Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
If you feel like most movies that come out are cookie cutter versions of movies that already came out, you’re not alone. Sometimes Hollywood doesn’t even try to change anything. Just take a look at the latest movie poster design cliche: the lone-standing hero looking at destruction/buildings/destroyed buildings with his back turned to us. If…
Sure, Samsung’s laptops of late have borne more than a passing resemblance to Apple’s MacBook line. The skinny, shiny Series 7 Ultra is no exception. But so what? In the Age of Windows 8, that just means you get basically the same pretty package with the added bonus of a touchscreen and some spec improvements.…
Researchers say that if you want to land a date online this year, your best chance will be tonight at 8:52 PM. Why 8:52 PM? Because the combination of going back to work and New Year’s resolutions will make millions of people sign onto their Internet dating sites looking for a date. The more people…
Microsoft just bought R2 Studios, a company that Apple and Google were both after, to help the Xbox continue its assault on living rooms across the world. R2 Studios, which was founded by Blake Krikorian (the guy who also made the Slingbox), apparently “works on” technology related to distributing and displaying digital media on televisions.…
With its limited land mass, real estate in Japan is a premium commodity. As such, there isn’t a lot of extra urban space for private gardens—unless you build it on your roof, that is. Dubbed the Optical Glass House, this 330 square-meter building was designed by famed Japanese architect, Hiroshi Nakamura, and resides on a…
Few bands have so fundamentally affected the American music scene—with a single song, no less—as Nirvana did in 1991 with the debut of Smells Like Teen Spirit. The Beatles did it in 1964 with “Please Please Me” and set off the British Invasion, Grandmaster Flash did it in 1981 with “The Message” and brought Hip-Hop…
In medieval times when everyone was taking swings at everyone else with swords, chainmail was pretty much a wardrobe requisite. These days the threat of sword attacks are few and far between, but a German company called Gost thinks there’s still a place for chainmail in modern society. At least for athletes who’ve embraced the…
High fructose corn syrup is in practically everything we eat these days, and doctors and health nuts have been waxing poetic about its dangers for years. Now, a new study from Yale University School of Medicine may finally prove them the right: fructose is making us fat. https://gizmodo.com/is-high-fructose-corn-syrup-really-bad-for-you-5891353 In the study, 20 healthy adult volunteers…
How many times have you wished for a friend selfless and insecure enough to camp out in a parking spot days before you need it, saving you both worry and hassle? Parkspot’s here to take that role. What does it do? At participating garages, valets, and parking lots, Parkspot’s time tracker makes sure you only…
Subway is reportedly experimenting with a “creamy Sriracha sauce” at select locations in California. Yes, you heard correctly, Subway might be taking a bold stride in defiance of those in America who would keep our food bland and boring, This could change fast food forever. Just saying. Our friends at Foodbeast report that a Sandwich…
This is the 14th in a 24-part series looking at every episode of The Jetsons TV show from the original 1962-63 season. The 14th episode of “The Jetsons” originally aired in the U.S. on December 30, 1962, and was titled “Test Pilot.” This episode (like so many others) centers around the competition between Spacely Sprockets…
Once a mere twinkle in an ambulophobe’s eye, the Micro Scooter Luggage (developed in collaboration with Samsonite) can finally be all yours for the low price of… $400. https://gizmodo.com/trolley-scooter-luggage-shaves-minutes-off-terminal-lap-5419985 Essentially Heelys for the gliding businessman about town, this suitcase-cum-scooter can roll behind you like normal luggage, or in case you’re in the mood to give…
The EX Hybrid Controller system isn’t the first compact wireless keyboard or gamepad designed to sidle up to the iPhone, but it might be the first that’s actually worth using. At just 2 millimeters thick they won’t fatten up your phone. And since the separate accessories attach via the magic of magnets, both can be…
According to The Next Web, the next generation of Apple’s Mac lineup won’t look much different—understandable, given the 2012 overhaul—but the guts will be shiny and new. Including, importantly, a new Broadcom chipset that boosts Mac Wi-Fi to the 802.11ac standard. Translation: Internet Go Zoom. Apple won’t be the first laptop manufacturer to roll the…
Panasonic has developed a revolutionary hot water pipe that can actually turn the heat into usable electricity, as long as there’s also a source of cold water. The conversion process relies on the temperature difference between the hot and cold water, and since the entire pipe is used to harness heat, the power output is…
The NYTimes’ spectacular multimedia feature “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek,” is incredible. The elegant design and tasteful extras only contribute to the gripping narrative. It’s everything we’ve been promised about the journalism of the future. But if you’re looking at it on Internet Explorer 8, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s the thing: Despite…
It seems that everything is aligning for the launch of the next generation Xbox at E3 2013. We knew that the rumors are piling on. Then someone told us that the Xbox buildings at Microsoft’s campus are on lock down. And now we know that Xboxmeister Major Nelson is very excited about E3. https://kotaku.com/another-report-says-the-next-xbox-is-launching-in-novem-5964451 So…
Shinichi Maruyama, a NYC-based Japanese artist, has long studied the interactions between motion and time. However, for his most recent set, Maruyama has traded in his water sculptures for a nude dancer, though you’d never know if from the results. While each image looks as though it’s a single long-exposure shot, it’s actually comprised of…
Make it your tech-related New Year’s resolution to properly back up your data. Unlike other resolutions that require painful effort or changes in daily routines, backing up your computer is simple: attach an external drive, fire up your backup software of choice (even if it’s just Explorer), and let it do its thing. Repeat as…
After the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last year, local companies have been working hard to create products that will be useful in an emergency. Including big corporations like Panasonic, which has created a brilliant LED flashlight that will run on almost any battery you’ve got on hand. AAA, AA, C, or D-sized…