Gizmodo: Fire

Fairground Shooting Gallery Gets Flamethrower Makeover for Burning Man

Kit Eaton — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:41:00 EDT

Created for this year's Burning Man festival, the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery looks like one hell of a stress-relieving sideshow amusement. It was created by Matisse and Roxie and recently debuted at the Oakland The Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival... presumably to a warm reception. Check out the short video to see it in action—though you might want to turn the volume down, the happy screams are a little loud.

Apparently it was designed to poke fun at the US obsession with firearms, and it's supposed to tie in with Burning Man's fascination with fire and "radical self expression.”

Whatever: launching a jet of luminous flames ten feet to incinerate a target sounds waaaay more fun than firing a BB-gun on your more "normal" fairground show. You agree, guys, don't you?... or am I just a pyromaniac? [Laughing Squid]
Photo credit: Scott Ashkenaz.

Question of the Day: Would You Save a Gadget From a Burning Building?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

This rather bizarre question was inspired by an article I came across involving a drunken man who was cited for obstructing a fire scene/disorderly conduct after he rushed back into his burning home to retrieve a computer. Why he risked his life to do so remains unclear (although a mixture of alcohol and a massive porn collection comes to mind), but I am willing to bet that a more than a few people out there would be willing do the same thing. So my question is, would you run back into a burning building to save a gadget? If so, which one—and why?

[Fark]

A Documentary on ShowBiz Pizza's Rocka-fire Explosion Animatronic Band

Brian Lam — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:45:10 EDT

Faithful readers will know I am not even close to finished exploiting my painful job experiences at the Chuck E. Cheese in the Bergen Mall for Gizmodo fodder. God I hate that place. When I was growing up, the cooler place to be with way better pizza and far better games was ShowBiz Pizza. ShowBiz also had another advantage: this terrifying but captivating animitronic musical band called Rocka-fire Explosion, which is the subject of this documentary. I am watching it, and lighting a candle in remembrance. And Fuck Chuck E. Cheese. [Youtube via BoingBoing's David P.]

Gun Unsafety Video Shows Exactly How Not to Fire a Gun

Kit Eaton — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:20:00 EDT

We don't go too nuts about real guns here on Giz, and over at Geekologie they found this video that shows why: there are some very dumb people out there. People who should never go near a weapon, let alone own or try to fire one. It's a compilation of clips, some you'll have seen before, some perhaps not... but put them all together and it's horrifyingly fascinating blooper reel. My prize goes to the poor guy in the test range who suffers again and again... and again. [Geekologie]

What Happens When You Burn a Magnesium NeXTCube Computer Case?

Sean Fallon — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:40:00 EDT

If you are old enough to remember, NeXTCubes were high-end workstation computers built in the late '80s and early '90s that featured a die-cast magnesium case. Magnesium was an attractive metal because it was strong and light—but as any high school chemistry student with a penchant for pyromania can tell you, magnesium burns with a brilliant white light. Naturally, this lead some to wonder what would happen if you set one ablaze.

Back in '93', Simson L. Garfinkel, then Senior Editor at NeXTWORLD Magazine, indulged his curiosities and discovered that, with some effort, it will generate a magnesium fire. The pictures are the main attraction here, but Garfinkel's quest to burn the cube is a definite must read for retro geeks and people who get a twisted pleasure out of watching things burn. Hit the link for the full story. [Simson via Macenstein]

Flame-Throwing Wheelchair Makes Me Want to Break a Leg

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:30:00 EDT

This fully-motorized wheelchair—built from an electric golf cart and a Marine rescue helicopter seat—is equipped with a flamethrower capable of firing 15-foot flames. Capable of hitting 20 miles per hour, it is the latest invention of Lord Humongous—probably the secret identity of Dr. Strangelove—and a perfect opportunity for disabled people of the world to get even-Steven with all those punks who always park in the wrong spots.

