Nov 28 2006 Xerox creates Reusable Paper
Xerox has invented a new type of paper that fades after 16 to 24 hours, allowing the paper to be reused. They developed compounds that change color when they absorb a certain wavelength of light but then gradually disappear. It's perfect for stuff that only needs short viewing, like emails or web printouts or any other crap you don't need to look at for more than 5 minutes. You know or porn. Gotta erase the evidence somehow.
Nov 28 2006 Wii injuries coming in
What happens when you take gamers and ask them to actually move around? Injuries, that's what. There are reasons why I don't exercise outside. I'm lazy for one thing. The other is bears. Giant ferocious bears.
Nov 27 2006 L337 speak is a potentially dangerous code
It's depressing how out of touch the media is.
Nov 27 2006 Gold ingot USB hub is ridiculous
I don't know much about marketing, but I do know the only way to advertise a Gold ingot USB hub is to have a Japanese pirate biting into it. It just makes sense.
Nov 22 2006 Megapixels just don't matter
It's been long debated the worth of megapixels, but tech writer David Pogue actually ran a test for an episode of "It's All Geek to Me" on the Discovery network. They took a 13 megapixel photo, down rezzed it twice to 8 and 5 megapixels, and then blew them all up to 16x24 prints. They then took the three prints to the streets of New York and had passersby see if they could tell the difference. Turns out only one person correctly put them in order of megapixels - a photography professor - and 95% couldn't even tell the difference. So even though more megapixels sounds better in theory, 5 is pretty much good enough for whatever needs you might have. Unless your needs are sexual. In which case no camera except my Sex-O-Cam 2000 is gonna cut it.
Nov 21 2006 Wii gamer breaks his TV
Here's the first of many incidents I'm sure we're bound to hear about with the Nintendo Wii. This guy lost control of the Wii stick and flung it at his TV while playing bowling on Wii Sports. "But there's a wrist strap" you say. Well apparently it's uselss because the strap snapped and the guy ended up cracking his 60" TV after spearing it with the flying remote. I guess it could've been worse. He could've speared it with his penis. Although with his friends around that might come off as a little perverted.
Nov 20 2006 New robot adapts to injury
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a robot which can adapt to injury. Most robots fail completely if something goes wrong, but this robot uses software to keep moving if, say, a limb is shortened or disabled. The robot maintains a computer model of itself which is adapted when its body or environment changes. Once an existing model no longer fits its ability to move the computer generates hundreds of new ones at random to test against the robot's last known physical movements. The computer calculates which new physical movements would be most effective and uses those. It's all very clever and much better than the solution I came up with for an injured robot: throwing it out the window while screaming obscenities at science.
Nov 20 2006 Audi S4 gets taped
These guys were asked to drive a friend's black Audi S4 from New York to Seattle but decided they preferred their S4's in blue instead of black. So what did they do? They bought a bunch of painter's tape and made their wildest fantasies come true. I can't actually verify if taping a car blue is their wildest fantasy, but I like to believe it might be.
Nov 17 2006 UCLA Student Tasered by UCLA Police
Nov 14th, 2006, around 11:30 pm, Powell Library CLICC computer lab, UCLA: student shot with a Taser multiple times by UCPD officers, even after he was cuffed and motionless.
According to eye witnesses, it started when student Mostafa Tabatabainejad did not show the Community Service Officer his student ID. He was on his way leaving the lab when a UCPD officer approached and grabbed him by the exit of the lab. He objected to the physical contact by loudly repeating "don't touch me", and this is the point where the video starts.
UPDATE: You can read a first hand account here.
Nov 16 2006 Vertigo is flueless fire you hang on wall
For the outrageous price of $2500 you can get the Vertigo flueless fireplace that hangs on your wall. And unlike similar decorations this is an actual burning fire that runs on natural gas. So you'll still have a way to stay warm once they turn off your heat because you spent all your utilities money on this thing.
Nov 16 2006 Toshiba creates Segway clone
Toshiba has created a personal commuter vehicle similar to the Segway. The scooter will be powered by a fuel cell and the LED lights on the front are for communicating with other Toshiba transporters to prevent collisions and to auto-navigate. Current Segways are illegal to use in Japan on public property so the anti-collision and auto-navigation features are needed to help this thing get approved for public use.
Although if you're interested in something like this you could save yourself a lot of trouble by just buying some stickers that say "Dork" on them and sticking them to your back.
Nov 14 2006 Kokuyo mouse changes sizes
Kokuyo has developed a mouse with multiple bezels to change size to best fit your hand. Although they should just market it as "The World's Ugliest Mouse," because this thing could shoot flames out the side and I still wouldn't get it unless I had some assurance that it was built that ugly on purpose.
Nov 14 2006 BlueScreen Screen Saver scares nerds
BlueScreen a screensaver which simulates Windows' infamous Blue Screen of Death, even using info taken from your system configuration to make it as realistic as possible, including the NT build number, processor revision, loaded drivers and addresses, disk drive characteristics, and memory size. The screen saver cycles between different Blue Screens and simulated boots every 15 seconds or so, so load it onto a friend's computer while they're gone and see them freak out when they come back. Or do what I did and just smash their computer with a bat. The effect is the same, but with more broken pieces.
