Brian Lam, Author at Gizmodo

Thank You/Damn You Sys Admins!

National sys admin day is a good day to remember the complicated relationships we’ve all had with them. I remember being a sys admin intern, rolling out new machines with new images to consultants, and sometimes getting yelled at for not doing things quickly enough for them. But mostly, I remember having to do tech…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 30 '10

The Goonies 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD

This reissue of The Goonies includes a board game and a treasure map on the box as well as some other junk. I’d get it, but I already own the DVD, and chunk ain’t getting any prettier in high def. [Amazon via Uncrate]

Movies Brian Lam Jul 30 '10

Ten Beeping, Booping Minutes of Tron’s Daft Punk Soundtrack?

I listened to this while on a comcast customer service call and it touchtoned my account number automatically! UPDATE: Note that Pretty Much Amazing and reader Nanaijo suggest these may be fake. I have no idea. [Pretty much amazing via Brainpicker]

Movies Brian Lam Jul 29 '10

The Return of the Cellphone Strap

One thing I noticed—sadly!—with the original iPhone was the lack of a place to hang a keitai strap. For awhile, I’d collect fun ones from Japan. Good thing I saved all them because the bumper fixes this. I don’t really know why I like cellphone straps so much. Maybe it’s just flair, like the buttons…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 28 '10

Review: Incase Convertible Book Case For iPad

One of these items is not a book. But it feels like one. This is the first time I’ve ever liked a case that made a gadget 3x as thick, and with that extra padding, the iPad feels just right. At launch, the iPad was noted by many to feel heavier than it looked. It’s…

Reviews Brian Lam Jul 27 '10

The Phoenix Cooktop

The Buechele Phonix is a neat little stove top that has a retractable hood. On one side there’s a recirculating vent, the other, a warmer. On the back? A blackboard! The Phoenix is a 2010 reddot design award winner. [Beuchele via Appliancist]

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 27 '10

I Like Simplenote

Adam Pash reminded me of this notetaking app. It basically records text and syncs them across almost any platform you’d use. That’s it. But it does it flawlessly. And without a yellow background and annoying font. https://lifehacker.com/the-holy-grail-of-ubiquitous-plain-text-capture-5584924 Evernote’s growing bloated, as it grows more powerful. Although their voice to text feature sounds neat, I just…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 26 '10

The Stainless Steel Sharpie

How appropriate. The pen is as permanent as its ink. The stainless steel sharpie is $8, and has replaceable ink cartridges. It was released sometime last year, but I just discovered it today. [Sharpie via Uncrate]

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 26 '10

Wireless 3D HD System Prototyped

Amimon, some of the masters of wireless video signals, just demoed a 3d HD video signal in prototype. Wireless HDTV signals aren’t all that necessary, and 3D is kind of a joke, but its good to know that if the two go mainstream, we’ll be ready with the tech to support all that. [Techon via…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 26 '10

Qi Wireless Charging Standard Finalized

The Wireless Power Consortium has finalized the Qi standard, meant for low power devices. It’s good for gadgets up to 5 watts. And the goal is for the standard to be interoperable between chargers and gadgets from different makers. That’s the sort of openness that doesn’t always happen when standards are too vague, so I’m…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 26 '10

Why a White iPhone Delay is Great News

Apple’s white iPhone 4 is being pushed to the end of the year because of manufacturing difficulties. This isn’t Apple’s first problem with white gadgets. So I’m glad they’re being more cautious. https://gizmodo.com/white-iphone-4-delayed-again-5594543 There were the white Macbooks that cracked, made around 2006, which apple offered to repair long after launch, in 2009. Owners of…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 23 '10

I’m Actually Happy With My iPhone 4

I am. I have no doubt about it. I had to buy an overpriced bumper to stop the reception issues. That sucked. But now I’m happy. Sure, I think the issues at hand need to be fixed, and current owners need to get free bumpers—at the least—to make the phone as functional as it should…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 16 '10

Anandtech on the iPhone 4.01 Update: The Bars Show Higher and Lower Signals

Anandtech has studied apple’s new 4.01 OS update, and found that the new formula for displaying bars covers a much greater dynamic range. That is, it will show lower and higher signals than before, assigning those more extreme values as 1 and 5 bars. This means it’ll require more signal to show higher bars, with…

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 16 '10

Jon Ive On the Danger Of Sophisticated Tools

A good section of Core77’s (rare) Apple lead designer Jon Ive interview is about the danger of relying too much on technology to build technology. And the danger of not touching the materials you work with. [Core77]

