Unfortunately, it is not a real Mac. The Lego iMac G4 Jr. is just a screen—which is really a digital frame—that can display videos, images, and TV thanks to a built-in TV tuner. [tveskov via BBG via Daring Fireball]

The launch of Sony's long awaited Second-Life-alike has not been without its problems. Although it's been in closed beta for almost six months now, it's never had a true stress test. Tonight may prove to be that night as tons of G4 fans log into the newly opened virtual world all at once, all in the same place, while the G4 folks broadcast it live on TV. It all goes down at the "Mall" area—wear your finest unisex virtual t-shirt. [G4 Forums via Binge Gamer via MAXCONSOLE]

G4

1pstart [via Kotaku]

Evidently there was merit to the complaints, since the study did find a problem...

Researchers found that the solder joints around a voltage regulator were designed/constructed in such a way that caused them to deteriorate each time the computer was turned on or off. Because clamping the case near the trackpad will temporarily reconnect necessary circuitry, the firm deemed the problem a true design flaw.

If Apple does not voluntarily refund the wronged citizens of Denmark, the Board will help their citizens sue the company. And if suing doesn't work, they will embargo US exports of pastries (Ed. note: theoretically).

For readers who are interested in their own computers, the issue was only found in early G4 models that still had the G3-style casing. Other problems you may be experiencing include your computer being really slow, your zebra pants going out of style and the limited play of disco on the AM.
– Mark Wilson

Danish Agency Finds Apple G4 Design Flaw [PCMag]

Other ED coverage impressions by category...

Useful
G4 teams up with Earth 911 to provide a gadget recycling search engine called Gcycle. You enter your zipcode and the electronic you want to recycle. They tell you where to go.

Clever
LAPTOP instructs us on how to make a keyboard into a wallet, and gives us four other ideas to find new uses for old gadgets that aren't bad at all.

Provocative
WorldChanging takes a stance against Earth Day.

The biggest problem with Earth Day is that it has become a ritual of sympathy for the idea of environmental sanity. Small steps, we're told, ignoring the fact that most of the steps most frequently promoted (returning your bottles, bringing your own bag, turning off the water while you brush your teeth) are of such minor impact (compared to our ecological footprints) that they are essentially meaningless without larger, systemic action as well. The strategy of recycling as a gateway drug — get them hooked on it and we can move them on to harder stuff — has failed miserably.

We all know that changing a lightbulb is meaningless if we are building coal fired power plants like mad. The issues at stake will be dealt with at the government level, not in our chandelier... [but] small steps lead to education and awareness and that leads to votes and votes lead to change.

How are you celebrating Earth Day? – Mark Wilson

Black Cloud [neatorama]

Btw, Fruccimodo is not a dig at Frucci for having a hunchback like Quasimodo. We'd never stoop low enough to make fun of his debilitating high school injury. – Jason Chen

Yes, his Powerbook Titanium G4 also melted the plastic keyboard and the screen. After much haggling, he got the keyboard and screen replaced, but not the laptop itself. Catch Angus's story after the jump—though if he sent it to us five years ago, we might have been able to help him get a new laptop.

It happened to me too !


About 5 years ago, after saving for ages I bought my very first MAC, a brand spanking new $3500 Powerbook Titanium G4. I closed the screen one night after a long session with my new supergadget, woke up in the morning to find my MAC so hot I could not even touch it, I carefully open the screen with a pair of wooden chopsticks to find the screen warped and the keys melted, amazingly it still worked.


I tried to get it replaced as it was only a few weeks old but TEKSERVE in New York refused, they acted very suspicious and said they had never heard of this happening. After much emailing they only replaced the plastic keyboard and left the warped and damaged screen.


I again sent it back to tekserve pleading for a replacement as there could be "unseen damage" after another week they replaced the screen but refused to replace the MAC for a new one as they had "never seen this happen before" I was forced to settle for the "repairs" and was made to feel "lucky" that they replaced anything at all.


For the last 5 years I had never heard of it happening to anyone else untill seeing your recent article on 25th Jan. Ironically my crippled beloved MAC finally died last week after a short 5year life of illness,crashing and freezing,


Apple did a good job of keeping this one quiet. It could have easily started a fire in my apartment, the problem definately is more widespread than I could ever have imagined.

– Jason Chen

Thanks Angus!

I saw your post about a melted PowerBook. I had one too. About five years ago, I placed my Powerbook G4 on my desk, started up SETI (remember that?), and went to bed. I woke up to the smell of burning plastic. The keys in the center, radiating outward, were completely melted. Amazingly, though the screen was damaged, the computer was still turned on. I unplugged it, and even though the battery was still installed, it shut off. It melted the plastic covering on my desk, and the laptop was too hot to touch for almost half an hour.

Our observations: the keys are melted in a fairly uniform fashion, and if it was an internal heat that caused the keys to melt it wouldn't have melted so nicely. The picture shows that there was no heat focal point from inside the laptop. Also, the included story says this happened while the laptop was closed, but the screen appears to be in perfect condition. Vote below, hit the jump for the e-mail in its entirety and let the discussions begin in the comments section.

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Hi, I took this picture of my roommates g4 2 days ago. We play soccer together and in the morning before going to play he asked me to feel how hot his laptop was getting. It was extremely hot to the touch and I told him they were known for that. When we got back from playing he opened it up to find this (see pic). He took it to the "genius bar" and they told him Ahh the old hair dryer trick. I know for a fact that he didn't do that and I can't even imagine a hairdryer being able to do that. They basically PWN3D him.

–Travis Hudson

This GPS navigation not only looks cool, with its Playstation-like buttons and Batmobile-like black finish, it's got loads of features as well. The G4 has Bluetooth for connecting to your cellphone and headset so you can make calls while driving, MPEG4 playback for movie watching while driving—always an excellent idea—and infrared remote so your kids can play with it from the backseat.

There's also an e-compass and G sensor for better navigation when you're out of satellite range, voice reocorder, and TMC capability. This isn't available in the US yet, and maybe not ever, but we'll update you if it is. – Jason Chen

G4, d-Media's upcoming GPS navigation [AVING via Navigadget]

Final curtain call for PowerPC-based PowerBooks? [AppleInsider]