Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Press
Europe Fries Microsoft with US$1.35 Billion Fine for Antitrust Violations
11:26PM Jesus Diaz | The Eurocrats have put Microsoft in the frying pan again with a painfulnormous US$1.35 billion fine “for defying sanctions imposed for antitrust violations.” This new fine brings the total amount to US$2.52 billion. Clearly, Microsoft’s recent moves have not convinced the European Union’s skepticism at all. Note: the Digg badge in this article is from the original news source. [BBC] More »
Gadgets
Aroma Waker Early Morning Scratch ‘n’ Sniff Technology
11:22PM Gizmodo US Edition | Aroma Waker is a not-so-cunningly-named alarm clock that wakes you by emitting aromatherapy scents at a preset time. Its actually got two heated scent pots, so you can have a second dose of smells later in the day— perhaps to remind you it’s lunchtime, to feed the cat, or a “warm welcome from a hard day’s work” as designers Abiogenesis suggest. So, fragrant Giz readers, how would you like your olfactory glands to be aroused this morning? More »
Design
Polaroid Instant Digital Picture Frame Is the Only Frame I Want
11:00PM Jesus Diaz | The Polaroid instant digital picture frame is just that, a digital screen in the shape and size of an old Polaroid instant photo (my favourite.) It may not seem as ingenious as the Digital Jewel Box, but we can’t resist its retro charm, and the possibility of writing messages on its dry erase surface. Not to talk about pinning them to a cork board or the way it shows the images themselves. More »
Phones
Panasonic Viera Phone Brings Quality TV Viewing to Your Handset
10:49PM Haroon Malik | The P950iTV mobile phone, which will be a Japan-only release, is the first Panasonic handset to carry the Viera branding. The TV-centric features will include a 3.5-inch 262k colour display (854 x 480!); video playback at 30 fps, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, TV and audio out ports, as well as more traditional features, including HSDPA connectivity, 2MP camera and SDHC memory slot. We sure would like to tune into Futurama on the P50iTV, but as ever, the Japanese have all the great gadget fun. [Trusted Reviews via Ubergizmo] More »
Peripherals
XZABADY iPod Dock is Waterproof, Thinks It’s a Picture Frame
10:25PM Addy Dugdale | Shrink-wrapping your MP3 player has suddenly become reality, thanks to the guys at Twinbird. The XZABADY (crazy name, eh, crazy guys?) is a frame-shaped iPod dock with FM radio that you can park your player in to make it waterproof. The player connects via an audio jack, and you can customise the background with a picture of your loved one—maybe they look better with an iPod superimposed on top of them—and then press down on the silicon rubber sheet to seal. XZABADY: truly a byword for fugtional; where fug meets function. [Trends in Japan] More »
Home
White House Home Theatre Reveals Laura Bush’s Bordello Tastes
9:50PM Addy Dugdale | This is what the Prez and his people watch their Chuck Norris movies in: the White House home theater. It’s, er, very red, isn’t it? The refurb was overseen by Laura Bush in 2004, who was, apparently, inspired by turn-of-the-last century movie palaces. Another shot, plus the magnolia hell that was its previous incarnation, below. More »
Computers
Getac B300 Infrared Goggles-Compatible Laptop Is Perfect for Spec-Ops, Ninjas
8:55PM Haroon Malik | The B300 is one hell of a rugged laptop, just check out these specs: 13.3-inch XGA display, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz processor, a maximum of 4GB RAM, Super-Multi DVD ROM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 12-hour maximum battery life, rugged magnesium alloy case, Biometric Fingerprint Reader, as well as options for 3G and GPS. The lappie with a thick skin incorporates Sunlight Readable Technology, which does exactly what is says on the tin; it ensures the screen is readable in extremely bright conditions. Additionally, the Night Vision mode will allow users to operate the B300 even whilst wearing night vision goggles. It is just as well Getac’s offering is wind, dust and rain resistant, too, as we very much doubt you will be needing that night vision mode in your bedroom. (Unless you do, you complete, extreme perv.) [Techdigest] More »
Phones
Toshiba 815T PB: Transformers-Like Mobile Phone of Geeky dreams
7:22PM Gizmodo US Edition | Toshiba’s new Softbank 815T PB is the robot/mobile phone hybrid I would’ve dreamed of if mobiles had been around when I was a kid. It’s made for an upcoming Japanese TV drama called Ketai Sousakan 7 and it really does transform, Transformers-like, into a robot toy complete with tiny bunched fists. Even the display-face is part of the robot effect, and the phone comes with games with the same theme. It’s in silver and black, has a QVGA screen, 3.2 megapixel camera and is a 3G phone, so it might venture outside Japanese shores. We don’t know much else other than an April release date, but we’ll keep you posted. [Gizmodo Japan] More »
Vehicles
George Dyson On the Orion Project: A Nuclear, Saturn-Bound, Hotel-Sized Spaceship That Should Have Happened
2:53PM Brian Lam | The George Dyson video from 2002’s TED just went live, describing the Orion Project, a deeply classified space vessel from the Atomic Age. It was nuclear powered. The size of a Marriott hotel and 400 tons. George Dyson’s father worked on it, starting in General Atomic in 1957. Did I mention that scientists from the hydrogen bomb worked on this thing? Why? Because the nukes weren’t used as fuel like they are at Homer Simpson’s workplace. They were hoping to smash the atoms and direct the explosions for 20 megatons of lift! More »
Home
