Joel Johnson, Author at Gizmodo

Let’s Talk Adventure! The Nanny Drove The Cruiser

It only took 630 miles of motorcycle riding, four wires cut in my tow harness, and one near death experience sliding through a film of invisible pig shit to bring her home. May I introduce you to the Nanny? I didn’t expect to buy a Hundy. I’d been hot and heavy for FJ62s and FZJ80…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 24

When Good Apps Go Bad

In just a few short years we’ve almost forgotten the concept of “saving” a document. Close an app? It’s just there. Until it isn’t. I just got back from a manic 48-hour mental assault to pick up the used Land Cruiser I’ll be driving up and down the hemisphere next summer. (More on that later!)…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 24

I’ve Found a Better Cheeto

Cheetos are manna from 7-11. But I think I’ve found a Cheeto that’s holier than Cheetos proper: Barbara’s Cheese Puffs Jalapeño. I’m a snack omnivore. I’ll chonk down artisanal salami in the same bite as a Ritz cracker. I’ll wash down Reece’s Pieces with a swig of Russian River Consecration from my dwindling supply. There’s…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 22

Let’s Talk Adventure! Joe Brown Is Making Me Ride to Montana On My Motorcycle

Found a Land Cruiser. It’s in Montana. If I can get it tomorrow, I can go to Overland Rally in Hollister. No problem. I can fly. But Gizmodo’s Joe Brown says if I’m taking tomorrow off, I have to ride. It’s 592 miles to Hamilton, Montana from Portland, Oregon. My ass is going to curse…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 21

Official Etch-A-Sketch iPad Case Makes “Shake To Undo” More Obvious

Remember when the iPad first came out there were all those Etch-A-Sketch jokes? Now you can own the punchline for only $40. Sadly, the knobs do nothing. Even more sadly, the official Etch-A-Sketch app has iffy reviews. [GetAHeadCase.com]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 20

We Must Boil This Wine To Save It

Oregon’s Willamette Valley produces some of the country’s best wines. But it’s also subject to the infamous “Pineapple Express”—heavy rains blowing in from the Pacific that can ruin grapes. Unless you’ve got a vacuum. Ken Wright has been making wine since 1978, moving in 1986 to Oregon, ending up in the heavy-lidded town of Carlton.…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 17

You’re Trapped 2,230 Feet Underground. This Hole Is Your Lifeline.

Newsweek has a fascinating short feature on the trapped Chilean miners, who despite being discovered weeks ago may not be freed until December. (Someone should send them a tiny computer and a copy of Minecraft to keep them occupied.) [Newsweek]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 14

Someone Is Trying To Sell Your Grandparents Crappy Vivitar Film Cameras

From the same studio that made the Snuggie commercial, a hint that some company will soon be shilling cheap 35mm Vivitar analog cameras to your pep-pep and me-ma. Gird up your brain loins, nerdy grandkids, and be ready to educate.

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 10

Forget Apple TV. AirPlay Is Apple’s Sneak Attack On Television

It was almost a footnote. AirPlay, the audio streaming protocol once known as AirTunes, got just one minute of keynote time last week. But it might end up as the backbone of Apple’s assault on the living room. What Does AirPlay Do? At its most simple, AirPlay streams music from one Apple device to another.…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 9

Dog Bed Made From Tennis Balls Provokes Chewy Dreams

My bulldog already emits enough nocturnal pleasure spackle when sleeping on a normal dog bed. I can only imagine what he’d do with a bed made from tennis balls. Fortunately, at nearly $300, I’ll never know. [HughHayden.com]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 8

TSA Poster Reminds That Photography Is For Creepy Terrorists Only

Enjoy standing safely outside a fence taking innocuous photos of airplanes in plain sight? According to this new TSA poster, you are a filthy terrorist. Remember, citizens: Only you can prevent the slightly unnerving from enjoying their hobbies. [CarlosMiller.com]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 8

Spoof Survivorman, Win Prizes

Can you out survive Les “Survivorman” Stroud? Fortunately you don’t need to! Stroud’s “Spooferman” contest site is giving away Leathermans, tents, GoPro cameras, and Sony editing software for the best five-minute “Fire Starting” spoof video. Be safe! [Spooferman]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 7

Polar Bear In A Snowstorm Puzzle

The Toronto Zoo worked with Lowe Roche to create these hilarious polar bear puzzles, available for $7 in their gift shop. Coming soon: a coloring book with five Crayons—all white. [Toronto Zoo]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 7

The Saddest Nerd Wedding Photo Ever

While Danish Ubuntu Solutions Provider Martin Pihl’s marriage “wasn’t without hazzles”, he “juuuust had to check my e-mail before the ceremony.” You’ve got counseling! (Can I still make an AOL joke? I guess if people still use Ubuntu…) [MartinPihl.dk]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 6

Let’s Talk Adventure!

