August 4, 2008

Software

Installer 4 Beta For iPhone 2.0 Leaked

Posted by John Mahoney at 11:53 PM on August 4, 2008

The folks at InstallerApps claim that they've come across a leaked early version of Installer.app 4, the version that works with the iPhone 2.0 software. The download link works, but the installation process requires SSH and command line work to install and is apparently still an early rough beta. So, install at your own risk if at all, but it does match the screenshots we've seen and looks to be working in the video. [InstallerApps]


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Random Stuff

Circuit City Demands All Copies of Mad Magazine with Ad Parody Destroyed

Posted by Adam Frucci at 11:51 PM on August 4, 2008

In this month's Mad Magazine, there's an ad parody for Circuit City (Sucker City! Oh, Mad Magazine you rascal!) that takes aim at the electronics retailer. Always across the street from a Best Buy! Expensive TVs! The price always goes down right after you bought it! Wah wahhhh! I wasn't even aware that Circuit City sold Mad Magazine, but apparently they do, and they sure are pissed. In fact, they're ordering every store to destroy every copy of the offending issue. Hit the jump for the full ad parody and Circuit City's internal response.


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Random Stuff

Exploding Billboard Advertises by Destroying Advertisement

Posted by Mark Wilson at 11:30 PM on August 4, 2008

Way back in the days of 2007, courier company Deadline Express treated their New Zealand patrons to a particularly evocative printed advertisement. It was a US$14,000 billboard that featured a timer counting down to when it would blow up, proving "when Deadline Couriers gives you a time, they actually mean it." We can't speak for the service, but the explosions were spectacular in video:


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Entertainment

MPAA Want to Bung-Up 'Analog Hole,' Disable Piracy-Enabling Cable Box Outputs

Posted by Kit Eaton at 11:15 PM on August 4, 2008

Movies movies movies... we all love a good show, but the lovely MPAA is up to some pretty strange shenanigans to ensure that you get to see some shows just once—until they're out on DVD at least. The fab guys at the Motion Picture Association of America are petitioning the FCC on behalf of some major movie studios to close the "analogue hole" that may allow people to record movies broadcast on cable before they hit DVD. "The Petitioners' theatrical movies are too valuable in this early distribution window to risk their exposure to unauthorised copying" runs the argument, and is why the MPAA wants "selectable output control" (SOC) enabled on some cable box outputs.


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Gadgets

Help Please: Power Laces Project For the Back to the Future 2015 Sneakers

Posted by Brian Lam at 11:00 PM on August 4, 2008

The Nike Hyperdunks 2015 edition are cool reminders of the love we all have for Back to the Future. But I think you'll agree when I say they'd be like 100x cooler with power laces. So I've been chatting up Phil Torrone, Nick Bilton, and a few others nerds to get some ideas on how to do it. We're researching how to make them, and if you've got advice or think you can pull it off, let me know! If we can make it happen, I think it should be pretty easy to donate them to a museum for display. Here are some of the design challenges:


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Software

Apple Yanks Another Popular App from iTunes, This Time Box Office

Posted by Mark Wilson at 10:46 PM on August 4, 2008

Last week, Apple quietly stopped distributing NetShare, put it back up, and now appears to have pulled it again. But what could we expect? It was a piece of software allowing users to transform their iPhones into Wi-Fi hotspots.


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Portable

iRiver Spinn Controller and UI Caught on VIdeo: Sleek, But Confusing

Posted by Kit Eaton at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2008

We've talked a few times about iRiver's Spinn PMP with its revolutionary controller, and now its UI has been captured on camera. Check out the radio-dial-like menu selection system, which looks pretty sleek and shiny. You dial through/click the menus with the feature wheel on the unit. Or by jabbing at the touchscreen. Hmm.... so the purpose of the big wheel is as an additional control that doesn't offer the flexibility of touchscreen controls? It's a little confusing: as is the UI itself, to my eyes at least. [IRiverfans via Engadget]


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Gadgets

Fuel Checker Gizmo Warns if You're About to Screw Up Your Engine

Posted by Kit Eaton at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2008

Pumping gas into a diesel engine, or vice versa, is a big no-no that may well screw up your engine. We all know that, don't we? But for those, uh, "fuel-type challenged" people out there that get it wrong, there's this new Fuel Checker gizmo. You install it inside your filler flap, and touch the pump nozzle to it before filling up: it'll check the type and flash green for go, and red for no. No idea how it works, but it comes in gasoline or diesel versions. Or you could, you know... read the label on the pump and double check the colour of the nozzle you're holding, and save yourself US$40.

