Thursday, January 29, 2009

Gadgets

Hacked Construction Signs Warn of Zombie Attack in Austin

11:54PM January 29, 2009 | Mark Wilson

Who in their right mind would dare hack a construction sign with zombie warnings? Well, apparently some people in Austin—probably some pesky University of Texas students according to a local traffic controller:

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Gadgets

Water-Powered Jetpack Would Be the Most Godly Firefighting Tool Ever

11:28PM January 29, 2009 | Mark Wilson

You know how some jerk in a water gun fight always cheats by grabbing the hose? Well, this pilot could totally beat that guy at his own game.

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The Inevitable Rise of Internet News, Circa 1981

11:07PM January 29, 2009 | John Herrman

“Engineers now predict the day will come when we get all our newspapers and magazines by home computer,” the narrator says with a hint of sarcasm, continuing, “but that’s a few years off.” Indeed.

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Software

What To Know About iPhoto ’09 Face Detection and Recognition

11:00PM January 29, 2009 | Wilson Rothman

In testing iPhoto for a full review (coming soon), I’ve plowed through more than 30,000 photos using over 40 identified faces, mostly human. Here’s how iPhoto’s face detection and recognition works—and doesn’t work:

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Star Wars Kites Are Cool, Unfortunately Don’t Have Lasers

10:56PM January 29, 2009 | Jesus Diaz

It’s so sunny here in Madrid. I wish I could be out flying these Star Wars spaceship kites, instead of working here. OK, I lied: I actually wish I was out having tapas and wine.

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Science

Scientists Demo Living, Remote-Control Flying Cyborg Beetles

10:08PM January 29, 2009 | John Herrman

Berkeley University scientists demoed a remote-control Rhinoceros beetle at a conference this week, repeatedly flying the cyborgian creature into observers’ faces while screaming “WE ARE GODS! WE HUNGER FOR BLOOD SACRIFICE!

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Science

Couple Pays $US150,000 for First Single-Birth Dog Clone in the US

9:52PM January 29, 2009 | Jesus Diaz

I understand people really close to dogs. I am. I love Jones like if he was my own son. Seriously. But paying $US150,000 to clone a dog after he dies, like this couple from Miami?

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Gadgets

Bizarre LoveTrainer Headset Actually an Elaborate, Sexy Hoax

8:56PM January 29, 2009 | John Herrman

The unbelievably awkward LoveTrainer sex instruction headset was weird, sure. But fake? This morning we got an email from the alleged creator—”World Renowned Sex Doctor” Itami—aaaaand he’s never heard of it.

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Software

iPhone Rubik Cube Solver Is Pure Genius

8:27PM January 29, 2009 | Jesus Diaz

CubeCheater–a Rubik cube solver in 20 moves–is one of those iPhone applications that make you smile when you see it in action because it is simply pure genius. This is how it works.

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Software

Opera Mini For Android Leaves Beta, Fixes Nagging Bugs

7:57PM January 29, 2009 | John Herrman

Opera Mini’s final release addresses most of the problems we found in our beta test, and is available now in the ‘Communications’ category of the Android Market.

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