January 15, 2008

Gadgets

Cotton Candy-Making Machine Gives You Sugar on a Stick in Three Minutes

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 11:38 PM on January 15, 2008

cotton_candy_maker.jpgThe sweet-toothed might just appreciate the Ame de Watame cotton candy maker. The $US229 machine allows you to make your own cotton candy from real candy—which means you can have just about any kind of flavor you want, including cough sweets. Just toss the candy in the machine, stick a stick in the bowl and three minutes later you're ready to roll. [Kilian-Nakamura's Japan Trend Shop]


Home

Wardrom by Paula Invites You to Throw Your Clothes on the Wall

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 11:10 PM on January 15, 2008

wardrom1.jpgDid you miss me, my little love ferrets? Thought not. Anyway, enough about me, observe and nod sagely at the Wardrom, a clothes organiser for messy geeks everywhere. Rather than throw your clothes on the floor, simply aim them at the pegs on the wall. More info and pics below.


Read More »

Computers

First Case Announced for MacBook Air Creates New Rumorware Category

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 10:30 PM on January 15, 2008

aria_splash2.jpgBehold the new Aria, the only worthy case for the new, magical and still-completely-inexistent MacBook Air. It looks absolutely amazing. Lickable. Pantsable. Apparently it's made of italian leather and aluminium by Orbino. Or probably, just Italian pixels and cappuccino vapour:

Read More »

Announcements

Apple Macworld 2008 Steve Jobs Keynote

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 10:00 PM on January 15, 2008

MacWorld-2008-Giz.jpgYou want it, we got it. Live coverage of Steve Job's Macworld 2008 Keynote starts Tuesday, January 15 at 9 AM PST (12PM EST), but we'll ramp up the liveblog a few hours before as we always do. Head to live.gizmodo.com first thing tomorrow morning. You don't want to miss it. Boom.


Entertainment

The Downfall of HD DVD, Now Available on Blu-ray

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:15 PM on January 15, 2008


I swear that when I did the image for Variety's report on HD DVD defections I never saw this hilarious version of Der Untergang, subtitled with very funny dialogue about the last minutes of HD DVD in the bunker, the inevitable end of the war. The best part: probably when everyone leaves the room and the premonitory—and obvious—dig at Paramount and Universal. [Thanks Lukas]


Gadgets

Build Me If You Want to Live, Lego Terminator Skull Gives Us the Evil Eye

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:10 PM on January 15, 2008

mechanical-head-2_54.jpgWe love Lego, we do, but this evil Lego skull, inspired by Arnie's death-machine Terminator, is almost a step too far toward science-fiction-becomes-reality-and-rips-our-neck-apart. Those eyes are following me! Ok, so those eyes are actually motor driven using parts from a Mindstorms set, as is the chomping jaw, but its creator Snyderman has gone so far beyond the usual comfy Lego model it's creepy. Thank god he restrained himself to just the skull. Still, a good way to entertain yourself while waiting for the next Sarah Connor Chronicle. [Brothers Brick via Gizmowatch]

LegoTerminatorLegoTerminatorLegoTerminator

Entertainment

Green House iPod nano Crystal Case Protects Your iPod, Makes a Twittering Mockery of Your Music

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:00 PM on January 15, 2008

iPod%20Crystal%20Case%20Speakers%20GI.jpgGreen House is set to launch a compact speaker set / case for the third generation iPod nano. The case will be a plastic crystal enclosure, and the speakers will rotate out from the back. We are suckers for good design, and the PR shot makes it look quite funky.

Read More »

Games

StreamMyGame Lets You Play PC Games on Your PS3, Reduces Need to Ever Leave Your Couch

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:15 PM on January 15, 2008

We almost did not believe it, but those guys at StreamMyGame have included a video in which they are playing Crysis on their PS3, all streamed from their PC. There is no visible lag, and the resolution is user definable. In short; it looks crisp. Check out the tutorial above, but skip through to the money shot at 07:55, unless you are setting it up, in which case you will need to go through it all. If that does not get your pants wet, we'll have to send Jason in with his dildos (NSFW.) [StreamMyGame via Akihabara News]


Gadgets

iFolio Converts iPhone into Ultra-Light Laptop, So Light It Doesn't Exist

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 6:40 PM on January 15, 2008

lpholio.jpgWith visions of the MacBook Air hovering tantalisingly before us, one designer took a page from the now-dead Palm Foleo and has docked the iPhone into a really barebones 12" chassis—essentially nothing more than a screen, keyboard and USB ports. Willy Yonkers, its creator, thinks that if you kept it simple it could sell for as little as $US150. Too bad it's a pipe dream, even if it looks a bit fugly. [Willy Yonkers via Yanko Design]

iPholioiPholioiPholio


Announcements

Let Giz and Ars Technica Buy You a Beer at Macworld 2008

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 2:55 PM on January 15, 2008

If you're in SF for Macworld, we're having a joint party with Ars Technica tonight and we want to buy you a beer. Or two.

