two variants – iPhone 5 and iPhone 5 pro. Predictors also say that the iPhone 5 could ship its glass from Wintek, the touch panel vendor. The phone is more likely to be available in white and black. Following the iPad 2, the iPhone is likely to have a full HD support. The new device will also get more memory, more storage and a faster processor. It is more likely to have the A5 processor of the iPad 2 which is a dual-core processor. With a new antenna, the iPhone 5 may also feature a 16 GB or 32 GB storage.

The iPad 3′s Rumor bag has been full as well

Concept of the iPad 3 (may not be accurate)

After the runaway success of the iPad1 and iPad2, a lot of expectations have arisen for the iPad 3. The iPad 3 definitely cannot go wrong and so here is the collection of its possible specifications.
To begin with, the iPad 3 might feature a new quad core ARM-based processor – the A6. It is wildly predicted that the new device might feature a retina display especially with Apple regularly testing the 2048 x 1536 (9.7 inch) display from the Samsung and LG models. In the mid November of 2012, there have been more rumors on the new tablet that it might feature a dual-LED light bar technology due to its super-high-pixel density.

One tasty rumor that is also exciting to know about is the suggestion that iPad3 might boast NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to take on the Mac devices nearby. This technology allows users to share and transfer data just by the flick of the wrist. Another expected specification of the iPad 3 suggests that it could feature more storage capacity with its added 128 GB flash storage option.

The thunderbolt port in the 2011 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is very popular for its astonishing speeds as it could also be included in the new iPad. This is a welcome move especially after the absence of a USB port in the first two generations of iPads. Just like the iPhone 5, the iPad 3 is also rumored to feature a 4G Qualcomm Gobi 4000 chip LTE next-gen connectivity.

Other familiar rumors:

The device could be bulkier owing to its higher resolution display.
The making of the new iPad could be assisted by other companies other than the Foxcomm. It could be the Pegatron Technology or the Quanta computers.
The new device could be using a separate adapter to detect camera cards and flash drives.
Gesture controls could be featured.
The device could feature a light weight carbon fiber case specially designed by Kevin Kenney, senior composites engineer at Apple Inc. and President at Kevin Kenney & Associates LLC.

The Dell Peju Windows 8 Tablet

Dell Peju windows 8 revealed pic (may not be accurate)

This is another exciting technology prospect waiting for 2012. Microsoft’s long-time close association with Dell is yet again showing its worth with its new windows tablet. The all new Dell Peju Windows 8 tablet promises to be yet another thumps up to the tablet world.

Rumored Specifications

Windows 7 pro operating system is also compatible with Windows 8
CPU features an Intel Core i5 processor
5 megapixel back camera and 1.3 mega pixel front camera
10.1 inch wide-angle display
Slots or ports with support for two USB, HDMI, audio, Mini VGA, microSD and 3GSIM
5500 mAh battery that supports 6-8 hours battery backups
4GB memory card
Storage capacity of 64-GB or 120-GB SSD
Connectivity : Bluetooth, 4G, 3G, WiFi with b/g
Input systems : Bluetooth, USB keyboard, Stylus and Touch

The Windows 8 and the Speculations Around it

Windows 8 (may not be accurate)

For many years, windows operating system has been the most-widely used OS. Especially after the wonderful success of Windows 7, there have been more speculations of the Windows 8. With a new user interface and app store, Windows 8 offers a lot of new features.

Let us now make an overview of these features.

Supports both ARM tablets and x86 PCs
The ‘Windows To Go’ feature is exciting as it allows the OS to be booted from a USB device along with a user’s personal settings and preferences.
The popular operating system will be introducing their Windows Store, which they claim will even challenge the Apple store. Many kinds of windows app are expected in the market.
Simple, yet interactive user interface and one of the best, the OS has ever witnessed.
Windows Defender will allow you to surf the internet with utmost and latest security standards.
Internet Explorer 10 promises better HTML 5, CSS 3 and hardware acceleration thereby giving the best web browsing experience.
Offers faster booting when you turn on the PC. Thanks to the Protogon file system.
Better management system and resource handling would help you work with less than 300 MB RAM capacity.
The OS can be used in any platform like mobile phones, tablets, laptops and personal computers.

