Tech News

Why We’ve Wanted Our MTV for 30 Years

MTV turns 30 today. How old! Also how historic; in three decades, the network revolutionized media, turned heads inside and out, and struggled to remain relevant. But one thing should be obvious now: it was never just about music. Shortly after midnight on August 1st, 1981, MTV enjoyed its first-ever broadcast, accompanied by the now-…

Retailers Are Returning Google TVs Because the Apps Suck

First, let’s state the obvious: Google TV has awesome potential for music fans, as well as anyone else with a clear motivation to use electronics. This platform, available in a set-top box or built into televisions and Blu-ray players, could realize the dream of internet-capable electronics that has blistered like a raisin in the sun…

China Claims Nearly-Operational, Weaponized Aircraft Carrier Is for “Scientific Research”

So you want to advance the scientific output of your country—great. What’s your next move? Spend a massive amount of cash repairing, refitting, and adding guns to a giant Soviet aircraft carrier? Yeah, claims China. Hmm. The Shi Lang—recently spotted by China Defense Blog with smoke pouring out of it—will probably be cruising the seas…

Sound Epic for iPhone: Music Sounds So Much Better When It’s Sloooooowed Down

Did you know music sounds much more awesome and epic when you slow it down and elongate every instrument, note and vocal? Yeah you already do. This app turns all your music into that Justin Bieber song that was slowed down 800x (okay this app only slows down songs 2-16x). But still. https://gizmodo.com/how-to-make-justin-bieber-sound-incredible-slow-him-do-5614579 What’s it…

Sound Epic App Gallery

What Do You Call a Backpack That’s Also a Chair? Chairpack? Backchair? Chairback? (No.)

Or is it a Backchair? Packchair? Who knows! This Keen Springer Backseat Pack handles both backpack and chair responsibilities but unlike others in the past, it doesn’t look completely bat shit crazy. And it keeps your bum clean! https://gizmodo.com/chair-backpack-turns-you-into-a-pink-ninja-turtle-270349 The KEEN Springer Backseat Pack solves a problem for city slickers like me who moonlight as…

These Never Before Shot Views of the International Space Station Are Breathtaking

What you’re looking at are high resolution photos of the ISS taken from the space shuttle in it’s final flight. Pilot Doug Hurley took these unique shots of the station’s majestic orbit before heading home. I wish I could’ve been there. [MSNBC]

What Is Distortion?

We all know what distortion sounds like. We’ve heard it in heavy metal tunes, cheap iPod docks and the crummy speakers at Taco Bell drive-thrus. And we’ve all read distortion specs on things like receivers and subwoofers. But other than a general understanding that distortion isn’t something we want in home audio gear, most people…

Could This Epic Connect the Dot Mona Lisa Break a World Record?

What makes a person want to make an insanely complicated connect-the-dot poster? Glory! Artist Thomas Pavitt created this 6,239 dot recreation of the Mona Lisa to set a world record. A record that he might be the first to hold. The whole thing took a whopping nine hours and 15 minutes to complete. You can…

Facebook Pregnancy Announcements Are a Terrible Idea

As someone who lost two babies I can’t imagine anything worse that announcing a pregnancy on Facebook. But that’s what Zuck and his cronies just did. Now you can add a “new family member” that hasn’t been born yet, even with a due date. Because, you know, that’s exactly what you want to do, tempt…

7 Tools to Stay Dry When the Levee Breaks

It shouldn’t take a tragedy like the South Korean floods to convince you to be prepared for your own water-based crisis. These seven tools will keep you safe when the waters rise.[top art via Shutterstock] https://gizmodo.com/as-landslides-destroy-everything-in-their-path-south-k-5825924/ Mustang High Impact SAR Vest Though it goes without saying, if you’re on the water (during a flood or…

Aw, Someone Strapped Little GPS Backpacks Onto Toucans In the Name of Science

Just be thankful that no-one’s relying on these GPS-enabled toucans for directions; I hear they don’t even get live traffic updates, if you can imagine. Instead, researchers are tracking the toucans and their spreading of seeds in tropical forests. No, not that kind of seed. Seeds from nutmeg trees, which are springing up all around…

Every Power Puff Girls Episode Ever for $25

I loved the PowerPuff Girls as a kid, man. Yeah I’ll admit it. They were awesome. Anytime they’d fly off and cause reckless amounts of property damage, I’d go nuts. Remember the one with the Rowdy Rough Boys? Crazy! I mean, nothing wrong with Dragon Ball Z and even Naruto these days, but each hyperviolent-yet-somehow-adorable…

How to Supercharge Your Air Conditioning

It’s hot. Parts of your body are sticking to other parts of your body, and it’s horrible. Lucky for you, you’ve got air conditioning. Unlucky for you, A/C is a real punisher on the power bill. Here are a few tips for maximizing your cool without crippling your bank account. Don’t Be Greedy You’ve been…

This Is Probably Motorola’s 4G LTE Atrix 2 for AT&T

Harbingers of AT&T’s impending LTE network are starting to pile up. To go along with images of a presumed Atrix sequel from Motorola, PhoneArena is reporting a leaked internal screenshot that shows it being tested in areas where AT&T will roll out LTE first. The model shown in the leaked images closely resembles this year’s…

The Father of JailBreakMe Hacks Because He Loves Apple

Comex—or Nicholas Allegra, as the 19-year-old’s parents call him—is the brain behind JailBreakMe, perhaps the most popular of all iPhone-busting software packages, and a pain in Apple’s ass. But Forbes reports he does it because he’s a fanboy. It’s a game for Allegra—and not one of torment, but one of a sort of mutual respect.…

Facebook-Skype Security Exploit Can Compromise Your System (Updated)

Remember how Facebook with Skype integration was going to be “Something Awesome“? Well, it’s something alright—a wide-open back door to your computer. https://gizmodo.com/facebook-skype-video-chat-something-awesome-upda-5818418 The vulnerability surfaced after David Vieira-Kurz posted the proof of concept video above to the Secalert website. Apparently, he had “found a few security issues which makes it possible to hijack a…

Why Is iPad Head Girl Stalking Around New York City?

If I saw this girl walking by on the street, I’d be perplexed, too. I like it. But turns out it’s all part of a viral marketing campaign by Hearst Corporation to get you to buy… Cosmo for Guys? Ugh! https://gizmodo.com/the-cosmo-for-guys-app-brings-glossy-skeeviness-to-the-5820170 The whole idea is, if you’re a guy brave enough to touch her iPad…

Apple TV Updated to Stream All the TV Shows You Bought Off iTunes

Daring Fireball is saying that a new software update for Apple TV has hit and it’s a good one: you can finally buy TV shows from your Apple TV and stream any TV shows you’ve previously purchased from iTunes. This is great. The stuff you bought is no longer trapped in the purgatory of iTunes…

Legally Dubious Aerial Drone Records Your Wireless Conversations

A model airplane hobbyist and an Air Force vet decided to put their combined skills to use by creating a spy drone. But it’s not just any spy drone—it’s designed to record private phone conversations. Great. There’s no doubt the electric WASP—Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform—is technically impressive. It maneuvers using a built-in HD cam, runs…