Automated Home

M3Pod Smart Home SystemM3Pod is a new home automation product. Here's a quick video showing how adding the £4,000 system it's helping US builders to sell new homes to customers working in high tech companys looking for an integrated system... _hf9d92v-38
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:45 am

Drobo SDK Means uPnP, BitTorrent & MoreData Robotics have just released an SDK for their Drobo Storage Robot. What does this mean? Well additional functionality that you may be running a PC 24/7 to obtain will now be available on Drobo. The sorts of features expected are UPnP, iTunes and FTP servers, plus BitTorrent clients. ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 2:18 am

AH0014 - Perceptive AutomationShow AH0014 features an interview with Matt Bendiksen from Perceptive Automation. We talk about their home automation software solution for the Mac - Indigo. Even if you're not a OS X user there's plenty of interesting chat including the differences between X10 and Insteon hardware, what it's like being a developer of a home automation system and the potential of the iPhone and iPod touch as a smart home controller... http://blip.tv/file/get/Markmccall-AH0014PerceptiveAutomation395.mp3iTunes (http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(2554)a(1029496)g(32244)url(http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=278604675)) | Miro (http://subscribe.getmiro.com/?url1=http://automatedhome.blip.tv/rss) | Zune (zune://subscribe/?Auto
» 2 Jul 2008, 5:00 pm

Cytech Launch new Comfort Door Stations & KeypadsCytech Europe Limited announces the launch of new door stations and keypads for their Comfort Intelligent Home System. Comfort links voice prompted home security with all aspects of smart home technology in one system...
» 2 Jul 2008, 2:17 am

Some Forums Really Sadden MeI made my way to a well known Audio Visual forums site to post a question on my AV Receiver dilemma. While I was there I noticed a thread on the AlertMe system where potential purchasers were looking for information on the alarm. As we have pretty much the only proper in-depth review of the system plus a podcast with the company itself I posted those links.This morning my posts have been deleted off the forum in question. This has happened to me before at the same site and is apparently because I'm posting links to my site without paying them to advertise!! Posting links on forums is normal practice, and with around 5 posts in my three year membership I can hardly be classed as any sort of spammer. It's a hugely successful site and it'
» 2 Jul 2008, 1:28 am

Plug&Play GSM Access ControlHere's a great little device that promises a 10 minute plug play DIY installation to your existing access control system. You can authorise up to 2,000 users and restrict them by day, date and time. The system also holds a log of access details and you can use your own SIM card or buy a low cost plan with the unit. Use it to replace your existing keyfobs or even as a backup to them, it's available now for £195+vat...
» 1 Jul 2008, 1:48 am

Threshold Readying Launch of new Home Automation SystemThreshold Corp have been developing their new smart home system for around 4 years now and they're due to launch to market in the next few weeks. The system uses a central controller to talk to a range of Wi-Fi based wireless modules all of which can be added to the secure network in seconds using their new ConfigSpot technology. Check out the video after the jump...
» 30 Jun 2008, 3:15 am

TVIX M-6500A 1080P Media PlayerTVIX describe their HD M-6500A V2 as the Most Advanced Jukebox on the Planet . It's a media player with support for a mulitude of codecs including H.264 MKV, AVCHD and FLAC. Files right up to 1080p are supported through its HiDef HDMI (v1.3) port. Available with or without a SATA hard drive, prices start at £299...
» 27 Jun 2008, 12:00 am

AV Receiver ReviewsIt's time to retire the old girl. Our Yamaha DSP-A1 has given stirling service for over nine years now. In use every day powering our home cinema setup, there are very few electronic components we can think of that have given such long service. So why are we looking for a replacment? HDMI of course. The S-Video switching of the Yamaha no longer cuts the mustard in a world of HD games consoles, satellite receivers and media center extenders. And so the hunt is on, we're trawling through the AV Receiver reviews at testfreaks.com (http://www.testfreaks.com) looking for an answer that will take us through the next decade...
» 26 Jun 2008, 12:00 am

Hacking a Print Server for Ethernet Home AutomationWhat's all this about then? Well, I've got loads of home automation, and I love it! However, whenever I show it to friends and family, I tend to get one of two responses. The first is that it's just a gimmick and they'd never want anything like that. The second is that it's great, but too complicated for them to set up something similar.So this is my attempt at a simple, in fact very simple home automation device that ANYONE can use, and almost anyone can make. I am actually seriously considering manufacturing these in bulk (well something similar) and selling the whole lot as a managed service for about a tenner a year. (please let me know if this could be of interest to anyone). Anyway, so this is my attempt at cheap home automation
» 25 Jun 2008, 12:00 am

AH0013 - AlertMeShow AH0013 - This time we talk to AlertMe co-founder and director Pilgrim Beart along with his Chief Design Engineer, Dr Amyas Phillips. We talk about the technical background that lead both men to work on one of the UKs most inovative security systems. We discuss the architecture of the Zigbee mesh network and the Linux powered hub at the centre of the system... http://blip.tv/file/get/Markmccall-AH0013AlertMe511.mp3iTunes (http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(2554)a(1029496)g(32244)url(http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=278604675)) | Miro (http://subscribe.getmiro.com/?url1=http://automatedhome.blip.tv/rss) | Zune (zune://subscribe/?Automated%20Home%20=http://automatedhome.blip.tv/rss) | RSS (http://a
» 23 Jun 2008, 1:00 pm

BoingBoing Gadgets

Gatling Gun was inspired by seed-spreading machine and used mainly for domestic intimidationJulia Keller's new book about an old gadget is reviewed by the Washington Post's Jonathan Yardley, who doesn't seem to like it much. He finds its too representative of a journalistic bad habit, trying to weave poetic myths out of mundane subjects made interesting because of the blood they left in the ground: "Keller is given to broad strokes, sweeping generalizations, large claims and overheated prose." That said, it's fascinating to read that Gatling's death-machine was inspired by an earlier invention of his, one both mundane and humane — a mechanized seed-sprayer. One of his agricultural inventions, a seed planter, was the inspiration, Keller believes, for the gun: "Fed by a gravity-driven hopper, the seeds dropped, one by one, into th
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:49 am

The tiny creatures of the gadget bagSource [via DVICE]...
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:45 am

Should Apple redesign its high-end notebooks?Cult of Mac offers a one-two whammy of contrary design opinions. First, Pete Mortensen says that it's high time Apple refreshed the look of its notebooks, including the fancy ones. It’s time for Apple to make a new statement with the design of its computers. The time couldn’t be better. All the kinks and problems that came along with the move to Intel chips have been worked out. People know that Macs are still Macs, and they’re all safe to use, so the designs can get more wild and divergent again. I can’t wait until they take that leap. Second, Leigh McMullen responds with an appeal for the "classic" Powerbook/MacBook Pro to remain exactly that, because of the "rarefied place in the minds of consumers" it has achieved. It’s a desi
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:05 am

Star Trike at the 1982 San Diego Comic ConSlippery Brick spotted this little nerd trike, and it's a beaut. As seen at the 1982 San Diego Comic Con, it's some sort of Roddenberry mod job, mashing the NCC-1701 up with a three wheeled ATV. Instead of a serial number, the saucer section declares it the "Star Trike." I love it. The perfect thing to maneuver your boneless, gastropoidal frame around the convention center. I want one to drive wildly around my local supermarket, madly slashing at boxes of Apple Jacks and tumbling them off the top shelves with my reaching broom. A Bike For The Final Frontier [Slippery Brick]...
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:50 am

Apple files patent for multi-gesture languageApple has filed a patent for a new multi-touch gesture language that will allows us program gestures into our computers. Similar to the zoom and rotate gestures currently programmed into the iPhone and MacBook multi-touch touchpads, the new patent describes a Sign Language for touch screens, which uses a minimum of twenty five chords, thirty one combinations and thirteen different motions to tell the OS what it is you want to do. Additionally, the patent specififies the Control, Alt, Shift and Command keys as modifiers. The patent itself is very interesting, but what is most fascinating to me is that it seems like Apple's getting serious about not only touchscreen phones and iPods, but computers as well. This patent has "touchscreen iMac" w
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:34 am

Owner of Japanese "Diggbot" supposedly arrestedGentlemen, commence processing this in your WTF file. According to this video, the owner of a robot arm programmed to Digg 3,000 stories every two days has been arrested in Nagasaki, Japan. If we're to believe the monotone, robotically-speaking narrator, the arm could supposedly reload the Digg website every five minutes and would even shut down the system if a mobile number was called three times. digg_url = 'http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/07/03/owner-of-japanese-di.html'; My first inclination was just to type "FAKE" followed by "DUH" with a typographical trail of H's extending far into the Internet's horizon. I mean, why would anyone program a mechanical robot to do the same job that pure software could accomplish far more easily? Wha
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:35 am

Sci-fi style USB tube speaker outputs blue LED glowIf you're going to use a USB speaker, the modus operandi seems to be to strive for tacky novelty.These USB Light Tube Speakers by Brando, then, are a refreshing change of pace: the blue electric glow is novel but not at all tacky. I could see this perched atop a monitor in some sort of retro-futuristic computer mod. The audio is inputer via cable through the usual audio out nodule, where as the pulsing blue and stereo power t is fueled by USB. At $22, there are far, far uglier cheap speakers you can get, that sound worse and don't look half as neat. USB LED Light Tube Speakers [Brando via Gizmodo]...
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:33 am

Modular sound flute for kids lets any sound be played as an instrumentThis brightly colored modular recorder is made up of detachable cylinders that can each be separately loaded with a unique digital sound (either by using a PC to drag-and-drop it or by using it to manually record input) which can then be played with a push of a button. It's aimed at kids. I love the idea and like to imagine that children will use this to play incredibly vivid and unique songs with notes of their own devising, but I know what I would have used this for as a kid: to play a John Cage like solo of my juiciest farts over and over again. Thus, I despair. Alle Meine Klänge [Official Site via MAKE via Synthopia]...
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:54 am

The world's tiniest RC helicoptersAt just 4.5 inches long, the Liliputian-sized MX1 chopper is the world's smallest remote controlled R/C helicopter. I imagine a hiveswarm of dragonfly-like whirlybirds to harass and confuse my enemies, or the moment &mdash; months from now &mdash; when I write a post about some daring modder who manages to hook up a tiny streaming video cam to the nose cone and fly it up Scarlett Johansson's Oscar dress. Just $49.99 from Think Geek (who else?). MX-1 RC Copters [Think Geek via technabob]...<br style="clear: both;"/> <img alt="" style="border: 0; height:1px; width:1px;" border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?i=953d2c632431f18ecff1f90a9da4ff1a" height="1" width="1"/> <img src="http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=953d2c632431f18
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:04 am

Roku Netflix Player goes open sourceA couple months back, Joel poked around with the Roku Netflix Player. He thought it was okay, with a great interface that passes the "I'd let Brownlee use this" test. Since I didn't see that comment until now, I hope your eyeballs rot, Joel. Idiot-proof or not, though, Joel was ultimately ambivalent about the Roku:" If and when the Roku box serves up other streaming services it'll be a nice little node to stick on your TV to slurp up some free(ish) web media. Until then, it's probably for Netflix.com die-hards only." If you pulled the trigger on that enthusiastic recommendation, doubleplus good news! Forbes is reporting that Roku will soon be rolling out an update to allow their player to stream from other select online video services. And
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:55 am

Tokyo Watch does unthinkable, releases intuitive-to-read Galaxy watchI'd like to congratulate the obtuse blink mongerers at Tokyo Flash for finally releasing a watch the time-telling of which does not require its wearer to be some kind of frakkin' Cylon. The new Galaxy watch is housed in a polished silver case and features one of the most straightforward time-reading mechanisms on their site: twelve yellow bars swoop around the face clockwise, lighting up to denote hours. Nestled inside that circle, eleven red bars denote five minute increments, while four green bars indicate single minutes. I love it. Hey, I could actually read time with this thing without first having to Google up some absurd LED cryptogram! The Galaxy is on sale now for about $133. Galaxy [Tokyo Flash via Geekologie]...
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:30 am

Business Week Tech News

At Yahoo, a Threat from WithinFleeing executives' gripes: the Microsoft saga, the Google deal, and cumbersome decision-making
» 2 Jul 2008, 9:24 pm

Viacom vs. YouTube: Beyond PrivacyAs Viacom is granted access to YouTube user records, a bigger threat to user-generated sites emerges: The law is increasingly siding with rights owners
» 3 Jul 2008, 7:01 pm

The Case Against Google-YahooWith the Justice Dept. confirming it plans to look into any Google-Yahoo partnership, foes are lining up their arguments
» 2 Jul 2008, 11:30 pm

BBC: Web TrailblazerFor online video streaming, the BBC's iPlayer has been a huge success. U.S. broadcasters like ABC and NBC could take a lesson
» 2 Jul 2008, 9:30 pm

New Laws Drive Wireless Headset SalesPenalties for driving while talking on a cell phone are spiking retail sales of Bluetooth headsets from Plantronics and others
» 2 Jul 2008, 7:38 pm

Little Relief for UnitedHealthInvestors at first cheered the managed care provider's plans to cut costs on July 2, but the shares wound up closing lower amid increasing concerns about its margins
» 2 Jul 2008, 4:13 pm

Japan's New Green Car PushDetroit will have to work hard to catch Japanese automakers in the race to produce hybrids, electric cars, cleaner diesels, and fuel-cell vehicles
» 2 Jul 2008, 6:42 am

Touch Computing Hits Its StrideMicrosoft's Surface and other touch-sensitive products can simplify complicated interactions, but are software makers and consumers game?
» 30 Jun 2008, 9:01 pm

Servers Become Dell's Comeback WeaponAfter a few troubled years, Dell is back on course and grabbing market share by being everything server
» 18 Jun 2008, 9:01 pm

Hitching a Ride with RoadrunnerThe world's fastest computer, developed by IBM and Los Alamos National Labs, will be open for experimentation for six months. Beep! Beep!
» 15 Jun 2008, 9:01 pm

HP's Printing Chief Is on a MissionVyomesh Joshi plans to preserve printing's status as HP's most profitable division by, among other initiatives, getting consumers to use printers at home more
» 8 Jun 2008, 9:01 pm

CNet - Crave

Yelle, 'Je Veux Te Voir': Free MP3 of the DayYelle says she sings in "80's French"--which sounds kind of confusing until you hear her punky electro tracks that remind us of Stereo Totale and Electrocute. Fronting a fashiony, stylish movement that embraces the DIY aesthetics of punk and seeks to move the dance floor, Yelle's sound ...
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:01 am

Looking back, looking ahead: The week in laptopsAh, summer. Long, sunny days. Vacations at the beach. And, if you're in the United States, the Independence Day holiday. Which is why this weekly wrap-up is coming a day early: tomorrow my colleagues and I will be busy eating grilled meat and watching fireworks, all in the name ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:13 pm

Attention back-to-school shoppers: Find your laptop reviews hereThis laptop's parents must be very proud. When people refer to a seasonal business, they usually mean the holiday shopping season that starts with Black Friday. But the real season for laptops has become the summer shopping phenomenon known as "Back to School." For college students, a laptop ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:28 pm

Gear4 shrinks 'BlackBox' speaker to travel size(Credit: Gear4) The cubist period for speakers seems to be alive and well, whether we like it or not. As a reflection of its widening influence, the latest example comes from the U.K. with Gear4's "BlackBox Micro." As the second half of its name implies, it's the ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:17 pm

Review: 2009 Acura TSX(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks) Because of its solid and comfortable everyday driver demeanor, buyers of the new 2009 Acura TSX will probably opt for the five-speed automatic transmission, for ease of driving in traffic and urban settings. And that's unfortunate, because to appreciate Honda's capability to build ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:44 pm

EA debuts new family, sports games for Wii, PlayStationWith only a couple weeks to go before the 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit, video game publisher Electronic Arts is giving the press a sneak peek at its new video game lineup, including products resulting from its partnership with Hasbro. Mr. Potato Head hosts EA's game Hasbro Family ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:32 pm

Nokia turns hearing aids into Bluetooth headsets(Credit: Nokia) Headset makers probably aren't hurting for business these days, at least in California and Washington state. But even without the new laws, Nokia may have found another market. Its "Wireless Loopset" is a device designed to hang around the neck that basically turns a t-coil-equipped hearing aid ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 2:49 pm

Fly me to the moonLook where I've gone at home...(Credit: FlightMemory.com) If you're a serious airline geek like me, you've saved every airline boarding pass you've ever used. No, it doesn't make sense but you do it anyway. But until recently, my boarding passes sat in ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:41 pm

Has your Nvidia GPU melted down?Nvidia's second quarter business update, released Wednesday, was mostly bad news for the company. But there's potentially bad news for consumers, too. Nvidia revealed plans to take a $150 million to $200 million charge to cover anticipated repair and return costs arising from a "weak die/packaging material ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:39 pm

Apple cuts price of flash-drive MacBook AirThe MacBook Air is now cheaper if you want the flash-memory hard drive option.(Credit: Apple) Apple has quietly reduced the price of the flash-memory version of the MacBook Air by $500. Appleinsider tipped us to the new price, which can be found at the online Apple Store. Before today, ...
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:15 pm

Coolest Gadgets

Win $50 with the 3rd Coolest Gadget of the WeekFirst off Happy 4th of July folks! Fancy celebrating with a $50 gadget voucher? Vote for this weeks coolest gadget and leave a comment explaining why, winners will be announced Monday. It’s quite a diverse collection this week, have fun. Broadband Internet in your Car Now here’s the way I’ll be able to read Coolest Gadgets on the road! A complete Broadband internet kit for your car, with a remote control, a wi-fi hub, tv, etc… Just what I wanted to grab! Cool! The full post can be found at Car Tuning Central. Rapid Read BBQ Fork Thermometer Never overcook your meat or eat it too rare again. Just poke it with the fork, set the temperature and wait for the beep. The full post can be found at S2999. EZVision Eyewear The EZ Vi
» 4 Jul 2008, 3:08 am

Pokermate table makes the game digital. But where’s the fun in that?It’s official. The world is gizmo-gadget obsessed. Even in gambling. I reckon it stands to reason that if you grow up in the digital age where everything is virtual and everyone has a password like they have a cellphone, it only stands to reason that, like newspapers before them, poker tables are rapidly going the way of the doo-doo. The Pokermate Table not only gives players touchscreen interfaces to use for game play and betting, it’s also yet another guard against card counters who seek a legal, but wholely frowned upon gaming advantage. The idea comes from the fact that more and more gamblers are learning the game from online casinos, and as such, simply are more used to playing the game virtually than holding a pair of aces and
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:23 am

Flashing VCR crowd speaks, no broadband for themAlthough the latest studies show that over half of America now enjoys a broadband connection, the other half simply says they are just fine with that twirling handshake and crawling download speeds. According to the latest Pew Internet & American Life Project study, the flashing VCR crowd stick with overpriced and snail-slow dialup not because simply because don’t have to have the fastest Internet access on the block. The total percentage of dial-up only preferences totals out at about 10 percent of Americans. While a whopping 55% enjoy broadband internet servicing for video and audio downloading, the remaining 35% either don’t have broadband in their area just yet or consider it too expensive. The remaining just don’t have a n
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:58 pm

The Go Anywhere Backpack fits in your palmSure, normal backpacks are all well and good for students, but what about us sporadic world trekkers who only need to whip out a backpack when we go traveling? We certainly don’t need a big old sack sitting around, taking up even more of our home’s storage, which admittedly, we can’t sacrifice. We’re becoming decidedly cramped up in here. That’s why the Go Anywhere Backpack is so cool. When you’re not using it, it literally folds into a pocket sized bulge. While it might be a little too large to actually fit in your pocket without looking like you have some kind of abnormal growth, it’s certainly a whole ton more compact than a normal backpack. The Go Anywhere packs are feather-weights. They weigh nearly nothing compared with
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:34 am