Where: Harlot at 46 Minna St, San Francisco, CA
When: 8 p.m. Pacific Time

I think pals like FSJ, Leander from Cult of Mac, some other Wired pals, and Arn from Macrumors are planning to stop by too.

Gadgets

Desktop Boxer: The Most Advanced USB Toy of 2008?

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 12:40 PM on January 15, 2008

desktop_boxer.jpgAccording to the product page, the Desktop Boxer is the "most advanced USB toy of 2008" thanks to fully interactive software and realistic boxing ring sounds. Users can control the boxer's punches and movement via their keyboard, and the device will keep track of successful hits on the speed bag. Personally, I think that I will withhold judgment on the "most advanced" claim until we are further into 2008. Besides, there are already more amusing office gadgets on the market. Available for £29.99 or around $70. [Product Page via Toyology]


Computers

Is This the MacBook Air? (Verdict: Most Plausible Yet)

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 12:40 PM on January 15, 2008

airbook2.jpgWired's Apple insider (heh) says it is. Their rendering is super skinny and shaped like a teardrop when it's closed, bulging at the hinge and tapering down to the edge. Ethernet ports are jettisoned in favour of wireless only—the most sensible explanation for the "Air" moniker yet. Aluminum casing, ultra-thin, all wireless—all reasonable given what's come out. The much less likely bit is that the screen itself is multi-touch—trackpad, maybe—but obviously we'll see tomorrow. And a full-frontal:

Read More »

Gadgets

Griffin PowerDock Charges Your iPod(s) X4

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 11:50 AM on January 15, 2008

powerdock.jpgGriffin has introduced the new PowerDock that is capable of charging up to 4 iPods at once. It's a perfect charging solution for music loving families, or any dude who has multiple iPods and insists on using them all. Its functionality is limited to charging for now, but it is not hard to imagine the upgrades that could occur down the line.

That having been said, you could always get yourself a JVC NX-PN7 and enjoy multiple iPod docks and playback capability starting this April. The Powerdock is expected to be released in two models: the 4 slot version featured above for $US70 this April, and a 2 slot model following for $US50 in June. [Crave]


Gadgets

Portable Subway Strap Prevents False Groping Accusations

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 11:10 AM on January 15, 2008

commuter_strap2.jpgI've never been to Tokyo, but I hear they have a bit of a problem with crowded subway trains —a fact brought up countless times as I traveled from Gizmodo HQ to the convention centre during CES. Needless to say, I heard "It feels like Tokyo in here" more than once. Thankfully, these packed trains did not result in a shameful groping of my buttocks. In Tokyo however, this can be a serious problem.

The portable subway strap is designed to show female passengers that your hands are occupied —thereby reducing your chances of being falsely accused of groping. Apparently, the 525 yen ($5) product has proven quite popular with commuters. Although the train above seems to have a much more awkward situation brewing. [Product Page via Pink Tentacle]


Gadgets

Saverclip Offers Unique New Way of Measuring Energy Consumption

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 10:50 AM on January 15, 2008

saverclip.jpgPissing away electricity —just about everyone does it. That is why this "Saverclip" concept from designer Lee Young Don could prove useful to anyone looking to save a few bucks on their electricity bill. The clothespin-like device latches onto any power cable and determines energy usage by measuring the electromagnetic fields emitted by specific electronics (it also recharges using the same fields).

