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Over 23 years ago, Luo Gong—just five years old at the time—was on his way to kindergarten in the Sichuan region of China, when he was abducted and taken over 1,000 miles to Fujian in the southeast. But now, he’s used the power of internet to find his family again. A Fujian news service, Nhaidu,…
Yesterday saw Google face a lot of questions over Google Glass privacy: not only was it grilled by developers at I/O, but Congress also sent it a list of eight questions it wants answered. It’s response? Don’t sweat it; you’ll know if someone is spying on you, silly. Speaking at an I/O session, Steve Lee,…
In a court room in Virginia, Facebook’s lawyers are busy arguing that the social network’s “Like” feature needs to be recognised with free-speech protection under the US Constitution. https://gizmodo.com/your-facebook-like-is-worth-174-17-5995468 The Big Blue is hoping it can reverse a lower court ruling, which arose from a lawsuit which suggested a Facebook “Like” isn’t First Amendment speech.…
When we see Nigerian princes or weird links or invasive people who want to much personal information pop up in our e-mail inbox, we immediately know that they’re scams. It’s part of the Internet. But what if it was a part of real life too? It would be absolutely terrifying to see online scams and…
Oh sure, it started off innocently enough with a little taste of silver iodide, what’s the worst that could happen, right? Wrong. Now one of them is hooked on Seed and is running amok in the lab. I mean, just look at the top of its head—where does it keep going?!
One of the most depressing things in the world: having a beer without a bottle opener. The carbonated deliciousness is looking at you through the glass, teasing you, popping your tastebuds. But of course, you don’t need a bottle opener to open a beer. With the right amount of leverage, anything can open a bottle…
Because Twitter wants to force lightning twice with self-imposed limitations on communication, Vine has been awkwardly limited to 6 seconds of video. But what does that 6 seconds mean? Could Vine promote Vine in 6 seconds? Could you explain what Vine is in 6 seconds? Is 6 seconds longer or shorter than you think? The…
Amongst the slurry of updates Google announced yesterday at I/O was a new feature set for Google+ designed to make your photos better, prettier, and more fun, without you really having to do anything. It’s ambitious, and it sounds cool. Unfortunately, in its current implementation, it’s hit and miss. https://gizmodo.com/google-i-o-whats-new-in-android-chrome-and-beyond-506734952 Auto-Backup Auto-backup is an option…
Skynet comes across as a resourceful artificial intelligence. After all, if it’s clever enough to send someone back in time to wipe out an enemy before they’re born, it’s not hard to believe it could see the potential in Lego Technic when it comes to building an army. Particularly when we’ve just shown it how.…
Most people have sold at least something online at this point in their lives. It’s an easy way to get rid of crap you don’t need and make a little cash in the process. But there’s inevitably a dip in the joy of your newfound wealth when you realize that your chosen platform has taken…
Zippo, a brand long associated with smokers and arsonists, has now decided to use its expertise in stainless steel to help those burdened with a giant Costanza wallet as it’s come to be known. The company’s new wallet is just under half an-inch thick, and its stainless steel housing will help block wireless signals if…
We’ve all been victims of the distasteful Facebook tag at one point or another, and we’ve all felt that tiny shiver down our spine when that fateful red “1” tells us [insert casual acquaintance] just tagged a new photo of you. That feeling won’t be going away anytime soon—today Instagram’s “Photos of You” tagging system…
Remember last year’s I/O keynote and all the skydiving and bike riding shenanigans Google pulled? That was fun! Not to mention the big reveal: Google Glass. But if you managed to stay awake during yesterday’s three hour keynote, you probably noticed that Glass was noticeably absent. What’s up with that? The answer’s surprisingly simple: Glass…
The whole hip pocket notebook fad is getting a little tired, but DODOcase—the makers of some gorgeous premium cases for the iPhone, iPad, and other devices—might have just revived it with its new DODOnotes iPhone-friendly notebooks. https://gizmodo.com/the-most-beautiful-ipad-case-of-all-is-now-more-beautif-5892840 Each book features 30 blank tear-out sheets of silky smooth Mohawk Superfine paper. If the pen on paper…
Water and electricity: historically, not a great combo! But Antonin Fourneau, a French artist and engineer, combines both to remarkable ends in his installation, Water Light Graffiti, which landed in New York this week thanks to Grohe, which was introducing a new collection as part of the event. The surface of Water Light Graffiti is…
Candles are low tech by definition. We’ve been using them for thousands of years. But designer Zelf Koelman put a more modern spin on them by whipping up an auto-lighting candle rig that even has a dimmer switch. It’s as neat as it is totally absurd. As a practical gadget, it’s both ridiculously over-engineered and…
Honda has been demoing its sitting Segways for years now, but the Hammacher Schlemmer version has one crucial advantage over them: it’s actually for sale. So instead of just being tantalized by a future where legs are an unnecessary human feature, we’re now officially living it. https://gizmodo.com/in-hondas-future-we-are-all-rolling-meat-puppets-5511794 You’ll pay dearly for the privilege of surrendering…
They’re light, they’re cheap, they’re marginally comfortable, but ironically, folding chairs are rarely easy to stack and store. They’re supposed to be, but their random curves and bulges make it a task that’s frankly just not worth it—especially knowing that Folditure’s ultra-flat hanging Tilt chairs are about to hit the market. The hinges and supports…
Now may be a horrible time to buy a laptop, but sometimes you can’t wait a few months for a new computer. If you need a new laptop and you need it now, you could do a lot worse than the 11-inch Acer Aspire S7 currently on sale at the Microsoft Store. https://gizmodo.com/now-is-a-horrible-time-to-buy-a-laptop-496028699 This 11-inch…
The selfie. You could call it a self portrait, but somehow, millennials have made it something more. And for this week’s Shooting Challenge, you’ll rock the selfie—as ironically or authentically as you choose The Challenge Photograph a selfie. The Technique “Ugh, why did he choose selfies??!?!” That’s you right now. And you’re being judgmental. So…
