Archive | News
Earlier this morning, every single one of Google's search results came with a warning that the site "may harm your computer," including their own properties like Gmail and Google Maps. They've since explained what happened: Google works with the non-profit StopBadware.org to create a list of potentially dangerous sites, which is updated periodically. One such update happened this morning, but somebody typed in "/" by mistake. That simple keystroke expands to every single URL, which is why Google was universally borked. Google engineers fixed the problem in about half an hour, and it's back to normal now. Please don't play with our heads again, Google. We trust you. If you tell us the entire internet might infect our computers, we'll probably believe you. [Google] Source[gizmodo]
What's going on this week over in game land? Final Fantasy XIII, that's what! A new video finally hit for the game that won't be released here until 2010. You can see the trailer here. Here are a few more interesting stories: • Pat Benatar's coming to Rock Band! • DJ Hero is coming. Get ready to be one more step removed from actually creating music. • Ashcraft eats food while giving none to his baby • Wanna see Nintendo's sales numbers? They sold a total 14 million Wii Fits in its lifespan. Holy shit. • Check out these Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshots • Megan Fox plays Guitar Hero • Berkeley has a class for StarCraft. This would be interesting, except it's a DeCal class, which is a student-taught class, and I also took two classes focused on MMORPGs when I went there. Not all that new or special. Also, my instructor is now a Fragdoll. • Tomb Raider, the movie series, is getting a reboot • Kill zombies in a new Dead Rising sequel! • Here are some screenshots of the cancelled Batman game. There's no Batman in it. • Kate Winslet likes playing Wii Sports Boxing with her son. I would probably enjoy watching Kate Winslet play Wii Sports Boxing. • Sims 3 is getting delayed Source[gizmodo]
Google's really trying to get in touch with their inner red state lately, aren't they? [Google Maps via The Smoking Gun via Valleywag] Source[gizmodo]
The tiny Proteus motor, at only 2.5 times the width of a human hair, is small enough to enter the bloodstream and perform duties previously requiring some surgical slice-and-dice. Researchers at Australia's Monash University developed the tiny motor to minimalize the risk of certain, more invasive surgeries. After being injected into the bloodstream, it can carry a camera and other sensors to monitor a patient without the danger that cutting and sewing presents. To move, it uses a spinning tail that spirals at 1295 RPM, and uses piezoelectricity (which uses mechanical stress to create electrical potential) for energy. Oh, and here's my required Fantastic Voyage reference: This bloodstream sperm motor is named for that movie I never saw! [GizMag] Source[gizmodo]
Sources close to Orbitcast have revealed that Sirus is finally submitting their uSirius StarPlayr to the App Store this weekend. Once accepted, subscribers will be able to enjoy Sirius XM on their iPhone. With Sirius being so late to the party, the only question is whether the service is really worth paying for when there are so many good, free streaming apps out there like Pandora and Slacker. [Orbitcast via The Motley Fool] Source[gizmodo]
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: Jones, who has one of only two keys to the locked access panels on the portable signs, said that the hacker broke into the panels on each sign and bypassed the passwords before leaving five different zombie messages and even changing one of the passwords. Jones said he had to wait until 8 a.m. to call the manufacturing company to figure out how to override the hacker’s work. OK OK, but here's the punchline: He speculated that the hacker could be a computer genius from UT. Yes, kids. You too can be a computer genius. [Statesman and No Fear of the Future] Source[gizmodo]
"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. The piece is about the earliest days of digital media, when the lucky few home computer users could view content from a handful of prominent papers on their "television screens" by dialing into their CompuServe Information Service with their rotary phones. It's interesting to see how many people involved in the project at the Examiner and elsewhere had a resolutely realistic take on the whole thing, assuming, despite how clunky current technologies were, that digital media was the unavoidable future—a sentiment that has since lost favor in newsrooms, now that it's actually coming to pass. [TechCrunch] Source[gizmodo]
