Gizmodo: Wtf

San Francisco's Disgruntled IT Worker Shared the Secret Password With Mayor Newsom

Matt Hickey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:30:00 EDT

After having seen The Dark Knight three times over the last weekend I can't help but think this would be a great scene for the next film (which had better not be called Caped Crusader): A city municipal worker in the IT department changed some very important passwords and refused to give them up, even after jailed. Strangely, from his cell, he divulged the code to just one man, the city mayor, in a secret meeting that even the DA and police didn't know about. The IT tech, Terry Childs, wasn't up to any nefarious deeds, or so he says, he just didn't want his co-workers to mess up his huge system, and can anyone who's ever worked in IT blame him? [SFGate]

Hi-Tech Shoes For Ladies Have Heel Height Extenders

Matt Hickey — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Thankfully just a concept for now, the Goodie 2 Shoe is an idea in function, and definitely not in form. They're ugly, sure, but they have a neat trick: the heel is adjustable with magnets and hidden hinges, so a 1.5-inch heel suitable for work gets extended to a come-hither 3.5-inch for going out. Other parts can be customized, much like the latest Sidekick. Personally, we'd be confused if we saw an attractive lady in these shoes. It shows she's got a geek's mind, but also a geek's taste, which is not always what we're looking for. Still, we hope these appear on Lady Robocop in the 2010 remake. [Crave]

WASP Knife Will Freeze and Blow Up Your Organs

Elaine Chow — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Add this to my “Things to hyperventilate over” list: British police are on the lookout for something called a WASP Knife, a weapon that injects a ball of compressed gas into its victim that then expands to the size of a basketball, instantly freezing and exploding their internal organs. The blade, which was designed to help hunters and divers bring down large wild animals quickly, could possibly be bought on the internet by serial killing-minded crooks. Look at what it does to a watermelon!

The WASP website states “the effects of the compressed gas not only cause overinflation during ascent when used underwater, but also freezes all tissues and organs surrounding the point of injection on land or at sea.” It's like a freeze ray out of a superhero movie... Only it's real, and thus infinitely scarier. Somebody hold me. [UK Daily Mail via Technabob]

USB Multi-Cleaner Keeps You Healthy And Tidy

Matt Hickey — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:00:50 EDT

We've seen our share of so-called air purifiers, and desktop vacuums, but when they combine into a maximum cleaning tool, and it's powered by USB, you get to see it here. It sits on your desk, quietly sucking up all the dust coming your way from your filthy co-workers. And to make sure you don't share yours with them, it quickly transforms into a small hand-held vacuum cleaner with brush, just to keep your desk and keyboard clean. Save your health, and your USB ports! Bonus "Can you see what's wrong with this picture?" photo after the jump.

USB powered, right?

His And Hers Wiimote Dildo Attachments Launch September 9th, Are You Ready?

Matt Hickey — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:40:09 EDT

Today we've got proof that the Wii isn't just for kids with this pair of Wiimote sex toys. We're not sure what game they're made to accompany but if anyone can create a realistic Mii while properly using one of these, we'll give them a prize. They come from a site that's mysterious for two reasons: It's not from Japan and has only the launch date, an email address, and the phrase "we search man and woman for a commercial." We hope they find them. [Slashdong]

AOL Raises Dial-up Prices For Luddites

Matt Hickey — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:43:49 EDT

Going through our logs we can tell that nearly a dozen of you are still using AOL via dial-up. For lots of people in remote locales it's their only choice, and starting at the end of the month their bills are going to be going up a whopping $2 a month from $9.99 to $11.99. That's about 20%, but they don't have to pay it; AOL is offering users the chance to keep their $9.99 plans if they pinky swear to not call technical support if its not a connection-related issue. How exactly does this work?

Does AOL give them a different support number so they can tell who's who? Does the technician's caller-ID pop up and display, "This is a $9.99 customer, do not help"? Are they shunned in AOL chatrooms as being unclean? We're not sure.

We're pretty sure AOL is doing this because there are many people who would call AOL support for non-dial-up related problems. Grandma knows they can help with some problems and assumes they're there to help with all problems. While it's weird making customers choose a different plan to avoid this problem, we can completely understand. [CNet, via Consumerist]

Texan Law Requires Computer Repair Techs To Have PI Licenses

Matt Hickey — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:34 EDT

Texas has a new law that makes it mandatory for computer repair technicians in the state to have private investigator licenses. This is being contested by at least one advocacy group that's suing, as many techs don't know they're being criminals by doing their jobs. The strange new law comes about because sometimes in the course of repairing a computer some investigation is needed, and in the great state of Texas that's a felony without a license. It can take up to three years to get one, so this whole thing is messed up. Hopefully no poor minimum wage Windows jockey will wind up in jail over this, but stranger things have happened in Texas. Looks like those Geek Squad guys will get real badges, though. [Gear Log]

Dog's Head Being Kept Alive via Machine

Adam Frucci — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:40:47 EDT

In the unsettling video found after the jump, Soviet scientists in the mid-20th century keep the severed head of a dog alive via an "autojector," a primitive heart and lung machine. The dog reacts to sounds, opens its eyes, eats, licks its lips, and generally looks alive. The video has been debated by experts for years, but now you can be the judge thanks to the wonders/horrors of the internet. So, what say you? Is this poor pooch surviving sans body, or is another Ruskie trick? Either way, I'm sure we can all agree on one thing: holy f'ing shit.

