Gizmodo

Apple

Apple MacBook 2008 Event: All the Information You Need to Know

New MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and probably an updated MacBook Air are coming up next week, at the Apple MacBook 2008 event. The MacBook and MacBook Pro are long due for a case redesign but, beyond that, little is known for sure. Here we have collected all the pieces of information we have about them. All the facts, the logical rumors, and the crazy ones, which we will keep updating through the coming days until the MacBook Event liveblog kicks off. More »

8:40 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Jesus Diaz
2,807 views, 14 comments

Latest by KarinLovesYou: I so heart Bender...especially when he says, "I'm boned!" more »

Dealzmodo

Sharp 42-Inch 1080p Aquos for $900... at Dell

Yep, Dell, purveyors of computers and such, currently have the best price on a really decent Sharp Aquos, the 42" LC-42SB45U with 1080p resolution. It's $899, and shipping is free, though you will have to pay sales tax. By contrast, Amazon's starting price on this model is $972, and the shopping sites tend to list it anywhere from $1,000 to $1,300. We haven't reviewed this particular model, but we like Sharp. If you're in the market for a decent LCD—and are among the unique few in this country with some ready cash—I say have at it. The deal disapparates on Monday. [Dell]

8:30 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Wilson Rothman
813 views, 4 comments

Latest by Four20: Bastards! I spent like $1,100 on my 32-inch Sharp Aquos. . .not even a year ago! more »

multitouch

CityWall Interactive Multitouch Display Now Has a Glorious 3D Interface

CityWall has been around for a little bit now, offering a giant multitouch display of maps and other service-oriented features. But now the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology just launched their new 3D UI for the interactive display, which makes it look super futuristic and awesome. While not actually 3D in the physical sense, the UI is fully rendered in 3D. As the video below shows, groups of files are represented as spheres, which can be manipulated in every which way. You can even look at the photo thumbnails inside the sphere "from behind." Though the demo is thin, it shows some really interesting ideas at play. [CityWall via Crave] More »

8:19 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Adrian Covert
623 views, 9 comments

Latest by kmkl: Apple... Get on it! more »

windows 7

Microsoft Cutting Down on Annoying Warnings for Windows 7

Microsoft is planning to reduce the number of annoying warning popups appearing in Windows 7. Also known as user account control prompts, these things are proven to all too often either lull us into a robotic state of acceptance (clicking "yes" without reading) or a more active state of wrath. (YES, you stupid computer, I do want to install the Adobe suite that just cost me a month's salary!) The reason Windows programmers are able to reduce the warnings is funny: Most of them come from Windows itself. More »

7:40 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Wilson Rothman
1,379 views, 13 comments

Latest by altus: Do they get rid of the blue screen or is that not a warning? more »

Free series

Star Trek Original Series Now Warping on YouTube

Just a few days after its TV anniversary, and in time for the new Star Trek movie, YouTube is now airing a bunch of full episodes of Star Trek. According to them, this is just the beginning: More »

7:24 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Jesus Diaz
1,530 views, 7 comments

Design

Energy Seed Concept Is Smart Way to Collect Spent Batteries

I threw away two batteries yesterday. I know, I know—it's almost the same as chopping down like five old-growth oak trees or something, but it was just so damn easy. And what else are you gonna do with dead batteries? That's exactly why I am jazzed about this Energy Seed concept by Sungwoo Park. You collect all the batteries that no longer power your digital cameras, baby toys and TV remotes, and you deposit them in the base of this lamp. The lamp then glows, because even a mostly spent battery will be able to power an ultra-efficient light source. More »

7:20 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Wilson Rothman
2,012 views, 16 comments

Latest by kmkl: WANT more »

Lego

Lego Mindstorms Fat Boy Is Controlled with Actual Bike Handles

This remote-controlled Lego Mindstorms NXT Fat Boy bike is cute and stylized enough to guarantee a post on its own. But when you see that the actual controller is shaped like the handles of a real motor bike, then it's just not a matter of writing about it or not. It's a matter of taking a plane to Germany and stealing it. More »

7:00 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Jesus Diaz
878 views, 11 comments

Latest by Curves: The music also fit the Engergizer Bunny beating his drum in the ad running below. Pretty good synch. more »

Ipod nano bugs

iPod Nano Switches Left and Right Channels With Headphone Insert

If you have a new 4th-gen nano and a decent ear, you may have noticed something funny: After putting it to sleep, if you wake it up by inserting headphones, the left and right channels switch. I tried this with the most obvious stereo mix of all time, David Bowie's "Space Oddity," and it's really easy to duplicate yourself. While it's easy to correct, it's still definitely a weird, weird bug. Thanks to reader Matt for bringing it to our attention, and posting a thread at iLounge. Have you noticed it or any other weird glitches, like Genius' pathological avoidance of the lovely Norah Jones? (I'm serious, try it!)

