Gizmodo
Peripherals
Peripherals
Cellphones
Cellphone Makers Have No Idea Why We Hate Their Phones
Cellphone makers like LG, Moto and Nokia are apparently laboring harder than ever over what we think about their phones (mostly not happy thoughts!). But guess what? Even with this newfound "concern" they still don't get it. Here's a couple of their ridiculous, out-of-touch ideas about how make us happy from a panel at MWC:One panelist suggested that cellphone makers tap into consumers' "neural networks", while another said they should understand their subliminal needs.WTF? More »
8:30 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By matt buchanan
29,654 views,
104 comments
Latest by Johnnyremix: I think what the manufacturers need to do rather then gunning straight to the consumer ( generally consumers dont know more »
time travel
Eco Park Time Travel Mart: "Whenever You Are, We're Already Then"
David Eggers can now add time travel entrepreneur to his long list of literary and social accomplishments thanks to the Eco Park Time Travel Mart he recently opened in LA. Some of the humorous products available for purchase include: mammoth chunks, barbarian repellent, packets of shade and anti-robot fluid. More info after the break.
More »
Lighting
Need to unwind? The RelaxStyle Room Palette Effect lamp can transport you to a tranquil undersea world at the push of a button. The lamp projects light onto walls or ceilings that resemble undulating waves—giving users the feeling of being submerged in shallow water, looking up into the sunlight. You can even set a timer that will automatically shut the light show down after 120 minutes. That way you can blissfully set adrift into sleep and peacefully pee your pants in the middle of the night. Available for $69. [Japan Trend Shop via Crave via DVICE]
RelaxStyle Lamp: Like Tripping at the Bottom of the Sea
Need to unwind? The RelaxStyle Room Palette Effect lamp can transport you to a tranquil undersea world at the push of a button. The lamp projects light onto walls or ceilings that resemble undulating waves—giving users the feeling of being submerged in shallow water, looking up into the sunlight. You can even set a timer that will automatically shut the light show down after 120 minutes. That way you can blissfully set adrift into sleep and peacefully pee your pants in the middle of the night. Available for $69. [Japan Trend Shop via Crave via DVICE]
Rumor
Amazon Unbox HD Rentals Coming Soon?
Amazon's Unbox service might finally get some HD action. This screencap is from a survey sent out to their customer panel—notice the $4.99 pricepoint to rent an HD movie is the same as iTunes. Where's the "cheaper, plz" option? They also asked whether there's interest in subscriptions—like to "hit movies," or say, indie flicks. What say ye? [Thanks Michael!]
Alarm
ONELink Wireless, Networked, Talking Smoke Alarms Tell You When to Get the Hell Out
If you are ever confronted with a fire or carbon monoxide situation in your home, it goes without saying that you would want an alarm that will give you the best chance to escape. That having been said, the ONELink system from First Alert does just about everything outside of physically carrying you out of the building. Because they can be wirelessly networked (up to 16 units), when one of the devices goes off, they will all go off, giving you more time to take action no matter where you are in a building. More »
Rumor
Rumor: Apple Wants Sony Blu-ray Drives for MacBook Pros
AppleInsider says Apple is "actively" poking Sony (as opposed to other BR manufacturers) for slot-loading Blu-ray drives for MacBook Pros—Apple supposedly even wanted to offer BR SuperDrives with the new Penryn-powered machines, but "quality issues" meant Sony could only deliver combo drives. Apple said shno thanks for now. More »
Question of the Day
Gadget addiction. It sounds stupid, but names like "Crackberry" exist for a reason. Think of all the shiny gadgets you own and ask yourself "could I do without?" More specifically, which gadget do you need more—a computer or a cellphone?
More »
Question of the Day: What Do You Need More? A Cellphone or a Computer?
Gadget addiction. It sounds stupid, but names like "Crackberry" exist for a reason. Think of all the shiny gadgets you own and ask yourself "could I do without?" More specifically, which gadget do you need more—a computer or a cellphone?
More »
5:50 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Sean Fallon
19,649 views,
115 comments
Latest by uberfu: What're you talking about - choose? What's this choose? There is NO Choose! I need both - dammit! Only when I can run Final more »
sin city gadgets
10 Ways to Bring the Sin City Experience Home
With the Sony 2008 Line Show behind us, we can't help but feel a little sad to be leaving Vegas once again (and by "Vegas" we mean "hookers"). Unfortunately, most of you can't experience the joys of America's playground as frequently as we do—but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the fun. The following 10 gadgets can help bring the Sin City experience to your crib.
5:01 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Sean Fallon
5,186 views,
18 comments
Latest by groverexploder: Theres' a better version of that watch out there. A Swiss brand named Girard Perregaux created a functional slot machine watch. more »
Not Star Wars
In a clear effort to electrocute himself with powerlines or just cut his head with a traffic light, someone has created a 12-foot-tall bicycle from scratch. Called the SkyWalker TallBike, these bikes are not for the faint of heart. In fact, they are built for absolute lunatics. In other words, I want to ride one. Update: We talked with Brad Graham, the inventor, about how it was made and how it really works. Details and more picts after the jump.
