Maggie's Daily Tabbloid by Maggie Hunsucker

21 August 2009

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

GIZMODO

sort by seeds, date or whatever. It has one of the most massive indices of any site, so it’s a good thing the search engine is up to it. Still, with a lot of torrents, it can be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Five Pirate Bay BitTorrent Alternatives [BitTorrent]

BTJunkie BTJunkie claims to be the largest torrent search engine of all, with around 5,000-25,000 new torrents added to the index daily. The quantity doesn’t seem noticeably better than the other sites listed above, however. Also, the interface is really ugly. But you know, it’s there if you need it.

AUG 21, 2009 03:20P.M.

EZTV If you’ve downloaded a TV show, whatever site you snagged it from, chances are, it came from these guys. They’re the most prolific TV rippers around, and usually have solid quality rips of shows up within hours of airing. If you’re interested in TV, you might as well just go to the source—their site points to wherever their files are hosted, so you don’t have to search through a million different sites to find the right EZTV torrent. The whole scene is admittedly a bit depressing now, after years of high profile closures—Suprnova, OiNK TorrentSpy and LokiTorrent—so these are what’s left of the big sites. And even they’re not guaranteed to survive. Demonoid went offline for several months back in 2007-2008, Mininova has a copyright filter attached to it, and really, any site is just a police raid away from possibly going down. So tread carefully, and don’t get too attached to any of them.

The Pirate Bay we know and love, though still harboring torrents for now, is going away. But that doesn’t mean BitTorrent is dead. Far from it. Here are five places to get your torrent on after it closes for good. Demonoid Demonoid, besides having a solid community and good quality torrents—no porn, exceedingly few viruses—also operates the other major torrent tracker besides The Pirate Bay. (A tracker is what help makes the whole BitTorrent system work, since it makes sure every peer’s talking to each other properly.) It doesn’t have the best selection around, but what most of what you’ll find there is quality. The catch is that you need to snag an invitation from a member or when they periodically dole them out to the public.

And of course, you should drop your own suggestions in the comments.

Mininova.org Mininova’s always one of our preferred torrent sites—tons of torrents from multiple trackers, not a lot of crap in the interface, and the search isn’t bad. Actually, it’s kind of the like The Pirate Bay, but with less crap and fewer headaches. The catch now is that they’re slowly implementing a new copyright filter to keep copyrighted torrents from being uploaded. But you should still be able to find True Blood on there, no problem. ISOHunt ISOHunt is a BitTorrent and P2P search engine that’s got what feels like the most sophisticated search engine of the bunch. But like the others, you just punch in what you’re looking for, and it pulls up results you can

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

(normally $20). • Frogger (iPhone/iPod Touch) for $0.99 (normally $5.99). • SimCity (iPhone/iPod Touch) for $2.99 (normally $4.99).

Gadget Deals Of The Day [Dealzmodo]

Home Entertainment: • 50” Pioneer KURO 1080P Plasma HDTV for $2000 plus free shipping (normally $2197). • 46” Sharp Aquos LC46LE700UN 1080p 120Hz LED TV for $1,360.55 plus free shipping (normally $1,496). • 42” Panasonic TC-P42X1 720P Plasma HDTV for $530 plus free shipping (normally $650 - use coupon code 1F1XRTGHPJXQLG). • 32” Panasonic Viera TC-32LX85 720p LCD TV for $419 plus free shipping (normally $449). • Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System for $196 plus free shipping (normally $259). • 3 Pack - 6 Foot HDMI v1.3 Cables for $7.99 plus free shipping (normally $11 – use coupon code MLC1933503N). • Belkin HDTV Cable Kit for $9.99 (normally $30). • Freaks and Geeks Complete Series for $36.99 (normally $44).

AUG 21, 2009 03:00P.M.

Dealzmodo wraps up the week with a huge list of great bargains. If anyone is looking for a Kuro before Pioneer leaves the TV business, we’ve got a great deal on one of the best HDTVs around. Enjoy your weekend!

Personal Portables and Peripherals: • 30GB Zune for $109.99 (normally $150). • Altec Lansing BackBeat 106 Earphones for $16.43 (normally $33.45). • Skullcandy Ti Stereo Headphones for $19.99 plus free shipping (normally $58). • Yamaha NS-M225P Tower Loud Speakers (Pair) for $69.99 plus free shipping (normally $199.77). • Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1ch 130W/ch Home Theater System for $196.00 plus free shipping (normally $294 - use coupon code AFLONK196) • Skullcandy TI Stereo Headphones for $20 plus free shipping (normally $57).

