Gizmodo Australia

iPhone Firmware 2.2 Jailbroken! QuickPwn 2.2 Released!

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +1000

Once again, anything Apple can make, the enterprising Dev Team can break: the brand-new firmware 2.2 has been jailbroken. QuickPwn should take care of everything, unless you're one of those unfortunate owners of the second-generation iPod touch, in which case you're out of luck at the moment. But everything else seems to be running fine—anybody here broken the new firmware yet? Let us know in the comments. [iPhone Dev, thanks Mehmet!]

Live in Air: 10 Things You Need To Know About In Flight Wi-Fi

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:30:10 +1000

I'm live from Virgin America's Beta run of their Wi-Fi service, over San Francisco, and there are a few things you should know about how its going to work when most airlines go live in 2009. And yes, I am posting this live from 15k feet over the Pacific Ocean.

Dell Studio XPS (Featuring Core i7) Reviewed: Kicks Arse, Saves Cash

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:00:00 +1000

Most of the new desktops featuring Intel's impressive Core i7 processor are straight-up gaming powerhouses, with pricetags to match. That's why I'm so pleased to see a glowing review of Dell's Studio XPS, which starts at a very affordable $US950. DesktopReview took it for a spin and found that, despite one or two small problems, the Studio XPS is lightning fast and a great deal.

Video Game 'O Faces' Captured with RED Camera

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

British photographer Robbie Cooper used stills from the video taken by his RED camera to show that look of total concentration achieved by kids as they play some particularly absorbing video games, including Grand Theft Auto IV and Call of Duty 4.

The Pentagon Bans USB Flash Drives: Will There Be a Floppy Disk Comeback?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:30:00 +1000

AP reports that the Department of Defence has, at least for the time being, banned USB flash drives and is collecting all Pentagon-owned drives from the entire department. The Pentagon hasn't issued an official statement, but a spokesman did say that they are dealing with a "global virus" that affects such external storage. Apparently, Department of Defence lackeys are being told that they may not get their drives back, and no information has been given regarding the length of the ban. A list of items now banned from the Pentagon after the jump.

Art Lebedev Tackles the Traffic Light: Square is the New Circle

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:45:00 +1000

Ol' Art Lebedev is a favourite around here. The guy is a brilliant designer, even if his ideas usually seem to get sidetracked or delayed somehow. His studio just introduced its Luxofor prototype, a traffic light replacement that uses very bright diodes for increased visibility. The new square design makes more efficient use of the available space, and can display more detailed signals. Just a concept for now, but the Luxofor is pretty, practical, and logical, so it has just as much of a chance as any of Art's designs to become real. [Electronista]

BlackBerry Storm's Shipping Delay: Blame the Firmware

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:00:00 +1000

Orders of the BlackBerry Storm online have been delayed, and according to some detective work from the Boy Genius Report, it's not due to intense demand. The Storm that BGR got to toy around with was loaded with the OS firmware 4.7.0.82, yet all the Storms being sold now are branded .65. What gives?

Google Chrome to Snag Default Browser Spot from IE?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:15:00 +1000

Google's vice president, Sundar Pichai, noted to The Times that after Chrome exits beta in January 2009, Google will begin an aggressive push to boost the browser's marketshare. More interestingly, he said that Google is exploring new ways to make Chrome more ubiquitous, and that they'll "probably do distribution deals" with OEMs, or original equipment manufacturers. This might mean that Internet Explorer finally has some competition out of the gate.

The Story of the Great Philadelphia Hot Dog Launcher

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:30:00 +1000

Hot dog maker Hatfield constructed a hot dog launcher with the help of the Philly Phanatic, famous weirdo mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, for use during Phillies games. And now, in a fit of boredom and comedic inspiration, they've released a "documentary" detailing the making of the launcher. It's absolutely hilarious, and I'm not saying that just because I'm Gizmodo's token Pennsylvanian.

Giz Tip: Don't Hire A Hit Man via Text Message

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +1000

Oklahoma native and rebellious speller Tonia Mullins, in a spectacular act of self-incrimination, used text messages to contact a hit man to "take care" of her lover's wife. Mullins conspired with her beau, Army soldier Michael Andrew Crawford, to have the poor Mrs. Crawford killed and her insurance money used to buy Mullins and her beau a nice house. Thankfully, Mullins was far too stupid to actually hurt anybody, and the text messages are absolutely priceless.

MacBook and MacBook Pro Take a Performance Dive While On AC Power Alone

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +1000

Laptop batteries aren't the exactly the tortoises of the gadget world: they start out strong, then get weaker and weaker until eventually you can't even make it through an episode of 30 Rock on a full charge. So some users have taken up the practice of popping out their batteries while on AC power to try to eke out a few more months of juice. But the guys over at Gearlog tested performance on their new MacBook Pro with and without the battery, and here's the lesson: leave that battery in the computer where it belongs.

