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hdds
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000B is Power Efficient 1TB Drive, Has Encryption Too
About a year ago we brought you the first retail terabyte HDD, the Deskstar 7K1000, and now Hitachi has released the Deskstar 7K1000.B. And Hitachi's worked quite hard on it: With a 32MB buffer and a three-disk layout, it's apparently the "world's most power-efficient 1TB drive" and consumes about 43% less power when idling. And for those of you who think "bleh" to the power savings, it also has built-in encryption, which Hitachi says doesn't impact on read/write speeds at all. Out soon for $279, which puts it in competition with the Samsung HD103UJ. Available July for $279. [Hitachi and BoingBoing Gadgets]
laptops
Asus B51 Business Laptop is Ruggedized for Xtreme Work
Asus is jumping on the bandwagon led by Panasonic and HP and releasing the B51, a super strong ruggedized laptop. The B51 is Mil-Spec 810F tough, can survive three-foot drops and has a keyboard drainage system in case you can't keep your OJ in a glass. The heavy (7-lb.!) lappie runs Vista, has a Core 2 Duo processor, supports 4GB RAM, carries a HDD up to 320GB and has optional 1.3MP webcam and Bluetooth. Screen size, availability and pricing are still unknown—hey, what do you expect from Asus?—but the press release is after the jump. [Asus via Laptoping] More »
parenting
Mommy Megaphone Will Out You As an Ineffective Parent
The Mommy Megaphone is a gag gift for parents that bills itself as a “sure-fire way to get everyone to listen.” It has a speak mode and a siren mode, can project over 500 feet and is allegedly weather and baby-resistant. With an adjustable volume range of 5 to 10 Watts however, it's almost completely useless. Kids are yelly; when I was young, I'm pretty sure I'd hit 10 Watts in a normal conversation. You know what would be more effective? Holding up a paddle. That always got me to listen right quick. [Nerd Approved]
cooking
We've shown you both modular and futuristic kitchen gizmos before, but now there's this new design that somehow combines the two. Dubbed Ku-b, it's a kind of sculptural, transforming cooking station with flat cooking plates, illuminated surfaces and built-in computer and screen. In closed position, it's a kitchen-island, but it swings open to reveal concealed drawers and storage. From designers Innova, it's part of the Atipic House project, which is all about mixing reality and experimentation. And I'm sad it's just a concept: I'd love this in my home. [Design Spotter via Born Rich]
Ku-b Design Is Glowing, Transforming Kitchen of the Future
We've shown you both modular and futuristic kitchen gizmos before, but now there's this new design that somehow combines the two. Dubbed Ku-b, it's a kind of sculptural, transforming cooking station with flat cooking plates, illuminated surfaces and built-in computer and screen. In closed position, it's a kitchen-island, but it swings open to reveal concealed drawers and storage. From designers Innova, it's part of the Atipic House project, which is all about mixing reality and experimentation. And I'm sad it's just a concept: I'd love this in my home. [Design Spotter via Born Rich]
laptops
HP EliteBook 6930p: One Badass Business Laptop
HP is announcing 10 business notebooks today, but there's only one that we care about: the flagship EliteBook 6930p, a ruggedized, super-encrypted, QuickLook 2-boosted, 4-and-a-half pounder. More »
clips
B-2 Bomber Crash Film Finally Released Publicly
Do you remember the $1.2 B-2 Stealth Bomber that crashed during take-off? Well now a video has been released of the event. But let me warn you—it's really, really hard watching so much taxpayer cash wastefully go up in flames, especially when the travesty unfolds so slowly. Apparently the plane's sensors were fooled by the presence of water and convinced the vehicle to pitch up on take-off. Luckily both pilots ejected safely. [via Wired]
10:00 AM on Fri Jun 6 2008
By Mark Wilson
26,216 views,
99 comments
asus eee box b202
The other toy Asus brought for us to look at is their upcoming Eee Box, which will launch mid-July in the US. Running on a 1.6GHz Atom processor, it comes in Windows XP and Linux versions, both of which are blissfully cheap: $269 for the base 1GB RAM, 80GB storage Linux model, $299 for XP. Memory and storage are configurable, running from 512MB to 2GB, and 80GB to 250GB, respectively. 802.11n is standard, and it has a pleasant number of ports—serious potential as a TV streamer box (as commenters have pointed out, lack of optical drive and HDMI out is definitely limiting here). We didn't get to see it in action, but it's definitely a cute, well-built package for the money. All the dirty details below.
