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We had some doubts about the authenticity of the clown who bought the US$999 I'm Rich iPhone app, but Armin Heinrich--the German author of the application--has confirmed that not only one moron, but eight dumbasses actually bought the application. According to him, there are more waiting to get it:
Samsung's new SCH-R450 mobile phone is all very nice I'm sure: with a horizontal-slider QWERTY keyboard, 1.3-megapixel cam, 2.1-inch TFT, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth, MP3 player, microSD slot... it's got the standard lot. But where Samsung has really succeeded here is in its name: "messager" doesn't exist. Yes, there are messengers who deliver messages, and even AOL calls its service "Instant Messenger." But messager, no. Come on Samsung, if you're trying to compete with the Sidekick you need a better name for this gizmo. Should've called it the Samsung Massager... it would have sold like hot cakes. Press release below.
Japanese researchers have developed a new material capable of stretching to roughly twice its natural shape while conducting electricity—before snapping back with no damage to the circuit. It's essentially a rubber polymer filled with carbon nanotubes, and it could be used to create anything from a curved eye-replacement camera (which is currently in development) to a new class of NERF footballs. So are you thinking what we're thinking? Yes, bring on the prank Silly Putty. And who's the sicko pasting T1000 shots on my friendly post? [Reuters via Newlaunches]
If the trailer and the documentaries about the construction of a real Watchmen world weren't enough to get you excited about this project, check out this short on the coolest gadget in the movie: the Owlship or Archie, like Nite Owl calls his flamethrowing, screeching, smog-producing, almost invisible and completely submergible ship. The producers have created a full scale model with every single knob, device, and detail from the original comic book. [Watchmen in Gizmodo]
This is one of those press releases that makes you go "Sorry... what?" in disbelief: System of Proof is a service that lets you covertly record a conversation on any phone. It sounds very CIA: dial a special number from the phone, and a distant computer then records the conversation and emails you the final file for you to peruse later. It apparently works with any phone, including VoIP, and the company pitches it as a tool for capturing phone calls you wish you had as evidence. You know: harassment at work or home, cheating spouses, failed business dealings. There's also the innocent "record your lectures to make sure you don't miss pertinent exam notes" option. The service costs up to US$9.95 per month, with this top-end price having unlimited spying minutes. Read on for the press release: and remember, phone tapping is of dubious legality depending on where you do it.
It's an obvious idea that we'd never thought of before. Put your camera on a tripod and set it for a slow exposure. Now pull out a laser pointer and spell out your deepest inner feelings ("I <3 Cheese"). When you see the shot, the laser trail will appear solid and continuous, just like a neon sign. And at that juncture, you will finally have the motivation to come clean to your friends and family and just move to Wisconsin already. [Picasa via Hackedgadgets]
From September, T-Mobile customers will be able to get hold of Sony Ericsson's TM506 cellphone: which is also T-Mobile's first HSDPA handset. The two-megabyte flip-phone is a pretty standard tri-band GSM, with dual-band UMTS/HSDPA for 3G connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 2-megapixel camera. Doesn't look like you can do video calling, but video messaging is enabled and it has aGPS on-board. It'll be available from September 3, for an as-yet-unknown price, in a green and black colour scheme. [BGR and IntoMobile]
David Gallagher at the New York Times had to do some rumour control when a reader wrote accusing Microsoft of prohibiting the word "Tibet" in Hotmail addresses to appease the Chinese government. No "freetibet@hotmail.com", no "tibetsmellsofwetmonks@hotmail.com", no "ilovetibet@hotmail.com." Is this another Chinese-Microsoft evil conspiracy? While there are some of those going on between China and companies like Microsoft, Google, or Yahoo, this is not the case.
The Discovery Power Welder's sales pitch is fantastic, and worrying: "discover the power to make and create with the tool that safely welds plastic to plastic." And sure, the kit comes with specially-crafted parts that'll let your little-ones knock together a plastic dinosaur, plane or car. But what happens then? Do they start tackling their Lego collection with it, or decide to weld your iPod to your vacuum cleaner? Ok... so it's battery powered, and probably doesn't get all that hot, but we know just how "inventively naughty" kids can be. For just US$30 this could allow your children to fuse your credit cards into one lump, never to be used again. [Product page via Random Good Stuff]
Styrofoam homes may sound like a recipient for disaster, but Japan Dome House Co., Ltd. thinks they're the future. A future in which all of us will be hobbits or smurfs. Made with 7-inch-thick 100% expanded polystyrene foam modules, the company says that they don't have the maintenance problems of wood or metal structures, and they are "highly resistant" to earthquakes, fires, and typhoons. Still, the 480 domes at Aso Farm Land resort village in Kyushu look like a suburban community on Mos Eisley's outskirts or a world from Myst.