Computing and Peripherals: • 17” Dell Studio 17 2.1Ghz Core2Duo Laptop for $799 plus free shipping (normally $1105). • 15.6” Dell Inspiron 15 Dual Core Laptop for $419 plus free shipping (normally $499). • 12.1” HP TouchSmart tx2z Tablet for $799.99 plus free shipping (normally $1,299). • 12.1” Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Core2Duo Laptop for $831.20 plus free shipping (normally $1,099). • 10.1” Lenovo S10-2 Intel Atom Netbook for $299.00 plus free shipping (normally $349 - use coupon code USPAUGS10). • HP Pavilion p6180t 2.5GHz Core2Quad Desktop for $529.99 plus free shipping (normally $850 - use coupon code DTX7457). • Dell Inspiron 546 2.4GHz Phenom X4 9750 Desktop with 20” HD Widescreen Monitor for $739 plus free shipping (normally $1038). • 23” Samsung 2333SW Widescreen LCD Monitor for $167.99 plus free shipping (normally $241 – use coupon code CPWZ3?K93D5GV1). • 19” Dell S1909WX Widescreen LCD Monitor for $89 plus free shipping (normally $149). • 1TB Samsung Story Station HX-DU010EB External Hard Drive for $90 plus free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code EMCLWNL28). • Microsoft Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 7000 for $19 plus free shipping (normally $28 - use coupon code EMCLWNL22). • Cooler Master Air-Through Stash Notebook Cooler for $19 plus free shipping (normally $24 - use this form). • D-Link DGS-2205 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch for for $19.99 (normally $38 - use this form). • Norton 360 3.0 for $29.99 (normally $40).

Hobomodo: • Art of Shaving Kit for $0 (use this form). • Mars Chocolate for $0 (use this form). • 8x10 Scrapbook Page for $0 (use coupon code SCRAPIT and this form). • Sample of Emeril’s Essence for $0 (use this form). • Stacker Game (iPhone/iPod Touch) for $0. • “Momma’s Boy” by Elizabeth & The Catapult (MP3) for $0 (download here). • 9 Track Comedy MP3 Sampler for $0 (download here). If a deal looks too good to be true, investigate the store and see if it’s a good, reputable place to buy. Safe shopping! [Thanks TechDealDigger, Fat Wallet, GamerHotline, Cheap College Gamers, CheapStingyBargains and TechBargains.]

Gaming: • Batman: Arkham Asylum (360/PS3) for $51.99 (normally $58). • 1701 A.D. Gold Edition (PC) for $14.99 (normally $28). • Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus (PC) for $9.99

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

SMASHING MAGAZINE

45 Amazing Examples of Code Generated and 3D CG Artworks AUG 21, 2009 02:49P.M.

The most interesting thing we like about art is that it is independent of any medium; an artist can express himself without any limitations or restrictions by creating a wonderful and creative piece of art. A creative artist can come up with an inspirational and motivational thought and put that in their artwork in such a way that it becomes a masterpiece that dazzles our mind. In this post we present some amazing examples of Code Generated, Algorithmic Abstract Artworks and CG Artworks. There are some really interesting platforms and libraries; by using them, artists can create unusual artworks. Most popular among these libraries are Flash Scripting, Generator.x, Processing (Java Based), openFrameworks (C Based) and for creating CG Art, artists are often using 3D Max, Maya, Zbrush, V Ray, Photoshop etc.

Rewind Blue

Hopefully, you’ll love them and will find them creative or inspirational. Please explore the further works of the artists linked below and also feel free to suggest other artworks in the comments to this post. Algorithmic and Code Generated Artworks Composition #72

Generative War

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

I am no Chuck Close

The Days Shine On

Crimson

monogram

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

You Are Special

Composition-51

Composite

Wild but happy

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Aloha

love.01

Correndo

sad.wire

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

x.01.plode

see.the.sky

orange.awakening.02

circle.explosion

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

soft.twirl 02

Heart

behind.the.line.01

Pit

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Stinging Eyes

3D Computer Graphic Artworks In this section, we have collected some truly fantastic CG Artworks (3D Computer Graphics). The most incredible thing about 3D Graphics is that you can recreate any image on your computer that will looks very much like the real thing. Sometimes this 3D rendering becomes so incredible that nobody can hardly tell a difference between the real image and a computed one. Young girl

Crazy Rabbit

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Hektor

The Duet Ice Enviroment

A Vespid BINAH

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Night Elf

Old Lamp

Livingroom

Great White

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Gorilla

House For Sale

Howling

Porsche 911 Gt2

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Elder

Green Cargo,

The Artist himself

Escargot

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

OS—mainly because it’ll let you use gobs more RAM. Keep in mind, though, just because an application is 64-bit doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be faster: [Adobe]

GIZMODO

Back to School Tech: 10 Things You Need, 5 Things You Definitely Don’t [Back To School Tech] AUG 21, 2009 02:00P.M.

GIZMODO

PSA: 64-Bit Apps Don’t Always Run Faster [64-Bit]

Life isn’t a Supermarket Sweep: You can’t just grab every back-to-school gadget in the weekly circular. College-bound kids have to conserve cash for important things like pizza and beer, err textbooks. Cut through the marketing crap and snatch the essentials.

AUG 21, 2009 02:40P.M.

