Gizmodo: Suit

Firefighting Sprinkler Suit From 1931

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Back in 1931 Modern Mechanix magazine ran an article about an invention used by German firefighters to protect themselves from being engulfed in flames. The simple device consisted of a helmet with a built-in sprinkler system that connects with a nozzle on the hose. Using a hand lever, the firefighter could control the amount of spray needed for a given situation. Clever—but it seems that fighting a fire in something that looks like an old-timey deep sea diving helmet might prove problematic. [Modern Mechanix via Boing Boing]

Speedo Now Selling LZR Racer Swim Suit to the Public, U.S. Whale Sightings Way Up

Jack Loftus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Even though Speedo is now selling its controversial LZR Racer swim suit to the general public for $550, we doubt the beer bellies at the local community swimming pool are going to spontaneously turn into a congregation of eight gold medal-winning Olympians any time soon. In fact, here at the Gizmodo weekend desk Jesus and I agree that instead of creating a slew of Michael Phelps copy-cats, a readily available LZR will probably just make poolside look like the walrus exhibit down at the aquarium.

For serious swimmers, here's some serious info about this next gen suit. It was designed with input from NASA, and the fabric is touted as the "world's lightest swim fabric." The seams are ultrasonically welded together and the Hyrdo Form Compression system holds the swimmer's abdomen and other bits at an optimal position for streamlining. The suit is made up off three pieces, which were cut from a three-dimensional pattern to hug the body more closely. Word on the street is it takes about 15 minutes or so to squeeze into this marvel of modern swimming pool engineering.

The suit is available for pre-order now at Speedo, and ships in October. [Speedo via Uncrate]

AOKI Deodorizing Suits Keep Sweaty Types Tolerable At the Office

Sean Fallon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT

You know that sweaty guy who always comes into work smelling like an armpit? Yeah, you know who I'm talking about—and if you don't, "that guy" is probably you. Thanks to AOKI, you won't have to tolerate the funny looks, wrinkled noses and giggle-laden whispers of your co-workers any longer. The translation is shaky, but they claim that their new line of deodorizing suits can absorb sweat, suck out odor and provide antibacterial protection using the power of silver ions. They also run about $370 on sale. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Japan you will just have to continue being the smelly office outcast. [Rakuten via Crunchgear]

Homemade Iron Man Suit Can Probably Kick Real Tony's Ass (Tony From the Pizza Place)

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT

While the nightmarish beer-belly-ready Iron Man suit was WRONG and disturbing, this homemade version of the original suit is a perfect reproduction of the original. And still disturbing. As you can see in the gallery, it's perfectly made, with the same finish and every single detail of the real Iron Man suit, down to the last notch and junction.

The armor was made to fit a 6.2-foot, 35-inch, 200-pound person, using glass fiber for the armor parts, flexible plastic for the midsection and neck, and foam rubber for the gloves. The arc reactor lights up, and the eyes are covered with reflective lenses.

For sound effects, however, you still have to shout "pew pew pew" while waving your arms up in the air. [My Disguises]

Nike's High Tech Team USA Olympic Track Suits Shave Fractions Off Races

Brian Lam — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:15:40 EDT

This is not a leaked American Gladiators uniform. It's Nike's design for the US Olympic Track and Field suits. They're made from Nike's proprietarily named (but possibly a poly-nylon blend synthetic) swift materials. Nike claims the socks and arm coverings, with their dimpled surfaces, break up drag to the tune of 12 to 19% in those areas. The suits, Nike claims, can bring a typically sub-10 second run in the 100-meter dash down by .02 seconds. [Gizmag]

Vaja Ivolution is Leather Protection, Not Gimp Suit for MacBook Air

Kit Eaton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:37:00 EDT

A close-fitting leather suit, complete with cutouts for your precious Air... that's roughly what the Vaja Ivolution Leather Suit case is. Sure it adds to the bulk of the skinny Air, but it snuggles it in protective leather when open or closed and gives you access to power socket and connector drawer. I vaguely worry about air circulation inside it, since even sitting naked on the table my Air is cranking out a blaze of heat... but I guess that's why there's that mesh fabric segment where the vents are. It's a hand-crafted affair so there's over 1,000 color combos to choose, and that means the price starts at $280. [Vaja via LikeCool]

