Kat Hannaford, Author at Gizmodo

Google Maps for Android Ensures You Never Miss a Train Again

It was already a joy to use, but Google’s update of Google Maps for Android (version 4.3) squeezes in transit info, restaurant/services reviews and a nice tie-in with Latitude, where Google contacts can be contacted easily. That Latitude update lets you find which of your Google Contacts are using the service, so you can share…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Nexus One Controls Androideroids Game On TV

Up to eight Android phones can control Grant Skinner‘s Asteroids game (or Androideroids, as he’s dubbed it), with his custom-built app controlling the game on the HDTV. Using a Nexus One in the video, he’s demonstrated how you can see a mini-view of the game on the phone, or the larger-scale battle in action on…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Why the Sky Is So Blue

Chances are, as a kiddywink, you looked up to your Mom or Dad and asked “why is the sky blue?” Just in case you’ve forgotten, or your parents told you a whopping fib, io9 has come to the rescue. For the full explanation, you’d be best off heading over to our sister-site io9 now, but…

Physics & Chemistry Kat Hannaford

Condoms With Teeth Fight Rape In South Africa

Over 30,000 Rape-Axe condoms are being handed out free at South Africa’s World Cup. While they won’t stop rape, the condoms (worn by women) have jagged-teeth inside to tear penises up, and can only be removed by doctors. Sounds grim, but then I imagine rape isn’t any fun for the woman either. The inventor, Dr…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Make AA Batteries the Focal Point of Your New Clock

No longer do you have to be ashamed of your AA batteries, hiding them inside or behind your wall clock. Embrace their diminutive power and put them on show to the world. Spotted at the 2010 DMY International Design Festival in Berlin, The Wrong Objects‘ Front and Back clock isn’t on sale yet—but if we…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

HTC Mozart Running Windows Phone 7 Leaks in Australia

Australian network Telstra’s leaked documents show an unannounced HTC phone, the Mozart, running Windows Phone 7 with the release date of October. As GadgetVenue points out, the image may be Photoshopped, but the documents are not. So what’s going on? You can see quite clearly when the image is at full size that this HTC…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Kinect Priced at $150 On Microsoft’s Online Store

Been wondering how much Microsoft Kinect for the Xbox 360 will cost? Wonder no more, as they’ve slapped a $150 sign on their very own online store—though haven’t exactly confirmed it publicly. This matches up with the $150 price Best Buy, Amazon, GameStop and even Walmart have given it, though there have been some reports…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Metal Band Slayer Thinks Pinball Rocks on iPhone and iPad

Continuing the trend of metal-masters launching dubiously-themed apps, metal band Slayer has painted a game of pinball with skulls, pentacles and other HARD MAN designs. You play along to songs from their latest album, with original voiceovers from the band. The app description for Slayer Pinball Rocks HD says you should “Play it LOUD!” but…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Space Shuttle Launch Aims For the Sun, Seen By Sky-Divers

As you’re trying to squeeze onto the subway in the hurry to work, or are perhaps going to bed after a horrible day at the office, take a deep breath and remind yourself of the bigger picture. The space shuttle can be seen launching out of the clouds, aimed at the sun—with two sky-divers awarded…

Space & Spaceflight Kat Hannaford

iPhone 4 Shipping One Day Early, Says Apple Email

Slightly peculiar, but no doubt welcome news to all those who pre-ordered their iPhone 4s; Apple’s email says that delivery “will occur on June 23rd.” That’s a day early, fact-finders. Pity the poor fool who didn’t pre-order, eh? The email sent from Apple to all iPhone 4 pre-order customers, below: Dear Apple Store Customer, You…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Two Larger Dyson Air Multiplier Fans Appear With Extra Power

Less than a year ago, Dyson changed the face of the humble home fan completely—not just giving it a bit of plastic surgery, but completely removing its blades. Now, two much larger, powerful fans have blown in. The AM02 Tower stands 1m tall and measures 19cm wide, with 33L of air being taken into the…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Chemical From Broken LCD TVs Could Save Lives

Next time your Wiimote accidentally gets thrown into your LCD TV, don’t fret too much—chemicals found in the broken TV sets could be used to fight infections in the human body. The welcome news has come from research undertaken by the University of York in England, which found that the polyvinyl-alcohol, or PVA, can actually…

Health Kat Hannaford

Screen Comparison Shows LCD Still Beats Super AMOLED In Sunlight

Samsung’s Super AMOLED screens have caused quite a stir lately, and as this video comparison shows, it certainly handles direct sunlight better than an AMOLED screen. When put next to an LCD though, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. That’s not good news for Samsung, though they’ll be heartened to hear that the Super…