Yikes. To make you feel better, might I suggest revisiting the adorable bionic puppy? [Environmental Graffiti via io9]

miBook PDA is for Ladies Doing Lady Things...WTF?!

Benny Goldman — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EDT

The miBook is a $130 PDA with a 7" screen that teaches skills to people through step-by-step videos and other multimedia. Now, we don't like to reinforce gender stereotypes, but the pictures of each $20 title in the gallery below, such as cooking, gardening and home decorating show a woman learning the job—all except the diaper changing lesson, which shows a man. It's sold without onboard memory, ~~but they must think women are pretty stupid if they expect to charge $150 for 128MB~~. The rest of miBook's specs are gender neutral:UPDATE: That's a typo in the spec sheet, the 128MB memory is a much more reasonable $1.50, but it's for retailers only.

It works as a digital picture frame and supports MPEG video, MP3 audio and SD/xD/MS/MMC cards for much cheaper storage. We're holding out for the guy's version, when we can learn how to clean gutters, take out the trash and scratch our balls. Coming soon, spec sheet and press release after the jump. [miBook]

Portable Take anywhere! Battery & AC capable
LCD Size 7" (16:9)
LCD Type New advanced TFT
LCD Backlight New LED! (same as on new high-end laptops, for amazing brightness & color accuracy) (not CCFL)
Graphic Interface Highly advanced - including hot spots, pop-up menus & file preview shots for fun, easy, graphic navigation
Player Controls Tactical switches
Remote Control Yes
Battery Yes, Lithium

Additional Features
Shows Photos All formats (jpeg, etc.)
Photo Zoom 5 zoom levels
Photo Thumbnails Yes
Photo Rotation Yes
Photo Aspect Ratio 16:9 & 4:3 modes
Image Controls Brightness, contrast, color
Shows Videos All formats (MPEG-I, MPEG-II, MPEG-IV, etc.)
Plays Music All formats (mp3, etc.)
Slideshow + Music Simple click links desired music & photo files
Calendar & Clock Yes, incl photo display & alarm
Speakers Two
Headset Jack Yes
Computer Compact PC & Mac; usb 2.0 cable included
Card Readers SD/MS/MMC/XD (96% of mkt)
Built-In Storage No, add 128MB +$150
Warranty 1 year
Phone Support Toll-free & U.S.-based

miBook, the First Multimedia Book, Launches

Portable multimedia book initially targets cookbooks and other "how-to" titles with help from Food Network, HGTV, the DIY Network and ParentsTV

CLEVELAND, OH –- miBook, the first multimedia book, has begun shipping to retailers. miBook brings genres like cookbooks, parenting primers, and travel guides to life with video clips, images and sound, changing the way people cook, fix things up around the home, travel, parent and more.

Using miBook's slim 7" portable player, home cooks who have long struggled to translate recipes into meals can now follow step-by-step video clips showing exactly how a dish should look at every turn. Similarly, travelers long stuck with only a sentence or two to go on when choosing a restaurant can take a video tour and judge the ambience and signature dishes for themselves.
miBook titles, which come on memory cards that slide into the player, are produced in conjunction with television networks including Food Network, HGTV, the DIY Network, and Parents.tv. Initial titles, now numbering 25 but soon to top 100, cover cooking everything from quick and easy meals to party appetizers, home decorating and gardening, home projects and repairs, pregnancy, parenting, and travel to popular destinations. Individual titles have a suggested retail price of $19. 99.

Unlike electronic books that focus on text alone, miBook stands out in that it combines text with video and sound, fusing the strengths of books and TV. Why read it, when you can also see it? Like books, miBook titles are organized into distinct parts that users can access whenever they want and at their own pace, and like TV, they come alive with video clips, images and sound. Highly interactive, miBook stops automatically after each step, allowing users to easily follow the recipe or activity at their own pace. miBook’s charm is in its ability to bring subjects to life in new ways and make everyday activities easier. For example, in addition to letting home cooks see a dish at each step, miBook helps plan menus by instantly sorting recipes based on main ingredient, available time, cooking method, and nutritional concerns.

