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RIP RealDVD, Even If We Won’t Notice You’re Gone

A judge has finally ordered RealNetworks to put its DVD ripping service, RealDVD, to sleep because apparently it’s “illegal to bypass the copyright protections built into DVDs designed to protect movies against theft.” Whoops. As part of its legal loss against the Motion Picture Association of America, the media delivery company will be forced to…

Tin Foil Sanctuary Shields Crazy From Pesky World Built Upon Logic

When a clearly sane man couldn’t convince his wife to line their home in tinfoil, he moved his most prized possessions into the garage. Joking aside, the guy does nice work. We can barely line a pan before breaking the (otherwise impenetrable) barrier that is tin foil (OK, or as some of you pointed out,…

Tron Legacy Could Launch A New Trilogy, TV Show And A Brand New Tomorrowland

If the Tron sequel fills Disney’s digital pockets with cash, we may see plenty more lightcycle races and disk fights, on our TVs and in the Disney theme parks. Along with two more Tron flicks, making it a Tron Trilogy. According to Blue Sky Disney, if Tron Legacy does well in the box office, we…

What’s So Bad About Being A Pawn Anyway?

Sayid used to be one of my favorite characters on Lost, but he took a few too many random turns — even before he shot a kid. Now it seems like even Sayid doesn’t like Sayid any more. Spoilers ahead… First of all, was I the only one desperately hoping that Sayid would stab Kate…

Shooting Challenge: By Candlelight

Anyone can take a picture with plenty of sun around. But capturing extreme lighting conditions takes discipline. So for this week’s Shooting Challenge, you can shoot whatever you want, but you only get a single candle to light it. https://gizmodo.com/122-brilliant-and-blinding-blow-outs-5477376 The Challenge Capture a photo in complete darkness, save for the light of one candle.…

In Ten Years a Box of Sand Could Power Your House

After eight years and 600 million dollars, a fuel cell has been developed that can power an office building. Let’s take a look at how fuel cells work, their advantages over other fuels, and what’s coming next. Fuel cells consist of specific materials sandwiched together in particular order. The outer-most layers are covered with a…

New Gadget Eliminates Pain in Dental Injections By Tricking Your Brain

People of the world who hate hate HATE going to the dentist, rejoice: DentalVibe is a new device that completely eliminates the pain when they are sticking a stainless steel needle into your gums. All by cleverly fooling your brain. Developed by Dr. Steven G. Goldberg DDS and Bresslergroup, DentalVibe vibrates at irregular intervals. While…

Ear Force PX21: Universal Chat Headset for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

So here’s the good news: Turtle Beach announced a universal version of their gaming-oriented chat headset. In stereo, it mixes your talking with your gaming perfectly, meaning you won’t be shouting at your teammates (unintentionally). Here’s the bad news: Just like the otherwise superb Astro A40s, the Ear Force PX21s require a lot of cordage—namely,…

Remainders – The Things We Didn’t Post: That’s a Gas Edition

In today’s Remainders: laughs. The Onion riffs on Google’s privacy issues; Virgin America’s triumphant claim of going Flash-free is sort of a joke; a clever Chatroulette user pranks people into looking at themselves, and more. Grounded Yesterday Virgin America announced that they were actively ditching Flash for an all HTML website, explaining that it would…

The Epic History of Scifi Weapons From 1726 To 2008

Susan Treister’s insanely detailed art piece A Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions: Weapons, Warfare and Security catalogues 150 science fiction killing devices spanning almost 300 years. Her timeline covers crysknives, lightsabers, proton packs, and everything in between. From Richard Grayson’s catalogue essay published by Annely Juda Fine Art: In A Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions:…

Augmented Reality v0.1

In 2002, to experience augmented reality was to lash 26 pounds of equipment to your body and hobble waywardly within the confines of predefined area. In 2010, you can augment the entire world with a free app for your smartphone. This shot of the Columbia University’s Mobile Augmented Reality System (MARS) comes from a PopSci…

Rainbow Wireless Laser Convertible Fit-U Mouse Review: Neat Idea, Lousy Mouse

This Fit-U mouse from Spanish peripheral designer Rainbow has a neat idea. Its top is a detachable plate, allowing you to switch back from a desktop-sized mouse and a travel-sized mouse easily. Too bad the mouse is so bad. The Price: $18 for Wired, $20 for Master, $35 for Wired version (the one we tested)…

The First Predators Footage Invades SXSW

Get ready to see the ultimate space warriors head into a brand new battle. Robert Rodriguez’s Predators is debuting its first look at the Austin, TX South By Southwest film festival. Producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimród Antal are holding a short screening of some their new Predators in action. Plus, both of them will…

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Come To Gawker Media and io9’s Texas Time Bender Party 3/13

Want to hang out with stormtroopers from the 501st, sword fighters from the medieval and Renaissance eras, MC Frontalot, and innocent bystanders attending the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas? Then come to our party! SEE the clashing of swords! HEAR the nerdcore stylings of MC Frontalot! DRINK free booze! Time Bender starts at…

How Sony Lost Its Way

More than anything, Sony’s lost its spirit, spending too much time telling us it’s the greatest electronics company in the world and not nearly enough showing us. Proprietary Formats Sony’s last huge format hit was a product called “Compact Disc”. You might have heard of it. Spinning plastic wheel with pits in the bottom? Read…

Valve’s Mac Teasers Just Made Me Change My Pants

It’s apparently true: Steam is coming to Mac. Not just Steam, though. Judging by these awesome teasers released by Valve, so are Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress 2 AND Left 4 Dead. Ho-lee crap. UPDATE: We’ve got all six teasers now. https://gizmodo.com/steam-is-most-probably-coming-to-macs-5479978 Gordon Freeman with an Apple logo stamped into his chest and the Heavy coming…

Wheelchair Blitzkrieg

The Zenith wheelchair, a design by the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Alberta, is fit with tank-like treads to climb up stairs under the user’s own power. The treaded design combines with strong, lightweight tech like an aluminum back frame and a Herman Miller-inspired carbon fiber seat to create a beastly machine that’s…

Google Books Monster Will Eat Your Library

No matter your thoughts on the Google Books settlement, it’s hard to deny the coolness of Asaf Hanuka’s two-mouthed Google monster from this month’s issue of California Lawyer. Don’t be evil? More like don’t be dinner. Hanuka’s illustration of a ravenous Googly-Moogly (and its pen-wielding prey) is in this month’s issue of California Lawyer, which…

53 Ways 2009’s Oscar Contenders Could Be Improved with Sci-Fi Tech

For this week’s Photoshop Contest, I asked you to inject some tech or sci-fi elements into this year’s crop of Oscar movies. Man, I want to see all of these so badly. Tons of amazing entries this week. First Place—Randy Crouton Second Place—Scott Campagnolo Third Place—Gustavo Maciel