Friday Linkapalooza - 04/04/2014

CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft is releasing its version of Apple's Siri, a “personal digital assistant” they have named Cortana. Learn a little more about Cortana here.

WhatsApp, recently acquired by Facebook—we blogged about the app last month—sent a hard-to-believe 64 billion messages in a single day.

Amazon has officially entered the TV box market, releasing Amazon Fire TV this week. Here is a recent review of the Amazon Fire.

CURRENT EVENTS

Turkey has lifted its ban on Twitter, but YouTube is now blocked.

A new technology may help US soldiers by hiding their body heat from enemy detection.

The European Union Parlaiment has voted overwhelmingly in favor of net neutrality.

HUMAN INTEREST

A very clever teenager instructs the government that changing fonts will save millions in printing costs.

The Web got all kinds of excited over a viral video about a waitress experiencing potentially the best April Fool’s prank ever:

The cast of the Australian production of The Lion King recently surprised their fellow passengers with an impromptu performance of “The Circle of Life”:

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Medical engineers have created a kind of temporary, artificial skin “that can store data and deliver drugs”. So cool!

Dr. Cole Galloway is trying to help young children with disabilities be more mobile. Check out the video:

Surgeons successfully implanted the first 3D printed skull in a woman, helping relieve her crippling headaches.

ARTS AND CULTURE

American photographer Harry Whittier Frees (1879-1953) took amusing photos of cats and dogs in adorable—and human—situations.

Take a look at this really fabulous video artwork made by San Franciso-based artist Jim Campbell.

Pixar demonstrates Presto, their amazing computer animation system:
http://vimeo.com/90687696

JUST FOR FUN

A dog whose best friend is his toddler. It doesn’t get any better than this: