Gizmodo: silence

Xbox 360's HDMI Audio Fix Coming February 3 at 2AM

Jason Chen — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:58:44 EST

The Xbox 360 HDMI audio issue is finally being fixed! There will be an Xbox LIVE update at 2AM, February 3, which will hopefully resolve any silence-over-HDMI issues people have been having since November.

UK Trains Get Quieter As Window Film Blocks Cellphone Signals

Kit Eaton — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EDT

UK train operator C2C has taken the neat step of actually enforcing its "quiet zone" train carriages with a system than blocks cellphone signals. It's a technique borrowed from the defense industry where a transparent conductive film is placed over windows to stop electronic signals from sensitive equipment "leaking" out (it's dubbed TEMPEST). Basically C2C is turning the quiet carriages into Faraday cages so you won't be bothered by undesired cellphone chatter, and thus creating little zones of sanity in our otherwise loud and electronically cluttered lives. And in case you think there'd still be that irritating high-pitch chittering from iPod headphones—there isn't: MP3 players are banned. [DailyMail via Newlaunches]

Silent Alarm Clock Wakes You Up With Good Vibrations, Smooths Roommate Relations

Elaine Chow — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Back when I was in college, one of my most frustrating experiences involved a roommate in my dormitory apartment who mistakenly believed that she would be able to wake up daily for her 8:30am lecture series. Said roommate could sleep through an elephant parade. Oh how I seethed in the mornings as I clutched my pillow to my head, begging for the noise to pleasepleaseplease just STOP. If only this alarm were available back then. The Silent Alarm Clock, designed by Johan Brengesjo, uses a wireless rubber ring that vibrates to wake you up in a tactile, noiseless fashion. Though it's just a concept device right now, somebody ought to make and market one right quick. Think of how many friendships it could save! [Yanko Design]

Blinking Cellphone Holder is Ironically Useful

Travis Hudson — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:00:22 EDT

This SIGNAL blinking cellphone holder is the perfect device for that super-silent office with the most uptight employees. Place the cellphone in the cup, turn it to silent mode and the cup will flash lights when a call is coming in. It is ironic because the ringing will no longer piss off the cubicle neighbors, but I'm sure answering the phone and talking about how completely obliterated you got the night before is perfectly okay with Sally in accounting. $21. –Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via OhGizmo!]

Super TV-B-Gone: Bulked Up to 90-Foot Range

Charlie White — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:40:53 EDT

If you absolutely positively must kill every TV in the room within 90 feet, here's the do-it-yourself project that puts your TV-B-Gone on steroids. If you're handy with electronics, all you need is one TV-B-Gone unit, a certain transistor, a 9-volt battery and 20 infrared LEDs.

Substitute that puny 3-volt watch battery inside with a 9-volt battery, solder it all together and boom! You have yourself a TV-B-Gone on hyperdrive. No matter where you point it, any TVs within 90 feet are toast. Well, they're not damaged, they just turn off. And then you have sweet, sweet silence.

Think of it, any TV within earshot at an airport, for example, is immediately silenced with one push of a button. But then, wouldn't that be inconsiderate of your fellow passengers? Don't others have the right to be continually brainwashed with incessant commercials? It's their choice. – Charlie White

Ultra TV-B-Gone [Instructables] Thanks, Phillip!