[Race Great House Labs via Dark Roasted Blend]

107-Year-Old Bulb States the Case for Leaving Lights On

AddyDugdale — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The LA Times has written a sweet little feature about Livermore Fire House's lightbulb that has been burning for 107 years without a break—unless you count the 22 minutes it took to transport the bulb from Fire Department HQ to Station No. 6 in 1979. That's almost a million hours' worth of low-wattage, you know. Unofficial keeper of the bulb, retired firefighter Tom Bramell reckons its longevity is down to old-fashioned craftsmanship. "I believe the bulb has stayed alive so many years because the makers gave it a perfect seal, so no air gets inside the bulb to help disintegrate the carbon filament. This bulb operates in a vacuum and it doesn't burn hot. That's the secret." [LA Times via Boing Boing]

Giant Robot Ready To Stop Giant Fires, Giantly

Mark Wilson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:49:00 EDT

Sure, it's only a model of a dual-saw-wielding giant robot, but we can't help but to admire one man's vision of an autonomous future of fighting forest fires. The Forest Fire "Clear Cut" Robot (model) has 600 parts and took its creator 6 months to complete. What it represents is a tool prepared to slice and dice trees as necessary to stop the spread of flames in fictional, wilderness settings. Because remember, only you (and gigantic, badass robots with blades bigger than your body) can prevent forest fires. But it's mostly on the robots at this point, honestly. Here's a bonus pic:

[designer via bbgadgets][Additional design completed by Daniel Shankland II]

Policeman Tases Guy, Sets His Pants on Fire

Kit Eaton — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Ok, we know bad things can happen when the general public use tasers, but cops tasing a guy and setting him on fire? No... really? Apparently the 31-year-old in question was causing a disturbance in an apartment in Hamilton, Ontario, recently, and three police officers attended. Whatever happened after that, the police ended up firing a taser at him. Unfortunately when the high-voltage device went off some sort of flammable object in his pants waistband caught fire. He sustained burns to his hands and thigh, and had to be taken to hospital. Ouch. Someone at some point must've started saying "Liar! Liar! Pants..." [Danger Room]

Robot Shopping Cart Cruises Streets, Bursts into Flames

Benny Goldman — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Why the hell is a dismembered pair of legs walking around willy nilly with a shopping cart? I'll tell you why...To draw awareness to homeless people, and the cutthroat world of cart-pushing. It was designed in 1993 by a college student who thought the concept of using robots for hazardous jobs could be applied to the most dangerous job of all, being homeless. The student rigged the cart together using a bunch of bike chains and a couple car batteries. We're not sure it serves any practical purpose—might be better if there were hands to put things in the cart. One thing the artist definitely got wrong though: homeless people do not spontaneously burst into flames. At least not in New York, they don't. [GizmoGarden via Make]

Fire Red Sidekick Slide Coming May, Juneish

Jason Chen — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:50:00 EDT

We know how much you kids love the Sidekicks, which is why you'll be excited at getting a completely new color: fire red. Boy Genius has the image above, plus gives the estimated release date on T-Mobile at either late May or early June. It's no Sidekick 4, but it'll do for now. We're still wondering how much they had to pay Michelle Yeoh to pose for their promo shots. [Boy Genius]

Safretti's Latest Wall-Mounted Gaya Fireplace Looks Like a Flaming Mouth

Jason Chen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:30:05 EDT

Safretti's latest in their line of wall-mounted fireplaces for urban living spaces without proper wood burning ventilation looks a lot like a mouth. A mouth much like the mouths Seth MacFarlane likes to draw on inanimate objects on Family Guy, which is why we picture this thing spewing obscenities, as well as 7.1kW of heat from its alcohol-fueld fire hole. The bad news? That 7.1kW doesn't really measure up against a real fireplace, so this is more for a mouth motif decoration than practical heating. [Safretti via Tuvie via MocoLoco via DVice]

Japan Develops a Fire Alarm that Sprays the Smell of Horseradish

Adam Frucci — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EDT

In an innovative solution to the problem of deaf people not being able to hear fire alarms, Japanese researchers have developed one that sprays the strong smell of horseradish, ensuring that everybody with a functioning sense of smell wakes up. In tests, it successfully, silently woke up 13 out of 14 people, with deaf subjects much more receptive to the alarm. Combine this with an audible alarm and a small robot that goes around slapping people in the face and you've got yourself one foolproof fire alarm. Wait a minute. If they can smell horseradish, can't they also smell the fire? [WCTV via Boing Boing]