The miBook player, packaged with one or more titles, starts at a suggested retail price of $129.99. miBook is available at retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Bon-Ton, Borders, Circuit City, HSN, Linens ‘n Things, QVC, and The Source.

miBook Title Topics

Cooking

Not since the Joy of Cooking was published in 1931 has there been a major update to the cookbook – until now. miBook takes the guesswork out of translating a recipe on the page into a feast on the table. Step-by-step, miBook shows home cooks exactly how to cook a recipe, including what the dish should look like at every stage and how to do everything from sauté to flambé. miBook stops automatically after each step to allow the cook to perform the action. When ready, the cook pushes play to move on.

miBook also aids in choosing a recipe, which can be a task in itself. Simply select your desired main ingredient (beef, chicken, fish, pasta, etc.), cooking method (grilling, pan-frying, broiling, etc.), and the amount of time you have, and miBook automatically serves up the recipes that match your criteria.

miBook cooking titles include: Quick & Easy Meals, Irresistible Desserts, Healthy Cooking, Pastas Pizzas & Salads, Amazing Party Food: Appetizers & Desserts, and Healthy Cooking for Kids. Each title features 150 recipes, including ones featured on popular Food Network shows such as 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller, Cooking Class with Wolfgang Puck, Ace of Cakes, Food 911, and Food Nation with Bobby Flay.

Home and Garden

Whether trying to fix a leaky faucet, redecorate a room, plant a tree, or build a deck, it helps to see exactly how it’s done. miBook goes step-by-step with up-close video clips to ensure that home projects get done correctly the first time.

Decorating and gardening titles guide users through both design and execution. The Home Decorating title, for example, helps decorators choose from suggested room styles, color palettes, furniture layouts, wall treatments, and more. Then it helps users complete the makeover with step-by-step guides on stenciling, wallpapering, staining, and applying faux finishes.

miBook home titles include: Decorating, Gardening, Simple Home Organizing, Home Projects, Home Repairs, and Outdoor living Projects. Project assistance comes from HGTV and the DIY Network, including such shows as Design on a Dime, Mission Organization, First Time Gardener, and Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean.

Parenting

Next time dad conveniently whines that he doesn’t know how to change a diaper, hand him one of miBook’s parenting titles. You’ll hear no more excuses. With content from Parents.tv, the sister network to Parents magazine, miBook brings every parenting activity vividly to life. See and hear how it’s done, from basic baby care like swaddling to fostering cognitive development. Each month, pregnant moms can see how a baby develops in the womb. Video interviews with OB/GYNs, pediatricians, nutritionists, parents, and kids help to illustrate tasks and development. miBook parenting titles include: Your Pregnancy, Baby’s First Year, Your Toddler, Your Child’s Health (0-12), Potty Training, and Games & Activities for Babies & Toddlers.

Travel

In a travel guide come to life with video clips, images and sound, travelers can explore attractions and museums, tour neighborhoods, and preview restaurants interactively and at their own pace.

miBook has a guide for every type of adventure. City guides include neighborhood walking tours, which show historical footage that bring the past to life. Inside museums, the miBook guides visitors to must-see exhibits, shows interviews with artists, clips of their hometown, and examples of their other works. Attraction guides highlight top rides and events. Highly interactive, miBook stops after each step, letting travelers proceed at their own pace. When it’s time to eat, by simply inputting preferred cuisine, neighborhood, ambience, and price range, the miBook instantly serves up the best choices. Discerning diners can even choose their meal locations before leaving their homes with video tours of each restaurant, including interior and exterior views, signature dishes, and menus – even hearing an interview with the chef.

miBook travel titles include: Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and The National Parks.

miBook can also be used as a digital photo album and frame, allowing users to show their photos individually or as a slideshow. miBook also plays home videos, Internet videos, and MP3s; it can either be wirelessly powered through its changeable lithium battery or with the included AC adaptor. The miBook menus can be conveniently navigated either with controls on the device or via the included wireless remote.

Microwaving a Cellphone Produces Very, Very Unexpected Results

Adam Frucci — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:01:38 EDT

Holy crap. I didn't see that one coming. Do not, I repeat do not try this yourself, you boneheads. Now, who wants to take a guess at what sly viral marketing this is and what it's going to end up trying to sell us? [Dark Roasted Blend]

Octocube: What the Heck is This?

Kit Eaton — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:02:00 EDT

If you can guess what this is at first glance then you're a better man than I ...

At second glance you might wonder about those pipes. And then you might realize it's actually a radiator, built entirely from 90-degree pipe pieces. It's designed to be a sculptural heater that fits in with any interior, according to designer Vivien Muller. At least there's some physics in there, though: a large surface area heater like this would be a good compromise between heating efficiency and compact size.

One thing, though: Vivien can't do much of the cleaning at home... can you imagine the dust this thing would collect? Just a concept. [Vivien Muller via Yanko designs]

Intravenous Vitamin Mix Bar Alleviate Stress, Aging

Elaine Chow — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

If you've ever watched that episode of House where the good doctor nurses his hangover by hooking himself up to an IV drip and said to yourself "I wish I could do that," you're in luck. Now in Japan, even people who aren't wisecracking M.D.s can get an IV drip pick-me-up at Tenteki10. Located in swanky Ebisu, Tokyo, the IV drip cafe features walk-in service with bags of fluids starting at $20 a pop. Their menu is quite varied.