Cutlery for the handy manEven the manliest of men need to admit that they need food to survive. Preferably a nice juicy steak with a hot baked potato, but of course a slice of strawberry cheesecake would do. The point is that you can stock up on every tool in the catalog, but a nice pair of eating utensils is always an investment worth making. Of course, with this outburst of industrial design influence, everything is being mixed and mashed into one beautiful product of productivity. These eating utensils are made for not only eating, but for crouching down for some butt-crack revealing plumbing, or even fixing a loose spark plug on your vehicle. Each gadget features two sides. The fork, knife, and spoon side is perfect for chowing down on some grub. While the oppo
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:06 am

The Godfather Collection on Blu-raySome people say that Blu-ray might be the DVD killer. It’s already outed HD-DVD and has established itself as the high-def video standard. I’m yet to own a Blu-ray disc myself. Other than the Blu-ray disc that ships with the PS3 and of course the games which come with the logo emblazoned on the covers. But this might just make me give on the HD disc revolution. Paramount has announced their release of The Godfather Collection: The Coppola Restoration on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition and offering English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround sound. The four disc tome features all three Godfather flicks as well as an extra disc with a truly impressive list of extra features and documentaries. Each film is show in BD-50 dual-layer presentation, wit
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:49 am

Flashlight with integrated videoIf only the old pulp novelists had gadgets like this to work with. Can you imagine how much shorter mystery stories of the past would be with modern forensics? Forget the heavy thinking detective. Technology is the Sherlock Holmes of modern times. Japanese company Carrot Systems (apparently ran by bunny rabbits) has produced a flashlight with an integrated video camera and a sleek streamline design. The flashlight is touted as an awesome tool for crime scene investigators who want to capture a dynamic peek of any dark and seedy crime locations. The AD-1500 Video Flashlight records video with its mini CMOS camera and built-in microphone. As long as you’re not too intrigued by the rookie puking over in the corner, you could pick up every si
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:30 am

Vauxhall Motors Speed Limit DetectorA few months ago, I got pulled over for speeding on the highway. The officer told me that the speed limit was 45 mph, but I could have sworn it was 55, maybe even 65. Of course, the officer was not about to let me go back and check, and as it turned out, I think I had just missed the 45 mph speed limit sign. Needless to say, I settled the ticket out of court, but it would have been nice to have some device on my dashboard that tells me what the speed limit is. Granted, that might condemn me on my next ticket. It would be hard to convince an officer that I didn’t know what the speed limit was when it’s glowing on my dashboard. However, if that number is less than what the officer says the speed limit is, I would be so vindicated!
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:56 am

The USB LED Light Tube SpeakerSometimes Sci-Fi themed speakers can come off overly cheesy.  Usually due to too many details on very cheap materials.  This new USB speaker is fairly simple in looks and manages to just look cool without being over the top.  Somehow, Brando has managed to come out with a lighted speaker without it looking like it should be paired with a blacklight or lava lamp.  Although it still looks overly fitting for a geeky room, it still is not what I’d call tacky. It doesn’t really look nearly as interesting with the blue light off, and I’m curious how the light looks when it is bright in the room.  I still find it cool though, and it’s not overly expensive.  Which seems to be the other direction that Sci-Fi themed electronics go.  Th
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:00 am

iPhone TimelineDid you know the first public signs of the iPhone were way back in 1999, when Apple registered iPhone.org. Silver from iPhoneGold has put together a great timeline showing the history of the legendary iPhone, including domain registrations, trademarks. the famous 3% stock drop all the way up to the new iPhone 3G. Full sized iPhone timeline here, thanks Silver for spending a worthwhile couple of days researching and putting this together.[ iPhone Timeline copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:38 am

Gallery of gadgets (07-03-2008)Gallery of posts up to 07-03-2008
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:32 am

Cybernet News

CyberNotes: More Dumb Laws from Around the U.S.Fun Friday Back in November last year, we had some fun looking at some pretty dumb laws from around the United States. We decided to revisit the topic because there are so many more crazy laws out there. Once again, you won’t believe some of the funny, crazy, not to mention dumb laws that are found [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 4:00 am

NVIDIA Admits to Faulty Notebook GPU’s &amp; MCP’sNVIDIA announced today that they will be taking a $150 million hit in order to repair faulty graphical processing units (GPU) and media communications processors (MCP). The problem is apparently only an issue in notebooks where the unusually large amounts of concentrated heat causes the chips to fail. Even though NVIDIA has come forward they [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:11 pm

Google Maps with Voice (Experimental) on Your BlackBerryIf you own a BlackBerry 8110, 8120, or 8130, you can now use your device in a whole new way. Google has recently launched Google Maps with voice search that will work with the aforementioned devices. It’s an experimental thing, so if all goes well, they’ll probably expand the service and make it available for [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:34 pm

Ask.com Chooses Microsoft for Online Map ProviderIn a somewhat interesting move Ask.com ditched their own mapping service today, and has teamed up with Microsoft to use their Virtual Earth service. The switchover has already been made, and you can see the new service up and running over at Ask City. Most people, however, probably won’t notice the switch since nothing feels [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:25 pm

Firefox &amp; Opera Users are the Most Apt to UpdateWeb browsers are probably among the most updated applications because of how important they are in our daily lives, and also because of how vulnerable they can make us to outside attacks. For example, Firefox 2 has had about 15 different versions since its release in October 2006, and all but three addressed security issues. [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:11 am

Judge Says Google Has to Handover All YouTube User DataThere’s bad news today for privacy advocates with Wired.com reporting that a judge is ordering YouTube to provide Viacom with the hsitory of all of their users. They say, “Google will have to turn over every record of every video watched by YouTube users, including users’ names and IP addresses.” This is in regards to [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:41 am

Google Talk for iPhone Works Well in Firefox/Opera SidebarThe long-awaited Google Talk for iPhone is finally available, and it’s not in the form of an iPhone application. Instead, it’s simply a browser app which makes us wonder why it took Google over a year to make something for the iPhone. Perhaps they were too busy working on stuff for their own Android? Anyway, Google [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:13 am

Daily Downloads: Flash, Skitch, and MoreWelcome to Daily Downloads brought to you by CyberNet! Each weekday we bring you software updates for widely used programs, and it’s safe to assume that all the software we list is freeware (we’ll try to note the paid-only programs). As you browse the Internet during the day, feel free to post the software updates you [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:00 am

CyberNotes: Assign Driver Letters to Folders in WindowsTutorial Thursday Windows only On your computer there are probably just a handful of folders that you access everyday, and wouldn’t it be nice to make them even easier to access? One way to do that is to assign your most used folders to drive letters on your Windows machine, which puts them just [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:00 am

Confirmed: Mozilla Sets World Record with Firefox 3 DownloadsAbout two weeks ago Mozilla made an attempt at a Guinness World Record shooting for the most number of downloads for an application in a 24-hour period. They managed to do it with Firefox 3, and the official number was 8,002,530 downloads! That’s about three million more than what Mozilla was hoping for, and six [...]
» 2 Jul 2008, 3:04 pm

Microsoft to Use Powerset To Improve SearchWe’ve known that Microsoft has some lofty goals to improve their Search, so it was no surprise when they announced today that they have acquired a company called Powerset. Powerset started back in 2005 and they launched their first product, a search and discovery experience for Wikipedia just a couple of months ago. Their goal [...]
» 2 Jul 2008, 2:09 pm

D | All Things Digital

Some General Tips for Switch to Mac From WindowsMany new Mac buyers are switching from years of using Windows computers. Here's a quick tip sheet on a few of the most common differences in using the two operating systems.
» 2 Jul 2008, 6:41 pm

The TouchSmart Has Improved–But Not EnoughHewlett-Packard is rolling out a new TouchSmart, a desktop computer with touch-controlled software. The hardware and software are better. It's attractive, more versatile and fun to use. But the latest effort still has some problems.
» 25 Jun 2008, 5:01 pm

Internet-a-Gogo: Airlines to Offer In-Flight AccessThis summer, Wi-Fi access will arrive in the passenger cabins of some commercial U.S. airliners with a new system called Gogo. For travelers who want to stay connected in the air, Gogo does the job, but it has its limitations.
» 18 Jun 2008, 5:01 pm

Samsung’s Instinct Doesn’t Ring True as an iPhone CloneThe parade of iPhone lookalikes continues, and the latest to arrive is the Samsung Instinct. While it isn't a bad phone and has some features the Apple product lacks, it's no match for the iPhone.
» 11 Jun 2008, 5:01 pm

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 Is the Best Browser for Web — For NowMozilla Firefox 3.0 is the best Web browser out there right now, and it tops the current versions of both IE and Safari in features, speed and security, writes Walt Mossberg. It is easy to install and easy to use, even for a mainstream, non-technical user.
» 4 Jun 2008, 5:01 pm

No BlackBerry? Your Cellphone May Do the TrickHere is a guide to checking your email, looking up information and updating your calendar, just by sending text messages. You can use any cellphone, but you'll need a generous text-messaging plan. Guest columnist Vauhini Vara is filling in this week for Walt Mossberg, who returns June 5.
» 28 May 2008, 5:01 pm

Apple Daydreaming: Report Predicts Move Toward Home DevicesForrester Research imagines the Apple products of 2013 in a new report. Their conclusion: While much of Apple's great successes have been mobile products, the company will seek to colonize rooms throughout the home. Guest columnist Nick Wingfield is filling in this week for Walt Mossberg, who returns June 5.
» 21 May 2008, 5:01 pm

Cellphone Headsets With Less Bulk, Background NoiseTwo of the most important wireless earpiece makers are bringing out new models that attempt to make their products more attractive and functional. Both work well, despite some drawbacks.
» 14 May 2008, 5:01 pm