AU: Seriously? I drive a diesel, and I've never ever ever come close to putting unleaded in the tank. Is this a common occurrence?
[Red Ferret]


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Phones

James Bond's Sony Ericsson C902 Cybershot to go Public

Posted by Kit Eaton at 8:10 PM on August 4, 2008

Sometimes the strangest part of writing for Giz is decoding press releases: like this morning's Sony Ericsson one. Did they leave out an image of the upcoming special limited-edition C902 Cybershot James Bond phone to add to the mystery? Is it supposed to be kinda secret, à la Bond himself? Who knows: luckily T3 snagged a picture of the "titanium silver" phone. 007 himself uses it in the movie Quantum of Solace, and you can get your hands on one too. Hardware-wise the phone is unchanged from the 5-megapixel camera original, but will come with 007-themed content, including a "spy-style" game. Quite how this makes sure you're "ready for any challenge" I'm not sure. It's a mystery. As is price and release date. Blimey, Sony Ericsson's really good at this cloak-and-dagger stuff isn't it? [Sony Ericsson and T3]


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Computers

Lenovo's Ideapad S10 Ultra-Portable Notebook PC Officially Due in September

Posted by Kit Eaton at 8:00 PM on August 4, 2008

Lenovo's gone official with details on its Ideapad S10 ultra-portable notebook: it'll come with Windows XP pre-installed, measure 25 x 18 cm, weigh just 1.08kg in its lightest configuration, and pack in a LED back-lit 10-inch screen. Powered by Intel Atom N270 and 945 GSE express chipset, the diminutive PC also has some advanced heat-dissipation tech so that your lap and wrists won't get overheated. Interestingly Lenovo notes that "In some countries there will be 9-inch versions," different colours and "Linux preloads"... but doesn't say if those systems will hit the US eventually. Initially then, the S10 will cost you either US$399 for a 512MB memory, 80GB HDD model or US$450 for a 1GB, 160GB HDD model, and comes in black red or white. Press release info below.

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Software

How To Tether Your iPhone With NetShare

Posted by Matt Hickey at 8:00 PM on August 4, 2008

We've been covering NetShare a lot the last couple of days, and with good reason: Apple consciously left the ability to tether out of the iPhone, yet for some reason has no problem letting someone else sell an app that does just that. Some users, though, might find the concept of tethering confusing, or at least intimidating. It's actually quite straightforward, and the staff at Apple Insider has put together a really handy and detailed step-by-step guide that shows how in just a few minutes you can configure your MacBook (or other Wi-Fi device) to share your iPhone's internet connection so you can have truly mobile access anywhere you get coverage. [Apple Insider]


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Hardware

Intel's Larrabee Multi-Core GPU Chips Get Detail, Timescale

Posted by Kit Eaton at 6:59 PM on August 4, 2008

About a year ago, we first brought you news on Intel's Larrabee multi-cored GPU chips, but some new info is hitting the intertubes and hints that the chips could have uses beyond graphics. An alternative to developing faster—but hotter—processors, Larrabee will have between 16 and 48 processor cores aboard, all compatible with the classic x86 instruction set.


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Gadgets

Tascam GT-R1 Guitar Recorder Lets You Capture Those Brilliant Solos

Posted by Kit Eaton at 6:27 PM on August 4, 2008

Tascam—last heard of here on Giz with a portable MP3 guitar "trainer"—has come up with another gizmo that may interest you if you're a guitarist. The GT-R1 is a portable MP3 recorder for capturing your axe work, capable of recording to MP3/WAVE at 48/44.1 kHz 24-bits uncompressed. That's not bad quality, and since it works with SDHC, you'll have plenty of recording time. Better yet it's got multiple effects built-in, and also has a "trainer" function which allows you to play along with your fave tracks at your choice of speed—without changing the pitch. Sounds pretty handy, and it'll be out August 26th in Japan for around US$310. [Akihabaranews]


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Computers

PC In A Wii Casemod Sounds Much Better Than The Other Way Around

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2008

Wii PC.jpg


PC gaming may be approaching dire straights at the moment, but I don't think PC-in-a Wii casemod is going to prove to be the solution to the problem.