Apple's Approval of BdEmailer Proves App Approval Process is a Crapshoot

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:17:34 +1000

At first it seemed that the rules behind the approval process for new apps for the iPhone App Store were pretty cut and dry. You know, they can't duplicate the functionality of the on-board apps like Mail and iPod, they can't use too much bandwidth and they can't cause a security hazard. That first rule is why apps like MailWrangler and Podcaster were given the boot; they were too close to those built-in apps. But now, an app called BdEmailer, which is basically a straight-up email program, is available in the App Store. Just what the hell is going on?

The Insane Hardware Driving the World's Biggest LED Billboard

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:30:00 +1000

In a dusty supply closet at 1 Times Square, a computer terminal hooked up to hordes of ethernet servers, RAID arrays and monitors humbly runs the largest LED sign in the world. The sign, a 3-sided, 17,000-square-foot Goliath, debuted last night at the opening of a Walgreens in New York City. Today, I got to see what makes it tick.

At Gizmodo Gallery: Weird Japanese USB Gadgets!

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:20:20 +1000

The Gizmodo Gallery lineup isn't just mega gadgets like the Red One Camera and prototypes like the Ancient Apple phone concepts from Frog Design. On a recent trip to Tokyo I raided Thanko HQ for the latest and weirdest USB gadgets I could find, including this USB Tie with a fan in it and a USB heated gloves. I mean, I don't know how anyone gets through winter in NY without USB heated mittens.

BlackBerry Storm Lines Not iPhone Lines, But Still Feisty

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:15:00 +1000

In spite of its mixed reviews concerning software bugs and the controversial click-screen, the BlackBerry Storm drew a heckuva lot of Crack(Berry)heads to Verizon Wireless stores today demanding to get a piece of that action, including some who got uppity when things didn't work out like Christmas morning.

Lightning Review: Sony Vaio LV All-In-One PC

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +1000

The Gadget: Sony's Vaio LV All-in-One PC is the followup to the beautiful (and powerful) Vaio LT that came out earlier this year. This time around, they gave the LV an improved mounting base, slimmer bezel, integrated TV tuner and most importantly, HDMI-in. Has the LV one-upped the LT?

Music Flow Music-As-Water Concept Stretches My Brain

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:30:00 +1000

Do you think of your MP3 player as the well from whence music springs forth like so much cool, pure H2O? Neither do I, but that didn't stop some brainy (that is, totally insaney) designers from coming up with a painfully elaborate music-player concept based on just such an analogy.

Supercomputers Corroborate Einstein's e=mc2 After 103 Years

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:56:00 +1000

Believe it or not, but it has taken 103 years and the combined power of various of the world's top supercomputers to prove Eintein's biggest equation right, resolving e=mc2 at the scale of sub-atomic particles. The feat has been achieved by a team of French, German, and Hungarian physicists led by Laurent Lellouch at the Centre for Theoretical Physics in France, and has finally answered a question that has puzzled scientists for decades: The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Atom Mass!

The Week in iPhone Apps: Back to the Grind

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:20:00 +1000

Back to the usual review this week, after our 20 Essential Apps list last Friday. Thankfully, it's been a pretty good week in the store, with lots of actually useful apps--including a full-fledged four-track recorder and a couple of utilities that actually add some usable core features that I wish would have made it into the 2.2 software update today. Oh, and of course, something Japanese and crazy. Onward!

PoleRider is Part Rickshaw, Part Strip Club

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Why go out to the strip club when the strip club can come to you? That's right, for $US300 an hour ($US200 each additional), you can rent out a rickshaw in NYC from the entrepreneurs at PoleRider. It is your all-inclusive mobile exotic dancing solution complete with a pole and tacky lights. Ahh...pole dancing. It's everywhere you want to be. Thanks PoleRiders—by the way, do you need any extra rickshaw operators? [PoleRiders (slightly NSFW) via CraziestGadgets]

$US1 Billion Electric Car Charging Grid Planned For San Francisco

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:40:00 +1000

In keeping with its progressive reputation, San Francisco is looking to pave the way for widespread electric vehicle adoption in the US. A Palo-Alto start-up called "Better Place" has received the green light from all three of the Bay Area's big city mayors to begin carrying out an ambitious plan to build a network of 250,000 charging ports, 200 battery-exchange stations and a control centre that keeps the system running smoothly. And if that wasn't enough, they hope to have the entire thing up and running by 2012.