More »
Asus Eee Box B202: Our First Look, Plus Official Specs (Only $300)
The other toy Asus brought for us to look at is their upcoming Eee Box, which will launch mid-July in the US. Running on a 1.6GHz Atom processor, it comes in Windows XP and Linux versions, both of which are blissfully cheap: $269 for the base 1GB RAM, 80GB storage Linux model, $299 for XP. Memory and storage are configurable, running from 512MB to 2GB, and 80GB to 250GB, respectively. 802.11n is standard, and it has a pleasant number of ports—serious potential as a TV streamer box (as commenters have pointed out, lack of optical drive and HDMI out is definitely limiting here). We didn't get to see it in action, but it's definitely a cute, well-built package for the money. All the dirty details below.
More »
apple
iHome Alarm Clock Rotates Because It Can
While the iPod touch is capable of rotating to tweak the video aspect ratio, most docks make you choose one way or the other. But the iHome iH41B dock will actually rotate with your iPod, and its digital clock display will adjust to match. For those of you who just own standard iPods, the iH41B is still compatible. So fulfill all those dreams of docking your MP3 player at a 90-degree angle. And never let someone tell you that you can't do something again. [iHome via Crunchgear]
aircraft
New Secret X-Bomber Is Not So Secret Anymore
Northrop Grumman is working on a new classified bomber prototype for the Air Force, at an estimated cost—according to their financial statements—of $2 billion. Apparently, the first version will require human/clone/Cylon pilots, with a high-endurance unmanned model possibly following after that. According to military industry magazine DTI, there is a high probability that the New Generation Bomber—concept above—will be following the success of the X-47B unmanned bomber aircraft. More »
futuremodo
The Future of Aviation Isn't Coming Soon Enough
We have mentioned the increased efficiency and lower emissions of blended wing body aircrafts before—like the X-48B, now in its prototype testing phase. Seeing two of them getting ready to take off, however, pushes the concept from the That's Pretty Cool to the Geezussrollerbladingchrist, We Want These So Badly category. Even if it's just a synthetic image, they look absolutely stunning. [Note: I heard somewhere that the reason why commercial wings didn't fly is that people don't want to fly on things without passenger windows; Trust issues and the like. - B.L.][Flight Global]
home entertainment
Last week, we had a demo of the TV godbox we reported on last summer by Building B—now Sezmi. If anything, their claims have actually gotten bolder: They're promising the "first complete TV 2.0 solution" that rolls up traditional TV with movies, on-demand, DVR and internet video, all presented seamlessly to viewers. That's a tall order, and moreover, an extremely complicated one.
More »
Building B/Sezmi One True Set Top Box Aims to Kill TV as You Know It
Last week, we had a demo of the TV godbox we reported on last summer by Building B—now Sezmi. If anything, their claims have actually gotten bolder: They're promising the "first complete TV 2.0 solution" that rolls up traditional TV with movies, on-demand, DVR and internet video, all presented seamlessly to viewers. That's a tall order, and moreover, an extremely complicated one.