We’ve been pretty big advocating that you go 64-bit with your next

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

WHAT YOU NEED Value-Priced Laptop If you were thinking about getting a desktop, STOP. Laptops are the perfect library or couch companion and even the best laptops on the market have come down in price. Apple’s MacBook is one of the best laptops for students, and if you want the nice unibody aluminum one, you can pick it up refurbished for $900. If you opt for Windows instead, this Dell Inspiron 15 is solid for as low as $500. Take it from Prof. Dealzmodo, you don’t have to be scared of buying refurbs, as long as it’s through the manufacturers themselves.

WHAT YOU NEED iPod Dock/Alarm Clock Waking up for class to your music rather than a crappy local radio station is going to be way easier on you (and your hangover). Winner of the eight way iPod Dock Battlemodo, the $200 JBL OnStage 400p is one of the best-sounding choices, though it doesn’t have its own clock-radio built in, so you’ll have to set your iPod or iPhone. Looking for something a tad cheaper? Try the $130 Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2. If you are really worried that an iPod alarm won’t wake you, try the iLuv iMM153. Its sound quality might not be on par with the above docks, but its vibrating ring will actually shake the bed.

WHAT YOU NEED All-in-One Printer You’d think in this day and age you’d be able to email your papers, but lots of college professors still require you hand in your masterpieces on dead trees. An all-in-one printer gives you the vital copy and scan functions, too, so there’s no point in buying a single-function printer. The Canon MX860 (on sale for $160 on Amazon) packs wireless printing and prints on both sides of the page. The $100 HP PhotoSmart C4680 focuses on your photos, with its LCD screen and fast color-printing times.

WHAT YOU NEED Point-and-Shoot Camera Believe me, one day you’ll want to remember the “best years of your life” in something better than the grainy blurry shots you get from your cellphone. Today’s cheapest point-and-shoots let you capture stunning

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

still pictures and quality video, too, in case your bud does something College Humor worthy. The 12-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 will cost you about $200 and shoots 720p video with a 4x zoom. Canon’s $180 PowerShot SD1200IS will give you great still shooting performance for the money, and its 640x480 video is good enough for YouTube videos. Don’t forget a big SD card—8GB or so.

WHAT YOU NEED Headphones Whether you are trying to block out the sounds of your roommate’s squeaking bed or the non-whispering library voices, a good pair of headphones is a must. While a pair of noise canceling headphones will run up the bill, Shure’s $99 SE115s isolate background noise really well with rubber or foam, not expensive circuitry. If you’re trying to keep it on the cheap but can’t stand free-with-purchase earbuds, Altec Lansing’s Backbeat Plus for $50 aren’t too shabby.

WHAT YOU NEED Gaming Console Making friends in college is way easier when you can lure them into your room for a RB jam session. A game console can also serve as DVD player, music jukebox and streaming media receiver, so there’s a lot of value in one box. Understanding that dorm rooms are cramped, Sony’s new PS3 Slim is smaller than the original and cheaper with its $299 price tag. And with 120GB of space you’ll have more than enough room for storing movies and music. And if you want something even more affordable and can hold out for a few more weeks, the Xbox 360’s price is rumored to drop. No matter what system you choose, make sure to grab extra controllers.

WHAT YOU NEED HD Monitor or Cheap HDTV If you have that all-powerful game console, you’ll need something to hook it up to. Many kids split up the responsibility with a roommate, a good friend—or a spendy parent. One buys the console, the other buys a display. We recommend either a larger monitor, like Dell’s 24” S2409W with HDMI input. Or you could go with a budget 32” HDTV. It may not have the best picture, but this 32-inch 720p Insignia is a great deal at $380. (Don’t waste money on 1080p TVs if the screen isn’t at least 40”.)

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

WHAT YOU NEED Notebook Bag Picking a notebook bag can be more personal than picking what goes inside it. Not only do you want something protective but something that also sticks with your own style. Timbuk2 makes some of the best on the market, and though they will cost you north of $60, they are known for having a decent warranty policy—send in pics to see if your damage is covered—and random acts of consumer kindness. The Laptop Messenger is now $65.

WHAT YOU NEED Mini Fridge Here is a gadget you don’t see on Gizmodo every day (except maybe ones powered by USB), but a mini-fridge is a must-have for a dorm room. The Emerson 2-Door Compact Refrigerator has enough space in the fridge for leftover Easy Mac, and a separate freezer for keeping that nonfreezing liquid and some hotpockets. The Haier fridge microwave combo also is a good bet for those that can’t live without popcorn or instant soup.

WHAT YOU NEED Reliable Cellphone The dorm room has a landline jack but you will never use it. Make sure you have a good cell on a carrier that gets service at your school. Though we’d love to say, “Buy an iPhone 3GS or Palm Pre,” the fact is, they come with costly monthly plans. Depending on your budget, you may just want to go with one of the newest messaging phones from Samsung or LG—with an unlimited messaging bundle. (You may also want an iPod Touch running on Wi-Fi, so you don’t miss out on the 99-cent apps.)