Designer Bradford Waugh came up with Nulla (meaning "nothing") as a way of making bikes more stylish and lightweight. And visually stunning of course. Lacking spokes, it uses a direct-gear-chain drive system, which leaves the bike looking like a simple set of open curves. Whether or not it would ride well would be immaterial, methinks: rock up to a cycling meet on this thing and you'd have an instant bunch of admirers. Just a concept... but who knows, it looks exactly sort of thing we're riding in twenty years time. [Tuvie]
MP3 speakers play music, so they may as well look like a musical instrument: that seems to be the thinking behind the Sounger Vin 1/8 Violin Speaker System with amp. And before you dismiss the device as a gimmick, you need to know it's crafted from spruce and maple wood, each speaker is 20W and stands 19-inches tall and the amp is violin-themed too. Does a wooden speaker-body, echoing the shape of a violin (which itself is optimised to make the great sounds) mean it'll sound better than nasty plastic speakers? Hard to say: but you can't deny that in terms of stylish, unusual looks, this is a winner. It's available in Korea, but you'll have to save up, violin fans, since it costs US$770. [TFTS]
Solid Alliance's newest USB thumbdrive will either appeal to geeky clergy-types, or vampire-goth-geek types, since it's an ornate metallic silver-coloured drive that comes in a cross-shaped caddy. And it's specifically designed to hang on a necklace. Bizarre: both markets for this product can't be all that big, can they? Still, this gizmo might even contain real silver, since the 2GB drive costs US$180. If that's too rich for your blood, there's a brass-coloured one, also 2GB, for US$145. [Akihabaranews]
Toshiba has announced it's beefing-up its line of NAND flash storage chips to 32GB sizes. The new package combines eight 4GB 43-nanometer chips into one—double the previous generation's capacity—and is specifically aimed at the portable device market. Since it can be dropped into existing slots, manufacturers have to make no specific changes to accommodate the new chips. Toshiba, of course, doesn't name its clients, but suffice it to say Apple is on the list. The new chips will be available as samples in September, with bulk production starting soon after. [Electronista]
Back in December we introduced you to SunTable: a photovoltaic solar-power generating table designed to juice up your gadgets in an eco-friendly style. And now the table's available for purchase. The stainless steel and teak production version charges up in about four hours of bright sun exposure (there's a hinge so you can angle it properly if you need to) and delivers about four hours of 12V after that. It comes with a built-in inverter, so it has regular power sockets that you can plug your gadgets into, and is designed to be weatherproof, easy to disassemble and even recycle. That's about it: it's a table with a solar generator built in... doesn't get much simpler than that! Oh—it does cost US$2,200, so it's most likely to appeal to really rich eco-warriors. [SunTable]
If you're still having trouble finding a Wii, or are too cheap to buy one, you might want to consider the V-Sports gaming system from Royalking Universal, which we're sure is the next best thing. It's a Wii-like wireless console that comes with the "12 most interesting sports and amusement games built in," which sounds nice. It comes in white, sweet pink, and sky blue. We're not sure where to get one in the US, but we're betting your cousin who's in China for the Olympics this week could get you one for about US$75. [Product Page via Technabob]
When you're out of wireless range but you really need to know the upcoming weather—say camping or other outdoor activities—you can use the Suunto Core watch to get your meteorological information. It comes packed with a barometer, thermometer, altimeter, compass, and even a Weather Trend Indicator. An indispensable feature is the storm alarm that gives you a heads up before the big one comes so you have time to find shelter. Retail price is in the mid-US$300s, so while outdoor pros will find the watch useful it's not out of reach of weekend warriors. [Product Page via Peep Culture]
Let's say your twenty-year-old daughter runs up an astounding US$5000 mobile phone bill from talking to her good-for-nothing boyfriend too much. Do you A) Cancel her service and make her get he own phone? B) Reprimand her and block the offending number from the phone? C) Grab her and spank her like she's seven. If answered C), you just might be James Phillips of Portland, Maine, who did just that. He's now being charged with domestic violence. Make sure to keep an eye on your minutes, readers. [Bangor News]
This universal remote control is powered by a wind-up dynamo on its face instead of AAA batteries, and that's awesome. Not only is it eco-friendly but it's also a relief. There's nothing worse than using a remote with dying batteries. Apparently you can simply turn the handle 30 times and that will generate enough power to keep it going for a week, long enough for that Suddenly Susan marathon that starts on Monday you're so excited about. [Slippery Brick]
The Asus pulse mouse is just what it sounds like: A mouse that measures your pulse as you work at your computer. It sends the information via its wireless connection to software running on your PC that keeps track of your heart rate and displays it graphically. It's not meant for everyone, but anyone using Windows who's also a heart patient might find it useful, or even lifesaving. [Product Page, via Everything USB]
Apple patents don't always bear fruit, but this one seems like it'll happen, and soon, actually. It's for accessing your entire iTunes library from anywhere--streamed to your iPhone or touch either via Wi-Fi or over the air. Basically, this future iTunes will sync the metadata for your whole library, and all the music and videos stored back on your computer ("virtual media items") will be totally integrated with the content actually on your device, so it'd be just like having your entire library on your phone.
