Gizmodo: smash

100,000-Pound Crane Smashes House in Half

Dan Nosowitz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:40:00 EST

This 100,000-pound crane was removing a tree when the tree broke loose, sending the crane's massive boom down onto the owner's house, smashing it like a Play-Doh sculpture. Check out the carnage in the gallery below. [SFGate]

The Cheapest Way To Smash An iPhone For Fun

Sean Fallon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EDT

Oddly enough, a website called iPhonedummy.net is selling realistic looking but completely non-functional iPhone dummies for $20 apiece. As stupid as that sounds, there are a million and one uses for this thing.

The most obvious use would be as a cheap, smashable/stompable/blendable/microwaveable prop for film of home videos. I would imagine that practical jokers and modders might also find reasons to spend $20 on a dummy instead of blowing money on the real deal. At any rate, if you have a creative idea for an iPhone shell, you had better get on it before Apple unleashes the hounds. [iPhone Dummy via MobileCrunch]

Moron Smashes His iPhone Because of His Palm Pre

Jesus Diaz — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:50:00 EDT

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.A guy named John has changed his first generation iPhone for a new Palm Pre. Nothing bad or weird about that. Until he took a steel hammer out of his toolbox:

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

Then—for some unknown reason—he smashed his iPhone with it.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

Why anyone would do this stupidity, instead of selling or giving the old iPhone to someone who may need it, is beyond me. [PreThinking]

Cyber Smash Grip Add-on Turns Wiimotes Into DualShocks

Jason Chen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Despite the supposedly game-changing motion controls that the Wii brings to gaming, a good portion of AAA games use the Wiimote in the more traditional controller sense. How do you make the one-handed controller more comfortable for two handed play? By shoving it inside a body that adds an "analog" stick and two DualShock-like grips. And when you're done making Snake do sexy things to Samus, it comes off for easy storage. [Cyber Gadget via Impress via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

Raytheon Blaster Can Smash Through Concrete Juggernaut Style

Sean Fallon — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:40:17 EDT

A new prototype device developed by Raytheon Co. can bash through concrete walls like nobody's business. Plans for the 100 pound Controlled Impact Rescue Tool, or CIRT, will place the device in the hands of firefighters, military personnel and search teams as part of a program developed by the Department of Homeland Security. Hit the jump to see the CIRT in action.

The video above pretty much says it all, but to put things into perspective, the CIRT can take down a concrete barrier in about 13 minutes—which is about 16 minutes quicker than conventional methods. That may be a little slower than Juggernaut, but it is not too shabby. Plus, it is not much of a burden for two burly dudes to handle. A price point for the device has yet to be determined. [Boston]

Exclusive Video: Flat Flexible OLED Screen Survives Hammer Pounding

Benny Goldman — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST

What happens when you smash a super-thin OLED display with a hammer? Last week, Wilson and I learned all about OLEDs, but after our factory tour we were left with that one nagging question. Lucky for us, mystery solved, as UDC has the answer courtesy of this video demonstration. Personally, I'd like to see this test performed on more gadgets. Blending is getting a little old. [UDC]

Format War Non-News and Rumor Smash: Wal-Mart Didn't Order 2M HD DVD Players

Jason Chen — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:14:19 EDT

Remember those rumors that Wal-Mart was going big in HD DVD and ordering 2 million cheapo Chinese HD DVD players? Yeah, that's not so true. Fuh Yuan, the company supposedly taking the orders, just posted a correction regarding the orders, saying they "had not received yet." Wal-Mart just asked them for a cost analysis and timing appraisal, and may choose them to provide the players if everything looks dandy. Did you know Fuh yuan is supposedly, according to a translation in AVS forums, going to IPO soon? Convenient.

Wal-Mart itself said they can't comment on whether there was a deal brewing, but did say they plan to sell both Blu-ray and HD DVD until one of them sucks slightly less than the other.

In more non-news, we called it that Blu-ray would only be winning for another 5 minutes before HD DVD threw a statistic in their favor across the wires. To the Blu-ray's millions of discs sold, HD DVD is actually at 998,059, just 2,000 units of Blu-ray's million disc march.

That's why I call it non news.– Jason Chen

Wal-Mart Shoots Down Cheap HD DVD Rumor [PC Mag - Thanks Keith!]

Rumor Smashed: iTunes Card NOT Free With Zune

Mark Wilson — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 14:30:29 EST

Yesterday we posted a Weird Combo of the Day that offered a $15 iTunes card free with the purchase of a Zune. Later, we even had a "tip" from a CompUSA "employee" with a "screenshot" of an internal "memo" referencing the "incident" about the "deal" and yes I like "quotes".

Zune Insider followed up on the rumor.

I talked to the retail team; this is a hoax. The actual ad that ran offered a $15 iTunes gift card with the purchase of an iPod, and free Zune Premium Earphones w/ the purchase of a Zune... Funny while it lasted, though!

Yeah, it really was. But for now, RUMOR (...that we sorta helped start) SMASHED! – Mark Wilson

UPDATE: Ok...maybe it wasn't smashed. I don't know what to believe anymore But I'm gonna sleep alright tonight nonetheless.

DELETED: Zune Retail Humor [zuneinsider]

Asurion's Cellphone Insurance Works - Even For Idiots

Jason Chen — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:00:29 EST

What's with bloggers and anger management issues? First Kotaku's Crecente smashes the wall with his fist while installing Windows, now Consumerist's Popken smashes his cellphone with his fist while being retarded. Good thing the Poppers had Asurion, which took his claim even when confessed to manually smashing the phone in anger.

So yes, Ben got a new phone with just at $50 deductible and a trip down to the Verizon store. We've usually skimped on cellphone insurance—mostly because we get our phones unlocked from overseas—but how about readers? Has your Asurion experience been as good, or are you one of the victims we hear about that warns us that it's easier NOT to buy insurance and spare yourself the headache? – Jason Chen

Cellphone Insurance Works Even If You Smash Your Cell In Retaded Anger [Consumerist]

Mario and Luigi Smash Up the Wii

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:46:47 EST

If you thought the PS3 was the only console these guys were gonna smash, think again. Dressed up as Mario and Luigi, the sledgehammer-toting duo gave a brand new Wii the beating of its life in front of a line of Nintendo fanboys. Unlike the previous Wii autopsy we showed you, these guys took out all their aggression on the tiny console. The video is worth a chuckle especially with the Mario Bros. sound effects running in the background, though it woulda been a lot cooler had they destroyed the Wii by spitting fireballs at it. – Louis Ramirez

The Wii Gets Demolished Too [via Gadgetell]