HULC Exoskeleton Now Available For Pre-Order

Sean Fallon — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:40:00 EDT

Cyberdine's HAL Exoskeleton is more sophisticated than Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), but HAL is only available to rent whereas HULC is available for purchase. Unlike HAL, the HULC is focused entirely on helping the user carry heavy loads—up to 200 pounds without breaking a sweat. It also helps to reduce oxygen consumption by up to 5-10% when walking.

Obviously, a system like this could prove invaluable for military personnel, laborers, hikers and fat, lazy geeks that don't want their heart to explode while they walk to the kitchen for a Snickers and a Red Bull. Unfortunately, no pricing information or availability dates have been announced, but you can pre-order one now from the Berkley Bionics website. [Berkley Bionics via New Scientist]

Monster Cable Sues Monster Mini Golf For, You Guessed It, Name Confusion

Jason Chen — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:59:00 EDT

If people ever decide to wake up and stop paying the huge markups for Monster Cable for technology that's not even here yet, Monster can go into another business: selling balls. They've sure got an excess, seeing as they're following up a suit against another cable company because the connectors are too similar with a suit against a MINI GOLF COMPANY because their NAMES ARE TOO SIMILAR.

This time it's Monster Mini Golf, an actual mom-and-pop operation that was started four years ago by a woman and her husband. The chain has been successful enough to spread to 22 locations. MSNBC says that the "owner" of Monster Cable, which is Noel Lee (their "Chief Monster") says the public will be confused by the similarity of the names. Last time we checked, the public wasn't quite as confused as the people at Monster Cable who decided to sue. [MSNBC]

Oh look, it's a list of things Monster Cable has yet to sue!

Apparently, Monster Cable's Noel Lee issued a response to some negative publicity they got back in April (around the time Monster issued Blue Jeans Cable with a C&D). Noel says they didn't actually sue ballparks or other random places because their names were too similar, they just file objections to trademarks with the USPTO. Noel blames federal trademark law saying that they're required to "police [their] marks or [they] will lose them," and that they "didn't make these rules." [Audioholics]

New Raytheon XOS Exoskeleton Video Shows How Easy Iron Man's Exercise Routine Is

Jason Chen — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:30:00 EDT

The Sarcos-Raytheon joint effort Exoskeleton has been around for a while, but the companies are trotting it out in honor of the Iron Man movie. This XOS seems really agile and powerful at the same time, but those hooks-for-hands really might be dangerous if you forget you have them on. But as you can see when their own roboman lifts those 200 pounds with barely any effort, it's really really useful. If they can kinda enclose up this suit so the whole thing is bulletproof, flameproof and Iron Monger-proof, we'd be first in line. [Raytheon]

Video: How Iron Man Gets Dressed

Brian Lam — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:09:02 EDT

Here's a trailer I haven't seen before of Tony Stark getting ready for a night on the town. No Tux, but the Mark III suit. What's impressive about the movie's suit design is that they've not only detailed the red and gold of the outer shell, but the entire underlayer of the chassis and fastening system. That chest repulsor still looks like a simple halogen bulb, though.

Body Armor and Fashion Collide in the Urban Security Suit

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:40:48 EDT

Designer Tim Smit had a vision: somehow unite people's need for personal security with fashion. So he created the Urban Security suit concept, a neoprene outfit with carefully placed kevlar panels— the biggest over the heart area. The neoprene lets you move easily, the kevlar shields your internal organs, and there's a gasmask to protect you from airborne toxins. It looks pretty interesting, in a dystopian future, Bladerunner-ish kind of way, though we're not sure of its popular appeal. Maybe emo kids of tomorrow will be sporting something like it? ... as long as it comes in black. [Yanko]

Rent Your Own HAL Exoskeleton For The Low, Low Price of $1000!

