7/23 Gizmodo

Hamburger USB Drive Marketers Only Sort of Understand USB [Image Cache] July 23, 2009 at 12:25 am We get the idea to have a girl "eating" the plastic hamburger-shaped USB drive—it looks like food, ha ha. But then, why Photoshop a USB port into her mouth? Do these people understand either USB or food? [Crunchgear] Samsung's Holographic Gesture-Based Eye Candy Upstages Product Announcement [Motion Sensing] July 22, 2009 at 11:30 pm At the announcement of their new superfast Jet phone, Samsung used used Project Natal-esque holographic gestures for effect. The Jet seems cool, but we just want to hear more about the holographic gimmickry! Designed by Korean firm D'strict, the tech is a combination of infrared motion sensing and 3D imagery, pretty much like Microsoft's Project Natal. It's not quite as seamless as Natal, but given that it's main purpose is just to add a little flash to a cellphone announcement, we're awfully impressed—and distracted. Check out the video below for a clip of one of the announcements, and you'll see what we mean. [Fast Company] Samsungmobile Jet making film from d'strict on Vimeo. Finally, A Fighter Jet That Fits Into My Garage [Garage] July 22, 2009 at 11:00 pm With huge, velcro-attached, weather-resistant prints from StyleYourGarage.com, you can impress your neighbors with a fighter jet, an elephant or a race car in your garage (or rather: on your garage door). [StyleYourGarage via DailyMail] This Is Where Each of Your 1421 Trillion Dollars Is Going In 2010 [Image Cache] July 22, 2009 at 10:30 pm Want to know where your tax money is going next year? Here's more than you can handle in the new 2010 edition of the Death and Taxes poster. Zoom in to see how much those F-35 fighters and lasers cost. The Death and Taxes poster shows every single expense according to the president's 2010 budget request. The circles you see here are proportional in size to their actual weight in the total budget. Each of the figures include the percentage change compared to 2009. Defense spending is more or less the same, only increasing by 2%. And still, everything else looks minuscule. Since your budget for buying posters is probably minuscule too, you can get a 50% discount if you buy two or more posters if you are a Gizmodo reader. Just enter "gizmodo" as your discount code when ordering. [WallStats] Walt Mosspuppet: "Gizmodo Makes Me Want to Vomit in My Mouth!" [Blockquote] July 22, 2009 at 10:15 pm The latest Mosspuppet video, featuring Muppet Mossberg, includes a not-so-friendly Gizmodo shout-out and more from the sock puppet version of the WSJ's senior tech columnist, Walt Mossberg. [Rant Puppet via Fake Steve, edited-BL] Artists Create Stunning Works Of Art From Mounds Of Data [Image Cache] July 22, 2009 at 10:00 pm Visual Complexity is a website featuring brilliant visualizations collected by Manuel Lima, a Nokia interaction designer interested in how complex data sets can be expressed. The image above was created by Oliver Reichenstein as a way to visualize internet connections. [Visual Complexity via Wired UK] FDA Deems E-Cigs As Bad As The Real Thing [Health] July 22, 2009 at 9:45 pm Put down that e-cigar, Mark! The FDA has ruled that electronic cigarettes, cigars, and similar devices contain known carcinogens and slammed them for being marketed to younger age groups. We've looked at what's inside e-cigars and our Mark Wilson has even tried them out, but what's the point of using a $200 gadget that's as unhealthy (or worse!) as the real thing? The FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis (DPA) came our with the following conclusions as a result of its analysis of e-smoking devices available on the market: Diethylene glycol was detected in one cartridge at approximately 1%. Diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, is toxic to humans. Certain tobacco-specific nitrosamines which are human carcinogens were detected in half of the samples tested. Tobacco-specific impurities suspected of being harmful to humans-anabasine, myosmine, and β-nicotyrine-were detected in a majority of the samples tested. The electronic cigarette cartridges that were labeled as containing no nicotine had low levels of nicotine present in all cartridges tested, except one. Three different electronic cigarette cartridges with the same label were tested and each cartridge emitted a markedly different amount of nicotine with each puff. The nicotine levels per puff ranged from 26.8 to 43.2 mcg nicotine/100 mL puff. One high-nicotine cartridge delivered twice as much nicotine to users when the vapor from that electronic cigarette brand was inhaled than was delivered by a sample of the nicotine inhalation product (used as a control) approved by FDA for use as a smoking cessation aid. Let's review: the device that's supposed to help you get healthier and save money by quitting smoking is more likely to worsen your addiction, be more harmful to your health, and be an even bigger waste of money. [FDA via Instead] Krang Rejoices: Artificial Brain Ten Years Away From Reality [Artificial Brain] July 22, 2009 at 9:30 pm Scientists are claiming that a functional, artificial brain is only a decade away. This prediction correlates with the above chart, according to which our current computing capabilities limit us to...simulated lizard brains. Photo by Journal of Evolution and Technology Using an BM Blue Gene machine with 10,000 processors, the folks at the Blue Brain Project are creating simulations to figure out exactly how our brains work. So far they've got a "model of 'tens of thousands' of neurons" and lofty goals: Ultimately, the aim would be to extract that representation and project it so that researchers could see directly how a brain perceives the world. But as well as advancing neuroscience and philosophy, the Blue Brain project has other practical applications. For example, by pooling all the world's neuroscience data on animals - to create a "Noah's Ark", researchers may be able to build animal models. "We cannot keep on doing animal experiments forever," said Professor Markram. It may also give researchers new insights into diseases of the brain. "There are two billion people on the planet affected by mental disorder," he told the audience. The project may give insights into new treatments, he said. [BBC News] Muji Stealth Shower Radio Is Disguised as a Shampoo Bottle [Design] July 22, 2009 at 9:00 pm Muji's shower radio is shaped like a shampoo bottle, but we're not sure why: Is it just to blend in with other shower accoutrements? Or does the Muji Shower Radio have a dark secret from which it needs to hide? The shower radio provides an AM/FM tuner (the volume control is cleverly built into the "bottle's" "cap") and also has a little suction cup to stick onto the shower wall, which sounds convenient but would also totally blow its cover as a shampoo bottle. It costs $37, though seems available only in Japan. [Muji via Wired] Caption Contest: Steve Ballmer Holding Microsoft's Sekrit Google Virus Windows 7 Final [Caption Contest] July 22, 2009 at 8:30 pm Here's Steve Ballmer at the ceremony for Windows 7 going gold (final), holding, obviously, a gold disc. But what's he about to write on it with that Sharpie? You