The cheapest option, the Basic Pack, contains a proprietary blend of saline solution and Vitamins B6, B12 and C. For a couple thousand yen more, a user can add on a combination of nine other drip bags, with options like Red Pack for an energy lift, Diet Pack for a metabolism boost and Placenta Pack for "rejuvenation."

The cafe is operated by a subsidiary of a medical clinic, but is unsurprisingly not covered by Japan's national health insurance. A doctor at Tenteki10 calls the IV drip service "preventive medicine" and stresses that it's an option for people to "raise their awareness of daily health management on their own." Right. As if anyone would go to an IV drip bar and then decide to exercise, eat right and get enough sleep. [Japan Today via DVICE]

Japanese Porn Master Whacks It to 10,000 Dirty Pics a Day (While at Work)

matt buchanan — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Japanese bureaucrats apparently have the most amazing multi-tasking powers on earth. Topping the dude who basically wrote the Gundam Wikipedia while at work, a 57-year-old civil servant in Kinokawa was busted for beating it to 780,000 porn pages in nine months. That's 10,000 a day, 20 a minute at his most furious fapping. All on the job (maybe he could stop time, like Hiro). He was finally busted when he had tech support look at his computer after he picked up a virus—his coworkers thought nothing of the weird noises emanating from his cubicle. For nine months. The best part? The dude was only demoted. Probably for not being efficient enough. [The Inquirer]

iRiver Brings Mickey MP3 Player to the US; May Cause Cancer

Benny Goldman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:39:59 EDT

The Mickey MP3 player that we've shown you when it was only available in Korea, and again when it was gold-plated, is finally making its way to the US today, with one slight caveat: "This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm." That's right, the same Mickey Mouse you loved in childhood could be adding extra limbs on your own children. Then again, it's only $70, stores 1GB, and has 9 hours of playback time, so, pick your battles. [product page]

Hard Boiled Eggs in a Bag ... If You Dare

Benny Goldman — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:20:00 EDT

Don't have 12 minutes and/or the ability to boil water? Someone has gone and done the impossible work of hard-boiling eggs—and sticking them in a bag—for you. Sure, they cost 400% more than regular eggs, come in a recession dozen (9 or 10 to a bag), and were given a glowing review of tasting "stale, rubbery, and hard", but hey, it's a time-saver. [Apartment Therapy]

A Gasoline-Powered PC? What the Crap?

Kit Eaton — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:15:00 EDT

According to English Russia, this special PC is used to work on fuel "connected directly to the car's gas tank." Hmmm. Apparently "it analyzes the state of the fuel and diagnoses the overall condition of the car, while consuming some gas fluid." Possibly even without detonating and killing everyone nearby. There are more pics in the gallery, shedding more light on the thing, but there's no monitor, keyboard or mouse, and you never really see the drives in action either. Even the backside looks something fishy, and there's no obvious combustion engine either. What's your expert opinion? And what are the chances that this whole brilliant scheme will at some point combust all to hell? [English Russia]

Reebok Released Kool-Aid Scented Shoes for Some Insane Reason

Adam Frucci — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:10:00 EST

In one of the most unnatural and nonsensical exercises in cross-branding, well, ever, Kool-Aid has teamed up with Reebok to create Kool-Aid scented shoes. Yes, now your feet can smeel like grape, cherry or strawberry rather than like sweaty death like they do now. Apparently, they went on sale at the start of the month, although I can't imagine anyone actually buying them. Seriously, someone explain this to me, because I'm having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around this one. [Styledash via Book of Joe]

"iPhone" Shaped Pocket Scale Should Win Over Drug Dealers

Sean Fallon — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:22:20 EST

Hmmm. I wonder why a company would develop a digital pocket scale with a cover shaped like an iPhone knockoff? My guess is that they needed some sort of gimmick to catch the eye of their drug dealer clientele. After all, today's drug dealers have a wide range of choices when it comes to their pocket scales. Companies need to do something to gain a competitive advantage. Oh, and they justify the cover as an "expansion tray," which I'm sure is perfect for various "powders" and "herbs." Available for $52.49. [Product Page]

Realistic Animal Cosplay Costumes Reveal Frightening New Depths of Dorkdom

Adam Frucci — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:57:55 EST

Sometimes, the internet opens up doors to worlds of geekery that you never knew existed. I guess I shouldn't judge people for being into whatever it is they're into as long as it doesn't intrude on my life, but… come on. Lion of the Sun makes custom animal masks and costumes that are super-realistic, featuring mouths that actually move when you talk. They're impressive, to say the least, and you can even get them with built-in night vision if you have the scratch (no pun intended). There's a huge gallery of different costumes, and you just know that they all end just before the camera turns off and there's some hot bear-on-lion furry love action. If there was ever an appropriate time for the tried-and-true "do not want" internet catchphrase, this is it.
[Lion of the Sun]

DXG-566V: A $150 High Def Camcorder?!