Two Laptops Travel Light, but Flaws Weigh Them DownWalt Mossberg tries out two laptops that weigh 3 pounds or less. They are worth considering for frequent travelers, but each has its own flaws.
» 7 May 2008, 5:01 pm

How to Avoid Cons That Can Lead to Identity TheftThe most insidious Internet security problems today rely on human gullibility, not tricky software. These types of attacks are called "social engineering" and can be used to steal your money and identity. Here are tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.
» 30 Apr 2008, 5:01 pm

Engadget

MSI Wind gets reviewedFiled under: LaptopsHey USers -- we know where all those "delayed" Winds are. Just take a look across the pond. bit-tech managed to wrap their paws around a retail unit of MSI's Eee PC fighter, and while early reviews sang a lovely song, this one was just a bit flatter. All in all, reviewers found the machine to be useful and totally practical, but it was glaringly obvious that they were none too pleased about MSI jacking up the price of its own machine while the completely identical (save for branding) Advent 4211 was selling for less. If you're listening to these guys / gals, you'll gloss right over the Wind and nab yourself a rebadge, but whichever edition you end up getting, it's sure to be "great" in the grand scheme of things. Check t
» 4 Jul 2008, 5:24 am

R/C Mini cars move beyond miniFiled under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless Not bad eh? These tiny 35 x 25 x 20-mm remote controlled cars fit inside your choice of sport-themed balls which double as the controller. You can even dangle your ball from a lanyard... perfect for all you athletic supporters. While no real technical details are provided regarding battery life or RC range, for $13 you can afford the surprise. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 4 Jul 2008, 4:37 am

Tokyoflash's Galaxy: a watch only a nerd could loveFiled under: Wearables It's true. Any decent mother would wonder what on Earth her child was thinking rocking that thing you see above, and even though all those wonderful ladies of the world would be entirely entitled to that curiosity, we can understand the obsession. On its surface, this timepiece and its cryptic display is unquestionably ugly -- even the "stainless steel" band reeks of cereal box quality. But there's just something about those flashy lights that stirs the soul of nerds everywhere, making it seem quite the bargain at $132.85. It's okay, we won't tell mommy.[Via BoingBoing]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 4 Jul 2008, 4:10 am

Sharp brings TV to the powerlessFiled under: Displays Forget schools, forget lighting, forget easy access to drinking water... it's that sweet TV goodness that people living off the grid really need. Well, that and laptops. You're looking at Sharp's 26-inch LCD prototype which uses just a quarter of the power (or a third measured annually) of a conventional CRT with the same screen size. That's low enough to be suitably powered by a Sharp, triple-junction thin-film solar cell module whose surface area is roughly equivalent to that of the LCD screen. Sharp hopes to market the two items as a pair in a bid to "contribute to the environment." Good thing too, 'cause nothing fills a billion empty bellies like an eye-full of boob-candy.[Via Impress]Read | Permalink | Email t
» 4 Jul 2008, 2:50 am

Condi Rice's custom DS lite: proof that G8 globalization is importantFiled under: Gaming, Handhelds It really does pay to be a foreign minister representing the 8 richest countries in the world. This Japanese-lacquered DS lite is just one of the items presented to the G8 ministers participating in last week's talks in Kyoto. The other items included a scented perfume ball and manga-styled stickers for each of the participant to attach to their diplomatic tricycles.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 4 Jul 2008, 1:54 am

Acer's G24 gaming monitor with world's best contrastFiled under: Displays, Gaming Clearly, Acer's G24 monitor is the only monitor capable of matching your high-performance Predator gaming rig. It's orange... or "metallic copper" if you work in Acer's arts and charts department. Bounced around trade shows for the last month, the 24-inch LCD is now officially featuring a proclaimed 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio which, according to a Acer, is a world's first for monitors. Now the specs: 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, 2-ms response, 400-nit brightness, and a host of Acer image tweaking and color management tech meant to brighten images and avoid ambient light reflection. Around back you'll find PC-friendly DVI and game-console/Blu-ray friendly HDMI too. Unfortunately, it's dateless and priceless ju
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:22 am

Budweiser telephone lets you drunk dial, like, for realFiled under: Misc. Gadgets We can only hope that the makers of this beer bottle phone actually got Budweiser's permission before slapping its logo on there, but regardless of all that, who can deny the awesomeness here? Okay, so you've got to be "that guy" for it to take your breath away, but we know you're out there somewhere, that guy. Aside from looking like a cold one, it pretty much handles everything else a hamburger phone (or similar) would, but at least this one doesn't require prior knowledge of Juno to be appreciated by your tipsy pals. Get your inebriated dialing on now for just $16.99 delivered.[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:03 am

Eee PC getting Ggg in SeptemberFiled under: LaptopsSeems that just about anyone inside of Asus is authorized to discuss the Eee PC roadmap judging by the whirlwind of information we always get prior to an official launch. Case in point: an unnamed "company representative" says that a 3G version of the Eee PC will be launching as early as September in Europe. An alternative to the WiMax version already annouced and demonstrated on Sprint's Xohm. The prices for the presumed HSDPA/HSUPA enabled mini-laptops will of course vary depending upon contract. Can't wait? No worries, why not roll your own? Should be a snap now that the Eee is riding that bigger 9-inch chassis.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:37 pm

Modular recorder concept gets down with homegrown soundsFiled under: Misc. Gadgets Now here's an instrument you wouldn't have minded practicing as a tot. Alle Meine Klänge's AMK is a modular recorder (you know, those plastic flute wannabes) that pack an array of individual blocks which can hold any sound you like. Simply transfer homegrown beats / notes / tunes / etc. over to each block, connect 'em up and you've got yourself a instrument of cacophonic delight. 'Tis a shame it's still a concept -- Fisher-Price, you seeing this?[Via BoingBoing]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:33 pm

22-foot tall robot crafted entirely from excess styrofoamFiled under: Robots var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/mods/22_foot_tall_robot_crafted_entirely_from_excess_styrofoam'; Building a big robot is nothing to congratulate yourself on, but doing it in this manner is certainly worthy of a little self-indulgence. The creature you see standing before you is a 22-foot tall Styrobot constructed entirely from spare polystyrene packing materials, and no, each piece didn't just show up that way. Michael Salter managed to whittle away on this beast until its completion, and now we're hearing that it'll be going on a short demonstration tour before being "decommissioned." We say throw a brain in there and see what happens when you cut it loose.[Via TechDigest]Read | Permalink | Email this | Commen
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:29 pm

Anti-terrorist drill reveals Segway attack plan, legions of embarrassed patrolmenFiled under: Transportation Ah, ha! So, that Chinese S.W.A.T. team we caught ridin' dirty on Segways earlier this week actually had a reason to be carrying on like they were -- they were performing anti-terrorist drills in preparation for security during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Comically enough, the drill was said to be one of "rapid deployment," though we aren't told how many spills were taken when officers tried to actually maneuver one of these things around, aim at a target, pull a brown bag down around their head and keep it from spontaneously reversing. Just one question guys: what's with the tiny guns?[Via CNET]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:21 pm

Gadgetell

Disney’s new Home of the FutureSection: Audio, Video, Communications, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle Some of you might remember back when Disneyland had their “House of the Future”.  I’m guessing it was located in Tomorrowland, and it featured such futuristic advances like speakerphones, big screen TVs, and microwave ovens.  Most homes of the present have these devices now, but during the ten year period that the exhibit was open (1957-1967), this was the future.  Disneyland has just recently opened their new house of the future, otherwise known as the Innovative Dream Home.  The 5,000-square-foot house has been built as a collaborated effort with HP, Microsoft, and LifeІware.  Visitors can watch the everyday adventures of the fictional Elias fami
» 4 Jul 2008, 8:34 am

Samsung, Bell Mobility bringing the Instinct to CanadaSection: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile The Samsung Instinct has been a hot selling handset here in the US, and it would seem that it would only be smart to take advantage of that, and do it quickly. Bell Mobility and Samsung have just announced that the Instinct will be available in Canada beginning August 8. The features are expected to be the same as the currently available Sprint version, of course, the UI will most likely be just a little less Sprint like. The Instinct is expected to retail for $149.95 with a three-year agreement and also be available for a no commitment price of $449.95. Also in non-Canadian specific Instinct related news, it seems you can also now follow along with the Inst
» 4 Jul 2008, 2:13 am

Leadtek intro’s the WinFast ExDTV2300 H TV capture cardSection: Video, Content, Video Providers, Computers, Hardware The WinFast ExDTV2300 H, part of the Express Card series from Leadtek, is designed to work with whatever format of television you are watching at the time, be it analog, digital, or even both.  This card comes with a 10-pin connector that supports component video input up to 480p, which makes it easy to capture videos from a CCD camera, camcorder, VCR, DVD player, or even a video game console. The ExDTV2300 H also has full screen stereo/SAP support, and is able to receive DVB-T and FM radio.  The user also has the option of choosing several video formats, including WMV, VCD, DVD, SVCD, as well as MPEG 1, 2, and 4.  The WinFast ExDTV2300 H is powered by WinFast PVR2,
» 4 Jul 2008, 1:06 am

Web-related criminals could soon face the death penalty, in IranSection: Web, Websites Iran is getting ready to debate a new law that could potentially send web criminals to the death chamber. The newly proposed bill is aimed to “toughen punishment for harming mental security in society,” and would mean that people found guilty of promoting activities such as corruption, prostitution or apostasy online could face the death penalty. Based on wording from the newly proposed law those found guilty “should be punished as ‘mohareb’ (enemy of God) and ‘corrupt on the earth’.” This would mean that activity as simple as setting up a blog and writing about prostitution could mean death should you be found guilty. Currently Iran has pretty strict Internet rules and they block thousands of sit
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:56 pm

