Mark Wilson, Author at Gizmodo

Senate Expected to Delay DTV Transition to June 12th on Optional Basis

Because there are 1.4 million households on the underfunded digital converter voucher waiting list, the Senate is finalizing a proposal to delay the DTV switchover to June 12th—a bill that’s expected to pass unanimously. https://gizmodo.com/dtv-coupon-program-broke-busted-5125499 The bill (a rewrite of the Obama-supported Sen. Jay Rockefeller plan) doesn’t look to provide more funding for DTV vouchers—it’s…

Tech News Mark Wilson

A Beautiful Sunset, Painted in Fluorescent Bacteria

This beach is awash in bacteria colonies that express eight different colors through fluorescent protein modification. And yes, that canvas is a petri dish. [Andrew Hires via MAKE]

Tech News Mark Wilson

Knight Rider Clones the iPhone, Poorly

Pardon us for being a bit late on this one, but apparently Knight Rider went through the trouble of crafting this strange fake iPhone, UPDATE: built on a Sony Xperia X1 body, for the series. Spotted during Season 1 Episode 12, the KnightPhone pulls just enough iconography from the iPhone to make people think (oh,…

Tech News Mark Wilson

The Beer Can Celebrates 50 Years of Metallic Aftertaste

Today is the 50th anniversary of the aluminum beer can, released by Coors in 1959. And while I was prepared to make fun of cans for a few hundred words, they’re actually sort of interesting. Some IMPORTANT historical facts: • Coors spent two years developing the aluminum can. • Before aluminum cans, the tin can…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Virtual Keyboard Confounds Key-logging Bosses, Criminals, and Spouses

If you’re browsing the web at work or just somewhere insecure, the prospect of key-logging may keep you from typing passwords and/or expletives. This Greasemonkey-compatible script brings up a virtual keyboard for mouseclick typing. The Virtual Keyboard Interface is a free script to download and adds one of 22 clickable keyboards for the typing of…

Privacy & Security Mark Wilson

Jenga Electronic Game Features Real Blocks for Real Frustration

I’m not sure that Jenga is one of those games that can be played tiny, monochrome display. But given enough willpower and enough plastic, as we all know, anything is possible. This latest Jenga handheld by Zizzle toys features two real (non-wood) blocks that you actually slide in and out of place. Use too much…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Quicksnap Ice Tray Releases One Cube at a Time

Sometimes you don’t need to fill your 5-gallon Mega Xtreme Chill Polar Icecap Gulp with 238 ice cubs to get through the day. Sometimes you just want one or two. This Quicksnap tray concept won a recent Toyota design competition. A simple enough idea, each cube of ice can be released individually through its own…

Tech News Mark Wilson

NASA Airing High Def Tour of the ISS Today and Tomorrow

If you’ve ever wanted a closer look at the International Space Station, NASA Television will be airing a 35-minute HD tour today and tomorrow. Filmed by Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke, the show will run at both 1pm and 3pm (CST) on January 22nd and 23rd on NASA Television. Immediately following the broadcast, you’ll also…

Space & Spaceflight Mark Wilson

Hacking Road Signs Is Frightningly Easy and Funny (and Illegal)

You should never hack a road sign as part of a prank. But what if you know that there really are Zombies ahead? What then?? Apparently, while most road sign control pads are placed in a lock box, that box is rarely actually locked. And while most road signs are under password protection, that password…

Tech News Mark Wilson

DVR Remote Is Another, Better Way to Control TiVo With Your iPhone

Not long after we saw the App Store’s first TiVo remote for the iPhone, we see its second, DVR Remote. https://gizmodo.com/tivoremote-the-app-stores-first-tivo-remote-app-5132403 DVR Remote uses Wi-Fi to connect to TiVos on your network with a one-button command. I’ve tried out the $3 program, and even though it’s $2 more than its competitor (which has recently been…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Tomy Dustbot: The Original, Way Cuter Roomba

Long before the sterile Roomba arrived, there was a more anthropomorphic cleaning slave known as the Tomy Dustbot. Released in 1985, the Dustbot is claimed to be the first robot to feature a built-in vacuum cleaner (that broom was just for show) and featured edge detection to turn away from obstacles. I never owned a…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Ninja Tacks Pierce Your Papers…Silently

If you’ve been dreaming about the Ninja Star Tacks concept since last year, know that swift and silent cork board devastation can now be yours for $12. [Chromly via bbGadgets] https://gizmodo.com/ninja-tacks-make-you-look-like-secret-shuriken-throwing-393886

Tech News Mark Wilson

Wooden Vespa Is Dining Room Furniture You Can Die On

We’re torn in our appreciation of the classic Vespa—after all, Vespas are scooters and scooters equal wedgies. But when they’re handcrafted like fine furniture, we can overlook the inevitable flag on the back. Craftsman Carlos Alberto came across a Vespa that was in complete disrepair, so he gutted it and carved a body from wood—which…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Riiflex Weights Make the Wii Fitter

