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The Interactive Colour Cube doesn't do anything per se, other than change colour based upon its angle of rotation. Three accelerometers each control a different axis (X, Y, and Z) which directly correlate with either a red, blue or green set of internal LEDs (that "float" in a cube within the cube). The result is a logical, dynamic light show as you rotate the device. Here's a clip:
It looks like Verizon Wireless is super duper committed to open development, because they've just joined the LiMo Foundation board of directors. LiMo is "an industry consortium dedicated to creating the first truly open, hardware-independent, Linux-based operating system for... Read More »
A senior manager for Samsung has said that the company will stop manufacturing laptops if it doesn't triple sales. Sukyong Hong, the senior manager of overseas sales and marketing, claims that the Korean giant will need to shift 11 million notebooks in order for the division to remain sustainable. At the moment, Samsung has a 1.7 percent share of the global market. But will the company meet the target?
Our ground PONG-snorting buddies over at Kotaku have gotten their hands on a potentially legitimate list of new functions coming with the annual Xbox 360 Spring Update. In the list we see more confirmation of the Newton motion controller, as well as hints at a news/weather service, more hard drive game data caching and four-person video conferencing. Microsoft has denied the list by saying, "We don't comment on rumours or speculation, but what we can tell you is we've never seen this list before." Honest denial or tricky wordplay? You can decide for yourself with the list after the jump.
In a recent survey, 757 gay and lesbian participants were asked to rank companies by their gay-friendly factor. Apple came in first place among tech companies with 39% of participants strongly considering the brand to be gay-friendly. Among all brands, Apple came in second behind Bravo (who dominated with a rating of 52%). But alas, things didn't turn out so well for our friends (we can no longer be seen in public with) at Samsung.
Utah-based company Paraben has come out with a nasty, sneaky little device that sucks all the data from a person's mobile phone, perfect for all the pathologically jealous, untrustworthy toads lurking out there. So, while your significant other is at the bar getting the drinks in, you can sneak into her purse, grab her mobile phone and plug this thumb drive-sized device into it to see if she's playing you. Cost is US$200, and it currently only works on Samsung and Motorola phones. Thank God my RAZR is being forcibly retired in two weeks, then—not that I've got anything to hide, you understand. [CSI Stick via Textually]
The X800 mobile phone from Philips has been seen around and about this past few weeks, but it's finally been officially announced. Although there's still no release date or, more importantly, a price, this e2e touchscreen (that's edge-to-edge) that's being mooted as, snore, Philips' iPhone killer, is lacking in both 3G and EDGE departments. Full specs below the jump.
China has been semi-famed for launching DDoS attacks and poking around the US's secure networks generally. One Air Force colonel's solution? Build a massive botnet to DDoS the Commie bastards (or anyone else) right back. Because we're on the Light side, our bigass botnet wouldn't infect new computers, but the plan would press millions of computers set for the scrap pile into DDoS duty, as well as every unclassified computer in the Air Force's possession (including civilian government machines).
Officers of the NYPD may be forced to carry cameras on their guns, if a Brooklyn senator gets his way. Following a spate of controversial shootings, democrat Eric Adams—a former cop himself—has proposed the addition of a US$700 gadget, insisting that it will improve public confidence in the police force. Before being adopted, however, the city's SWAT teams will take part in a pilot scheme. More details of the idea, which has already been mooted in DC, below.
A report in a Swiss publication claims that the long-awaited, much-speculated 3G iPhone will rock GPS, mobile TV and videoconferencing. Le Matin claims that mobile phone provider Swisscom will get the privilege of flogging Apple's mobile phone in the land of the cuckoo clock, and that it will be available some time this summer (AU Winter). [Le Matin via MacRumors]
Samsung has developed a new technology for LCD panels called Blue Phase, which it claims improves picture quality on its high-end LCD TVs. Called Blue Phase, the cost-efficient design eschews liquid crystal alignment layers, instead making its own, bringing production costs down. Current video image quality is driven at 120Hz, but the new technology will effectively double that to 240Hz. A 15-inch model will be unveiled in LA next week, and Samsung expects mass production to begin in 2011. Full press release below.
