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The U750 is your standard free-on-contract feature phone—except for one thing: when the dual-flip-action display is rotated and folded into landscape mode, the keypad buttons switch assignments (and looks!) to create a QWERTY layout. Witchcraft! Rather than just stamping two decals on each button like it did with the same-shaped U740, Samsung opted to put…
Holy Batman, I’m still awake so I’m staring at this Woot Off in the hopes that I can finally get a USB pencil sharpener. Yes, it’s mesmerizing isn’t it, those flashing lights? MUST BUY! [Woot]
The Japanese government is planning to put robots to practical use in Japanese households in as soon as five years, and has already begun formulating the political agencies needed to oversee robot safety standards. According to a government panel on Wednesday, the robots are needed to provide day-care and nursing services to Japan’s rapidly aging…
Vuzix launched a camera add-on for the iWear VR920 video headset which surveys the space in front of the cam, and superimposes interactive, 3D graphics on top. Here what was on display at GDC 09. https://gizmodo.com/flight-sim-vuzix-vr920-virtual-reality-goggles-airs-299297 The hardware itself is just a camera that sits in front of the eyewear, and feeds a signal back…
AppleInsider’s sources tell them that Snow Leopard, previously thought to only get under the hood upgrades, will get a new UI codenamed “Marble”. https://gizmodo.com/confirmed-mac-os-10-6-is-snow-leopard-5014644 It will supposedly feature flat dark scroll bars like those in iTunes (below). AppleInsider also says the new OS will include a minimalist window design, as seen above, with translucent black-glass…
Even built into the shape of a semi-stiff chassis, aluminum can bend. Especially when it goes head to head with a truck. Thankfully, the bicyclist who was hit was not hurt. (Even though his very nice carbon fiber forks on his very nice road bike was smashed up.) [Photos from Jase n tonic via gadgetlab]
Society’s bad eggs are increasingly turning to the use of BlackBerry devices to skirt detection from law enforcement. Authorities report they have trouble intercepting illicit emails and conversations because of the relatively secure BlackBerry Enterprise Server. https://gizmodo.com/rims-new-blackberry-enterprise-server-5-0-launches-in-q-5152007 Developed by Research in Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry Enterprise Server works on a secure network that encrypts data.…
What happens when you are caught making sweet love to a car wash vacuum in Michigan? Apparently, it gets you 90 days in jail for indecent exposure and mandatory drug testing. Seriously though, that sentence must pale in comparison to the shame that a 29-year old man must feel when he becomes notorious for publicly…
What did Bill Gates eat at New York’s Tao Restaurant that he said was “a good deal”? The $24 prix-fixe lunch. Here’s what Bill had a choice of munching on, via Alley Insider: Appetizer choice of: Bang Bang Chicken Salad Satay of Chicken with Peanut Sauce Bamboo Steamed Veggie Dumplings Peking Duck Spring Rolls with…
Who will win? Bruce Lee and his mighty kung-fu moves? Iron Man and his Martini-powered armor made out of cocktail shakers? You’ll know as soon as you watch this cool video: Click to view [Thanks Karl]
Flying Platform – 1955 The April 30, 1955 issue of Pacific Stars and Stripes (Tokyo, Japan) ran this short piece about the future of the helicopter. While it’s certainly up for debate, I think the “hoppi-copter” pictured in the article below may be the most dangerous flying machine this side of a flying Ford Pinto.…
OnLive, the system/service that renders current-gen video games in the cloud, is by no means perfect. That said, I’m shocked at how well it actually works. https://gizmodo.com/onlive-streaming-games-turn-any-tv-or-pc-into-a-bleedin-5181840 I think there are two main concerns running through the heads of anyone that’s heard of this thing: a) Latency between your control inputs and the action on…
BSQUARE just announced that it’s going to port a version of Adobe Flash to Android for a “global Tier 1 carrier.” This most likely means T-Mobile, if our guess is right. We’ve no idea from the press release whether or not Flash will be usable on the G1 that’s already available, but it seems like…
Remember how the RIAA was getting ISPs to help battle copyright infringers after they gave up lawsuits, and AT&T was all “no comment”? Now AT&T confirms they’re working with the RIAA. UPDATED. AT&T says they’re not doing any of the actual spotting—the RIAA is handling that part—they’re just “forwarding notices from content providers to our…
Apple just dropped Graphics Firmware Update 1.0 for the 17-inch MacBook Pro, which “addresses the possibility of vertical lines or distorted graphics on the display,” likely caused by graphics cards’ faulty fans. Download it! [Apple] https://gizmodo.com/are-the-new-17-inch-macbook-pros-plagued-by-faulty-grap-5165543
Little Red Riding Hood is a great story, but as a gadget nerd I need to have it presented in terms that I can truly understand. In other words—what are the specs? [Geekologie]
Skype has just overthrown AT&T as the number one long distance call handler. Unfortunately for Skype, they don’t pull in that much profit from international calls; eBay said they only made $550 million in 2008. [Ars Technica]
This week Lifehacker shows us how to not waste food, not waste money, make edible shot glasses and speed up Firefox. • Disable the Windows close button • Waste less food by shopping every two weeks • Find rooms to rent while traveling https://lifehacker.com/noclose-disables-windows-close-button-5183947 • Boxee adds Pandora, PBS and Hulu (again) • Vuze BitTorrent…
There’s a new stun gun called the X12. And it’s pretty much a freeze ray without the ice. The X12 fires a jolt through the air (wirelessly) through nonlethal bullets that can cut through clothing to paralyze a perpetrator within an effective range of 88 feet. Apparently this paralysis occurs without pain (though I wonder…
If you watch just one video online today, let it be this strangely hypnotizing video of cows getting super excited about a gigantic, robotic cow brush. Apparently, cows absolutely love getting their rub on with these giant brushes, and when they’re happy, they make better milk. So, farm owners, hop on board with the DeLaval…
