Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
Before an American even reached space, the public was already asking what would come next. The space age artists and designers who were dreaming up what was in store for the astronauts of tomorrow were happy to oblige. This gorgeous two-page spread from the January 1961 issue of Space World magazine (Alan Shepard wouldn’t become…
As if Canadian currency wasn’t already colorful enough, to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of Superman—which was co-created by Canuck Joe Shuster—the Royal Canadian Mint has created a series of seven coins honoring the fictional hero. Minted from gold, silver, and cupro-nickel—which sounds more awesome than it probably is—the coins feature iconic images of Superman…
Jonathan Trappe loves balloons. In fact, the 39-year-old IT manager loves them so much that he’s trusting them with his life as he attempts to become the first person to cross the Atlantic using only a life raft and 370 helium-filled balloons. If that sounds crazy, that’s because it is. Trappe took off from Caribou,…
What some are calling “the most effective tool ever designed for combating picky eaters” and “the most dangerous toy you could ever hand a child” (ok, just us), these adorable porcelain soup plates are detailed in platinum to look like retro UFOs when flipped over. At $32 a pop and highly breakable, they’re ironically the…
Dolby Laboratories founder Ray Dolby died today in San Francisco at the age of 80. He’ll be remembered as the man who made the movies sound as spectacular as they look. Today, his technology is used in basically every movie theater in the country. Dolby was born in Portland, Oregon 1933. He earned a BA…
Now that we know all about the latest generation of iPhone(s), it’s time to start guessing what Apple’s going to do next. This is a time when true fanboys dive into Apple’s growing library of patents for clues. And while we can’t expect all these patents to make it to market, it’s fun to wonder.…
If you absolutely have to put your iPhone in a case of some sort, Hard Graft’s Draw case provides more than just peace of mind. Made from stitched leather lined with a soft felt interior, the case includes a long drawstring cord that does double-duty: It keeps the case securely sealed shut when your iPhone’s…
For the most part, the one thing the internet has been able to agree on this week is that Apple’s new iPhone 5C case is an affront to the eyes and all that is decent. But for whatever reason, Apple wants you to stick it on your phone! Fine, your iPhone’s inconspicuous enough, but what…
Apple just released OS X 10.8.5. It fixes a few bugs in Mail and makes Wi-Fi file transfers speedier. You can get it in the App Store now. [9to5Mac]
Looking for at least $200 when you trade in your iPad? Consider taking it to a Microsoft Store. They’re offering gift cards worth at least two Benjamins for “gently used” iPad 2, 3 or 4 models, which, no surprise, they’re hoping you’ll use toward a new Surface. [ZDnet]
If you, like me, pored over the Steve Jobs biography (or perhaps over Jobs) looking for juicy tidbits about Apple’s design culture, you likely were sorely disappointed. We know plenty about Jobs’ mercurial management and even about his own aesthetic sensibilities, but for a company that’s so devoted to design—heck, it even stamps “Designed by…
It seems that there’s enough circumstantial evidence to suspect that Kerry Rhodes—a good NFL player who was photographed being physically affectionate to another man—has been secretly blacklisted by the National Football League. Drew Magary builds the case at Deadspin. Photo by AP Images https://deadspin.com/is-the-nfl-blacklisting-kerry-rhodes-1300128496
When you think of the fastest accelerators in the animal kingdom, large, muscular mammals will probably be the first that come to mind. But steady among them is the inconspicuous adolescent issus, who can hit an acceleration of 400 gs in 2 milliseconds flat (humans lose consciousness over 5 gs)—all thanks to what scientists have…
One of the remarkable things about the Assad regime is the veneer of tasteful normalcy that surrounds his family’s public image, from a glowing Vogue feature on Asma al-Assad to their boring Instagram presence. That aura extends to the presidential palace, which was built by Kenzō Tange—the Pritzker Prize-winning architect who designed some of Japan’s…
For the first time in history, a man-made object has left the solar system. Voyager I is officially out of here. After one stormy year traveling through plasma on the edge of the heliosphere, the 36-year-old spaceship is now 12 billion miles (19 billion kilometers) from the Sun. Today, more than ever, Humanity is on…
Tonight, legions will descend upon Apple’s website to pre-order the new iPhone 5C. But as the sales start stacking up, the ship date will be pushed back beyond the September 20th launch. Here’s everywhere else you’ll be able to pre-order the phone so that you get it on day one. Apple Store During Tuesday’s keynote,…
Some heinous American companies think they can promote their brands with shameless 9/11 tributes. But there’s worse. Much worse—these extraordinary imbeciles threw a 9/11 commemorative party using Muslim and US military costumes. https://gizmodo.com/american-companies-shameless-9-11-tributes-are-disgus-1294379432 https://kotaku.com/a-counter-strike-party-on-9-11-its-actually-worse-tha-1299435365
With most of us buying our music in digital formats, album art just isn’t treasured in the way it was in the 1960s and 70s. And now, MoMA has added a classic from that bygone era to its permanent collection: The cover of the Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed, designed by Robert Brownjohn. The iconic…
Today we’ve got the first real discount on the newest version of Apple’s Airport Time Capsule, which packs together the world’s simplest 802.11ac router with a 2TB external hard drive in an attractive form factor. Pick it up today for $279 after shipping is factored in. [Amazon] Please join us in voting on Kotaku’s top…
Well, well, well. They were more than happy to take all of our best assembly line and theme park greeter jobs, but now—thanks to researchers at MIT—the robots of the world have learned how to ask humans for help. Soon they’ll be pleading with the creators they’ve vowed to replace, in plain English, for assistance…
