Gizmodo
In Brief
In Brief
Concept
This piece of art is a huge, wall-mounted electronic spectrum analyzer that displays sound from ambient noise. It looks to be made up of an array of red LEDs set up in a pattern of 8 to 32 bands. The entire device runs on batteries for 4 hours, or AC power, and is turned on by a switch behind the plate glass face. $8200 for 8-bands. I don't even want to know how much this would cost for 32-bands, but I'd bet you an NYU ITP 3rd year student could pull this off for the cost of materials and beer money. Nevermind the guy with no shirt; this thing was made in Europe.
[On via MusicThing]
"On" is a Huge, Wall-Mounted Spectrum Analyzer
This piece of art is a huge, wall-mounted electronic spectrum analyzer that displays sound from ambient noise. It looks to be made up of an array of red LEDs set up in a pattern of 8 to 32 bands. The entire device runs on batteries for 4 hours, or AC power, and is turned on by a switch behind the plate glass face. $8200 for 8-bands. I don't even want to know how much this would cost for 32-bands, but I'd bet you an NYU ITP 3rd year student could pull this off for the cost of materials and beer money. Nevermind the guy with no shirt; this thing was made in Europe.[On via MusicThing]
In Brief
iPhone Update 1.0.1 Now Available, Fixes Safari Security Breach, Other Bugs
iPhone Firmware Update v1.0.1 is now available through iTunes, and it will "fix bugs." The JesusPhone is getting an apparently minor upgrade, but the consequences are huge to your security. Discover why after the jump. [Last Updated Aug 1 08:30AM EST - NEW: full listing of changes after the jump.] More »
Miracles
DirecTiVos to Get Updates (For Some Crazy Reason)
Hallelujah! For some reason, TiVo and DirecTV are updating the older Series 2 generation DirecTiVos as part of an ongoing agreement to explore bringing "future enhancements" to DirecTV TiVo owners. The improvments now include the addition of the Recently Deleted shows folder, Remote Booking, and Overlap Protection (recording conflict resolution). More »
Fashion Sense
Rock out in style with Skullcandy's slick DJ style G.I. headphones. They come in a variety of styles from Desert Camo to Rasta, including a couple of military-inspired designs with bullets on the leather band. The speakers on these bad boys are also made of soft leather and swivel a full 90 degrees. $69.95 may sound like a bit much for fashion-focused headphones, but Skullcandy tosses in an extra pair of earpads and a travel bag for the price. [Skullcandy G.I. via Lussorian]
Skullcandy G.I. Headphones Kick Ass, Take Names
Rock out in style with Skullcandy's slick DJ style G.I. headphones. They come in a variety of styles from Desert Camo to Rasta, including a couple of military-inspired designs with bullets on the leather band. The speakers on these bad boys are also made of soft leather and swivel a full 90 degrees. $69.95 may sound like a bit much for fashion-focused headphones, but Skullcandy tosses in an extra pair of earpads and a travel bag for the price. [Skullcandy G.I. via Lussorian]
Baby On Board
Baby Alert Child Minder Remembers Your Kids When You Forget
It's better to be safe than sorry: Baby Alert's Child Minder system (baby not included) replaces the generic strap on your kid's car seat, causing a keychain alarm to sound every time you move more than ten feet from the buckled fastener that ties your tot down. $64.95 for peace of mind. [The Child Minder System via Sci Fi Tech]
Breaking
Next Tuesday, August 7th, at 10am PDT, Apple's holding an event which will be focused on the Mac. It'll take place at Apple's Cupertino HQ in the Town Hall. Guess those iPod nano rumors were wrong. My best guess is that it's for new iMacs that Kasper at Appleinsider has been speculating on for awhile. But we'll all find out for sure next Tuesday when we liveblog it. For those curious, the Town Hall looks like this:
More »
Mac Event at Apple HQ Next Tuesday
Next Tuesday, August 7th, at 10am PDT, Apple's holding an event which will be focused on the Mac. It'll take place at Apple's Cupertino HQ in the Town Hall. Guess those iPod nano rumors were wrong. My best guess is that it's for new iMacs that Kasper at Appleinsider has been speculating on for awhile. But we'll all find out for sure next Tuesday when we liveblog it. For those curious, the Town Hall looks like this:
More »
NASA Says iPhone Is Not A Suitable Business Tool
NASA has declared the iPhone not ready for business use by their employees. Instead, they're planning on supporting the Blackberry 8800 or Palm Treo 750. [InformationWeek]
Image via Wired
NASA has declared the iPhone not ready for business use by their employees. Instead, they're planning on supporting the Blackberry 8800 or Palm Treo 750. [InformationWeek]Image via Wired
Philippe Kahn, of Borland and Camera Phone fame, won the Transpac sailing race in the double-handed class, with and without handicap factored in. Congrats to team Pegasus. [Pegasus via Giz]
iTunes-Like
Nokia is planning to launch a worldwide music store on August 29th. Fortune compares it to iTunes, and somehow works iPhone into the headline. Two things I notice: a) This isn't an application, it's a website. b) This is like iTunes in that you can't buy songs over the wire; you have to download them to a PC and transfer songs to a phone. What's the point of Nokia getting into this game if they're not going to allow downloads directly to handsets by WiFi or 3G? [CNN]
Nokia's Music Store to Launch August 29th Worldwide...Sideloading Only?