Brian Lam — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:18:43 EST

The What: DXG has always gone for the low cost bragging rights and they've reached the height of their budget crusade with this $150 HD camera that records to 1280 x 720 at its highest res. We've seen tapeless camcorders do this before, but that price is pretty insane. It records in H.264 quicktime files, and the camera takes 5mp native stills.
The Oh No You Didn't: I would expect that this captures the grainiest, most lifeless, tepid high def you've ever seen.

DXG-566V HD Features:
Camcorder Features:
Records full-motion video in high-definition
D1 Resolution: 720 x 480, at 30fps
HD Resolution: 1280 x 720, at 30fps
Records video in H.264, MOV file format
2X Digital Zoom
3.0" TFT Screen

Digital Camera Features:
5 Megapixel CMOS sensor
Captures still images in JPEG format
Up to 8 Megapixel image resolution

Mass Storage Features:
32MB onboard memory
SD Card slot to accept high-capacity or standard SD cards
Connect to your PC to store and transfer data files
USB2.0 Interface for fast transfer of files

Revenge on Boss: Sell Her iPod touch on eBay

Charlie White — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:10:00 EST

However unbearable your work environment is, it could be worse. For instance, this network/systems administrator in a district courthouse somewhere in Louisiana hates his boss so much that he's apparently stolen her iPod touch right out from under her and now he's selling it on eBay.

"You might think I didn't really take her iPod but it 'came up missing' and nobody in the office knows where it is. She should lock her office more often... I'm just seeking some comfort to what I consider a horrible work environment. Maybe a small vacation to evacuate this heck hole for a week. Hot Springs Arkansas or something."

This one has us scratching our heads. Doesn't this perpetrator know that eBay is a public auction site frequented by millions of people?

He doesn't actually admit he stole this iPod, but he comes close. Certainly this violates eBay's terms of service. Anyway, the opening bid is inexplicably $550, way more than the $400 price of this 16GB iPod touch. Sounds like the Darwin Awards might be interested in this one. Seeking comfort? It's not going to be too comfortable being unemployed and in prison for larceny. [eBay]

Wrong-Way Balloon Behaves in Unexpected Ways

Charlie White — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:56:57 EST

We don't normally go driving around with helium balloons in our cars, so we weren't aware of this strange phenomenon: The dang things go the wrong way when you accelerate and turn! Besides that, we find something likable about the explainer, Robert Krampf, the friendly scientist who seems like the kind of guy from whom you wouldn't mind receiving a balloon or two. [Experiment of the Week]

Urinal Headrest Invention Would Make Thomas Edison Proud

Adam Frucci — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:50:00 EST

This, my friends, is the greatest patent the world has ever known. Brilliant in its simplicity, it's a headrest for placement above urinals. I mean, haven't we all been in a state where we would just love to take a quick nap while peeing, but worried about the cleanliness/comfort of the tiled wall above the urinal? I know I certainly have. Come on, manufacturers. Let's make this one happen so drunks everywhere can pee with a bit more comfort and a little less dignity.

Update: Reader Evan Ryan just sent us a picture of a very similar contraption that he and his frat brothers, generally known to be the smartest people on any college campus, rigged up at their house at University of Illinois. They're currently preparing a lawsuit. Click through to check it out.

[Inventor Spot via Geekologie]

Mr. White Collar Gives You Three Insults in One

Charlie White — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:44:01 EST

Any way we look at it, this Mr. White Collar Calvaire Pen Holder and Message Stand leaves us nonplussed. WTF? Is this supposed to insult black people, christians, white collar workers, racists ... everyone? While it does offer a place to hold one pen and helpfully includes a pad on which you can write messages, we're not sure what the message of its creators would be. Mind you, we're not endorsing this goofy desk accessory, just scratching our heads. Take your chances for $9.99. [Giz Fever]

Consumer Reports Cellphone Service Survey 2008 Published: Verizon Number One

Charlie White — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:51:56 EST

Consumer Reports just published its latest Annual Survey of Cellphone Service in its January 2008 issue, consisting of responses from 47,629 readers. As it's noted in its previous surveys over the past six years, the respected nonprofit publication says that cell service is "among the lower rated services we survey." The wide-ranging poll found that "fewer than half of the respondents were completely or very satisfied with their cellphone service."

In the poll, Consumer Reports asked which cellphone service providers have the least static, dropped calls, circuits full and lack of service across 20 major metropolitan areas in the US. As it did last year, Verizon came out on top again, with an average approval rating of around 70%. Coming in a close second and winning out in some markets was T-Mobile. Far behind was AT&T, and then coming in dead last was Sprint.

To give you the high concept, Consumer Reports says:

Verizon Wireless is "among the better carriers this year and in our earlier surveys."

T-Mobile was described as "another solid performer that often offers more for your money."