Exploding iPod Nano Starts Non-Nano Sized Blaze

Haroon Malik — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST

A user at Niketalk forums posted up these images of an iPod nano that went up in smoke this morning. The forum user, MJair was awoken at 2 a.m. by the fire alarm going off. On a quick panicked inspection of the room, an "orange glow" near his PS3 was seen. That orange glow was nothing less than a fire, approximately a foot wide in length, which was said to be rapidly spreading. Check out more images of the nano wreckage below.

Luckily, neither MJair or his PS3 were harmed, but the source of the fire seems to have been his first-gen iPod nano. Unfortunately, the nano was not as robust as the iPhone that took on a semi, meaning its thin, MP3 playing days are now truly up. Unless we want to go the way of the nano, we really should replace the batteries in our own fire alarm. [Niketalk; Thanks, Vince]

Spurned Wife Gets Revenge By Burning 400 Cellphones

Sean Fallon — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:00:45 EST

In an attempt to get back at her husband for walking out on their marriage, a Chinese wife gathered up the entire stock of cellphones from the retail store they once shared, and proceeded to burn the entire lot before leaving the house. After the smoke cleared, the total damage was estimated to be 400 phones valued at $42,000. No word on what kind of charges this woman is looking at, but I think the lesson here is that if you are an ass with a psychotic girlfriend—hide your gadgets. [cnews via Fark]

Fiery Ring of Hair Mousse Educates as it Entertains; Also, Burns Stuff

Adam Frucci — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:25:00 EST

In another entry into our series of posts on dangerous-yet-awesome science experiments involving fire, we have a badass and simple video of a guy lighting a ring of hair mousse on fire. Yes, yes, we know it's flammable, but the results probably aren't what you're expecting. If you decide to try this for yourself I recommend doing it in your driveway rather than on your kitchen table, but hell, I'm no doctor. Do it on your carpet for all I care. [Spluch]

ONELink Wireless, Networked, Talking Smoke Alarms Tell You When to Get the Hell Out

Sean Fallon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:00:16 EST

If you are ever confronted with a fire or carbon monoxide situation in your home, it goes without saying that you would want an alarm that will give you the best chance to escape. That having been said, the ONELink system from First Alert does just about everything outside of physically carrying you out of the building. Because they can be wirelessly networked (up to 16 units), when one of the devices goes off, they will all go off, giving you more time to take action no matter where you are in a building.

The ONELink can also give you verbal alerts that define whether you are dealing with smoke or carbon monoxide and where the problem is occurring in your home. They can even be tested and/or programmed using your standard television remote. As you might expect, the ONELink is a bit pricey at $99 a unit, but if they work as advertised, it may be a small price to pay. [Smarthome and First Alert via Gizmag]

Heat Ray Causes Unintelligible Yelping from 60 Minutes Reporter

Christopher Mascari — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:00:57 EST

Remember the US Military ray gun that makes people feel like they're on fire? Well, 60 Minutes sent out a reporter to see if he could take the heat. Standing in plain view of the ray gun made his body feel like "scalding water," so David Martin attempted, with little success, to hide behind a piece of plywood and later a mattress. Some claim they can only take the heat ray 4 - 5 seconds, so when David tried it we think he only made it 2 seconds, even if he did say, "ONE ONE THOUSAND TWO ONE THOUSAND THREE ONEEEAAHHHHRRHHR" [CBS via TechEBlog]

Ping Pong-Themed Webcam Hopefully First and Last Homage to Balls Of Fury

AddyDugdale — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:10:13 EST

Oh Brando, not only do you not heed my pleas for a USB trouser press, but you also continue putting products that are, quite frankly, strange and reprehensible. Who in their right mind would be interested in buying a webcam that looks like a ping-pong bat? Don't you know that we computer-fixed weirdies have no interest whatsoever in exercise? Some of us, however, do appreciate the box of tissues in one of the press shots. Ping-Pong and webcam aficionados may want to jump for the full specs, anyone with a dirty mind just head straight to the gallery.