Nov 13 2006 Convert an analog wall clock into a binary clock
This is a tutorial on how to convert your analog clock into a binary one. It has a cutout pattern for you to attach to your analog clock which turns each hand into a little binary number. So basically it displays the analog and binary times at the same time. Which is every bit as pointless as you might imagine.
Nov 13 2006 Robot Chicken - Calvin and Hobbes
I suppose that's how it would've played out in real life.
Nov 10 2006 Shuttle Launch Seen From ISS
Comic book writer Warren Ellis has a shot of a space shuttle launch as seen from the International Space Station. Although it would've been cooler if there were more, with each one of the shuttle getting closer and closer. And then the last one would be a giant explosion as it crashes into the ISS, people screaming, and bodies everywhere. Totally rad, dude.
UPDATE: Although the shots are real, they were not taken from the International Space Station. A couple readers wrote in to point out they were actually taken from the NASA/JSC WB-57 High Altitude Research aircraft.
Nov 10 2006 ISIS Adventure Puzzle Ball is hardest puzzle ever
The creators of the ISIS Adventure Puzzle Ball claim it's the most difficult puzzle ever created, and have even decided to reward cash prizes to whoever can figure it out. The players have to open an alloy ball which is constructed in layers and covered in hieroglyphics, with each one being unique and requiring a different combination to open. Once open there'll be a special key inside which has a number stamped on it. The key will open one of the ISIS golden pyramids which are hidden in secret locations throughout the UK, with each pyramid containing a gold coin worth over $500 and a number of silver coins worth over $20 each.
I don't see how this is a puzzle. It seems like basically you try every combination of twists and turns until it opens. It's like opening a safe. That's not a puzzle. It's just...stupid.
Nov 9 2006 iDisguise hides your iPod
iDisguise is a little disguise for your iPod to make it look like something not worth stealing. The one above for the iPod Nano costs $10.95, although if you make a trip to your local grocery store you could get the same thing for about $0.99. It might also get a little tiring having to explain to every person you meet why they can't have any candy. And why everytime they reach for some you start yelling and run off screaming 'rape!'
Nov 9 2006 TYPE-N01 is weirdest laptop ever
Your laptop isn't really a laptop unless it looks like you dug it out of the labratory of a mad scientist. Or has a friggin "Emergency Button." NEC and Takara teamed up to put this beauty together and while I'm sure it works fine, it doesn't seem fitting for anybody who doesn't have their own army of henchman.
Nov 8 2006 SHOJI: Symbiotic Hosting Online Jog Instrument shows moods
Researchers in Japan have developed a colored LED that changes colors based on the 'mood' of the room. The SHOJI system consists of a pair of terminals placed at separate locations with each terminal equipped with a full-color LED array, a microphone, and five sensors that detect light, temperature, humidity, infrared radiation and ultrasonic waves. In addition to constantly measuring the room's environmental conditions, SHOJI terminals can detect the presence and movement of people, body temperature, and the nature of the activity in the room. So basically they've created the world's most complex mood ring. Only not as cool because this thing is huge and won't let your girlfriend know when she's being an annoying hag.
Nov 7 2006 First question wrong on Who Wants to be a Millionaire
They claim he's a college junior but I suspect they meant to say he went to junior college. And by junior college I mean preschool. Which he's still in. Because he never graduated. Get it? Because he's stupid.
Nov 7 2006 Grand Theft Mario
They talka so funny-a.
Nov 6 2006 Digital music display displays music digitally
This digital music display can store several thousand scores and flips at a touch of the screen or a tap on the foot pedal. At $1,399.95 it'll probably cost more than whatever instrument you play, but at least it'll look more elegant than gluing your entire computer to a stand like you've been doing. I mean geezus, talk about tacky.
Nov 6 2006 Roadblock totally screws drivers
It's tough to compete against two poles that just pop out of the ground.
Nov 6 2006 Elica lamp blows on and off
Elica lamp is a table lamp that gets rid of the classical switch by turning on and off by blowing. Perfect for all the lazy bastards in the world who wish flipping a tiny switch up and down was even easier than it already is.
Nov 3 2006 Brando MP4 Watch looks stupid
Brando has developed a watch that plays back MP4 videos. The watch connects via USB and costs $98.00, perfect for anybody too cheap to buy a video iPod but still wants to look like a dork while watching movies on their watch. Although it'd be pretty cool if you could transfer a James Bond type transmission so it looks like you're a secret agent when you're in public. "Attention Agent X, we need your special services right away." And then you'd give any nearby ladies a wink and run off to pretend to save the world.
Nov 2 2006 Cheoptics 360 XL creates 3D images
This image was created using Cheoptics360, a four sided transparent pyramid that can display both computer and film content and can scale from 1.5 meters up to 30 meters. The image is produced using the four projectors through mirroring and reflection to make them appear to float in mid-air. Though I don't understand any of it. They might as well have said they create it using the magics.
Nov 1 2006 Minesweeper built with Pixelblocks
This guy recreated Minesweeper using Pixelblocks. Which sounds pretty cool except that I built the same thing using real mines. Sure, his looks better, but mine's way more realisitc. Pun!