Matt Buchanan, Author at Gizmodo

NES Controller Business Card Holder: It’s Cooler Than the Belt Buckles

I have way too many business cards from press events, and right now I just have them lying in a stack on my desk. This Perler Bead-constructed NES controller card holder is exactly what I need, if only because I always need more Nintendo paraphernalia. Also good for holding Game Boy e-Reader cards. $10, but…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Video: Solid-State Aircraft Flaps Its Wings Like a Bird

If you can get past the annoying voiceover (sorry, Ecogeek) then this video showing off Ohio Aerospace Institute NASA’s solid-state aircraft concept is pretty cool. They’re engineless, solar-powered and somewhat creepily resemble the mass production Evangelion units in flight, so it’d be sweet if these puppies (birds?) ever saw the light of day to make…

Space & Spaceflight Matt Buchanan

DIY Ghetto Hovercraft Uses a Leaf Blower and Duct Tape (Naturally)

If you’re looking for something to keep the kids busy on a Saturday morning (and they’ve already finish mowing the lawn, sweeping the gutters and trimming the hedges) then this leaf blower-powered hovercraft construction project might be a good way to keep them busy so you can watch Saturday morning cartoons in peace. Just tell…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

Analyst: The iPhone Really Is the Jesusphone

Tomi T Ahonen, self-proclaimed “world’s leading 3G strategy consultant,” unabashedly declares: Much like the Western calendar marks time from before and after Jesus Christ, and how the computer world changed totally by the Macintosh—remembering that Windows is Microsoft’s copy of the Mac operating system—I am certain that the mobile telecoms world will count its time…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Bloody Gift Wrap Makes for Bloody Good Times

I think I’m going to buy a roll of this RudeWrap Vicious Paper Cut Bloody Gift Wrap and use it to give all of my friends a Baby Doll Lamp, turning one hilarious joke into at least three, none of which are in good taste. Also appropriate for cuddy killer robots, Gloomy Bear mimobots and…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

Every Pig’s Worst Nightmare: A Barbecue Shaped Like a Pig

Pork is essentially synonymous with barbecue in my area of the South, so the Lil’ Pig barbecue from Traeger makes sense in a creepy meta-way if you can get past the doe-eyed cuteness. The grill boasts 418 sq. inches of cooking surface, an internal hopper, a stainless steel door handle and a multi-position digital thermostat…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

RIAA, Viacom, Microsoft and Others Form Galactic Empire Copyright Alliance

It is a period of civil war. Pirate torrents, striking from hidden basements, have plundered the vaults of Hollywood movie studios, the recording industry, and software monoliths, who have now formed the COPYRIGHT ALLIANCE. During the battle, pirates managed to steal copyrighted material as well as the not-so-secret plans of their LOBBYISTS and LEGAL TEAMS,…

Tech News Matt Buchanan.

The Infinite Video Format War is Coming

Click to view Blu-Ray will dominate the industry in three years. Or maybe it will be HD DVD. The general consensus is that whoever wins doesn’t really get a lasting victory, since they’re both in the last physical video format ever. That sentiment has largely been the consensus of the press and leaders in the…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Video: Cash Money Wallet to Hold Your Cash Money

While you could always show off how hot and heavy your pocket is with a money clip force-fed with Franklins, why not go one step further and make your money-carrying apparatus out of Franklins? The guy in the vid uses dollar bills, but if you’re ballin’, you don’t have time for singles. Or I guess…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

Traveler 515 Laser Mouse with Flip 3D Button Gives You an Excuse to Actually Use Flip 3D

If you’ve been dying to use Windows Vista’s stacktastic Expose killer (or not) Flip 3D but stretching your fingers from the Windows key to tab is too much effort for your slackass, then the Traveler 515 Laser mouse might be your ticket to supreme Vista bliss (or not). It sports a dedicated Flip 3D button,…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Black Helicopters Following Bush Jam Cell Phones, Hover in Silent Mode

When our esteemed leader visits the terrorist nation of Australia in September to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a helicopter that jams cellphone signals within the span of a football field will tail his motorcade. The measure is intended to counter cellphone-detonated bomb attacks, but I mean, now don’t the turrists know they have…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

Boombox/Briefcase Concept Would Make M.C. Hammer Proud

Oh how Kevin Byrd teases us with his wicked boombox/briefcase (“briefbox/boomcase”) concept. While it’s not actually a ghetto blaster melded with a classy briefcase (which would be just about the coolest thing ever to bring to a board meeting), carrying it to work would definitely put a little bit more spring in my step. Hell,…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

GigaOM and Joost Are Handing Out 20,000 Invites: Get One Quick

Have you missed the Joost train because you don’t have any friends and are still scrambling for an invite? Fear not, the guys over at GigaOM and NewTeeVee are partnering with Joost to dole out 20,000 invites. All you have to do is signup with a name and email address. Oh, and pass the “I’m…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Wi-Fi Alliance Will Start Certifying Draft N 2.0 Products in June; Worrywarts Rejoice

The Wi-Fi Alliance is going to start certifying 802.11 Draft N 2.0 products late next month. While the final standard won’t be set in stone until 2008, certified Draft N 2.0 products will have guaranteed interoperability with future N versions so you can get your N on without worry and will sport the fancy sticker…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Amazon Jumps Headfirst into DRM-Free Music Download Market with 12,000 Record Labels

