The Amazon Whisperer, Scroogled Stocking Stuffers, The Fate of Airplane Mode & More

Inside the World of 4D Prenatal Scans The Verge's Trent Wolbe writes that when he first saw a 4D prenatal scan of his unborn child, he (almost) became the kind of person that believed in God. Thanks to GE, a Voluson E8 scanner that captures fetal development in insane detail is now available to soon-to-be parents everywhere. Unlike the more common 3D ultrasound scans, 4D adds the element of time -- your baby can now be seen moving, and doing her thing in real-time, without the lag that comes from the computer constructing an image. The machine uses an ultrasound wand that helps docs find problems before they become anything bigger -- and also get moms and dads teary-eyed while looking at the actual first-ever photographer of their tiny human. Also, Tom Cruise has one. Read on for an in-depth account of Wolbe's experience. Siri, Enter 'Zen' Mode Now that the FAA has lifted the ban on using electronic devices inside planes during taxi, takeoff and landing, it might only be a matter of time until gadget use is entirely allowed. Which means: No more airplane mode. So what will Apple call that handy little function instead? The Atlantic has some ideas, including "Zen" mode, "Freedom" mode and "Windows phone." Knowing What People Want, Then Making it Happen Fast Company calls Chaim Pikarski, the man behind a company called C&A Marketing, "The Amazon Whisperer." It's an apt name for guy who is behind the many random products from unknown manufacturers available on Amazon that seem to always be exactly what you need. That's because C&A Marketing operates as a listening post and data company that figures out what people really want (you may like those headphones, but wish the cord was longer) then gets a company in China to make it. The Silicon Valley Space Race Move over, NASA. Silicon Valley's rich are moving to the forefront of race into space, reports PBS Newshour. And if you have the desire to head into space, you have lots of choice: From Virgin's Virgin Galactic ($250,000 for a two-and-a-half-hour ride) to Moon Express (an unmanned mission to the moon for about $50 million). Just make sure your pockets are deep, and be prepared for the risk of failure. Microsoft Has Stocking Stuffers for You! That is, if you like being a walking billboard for that company's ongoing anti-Google campaign, "Scroogled," which AdAge reported earlier was actually working quite well. Microsoft has devoted an entire section of its online store to mugs, hats and t-shirts emblazoned with anti-Google messaging: "Keep calm while we steal your data," for example. (On a mug, only $7.99.)

The Amazon Whisperer, Scroogled Stocking Stuffers, The Fate of Airplane Mode & More

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