Gizmodo: silly

Aigo MP3 Player Leaves Me Feeling Puzzled

Elaine Chow — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:00:00 EST

While this upcoming mp3 player from China's Aigo looks cool, it's hard to piece together more information about it. Aigo's given us no specs, no price, and no release date. Drop a hint, Aigo! [Yesky]

Anti-Static Shoes Will Make Sure Rich Bachelors Cling to You

Elaine Chow — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:20:00 EST

All you entrepreneurial gold-digging nurses out there, listen up. Your efforts to marry that rich, sick dude are for naught if you don't have this handy object in your repertoire: anti-static shoes. [Japan Probe]

Chimp in Japan Gets Popcorn Machine for Xmas, Freaks Out

Elaine Chow — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

I know some of you might be tempted to get gadgets as Christmas presents for your pets, so here's a tip: Chimpanzees don't like popcorn machines. Don't say we never help you out! [Japanprobe]

BigDog Quadruped Robot, Or Something Like It, Spooks Tokyo Streets

Elaine Chow — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:30:00 EST

The Land of Godzilla now has another monster terrorizing its streets—Boston Dynamic's BigDog robot! Only... aren't those feet? This isn't BigDog Beta, is it? No wonder the Japanese look more puzzled than scared. [JapanProbe]

Second Gates-Seinfeld Ad Shows They're Very Rich, Unlike Us

Elaine Chow — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:18:25 EDT

Remember that first Seinfeld-and-Gates adventure into Shoe Circus, which alluded to something about Windows being “soft and chewy and delicious?” Well, the new Laural and Hardy of ambiguous advertising have a new spot out and it's... making fun of your average scalloped potato-eating, leather giraffe from Cabo-buying, grumpy Grandma-having Suburban family. The incredibly rich duo try to connect on a “normal people” level and kind of fail utterly. Like Windows Vista. I think.

The ad aired on September 11 on CBS' “Big Brother” reality show. It's funnier than the first and you get to see Jerry clip his toenails and Bill do the robot, but as a Windows user, I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to think about this. “Looks like Macs aren't the only thing catering specifically to East and West coast elitists?” [ZDNet]

Asus F6 Comes With Webcam, 13-inch Screen, Eau de Asus

Elaine Chow — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Looks like Asus is sniffing out the next big thing now that it's found heaps of success with its EeePC concept, and has decided that what the world really needs is a notebook that can function both as a mid-range computer and an Air Wick. The Asus F6 boasts a 13.3 inch screen, an integrated webcam, an Intel Core2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DRAM support, up to 320GB of HD space and comes in four scents – Floral Blossom, Musky Black, Morning Dew and Aqua Ocean. Asus doesn't say how long the fragrance is supposed to last, or whether you can reapply it. But for a couple of days at least, when the patrons of your local coffee shop wrinkle up their noses and ask “What's that smell?” you can proudly say “Me.” [Asus via Far East Gizmos]

Make Your Broken NES Into a Lunchbox

Elaine Chow — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT

If you're like me, you probably have an old, broken-down NES somewhere in your house, gathering dust while you try to decide whether you should keep it for nostalgia's sake. How about turning it into a lunchbox, which will allow you to bring those warm early gaming memories with you to work or school every day? Instructables contributor fluctifragus has posted a pretty easy do-it-yourself for making your console useful (and deliciously so!) again. All you need is your NES, a rotary tool, two small hinges, some glue and... a Canadian superhero? [Instructables via Lifehacker]

Twist Chair Will Corkscrew Giant Holes into Your Lawn

Elaine Chow — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Here's a great product to ensure that you'll never be invited to somebody's backyard ever again—the “Easy Install Twist Chair.” Instead of having four legs like regular chairs, the Twist uses a corkscrew base that you plug into the ground and spin until it's solidly placed. Bring the chair along the next time you go to a garden party and see if your hosts appreciate you aerating their lawn. [Yanko Design]

Apple Receives 188 Mysterious Cargo Containers: 3G iPhones, New MacBooks or the Finest Colombian Snow?

matt buchanan — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

I think that the obsessive drive to be omnisciently aware of everything Apple is plotting has officially gone from a little crazy to completely silly. People are tracking their ~~bowel movements~~ cargo shipments, and apparently the latest batch has 188 containers from Asian supplier Hon Hai and Quanta Computers, mysteriously marked "electric computers," a label that they've never used before. Ack! Combined with the fact that "desktop computer" labeled shipments haven't dropped, ImportGenius, the dudes who monitor this stuff, are therefore convinced it's the 3G iPhone.