You want the best for your child. And if your kid is to have a shot at being Gordon Gekko or just the next world text messaging champ, they need start early. Real early. The LeapFrog Text & Learn puts a BlackBerry-esque device into the hands of babes three and up. Preschoolers can enjoy texting Scout (a quasi-imaginary friend) while browsing the "web." Intended to teach spelling, basic computer skills, and the layout of a QWERTY keypad, we just hope that "Scout" is every bit as asexual as his/her name implies. Because my child's first booty call will not, and I repeat, not, be from some crappy pretend friend on some crappy pretend smartphone for kids. I want a better childhood for them than I had. No word on pricing or availability just yet. Source[gizmodo]
According to some newly leaked docs, the 8MP Samsung Memoir is coming to T-Mobile February 25th, a week later than we'd originally thought for $299 w/2 year contract. [TmoNews via MobileCrunch] Source[gizmodo]
Last Saturday, suspect Erik Salvador Ayala fired into the streets of Portland, Oregon. He killed two and injured seven before shooting himself in the head. But beforehand, he'd left meticulous instructions regarding his PS3's future. The unemployed, depressed 24-year-old left his roommate a suicide note containing hazy details of his location along with personal information (like his SSN and bank account). And then he went into a meticulous set of instructions regarding his PS3. You know my ps3 is special. Similar USED ps3's go for AT LEAST $450-$500. Our landlord guy wants a ps3 like mine. Let him know that $400 would be a GOOD deal. If he doesn't want it, format the drive by going to Settings>System>Format Utility. You can say it "comes with the latest firmware software" to help market it on the internet. In case you don't know, it's the special "100% backwards compatible" (60 GB) ps3. An awkward moment of kindness preceding the most selfish act of murder. It's hard to understand, but that's probably a good thing. [KATU via Kotaku] Source[gizmodo]
Pre-medieval warriors! Battling to the death! In Pittsburgh! (Appropriately, at Samsonia Way.) Obviously a serious tear in the spacetime contiuum, since it even replaced their iron weapons with modern foam-rubber. [Google Maps - Thanks tipster!] Source[gizmodo]
Whether you want to keep your music to yourself or share it with the world, this GoStereo headset only makes you lug around one listening device as it doubles as both personal headphones and speakers. Two external speakers are built around the earcups, while the reverse side surrounding your ears are well cushioned, making it comfortable for you to wear. Even so, the GoStereo Tune In Tune Out headphones are reportedly still cheaply constructed with an adjustable headband made of plastic that snaps easily. Sound quality is also only average at best. With a $50 price tag, however, I think it's pretty sweet price for a 2-in-1 headphones/speaker combination. [CNet] Source[gizmodo]
Hello Kitty will swallow your soul! And now that we have that out of the way, we can take a look at this incredibly loud looking Hello Kitty keyboard, which will also, incidentally, swallow souls. Normally, we'd call a $106 keyboard that boasts no significant features—aside from deadly cuteness and the ability to make grown men say "No, seriously, this is for my kid sister, honest" on command—a ripoff, but since this cat would skin us alive, we'll stay quiet. Goes well with this, which is also pink, and therefore adorable. Works with Windows XP, Vista and assorted torture devices. [Geek Stuff 4 You via Coolest Gadgets] Source[gizmodo]
Trust the rogue programmers and Cydia—the independent equivalent to the iTunes App Store—to bring you one of the most awaited features ever for the iPhone: Bluetooth file transfer. As you can see in the video, iBluetooth will bring you just that, allowing the iPhone to transfer files to any other device using Bluetooth. In this case, the application developed by MeDevil is working with an iMac and a Sony Ericsson handset but, once it is finished and available through Cydia, it will work with any device supporting the Bluetooth file transfer protocol. [Spazio Cellulare] Source[gizmodo]
This oddball vertical airship is designed to stay in the air for a whopping two weeks without landing. It's powered by a crew of 2-4 people pedaling, presumably in an ironic nod to The Flintstones. The helium airship, named for the Greek god of the wind, is only in the concept stage for now. But it looks like something out of Dinotopia, and the goofy vertical design is surprisingly cool. galleryPost('aeolus', 3, ' '); [Treehugger] Source[gizmodo]
Monday, February 2, 2009
Comments Off