Sunday, August 3, 2008
Vehicles
Update: SpaceX Falcon 1 Rocket Blew Up, Fourth Time’s the Charm?
11:01PM Jack Loftus | Bad news for private space flight aficionados–SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket lifted off live via webcast last night, and then proceded to blow up spectacularly in the sky over the Pacific Ocean. If you were following along on the official SpaceX website, you probably saw this: “20:38 PDT — We have heard from launch control that there has been an anomaly. More details will be posted to the website as available.” The site remains the same this morning, but Space.com has learned that two rocket stages “failed to separate about two minutes and 20 seconds into launch” and the rocket blew itself to smithereens around 11:36 p.m. EDT. The pubs are calling this “strike three” for SpaceX, but it should be known billionaire backer Elon Musk has two more rockets left to prove his private firm is a reliable way to transport satellites to low Earth orbit. More »
Design
Klaatu Varata Studios Produces Steampunk Creations With Back Stories
10:15AM Gizmodo US Edition | For those of you who enjoy steampunk, story telling and handmade creations, I present to you Klaatu Varata Studios, the workshop of Arkansas artist Dillon Chandler. Check out his Solarian Ray Gun or the Geldar Light Infantry Robot, both of which come with the back story of the Kelevion Universe and the civil war which has torn it apart. If sci-fi musings aren’t your style, take a look at his Steampunk Scorpion, made from motorcycle engine parts. Several of Chandler’s works are available for sale on his Etsy page, and range from US$10 for two toy-sized bombs to US$2,200 for a nine-foot-tall metal bear. Some of my favourites are below: [Klaatu Varata via Tomopop] More »
Vehicles
1940s Video Shows Off Crazy Bike Innovations
9:30AM Gizmodo US Edition | I’m not completely sure what’s going on in this clip or where it’s even from but it contains a) weird and crazy bicycles, b) jazzy music, and c) old timeyness–thus, it rules. I’m pretty sure the language is Czech, so if any of you know Czech, please tell me what they’re saying! My favourite strange bikes: the really, really huge one at 3:15 and the sewing machine one at roughly 4:40. [MAKE] More »
Vehicles
SpaceX’s Falcon 1, Dreams of Space Conquest Begin in 10, 9, 8…
8:45AM Gizmodo US Edition | Like watching rocket launches? Then check out the live webcast of SpaceX’s Falcon 1 launch from the Marshall Islands at 7pm EST. The Falcon 1 measures 27.4m, weighs roughly 46,720kg and uses a two stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene vehicle to blast off. SpaceX, started up by Elon Musk of PayPal fame, is one of several new commercial companies trying to commercialise space travel, wrestling the mostly government-funded industry into the privatised world. Depending on how the launch goes, Falcon 1 will either prove itself to be a reliable way to transport satellites out to low Earth orbit or the project that turned Musk from billionaire to broke (read: millionaire). Update: looks like the launch keeps on being delayed, so check in and see if you’ve missed it yet. [SpaceX] More »
Entertainment
Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Blu-ray Set Comes Out Nov. 4
8:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Nothing says “A swingin’ good time” like a Planet of the Apes marathon, and come Nov. 4 you’ll be able to watch all that monkey madness in Blu-ray when 20th Century Fox releases its Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution disc set. Each Apes film will be presented in widescreen 2.35:1 1080p video and newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Like any good disc set, this one comes with a crapload of extras: More »
Cameras
JD Power Announces the Best Cameras of 2008
7:30AM Adam Frucci | JD Power and Associates just released the results of its latest camera survey, culling the responses of over 8,000 digital camera buyers between April of 2007 and March of 2008. They split the categories into DSLRs, Point and Shoots, Premium Point and Shoots, and Ultra Slims. Hit the jump to see the list of winners.
Gadgets
ESL Bulbs Are Better Than CFLs and LEDs, Says Company
7:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Another contender has stepped into the ring of energy efficient lighting: called ESL (electron-stimulated luminescence), this new type of bulb works by using accelerated electrons to light up a phosphor coating on the inside of a glass bulb. ESLs can turn on instantly, can work with dimmers, and creates a light quality that’s similar to incandescents and halogens. More »
Computers
‘Biggest Military Hack of All Time’ Was Done Over a 56k Connection
6:30AM Adam Frucci | Gary McKinnon, the British hacker who broke into military computers looking for evidence of UFOs in the “biggest military hack of all time,” did so using his home computer and a 56k modem. I think we just lost our rights to complain about not having Japan-fast broadband. More »
Gadgets
First Stereo Sound Recordings Digitally Restored For the First Time
6:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Sound engineers have digitally restored some of the earliest recordings of stereo sound by the technology’s inventor, Alan Blumlein. Blumlein, a research engineer at EMI, had lodged a patent for “binaural” sound in 1931 and made several experimental recordings to see if they could sell it to the fledgling film and audio industry. In 1934, EMI decided that nobody really needed surround sound and shelved all projects related to it. File that under late great historical oopses. More »
Networks