This bra-and-pants set in astroturf a fetching shade of public-convenience green towelling is, aspazzarently, part of underwear manufacturer Triumph's Autumn-Winter collection. As well as a whacking great panel of photovoltaic cells on the front of it (useful for winterwear, don't you think?) there's an electronic "scoreboard" and a built-in beverage holder (I am not making this up, I swear) that I thought looked more like those gel-filled pouches that the pneumatically-challenged use to boost their cleavage, and that Google Translate was having an off-day. Until I saw the picture of the lay-dee model showing off the gear with a drinking straw tucked down the side of the bra.
Author of the Audiophiliac blog on CNet, Steve Guttenberg (he doesn't like being asked where Moses Hightower is, so don't try it) has put together a handy little how-to guide to choosing and installing subwoofers in a home theatre. As well as covering placement, Guttenberg also advises on how to fine-tune your sub. Useful. [CNet].
As much as I love the X-files, I sort of have the feeling that this movie is roughly 10 years too late. I mean, the last few seasons sucked without Mulder, and Agent Doggett will always be a T-1000 to me. This movie sort of seems like it's just come out of the ether, unexplainably and without warning. Kind of like an X-File...
Posted by Nick Broughall at 3:14 PM on May 14, 2008
I don't want to spoil anything here more than the headline already has, but the visually hilarious Onion News Network has a biting critique of the movie rental chain Blockbuster. We actually like Blockbuster because of our grandfathered unlimited in-store exchanges and two free game rentals a month, but this is still pretty funny. [The Onion]
If you have ever lost sleep thinking about what military labs the world over are cooking up to shoot up, blow up, or otherwise maim their enemies (and sometimes innocent civilians), you may want to skip the list of the world's "spookiest" weapons collected by Pop Sci. Many of the 20 we are already familiar with, like nuclear weapons, the cornershot, Metal Storm guns, "Scream" beams, Rail Guns and the infamous Puke Flashlight. However, there are other technologies on the list that you may not be familiar with.
Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:31 AM on May 14, 2008
Remember that Microsoft Surface model? The one that was a competitor on American Gladiators last season and actually managed to win the whole thing? She's actually a Gladiator now (her name is Jet), and really beefed up for the part. We would make a multi-touch joke here, but she'd break our fingers off and shove them into our eyeballs, so we won't. Hit the jump for her new photo.
Here's the first look at the new largest Apple Store in the U.S, courtesy of John Sheehy. Last time we saw the glass mammoth, it was covered up in an unsightly green sheet. Upon viewing this pic, you're expected to fall to your knees, shed an awe-inspired tear, and proceed to the nearest Apple Store — where you will buy large amounts of Apple gear. [Thanks, John]
Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:09 AM on May 14, 2008
It's one thing when Google uses your search for boobs to deliver targeted ads for plastic surgeons in your area. It's another when your ISP uses deep-packet inspection to snoop on which sites you visit and for how long, and then essentially sells that data to advertisers for super-targeted. That's exactly what Charter is about to do, calling it an "enhanced online experience." Naturally, the program is opt-out, not opt-in, so you've gotta take the initiative to hang on to one last shred of privacy. And no, they're not passing on the money they're making off your browsing habits in the form of discounts. Oh, this better not migrate to other ISPs like pay-per-byte billing. [DSL Reports via Consumerist Photo via Getty]
With the VoodooBuddy doll, you can finally stop wondering if your pin-pricks-in-effigy are all for naught. Just fire up the VoodooBuddy website, plug in your boss's (or ex, mother-in-law, etc.) contact info, grab the doll and poke away. Pricking certain places on the doll curses your target, who is notified of their plight via text message and e-mail. Be careful not to curse your enemy too much; if you overload the VoodooBuddy it will take your picture with its built-in camera, send it to your victim, and reverse the curses onto you. The doll was designed by Rodrigo de Benito and Zannah Marsh, two ITP students you clearly shouldn't upset. Great work, guys! [VoodooBuddy; ITP 2008]
