Thursday, March 13, 2008
Phones
The True iPhone Anti-Christ Is Here! Repent!
11:58PM Jesus Diaz | And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder: One of the four beasts saying: “Come and see.” And I saw. And behold, the definitive iPhone knock-off! 99%-exactly like the real thing except for the front and back cameras, and the sign of the Anti-Christ: the inverted Apple! Right after the iPod touch clone. Is this Alpha’s and Omega’s Kingdom come? Was Dr. Venkman right when he said we are headed for a disaster of biblical proportions, fire and brimstone coming down from the skies, rivers and seas boiling, 40 years of darkness, the dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria? Probably, as it runs Windows Mobile 6.0: galleryPost('iphoneantichrist', 3, ''); More »
Toys
Badass Robot Will Eventually Destroy Tokyo When He Grows Up
11:20PM Jesus Diaz | If Gigantor was the original Iron Man (he was called Tetsujin 28-g?, which means “Iron Man #28″), the sleek-black 5.5-pound 17-inch-tall BlackOx robot has to be the predecesor of Titanium Man. And like Titanium Man, this biped fighting robot is also probably the only baddy that really looks like he can kick Iron Man’s arse. [Vstone via Impress Robot Watch] galleryPost('blackox2', 6, ''); More »
Phones
LionKing 800 Mobile Phone Has One Year Standby Time, Manufacturer Says (Verdict: Manufacturer May Smoke Too Much Skunk)
10:39PM Gizmodo US Edition | The lion engraving on the back of this Chinese all-in-one cellphone/PDA is presumably what gives it its strange name. The strangeness doesn’t end there though: it takes dual SIM cards … and has a standby time of 365 days? Yes, this is what the manufacturer says. One year chaps. galleryPost('lionking800', 3,''); More »
Gadgets
Digital/Analog Clock Does Digital Time with Physical Display
10:19PM Gizmodo US Edition | Design student Alvin Aronson has rethought our interaction with digital timepieces by making a robotic LED/LCD display, with parts that slide in and out to form numerals. So, really its more a “physical digital” clock, rather than properly analogue, but you get the point. Once you see the video of it gently transitioning its display between two time states, you’ll be just as filled with gadget lust as we are. More »
Cameras
Canon Refreshes Powershot Digital Camera Line
9:17PM Haroon Malik | Canon’s Powershot range just got three new members, all packing 10MP sensors. The SD890 IS (IXUS 970 in Europe), will have a maximum 5x optical zoom and 2.5-inch display. The updated snapper will retail at US$399, and boasts face detection, image stabilisation and an ISO 3200 mode. The SD790 IS (IXUS 90) will retail at US$349; the monetary saving brings a larger 3-inch screen and a lesser, 3x optical zoom. Finally, the SD770 IS (IXUS 85) will have a 2.5-inch display, retail at US$299 and offer a smaller 2.5-inch display. Jump for the press release. galleryPost('ixusgi', 3, ''); More »
Gadgets
Sony MDR-NC500D Headphones Offer 99% Noise Cancellation
8:15PM Haroon Malik | If fat people talking on their mobile phones puts you in an unbearably bad mood when you’re trying to listen to your tunes, the Sony MDR-NC500D headphones may well be for you. The headphones implement a new DNC software engine, which results in an impressive, 99% external noise cancellation. With a maximum output of 100mW and a sensibility of 102dB/mW, expect these bad boys to pump some serious sounds. Weighing in at 195g, they are a little on the heavy side, but if you’re a big traveller, these may be worth a look. [Akihabara] More »
Science
2:04PM Nathan Taylor | We’re really not sure why people spend time developing these kinds of stats, but we’re happy to exploit them when they do.
EMC and IDC have put out a joint study revealing that there are more bits of data in the digital universe than there are stars in the actual universe. And according to the study, the number of bits is growing at a rate of about 60% per year.
More »
More Digital Bits in the World than Stars in the Universe
2:04PM Nathan Taylor | We’re really not sure why people spend time developing these kinds of stats, but we’re happy to exploit them when they do.
EMC and IDC have put out a joint study revealing that there are more bits of data in the digital universe than there are stars in the actual universe. And according to the study, the number of bits is growing at a rate of about 60% per year.
More »
Random Stuff
Zombie Survival Kit For Sale Now – Be Prepared
1:30PM Jason Chen | Being caught unprepared during a zombie attack is tantamount to jumping into a lion cage with big pieces of ham strapped to your neck. Be prepared. And part of being prepared is having the right equipment, which is why you should invest in these Zombie Survival Kits now for sale on eBay. You’ll never know when you need it. Well, you will know when you need it—when the mofuckin’ zombies come. [eBay] More »
Design
1:05PM Angus Kidman | Hot on the heels of the Mac-as-toilet-paper-dispenser, here’s a slightly more practical adaptation of an ageing Apple which we encountered in a Melbourne suburban street. Take one Power Mac G4, strip the guts out, create a hinged front flap and voila! There’s a mailbox which stands out from the usual generic blah designs offered by national hardware chains. And let’s face it, it’s probably a more effective way of getting mail into a Mac than Entourage.
More »
Make My Mac a Mailbox
1:05PM Angus Kidman | Hot on the heels of the Mac-as-toilet-paper-dispenser, here’s a slightly more practical adaptation of an ageing Apple which we encountered in a Melbourne suburban street. Take one Power Mac G4, strip the guts out, create a hinged front flap and voila! There’s a mailbox which stands out from the usual generic blah designs offered by national hardware chains. And let’s face it, it’s probably a more effective way of getting mail into a Mac than Entourage.
More »
Announcements
1:04PM Nathan Taylor | We’re considering renaming South Australia the wowser state. Soon after its Attorney General revealed that he would scotch the chance to finally introduce an R18+ rating for games in this country, we’ve learned that the SA government is introducing new legislation to stop what it calls “indecent filming”.
Indecent filming in this context means the filming of “private acts” without a person’s consent or knowledge. It also includes upskirting with mobile phones and hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms. A maximum penalty of up to $10,000 and two years in jail applies.
More »
No More Upskirting for South Australia
1:04PM Nathan Taylor | We’re considering renaming South Australia the wowser state. Soon after its Attorney General revealed that he would scotch the chance to finally introduce an R18+ rating for games in this country, we’ve learned that the SA government is introducing new legislation to stop what it calls “indecent filming”.
Indecent filming in this context means the filming of “private acts” without a person’s consent or knowledge. It also includes upskirting with mobile phones and hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms. A maximum penalty of up to $10,000 and two years in jail applies.
More » 