tell us. [Image via Brandon LeBlanc] Now Shipping [Now Available] July 22, 2009 at 8:15 pm With all the gadgets that we report on every day, it's hard to keep track of which ones are shipping or when they'll be available. We've put together a list of gadgets, some we've reported on and some we haven't, that are shipping out today. • The LH90 Series LCDs (the first with THX certification) are now available for your consumption. The TVs feature a 240 Hz LED backlit LCD capable of a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio with local dimming. The TVs are Energy Star 3.0 rated with an Intelligent Sensor that detects ambient lighting conditions and changes the color and brightness to maximize efficiency. • The Navigon MobileNavigator Application finally brings decent GPS turn-by-turn directions to the iPhone for a one time charge of $70 and without the monthly fee. • The Samsung Comeback will make its debut today, the phone comes in a clamshell design with twin displays connected by a hinge that opens up to expose a full QWERTY keyboard. The phone goes for $129 with a 2 year contract from T-Mobile. • In addition to the Comeback, Samsung is also releasing the t349 for T-Mobile. The t349 is a bar-style phone with a 20 key partial QWERTY keypad and will be available for $14.99 with a 2 year contract. • The Olive Opus N4 and Melody N2 Music Players are ready be snapped up (if you're obscenely rich and lack and common sense). The N4 tops out at $1799 and the Melody extender will set you back a cool $599—but they come with a touch interface so it's all worth it. Twitter Clock Secretly a Countdown to the End of the World [Twitter] July 22, 2009 at 8:00 pm On the surface, TimeTweets pulls the numbers it needs to show the current time from live tweets. But really, it's a countdown to the end of world, which has to be close if we're using Twitter to tell time. [TimeTweets] Our Palm Pre Ad Remix Makes More Sense [Video] July 22, 2009 at 7:30 pm This Palm Pre ad is much better, don't you think? Truth in advertising. Also, see if you can pick an even more creepy actress next time. [YouTube] Want to make one? Go here. Half-Amazing, Half-Terrifying Concept App Combines Facial Recognition with Augmented Reality [Augmented Reality] July 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm We've seen some cool augmented reality apps shown off that will point you towards the closest subway or find your mom, but this TAT Augmented ID app takes it to the next level. It's mindblowing, but it leaves me conflicted. Using facial recognition, it allows you to point your phone at someone and immediately link them up to whatever social networking sites they have linked up at that time. Really, the video does a better job of showing how it works than I can describe it, so why don't you go watch it. Done? Good. Clearly, this isn't something we're going to see in the App Store anytime soon. It's a next-gen idea, but one that I think we'll be seeing sooner rather than later. The tech is all just about there, it's just going to be contingent on a platform or program that everyone voluntarily signs up for and uses. But at some point in our lives, we'll be using phones in a fashion similar to this. Of course, whether or not it'll be a good thing that strangers will be able to point their phones in our faces and get a rundown of our online lives is debatable. There's probably a lot to be said for learning about someone via conversation, but it's not like people don't go home from bars and Google and Facebook search the people they met that night. This just takes it to the logical extreme. Good? Bad? Probably somewhere in between. But it's definitely interesting. [YouTube via The Daily What] Fox Business Network on the Apple Tablet: DUUURRRRRRRRR [Apple] July 22, 2009 at 6:40 pm Lots of techies have been guilty of overspeculation about the mythical Apple tablet, and in our defense, it's kinda fun. But what happens when a Fox Business Network reporter dips her dainty toe into Apple's rumor stream? Magic, is what. It's not even worth getting into everything that goes wrong here, and anyway, it'll detract from the joy of unpeeling this sad onion of misapprehension on your own. Of course, when I get my first handwritten eeelectronic photo-mail from my grandmother's "Tablet Mac" I will feel like such an ass.—Special thanks to Gawker's crack video-mining team. World's Largest Solar Audio System Delivers 105dB to 40,000 Spectators [Solar] July 22, 2009 at 6:20 pm Earlier this month, Grzebik Design completed work on what they are calling the "world's largest solar powered loudspeaker system" in the Taiwan National Stadium in Kaohsiung. It is capable of cranking out 105 dB of sound to 40,000 spectators. The Taiwan National Stadium makes use of 60 distributed Apogee Sound AE-7SX weather-resistant loudspeakers for primary seating area coverage, 12 Apogee Sound ALA-5WSX weather resistant Acoustic Linear Array loudspeakers provides field coverage, and 2 Apogee Sound AFI-205 and two AFI-Point5 loudspeakers provide Control Room audio monitoring. The 76 loudspeakers are powered by 52 Peavey Electronics model PV2600 and 3 model PV1500 power amplifiers. Additional signal processing equipment includes Apogee Sound loudspeaker controllers, Symetrix SymNet Digital Signal Processing equipment, an Altair 48-channel mixing desk, Tascam CD, DVD and cassette players, Peavey Electronics, microphones, and CUE Touch Panel Controllers, all wired together with 9,500 meters (5.5 miles) of Klotz Cable. Naturally, going 100% solar with an installation like this requires a buttload of green tech: The ultra-modern $5 billion Taiwan National Stadium, designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, and constructed for the 2009 World Games, features a stunning 14,155 square meter roof incorporating 8,844 solar panels, which emulates the form of a flowing river, and generates 1.14 million KWh annually preventing the release of 660 tons-per-annum of atmospheric carbon dioxide. On days when the Taiwan National Stadium is not in use, the electricity generated from its roof is fed back the city's electrical grid where it will meet almost 80% of the area's energy requirements. Indeed, if you look at the images of the roof, it seems to be completely covered in "a flowing river" of solar panels. [PrthatRocks] When Carriers Update Your BlackBerry With Spyware [BlackBerry] July 22, 2009 at 6:00 pm How scary is this? A BlackBerry upgrade sent out by the service provider Etisalat in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is actually spyware. RIM says they had nothing to do with the update it, and are telling affected people how to get rid of it. So far, no one knows exactly why the carrier sent out the update, described as "required for service enhancements." It's actually a spy program developed by SS8 Networks, a company that makes communications interception software. It's not only frightening on the same level as Amazon's ability to remotely delete books from thousands of Kindles at once—but customers had no clue they were downloading spyware. They just noticed it killed the crap out of their batteries. So maybe think twice, or even three times, about just how secure your smartphone is. Luckily mine are just filled with photos of fancy coffee drinks, and you can see them for free on Twitter anyway. [Yahoo] The Like, Official Skype Headset [Skype] July 22, 2009 at 5:57 pm Everybody's getting into hardware lately, so it's not shocking Skype has its own headset. The idea is that it's cheap (under $25) and USB powered, so your Skype calls don't sounded like blended kitties. [Skype via TechCrunch] Do You Wake 'n Gadget? [Question Of The Day] July 22, 2009 at 5:40 pm After reading Brian's rant about his right to use gadgets in inappropriate situations, I came to the realization that most days the very first thing I do in the morning is check email on my cellphone. I mean, I'm still in bed and my eyes are half open. I don't even process what I'm reading to be quite honest. So why do I do it? I've been conditioned to somehow—it's a robotic, reflexive reaction. But what about you? After the alarm has been turned off, what is the very first "official act" of your day? What Is The Very First Thing You Do In the Morning?