Nokia is planning to launch a worldwide music store on August 29th. Fortune compares it to iTunes, and somehow works iPhone into the headline. Two things I notice: a) This isn't an application, it's a website. b) This is like iTunes in that you can't buy songs over the wire; you have to download them to a PC and transfer songs to a phone. What's the point of Nokia getting into this game if they're not going to allow downloads directly to handsets by WiFi or 3G? [CNN]
6:57 PM on Tue Jul 31 2007
By Brian Lam
2,049 views,
12 comments
Latest by blank: @ SDSDV10 Did you know that there was such a thing as sarcasm? See link [en.wikipedia.org] Though I shouldn't be so mean. It can be hard to tell if someone's being sarcastic in print. Perhaps you're actually being sarcastic to me. more »
Kitchen
This concept washing machine by Reed Crawford saves water from one of the cleaner, later rinse cycles for use in a future wash. Smart, but only if there is an override that I can activate when washing soiled underwear. I mean, hypothetically.
[Yanko]
Recycling Washer/Dryer Concept
This concept washing machine by Reed Crawford saves water from one of the cleaner, later rinse cycles for use in a future wash. Smart, but only if there is an override that I can activate when washing soiled underwear. I mean, hypothetically. [Yanko]
Some confusion from the Apple analyst community today. Apple shares down nearly 7% to 131.76, based on a circular sourcing loop (infinite) that Apple would cut its iPhone production in half, according to a misread quote from Miller Tabak analyst Peter Boockvar, misreported by TheStreet.com. Boockvar had merely said that he'd heard rumors, too. How very bloggish of you all. [CNBC]
Environment
New Solar Cells Set Record in Efficiency
Solar cells just got a boost in efficiency thanks to a couple of scientists at the University of Delaware. The news cells can convert 42.8% of the light that strikes them into electricity, which is a step up from the previous record of 40.7%. More »
Clips
NES MP3 Player and Speakers Made From a Cart and Controller
People are making the NES controller into optical mice and voice recorders, so why not make it into an MP3 player? Better yet, why not take an actual NES cartridge and make that into speakers and get a horrible, yet awesome NES speaker system going? The only thing better than this would be if the set played all Minibosses, all the time. [Hacked Gadgets via Geekologie]
5:20 PM on Tue Jul 31 2007
By Jason Chen
1,962 views,
5 comments
Gadgets
Bug Labs Plans Open Source DIY Gadget Hardware
Ryan at Engadget has a great post about Bug Labs, a company planning to release DIY gadget hardware in the form of modular screens, QWERTY, GPS, Wifi/Bluetooth radios (sorry, no cellular radios). This could be the beginning of a gadget world that could be as open, and sometimes messy, as the PC one. [Bug Labs via Engadget]
Peripherals
Iomega StorCenter 1TB w/RAID, Gigabit Ethernet, UPnP, and USB Expansion
Iomega's StorCenter NAS devices are shipping in sizes from 500GB to 1TB with 7200 RPM SATA-II drives. The 1GB uses two drives, so can work in RAID 0, 1, or JBOD (one large drive). Each has Gigabit, but no WiFi, and has Active directory support and UPnP server ability. Interestingly, you can tether drives to this one via the two USB ports. $269 for 500GB, $389 for 1TB. [PR Newswire]
Software
Missing Sync V4 Released, Supports Windows Mobile 6
Windows Mobile owners who own Macs will be familiar with Missing Sync, the app that lets you sync your smartphone to OS X's Calendar and iCal (among other things). The latest version is available, and brings support for newer phones and phones running Windows Mobile 6. Other new features are a video plug-in for video importing and call log/SMS log importing to grab the call list/SMS list from your phone onto your computer. If you've got a WM phone and a Mac, you need to get this. [MarkSpace via MacWorld]
Screw'd
Amp'd Handsets Die Tonight; Prexar Mobile Offers Questionable Shelter
Amp'd customers left with dead handsets after the company's death can take their handsets over to Verizon, Sprint, or other CDMA carriers, it is rumored. Or, where Amp'd officially recommends you go, to Prexar Mobile. GOOD IDEA: move from one relatively unstable carrier to an even more unknown one. At least they won't make you sign another contract. Lame Bonus: You get 100 text messages for free for the first month. [Prexar via IW]
4:36 PM on Tue Jul 31 2007
By Brian Lam
2,622 views,
22 comments