Gadgets Kat Hannaford

Don’t Take Scissors, Water or Fire into Don Lucho’s Paper House

If ever there was a house where certain things were banned, it would be artist Don Lucho‘s Casa de Karton, where everything is made from cardboard and paper. All hand-drawn, Lucho’s even added spoons, toilet roll and a skateboard leaning next to the bed. I can’t spot any mod-cons (there’s certainly no iPad on the…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Google Should Give Bluetooth-Controlled Robots Away With Every Android Purchase

I think we’re all in agreement that Google’s Android mascot is as cute as a button, but believe me—you have never seen him flex his muscle quite like this before. Video of his technical smarts downstairs… The hardware was made by Reo Matsumura, and Hideyuki Takei was behind the software which sends the commands to…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Kill Gadget Germs Dead With Violight’s Snake-Oil UV Light Sanitizer

From the same company that makes toothbrush sanitizers comes the gadget sanitizer—seen here rinsing an iPhone with UV light to kill all the nasty germs living on it. Sounds like one of those devices that no-one really needs, right? I mean, you could just use a sanitizing hand wipe or something—or even put up with…

Health Kat Hannaford

Play the Most Irritating Instrument On Your iPad: the Bagpipes

You can “learn” to “play” many instruments on the iPad, but now you can irritate neighbors for hours with the world’s most joy-sapping tool of all—the bagpipes. You can even play along to your iTunes library! If the $5 price hasn’t put you off, then you may be interested to learn that the same developers…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

iPhone Now Has A Windows Live Messenger App

Compatible with iOS4 (dropping sometime today), Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch combines IM functionality with Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Flickr support. It’s a free download, and even has Hotmail support built-in too. While Twitter may be the noticeable missing gap in all the social-networking features, it doesn’t sound like…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Samsung Galaxy S Pro Specs Leak

We assumed the leaked Galaxy S Pro would have Samsung’s Super AMOLED screens, but thankfully one of AndroidCentral‘s tipsters has gone the whole hog and blabbed the specs of what’s thought to be Sprint’s second 4G phone. I’ve not been a fan of Samsung’s phones so far. Cheap, plasticky hardware, horrendous TouchWiz UI, and a…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Toshiba AC100 Netbook Runs Android and Has Massive Seven Days of Standby Battery Life

Finishing off the hat–trick of laptops, Toshiba’s AC100 is their first machine to run on Android, and is shaping up to be a very tidy netbook with up to eight hours of battery, or up to SEVEN DAYS’ standby life. Yep, seven days. It runs on an NVIDIA Tegra 250 chip, with an insy-winsy 512MB…

Tech News Kat Hannaford

Kat Hannaford

Google Maps for Android Ensures You Never Miss a Train Again

Nexus One Controls Androideroids Game On TV

Why the Sky Is So Blue

Condoms With Teeth Fight Rape In South Africa

Make AA Batteries the Focal Point of Your New Clock

HTC Mozart Running Windows Phone 7 Leaks in Australia

Kinect Priced at $150 On Microsoft’s Online Store

Metal Band Slayer Thinks Pinball Rocks on iPhone and iPad

Space Shuttle Launch Aims For the Sun, Seen By Sky-Divers

iPhone 4 Shipping One Day Early, Says Apple Email

Two Larger Dyson Air Multiplier Fans Appear With Extra Power

Chemical From Broken LCD TVs Could Save Lives

Screen Comparison Shows LCD Still Beats Super AMOLED In Sunlight

Don’t Take Scissors, Water or Fire into Don Lucho’s Paper House

Google Should Give Bluetooth-Controlled Robots Away With Every Android Purchase

Kill Gadget Germs Dead With Violight’s Snake-Oil UV Light Sanitizer

Play the Most Irritating Instrument On Your iPad: the Bagpipes

iPhone Now Has A Windows Live Messenger App

Samsung Galaxy S Pro Specs Leak

Toshiba AC100 Netbook Runs Android and Has Massive Seven Days of Standby Battery Life

Avast Premium Isn’t Flashy — But It Might Be the Smartest Cheap Antivirus Right Now

Data Centers Create Heat Islands Stretching 6 Miles, Study Finds

Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition Smartwatch at 41% Off Is Flying Off the Shelves on Amazon

Aragorn Is Officially Being Recast For ‘The Hunt for Gollum’

DJI Slashes $500 Off the Mini 5 Pro Fly More Drone After Avata 360 Launch, Bundled With RC 2, Batteries, and More

Artemis 2 Day 3: Follow the Mission With Our Live Updates 🔴

Illumination Is Officially Learning Nothing

Good News for Nintendo Switch Users, This 45W Charger With Cable Just Hits Its Lowest Price on Amazon

Apple MagSafe Duo Charger Gets 42% Off, Finally Worth It for iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch Users

Oscar Isaac Did ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ to Work With Top Tier Actors—Instead, He Got a Cooling Tent

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

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life