Enterprising modder mr.h has managed to stuff his Wii with all the necessary bits for a working PC, including a 1.3GHz Celeron CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB hard drive, and has shown off his handywork on the A9VG forums. Of course those forums aren't in English, and even running it through Google translate doesn't help us understand the intricate details of the situation too much.

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Screens

Samsung's 3D Plasma Now On Sale

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2008

samsung 3d plasma.jpgWhen I was 10 years old, my family took my younger brother and I to Disneyland. And even though I loved the rides and the people dressed up like cartoon characters, one of my favourite experiences there (at the time) was the 3D Michael Jackson movie. Before you judge me, this was back in 1990, and MJ was still considered to be more normal than not.

My point is that it seems like 3D TV has been one of those technologies that has been coming for a long time. Like virtual reality, it's been promised for years, with nobody actually delivering the goods.

Until now, that is. Samsung has just announced that their new 3D plasma TV model is on sale in Australia. The 450 Series not only plays back 3D-specific content, but also features some tech inside to create a pseudo-3D effect from a 2D source.

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Computers

Sneak Peek: Lenovo's Upcoming Low-Cost Ultraportable?

Posted by Jack Loftus at 11:00 AM on August 4, 2008


Liliputing links to a video this evening of what they describe as a first look of Lenovo's upcoming low-cost ultraportable laptop. The video's creator said he shot the video at an "electronics holiday preview show in New York a few weeks ago." These mystery Lenovo laptops will purportedly come in 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch screen sizes with a 160GB hard drive, for a US$400 to US$600 price point. Due date? September, possibly, and not a boring black case in sight. [Liliputing]


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Software

Open Source Switzerland Network Testing Tool Catches ISP Throttlers In the Act

Posted by Jack Loftus at 10:00 AM on August 4, 2008

As part of an effort to thwart future ISP infractions, a la Comcast, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released Switzerland, an open source software tool for "testing the integrity of data communications over networks, ISPs and firewalls." If you've been following Comcast for any amount of time over the past year or so, you know exactly what that means.


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Gadgets

Apple's Chatswood Store To Open This Saturday

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:08 AM on August 4, 2008

apple store Chatswood.jpg

Apple fans living on the North Shore of Sydney will be happy today - Apple has just sent me an invitation to the opening of their second Australian store in Chatswood.

The store will open to the public at 9am this Saturday the 9th of August.

The invite doesn't actually specify whether or not they'll have any iPhones in stock at the new store, or whether they expect the same sort of crowds they got from the Sydney Store (or whether they're giving away a free T-shirt this time either).

The media event is at 8am on Saturday morning. What do you guys think - should I go? 8am is an early start for a Saturday, especially since I live on the opposite side of Sydney. So I put it to you the reader: Should Giz AU attend the Chatswood Apple Store opening? Let me know and why in the comments section...


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Gadgets

Bluetooth Two-Way Earpiece Communicators Reviewed (Verdict: Spy Movie Fun at 75 Metres Or Less)

Posted by Jack Loftus at 9:00 AM on August 4, 2008

Like many geeks, the New York Times' David Pogue watches movies, like the Bourne Supremacy or Mission: Impossible, and yearns for the wireless earpiece tech they use to communicate with their buddies without microphones, headsets or mobile phones. He's right, they're cool, and recently he had the chance to review two consumer versions, the SM100 (SoundID.com, US$86), and the Dragon V2 (CallPod.com, US$100). The final verdict? Both are *really* just average yuppie Bluetooth earpieces like the ones you see stuck in people's ears on the subway. The catch, however, is that with the press of a button, they become "secret-agent two-way radios."

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Regulars

Breakfast Wrap: Best Of The Weekend

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2008

breakfast-cows.jpg

Winglet Personal Transport to Keep Increasing J-Lo's Arse Size
A Segway competitor? Really? Why, Toyota? Why?