(survey) If your first act of the day involves another type of gadget, make sure to let us know in the comments. [Image via Flickr/tranchis] Google Chrome's Getting Hardware-Accelerated 3D Graphics Powers [Chrome] July 22, 2009 at 5:29 pm Google's building their O3D plug-in—that lets browsers use hardware-accelerated 3D graphics—into Chrome. The idea behind O3D is that with hardware graphics acceleration, it's possible for web apps to get even more intensive and sophisticated, closer to native apps—like games. Which makes Chrome OS's web app-only approach look even more feasible. [Cnet] Kodak's Obscene Teaser For Their New Product [Kodak] July 22, 2009 at 5:20 pm Here's Kodak's teaser video for their new product. We're not sure what it is, since the video's laced with so much profanity, but here's what we think the transcript actually says. Steve: Are we...are we on? Woman: Mmmhmmm, we're on. Steve: Um... *shrug* Hey everybody! It's Steve Garfield from Steve Garfield dot com, and we're in New York City. I'm taking a look at this new Kodak...um...what do you call it? Woman: EasySchlong DX Steve: EasySchlong DX! It's the EasySchlong DX. And the coolest thing about it is that it has a semen reservoir. See that thing? This is what I've been waiting for is a...what do you call it? Woman: EasySchlong Steve: Fucking shitballs that has a cockslot because *swallows* a lot of the fake dicks would have very expensive, and this cocksucker's gonna retail for how much? Woman: Fucking 150 dollars! Steve: Like holy shit! *Waves hands around* Like...when I have to recommend dildos to people we look at the...what is it called again? Woman: Fuck you I told you three times already! Steve: Hey bitch I don't need that attitude. People love'm cause you can just put'm in your pocket. Right? And go out and forget about it. And I love that, cause you always want to have a dildo with you. And you might want to have a anal adapter on it. So this is the most exciting thing right here, the fucking adapter. Just like the Zune HD it has a wide taint. You know really good. People complain sometimes that they can't see what they're shitting in some of the smaller uh...what do you call it? Woman: Fucking seriously, it was ten seconds ago I told you the name Steve: What the fuck, I'm a guest! The smaller ones have little balls but this has a nice big sack. I like that. And also this other little part pops out. Lemme show you. Are you on still? Woman: Yeah Steve: Oh, I shut it off. This pops out like a little pussy pops out, and you can stick it on your dork, and have room for your other ones near by. Like on my fleshlight, I have things stuck in, and I want to stick this in, I have to like, figure out...I have a eight inch cock, which is dark, very dark, so this is a pretty good, um, enhancement. I like that. I guess you can carry it around like that too. Woman: *Laughs* Steve: And, uh, other good things. Here's a fisting hole at the bottom. Love that. This looks like for a little charm bracelet thing, for a cellphone. Woman: The ladies will like that. Steve: The ladies like it? So, um, Kodak motherfucker. That's it. I am a child. And I am bad at Madlibs. How To: Install the HTC Hero's UI On Your Sad Old G1 [Android] July 22, 2009 at 5:00 pm The tireless tinkerers over at XDA have assembled a definitive guide to loading the Hero's custom-baked Android build onto G1s. It's fairly involved and a little risky, but hardly unfamiliar territory to HTC fans. [XDA, GetYourDroidOn—Thanks, Patrick!] Samsung "World's Thinnest" Watchphone Also Happens to Be One of the World's Only Watchphones [Samsung] July 22, 2009 at 4:48 pm Samsung's only real watchphone competitor hasn't even launched its product yet, so it's a little early for the marketing oneupmanship. Regardless, the S9110 is an impressive piece of kit, with a 1.76-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, email support and MP3 playback. Rounding out the feature list are a few watchphone necessities, like voice recognition and speakerphone, all in a package that measures in at about 12mm thick—bulkier than your average Swatch, but well within acceptable wristwear territory. The first wave of releases will be scattered throughout Europe, starting in France, where the S9110 will retail for around $650. The most striking thing about this—as well as the LG GD910—is that unlike pretty much every watchphone we've seen before, these might be usable on a day to day basis, granted you're willing to accept the inherent awkwardness of the watchphone form factor. No word on a stateside release yet, but import costs aren't likely to stop the kinds of dapper jetsetting gentlemen and/or independently wealthy James Bond superfans who'll be buying this thing anyway. [SamsungHub via Mobilecrunch] Windows 7 Officially Released to Manufacturing: No Going Back Now [Windows 7] July 22, 2009 at 4:40 pm Probably not much of a surprise at this point, but right about now, Steve Ballmer is telling a roomful of people that Windows 7's been released to manufacturing. If you're using RC1, congratulations, you've basically got the final product already. There are no new features, crazy backgrounds or easter eggs—or changes approaching anywhere near major, just some "specific" fixes based on actual measurements and data. What's interesting is that with the final hardware completely locked in—like, even more than when they were officially announced, since it's too late to change anything now—it's the first major Windows release to not require at double the specs of the preceding Windows OS, a fact that Microsoft is proud of. Make of that what you will! (And oh, I'm sure you will.) Speaking of hardware—expect a wave of it to drop with Windows 7—like a lot of the "thin and light" more-expensive-than-a-netbook stuff Intel's been hyping, though some of it sounds genuinely exciting, like capacitive touchscreen notebook running Nvidia's Ion. The arrival of Windows 7 probably won't be Christmas in October with Santa Ballmer, but it sounds like it'll be the best month for PC makers in a long time. [Microsoft, Image via Brandon LeBlanc] 10 Of Your Most Busted Up And Abused Cellphones [Cellphones] July 22, 2009 at 4:20 