Sean Fallon — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Are you a feeble, pasty pansy? For the low price of $1000 a month, you could overcome your physical limitations with a HAL exoskeleton from Cyberdyne. While HAL prototypes have been around for a few years now, Cyberdyne has just begun building a lab that will mass produce 400-500 of the suits per year starting this October.

Using sensors attached to the skin, the suit supposedly moves effortlessly with your muscles and it has the capability of increasing your strength up to 10 times the norm. It also has a continuous operating time of about 2 hours and 40 minutes. As mentioned, the monthly rental fee has been set at $1000 which includes $300 for maintenance and upgrades. No word on whether or not they plan on selling these things outright, but I would be perfectly happy renting one and going all Hulk on my enemies for a month or so. [Cyberdyne via LovingtheMachine vie BotJunkie via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Nissan Uses Old Suit To Build Cars, Score Early Bird Specials

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:51:00 EDT

To help its engineers better understand the challenges that the elderly have behind the wheel (and feed the fears of Japan's midlife crisis population), Nissan has developed an "old suit" simulating stiff movements, blurred vision, bad balance and extra weight (probably to simulate weaker strength). It all makes sense to us, save for the harsh generalization of the warp-around eyewear. Can't we get this engineer a pair of blurry contacts or something? Maybe some that give him a sexier eye color, even? It's already embarrassing enough to drive 25 in a 40 while soiling a diaper, trust us on this one. [reuters]

Iron Man's First Flight Shows Jet-Like HUD, Every Boy's Fantasy

Jason Chen — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:01:56 EDT

Just like every man under the age of 30 still believes that with enough discipline, training, and working out there's the possibility that he could in fact become the Batman, every man thinks that with the right suit he could fly up and shoot rockets at tanks.

There's a certain truth to that, as evidenced by this clip from the Iron Man movie where Tony takes his first flight in a medieval knight-inspired suit. However, if you look at the HUD that the suit throws in his face, you can tell that flying around isn't quite as simple as pointing your hands and feet in the same direction and praying you don't poop your pants this time. You'll have to have at least played Microsoft Flight Simulator or Ace Combat 6. [Apple Trailers]

Shepherd Sues Russian Space Agency For Dropped Rocket Debris

Kit Eaton — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:06:08 EDT

Boris Urmatov, a Russian shepherd, is claiming $42,000 (that's one million roubles) from Roskosmos for dropping a 10-foot-long chunk of rocket in his yard. Apparently it just missed his outdoor toilet— we're hoping he wasn't in there at the time. The poor chap's village in the Altai region lies beneath the flight path of rockets launched from the Cosmodrome at Baikonur, so he may actually have a case. The space agency seems relaxed about it all: according to a spokesman "They fly, they fall, they fly, they fall. It's how they work."

According to the shepherd's sister, he's taking Roskosmos to court for compensation for the stress he's suffered. After all, the metal casing nearly crushed his outhouse. Roskosmos agrees that if it is a genuine case he will be paid "No question about it. We live in a civilized, law-abiding country." Hmmm.

If it is an unwanted, "normal" piece of rocket, sounds like Boris will be rich. The Roskosmos spokesman does hedge his bets a bit, though, noting that sometimes "somebody gets greedy, and it turns out the parts did not fall on his land, but that they were dragged there. Those moments are not good."

If bits of rocket do actually fall off regularly and make it to the ground, then remind me never to go live near Kazakhstan. [Reuters]

Heated Sleep Suit Uses Same Technology as Spacesuits, for Insomniacs, Not Astronauts

AddyDugdale — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:27:05 EST

Dutch researchers have come up with a heated sleep suit that could help insomniacs and older people who suffer from disturbed sleeping patterns. A system of micropipes filled with water warms the patient, increasing their body temperature by just 0.4 degrees Celsius. At 35.4ºC, the body shifts from nocturnal wakefulness to a deeper sleep because, scientists believe, that skin temperature affects cells in the hypothalamus of the brain responsible for controlling sleep. As long as it doesn't spring a leak, eh? [Wired]

