Sorry HTC fans, the HTC Advantage 7510—HTC’s updated 3G (HSDPA) UMPC—is not coming to the US because its Qualcomm chipset is not permitted for sale here. Interested parties can still import the device for those fun extra costs and inconveniences associated with international third-party dealers. Meanwhile, we’ll celebrate that since the UMPC market is exploding at the moment, we’ll finally have plenty of other decent options among US-native tiny PCs. [jkOnTheRun]
Fans of the English soccer league will know that today is the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Premier League mid-tablers Portsmouth F.C. take on relative minnows Cardiff City. To mark the day, Cardiff City fan Ashley Weaver has made a stop-motion LEGO video of his team’s amazing journey to the finals, complete with BBC commentary and black-and-white replays. The two videos took Weaver, who will be cheering on the underdogs at Wembley today, around 40 hours to do, and he shot around 1,000 still photos—that’s around five or six every second. Part two is after the jump.
Besides being absolutely beautiful, this Sync Desktop concept from designer Gareth Battensby features a fold-away widescreen monitor and keyboard, a built in USB hub, scanner, mouse, webcam, easy-to-access DVD unit, and plenty of storage space. And because it is all seamlessly integrated into the design, the Sync can be converted into a standard desk for other projects whenever necessary. The only problem is that I doubt that it could ever become a commercial product unless there was a way to upgrade the hardware. [Gareth Battensby via Born Rich]
When I was talking with the SteelSeries guys about their gear, one thing they were serious about was that gaming is a sport. I scoffed. But, we’ve shown you how to work out with nothing but gaming gear and now PC Mag catalogs eight ways to hurt yourself gaming—like any other athletic activity. Besides sore limbs via Wiitis, there’s Rock Band Hand from too much drumming/strumming, WASD wrist for hardcore PC gamers (and bloggers), Burning Bladder for WoWites, and um, something that vaguely resembles epilepsy for puzzle gamers. Not featured, however, is the most notorious of Wiinjuries:
We don’t usually give Reader of the Month awards, only stars to top commenters who actually post useful or funny stuff. But this reader doesn’t comment in Gizmodo, even while he confessed he’s addicted to it. He doesn’t send us stories or suggestions to tips@gizmodo.com either. Or corrections. Nothing. In fact, I met him today for the first time, after my dog Jones bit me on the mouth this morning, cutting a very deep and nasty 1-inch-long injury in the shape of a seven—just below my inferior lip. His name is Dr. Francisco Gómez Bravo, and he’s one of the top plastic surgeons here, in the Old Continent.
I’m not sure what show this video is from, but it is funny—and that dude’s skills with a digging machine are impressive to say the least. It’s not really NSFW because in the end she is no where near fully undressed, but you might want to take caution when viewing the video after the break just in case.
You already knew that customs officials can search your laptop if they feel like it, detaining you if you refuse, but what can you do to protect yourself from random dudes checking out your vacation pics? The EFF has some tips. There’s having multiple encrypted partitions, having secure passwords, shutting off your machine before searches and destroying naughty stuff semi-permanently with shredding applications. Hit up the link for more privacy tips. [EFF]
Sure a toolbox is functional, but it lacks aesthetics. My suggestion: paint flames on the side and add some ground effects lighting from Snap-On. The AC-powered lights come in singles or dual packs in blue, red and green colours—and they can be attached to any number of surfaces using magnetic clamps. Unfortunately, the Snap-on site is a little wonky with regard to pricing on these things, but we do know that the dual packs will set you back about US$90 (which seems to be the same price for a single green). Way overpriced if you ask me, but that is what you get when you buy a big name brand. [Snap-On via Toolmonger]
Mainichi Issho, a Japan-only PlayStation Network game that’s been out since 2006, has quietly brought a pretty killer function to the PlayStation 3. Players can now record gameplay and upload clips to YouTube from within the console. Better still, Sony has confirmed that the toolset will be distributed to developers to integrate into games at their discretion. With the popularity of fan videos and YouTube, it’s great to see Sony embracing networks outside of their own. Good stuff, and forward-thinking on Sony’s part. [Gamespot via PS3 Fanboy]
This overwrought leather and anodised aluminium slab is US$6800. It’s a MacBook. Sure, the underside is European aniline leather, and it comes with Windows XP and Office pre-installed. But it’s just a MacBook, fattened up with 2.5 extra pounds and a couple extra inches of aluminium and dead animal hide, and a generous slathering of shitty taste. But don’t feel guilty! No, because you’re also buying an XO Laptop for a struggling child in a developing country, like Alabama. And that is priceless. Plus six thousand, eight hundred US dollars.
[Munk Bogballe via Ars Technica]
