Friday, August 8, 2008
Software
Confirmed: Eight Morons Bought the US$999 I Am Rich iPhone Application
11:45PM Jesus Diaz | 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:
Phones
Samsung R450 Messager Phone Has Sidekick-Like Keypad, Awkward Neologism
11:29PM Kit Eaton | 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. More »
Science
New Material Stretches While Conducting Electricity
11:18PM Mark Wilson | 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] More »
Entertainment
Nite Owl’s Archie Makes Us Even More Excited about Watchmen
11:00PM Jesus Diaz | 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] More »
Phones
System of Proof Brings Phone Tapping to All With Subscription Service
10:47PM Kit Eaton | 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. More »
Gadgets
Drawing With Lasers, Art Class Was Never So Fun, Dangerous
10:38PM Mark Wilson | 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] More »
Phones
Sony Ericsson Returns to T-Mobile With TM506, First HSDPA Phone
10:18PM Kit Eaton | 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] More »
Online
Microsoft Prohibits ‘Tibet’ in Hotmail Addresses, But It’s Not What You Are Thinking
9:48PM Jesus Diaz | 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. More »
Toys
Working Plastic-Welder Toy For Kids Sounds Like Lawsuit-In-Waiting
9:28PM Kit Eaton | 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] More »
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