pm We asked you to show us your worst broke, busted and abused cellphones—and you did not disappoint. These 10 images are among the most shocking examples of gadget abuse I have ever witnessed. I hope you are happy with yourselves. tracer123: Dropped it off a porch onto concrete. Had insurance. Got me a new one. Michael B. Pierson: I have bad luck with cell phones. Marc Silsbe: A had a slow flushing toilet and couldn't figure out why number 2's wouldn't go down... Elusively: This phone had an unfortunate encounter between two drunk guys with a nail gun Andrew Danger Love: My girlfriend's iPhone. Turns out AT&T doesn't cover acts of Dog. bsparks: Nokia 6133, took me probably 45 mins to find all the pieces. The button that flips the phone open automatically still worked! Greasyde: Long time reader first time poster, this is my curve after i got an iPhone. I decided kill it with my airsoft sniper rifle at 20yds. after uising it for a hockey puck. surprisingly it still kinda works. CannedNoodlez: My customer microwaved her phone and brought it in because "it was under warranty still." dbsanders: Left mine on the roof of my car and drove away. Retraced my path an hour later and this is what I could find of it. RyanRubis: Here's my iPhone after an old school cadillac with 30" chromes drove over it.. Updated Sony S-Series Walkman Spy Shot Show Off Front Speakers [Rumor] July 22, 2009 at 4:13 pm A source at Sony Insider delivered a shot of a mysterious new Walkman that they believe will be the successor in the popular S-Series lineup. Beyond that, there are no details on the device, although images seem to indicate a more compact design and/or a bigger screen. There also appears to be speakers located on the face of the player—which would be a welcome addition for anyone who wants to go without headphones now and then. If this is the real deal, don't expect it to hit store shelves anytime soon. Sony Insider claims that it isn't set to arrive "for a while." [Sony Insider] Disclaimer: Displaying the Kratos Blade of Chaos Will Not Make You Tough [God Of War] July 22, 2009 at 4:00 pm Sorry, guys. This fake blade may look badass, but it won't make you a badass. Instead, this blade, which is cast from zinc aluminum and sits on a handsome wooden stand, will ensure that only women who are attracted to both video game enthusiasts and weapons fetishists will spend any time in your home. And we all know how rare they are. But hey, if you have $124 that you really need to get rid of, I guess there are worse ways to spend it. [Budk] MoGo Talk Bluetooth Headset For BlackBerry Comes With Its Very Own Baby Carrier [Bluetooth Headsets] July 22, 2009 at 3:40 pm Bored with just selling their microthing Bluetooth headsets, MoGo has started screwing them to things. For example: BlackBerrys! Now you can buy a headset with an adorable baby carrier for your Curve and Javelin, and soon, Bold and Tour. The Mogo Talk is more or less the same MoGo Bluetooth wafer that's been kicking around since 2007, except this time accompanied by purpose-built backplates for a sizable portion of the BlackBerry range. Burying the headset harness in the battery cover ostensibly helps keep a mounted headset from protruding too far, and enables a charging system to be built in without adding unnecessary bulk. Looking at the suspiciously not-in-profile shots here, though, the deep integration and 5mm headset thickness still seem to leave a lump that would be at least noticeable, and at worst, irritating, especially in tighter pockets. Of course, something tells me that this might not matter too much, since the Bluetooth+BlackBerry combination means a fair number of these will end up living in belt harnesses, strapped around people named "Dad." The MoGo Talk will ship within a few weeks for $129.99. [MoGo] Popsicle-Shaped Hard Drive Has a Flash Drive Handle [Design] July 22, 2009 at 3:20 pm I don't care how cynical or jaded you are—you've got to find this external HDD/flash drive combo adorable. I mean, come on! It looks like a popsicle! It's just a concept at the moment, unfortunately. [Curiosite via Technabob] Gadget Deals Of The Day [Dealzmodo] July 22, 2009 at 3:00 pm We have awesome deals on portable laptops for people aiming to get their back-to-school shopping done. Be sure to look at the Dell XPS, it's great for "taking notes" during those boring physics lectures. Again, thanks Chris for helping with the deals. Computing and Peripherals: • 17" MSI 2.4GHz Core2Duo Laptop for $699 (normally $1000). • 16" HP Pavilion HDX16t Laptop with Core2Duo (Blu-Ray) for $699.99 plus free shipping (normally $1199 - use coupon code NBZ2897). • 13" Dell XPS M1330 Laptop 2.1 GHz Core2Duo for $799 (normally $1030 - use coupon code Q1CVLSDT5MTQWH). • 13.3" Lenovo U350 13.3" Ultra Portable Laptop for $599.00 plus free shipping (normally $749). • 10" HP Mini 1035NR 1.6 GHz Atom Netbook for $299 (normally $345). • Dell Optiplex 360 Mini Tower 2.8 GHz Core2Duo and 22" Display for $529 (normally $860). • 27.5" Hanns-G 1080P LCD Monitor for $290 (normally $320 - use coupon code 24SALE722D). • 27" LG W2753V-PF LCD for $389.99 plus free shipping (normally $469 - use coupon code EMCLVNM53). • 21.5" LG 1080P LCD Monitor for $164.99 (normally $204 - use coupon code EMCLVNM52). • 19" Dell SE198WFP Widescreen LCD for $89 plus free shipping (normally $130). • PNY Optima MD4096KD2-800 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 Desktop Memory for $22.99 plus free shipping (normally $51 - use this rebate form). • 1TB Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus External Hard Drive for $89.90 (normally $120). • Logitech Z5 USB Speakers for $49.99 (normally $64.95 - use this rebate form). • Igo Everywhere85 Universal Laptop Power Adapter for $34.99 (normally $53.55). • Logitech LX7 Wireless Optical Mouse for $19.99 (normally $30 - use coupon code EMCLVNM65). • Logitech Wave Pro Wireless Cordless Keyboard/Mouse Combo for $59.99 (normally $80 - use coupon code CPJULKBRS20). • 1TB Acer Aspire Easystore Home Server Plus Free 1TB Hard Drive (2TB Total) for $389.99 (normally $399 for 1TB). Gaming: • Buy a Wii at GameStop and Receive a Free Game. • Nintendo Wii for $224.98 (normally $250). • Guild Wars Platinum Edition (PC) for $9.99 (normally $33.99). • EA Sports Active (Wii) for $53.99 (normally $58.19). • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (360) for $17.90 (normally $24.99). • Far Cry 2 (360) for $17.90 (normally $27.99). • Street Fighter 4 Tournament Edition Fight Stick or $124.99 (normally $134.99). • Ferrari GT: Evolution (iPhone/iPod Touch) for $0.99 (normally $4.99). • Trade in $60 Worth of Games, Receive an Additonal $30 Amazon Gift Card. Home Entertainment: • 52" Sharp AQUOS LCD HDTV for $1200 (normally $1324). • 52" Samsung LN52B550 1080p LCD TV plus free $200 Dell Gift Card for $1,599.00 plus free shipping (normally $1725). • 42" Philips 1080P LCD HDTV with HDMI Cable for $749 (normally $999 - use coupon code MM0LT?