6:40 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Wilson Rothman
1,585 views, 16 comments

Latest by 1timeonly: genius works with nora jones, you lie... i had to buy a nora jones album just to confirm it! how more »

Musical fish

Live Fish Remix MP3s, Have More Talent Than Most American Idol Contestants

A Brazilian artist named Vivian Caccuri has put together an installation that uses the movements of live fish to remix the music played on an MP3 player. These fish are tracked using a proximity sensor and their activities trigger adjustments in processing levels, distortion and speaker fade to create a unique sound. Sure, it is about as pointless as snails being used to send email, but it is definitely relaxing to watch. [Vivian Caccuri via Crave]

6:20 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
507 views, 10 comments

Latest by Faslane66: Pretty cool!! But way to action-packed for me! ;-) more »

Laser helmet

SLAM Helmet Maps Room to Help Rescuers Navigate Through Smoke

Researchers are using a technique called simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) to develop helmets that rescue workers can use to navigate through heavy smoke. The helmet features an infrared laser scanner and software that bounces signals off walls and uses that data to create a map of the surrounding area. More »

5:50 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
846 views, 25 comments

Latest by tkohrs2002: Two words: Dark Knight more »

Alarm Clocks

Live Vicariously Through Your Life Clock

The Life Clock from Jinsei Tokei is kind of like a Tamagotchi for adults—but instead of caring for it, the little guy living inside this box mimics your lifestyle. Well...sort of. You see, you can choose between three characters: a salaryman, a schoolgirl or a rock star. It gets up when your alarm goes off and it goes back to sleep when you set it at night. In-between that time it will do things like eat, shop and go out on dates. It will even cook if you use it as a kitchen timer. So, this is really a model of how to to live your life. You know—earn a little money, eat 3 square meals a day, find yourself a nice girl and do it all with a strict punctuality. Available for $55. [Japan Trend Shop via TRFJ]

5:30 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
825 views, 15 comments

Latest by kenbrbkr: So, it sounds like most of what it does no one will ever see. So how would I know it actually more »

High Def

Dish Network 1080p Compared to Blu-ray 1080p (Verdict: Not Bad)

At face value, "1080p high definition" means 1920×1080 pixels presented progressive scan (all at once). But if a clip is 1080p that alone doesn't necessitate that it will look good. Just as you can stretch a thumbnail in Photoshop to any gargantuan size you like, so too can content providers give you ugly 1080p.

So when Dish Network announced premium 1080p VOD that they compared to Blu-ray quality, we were more than a little skeptical. Sound & Vision was as well, which is exactly why they sat down with a Dish and Blu-ray version of Speed Racer to compare:

More »

5:10 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Mark Wilson
7,341 views, 35 comments

Latest by canyoncarver: I have found the uncompressed audio on blu-ray to be a huge step up from DD 5.1. While I understand that more »

UAVs

Military Arming Shadow Drones, Could Give Novice Teen Pilots the Power to Kill

Today, only seasoned, rated pilots are allowed to step behind the controls of an armed Predator or Reaper drone. However, the Defense Department is planning to change all that by fitting their low-flying Shadow counterparts with precision weapons. Currently Shadow drones function primarily as an intelligence asset—hunting down and collecting information on potential targets. They are also much lighter, smaller and cheaper than Predators or Reapers—which is why the Air Force felt comfortable allowing the most junior officers to pilot missions. More »

4:50 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
2,133 views, 20 comments

Latest by StealthNinja: wow, it looks fun, only if it was like a hang glider but with more pew pew, and an exoskeleton more »

Blu-Ray

The Dark Knight Blu-ray on Preorder!!!

ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG $24.95 ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG Features ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG. [ZOMG via ZOMG]

4:30 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Mark Wilson
6,780 views, 77 comments

Latest by clintbacca: Best article evar. more »

thank giz it's friday

10 Ways to Ditch Guitar Hero and Score With Real Groupies

So, Guitar Hero: World Tour is set to drop on the 26th. That is all well and good if you are a fan, but the last time I checked, record labels were not handing out millions of dollars to Guitar Hero virtuosos so they could tour the world and score with groupies. The only way that is going to happen is if you learn how to play a real instrument and get yourself on stage. That is where the following gadgets can help.

More »

Feature

4:00 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
5,526 views, 20 comments

Latest by Faslane66: When the FU#K is GnR going to release their (probably lame-ass album)Chinese Democracy? 10 years in the making??? Gimme a more »

Robots

Real Life Autobots Found in Chinese Scrap Yard

It's got to be tough distinguishing your scrap yard (a big lot filled with junk) from a competitor's scrap yard (another big lot filled with junk). But one Chinese entrepreneur from the Zhejiang province had a plan to promote his particular pile of junk as something special. He'd build full scale Autobot sculptures. While it's tough to find fault with any of the work, his best is definitely this converted BMW 7-Series. And until a free shiny red semi pulls into town, it'll probably stay that way. [China Car Times via Jalopnik]

3:45 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Mark Wilson
7,204 views, 23 comments

Latest by unkpku is think that new comments are like iPhone 3G pre 2.1, yeah it sucks: That must of taken a shitload of time. more »

new Xbox experience

Movie Parties and Photo Sharing Might Be Coming to New Xbox Experience

Besides just looking a lot snazzier, the New Xbox Experience uses a whole new foundation that's server-based rather than sitting on your hard drive, so it's easy for Microsoft to add on features and apps. One possibility is basically movie parties—you and your friends could all watch Indiana Jones on Netflix at the same time—or more likely, photo sharing. Update: A reader reminded us that movie sharing was actually supposed to be in the NXE in the first place, so you can probably count on it. But uh, where'd it go in the meantime? More »

3:30 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By matt buchanan
2,360 views, 24 comments

Latest by soonerjudd: Another feature I wouldn't mind hearing an update on is the Primetime games. It was announced at E3, but more »

Music

Direct Note Access Music Software Now Even More Revolutionary

Back in April we discovered a new music recording program from Celemony Software that could potentially revolutionize the music industry. It allows recording engineers to isolate and manipulate individual notes (as opposed to an entire chord) from a performance (no matter how lame) and turn it into a flawless piece of music. Celemony has revealed new details about DNA that claim the program will be able to handle "complete mixes (rather than a simple piano progression, for example)," but stresses that the more complex the job, the less likely you are to isolate individual notes. More »

3:15 PM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Sean Fallon
3,255 views, 22 comments

Latest by StopTheLHC: Ugh, help the recording industry? This is definitely not going to help... more »

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