Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
Cleaning up the effect of the disastrous oil eruption in the Gulf Coast—thanks BP-Halliburton!—is a huge job. Here are some of the tech options available when it comes to cleaning up a gigantic mess like this: Booms and Skimmers – These guys suck up oil and water from the ocean surface. ‘Booming the area off…
With a few lines of code, it seems, at least one of the specs of the next iPhone is settled. According to video capture presets tucked away in the iPhone SDK, 720p recording is in the cards. https://gizmodo.com/the-tale-of-apples-next-iphone-5520471 The evidence is fairly clear: AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480 AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720 These presets, buried in the iPhone SDK, don’t guarantee HD…
The official Twitter for Android app isn’t simply the best overall Twitter experience on the platform—it’s a peek at the future of Twitter on every smartphone. https://gizmodo.com/official-twitter-for-android-app-now-available-5528454 From the second you open the app, it’s the most polished Twitter experience on Android, by about ten thousand light years. High quality graphics, a true sense of…
One of Adam Carolla’s masterfully crafted abilities is the skill to complain about everything. A prime example: electric cars. The man likes cars and the man likes electricity, so what’s the problem? He’ll TELL YOU. NSFW language should be implied, but here’s an explicit warning for those of you with more delicate sensibilities. Fans who…
Want to know why providing cell service is tricky? This great infographic from Cellphones.org helps you understand the basics of how your magic phone actually works. See the whole thing after the jump.
The average person sees a water drop as an impossible slice of time to capture. But you aren’t the average person, you’re an amateur photographer. And for this week’s Shooting Challenge, you’re going to pull off this mind-bending visual stunt. The Challenge Capture a water drop—the moment after or during impact. The “water” need not…
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Dealzmodo couldn’t find any deals on Coronas but we’re still bringing you your usual gadget deals. Enjoy responsibly. And later tonight, after you join our Facebook page, let loose a bit. Go out. Live. Have fun. Top Deals: • 47″ Vizio SV471XVT 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV for $899.00 plus free shipping…
You probably recognize our new guest editor, even if you don’t know his name. Peter Serafinowicz was the angry roommate in Shaun of the Dead, the Guitar Hero guy in Couples Retreat, and “John” of Mactini fame. Now he’s ours. Peter is better known in the UK, thanks to the stupendous (and shamelessly self-titled) Peter…
Researchers at MIT have figured out how to create solar cells thin enough to be pasted onto sheets of paper, with an applicator that works sort of like an inkjet printer. (Note: We are apparently stuck with inkjet printers, forever.) In their current state, the cells are just under 2% efficient at converting sunlight into…
FixPix is one of those toy apps for iPhone that are so simple that they are almost stupid. And yet, its 8-bit pixel art is so pretty that I can’t wait for it to be released. Watch it in action: As you can see, it’s s simple visual puzzle game. To pass from one stage…
The new search interface Google had been testing in beta since last fall finally has a broad release. Users will see it roll out globally across 37 languages today, along with an English language mobile version for the US. https://gizmodo.com/google-searchs-new-interface-being-tested-now-5412305 Not much has changed since we first reported on it back in November, but here’s…
Tomorrow, Brits will vote on a new prime minister, with the results being projected on the landmark tower known as Big Ben, in real time. It’s not the first time projections have been beamed, but it’ll be interactive at least. It’s the first time the election results will be beamed on St Stephen’s Tower (to…
Well, this is awesome. Here, Google has tested the speed of its Chrome browser against lightning, sound and a potato cannon, all in 2700fps slow motion. Just watch it. [Chrome Blog]
After making hundreds of hoax phone calls to the emergency services number (on one occasion, he dialed 999 50 times in an hour) a 24 year old Brit has been banned from buying a phone for five years. Not only is he banned from buying a phone, he’s also been slapped with an ASBO (an…
Skype’s about to get five times as wonderful. Starting next week, they’re rolling out a public beta of Group Video Calling that will connect you with up to four friends, for free (for now). How fortunate! The feature’s going to be available at first only to Windows PC users, but a Mac version is also…
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich weighed in yesterday on the FTC’s investigation into Apple, and he’s not on board with it. His reason? They should be looking into banks instead. It’s hard to argue with! https://gizmodo.com/apple-might-face-antitrust-inquiry-5529665 What’s wrong with that? Apple says it’s necessary to maintain quality. If consumers disagree they can buy platforms elsewhere.…
The i-Limb bionic hand has always been a favorite around here, and it keeps getting better. Today, meet i-Limb Pulse: a prosthesis from Touch Bionics with a programmable kung-fu grip, compliments of bluetooth. https://gizmodo.com/ilimb-bionic-hand-comes-closer-to-emulating-the-real-th-5062680 The stronger grip isn’t just for a firmer handshake; it’s crucial for daily activities that require a tight pinch like tying…
Taking photos from a digital camera attached to a balloon, floating 20m in the air could get you into a lot of trouble. You could get it wrapped around a power line, for example. Or injure a low-flying bird. This aerial camera is the work of Matthew Clark, who claims it’d be ideal for using…
For the first time, THX has shared some of the specifics behind their intense display evaluation program—the battery of tests a manufacture goes through to become THX certified. A fun read if you’re a home theater geek: [HDGuru]
I’m going to miss buttons. This cartoon wouldn’t be as funny if it featured a touchscreen. [Pictures for Sad Children—Thanks David!]