$N9X3N3P). • 32" Philips 1080P LCD HDTV for $449 (normally $648). • Philips BDP5010 Blu-ray Player for $180 (normally $210). • InFocus X10 1080p DLP Projector for $1,199.99 (normally $1293). • Pioneer VSX-919AH-K 120 Watt Home Theater Receiver with HDMI Up-Conversion for $299.99 plus free shipping (normally $350 - use coupon code RECEIVER72X3). • Polk Audio DSW MicroPRO 1000 Subwoofer for $379.99 plus free shippin (normally $530). • Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series Limited Edition (DVD Pre-Order) for $138.47 (normally $173). • Watchmen (Blu-ray) for $17.02 (normally $22.69 - use coupon SUPERSALE). • Saw (Blu-ray) for $9.99 (normally $11.49). Personal Portables and Peripherals: • Canon PowerShot SD890 10MP Digital Camera for $169.99 plus free shipping (normally $199.99). • Creative Zen MX 8GB 2.5" MP3/MP4 Player for $89.99 (normally $99.99). • IOGEAR Hard Drive Portable Media Player for $118.49 (normally $180). Hobomodo: • Barnes & Noble eBook Reader (PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry) plus 6 eBooks for $0 • 1oz Vodka Sample for $0 (21+ only - use this form). • Sample of Calagel Anti Itch Cream for $0 (use this form). • Subscription to "Get Married" Magazine for $0 (use this form). • BaDaBoo Game (iPhone/iPod Touch) for $0. • Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape 27 Download for $0 (download here). • Walk Tall (feat. Paul Simon) by Ziggy Marley MP3 for $0. 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, Crunch Gear and TechBargains.] Sony Thought About Giving PSPgo Dual Analog Sticks, But Opted for "Perfectly Compatible" Suckage [PSP] July 22, 2009 at 2:44 pm I love the logic at Sony: They wish now that the PSP had dual analog sticks, and thought about adding them to the PSPgo, but they didn't want to trip up developers who'd gotten used to developing around terrible controls. Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida told Game Informer: We also felt - like many users - that we wish we had a second analog on the PSP. But we are talking about the mid-life cycle of this platform, and the PSPgo is designed to be perfectly compatible with the PSP-3000 and all the games that released before that. So we had a very serious discussion about this particular subject, but we decided not to add a second analog, and some of the developers are doing quite a nice job translating the second analog functionality to different buttons. We didn't want to divert their efforts either. So even though Sony knows that dual analog sticks would make for a better control experience, they'd rather keep things basically the same so stuff stays consistently less-than-optimal across PSPs. And besides, developers have sorta figured out now how to work around the deficiencies. Mhmm. Does this mean we'll have to wait until the end of the PSP's 10-year life cycle to get twin sticks? [Game Informer via Kotaku] Timbuk2 HAL Backpack Review: Pockets for Laptops (and Contraband) [Review] July 22, 2009 at 2:30 pm I'm pretty square, fashion-wise. I own few intentionally ironic t-shirts, and fewer skinny jeans. Buchanan bags on my style choices regularly. That's why, when he ordered me to ditch my old backpack, I picked Timbuk2's new HAL. I am not going to lie. What got me excited about HAL wasn't fashion. Besides the Kubrickian name, the allure was a long skinny laptop slot, with its own zipper access, right up against your back. The $120 pack (one size: medium) can hold a 17" MacBook Pro, or any laptop that's 15" wide and 11.5" from front to back. The reason for the separate zippered compartment should be obvious: Airports. No longer do you have to reach into a fully packed piece of luggage and pull out the most buried object. It's not exactly one of those TSA approved bags, but when I flew with HAL, I was pleased by its convenience. HAL has a lot of pockets, a prerequisite of a gadget guy like me. Besides the laptop slot, there's a spacious main compartment for large objects, plus a nice series of pockets on the back face. One is the traditional "organizer" pocket, with lots of silky subpockets for precious items like checkbooks, passports and portable hard drives. There's an outer pocket—one I typically refer to as the "speed rack"—where I keep all sorts of odds and ends, SD cards, pens, 30-pin iPod cables, Flip cams and guitar picks. They fit. There's also a funny side pocket, opposite the laptop slot, that I will identify as the "wine pocket" since it's just right for fitting a 750ml bottle of wine. Would you then attach a straw out of the zipper hole and then up over your ear, for quick drinking? I suppose it depends if the wine is white or red. (A 40oz might also fit, but I didn't have one handy.) If you're more a fan of the wacky tabacky, you'll enjoy the little pocket on the back. It's subtle, but it's not exactly concealed. I mean, cops would probably look there (especially cops who read backpack reviews on Gizmodo), but it's probably a decent way to hide small amounts of contraband from your parents, guidance counselors and parole officers. What's great about HAL is that it wears the bulk well, but doesn't look empty when it's empty either. I guess what I mean is that I am sick of backpacks that "show" like a pregnant lady, and this one hangs, nice and casual, whether it's empty or fully laden. And, on the fashion tip, it's got skinny straps. Apparently people like Buchanan think fat straps are uncool. I was not aware of this, but now I am. I do have three complaints, mostly minor. There's no padding on the bottom of the bag itself, so carrying DSLRs and other expensive hardware takes some added caution. It may make sense just throw a rectangle of foam padding in there, to be on the safe side. As I said, the "speed rack" fits all of my fast-access crap, but it has a zipper that runs down the side, so there's a risk of losing said guitar picks and SD cards. My final complaint may put me back in custody of the fashion police: There's no place to strap an umbrella or bottle of water on the side. Certain crap like that, I want to be able to access fast. I can put a dry umbrella in the side wine pocket (as you see in the pics) but what happens when it's wet? This may be me letting practicality get in the way of good style sense, and I'm willing to concede in order to keep up with the backpackerati—and in Buchanan's good graces. I just thought you should know. [Product Page] In Brief Stylish but not over the top; looks good full and empty Enough variety of pockets to satisfy gadget geeks Places to put both weed and wine Not the cheapest backpack on the block, but quality makes up for some cost Not enough padding in the main compartment Nowhere to put a wet umbrella Top photo by the multitalented Chris Mascari Christian Bale Rant Victim Is the Man Behind the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Helmet [DLSR] July 22, 2009 at 2:10 pm It appears that Shane Hurlbut, Director of Photography on Terminator Salvation, is the guy behind that awesome Canon5D MK II helmet. He also happens to be the guy Christian Bale went ape shit on during filming. Speaking with planet5D, Hurlbut revealed that the mount was designed for a series of 9 Terminator Salvation webisodes and was later used to film a rollercoaster ride experience video for the Terminator ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Needless to say, this might be the best thing to come out of that whole debacle of a film. [planet5d] That's One Weird—and Huge—Motorhome [Image