Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
Amazon recently introduced an international version of the Kindle 2, and today confirmed a similar international Kindle DX. As the international Kindle 2 is $20 more than the domestic, the Kindle DX could see a price bump as well. [TechFlash] https://gizmodo.com/kindle-2-drops-price-again-to-259-adds-international-5375910
As much as I admire people who believe enough in their artistic output to foist it on others for money, I knew Etsy had a dark side. Well, someone with the no-nonsense pseudonym Helen Killer just showed it to me: Here are a few choice excerpts from Regretsy (NSFW); just a taste, mind you, no…
Apple Loses Mighty Mouse Trademark, Probably Shouldn’t Have Used It In First Place…Paramount Asks Moviegoers to RSVP In Advance…AT&T Is #1 In Customer Service?…Scary Google Results with Sergey Brin You may have heard by now that Apple no longer has claim to the name Mighty Mouse, since small-volume mouse maker Man & Machine, who had…
The folks at the NYPD are so sweet! No matter what you’re arrested for, they’re nice enough to remove your cellphone’s battery “to avoid leakage” and jot down your IMEI number. They’ll even add it to a database. According to the NY Daily News, a recent internal memo instructed NYPD officers to commit such acts…
CCD and CMOS sensors take great images, but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. They’re bulky and bad in low light. It turns out that flash memory can actually double as a light sensor, and could solve both these problems. Apparently, flash memory cells are highly receptive to light and capable of creating a completely digital…
In the interest of conserving energy, water, and shame, the Eco-Navi washer uses light-activated sensors to detect your icky-sticky-eugh-so-disgusting stains and adjusts the wash cycles accordingly. What’s really dirty about the whole thing though is the appliance’s price: $3,000. Even if the washer is all eco-friendly with electricity consumption dropping “from 79 watt hours to…
A recently disbanded click fraud ring in China racked up $3 million worth of clicks in two weeks. $3 million that we’re aware of. Just how detectable is this whole business of racking up fraudulent ad revenue clicks? That intricate mess of lines above represents a portion of DormRing1, the click fraud bunch that was…
Boing Boing Cory relates this tale using his $100/year global support service for his Lenovo laptop and actually liking what eventually happened. Wha?? The Benjamin-a-year plan entitles the user to a service rep to come out next-day, no matter where on the planet you are—provided it’s somewhere reasonable, we’d assume. The tech guy came by…
UNICEF’s direct mail campaign has put a teary smile on my face. They’re sending out baggies of what appear to be lil’ plastic toy soldiers, but are actually playing children, reminders of young’ns forced into battle in Africa. This direct mail campaign is incredibly effective in how it brings forth childhood memories for many while…
Newegg has a pretty fantastic deal on this 58-inch Samsung PN58A650 for $1800 AND free shipping. Samsung’s plasmas are pretty quality (I’ve got one of their 63 inchers), so you should take a long hard look at your bank account and see if you can afford this. Seriously, free shipping too. And that rotating stand…
Watch your back, Tap Tap Revenge: Rock Band is coming for the iPhone, and it looks slick as hell. And as a bonus, this is one version of Rock Band that won’t clutter your living room up with toy guitars. Mashable got a chance to play around with Rock Band for iPhone, and they loved…
JD Power‘s annual ratings put Apple on top with an 811, beating the industry average of 765. What’s surprising is that only Apple and LG are above the average, whereas everyone else is below. What’s not surprising is that Motorola is dead last. Up until their Android Cliq they really didn’t have much going for…
Hey, it’s a table and chair set that looks like the word “table.” Rearranging the seats could also spell out “a belt” and “bleat.” Amusing, but it would be better if I could seat people on swears. [Kamiya Design via Spoon and Tamago via Boing Boing]
FBI Director Robert Mueller revealed himself as an internet newbie yesterday when he admitted to nearly being duped by an email phishing scam. He told Commonwealth Club of California forum attendees that he recently responded to an email that appeared to come from his bank, stopping only when he was asked for his password. Using…
Click to viewWhat happens when a tree rubs up against a power line too much? The power line asserts some authority, and the tree turns into a giant tower of flames. Neat! [CollegeHumor via Geekologie]
Even though the Yamaha TSX-W80 wakes you up at all hours of the morning, you just can’t stay mad at that pretty face. It even features a wireless iPod cradle that streams tunes using Yamaha’s proprietary AirWired technology. If Yamaha’s MCR-140 is anything to go by, this little digital clock should also produce some great…
When geek chef Grant Achatz of Alinea lost his sense of taste to chemotherapy, he relied on his comrades to taste for him. And was inspired by scents like those provided by his volcano vaporizer. [The Atlantic] https://gizmodo.com/what-is-this-5346578
The Senate has passed the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009—allowing authorities to jam cellphone signals inside prisons. As a safeguard, the FCC would also be required to protect legitimate communications by conducting tests, approving equipment and laying out specific rules about when and where signals could be blocked. As you might expect, the issue…
It’s not certain, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t the best idea I’ve heard in a while: Barnes & Noble’s rapidly-approaching eReader will be an Android piece, according to our source. And it really should be, according to me. https://gizmodo.com/barnes-nobles-mysterious-ereader-could-land-next-mont-5377505 The leak came from someone who (quite convincingly!) claims to work for B&N developing…
United Airlines is getting Wi-Fi…sort of. Only 13 Boeing 757s will receive Aircell’s popular Gogo service for coast-to-coast flights by November. The price will range from $13 for laptops to $8 for smartphones and other small Wi-Fi devices. [Chicago Tribune via CrunchGear]