Alltel Wireless is "One of the better providers in the three metro areas for which we had adequate survey data."

AT&T fell behind, called "Home of iPhone, but trails the better carriers in almost all respects."

Sprint was last place, receiving the dubious honor of being in the "bottom ranks of carriers we rate." [Consumer Reports]

Toilet Tunes Adds Soundtrack To Your Bathroom Activities

ybaranovsky — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:20:00 EDT

If your own, strange bathroom sounds startle and horrify you, Toilet Tunes is like a urine-drenched super-hero, ready to please. The gadget uses a sensor installed in the toilet lid that will play six musical choices when the lid is raised and that will make your trip to the bathroom that much more like a scene from Dirty Dancing.

The musical choices include rain, waves, jazz, latin, modern, and appropriately, stream. The sensor uses 3 AAA batteries and is easy to install (just stick it on the lid using the adjesive backing). The gadget itself will set you back $29.98, which is a small price to pay to avoid your own bodily functions. [FindGift via NerdApproved]

Dr. Whippy Ice Cream Machine Measures Sadness, Delivers Diabetes

ybaranovsky — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EDT

Dr. Whippy, developed by Demitrios Kargotis, is an ice cream machine that will serve you delicious ice-y goodness depending on how unhappy you are. Using voice stress analysis, the machine will ask the user several questions and will use their responses to gauge their level of sadness.

The sadder you are, the more ice cream Dr. Whippy serves, the easier it is to handle someone you love being set on fire. No information on when it'll be out or for how much—but has the Omron Smile Measurement Software ever had a better home? [WeMakeMoneyNotArt via UberReview]

Audio-equipped Mini Fridge Is A Contender For Worst Technology Mashup Ever

Adrian Covert — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:27:23 EDT

Seriously, do I really need a CD player on top of a mini fridge? Is it that much harder to bring out a boombox or an iPod speaker dock? If I were living in 1998, I might be impressed by the mini plug line out, because I could hook up my shiny new minidisc player to it. But that's still pretty questionable. If I were going to kick down $263, it wouldn't be on this. Luckily, only the UK has to deal with this monstrosity. [Gadget Box via Crave]

Optimus Prime Returns to the Drive Thru, Lil' Vader in Tow

Adam Frucci — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:10:00 EDT

Optimus Prime has tried to order food from McDonalds with little success before, but this time he brought his friend Darth Vader along to help him get his way. And a very gay man with a dirty mouth. Yeah, I don't know, I'm as confused as you are. The entire Transformers and Star Wars mythologies seem so cheapened right now.

Craziest Guitars Ever Made

Charlie White — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:33:25 EDT

If you think you've encountered some weird guitars, you ain't seen nothing yet. Ed Roman, owner of a huge guitar shop and self-proclaimed "Guitar King of Las Vegas," has put together a new online collection of some of the strangest axes ever to grace this planet. One example is the sexy "BC Rich Bitch" guitar you see above, whose long neck is a clever play on words. Gives new meaning to the term "tailpiece."

This gallery contains just a fraction of the crazy git-boxes Ed Roman has found, sold, commissioned or custom built. Some of these things have such sharp edges they're just downright dangerous, and speaking of dangerous, check out the Ted Nugent guitar with a compartment in the back for your Derringer. Might be handy to have that guitar on hand when you play one of those nightclubs where the stage is surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling cage. [Ed Roman]

His & Her TiVo Wedding Cakes

Travis Hudson — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:40:45 EDT

This is the work of Debbie at DebbieDoesCakes (awesome name of a business) and it makes me wonder what kind of a couple loves TiVo so much to have the mascot as their wedding cake?

I do have to compliment Debbie on the outstanding work. Each cake is 18-inches tall and I would assume they were laid down to be cut into. To the couple that received these cakes: I would think about re-evaluating the marriage. Pardon my Sex and the City reference, but it is pretty easy to fall in love with a TiVo (ask Miranda) and possibly fall out of love with another, we should know. –Travis Hudson

Picture of the Day: Holy Matrimony [ZNF]

qStart Blows My Mind with Its Sheer Uselessness

Adam Frucci — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EDT

I've seen some absolutely idiotic devices in the course of my storied career as a blogger, but this one really takes things to a new level. The qStart is a device that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car. It's got a little speaker, but this thing isn't going to be giving you directions or playing MP3s anytime soon. No, the qStart is just there to remind you what side of the road you should be driving on. Seriously. Oh, and it'll also suggest you take a break after two hours of driving. That's it. Are you f'ing kidding me?

The only way I could see this being useful is if it were some sort of subversive driving test. If you think you could use one of these, the DMV should cut up your license and give you a bus pass, as you're clearly unfit for the road. –Adam Frucci

qStart [via Crave]

Diebold Sues Massachusetts Because the State Doesn't Like Them

Adam Frucci — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:10:00 EDT

Diebold, everyone's favorite manufacturer of easily hacked voting machines, wasn't happy when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decided to go with one of their competitors when purchasing voting machines for the disabled. In fact, their feelings were so badly hurt by the snub that they've decided to sue the state.

