Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Geek Out

Uses for an Old Mouse Mat #462203 – as a Nail Cushion

10:07PM December 4, 2007 | Addy Dugdale

Here’s one of the Village People demonstrating how to protect your digits from a good hammering, courtesy of an unwanted mouse mat. My question is: what do you use if you’re a klutz to protect your fingers from the box-cutter when slicing up the mat? [MetaCafe] More »


Mobile

iPhone Dev Team Announce Open Source AnySIM, Talk About 1.1.2 Unlock

10:03PM December 4, 2007 | Jesus Diaz

After announcing their intentions and asking the community for input, the iPhone Dev Team has announced the official release of anySIM as Open Source software under the General Public License. They also have further clarified their reasons for this move, which involve the misappropriation of code by third parties. More »


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Girls On Top For First Time in Siemens Competition’s History

9:59PM December 4, 2007 | Addy Dugdale

A trio of girls has scooped the honors in Siemens’ Math, Science and Technology Prize, the first time in the competition’s nine-year history. According to James Whaley, President of the Siemens Foundation, the percentage of girls taking part in the competition has been steadily increasing each year — and this year, 48% of the contestants were female. So, does this double victory dispel the theory that women just don’t have it when it comes to excelling at sciences? More »


Entertainment

Elecom ASP-S750 Speakers Have a Look That Jumps Out At You

8:59PM December 4, 2007 | Addy Dugdale

Good-looking mini speakers are few and far between, IMHO, but Elecom’s ASP-S750 diagonal speakers have a certain je ne sais quoi. Designed to go “forward toward the sound of fire,” according to the Engrish blurb, the 2.5W-per-channel speakers come in white or silver, and full specs are below the gallery.

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Entertainment

NEC Lui Streams Video Everywhere over WiMAX

8:53PM December 4, 2007 | Jesus Diaz

Just in Japan for now, the NEC Lui is a system designed around a central server which will stream media to any device around the house using WiMax and Windows Vista. They showed the central server as well as a few devices based on the architecture, like a 4.1-inch Sony VAIO UX-like ultra-mobile PC. The central server is also designed to work outside the local network, allowing you to, paraphrasing Wilson, “sling your content out into the world” as soon as it’s not copyright protected. [Akihabara News]

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Computing

LG XNOTE P300 13.3-inch Laptop Comes with LED-Backlit Screen, Usual Product Ninjas

7:56PM December 4, 2007 | Addy Dugdale

LG’s XNOTE P300 — if you discount the faux-tiger stripes, that is — is a 13.3-inch notebook with all sorts of lovely features, including an LED-backlit screen. Specs and sex(y ladies) below.

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Entertainment

Nokia to Offer Unlimited Free Music with Universal

7:49PM December 4, 2007 | Jesus Diaz

Nokia Comes With Music is a new program that will get you a year of free “unlimited access to millions of tracks from a range of great artists – past, present and future” when you buy a new Nokia device. Yes. Free. Gratis. Apparently the stuff-your-ears-until-you-explode service is subscription-based and the first year is free with the phone but, unlike other similar offers, you keep the music after the subscription is over. Could this really be free beer? More »


Computing

PC World’s Declaration of Vista Fastest on a Macbook Pro Turned into Mac Vs. PC Ad

5:20PM December 4, 2007 | Brian Lam

I’m sure the editors at PC World didn’t think their declaration that the fastest Vista notebook ever was a Macbook Pro would be immortalised in a Mac vs. PC Ad. Of course, PC benchmarks go stale fast. I wonder what’s going to be announced at Macworld 08. [Apple via TUAW] More »


Entertainment

Limited Edition Zune 2 in Gold

4:52PM December 4, 2007 | Brian Lam

Only 10 of these gold-colored Zune 2s will be sold, in both 80 and 8GB sizes. Microsoft teamed up with the Goods to make these screen printed designs. I like the cross pattern. They’re available next Saturday, in Seattle, if you feel the need to splurge. (No price listed but “Gold” plus “Limited Edition” plus “one of ten” plus made in collaboration with a company called “Goods” equals expensive.) Whether or not this design or Zune is something you’re interested in, you have to admit Microsoft’s customisation program has been destroying the iPod’s offerings. [IHaveAZune via GotZune]

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5 Cures for the Common Gift Guide

4:00PM December 4, 2007 | Sean Fallon

While it is no surprise that everyone and their mother is putting out a gift guide during the holidays, the problem is that most of these guides are basically the same. It is not that they aren’t useful–many are quite comprehensive, featuring the most popular gadgets today. But what if you are not interested in picking up an iPhone this year? Watch me prove just how generic five gift guides turned out to be, then check out five alternative guides that offer a refreshing departure from the norm: More »