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ReviewsSony Xperia Z2 Tablet Review: Hardware Triumph, Software Facepalm
Last year, the original Xperia Z Tablet was one of our absolute favorite tablets. It was so wonderfully thin and light, plus waterproofiness? Fantastic. But the laggy software Sony put on top kind of knee-capped its potential. This year, the hardware is even better. Bordering on masterful! But some lessons Sony just refuses to learn. … Continued
By Brent Rose -
Tech News
Powdered Alcohol: 3 Important Things You Should Know
Over the last couple of days you might’ve heard that a company called Palcohol has been cleared to market powdered alcohol in the United States. It sounds exciting! And scary! Are we all going to be drowning in boozy Ovaltine soon? Maybe. Maybe not. Update: Probably not, seeing as how all it seems this was … Continued
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io9Movies
Can A Cautionary Tale About Science Still Be Pro-Science?
Transcendence was just the latest piece of pop culture to depict wrongheaded scientists playing God, and a lot of people complained about its anti-science message. But that made us wonder: Does a cautionary tale about science have to be anti-science? After all, Frankenstein is often described as the first science fiction novel, and it depicts … Continued
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Tech NewsCommerce
Amazon Fire TV‘s voice search is one of its best features, but at launch it only played nice with Amazon stuff. That’s about to change—last week it got support for Hulu Plus, Crackle, and Showtime, and later this year Fire TV is going to work with Netflix, says CEO Reed Hastings.
By Leslie Horn -
Tech News
This Bearskin Sleeping Bag Puts You In the Belly of the Beast
Originally created way back in 2007 by Eiko Ishizawa as a sort of homage to a bear that was killed after wandering from the Italian side of the Alps to the Bavarian, this plush bearskin sleeping bag is finally available for purchase on a made-to-order basis. Because the sleeping bags will be made entirely from … Continued
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Tech News
China Just Commissioned the World’s Fastest Elevators
Today, the Japanese tech giant Hitachi announced a contract to build two of the fastest elevator in the world for a forthcoming skyscraper in China. Seems innocuous enough, right? But buried within the press release are a few fascinating details that illustrate how China’s skyscraper boom is affecting the global economy—including the fact that it … Continued
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io9How Astronomers Turned This White Dwarf Into A Magnifying Glass
Typically, astronomers observe the dimming of a star whenever an exoplanet passes in front of it. But what could possibly cause a star to periodically increase its illumination when an object passes in front? The answer, say scientists, is a newly confirmed phenomenon known as “self-lensing.” There’s a binary system about 2,600 light-years from here … Continued
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io9
The Supreme Court Will Consider What Defines “Pregnancy”
Can a corporation claim to have religious beliefs? The Supreme Court will rule on that contentious question later this year. To answer, the justices may also have to address whether human life begins when an egg is fertilized, or when that egg is implanted in a womb. The case, Sebelius vs. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., … Continued
By Mark Strauss -
io9
Photographs Of Meat Stuffed In Plastic Bottles Evoke Fleshy Horrors
Per Johansen’s photographs of meat and vegetables stuffed into clear bottles are at once fascinating and grotesque, showing foods in arrangements that may make you lose your appetite. Over on Johansen’s website, Charlotte Kim Boed explains that the series Mæt (“Full”) is meant to examine issues related to artificial overconsumption by trapping familiar foods in … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
Tech News
Netflix Is Going to Raise Prices for New Users
Bad news: Netflix will be hiking its prices for new subscribers. Per a first quarter letter to shareholders, CEO Reed Hastings says: Our current view is to do a one or two dollar increase, depending on the country, later this quarter for new members only. Hastings added that the $8 rate for existing customers will … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
ScienceBiology
Hippos Are The Most Underappreciated of African Megafauna
There’s the “big 5” of African game animals: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Most people area also obsessed with giraffes and zebras, and occasionally crocodiles and meerkats and hyenas. But for such a large charismatic critter, folks tend to forget the noble hippo. One reason why hippos are the coolest? The chompers on a … Continued
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Tech News
AT&T Is Considering Rolling Out Gigabit Fiber To a Ton of Cities
Move over, Google Fiber. There’s (maybe) a new gigabit internet game in town, and it’s (maybe) coming to 100 cities and municipalities by way through AT&T, at some point in the future. Maybe. Today AT&T announced that it has its fiber internet sights set on 100 U.S. cities and municipalities, 21 of which are major … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
io9
Captain Kirk is Right When it Comes to Diplomacy
Many people have made light of Captain James “Alien Banger” Kirk, and his crotch-first approach to diplomacy. It turns out that he might have the right idea. Attraction very often helps us come to a peaceful solution during conflicts. Driving the Other Guy Out The early Star Trek series has occasionally been made the object … Continued
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io9Batman Battles The Suicide Squad In The New Assault On Arkham Movie
Batman’s next straight-to-DVD animated adventure is set in the Arkham Asylum videogame universe, although you’d be hard-pressed to tell from this trailer. Still, watching the Suicide Squad get caught between Batman and the Joker seems like a good time no matter what. Obviously, it has a hard time living up to the amazing 75th anniversary … Continued
By Rob Bricken -
Tech NewsSploidThis beautiful music video should be turned into a video game asap
I didn’t know French band Equateur until I saw their Another-World-ish video for their EP Lava, which should be turned in to a video game ASAP. The video was created by Kadavre Exquis. Beautiful. The song reminds me of the most atmospheric Depeche Mode—and that’s a high compliment. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
Tech NewsGadgets
A Pair Of Batteries Keep This Cordless Vac Running For Almost An Hour
No one likes having to deal with cords, and they’re a particular pain when connected to a device that’s able to suck them up and destroy them. So Hoover’s new Air Cordless vacuum manages to finally make a cordless vac that’s actually useful with a pair of rechargeable batteries that keep it running for almost … Continued
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Tech News
Lost Treasure Hunt Wants To Make Learning History Fun
Not everyone was a big fan of history class growing up, and frankly most grade-school classrooms teach the material rather dryly. But history has shown that if there’s one thing that captures a kid’s attention, it’s cartoons. And that’s why the animators behind Lost Treasure Hunt want you to help them make their ambitious and … Continued
By Jason Krell -
Tech News
No, Tech Adoption Is Not Speeding Up
Yesterday the folks over at Vox published an article arguing that generations should be defined by the technology they use, rather than by age. They included a graph that purported to show how American society is “adopting new technology more quickly than ever before.” The graph is garbage. And here’s why. [Update: It looks like … Continued
By Matt Novak