Yes, Diebold is suing because Massachusetts chose competitor AutoMARK instead of them. Why is it worth suing the state over this? Because Diebold thinks their machines are better. That's the reason. Really. That's the only reason. I'm speechless. –Adam Frucci

Boston.com [via SlashDot]

WTF Alert: Chinese BenQ MusiQ Dog Tag Player Site Has Guy Posing In Front of WTC Ruins

Jason Chen — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:00:21 EST

These BenQ MusiQ Dog Tag MP3 players may be quite stylish, but wtf is up with their Chinese site? The splash page features some one gloved Michael Jackson guy standing in front of what looks like the WTC ruins. Yeah? Seemed like a good idea at the time?

BenQ must have taken a page from BlackBerry's Pearl Harbor ad campaign where the Japanese were depicted as dropping smartphones into the hands of screaming Cingular users. – Jason Chen

Product Page [BenQ - Thanks Nick!]

CEDIA 2006: SED Where Are You?

Mark Wilson — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 16:50:50 EDT

This is by no means official, but according to my hours of Internet browsing, SED technology is not at CEDIA 2006. You may remember SED from our posts during CES this year. It's built upon the foundations of phosphorus televisions, but Canon and Toshiba basically packed all that technology into each pixel of a flat-panel. The result is supposed to be the best thing ever and we were supposed to have it by now. Dinner is getting cold and I've finished the wine. No, the flowers aren't helping and don't even think about kissing me. – Mark Wilson

Lexus Self Parking Car Video and Review

Brian Lam — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:12:30 EDT

Lexus invited Gizmodo along for a ride in the new LS 460 L super rich guy sedan. The thing is packed to the gills with tech. In fact, I'd call it the most geeked-out car evar, next to the Tesla.

But even the Tesla car can't park itself. Explanation of how the Advanced Parking Guidance System works, information on how this thing rips CDs, and other e-goodies, after the jump.

UPDATE: The video had some hiccups. Fixed.

Here's how it works.

1. You drive past a parking spot at 12mph or less. The four rear and six front sonar sensors detect the cars, and the gap between them.

2. Putting the car into reverse activates the wide-angle backup camera. There's a little button on the bottom of the screen that looks like a car parking. Hit it. If the spot is more than 6.5 feet longer than the car itself, the car enters Advanced Parking Guidance System mode. This is where the magic happens.

3. Crawl backwards, keeping your foot on the brake. If you touch the gas, or the wheel, the mode shuts itself off. Make sure to stay under 2.5mph, or it'll shut off, too. The wheel, as you can see from the video above, spins itself like its being ghost-driven. The sonar system is constantly measuring distance, beeping with more urgency as you get closer to obstacles.

4. When you're in the spot, the computer will announce that parking is complete.

Sonar Panels

Parking Mode buttons

Pretty sweet. Dan Neil, automotive journalist for the LA Times, and one of my favorite writers evar, sat next to me when I got the demo. He said he thought it was a pretty neat system. And that he could use it, since his better half was also the better parallel parker.

That's the best part of this car, but it's not the only awesome thing about it.

The car has adaptive cruise control, which uses millimeter-wave radar to slow you if a car in front of you hits the brakes. If the system detects a collision, it'll add pressure to the brakes to help stop time, and electronically tighten seatbelts.

It has the world's first 8-speed transmission, which uses fewer moving parts than the old 6-speed, in about the same space. I thought a car with 8 gears would flip through them like playing cards, but they were geared fairly tall to take advantage of the grunty 4.6-liter, 380-horsepower V8 engine. By the way, the pair gets the car up to 60mph in 5.4 seconds.

Like the Prius and other late-model Lexus cars, its key uses radio frequency to enable the door lock and starter buttons from a few feet away. Seems like a hack waiting to happen. But there's another drawback: One journalist took the car back to SF from Marin county, and left the key at the restaurant. The car keeps going, until you shut it off. Then, get ready to call AAA for a tow.

The headlights were inspired by crystal wine glasses. When they modeled a plastic assembly after the glasses, it didn't shine the way they wanted it to. So they took the headlamp, made it out of crystal, and studied the way it refracted light to get a similar look. The taillights are made from LEDs.

The car is so quiet, they had to redesign motors in the windows and locks because they were intrusive at first.

The backseat is not a bad place to be. The seats are adjustable in position, and feature heating, as well individual climate controls. There's a refrigerator big enough to hold a four cans of...soda. There are individual vanity mirrors, and a 9-inch motorized fold-down screen for the DVD player. The screen also can view and control (not sure if that's by remote or touch) the navigation, in case the driver is too busy speeding. There are rear sun shades that go down when the car is in reverse, and back up automatically when the car goes over 9mph.

The controls...for the back seat.

