November, 2008
According to DigiTimes, Motorola has placed orders for both the Alexander and Atila Windows Mobile PDA phones with Compal. The news comes on the...
Greg Parker is a professor of electronics at Southampton University. He's also a wizard. Like his co-author Noel Carboni. Real wizards, capable of obtaining some images that rival the best of Hubble's and giant Earth-based telescopes using less than $15,000 in equipment and more patience than any money in the world could buy. Their magic: A refrigerated CCD chip, a rotating dome, and some smart post processing in Photoshop.
galleryPost('refrigeratedcamera', 8, 'Star Vistas');
These images will be part of Star Vistas, a book that will be published next year and will collect all their photos of space, taken since they met online four years ago. The two alien Peeping Toms started to collaborate online in 2004. Neil—a Photoshop wizard ...
By allowing its snooty customers to manipulate the snooty Microsoft Surface interface with their snooty fingers, BMW has officially become the first car maker to offer the touchscreen tech to a worldwide car-buying audience. Impressed? Me neither, but that's just because I'm a low-paid writer who's insanely jealous of anyone driving a car that's hotter than my 2006 Mercury Milan. So, basically everyone.
As you can see in the video, there's nothing ground-breaking here, save for some fancy cars and interactive swatches for interior and exterior colors (the software was developed by Vectorform for BMW, btw). If you're up for a stiff German guy reading off a cue card, though, then by all means clicky clicky. [BMW Blog, Thanks Haratiu!]
Is this tire really the "Holy Grail of Eco-Transportation," as Treehugger believes? Maybe. Time will tell if the electric engine inside the Active Wheel from Michelin will catch on and further drive down the cost of electric vehicles. For now, let's delve deep into this tire-motor combo, and you can decide for yourself if it has what it takes to kill the gas-guzzling combustion engine for good.
The wheels, while still in development over at Michelin, already have a vehicle ready to receive them. Called the Heuliez Will, this tiny tot from Opel doesn't look like much, but it has it where it counts, and might produce an offspring that, in a galaxy far, far away, makes the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. ...
The global recession has sparked riots at the Nerf factory in Dongguan, South China, but there are as-of-yet no reports of any Vulcan GF-25 cannon discharges. In fact, no foam weaponry of any kind was brandished during the tussle, which came to a head following layoffs and unpaid wages.
And unlike the riots that took place in Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores in the States last Friday, there were no reports of fatalities. Just general bedlam:
The workers battled security guards, turned over a police car, smashed the headlights of police motorcycles and forced their way through the factory's front gate, Guo said. They went on a rampage in the plant's offices, damaging 10 computers, the company said.
Below is that oldie ...
We figure this RC Black Widow Spider is good for maybe one, possibly two, good scares before a skittish family member offs it with a well-placed slipper to the head. But until then, you'll have seconds or minutes of fun making this hairy little abomination scurry around the family room on its eight little legs. Requires six AA batteries, one 9-volt battery, about $36, and a forgiving family that doesn't instinctively squash something that resembles one of the deadliest spiders on the planet. [Play.com via Technabob]
I was overcome with nostalgic joy this fine afternoon when I first laid eyes on these M.U.S.C.L.E Men USB dongles (short for Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere). The memories! These fleshy pink rubber men, featuring unforgettable names like Muscle Man, Mr. Blocky and Mr. Tea (teacup for a head, duh!), were a staple of my youth. Too bad those fond memories were quickly sullied by the obscene humping end of these USB dongles. Why the Japanese took something as sacred as Kinniukman and turned him into something like this, I'll never know. All I can say is "only in Japan," and then order ten for my desktop. [Geek Stuff For You via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Today, Black Friday is a distant, blood-soaked memory, and the tamer online affair known to the marketers who created it as "Cyber Monday" will arrive tomorrow. Look for a Gizmodo roundup of what to expect on tomorrow later this evening. For now, revel in the crazy eBay Door Buster deals we've uncovered so far.
The purported list includes one of each of these items, which will be randomly posted to eBay throughout the day. Starting bid for each item is $1. But, you have to find them, like an Easter Egg hunt.
2009 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Coupe
2.25 carat Asscher cut diamond engagement ring
Kawasaki Jet Ski
Panasonic 1080p 65” plasma TV
Playskool KOTA the Triceratops Dinosaur
Supoman intelligent robot automatic lawn mower Previously ...
For some, the all-seeing CCTV camera is a bit off putting. Its uncaring eye records all, making even a simple trip to the ATM an adventure in privacy rights for our more conservative-minded citizens. In Japan, they understand this, and in typical Japanese fashion they've started hiding surveillance cameras in "friendly" Daruma wish dolls to lessen the blow.
And yes, it says "this is a surveillance camera" on the side, but it's still damn cute. Record my every move all you want, Daruma-san! [Japan Probe via Crunch Gear]
While many people use the shopping bonanza Black Friday (now deadly, btw) to secure new clothes as gifts for loved ones, I use it as an excuse to buy new pants because my old ones don't fit after Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully, I won't have to do that anymore, because the Waistband Stretcher removes that task and all other vestiges of personal accountability from the equation forever.
The $30 device slips into a pair of jeans or slacks and does as advertised. It stretches them out to a more pleasing and comfortable size 40, or whatever your waistline might be after a full day of gorging on turkey, potatoes and pie.
The stretcher promises to breath new life into your old wardrobe by adding one ...