Asus offers up the ruggedized B51 notebookSection: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops Asus has announced the new B51 notebook which is being touted as a ruggedized machine that can withstand harsh treatments such as drops, shocks, spills and scratches. The B51 is built with a lightweight strong magnesium alloy chassis and buffered against shock with rubber bumpers along its edges. It also has a protective film to shield it from scratches. Like all ruggedized notebooks in its class, the B51 was said to have passed military specifications namely the ‘MIL 810F Method 516.5 Procedure IV’ which simply means that it can withstand fall from a height of up to 75 cm (about 2.5-feet). Even the data stored in the hard drive will be protected from corruption by a sponge protection sy
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:47 pm

Linspire acquired by XandrosSection: Computers, Software / Applications Xandros is currently in the process of purchasing Linspire. The agreement, which was signed on June 19 would require Linspire to change their name to Digital Cornerstone Inc, however as of now a purchase price has not been made public. Linspire was originally founded by Michael Robertson and was initially called Lindows, until a certain company forced them to change their name to Linspire. While Linspire is certainly not as commonly know of a Linux distribution as Ubuntu or Xandros, this sale could potentially mean some interesting things when it comes to making Linux easy to use for non-technical people. Xandros has done good things recently with the Eee PC, but they could take one important
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:37 pm

Internet Explorer 8 adds more security featuresSection: Computers, Software / Applications, Web, Web Browsers Perhaps in a catch-up game with the recent launch of the ultra popular Mozilla Firefox 3 and upcoming Opera 9.5, Microsoft has been beefing up its own Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) with plethora of new security features Currently in public beta phase, this once dominant Web browser hopes to win back the hearts of its disheartened users with its new anti-malware protection and Cross Site Scripting (XSS) filter to fight against the so-called reflection attacks. On top of these new developments, Microsoft recently announced other security features in IE8 such as the upgraded version of its phishing filter called SmartScreen Filter, improvement on ActiveX controls as well as ant
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:25 pm

Not all game systems are green machinesFROM GAMERTELL - An Austrailain research company found that the PS3 is the biggest energy offender, followed by the… MORE » Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:15 pm

OpenMoko gets anxious, offers FreeRunner a day earlySection: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile Just yesterday it was announced that the FreeRunner from OpenMoko would be ready for sale beginning on July 4, but it seems they just could not wait any longer, and have made the handset available today. We would expect the original July 7 shipping date will however remain in effect, just due to the weekend. However if you were waiting, head on over and place you order today, after all that just means one less thing you will have to do tomorrow. Product [OpenMoko Store] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
» 3 Jul 2008, 7:34 pm

Vudu makes its way into more Best Buy locationsSection: Video, Content, Video Providers Vudu first began showing up in Best Buy locations back in late-March and at the time it was just 24 locations, all of which were located in California. The limited availability was thought to be a testing period to make sure the devices would be able to sell as expected. Well, jump forward a little over a month and it looks like it must have been successful because Vudu and Best Buy have just announced a little more widespread availability, however it is still not nationwide. They have remained in California, but also expanded to Arizona and Illinois, all in all it looks like they are now available in almost 70 Best Buy locations. In addition to the move into Best Buy locations in other states,
» 3 Jul 2008, 7:19 pm

Gadgetell Quick Review: Kensington Slimblade Presenter Media MouseSection: Peripherals, Mice / Keyboards, Reviews The first time my dad used a mouse, he held it like a remote control, waving it futilely at the screen. The folks at Kensington may have witnessed this, for they’ve created the Slimblade Presenter Media Mouse, a mouse that actually can be used as a remote—to control PowerPoint presentations and iTunes playlists. A navigation pad on the flip side of the mouse allows the user to click through slides while pointing out important details with a laser pointer. For leisure time, a switch puts the remote in media mode, allowing it to operate basic functions in iTunes: play/pause, next/previous track and volume. The shape of the navigation pad resembles the scroll wheel of an iPod, but unfort
» 3 Jul 2008, 6:00 pm

Gear Live

Scientists Believe Mars May Sustain VeggiesNow that the Phoenix Lander has found possible evidence of ice, scientists are even more optimistic now that they have taken soil samples that shows a high alkaline level. Sam Kounaves, lead investigator for the wet chemistry laboratory, claims “It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard, you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well ... it is very exciting.” The soil also showed traces of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, among other elements. We are not so sure it is all that exciting. How many people do you know that want to grow asparagus?  Tags: mars (T), nasa (T), phoenix lander (T), research (T), science (T), soil sample (T), space (T) Read More | Couri
» 3 Jul 2008, 6:00 pm

NHTSA Tests Illusional Speed BumpsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is testing a fake speed bump to see if drivers will slow down. The optical illusion looks like a 3-D pyramid when seen from a distance. The first experiment in Phoenix seemed to work until drivers realized that there were no barriers. This time the NHTSA will run a larger test in a Philadelphia residential area, hoping that they will reduce pedestrian accidents. The markers only cost $60.00 to $80.00 apiece as opposed to real speed bumps which can run $1,000.00 to $1,500.00. At least they are acting reasonably about the devices that they realize will probably have only the same effect as flashing lights. Tags: 3-d (T), images (T), nhtsa (T), speed bumps (T), testing (T), traffic
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:49 pm

Tokyoflash Galaxy WatchTokyoflash has another new and confusing timepiece. The Galaxy works by one touch, which starts animation and then displays the time on digital tube LEDs. The 12 yellow bars are the hours, the 11 red bars are groups of 5 minutes, and the 4 green bars represent each minute. Press the lower button and forgo the animation. Available in silver, the Galaxy carries a price of ¥13,900 (~$132.85.) We have been telling you about Tokyoflash’s watches for so long that we think we almost have the hang of it. Tags: led (T), timepiece (T), tokyoflash (T), tokyoflash galaxy watch (T), watch (T), wristwatch (T) Read More | Tokyoflash
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:33 pm

Penpower WorldCard Ultra ScannerWe are forever getting business cards that somehow get lost in the shuffle. Penpower’s Worldcard Ultra helps organize them in this palm-sized scanner. Practically dust-free, you simply scan the cards and it will save the information. If you have a Mac, the device will input directly into your Address Book. At a size of 4.13 × 1.2 × 3.66-inches and a weight of 5.4 oz, the scanner recognizes multiple languages and can link to map directions. Equipped with software and a USB cable, the WorldCard Ultra retails for $199.95. Tags: address book (T), business cards (T), penpower (T), scanner (T), worldcard ultra scanner (T) Read More | Penpower
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:22 pm

Panasonic PT-DZ12000 ProjectorPanasonic’s PT-DZ12000 is curiously cooled with a water system. Its four built-in lamps deliver 12,000 lumens that can cast a 600-inch projection from a minimum of 12.4 meters. The projector has curve screen support and recently made its debut at Infocomm 08 in Las Vegas. Panasonic is counting on the device for exhibitions, amusement facilities, and major events. Due out in August, the PT-DZ12000 will carry a whopping price of $69,000.00. At that price, it seems you could simply correct the curved walls. Tags: curved screens (T), panasonic pt-dz12000 projector (T), projector (T), slides (T), water-cooled (T) Read More | Tech-On via Crave
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:57 pm

Bleeding Edge TV 276: The Voodoo Omen ultimate custom PCAdd To Your Site: At HP’s Connecting Your World 2008 conference in Berlin, Germany, Rahul Sood of Voodoo PC announced the Voodoo Omen, a new top-of-the-line water-cooled PC using an as-yet-unannounced new set of nVidia SLI GPU’s and a new Intel CPU as well. It also features a fully functional LCD monitor on the front of the case. The construction on this PC is amazing, but with its $7000 price tag we’re not sure we’re ready to upgrade just yet. The Omen is currently only available to former Voodoo customers on an invite-only basis, so if you are looking to get your hands on one, you might just be out of luck. Here's how to get the show: Subscribe: iTunes iPod / H.264 | iTunes MPEG-4 | RSS H.26
» 2 Jul 2008, 10:47 pm

Fuji Subaru Plug-in StellaThose of us that live around the Motor City hear reports almost every day of American car companies losing workers and factories. Sad to say that they are being replaced by such energy efficient vehicles as the Toyota Prius Hybrid. Now Fuji is celebrating their successful Subaru Plug-in Stella, a combination of the EV system in the R1 and the mini-car. The prototype electric vehicle is set to go into development and test marketing. This is not the first time Fuji has gone green. They also released a horizontally-opposed diesel engine in Europe this past March. Tags: electric cars (T), energy efficient (T), fuji subaru plug-in stella (T), green (T), subaru (T), vehicles (T) Read More | Far East Giizmos
» 2 Jul 2008, 9:32 pm

Grill n TableNow you can play Japanese Chef with the Grill n Table. Six students in Quebec teamed up to design this prototype that combines an aluminum grill with wooden patio furniture. The group, known as the Dial_6 Faction, were told to create something to “encourage” the use of aluminum. The table will seat up to eight diners who can watch the master/mistress of the house prepare dinner and chat at the same time. Just watch out for cooks who like to toss their burgers. Tags: aluminum (T), barbecue (T), furninture (T), grill (T), grill n table (T), prototype (T), table (T) Read More | Elite Choice
» 2 Jul 2008, 9:26 pm

Exclusive: MacBook Air vs. Voodoo Envy 133 - Clash of World’s Thinnest Notebooksdigg_url = 'http://digg.com/hardware/Exclusive_Comparison_shots_of_MacBook_Air_vs_Voodoo_Envy';Earlier this morning we put up our Voodoo Envy 133 gallery, and once we glanced at our MacBook Air, we knew it was so on. It was time to put them head-to-head, in an epic battle of the world’s thinnest notebook computers. So, we put together another gallery, where the MacBook Air and Voodoo Envy 133 sit side-by-side. We take pit them together from a few different angles. Now, the Envy 133 does take the victory for being the thinnest notebook computer - but the thin side of the MacBook Air is technically thinner than the uniform thickness of the Envy. Really, it all comes down to what OS you want to run, and if you don’t care, then it comes dow
» 2 Jul 2008, 8:37 pm