Lens rotation for adjusting clear image
3 colors changing LED light
Video Conferencing
Workable on ICQ, MSN, Skype, etc
Plug and play
USB Interface
Fully support USB 1.0 and 2.0
Drive free for Windows XP and Vista
Size: 53 x 72 x 73mm (approx.)
Weight: 91g

The ping-pong webcam costs $19— although, IMHO, Brando should be paying us 19 bucks to take it off its hands. [Brando]

Retromodo: Laptop Catches Fire at LAX, Foreign Woman Freaks Out

Jason Chen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:10 EST

Remember that old exploding battery episode? Here's a clip we haven't seen before of it. A very scary video with fireballs jumping from the Sony battery-infested body of this laptop. The people in the terminal sure are freaking out, screaming "OH MY GOD" and jumping up on those vinyl seats. That's probably what we'd do too—not reach in an try and save his porn like the dude halfway in the clip.UPDATE: Apparently, people have been linking to this story as new. I've edited this post to make it more clear that it is an old but recently discovered clip. If you need to check on your Dell's battery to see if it is of the exploding variety, they've written to remind us that you can do so here.

PSP Spontaneously Combusts, Burns Hole in Kid's Pants

Adrian Covert — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:40:33 EST

A PSP residing in the pocket of a Michigan elementary school student caught fire in the kid's pants and caused burns to the boy's inner leg. The boy escaped serious harm, only being treated for minor burns at the hospital. But maybe Chen should start considering what he puts or doesn't put in his pants. [Click On Detroit via Kotaku]

My Table Is on Fire and It Feels Delicious

matt buchanan — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:55:08 EST

This kind of reminds me of the table at my first Japanese apartment, which had a heater bolted to the bottom, but Ward Huting and Gerard de Hoop's version is a lot sexier with its discular luminescence. Its chewy center oozing warmy warms is a built-in candle—not a totally exposed heat source like my old table—which you can warm tea or naughty children over. It's supposed to be social like a campfire, so it probably works best if you turn your heat off several hours first so people are forced to gather 'round it for warmth. [Huting & de Hoop via Cool Hunting]

Solar Lighter: A Greener Way to Smoke

Kit Eaton — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:51:55 EST

Like some kind of tiny parabolic burning mirror that would make Archimedes proud, this solar lighter captures the sun's rays and focuses them to a central spot that can reach 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Result: an economic, fossil-fuel-free way to light your smelly cigarettes. If that's not ironic enough, today is World Cancer Day! Let's just call it a "survival tool" instead, and say it's just an environmentally graceful way to, uh, start forest fires. [Shiny Shiny]

Capsule Fire Extinguisher Concept Arms You With Flame-Tamping Grenades

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:50:29 EST

This rugged fire-extinguisher concept contains both an oxygen supply to help you breathe and exploding powder pellets that you roll, grenade-like, into a fire to put it out at a distance. We're slightly worried at the idea of having an oxygen tank near lots of flames, but hey ho, it's great that designer Woo Seok Park is looking at improving the humble extinguisher with this Capsule concept. Our imagination now has us racing to tackle that burning building with McClane-like shouts of "Yippeekay-ay, Motherf..." Well, you know the rest. [Yanko designs]

Magic Fireballs are Awesome, Not as Dangerous as You'd Think

Adam Frucci — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:37 EST

Get ready to be the coolest uncle ever: here's a video tutorial on how to make "Magic Fireballs," which are what they sound like. Yes, small balls that you can light on fire and play with without getting burned (well, as long as you know what you're doing). They're sure to make you the most popular guy at the next children's birthday party you attend. [Home Recipes Note]

Interview With the Guitar Hero Christmas Lights Guys (With Bonus Videos)

Jason Chen — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:41:49 EST

We just talked to the two guys responsible for the Guitar Hero Office Christmas Light Extravaganza and asked them to elaborate on the process of creating such a badass light show. The two guys, Kyle and Colin Bryson, have been using equipment from National Instruments to make automated light shows already, and just took it to another level with the Frets on Fire (the PC Guitar Hero) integration. Check out the full interview and bonus video (playing Through the Fire and Flames, the hardest GH3 song) after the jump.