Cache] July 22, 2009 at 1:50 pm Actually, it's a Boeing C-17 fuselage on its way to Seal Beach, California, where it will be used for loading and unloading training. But I would definitely want that as my movable home, even while it'll be slow. [Jalopnik] Windows Mobile's Biggest Booster HTC Going to Android for Half Their Phones Next Year [Android] July 22, 2009 at 1:42 pm Nearly a third of HTC's phones this year run Android—more than I thought—but by next year, half of HTC's will be Android. Exciting, since it makes us dream of a next-gen Hero running something like a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, which would be magical. (See what I did there?) Which is not a great sign for Windows Mobile, since it used to be tied up exceptionally tightly with HTC as a brand. Windows Mobile 6.5 just can't come fast enough. [Digitimes] Duros 8404 Tablet Upgraded With Atom, Daylight-Viewable LCD [Tablets] July 22, 2009 at 1:30 pm If your business has you doing a lot of computing outdoors, a rugged tablet PC might make some sense. The upgraded Duros 8404 even brings an 8.4-inch sunlight-viewable SVGA touchscreen to the mix. The display achieves a brightness of 1,100 nit with a 120-degree viewing angle, meaning that it should be clear even under direct sunlight. Inside the aluminum chassis, the 8404 also includes an Intel Atom processor, non-rotating compact flash drive and a hot-swappable battery. On a construction site the 8404 could be ideal, but I wouldn't expect any bargains here when the sticker price is revealed. [Hot Hardware via Ubergizmo] SPOT GPS Tracking Device Now a Smaller, More Powerful Lifesaver [GPS] July 22, 2009 at 1:29 pm The Survivorman approved SPOT GPS tracking device is now 30% smaller and lighter than the much beloved original version. More importantly, the chipset and the antenna have been upgraded to improve performance. Other improvements include an LED light that indicates the status of your sent message, a separate tracking button, an extra message button, universal communications symbols and a stylish new silver finish option. Pricing for the new unit will most likely be revealed in the fall when the new SPOT is scheduled to hit shelves. It probably won't be cheap, and the tracking service already costs at least $100 per year, but that is a small price to pay for peace of mind when you are stuck on some godforsaken corner of the Earth. [SPOT via GearJunkie via Boing Boing Gadgets] Falling In Love Online [Love] July 22, 2009 at 1:10 pm Feeling irresistibly attracted to someone online? Flirting incessantly through Twitter, Facebook, chat, and video? It's all good. Or at least, that's what our friend and sexual health expert Dr. Debby Herbenick says in her latest column: In a recent New York Times article, and in light of Gov. Sanford's email exchanges with his Argentine lover, writer Virginia Heffernan considered whether people who fall in love online (via email, Texts, Facebook, Twitter, and such) are indeed falling for each other or whether they have fallen hopelessly in love with technology. I would argue that, in most cases, the people are truly falling for each other. Whether they are in like, lust, or in love is anyone's guess but just because the affection grows with keyboard strokes rather than hand holding should not, I believe, minimize the powerful effect that bonding can have on a person or couple. Yes, technology adds a sense of immediacy that wasn't present when people fell in love through paper-based letters that one had to wait for eons to arrive. But phone calls provided a sense of urgency too - did he or she call? did they call while I was listening to voice mail, or dialing them? is my phone working? did they call while I was checking to see if my phone was working? why aren't they answering? did he see my missed calls? Anyone who started, maintained or ended a relationship in those days before laptops and iPhones knows what this is like. Plus, immediacy isn't the only thing that stokes fires. Longing, waiting and anticipation are central themes in many great love stories that are celebrated in literature, operas and in dance. There is a pace to courtship and seduction that is unpredictable - at times, exciting, passionate and fast-paced. At other times, achingly slow, while one person waits to hear from another one or until they are able to visit again, or to kiss or take off their clothes. Also, technology isn't necessarily a barrier to letting people see the true core of one another. For many people, and not just the very young who have grown up with computers and cell phones, email and Facebook are the primary ways that they are able to express their emotions. Though I'm sorry to reference a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks vehicle, I will, given how You've Got Mail was an early and fairly decent exploration of what it can feel like to fall in like/love online even when two people have never (to their knowledge, anyway) met, and also how people can let down their daily waking-life guards and make themselves vulnerable online. Of course, there are many ways to build intimacy through phone calls, texts, Facebook, Twitter, emails and intra-office chat systems. In some cases it happens to two who have never met. In other instances it happens to two people who have met, or who work closely together, but for whom technology serves as a more private way to flirt or to get to know one another. Kind of like dating except without the expense. There is a growing amount of research about online dating, flirtation, sex and, yes, even love, and I look forward to learning more from scientists, friends and loved ones about how it works for them. Personally, I try not to judge how two people meet or connect. I'm just happy when they do and when it feels right to those involved (clearly, affairs or relationships that cause hurt to others take it to a different level). But overall, I often feel that life is too solitary in so many ways to nitpick the ways that people join up or to describe one way of meeting or falling in love as better or more real than another. We're born alone, we die alone and in between we have so many possible ways to meet others, to feel special, to feel loved and to help someone else feel loved and special and uniquely terrific in their beauty. So what if it happens online? At least it happens. [My Sex Professor] Dr. Debby Herbenick, author of Because It Feels Good: A Woman's Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction, is the Associate Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University (IU) where she is a Research Scientist. She is also a sexual health educator at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction where she writes (and hosts audio podcasts of) the Kinsey Confidential column and coordinates educational programming. She has a PhD in Health Behavior from IU, a Master's degree in Public Health Education (also from IU) and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, she is certified as a Sexuality Educator from the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Debby writes regular sex columns for Men's Health magazine, Time Out Chicago magazine, Velocity, Cheeky Chicago, Psychology Today and