Digital Trends’ top 5 viral videos for December 31, 2010

By Ryan Fleming December 31, 2010

We are back with a new selection of videos to tickle your fancy. These videos are not all from this week, but they all made us laugh or caused our jaws to drop recently. Enjoy!

No top 5 videos next week due to our ongoing CES coverage, but we will return in two weeks.

A Blizzard, Seen Over 20 Hours

As you may have heard, or perhaps even experienced, the Northeast recently received a bit of snow. A whole, huge, bit of snow. Several feet of it. So, ok, probably more than a bit. In the video below, the storm is seen through a time lapse camera that- well, it is snow piling up, there really isn’t much more explanation needed, but it is an amazing reminder at how nature just kinda tolerates us–most of the time.

Creepy Taiwanese News Station Recreates the Accidents from the Spider-Man Musical

Even after seeing several of these, even after months have passed, no one is entirely sure if these are meant to be taken seriously or as jokes. Either way, they are creepy and kind of funny. The newest video of the bunch is highlighting the numerous accidents that have plagued the test run of the upcoming Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

Lord Vader Probably Rides the Subway for Free

Last week we posted a Star Wars holiday special in the viral clips, but following the good cheer and all that junk, it is back to business for Darth Vader and the Imperial Forces. A comedy troop from New York decided to take the somewhat well known story of Star Wars on the road. The first stop was the New York subway.

What the 1982 Tron Holiday Special Might Have Looked Like

The Tron love is still flowing strong, despite the new movie bringing in less than Disney had hoped. In fact, it is so popular that the website Funny or Die decided to create a look at what a Tron Holiday Special, in the vein of the wildly horrible Star Wars Holiday Special, might have been like.

Xbox Kinect Fail

Yes, it may be fake, and yes, it might be somewhat mean. And yet it is also awesome. It is a paradox.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Computing

Best Buy laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $139

Apple M1 MacBook Air open on a desk with plants in the background.

With Best Buy almost always among the best places to buy a laptop online, it’s worth checking out what sort of laptop deals the retail giant currently has taking place. It regularly discounts laptop models by top laptop brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and even Apple. We’ve tracked down all of the Best Buy laptop deals worth shopping right now, and you can read more about them below. They include some massive savings on an Acer Chromebook, as well as some discounts on new MacBook Airs. If you’re uncertain what sort of laptop best suit your needs, you can also consult our laptop buying guide.
Acer Chromebook 315 — $139, was $199

The Acer Chromebook 315 is one of the larger Chromebooks you’ll find, as its display comes in at an impressive 15.6 inches. This makes it a great option for people who want some extra screen real estate, but who still like to do their work on the go. The Acer Chromebook 315 has plenty of power for a Chromebook, and is made as much for comfort as functionality. Its slightly larger size will come in handy when doing creative work and an integrated numeric keyboard gives it the feel of working on a desktop. The Acer Chromebook 315 is able to reach up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, meaning you can work on the go all day without needing to take a charger with you.

Computing

The latest Windows update is breaking VPN connections

Windows Update running on a laptop.

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows security updates for April 2024 (KB5036893 for Windows 11, KB5036892 for Windows 10) are causing disruptions to virtual private network (VPN) connections across various client and server platforms. According to information on the Windows health dashboard, devices running Windows may experience VPN connection failures following the installation of either the April 2024 security update or the April 2024 non-security preview update.

The company has also stated that it is actively investigating user reports regarding these issues and will share more details in the coming days. The impacted Windows versions include Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2008 onward.

Computing

Delidding your CPU: What it is and why you should do it

A delidded Ryzen 7000 CPU.

Delidding a CPU is the process of removing its integrated heat spreader, or IHS. This is quite a drastic procedure and runs the risk of damaging or even breaking your processor. But -- and it's a big but -- the temperature improvements, especially for CPUs that typically run hot, can be massive. The result is a processor that runs cooler, quieter, and often faster, too.

It's not something you should go into without due care, but it's not as dangerous as it once was. With dedicated tools to make the process easier and safer, delidding your CPU is no longer only reserved for the most die-hard of overclockers.
What is delidding your CPU?
You might think of the large, silver metal surface of your CPU as the processor itself, but that's not exactly true. In fact, the real brains of the chip lie under that hunk of nickel-plated copper or aluminium. That miniature die is what you actually need to run a PC -- the integrated heat spreader on top of it is purely there to make sure it stays cool during operation. It's also there to ensure compatibility with a range of coolers, and to make it less likely that you'll accidentally break your chip by overtightening the cooler's mounting mechanism.