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Kodak Zi6 Pocket Camcorder Lightning Review

The Gadget: The Kodak Zi6, a cheap pocket camcorder that records 720p HD video, vying for title of best camcorder under $200. https://gizmodo.com/kodak-zi6-might-be-best-pocket-camcorder-yet-5023649 The Price: $180 The Verdict: When I got my first look at the Zi6, I had an inkling it could be the best “cheap” pocket camcorder yet, and I was right. I’ve…

Jason Stoddard was one of the originators of this whole “science fiction should be more happy” meme, and now he’s posted a manifesto about it. Twenty Epics co-editor David Moles summarizes it as “The problem with contemporary science fiction is that it doesn’t love capitalism enough.” (To quote Stoddard, “Why can’t we include characters who…

3D Maze Ball: A Worthy Waste of Five Minutes

We doubt that this “3D Balance Control Intellect Ball” will keep you occupied like a Rubik’s cube for hours on end, but its tactical, 3D maze should mush your mind in just the right way and forcibly limit your normally adept problem solving techniques to find the solution in a childlike manner. 7.5-inches in diameter,…

The Dark Knight Blu-ray: Crushing Nielsen Ratings December 9th

Rumors and logic speculated that Warner would release The Dark Knight in time for the holiday season, and the Blu-ray two-disc and collectible limited edition will indeed go on sale December 9th, the same day as the standard DVD release. The standard, two-disc edition will be Warner’s first BD Live disc, and it’ll pack all…

Competing Forever War Threatens Joe Haldeman’s Eternal-Conflict Monopoly

It’s nice to bring out a shiny new edition of a SF classic, as St. Martin’s Press will of Joe Haldeman’s 1974 smash The Forever War next March. Before the re-debut and related fanfare can happen, though, NYTimes reporter and title-ruiner Dexter Filkins had the temerity to release his own spirited take on the global…

Dell Inkless Bluetooth Printer Revealed by FCC

An otherwise nondescript filing for a Bluetooth printer on the FCC’s site reveals that it’s really not nondescript at all when you look through the product shots—the system is a Zink-technology-based inkless printer branded with a Dell logo. You can’t really see how it could possibly work from this first shot (which appears to be…

Space Herpes Is The Final Cylon On Battlestar Galactica

Oh those crazy Battlestar Galactica survivorsand their wild sex parties. It seems like nothing gets them hotter than the near-total annihilation of the human race. The BSG “yearbook” that the cast and crew received at the show’s wrap party includes a “frak tree” showing who’s had sex with whom. You can’t see it, because it…

Criterion Considering Movie Downloads

Last week, while visiting Criterion Collection headquarters to observe their transition to Blu-ray, I brought up the subject of digital downloads. To my surprise, they let slip a little detail that sheds light on how a master disc maker like Criterion will manage in an all-download future.As we’ve seen, even “HD” digital downloads are far…

Is Quantum Of Solace Science Fiction?

As we’ve noted before, the James Bond movies have veered in and out of the science fiction genre, like an Aston Martin on a high-speed mountain chase. On the one end, you have Moonraker’s crazy space battles and the laser satellites of Diamonds Are Forever and Goldeneye. But other Bond films, including Casino Royale, stick…

Toshiba HD DVD Players Get Firmware Update

There is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. You have not awaken in a crazy, alternate reality where HD DVD won the format war. But Toshiba has unrolled the firmware 4.0 update for its HD DVD players to improve playback issues like a pause bug. We’d make fun of…

RedScale Film Shows Analog Photography Is Not Dead Yet, Thankfully

Leave it to the crazy Lomography heads to keep the flame of analog photography alive and kicking in this cold digital world of ours, like an ’80s top-of-the-charts song always resisting to die: Their new RedScale Negative 100 film gives a vision of the world in intense reds, smooth oranges oranges, and mellow yellows look…

Admiral Cain To Join Vampire Orgy In True Blood

Good news, supporters of the fanged masses — Michelle Forbes, Mehcad Brooks, Todd Lowe and Deborah Ann Woll are all joining True Blood as season regulars. You may remember Forbes as the pointy-blade-toting Admiral from Battlestar Galactica’s “Razor.” She’s amazing and could add a dash of “reality” to this show. Forbes will play Maryann. Lowe…

Circuit City Continues Death Spiral, Really Wants You to Stop Calling It “Circuit Shitty”

Spurred by its latest quarter of dismal failure—a net loss of $239.2 million—Circuit City has instigated a “comprehensive analysis of its business,” which will “start with improving the customer experience in our stores,” says new mayor James Marcum. (For comparison, a hard hit for Best Buy this quarter was a $202 million profit.) So, while…

Microsoft to Develop Voice-Recognition iPhone App Via Subsidiary Tellme

Voice recognition is one if the iPhone gaping-est of holes, but it will soon be plugged by none other than Microsoft. But before you look forward to putting your multitouching fingers all over those glorious nine letters on your iPhone screen, know that MS is only indirectly involved via Tellme, a company they acquired in…

First Picture of Jules Verne Spacecraft Re-Entry Destruction

This is the first picture of the spectacular re-entry of Jules Verne, the Automated Transport Vehicle that fell from orbit today at 9:31AM Eastern time. Taken from a DC-8, it shows the moment in which it starts to break at 9:43AM, just before falling into the Pacific Ocean. Apparently, the show was amazing because this…

Watch Chaotic Clips From This Week’s Clone Wars, Heroes And Smallville

This week in television, everything is going crazy — people are switching sides, robots are getting emotions and last but not least, the animated Clone Wars series is debuting. See angry baldy Asajj Ventress go scream-crazy on her droid troops and meet Noah Bennett’s new partner for catching all those villains in this week’s Heroes.…

Speakers for Those Who Love the Cries of Cold, Starving Children

Sure, you may be an audiophile, but I’m an Audiophile. What’s that mean? My ears are so honed and my listening so advanced that I’ve outgrown even the most crystal clear of symphonic reproductions. So I only listen to music through speakers that imply the misery of others, like the Speaker Buddies from designer Alex…

iRiver Taking Pre-Orders For Retro-Slick Spinn PMP, Shipping October 3rd

iRiver’s beautifully designed Spinn we handled in Berlin (that giant analog knob, mmm) now has official details on U.S. availability: $250 for 4GB and $280 for 8GB, with pre-orders taken now to be shipped on October 3. We’d love to see a little more storage at that price, but it’s a great-looking player with a…

Clone Wars TV Show Exactly What We Want, Apparently

We admit it. More than anything else — like being enjoyable in and of itself — the Clone Wars movie made us want to see the Clone Wars TV show, which premieres this Friday. Call it a longing for weekly bursts of the Force, the feeling that the movie’s plot would fit more comfortably into…

New Paris Building Casts No Shadows, Generates Electricity

Le Project Triangle is one of those buildings that make us think that we may actually drive flying cars one day. To be completed by 2014 in the Porte de Versailles area in Paris, its most impressive feature is that, according to the architects, it won’t cast shadows on adjacent buildings. The trick is the…