Saturday, March 21, 2009
Games
Your Xbox 360 Avatar Is Online and Publicly Accessible
6:15PM Wilson Rothman | Anyone who’s upgraded to the New Xbox Experience knows that it gives a run on Wii’s money as far as personal iconography is concerned. I just learned that you can look up peoples’ avatars—as long as you have a gamertag of someone you love or hate, plug it in here and you’ll see just how amazing or lame their gaming persona is. If you’ve known about this for a million years, well, I’m sorry. You are awesome. Forgive my lateness. And yeah, for those wondering, that’s my half-assed attempt at self-representation right there. [MundoRare] More »
Robots
Robots Care for Plants (By Peeing on Them)
1:00PM Wilson Rothman | Call it what you want, but the MIT-built horticultural robots roll around, lowering a tube and spraying right into dirt around the plants’ stems. I’m snickering, but the project itself is pretty cool. More »
Networks
Giz Explains: How Cell Towers Work
12:00PM Wilson Rothman | I recently visited a cell site shared by Clearwire and two other unnamed carriers—without frying my nuts. We’ve all driven past them so many times, but have you ever actually wondered how they work? AU: Very US-centric, but interesting nonetheless. Anyone have more info on Australian towers? Is it the same setup? More »
Toys
23.6Kg Lego Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Can Kill Darth Vader on Impact
11:59AM Jesus Diaz | If this 7-foot long model of the Mon Calamari flagship from Return of the Jedi—complete with integrated lighting—doesn’t impress you on first sight, consider this: It uses 30,500 bricks valued at $US5,500. More »
Computers
Apple Leaks Announcement of 17-inch iMac at $US899
11:53AM Jason Chen | Apple’s own education site seems to have leaked news of a “new” 17-inch iMac, coming in at $US899. Apple’s official store still only has 20s and 24s. [Setteb.it via Apple Lounge] More »
Random Stuff
iPho Is Apple’s Favourite Vietnamese Restaurant
11:30AM Jason Chen | I saw a Vietnamese restaurant yesterday. Not only was its name iPho, which would be bad enough by itself, but its “o” was replaced with an Apple. Yeah. More »
Announcements
11:15AM Nick Broughall | I shockingly realised the other day that Giz AU has been going strong for almost two years now, and we’re yet to have our first reader meetup. Well, that’s all going to change! More »
Notes: Who Wants To Have A Beer With The Giz AU Crew?
11:15AM Nick Broughall | I shockingly realised the other day that Giz AU has been going strong for almost two years now, and we’re yet to have our first reader meetup. Well, that’s all going to change! More »
Design
This Belly Button Ring Is Not an Alien Appendage (NSFW)
11:00AM Matt Buchanan | What are these? They look like Alien tails that’ll stab your heart out, except that it hangs from your belly button for sci-fi nerds in bikinis. More »
Software
Ballmer Bites Apple, Saying Pro-Mac Trend Is Waning
10:36AM Wilson Rothman | My buddy Todd at TechFlash reports that Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer went on an anti-Apple rant yesterday in NYC, saying “the tide has really turned back” toward Microsoft products, adding “The [downturned] economy is helpful.” More »
Gadgets
