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Send 'X-Ray Messages' to Airport Security With These Steel Plates

by Lee Bains, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 2:53PM



There are certain people and institutions you should never really mess with: 911 operators, your government's computer systems, and T.S.A. security personnel. Apparently, nobody informed designer Evan Roth of the latter.

Probably the kind of guy that wonders, "Just what would that cop do if I reached out for his pistol all of a sudden?," Roth has laser-cut "hilarious" messages and images into stainless steel plates so that trouble-making airline passengers can play a little prank when security folks X-ray their baggage, Asylum reports.

While Roth's stock designs include "Nothing to see here," "Mind your own business" and an image of Osama Bin Laden, the plates are fully customizable. Although these plates are clearly intended for artistic, rather than practical, use, we're certain there will be some airborne jokester unable to resist zipping one of these bad boys into his backpack. For that guy's customized plate, may we recommend the more straightforward "Arrest me, please." [From: Asylum]

Elmo Live! On Sale Tomorrow for $59.99

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 2:00PM


After the whole Tickle Me Elmo craze a few years back, you just knew Fisher-Price was going to ride this wave until it simply couldn't stay afloat any longer. Elmo Live!, hailed as the "most innovative and engaging Elmo toy ever," will officially hit store shelves tomorrow (October 14th) for $59.99, though we suspect the first batch will be snapped up in no time flat.

Of course, those of you intent on retaining your sanity probably pre-ordered a few months back, but for everyone else, your battle to get one of this year's hottest holiday gifts starts in under 24 hours. For those wondering what's so special about this fellow, he supposedly tells jokes and makes movements that "give kids the feeling that Elmo is alive in their own homes." Whether that's really a good thing, however, is totally up to you.

New OpenOffice 3.0 Does Everything Microsoft Office Does -- For Free

by Tim Stevens, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 1:01PMBreaking News

Free OpenOffice 3.0 Releasing TodayWhen it comes to productivity software, it's hard to cover all the bases better than Microsoft's Office suite. It handles writing letters, tracking numbers in spreadsheets, making presentations, and even creating simple databases for archiving large amounts of data. It's the worldwide standard -- but it isn't cheap. A full copy with all the bells and whistles can set you back nearly $700 (unless you're a student, in which case hellooooo discount), a pretty big ask when the competition does all that too and does it for free. OpenOffice.org is that competition, and a new release, 3.0, is set to release today.

OpenOffice.org includes five separate applications for handling written documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and databases. The new release provides some usability enhancements for all the tools, adds some support for more languages, fixes a slew of bugs, and, perhaps most importantly, adds the ability to read in files produced by Microsoft's latest Office: 2007. That means this free online software sets up nicely against the decidedly not-so-free alternative, giving those who lack the funds, or who are just looking for something different, a legal and comprehensive alternative. Hey, even the launch party for the release is free and open to anyone -- anyone who happens to be in Paris on Monday night, that is. [From: Yahoo!]

Cassete Tape Holder For iPod Looks Ridiculously Cool

by Peter Mychalcewycz, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 12:01PM



Analog music... Consider this the ultimate pimp slap...

Contexture Design, a Vancouver-based company, has created an iPod Nano case made out of recycled cassette tapes. Daaaamn, '80, you just got plaaaayed... We hadn't even seen a cassette tape in five years when we stumbled across this retro gem. The Nano gently snuggles into the remodeled Maxell cassette, providing protection to your pricey MP3 player while literally and figuratively burying an entire era of musical technology. Good times!

There are severely limited numbers of this sweet little item, so act quickly...If you have $45 laying around. [From: TUAW]




BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Worth the Hype? (Hands-on Review)

by Tom Samiljan, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 10:49AMBreaking NewsFeatured Story


hands-on blackberry pearl flip 8220 hype check


HYPE CHECK: BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220

What it is: It's the first clamshell-style 'flip' handset that runs the much-beloved BlackBerry operating system (OS) for mobile phones.

Why it's different: Thanks to the aforementioned flip design, this BlackBerry looks more like a phone than a smart phone, which will please those who like to do their work (or e-mailing/texting) discreetly. The Pearl Flip is also the first U.S. BlackBerry to feature the latest version of the BlackBerry OS, which has a slick, more cartoonish interface and an improved Web browser that offers a more realistic rendition of Web pages than on previous BlackBerrys, as well as live video streaming from sites like YouTube. Unlike the original Pearl, the 8220 has a built-in camcorder and an improved 2.0 megapixel camera, which can be used to send video- and picture-messages right from the phone.

What we like: For starters, the Flip's clamshell design eliminates the all-to-easy-to-accidentally-dial-your-boss tendency of every other BlackBerry's open keyboard, without making you deal with cumbersome tasks such as locking the keys. Imported from previous Pearls, the SureType feature – a predictive text system that allows the phone to have a traditional QWERTY lineup on a traditional phone keypad – continues to please us more than the T9 system found on most other phones and is still a cut above the iPhone touch-sensitive keyboard. Built-in Wi-Fi not only makes surfing for Web pages, downloading content, and sending video messages faster, but it also saves us money on our monthly cell phone bill because it enables us to use T-Mobile's UMA-based Internet phone service instead of our cell phone minutes whenever we're in a Wi-Fi hotspot. All that said, the main reason we like a BlackBerry in any form is the excellent e-mail service, which is easy-to-use, reliable, and lets you read and respond to your messages even when you're out of range of a signal (something that isn't doable on, say, an iPhone and plenty of other phones). One nice addition to this iteration of the e-mail service is the secondary screen on the front of the phone that flashes new e-mails (along with their contents) as soon as they arrive (then goes back to a sleek analog clock animation). Oh, and it will work easily with your office e-mail, too.

