Humping dogs are great and all, but sometimes we’d prefer to have something cuter do the nasty with our USB ports. Why not go for the animal that everyone associates with overbreeding anyway? Imported from Japan (no surprise there), each satisfied-looking rabbit comes with adorably humping motions and 1GB of memory. You can get one now for $US15 on Urban Outfitters’ online store. [Urban Outfitters]
Lisa Katayama, Gizmodo-sweetheart and sometimes guest blogger, has explored the Tokyo Science Museum’s newest 3D planetarium theatre, the Synra Dome, and reported back with all the tech specs we’ve been dying to know. Synra uses twelve projectors to throw images onto a 10 metre, 3000×3000 pixel single-paneled screen. A pair of $US200 3D glasses then allows you to experience the birth of the universe or the journeys of ribosomes pop to life all around you. Curious about what moons look like on the other side of the galaxy, but can’t make it to Japan? Check her piece out on io9. [io9]
Added to the list of things that Steve Ballmer and Google have polar opposite opinions on is “cloud computing,” which Ballmer argues consumers don’t really want. In an interview with a Brazilian news source, the Microsoft CEO contended that even the best cloud computing applications would still have to be based on some pretty great software, a.k.a. Windows.
Our good friend Seamus is holding the fort over at Kotaku AU at the moment, and has spent today with the people at Sony Australia, learning all about their upcoming products. One that might be of interest to you guys is that from next week, you’ll be able to get your Sackboy fix with your new PS3, as Sony are bundling LittleBigPlanet with their PS3 console from October 23.
There won’t be any change to that $700 price tag though, so look at it as getting a (good) free game with your PS3 purchase.
[Kotaku]
Winter is just around the corner and, with gas prices still unstable, it’s now even more important to monitor your thermostat. That’s tough and annoying though, which is why gadgets like Ecobee are coming out on the market. Ecobee has an integrated programmable smart thermostat with a WiFi-enabled touchscreen that automatically sets your household to conserve energy at the press of a button. galleryPost('ecobee', 3, '');
Robin: Holy Gizmodo, Batman! It looks like this is the last chance for readers to win a Lego Batman PSP pack! Batman: I dare say you’re right, Robin. If only Gotham knew how important it is for Gizmodians to write the chorus to a song including the words Lego, Batman and Giz, the world would be a better place. Robin: Actually Batman, now that you mention it, I am kind of bummed that the song doesn’t have to mention me… Batman: Don’t be ridiculous, Robin. If you were mentioned in song, our reputation as heterosexual crime-fighters would be destroyed. Just look at what you’re wearing! At least my batsuit portrays my finely chiselled body for the benefit of the ladies… Robin: And the Riddler. Remember when he asked you that riddle about whether you’d like to meet him at his place? Batman: All to well, Robin. All to well. Robin: Well, even if I’m not in these song entries for this Gizmodo comp, at least we know that the winners will be announced on Monday. Hopefully that will inspire stragglers to get their entries in. Batman: We can only hope, old friend. We can only hope.
If you’re a fan of retro gadget styling, you’ve probably come across the work of Italian company Brionvega once or twice. One of Brionvega’s most classic designs was the Radiogonografo RR126 from 1965, a versatile piece with folding speakers, a radio, an amplifier, a phonograph and a friendly little robot face. The RR126 is almost impossible to find nowadays and would cost you a fortune–but the company’s coming out with an “updated” version called the RR226.
Let’s face it – the economy if pretty shithouse at the moment. The stock market is falling apart, banks are dropping interest rates – it kind of makes you long for the days when all you had was a ceramic pig with a slot in its back that you could drop your coins into.
Well, Australian company Moose Enterprise has gone one step better by creating the Fish Bank, a digital piggy bank that lets your kids (or you) interact with a digital fish named Gil, who counts your money as you deposit it and lets you set savings goals. It’s also part Tamagotchi, as you need to feed and clean Gil’s tank as well.
With every coin deposited, new animations and features are unlocked. And while they’re hardly exciting for an adult, they’re pretty fun for the kiddies – so much so that the product won the 2008 Australian Development Award from the Australian Toy Association.
The Fish Bank hits shelves in November (just in time for Xmas, of course) for $60. Sure, it might not earn you (or your kid) a heap of interest on your investment, but at least its not going to go bankrupt with the current credit crunch…
Step aside G1, out of the way iPhone, I think I’ve found my mobile of choice. This little gem of a communication device was discovered by Brian and I in a gadget shop in Causeway Bay. Written on the side of the phone was “Shenzhou VII,” the name of China’s third human spaceflight mission. Blam wanted to get it right away, but the shop owner asked an astronomical $US180 for it. “I bet my stars I can get it for cheaper in China,” I promised him as he reluctantly handed it back.
The nebulous “early November” shipping date for the faster, roomier MacBook Air announced at the MacBook event on Tuesday has coalesced into the more solid Nov. 5 in the US, according to Apple’s latest shipping estimates. For some reason though, Germany is apparently getting the blitzkrieg shipment, which goes out on Oct. 30. If you spot an earlier date, let us know. [AppleInsider]