We're not sure where this rumour starts, but the latest potential buyer of Sprint being whispered about is none other that Google Again. The rumours first started late last year, and now they're back, though there's a some substance to this one. Google and Sprint are already partnered on a next-gen WiMAX venture, and as Android slowly finds its way into users hands Google could benefit from a nationwide wireless infrastructure. And we know it has the cash and that Sprint's looking for a buyer. It could happen, but we wouldn't hold our breath. [Kansas City Star]
David Walsh, a network engineer who worked at Apple from 1995 to 2007, is currently suing them for making him work a little too hard. Specifically, he says they made him work more than 40 hours a week without overtime (because he was a "senior" engineer, a pseudo-management position he says was created to skirt paying overtime) and required him to be on call for seven days straight every six weeks. In other words, a pretty standard schedule in the Valley. Besides, if anything, MobileMe's launch made it clear Apple's network engineers should be working more, not less. I keeeeeed. Kind of. [Macworld via Valleywag]
The problem with wheels is that contact with the ground generates drag. So, a simple solution would be to develop an anti-gravity car. No sweat--one already exists. Sure it's only a few inches tall but hey, this thing could give your action figures the ride of their tiny plastic lives. Thanks to dual ducted fans and a brushless motor, the Axon can hover above the ground and hit speeds of 40kph almost instantly--and a dual brushless motor upgrade will bring it up to 80 kph.
Contradicting HTC's assurances a couple days ago that its Android phones are on track for later this year, an analyst at Global Equities research says that, according to his sources, HTC is "having structural problems to incorporate Google's demanded feature set" and "demanding a guaranteed minimum revenue surety from Google," indicating they don't have a lot of faith in Android phone sales. Consequently, it looks like their Android handset (probably Dream) might slip into next year after all.
One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say "was" because it's been pulled. This time, though, it wasn't Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the licence to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog]
We recently reported on Dynolicious, the US$13 app that uses the iPhone's accelerometer to meter your car's performance, and mentioned a few positive impressions that surfaced in the app's early days. Sure, the idea is appealing and makes theoretical sense, but I at least need vaguely scientific confirmation that this thing actually works well. It is in the spirit of vague science, then, that Garage419 takes Dynolicious out on the track and pitting it against the circuit's clock as well as the popular G-Tech Pro accelerometer-based dynometer, generally regarded as the industry standard for consumer performance metering. Surprisingly, at less than one tenth of the G-Tech Pro's retail price, Dynolicious eats it for lunch (Sorry for the obnoxious ads in the video, skip ahead for the results).
Apple just expanded the list of international iTunes stores on its website, adding countries such as Poland, Quatar and the Czech Republic. The problem? None of these countries can buy anything through the iTunes store. Rather, they're just setting up the infrastructure so the residents of those countries can have access to iPhone Apps. What a sad, lonely iTunes store that must be. No music, no videos, no podcasts. Just Super Monkeyball and a few hundred to-do list apps. [iFun.de]
I'm excited! That cheap camcorder from Creative that was released to take on the well-received Flip has finally been announced for Australia. Two months after the rest of the world!
It doesn't matter that it was reviewed (and bagged) by pretty much every overseas media outlet you can imagine. I still can't wait to get my hands on one. Especially considering the paltry $150 price tag.
Even better though, is that for a limited time there's a $50 cash back with every Vado purchase. That makes the Vado just $100. But the cashback offer ends in September, so if you want to buy one of these, better get cracking.
The full release is below:
Posted by Nick Broughall at 10:01 AM on August 8, 2008
Firmly in the rumour section, but the iTunes Store has been down for a few hours this morning, and we're getting a few reports that it's due to movies going live.
While it's been a little bit longer than we expected, the fact is that we are expecting movies any day now, so this could be promising.
Stay tuned for more.
Want to get in on the closed beta for Sony's once-upon-a-time hotly anticipated PlayStation Home? To throw your name into the hat, just download the PlayStation Home theme that'll be added to the store later today. That's it. Your level of activity is apparently one of the criteria they'll be looking at--it's implied the more hardcore you are, the better your chances, though they might wanna see how nubbie nubs like it too. [PlayStation Blog]
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