This flight image sequence was allegedly taken during the filming of a Eurofighter Typhoon from a Hercules 130 cargo bay. Apparently, the director asked the pilot over the radio to come closer and closer and closer, until the pilot got fed up and whizzed right up to the entrance of the Hercules saying: "Would you like it this close?" [Thanks Jorge Mozo]

The rumored new Apple keyboard has already been analyzed to death, compared to its current, fully real counterpart. But in this handy side by side picture (hit the jump for a mega version) we can see the potential impact the new design will have on Apple users. What, for instance, will we ever do without the 'Help' key? Overall, the comparison shows that if Apple isn't using this new keyboard, they really should be, as dock and multimedia functions have been condensed and organized neatly. What do you think, fanboys? [circa1978]

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In the future, all furniture will glow. But if Fuwapica has anything to say about it, the glowing will quantify your embarrassment. Fuwapica seats are, at their heart, about social humiliation. Coming in Honeycomb and Ice varieties, they assign you a color based upon weight, providing us with luminescent evidence that, yes, we are the fattest guy in all of LA. The seats then coordinate with other seats close by, while coordinating with the table's sensors that detect colors sitting on its surface. (The table features a computer and LCD display screen for control over the chairs.)

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Lomak (Light Operated Mouse and Keyboard) allows for control of an entire computer through the use of a light pointer, accommodating those who have difficulty with traditional input devices. Operated by hand or head, users aim the beam of light at a pad holding rotary-style letters and numbers. As the light passes over each button, it appears on screen without the need for clicking or nodding or any special gestures. Thereby, typing requires only slight dexterity in a system with nearly no learning curve. Also, no special software or calibration is required, and the Lomak in no way changes the UI of your existing programs. The Lomak won gold in the 2007 IDEA design awards and we hope to see the design actualized soon. How men everywhere will explain the need for hands-free web browsing is not yet known. [design via scifitech]

The Google News Cushion is a standard couch pillow that's been printed with the top Google News stories of the year. It's a microcosm, in plush, pillow form, of the collective human experience on planet Earth. For instance, what news did we search most in 2003?

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Without seeing the alleged Walmart ad with my own eyes, this is still in BIG RUMOR form. But according to a very small picture (bigger version after the jump) that has been floating around online, the Xbox 360 Premium... Read More »

Not being well-versed in the areas of our penal system...our collective penal system... we had no idea that the N64 rumble pack was huge with prison tattoo artists. A maximum security prison guard recently wrote our sister site Kotaku, and here's what he had to say:

It is actually pretty easy. There are no workshops in maximum security. They do it in their rooms with a battery(power) taped to a tube(could be a pen or a tightly wound piece of paper). The motor from the rumble pack is taken out and attached to the top of the tube. A needle or pin is run down the middle of the tube. when "on" the needle will move up and down like a sewing machine. The needle is then dipped in "ink." This is made a number of ways the easiest is to use ball point pen ink, but they could use other items to get different colors or looks.

Of course, every flaming skull has an uncanny resemblance to a turtle shell. The Nintendo 64: adored by children and convicts alike. Nintendo really has broken the cultural barriers of gaming and created something...quite special. [kotaku]

While YouTube has already been running fingerprint technology in beta for companies like Disney, a Google lawyer said Friday that video filters should be in place by September, and if not then by fall. Automated technology is, of course, the only way to police vast amounts of uploaded material. But it's disheartening to see Google implementing measures that will threaten the fair use of commercial material. Besides, with so many entertainment entities offering their own content online without YouTube's craptastic flash compression, I know where I'm going to not watch Desperate Housewives. What do you think readers? Is there a better solution to this mess that we're all too blind to see? [wcbstv]

In a recent patent filing "Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device," Apple is offering text messages without the GSM SMS protocol, or even the need to read. While SMS requires an intermediary server between sender and receiver, Apple's patent has a sender's device convert text messages to an audio signal with this audio signal getting passed through standard audio communication channels (reminds me of faxing, really). This signal can then be translated to actual language on the receiver's end, with a speaker reading the message back. Potential listed uses include texting for the blind and for those with very small screens. iPhone Nano, anyone? [macnn]

Here's a pic of the new X-48B, Boeing's Blended Wing Body research aircraft in flight for the first time. The prototype, developed by Boeing Phantom Works with cooperation from NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, flew for 31 minutes, reaching an altitude of 7,500 feet. Check the sexy gallery and jump for more details about the BWB.

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We showed you the brilliant Doom 3 case mod over a year ago, but due to the magic of YouTube, we finally have video of the mod and its fast-forwarded construction. I love a good construction montage—it makes me feel like I'm getting a lot done, even when I'm just perusing the Internet video. So get something done this weekend—watch some random guy do something with his life. Thanks Hero!

For those who need an extra jolt in the morning, this Saeco Etienne Louis espresso machine is happy to oblige. Constructed of steel with aluminum spikes, the sphere actually hides a compartment to heat water, combining form and function brilliantly (kill, caffeinate, repeat). And while the espresso maker only pumps out one to two cups at a time, your third guest will be too busy crapping their pants to request that you fire up the machine for a second go, and otherwise ruining post-dessert conversation. We don't know how much this beauty costs, but like a trip to the gun store, we don't recommend you attempt the five-finger discount. [product via bornrich]

If the Office Chair Bike seemed just too much effort, but you are still big on mobile seat action, then welcome Armchair Cruisers to the arena. The guys at AC have joined together the motorized vehicle and the sofa in one seamless package, but unwittingly have made drive-in movie watching obsolete.

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