Or new MacBooks. The first shipment came in on March 27, which seems a bit early, unless they're really, really stockpiling to meet demand. Or it could just be a whole bunch of blow and June 9 will be the biggest party ever. [ImportGenius via Fortune]

BodyBeat Metronome Keeps Beat Silently, Forgets Musicians Need Their Fingers

Elaine Chow — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:20:00 EDT

The Peterson BB-1 BodyBeat attaches to your finger/random appendage, sending tiny rhythmic pulses that you can feel on your skin. The non-aural stimulation will give you a silent way to count measures while playing the piano... and since you have to use your fingers to do that, you will have to clamp this to somewhere else. The question is where?

Available for $99.97. [Sweetwater via UberGizmo]

Blu_ray, the Makeup

Jason Chen — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:15:28 EST

Making your face presentable for high definition is tough, which is why the makeup brand Cargo is carrying a "blu_ray" brand makeup—trademarked, no less—that's supposed to cover up any Cameron Diaz-level skin problems. It's unlikely that Sony will be pleased that someone's calling dibs on a brand they spent billions on building, but since this is in the makeup space, they might be SOL. We're sure Cargo's glad they don't have to make an "hd_dvd" branded makeup kit. [Sephora via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Korean Guy Announces the Three Best Inventions EVER (or Just the Silliest Ones)

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:25:29 EST

A genius and Ph.D. of Aerospace Engineering who goes by the name of Hoseong Han has popped in our tips line today with what could be The Best Three Inventions of the Year 2007: the "Waist Computer," which also converts your laptop into a hanging tray for cigarette girls; "Folding cloth," to fool everyone with your fake parachute, then hear them laugh while you put it on under the rain; and our new all-time-favorite "Back of the Hand Phone," which defies any description except that it's perfect as an excuse to perform your best "I'm so le tired" pose while you make a call. We can't wait to see your favorite in the poll after the jump. In the meantime, read the descriptions by Hoseong Han himself:

Back of Hand Phone
This phone/PMP/PDA/MP3 is mounted on back of hand and this phone is attached with wrist strap and finger ring for thumb and index finger. This phone is mounted on back of hand between wrist and thumb-index finger. With this phone, the main body of phone can be made larger than wrist phone so bigger screen and battery because this area is larger than wrist for most people. With phone with this position, viewing of screen is more pleasant and this is the best phone carrying method. With this invention, you will never lose phone and listing music, watching video with ease. I think this phone is perfect for 3G image phone because camera on phone can capture image of face with best angle.

Folding Cloth

A cloth (Jumper/Jacket) that can be folded and carried on back in indoor/car or during warm daytime and unfold and wear at cold outdoor or cold night. The key point of this invention is attaching locking mechanism (like zipper) on either side of trunk. Very easy to make and minor modification to jacket is needed. Many people said this invention the best and most practical of the three.

Waist Computer

Notebook computer with waist belt and body so can be hanged the notebook computer around waist. Simple and easy computer carrying method and can use your computer during walking or standing position or sit position. Keyboard can be seen slightly during walking or in stand position. Plenty room for auxilary battery and etc. On table use, simply unlock the belt and position the waist computer on table and use it.

These gadgets are absolutely real. They are patented in Korea and are in the process of getting patented internationally, according to Hoseong Han. [Hoseong Han]

Darth Vader Drinks Guinness, Wears a Bonnet

AddyDugdale — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:14:24 EDT

Right now it's a bit hot for one of these, but we salute Lady Linoleum, who made this Darth Vader helmet out of eight Guinness cans and some black wool.
[Monster Crochet via Craftzine]

Talking Geek Figurine Talks Geek While you Work

AddyDugdale — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:23:45 EDT

Bang one of these nerdy desk ornaments on the head and it whines "I'm thinking right now." Bang a real geek on the head, though, and he'll probably be able to tell you the pressure per square inch exerted by the palm of your hand. I can't decide which one would give me more fun. [Tokyo Mango]

Fake Steve Jobs' Photo With a Fake ThinkPad Reserve

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:00:21 EDT

There's now a photo floating around that allegedly pictures Fake Steve Jobs holding a special edition, leather-bound Lenovo ThinkPad Reserve. Why this matters, I don't know. But the thing is that some people believe is real and we are going to say it's fake: It's fake. There. Fake fake fake. Fake. Come on, it's fake Steve Jobs. As a source?

