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Bob Davis scored a complete power supply including a 5 KV transformer, 100 uf Capacitor and a contactor on eBay for $100 and did what any sane person would do—he built a can crusher. The first test was caught on tape, and despite issues with a broken meter, the device managed to crush the hell…
Ooooh, io9’s fantastic Charlie Jane Anders has a Friday treat for us: The Top 10 Dumbest Evil Geniuses of All Time. This was definitely one of my favorite reads today and I particularly agreed with number two. [Io9] https://gizmodo.com/top-10-dumbest-evil-geniuses-of-all-time-5397430
If I could visualize nanoparticles, I’d think of them as crime bosses because apparently they can mess with DNA without ever having direct interaction. Like a true godfather, a nanoparticle commands obedient molecules to do the dirty work. Researchers aren’t entirely sure just how the whole process works, but they have observed the resulting damage…
It’s no miracle, the G-Bound remote control car can drive over water thanks to a waterproof chassis and inflatable tires. Unfortunately, the maximum range on the G-Bound is only about 33 feet, so I wouldn’t take it out to the lake unless you don’t mind swimming after it. Not that it matters—it appears to be…
A few weeks ago, Intel pulled a firmware update the day after it came out because many users running 64-bit Windows 7 found that it bricked their SSDs. Whoops. The good news though is that Intel has acknowledged and replicated the bug and is working on a fix. The bad news? There’s no timeline for…
This DIY Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator instantly reminded me of a comment a dear reader left when I shared a Star Trek fantasy. He was right: Bluetooth is the ruin of Star Trek. But this is a fun quick-n-dirty project. https://gizmodo.com/fabric-antenna-based-personal-communicator-makes-most-o-5372521 Basically you’re cramming a Bluetooth module and a microcontroller into a toy Communicator and…
In this week’s never-gonna-switch-so-stop-asking app roundup: Free games, reinvented! Airplane anxiety, averted! Photos, wirelessly printed! Cool apps, discovered by other cool apps! Navigation, cheapened! Black Friday rush, preempted! Google Wave, appified! Screens, pointlessly tapped! And more! https://gizmodo.com/the-iphone-to-android-switch-10-things-you-need-to-kno-5398942 The Best Chorus: Hey, Apple, when people start making apps just to help people find new apps, take…
This is Marissa Mayer, the queen of Google. Every Google thing that you use goes through her. And she’s nerd. So she says, sitting on her red ball in that red dress: “When people think about computer science, they imagine people with pocket protectors and thick glasses who code all night. I do code all…
As the resident expert on the spork, I wholeheartedly endorse this super-rugged titanium folding combination bottle opener and spork design. [Tad Gear via The Awesomer] https://gizmodo.com/the-captivating-history-of-the-spork-5347994
In 1989, Franz A. Wakefield invented the iPod, the iPhone, and iTunes. Then the FBI stole his trade secrets and he confided in Sarah Jessica Parker and now he’s suing her and Apple…and my head’s spinning. It’s a tale of quite the nutter and I can barely keep the facts straight. Franz A. Wakefield, the…
Next Room is kind of like a mash up between a stethoscope, MP3 player and an old fashioned drinking glass. According to the product page, you can hear what is being said through wooden walls, doors, windows—even steel plates. It features an internal sound amplifier, a 3.5mm jack for headphones and a USB port for…
I finally started watching Californication recently, but my big annoyance since then is that my—ahem—mostly-legally downloaded episodes take ages to transfer wirelessly from laptop to media center PC. Thankfully Lifehacker’s got a DIY wiring solution for my troubles. https://lifehacker.com/wire-your-house-with-ethernet-cable-5398668 The instructions are actually pretty thorough and explain everything you need to know about running CAT…
We have enough reasons to worry about carpal tunnel, which is one reason why the Rubik’s TouchCube is so awesome. Instead of actually turning the segments, users simply swipe their finger in a straight line or an ‘L’ shape (for rotations). Of course, at $150 you would incur a more severe financial penalty for tossing…
So, I’m doing the Mindflex game review, and I start thinking about the evolution of classic board games. Personally, I like the fact that many of them got a 21st century makeover. These 10 games may have purists thinking otherwise. https://gizmodo.com/the-mindflex-brainwave-game-gives-me-a-headache-5396971 For the most part, do you consider these digital upgrades as good or bad…
18 programmable buttons. E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N! Forget the 512k of flash memory, analog Xbox 360-style joystick, basic scroll wheel and whatever-else-is-in-there. 18 buttons! Yes, I’m a button lover. Yes, I just had an orgasm. And yes, I will waste $75 on this. Sure, it’s not that attractive looking and it’s probably awkward as all hell to use,…
You’ve had it. Maybe with AT&T. Maybe with Apple’s crushing, dictatorial grip strangling the App Store. Whatever the reason, you’re going to Android: Land of freedom, carriers not named AT&T, and the great Google. Here’s what you need to know. It’s All in the Google Cloud Android phones don’t sync with your computer. That’s because…
In an email exchange earlier today, Microsoft indirectly admitted that Xbox 360s are receiving an updated tamper-resistant warranty sticker. From the company: https://gizmodo.com/new-xbox-360-warranty-stickers-better-guarantee-chastit-5397788 “We continually work on the security of our devices, including updates to the tamper seal. Beyond that, we have no further comment.” They also added that Steve Ballmer has always been a…
Hey Google! I adore your celebration of Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary and such things, but what are you doing sticking an ad on your homepage? An ad for Verizon’s Droid of all things. https://gizmodo.com/cookie-monster-sang-about-google-27-years-ago-5397485 It’s a simple text link that leads to Google’s mobile partners page which then has a link to the actual Verizon…
The TwitterPeek is a crazy device. But hey, now that Peek has gone down this road, why stop there? Here are some free ideas for the next generation of Peek handheld devices. https://gizmodo.com/the-twitterpeek-is-so-dumb-it-makes-my-brain-hurt-5396213 NotepadPeek Take notes on the go! Never be without your shopping list again! Doesn’t sync with anything on your normal computer. $99…
Embrace the technology of tomorrow by capturing a Motorola Droid for $150 or an HTC Droid Eris for $70. Just don’t let the Halo 3 Mongoose distract you from the incredible offer for free downloads of six top Mac apps. https://gizmodo.com/motorola-droid-review-5396168 Top Deals: • Motorola Droid for $149.99 plus free shipping (normally $199.99). • HTC…