More »
rockets
Europe Kicks Off Saturday Night With A Rocket Launch
Europeans sure know how to celebrate a Saturday night! While I spent the good part of Happy Hour knocking back shots, our cousins from across the ocean shot a satellite up into space. The Giove-B satellite, a demonstrator that will test key technologies needed in satellite navigation systems, ascended to the heavens at 22:16 GMT. More »
gadgets
In 2005, a control room for the A and C subway lines in NYC caught fire. "No larger than a kitchen," the room held 600 relays, switches and circuits that keep track of trains and keep everything running. Officials originally thought it would take three to five years to get the lines back to normal capacity. (Thankfully it didn't.) The epic repair time was because the fixed-block signaling system dates back to 1904 and only two companies in the world were able to repair it, one in Pittsburgh and the other in Paris. This is technology's trailing edge, according to Peter Sandborn in IEEE Spectrum: the huge, crippling problem of obsolescence.
More »
The Massive, Expensive Problem of Obsolete Tech
In 2005, a control room for the A and C subway lines in NYC caught fire. "No larger than a kitchen," the room held 600 relays, switches and circuits that keep track of trains and keep everything running. Officials originally thought it would take three to five years to get the lines back to normal capacity. (Thankfully it didn't.) The epic repair time was because the fixed-block signaling system dates back to 1904 and only two companies in the world were able to repair it, one in Pittsburgh and the other in Paris. This is technology's trailing edge, according to Peter Sandborn in IEEE Spectrum: the huge, crippling problem of obsolescence.
More »
airplanes
The History Behind the F-35B Vertical Lift: from Napkin to First Supersonic Plane
Dr. Paul Bevilaqua is the aerodynamicist who designed the F-35B shaft-driven lift fan years ago at Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin's advanced technology program. His invention changed short-take off and vertical-landing (STVOL) planes forever, making the Lightning II the first supersonic aircraft with this capability. To honor him, Lockheed Martin has released this new video, in which Dr. Bevilaqua explains how the project went from "napkin to production." More »
9:00 AM on Tue Apr 22 2008
By Jesus Diaz
27,139 views,
67 comments
watches
Epoq EGP-WP98B, Windows Mobile Wrist Edition
The Epoq EGP-WP98B claims has the claim to fame as the first Windows Mobile 5 watch. And while the OS does seem a little overkill for the watch's tiny 1.4" OLED touch screen, its impressive internals stand up well to its faux-alligator-banded externals. A quad band GSM watch (supporting speakerphone or headset), it features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1.28GB of memory, USB syncing, VOIP, and voice recording. If you can stand the handwriting recognition or reading an e-book on that screen, be our (soon the be blind) guest. No word on pricing or availability at this time. [mobilewhack]
bad days
Remember when we told you about the B-2 Stealth Bomber that crashed in Guam, turning 1.2 billion dollars of plane into a fiery wreck? Well, now we have pictures of it, and it ain't pretty. Feast your eyes on one of the most expensive accidents ever and be thankful it wasn't you who had to explain what happened to your boss. Hit the jump to see a shot of what a B-2 Bomber looks like when it isn't a steaming pile of scrap metal.
More »
This is What a Wrecked $1.2 Billion B-2 Bomber Looks Like
Remember when we told you about the B-2 Stealth Bomber that crashed in Guam, turning 1.2 billion dollars of plane into a fiery wreck? Well, now we have pictures of it, and it ain't pretty. Feast your eyes on one of the most expensive accidents ever and be thankful it wasn't you who had to explain what happened to your boss. Hit the jump to see a shot of what a B-2 Bomber looks like when it isn't a steaming pile of scrap metal.
More »
pentagon report
A report released this month by the Pentagon has revealed the truth behind the B-52 bomber—loaded with six live nuclear warheads—flying over the US, a mistake that could have had catastrophic consequences. Their explanation: a 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of printed paper used to differentiate between nuclear and conventional missiles. Really, it can't get any more absurd than this:
More »
Paper Sheet Protects World from Nuclear Holocaust
A report released this month by the Pentagon has revealed the truth behind the B-52 bomber—loaded with six live nuclear warheads—flying over the US, a mistake that could have had catastrophic consequences. Their explanation: a 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of printed paper used to differentiate between nuclear and conventional missiles. Really, it can't get any more absurd than this:
More »