More »
SkyWalker 12-Foot-Tall Bicycle Probably Requires Jedi Abilities
In a clear effort to electrocute himself with powerlines or just cut his head with a traffic light, someone has created a 12-foot-tall bicycle from scratch. Called the SkyWalker TallBike, these bikes are not for the faint of heart. In fact, they are built for absolute lunatics. In other words, I want to ride one. Update: We talked with Brad Graham, the inventor, about how it was made and how it really works. Details and more picts after the jump.More »
mischief
Sling Shot Pen Will Make You the Dennis the Menace of the Office
This is a pen that is also a slingshot. That means you can shoot a rock at the head of that dick in the cubicle across the aisle from you that always listens to his headphones loud enough for you to hear it, but then when he goes looking for a culprit, you'll just be making some notes on the latest earnings report. The perfect crime! Hit the jump for a video of this bad boy in action. More »
4:30 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Adam Frucci
3,887 views,
17 comments
Latest by Dr_Blip: I have this and it sucks, it broke after only a few attack! And no it's not the rubber band more »
Software
That website where you upload a picture of yourself and it tells you which celebrities you look like is fun, but what if you could do the same thing in reverse? Microsoft's latest image-based face search has just that application, allowing you to potentially upload a picture of a celebrity and find matches on dating sites depending on how close he or she looks to the shot you picked. That's right, you can pick a date based on their likeness to Angelina Jolie or Evangeline Lilly. Plus, if you're having a hard time getting over a breakup, you can pick a woman that looks as close to your ex as possible, ensuring that your relationship will be long and healthy. [Dialaphone]
Microsoft's Patent Revolutionizes Dating By Matching People With Celebrity Faces
That website where you upload a picture of yourself and it tells you which celebrities you look like is fun, but what if you could do the same thing in reverse? Microsoft's latest image-based face search has just that application, allowing you to potentially upload a picture of a celebrity and find matches on dating sites depending on how close he or she looks to the shot you picked. That's right, you can pick a date based on their likeness to Angelina Jolie or Evangeline Lilly. Plus, if you're having a hard time getting over a breakup, you can pick a woman that looks as close to your ex as possible, ensuring that your relationship will be long and healthy. [Dialaphone]
heineken beertender
The Heineken Beertender we first wrote about almost four years ago is finally getting its US launch tomorrow, March 1. The beertender is a special for-your-home tap that takes in five-liter Heineken DraughtKegs and dispenses via the tap, for a reasonably authentic home beer experience. It'll be exclusively available at Williams-Sonoma stores starting tomorrow for $299, and move into a wider release schedule at the start of April. [Beer Tender USA - Thanks Jason!]
Heineken Beertender Finally Getting US Launch
The Heineken Beertender we first wrote about almost four years ago is finally getting its US launch tomorrow, March 1. The beertender is a special for-your-home tap that takes in five-liter Heineken DraughtKegs and dispenses via the tap, for a reasonably authentic home beer experience. It'll be exclusively available at Williams-Sonoma stores starting tomorrow for $299, and move into a wider release schedule at the start of April. [Beer Tender USA - Thanks Jason!]
Military
Heat Ray Causes Unintelligible Yelping from 60 Minutes Reporter
Remember the US Military ray gun that makes people feel like they're on fire? Well, 60 Minutes sent out a reporter to see if he could take the heat. Standing in plain view of the ray gun made his body feel like "scalding water," so David Martin attempted, with little success, to hide behind a piece of plywood and later a mattress. Some claim they can only take the heat ray 4 - 5 seconds, so when David tried it we think he only made it 2 seconds, even if he did say, "ONE ONE THOUSAND TWO ONE THOUSAND THREE ONEEEAAHHHHRRHHR" [CBS via TechEBlog]
Announcements
Contest Reminder: Last Day to Win a Toshiba Laptop
Still haven't entered in our Toshiba laptop contest? Better hurry, since today's the last day you'll be able to send in your entry. Check here to see how.
2:50 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Jason Chen
2,359 views,
7 comments
Gadgets
Samsung's Vivace Shadow and Neo-Forte Air Conditioners Kill Germs
Having an air conditioner running during the summer while we're sitting naked on our leather chairs is luxurious enough, but an air conditioner that also kills germs? That's just plain opulent. Samsung's Vivace Shadow and Neo-Forte (black and white) air conditioners do just that, using their Micro Plasma Ion technology to kill 78 percent of fungus and 58 percent of bacteria within 30 minutes in a closed environment. It may look like a printer, but when's the last time you hung a printer on the wall? [Crave Asia via Unpluggd via DVice]
2:20 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Jason Chen
5,558 views,
20 comments
Latest by yiannis667: Anybody has this in his house ? I recently bought the AQC24VBC VIVACE and the samsung 2008 air condition catalog more »
In Brief
iNdependence Beta Brings It All To iPhone 1.1.4
If you've just updated your iPhone to the 1.1.4 firmware and have been awaiting an easy jailbreak and unlock process, iNdependence v1.4 beta 5 is out and brings "jailbreak, activation, SSH installation and ringtone/wallpaper/application." The Mac-only software is still beta and as it goes with any iPhone hacking, you must use caution, especially with the SDK coming next week. [iNdependence]
Gadgets
