Question of the Day: Do You Use a Bluetooth Headset?

With numerous states looking to regulate talking on your cellphone while driving, using a Bluetooth headset is one of your best alternatives. However, there are still plenty of tools out there who wander around with two free hands talking on these things at the top of their lungs (here is a tip for that by the way), as well as corded headset users and people who never use a headset of any kind. So, the question is: do you use a Bluetooth headset? More »

Radioactive Tritium Makes Keychain Light Glow For 10 Years

Besides being somewhat dim, most keychain lights have batteries that only last a couple months before needing to be replaced—which often never happens since nobody has watch batteries lying around. But what if you could have this Mini Tritium Keychain, which lasts about 10 years without needing to be replaced? If you're worried that keeping something radioactive in your pocket next to your gonads is a bad idea, keep in mind that the particles emitted are supposedly so weak they don't even penetrate your skin. Also keep in mind that science has been wrong about stuff before. [DealExtreme via Gear Diary via Oh Gizmo]

Apple Sued for iMac Display Deception, Steve Jobs Suspected Closet Megatron

The hyenas are grouping again to grab some chops off Apple with yet-another-class-action suit. This one claims that the iMac's 20-inch display has been marketed as having the same features as the iMac 24-inch. Looking at Apple's site, their case seems without much merit (the technical term, I believe, is "bloodyfrikkinstupidtastic"). Here's Apple description and the lawyers' press release: More »

HP's 3-Megapixel Elite Auto Focus Webcam Looks Like a Fancy Stapler

HP's Elite Auto Focus Webcam not only boasts one of the highest megapixel video counts we've seen (3-megapixels), but it's also got a 12-megapixel still image sensor for regular pics. It comes with the stapler-like stand, but you can also clip it onto a monitor for more of an eye-level view. There's AIM, Windows Live Messenger, Skype and Yahoo Messenger compatibility, stereo microphone, USB 2.0, and privacy cover for your alone times. Although you might be buying this for the 3-megapixel video, be aware that you only get about 5-6 FPS in that mode—you'll have to pump it down to VGA resolution for a fluid 30 FPS. [Digital Home Thoughts]

Jean Nouvel's Faucets Have Touchsensing PlayStationish Buttons

Like many other architects, 2008 Pritzker winner Jean Nouvel also designs home objects, like these bathroom faucets and shower with touch sensor technology on four buttons which look taken from a PlayStation gamepad. Pressing the triangles will increase or decrease the temperature, while the circle will open the water flow, and the X will close it. Triangle, triangle, square, circle + square, circle, jump will make Sofia take on Uranus with a special whip move.* [Jado via WowBathrooms] More »

PSP Slim's Dual Analog Mod Allows Katamari Ecstasy

Sony's decision to only place one analog stick on the PSP as opposed to the two on just about all their other PlayStation controllers has led to some control scheme oddities. For one, FPS shooters are all but impossible because you can't use the D-Pad to aim, and two, Katamari Damacy was a bitch to play with the buttons. Modder L0rdNic0 had enough and decided to shove his own analog stick on the right-hand side. The result is a supposedly 100% "fully functioning" mod without any issues, which means snack cakes and sumo wrestlers alike need to watch out once more. [Acid Mods]

Comcast Compressing HDTV Signals to Fit Three Shows into Two Shows' Bandwidth

Comcast has begun compressing HDTV shows in order to deliver more HD channels to you while using the same amount of bandwidth. They didn't use to do this before, but now, when compared to Verizon FiOS, the channels are grainy and blocky and full of artifacts—a result of shoving three channels into a space where only two previously occupied. A guy at AVSForum measured how the new bitrate stacks up against Verizon. More »