Fictionwise Offers Free eBooksAfter reading that Fictionwise is releasing 3 free Stephen King ebook novels for free with rebate if you pay with credit card or Paypal, we went more in depth and found that they are also offering others at no cost. Selections include the classic “Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne, “Ghost Rider: Stories” by Jonathan Lowe, and a sample of the Oxford Paperback Thesaurus ( 348 pages.) Join their club and there are more hot deals. Most books come in eReader, Mobipocket, and Microsoft Reader. Tags: books (T), classics (T), ebook (T), fictionwise (T), novels (T), reading (T), stephen king (T) Read More | Fictionwise
» 2 Jul 2008, 7:25 pm

Blue Star Banner Plasma GlobeIf you want to celebrate the 4th of July before Friday, we suggest the Blue Star Banner Plasma Globe. Put your fingers on the glass and its stars and lightning bolts will reach out to touch you, definitely less dangerous than your average firecracker.  While we have always liked plasma globes and wondered how they work, the Online Science site took away all the mystery in their description. We won’t spoil it for any scientifically challenged others, but you can pick one up for $39.99 without looking at the fine print. Tags: 4th of july (T), blue star banner plasma globe (T), elements (T), holidays (T), plasma (T), science (T) Read More | Online Science Mall
» 2 Jul 2008, 6:57 pm

Geek

Geek Newsletter July 3, 2008 — Browsing the Mobile WebI’ve been browsing the Web for years on mobile devices. It started way back in 1999 when I used to use the Psion Revo, Psion Series 7 , and others. My favorite thing to do back then was surf the Web on the Revo while connected via IR to my Ericsson i888 world [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 2:02 pm

Microsoft teams up for another Yahoo! bidAccording to the Associated Press it sounds like Microsoft is going after Yahoo!’s online search operations again. This time the company is not looking to go it alone, however. They want to bring in News Corp. and Time Warner Inc., who maintain significant online assets. When the news hit the street Yahoo! stock got a [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:31 pm

FCC free Internet requirement upsets lawmakersIt’s clear that not everyone is on board with the idea of offering a free Internet service to the masses. The FCC has proposed a requirement in the next spectrum auction, that would require the winning bidder to offer free network access to serve 95% of the population within 10 years. According to InternetNews, two [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:03 pm

Not all dial-up users want broadbandAs much as we may find it hard to believe, not everyone is looking to give up their dial-up Internet connection for broadband speeds. This discovery comes as the result of a survey performed by the Pew Internet & American Life project. According to the study, 62% stated that they were not interested in giving [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:49 am

Linspire acquired by XandrosLinspire, the company that first made news because of a lawsuit Microsoft started over its Linux operating system named Lindows, has been acquired by a competitor. Earlier this week, Linspire announced that it had been acquired by Xandros, which offers OEM Linux solutions, Linux desktop and server products, and cross-platform Windows-Linux management tools. At this [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:10 am

New screenshots, music direction for Mushroom Men on WiiWith Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Playstation 3, and just about every game to come out for the Xbox 360, you might feel like the depth of gameplay on the Wii has been a bit on the light side since its introduction. Complaints aren’t completely unfounded, either. The Wii is severely lacking in RPGs [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:25 am

Quick Review: Nikon P80 Digital CameraWith so many digital cameras on the market right now people have the opportunity to get exactly that they are looking for. This often means the smallest one possible, which means a device that his highly pocketable but lacking in certain areas, most especially zoom. Forget digital zoom–if you want to take great shots you [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:45 am

Openmoko to launch Neo FreeRunner July 4thOpenmoko is using the July 4th holiday to declare independence in the form of a new mobile phone being launched. The device, called the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner, operates on GNU/Linux and its core software includes the ability to dial, SMS and record contacts. These features will be supplemented with periodic downloads. The Openmoko mobile platform [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:02 am

Use Microsoft Live Search Australia and win iPodsMicrosoft is now offering iPods (nano, shuffle & touch) to promote Live Search in Australia. The company said that using a competitor’s products in this way is frowned upon. However, the Zune is not available in Australia, making them use iPods as part of the offer to acquire some extra search traffic. In the US, Microsoft [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:31 am

SentrySafe launch 250 GB fire-safe, water-proof hard driveWhat do you have on your home or business hard drive right now? If you have a home hard drive it probably has financial records, documents and irreplaceable digital photos and videos. If it’s a business hard drive then it not only has financial documents including accounts payable, but customer records as well. Now just [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 7:49 am

Geekologie

Medical Manikin Is Pretty Freaking DisturbingThis is an old dude with really saggy tits and yellow wires hanging out of his arm. He comes with interchangeable two penis or vagina attachments and is used to train doctors how to play dress up with a plastic dummy. See, there's a wig and everything. Accessories include two bottles of everclear, a sports drink, and some syringes. If you want one of your own to get freaky with they're available for around $1,000. Also, if you want to play doctor I will play with you. Medical Manikins Freak Us Out [gizmodo]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:03 am

Chinese Military Prepare For OlympicsSo your good buddy The Geekologie Writer got what is known in the medical field as "fucked the fuck up" last night because his wife made the mistake of going out of town for the holiday weekend. He hit wing night, drank like 300 beers, and then proceeded to sing "Ring Of Fire" at karaoke (he has a deep, sexy voice just like Cash). Good times. His hands are still shaking. Anyway, this is a picture of the Chinese military during a rapid deployment exercise in preparation for the upcoming Olympics. Because, let's face it, nothing says "I'm going for the gold!" like riot geared military personnel dry humping their Segways. BBC News Thanks Guillaume, I did a Segway once, but it was nothing compared to a Hoveround.
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:00 am

Robot Bartender Serves Beer, I Don't TipMr. Asahi was made by Japanese based Asahi Breweries and serves beer before stealing your girlfriend and making out with her in the walk-in cooler. It took over 200 man-hours to build Mr. Robobeer and he's pretty much limited to opening bottles and pouring draft beer. Did I mention he talks? He talks. Now I'm torn here because for once in my life I'm strangely attracted to a robot, but I think it's only because he serves beer. I'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or, okay, my roommate and the arm of the sofa. Great, now he's drooling on me. Hit the jump for a worthwhile video of Mr. Asahi in action.
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:00 am

Sickly Modded Rolls-Royce Spotted In LondonThis is a $1,000,000 highly modded 1995 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit MKIV recently spotted in London. It was customized by Indian firm DC Designs and is rumored to belong to the Sultan of Brunei's family. I guess it looks okay, and I like the way the doors open (see pictures after the jump), but you know what really gets me? The custom plate. Somebody please tell me CEXI means something in another language or counting system. Because as far as I know, it's a tacky misspelling of "SEXY" and makes you look like an idiot. This reminds me: there was a girl that went to my high school, Lexi, and when she turned 16 her parents got her a new car. And you know what custom plate she chose? "SXI LEXI". The best part was she was nowhere near s
» 2 Jul 2008, 3:30 pm

Telling Time With Colors: The Galaxy WatchWell it's been a little while since we've posted some sweet time-telling gadgetry, so I figured now is as good a time as any to hit you with Tokyoflash's newest offering -- The Galaxy. The cryptic looking display is deceptively easy to read; one touch of the upper button initiates a programmed animation of light, and then presents the time. Twelve yellow bars represent hours in a clock wise direction, eleven red bars represent groups of five minutes and four green bars show single minutes. Pressing the lower button presents the time immediately. No ordinary design, Galaxy has a modern look with futuristic style. The Galaxy retails for ¥13,900 ($133, and free 5-day worldwide shipping) and is just the icebreaker you need to talk to that
» 2 Jul 2008, 2:30 pm

Using A Laser-Etch Machine To Brand YourselfWhat you're looking at is a picture of a guy's hand. A guy who stuck said hand into a laser-etching machine and used it to brand a robot image into his skin. There are a bunch more laser-etch tattoos/brands after the jump if you're curious what burnt skin looks like, so check them out. There's also a video and link to the instructables detailing how the guys did it and what the experience was like. Which, to me, looks a little tamer than when I got branded with a heated coat hanger freshman year of college. My leg scabbed to the bedsheets when I passed out that night. Then I woke up the next day, developed an infection, slipped into delirium, and woke up two days later when my friends were taking me to the hospital. It was a crazy se
» 2 Jul 2008, 1:00 pm

Oh Great: Robot Can Learn To Use ToolsWonderful, just wonderful. The UMass Mobile Manipulator, developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, can learn (by itself) how to use different tools (weapons). UMan uses a regular webcam to look down at a table from above. By analyzing differences between adjacent pixels, it guesses where an object's edges might be found. Then it prods the object and, on the basis of how it moves, revises its estimate of the object's shape. It continues shoving the object around, observing how its parts move in relation to each other. UMan will push the object backward and forward along its width and length and at a 45-degree angle to both, if necessary, until it's satisfied that it understands how the object moves. Wherever the movement is r
» 2 Jul 2008, 12:00 pm

For The Plushie Trifecta: Plush GutsFirst it was particle plushies, followed by microbe plushies, and now, for the win and trifecta, come plush guts. Each organ is about 6"-8" in size and run between $16-$20 (except for the limited edition heart of gold, that one will set you back $30). I personally just bought a backup liver and uterus but was disappointed to find they don't sell my favorite organ. You do know the one I'm talking about, don't you? The spleen, how can they not sell the spleen? Hit the jump for a bunch more pictures of different organs, including the coveted heart of gold.
» 2 Jul 2008, 11:00 am

Good Looking: Optimus 'Scrap Metal' PrimeBeing a Transformer and all, we've seen Optimus Prime in a variety of different forms. And here comes another -- scrap metal. Optimus 'Scrap Metal' Prime is made entirely out of welded metal and makes for some serious eye/tetanus candy. Made by Robot-Models, this particular Optimus stands over 7-feet tall, weighs 550 pounds, and costs a whopping $6,896. If you like the style but can't afford to drop a few grand, they also have smaller models in the several hundred dollar range (pictures after the jump). But, being the Geekologist, I had to drop for the big daddy. It arrived yesterday, and guess what my wife had the nerve to ask -- "What in the hell is that piece of junk?" She should have known better. "He's not junk" I replied, "he's
» 2 Jul 2008, 10:00 am

