Behind the Scenes of How Man Works with Machine in Pacific Rim

The monstrously giant mechs of Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim are controlled by two different people at the same time. The two pilots interact with the computer in Drift Space to control the giant mech and this featurette explains a little about how that works.

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Haha, Microsoft Uses Siri to Make Fun of the iPad in a Commercial

Microsoft, which has been trying to force Windows Phone into the Android and iPhone conversation in its recent commercials, is going head on against Apple in its latest spot. That's not surprising (as Samsung loves to pick at Cupertino all the time), but what's hilarious is that Microsoft is using Apple's own Siri to…

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How to Make Your Own DIY Etch A Sketch

It's human nature to immediately pick up and play with an Etch A Sketch whenever you see one. It's in the Hall of Fame of toys (does that exist?) and almost everyone has struggled making anything more than squiggly lines with its knobs. But did you know that you can actually make an Etch A Sketch toy at home? Yeah.

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You saw the news yesterday. The Xbox One was everywhere, and everyone talked a lot about it. But when a new console hits, often we'll latch onto the biggest, shiniest new baubles. Now though, having slept on it, let's dig into the real nerd porn. It's worth a look.

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Drops First Aid: Knowledge You Need to Save a Life Right in Your Pocket

Of all the things you never leave home without, your phone is usually somewhere near the top of that list, ready to whip out at a moments notice. You keep all your most vital information on it: birthdays, important meetings, reminders, beloved images, what have you—but all of this is worthless without the people…

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Here's the Document that Started Apple's Hidden Irish Tax Scheme

The mega-valuable company that makes your laptop is under congressional scrutiny this week for offshore tax-dodging. It all started in 1980, when Apple's California execs moved their operation to Ireland with a fake company with the codename "Waldwill Limited."

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A Steeping Scooping Tea Strainer That Cuts Down On Dirty Dishes

If your kitchen lacks a dishwasher, you'll do everything you can to reduce the amount of dishes you dirty. From eating directly off the counter, to drinking everything from the container, to making tea with this ingenious $21 Loop strainer that doubles as a scoop so you don't need to dirty a spoon.

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DARPA's Web Warrior Support System Helps Soldiers Hoist Heavy Loads

It's not as exciting as seeing Big Dog or Petman in action, but infantry in the US Army should be happy now that DARPA's begun testing its Warrior Web support system. One day robotic exoskeletons will allow humans to easily lift and carry hundreds of pounds, but for the immediate future DARPA has set its sights on a…

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Good, Bad, and Evil Things: Cataloging Crimes Against Taste

The nebulous territory of “good” and “bad” taste have always confused me. Who are you to tell me what completely unaffordable couch I should or shouldn’t buy, well-meaning Architectural Digest editor? Well, back in 1909, a German art historian named Gustav E. Pazaurek devised a system to help us all out. Let’s call it …

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