she has also written for Glamour magazine and Gizmodo (NSFW). The App Store Is Just Like the Civil Rights Movement, and Other Lessons We Can Learn From iFart [IPhone Apps] July 22, 2009 at 12:50 pm The Daily Show tells the harrowing tale of iFart vs Pull My Finger, showing us the faces behind the farts. It's predictable stuff until about 3:00, when Pull My Finger guy compares himself to Jackie Robinson. Then, it's pure art. I can't tell what's worse: the sleazy app developers' blithe comparison of one of history's great civil rights heroes to a stupid novelty app, or his apparent pride in leading the way in the transformation of the App Store from a great resource into a gurgling software cesspool. I mean, the first one, obviously, but I'm a little peeved that the Daily Show has managed to sum up the App Store better than a thousand app roundups ever could. [via AllThingsD] Coca-Cola's 100-Flavor Soda Fountain of the Future [Vending Machines] July 22, 2009 at 12:30 pm Originally codenamed "Jet," Coca Cola's top secret flavor bomb now known as "FreeStyle" is poised to give adventurous palettes 100 different beverage options in a single machine. The machine is more technologically complex than you'd imagine. The "PurePour" technology was originally developed to measure extremely precise amounts of dialysis and cancer drugs. Beyond that, RFID scanners are used to match cartridges to dispensers, and the onboard computer confirms everything is in place. Existing soda fountains use five-gallon concentrate bags and lots of backroom labor. Now all that is required is a highly concentrated 46-ounce cartridge inside a self-contained machine. Using a touchscreen UI, customers can navigate through the dizzying array of sodas, flavored waters, energy drinks and other beverages in what appears to be a fairly straightforward way. The machines are currently being tested in Georgia, California, and Utah, but Coca-Cola plans to roll out 60 additional dispensers across the country by the end of the summer. [Fast Company] WiMax Mac Drivers Come August 17 [WiMax] July 22, 2009 at 12:20 pm The Dual WiMax/Sprint 3G dongle is going to get its Mac drivers on August 17, which will let users in those three cities get online without rebooting to Windows. [Yahoo] Olive Opus N4, Melody N2 Music Players (For Rich People) Become a Slightly Better Music Players (For Rich People) [Home Audio] July 22, 2009 at 12:01 pm We haven't heard much from Olive since they released the pretty-but-pricey Opus and Melody music wedges last year, but that kind of cautious pace is to be expected in the high-end A/V world. Today, they've given their line a refresh. The Opus 4, which previously maxed out at 1TB of storage in a $1799 incarnation, now lugs along 2TB of ripped music, preferably, according to them, in lossless format. The software touch interface has gotten a hefty overhaul, promising greater responsiveness, search and custom internet radio streaming via the device's Wi-Fi. The core functionality, however, remains unchanged: this is a music device, and that's it. The Melody extender gets the same software upgrades, but must draw on an Opus box or PC media server for content, and retails for substantially less, at $599. Olive's strategy with the Opus and Melody is possibly more interesting than the products themselves, at least to most folks: they advertise their highest price options over their lowest ones (the Opus actually starts at $1500), and are completely upfront about the fact that their technology is deliberately simplified, to the point that obvious potential functionality—through the Opus' Linux-based OS, for example—is left unrealized. The thing is, if these issues bother you, you're not the target audience. Who are they? Old people with money, basically. Related: Hello, old people with money! [Olive] Robotic Bride Combines My Fears of Robots and Commitment [Robots] July 22, 2009 at 11:50 am Here's something I hoped I'd never see: a freakish, slack-jawed humanoid robot marching down the aisle in a wedding dress. But that's just what happened in Japan today. The HRP-4C humanoid robot showed up at a fashion show in Osaka, walking down the runway in a wedding dress, "casting casual sidelong glances at the delighted audience." Apparently the hope is that the robot will have some entertainment value. And hey, if a creepy robot staggering around in various outfits is entertaining, I guess this fits the bill. But this is just one step away from some lonely otaku donning a tux and actually marrying one of these things, which I can't get behind. Not until they're sexier, at least. [Chunichi via Pink Tentacle] Cellphone Microscope Gets Power Boost, No Parasite Is Safe [Cellphones] July 22, 2009 at 11:30 am UC Berkeley's CellScope microscope transforms an ordinary cellphone camera into a powerful high-mag microscope. And now it has been given an upgrade that makes it possible to take color shots of parasites and bacteria labeled with fluorescent markers. To achieve this, the researchers used filters to block out background light and convert the light source—a simple LED—into the 460-nanometer wavelength required to excite the green fluorescent dye in the sample. After that they were were able to take fluorescent images of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes TB in humans) with a 3.2-megapixel off-the-shelf phone camera. The images were then automatically analyzed using software to show the total of bacteria in the blood sample. Traditional instruments with the same capability can be bulky and extremely expensive, which is why the CellScope can have a profound impact on health care in developing countries. It is still in the prototype phase at the moment, so there is no telling when it might go to manufacturing. [CNET] Navigon MobileNavigator for North America Hits the App Store, $70 For Now [IPhone Apps] July 22, 2009 at 11:10 am There were shades of greatness in Navigon's crippled free MobileNavigator trial, and high expectations for the full version. Now it's here, and for the first couple weeks, priced at a reasonable (no, really) $70. Even at the eventual full price of $100 it's still a solid deal, since most big-name navigation apps charge a monthly fee, which seems to be settling across the App Store at about $10. That's a lot of upkeep, which would surpass Navigon's one-off charge well within a year, and keep going, well, forever. But $70 is still a lot, so before you take the plunge, here's what you get: • 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance • Lane Maps • Speed warnings • Day & Night Mode for map display. • Navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone's address book. • Branded POIs and POIs along the route • 2D and 3D map view • Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format • Intelligent address entry It's intended to be a full PND replacement, and the European version has gotten pretty solid reviews as such. Full press release below. NAVIGON Launches iPhone GPS Navigation for North America First on-board iPhone solution from a major navigation company now available in the App Store Hamburg/Germany, JULY 22, 2009 - NAVIGON AG, the leading innovator in the navigation market, today announced the