Tech News Brian Lam Jul 1 '10

The New Kindle DX

The Kindle DX gets refreshed today with a lower price of $379, and a 9.7-inch screen with 50 percent better contrast. It also happens to come in a graphite finish. Ships on July 7th but orders start now. Amazon Introduces New Kindle DX with 50 Percent Better Display Contrast and New Lower Price of $379…

Commerce Brian Lam Jul 1 '10

Almost Every Non E-Paper Kindle Getting Audio and Video Embeds

Another reason the iPad is the best Kindle device out there: Kindle books on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch can now have embedded audio and video, which puts Amazon’s Kindle app on the same level as Apple’s iBooks for the first time. https://gizmodo.com/the-ipad-amazons-secret-weapon-5510620 The irony is that Amazon’s own e-book reader won’t be able…

Commerce Brian Lam Jun 28 '10

Test Notes: iMovie for iPhone 4

I just shot and edited an HD movie on a smartphone in under 5 minutes. Perspective: my digital camera computer from 10 years ago couldn’t have done this. And here, with titles, transitions, themes and soundtracks, for $5. The iMovie app opens quizzically, with unlabeled icons. Just hit the plus to start a project. Pick…

Tech News Brian Lam Jun 24 '10

Screw

Five point security Torx, like old Nintendo carts. [Via Arn]Click to view

Tech News Brian Lam Jun 7 '10

At This Monday’s Apple Keynote? Help Us Liveblog

It’s no surprise: Apple has not responded to our requests to attend the WWDC keynote on Monday at 10am PST. But we’ll still cover the news. Want to help? If you’re going to the keynote, and want to be a part of the exciting Apple coverage that so many of your fellow Gizmodo readers enjoy,…

Tech News Brian Lam Jun 4 '10

A Letter: Apple Wants Its Secret iPhone Back

Well, how can I explain this? I got some interesting calls today. It was Apple. And they wanted their phone back. This phone was lost, and then found. But from Apple’s perspective, it could have been considered stolen. I told them, all they have to do to get it back is to claim it—on record.…

Tech News Brian Lam Apr 19 '10

Brian Lam

Thank You/Damn You Sys Admins!

The Goonies 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD

Ten Beeping, Booping Minutes of Tron’s Daft Punk Soundtrack?

The Return of the Cellphone Strap

Review: Incase Convertible Book Case For iPad

The Phoenix Cooktop

I Like Simplenote

The Stainless Steel Sharpie

Wireless 3D HD System Prototyped

Qi Wireless Charging Standard Finalized

Why a White iPhone Delay is Great News

I’m Actually Happy With My iPhone 4

Anandtech on the iPhone 4.01 Update: The Bars Show Higher and Lower Signals

Jon Ive On the Danger Of Sophisticated Tools

The New Kindle DX

Almost Every Non E-Paper Kindle Getting Audio and Video Embeds

Test Notes: iMovie for iPhone 4

Screw

At This Monday’s Apple Keynote? Help Us Liveblog

A Letter: Apple Wants Its Secret iPhone Back

Fake Urine Bottles Planted In Museum Before Met Gala to Protest Jeff Bezos

They Can’t Stop Showing Clips From the Opening of ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

Here’s a Taste of Just How Creepy ‘Obsession’ Gets

Explosion Rocks SpaceX’s Test of Water Deluge System Ahead of Starship Launch

Shokz OpenFit 2+ Open-Ear Headphones Have Never Been This Cheap, but the Deal Is Here Ahead of Mother’s Day

Utah’s New Age Verification Law Targeting VPNs Takes Effect This Week

Meta and TikTok Are Getting Your Data From State Healthcare Sites: Report

Christopher Nolan Looks Lost in This Glorious New Image From ‘The Odyssey’

The Steam Controller Is Already Sold Out

Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial Accuses ‘Victimized’ Crypto Billionaire of Defamation

Logitech G G512 X Review: The Tasting Menu of a Pro Gaming Keyboard

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone Review: AI Can’t Save This Robot Vacuum

The Best Tech Gifts for Mother’s Day 2026

Asus’ Dual-Display Gaming Laptop Will Ruin Your Single-Screen Lifestyle

Steam Controller Review: Trackpads Change Everything for PC Gaming

Soundcore Space 2 Review: A Shockingly Stellar Value for Budget ANC Wireless Headphones

Anker’s UV Printer Can Handle Almost Anything… If You Know What You’re Doing

HP’s EliteBoard Keyboard-Computer Proves We Can Stick a PC in Anything

Sleep-Tracking Earbuds Didn’t Fix Me, but They Did Open My Eyes

I’ve Tested a Lot of Bad Smart Glasses and These Are the Worst Yet