1. Google Chat
Even though it's virtually impossible to tell when someone is messaging you via Google Chat when you've just got Gmail hanging out somewhere in the background, it's still pretty awesome that Google put this contraption out. Not only is it another reason for your grandmother to feel computer illiterate, but it also lets you accuse your friends whom Gmail didn't arbitrarily bless with the chat function feel like a freaking luddite. Plus, the thing logs every little weird chat that you have, ever, so you can finally do something with those 928,483 megabytes of storage you've got kicking around. Amazing.
2. Utz Party Mix
In the realm of cheap vending machine snacks, there is no equal to the Utz brand Party Mix. There's no messing around - just blatant rip-offs of Frito-Lay ships. You got your fake Cheetos, fake Doritos, fake weird things that could be anything, and then a bunch of pretzels, all mixed in with a nondescript powder of some sort. With all this mystery, it's indeed questionable how it could be so tasty. But trust us on this, even when you're not drunk.
3. Sweet podcasts
Podcasting is totally the wave of the future! As if it weren't already blatantly obvious that Apple is taking over the world in the best way possible, podcasting is up there with blogging as the sweetest function to hit the Internet since AOL Instant Messenger. Why more people don't submit ridiculous podcasts more often is straight up ridiculous. These are also a vital resource for our AU comrades studying abroad who want to feel connected to news and music from the home front. From the "Sound of the Day" guy to The Onion Radio to NPR's "All Songs Considered" to your little brother's techno band or your ex-boyfriend's mix tape and everything in between - podcasting rules!! Yeah!!
4. Roll Deep
First of all, young prodigy Dizzee Rascal is this posse's spawn. Second of all, their single, "The Avenue," was all over the London airwaves this summer and rightly so. It samples The Maisonettes' classic "Heartache Avenue" in such a way that you swear you've never heard it before, let alone from some East London Grime rappers. Roll Deep make such irresistibly danceable party music without being grossly poppy or obnoxiously earnest that it actually hurts. Another single, "Shake A Leg," is just so infectious that you can't even handle it. No, really.
5. Mac Virus
Evidently someone finally figured out how to make a virus that would have the slightest impact on Mac users. So what sort of havoc will this wreak on your iBook? Well, apparently it only affects users of iChat, and the breadth of its impact is "messing up your buddy list." This is hardly the devastating offense that PC users lose sleep over every night. Just another example of Apple computers being wildly superior to everything, ever. Someone finally makes a virus and it's totally whack. A hit!
-Compiled by the Scene staff.