Read More »

Games

Major Nelson Xbox Live Status Updates Silenced by BS Lawsuit

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2008

phoenixw2.jpgAlright, so even though Microsoft is giving everyone a free Xbox Live Arcade game because they feel bad about the outages—or want to stem a bubbling revolt—a trio of Texan greedmongers sued over it. Result: No more Xbox Live status updates from Major Nelson, whose mouth has now been covered with legal red tape. Guess we'll know it's fixed when it's fixed now. Thanks, assholes, we hope it's worth the fat pot of nothing you'll get out of it. [Major Nelson via Kotaku]

Gadgets

Tricycle House: It is Almost a Good Idea

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 10:10 AM on January 15, 2008



The tricycle house is one Hong Kong designer's mobile solution to the cramped and expensive housing problem facing his city. It features a door, a window, a writing desk and a fold out bed contained within a 3 x 4 foot "hut." Despite the cramped living conditions, the idea has a lot of fans. During the video, a design student comments that "he has considered all of the necessities." Uh...bathroom? Privacy? Protection from the elements? Eh? Eh? [Reuters via Spluch]


Software

StreamMyGame Lets You Play Gears of War on the PS3

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:50 AM on January 15, 2008

streammygame.pngWhat do you do when you've got a platform (PS3) that's a fantastic media playback machine but lacks games? You bring games TO IT. StreamMyGame allows you to stream the visuals and sound directly from your PC onto your PS3 at up to 3200x2400 resolution (PS3 only supports 1080p), supporting Windows XP, Vista, and DirectX 8-10. All the rendering's done on the PC, so you don't have to worry about the fact that current Linux implementations on the PS3 don't have full access to the console's hardware. The upside? A gigantic library of games in your living room. [StreamMyGame via MaxConsole via Kotaku]


Entertainment

Will Digital Watermarking Rise From DRM's Ashes?

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:30 AM on January 15, 2008

phoenix.jpgOkay, so DRM is dead dead dead. Hurray, right? Well, Wired says it's simply being swapped out for digital watermarking, which will lay out breads crumbs for the labels to follow as songs make their way across P2P networks, and the bundle of evidence will allow them to place pressure on ISPs to engage in large-scale network filtering.

Read More »

Gadgets

The Best of CES 2008

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:22 AM on January 15, 2008

rockyCES2.jpgCES is filled with thousands of gadgets and lots of people to talk to. But most of these "new" products are really just moderate updates. So in case you missed the goodies in the wave of CES news, here's just our favourite stuff after the jump. Yes, lazy people—life takes care of you again!

Read More »

Gadgets

Go Ahead...Make My Breakfast! Insert Your Joke Here

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 9:00 AM on January 15, 2008

gun_egg_molds.jpgWhen it comes to these gun shaped egg molds, other acceptable headlines include:

•"Say hello to my little chicken!"
•A great source of Omega-357 and Anti-Uzidents.
•Gun shaped eggs promote fowl play.
•This is your brain. This is your brain shaped like an uzi.
•Shot in the yolk, and you're to blame. you give breakfast a bad name.
•Nothing says "I love you honey" like a gun in the mouth.
•Make one false move and i'll scramble your eggs.
•That's what I call "insani-tasty."

Got something better? I hope so —because these are horrible. So bring it on. [Product Page via Spluch via Laughing Squid]


Regulars

Breakfast Wrap: Best of Monday Night

Australian Post Posted by Anna King at 8:58 AM on January 15, 2008

Microsoft Customer Service Makes a Follow-Up Call 10 Years Too Late

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:45 AM on January 15, 2008

oldiescomputer.jpgHere's a call you never expect to get: a customer service followup from Microsoft… ten years after the first call. That's exactly what happened to a guy who had called the big M way back on January 7, 1998. On the 8th of this month, he got a followup call to make sure everything was going OK. A nice gesture, but what really makes it a great story is that his copy of Windows ME still sucks. You'd think they'd have resolved those problems by now, wouldn't you? The real reason for the delayed call is pretty simple: a typo. Yep, they put in 08 instead of 98. Understandable, I suppose. [Consumerist]


Gadgets

Solar-Powered Laptop-Charging MediaStreet eMotion Media Player Allegedly Shipping (and Cheap)

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:35 AM on January 15, 2008

eMotion_Solar_PMP.jpgIt looks like a concept—in fact, the only pictures we have of it are fancy 3D renderings doctored up in Photoshop. But according to the press release (after the jump), MediaStreet's 1GB eMotion solar-powered portable media player is already shipping for $US169. That's a lot for a typical 1-gig audio-video player, but when you consider that this device can, according to claims, provide power for "most portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, laptops, digital cameras" and presumably itself, it's chump change. We'll get to the bottom of this, hopefully getting a review sample in, but in the meantime, have a closer look and feel free to stretch your skeptic muscles.

eMotionSolarPMP.jpgeMotion_Solar_Front.jpgeMotion_Solar_Open.jpg

Read More »

Gadgets

Lightning Review: Nextar Snap3 Navigation System

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:30 AM on January 15, 2008

nextar_snap3.jpgThe Gadget: Nextar's Snap3 Navigation system features a 3.5" 4:3 touchscreen, Bluetooth, MP3 player, a built-in stereo speaker, and a photo viewer — at an affordable price point.

