Thursday, March 31, 2011
Samsung and Visa join forces to enable NFC mobile payment at 2012 Olympics
From a gadgeteer's point of view, one of the best things about the Olympics is its tendency to bring in new technologies to the hosting city. Take the 2012 games, for example: not only are the London Underground stations getting WiFi hotspots, but news has it that Samsung and Visa are holding hands to deliver NFC mobile payment solutions to the city. In fact, more than 60,000 locations in London are already geared up with contactless payment systems, and right now Visa is negotiating with
Wrex Titanium Pocket Wrench Lets You Loosen Bolts On The Go [Tools]
Davey Alba — If you fear landing in an emergency requiring you to loosen nuts and bolts on the go, consider the Wrex Titanium Pocket Wrench.
Not only is the gadget conveniently sized, it packs an ultra sharp blade attached to the wrench's jaw, a wire stripping hole, a double-ended driver bit, a 1/4-inch hex bit driver with o-ring, and a bottle opener. Expect to pay $ 179 when it hits stores in early May. [Wrex via
Not only is the gadget conveniently sized, it packs an ultra sharp blade attached to the wrench's jaw, a wire stripping hole, a double-ended driver bit, a 1/4-inch hex bit driver with o-ring, and a bottle opener. Expect to pay $ 179 when it hits stores in early May. [Wrex via
Obama Shocks Audience by Revealing President of the United States Owns Computer [Video]
Sam Biddle — At a recent town hall on Latino education, President Obama was asked if he owns an iPad. Yup! What about a computer? Uhh.
His reply:
"I'm the president of the United States. You think I've got to go borrow somebody's computer..? Hey man, can I borrow your computer? How about you? You got one?"
USA! USA! [via The
His reply:
"I'm the president of the United States. You think I've got to go borrow somebody's computer..? Hey man, can I borrow your computer? How about you? You got one?"
USA! USA! [via The
Apple Patents More Five-Finger Gestures and Chargers With Built-In Battery Packs [Apple]
Adrian Covert — The latest pair of Apple patents to make the rounds actually look like two that could be realistically implemented sooner than later: one for a charger with an integrated battery pack, and one for more five-finger gestures in OS X.
According to Apple, the charger/battery pack combo would be for those times you need an emergency recharge and don't have an AC power source. An integrated processor would manage the power distribution between what goes to the computer and what
According to Apple, the charger/battery pack combo would be for those times you need an emergency recharge and don't have an AC power source. An integrated processor would manage the power distribution between what goes to the computer and what
Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance
It's been a while since we last heard about nanogeneratos -- you know, those insanely tiny fibers that could potentially be woven into your hoodie to juice up your smartphone. Dr. Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology has reported that he and his team of Einsteins constructed nanogenerators with enough energy to potentially power LCDs, LEDs and laser diodes by moving your various limbs. These micro-powerhouses -- 1 / 500 the width of a single hair strand -- are embedded with
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Admit It, You'd Do This If You Had a Virtual Reality System [Image Cache]
Rosa Golijan — What the hell are you supposed to do in a virtual world anyway—choose between red and blue pills?
I can barely figure out what to do in some daydreams, so I can't even imagine how quickly a virtual reality world would become dull enough for old hobbies to seem fun again in comparison. [Basketcase
I can barely figure out what to do in some daydreams, so I can't even imagine how quickly a virtual reality world would become dull enough for old hobbies to seem fun again in comparison. [Basketcase
Fruity nanofibers could make for super-strong plastics, banana-flavored body panels
Carbon fiber is still the material of choice for high-end components that need lots of strength without a lot of weight, but wouldn't life be better if those components were made of pineapple? Apparently, yes. At least that's the case according to Brazilian scientists led by Alcides Leão, who have created so-called nanofibers from the pulp of various fruits, including pineapple leaves and coconut shells. These are processed down to create nano-scale threads that, when added to plastics,
Fox Wants Its Channels Removed From Time Warner's iPad App [Iptv]
Adrian Covert — In the latest turn of this IPTV drama, Fox has issued a cease-and-desist Time Warner remove any Fox-owned channels from its streaming iPad app, which pushes live TV to customers. In return, Time Warner has taken a populist approach, imploring the masses to show their support for the app. [Bloomberg and Time Warner via
How Much Did the iPad Crush Everyone Else in 2010 [Chart]
Jesus Diaz — There's not much else to say about this chart. According to Gartner, the world spent $ 9.6 billions in tablets. According to Apple's official numbers, the iPad got $ 9.566 billions.
Of course, that's 2010. The real battle will be this year: Gartner says that the market will grow to $ 29.4 billion in 2011, cannibalizing PCs and getting into the enterprise in full force. But Honeycomb and Playbook fanboys, don't get your hopes too high: Gartner says that Apple will grab 70%
Of course, that's 2010. The real battle will be this year: Gartner says that the market will grow to $ 29.4 billion in 2011, cannibalizing PCs and getting into the enterprise in full force. But Honeycomb and Playbook fanboys, don't get your hopes too high: Gartner says that Apple will grab 70%
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
America's 'panic button' to wipe phones of democracy activists, perturb repressive governments
So, here's the scene. You're out at [insert city center here], completely neglecting any and all work duties, throwing Molotov cocktails at the building of the State you've grown to hate. It's a protest in every sense of the word, and you're rallying the troops via Twitter and Facebook. It's actually not an uncommon painting these days, and while America's not into promoting violence, it is into keeping the personal information of democracy activists secure. According to a fresh Reuters report,
Crackle starts streaming all of its free movies to Roku, PS3, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players
Sony's Crackle has had a more successful life so far than its previous iteration as Grouper, streaming movies, TV shows and shorts to various devices since launching back in '07 and announced today its full library will be streaming to the PS3, Roku boxes, Sony Blu-ray players and Bravia TVs. Expanding full access from just the Google TV (there's also an Android app that currently streams some of the items) it's taking credit as the only provider offering free full length flicks including
Keyglove ditches QWERTY for one-handed computer control (video)
We've seen some pretty ambitious hand warmers in our day, but we're pretty sure this one takes the cake. Keyglove is an Open Source Hardware (OSHW) project that's intended to eliminate those clunky keyboards and unmanageable mice from the computing process altogether, instead engaging a series of conductive sensors that, when touched together, mimic a keystroke. The mitt's creator says the traditional mobile keyboard is "either too big to be portable, or too small to be easy to use," adding
Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video)
Sure it's just sliding sticks and bouncing balls, but anyone who grew up playing Atari can tell you that Pong rules. Unfortunately, its earliest incarnation only supported enough 2D fun for two, which is why our eyes just about popped out of our heads when we saw this. The folks over at Instructables are showing off another awesome retro gaming project that makes everyone's favorite game a party pleaser -- it's also a pretty good fix for an old coffee table. The Super Pong Table allows for up
An Explanation of That Time Warner Cable Bill [Humor]
Brian Barrett — The New Yorker has sunk its erudite claws into the mysteries of a Time Warner Cable bill. So just what are those line items you never bother looking at?
$ 1.35 - Random charge that's too small to waste your time contesting$ 7.25 - Remembrance Fee, for when you forgot your seventeen-digit Internet password and we had to remind you$ 1.82 - Time Warner Appreciation Fee$ 1.35 - Somehow this goes to Goldman Sachs
And on and on and on. It's funny! And not in that way
$ 1.35 - Random charge that's too small to waste your time contesting$ 7.25 - Remembrance Fee, for when you forgot your seventeen-digit Internet password and we had to remind you$ 1.82 - Time Warner Appreciation Fee$ 1.35 - Somehow this goes to Goldman Sachs
And on and on and on. It's funny! And not in that way
Monday, March 28, 2011
Let's Try to Guess How Much This Fancy iPhone Case Will Wind Up Costing [Apple]
Rosa Golijan — This is an iPhone case designed by fancy-pants watchmaker De Bethune. It's made of full-grain alligator leather and has a pocket watch with a DB 1024 movement built in. What the hell?
We're not even going to bother trying to figure out why someone would place a pocket watch on a case intended for a device which has a clock feature, and will instead focus on the more ridiculous issue with this accessory: Its cost.
The pricing—and the availability—of the case remain
We're not even going to bother trying to figure out why someone would place a pocket watch on a case intended for a device which has a clock feature, and will instead focus on the more ridiculous issue with this accessory: Its cost.
The pricing—and the availability—of the case remain
Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 starts shipping, Sandy Bridge and 3D for under a grand
We saw the Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 way back in January at CES, and at the time, we were intrigued by the prospect of Sandy Bridge speed and 3D capability -- it boasts a passive 3D display and dual cameras for recording in the third dimension -- for an eminently reasonable $ 999. Well, were you able to resist the wave of laptops from the rest of computing's usual suspects, you can now get your hands on Fujitsu's 3D lappy packing Intel's latest silicon, a 500GB HDD, and Blu-ray combo drive to
HTC EVO 3D coming to Europe, keeping the sexy name and specs
Earlier this year, HTC allowed its previously Verizon-exclusive brand name out to prowl the globe with the Incredible S, and now it's doing the same with the heretofore Sprint-only EVO moniker. The EVO 3D, says a tweet from HTC's French mouthpiece, is coming to the land of baguettes, stylish mustaches and stripy pullovers, though a little bit of mystery remains as to when exactly its arrival shall be. Whatever the schedule (the EVO 3D's set for a "summer" release in the US), the rest of
A DSLR Hack for Left-Handers [Cameras]
Matt Buchanan — Andrew Scrivani shoots some seriously excellent food photography for the New York Times. Right now, his right arm is not useable. A problem since all heavy-ass DSLR cameras are made for righties, unless you shell out ridiculous cash for a custom build.
His solution? A Frankensteinian creation that uses flash mounting bracket and remote shutter release to make the camera easy to handle and shoot with the left hand. It works pretty well—but if you guys have some better
His solution? A Frankensteinian creation that uses flash mounting bracket and remote shutter release to make the camera easy to handle and shoot with the left hand. It works pretty well—but if you guys have some better
Inside the Big Business of Spam Botnets [Republished]
— Spam emails are usually so crude that it might seem impossible that spammers make money from them, but the sheer volume of messages sent every day makes spamming a profitable industry - most emails sent worldwide are spam.
This constant stream of cheap drug offers and other scams is pumped out by botnets, networks of computers that have been hijacked without their owners' knowledge, which are rented out to spammers as a mass email delivery service. In August last year, researchers at
This constant stream of cheap drug offers and other scams is pumped out by botnets, networks of computers that have been hijacked without their owners' knowledge, which are rented out to spammers as a mass email delivery service. In August last year, researchers at
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Android adapter concepts promise to accessorize any headset
Well, here's a bit of a twist -- a concept device designed to actually a fund a Kickstarter-like service for concept devices. While that may not exactly inspire the most confidence, these concepts from the folks behind upstart Makible are certainly unique enough to get us interested. They included the standard headphone adapter pictured above, which promises to turn any set of headphones into a proper (and eye-catching) headset, as well as an iPhone headset adapter that will let you use any
Musicians' Own Heartbeats Drive This Orchestra's Visual Performance [Video]
Jack Loftus — Take a peak at the screen behind this small "Heart Chamber Orchestra." Those visuals are generated by a series of electrocardiograms and wires attached to the musicians. Their heartbeats create the visuals, which become increasingly powerful as the piece unfolds.
The performance was a collaboration between music collective PURE and artist Erich Berger. There are 12 musicians in all, and every one of them is wired to Berger's hardware/software contraption. Crazier still, the
The performance was a collaboration between music collective PURE and artist Erich Berger. There are 12 musicians in all, and every one of them is wired to Berger's hardware/software contraption. Crazier still, the
Inhabitat's Week in Green: LAVA's geodesic home, solar skyscraper glass and fear of nuclear power
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
This week Inhabitat showcased several groundbreaking feats of high-tech architecture - starting with plans to transform the United States' tallest skyscraper into a soaring solar farm. We also saw a vision for a geodesic home of the future that is popping up in China this year, and we learned that scientists in Qatar are developing a series of
This week Inhabitat showcased several groundbreaking feats of high-tech architecture - starting with plans to transform the United States' tallest skyscraper into a soaring solar farm. We also saw a vision for a geodesic home of the future that is popping up in China this year, and we learned that scientists in Qatar are developing a series of
Guitar strings? Where we're going we don't need strings. [Guitars]
Jack Loftus — Enter the cool yet incredibly untested HyperTouch Guitar. What's its speciality? Lacks strings. The guitarist plays it using an intricate touchpad. The pad is wildly customizable, but something tells me it's not going to replace string guitars just yet.
Oh, it's also just a crazy design over at Yanko, so there's that dubious fact to add to the huge pile of doubt too.
Nevertheless, for a concept it's entirely believable even if the sound and nuance of a string instrument is
Oh, it's also just a crazy design over at Yanko, so there's that dubious fact to add to the huge pile of doubt too.
Nevertheless, for a concept it's entirely believable even if the sound and nuance of a string instrument is
HTC Flyer headed to T-Mobile, according to marketing scrapbook?
Sprint may not be the only US carrier spreading its wings with an HTC tablet this summer, oh no -- promotional materials obtained by PocketNow point to the HTC Flyer launching with T-Mobile as well. Though the marketing mockups don't prove that Madam Magenta will actually be offering the 7-inch Gingerbread tablet with Scribe stylus (or distinguish between T-Mobile USA and its European counterparts, for that matter), the carrier's clearly given it a lot of thought, and HTC's spec sheet for the
Saturday, March 26, 2011
iMobot creeps, crawls, cranes its way into our hearts (video)
It may not look like much, but this little modular robot's got the stuff to give Keepon a run for its money -- oh yeah, and according to its creators, iMobot's got big implications for the field of robotics too. Sporting four degrees of freedom, two rotating joints, and a pair of faceplates that act as wheels, the patent-pending device can crawl, drive, and potentially act as an autonomous camera platform. The surprisingly agile hunk of machinery was developed by two UC Davis professors who
Charge Your iPad 2 Battery While On The Go
If you travel frequently with your iPad 2 then you know how important battery life on the go can be. That’s why you need one of Griffen Technology’s PowerJolt car chargers for your iPad 2.
PowerJolt Car Charger for iPad 2
Even though Apple’s iPad 2 has a longer lasting battery the device still needs to be recharged, making the PowerJolt car charger a must have accessory.
Perhaps you travel often, or maybe you only bring your iPad with you on the road once in a while. Either way
PowerJolt Car Charger for iPad 2
Even though Apple’s iPad 2 has a longer lasting battery the device still needs to be recharged, making the PowerJolt car charger a must have accessory.
Perhaps you travel often, or maybe you only bring your iPad with you on the road once in a while. Either way
The Making of the Eames Lounge Chair [Video]
Casey Chan — I'm not a furniture snob but I find myself turning into one as I keep watching this making of the Eames Lounge Chair. I'm not satisfied with a glimpse though! I want to see the whole process, from the curving of the base to setting up the ottoman, and I want to save enough money to buy one. [Vitra Project via
It's Earth Hour Tonight, We'll Understand If You Turn Off the Lights [Video]
Casey Chan — In what has become an annual event, Earth Hour 2011 is upon us. From 8:30 PM (local time) to 9:30 PM, Earth Hour encourages us to turn off the lights. We'll see you back at 9:30 (or tomorrow!). [Earth
CIA and KGB Spy Weapons: Rectal Escape Kits, Turd Transmitters and Lipstick Guns [Spies]
Casey Chan — You didn't think the first set of the historical CIA spykit was all they had, right?Come on! It's the CIA. Here's a few images from another set that also includes some KGB weapons. Some of these "tools" are rather interesting.
The picture above is an escape kit issued by the CIA in the 1960's. The idea is that with all these little knives, one could reasonably escape capture. The only problem? Well, the capsule that houses these knives would be inside your
The picture above is an escape kit issued by the CIA in the 1960's. The idea is that with all these little knives, one could reasonably escape capture. The only problem? Well, the capsule that houses these knives would be inside your
Friday, March 25, 2011
New MacBook Pros get serious iPad charging juice in their USB ports
March 25, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Another little addition to the New MacBook Pros is that they’ll charge an iPad as quickly as the wall charger. The previous MacBook Pros, as evidenced by this page on Ars, shows 500mA as available with another 500mA “Extra Operating Current”
The new MacBookPros show this:
That combined 2100 mA of power is about the same as the wall power adapter for the iPad.
Related articles
9 to 5
Another little addition to the New MacBook Pros is that they’ll charge an iPad as quickly as the wall charger. The previous MacBook Pros, as evidenced by this page on Ars, shows 500mA as available with another 500mA “Extra Operating Current”
The new MacBookPros show this:
That combined 2100 mA of power is about the same as the wall power adapter for the iPad.
Related articles
9 to 5
Android May Be the Greatest Legal Destruction of Wealth in History [Android]
Jesus Diaz — Bill Gurley thinks that Android is an unstoppable freight train that will prevail against all its rivals. For Google, Android is not even a product with a business plan. It's just a weapon at the service of their master domination strategy, a way to destroy any potential threats that may eventually kill their search monster. This is how they are doing it and the potential consequences.
"People get ready, there's a train a comin'"—The Impressions
From Zacks via Yahoo: Mark
"People get ready, there's a train a comin'"—The Impressions
From Zacks via Yahoo: Mark
Charge Anywhere update turns Nexus S into full-on mobile payment terminal
Processing mobile payments via an external dongle? That's so early 2011. Charge Anywhere has a less troublesome idea, and if you're the lucky owner of a Google Nexus S, you could soon be accepting cold, hard virtual cash via NFC. For those already familiar with the space, you'll know that this very company already has applications out for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, but all of those obviously require a credit card swiping mechanism to be connected. According to CNET, the latest
The 3DS Launch Games To Buy, Borrow or Avoid [Launch Game Guide]
Brian Crecente — We've played 14 of the sixteen available in stores this weekend when the 3DS comes out in North America. Four of them are worth buying. The rest? Read on to see.
Asphalt 3DThe 3D here is relatively nice, but the graphics seem sub-par compared to other 3DS games. There's just not enough new, different, or beautiful here to warrant picking this up.Don't Buy It
Bust-A-Move UniverseThis barebones Bust-A-Move (Puzzle Bobble) game does little to stand out from its
Asphalt 3DThe 3D here is relatively nice, but the graphics seem sub-par compared to other 3DS games. There's just not enough new, different, or beautiful here to warrant picking this up.Don't Buy It
Bust-A-Move UniverseThis barebones Bust-A-Move (Puzzle Bobble) game does little to stand out from its
iOS 4.3.1 Released for iPad and iPhone Users
On March 11, 2011 Apple released iOS 4.3 along with their launch of the new iPad 2. Only 14 days later a new update is available with today’s release of iOS 4.3.1.
This most recent software update is for the iPad, iPad 2, 3rd and 4th generation iPod Touch owners, iPhone 3GS as well as the iPhone 4.
Although no major bug fixes are included with iOS 4.3.1, a few minor issues have been resolved for customers. Apple also claims to have resolved the jailbreak vulnerability issue which was
This most recent software update is for the iPad, iPad 2, 3rd and 4th generation iPod Touch owners, iPhone 3GS as well as the iPhone 4.
Although no major bug fixes are included with iOS 4.3.1, a few minor issues have been resolved for customers. Apple also claims to have resolved the jailbreak vulnerability issue which was
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Samsung's original Galaxy Tab 10.1 renamed the Tab 10.1V, thicker Galaxy Tab 8.9 no more than a trade show dummy
Samsung certainly stole the award for best tablet at CTIA this year, but it didn't do so without confusing us a bit. Sure, its new rail thin Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 are impressive and we're loving those price points, but the company also had its older and thicker Galaxy Tab 10.1 on display to show off its TouchWiz 4.0 software. On top of that, it also had a heftier versions of the 8.9 on display at its booth for similar demo purposes. So, what happens to those older models? Well, the 10.1 will
Styrofoam touches electrodes to create incredibly fast-charging wonderbatteries
Elon Musk's heart may have already given up on the humble battery, lusting after capacitors, but researchers at the University of Illinois have think there's life in the 'ol cells yet, creating batteries that charge and discharge in seconds. They've found a way to create electrodes using polystyrene beads as a sort of substrate, tiny spheres helping to set the porosity of either the nickel-metal hydride or lithium-manganese capacitor material. By adjusting the size and density of the bean bag
Clever iPhone App Only Shows You the Best of Everything [Apps]
Rosa Golijan — The Village Voice has just put out a clever iPhone app called Best Of. The app basically uses your location to help you find every place that was voted the "best of" something—be it restaurant or hot dog.
The great thing about the app is that it's "utilizing the picks from publications like Houston Press, LA Weekly, Village Voice, Miami New Times and scores of other city guides and magazines" instead of using some sort of voting system which could be quickly gamed by
The great thing about the app is that it's "utilizing the picks from publications like Houston Press, LA Weekly, Village Voice, Miami New Times and scores of other city guides and magazines" instead of using some sort of voting system which could be quickly gamed by
Bing for Mobile portal gets updated, brings HTML5-based fanciness
Whatever Google (and Yahoo!) can do, Bing can do better? It doesn't exactly have that so-called ring to it, but Bing has proven to be a legitimate contender in the search wars -- particularly on the mobile side. This week, Microsoft launched a number of updates to the Bing for Mobile browse portal, giving users access to better and faster image search, real-time transit and directions, app search for the iPhone, and more. The new version relies on HTML5, and the company assures us that Windows
Audible audiobooks now flying onto Kindles via WiFi
Heads-up, Kindle owners -- digging into your next audiobook just got a lot less troublesome. Audible has just announced that over 50,000 of its audiobooks are now available to download directly onto Kindles everywhere through WiFi. Granted, that's still one step away (3G) from being as good as it could possibly get, but it's still a tremendous improvement over the tried-and-true USB sideloading method. For those looking to get started for the first time, the outfit's offering a 30-day free
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Femto Forum publishes API specification for femtocell apps, places focus on 'awareness information'
As if the world needed one more association to keep up with, CTIA Wireless 2011 is delivering just that. The Femto Forum, which has done an excellent job remaining undercover of late, has just published an "industry-wide agreed set of API specifications" that will enable "advanced mobile applications based on femtocell technology." Truth be told, the first apps based on the specifications have already been built, and their currently available to the femtocell community. The specifications are
Voice-controlled Japanese robot assists with eating, makes veggies more fun (video)
Isao Wakabayashi, a student at Chukyo University in Japan, seems to have made the arduous chore of eating easier. Using a customized version of a Robix robot kit, Wakabayashi coded a program that makes the feeder recognize individual food items and feed them to you. The meal-assistant features two arms, dexterous enough to handle utensils, and can be controlled using your voice. In theory, this system would be ideal for the elderly, folks that currently have trouble eating by themselves, or
The iPad-Friendly Spider Stand Is Here to Crawl on Your Desk [Tablets]
Adrian Covert — We've covered the arachnoid-inspired Breffo Spiderpodium for smartphones and GPS devices before. But now, the the multi-legged stand is available for larger tablets, in all its fully-articulable glory.
Once you clamp the stand around your tablet, it can rest at an angle anywhere between 0 and 90 degrees, giving you a fully-customizable viewing angle. you can even use the claws to attach the Spiderpodium to non-flat surfaces. And it only costs $ 35, which isn't OMG cheap,
Once you clamp the stand around your tablet, it can rest at an angle anywhere between 0 and 90 degrees, giving you a fully-customizable viewing angle. you can even use the claws to attach the Spiderpodium to non-flat surfaces. And it only costs $ 35, which isn't OMG cheap,
Fighting With Electrified Swords Will Always End In Fire [Video]
Brian Barrett — Who are these brave Russian gladiators? And why have they electrified two swords with which to fight? The world may never know their names, but we will know what to call them: heroes. Dear, sweat, idiot heroes.
Elune Is a Simple, Beautiful Theme for Windows 7 [Downloads]
Adam Dachis — Windows 7: If you're looking for an attractive visual style for your Windows 7 desktop, Elune is simple glassy theme by deviantART user minhtrimatrix that'll give your computer a relaxing, natural feel.
If you want to try it out on your Windows 7 machine, just download it at the source link below and do the following:
Install Universal Theme Patcher (it's included in the theme download in the Tools folder).
Extract .RAR file into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
Change the
If you want to try it out on your Windows 7 machine, just download it at the source link below and do the following:
Install Universal Theme Patcher (it's included in the theme download in the Tools folder).
Extract .RAR file into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
Change the
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monirobo measures radiation following nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant
According to a report by a Japanese news agency, a radiation monitoring robot, aptly named Monirobo, is the first non-human responder to go on-site following the partial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The machine, which was developed by Japan's Nuclear Safety Technology Centre to operate at lethal radiation levels, reportedly began work Friday, enlisting a 3D camera, radiation detector, and heat and humidity sensors to monitor the extent of the damage. A second
DARPA M3 program to make cheaper, more mobile robots for the US war machine
DARPA, that governmental black magic factory that gave us the flying Humvee and Hummingbird spybot, has unveiled its new Maximum Mobility and Manipulation Program (M3) program that plans to put us on the fast track to our robotic future. M3 aims to improve robotic research through four specialized development programs -- design tools, fabrication, control, and prototype demonstration -- that divvy up the work between commercial labs and universities. The program will not replace existing bionic
You Can Help Map the World's Light Pollution [Environment]
Casey Chan — Did you move from a small country town to a big city? Then you know how terrible light pollution can be! But it doesn't just strip us from sprinkled diamonds across the jet black sky, it's actually not cool for the environment either.
Studies have shown that all these artificial city lights can change animal migration patterns and destroy smog-eating chemicals. And you can help them update these light pollution maps! Download the app and follow the instructions here to report
Studies have shown that all these artificial city lights can change animal migration patterns and destroy smog-eating chemicals. And you can help them update these light pollution maps! Download the app and follow the instructions here to report
Flatbed scanner becomes multitouch panel in five-fingered DIY documentary (video)
Few things do a better job at decimating desktop real estate than a bulky old flatbed scanner. Skinnier replacements are cheap these days, but what's one to do with the old ones? An enterprising hacker who goes by the handle Sprite_tm, the same bloke who brought us a knock-operated door, has managed to create a multitouch panel out of his. He extracted the single-line CCD and mounted that below the display. He then attached five LEDs above it to shine light down. When his finger touches the
Apple TV 4.2.1 update puts kibosh on flickering screens
If you've been using an HDMI to DVI adapter to hook up your Apple TV, there's a chance you've been dealing with some annoying flickering on the boob tube since downloading the latest update to the device. Well, the end to your flashing screen woes is here: Apple's just let loose a followup that promises to fix the flickering. Update 4.2.1 also addresses audio issues and a glitch that puts the thing in a permanent slumber when it goes to sleep. So there you have it -- now you won't have to miss
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for Verizon hands-on (video)
Well, we knew it was coming, and tonight at CTIA we finally got our dirty little hands on Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play for Verizon. It's pretty much what we expected: an Xperia Play that's lacking a SIM slot but displaying a couple of Verizon tattoos logos. The front-facing camera is still on the menu, along with a tasty serving of Gingerbread -- Android 2.3.2, to be exact. Strangely, the custom skin we saw during our hands-on at MWC was nowhere to be found on Verizon's model, being replaced
Top Stories of Today, March 21, 2011 [Total Recap]
When the Moon Hits Your Eye... | Check out the rest of our "Super Moon" collection here
AT&T Is Buying T-Mobile to Become the Biggest US Carrier
AT&T just announced that they're buying T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom for $ 39 billion. The deal makes AT&T the largest network in the country, and leaves us with only three major US carriers. What's that mean for us? More »
LG Thrill 4G is AT&T's Glasses-Less 3D Smartphone
Looks like LG's Optimus 3D smartphone will be called
AT&T Is Buying T-Mobile to Become the Biggest US Carrier
AT&T just announced that they're buying T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom for $ 39 billion. The deal makes AT&T the largest network in the country, and leaves us with only three major US carriers. What's that mean for us? More »
LG Thrill 4G is AT&T's Glasses-Less 3D Smartphone
Looks like LG's Optimus 3D smartphone will be called
Apple sues Amazon for App Store trademark infringement
You had to know this was coming. Apple, which is already engaged in a heated battle with Microsoft for the protection of its "App Store" trademark, has filed suit against Amazon for its "improper use" of the same. Amazon's Android Appstore seems to have been intentionally contracted to a single word to differentiate its name, but that difference isn't enough for Apple, which has asked a California court to grant a ruling preventing Amazon's use of the moniker and asking for unspecified
The Map That Created New York City [History]
Casey Chan — Today is the 200th birthday of the street map that spawned the Greatest City in the World. The NY Times has a revealing story on how the grid, which mapped 11 avenues and 155 crosstown streets, transformed New York into a city of right angles.
The urban planners had a ton of foresight! Just think about the year 1811. James Madison was president, it was before the War of 1812 and there were no cars. Yet the city planners started creating a city that would eventually accomodate
The urban planners had a ton of foresight! Just think about the year 1811. James Madison was president, it was before the War of 1812 and there were no cars. Yet the city planners started creating a city that would eventually accomodate
Spring Cleaning for Tech Nerds [Gear]
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Today is the first day of Spring, which sends most into a frenzy of scrubbing and organization. But you know what needs love too? Your tech gear. Unplggd has a pretty good idea of how to go about that. [Unpluggd] More »
Today is the first day of Spring, which sends most into a frenzy of scrubbing and organization. But you know what needs love too? Your tech gear. Unplggd has a pretty good idea of how to go about that. [Unpluggd] More »
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo'
If you don't have far to go, an electric car can make a lot of sense. You know what group of people doesn't have far to go? People who live on an island, that's who. For this reason we're feeling some synergistic love as the State of Hawaii partners with AeroVironment, a company that also makes some goofy looking UAVs for DARPA, to deploy up to 320 public EV charging stations plugs across Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu. All will be 240v Level 2 units that can charge an average EV in
Mr. Blurrycam bags a silvery striped smartphone -- is this the HTC Pyramid?
Looks like our favorite anonymous globetrotting photographer's spotted something sweet -- it's that alleged HTC Pyramid, comfortably chilling with the 4.3-inch HTC Desire HD. Unfortunately, Mr. Blurrycam only had time to snap this single shot before vanishing to parts unknown, so all we can tell is that that it's sporting a flush, off-center camera with a twin-LED flash, a headset jack up top, and that it's a fairly large, curvy phone. Don't be disappointed, though -- we imagine we'll see a
New MacBook Pros default boot in 64-bit mode
March 20, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Here’s an interesting little tidbit we didn’t notice until just now: Apple boots those new MacBook Pros into 64-bit Snow Leopard rather than 32-bit, like every other Mac out there save the Mac Pro (which the MacBook Pro certainly competes with and juice up to 16GB of RAM). We’re sure some people noticed it before but we hadn’t seen it elsewhere.
Also of interest, the new MacBook Pros have 6Gb SATA III which was benchmarked pretty spectacularly by
Here’s an interesting little tidbit we didn’t notice until just now: Apple boots those new MacBook Pros into 64-bit Snow Leopard rather than 32-bit, like every other Mac out there save the Mac Pro (which the MacBook Pro certainly competes with and juice up to 16GB of RAM). We’re sure some people noticed it before but we hadn’t seen it elsewhere.
Also of interest, the new MacBook Pros have 6Gb SATA III which was benchmarked pretty spectacularly by
Inhabitat's Week in Green: shifting towers, hydrogen beads, and the shockwave engine for fuel efficiency
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
It was a big week for alternative energy as Inhabitat showcased a range of green fuel innovations that cut costs while bringing clean energy to the forefront. We looked at hydrogen 'Micro Beads' that could fuel cars for $ 1.50 per gallon, and we saw Michigan State University unveil a new shock wave engine that could triple fuel the efficiency of hybrid
It was a big week for alternative energy as Inhabitat showcased a range of green fuel innovations that cut costs while bringing clean energy to the forefront. We looked at hydrogen 'Micro Beads' that could fuel cars for $ 1.50 per gallon, and we saw Michigan State University unveil a new shock wave engine that could triple fuel the efficiency of hybrid
T-Mobile answers its customers' most Frequently Asked Question: no iPhone
Never mind the practicalities of T-Mobile and AT&T using different 3G bands, Apple not having approved any deal for extended distribution of its phone, or the fact AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile isn't set to complete for another year. The immediate reaction to AT&T agreeing to buy T-Mobile USA was to ask, "so that means the iPhone's coming to T-Mo, right?" Well, wrong. T-Mobile has delivered an FAQ on its site informing customers about the forthcoming transition, including the
Saturday, March 19, 2011
DIY 1968 Electronic UFO Detector [DIY]
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When you're done not finding any UFOs with your DIY UFO detector, you can also use its electronic magnetic field-detecting properties to not find ghosts, which also don't exist. [Strange Attractor via Boing Boing] More »
When you're done not finding any UFOs with your DIY UFO detector, you can also use its electronic magnetic field-detecting properties to not find ghosts, which also don't exist. [Strange Attractor via Boing Boing] More »
Some MacBook Pro Thunderbolt Ports Are Messing with Cinema Displays [Video]
Jack Loftus — Some 24-inch and 27-inch Apple Cinema Displays owners are experiencing distracting flicker when connected to a MacBook Pro via the new Thunderbolt port.
Proof is in the video, but with all new tech issues, how widespread is this?
Proof is in the video, but with all new tech issues, how widespread is this?
HTC Thunderbolt rooted for real, locked files nearly soured the deal
They thought it would be easy, but they were wrong -- AndIRC developers reportedly spent the last 72 hours readying the new HTC Thunderbolt for custom ROMs. Today, they emerge victorious, but that victory is bittersweet, because it may signify the end of a generally hacker-friendly era from the folks at HTC. While devices from the Taiwanese manufacturer have traditionally been easy to modify, the hacker community found Verizon's LTE flagship fully locked down, with a signed kernel, signed
This House Wears the Address On Its Sleeve [Design]
Jack Loftus — You say your address is Number 523? Hmm. I still can''t seem to find it.
Look harder, man! The address is staring you right in the face!
Tomfoolery aside, this is a string of prefabricated Numbers Houses by Mitsutomo Matsunami Architects & Associates, a Japanese studio with an apparent love of buildings that resemble things we use to count. Pretty clever!
Look harder, man! The address is staring you right in the face!
Tomfoolery aside, this is a string of prefabricated Numbers Houses by Mitsutomo Matsunami Architects & Associates, a Japanese studio with an apparent love of buildings that resemble things we use to count. Pretty clever!
Retro Ringworlds [Retromodo]
Jack Loftus — Back in the day, when NASA pilots posed with Corvettes and we were just getting to the Moon for the first time, our brightest minds thought space colonies might look at little something like this.
[NASA via
[NASA via
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Spire Clock Folds and Unfolds Like a Japanese Fan To Let You Know What Time It Is [Video]
Davey Alba — The Spire Clock is yet another quirky timekeeper that puts some charm back into the humdrum task of telling time. Essentially, the clock is an assymetrical Japanese fan.
Its longest blade represents the minute hand, and the shortest blade represents the hour hand. As the minutes tick by, the longer blade glides all around the face; when the hour changes, the shorter blade sweeps around and snaps into the correct angle time calls for. However mesmerizing the Spire Clock can be
Its longest blade represents the minute hand, and the shortest blade represents the hour hand. As the minutes tick by, the longer blade glides all around the face; when the hour changes, the shorter blade sweeps around and snaps into the correct angle time calls for. However mesmerizing the Spire Clock can be
HTC Evo 3D and Evo Tablet Coming Soon? [Rumor]
Adrian Covert — Boy Genius says that the wraps are coming off the HTC Evo 3D smartphone and the Evo View 4G Tablet at CTIA this year.
The Evo 3D is said to have a 960x450 autostereoscopic 3D display to go with a 1.2 GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB of storage. The View 4G tablet will have a 1024x600 7-inch screen, 5-megapixel rear cam, 1.3-megapixel front cam, a 4000 mAh battery, HDMI-out and DLNA support. Both will run Android Gingerbread with the Sense UI on top. [Boy Genius
The Evo 3D is said to have a 960x450 autostereoscopic 3D display to go with a 1.2 GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB of storage. The View 4G tablet will have a 1024x600 7-inch screen, 5-megapixel rear cam, 1.3-megapixel front cam, a 4000 mAh battery, HDMI-out and DLNA support. Both will run Android Gingerbread with the Sense UI on top. [Boy Genius
Amazon's Android App Store Coming on Tuesday [Rumor]
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According to Wired's Gadget Lab, the Amazon App Store for Android should launch on Tuesday (3/22). You can purchase apps directly from your smartphone or the Amazon website. [Wired] More »
According to Wired's Gadget Lab, the Amazon App Store for Android should launch on Tuesday (3/22). You can purchase apps directly from your smartphone or the Amazon website. [Wired] More »
ICANN has .xxx domain names? Yes!
The controversial step to approve .xxx domain names has today been taken by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, paving the way for a whole slew of new addresses suffixed by the famous triplicate x. Funnily enough, before the decision was made today, opposition to it was proffered by both conservative groups opposed to pornography and adult entertainment companies fearing they'd be more easily compartmentalized and potentially blocked by overzealous governments. Moreover,
OnStar's aftermarket mirror to be called OnStar FMV, gets a new microphone
When General Motors used CES to launch a mirror with a blue button that would work in any car it was called, quite simply, "retail product." Perhaps realizing that such a sweepingly vague name for the company's assault on every car every manufactured might lead to a bit of confusion, GM has now decided to call the mirror OnStar FMV. FMV, which stands for "For My Vehicle" and not "Full Motion Video," will act like a hands-free device and allows you to get other blue button functionality,
Thursday, March 17, 2011
WebM components for IE9 bring further video compatibility to Windows, end to codec conflict?
We've been reporting on the drama over Google's WebM ever since Microsoft compared the video format to Esperanto earlier this year, but despite a war of words, Google and Microsoft seem to be playing nice as of late. What originally appeared to be a mere WebM plug-in for IE9, has turned out to be a full set of components for the Microsoft Media Foundation (MF) API, which means even more compatibility within Windows. Because the components are installed directly to the operating system, you'll
Visualized: Smart Cover magnets can turn your Apple tablet into a FridgePad
Has the iPad 2 not proven its versatility to you yet? Well, buy one of those "don't call it a case" Smart Covers that Apple launched with it and you'll be able to turn your new dual-core slate into a bona fide FridgePad. Just add fridge.Visualized: Smart Cover magnets can turn your Apple tablet into a FridgePad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink 9to5Mac | | Email
iSuppli: Japan disaster could constrain iPad 2 part supply
March 17, 2011 at 6:28 pm
iSuppli’s research and in-depth iPad 2 tear down has revealed that vital iPad 2 parts like the thin battery, display glass, and electronic compass may be directly sourced from Japanese plants. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan has caused many manufacturing plants to temporarily stop work and it is possible, that if certain iPad 2 parts are in fact from Japan, that some iPad 2 parts may be in tight supply.
The IHS iSuppli teardown analysis of the iPad 2
iSuppli’s research and in-depth iPad 2 tear down has revealed that vital iPad 2 parts like the thin battery, display glass, and electronic compass may be directly sourced from Japanese plants. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan has caused many manufacturing plants to temporarily stop work and it is possible, that if certain iPad 2 parts are in fact from Japan, that some iPad 2 parts may be in tight supply.
The IHS iSuppli teardown analysis of the iPad 2
Paramount Pictures, BitTorrent team up to distribute feature film (video)
In case you haven't heard, there are websites out there that will let you download movies and software using a little something called the BitTorrent protocol. And while the majority of cinematic fare available is of a non-DMCA-approved nature, filmmakers and organizations are increasingly turning to torrent sites to get the word out. For instance, in 2009 a filmmaker named Hanna Sköld worked with the folks at The Pirate Bay to distribute her film Nasty Old People. And indeed, there seem
Apple Confirms Web App Slowdown in iOS 4.3 [Apple]
Adrian Covert — The Register received word directly from Apple that web apps are in fact running slower on iOS 4.3 because they're not optimized for the new Nitro JavaScript engine.
"The embedded web viewer does not take advantage of Safari's web performance optimizations." Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller tells The Register. It would seem that these optimizations include the Nitro JavaScript engine as well as certain Safari caches and the browser's "asynchronous" rendering mode.
Apple is
"The embedded web viewer does not take advantage of Safari's web performance optimizations." Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller tells The Register. It would seem that these optimizations include the Nitro JavaScript engine as well as certain Safari caches and the browser's "asynchronous" rendering mode.
Apple is
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Visa To Offer Person-to-Person Payments in the U.S. [Blip]
Davey Alba — If you're a current U.S. customer, Visa's new payment service will soon let you send funds digitally from your account to any other Visa account in the world. You'll be able to send money to other eligible accounts by entering your recipient's 16-digit Visa account, e-mail address or mobile phone number. Props for convenience, Visa. [Visa via
Visualized: classic biplane gets a glass cockpit
Waco's YMF-5D biplane may look like an authentically vintage aircraft from the outside, but it's an entirely different story once you strap yourself into the pilot's seat. The plane is available with a number of different "glass cockpit" options, including the top of the line model pictured above that's outfitted with a whole slew of Garmin aviation gear and other 21st century niceties. Of course, that doesn't exactly come cheap - all told, the full glass configuration runs just over $
Zediva Lets You Stream New DVD Releases Cheap and Instantly [Zediva]
Davey Alba — Zediva is a streaming service that lets you watch new movie releases online. For $ 2, the company sets aside the new DVD you'd like to see, along with a DVD player, reserved just for you. Your remote control? Your computer, tablet or Google TV. It's a cunning workaround to let you stream these new releases since technically, the physical DVD goes "out of circulation" for the time that you've borrowed it.
The service is $ 2 a rental, or 10 for $ 10, and you get to keep the
The service is $ 2 a rental, or 10 for $ 10, and you get to keep the
Internet Explorer 9 hits 2.35 million downloads in first 24 hours, we're mildly impressed
Okay, so 2.35 million downloads in a single day is nothing to scoff at, but it's also not a monumental achievement in terms of browser downloads in the first 24. A post to Internet Explorer's official blog used the word "wow" to describe the IE9 numbers, but considering Firefox 3 got the Guinness world record for most software downloads in a day, with 8 million way back in 2008, we're reluctant to call this news wow-worthy. Given, Firefox 3 was available for both Mac and PC, but it still beat
100 Years of Eye-Popping Title Sequence Evolution [Video]
Brian Barrett — If you've got even the slightest bit of cinephile in you, you need to watch this whirlwind tour of some of the most creative title sequences ever. Ian Albinson's "Art of the Title" debuted recently at SXSW; put it on top of the pile of reasons you wish you'd made it out there this year. [Art of the Title via b3ta via The High
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Publisher starts annual e-book licensing for libraries, attempts blood extraction from stone
Public libraries are en vogue again now that e-readers and e-books are so popular, and publishers are wary of the trend. To the dismay of many and the surprise of few, HarperCollins Publishers has set its e-books to expire after 26 rentals -- effectively giving them around a one-year shelf life (assuming 2 weeks per rental x 26 = 52 weeks). So now cash-strapped public libraries have to pony up license fees on an annual basis because the publisher is concerned that "selling e-books to libraries
How to Properly Seduce a Girl on the Internet [Video]
Rosa Golijan — Watch this video—and then watch it again. Take some notes, too.
The video shows you how one guy managed to charm and seduce a girl on the Internet over the course of one very over the top Chatroulette session.
Yes, I said seduce. Because even though they might be miles apart in the clip, we can all imagine what would happen if that giggling girl ever met this mysterious singing stranger in person—assuming that this is really just a random encounter and that the girl
The video shows you how one guy managed to charm and seduce a girl on the Internet over the course of one very over the top Chatroulette session.
Yes, I said seduce. Because even though they might be miles apart in the clip, we can all imagine what would happen if that giggling girl ever met this mysterious singing stranger in person—assuming that this is really just a random encounter and that the girl
Netflix rumored to spend $100 million or more outbidding cable networks for one new TV show
While Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has suggested the company would avoid getting into the content business, Deadline Hollywood reports it outbid cable channels like HBO and AMC for a new David Fincher drama starring Kevin Spacey called House of Cards. The post goes on to suggest that the deal is still being negotiated but Netflix will be on the hook for two season which could cost it more than $ 100 million. Right now Netflix is flush with the cash of its 20 million strong subscriber base, but
Harman rolls out AKG GHS-1 gaming headset
Harman didn't exactly manage to impress us that much with its most recent pair of wireless headsets, but it's now already back with something a bit different: a PC gaming headset. Available in your choice of black and orange, white and green, or camouflage and blue color combos, the headset isn't wireless, but it can be folded up for a bit of added portability, and Harman promises that the headphones will deliver "realistic, dynamic sound" while also filtering out most background noise. Sound
Internet Explorer 9 gets WebM support with 'preview' plug-in from Google, internet video gets more friendly
Google has released an early WebM plug-in for Microsoft's latest and greatest browser, IE9 -- stepping in to fill a gap that Microsoft itself refused to fill. You may remember the firm's decision to not build in support for the new standard natively, but that it was "all in" with HTML5, WebM's close cousin. Billed as a "technology preview" at this stage of the game, the add-on will enable users to play all WebM video content just like the good Internet overlords intended them to, despite the
Monday, March 14, 2011
Is the iMovie on the iPad 2 Really Faster Than on a MacBook Pro? [Benchmarks]
Adrian Covert — It's easy to assume a MacBook Pro would outgun an iPad in iMovie speed tests, due to its beefier processor and extra RAM. But AppAdvice found that both iPad models bested the MacBook Pro in multiple tests. What gives?
Well there could be a couple of explanations why this is the case. First, the video was raw video taken from an iPod touch, which features the same chipset as the original iPad. Because the same hardware used to shoot the video as it was to process/export it,
Well there could be a couple of explanations why this is the case. First, the video was raw video taken from an iPod touch, which features the same chipset as the original iPad. Because the same hardware used to shoot the video as it was to process/export it,
HTC Arrive up for $50 pre-order at Wirefly, requires new Sprint account and two-year contract
HTC's first Windows Phone 7 QWERTY slider handset is a mere five days away from its launch on Sprint, but already there's an online retailer keen to undercut everyone else for your business. Wirefly is currently offering the HTC Arrive (aka the 7 Pro outside the US) for $ 49.99 in upfront costs when bought in conjunction with a new two-year service plan from Sprint on, importantly, a new account. Eligible upgraders will have to shell out $ 149.99 for the privilege, though that's still less
Charting How We Talk About Our Nuclear Age [Factoid]
Brian Barrett — In the storied history of human language, the idea of nuclear energy has been around for less than a blink of an eye. But even in that relatively short time, the way we've discussed all things nuclear has evolved dramatically.
The Atlantic Monthly takes a stab at charting those changes using the Google Ngram Viewer, which displays how often words and phrases have occurred in selected books over the years. Reactor vs Radiation? Atomic Bomb vs Nuclear Power? Intriguing stuff,
The Atlantic Monthly takes a stab at charting those changes using the Google Ngram Viewer, which displays how often words and phrases have occurred in selected books over the years. Reactor vs Radiation? Atomic Bomb vs Nuclear Power? Intriguing stuff,
Kami Retro Will Steal Your Time and Melt Your Eyes [Video]
Kyle VanHemert — Kami Retro, a puzzle platformer with leanings towards Lemmings, is an over-stimulating take on the arcadey art style of yesteryear. Every little achievement is rewarded with a CMYK fireworks show, and the music and sound effects are loud and erratic. Even the gameplay is busy, giving you the task of guiding headband-wearing drones from start to finish with quick swipes of your finger, all but guaranteeing a smudged screen.
n other words, Kami Retro is a godsend for all
n other words, Kami Retro is a godsend for all
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play ad: gross human thumbs stitched onto robots, drugged clubgoers, not much more we can say
Is this the creepiest ad ever produced to introduce a new video game console? That's a high bar to pass -- but is it the creepiest ad for a new smartphone? Perhaps. The minute-long spot for Sony Ericsson's upcoming Xperia Play called "The Donor" appears to explain the backstory behind its last ad, relaying the tale of a young gentleman who was clubbing with friends, met an attractive woman, took her home, and woke up the next morning to discover that his thumbs were stone cold gone (notice the
This Is the Scariest First-Person Video of the Japan Tsunami Yet [Video]
Jesus Diaz — This first-person view is the most terrifying and astonishing video I've seen of the Japan tsunami. Initially everything seems ok, just a mild wave coming towards the camera. But keep watching—the sea goes Godzilla on the city.
By the end of it, the raging water is taking entire buildings off the streets of Kesennuma, in the Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. This is the exact point where this video was taken, before the catastrophe.
To watch more first person videos of the tsunami,
By the end of it, the raging water is taking entire buildings off the streets of Kesennuma, in the Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. This is the exact point where this video was taken, before the catastrophe.
To watch more first person videos of the tsunami,
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Surprise! iPad 2 Jailbroken [Jailbreak]
Jack Loftus — Actually, scratch that. Surprising no one, the iPad 2 was jailbroken this weekend, and has thereby joined all the other jailbroken iOS devices ever put forth on this great green earth by Apple.
The news arrived earlier this evening courtesy Comex, who says he would have had this done yesterday if not for a replacement exploit. You're slipping dude!
I kid. There's no word on when this will be available to you, the iPad 2 user in need of jailbreaking, but I'm guessing it won't
The news arrived earlier this evening courtesy Comex, who says he would have had this done yesterday if not for a replacement exploit. You're slipping dude!
I kid. There's no word on when this will be available to you, the iPad 2 user in need of jailbreaking, but I'm guessing it won't
Drinks Placed on Pallet Coasters Should Be Served by A Tiny Man Driving a Diminutive Forklift [Design]
Jack Loftus — These handmade pallet coasters from Spanish designer Labyrinth have reignited my long dormant love of objects on which I place cool, condensation-covered beverages.
Before I buy this rather pricey $ 36 set of five, however, I require my drinks be served to me by a forklift-operating gnome.
No extra charge, please, but know that I will tip him quite well. [The Awesomer via
Before I buy this rather pricey $ 36 set of five, however, I require my drinks be served to me by a forklift-operating gnome.
No extra charge, please, but know that I will tip him quite well. [The Awesomer via
iPad 2 jailbroken, no ETA on public release
You knew this was coming -- it was only a matter of time -- and here it is, Apple's latest creation sans the iOS 4.3 chains. The development community credits @comex with installing Cydia on this white iPad 2, and he's apparently already hard at work on a public jailbreak. According to his Twitter feed, the hack required a brand new exploit, as previous bugs were squashed in iOS 4.3. We'll keep you posted on when the hack's ready for you to use, too.
[Thanks, Henrique and Vassilis]iPad 2
[Thanks, Henrique and Vassilis]iPad 2
AT&T to Impose Data Caps on DSL, U-Verse Customers Starting May 2 [Tiered Net]
Jack Loftus — Citing an official confirmation from AT&T rep Seth Bloom, DSLReports is, well, reporting that AT&T will pull the trigger on data caps on heavy users of its U-Verse and DSL offerings, starting May 2.
DSL users will receive a 150GB cap, while U-verse users will receive a 250GB cap, with penalties imposed after a customer exceeds the limits three times or more. The penalty's price? $ 10 per 50GB over the limit.
Notices will be sent to customers beginning March 18, so,
DSL users will receive a 150GB cap, while U-verse users will receive a 250GB cap, with penalties imposed after a customer exceeds the limits three times or more. The penalty's price? $ 10 per 50GB over the limit.
Notices will be sent to customers beginning March 18, so,
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sexytime Soundtrack App Cracks Jokes While You Have Sex [Video]
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Sprint's Dan Hesse differentiates between unlimited and 'unlimited' in latest TV spot
We're not the biggest fans of new tiered data plans that are slowly but surely becoming the norm, and if the latest ad from Sprint is any indication -- that particular carrier isn't either. CEO Dan Hesse takes the offensive, reminding viewers that the word 'unlimited' shouldn't include things like metering or throttling, while touting the company's "Simply Everything" plan that actually does include, uh, everything. With customer gains on the upswing, the move is probably a good one -- though
iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks
iFixit may have physically uncovered Apple's latest silicon, but it's the processor gurus that have discovered what's truly inside -- using software benchmarks, they've unearthed the speeds and feeds of the Apple A5. As you'll no doubt be aware having read our headline above, there actually isn't a 1GHz CPU at the helm, as AnandTech and IOSnoops report the dual-core ARM Cortex A9 is dynamically clocked around 900MHz, likely in search of reduced power consumption. Perhaps more interestingly
Get the Unofficial Facebook App for Your iPad [Apps]
Casey Chan — There's no official Facebook app on Android, so you'll have to make do with either the website or an unofficial app. Friendly Facebook is the unofficial Facebook app to get though as it has all things you might use on Facebook: photos, chat, feed, pokes, and whatever else you book the face for. Free.
Hello, I must be going
It's hard to believe that I'm currently writing the words I seem to be writing, though a casual stock-taking of my senses dictates that it must be true. Here I am, at my computer, typing letters one by one into a plain text document, rolling along through one of the strangest posts I've ever penned for this site. Okay, probably the strangest ever.
After nearly four years at Engadget, it's time to make my exit. There are things I'm after and challenges I want to take on that just don't fit
After nearly four years at Engadget, it's time to make my exit. There are things I'm after and challenges I want to take on that just don't fit
Friday, March 11, 2011
Google: No CR-48 Laptops Left, Chrome OS Devices Arriving by Mid-Year [Blip]
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How to Not Suck on Twitter [Blip]
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Survey shows the many advantages of virtual offices (beyond the ability to work sans pants)
Those of us who do almost all of our work from the comforts of our homes will not be surprised by what follows, but the rest of the world should take note. A new survey of directors of 600 small to medium sized business reveal that upper-management sees major benefits of so-called "virtual office" work environments. So what are those advantages? Well, no shockers here, chief among the perceived advantages are lowered costs, flexibility for employee (such as the ability to hire people in
iPad 2 shipping in two to three weeks
If you've been dying to get your hands on an iPad 2, but didn't have the forethought or wherewithal to stand in line for one, then get ready to wait, because Apple's online store is showing delays of up two to three weeks for the slate. You can go ahead and order one now, but there's a chance you won't get your hands on the slab until April -- unless, of course, one of these guys is waiting in line to buy you a gift.iPad 2 shipping in two to three weeks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri,
NASA and Ad Astra team up to test VASIMR plasma rocket in space
Plasma propulsion may very well be our ticket to visit those little green men on Mars, which is why NASA is becoming besties with Ad Astra, makers of the VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket. After successful terrestrial testing, the next step is to try out a VF-200 flight model in space -- and a new agreement gives NASA engineers access to VASIMR while letting Ad Astra leverage NASA's spacecraft expertise to get it into orbit. The plasma rocket was assumed to be destined for use on the
Thursday, March 10, 2011
GM looking to offer lower-cost, shorter-range Volt?
We've certainly had some complaints about the Chevrolet Volt, including mediocre highway mileage, but far and away it's that $ 41,000 MSRP keeping it from being a real contender for mass adoption. Now we're hearing rumors that GM is thinking about down-sizing the car's batteries in an attempt to drop that price as well. The battery pack is far and away the most expensive single component in the car and the thought is that a reduction of the pure EV range to just 20 miles (down from its
I Can't Resist Having My Own Mini-Me Sculpted Figure [Figurines]
Jesus Diaz — I'm glad I can at least be like Steve and satisfy my planetary-sized ego ordering my own mini-me figurine: 3D-printing company Sculpteo can now use your frontal and profile photo to make a full 3D-printed, hand painted figurine.
They say that you only have to upload the two photos, approve the final 3D model on screen, and receive your mini-me in only ten days for about $ 82. I'm going to try it and tell you how it goes later.
They say that you only have to upload the two photos, approve the final 3D model on screen, and receive your mini-me in only ten days for about $ 82. I'm going to try it and tell you how it goes later.
How to Install iMovie on Your Original iPad [Apps]
Casey Chan — Apple doesn't want you to use iMovie on the original iPad because they don't think there's enough processing power and memory for it to work well enough. But whatever! You don't have to listen to them! There's a way to install iMovie on your ol' betsy iPad without even jailbreaking.
Here's how, courtesy of fscklog:
• Install the latest version of iPhone Configuration Utility 3.3 (Mac, Windows)• Download iMovie from iTunes• Open iPhone Configuration Utility• Click
Here's how, courtesy of fscklog:
• Install the latest version of iPhone Configuration Utility 3.3 (Mac, Windows)• Download iMovie from iTunes• Open iPhone Configuration Utility• Click
If All CFLs Looked Like This Brain Bulb, I Might Actually Use Them [Design]
Adrian Covert — When it comes to Compact Fluorescent Lamps, I'm with Colbert: they take too damn long to get to full brightness, and the light it gives off is weird. But if they all looked as cool as the Insight Lamp, a brain-shaped concept CFL, I'd probably reconsider my stance. According to designers Igor and Maria Soloyov, the bulb would be the same size as a normal bulb, but provide a dissipative light (as opposed to a single-point light source.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Apple patent application for 'Dynamically Generated Ring Tones' could make magical videos of your friends
Ever wish life was like a movie, that theme songs went to highlight your every dramatic action? This patent application from Cupertino isn't quite like that, but it's close, basically creating dynamic music videos for your friends when they call. It describes a means of stitching together video and audio sequences of the caller and dynamically composting them to create a beautiful little ditty celebrating your BFF -- or your mother in law, as it were. Such sequences are to be generated by
The Photograph That Became an Unintentional Cultural Icon [Video]
Adrian Covert — Noam Galai took a few photos of himself in 2006 and uploaded them to his Flickr. A few people liked those photos, but he didn't think of it. Over time, he began to see his photos popping up all over magazines, the internet and as street art. Then it began appearing on commodities (clothes, books, etc.). Now, it's being used as a symbol of protest in Iran. The crazy part is that nobody asked his permission.
Fstoppers are responsible for this great video narrative, titled
Fstoppers are responsible for this great video narrative, titled
Nyko solves your 3DS battery concerns with Power Pak+
If you took the time to peruse our early review of the Nintendo 3DS, and it sure looks like a lot of you did, you're probably well aware that battery life is a serious concern. We managed just over three hours on a charge, which is really bad for a handheld gaming console. Nyko is the first to offer a solution, the Power Pak+, which actually replaces the stock Nintendo pack, screwing on to the back and offering double the battery life -- which still sadly doesn't approach the longevity of the
Stay Informed of Your Office's Bathroom Sitch With iPotti [DIY]
Adrian Covert — From the looks of it, some guy was really annoyed with getting up from his office desk and walking all the way to the bathroom, only to find it occupied. It's a common problem to be sure. But most of us don't have the ability to hack together a device to alert you on your computer screen when the bathroom is available (the green alert light on the status bar):
To solve this problem, I took a Make Controller from MakingThings.com, wired a couple of Vishay TEMT6000 ambient
To solve this problem, I took a Make Controller from MakingThings.com, wired a couple of Vishay TEMT6000 ambient
OWC offers 16GB RAM for new MacBook Pros – Just $1600
Those new MacBook Pros – the ones released last month – are not only as fast as last year’s Mac Pros. They can also take 16GB of RAM. That puts them a pretty rarified world of computing, at least as far as laptops are concerned.
OWC has the OWC133DDR3S8GB 8GB modules currently at $ 100 per GB price of $ 800/each. While some may be able to justify the price now, it will come down dramatically as production ramps up. 4GB modules were just as expensive when they debuted and
OWC has the OWC133DDR3S8GB 8GB modules currently at $ 100 per GB price of $ 800/each. While some may be able to justify the price now, it will come down dramatically as production ramps up. 4GB modules were just as expensive when they debuted and
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking
The smart folks over at ComptonSoft are looking to provide GPS receiver to your mobile device in a rather unconventional way. TetherGPS links up your Android phone's GPS to the Nook Color by means of WiFi -- either on the same network or via a WiFi tether -- because the Nook Color is lacking in the standard usable Bluetooth department. After connecting the two devices, it makes a second link by running a TGPS server on the phone and a TGPS client on the Nook. The two devices are then
Swedes to start text message-based postage system, girl with dragon tattoo reportedly pleased
The Swedish Postal Service has announced that it will soon replace traditional postage stamps with a text message-based system. The system will work pretty simply -- customers will send a text message to a particular number, and a special code will be texted back to them which they can then write on the letter. A spokesperson for Posten AB, the Swedish Postal Service, says the system will work for packages weighing up to two kilograms, and that it will be just as secure as traditional postage.
Intel brings vPro to Sandy Bridge CPUs, makes losing your work laptop slightly less painful
Imagine, if you will, business travelers gallivanting across the globe with nary a care in the world -- secure in the fact that should they lose their laptop by hook or by crook, they can disable it with a simple text message. Well, the dream is now a reality as Intel has put its third-gen vPro technology in Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 business chips, giving users the ability to lock down and reactivate a PC remotely via SMS. Not exactly a fresh idea, but nice to see it passed on to more
Microsoft's Ventura could be a cloud music / video platform, have something to do with Zune
Zune hasn't gotten much love from Microsoft as of late, but that might change over time -- ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley noticed that the company is staffing up for a cloud-based multimedia project (by a group known as "Ventura Media Services") directed at PCs, TVs and mobile devices. "The team is a tight group of music and video lovers that create services and experiences revolving around music/video discovery and consumption," read a series of job postings that date back at least as far as July of
Monday, March 7, 2011
Cisco's Umi and TelePresence video calling systems: now with work at home and home at work
It was only a matter of time before Cisco's Umi and TelePresence services got together for some HD video calling synergy, and the company has finally enabled "full interoperability" between the two. Not only that, but the networking giant is also rolling out a free HD calling client called Umi Connect for PC and Mac (think SkypeHD) and a new Umi 720 system that works with slower broadband connections. The 720 will cost $ 399 upon its market arrival this summer, while the already available Umi
Nao robot gets a new charging station, Kinect / Wiimote controls
Robots that are able to find a charger and plug themselves in may not be that unique anymore, but most of those chargers tend to leave the robot with little to do while it replenishes its batteries. Not so with this new charger developed by Aldebaran Robotics for its Nao robot, which basically consists of a retractable extension cord that leaves the robot free to continue interacting with its owner, or simply sit down and chill out as the case may be. What's more, while that comes from
Editorial: Facebook, single identities, and the right to be anonymous
Here in the small but intense world of writing for tech blogs, trolling and spam are a daily nuisance. In fact, on a highly commented-upon blog such as Engadget, dealing with them (i.e., deleting comments, banning spammers, and responding to irrational people) can sometimes feel like a full-time job. I know this firsthand, as I have, possibly more than most of the other editors here over the past few years, made it one of my primary daily tasks (along with our three amazing interns). By
Skeletonics exoskeleton stars in thrilling demonstration video
This so-called Skeletonics exoskeleton may not have any motors or hydraulics like most of its powered counterparts, but that doesn't mean it isn't still plenty capable -- as a new, elaborately produced video amply demonstrates. We won't spoil it all for you, but lets just say things pick up when the guitar licks start, and there's definitely someone running for their life before the end. See for yourself after the break.Continue reading Skeletonics exoskeleton stars in thrilling demonstration
Canon's Rebel T3i / 600D reviewed: not exactly a compelling upgrade
Shocker of shockers -- the T3i really isn't a monumental upgrade from the T2i that came before it. Granted, you could probably glean as much from the raw specifications list, but at least we've got a handful of reviews now to confirm it. The folks at Camera Gear Guide have a fairly exhaustive critique up, and while they lauded the overall image quality and the addition of the new video features (a digital in-shoot zoom and a swiveling LCD), they couldn't wholeheartedly recommend it as an
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sprint's Nexus website is 'coming soon'
Just to throw a little more fuel on the fire, it turns out that directing your browser to now.sprint.com/nexus takes you to an landing site where you're told that "this page will be ready soon." Certainly sounds more likely than ever that Sprint's preparing to launch its own variant of the Nexus S -- and if our sources are correct, it'll be called the Nexus S 4G, likely with both CDMA and WiMAX on board. Interestingly, both now.sprint.com/evoview and now.sprint.com/evo3d -- the other two
iPad 2 prediction wrap up
Now that the iPad 2 has been announced, following several rumors and predictions, we thought it would be a great idea to compile a prediction roundup into three categories: what came true, what could still be coming up, and what didn’t happen.
What came true:
-A few days prior to the iPad 2 event we exclusively reported the iPad 2 will have a white color option.
-Over a month ago we obtained an iPad 2 LCD which pointed to a thinner tablet with the same 1024 x 768 display as the
What came true:
-A few days prior to the iPad 2 event we exclusively reported the iPad 2 will have a white color option.
-Over a month ago we obtained an iPad 2 LCD which pointed to a thinner tablet with the same 1024 x 768 display as the
Inhabitat's Week in Green: ice castles, cardboard columns, and the Geneva Auto Show
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
This week Inhabitat showcased several jaw-dropping feats of architecture, starting with a series of amazingly complex computer-designed cardboard columns that boast between 8 and 16 million facets. We were also struck by a stunning new net-zero Solar Academy in Germany, and we showcased a Swiss chalet that is the world's first apartment building to be
This week Inhabitat showcased several jaw-dropping feats of architecture, starting with a series of amazingly complex computer-designed cardboard columns that boast between 8 and 16 million facets. We were also struck by a stunning new net-zero Solar Academy in Germany, and we showcased a Swiss chalet that is the world's first apartment building to be
Andy Rooney hates electronic books. The sky is blue. Tonight's forecast is darkness and other really obvious, unsurprising things. [Blip]
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Switched On: Padded Windows
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
At the launch of the new iPad - superior for video chat, group presentations, and cutting cake -- Apple didn't miss a few opportunities to rub salt in the open air vents of Microsoft's tablet efforts. Apple noted that sales of the iPad have exceeded those of every other tablet PC ever sold, and that Microsoft (along with other competitors) were chasing doomed strategies that extended outmoded models.
Microsoft
At the launch of the new iPad - superior for video chat, group presentations, and cutting cake -- Apple didn't miss a few opportunities to rub salt in the open air vents of Microsoft's tablet efforts. Apple noted that sales of the iPad have exceeded those of every other tablet PC ever sold, and that Microsoft (along with other competitors) were chasing doomed strategies that extended outmoded models.
Microsoft
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Earbud / alarm clock takes the comfort out of sleeping
Love sleeping with earbuds in? Hate setting your smartphone in its alarm dock before you go to bed? The folks at Thanko have unveiled a little something called EARINALM which may be right up your alley. The premise is pretty straightforward: it's a set of earbuds that contains an alarm clock, stopwatch, and a calendar. The package includes a USB adapter of charging. Yours now for a mere ¥2,980, or roughly $ 35. The As Seen On TV infomercials practically write themselves.Earbud / alarm
Skyhook brings location-awareness to the Sony NGP, including WiFi-only models
The news got a bit overshadowed by some augmented reality demos and a little game called Uncharted, but Sony also talked a bit about the NGP's location-aware capabilities at GDC this past week, which we now know will rely on Skyhook's Core Engine system. What's more, that functionality will apparently be included on WiFi-only models in addition to those with 3G, which means that all NGP users will be able to play location-aware games and take advantage of other various social applications. As
Libya Protestors Using Photoshop to Make Caricatures of Gaddafi [Libya]
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Automatic Tattoo Machine Randomly Chooses Which Tattoo You'll Get [Art]
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Samsung says Galaxy Tab 10.1 is still on schedule, iPad 2 be darned
Samsung may have been humbled by Apple's iPad 2, but the company's apparently not letting that affect its plans -- without directly refuting statements by a Samsung VP that the upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1 was "inadequate" or might be priced cheaper than originally intended, the company told the Yonhap News Agency that the tablet will be released on schedule. In other words, the Honeycomb tablet's not getting any thinner or lighter, but something's gotta give, and Samsung's not quite ready to say
Friday, March 4, 2011
How would you change Jolicloud's Jolibook?
Jolicloud's Jolibook may not be the hottest selling netbook in the universe (or maybe it is, and we just don't know it), but regardless, it's certainly quite the eye-catcher. For those who diverted from the paths more beaten and picked one up, we're keenly interested in finding out how things are going for you. Are you content with the overall design? Would you have changed anything about the operating system? What about that bulging battery? Would you have rather it ran Windows after extended
Don't Wanna Memorize Numbers? Call Someone's Twitter Handle Instead [Webapps]
Sam Biddle — I have no idea what my mom's cell phone number is. I don't think I've ever known the phone number of a girlfriend. Why would I? You probably don't either! Contact lists killed them. But web service Go800 wants to skip the whole number thing entirely, letting you hit people via their Twitter handle to connect a call.
It works fairly simply. Register an account with Go800, authenticate your Twitter account, and then anyone who shoots a text with your tweetie name to 56800
It works fairly simply. Register an account with Go800, authenticate your Twitter account, and then anyone who shoots a text with your tweetie name to 56800
SSD TRIM Support Makes an Early OS X Appearance on new MacBook Pros [Apple]
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Green Technology Pundit Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tells Electric Car Makers to DO BETTER [Cars]
Adrian Covert — Click to viewWhen he's not driving around in circles, NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. apparently likes to opine on the state of electric cars and green technology. CNS news tracked down Earnhardt to ask him what he thought of electric cars, specificially the Chevy Volt. Here's what he said:
"I think that the Chevy Volt's a good product. I think that the consumers need to understand how difficult it is to produce a car with the standards that they have, with the guidelines
"I think that the Chevy Volt's a good product. I think that the consumers need to understand how difficult it is to produce a car with the standards that they have, with the guidelines
Trucks Flying Out of the Back of an Airplane Are Just as Awesome as They Sound [Video]
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Thursday, March 3, 2011
Ask Engadget: what's the best iPad keyboard case?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Courtney, who obviously thinks the virtual iOS keyboard isn't svelte enough for her needs. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm sort of overwhelmed by the amount of iPad keyboard cases on the market, and would love to hear opinions from owners. Which
"I'm sort of overwhelmed by the amount of iPad keyboard cases on the market, and would love to hear opinions from owners. Which
Thrutu for Android Lets You Do More than Talk When You're On the Phone [Apps]
Casey Chan — If you can use Thrutu on your Android phone, it's pretty neat. When you're on a phone call, the app gives you a sliding drawer on top of your dialer to give you easy access to send pictures, contact info, location, etc. to the person you're talking to. It's quick and painless—just think about how many times you've tried to track down a phone number or explained directions on the phone, none of those situations would be as easy as just directly sending what you need.
The
The
Automatically Launch Android's Music Player When You Plug In Your Headphones (and More) [Downloads]
Whitson Gordon — Android: Want to start your music app every time you plug in your headphones? Want to start tethering as soon as you hook up the USB cable? Plug In Launcher will auto-start any app you want whenever you plug something in.
Plug In Launcher is super simple to use: just open it up and hit the USB or Headset tab at the top. Then, select an app to launch whenever you plug in that cable, and you're good to go! From now on, whenever you plug in your USB cable, you can have your
Plug In Launcher is super simple to use: just open it up and hit the USB or Headset tab at the top. Then, select an app to launch whenever you plug in that cable, and you're good to go! From now on, whenever you plug in your USB cable, you can have your
Netflix for iPad updated with a new custom UI, but loses features like DVD queueing
While its page on iTunes doesn't show any change, HackingNetflix points out Netflix for iPad was updated today with a new version of the app that gives it a customized interface instead of just pulling up a lightly customized version of the standard webpage. That reduces browsing options to four areas: Home, Genres, Search and Instant Queue. Note the word instant, because there is no longer any way to access ones DVD queue from within the app (pulling up the Netflix page in a browser
ASUS U36Jc review
At this point, it feels like almost every laptop under the sun is being described as "thin and light," but the thinnest and lightest with a standard voltage processor? Well, that's a new distinction, and ASUS claims its 13.3-inch U36Jc is just that. The .76-inch thick chassis tips the scales to just 3.7-pounds, but doesn't skimp on the horsepower or battery life to attain those trim dimensions like some other ultrathin systems out there. Sure, the U36Jc may ditch the optical drive, but it
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Apple's iBookstore Now Sells Ebooks From All Six Major Publishers [Blip]
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A Pixelated History of Cameras [Image Cache]
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Sneaker speakers kick out the jams
We've seen homemade speakers crafted from all sorts of unusual objects, but these new sneaker speakers built for a design competition by professional sneaker customizer Nashmoney might just be the new king in town. As you can see, they started out as a regular pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and all of the speaker components are built right into the sneakers, including the amplifier and the controls. Of course, they're also one of a kind, but you can find some pictures and details of the build
HP TouchPad shoots down planes, shows off next-gen Snapdragon's GPU (video)
We're willing to bet Qualcomm's dual-core Adreno 220 GPU is an abstract concept to most readers, but we can put it into perspective real quick -- here it is in the HP TouchPad, pumping pixels and mapping textures to a seriously stunning little air combat game. We got our hands on the webOS 3.0 tablet and gave Polarbit's Armageddon Squadron II a whirl at GDC 2011, and the experience felt pretty solid overall, framerate only dipping significantly when unleashing a hefty barrage of rockets upon
Simulated Mars mission simulating return to Earth as we speak, astronauts genuinely overjoyed
We thought the Hundred Year Starship initiative to strand aged astronauts on Mars by 2030 was depressing, and in comparison the European Space Agency's Mars-500 project is little more than a walk in the park (a very small, confined, and extremely monotonous park). Essentially Bio-Dome re-written to simulate travel to Mars and back (without that lovable scamp Pauly Shore), the project bills itself as "the first full duration simulation of a manned flight to Mars," with astronauts conducting a
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Dekopon Is the Fruit of the Future [Food]
Adrian Covert — What do you get when you combine a great taste and an awesome name into a fruit that hasn't even been around for 40 years? You get the Dekopon. And according to the L.A. Times' David Karp, it's the best tasting citrus fruit he's ever had (he claims to have tried over 1000 citrus varieties).
According to Karp, the Dekopon, which was conjured up in Japan in 1972, combines a mandarin-tinged sweetness with a tart acidity. It gained popularlity in Japan during the '90s, where a
According to Karp, the Dekopon, which was conjured up in Japan in 1972, combines a mandarin-tinged sweetness with a tart acidity. It gained popularlity in Japan during the '90s, where a
What Happens When You Can't Recognize Faces? [Science]
Casey Chan — Sometimes I have trouble associating names with faces but I'm not as bad as Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist and author, who can't recognize any face, including his own. Scientifically speaking, Sacks suffers from a disorder called prosopagnosia, which is a disorder of face perception where the ability to recognize faces is impaired.
Click to viewIn the video, Sacks comically tells a story about how he assumes he's looking into a mirror when any old man with a beard is in
Click to viewIn the video, Sacks comically tells a story about how he assumes he's looking into a mirror when any old man with a beard is in
Design project paints city's WiFi networks with light
We've seen WiFi detectors used for various DIY projects before, but none quite like this rather ambitious project cooked up by Norwegian designers Timo Armall, Jørn Knutsen, and Einar Sneve Martinussen. They built a four-meter long WiFi-detecting rod that boasts 80 LED bulbs and carried it around various neighborhoods in Oslo, picking up signals of various strengths from nearby WiFi networks all the way. That's only the half of it, though. The real kicker is that they also captured the
How Much For That Bike In the Window? [Architecture]
Kyle VanHemert — If you ask Gregg of Gregg's Cycles in Bellevue, Washington, he'll probably ask you "which one?" His new 12,000 square foot space was designed as a "pure neutral container" for the bikes therein, a few dozen of which are hung prominently in the windows.
Located on a small site, the elevated design allows shoppers to find easy parking below. Not that they'll be driving those gas-guzzling Earth killers for long anyway. [Arch Daily, Images: Ed Sozinho, Michael
Located on a small site, the elevated design allows shoppers to find easy parking below. Not that they'll be driving those gas-guzzling Earth killers for long anyway. [Arch Daily, Images: Ed Sozinho, Michael
Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon
The companion app for TiVo Premiere DVRs worked out well when we reviewed it, but ZatzNotFunny points out it could get even better soon when it will feature "limited support" for Series 3 / HD boxes, along with TiVo DVRs offered by cable providers like RCN and Suddenlink. This "coming soon" info was included in an update yesterday that added a new DVR selection screen to the setup process, ability to run in the background plus assorted performance enhancements and bug fixes. Of course, we now
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