Gizmodo Australia » horses

Senator Kerry To AT&T And Apple: Bad You Two, Bad!

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Presidential race loser and US Senator John Kerry (remember him?) has sent a note to the FCC basically asking why AT&T has an exclusive iPhone contract with Apple. Two years after its introduction? This horse is late to the race:

We ask that you examine this issue carefully and act expeditiously should you find that exclusivity agreements unfairly restrict consumer choice or adversely impact competition in the commercial wireless marketplace [...] Whether exclusivity agreements are becoming increasingly prevalent between dominant wireless carriers and handset manufacturers.

According to Ian Paul at PC World, the underwriters—Senator Kerry, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)—are mainly addressing the most successful smartphone out there in that note.

But why do this now? Only because the iPhone has been a raging success? Wasn’t this as bad two years ago as it is today? And why is this an FCC concern? Why should the government make any company to do business or sell their products in a certain way? Maybe the reason is that Kerry has Verizon and he’s pissed off he can’t have the iPhone or the Pre (for now)?

I don’t know about you, but as much as I would like to choose whatever carrier I want—you actually can, since you can buy the iPhone unlocked—this “concern” seems a a bit retarded to me. [PC World via Christian Science Monitor]

Ridemaster Pro Horseriding Simulator Is Just Sad

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Seriously. I don’t care how high-tech this mechanical horse—which apparently allows you to “simulate” horse riding—may be, but really, if I like to ride, I want to do it outside, on a real horse, experiencing the thrill, and feeling the wind on my face. And if I was a pro, I would like to practice on a real horse. In other words: there’s only one kind of riding to be done indoors. And this ultra-expensive US$10,000 contraption is not it. Update: we found a video of it—and yes, it’s actually sadder than we imagined.
[Born Rich via Ridemaster—Music: Miwaku no Horse Riding (Go Go Cactus Man) - from Cowboy Beebop]

One “Horsepower” Vehicle is a Slap in the Muzzle

Sean Fallon — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time horses were the kings of the open trail. The best horses were treated like royalty and their riders were worshipped for their skill. Unfortunately, those days are over. The Naturmobil pictured here was was built by Abdolhadi Mirhejazi of Dubai and it is powered by a single horse walking on a treadmill, encased in a plastic prison like some sort of common hamster. When the horse gets tired, a battery kicks in to power the vehicle along with the lights and the electrical system.

Thanks to its lightweight frame and complex gear system, the Naturmobil can can reach speeds of around 80 kph when the horse is really hauling. However, the cruising speed generally tops out at a more leisurely 20 kph. Mirhejazi hopes to parade his invention throughout the world in an attempt to secure financing for a second generation 4 horsepower Naturmobile that he plans to use for tourist transportation. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. [Xpress via Neatorama via DVICE]

April 24, 1184 B.C.: First Trojan Horse Attack

Brian Lam — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:36:46 +0000

From Wired’s Randy Alfred:

1184 B.C.: During the Trojan War, the Greeks depart in ships, leaving behind a large wooden horse as a victory offering. It is hauled inside the walls of Troy, and Greek soldiers descend from the horse’s belly after dark to slay the guards and commence destruction of the city.

[Wired]

FleetHorse: The Horse-Powered Car

Jason Chen — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:00:58 +0000

Hey guys, I’ve got the best plan to both keep our cars and reduce our reliance on oil. Know what it is? It’s so awesome. Ok, here it is. You take a van, right? And then you hollow out the back, and stick a horse inside. Dude, isn’t it great? A horse-powered-car! Duuuuude, just picture it. Why are you leaving? No, I’m not high, YOU’RE HIGH! [Fleethorse - Thanks Ariel!]