2012 will Share its Fun with Gamers Too with the Release of the PlayStation Vita

PlayStation Vita.

Sony’s new handheld powerhouse gaming device is expected to be released in February 2012. The device may be released in two versions – one supporting WiFi and the other with WiFi + 3G. This handheld gadget is packed with features and is also expected to be an affordable one. Some of the reported specifications are as follows:

Quad-core processor
5-inch OLED touch screen
dual analog sticks and dual cameras
rear touch panel

With the emerging gaming mobile devices, it is very difficult to predict the future of these gaming devices. But Sony has always done well with gadgets like the Nintendo (that has dominated the world of gaming portable devices for a long time).

Cannon’s new high-end digital camera: could be the successor of EOS – 1D

Canon EOS 1D.

Much to the delight of shooters around, Cannon may release its new digital photo machine that could be the successor of the tremendously popular EOS-1D. Rumors suggest that the camera might be released in March 2012 and will boast the following features:

18MP sensor
Full 61 focus points
Sensitivity range of ISO100-51200
A fixed LCD
24-70mm lens casting

Cannon is also expected to release its new SLR lens, a new compact video camera with 3 new innovative lenses and a new PIXMA printer in 2012.

Apple’s Entry into the Television market may be due in 2012

Analysts now strongly predict that Apple might make its debut to the television world in 2012. Though nothing much is known about the Apple’s HDTV a collection of rich rumors suggests that the new TV’s screen could be supplied by Sharp. Whether the new TV will feature 3D technology or what could be the price range is all out for everybody’s guess. One interesting and wild rumor, points out that Apple could follow the technology that is used in the iPhone 4S’s Siri. Yes, that would mean you will be able to control your television through voice commands. Again, this technology would be a threatening competition to
Microsoft’s Kinect that allows voice commands for its Xbox on a TV.

At present, how much rumors are true and fake is left to your stretch of imagination.
As Henry David Thoreau, an American author and poet, points out, “Men have become the tools of their tools”. Be it a strong speculation or an officially announced information, the 2012 seems to be a fun-filled year for the geeks.

The Ultimate Guide to Google Knol: 50+ Tips and Tricks

Like Wikipedia without the anonymity, Google Knol is turning into an excellent resource for both researchers and experts alike. It offers information consumers a platform for finding encyclopedia-like articles written by experts, and a place for these experts to write said articles. Read on to learn how you can make the most of this useful new tool.

Research

If you’re on the hunt for high-quality information, follow these tips to find the best.

1. Read biographies: If you’re looking for authoritative information, check out a knol writer’s biography to determine how qualified they are to write about the topic.
2. Use ratings: Let other readers know when you’ve found a good resource, or something you can’t use at all by taking advanage of the ratings system on Google Knol.
3. Follow Google’s guidelines for searching: Read the search toolkit to get good ideas for finding the information you’re looking for.
4. Write a review: Jut like ratings, reviews on Google Knol will help bring the best pieces of knowledge to the top.
5. Read the comments: You can often find additional helpful information and resources by reading the comments at the bottom of a knol.
6. Search on Google: For the broadest results, don’t search through Google Knol-just go to regular Google Search instead.
7. Use Knol like a scholarly journal: Don’t be afraid to cite knols. Use them just like you would an article in a journal.
8. Look for peer reviews: Some of the best knols will offer more authority with peer review comments.
9. Respect the author’s copyright: Pay attention to the license that the author has granted, which is most often Creative Commons with attribution.
10. Look for collaboration groups: Groups that contribute articles together tend to offer more authority than individual authors.
11. Suggest new information: If you have useful information that an author hasn’t included, help them out and share your knowledge.
12. Check out the author’s credentials: Go beyond the biography and verify that the author possesses the knowledge that they profess.
13. Use it as a jumping-off point: Read Google Knol articles to find links to additional resources for research.
14. Take advantage of searchable full text: If you’re looking for specific information inside of a knol, just search the text to find what you need.

