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Added to the list of things that Steve Ballmer and Google have polar opposite opinions on is “cloud computing,” which Ballmer argues consumers don’t really want. In an interview with a Brazilian news source, the Microsoft CEO contended that even the best cloud computing applications would still have to be based on some pretty great…
Winter is just around the corner and, with gas prices still unstable, it’s now even more important to monitor your thermostat. That’s tough and annoying though, which is why gadgets like Ecobee are coming out on the market. Ecobee has an integrated programmable smart thermostat with a WiFi-enabled touchscreen that automatically sets your household to…
If you’re a fan of retro gadget styling, you’ve probably come across the work of Italian company Brionvega once or twice. One of Brionvega’s most classic designs was the Radiogonografo RR126 from 1965, a versatile piece with folding speakers, a radio, an amplifier, a phonograph and a friendly little robot face. The RR126 is almost…
Step aside G1, out of the way iPhone, I think I’ve found my cellular of choice. This little gem of a communication device was discovered by Brian and I in a gadget shop in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay. Written on the side of the phone was “Shenzhou VII,” the name of China’s third human spaceflight…
The nebulous “early November” shipping date for the faster, roomier MacBook Air announced at the MacBook event on Tuesday has coalesced into the more solid Nov. 5 in the US, according to Apple‘s latest shipping estimates. For some reason though, Germany is apparently getting the blitzkrieg shipment, which goes out on Oct. 30. If you…
Scientists at the Washington National Primate Research Center have found a way to restore movement to paralyzed monkeys through the use of brain implants. Equipped with roving electrodes, these implants seek out and restore neural connections between in the brain and the rest of the body necessary for movement. According to the New Scientist, the…
The reason you didn’t see the new 17-inch MacBook Pro at Tuesday’s MacBook event is because it’s been pushed back several months, says says AppleInsider. It was supposed to launch alongside its smaller brothers to complete the family (officially making the Air the adopted child), but MacNN says it suffered from problems with the display…
It’s called the walking chair, but we know better. This four-legged wheelchair replacement, on exhibit at Robo Japan 2008, is not about traversing uneven terrain or allowing mechanical creations to move more like organic beings. It’s about man fusing with both insects and robots to create a new race founded on pure 80s cartoon awesomeness.…
Chances are, if you have an iPod integration system from a few years back, it will not be compatible with the iPhone 3G, Nano 4G, or Touch 2G, which can’t be charged by Firewire power. The Scosche Passport is one of the first shipping solution to this problem, an adapter that negotiates power, audio and…
As you know, we always wonder at the grandeur of Dubai’s buildings: the tallest buildings in the world, the longest bridges, and the weirdest architecture imaginable. When Addy and I were there last year, we marveled at this explosion of concrete, glass, and steel with our own eyes. But we never saw the other side,…
Do you have a cat who loves to jump on your kitchen counter and eat your plant? If so, you have a couple of solutions. You could do something mild, like putting double-sided tape on the counters to deter it. Or, if you’re more adventurous, you could set up a motion detector that’s set to…
The latest list from OObject plays well with my brief history of unibody construction as it relates to Apple’s new MacBook manufacturing process. Keep in mind that the new MacBooks are not technically monocoque. To put things into perspective, OObject’s list illustrates 15 different structures described as monocoque—from aircraft to soda cans. [OObject]
The rumors, they are true—Sprint’s HTC Touch Pro, originally set to drop on Oct. 19, has been delayed until at least the end of the month, and possibly into November. Apparently it’s an issue of making sure they have enough to go around. Oddly, it seems like Sprint stores and their online shop will get…
We told you about the 460,000-brick, 96.73-feet Lego tower before, but here is the video showing how it was built by Lego experts with the help of 3,000 kids, who assembled 121 sections made with 2 x 4 Lego bricks to raise this titanic monolith—the highest ever in world. [460,000-Brick Lego Tower Breaks World Record]
Someone looking to make a quick buck has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft at the Sacramento County Superior Court claiming that an excessive number of Xbox 360s have fallen victim to the dreaded “red ring of death” (and that Microsoft covered up the issue to stay afloat in the console wars with Sony and Nintendo).…
Kudos to the design team at the UK-based firm Freshwest for putting a fresh, humorous spin on the concept of what a pool table should be. What they have developed is actually a coffee table constructed out of 50mm acrylic that reflects and refracts light “in such a way that it resembled the depth and…
Following American Airlines‘ and Delta‘s decision to cockblock your RedTube habit at 30,000 feet, MSNBC has produced some serious service journalism, finding out who’ll be filtering their in-flight Wi-Fi and who won’t. Besides Delta and American, the other major airline doing so is Southwest, who says theirs will be “much like you have a filter…
As the Constellation program (kind of) goes forward, NASA is asking itself some really weird questions that may affect the life of the astronauts as they advance towards their three-year mission to Mars. One of them has been commissioned to Steven Pearce, chemist and managing director of fragrance manufacturing company Omega Ingredients: What is life…
As I write this post, a car alarm going off in my neighborhood. Yeah, it’s annoying, but that’s the price you pay for “security.” They go off all the time for no good reason—inconveniencing owners and irritating everyone in the area (including writers trying to concentrate on their jobs). While I understand that it may…
We can’t speak for everyone here, but when dreaming about surfing the galaxy on our robot jet dog with integrated ice cream machine, the last thing we need is a military chopper waking us up. We don’t fear the sounds of this helicopter alarm clock or the cut of its blades that launch into the…