Best Light Bulb Commercial EverHailing all the way from Thailand, this commercial was made for Sylvania by ad agency JEH United and has it all -- a picnicking family, ghosts, a guy who may or may not be a member of the Blue Man Group, and a transvestite. Advertising people, take note: this is how you sell freakin' products. Youtube Thanks Mikal, now I have to install floodlights in the bedroom.
» 2 Jul 2008, 9:00 am

Kid Breaks Guitar Hero Record, Is 13Danny Johnson is 13-years old that started playing Guitar Hero a scant 9 months ago. But that hasn't stopped him from putting my skills to shame and snagging the Guinness World Record for highest score on "Through The Fire and Flames". Danny scored 890,971 points in front of a live audience at the Guitar Hero 24 Hour Maraton in Dallas and has allegedly pushed past 950,000 points at home. Danny estimates he's played the song nearly 500 times since first starting the game. Danny still plays "Guitar Hero" about three hours a day. And even though he holds the world record, he's trying to do even better on "Through the Fire and Flames," trying to beat his high score. That poses plenty of challenge for him -- if not some irritation. "I do ha
» 2 Jul 2008, 8:00 am

Geeky Gadgets

The Worlds Thinnest MP4 PlayerThe guys over at Chinavasion have an MP4 player, which they are reporting to be the world’s thinnest. This thin MP4 player meassures just 4.5mm thick, and comes with 4GB of storage space, and features a 1.8 inch screen. The screen will display movies files at a 160 x 128 resolution and it will play MP4, MP3, [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 4:48 am

Geeky Watches - The Binary - Ibiza Ride RB WatchCheck out this geeky watch, the Binary Ibiza Ride RB Watch. This geeky watch features a leather strap and a steel case, a group of diodes glow in red and blue on the watch face in what appears to be a random pattern. On closer inspection it is obvious that the diodes are showing the current time, [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 4:00 am

Asus add another PC to their lineup - The Asus Eee Monitor Desktop PCHere’s another addition to the Asus Eee lineup, the Asus Eee Monitor PC. As usual the exact specs haven’t been confirmed yet, but the screen size of the Eee Monitor is expected be to 19 or 20 inches. The Eee Monitor features 2 USB ports and a card reader on the front, on the back there are [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 2:00 am

Fun Gadgets - The Waterproof Shower ClockHere’s another fun gadget from the guys over at Brando, the waterproof shower clock. This fun clock features a giant sucker, so you can stick it to virtually any surface, i.e. tiles, glass etc. So you could put it in your shower to make sure you don’t spend so much time in there and are late for [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 1:00 am

iPhone 3G - FAQ VideoWith the launch of the 3G iPhone just a week away, Apple have released a video guide for the 3G iPhone. Check out the video over at Apple (link below), which details the new functions of the iPhone 3G including details of how the iPhone App store will work. Apple Video Guide I would be interested to here [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:36 pm

Geeky Toys - The Atlas Mini 3-Channel R/C HelicopterCheck out this fun  geeky  toy, The Atlas Mini 3-Channel R/C Helicopter. Three is almost always better than two. It’s true with donuts, gigabytes of memory and of course R/C helicopter channels. Now Silverlit, the company who originally created the small R/C copter fad has released a new easy-to-fly 3-channel copter. Traditionally small R/C copters can’t hover [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:09 am

Fun Gadgets - The USB LED Tube Light SpeakerCheck out this fun accessory for your iPod or MP3 player, the USB Tube Light Speaker. This USB LED Light Tube Speaker can connect to all iPods, MP3, MP4, MD, CD player, notebook, PC, PDA, PSP, mobile phone and other digital products with 3.5mm stereo audio connector. Here’s the specs. Powered by USB Built-in blue LED light tube Stereo sound Can [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 10:23 am

Geeky Watches - The All in one Atomic Time WatchCheck out this geeky watch, the all in one atomic time watch. If you travel abroad this watch will keep your time perfectly in sync with the official atomic time. The receiver inside the All-in-one Atomic Time Watch can receive the NIST time signal originating in Fort Collins, CO to keep your watch accurate within the U.S. [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 8:00 am

Linux Gadgets - The OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner goes on sale July 4thYou may remember the Linux powered OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner that we featured on the site back in January, well it will finally be available to buy from July the 4th, in the US, Europe and India. Here’s a reminder of the specs. Processor — Samsung S3C2442 500MHz RAM — 128MB Flash — 256MB Display — 4.3-inch diagonal WQVGA Color TFT [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:00 am

Cool Mods - The Asus Eee PC Touch Screen ModCheck out this modded Asus Eee PC 900, which features a built in touch screen. Apparently this mod will be available as a kit, here is a video of it in action. I am surprised Asus haven’t released a touch screen version of their Eee PC yet, maybe they have one planned for the future. For more details [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:04 am

Gizmodo

Giz Service Announcement: Fireworks and Watermelon Don't Mix [July 4th]newVideoPlayer("/july4th_part1_giz.flv", 475, 376,""); Hey, we here at Gizmodo, together with Nancy Nord of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, want to remind you to have a safe 4th of July. Don't use illegal fireworks for anything dangerous. Like blowing up an M-1000 inside of a watermelon. In slow motion. Happy 4th weekend everybody. [CPSC]
» 3 Jul 2008, 9:02 pm

Evolution of the Super Soaker Watergun [Super Soaker]It's the 4th of July weekend, which means sun for most of us and all kinds of fun outdoor activities, many of them including squirt guns. If you're hardcore, you use nothing but the Super Soaker, which was first introduced in 1989 and has evolved into personal water cannons that seem capable of blasting holes in concrete. Hyperbole aside, they've come a long way, and iSoaker has a very cool interactive, clickable chart showing the evolution of the world's most popular water gun. Which one was your favorite? [iSoaker]
» 3 Jul 2008, 6:01 pm

Helio, Sidekick UI Designer Working On New Palm OS [Palm]This is some pretty exciting news for us Palm fans who've been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for something new from the handset maker. It turns out Palm has hired Matias Duarte to design the UI for the next Palm OS. You probably haven't heard of him, but he's the guy behind the impressive interfaces for the Sidekicks and Helio's phones. The idea of giving this guy a large install base and a touchscreen to play with is a good one. Palm's got an uphill battle to take on the iPhone, but this could be how they do it. [Engadget]
» 3 Jul 2008, 5:13 pm

Motorola's &quot;Napolean&quot; Q World Phone Gets Leaked: CDMA + GSM Included [Napolean]Motorola's got another Q in the queue in the form of the new Napolean world phone. It's a CDMA smartphone for Verizon that does double duty with GSM, so you can use it pretty much anywhere. It also includes Wi-Fi if you're not feeling like using its EV-DO Revision A or EDGE data, runs Windows Mobile 6.1, and includes a fingerprint scanner and a 2-megapixel camera with flash. It sounds like a great phone for world travelers, but probably overkill for anyone else. [BGR]
» 3 Jul 2008, 4:30 pm

DeLorean Shows Up at Nike Hyperdunk &quot;Back to the Future&quot; Sneaker Premiere [Nike Hyperdunk]As you already know, today was the launch of the limited-edition Marty McFly-inspired Nike Hyperdunk sneakers. 350 pairs were sold almost instantly (some are now for sale on eBay for as much as $2,000), a hundred of them at the UNDFTD shop in Santa Monica, where L.A. Lakers' megastar Kobe Bryant arrived in a DeLorean time machine to be greeted by hundred of fans, some of them camping outside for more than 24 hours. Seriously, I'm a Back to the Future fan too, but what kind of obsessed fanboy can wait for more than 24 hours for a stupid piece of merchandise? Ah... hrmmm. OK, never mind. [Hypebeast] galleryPost('kobebryantnike', 3, '');
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:45 pm

The Godfather Box Set Going Blu [Blu-Ray]The Godfather box set is coming to Blu-ray this September. [Amazon]
» 3 Jul 2008, 3:00 pm

10 Gadgety Reasons Why I Love America [Thank Giz It's America]With an unpopular war going on, an unpopular president in the White House and an economy in crisis, sometimes we struggle to remember what makes this country great. July 4th should be a time to reflect on the positives—a day to celebrate our independence and recapture our patriotic spirit. For some of us, that may be easier said than done. However, I am confident that the following gadgets will serve as a reminder, to all nerds, why we live in the best country in the world. And if you are still not convinced, just remember—you could be living in Canada. Freedom of Speech: Nothing says "America" like making our political leaders hump in action figure form. Start your own freaky Beltway love triangle involving George and Laura Bush, Hilla
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:12 pm

Review: Dell's Vista Dock Pretty But Lifeless [Dell Dock]I'm OCD about my desktop. I keep exactly six icons on it, tucked in the upper left hand corner. So Dell's OS X wannabe dock—actually made by Stardock and licensed to Dell, but let's not pretend it's not an Apple reaction—sounds like a great way to keep my desktop immaculate. Who originated the dock or why it came to be aren't really that important. The fact is, lots of people who never would've used a dock are now going to when Dell ships these out. And that would be awesome, if the dock weren't so dumb. galleryPost('delldock', 3, ''); newVideoPlayer("/delldock.flv", 506, 423,""); Our review unit is an XPS M1330—Dell shipped us a fresh hard drive with Vista Ultimate and the latest Dell software. (The Dock will arrive on new Studio l
» 3 Jul 2008, 1:00 pm