availability of a North American version of its on-board navigation software in the iPhone App Store. The MobileNavigator transforms any iPhone 3G, equipped with the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system, and any iPhone 3G S into a complete navigation device. Following its successful launch in Europe last month, NAVIGON is the first major navigation company to launch an on-board navigation solution for the iPhone in North America. In more than ten European countries*, the app was ranked within the top three of all paid applications in the Apple Store in the first week. Compared to off-board navigation, NAVIGON's on-board approach has a clear advantage: After downloading the GPS application, the software and map data is saved directly on the device. This means that users don't have to pay subscription fees or wait for map downloads during the navigation. The software includes many of NAVIGON's hallmark navigation functions such as Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant and Day & Night Mode. It also features NAVIGON's sophisticated and elegant map views including branded POIs along the route. NAVIGON will even add more features with software updates later this year. The only requirement for using the MobileNavigator on the iPhone is the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system. "By making the MobileNavigator for the iPhone available for users in North America, we are taking another major step towards the future market of GPS navigation on mobile phones," said Egon Minar, CEO of NAVIGON AG. "The combination of NAVIGON's signature navigation features with typical functions from the iPhone creates an integrated and unique experience." The map display, for example, switches automatically from portrait to landscape view as soon as the iPhone is turned 90 degrees. There is also the option of navigating directly to an address from saved contacts. If the iPhone is used for talking on the phone during navigation, the software resumes automatically after the call has ended. Furthermore, the multi touch function of the iPhone is integrated into the app and allows users to easily zoom in and out the map view with two fingers. The NAVIGON solution sells for $99.99 and is equipped with maps of North America from NAVTEQ®. It will be available for a promotional price of $69.99 until August 15. For more information and FAQs, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone. A video of the MobileNavigator for the iPhone can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/kq2a5q. You can also follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/NAVIGON_. Contact Johan-Till Broer (details below) for images. Key features of the NAVIGON MobileNavigator for the iPhone: Reality View™ Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter. Lane Assistant Pro helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry. Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning. Day & Night Mode for map display. Direct Access allows navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone's address book. Branded POIs and POIs along the route 2D and 3D map view. Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format. Intelligent address entry. Real signpost display. *Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland Ultimate Peeping Tom Device Disguises Itself as Digital Camera, Media Player [Cameras] July 22, 2009 at 10:50 am 21-friggin'-times optical zoom, MPEG4 video recording, digital camera, night mode, and digital music player to play the James Bond theme on repeat. That's what the Avatar Digital Binocular Sports and Spy Camera will get you for just $129. The Avatar Digital Binocular Sports and Spy Camera has a 2.5 LCD screen, USB connectivity, video out, and up to 3GB of memory using a 2GB memory card. It suppors the usual video and audio playing formats, recording at 25fps in 640 x 480 mode. [Chinavision via Red Ferret] Memo Clock Has a Built-In Re-Writable Surface [Design] July 22, 2009 at 10:30 am This memo clock has a re-writable ceramic surface, allowing you to leave notes on it. It doesn't have an alarm function, however, but maybe you can just leave a note for yourself to wake up by 8. [TheHaki via DesignBoom] Canon Hybrid Stabilization Technology Corrects Bad Photography On More Axes [Canon] July 22, 2009 at 10:10 am Canon will include a new Hybrid Image Stabilizer in a forthcoming mystery (!) lens, which corrects both rotational and shift movement. I've always been partial to the elegant in-body, floating-sensor stabilization systems like those in the Sony Alpha line, but this tech, like all of Canon's IS, will be lens based, and therefore based, at least in part, on magic. Twist 'n shift correction sounds great on paper, but without any sense of how it works or, you know, having tried it, it's hard to know how well it'll work. What we know for now: the lens is due before the end of the year. [Canon] EcoModo - The Best of Treehugger [Roundups] July 22, 2009 at 10:00 am GE is envisioning gadget-covered, net-zero energy homes. A battery rechargeable via shaking might fit in there, but a cigarette lighter cell phone won't. Chuck it, though, and MIT will track it with trashy new devices. If you're off grid but still needing to use AA-style batteries, wouldn't it be great to be able to add more juice just by shaking them up a bit? That's what the Mint Energy Rechargeable Battery concept would allow us to do...just use a little "shakenergy." The latest in our un-TreeHugger department is a very odd cell phone idea, that helps you pollute the air with cigarette smoke along with all the other emissions associated with mobile devices. Yes, light up with a built-in cigarette lighter! MIT has just announced a new project that makes trash a whole lot more technical -Trash Track. The goal is to figure out exactly how much energy and effort goes into taking trash from homes to final disposal, which could help guide consumer choices about products while they're still on the shelves. They call it the Net-Zero Energy home. It has ground source heat pumps (promising a 30% reduction in energy use), photovoltaic arrays, supplementary wind power, high efficiency appliances and battery storage, all talking to each other through a Home Energy Manager. That's a lot of impressive technology. But are green gizmos the best way to achieve net zero energy? TreeHugger's EcoModo column appears every Tuesday on Gizmodo. Inline Skater Races Down 2,800-Foot Roller Coaster in 60 Seconds [Summermodo] July 22, 2009 at 9:57 am Leave it to crazy German sportsman Dirk Auer to race down a huge roller coaster at a Stuttgart theme park. 2,821 feet in just 60 seconds. Doesn't sound impressive enough? He was using inline skates, as the video shows. Only armed with retrofitted inline skates—especially developed for the stunt—and a helmet, the 36-year-old man reached a top speed of 56mph. It took him 110 hours to prepare the whole thing, but the ride was over in one minute. And while the roller coaster was not the terrifying Alpine Coaster, this definitely looks a lot more scary. But then, what would you expect from a guy who holds the world's inline skating speed record, being dragged by a Porsche GT2? [Daily Mail]