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The Shiniest Stories On io9 This Week

What happened on io9 recently? We talked Avatar 2 with Jon Landau, Eyjafjallajökul ruined flights (but looked darn purdy), Klingons screamed at us, Earth Day flicks disappointed us, and bunch of luchadores fought Dracula. In sum, a normal week. Crappiest “Save The Earth” Movie Messages Of All Time Happy Earth Day, you disgusting mass of…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Apr 24 '10

Why Flash On Mac Is About To Get Much Less Terrible

Running Flash on Mac OS is, in a word, miserable. It’s slow, resource-sucking and crashy, compared to Windows. Which is why Apple’s new video acceleration API—which Adobe plans to use in upcoming versions of Flash—is great news. It all started with this dense little block of words, posted on Apple’s Mac OS reference library: The…

Tech News John Herrman Apr 24 '10

Yes, You Can Levitate Objects With Sound

Acoustic levitation is some day going to be used to brush the dust off machinery on Mars. Learn why sound can lift objects off the ground and see an acoustic levitation chamber in action. “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” This saying is repeated by schoolteachers, parents, and…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Apr 24 '10

What Are These Camera-fied iPod Touch “Prototypes” Doing On eBay?

Or, to precise, what were these apparent test devices doing on eBay, before they were unceremoniously yanked? And are they real? Speaking to the second question, the answer is a firm probably. Here’s the evidence: • The device is running the iPhone OS diagnostic/test software, similar to what’s seen here. • It appears to function,…

Tech News John Herrman Apr 24 '10

Pop Art Posters Starring Mod And Minimalist Superheroes

Wolverine’s claws glisten in the moonlight. Emma Frost makes us hot for teacher. Superman plays Atlas, with the world on his shoulders. Artist RoganJosh breaks superbeings down to their essential elements, then adds his own, often humorous touch. RoganJosh’s Modern Hero series plays with the iconic imagery of superheroes and supervillains in illustrations that are…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 24 '10

19 Tips Every Windows 7 User Needs To Know

Your OS drives your whole PC experience, so it’s your job as an enthusiast to keep it in a high state of tune. Here’s how to do just that with Windows 7. After installing a new OS, most people just jump right in and start driving it through all their favorite applications and games. Makes…

Tech News MaximumPC Apr 24 '10

The Streamlined Car of 1960 (1948)

Popular Science produced short films in the 1940s and 50s that showcased technology of the near and distant future. This short was released theatrically on May 21, 1948 and featured “streamlined marvels on wheels.” The narrator cheerfully proclaims of the second car (pictured above), “If you’re looking for a 1960 model, this may well be…

Tech News Matt Novak Apr 23 '10

Father Invents System to Help Autistic Son Communicate

As a result of severe autism and learning disabilities, eleven-year-old Callum Lodge is unable to talk. In order to allow his son to communicate with the world around him, his father has developed Speaks4me, an electronic communication system. As you can see in the video, Speaks4me appears to allow the user to choose images in…

Health Rosa Golijan Apr 23 '10

This Week’s Gaming Stories You Cannot Miss

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. Halo: Reach. Pictures. Videos. Why are you still reading my lame intro? It’s Friday, so I haven’t been funny in at least 8 days. Read this good stuff instead: Marvel Vs. Capcom 3’s Bombastic Trailer Reveals 16 Characters Reaction has been mixed, but I’m happy to see the franchise continue (if…

Tech News Mark Wilson Apr 23 '10

It’s Been Five Years Since The First YouTube Video Was Uploaded

YouTube may have been born on February 14, 2005, but the very first time a video was uploaded to the site was on April 23, 2005, five years ago. This was that video. I just wonder if the fellow in the brief clip—one of YouTube’s founders, Jawed Karim—could even comprehend what he was starting with…

Tech News Rosa Golijan Apr 23 '10

What to Wear to the End of the World

Obviously, when the Apocalypse comes you want to be dressed for it. You want to look good, and have a place to keep your tools and weapons and jerky. We’ve got some tips for end-of-the-world fashion you can wear today. You want clothes that are sturdy, in case you’re dragged over the desert sands behind…

io9 Suzanne Forbes - Carnal Nation Apr 23 '10

The Lazy Cheapskate’s Automated Lawnmower

If you’ve got a self-propelled lawnmower, a stake, and some rope then there’s no reason to waste your day sweating in the yard. Just use a setup like this and your lawnmower will do all the work on autopilot. Then again, you could very well damage something with a runaway lawnmower if things go wrong,…

