Gizmodo: penguin

Penguin United's Quad Charge Station Takes Four Wiimotes Simultaneously

Jason Chen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:45:00 EDT

Nyko's Wiimote charge station has been on the market for a while now, dutifully rejuvenating two Wiimotes at a time so you don't have to. How could you improve on that concept? By introducing a charge station that charges FOUR Wiimotes simultaneously. Penguin United's solution does just that, plus comes with fancy green and blue LEDs, the ability to charge up to max in four hours and a price tag of $45. Unlike driving four cars simultaneously, eating four burgers simultaneously, peeing in four toilets simultaneously or dating four women simultaneously, we see no downside to charging four Wiimotes simultaneously. [Penguin United via IGN]

Penguin to Launch Ebooks Alongside Regular Releases

Haroon Malik — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EDT

The international publisher, Penguin, has decided to hop onto the ebook bandwagon, by promising regular book launches to be held in conjunction with their ebook counterparts. Unfortunately, the prices will not be lowered for the ebook varieties, but Penguin will offer direct downloads from their website.

Regardless, simultaneous release dates with new hardbacks, availability (eventually) of the entire Penguin back catalog and the planned September launch date of the initiative are all promising for the snow-balling ebook movement. Now, where's my Apple ebook reader, dammit? [Telegraph]

Programmable Tux Bot Has Tons of Functions Including Scaring Away Females

Jason Chen — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:47:56 EST

Since anyone who's going to buy this Tux Droid already has at least three Linux machines in their house, it's unlikely that they'll care just how nerdy this thing will make them look—which is great, because this penguin bot is actually pretty neat.

The thing's covered in felt and can communicate with the "USB fish" transmitter to wirelessly alert you to emails, RSS feeds, weather reports or breaking news. You can customize him to dance, spin, flap or flash, and can also use him as a VoIP phone, MP3 speaker or alarm clock. AND, you can program him to detect sound (intruder alarm) or light (turn off your TV). Oh, and you can use his text-to-speech to read stuff to you as well. Only $99. [Firebox]

New iPods Don't Work With Linux, Third Party Apps

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:00:03 EDT

One of the new "features" in the latest line of iPods—classic, touch and nano—is a "cryptographic checksum" in the song database that won't let you sync with any application besides iTunes. Since there's no iTunes for Linux, if you're running with Tux, you ain't running with your iPod.

Using a third party app (such as Winamp in Windows as well) to unlock or modify the database file (i.e., load up or sync your iPod), will make your iPod tell you the number of songs on it is a big, fat zero. Work's started on a hack, but it'd be nicer if Apple fixed this themselves. You know, instead of totally cutting off a not-insignificant swath of their customers. [ipodminusitunes via Boing Boing]

USB Penguin Mouse is Sadly Not a Genetic Experiment

AddyDugdale — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:33:37 EDT

It's a mouse. It's $15. It's not really geeky, but I guess Linux fanatics might want to gift it to their kids. Stats below.

Interface: USB
Mouse Structure: Optical
Resolution: 800dpi
2-button mouse with scroll wheel.
Ergonomic design, comfortable control.
Latest optical tracking engine for pinpoint accuracy.
Optical sensor stays precise on the most surface without mouse pad
Support Windows XP, ME, 2000, 98SE or Mac OS.
Dimension: 9.2 x 8.0 x 3.0cm
Weight: 66g
Cable length: 140cm
Color: Black, Pink, Blue

Cost is $15. [USB Geek]

Self-Contained RPG Game Solely in a Mint Tin

Jason Chen — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:20:42 EDT

If you thought putting your iPod nano in an Altoids tin was impressive, check out what Greg Sanders got inside a Penguin mints tin. It's a self-contained RPG game whose parts all fit inside the tin. All you have to do is plug in a Sega Genesis controller and a TV and you're set. Yes, but does it tell you how old your brain is? [MAKE via Play Gadgets]

Penguin Speakers - Round and Bug-Eyed Sonic Goodness

www.gizmodo.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:28:42 EST

Are your speakers just too rectangular and boring colored? Are you looking for a set of speakers that will make the ladies go "Aww!"? Do you enjoying googly-eyed, waddling penguins? Do you consider "Happy Feet" and "March of the Penguins" as cinematic masterpieces? If so, these are the speakers for you. Bonus their eyes jump to the beat. Odd, yet strangely compelling. –Dana Bushman

The Penguin Speakers [Uber-Review via Crave]

Exclusive Hands-On With The Penguin Phone...Cover

kthompson — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:12:16 EST

Stop the presses and forget about the iPhone, the CES counter to Apple's second coming has been unveiled. We've got our mitts on the Fun Friends modified Blackberry Pearl, the latest attempt at merging plush technology and communications. The first thing we did? Placed an order for some female 'company' based on the recommendations of a handful of card-toting businessmen lining the strip. – Karson Thompson

Lunar Penguin

Noah R — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 09:26:02 EDT

Ok, the Moon is first on his list, but since President Bush decided that space exploration is a priority for top US scientists, engineers at MA-based defence contractors Raytheon are now busy working on a robot, cleverly dubbed the Lunar Penguin, that will be able to one day scale the surafce of the Moon using compact rocket boosters. These "robotic scouts" will be our first diplomats on the craggy surface and the project leader, Karleen Seybold, believes this could be "the delivery vehicle for the science community," for any colonization. The non-penguin looking Penguin has four legs, weighs 104 lb and is under 1 meter tall. Could double as a footstool or cocktail table if things don't work out.

Robotic space penguin to hop across the Moon [NewScientist.com]