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Paul Allen, Microsoft’s “Idea Man,” is an aficionado of relic computing devices—the older and more obscure, the better. He collects them, along with rare WWII fighter planes, and shares this passion at his Living Computer Museum in Seattle. The Living Computer Museum showcases machines, peripherals, and software from the era of interactive timesharing systems. Allen…
Good. Lord. 218MPH is fast, like super fast, like suck-the-teeth-out-the-back-of-your-head super fast. And that’s world-record setting speed the Lightning Motorcycle SuperBike just pulled off at the Bonneville Salt Flats last week. Why should you care? Because you can now own one. The Lightning Motorcycle SuperBike is the the fastest production motorcycle—internal combustion or otherwise—for sale…
After Steve Jobs’ stunning resignation announcement today, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak described the outgoing CEO as the “most important technical leader ever” and an Ayn Rand-style objectivist to Bloomberg News. In a phone interview with Emily Chang, Wozniak discusses Apple under Jobs’ leadership, he’ll “be remembered for the next hundred years as the best business…
As many as 15,000 people sleep on Australia’s streets each night, subjected to violence, harassment, and the elements. That’s 15,000 too many for Tony Clark’s tastes. So his charity, Swags for Homeless, hands out these ingeniously integrated tent-mattresses called the Backpack Bed. The Backpack Bed is constructed of lightweight, fire-retardant, weatherproof, mildew-repelling UltTrex Lite fabric…
I hope I never get so old as to require my progeny to buy me an idiot-proofed version of the latest technological innovation—that’d be insulting. But I might just get one of these Telikins for my Mom. Billed as a “senior-friendly” computer system, the Telikin features an 18-inch capacitive touchscreen, Dual-core 1.8GHz processor, 320GB hard…
By age 18, most Americans have had up to 20 doses of antibiotics. And that might be making us fat. According to a commentary published in Thursday’s issue of Nature, over-killing bacteria might be causing obesity, diabetes, allergies and asthma. That’s because the human “microbiome” contains good bacteria along with the bad. The theory is…
You want to get kids excited about US civics? Then quit with this “One if by land, two if by sea” drivel and give them what they want: Godzilla stomping LA. Etsy artist Alternate Histories has recreated pivotal moments in US history—but with monsters. [Etsy via Apartment Therapy] The Beast in Boston Harbor The Boston…
You may find this hard to believe, given some of the hand-wringing we’re already seeing, but Steve Jobs lives yet. He’s got a pulse and he’s breathing air and, hopefully, berating someone right now. He’s merely stepped down as CEO. Apple will go on. Hell, Steve will go on. If you’re going to be sad,…
Portugese design firm OODA somehow convinced Taiwan to let them make a huge robotic space Adamantoise into the New Taipei City Museum of Art. Or something. The museum’s interiors are made up of continuous ramps (think the Guggenheim), the skin is all curved steel and glass and solar panels, but I can’t really concentrate on…
Flat tires have always been an inextricable part of riding—even without the occasional road hazard, tires lose pressure as air diffuses through the sidewall, requiring routine re-inflation. But, one San Francisco start-up has a plan to eliminate all that extraneous pumping with the PumpTire. The PumpTire consists of an inner tube, the tire itself, and…
The only thing surprising about Steve Jobs’s resignation—which Apple had telegraphed several times already—was the timing. Why now? Because of health concerns, maybe. Or maybe because now, right now, is the perfect time for the company to transition. https://gizmodo.com/steve-jobs-resigns-as-apple-ceo-5834141 When I say now, I’m not talking about the dusky timing of the press release; the…
Samsung’s unveiled four new Gingerbread handsets, along with a brand new—and fairly psychotic—naming structure. There are also new classes of phone, with Pro designating a physical keyboard, Plus an upgrade, and LTE, well, LTE. The new models are the Galaxy M Pro, Galaxy W, Galaxy Y, and Galaxy Y Pro. The Galaxy W looks like…
This is Steve Jobs’ wardrobe evolution since 1998, the year he returned to command Apple as interim CEO. You gotta admire a man who is loyal to his style no matter what. But my favorite Jobs is the old school Jobs. https://gizmodo.com/the-5-worst-pieces-of-advice-apple-ever-got-5829662 After he returned to Apple, it was all Levi’s, New Balances and black…
Just how deeply is Steve Jobs intertwined with the existence and vitality of Apple? Every time concerns over the company’s former-CEO have risen, Apple’s stock took an appreciable tumble. Today’s resignation news appears to be no different. https://gizmodo.com/could-apple-be-the-worlds-most-valuable-company-without-5829284 After each dip, AAPL’s rebounded, climbing to today’s enormous price. But that price is already slipping in…
Even though Steve Jobs has officially handed the Apple reins over to new CEO Tim Cook, the WSJ confirms that he’ll still be onboard for Apple’s overall strategy. That means Apple employees won’t be without his characteristically hand-on style. [WSJ via MacRumors] Photo Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
What with companies suing each other into infinity right now, one can see that our patent system is broken. But companies can also appeal to the International Trade Commission to rain the import ban hammer down on their enemies. Only the President could stand stand in their way. https://gizmodo.com/the-us-patent-system-is-killing-innovation-5831354 But only if shit really hits…
Last month, the NY Times wrote an article comparing the very different approaches Apple and Google take when it comes to their products. In Apple’s case, that approach revolves around Steve Jobs and his singular vision. This approach is commonly referred in film circles to as Auteur Theory (auteur is a term that refers to…
Steve Jobs has abruptly quit as Apple’s chief. It’s hard to imagine a man more synonymous with the company he created and ran, and his savvy and futuristic genius are undeniable. So what happens to Apple now? https://gizmodo.com/steve-jobs-resigns-as-apple-ceo-5834141 Would Apple have ever created the iMac, iPod, iPhone, or iPad without Jobs? Can they create the…
It’s been a big month for gene therapy: first a breakthrough for leukemia last week, now today scientists announced they’ve successfully treated kids with “bubble boy” disease. https://gizmodo.com/leukemia-patients-treated-by-gene-therapy-lets-hope-th-5830051 We’ve heard this before – back in 2000 gene therapy successfully treated the same immune disease, but by 2007 five out of the 10 boys had developed…
Jenn, you and your R2-D2 helmet are totes adorbs. That’s all. [Jenn Hall via Neatorama via Makezine via Twitter]