Writing an eBay description of a beloved car is like writing an obituary for a friend that’s still alive. Flaws and strengths. Have to be honest. But then you have to go out to the garage and crawl inside them. Let’s not focus on the sad news, which is the passing of my lovely 1975…

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 3

“Bubbling” Tricks Your Mind To See Anyone Naked

A legend born: A young Mormon, forbidden from looking at porn, discovers a way to Photoshop safe-for-work bikini shots in such a way to let his mind fill in the blanks. It’s not porn if it’s in your brain. Another! And one for the ladies. This young man is a national hero. [Forum.Bodybuilding.com]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 1

Don Draper Checks His iPhone

From the behind-the-scenes photoshoot from Rolling Stone, Core77 plucked these incongruous shots of Mad Men’s actors using modern tech. [Core77]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 1

That Gorgeous Epic Citadel iPhone Demo? You Can Download It Now

From what I can tell there’s not much to do yet except walk around and gawk at the pretty castle, but what a pretty castle it is. Free download from iTunes for iOS devices. [iTunes]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 1

Not On a Mac or iPad? Watch the Apple Keynote Here

Don’t have an approved Apple device to watch today’s keynote? We’ve got you covered. Gizmodo and Livestream are restreaming the keynote right to your Flash-enabled browser. It’s like you’re really using a Mac! [Live.Gizmodo.com]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 1

Sure, I’d Love a $700 Stainless Steel Stealth Military Keyboard

One hopes that a company doesn’t dream up a $700 steel-and-rubber keyboard with red backlighting (for night vision, natch) and waterproof trackball just to hope that someone, somewhere will buy it. Otherwise Stealth is cursing a drunken general tonight. [Stealth]

Tech News Joel Johnson Sep 1

Joel Johnson

Let’s Talk Adventure! The Nanny Drove The Cruiser

When Good Apps Go Bad

I’ve Found a Better Cheeto

Let’s Talk Adventure! Joe Brown Is Making Me Ride to Montana On My Motorcycle

Official Etch-A-Sketch iPad Case Makes “Shake To Undo” More Obvious

We Must Boil This Wine To Save It

You’re Trapped 2,230 Feet Underground. This Hole Is Your Lifeline.

Someone Is Trying To Sell Your Grandparents Crappy Vivitar Film Cameras

Forget Apple TV. AirPlay Is Apple’s Sneak Attack On Television

Dog Bed Made From Tennis Balls Provokes Chewy Dreams

TSA Poster Reminds That Photography Is For Creepy Terrorists Only

Spoof Survivorman, Win Prizes

Polar Bear In A Snowstorm Puzzle

The Saddest Nerd Wedding Photo Ever

Let’s Talk Adventure!

“Bubbling” Tricks Your Mind To See Anyone Naked

Don Draper Checks His iPhone

That Gorgeous Epic Citadel iPhone Demo? You Can Download It Now

Not On a Mac or iPad? Watch the Apple Keynote Here

Sure, I’d Love a $700 Stainless Steel Stealth Military Keyboard

Giz Asks: What Will Scientists Study—and Potentially Discover—Now That Artemis 2 Is Done?

Disney Is Trying to Make Up for Its ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ IMAX FOMO

Anthropic Launches Claude Design, Figma Stock Immediately Nosedives

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Has Always Deserved Better Than This

Sam Altman’s Creepy Eyeball-Scanning Company Gets in Bed With Zoom and Tinder

Ninja Ice Cream Maker Gets Another Price Cut to a Record Low, Get a Must-Have Ahead of Summer

The EV Collapse in America Shows Early Signs of Relenting

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Has a Wild Deep Cut ‘Star Wars’ Toy Reference

NASA Plans to Start a Fire on the Moon in First-of-Its-Kind Experiment

What’s the Best Weather Day in the USA?

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026