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED WHAT YOU DON’T NEED

Laptop Lock Every retailer recommends you buy a laptop lock for your dorm room, but the reality is you will never use it. Now, we care about your laptop’s safety, but the answer is being smart about where you leave it: Lock the door when you go out, have a friend watch it at the library or meal hall, etc. And for the insanely paranoid there is always this.

Bluetooth Headset Unless you are majoring in douchebaggery, a Bluetooth headset should not be on your shopping list. It is nice that Motorola is lowering prices on some headsets for back-to-school, and those should be snapped up by drivers who need them in the car. But if you are walking and talking, you can hold the phone up to your ear. If you are in your room, crank up the speakerphone. Seriously, having a headset in your ear all the time is no way to make friends.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED Camcorder Forget the Flip Mino, the Creative Vado or even the Kodak Zi8, since the functionality is essentially what you already have on a point-and-shoot. Unless you are a film student, you aren’t going to be making documentaries. Just keep that still camera handy to catch drunken clips of girls crying or your friend puking.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED Ebook Reader

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Devices like the Kindle DX are fun, and Sony’s new affordable readers are looking nice too, but for a student heading off to college, ebook readers are still an unneeded expense. Digital textbooks just aren’t widely available yet, so you’ll still have to buy a backbreaking amount of old-world books. Plus, what are you going to do when you accidentally drop it in class and it shatters? So try and ignore the hype this year, and maybe next year, McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall and the like will come through for you.

Shortly after giving the Pro-HG Duo a similar treatment, Sony has gone and bumped up the capacity of the Pro Duo to 32GB. For those of you keeping track, that equates to around 225 minutes in full HD mode for Handycam owners. Cyber-Shot users can also get 29 minute clips in 720p. [CrunchGear]

GIZMODO

What Is This? [Image Cache] AUG 21, 2009 01:40P.M.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED Anything Too Expensive, or Not Rugged Enough Mark my words, what doesn’t get stolen will surely be barfed on.

An escaped amusement park water ride boat? A crashed, insectoid UFO that’s stuck struggling on its back, turtle-style? A conveniently allpowerful plot device in a Hollywood summer action movie? A Roomba grain harvester?

GIZMODO

Sony Increases Memory Stick Pro Duo Capacity To 32GB [Storage] AUG 21, 2009 01:58P.M.

This 15-foot-wide, solar-panel-adorned disc is a floating water purifier,

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

to be plopped into the canals in the Japanese city of Osaka, and into the moat around the city’s centerpiece castle. Designed by NTT, these “floating UFOs” can filter about 2400 gallons of water in the 6 hours a day they’ll be operational, all the while spewing the newly cleaned and oxygenated water out of a little spout in its back, presumably because these things have the potential to be kind of unsettling, and everything with a blowhole is automatically charming. It’s true! Check!

smartphone buyers pick up a smartphone data plan to go with it. [BGR]

At night, they’ll just sort of float along, creepily—they’ve got batteries for when the sun hides out, but only to power the device’s LED lights. [Asahi via Pink Tentacle—Second image from Mainichi Daily]

GIZMODO

Toy Helicopter Confused for Life-Sized Version, Rescue Mission Mounted [Wtf] AUG 21, 2009 01:10P.M.

GIZMODO

AT&T; Forcing Data Plans With All Smartphones Starting Sept. 6 [Unconfirmed] AUG 21, 2009 01:24P.M.

Police patrols, three Charleston Fire Department trucks, and a battalion chief rushed to the Wando River where a helicopter had plunged into the water. A two-foot toy helicopter. That’s what? Over ten times smaller than the real thing? Confusion understandable. With all the panic during rush-hour, only one man actually immediately realized that the ‘copter was a wee bit too small. I hope they give that particular officer an award of some kind. Or better yet, a promotion to a department that wouldn’t give me a ticket for racing an RC car. [Post and Courier via Obscure Store] Photo by Locutis

Planning to skimp on your smartphone’s data plan with AT&T? Not after September 6, you won’t—that’s when AT&T will be making all new

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

NASA Successfully Tests Inflatable Heat Shield [Space]

App Store Approval Process Slowly Getting Less Horrendous? [Apple]

AUG 21, 2009 12:50P.M.

AUG 21, 2009 12:30P.M.

Good news for wannabe astronauts everywhere: NASA has developed a new heat shield concept that, instead of using the usual thermal tiles, is inflatable. They tested it successfully in a launch from Wallops Island, in Virginia. The new system has demonstrated that it is posible to use an inflatable shield to slow down and protect a spacecraft from atmosphere re-entry. The test unit above was 10 feet in diameter, and was made of several layers of silicone-coated fabric. It was tightly packed for launch and inflated in less than 90 seconds before the re-entry, coming from an altitude of 131 miles.

Maybe Phil Schiller wasn’t talking out his apple as he’s been reaching out to disgruntled iPhone developers, promising that Apple’s improving the App Store approval process and making it less ridiculous. They actually fixed things for one developer they screwed.