Writing

Here you’ll find a number of tips for writing good knols.

15. Update your articles: If you’ve found new information, update your knol so that it stays relevant and useful.
16. Focus on a specific niche: The broader your topic, the bigger your competition will be, so write about a niche topic.
17. Claim your content: Protect yourself from users that might steal your content and post it to Google Knol by preemptively creating a copy yourself.
18. Consider Google’s search guidelines when you’re writing: Check out Google’s search toolkit to plan keywords and phrases that your knol will be found with.
19. Place important links high in your content: Create prominent links to the sites you want knol visitors to click on.
20. Write well: This should be obvious, but your work will be much more respected if you pay attention to grammar, spelling, and staying on-topic.
21. Don’t plan for constant updates: If the topic you want to write about is better suited for a blog that can be updated on a regular basis, write a blog instead.
22. Carefully place important words and phrases: Give important words and phrases prominence by placing them at the beginning or end of sentences.
23. Speed things up by importing knols: Google Knol offers the option to import knols from documents that already exist on your computer.
24. Voice your opinion: Share your opinion-just be sure to explain why you feel that way.
25. Don’t be spammy: Write a knol with real, helpful information instead of teasers and sales pitches.
26. Find out what works: Look at past featured knols to see what Google and Knol users are looking for.
27. Don’t stop with just one knol: Write as many knols as you want about different subjects-they’ll all be linked to your name.
28. Pay attention to your titles: Think hard about what you’d like to assign for your titles, because they play a big part in whether or not people will visit your knol.
29. Offer lots of details: Knol readers are looking for authoritative content on a subject, so don’t be afraid to share everything you know.
30. Write for various levels of expertise: Your audience is bound to be varied, so write in a way that will appeal to most readers.

Authority

These tips offer ideas for making your knols more trustworthy and authoritative.

31. Use it to gain authority in your field: By writing a knol, you can be recognized for your expertise.
32. Write a biography: Google Knol will require that you create a biography, but make sure that you’re filling out an adequate one to pique interest and further cement your status as an authority.
33. Provide references: Use proper citation in the knols you write.
34. Do a name verification: Add to your trust factor by verifying that you are who you say you are.
35. Consciously create a table of contents: Be aware of how you assign headings to create your table of contents.
36. Avoid conversational writing: Knols are meant to be authoritative sources, so use a more formal tone.
37. Create a knol about yourself: Take your biography a step further and make a knol about yourself.
38. Join a collaboration group: Give yourself more authority by joining a collaboration group or creating one yourself.
39. Seek out reviews and references: Your knols become more trustworthy and authoritative with the more support you have, so be sure to ask your friends and colleagues to offer comments and additional information.
40. Invite other experts: Ask other authors to contribute to your knol to make it a better resource.

Design

Follow these tips to make your knols easier to read and more visually appealing.

41. Use New Yorker cartoons to add interest: The New Yorker grants authors the use of one cartoon from the magazine per article.
42. Use pictures: Upload pictures, and you’ll add some autheniticity to your knol.
43. Keep things short: Be concise in your writing for better readability.
44. Use HTML: You can take advantage of HTML formatting in knols to include formatting, images, tables, and more.
45. Use lots of paragraphs: Be sure to break up your writing into small, digestable chunks.
46. Write scannable information: Use lists and formatting to make your information easier for readers to process.
47. Make use of ordered lists: Bolded and numbered lines make your text easier for readers to understand.
48. Use visual aids: Google Knol encourages images, tables, and HTML help to make your knol look more appealing to readers.

Community

Use these tips to make use of Google Knol’s community tools.

