Gizmodo: code

The Konami Code Works on Facebook

Brian Lam — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:55:59 EDT

Geekologie's found that if you log into facebook, type in the Konami code outside of a text box and hit enter, the site fills with Star Trek ish lens flares. [Geekologie]

The iPhone Accelerometer is the Best Thing to Happen to Cheating Since the Konami Code

Sean Fallon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EDT

A Macenstein reader may have discovered the first instance of the accelerometer in the iPhone being used to enter a cheat code in a game. He claims that you can start on any level you like in Imagine Poker by shaking the device on the splash page until you hear a "giggle." The trick is that the code will only work if it is attempted exactly on the quarter hour (1:15 / 1:30 / 1:45 etc). If you have the game give it a shot and let us know if it works in the comments. [Macenstein]

Thanko's Code-Padlocked USB Thumbdrive Protector is Brilliantly Flawed

Kit Eaton — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:31:00 EDT

Here's something to put a smile on your face on a non-descript Wednesday morning: Thanko's new Code-Padlock USB protector. Does it use some funky encryption, or a digital keypad interface? No: it uses a physical code-padlocked lid that stops you from plugging in a thumbdrive if you can't work out the three-digit code. Brilliant, except that a thief will just steal the whole thing and work out the code at their leisure. So it must be aimed at stopping "casual eyes" accessing files you'd rather keep to yourself. Ah... ones with lots of pink pixels—it all becomes clear. You can of course lock up other USB devices, but you'd have to be working in a really mean office environment to need to do that. Yours for about $9. [Akhabaranews]

Japan's QR Codes Being Tested in SF

Jason Chen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:30:00 EDT

You know those QR codes that Japan has? The ones that look like fancy bar codes that you take a picture of with your cellphone that brings up some bit of info or trivia on the display. Those are being tested in SF right now on 500+ restaurants/shops/businesses reviewed by Citysearch.

Once you snap a picture of the code, your phone will bring up the Citysearch's review page, letting you know whether you should go in. Also, a tourism company is shoving these onto some tourist locations, bringing up a 15 to 20-second audio snippet of what you're looking at. If they could stick this on things like busses, taxis, waitresses, drug dealers and prostitutes (all common in SF), we'd gladly use this service. [SFGate via New Launches]