The tire pressure monitoring receiver sits on the roof, checking all 5 tires, yes, even the full-sized spare.

Finally, we reach the center console.
The nav system is the fifth generation of Toyota's system, centered around a 9-inch, 800x600 screen. The system uses XM to receive live traffic data, with icons for traffic jams, accidents, closed roads, construction, bad weather conditions, etc. But that data is only available in some areas. The system also has integrated Bluetooth for pairing with a cellphone, for speakerphone and addressbook access. The entire system can be controlled by voice commands.

The stereo's 7.1-channel surround, with some 19 speakers pushes 15 discreet channels. The total power? 450 watts. It sounded...okay. The optical drive in the dash plays back CDs, DVDs, and CDs burned with WMA and MP3s. What's cool is that the same HDD that the satellite nav system uses to store maps can also hold MP3s that the car rips from CDs. First car, to my knowledge, that can do this.

The Intuitive parking system is the more simple of the two parking aids. It uses the car's sonar to increase the tempo of beeps as you get closer to cars you're parking near.

How does it drive? It moves a bit like a hurricane-driven cloud, quickly running through its 8 gears to its electronically regulated 135MPH, or something close to that. The car moves, but without much confidence that the road won't fly out from under you in corners. – Brian Lam

Lexus LS 460L [Jalopnik]

Designer Garage Makes Walls Transparent or Opaque

Brian Lam — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:19:55 EDT

So you just spent a million bucks on a Ferrari Enzo. Do you park it In a regular garage made of regular concrete? Hello No.

Futurists are thinking about this very serious problem. Here's a garage concept, for a time where the rich are even more ridiculously rich, enough so to buy this transparent concrete model for $212,000. Created by architects Neutral, the "Designer Garage" features LCD sandwiched in between the concrete, that can be electronically darkened so the poor people can't bother you with their hunger-stare and "begging for food".– Brian Lam

Designer Garage [Gizmag]

Micro Bluetooth Earpiece: Smaller Than a Dime, Spytastic, Handmade

Brian Lam — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:34:30 EDT

This Bluetooth headset is smaller than a dime, and small enough to be carried away by an ant. The thing is about 6mm by 5mm by 10mm. Ridica-malous! And could easily get lost in your ear. There's even a detachable buzzer, for simple communication with your poker card counting buddies, or friends across the room taking multiple choice exams with you. Who's making this wonder-gadget? Not Samsung or Motorola. A 25-year-old medical student in Russia. Before you shout Scamtastic, let me tell you more and show you the picture of this thing next to an ant. Seriously, jump!

The headset can link to phones, and audio bluetooth devices. The earpiece isn't a direct bluetooth device, though. No, it transfers audio by standard RF to a neckmounted mic, which then retransmits bluetooth to your phone. (Or Bluetooth iPod when it comes out. I swear, it's coming.) Also has a 3.5mm minijack output, which is just a standard headphone jack.

Hey NYTimes, you guys should write about this. Go ahead, the lead is yours.– Brian Lam

Micro Earpiece

Altec Lansing A7: 1950s Studio Monitors for $6100 Each; CRaaaaaZAY

Brian Lam — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:33:25 EDT

Altec Lansing's A7 speakers were hot shit in the 1950s through the 1970s. It was then that they were known as the "Voice of the Theater", distinguished by being the only commercially-available speakers approved by the Research Council at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I totally cut and paste that, and I feel dirty for it. Anyhow, in 1973, Billboard mag claimed they were the most popular studio monitors in the country.

The crazy-looking horn speakers have a fan thing-a-ma-bob on top, I'm assuming for high frequency, and a 15-inch unit for rumble, and maybe a bit of mid-bass. The 200-watt speakers are handmade, cost $6100 each, and take 8-10 weeks to deliver. They've been designed to accoustically match the originals.

Match the originals?! WTF!? Wouldn't you say speaker design has advanced since 1950? Someone clue me in. Why are these fugly monitors worth this kind of money? I'll apologize if someone can edu-ma-cate me to the farks. But for now, I'll say this: Altec, face it, you make computer speakers for Dell now. Don't try to make us pay five-figures for a pair of 1950 speakers from your better days.– Brian Lam

Altec Lansing A7 Speakers [Altec Lansing]

Service for Agoraphobics Makes Trees Laugh

johnb — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:48:00 EDT

This is just about the most—erm...—intriguing set of design projects I've seen in a while. They showed three projects at the Royal College of Art show this year. First, pictured here, is a phone for autophobics, folks who are scared of being alone. The system allows them to talk to themselves so no one else can hear.

Then there's a service for agoraphobics, the folks who don't want to leave the house. They receive a special phone number and are connected with a random autophobic—two birds with one stone! Finally, there is a videophone trained on a stand of trees. When the trees shake, the agoraphobe hears them laugh. When they are still, they whisper. Go ahead and do what you want with that information. – John Biggs

Weird objects for weird users? [WMMNA]