Giz: How did you come up with this idea?
For several years, Kyle has done an automated Christmas light display using hardware that he has worked on at National Instruments. When he started playing Guitar Hero this fall, it sort of just seemed like a natural fit...couple that with the fact that Guitar Hero is more popular than ever right now, and it seemed like the perfect idea and timing.

Giz: How long did the whole thing take you guys?
Probably about 30 hours...most of which was spent the weekend before it's debut modding the Frets on Fire program extensively. The basic cubicle light design had been done years past, so I was tasked with wiring and setting most of that while Kyle investigated the ins and outs of programming with Python, a language neither of us had used before this project.

Giz: Can you explain the process? How did each piece hook up?
First, I'll hit the hardware side: Kyle's Dell Athlon 64 x2 XPS (running XP SP2) was hooked up to 2 NI 9172 USB CompactDAQ (Data Acquisition) chassis, one in the front corner and one in the back. Each of these chassis held 4 NI 9481 quad-channel relay modules, resulting in 16 channels per chassis and a total 32 independently controllable channels. The 32 strings of lights hung around the cube were wired individually (by me) into the relays. Using hardware timed generation, all 32 channels were updated every millisecond. Add on the USB XBOX 360 Guitar Hero 2 controller, and the system was ready for some code.

Alright, on to the software side of things: The Frets on Fire game was written entirely in Python but the API for controlling the cDAQ modules was written in C. Thus, a colleague (thanks Joe!) used SWIG(Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator, seen here) to make the API available from the game code. Once this was available, Kyle and I teamed up to "pair program" the modded code (Kyle at the keyboard, and me behind him questioning things and generating ideas). Since we had very little knowledge of the language or the game's structure, the biggest challenge was understanding the game's composition, learning how all of the variables we needed were captured, and deciding exactly how to insert our light-controlling code. Oh...and keeping it from crashing...

Giz: What was the hardest part (besides actually playing Fire and Flames on expert)?
Well...besides the fact that autoplay could not handle Fire and Flames on expert (it's just too hard!) I guess we'd have to go with maintaining overall stability. That, and finding a way to counteract the delays our code imposed so that the lights were actually in sync with the sound.

Giz: Are you guys going to do a fireworks version for NYE?
You know, if a box from Gizmodo arrived with the right equipment, it would be tough to ignore.

Giz: And anything else you guys feel like the world should know (like which one of you is the better player)
Well, neither of us are superstars, but I think I have a slight edge in the competition. Also, I am actually a full-time student at Texas A&M and don't work at National Instruments...but maybe someday soon! Thanks for your interest and time, and we hope everyone enjoyed the display!

Thanks Colin and Kyle!

Cellphone on Fire Didn't Kill Korean, Errant Co-Worker's Excavator Was the Culprit

Charlie White — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:02:58 EST

Seo, the unfortunate 33-year-old Korean man who was said to have died when his cellphone exploded, was actually killed accidentally by Kwan, his coworker, not by the LG handset that was in his shirt pocket. Now, Kwan has been charged with manslaughter. After backing over Seo with a huge multi-ton excavator, Kwan saw Seo on the ground, bleeding with his clothes on fire. Panicked, he made up a story about the cellphone killing Seo. No so. Although the cellphone's battery caught fire after the accident, an autopsy showed bruises and fractures on Seo's chest, arms, back, and even one of his fingers, hardly the work of an exploding cellphone. In fact, cellphone batteries can catch on fire, but don't ignite with enough force to break bones. [Yahoo News and Newswire]

