Tech News

Facebook for BlackBerry now integrates BBM to make it easy for RIM fans to chat. Enjoy, all three of you. [BB App World]

You’ll Never Believe These Stunning Photos of Snow are Real

As we trudge through December toward the holidays, snowfall becomes increasingly likely. But while it may be a pain in the ass when it falls, up close it looks incredibly beautiful—as these photographs demonstrate. These macro images of snow flakes were snapped by Russian photographer Andrew Osokin. They really capture the delicate beauty and complexity…

Study: The Expert Editors of Wikipedia Make it Harder to Read

Despite carrying user-generated content, Wikipedia has often been criticised for being tough to edit – even by its co-founder Jimmy Wales. But researchers have found another way in which the Web 2.0 wonder might leave people gnashing their teeth: it’s much harder to read than that old favourite of doorstep salesmen, Encyclopedia Britannica. The news…

Zynga’s Set the Ball Rolling for Real-Money Online Gambling

Zynga has finally stopped lobbying for real-money online gambling and done something about it: the Wall Street Journal reports that it’s submitted preparatory paperwork in Nevada that could see online gambling law change for good. https://gizmodo.com/zynga-is-lobbying-hard-for-online-gambling-5935261 It’s an unceremonious procedure, but one that could end up changing the law surrounding real-money online betting. It might,…

New Star Trek Movie’s First Trailer Looks Terrific and Apocalyptically Dark

J.J. Abrams has released the trailer for the next Star Trek movie: Into the Darkness. Just watch it, because it’s awesome. Seriously. I mean, I’m sold just on the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch—of Sherlock Holmes fame—plays the bad guy. That’s enough for me, but this teaser makes me want it all now! It seems the…

This Is the Document Outlining Apple’s Settlement With HTC

Or at least, what you can read of it, because vast swathes have been redacted. Still, there are bits you can actually read, so let’s take a look. https://gizmodo.com/apple-tells-samsung-how-much-its-10-year-htc-license-is-5962756 A few interesting things that we can learn from the document: Both Apple and HTC are getting a nonexclusive, nontransferrable and non-sublicensable license to some of…

The 10 Most Looked Up Words of 2012

Merriam-Webster decided to flex its mastery and importance over the English language and name the top 10 words of the year for 2012. Unsurprisingly, a lot of them are politics related (we had an election this year, didn’t ya know?) but one tech word was able to sneak its way into the top 10: meme.…

The Stoner Channel: Good Driving, Bad Driving, and a Homicidal Monkey with Magical Poo

The US Attorney General Would Like to Remind Everyone that Holding Is Still a Crime If you’re reading this, congratulations, it is now legal to smoke pot in Washington under state law. Feel free to light up as you see fit—just not on federal land. The Attorney General’s office issued jthis statement earlier today, The…

Here Are Architect Oscar Niemeyer’s Most Beautiful Buildings

Oscar Niemeyer, the famed Brazilian architect who created some of the world’s most famous modernist buildings, has passed away at the age of 104. In his life, he became one of Modernism’s most celebrated architects and through his genius, Niemeyer was able to bless the world with delectably curvaceous shapes. Just take a look at…

Seeing Old and Torn Stuffed Animals Is Sort of Horrifying

When you’re a kid, sometimes the only friend you have is a stuffed animal. It’s always with you—when you eat, when you sleep, when you play—and all those years take a toll on a fake teddy bear! These pictures show the after effects of teddy bears and stuffed animals who were loved too much. It’s…

John McAfee Has Finally Been Arrested

According to Reuters, John McAfee has finally been arrested by the police. The anti-virus kingpin has spent the past few weeks on the run from authorities in Belize for his connection with a murder and the general craziness of his life down there. https://gizmodo.com/exclusive-john-mcafee-wanted-for-murder-updated-5959812 Robert King, the Vice photographer who accidentally revealed where McAfee was…

Have You Ever Donated Money to Wikipedia?

Every so often, the great Internet resource that everyone uses Wikipedia starts asking people for donations. This year a gigantic morning pee-colored banner pops up asking for a few bucks so the lights can stay on and we can all get free information. It’s a great cause! Can you imagine the internet without Wikipedia? But…

Starbucks Is Charging $450 for a Specially Etched Metal Gift Card to Buy Coffee Flavored Water

Starbucks, purveyor of coffee flavored water, builder of coffee scented corner stores and shelter for no coffee drinking Wi-Fi leeches, has a new shtick: a premium gift card. It’s made of steel! It’s ‘specially etched’! And it’s a super, limited edition that inanely costs 450 bucks. The gift card itself costs $50 to make, the…

Goldfrapp: Melancholy Sky

I can’t wait for the next Goldfrapp album but, in the meantime, The Singles will work. Twelve of Alison and Will’s best tracks—including Gawker Media’s favorite A&E—plus two that have never been released. One of the latter is Yellow Halo. The other is this exquisite, sad but also simultaneously uplifting, Melancholy Sky. Uplifting in an…

Black and White Disposable Cameras Guarantee Every Wedding Photo Turns Out Artsy

If you’ve been considering handing out cheap disposable cameras at your wedding but really wish your guests had access to Instagram filters, Ilford Photo’s got a compromise for you. The company’s now selling disposable snappers packed with two variants of its black and white film stock. Each camera includes a flash and 27 exposures of…

The 10 Most Important Cameras of 2012

This was a banner year for photo gear. We saw some of the most-anticipated camera refreshes in years (a new 5D, finally!) not to mention some groundbreaking technologies (that weird little Lytro!). Here’s a rundown of this year’s ten hottest cameras. 10. Panasonic Lumix LX7 Anyone in the market for a top point-and-shoot camera is…

Polyvore: Build Your Virtual Closet on Your iPhone

It always helps to have a little inspiration for an outfit, and to be able to buy it right away without much effort. Polyvore, are your ears burning? What does it do? Lets you create and browse outfits and buy individual pieces right from the app. Why do we like it? Because, I for one,…

Celebrate the Anniversary of Prohibition’s Repeal With DIY Gin

Eighty-nine years ago, Congress passed the 21st amendment and repealed Prohibition. The country breathed a collective, blind drunk sigh of relief. You can commemorate the presence of no sauce in the states by making some gin of your own, and you don’t even need a whole fancy distilling system. The HomeMade Gin Kit is $40.…

Squirting RC Helicopter Brings The Water Gun Fight To Your Opponent

The irony of a water gun fight is that you basically have to put yourself in the range of your adversary’s weapons and retaliation in order to accurately hit them. But not any longer. Indoor RC helicopters have evolved in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and now they come with built in…

Your Next Cell Phone Could Come From Blockbuster

Dish Network reportedly plans to begin selling mobile phones out of Blockbuster’s brick-and-mortar stores. Even more shocking, Blockbuster still has brick-and-mortar stores. Blockbuster had recently started selling phones on its website under the name “Blockbuster Mobile,” partnering with Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile amongst other carriers. The online venture must have been somewhat successful since, according…