While hearing a normal police siren coming after you is scary enough for most people, the folks behind The Rumbler want to make it impossible for you to run away due to your pants quickly filling with feces. Essentially, it's a standard police siren that's been roided up with an extra amplifier and two (count 'em!) subwoofers. It works by " creating a lower-pitched sound that should cut through pretty much any traffic din and that can create vibrations that might get the attention of otherwised soundproofed motorists or pedestrians," ensuring that even people listening to Mastadon cranked up with sealed earbuds turn and take notice. [Product Page via Book of Joe]
Obviously, a fuel cell powered vacuum is not anything we will have in our homes in the near future—but that doesn't mean designers are not thinking about the possibilities. This BacVac concept trades in the noisy electric motor and annoying cables for eco-friendly, cable-free, fuel cell, dirt-sucking power. Why they chose to sling the device over the user's shoulder is unclear, but one thing is for certain—if you tend to generate a lot of filth, it won't be long before you are reduced to some sort of suburban Quasimodo. [Continuum via Trends Now via DVICE]
Remember that scene in Aliens with Bishop and the knife? ITP student Aram Chang made a nerve-racking game out of it. In Simon Stabs, you and your opponent take turns sticking a "knife" between your fingers, making a pattern that must be mimicked by the other guy, who then adds to it. You only have a few seconds to stab; one false move and you lose—hopefully just the game and not any fingers. I tested it out, and as you can see from the video, I'm no android. And I didn't even have the added pressure of Bill Paxton screaming like a sissy. In case you forgot how the pros do it, Bishop's clip is below. [Aram Chang; ITP 2008]
Over the last month or so, residents of Tilburg in the Netherlands have bore witness to artist John Körmeling's bizarre artistic vision. The project, nearly a decade in the making, involves a rotating house sitting smack dab in the Hasselt roundabout—a spot that has been designated to showcase works of art (not to mention acting as one of the most important gateways to the city).
Every year, Taser demos their latest and greatest in a mock prison riot at an old penitentiary in West Virginia. This year's star is peel-and-stick taser tape, that'll turn any surface into a fully electrified no-no zappy zone. On the practical side, this stuff will be rolling out by the end of the year to instantly upgrade cops' riot shields into serious business, no taser wand-waving necessary, like an instant force field. On the other hand, consumerised taser tape could become the best thing since sliced electric bread: Keep roommates out of your beer fridge! Shocking revenge on your soon-to-be-ex who gave you the herp! [Prime Newswire via Danger Room]
We caught a quick glimpse of the Soft Pneumatic Exoskeleton before, but here inventor Che-Wei Wang demonstrates it on himself, explaining how the system gives added power to limbs at key moments. He can power it with a mini scuba tank or one of those CO2 cartridge for pellet guns, but the usage is limited by the capacity of gas you can carry. Ideal scenarios he says include hard landings—dudes involved in "parkour" street jumping could use it to avoid ripping up their kneecaps. Wang says future applications include a memory mode, where a famous athlete wears it to capture some signature manoeuvre that some punkass non-athlete can then copy, just by donning the same model exoskeleton and jacking the software. How's that for Johnny Mnemonic meets The Matrix meets Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure? [CWWang.com; ITP 2008]
With the VoodooBuddy doll, you can finally stop wondering if your pin-pricks-in-effigy are all for naught. Just fire up the VoodooBuddy website, plug in your boss's (or ex, mother-in-law, etc.) contact info, grab the doll and poke away. Pricking certain places on the doll curses your target, who is notified of their plight via text message and e-mail. Be careful not to curse your enemy too much; if you overload the VoodooBuddy it will take your picture with its built-in camera, send it to your victim, and reverse the curses onto you. The doll was designed by Rodrigo de Benito and Zannah Marsh, two ITP students you clearly shouldn't upset. Great work, guys! [