Wi-Fire Wi-Fi Booster Now Available For Windows Vista, Linux on the Way

Sean Fallon — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:00:54 EST

A couple of months ago we discovered that the notion of a 3x Wi-Fi signal boost from the Wi-Fire wasn't a load of crap after all. In fact, it delivered a 5x signal boost and a range approaching 1000 feet for only $79.99. All the more reason why Vista owners should be excited that hField has developed a version compatible with your chosen OS with the same specs and price as the previous versions. They also noted that a Linux version is well on its way, although no release dates have been set. [Product Page]

Firetruck Fuses With MiG Fighter Jet

Mark Wilson — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:35:09 EST

Taking a cue from the Batmobile, some particularly fast-to-the-scene firefighters (or just some crazy gearheads) have stuck a 27-foot Russian MiiG fighter jet engine into a firetruck. To accomplish this feat, the (water and gas?) tanks had to be completely removed. So yeah, ironically the firetruck may get to a scene faster, but at the cost of having no way to fight the fire. Other neat fact?

It's claimed that the truck now houses the largest turbine motor of any land vehicle in the world, with the ability to blow over a full-sized SUV behind it. Note to self: never, under any circumstance, park your car behind a firetruck that can likely fly into space under its own power...unless I can sneak some sweet free leftover minutes from a public meter...then it may be worth the risk. [lifeontop via crave]

no!no! Shaver Gets Its Name Right, Not Much Else

Benny Goldman — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:15:00 EDT

The no!no! Shaver is a device that keeps your nether region looking smooth by using a "thermodynamic wire to transmit the heat to the hair". In other words, it burns the hair clean off your man parts (or lady parts!). If that wasn't enough, the no!no! is "characterized by (the) odor" of sweet, sweet burning hair. This sounds like hell, and that's coming from someone who is no stranger to self-inflicted grooming torture. Available for $250 at Sephora, it comes with free shipping. [product page via BBG]

Rocket Bike Will Scorch the Earth, Possibly Your Most Sensitive Areas

Adam Frucci — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:25:01 EDT

Because traveling is just more fun when open flames are involved, the BVSA Rocket Bike exists. Created by Jason Broemmel so that he could jump across Islais Creek in San Francisco for a bike rodeo (yes, a bike rodeo. What a country.), this bad boy is powered by highway flares, illegal fireworks, propane, and danger. And just in case you felt like trying to jump Islais Creek yourself, be warned: he didn't make the jump. [Ubergizmo]

UPDATED: AT&T Dish Network Victimizes California Couple Whose House Just Burned Down

Charlie White — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:41:52 EDT

As if those disastrous California fires weren't bad enough, watch this poor couple whose house had just burned down describe how AT&T demanded $300 for a Dish Network satellite receiver that had also been destroyed in the conflagration. We hear AT&T intends to respond to this, so we'll withhold judgment until the phone giant explains why it would ignore the disaster and ask for immediate payment from this unfortunate couple. Couldn't AT&T at least have postponed the payment until the insurance check arrives? [Consumerist]
UPDATE: AT&T responded to this post and video with a statement:

This customer initially called AT&T to discuss other communications services. After she was transferred to Dish, the disaster policy Dish has in place was not followed. This customer will not be charged for service cancellation or equipment fees—that is our policy, and the policy of Dish, in times of natural disasters. We have spoken with this customer to clarify our policy, and we are committed to taking care of all customers affected by the fires. We are providing several no-cost options for fire victims to suspend their phone, broadband and satellite service, including a pause of service, with no equipment fees.

Nice spin control, AT&T—quick and graceful. Turns out a Dish Network customer service rep was being a hardass and it's not AT&T's policy to kick customers when they're down. Whew.

Those wildfires in Southern California are ...

Jason Chen — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:44:49 EDT

Those wildfires in Southern California are getting dangerously close (as close as 100 yards) to some of our favorite companies, as Sony, HP and Broadcom have shut down business for the day and evacuated their offices. Some employees have or will lose homes to the fires, which frankly sucks balls. Stay safe guys! [KUSI]

Jet Engine: The Perfect Firestarter

Charlie White — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

Bored? Why not rent a jet engine on wheels for your next bonfire? It'll save you the trouble of futzing with those tedious matches, lighter fluid and kindling. Beats fireworks! [Live Leak]

Nano Afire!