Once it’s fully developed, this shield will make ships a lot lighter, allowing for more payload and greater volumes. [NASA]

A month ago, Apple rejected an application by Start Mobile featuring the iconic Obama “Hope” image by Shepard Fairey, stating the it “ridicules public figures.” Typical App Store bullshit. But, hark! Start received an email from Apple the other day, that while it doesn’t apologize, concedes that “after further investigation” Apple’s decided it doesn’t violate the App Store’s terms. So Start can resubmit, and they’ll get an “expedited review.” Plus, the email’s signed by a real human being, or at least a computer that calls itself Amy. It’s a small step, but it’s a step nonetheless. We’re still not holding our breath for Google Voice anytime soon, though. [TechCrunch]

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Perforated House Airs Your Darkest Secrets [Architecture]

GIZMODO

AUG 21, 2009 12:10P.M.

Sonim’s Absurdly Tough XP3 Lands in the US: $400, Unlocked [Cellphones] AUG 21, 2009 12:06P.M.

Wouldn’t it be great if, when the first breeze of Spring blew into town, you could open the entire front of your house to let the fresh air in? While your wife was changing, maybe? This perforated house is on the market now for $725,000 (AU). Conceptualized by Kavellaris Urban Design, the home looks opaque during the day. But through a few movable walls and a little backlighting, the dwelling glows like a giant light box at night, encouraging the neighborhood to gawk at your silhouettes.

After the beering, the hammering, the shooting, and the elephant stomping, it’s fair to say that, on the toughness front, Sonim’s gotten their point across. Now, after months of teases, you can actually buy the XP3, unlocked, for $400. [BestBuy]

It’d be great to stage a domestic quarrel, shouting about taking out the garbage as the missus, seething in contempt, pulls out a giant battle axe. After shadowing the weapon deep into your skull, a red corn starch mixture would spray the facade. The stains would surely ruin your investment, but hey, you can’t be too sane if you’re buying this place to begin with. [Real Estate and Kavellaris Urban Design via Desire to Inspire via Inhabitat]

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Need a Job? Microsoft Hiring for Retail Stores [Microsoft Store]

Easel Turns Trashy TV Into High Art [Design] AUG 21, 2009 11:30A.M.

AUG 21, 2009 11:50A.M.

Good news for the unemployed: Microsoft has posted job listings for its retail stores. Those living near or around Scottsdale, AZ or Mission Viejo, CA can now apply to work in one of the wall sized screen equipped stores. Looks like a total of 16 positions are open right now and positions range from store managers to retail assistants. We assume job applicants will have to demonstrate that they have the “answers” in order to be positioned at the “Answer Bar.”

You have horrible taste in television. It’s OK, we’re not judging. Everyone has horrible taste in television—it’s a prerequisite to hitting the power button. But there’s a cure. No, don’t you dare read. Just buy a $1000 TV easel.

For now you can only apply for the announced Arizona and California locations. Microsoft says information on the future store locations is forthcoming. Send all thank you notes for U.S. job creation to Steven Ballmer [Microsoft via Ars Technica]

Once balanced at a 70-degree angle upon reclaimed oak, your LCD will gleam with a new stature. Just as glasses can make a dumb person an instant intellectual, so too can the TV easel turn reality TV into episodic documentaries—a chronicle of human struggle to find a plus-sized soulmate while overcoming the occasional bungee jumping into water to grab things challenge. This is Cannes-level shit we’re talking about. I know it’s expensive, but there’s no other way. We can’t turn the feed off. It’d be like yanking out one of those metal rods that connects your skull to the Matrix. Our bodies would go limp on the couch, unable to lift themselves from the...wait, maybe life wouldn’t be so different after all. [Restoration Hardware via Uncrate]

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

My Three Favorite Science Visualization Videos of 2009—So Far [Video Cache] AUG 21, 2009 11:10A.M.

GIZMODO

Run Windows 7 Without Activating It For 4 Months [Windows] AUG 21, 2009 10:50A.M.

Wired Science has picked the best science visualization videos of 2009. And from there, I’ve picked my three favorite ones. Note to self: Don’t go to Los Angeles or anywhere near the San Andreas fault. Above you can see a simulation of the Big One, a 7.8 earthquake on Southern California. It starts south of Palm Springs and ends obliterating Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. 12 terabytes of simulation data was used in this. This is a Type Ia supernova, which in theory is a exploding white dwarf star in a binary system. Nice fireworks. Say you’ve bought a legit copy of Windows 7, but you don’t want to enter that activation code. A common situation! Well, there’s a simple trick for extending that free limbo period for four months.

