<![CDATA[Gizmodo: magnet]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: magnet]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/magnet http://gizmodo.com/tag/magnet <![CDATA[ How To Cure GSM Speaker Buzz ]]> Maclife suggests ferrite beads as a fix for the GSM buzz emanating from speakers when placed near a busy cellphone. I found some of the snap variety you can order from Radio Shack, but am unsure of this trick working when it comes to situations where the entire length of cable is receiving interference, or on an input cable like that on a tape adapter where the signal eventually gets amplified. [MacLife, via smashgods, Radioshack]

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Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:30:10 EDT Brian Lam http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5032497&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Neocube Is Better Than the Rubik's Cube Because There's No Right Answer ]]> Rubik's Cubes are nice if you actually want to think, but how about for those times when you're just sitting there and you want something to fiddle with? The Neocube has 216 spherical neodymium magnets that connect and make a cube, a sphere, or any other obscene shape that springs to mind. Show me a man who doesn't like playing with magnets and I'll show you a man I don't much care for. All yours for just $34.95. Bonus video after the jump.


[Neocube]

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Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=385802&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Magnetic Father & Son ]]>
Since you're at Gizmodo, and given our usual demographic, there's a pretty good chance that at one time or another you wished for super powers. Well screw watching X-Men & Heroes, this Taiwanese guy and his kid actually have magnetic powers. That's right, Magneto is real and he has a kid too.

Frankly we're scared since our weekly levitation classes haven't yielded any results yet. But it looks like we've got about 15 or so years before the boy really harnesses his powers.

P.S. Here's an explanation, even if it spoils the fun.
The Amazing Magnetic Child! [Videoholics Anonymous]

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Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:20:09 EDT blongo3 http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=269413&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ <cite>Star Wars</cite> 30th Anniversary Merch Strikes Back ]]> If you're reading this, you're probably not one of those lucky bastards who got in to Star Wars Celebration IV. Well, to make you even more green with envy, I just found the catalog of stuff you can only buy if you're there. The magnets shown above are pretty sweet, part of a series of souvenirs and clothes done in that style. Follow the jump if the name Ralph McQuarrie means anything to you, and to see what else is making George Lucas richer than Croesus.

McQuarrie_SW_Figures.jpg
True fans will recognize the above action figures immediately. They are based on the Fritz Lang-inspired original Star Wars concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. You can read more in the text above, but suffice it to say, I'm glad that guy is finally getting some recognition: nearly every one of his original drawings was revamped by someone else before shooting began.

Next up are the exclusive gadgets; which are a little underwhelming. I like the idea of a mechanical pen with both blue and red beams, but what would be really cool is if they were both lasers. Optics geeks, let me ask you: How far off are we from having true blue lasers in laser pointers? Or are we stuck with blue LEDs for reasons of health, energy or Sony-hoarding? And is that collectible frame superlame? Or am I missing something?

SW_Desk_Accessories.jpg
In case you want to see what else will be popping up on eBay in the days to come, you can download a very large (nearly 30MB) PDF at the page made for the open-24-hours-but-not-for-you Celebration Store. If you don't want to blow your inheritance on a collectible hoodie, there are always commemorative stamps. The US Postal Service's Star Wars 30th Anniversary stamps winner will be announced tomorrow. Yoda or Darth Vader? I vote Darth, to remind recipients of my snailmail correspondence that they should never, under any circumstances, underestimate the power of the Dark Side.

The Official Star Wars Blog [Star Wars]

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Fri, 25 May 2007 15:00:00 EDT Wilson Rothman http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=263719&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Fridge Message Magnet Makes Writing Obsolete ]]> message_magnet.jpgGot a lot of messages to leave for your family? Don't like writing? Then this message magnet is for you. The unit comes with six small photo frames where you can put in pictures of your whole family in order to easily identify them when you need to leave them a message.

Each message can be up to 10 seconds long, which should be long enough to tell them to pick up milk, eggs, or whatever else you think you need to say. Our only complaint is the lack of support for alternative families—Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan would be disappointed.

Product Page [Discovery via Random Good Stuff]

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Thu, 03 May 2007 18:00:30 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=257557&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Magnetic Clothes Hangers Give Your Closet Freedom ]]> Instead of racks and standard hangers—which limit the amount of clothes you can hang even in walk-in closets—Daniel To's Magneto-esque hangers seem to be the next step in hanger evolution. The idea is simple. Put magnets on hangers and hang them from a magnet-friendly surface.

Provided the magnets are strong enough, we can see some pants, jeans, and maybe even coats hanging from these. Plus, what could be cooler than maximizing the entire space of your closet and wading through a sea of clothes like a young William Wallace through dead bodies in that barn.

Designer Site [Daniel To via Freshome - Thanks Micle!]

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Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:30:38 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=252863&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ GyroFloater Desk Toy Brings Levitation Where It's Not Needed ]]> SAT lesson of the day: The GyroFloater is to a top as smartphones are to the original Moto StarTAC.

Using the principle of magnets (is this magnetic induction?), the top manages to spin and levitate itself in place thanks to the rather large magnet underneath. Grab one for your office and make wickedly fruity David Copperfield gestures when coworkers visit. Do it enough times and they may finally leave you alone.

Product Page [Gyrofloater via TechEBlog]

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Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:15:34 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=245383&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Endo Magnet Clips Clamp Down with Neodymium Strength ]]> These aren't just any magnet clips to fasten your kids' artwork to the refrigerator: these Endo Magnet Clips are "a solid mass of neodymium, silicone and steel" that can hold up 16 ounces of whatever. You push the circular area and the clip opens up, and then you can securely attach anything that weighs less than a pound.

Those must be some strong magnets, taking considerable strength to remove them from that metal surface. We've heard that word neodymium before—it's used in speaker systems and earphones. The Endo Magnet Clips are available in lots of purdy colors, and they're just 10 bucks for three.

Product Page [The Endo, LLC]

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Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:09:32 EDT Charlie White http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=243756&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Kiddy Cam For Parents, Not Sickos ]]> magnet.jpgThis Kiddy Cam from Magnet allows busy parents to monitor their kids without actually spending any time with the little bastards. The flip-down LCD screen can mount to any surface—a kitchen cupboard, for example—and receives transmissions from up to 30 meters (100 feet).

Useful for watching that your kids don't shove gadgets up their nose, but even more useful as it has a built-in radio. You have to watch them, but you don't have to listen to them.

Product Page [Magnet via Shiny Shiny]

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Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:25:45 EST Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=240493&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ SkyTRX Magnet-Mounted GPS Tracker ]]> skytrx.jpgWe've seen mini GPS loggers before, but stalking your girlfriend has never been easier than with this $259 SkyTRX GPS Mini Tracker. It has a magnet mount for easy stickage to the undercarriage of her car, and will record her every move for 100 hours straight.

Plus, after you upload the data onto your computer via USB, you can even map out her comings and goings onto Google Earth—giving you a birds-eye-view of her trip to your friend Larry's apartment.

If you're looking for a less nefarious (read: illegal) use, you can always just use this as a vacation trip logger on a cross country drive, giving your extended family a way to keep up with you virtually.

Product Page [Thinkgeek via Gearfuse]

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Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:30:53 EST Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=238542&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ What Happens When a Jackass Swallows a Magnet ]]> With a coin on the outside, he can slowly trace the magnet's path through his intestines and out the other side. Even better, if this is a strong enough magnet he can even use it as a cellphone/MP3 player holder.

Magnet Gut Video [Random Good Stuff]

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Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:00:50 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=209833&view=rss&microfeed=true