Classiest Japanese Business Suit Can Be Washed In the Shower

Brian Lam — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:50:58 EST

In Japan a suit capable of being washed in the shower without ironing afterwards, has just gone on sale. Shower Clean only needs to be turned inside out and sprayed down with hot water to be sanitized, costs less than $500 and is targeted at college grads going through their first rounds of job hunting. I'd consider it just as useful for the businessmen who fall asleep in train stations after working and drinking a little too much, who gotta clean the puke off their pants before clocking back in. Either way, note that we are getting SO CLOSE to star trek uniform technology. [IHT]

Sweet Video Shows Sub-Zero Surfing with Rip Curl H-Bomb Power-Heated Wetsuit

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:00:11 EDT

Rip Curl wetsuits may keep surfers warm in general, but nobody recommended hitting the waves in 20 degree weather, with wind chill factor bringing it down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Not until the arrival of the H-Bomb power-heated wetsuit, that is. All we know about this unreleased product is that it uses "fibre-heating elements, which conduct electricity that generate heat and warm the blood." This video was shot last winter, when Floridian Adam Wickwire and Hawaiian Elise Garrigue went product testing in the "icy, unexplored oceans of the Arctic Circle." [Rip Curl] Thanks, Matt!

Smart Suit Uses GPS and Wi-Fi to Save Lives

Charlie White — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:08:18 EDT

The situation is confusing enough when havoc strikes, and when radios aren't working and firefighters don't know where their colleagues are, it gets a whole lot worse. Learning from the communications problems of 9/11, designers solved those problems with this Smart Suit whose embedded sensors transmit the exact location and vital signs of each firefighter or rescue worker to a central command center. Hey, there are lots of reasons why this tech could be helpful for disaster workers, including those California firefighters risking their lives as you read this.

The suit opens a reliable communications link via Wi-Fi, a crucial component since cellphone networks are likely to be either completely jammed or not functioning at all during a major disaster. And, since vital signs and location can be closely estimated, firefighters buried under debris but still alive can be located and rescued more quickly.

The Smart Suit has been tested and approved by the European Space Agency, and will soon be deployed in Europe—and hopefully in the US before the next big disaster strikes. [Inventor Spot]

Kanagawa Institute of Technology Develops Robot Suit, Fuels Superhero Fantasies

Haroon Malik — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:55:00 EDT

The Kanagawa Institute of Technology has developed a robotic suit that will aid in the care of elderly individuals who need physical support. The suit, showcased at a trade show in Japan this week, is intended to help personal caregivers lift those they look after, while reducing the strain on themselves. The unit takes around 10 minutes to equip properly, is very large and weighs in at 66 pounds. The suit enables potential superheroes to lift a 100Kg mass as if it were 50Kg. For those of you who are not strong at mathematics, that is a 50% decrease in the effective mass!

It is hoped the outfit will be worked into a solution that will be made available in all homes, to aid with various domestic tasks ~~and/or sex games~~. [Yahoo News via Raw Feed]

Spiderman Suit To Allow Future Humans To Scale Walls, Wear Silly Suit

Jason Chen — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:40:08 EDT

Other than firemen, the military and masked vigilantes, there probably isn't a huge market for a suit that allows you to scale up walls. However, Italian scientists have calculated how much stickiness a suit needs to mimic the ability of insects and spiders to climb up a wall without peeing their pants in fear of falling. Unless the suit injects a good bit of teen angst and pudginess (if this was the third suit in a trilogy), we'll have no part of it. [Telegraph]

Iron Man Shows Off His Gauntlet

Jason Chen — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:00:31 EDT

There's nothing more Gizmodo-y than a rich dude building a badass suit for himself to fight crime and kick dudes in the face. This is why we love Batman and to a slightly lesser extent, Iron Man. Here's the first shot of Robert Downey Jr. flashing his "talk to the hand" move in the upcoming Iron Man movie, which will be hyped at San Diego's comic con later this month. While we've finally admitted that our soft, pudgy exterior forbids us from being a possible Batman, having some guy make a crazy flying suit for us is still not out of the question. [EW via Crunchgear]