Lego Robot Sends Pictures from Space, Wishes It Had Lasers to Annihilate Us All
This is SO cool!

Lightsaber Chopsticks Lay Waste to General Tso Chicken
If there's anybody heading to Japan, I need these.

Full-Size Cardboard Aston Martin for Papier-Mâché Bonds
Can anybody tell me: where does art end and crazy begin? (This is still awesome though!)

Futuristic Dinosaur Eel Fish Armour Would Protect Soldiers With Scales, Sans Smelly Odours
Once again, nature trumps science...

Random Stuff

Video: Ants Turn Guy's Scanner Into Giant Ant Farm

Posted by Matt Hickey at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2008

Gadgets

Apples or Oranges? This Smart Scale Can Tell the Difference

Posted by Jack Loftus at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2008

I happen to love the automated check out lines at the supermarket, but I hate the five or six seconds of my day that are wasted there when I have to manually input the name of the produce I'm weighing on the scale. Lucky for me, and for other lazy people who absolutely have to have those five seconds back, there's a new development in automated check out scales that could revolutionise the supermarket industry. Here's a hint: It's like facial recognition, but for fruit!


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Software

Blackberry Flowberry Theme is for Closet Mac Admirers Who Can't Pull the Trigger

Posted by Jack Loftus at 7:00 AM on August 4, 2008

The brand spankin' new Flowberry theme is full of icons for the Blackberry owner who really wants to own an Apple product, like the iPhone or MacBook Pro, but can't quite commit. As you'll see from the video, there's a pseudo Cover Flow quality to the latest effort from bplay, but that's about it. And, just like the iTunes Store and other Apple products, the theme's home screen icons are locked in, giving you that DRM feeling without actually having to deal with DRM.


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Vehicles

Update: Exploding Falcon 1 Rocket Scattered Scotty's Ashes All Over the Pacific!

Posted by Jack Loftus at 6:15 AM on August 4, 2008

Holy shit, the Space X guys just scattered Scotty's ashes all over the Pacific Ocean. As in, "beam me up, Scotty" actor James Doohan. From Star Trek the Original Series! Turns out Scotty--er, Doohan--was one of the 208 people whose ashes were placed on board the Falcon 1 rocket by Celestis, Inc., a company that arranges for loved ones' ashes to be shot into space. Astronaut Gordon Cooper was also aboard the doomed launch, which Celestis had dubbed the "Explorer's Flight." I'm no rocket scientist (hell, I'm barely a blogger), but I think they might want to rename the flight something else, considering what happened to the Falcon 1 late last night.


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Gadgets

Bring Romantic Business Time Anywhere with Portable Conmoto Suitcase Fireplace

Posted by Jack Loftus at 6:00 AM on August 4, 2008

Fireplaces are great for ambiance, but generally not portable. Kooky German design firm Conmoto, who brought us the bookshelf fireplace back in December, has solved the portable problem with the Travelmate Portable Fireplace. At 25kg it will require a little effort to cart it from room to room, but we think the resulting night of intimacy, wherever it happens to be, will be well worth the strained back.


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Games

Update: Screen Grab Allegedly Confirms $199 Xbox 360 Price Cut Rumour

Posted by Jack Loftus at 5:30 AM on August 4, 2008

The US$199 Xbox 360 price cut rumour we reported on yesterday got a little more real today after a screenshot surfaced showing the updated SKU for the Arcade model. VGChartz got the scoop, and noticed that the September 7 release date for the updated SKU coincides with some other big Xbox 360 events: the launches of Square Enix's Infinite Undiscovery and Rock Band 2. Both titles are Xbox 360 exclusives around the price drop time frame (although as Kotaku notes, Rock Band 2 comes out for other systems in November). [VGChartz via Kotaku]


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Vehicles

Motor Home With Motorised Balcony as American as Apple Pie

Posted by Brian Lam at 5:26 AM on August 4, 2008

Country Coach's Veranda motor home has a motorised balcony that deploys in 20 seconds with optional BBQ and 37-inch TV. The marketing material insists you'll be reducing your "footprint on the environment" and suggests that it would be great to fish or play catch from without ever leaving the comfort of your abomination. [Country Coach via Gizmag]


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Toys