Thursday, October 2, 2008
Gadgets
Q Totally Phones in Bond’s New Quantum of Solace VAIO
11:40PM John Mahoney | Overheard in MI6 4th-floor martini lounge: “Man, it used to be fun heading down to Q’s lab. Shit blowing up all the time, everyone just grinning and shaking their head knowingly (oh, James) when I accidentally incinerated prototype after expensive and high-time-investment prototype. Now? Dude’s just going to down to the high street shops and slapping some logos on. Look at this laptop–it’s garden variety Z-series: 13.3 inches, Core 2 Duo, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, 3G connection, Blu-ray. And he’s billing M £3,000 ($US5,300) for it. Same for my phone. I mean, they’re nice and all, but WTF?” [Gadget Review, T3] More »
Entertainment
Netflix Watch Instantly Streaming for Macs By Year’s End
11:20PM Matt Buchanan | Almost two years after launching and spreading from PCs to set-top boxes and consoles, Netflix’s Watch Instantly streaming service is finally coming to Macs. In a post on its official blog, Netflix promises Mac users that “we’ll have something for you by the end of the year.” We’re taking that to mean the service (meaning they’ve come up with a new non-Windows DRM scheme), and not just a really funny Christmas card, though I do appreciate the rare art form that is a genuinely funny card. [Netflix via CNet] More »
Gadgets
Elvis Comes Back from Dead to Prove RFID Passports Lack Security
11:00PM Mark Wilson | Hackers have discovered techniques to make backups of RFID passports as well as bypass ePassport RFID authentication at airport passport scanners. Their method, which is publicly available, includes software to design custom identities and convinces scanners to accept fully fabricated RFID chips—neither of which trigger any sort of alarm with “security.” And in this clip, Elvis comes back from the dead to scan his passport at an airport to prove it. More »
Gadgets
Meat Gadgets Don’t Include Mustard
10:40PM Jesus Diaz | Oh yummy. And they probably come in boxes made of rye bread. All I want to know is where is my new MacBook Air made of bacon? Hmmmmm. Bacon. [Trend hunter via Boing Boing Gadgets] More »
Phones
T-Mobile G1 Unboxed, Ready For Belt Clips Everywhere
8:50PM John Herrman | Here’s the first full unboxing of T-Mobile’s G1 Android phone which, despite the rabid anticipation of the device, manages to be pretty boring. We’re glad to see it out in the wild, but the lame carrying case and decision to include the trademark uncomfortable HTC earphones, complete with a chunky mic. But as my mother (or probably the head of marketing at T-Mobile) would say, it’s what’s inside that counts. [TMoNews] More »
Gadgets
DIY iPhone/iPod Dock Made From Notebook Clips
8:30PM John Herrman | If you’re still high from the thrill of bending out your own paperclip iPhone stand, now you can continue wasting your workplace’s time and office supplies with a dock made from notebook clips. It’ll only work with the default cable or accessories that use a similarly shaped plug, but the end result is a pretty slick little accessory — definitely better than the precarious original. The build process isn’t difficult but does take a little while, but with stuff like this that’s half the point. [MAKE] More »
Computers
Apple Fires Back At Psystar: ‘We’re Sooo Not A Monopoly’
8:10PM John Herrman | Remember when Psystar turned their little hardware dalliance with Mac OS X into an ideological crusade against monopolies? Apple isn’t having any of it. The company has just filed to dismiss Psystar’s antitrust lawsuit, and, as if channeling John McCain from the last debate, seems pretty angry that Psystar just doesn’t understand: More »
Software
Handango Opening Parallel Android Marketplace For Paid Apps
7:40PM John Herrman | Despite the “free” and “open” buzzwords bandied about during the G1 launch, app developers stand to make a good deal of money the platform — that is, when the Android Marketplace lets them. Google should work out a payment system soon, but until then Handango, who already sells apps for virtually every other mobile platform, is planning on running their own little marketplace, complete with actual monies. Though the official Android store will only launch with free apps, unlike the iPhone the G1 (or any Android phone) has no restriction on sideloading apps, so alternative sources are essentially kosher. More »
Vehicles
DIY Mini-Segway Shows Dean Kamen Isn’t All That Clever
7:15PM Kit Eaton | OK, OK… so Dean Kamen actually dreamed up the Segway in the first place and other amazing things, so he’s pretty clever. But then so is the guy who’s put together this Arduway out of an Arduino controller board and some Lego Mindstorms motors. It senses its position with a gyro, and balances pretty much like the real thing, only smaller. Maybe good for giving your pet mouse some 21st Century transport? If you’re impressed and want to try it out then there’s a DIY guide and the software available. Clever stuff. [Project page via Hackaday] More »
Robots