50. Consider editing permissions carefully: Choose whether you’d like to allow your knol to be edited by the public, co-authors, or only yourself.
51. Use your AdSense Account: Link knols you’ve written to your AdSense account to earn money from the articles you’ve contributed.
52. Add a link to your website: Earn some Google juice from your knol by putting a website link in there.
53. Be careful about open moderation: If you’re choosing to leave your knol open to public moderation, keep an eye out for spammers.
54. Avoid writing spam: Google prohibits content that is designed only to promote businesses, products, and services.

14 Retro Arcade Games to Power up Your Brain

We’re consistently being told of ways in which we can improve our mind and our overall intelligence. One of the most common ways in which we’re told we can do this, is to regularly exercise your brain. By maintaining positive mental stimulation, it’s quite possible to prevent cognitive decline and to enhance one’s own “brain power”. Just as regular physical exercise can maintain your overall fitness in body, so can regular mental exercise maintain your overall fitness in mind. Some ways in which your mind can improve are linked to (but not limited to) the following things.

• Spatial-Temporal Reasoning: Also commonly called Spatial Awareness, this refers to the general awareness of one’s environment, be it a physical one or an environment of data. It is the ability to visualize patterns of a sort and to be able to mentally sort and process them. Simply put, it can refer to an awareness of things around us.
• Hand-eye Coordination: This is the extent to which a given person has the ability to properly coordinate their motor functions with what they can see with their eyes. Essentially the relationship their eyes share with their “hands”, neglecting practice of this cognitive function can eventually lead to mal-coordination, as a person may not be used to coordinating in a certain manner. However, this skill is fairly easy to practice, as we use it in everyday activities.
• Reaction Time: The time it takes for a subject to display a response to some sort of sensory stimulus, or basically the time it takes for you to react to something you see/hear/taste it, etc. Jedi were shown to exhibit such heightened aspects of this ability, that they appear superhuman.
• Pattern Recognition: Whilst also the title of a William Gibson book, it refers to the ability to identify patterns (much as the name suggests) and respond accordingly. Pattern recognition is broken down into subsections, but you’ll mainly want to be focusing on the feature analysis category, which is the brain’s ability to break down and process stimuli, and can essentially be linked into all the other cognitive functions discussed here.

Listed below are several retro games that could – at one time or another – be found in the video game arcades that are now mainly consigned to our childhood dreams of nostalgia. So here they are, each in their own way uniquely capturing the zeitgeist of the time they were created.

