Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
This from the NY Times today: According to a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates, the number of people buying [HD] sets who are looking forward to watching television shows in hi-def format has actually declined, to 47 percent from 63 percent two years ago. And while nearly half of current owners of HDTV…
This is the first time in my life that a table has invoked feelings of carnal attraction from deep within my loins. With a simple 30-degree rotation, the Fletcher Capstan Table expands by 73%, growing from a capacity of 6 to 12 people in seconds. And…it just looks really cool doing it. If Optimus Prime…
This fine racing machine launches 0 to 150ft in 2.94 seconds, hitting 70 mph. But despite the technological breakthroughs, it still can’t drive in reverse. Who knew people actually did this stuff? I feel like I’m in crazy world – stuck in a bad episode any episode of Home Improvement. Drag Racing Lawnmower [via autoblog]
Joe Jackson – who after feeling cheated over a truck toilet seat patent – shot and killed three people at a law firm in Chicago. We throw around the phrase “intellectual property” commonly, as we bitch about patents, lawsuits and other industry jargon (as we did earlier today in a post about the Wiimote). It’s…
According to an exclusive by our delightfully jaded friends at The Consumerist, if you have some old Costco merchandise that you’ve been meaning to return, do it before Jan 1. Because on Jan 1, Costco may be changing their lenient return policy due to abuse, especially in the realm of computers (and other technology we…
What does Wal-Mart’s product description have to say about the zoom capabilities of the JVC GRD347US? Powerful 20x optical zoom lets you capture great candid shots, especially of children, because you can stand across the room and they don’t realize you’re filming them. Wow. Like…nothing I can say here can top that. Thanks John! Wal-Mart…
The Liquid-Time Sculpture is a new take on the ancient technology of waterclocks. A vacuum system propels liquid to the top resevoir every 12 hours, and from there, liquid naturally drives a pendulum that keeps the clock pumping. As spheres fill, they denote the hours (left) and minutes (right). Interestingly, the minute markers only account…
Just this week we reported that the Tivo DRM had been cracked, and as unsupported Mac users, rejoiced. But honestly, any time I need to start typing code, I’m deterred from taking advantage of potentially illegal activities. https://gizmodo.com/tivo-to-go-drm-cracked-219089 Luckily, there is a solution. TivoDecode Manager is a simple interface for Mac users to take advantage…
The Miele-Nespresso CVA 2650 Espresso Maker simultaneously makes your espresso and steams your milk, funneling each into your cup with perfection where perfection is programmed based upon your individual preference. But it costs $2,099, which is only the price of 525 lattes at $4 apiece. But let’s face it, you’ll pull this out like 5…
We’ve had a lot of accusations that we are Zune fanboys, cast with far more venom than the former iPod fanboy finger pointing. Why do I believe in our Zune coverage? Because the Zune is approaching the market with a unique perspective, and Microsoft will spend whatever it takes to make the Zune a force…
Ok, technically the 360 will still run you $399. But if you buy one at Wal-Mart in-store only, they will give you a $50 giftcard on the spot. Instead of a bundle with some game you have no interest in anyway, you can put the $50 to Gears of War or Viva Pinata. Both are…
The Vertu Race Legends phones are an exclusive release within an already exclusive brand. Manufacturing only 1,000 of each phone, you can pass the phone down through the generations of your family. Think of it as a pocketwatch that won’t be attractive or tell time…or do anything else. Vertu (Nokia) just announced the final two…
Our buddies who always get the girls because they don’t drive ’96 Sidekicks over at Jalopnik, posted this nugget. It’s the Tankpedition – an example of the rubber track conversion system by Mattracks. The conversion can take “as little as 30 minutes”. For me, it took only 30 seconds. I’m in love…finally geeks have ruined…
Interlink, manufacturer of business-type peripherals, is suing Nintendo over an alleged patent infringement. Interlink’s patent was for a “Trigger Operated Electronic Device” that functioned as an IR mouse replacement. While this lawsuit may in fact be ludicrous, remember that Sony has paid big settlement bucks for their rumble technology–which is suspiciously absent in the light,…
Yes, that one feature I’ve been the most excited about for my PSP requires a PS3…or, as you may see it, Sony requires a PS3 to play PS1 games. But I have faith. Maybe Sony will support WiFi transfers one day, over the PS4. And here is a video of their sweet emulator in action…
Anyone ever done the math figuring out how Santa visits everyone in the whole world Christmas night? It’s daunting. Sure, he saves time by skipping the less important areas of the world like Africa, Mexico and the Axis of Evil, but there are still a bajillion other homes he needs to visit in one night.…
You may wanna think twice before buying a Vista-equipped laptop next year. Chances are if you connect to a hotspot from your notebook while running Vista, your notebook’s battery is gonna die faster than usual. The reason? Rather than leave the default power setting for 802.11 wireless adapters in “power save” mode, Microsoft switched it…
The guys over at Double Viking (where the motto is “beef, balls, and babes”) don’t like smartphones. Nor do they like wussy-sounding ringtones. So in order to help us “man up” our cell phones, they’ve been kind enough to share 4 of their manly cell phone commandments that every self-respecting male should follow. Tips include…
The weekend is finally here, but rather than spend it pushing your way through an electronics store as you desperately seek out a PS3 (it ain’t gonna happen), why not sleep in, save some cash, and try to win one instead. So in addition to these contests, you can now win a PS3/Wii/Xbox 360 from…
We may have given high marks to the Zune, but in the end we still chose the iPod as the player of choice for the holidays. But what we’d really like is the Zune to be done right. https://gizmodo.com/zune-vs-ipod-the-final-word-on-who-should-get-your-mo-215107 Here’s what we’re thinking… •Full iTunes importing. Right now the Zune does play nicely with iTunes…