British Vauxhall Cars Have New Camera That Scans Signs, Displays Current Speed Limit [Speed Limit]Although various GPS units already have the ability to display the current speed limit (they're pre-programmed in) of the road you're on, this Vauxhall Motors invention seems even better. There's a camera on-board that takes 30 snaps per second, then recognizing speed limit signs and translating that to a number to display on your dash. This way you can know exactly what the speed limit is at all times, even when you've just transitioned from a high speed area to a low speed one that cops like to ticket in. In fact, if this system is good enough, it could be a decent excuse to tell the popos that their speed limit signs were too obscured that even a 30FPS camera couldn't make it out. [Kicking Tires via Oh Gizmo]
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:30 pm

Bobble Head Vader is So Ashamed of You [Star Wars]This bobble head Darth Vader is designed for your monitor, where he can look down on you in shame. What has disgusted him so? You. Slob. I mean, you were the chosen one! Yes, you! You always knew it, too, but gave up on moving objects with your mind at an early age while settling for a brief stint at community college and a decent office job. Sure, you've got a nice dog and a decent girlfriend, but you could have been wielding lightsabers and sharing awkward sexual tension with your sister. You're so lame. [Monsters in Motion via Nerd Approved]
» 3 Jul 2008, 12:00 pm

Hands-On Google Talk for iPhone (Verdict: Stick with Installer.app) [Webapps]Google's brand new Gtalk webapp for the iPhone is as crappy as I expected it would be. It has a nice design, and sending messages was easy, but at the end of the day it's still running in Safari—which means if you get a call you are signed out of chat. And unlike other web-based IM apps, Gtalk doesn't work in the background, so interruptions as simple as going to the home screen sign you out too. Also, there are no preference settings, so you are stuck looking at your whole contact list, online and off. Gtalk's AIM support is also curiously absent from this release. In short, this program sucks. If you're looking for a solid IM solution before the App store opens, I strongly recommend Agile Mobile's AM client recently released on Installe
» 3 Jul 2008, 11:30 am

LifeHacker - Gadgets

Wirewize Explains How to Connect Your Entertainment GearFree A/V website Wirewize takes most of the guesswork out of hooking together your television, DVD player, stereo speakers, and other gear. After a free sign-up, enter in the model and make of each component, and Wirewize will offer up which cables are needed, and diagram how they should run. Not every bit of equipment will be listed, especially those no longer sold, but the site has PDF manuals for some of the goods it does have. For A/V neophytes and those trying to troubleshoot friends' systems over the phone, it's pretty helpful. Wirewize [via Webware]
» 26 Jun 2008, 5:30 am

The Six Way Opener Declutters Your Kitchen DrawerThe Six Way Opener is a kitchen multi-tool that lives up to its moniker, offering a multitude of ways to open, grip, and pry common containers in the kitchen. At $7.95, it can open bottles, bags, jars, cans, and other packaging, and replace a variety of kitchen utensils like a can opener, bottle opener, and jar opener. Six Way Opener [Crate & Barrel via Unclutterer]
» 22 Jun 2008, 4:00 pm

DIY Pegboard Media CenterReader jay-martin took our popular pegboard gadget mount DIY project out from under the computer desk and into the living room's entertainment center. By replacing the back of the entertainment center unit with pegboard, he mounted the power strip and cords for his Xbox 360, Mac mini, router, and hard drive under the TV. See his full Flickr set to see the project come together. Then add photos or video of your life hacks in action to the Lifehacker Tip Testers Flickr group, and get your handiwork featured here. Media Center Setup [Flickr]
» 19 Jun 2008, 11:30 am

Three Reader Gadget Pegboard MountsOne of the most popular DIY projects we've ever posted is the Pegboard Gadget Mount—a cheap and easy way to organize your gadgets and cords and get them out of sight. Lots of readers have taken the original suggestion and did it in their own offices and under their own desks. After the jump, check out a few gadget pegboard mounts from Lifehacker readers, pulled from the Flickr Tip Testers group. Reader steve_price82 built a custom desk with a flip-up pegboard that offers easy access to his gadgets but also keeps them out of sight. Cool!! Arielsoul's pegboard mount is set up under an Ikea desk: Reader archnemesis_goldenhair's mount: These three tip testers aren't the only readers who have hooked up the pegboard gadget organizer; reader
» 15 Jun 2008, 1:00 pm

Rejuvenate Your Fan with a Little TLCWith sweltering summer heat and humidity fully upon us, most people have pulled fans out of winter storage and fired them up. What if your fan just doesn't seem to provide the same relief as it used to? Before scrapping it and buying a new one, a little cleaning could go a long way to increasing the airflow. Jgodsey has a great Instructables how to on breathing new life into a dirty fan. After only one season a fan may be covered in enough gunk to give the illusion that the 'motor' is worn out, when really all that is needed is a good cleaning to keep it running for a lot more hours. I have often picked these up on trash day, and gotten years of use from them. Helpful readers offer more tips, like de-greasing especially dirty fan blades wit
» 14 Jun 2008, 5:00 am

Defrag Your Office for Increased EfficiencyOne of the side effects of having so much stuff to help us get work done is dealing with the clutter it creates in our workspace. But just like you can defragment a hard drive—organize the bits and bytes so that related ones are closest to one another for faster access—you can also defrag your office to make it more efficient. Put your stuff out of the way but within reach, and make it easy to find and put back with a few workspace organization techniques. Photo by lenski. Defrag Your Gadgets, Appliances, and Supplies The key to a good office defrag is grouping related items together. Put paper and ink refills near your printer, the recycling bin near your shredder, the camera USB cable and extra memory card in the camera bag, stamps ne
» 31 May 2008, 9:00 am

The S-Biner Double CarabinerCarabiners—D-shaped rings with spring-loaded clips that climbers use—have become more popular for everyday use, like clipping keys, water bottles, or even USB drives to your backpack or gear. The Cool Tools blog features an S-Biner, a modified carabiner that has dual clips so you can attach items on either side. The S-Biner will set you back 5 bucks, and is available at Amazon. Nite Ize S-Biner [Cool Tools]
» 18 May 2008, 10:30 am

The Pilot's Pen Lights and WritesWhether you're flying a jumbo jet at night or working on a crossword puzzle in the dark, the Pilot's Pen is a nifty solution. The LED-powered penlight illuminates the page while you write, or you can retract the ink and just use it as a mini flashlight—useful for checking a map or locating something in the night driver's glove compartment. The Pilot's Pen will set you back 20 bucks, and it's available at Amazon. Pilot's Pen [Cool Tools]
» 9 May 2008, 12:00 pm

Combyo Aggregates Deal Sites for Fast Bargain SearchingGot a product you want to find for a steal, but not enough time to run through Fatwallet, Slickdeals, BensBargains, or any other of the deep-discount sites? Deal aggregator Combyo gives you results on any product, filtered by date, source, or category, and lets you set email price alerts for anything that's just not cheap enough yet. It's fairly similar in purpose to previously-mentioned Dealighted, but the interface is a lot cleaner and easier to run through (Original Dealighted post). Combyo [via MakeUseOf.com]
» 6 May 2008, 8:06 am

Apply the $100 Rule to Kill Impulse PurchasesWhen a surge of guilt hits just as you're digging your fingernails into the shrink wrap around your latest gadget, you know you've probably made a rushed, unhealthy impulse purchase. The No Credit Needed financial blog suggests a "$100 rule," in which any purchase price is divided by that amount and considered for that many days—a $300 PlayStation 3 gets re-considered for three days, a $1,400 MacBook is delayed for two weeks of researching, and so forth. I'd have to scale that rule down to $50, or else end up arriving home with a new Wii game every Friday, but as the author notes, the rule also gives you time to research better prices or deals before giving in and splurging. What's your preferred system or habit to counteract quick-draw c
» 5 May 2008, 5:00 am

ReviewGist Rounds Up Product Recommendations from Around the WebWeb site ReviewGist gathers the results of expert reviews from around the web to give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of a potential purchase. Aside from its deep analysis, which dives into the nuts and bolts of what a reviewer liked and disliked about a product, ReviewGist also provides a great comparison tool to check the ratings of similar products side-by-side. While a lot of people tend to stick to the consumer reviews on the site they're purchasing from, like Amazon, ReviewGist looks like a great place to check out the broader merits of a product before making a big purchase. ReviewGist [via TechCrunch]
» 24 Apr 2008, 7:00 pm

Oh Gizmo!

USB Webkey May Replace Flash Drives As Corporate SwagBy Luke Anderson If you’ve ever been to any kind of trade show in the last few years, you’ve no doubt gotten a USB flash drive from one of the vendors. They hand them out like candy these days (I think I had close to a dozen by the end of my last show), but unfortunately [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:44 am

8-Bit Watch Is The Perfect Geeky AccessoryBy Luke Anderson I rarely find myself wearing a watch these days. This is mostly because I have at least two other devices on my person that can tell me the time. I’ve considered buying a new watch, but I haven’t found one that I really feel like wearing. However, this Icon Watch may be exactly [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:43 am

Go Anywhere Backpack Folds Up Into A Tiny BallBy Luke Anderson I have three different backpacks sitting in my closet. One is especially for trade shows (it has special compartments for my laptop, cameras and lenses), one I use for hiking, and another for other use. I like having all of them, as they each have their uses, however, they do take up a [...]
» 4 Jul 2008, 12:41 am

XKD Solar Powered Watch Doesn’t Have Looks Going For ItBy Andrew Liszewski Citizen has a line of watches known as the Eco-Drive series that are constantly recharged by light which means you never have to wind them or replace the battery. The XKD Solar Powered Watch pictured here does pretty much the same thing, except that while the Eco-Drive watches manage to cleverly hide the [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 7:01 am

Miracle Berry Tablets Mess With Your TastebudsBy Luke Anderson Anyone that knows me very well can tell you that I’m a horribly picky eater. I’m the kind of guy that hates going to fancy restaurants because I have to stare at the menu for ten minutes trying to find something that sounds halfway appetizing. I’m sure other picky eaters will be just [...]
» 3 Jul 2008, 6:51 am

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