1. Pac-Man: Commonly thought to have originated from a pizza with a slice missing, creatorToru Iwatani has said that this is only partly true and that the idea also came from the combination of the Japanese character for “mouth” and the slang word for the opening and closing of the mouth – “paku paku”. As many will know, this game features the player controlling the eponymous yellow guy, evading ghosts whilst simultaneously eating lots of dots (as well as the occasional fruit and power pill). The game required good spatial awareness to avoid the ghosts, and a reasonable ability to be able to work your way through the mazes at the same time.
2. Asteroids: A game so popular that video arcade owners had to alter the machines to be able to accommodate the number of quarters people were putting into them. This game placed you in control of a space ship that could rotate and move forwards, and fire directly in front of itself. Your mission was to destroy the on-screen asteroids, with each shot making them split into consecutively smaller asteroids that would increase in speed. Occasionally, one of two varieties of enemy space ship would appear in an attempt to hinder your progress. As there was a constant onslaught of moving objects that proved to be a threat to your craft, coupled with the ability to move your ship, it would seem that players would require a good degree of spatial awareness, along with being able to effectively judge the momentum of the player vehicle in accordance with the movements of the asteroids themselves.
3. Marble Madness: One of those games that a lot of people found incredibly frustrating while others completed them in something silly like 3 minutes, Marble Madness is nevertheless a classic staple of arcade history. So popular that the arcade cabinets became expensive to maintain due to the controller (a trackball which required spinning to make the in-game marble move) wearing out and having to be replaced after excessive use. Requiring good mental dexterity, along with quick reflexes (to dodge those annoying grey marble guys, amongst other obstacles), and the willingness to practice until you weren’t embarrassed by your lack of skill, Marble Madness is certainly to exert some sort of workout on your brain.
4. Ikari Warriors A classic that introduced the rotary joystick, allowing players to rotate and fire at the same time. This shoot-‘em-up saw players take control of one of two commando-types and wage a one (or two) man war against army of perhaps the mostbizarre final bosses in arcade history. Good reflexes, spatial awareness and a whole lot of quarters were required to overcome the challenges posed by this game.
5. Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins: A simple premise: Control protagonist Arthur, defeat demons, rescue the princess, experience side-scrolling action. This game has reached legendary status as being perhaps the most difficult (and frustrating) arcade game in history, not just because it was hard, but also because upon beating the final boss, you were then informed you’d have to do the whole game all over again. Nice. You’d need to employ all mental faculties at your disposal and prepare for a serious workout, as well as having an almost god-like ability to withstand frustation. If you can survive 10 minutes of this game without shouting expletives, then you have the strength of mind to hold your own in any difficult situation.
6. Klax: Klax’s mental benefits are obvious; it’s a simple puzzle game using colored blocks. The aim of the game is to match up the blocks in rows or columns of three or more similar colors, causing them to disappear and points to be awarded. As with most block-related games, it seems likely that regular participants of the Klax game would start to experience symptoms of the Tetris Effect.
7. Centipede: A shooting game that took place from a vertical point of view, the aim was to destroy a centipede creature that wormed its way all over the screen by shooting it. Gradually the screen filled up with mushrooms whilst at the same time you had to take on incoming swarms of insects. Strategic planning and a certain amount of cunning, combined with judging where the centipede and/or mushrooms would appear next were all needed to best the many-legged foe in battle.
8. Arkanoid: Similar to Breakout but more awesome and in space, this classic even has amodern remake in the works. All you have to do is control a paddle at the bottom of the screen and bounce a ball in a given number of colored blocks in the top segment of the playing field. This requires a high level of hand-eye coordination, as missing the ball with the paddle will result in the game being well and truly over.
9. Frogger: The game in which you control a loveable little frog and have to guide him to safety across various perils (including cars and a river of floating logs). The objective seems simple enough, but if you falter in concentration, you may inadvertently find your frog on the underside of a truck.
10. Donkey Kong: So-called because the creator thought that “donkey” was another word for “stupid” and that “kong” evoked imagine of large ape King Kong, this is the original game to star this Nintendo staple character, along with the ever-popular Mario. In this game, you had to jump over barrels to reach the princess and defeat the irritating titular character. So much jumping was involved, that Mario was nearly called Jumpman for precisely that reason. Players must use skill and timing to avoid the barrels and navigate the oddly-placed scenery.
11. Gauntlet: One of the original cooperative games that caused you to get incredibly angry at the friends you played it with. If the announcer’s cry “Elf shot the food!” doesn’t invoke either feelings of fear (because you were the Elf that had just shot the food) or of rage (as you witness a hapless Elf shoot your chance for more health), then you quite clearly missed out on this arcade gem. Guiding your band of fighters around a seemingly endless selection of mazes would indeed require a great deal of spatial awareness (especially when on the lookout for that persistent Death character), and a whole host of strategy-related brain skills, not to mention endurance if you were trying to survive for any length of time.
12. Contra: Also cited as one of the hardest (read: most brain-challenging) games ever made, this run-and-gun shoot ‘em up was almost impossible to beat without the life-giving cheat code and even then it was hard enough to finish. Requiring superhuman levels of brain activity, this is the ultimate workout, mental and physical alike.
13. Bomberman: It spawned many sequels and spinoffs, yet always remained a strategic game in which you controlled a guy (or sometimes a girl, or even a “thing”) that can drop bombs in order to dispose of obstacles and enemies alike, you needed to be a quick-thinker and a master planner to get to the very end. A common problem was suddenly realizing you’d blocked yourself in an inescapable situation by using your own bombs!
14. Gain Ground: Combining strategy and action in a surprisingly unique and challenging way, featuring an extensive cast and many strategic combinations, Gain Ground will certainly challenge the player through all 50 of its levels. Requiring a sharp mind, spatial awareness, good player selection and a pile of quarters, this would be a humbling experience for many out there.