Amazon’s joining the ranks of DRM-free music distributors with the launch of an MP3-only download store that will offer “millions of songs” from “more than 12,000 record labels” with no copy protections whatsoever. Leading those labels, naturally, is the record industry’s DRM-free town bicycle, EMI, who is curiously the only label mentioned by name of…

Commerce Matt Buchanan

Bearaphin Skins + Emotibuds = Cutest iPod nano Ever

These Bearaphin skins for 2G iPod nanos kind of remind me of the Care Bears, but on a bad acid trip, with their bright colors and animals sketched on their tummies. There’s some function to the drug-induced cuteness, however, as the skins protect your screen and click wheel to boot, and you can wrap your…

Gadgets Matt Buchanan

Speaker Handbag and Outfit: Share Your Personal Soundtrack with the World

You’re not looking at simply a pair of speakers stuck into a dress and handbag, or the newest iPod accessory. Oh no, you’re peering at Yuga, “a set of wearable coping mechanisms designed for urban rhytms [sic].” The purse purportedly “helps managing feelings of frustration” while the dress/belt speaker supposedly “deals with attention.” Taking readings…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Proposed Legislation Would Put “Attempted” Pirates in Brig for 1-10 Years

On the same day it announced the 50th conviction stemming from its massive piracy sweep, Operation Fastlink—of a member of the Apocalypse Crew (best known for dropping albums pre-street date)—the Department of Justice proposed new legislation—dubbed the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007—that would punish copyright infringement more harshly than ever, with no distinction between…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

And the Best Ad of the Year Is: A Washing Machine Spot?

The best-in-show winner of the Grand Clio (Clios are like the Oscars for advertising) went to this ad for the Aqualtis washer. While it’s clever—and definitely better than Sony’s PS3 spots—I’m not sure it’s better than their paintball Bravia ads, which also got a nod. What were your favorite spots this year? Breathe a word…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Eyeball DMT-1000 Speakers Designed for “Real World,” Scaring Paranoid Schizophrenics

Are you an “audiophile system installer” frustrated by cabinet speakers that don’t perform in your living room like they did in the lab? Do you like feeling a constant sense of vague paranoia, like someone’s watching you? Then Proclaim Audiworks’ DMT-1000 speakers just might be the speakers for you. (You might remember peeping (ha) the…

Tech News Matt Buchanan

Matt Buchanan

NES Controller Business Card Holder: It’s Cooler Than the Belt Buckles

Video: Solid-State Aircraft Flaps Its Wings Like a Bird

DIY Ghetto Hovercraft Uses a Leaf Blower and Duct Tape (Naturally)

Analyst: The iPhone Really Is the Jesusphone

Bloody Gift Wrap Makes for Bloody Good Times

Every Pig’s Worst Nightmare: A Barbecue Shaped Like a Pig

RIAA, Viacom, Microsoft and Others Form Galactic Empire Copyright Alliance

The Infinite Video Format War is Coming

Video: Cash Money Wallet to Hold Your Cash Money

Traveler 515 Laser Mouse with Flip 3D Button Gives You an Excuse to Actually Use Flip 3D

Black Helicopters Following Bush Jam Cell Phones, Hover in Silent Mode

Boombox/Briefcase Concept Would Make M.C. Hammer Proud

GigaOM and Joost Are Handing Out 20,000 Invites: Get One Quick

Wi-Fi Alliance Will Start Certifying Draft N 2.0 Products in June; Worrywarts Rejoice

Amazon Jumps Headfirst into DRM-Free Music Download Market with 12,000 Record Labels

Bearaphin Skins + Emotibuds = Cutest iPod nano Ever

Speaker Handbag and Outfit: Share Your Personal Soundtrack with the World

Proposed Legislation Would Put “Attempted” Pirates in Brig for 1-10 Years

And the Best Ad of the Year Is: A Washing Machine Spot?

Eyeball DMT-1000 Speakers Designed for “Real World,” Scaring Paranoid Schizophrenics

Pompeii Study Confirms Roman ‘Wine’ Ritual Previously Known Only From Texts

JBL Clears Out a 5.0-Channel Compact All-in-One Soundbar at a Record Low Beyond Its Portable Speaker Deals

Andy Weir Says Paramount Rejected His ‘Star Trek’ Pitch, Proceeds to Blast Modern ‘Trek’

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station Is 50% Off as Amazon’s Spring Sale Pushes Into Its Final Clear-Out

Anker’s USB-C Docking Station With Detachable Hub Hits an All-Time Low in Amazon’s Spring Sale, Likely the Last Chance Before Prime Day

The Sadie Sink ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Rumors Just Keep Swirling

This Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader Now Costs About as Much as a Few Paper Books, While Amazon’s Spring Sale Price Still Holds

Lenovo Tab One Becomes an Even Better Budget Tablet Pick Below $100, Now Bundled With a Case in Amazon’s Spring Sale

Jason David Frank’s Final Movie Honors His ‘Power Rangers’ Legacy

AirPods Pro 3 Still at Their Lowest Price While Apple Gradually Pulls Back Amazon’s Spring Sale Offers

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

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