Furniture Mate Free-Standing Solution to Mounting Your Flat-Panel TV

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:00 +1000

If you have a flat panel TV, wall mounting is the way to go—but getting things set up is an undeniable pain in the arse. Salamander designs have devised an alternative option for lazy people like myself who want the wall mount look without the work. The Synchro Furniture Mate slides in behind your cabinet, resulting in a fairly elegant simulation of a standard wall-mount. It can hold TVs between 32" and 60" with a maximum weight of 50kg and it features adjustable height and a manual swivel of 30-degrees. The mount itself runs at $US599, but for $US299 more you can go the extra lazy route and have the remote-control, motorised kit attached—enabling you to make viewing adjustments from the comfort of your couch.

A Complete Guide to Playing Video Files On Your PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:30:00 +1000

If you're here reading Gizmodo, there's a good chance you have a hard drive full of video somewhere. And you also probably have a PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii. If those two things aren't working together for you in beautiful symbiosis, allowing you to watch all of your downloaded or ripped video on your TV instead of hunched over a laptop screen, well, this is the guide for you.

Now there are two general strategies you can take: physically copying your files to a USB drive, memory card or CD/DVD, which is pretty straightforward, or streaming your video over the network, which is where things get more fun and interesting. So let's dive in.

10 Gadgets That Will Trip You Out Without Drugs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +1000

Who says you need drugs to have a good time? All you need is an open mind and a little imagination to tap into the psychedelic potential of your brain. Oh, and gadgets like the 10 featured here can definitely help. Even if they don't work, just remember that even without the drugs you still have sex and rock n' roll. That should be enough for anyone.

Low Cost Robot On Wheels Can Spy Baddies, Paint Them to Death

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:40:00 +1000

ROMP--or Remotely Operated Mobile Platform--is a poor man's version of an iRobot battlefield bot. Instead of fancy tracks and miniaturised sensors, these ROMPs seem more like sophisticated all-terrain RC cars rigged with consumer cameras. Until you meet the older brother, of course, the weaponised WROMP with its big gun on top. In the words of its creator, Chris Rogers:

Turn an Old iPod Into a Cigarette Holder to Look Cool, Get Cancer

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:20:00 +1000

If you have an old, dead iPod kicking around and are also looking for a way to disguise your disgusting cigarette addiction, here's a nice way to kill two birds with one stone: hide your cigarettes in your iPod! It's a pretty straightforward operation, involving getting rid of the guts in your iPod and then filling said iPod with cigarettes. A better DIY project? Quit smoking. Just saying. [Current via ShinyShiny]

Wiimote Keychains Project a Mario Mosaic On Your Wall

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:00:00 +1000

These mini wiimote novelty keychains have a unique function—it can shine an image of your favourite Mario-Kart character on the wall at the push of a button. Fans can collect six different versions that feature Luigi, Wario, Princess Peach, Yoshi and Baby Mario—but I wouldn't expect Mario to come flying out of the woodwork on a kart to save you when you shine the signal. Yup, your only hope is that Ron Jeremy happens to drive past you on a moped while you are getting mugged. Available for $US6.

Two Guys Jumped Off the Burj Dubai and Lived to Tell About It

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +1000

Oh, wow. Apparently, in May, a Brit and a Frenchman snuck on to the under-construction Burj Dubai and BASE jumped from it at 650 metres up. Now, there's video available of their infiltration, jump and subsequent escape. The footage from up top and the jump is just incredible stuff. I wish I had the cajones to do something like this. Although my favourite part of the video may be the footnote at the end; wait for it, it's worth it. [Current via Neatorama]

New Xbox Experience Causing HDMI Sound Loss Issues

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:57:00 +1000

According to a long thread at the AVForums, several Xbox 360 users are losing all sound after upgrading to the New Xbox Experience. Apparently, the problem only appears in HDMI-connected systems. but there has been one report of someone having the same problem using a SCART connector. Fortunately, there seems to be a fix.

Fetus Flash Drive Offends Everyone

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:20:00 +1000

You know, all of the jokes that come to mind about this fetus USB flash drive—complete with a detailed how-to process to make your own—I really can't make them. But I'm pretty sure that it manages to be offensive to both pro-baby killers and anti-women's-righters all by its lonesome, miniscule self without my help, even though it's just a little humanoid blob of fabric with a piece of metal hot-glued to its arse. [Instructables]

CERN's 'Gordon Freeman' Employee Receives Crowbar, Starts Murdering

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:00:00 +1000

Do you remember that photo of the Large Hadron Collider that showed an employee looking suspiciously like Half Life's Gordon Freeman? The clowns over at Reddit sent him a crowbar, a headcrab and a book, allowing him to go to town on the alien infestation. The very happy alien infestation, by the looks of that photo. See him in action after the jump. [Reddit via Kotaku]

