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Tech NewsLearning in 1999 A.D. (1967)
Today, we have more from the 1967 film 1999 A.D. This clip shows the way children of the future will learn. The personal computer, audio lectures and computerized testing are demonstrated. The concept is strikingly similar to the “Answer Machine” of 1964 we looked at a while back. You can find 1999 A.D. on the … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsCommerce
Amazon Plans to Buy Audible
It seems like a cozy fit: Amazon.com, the beloved mega bookseller, plans to by Audible.com, the biggest (only?) digital distributor of audiobooks. The news release itself describes the terms of the deal ($300 million in cash) but doesn’t really outline Amazon’s ultimate plans. Amazon does, notably, take this opportunity to plug the Kindle, giving us … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
Nintendo Game & Watch Modded Into Cellphone (Verdict: WANT)
Click to viewLook, what our friend the crazy modder has done now: mixed a 1981 Octopus Nintendo Game & Watch with a cellphone with his bare hands, probably creating the best retro game handheld/cellphone combo ever. What makes this Octo-phone better than the WiiPhone is that, first of all, people won’t think you’re a recent … Continued
By AddyDugdale -
Tech NewsGadgets
Intel’s MacBook Air Processor Going to PCs?
It looks like that custom MacBook Air processor—you know, the Core 2 Duo processor that Intel shrunk to tiny levels without miniaturizing their 65nm manufacturing process—may soon be making its way into PCs. According to PC Advisor, two non-Apple manufacturers (including Intel itself?) will be implementing the new Intel chip in Windows-based systems that will … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt Measures Proximity to Lovers, Zelda Wannabes
Two shirts, two lovers, a bunch of hearts and one shared bad clothing taste or a shared obsession with Zelda. Or both. In any case, this proximity-based 8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt is a recipe for style disaster. Or absolute happiness. Probably depending on your alcohol mana or yellow smiley pills stamina levels, as the animated … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
Tech NewsGadgets
Pac-Man Lights Won’t Chomp Your Wall or Attract Ghosts
This Pac-Man modular lighting system from French company Remake will fire up anyone with latent ’80s videogame nostalgia within them. The glowing bricks interlock, so you can build your own maze complete with ghosts, power dots and of, course, the yellow chomper himself. Sadly, it’s a static set-up, so you won’t spend ages hypnotized by … Continued
By Kit Eaton -
Tech News
Gateway Goes Off Deep End, Offers $4500 PC Rig for Best Video Stunt
Today Gateway announces its “Show Your Spots” contest, inviting any and all “thrill-seeking technology lovers willing to perform and film a crazy stunt” to win a $4,500 high-performance computer setup. Yikes. Now I’ve heard that in this day and age, some folks are inclined to do silly things and even shoot video of them. Most … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
Is the WiiPhone Sexier Than the iiPhone? You the Jury Decide
The WiiPhone is one of those mods just adored by the House of Giz. It’s the bastard son of a Wiimote and a common or garden-variety DoCoMo cellphone, stuck together by a clever guy who’s good at this kind of stuff. I particularly like the wrist strap, to stop unnecessary accidents (just ask another writer … Continued
By AddyDugdale -
Tech News
Sony 3rd Quarter Results: OK
Sony Corporation posted its 3rd quarter financial results today. They showed a 9.6% year-on-year increase in total sales and revenue (up to ¥2,859 billion or $25.1 billion). Sales of 4.9 million PS3s helped push sales in the Gaming division up 31.2%, while items like Bravia TVs boosted the Electronics division up 10.2%. Sony Pictures, meanwhile, … Continued
By Kit Eaton -
Tech News
First Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Hands On: Your XTi Is Now Junk
Unlike Nikon’s D40x update, the D60, I’m pretty sure the Canon guy would’ve noticed if I swapped out my XTi with the XSi Indiana Jones style, and not just because it’s tied to the table (I really wanted to). It feels more solid, both in the material (not as toy-like) and in the grip, which … Continued
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Tech News
A Word About the Canon EOS 5D Successor
Interesting bit just tossed our way by the Canon rep when we asked about a 5D follow-up, slightly paraphrased: The EOS-1Ds line (their full-frame pro DSLRs) is on a three-year upgrade cycle. The 1Ds Mark II came out in 2004, and the Mark III dropped in 2007. The EOS 5D came out in 2005. Draw … Continued
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Tech News
Kodak’s EasyShare Z1012 IS
The Z1012 IS represents Kodak’s latest addition to the line of EasyShare digital cameras. Features include: a 10-megapixel resolution, 12X optical zoom with optical image stabilization, high ISO (up to 3,200), and advanced settings like program, aperture and shutter priority, as well as full manual mode—all in a ultra-compact design. Expect to see the EasyShare … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
Tech News
Shifty Eyes On Sony Alpha 350: Shooting from the Hip
Confirmed: The Sony Alpha 350 is perfect for crotch-shots, limited only by the LCD’s viewing angle, which is good, but not great. They weirdly didn’t have the A300, but the A350 is the exact same, except for MP count—even the Sony rep said so. I’m honestly not too big on the body otherwise—too many buttons … Continued
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Tech News
Hands On Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Indestructo-Point and Shoots
Point-and-shoots bore the hell out of me, and most of the PMA P-and-S spam has all bled together at this point. But, I really like the shock- and water-proof armor Olympus has on its otherwise unremarkable 10MP Stylus 1030 SW. It’s a steely hardass with style, and I love the exposed. It’s actually very lightweight, … Continued
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Tech News
nuvifone: Garmin Drops a Phone into the GPS
Click to viewToday in a surprise announcement in New York City, Garmin whipped out the nuvifone, a full-fledged GSM HSDPA smartphone built on its own operating system with GPS navigation at its core—but e-mail and web browsing close to its heart, and a camera built in too. No pricing or carrier announcement has been made … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
Hands On Nikon D60 With Stop-Motion Movie Walkthrough
Pop quiz: Which one of these is the D60, and which one is a D40? You can’t tell, can you? Ha! That’s because it really is pretty much the same chassis (and guts) so if you know the D40x, you know the D60. The best new thing is the stop-motion movie stringer, which is quick, … Continued
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Tech News
Wazz Shelf Hides Those Unsightly Speakers
It seems that the trend these days is to go for a clean look by incorporating speakers directly into furniture and fixtures. In this case, designer Jean Louis Frechin disguises computer speakers as shelf supports. The unit is described as “a shelf connected to a computer that doubles as a device for audio diffusion and … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
Tech News
Obama #1 In Gates and Jobs Households, Donation-Wise
Click to viewBill William Gates has only made one presidential-candidate campaign donation this season, and it was to Barack Obama. Meanwhile, although Steve Jobs’ wife Laurene has given nice sums to each of the three leading Democratic candidates, Barack appears to be the apple of her eye, if you calculate that in terms of dollars. … Continued
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Tech News
Bath-O-Matic Fills Your Tub for $8000
Fine, it’s a little more complex than that. The Bath-O-Matic from Unique Automation is an automated bathtub filler that draws a bath just the way you like it. Through a touch screen interface, bathers can choose the temperature and height of the water, as well as any combination of oils, bubbles and fragrances. The Bath-O-Matic … Continued