This video shows the seasonal carbon dioxide cycle, base on data collected by NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System Model, Version 5. Head to Wired Science to see the rest of the eye candy. [Wired]

All you’ve got to do is enter “slmgr -rearm” into the command prompt at the end of every 30 day period, and you’re set. You can do it three times, extending the whole deal to 120 days. The same trick worked on Vista, and it’s nice to see Microsoft allowing the little trick to keep working on 7. You know, for those of us who hate entering activation codes. [Telegraph via Engadget] GIZMODO

Windows Mobile 7 Epically Delayed? [Windows Mobile 7] AUG 21, 2009 11:03A.M. Mary Jo Foley says that the real news about the rumor Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7 will co-exist—which she doesn’t find surprising—is that it means Windows Mobile 7 has in fact been pushed back by several months. It was originally supposed to be released to manufacturers by the end of this year to hit devices in April 2010, not Q4 2010. Ruh roh. [ZDNet]

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

iPhone’s Sonar Ruler App Measures Distance Using Sound [IPhone Apps]

PS2 Compatibility Never Returning to the PlayStation 3 [PS3]

AUG 21, 2009 10:30A.M.

AUG 21, 2009 10:10A.M.

Here’s a cool trick: the new Sonar Ruler app uses the iPhone’s speaker to send out a short click and then measures how long it takes for the sound to bounce off a surface. It then tells you the distance.

Sony pretty much implied that backward compatibility was dead when they released the PS3 Slim (without PS2 support), but just in case, Sony’s John Koller put a few nails in that coffin during two recent interviews.

It’s not perfectly accurate, however. It works best on large, flat surfaces that are perpendicular to the phone, which will provide measurements accurate within an inch. It won’t work on smaller objects, however, and things like temperature and wind can affect the readings. So you won’t want to use it to measure where to cut a piece of wood. But still, that’s a damned neat trick for a phone to be able to do. [iTunes Link via Laan via Kottke]

Koller said, “It’s not coming back, so let me put that on the table,” before later adding “won’t be returning” to Ars. Then, to Kotaku, Koller flipped the whole table metaphor around (but said the same thing) with the assertion that “backwards compatibility is off the table.” Some eyewitnesses claimed that Koller then stood from his chair, squatted to the floor and teabagged the first generation of PS3s that included hardware backward compatibility. Then, with an equal amount of ceremony, he teabagged the second generation of PS3s the included software emulated backward compatibility. Sony’s stance is that PS2-compatibility is simply no longer a relevant draw to PS3 buyers. And while that’s an easy enough point to scoff at, I will admit, I don’t know the last time I loaded a PS2 disc into my PS3. [Ars and Kotaku]

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

HTC’s Cheap Android Phone On Video, Looking Surprisingly Not Cheap [Android] AUG 21, 2009 09:50A.M. Android phones: Still expensive! At least, until the Click, HTC’s rumored first budget Android phone, hits the market. Here, a member of Tinhte gives the Click a timid whirl, and to be honest, Android’s cut-rate future doesn’t look so bad. The Click’s most distinctive difference from the G1 and MyTouch, besides its old-style HTC shell and terrible aftermarket engraving, is its screen size, which isn’t really apparent until you see it next to its bigger brother. Aside from that, it doesn’t look like the Click cuts to many corners—I’m seeing a 3.5mm jack, GSM compatibility, and Donut—and the handset looks like a fine piece of Android hardware—especially if it hits a $100, or even better, $0 price point, which it probably could, if it tried.

The PS3 Slim only just got announced, but its full abilities are starting to emerge. The latest: Apparently it actually can bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio directly to your receiver. Can I get a w00t from the audiophiles? Many had suspected (or at least hoped) the PS3 Slim would offer such support. We’ve not yet confirmed it ourselves, but Japanese Tech News site, AV Watch, makes it sound like a done deal.

Update: Yes, the demo dude has extraneous appendage on his right hand. Carry on! [Tinhte via Slashgear]

The HDMI chip used by existing fatty PS3 models doesn’t support the relatively recent Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA codecs. This forces them to decode internally, and send the audio to your receiver via LPCM, a potentially lossy process.

GIZMODO

So, The PS3 Slim Can Bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio After All? [PS3 Slim]

Bottom line: Great news if you use the PS3 for watching Blu-ray movies with a high-end surround sound system. If not, just nod and know that this is a good thing. Wanna know more? Check out Giz Explains: Dolby, DTS and Home Theater Audio Codec Confusion. [AV Watch (translated) via Engadget]

AUG 21, 2009 09:30A.M.

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21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Self-Balancing eniCycle is Like a Segway for the Circus [Transportation]

Something Tells Me this Circuit City Propaganda Didn’t Work So Well [Clips]

AUG 21, 2009 09:10A.M.

AUG 21, 2009 08:50A.M. You know, being part of Circuit City‘s Northstar customer service team wasn’t so different from climbing a mountain to 80s-infused melodies, if you really think about it.

