Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
When cordless power tools started getting good, back around 2006, manufacturers always said a cordless random-orbital sander was out of the question. Too much continuous power draw, they said. The batteries couldn’t handle it. The closest you could come to a 5-inch tool—the type pro woodworkers and jobsite carpenters use every day—were these puny little…
In what has to be the worst case of wasteful packaging in the history of modern conveniece, a grocery store in Austria is actually selling pre-peeled bananas that have then been re-packaged in cellophane-covered foam trays. One of the reasons bananas have been billed as the world’s most perfect food is that they come with…
When it comes to phone cameras, the Lumia 920’s PureView is proving to be pretty awesome at low-light shots, but how good is that Optical Image Stabilization? A couple of Russians with a 920, a Galaxy S III, and an RC car ran a little experiment to find out. Turns out it’s nothing to sneeze…
Looking at Roberta Rampazzo’s Illusion Side Table, you can’t help but fall into a vortex of heavy thoughts. Are the legs crossing? Are they bent? Are there three legs? Four legs? Five legs? Does this still adhere to the platonic ideal of what a table is? Will I be a better person for having one?…
Developed by researchers at Gifu University in Japan, this new medical teaching tool projects a virtual anatomical model onto a featureless mannequin letting students study the brain and nervous system. And while it’s less creepy than cutting open an actual body, it’s certain to fuel a few terrible nightmares. Virtual human bodies are nothing new,…
The original Galaxy Note was very not good, but seven months and 10 millions sales later, it’s hard to deny that it’s found a niche. But will its even beefier successor live up to the hype? We just spent the morning fondling the upcoming Galaxy Note II, and you know what? We’re pleasantly surprised. https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-note-lightning-review-wait-who-ordered-5886054…
What’s the difference between a tuna fish and an unmanned underwater vehicle? About a million years of purpose-built evolution. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security is hoping to leverage Mother Nature’s handiwork into a fleet of ichthyoid-inspired drones to defend our harbors. In the aftermath of 9/11, the newly-minted Department of Homeland Security took…
Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus is finally getting updated to Jelly Bean. Great news! And about time. [Verge]
You might be longing to fondle your new iPhone 5 lovingly, but there are people out there who just want to break them—as a public service, of course. The first iPhone 5 drop tests are starting to come in, and as painful as they may be to watch, the new iPhone holds up remarkably well…
You’d think the presence of 26 letters would be sufficient, but some keyboard users are extremely fanatical about how the QWERTY setup feels as it types. For those who find an old-fashioned clacking sound totally intolerable, the manufacturer Matias may have achieved golden silence with its new Quiet Pro keyboard. Through some secret voodoo, Matias…
We’ve got our delicate fingers on the iPhone 5, and we’ll be sharing our thoughts, joys, and concerns about Apple’s newest wonderphone all day. Let’s get started. How it looks This is the best looking phone Apple’s ever made—the black model, at least.. In a sense, yes, it’s an elongated iPhone 4S. But it’s distinct…
Last month, Samsung showed us a glimpse of its Galaxy Camera: A weird and wonderful mashup of the Samsung Galaxy S III and a long-zoom point-and-shoot. Now, we’ve finally seen one of the first on American soil. Oh please, Samsung figure out how to bring this camera to America. https://gizmodo.com/samsungs-android-juiced-galaxy-camera-can-post-photos-t-5938931 Even though what you’re looking…
You got a new iPhone 5! Now what? Here’s a how to get started with a new iPhone, whether you’re a first-timer or an iOS pro. Pre-charging Tip As with any smartphone, the iPhone’s weakest link is its battery. Treating your Li-ion with respect will not only extend the life and usefulness of your new…
There’s a long list of reasons why you should keep your vehicle’s tires properly inflated—from better mileage to safer handling. Goodyear has made this motorist’s chore extra easy with its new Air Maintenance Technology system, which automatically keeps a tire at the proper PSI using a self-contained passive pump. Auto-inflation systems for tires have existed…
I’ve never used a case for my iPhone 4. Not even after the back broke for the third time. I didn’t do it because, unlike my grandma, I don’t cover my sofas with plastic. Or unlike idiots, I don’t protect my car’s front with a bra. And while you and the other billion people who…
The new iPhone 5 and its bigger screen is here. And to take advantage of all 4-inches of that taller screen, you need apps that are updated, optimized and ready to look bigger and better than ever. We got ’em all listed for you right here. Apps that aren’t updated for the iPhone 5 will…
It’s hard to believe The Simpsons have been on the air for almost a quarter of a century, but season 24 is just around the corner and Fox has just released this teaser for the season premiere airing September 30. It’s election time in Springfield and Homer has to decide between Barack Obama and Mitt…
Scientists have developed a technique that uses an inkjet printer to make lasers—which could lead to a future filled with cheap laser-driven displays and smart surfaces. A team of scientists from the University of Cambridge has used liquid crystals in place of ink in order to print tiny dots onto a specially coated surface. Once…
If you’ve upgraded to iOS 6, you’re probably—quite literally—lost. But the staff at Hackney Wick underground station in London have found a solution: iOS 6 users might be best off reverting to a good ol’ fashioned paper map. [Ben Mathis via Pocket-lint] Image via by Ben Mathis
BlackBerry email service is down in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. RIM is “working to resolve the issue”. [Sky News]