Wireless Router Flower Vase Concept Also Doubles As Nuclear Cooling Tower

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:40:00 +1000

Generally, water and gadgets don't tend to play nicely together. But I'm a fan of this wireless router/flower vase concept design from Saudi telecom company STC. With it, the router doesn't have to be shoved away in the corner, its tangle of wires collecting dust bunnies by the pound. Now, how aboud a daffodil--or a cottonball puff simulating the smoke rising out of a sector 7G's cooling tower. [Dezeen]

World's Tallest Bridge Goes Up in China with the Help of Some Rockets

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +1000

In China, they're currently working on the Siduhe Grand Bridge, what will be the tallest bridge in the world when completed. How tall is it? Well, let's just say that you could put the Empire State Building in the valley below it and it wouldn't touch the bridge, with a whopping 360 feet of overhead. So how do you get cables across a chasm that large to build a bridge with? Rockets, of course.

A Call for Revolution Against Beta Culture

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:20:00 +1000

I'm tired of this. This sense of permanent discomfort with the technology around me. The bugs. The compromises. The firmware upgrades. The "This will work in the next version." The "It's in our roadmap." The "Buy now and upgrade later." The patches. The new low development standards that make technology fail because it wasn't tested enough before reaching our hands. The feeling now extends to hardware: Everything is built to end up in the trash a year later, still half-baked, to make room for the next hardware revision. I'm tired of this beta culture that has spread like metastatic cancer in the last few years, starting with software from Google and others and ending up in almost every gadget and computer system around. We need a change.

AMD Shows Off Phenom II Processor's Headroom, By Overclocking to 5GHz

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +1000

From AMD's upcoming chip roadmaps we know the Phenom II is due out early next year, and it's AMD's second 45nm chip, but in a recent show and tell session AMD demonstrated the "overhead" built into the chip by overclocking one to a crazy 5GHz. It did take a special CO2 sublimation cooling unit that carries the danger of suffocating you if you use it in a small room, but what the hey. With a liquid nitrogen cooling system the chip was easily pushed way over 5 gigs. You may think "yeah, I could overclock anything with that stuff!" but it should be noted that with fairly normal high-end air-cooling the chips could get up to 4GHz. It'll be interesting to watch AMD's battle with Intel's i7 play out. [PCPerspective]

Woz Really Does Everything On His Segway

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:45:00 +1000

The balance, the precision aiming. The man: Woz takes a piss on his Segway. If this is Photoshopped (or the world's most convincing Woz lookalike), there truly is no God. [Macenstein] UPDATE: Woz confirms in the comments!

iPhone 2.2 Update Review: Go Get It Now

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:15:00 +1000

The new iPhone 2.2 is here and we've been playing with it all night and morning. Like Apple says in their documentation, the stability and performance seems to have improved, but the spotlight falls on the new and improved Maps application, which has been polished up thanks to its public transportation and walking directions, as well as the smooth, fast Street View, and many other interface details. There are a lot of unexpected new features--no, no cut and paste--and fixes as well, and we've tried them all here:

19-Year-Old Commits Suicide Live on Justin.tv While Commenters Egg Him On

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +1000

Here's a story nobody likes to see. 19-year-old Abraham K. Biggs overdosed on pills on a live webcam stream before hundreds of people on Wednesday night, all while commenters on Justin.tv and bodybuilding.com encouraged him, apparently thinking it was some kind of joke. He lay passed out on his webcam for hours until he appeared to stop breathing, at which point the people watching realised it was no joke.

10 Really Cool Windows 7 Media Centre Features

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:30:00 +1000

A few days back, I showed you the new touch interface for Media Centre PCs running Windows 7, and though I had to pull the video, I promised a walkthrough of proposed Windows 7 Media Centre features. I say "proposed" because, like everything else about Windows 7, this is all alpha and subject to change. But these features are very cool, and really should be included. One more thing: These screens were projected on a wall in a well-lit room, so they look horrible, but anyone familiar with Media Centre (and Microsoft has shipped like 100 million of them, so that should be plenty of ya) will have a good idea of the pleasantness to come. Or you can just drink in the following prose descriptions:

Special Forces Fireproof Modular Glove System Now For Normal Rich Guys Too

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:15:06 +1000

Before you ask "why would I need fireproof gloves?" it's just one feature of this glove system from Outdoor Research that's in use right now by the military in Iraq, including special forces chaps. They can also handle extremely cold and hot environments, and the outer layer is made of a specially abrasion-resistant "wolverine" material. And that just sounds cool. The inner layer is of super-stretchy nomex-based stuff that's super-stretchy for an ideal fit, and the whole idea is that you mix and match internal and external components to three or four layers to meet your needs. They'd better be some specialist needs though: these babies'll cost you $US1,100. [Wired]