Charlie White — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:25:10 EDT

Danny Williams's iPod nano gave him the hot pants, shooting flames out of his pocket and up to chest height. Lucky for him, there was a thick piece of paper in his pocket that shielded him enough to keep him from getting singed balls. Good thing it didn't burst into flames at some inopportune moment, setting his house afire or worse. Apple says it will replace the explosive nano, but wouldn't say if this problem was widespread. Our fave part of this video is when the newsreader calls it a "nanna." [WSBT]

Wi-Fire Wi-Fi Booster Tested (Verdict: Almost a 5x Boost)

Jason Chen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:40:52 EDT

The 1000-foot range and 3x signal boost hField Technologies claimed for their Wi-Fire signal boosters seemed like spec inflation, but Macenstein took precious time away from taking pictures of bikini ladies and tested it out. Their findings? An almost 5x boost. They would have hit the 1000-foot range as well if it weren't for line-of-sight issues, but they did find the clip on the Wi-Fire directional antenna to be all but worthless. All in all, a pretty great buy for $79 if your Wi-Fi streaming video looks more like a slideshow. [Wi-Fire via Macenstein - Thanks Mike!]

Bullseye Extinquisher, Useful in Fake Fire

Mark Wilson — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:30:07 EDT

The Bullseye Extinguisher Training System is a practicing system made for those who aren't so sure about their mad extinguisher skillz. A digital panel responds to a laser emitting from the extinguisher, assumable responding just as a real flame would to a real flame extinguisher. We're not sure what it costs, though the system is sure to be cheaper than burning down another room of your house.

But if a fire occurs in our home, we're not going to be a "hero" and try to stop it. We're grabbing the important things before scurrying out the door: our wife, cat, laptop, a console or two, our Tivo (and all of its irreplaceable Janet Jackson nipple slippage), maybe something to snack on and a pair of clean underwear. And then we'll tearfully explain to the insurance companies how we "lost it all," hopefully in a convincing enough manner that they don't notice use clutching our laptop, a console or two, our Tivo (and all of its irreplaceable Janet Jackson nipple slippage), maybe something to snack on and underwear. [product via shinyshiny]

Sony, Sharp, Hitachi Team Up for Green LCDs

Mark Wilson — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EDT

Sony is big on making friends in the LCD business. First they open a joint manufacturing plant with Samsung, and now they've announced an initiative with Sharp and Hitachi to create an LCD display that can be powered through only half the electricity needed by today's models. Re-engineering LCD architecture coupled with advanced LED backlighting will bring the energy savings. Well, that, or we'll all forget about the initiative by its 2011 payoff anyway. [japantoday]

Amateur Flamethrower Porn = Hot

Mark Wilson — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:40:20 EDT

Our favorite part of this video is not one of the many ridiculous flamethrower scenarios. It's a shot about halfway in where—with no semblance of cohesion—the filmmakers roll a 70" television down the stairs.

We all know that firefighters are heroes. But based upon the brilliant sacrifices of safety throughout this video, I'd argue that these firemakers are heroes, too. [break via digg]

Hardware Unlock Explodes iPhone

Jason Chen — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:15:40 EDT

Here's a tip. If you're not really skilled at hardware hacks, don't try to hardware unlock your iPhone. If you accidentally touch the wrong thing or screw up, this will happen.

The user says:

"We were so happy, all the software part was done, so we started opening the iPhone. The antenna cover was a bit tricky but eventually it came off. Then we started to open the metal cover (after taking out the 3 screws) and PUFF, up it went in smoke, I think my collegue must have touched something. It literally went up in black smoke. It was so hot that when I tried to pick it up I burned my fingers. So, this is for sure the most difficult part of the whole process. I don't know what he did, as I had just stepped out of the room to fetch something when I heard a scream...they got such a fright."

Just wait until the software unlock becomes available, and THEN unlock it. Or use the SIM method like we detailed here before. Or ask a buddy that you know has experience with these things. Just for Jesus's (Diaz) sake, don't open it up if you don't know what you're doing.

[Hackintosh via iPhone Atlas]