Tech News Rosa Golijan Apr 23 '10

Airbender’s New Trailer Delivers Elemental Death And Destruction

The new Airbender trailer finally delivers a lot of the excitement we’ve been craving — including Appa in action and the first appearance of the glider. Watch the entire Fire Nation go to bloody, fiery war. What do you think of Princess Yue’s eyes and hair? For those of you not in the Airbending know,…

Movies Meredith Woerner Apr 23 '10

Ask A Physicist Any Question You Want About The Universe

This weekend you can ask a real, live physicist (me) any question you like – nothing is too stupid, or too weird. And next week, you’ll get answers! It’s happened to all of us. You’re in the middle of your Picard/Spock slash fic, and suddenly you come up with a brilliant new dilithium crystal configuration,…

io9 Dr. Dave Goldberg Apr 23 '10

How to Fool Face Recognition Systems With Make Up

The next time you see someone with a make up style that puts David Bowie to shame, don’t laugh too much. He or she may be cleverly fooling face recognition and detection systems with a crazy or asymmetrical design. It’s generally not easy to avoid being spotted by face recognition and detection systems because they…

Privacy & Security Rosa Golijan Apr 23 '10

Lost: The Saturday Morning Cartoon

What would Lost look like if it was animated? Would Kate be as annoying, or Sawyer still just as smoldering? Artist Michael Blaine Myers, Jr. has the answer, check out the animated cast of Lost — including the smoke monster. The illustrations came from Myers’ site, and can be purchased as a poster and Imagekind.

Television Meredith Woerner Apr 23 '10

Walter Bishop Is The Greatest Tragic Figure On Television

Last night’s Fringe dipped about 10 percent in the ratings, which is a damned shame since this episode would have turned anyone into a die-hard fan of the show. Not to mention, leaving you obsessed with Walter Bishop. Spoilers ahead… It’s hard to believe we used to look upon Walter Bishop as the childlike mad…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Apr 23 '10

Steering a Car Using Only Your Eyes

Ever wanted to play “look ma, no hands” with a Dodge Caravan? Meet eyeDriver, software that allows you to drive a car just by looking at where you want to go. The technology, developed by the same folks who brought us the iPhone-controlled car, works by tracking the driver’s eye movement and directing the steering…

Tech News Brian Barrett Apr 23 '10

A Rare Supernatural Episode That Should Not Have Been Made

Last night’s Supernatural, “Hammer Of The Gods,” was a perfect example of worldbuilding fail. It answered questions that didn’t need answering, and it answered them badly. Normally this show is amazing, but everybody has an off night sometimes. I can imagine exactly why this episode got made. The producers were sitting around saying, “OK so…

Television Annalee Newitz Apr 23 '10

Monsters Inc. Is Finally Getting A Sequel

Sulley and Mike are back, but will their tiny toddler friend named “Boo” be joining them? Is she all grown up now? Our guesses below. Plus there’s a new Jim Henson Muppet star on the way. Disney new boss, Rich Ross, listed off Disney’s new plans for upcoming movies. The highlight of his presentation was…

Movies Meredith Woerner Apr 23 '10

The Shiniest Stories On io9 This Week

Why Flash On Mac Is About To Get Much Less Terrible

Yes, You Can Levitate Objects With Sound

What Are These Camera-fied iPod Touch “Prototypes” Doing On eBay?

Pop Art Posters Starring Mod And Minimalist Superheroes

19 Tips Every Windows 7 User Needs To Know

The Streamlined Car of 1960 (1948)

Father Invents System to Help Autistic Son Communicate

This Week’s Gaming Stories You Cannot Miss

It’s Been Five Years Since The First YouTube Video Was Uploaded

What to Wear to the End of the World

The Lazy Cheapskate’s Automated Lawnmower

Airbender’s New Trailer Delivers Elemental Death And Destruction

Ask A Physicist Any Question You Want About The Universe

How to Fool Face Recognition Systems With Make Up

Lost: The Saturday Morning Cartoon

Walter Bishop Is The Greatest Tragic Figure On Television

Steering a Car Using Only Your Eyes

A Rare Supernatural Episode That Should Not Have Been Made

Monsters Inc. Is Finally Getting A Sequel

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