Sunday, December 23, 2007
_
FBI’s $1 Billion Biometric Database Will Help Catch the Bad Guys
4:20PM Haroon Malik | The FBI is planning to spend $US1 billion on the world’s largest biometric database. The database will be used to create a big brother state, in which you will ultimately have little autonomy assist the FBI’s efforts in catching the bad guys. Apparently, compilation of digital images, including mug shots, fingerprints and palm patterns have already begun. More »
Gadgets
Foot Warmers Are Only a Power Source Away
3:10PM Haroon Malik | Holy crap! We’ve just solved one of life’s great mysteries, and wanted to let you in on it. Keeping your feet warm when you cannot be bothered/are too much of a cheapskate to invest in a gadget based solution has always been a problem, but we’ve sussed it. Here’s how: get your feet up close and personal to your PSUs. That’s all there is to it. Nothing more, we promise you. More »
_
FSJ in Talks With Apple?
2:10PM Haroon Malik | We have all come to know and love the ramblings of FSJ, but apparently the real Steve Jobs is not best pleased. Daniel Lyon has been regularly updating his weblog, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, with details of an Apple led negotiation calling for a cease to the sites activities. More »
Gadgets
Stanford Boffins Develop Super Battery
12:30PM Haroon Malik | Using silicon nanowires, researchers at Stanford have managed to create an alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The newly invented battery will have a 10 times greater capacity than Li-ion cells, which translates into mind boggling longevity for portable electronic devices. More »
Gadgets
New Gadgets for KITT 2.0 Revealed, Leather Pants Not Included
11:42AM Jesus Diaz | The new gadgets for KITT version 2.0 have been revealed, including every single technology a man who does not exist would ever need: laser weapons system, nanotech cloaking, laser-guided missile defense, 3D heads-up display, military-grade GPS, holographic projection and even a Mini-KITT reconnaissance drone (!?!) among 21 new gizmos. Surprisingly, all this technological terror leaves out three of the most amazing gadgets of the original KITT: More »
Gadgets
How to Make a Bottle Rocket Out of Matchsticks and Foil
9:30AM Brian Lam | Hey, this is a little random, but if you’re bored visiting relatives with no gadgets to fiddle with, here’s a tutorial for making a a bottle rocket out of matches and foil. Beats helping with the cooking. [Instructables 1 and 2 and Youtube] More »
Phones
8GB Nokia N95 Coming to North America?
8:45AM Adrian Covert | The Nokia Guide recently found on Nokia’s online Nseries US Portal, an inadvertent mention of a 8GB N95 NAM (North American Model). Also listed was an 8GB N82, but it was subsequently taken off the list, while this new N95 mention was left on. Could we be seeing a refresh to the Nokia line sometime soon? If a North American 8GB N95 is in the works, one would assume it would offer 3G wireless over US bands like its 4GB counterpart. But if Nokia really wanted to excite me, they would offer an N95 with a touchscreen and a QWERTY/SureType keyboard. [The Nokia Guide via Boy Genius Report] More »
Entertainment
Blu Site Hacked, Format War Battlers Post Your Flames Here
8:00AM Brian Lam | Contrary to the spirit of Peace and Love on Earth this holiday, Blu-ray site was hacked to redirect visitors to the official HD DVD site, and a few weeks ago, the prestigious AVS Forum shut down the Blu and HD DVD section because of the jump in uncivilized discourse. We generally like higher brow comments here at giz, but you’ve all spoken. You want to fight about it. You want to get all hot under the collar, brandish your brass knuckles, and get into your karate stance. So go ahead, rip each other to shreds in this post as you debate the pros and cons of the Blu and HD DVD. No one can be banned for a statement in this post. Just don’t ask me to drive you to the hospital or kiss your booboos better. Which format are you supporting? And do you hate the other? P.S. Facts for the win. Arm yourself with knowledge of the State of Blu-ray and HD DVD posts. More »
Vehicles
Nissan GT-R Detects When Car is on a Race Track, Disables Speed Limiter via GPS
7:15AM Adrian Covert | It’s no secret Giz loves the GT-R. We consider it the unofficial car of Gizmodo, actually. So imagine our collective giddiness when we heard that the Japanese model has a feature that uses GPS to detect when it’s on a race track, prompting the Engine Control Unit to disable the speed limiter (which holds the engine at 111 mph in Japan). More »
Phones