It is fake—not for obvious reasons, like "Steven P. Jobs" being in focus while the surface onto which it has been stamped is not—but because we actually have the real picture. Which shows that the image above has been retouched—intensely— after the jump.

Looking at the photo posted by FSJ and other blogs, you don't have to be Gizmodo's local pixel pusher and expert barman to see the Photoshop job. Anyone with two eyes and even more margaritas in their bloodstream than me will be able to see that the name "Steven P. Jobs" is in focus while the rest of the picture, specifically the corner in which it is placed, is not. Somehow, Steve is moving but his name is staying in focus, frozen in space and time.

Maybe his RDF is so strong than one of his many powers is that His Name always stays perfectly visible and sharp. But then again, if that's true, we just can't imagine His Steveness holding something as naff as a leather Windows machine with his full name stamped on it. We just can't. Or can we?

Actually, the truth is that he may have a ThinkPad Reserve, but the photo shown by FSJ has been manipulated to hide the Real Truth!

This image proves beyond any doubt that the photo posted by FSJ was obviously doctored. It also proves that 1) Steve is a Monty Python fan (understandably), 2) Steve doesn't use iPods or iTunes, preferring vinyl LPs on his Technics turntable and 3) Steve's admiration for Johnny Cash is pure façade: he is a super-disco man all the way. This last bit is further confirmed by his obsession with shiny surfaces and mirrors. Now we can only hope that Steve gives us more boom, bass lines and some Dancing Queen in the next keynote.

So there you go. Another mystery solved by Gizmodo's CSI brigade so you can continue with your lives knowing that we are here, defending Truth and Justice. And tequila cocktails. And wet T-shirt contests. Especially wet T-shirt contests. Or something. Uhm. Carry on, Citizens. –Jesus Diaz

Yes this is me, holding a windows machine [FSJ via Engadget]

World's Fastest Toilet is Jet-Propelled, not Powered by Farts

Addy Dugdale — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:35:08 EDT

Well, Flame Grill my Whopper and call it Professor Caractacus Potts! Is there nothing sacred any more? Not even those precious moments when a man wants a little peace in the world so that he can go about his daily business without being disturbed? It seems not, but then the British always were a little strange. This is, apparently, the world's fastest toilet. Powered by a Boeing Jet engine, the $10,000 vehicle's top speed is in excess of 70mph, and it farts flames from its tailpipe - rather like, I would imagine, a man forced to eat ten vindaloos one after another.

There's a video, as well another pic of the flaming khazi in action and its inventor, Paul Stender, all after the jump.

On the day when we remember Walter Schirra, let us also salute mechanic Paul Stender, without whom we would not be able to use clichés such as "To Boldly Go" and have them mean something completely different. – Ad Dugdale

Hold onto your Trousers... It's the world's fastest Loo

Lederhosen with Built-In Cellphone: Okay, so Where's the Mouthpiece?

www.gizmodo.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:02:07 EDT

Apparently it's in the suspender straps. How disappointing. – Ad Dugdale

German Lederhosen With A Built-In Cellphone At CeBit [Textually]

84" Giga Ball: Will be at Google HQ by the End of the Year

www.gizmodo.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:05:48 EDT

If this is for kids aged 4 and upwards, then I'm a banana with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. This 7-foot version of the Giga Ball is aimed at adults, no shit. I have seen the future and it is ball-shaped. YouTube will be full of mass Giga Ball rallies, people will take to the roads with them (are they car crash-proof? I don't know, but I bet the Jackass boys will be able to tell you that) and there will be Giga Ball races on Campus. It will set you back a shade under $200, but if you are the proud owner (driver?) of one of these, everyone will want to be your friend. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [Target via Techie Diva]

Roomba And The City

gizmodo.com — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 10:21:12 EDT

Had a bad morning commute today? Check out this cheery little video Amit Gupta sent in that he and Kara Canal put together, about how their Roomba spends the day while everyone else is out at work, it might make you feel a little better.

USB Cup Warmer

gizmodo.com — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 18:40:59 EDT

Your new USB heating gloves keeping your hands warm now, but your coffee's still getting cold in the mug? You could just get a thermal travel mug, but where's the fun in that? If you really love your gadgets, you know salvation lies with the Universal Serial Bus—this USB Cup Warmer will wrap around your mug and keep the temperature of the contents constant for a mere $15.

USB Cup Warmer [usb.brando.com.hk]