Back in the era of floppy disks, before programmers figured out how to implement DRM, they had to rely on no-name rap stars to keep kids from pirating software. That’s right, rap stars. The video really speaks for itself, so watch it now—and remember, Don’t Copy that Floppy! [-Thanks Stephanie!]
So now that the first Quantum Code clue is live, you may have solved it and been wondering anything from “what the hell does that mean?” to “what next?” Well, the answer is to check out our Quantum Code forum.
Once there, you can discuss with other code-crackers the latest developments in the competition. You can collude, coerce and contrive ways to get others to help you solve the clues to crack the code, or you can just ask for help. This will be a nationwide competition, so you may need to get interstate Gizmodians to help you with certain clues so that you can stand a chance to crack the code.
So hit the forums and begin the discussion!
In case you wanted to create your challenge to the world’s longest ringtone, CNET has an interesting little video tutorial up that’ll show you how to do so on the iPhone using iTunes. Turns out the music software lets you choose the start and stop times of a song, rename the extension and create a custom ringtone. You’ll need Garage Band if you want to get fancier than that, but who needs fancy when all you want to do is make a 62 minute-long song? [CNET TV]
Holographic television sets may be only a few years off thanks to a new breakthrough in 3D technology. Researchers at the University of Arizona said they had made the first updatable 3D displays with memory, a prerequisite for getting any holographic image to move. With the new technology, displays can now be erased and rewritten in a matter of minutes.
A new European Union rule could spell the end to the iPod’s pesky integrated batteries. The EU’s proposed “New Batteries Directive,” which mandates that batteries in electronic appliances need to be “readily removed” would force Apple to change the iPod’s design for the European market.
We gave you guys a heads up on this last week, and now the first clue is available for the Quantum Code. What is the Quantum Code? How do you crack the Quantum Code? What do you get if you actually do crack the Quantum Code?
All these questions – and more – will be answered when you scan the QR code above and follow the link. And while you’re working with Constance Newlove to solve the Quantum Code, tell her G’day from Gizmodo – from what I hear, she’s a big fan.
For those of you who love to let your mobile phones ring incessantly, never bothering to pick it up or let it go to voicemail, here’s the world’s longest mobile phone ringtone. The ringtone, supplied by Japanese company Dwango, lasts 61 minutes and 40 seconds and will be submitted for inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records. [PlusD via Textually]
Less than a month after Apple initiated the recall process for its USB iPhone power adapters, customers are reporting that their replacements have been received. The original adapters had metal prongs that could break off and remain in a power outlet, which carried an electric shock risk. The new one looks exactly the same as its predecessor, except it’s bedaubed with an extra green dot. [TUAW]
How do you make a wireless transmission that is as fast or even faster than most fiber-optic data passages? With laser beams of course! According to a Technology Review piece, super smart people at Battelle research in Columbus, OH figured out a way, using millimeter wave technology, to send data at speeds up to 20 gigabits per second. They even field tested 10 Gbps at up to 800 meters. Even accounting for Ohio’s unnervingly flat terrain, this is several hundred times farther than a wireless transmission of that bandwidth had ever reached before.
Yesterday, Telstra celebrated the second birthday of its NextG network by announcing that they are on track to deliver even faster speeds on the network. The Enhanced HSPA (eHSPA) network is theoretically capable of 21Mbps download speeds – which is significantly faster than any of the country’s other HSPA networks (which typically max out at about 7Mbps theoretically).
When the Big T launches their eHSPA network (which it claims will happen by the end of the year), it will make them the first carrier to offer the 21Mbps speeds.
Of course, the only problem with this comes not from Telstra, but from the lack of compliant hardware on the consumer side. After all, NextG is already capable of speeds around 14.4Mbps, but there isn’t a whole lot of handsets (or other devices) that take advantage of the speeds. It’s why those claims of a 42Mbps iPhone were such crap – the chip inside the iPhone was only capable of 7.2Mbps.
Still, the hardware will come eventually, and although Telstra is certain to charge obscene amounts of cash for these types of speeds, it’s still impressive that you’ll be able to get lightning fast wireless connectivity all around Australia.
[Telstra]
