Gizmodo: austria

Drink Cocktails Mixed By a Robot Based on Your Mario and Tetris Gameplay

Kat Hannaford — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:26:09 EST

To me, a festival is a field, a few musical acts, pair of rain boots, and heaps of mud. But then, I do live in England. Roboexotica, on the other hand, is robots and cocktails. Much more civilized.

Held in Austria, it's basically a bunch of boozehounds that show off their cocktail-mixing robots. The best of the creations appear in the two in the videos below, which force you to play Mario or Tetris, with the sort of cocktail the robot mixes you dependent on how you play the games. Slow and steady wins the race, in my books, but what would that earn me? [Roboexotica via Kotaku]

Image Credit: MattDork

Alien Secret Base Discovered in the Alps Is Actually Medical Center Concept

Jesus Diaz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:12:00 EDT

First an alien mothership stranded in the desert, and now a whole extraterrestrial homebase right in the heart of the Alps, where people love to have jacuzzi orgies at 15,000 feet and fly on jet wings. Fortunately for earthlings, it's just a concept for a medical center for rehabilitation of trauma surgery patients designed by Sarah Schneider. Seeing how outwordly it looks inside, I wish it was just apartments.

Absolutely beautiful. [Dezeen]

How An Electronic Lock Helped a Crazy Austrian Man Keep His Daughter as a Sex Slave For 24 Years

Sean Fallon — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:50:00 EDT

To be honest, I wish that I never learned of the Josef Fritzl story in the first place—but it was hard to avoid given the severity of the crimes committed. However, the fact that a man could imprison his daughter in a basement for 24 years and father her seven children is too horrifying and baffling to ignore. Over the last few days we have learned the full magnitude of the events that transpired—three of his incestuous offspring (aged 19,18 and 5) had never seen the sunlight until their release and one of the seven children died due to inadequate care. We also learned that he managed to keep the whole thing a secret—even from his wife. The question is...how?

According to police reports, Fritzl was a retired electrical engineer who used his skills to construct a basement dungeon that measured less than six feet high in some areas with a total living space composed of three "cells" measuring around 650 square feet in total. In order to prevent his family living on the outside from gaining access to the room, Fritzl constructed a gigantic 660 lb. concrete door fitted with an electronic lock behind a shelf in his workshop. The lock could only be opened by a remote control that he carried with him at all times. It wasn't until the 19-year-old fell gravely ill that Fritzl sought medical attention and was subsequently exposed.

Currently, the authorities are still investigating the details of the case—including whether or not Fritzl had help in constructing the hidden rooms. At the very least, it seems likely given the fact that it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible for one man to handle a 660 lb. door. All that aside, perhaps the most shocking aspect of the case is that Frtizl is looking at a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of rape. At 73, he would probably not live out the term—but the punishment doesn't come anywhere near fitting the crime if you ask me. Even a quick death wouldn't fit the bill. [CNN and BBC News and Yahoo]

iPhone In Ireland and Austria Gives Us Excuse to Talk Beer

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:10:13 EDT

The iPhone is now available in Ireland and Austria, for the usual 399 (8GB) and 499 euros (16GB.) Yes, that's $778 for the same 16GB version that is manufactured in Asia for exactly the same price (in the US, a 16GB iPhone will cost you $519—tax included—in New York, a whopping $259 difference.) Apple Europe keeps milking European consumers with extremely abusive pricing, citing "marketing and importing costs." Whatever. European Union, it's time to bust this daylight robbery. And now I need a Guinness (hey, it's like black breakfast cereal). [TMobile and O2]

Virtual Pinball Machine Alters Arcade Gaming Lore

Haroon Malik — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:25:00 EST

We love technological advancement, but there is something that just feels wrong about TAB Austria's Virtual Pinball machine. Sure, the six different animated games offer more variety than your conventional machine, and the 42" plasma display looks a damn site sexier than the usual mechanized pinball floor, but these things were never meant to be altered. No, not even the promise of online tournaments and user upgradeable games can sway us.

Our minds are made up by the way that we feel...so if you really love us, come on and let it show. Gosh, Wet Wet Wet were great. Anyway, if you are partial to TAB's Virtual Pinball machine, it has a ten-week wait time and the price is only available by request, which, unlike Wet Wet Wet, is not so fantastic. [Acquire via Technabob]