F = 8 points
O = 1 point
P = 5 points
U = 4 points
Y = 4 points
E = 1 point

[Atlanta Journal Constitution via CraziestGadgets]

FULLY CHARGE YOUR WII WORKOUT WITH NYKO'S ENERGY PAK - COMING SOON

Rechargeable Battery Solution for Wii Balance Board Eliminates the Need for Wasteful Batteries

LOS ANGELES, California - May 8, 2008 - Nyko Technologies®, the premier game console peripherals manufacturer, today announced that it will soon release the Energy Pak for the Wii Balance Board™, a peripheral packaged with the forthcoming title Wii Fit™. The rechargeable battery solution is expected to hit stores on May 19th.

The Energy Pak installs conveniently on the underside of the Balance Board and features a unique AC Port Relocator that allows users to easily play with the board and charge the battery simultaneously, without ever having to remove the Pak or turn the Balance Board over. An easy-to-read LED charge light indicates the charge status of the battery, letting the user know when it is time to recharge, and when the charging cycle is complete. The Energy Pak can be quickly charged with the included, detachable AC adaptor, and provides up to 20 hours of playtime per charge.

"It is difficult enough trying to keep up with a regular fitness program without the hassle of swapping out alkaline or other rechargeable batteries," said Chris Arbogast, Director of Marketing at Nyko Technologies. "Like all of our charging solutions, the Energy Pak is as easy to use as it is functional. Users will be able to recharge the Wii Balance Board while in use or in between gaming sessions, all without ever needing to flip the board over to switch out battery packs."

Nyko's Energy Pak for the Wii Balance Board is expected in stores on May 19th for the suggested retail price of $19.99. Please visit www.nyko.com for more information.

The tilt board costs $39, and requires you to actually solder seven wires and install the thing inside your controller yourself. If you're not comfortable with that, we'd suggest you skip this. And to Talismoon? You should sell these things pre-installed if you want more than just a few hundred nerdy customers.

– Jason Chen

Product Page [Total Console]

Shaped like a roll of parchment when contracted, the Go board rolls out to show the black and white pieces with what looks like e-ink. That's a fantastic idea, which could be extended to chess, checkers or Chinese checkers—since when I play somebody usually gets angry and knocks the pieces off the board when they lose. And by somebody, I mean me. – Jason Chen

Electronic Go (Chinese Chess) Board [Yanko Design]

As Err the Mooninite flipped the middle finger in an obviously menacing way at passersby, paranoid citizens figured that this was some kind of bomb, and triggered a gigantic fraidy-cat response of police, security officials and politicians. WTF?

The crude moon man devices were all part of a marketing campaign instigated by the Adult Swim network, part of Turner Broadcasting, which apologized for the incident. Looks like the promotion worked.

Even though the devices were distributed in 10 different cities, Boston was the only one that responded with such fearful enthusiasm. Boston officials, on the lookout for terrorist threats, were obviously not familiar with the television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

As they communicated among themselves, they quickly determined there were numerous light boards of identical design distributed throughout the city. "It had a very sinister appearance," Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told reporters. "It had a battery behind it, and wires."

The light boards were placed in their public locations by Peter Berdovsky, a freelance video artist, and Sean Stevens, both employed by Turner Broadcasting for the stunt. Now the two are in jail, charged with disorderly conduct, and also for "placing a hoax device in a way that results in panic."

It's hard to believe that a harmless device such as this would cause a reaction similar to that of the apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey—creeping up to the monolith, nearly paralyzed with fear, touching it and jumping back in horror. Be afraid. Be very afraid. That's life in the 00s. – Charlie White

Two held after ad campaign triggers Boston bomb scare [CNN]

Complete with Donkey Kong's barrel, Link's Shield, Princess Peach's barf bag and Mario's girdle, Nintendo Monopoly is definitely in the top five themed Monopoly editions we've seen. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Amazon via Uncrate via Madewise]

Each family member is represented on this huge LCD/mirror by a thumbnail. When you need to leave a message to your wife—please have dinner ready by the time I get home tonight, you ungrateful shrew—just touch her face and record a message. If you're not a fan of speaking to her even through a machine, you can use the stylus to write your message as well.

The In Touch will send your message to her cellphone via SMS or MMS, depending on what kind you left. That way there's no excuse for her not to have dinner ready. – Jason Chen

Philips backgrounder on simplicity-led design [Philips via Oh Gizmo via Slashgear]