How to Make a Killer Lesson Plan

Even if you’ve been teaching the same subject for several years, it’s a good idea to add in a new lesson plan once in a while to keep your class current and exciting. It can be easy for teachers to fall into a rut and just pull out the same exams and projects as last year, but teachers need stimulation just as much as their students do, so creating new lesson plans can help you learn along with your kids. The Internet is full of terrific resources for making lesson plans, whether you want to incorporate technology into your project or not. Start out by browsing teacher websites and blogs that let you search by subject, and you can find inspiring ideas, printable worksheets and more.

Before you start designing a lesson plan, write down a list of objectives, or what you want your students to learn from the project at the end of the day. Even if you decide to get really creative and bring in a lot of outside resources and ideas, you will want your lesson to eventually tie in to the unit you’ve been working on. After you’ve cleared up your objectives, set up a time table for the plan. Will it last several days or just half the period? Allowing enough — but not too much — time will help you make the right impression on the students.

Depending on your students, you may find that it’s a good idea to incorporate different subjects or medium into the lesson plan. For instance, if you have older students, you could design your lesson around a current news story or use a celebrity or popular song as a way to make your lesson more tangible and more relevant to their lives. To make

Introducing new medium and technology into the lesson plan is also a good idea, no matter what age your students are. There are a number of creative resources out there for teachers with varying levels of technology experience. If you want to use a song, for example, don’t just print out the lyrics: bring in a CD player and actually play the song. A lot of teachers also use PowerPoint to make their lessons or display class notes in a more attractive manner that helps students perk up and pay attention. You may also want to start up a class blog or website to let your students connect with other classes in your area or around the world, as part of an ongoing project. Using technology in the classroom keeps students actively engaged and gives them the opportunity to practice the skills that will be indispensable to them in the workforce. Depending on your class age group, you may find that your students are more advanced when using technology than you, so be sure to pick computer games and technology systems that are challenging for them but also manageable for you.

Shortcut to Becoming a Literary Genius

It’s often thought that there are three different types of learning style around today, and these are commonly said to be learning by listening, seeing and by experience (touching or doing). Obviously if you can combine more than one aspect of this way of learning, then whatever the information that a person is trying to learn, will stick to mind a lot better than if – for example – the information was only read, rather than read and then learnt further through experience. The point is, is that the more stimuli that occur during learning, the easier a thing is to learn.

In the classroom, studying from texts and literature is one method of learning (the seeing method), but if you can listen and see, wont that be a lot more beneficial? So in order to aid anyone in need of a better understanding of several classic and modern texts, here is a compilation movie greats (and some maybe not-so-greats) that may further your understanding of some of the literary works of art of our time!

(As a note: it would have been great to include a “doing” learning aspect to help with literature, but generally if you’re not part of a historical reenactment or role-play society, then “doing” is quite hard to achieve!)

Shakespeare

1. Starting out with arguably one of the greatest writers of all time, William Shakespearehas had a great many of his works translated to the silver screen, both in the English language and in many other languages, for almost as long as there has been television to host it. There will also come a time in most of our lives when we have to study a work of Shakespeare in the classroom, so here is a list of some of the more accessible and popular Shakespeare plays, albeit in movie form!
2. The Merchant of Venice: This particular version of The Merchant of Venice is the 2004 movie, starring Al Pacino as Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, and Jeremy Irons as Antonio, the hapless tradesman locked into a brutal deal, as they engage in a battle of wits to see who comes out on top!
3. Romeo and Juliet: This is director Baz Luhrmann’s critically-acclaimed modernization of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danesfilling the title roles, this tale of star-crossed lovers has never been more exciting, nor more brutal than it was here.
4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Shakespeare’s summery tale of lovers (and their love) gone awry is brought to life with a stunning cast headed by Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer. Now with extra donkey ears!
5. Richard III: The Bard’s take on the murderous antics of the would-be successor to the English throne are here rendered in a brutal fashion by acting master Sir Ian McKellen.
6. King Lear: Sir Laurence Olivier plays the titular King Lear in this 1983 cinematic masterpiece. A king plunges his kingdom into turmoil as he hands his lands (and associated powers) over to his two corrupt daughters, whilst neglecting his third, honest daughter.
7. Othello: With veteran actor Laurence Fishburne as the eponymous Othello, a man betrayed by the monstrous Iago, who was merely posing as his friend for his own inscrutable purposes, this is one tale of jealousy and rage that should not be missed!