Revolutionary Biosuit Could Be the New Face of Space Wear

AddyDugdale — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:37:12 EDT

A professor of aeronautics and astronautics and engineering systems at MIT has come up with a revolutionary new space suit that she hopes will take the place of the traditional, bulky number worn by astronauts over the past four decades. Although still only a prototype, Dava Newman's spandex and nylon Biosuit will offer space travellers more mobility and flexibility to explore the planets. If given the nod, Professor Newman reckons the Biosuit could be ready for the first human visit to Mars,thought to be about a decade away.

Initially funded by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts, the Biosuit has been seven years in the making. Rather than using gas pressurization to protect the astronaut's body from the vacuum of space, a method used by the current 300-pound suits (astronauts expend around 70 or 80 per cent of their energy just trying to move themselves in the suit) the Biosuit uses mechanical counter-pressure, swaddling the body in tight layers of material. Apparently it's down to the pattern of the lines on the suit, which provide a stiff "skeleton" of support as well as maximum mobility.

The suit will be able to help space travellers stay in shape, as currently they can lose up to 40 per cent of their muscle strength during a trip. The new outfits will give different levels of resistance, allowing their wearer to exercise during a long flight. Small punctures of the suit will be dealt with by merely bandaging the area - with current suits, astronauts have to return immediately to base in order to avoid decompression.

The team behind the Biosuit reckons that the version that makes it to Mars will be a hybrid of old and new, with a gas-pressured torso section and helmet, with an oxygen tank attached to the back. And if the biosuit doesn't make it to other planets, Professor Newman has other plans for it: as a training aid for athletes, and helping people back on their feet and learning to walk again. [MIT News Office]

Batman's New Suit Kicks Even More Ass

Jason Chen — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:00:34 EDT

Even more than than James Bond or Jack Bauer, Batman's the epitome of a guy using gadgets to the fullest. That's why we love him, and that's why we love the most recent Batman movie. Just for you, here's a sneak peek at Batman's redesigned suit from the upcoming 2008 sequel.

The chest and legs are definitely different, featuring more textured armor and probably some other defensive gizmos we don't know about yet. The cowl also looks a bit changed as well. And since you couldn't tell over the Internet, we squealed like little girls while we were writing this post.

Click for larger Batman.

– Jason Chen

Holy Dark Knight! Check Out Batman's New Suit! [Ifitsmovies]

Malignant Mole Bikini Scares You Out of the Sun

Charlie White — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:15:00 EDT

Check out this Malignant Mole Bikini, whose ghastly melanomas begin to fade in as you get more and more sun exposure. It's designed by Fiona Carswell, the same guilt-inducing designer who brought us that Smoking Jacket that shows the effects of smoking on a pair of smoked-up lungs. What good is this bathing suit, anyway?

This in-your-face reminder might be enough to scare you out of the sunshine, protecting you from that leathery look you will get by the time you're 50, while keeping you from getting a nasty sunburn that will make you feel like you've been spanked all over. Oh yeah, and then there's that dying-of-skin-cancer thing.

While those malignancies showing up in various places on that bikini are not exactly attractive, at least they might remind you to use sunscreen. Surely this is more of a performance art piece than a concept for an actual product, because we can't imagine who would actually want to buy and wear one of these. – Charlie White

Designer's Page [Fiona Carswell, via medGadget]

Muscle Suit will give you (Austin) Powers

Addy Dugdale — Fri, 11 May 2007 06:36:06 EDT

Those crazy cats at Tokyo's University of Science have come up with a muscle suit. No, I'm not quite sure what it's for either. Is it to wear under a suit to give you the illusion of being buff and studly? Or is it to develop your muscles? Nope, apparently it's to help you lift things (although if the only objects you're going to lift while wearing it is a set of dumbells, then you might as well ditch the suit and concentrate on the weights, dumbass). The suit only weighs 3 kilos, but you'll need to carry around an air compressor and regulator with you. – Ad Dugdale

Muscle Suits [Danny Choo via Ubergizmo]

When Pants Attack: A Cautionary Tale of G Suits and Planes

Addy Dugdale — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:00:29 EDT

You may or may not have read reports last week about a Swedish fighter jet crashing in the Arctic Circle. So far, so what, you're probably saying—after all, there were no fatalities. And so began the questions. What caused the accident&madash;was it pilot error? The wrong kind of snow? Maybe a flock of seagulls flew into the engines. Well, with those haircuts, it was a miracle the pilot survived...

