That’s the starting eBay bid for this motherboard. According to the original invoice included in the auction package — dated December 7, 1976 — he also was the one filling the sales forms. At least this one, which says Steven. Since it was only him and Woz at the time — and the latter was always busy creating beautiful electronics and calling the Pope — it’s pretty safe to say that this was indeed Apple’s current CEO and then CEO, CFO, CMO, COO and CLSDI. The original package has Steve Jobs’ parents as the return address:

It includes:

• The computer itself
• The original shipping box, with Steve Jobs’ parents’ house as a return address
• The original manual, with schematics to build your own Apple 1
• The tape interface card
• The manual for the tape interface
• A plain Scotch-brand cassette tape with a simply-typed label “BASIC” that came with the unit
• A letter, signed by Steven Jobs in 1976, explaining connecting a keyboard and monitor, as well as detailing when dealer applications would be available
• An original full-page glossy advertisement for Apple, included when the Apple 1 computer was shipped. (The ad is almost unrecognisable as an Apple ad due to its elaborate Isaac Newton logo. The artist who drew that logo was the third original partner in Apple Corp. His stake in Apple was bought out for a couple thousand dollars when the company started getting serious).
• Photographs of all prior owners of this unit.

The Apple I was the first Apple computer. The two Steves started to sell it on July 1976. The price then was $US666.66. At the time all computers needed to be assembled, but the Apple I was a motherboard — assembled by themselves at Jobs parents’ garage — was ready to connect to a keyboard, monitor and cassette player. [eBay via Tuaw]

You might remember that Jackson had once planned a 15m mecha with a moving face that shot lasers, but it never got built.

From the eBay Listing:

The original 3D scan data of Michael Jackson. It also includes the colour map from this scan in either CPV or UV maps. This data was collected using the same equipment that creates the data used to create video games and or CGI avatars to make him speak, laugh, sing or dance.

I must emphasise that the sale of this scan data is subject to the purchaser agreeing to clear the proper rights with the MJ Estate before it is publicly used in a promotional or commercial manner.

I bet you need to emphasise that. Even if the data isn’t a hoax (and I’m sceptical), I can’t see the Jackson Estate letting this fly without a lawsuit. We’ll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, an MJ fan found the auction and created this animation using only the 2D shots shown above. It’s all pretty creepy… just let the man rest in peace.

[Huffington Post via Techie.com.ph]

The tale behind the auction is that somehow, out of the 100,000 condoms distributed during the Olympics, this guy managed to get 5000. I guess at some point it sunk in that if he hasn’t used a single one by now, he never will. But hey, his loss could be your pile of probably expired condoms. Let’s call it the non-gadget deal of the day. [Sports Rubbish]

During Dennis LeRoy Anderson’s trial, the chair was considered a vehicle for legal purposes and because of that it ended up as city property. Since there didn’t seem to be a use for it, it went onto the auction block:

Known as the world famous DWI motorised La-Z-Boy style Chair, year built unknown. This is a unique vehicle located in Proctor Minnesota. The vehicle has been obtained from a DWI forfeiture and has not been restored. Engine: Briggs and Stratton Model # 19070 Type: 5641 with electric start. Transmission type unknown and is sloppy. The vehicle has front lights, rear tag light, radio, cup holder, rear roll bars and other custom options, missing the seat cushion. Curb weight of vehicle is unknown, length is 52″ and width is 45″. This is a great parade vehicle or a terrific business draw. Be the only one in town with a unique vehicle like this. This is not a street legal vehicle.

That’s a lot of customisation, but for the current going price of $US3250 someone oughta at least replace the missing cushion or tune up the transmission. Or at least toss in a few extra stickers, if nothing. [eBay via Wired]

You don’t have to feel like a dorky geek for buying it, because the money will go to charity. So you can feel like a good-hearted dorky geek.

The auction lasts till November 1, and the money will go to the Ronald McDonald foundation in Netherlands, “a dutch organisation that arranges proper housing for relatives of hospitalised children, in the vicinity of clinics”. [eBay via Brothers Brick]

Now, whether that “something” lasts for the long run—especially with a definitive lack of apps—is another thing, but for now Zune HD lovers can head on over to eBay for what amounts to a ludicrous price for a super rare, unreleased colour and get their bid in before the auction ends in about two days.

The eBay user conveniently lives in Washington, and said they procured this rare kit from a friend. Now they’re selling it for cash and are set to make a small fortune off what amounts to a regular old Zune HD with a nifty little paint job.

Now, will this model eventually be released en masse to the public at the usual Zune HD price? Sure, it probably will. But, if this wacky series of tubes has taught me anything, it’s that there are plenty of people who’d love to win this auction and yell “FIRST!” to the rest of us.

Update: Yeah, this thing is getting all sort of lame and suspicious. Crazy bidding, sketchy seller — everyone with half a brain proceed with caution. Maybe just watch the insanity take place from afar. [eBay via Anything But iPod via Engadget]

Holy crap. Considering the thing will cost about $US100,000 when it goes on sale, that’s pretty extreme — even if you will be recorded as an official test pilot. Adding insult to injury, a lucky New Zealander (the Jetpack’s home country) won a local auction for about US$4130.

More a personal helicopter than a Jetpack (its lift is driven by two ducted fans), it can theoretically reach as high as 2400 metres, and move as fast as 100km/h. The company is even negotiating a “multi-million dollar deal” to supply an as-yet unknown foreign government’s civil emergency services.

You might also remember that our own Mark Wilson actually got the chance to take one for a spin — and ask its makers some important questions. As for me? My budget probably limits me to this $US2500 home made kludge-job. Such is life. [eBay via Martin Jetpack via New Zealand Herald]

Among the list of potential uses for the broken 360, we’ve got:

- Door Stop
- Novelty Key Chain
- Book Stand
- Chopping Board
- Car/Bike Stand
- Paper Weight
- Game Console Stand (Use the 360MFC to keep your gaming consoles off the floor)
- Dog Tie -Out
- Childrens High Chair
- Ironing Board
- Bike Ramp

Even better are the included photos, like the ‘dog tie-out’ pictured above, or the bike ramp below.

The Adelaide based Xbox has a starting bid of $15 plus $10 shipping, and the auction ends on August 22. But if you’re interested, you should get in quick… As the eBay ad says – there’s only one available.

[ebay – Thanks Mcgoo!]

A 3-year-old New Zealand girl, bored in the early hours of the morning, hopped on her parents’ computer and, via auto-logins, managed to buy a used mechanical excavation machine for around $US15,000.

The funny thing is, this is not some tomboy girl who pushes Tonka trucks around going “vroom vroom.” No, Pipi (her real name) is described by her mum as “girlie.” “Even when she goes fishing she wears frilly dresses,” the mother said, according to the Times UK. “I think she was just clicking on the computer to see what happened.”

If nothing else this demonstrates the sheer unbridled power of the internet, not to mention its impersonality, its lack of intelligent failsafes, and our insane reliance on auto-logins as a way around the security we all demanded in the first place. Also: Apparently you can buy pretty much anything in New Zealand.

As you can assume, the seller on the auction site took back their Kobelco digger and sold it to someone else, and the girl’s parents no longer use their auto logins. [Times UK via Pocket-Lint]