Classic Fiction

Whilst Shakespeare is an incredibly important mainstay of classic literature, there were many others that came both before and after him, and we’d do our best not to forget those creative geniuses that helped forge the way we perceive the written word today.

8. Leo Tolstoy: A popular author of the late 19th century, Tolstoy is accredited as to having written the book-forms of Anne Karenina – The story of a woman who follows her heart and has an affair with a handsome count, and War and Peace – A tale of love in a time of warfare in Russia during the time when Napoleon’s forces were in control of most of Europe.
9. John Steinbeck: His original work – The Grapes of Wrath – was published in 1939, and was deemed a classic of its era. The film version of this tale of poor farmers moving on to seek their fortune elsewhere, has been brought to life by talented director John Ford, shortly after the book’s publishing (the film was released a year later in 1940).
10. Alexandre Dumas: Here is a French writer known famously for his historical novels, one of which was the world-renowned Three Musketeers book which has since also been made into many films. This particular film version stars Chris O’Donnell as D’Artagnan, a man desperate to join the King’s Musketeers along with the help of his Musketeer friends: Aramis, Athos and Porthos.
11. Mark Twain: Is one of those quintessentially American authors whose name is recognized the world over! His novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has been hailed as the “Great American Novel” and symbolizes the spirit of life in the US. The Disney version of The Adventures of Huck Finn, stars a young Elijah Wood as the rogue-ish hero of the story.
12. Harper Lee: The Pulitzer-Prize winning authoress’ only major work, To Kill a Mockingbirdwas successfully converted to a movie in the 60s, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, the lawyer who agrees to defend a young black man who stands accused of raping a white woman in a racially divided town. Check it out here!

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Even the greatest of minds need a little distraction from the commonplace and the mundane. Hopefully this last list will provide just that, and will also help out if any of the authors below are the topic of any studies!

13. Isaac Asimov: One of the most prolific writers of his time – having written around 500 books – Asimov’s source material is responsible for quite a few Hollywood movies, withBicentennial Man, the Robin Williams-starring story of a robot that longs to become human. The recent Will Smith blockbuster I, Robot was also based on one of Asimov’s stories, and introduced us to the 3 Laws of Robotics.
14. Philip K Dick: He gave us the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which was the inspiration for the Harrison Ford-led movie of humans-hunting-robots sci-fi classicBlade Runner, which has recently been released as a Final Cut Edition. The Tom Cruiseblockbuster Minority Report was also based loosely on the Dick novel of the same name.
15. George Orwell: Active during the first half of the 20th century, Orwell gave us the literary great 1984, a tale of paranoia and desperation in a dystopian version of what – at the time of writing – was a bleak future. The year 1984 also heralded a new version of thefilm, which has been seen as essential viewing by critics.
16. Aldous Huxley: Writing at the same time as Orwell, Huxley also had a penchant for the dystopian view of things. His novel Brave New World was set in a future were everything (including citizens) is engineered to be a certain way, nothing is accidental and everything is planned. The movie version even has Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy as one of the main characters.
17. William Gibson: Whilst being the pioneering SF writer that gave us the term cyberspaceand the fantastic literary masterpiece that inspired the Matrix trilogy: Neuromancer, Gibson has also had works transcribed to the Big Screen in the form of his short storyJohnny Mnemonic, which was made into the Keanu Reeves movie of the same name.