A week on, we have our answer. Swedish Airforce investigators have concluded that the incident was all down to a problem with the pilot's hi-tech pants. Find out what led to the pilot saying "Sayonara cockpit" and "Hello parachute canopy" after the jump.

The pilot was wearing a standard air-force-issue G-suit, also known as Speed Jeans, inflatable pants which blow up as the G-Forces increase during high-energy movements. These blow-up trousers squeeze the pilot's legs, thus preventing blackouts, tunnel vision and, I suppose, impure thoughts about that hot chick with the ear protectors and neon lollipops who's been waving him into the hanger this past month.

What the investigators think happened is that the pants, in their aerated state, nudged against the ejector button and caused the pilot to whoosh-boom outtathere before he could even say, "Mälmø, we have a problem." It seems that fingers are being pointed at the trousers. "When subjected to large forces the suit fills with air," said Mats Helgesson of Central Command. "This is thought to have affected the ejector switch."

Now, Justin Timberlake's people might have called Janet Jackson's nipple-slippage during that Super Bowl performance a "wardrobe malfunction." If that was a wardrobe malfunction, then exploding strides leading to a high-speed fighter jet having carnal relations with the ground are verily (I say unto thee) a wardrobe atrocity. For the moment, the Swedish air force has restricted the newest-gen Gripens, whose pilots wear the wrong pants, to a paltry maximum 3g. Older models (and pants) are, apparently, not affected. – Ad Dugdale

Defective automatic trousers hurl pilot from plane [The Register]

Suit Up Your Laptop

blongo3 — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:00:50 EDT

One thing that Apple has bashed into our heads, what with all of the Mac vs. PC commercials, is that Macs aren't very accepted in the stodgy corporate world.

But don't worry Apple lovers, we found a laptop case that will disguise your trendy little MacBook so that you can fit in with all the other Dell and Lenovo laptops. Although, fitting in will run you $35 for some foam and vinyl.– Ben Longo

Product Page [Barry's Farm via Wired]

Death of Innovation: Hop-on Gets Patent for MP3 Phones, Plans to Sue Everyone

Jason Chen — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:30:44 EDT

You may not be familiar with Hop-on, a company based in both Irvine, CA, and China, but you're going to hear a lot about them soon. Why? Because they've just been granted a patent for an "MP3 phone with speakers on the side, in addition to front and side buttons to activate its camera/video features." Doesn't that describe just about every phone that plays MP3s? Yes. Yes it does.

Hop-on is now saying they are going to seek payment from all cellphone manufacturers that are within their patent's scope. Which to us, sounds like just about everybody. Plus, they're going to be suing the four major carriers—Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile—as well. Fantastic.

Best-case scenario? Their suits get thrown out with a minimum of fuss and won't affect development of new phones very much. Worst case, everyone needs to pony up and prices of MP3-playing phones go up. Sucks to be everyone but Hop-on. – Jason Chen

Hop-On Claims MP3 Phone Patent [Digital Trends]

Image courtesy Calahouston.org

Robot Suit: Fights Paralysis, Not Crime (yet)

Mark Wilson — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:00:37 EST

Matsushita, a company out of Japan, has developed a suit with virtual muscles. While it won't help you lift semis one-handed, it will aid in the rehabilitation of stroke victims suffering from partial paralysis by moving their limbs. Slated for 2009 release, the suit will run about $17,000, but should become cheaper with mass production.