Anyone who’s been employed by any big retailer has probably been locked in a room for a few days and forced to watch videos like these. There’s just something so equally sad and funny about seeing a failed company’s (and specifically Circuit City’s) lame-ass attempt to rally the troops...especially when it involves the high fives and arm-based gyrations of upper management. [Consumerist via BBG]

Finally, a unicycle that even I could ride! Designer Aleksander Polutnik says it takes only minutes to learn how to ride the eniCycle, because it uses mini-gyroscopes and an embedded processor to keep you balanced. Watch it in action: The eniCycle’s electric-powered 1000 watt motor kicks into gear as you lean forward—similar to riding a Segway. The gyroscopes help you stay upright while measuring your vertical angle 100 times a second.

GIZMODO

Physicists Create Perfect Coffee Mug That Keeps Perfect Temperature [Gadgets]

So far Polutnik has built two prototypes, and is looking for big business to help him sell the thing. I hope he does. [Enicycle via Core77 via DVICE]

AUG 21, 2009 08:35A.M.

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21 August 2009

ceramics. Inside there’s an aluminum structure—as you can see in the image above—which gets filled with PCM. When you pour in your hot coffee, the heat gets absorbed reaching your personal optimum level based on the amount of PCM in the cup’s interior. According to Klaus Sedlbauer, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, you can customize this on manufacturing. Their perfect cup, however, keeps it at 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit:

Fraunhofer Institute scientists have invented The Perfect Coffee Mug: One that absorbs the heat from your beverage, making it go down to a perfect temperature, and then releasing it slowly to keep it at that exact temperature for 30 minutes. The key for this magic trick is physics and PCM—phase change material—an extraordinary substance used in construction and winter clothing. PCM is capable of storing and releasing heat or cold. In its original state it is a solid but. Then, when it receives heat, it absorbs it like a sponge liquifying into a gooey wax. As the PCM solidifies it releases the energy at a steady pace, keeping any liquid or room at the perfect temperature. In houses, they achieve this by filling hollow walls with PCM, which absorbs heat from the sun, and then releases it as the atmosphere cools down, keeping the room at a perfect temperature.

Warm drinks — like coffee or tea — are best enjoyed at 58 degrees Celsius. In order to reach and maintain this temperature, we fill the mug with a type of PCM that becomes a liquid at exactly 58 degrees Celsius. Under ideal circumstances, the optimal temperature can be maintained for 20-30 minutes. I don’t know about you, for for me they are not putting this into the market soon enough. [Spiegel]

The perfect mug follows the same principle: It is made of hollow

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Perfect Coffee Mug Keeps the Perfect Temperature [Gadgets] AUG 21, 2009 08:35A.M.

The perfect mug follows the same principle: It is made of hollow ceramics. Inside there’s an aluminum structure—as you can see in the image above—which gets filled with PCM. When you pour in your hot coffee, the heat gets absorbed reaching your personal optimum level based on the amount of PCM in the cup’s interior. According to Klaus Sedlbauer, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, you can customize this on manufacturing. Their perfect cup, however, keeps it at 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit:

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx Those in the U.K are advised to contact ASDA. [CPSC via CNN Money via Engadget]

I don’t know about you, for for me they are not putting this into the market soon enough. [Spiegel]

GIZMODO

Asus Eee Keyboard Expected “As Early As October” [Asus]

GIZMODO

AUG 21, 2009 06:03A.M.

1.5 Million Durabrand DVD Players Recalled By Wal-Mart: Fire Hazard [Recalls] AUG 21, 2009 06:50A.M.

The recall comes after 12 complaints of overheating, including five cases that caused fire and property damage. The $29 Chinese-made cheapies were sold from January 2006 to July 2009, exclusively at Wal-Mart (U.S) and ASDA supermarkets (U.K).

In the latest twist of the Eee Keyboard‘s delay, DigiTimes reports the entertainment-PC-in-a-keyboard should be ready “as early as October”. It also says the 20-inch Eee Top AIO, and two new ultra-thin U/UX series notebooks will arrive in September.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to the nearest Wal-Mart for a full refund.

Though it cites unnamed “industry sources” (which could mean anything), DigiTimes gets specific for the Eee keyboard‘s pricing: around US$400-500. The keyboard has a built-in 4-inch display, 1.6Ghz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 16/32GB SSD, Wi-Fi and a wireless HDMI dongle.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Wal-Mart Stores at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.walmartstores.com The Consumer Product Safety Commission is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR YOU

21 August 2009

Winery Mini-Barrel. We also showcase our skills on Rodriguez DJ Tables, get our game back in form with the Callaway Golf X-Force Swing Trainer, and taunt nearby Packers fans in a Brett Favre Minnesota Vikings Jersey. Finally, we celebrate all things Lebowski with a viewing of The Achievers, relax ourselves the smoke-free way with Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda, and prepare for our upcoming online dominance by buying our league an Ultimate Fantasy Football Trophy.

GIZMODO

Ahoy! Cloned Pirate Bay Site Sets Sail [The Pirate Bay]

Meanwhile, the Nvidia Ion-based 20-inch Eee Top ET2002 AIO, and Eee Box nettop are expected to cost about $670 and $300 in September. The ET2002 has an Atom 330 CPU, 1600 by 900 resolution, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard disk, and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

AUG 21, 2009 04:18A.M.