The Price: Around $US200

The Verdict: Horrible. There are a lot of features packed into the Nextar Snap3 for the price, but don't be fooled. Even if you cared about having an MP3 player, Bluetooth and a photo viewer in your GPS unit (which I don't ) the bottom line is that none of it is worth a damn if the navigation system doesn't work.

Read More »

Porn Star Belladonna Talks Digital Camcorders on the CES Show Floor

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:15 AM on January 15, 2008



The crazy folks from over at Camcorderinfo.com who made that sweet CES rap and tested out a digital camera in a fishtank last week also happened to interview noted porn star Belladonna about digital video cameras. I don't know how we managed to miss this one, as we know how familiar many of you are with the work of Belladonna, but here it is. I'm pretty shocked that Chen didn't think to bring a porn star onto the show floor for an interview, but he's a shy boy, as you all know. [Camcorderinfo.com]


Computers

Macbook Air Rumours Still Vaporous, But Start Solidifying

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:00 AM on January 15, 2008

Even though people seem to be throwing up fake Macbook Air screenshots (which Valleywag's debunked), the rumours about the newly-named laptop line seem to be swirling higher and higher. The latest talk comes from MacDailyNews, which says that one of their readers tracked down domain registration info for macbookair.org that lists Apple's own "1 Infinite Loop" as the billing info.

Read More »

Gadgets

News Roundup: Dark Knight Tomatoes, Woz's Odor, Shopping With Microsoft and More

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:00 AM on January 15, 2008

ec6f_1.JPG• In 1950, a guy who cuts a tomato in half and finds its centre bears resemblance to the Batman logo laughs and eats it. In 2008, he sells it on eBay. [eBay]

• Fake Steve says "There's something in the air" is really just a joke about Woz's gas problems. That's the best guess I've heard yet. [FSJ]

• Microsoft is working on grocery carts with video displays that show commercials and allow self-checkout. [Yahoo!/AP]

• The Japanese government is working with private companies on ultra high-definition video, which will show images up to 33 million pixels and may be seen as early as 2015. First they one-up us on the ladder to heaven, now this, I can't take it anymore! [Google News/AFP]

Software

Adobe Brings Back Photoshop Elements for Mac

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 7:46 AM on January 15, 2008

Adobe_PSE_6_for_Mac.jpgThe good news: the promise that Photoshop Elements would come back to Mac (after skipping version 5) has been kept—just in time for Macworld 2008, a $100 version of the Intel-native PSE is up for pre-order. I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 these days, but couldn't be happier about this. Remember that trick I told you about, where you take two group photos and select the bits you like from both to get one really good shot? PSE only. And how about batch editing? Pop quiz: Which app is easier to use if you're resizing and tweaking brightness on 12 image files? Yep, the cheap one. The link will give you the goods on the new PSE, which is careful not to go after iPhoto on the organisational side. Now, Adobe, it's time to get crackin' on Premiere Elements for the Mac. Or can't you do any better than Final Cut Express 4? [Adobe]


Entertainment

The Real Reason Warner Went Blu-ray

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 7:40 AM on January 15, 2008

warner_bros_blu_logo-2.jpgPIttsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Don Lindich reports a dirty bit about Warner's defection to Blu-ray that we had uncovered in our own reporting of the format war at CES, and which we had confirmed through a different source (except for the payout numbers), though were holding close to our chest while we worked some other angles. Warner actually wanted to go HD DVD. They gave Toshiba the chance to bring another studio into the HD DVD camp before they turned Blu. Fox was lined up, and told the HD DVD camp it was going to switch to HD DVD, which would've also turned Warner exclusively HD DVD. At the last possible minute, it nixed the deal.

Read More »

Gadgets

Do You Really Think the Macworld Keynote's Leaked on Wikipedia?

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 7:24 AM on January 15, 2008

jobs2.jpgSeriously? We weren't going to post anything on this, but lots of sites seem to be picking it up. Do you really think that Steve Jobs would let his keynote be leaked, and on Wikipedia of all places? The keynote that many of his own people don't even know about? We've even heard about employees who worked on the products being announced at Macworlds being surprised that Steve Jobs pulls it out during showtime. But if you really want to read the list of "what's going to be announced", hit the jump.

Read More »