Gizmodo tip: pick one of these up before they hit stateside and no one needs to know the suit isn't powered by nuclear reactions, providing 500 tons of lifting/throwing power. Just try to avoid any real fights. – Mark Wilson

Japanese Robot Suit [via Crave]

Krazy Kaption Kontest: Wearable Power Assist Suit

Jason Chen — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:16:27 EDT

Do your worst. Winner, as chosen by us, gets an autographed picture of Travis impersonating Joel. – Jason Chen

Wearable Power Assist Suit [Kanagawa via Geekologie]

Men's Suit With Smart Fabric iPod Controls

Gizloco — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 11:42:20 EDT

Here's a dashing and urbane suit designed by Bagir and Eleksen that transforms the suit's lapel into a control panel for controlling iPods. As seen in the above picture, just make the universal gesture that you're reaching for a weapon inside the jacket pocket to control the iPod. The suit is machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant, so no matter what sort of fights occur at the office, the iPod suit will be ready to go for another day's adventure in no time.

The iPod suit uses Eleksen's ElekTex smart fabric touch pad technology to actually carry out the iPod manipulation. This isn't the only product to feature ElekTex, however. It was just a few months ago that a backpack was released with the very same smart fabric technology. It seemed to work decently back the, so this iPod suit shouldn't be complete garbage. We'll see come November when it's released for around $280. – Nicholas Deleon

Bagir and ElekTex introduce the iPod suit [Tech Digest]

Bagir Home Page [Bagir] and ElekTex Smart Fabric Interfaces [Eleksen]

Wearable Robot Suit Complete With Side Mounted Gun For Sale!

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:43:43 EDT

Normally when we show these cool robot things they're in the design phase, but this one is actually up for sale in Japan for $315,000!

The Land Walker was made by Masaaki Nagumo, measures 11 feet tall, weighs one ton, and sprays bullets from air guns mounted outside the cockpit. Unfortunately they're only sponge bullets, but I bet it'll still hurt like a bitch when you spray your friends with them. We can imagine the doofuses on the show Entourage buying four and riding these around their huge mansion. – Jason Chen

Zipped [via TechEBlog via Tech Fresh via Born Rich via i4u]

Verizon Slapped With Wet Noodle for Crippling Bluetooth

Charlie White — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:15:31 EST

Verizon has been getting weasely with some of its customers in California who bought its Motorola v710 Bluetooth- capable phone on or before January 31, 2005. Preliminary approval of the settlement was granted in a California court for a class-action suit against the company because it didn't accurately tell prospective customers that its Bluetooth features weren't what they appeared to be. Verizon said the phone works with a PC but left out that part about how you can t wirelessly sync photos or contacts or any other files using Bluetooth. Small detail, Verizon.

Customers who fell for the scheme will have their choice of a $25 credit, the right to cancel the service without further fees along with a refund, or credit toward a new handset if they want to stay with Verizon. Sounds like a slap on the wrist to the telecom giant. Perhaps the company should be required to state, We Cripple Bluetooth on all its advertisements. When, oh when will this greedy, clueless company stop crippling Bluetooth? Verizon should be setting up a website to handle the class-action claims soon.

Verizon Settles with v710 Customers [Bluesurker]

Xbox Lawsuit, a Tad Premature?

tgrumet — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:45:37 EST

Robert Byers probably didn't play through one whole game before bringing a class action lawsuit against Microsoft's Xbox 360. This Chicago man's proposed class action claims:

The company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co Ltd. that it sold a "defectively designed" product.

Basically, Bob says that the power supply and CPU overheat, messing up the heat-sensitive chips and then locking up the whole console. Which we hear does happen, although not with everyone's box. But when Bob's Xbox 360 doesn't work, then the whole production line needs to be recalled. Oh, and Bob, if you didn't already know, the only folks who get a big payout on class action lawsuits are the attorneys. So don't start counting your cash just yet. Unless you are an attorney. In which case, call me—my watch is broken and I think it's a production line defect.

Microsoft sued over alleged Xbox 360 glitch [Reuters]