Gizmodo: challenge

The Ultimate iPhone Waste of Time

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST

Some people spend countless hours watching reality TV shows. Others like to collect leaves. Then there are a few who enjoy watching the washing machine go round. And lastly, there are those who play Million Tap Challenge on their iPhones.

This 99 cent app has only a blank screen and one objective: Tap your screen one million times. Stupid, you say? Madness? Who is going to spend a dollar in something as absurd as this? Apparently, plenty of people. Not only that, but there's even a worldwide high score table which I simply refuse to believe. I'm sorry, but I just don't even want to think about the possibility of someone spending almost three days of their life tapping 844,683 times. My faith in Humanity is pretty damaged as it is. [Krapps]

Microsoft Throwdown: You Can't Possibly Make a Stupider Video Than Us

matt buchanan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:20:00 EDT

Yeah, so that awesomely stupid (or stupidly awesome) Microsoft video from yesterday with a fake Bruce Springsteen painfully crooning about the power of Vista was a spoof. Duh. (Probably.) Microsoft actually has a sense of humor occasionally, remember? But it's not just a spoof—it's a challenge. We talked to Microsoft, and they think they're not the only company that makes stupid internal videos. But they also think they do it best: "We'd like to formally enter this fine specimen for consideration. As far as corporate videos go, we have thrown down the gauntlet here. They don't get much better... or in this case, worse." So corporate America, it's on. Who can make us laugh (or cry) harder? [Microsoft Coverage @ Giz]

Gizmodo vs. Kotaku: It's On

Jason Chen — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:00:29 EDT

The Contestants: Five from Gizmodo, five from Kotaku.
The Time: Friday, October 12.
The Arena: Halo 3. Best of 7.
The Prize: Unlimited splices for a day.
No shows mean immediate disqualification and that team forfeits the match.

iPhone Hacker Challenge: Make the iPhone Work With Nike+ Sport Kit

Jason Chen — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:00:54 EDT

Dear Hackers: Here's a personal challenge from me, Jason Chen. Make the iPhone work with the Nike+ Sport Kit. The current status now, when you plug the adapter into the iPhone, is a message that reads, sadly "This accessory is not supported by iPhone."

I can understand why Apple made the decision to make the Nike+ Sport Kit not work with the iPhone (providing a reason to buy an iPod Nano, preventing possible damage to a $399 device, differentiating products, whatever), but iPhone users still want this thing to work with their phones. After all, the phone's flash-based, relatively small and light (if you use an armband), and should work perfectly with the kit—in theory.

Is making the kit work with the iPhone possible? Can you access the 30-pin accessory port with the iPhone? If you can, is it possible to interface with this thing using the iPod nano as reference? Is this a pipe dream, or could this possibly be done?

If enough people get behind this idea, there could even be a bounty set up to reward the hacker(s) that enable this. Let's see where we can take this.

Reaction Time Test: Let's See What Giz Readers Are Made Of!

Charlie White — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:15:00 EDT

How fast is your reaction time? Schoolkids and their teacher are doing a study for the 2007 Yahara Elementary School Science Fair, measuring how quickly participants can click on an icon as a traffic light graphic turns green. The group is collecting data, trying to determine correlation between reaction time, age, gender, athleticism and whether people play video games or not.

The average reaction time between eyes and fingers is between .200 and .270 seconds, but athletes and maybe a few gaming geeks can shave that time down to .150 seconds. So let's try it. Take that test and honestly post your score or click on the poll. How fast are we, oh esteemed readers of the Giz? I scored a .229. Surely you can beat an old man...? – Charlie White

Simple Reaction Test [Icon Interactive]

Gawker Video Prank, Plus Challenge

Mark Wilson — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:35:48 EST

Most of you have heard of the Mosquito Ringtone, or Teen Buzz, by now. Originally developed as a security device to keep those pesky kids away from your shops, this high frequency pitch was quickly hijacked by terrorist youth who used the weapon for their own text-messaging-during-class gain.

Then Gawker's own video producer, Richard Blakeley, got his hands on the ringer. And he had A Plan. At Gawker headquarters in NY, he would blast the ringer and torture the writers into unconscious pain. Meanwhile, for the sake of Gizmodians everywhere, he would tape the experience.

The results after the jump.

Nothing happened.

This from Blakeley himself:

ok, so i waited until all the music was off and there were only about 9 people in the office, i threw up the sound on my computer full blast, it was REALLY loud. for 5 minutes NOBODY said/did anything, meanwhile my ears were KILLING me... then it hit me, i am the only person under 30 in this office...i couldn't take it anymore. so i turned it off.

Can you do a better job at torturing the masses? Blakeley hopes that you will. So get off the couch and make us some videos! Please. Then email them to markATgizmodoDOTcom. The prize will include getting immortalized in a post...and possibly a lawsuit (that we are not responsible for) if you damage anyone's hearing. – Mark Wilson
Get the sound HERE
Buy the Alarm HERE