As long as you are flailing away at whatever Wii title you’re torturing yourself with, you might as well add some resistance. A patent-pending peripheral called “riiflex” plans to turn your Wiimotes into dumbells through the magic of 2lb and 5lb cases. I have to admit, the design is clever enough, including even a trigger…

Tech News Mark Wilson

This Car Bluetooth Speaker Squeezes Inside Your Steering Wheel

In case your car isn’t new or nice enough to have Bluetooth integration, this Steering Wheel Bluetooth Adapter seems like the perfect solution, save for one catch. Fitting around the inner part of a steering wheel with some options for size adjustment, the $63 adapter features a microphone and speakers (for speakerphone), along with an…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Barbie Digital Fingernail Printer Makes Girls Superficial AND Lazy

OK, who here told the Barbie people about thermal printer technology? The Barbie Digital Fingernail Printer, slated for release this fall, can print any one of thousands of designs directly onto your fingernails. Requiring only a clear base coat of prep and 15-20 precarious seconds as a machine inks each nail, according to KidsTechReview who…

Tech News Mark Wilson

SoundClip: Passive iPhone Amplifier

The SoundClip is just a piece of plastic, and you could duplicate the effect by cupping your hand. But those points alone don’t necessarily make it a bad idea. Priced at $8, the SoundClip snaps on the bottom of your iPhone around the speaker. Tiny molded plastic creates a pocket to amplify (but probably mostly…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Phantom Lapboard Review

The Phantom Lapboard is one of those fabled legends of the gadget world, a keyboard and mouse that you can use comfortably on a couch—in the making since 2004. https://gizmodo.com/phantom-lapboard-keyboard-its-coming-maybe-342396 Phantom was kind enough to send us the first final production unit off of the line—preorder shipments should be fulfilled starting Feb 20th. It’s unfair…

Reviews Mark Wilson

A Real Portal Gun (Well, Sort Of)

Sadly, this post won’t make any sense to you if you missed Valve’s acclaimed videogame Portal from last year. But then again, if you missed that game, your life is devoid of meaning anyway. Developed by Aperture Science, this Handheld Portal Device is an extremely limited edition (dare I say, one of a kind?) portal…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Minifig Fashion Statement, The T-Shirt

If you think it’s difficult to get dressed in the morning, just imagine the anatomically induced wardrobe complications for a LEGO minifig. This shirt, Identity Crisis, is available in its first printing for $16. It’s not officially licensed or anything, but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and assume that much of Giz’s…

Tech News Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson

Senate Expected to Delay DTV Transition to June 12th on Optional Basis

A Beautiful Sunset, Painted in Fluorescent Bacteria

Knight Rider Clones the iPhone, Poorly

The Beer Can Celebrates 50 Years of Metallic Aftertaste

Virtual Keyboard Confounds Key-logging Bosses, Criminals, and Spouses

Jenga Electronic Game Features Real Blocks for Real Frustration

Quicksnap Ice Tray Releases One Cube at a Time

NASA Airing High Def Tour of the ISS Today and Tomorrow

Hacking Road Signs Is Frightningly Easy and Funny (and Illegal)

DVR Remote Is Another, Better Way to Control TiVo With Your iPhone

Tomy Dustbot: The Original, Way Cuter Roomba

Ninja Tacks Pierce Your Papers…Silently

Wooden Vespa Is Dining Room Furniture You Can Die On

Riiflex Weights Make the Wii Fitter

This Car Bluetooth Speaker Squeezes Inside Your Steering Wheel

Barbie Digital Fingernail Printer Makes Girls Superficial AND Lazy

SoundClip: Passive iPhone Amplifier

Phantom Lapboard Review

A Real Portal Gun (Well, Sort Of)

Minifig Fashion Statement, The T-Shirt

Did AMD Just Make the Best CPU for Gamers and Creators?

AI Just One-Shotted Another CEO

6 Magic School Anime and Manga to Discover Instead of Thinking About ‘Harry Potter’ Ever Again

Unprecedented Images Show Sperm Whales Acting as Midwives to Help a Mom Give Birth

‘Butt Birth’-ing Rhinoceros from Ace Ventura Sequel Sold at Auction for a Whopping $60,000

The Ryan Gosling Sci-Fi Streak Will Continue Until Morale Improves

Study Challenges Popular Theory on Why Primordial Bugs Were So Darn Huge

Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway’s Mystery’s Sci-Fi Film Has Its First Trailer

Scientists Just Found the Salt Limit That Pushes Your Heart to the Breaking Point

White House Social Media Just Had Its Covfefe Moment

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

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Apple Studio Display XDR Review: It Looks So Good, I Wish It Were an iMac

RayNeo Air 4 Pro Review: My Eyes Love These Video Glasses, but My Nose Disagrees