Bonus news: DigiTimes also says HP is expected to launch an Ionbased netbook in September, along with some new ultra-thin netbooks. We’re gonna be busy! [DigiTimes]

GIZMODO

Man Stuff - The Best of Uncrate [Roundups]

Remember that Pirate Bay user who archived the site’s entire torrent index earlier this week? It’s available for all to download, but he’s now used it to create a full replica site. You can check it out at BTArena.net. [TorrentFreak]

AUG 21, 2009 06:00A.M.

According to the site: “tracker.btarena.org” can be used to track new torrents. The torrents available from the BTArena.net copy still carry the announce URLs from The Pirate Bay‘s tracker but since all torrents were updated with the OpenBitTorrent tracker, they will remain functional even when GGF’s version of the site takes over at the end of this month

American supercars, relaxing soda, and wine by the barrel - gear up for football season with the latest and greatest from Uncrate. This week at Uncrate: We put the petal to the metal in the Devon GTX, get back into shape before the warm weather ends on Livestrong Fitness Equipment, and keep our guests well lubricated with the Red Truck

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21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Terrifying T-600 USB Drive Has Rhinestone Eyes of Doom [Terminator]

GIZMODO

Terrifying T-600 USB Drive Has Rhinestone Eyes To Stare Into Your Soul [Terminator]

AUG 21, 2009 04:04A.M.

Based on the T-600 skin job from Terminator 4, this 2GB USB drive has eyes made of swanky Swarovski rhinestones. And like the USB Skull Rings (also from Solid Alliance), it’ll be a limited edition run. Based on the T-600 skin job from Terminator 4, this 2GB USB drive has eyes made of swanky Swarovski rhinestones, and will only be made in limited quantities (like the USB Skull Rings, also made by Solid Alliance).

Given the $160 asking price, no kidding. Hardcore fans can pick one up from GeekStuff4U in September, and use it with their Mac or PC. Like your T-600 toys? Check out the T-600 Voice ‘N’ Vision Skull and Power Fist, or the T-600 bobble head. Good times! [Solid Alliance (translated) via Akihabara News]

The drive supports Macs and PCs, and will cost about $160 from GeekStuff4U in September. Like your T-600 toys? Check out the T-600 Voice ‘N’ Vision Skull and Power Fist, or the T-600 bobble head. Good times! [Solid Alliance (translated) via Akihabara News]

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21 August 2009

GIZMODO

Panasonic on Global Avatar Promotional Rampage With Army of Huge 3D Plasmas [Movies]

Look Familiar? Bell Canada’s Palm Pre Ad Mimics The iPhone [Advertising] AUG 21, 2009 01:30A.M.

AUG 21, 2009 02:30A.M.

What’s more unsettling than Tamara Hope’s Palm Pre ads? Just how similar Bell Canada’s Pre ad looks to the iPhone spots we’ve seen for years. Everything from upbeat music to the disembodied hand is there. Watch them side-by-side:

James Cameron is clearly laying a lot on the line with ever-morebizarrely-appealing Avatar. Next up is Panasonic, which is staking its budding 3D brand on the film. Spoiler: The plan involves 103” 3D HDTVs, on wheels.

I guess there are only so many ways you can sell a phone, but that’s pretty damn similar. And if mimicry is the best form of flattery... [Pre Thinking]

That Avatar‘s going to be shown in 3D has been one of its selling points since the beginning. The thing is, the whole 3D shtick, what with the glasses and specialized display tech, is all but impossible to advertise on traditional mediums. Panasonic Corporation in Japan, which partnered with Twentieth Century Fox for some of the movie’s tech, has a wonderfully over-the-top way of dealing with this: They’re sending trucks all over the US and Europe with freakin’ 103-inch 3D TVs in them, just to make sure that you know that 3D is, in fact, awesome. There’s going to be a lot—probably too much—hype around this bright blue movie for the next few months, so a lot of you will probably be forcefully tuning it out by the time the December release rolls around. If you’re even the slightest sci-fi nerd, and you see one of these trucks roll up in your mall parking lot, though, you should probably poke your head inside, since they’ll be showing “dazzling Full HD 3D assets” (read: clips) from Avatar in a way that even your local multiplex won’t be able to top. [Panasonic]

GIZMODO

A Quick Update on the PlayStation Motion Controller [PS3] AUG 21, 2009 01:00A.M.

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21 August 2009

With the PS3 Slim hogging the limelight, you may have missed Sony’s update on its motion sensing controller. This reel from GamesCon shows it waving about as a wand, flashlight, and yep, even a hair brush. Still only mini game demos though, and we won’t hear much more until the Tokyo Game Show on September 24. Hopefully we’ll get to see some live demos of real games, along with a finalized name and date to expect it in Spring. Also See: How Sony’s PlayStation Motion Controller Works