Continue reading BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Worth the Hype? (Hands-on Review)

LG Announces Prada II Cell Phone

by Chris Ziegler, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 9:58AM


We think that phones like the Touch Pro and X1 sort of limit the market for pricey dumbphone QWERTY sliders, but be that as it may, LG clearly has every intention of making the Prada II one of its headline devices in the waning months of 2008. The rumored 7.2Mbps HSDPA 850 / 2100, Wi-Fi, TV-out, an FM radio, and a 5-megapixel camera have all been confirmed to go along with the full keyboard for a launch in Europe in the end of October or beginning of November, running something in the range of €600 (about $816). Don't get us wrong, it looks alright -- but would this be your first choice of ways to part with the better part of a grand?

YouTube Starts Streaming Full-Length TV Shows

by Tim Stevens, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 9:02AMBreaking News

In its short, three-year Full CBS Episodes Coming to YouTubehistory, YouTube has used its short-form videos to build itself into the biggest player in the online video world. Strictly 10-minutes-or-less had been the rule for video length. But recently, the site has been straying away from that limitation, and now is fully taking a step toward lengthier content, by signing a deal with CBS to stream full episodes of TV shows on the site.

YouTube's full-length CBS offerings launched over the weekend. Shows include classic series like 'MacGyver' and 'Start Trek' as well as edited versions of racier shows such as 'Californication' and 'Dexter from CBS-owned premium channel Showtime. YouTube has been having problems of late selling ads on its shorter videos, which is presumably one of the reasons why it's made the switch to show more advertiser-friendly long-form content.

We took a quick look and the quality of the video is high. Plus, you can watch this stuff on cell phones and iPhones (for free), which makes it a bit more attractive than, say, a site like NBC's Hulu, which is inaccessible to most cell phones. [From: YouTube via The New York Times]

Debt Clock Can't Keep Up

by Evan Shamoon, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 8:40AM



In a perfect sign of the times, the National Debt Clock -- a real, physical device in New York, which is used to mark the national debt level in the United States -- has run out of digits.

All was fine (with the debt clock, that is) until last month, when the national debt level passed the $10 trillion point, and the clock could no longer fit the number. The board was built in 1989 to call attention to the country's then $2.7 trillion level of debt. And now, a couple of wars and a mortgage crisis later, it stands a more than triple that amount.

The clock's owners say two more zeros will be added to it, allowing the clock to record a quadrillion dollars of debt. Which leaves us with plenty of room for growth! This isn't good. [From: The BBC]

Libraries Use Video Games to Encourage Kids to Read

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 12th 2008 at 5:11PM



It's no secret that kids are reading less these days, and attracting the youth back to the printed page is no small undertaking. Publishers and authors are increasingly looking for ways to get kids engaged, and the newest scheme is... video games.

PJ Haarsma writes a series of science-fiction novels aimed at pre-teens, and the novels come with an online game that encourages children to explore the world of Orbis, where the books take place. The game does not exist in a vacuum -- kids need to use information from the books to advance in the game. And, Mr. Haarsma isn't alone in this novel use of... novels. 'The Maze of Bones' is a 10-part mystery series with an online gaming component weaving through the novels. Random House commissioned an online game in advance of Christopher Paolini's 'Brisingr,' the third installment in his youth-oriented fantasy series 'Inheritance Cycle.'

Some folks, however, have taken this tactic to completely illogical extremes. Libraries across the U.S., including the New York Public Library (NYPL), have started hosting video game tournaments for teens. The program could be considered an innovative approach if it actually tied books and learning to the button mashing. But, instead of using games like 'World of Warcraft,' 'Grand Theft Auto,' or 'Civilization,' which involve complex story lines, compelling characters, and deep strategy, the NYPL has opted to use 'Dance Dance Revolution' and 'Super Smash Brothers' -- games that are little more than button mashing and leg flailing. (Though, to be fair, such beat-intensive games at least teach kids something about music.) [From New York Times]

Continue reading Libraries Use Video Games to Encourage Kids to Read

Researchers Unveil 'Unbreakable Encryption'

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 12th 2008 at 3:37PM

Call us devilish, but we just can't help but love these types of stories. Here we have yet another overly confident group of researchers grossly underestimating the collective power of the hacking underground, as gurus from all across Europe have joined together to announce "the first commercial communication network using unbreakable encryption based on quantum cryptography."

Interestingly enough, quantum cryptography has already been cracked in a kinda-sorta way, but that's not stopping these folks from pushing this claim hard to government agencies, financial institutions and companies with distributed subsidiaries.

We've no doubt this stuff is pretty secure, but the last time we heard someone utter a claim similar to this, we saw him uncomfortably chowing down on those very words merely months later.

[Via Physorg]

'Carcade' Turns Passenger Seat Into Real-Time Gaming Experience

by Andrew McKinnon, posted Oct 12th 2008 at 1:16PM



Berlin-based designers have developed an in-car video game prototype that records the outside environment as a car moves, integrating features to create an 'Asteroids'-like experience on a laptop. Don't worry, in this case, it's the passenger who plays the game on his or her laptop. With the help of a window-attached film camera that captures the landscape as the car cruises, the program translates real-time action outside into a rendered gaming experience on screen in which players maneuver a spaceship and try to shoot space junk. (In other words, if the car speeds up, then the spaceship speeds up, and so on.)

Kudos to the designers of the Carcade System, Andreas Nicolas Fischer, Martin Kim Luge and Korbinian Polk. The execution of a videogame that captures objects in the environment while you drive is laudable. It's certainly an entertaining alternative to sitting and staring out the window while your buddy drives , but the application is misguided.

The trend in car safety, after all, is in the prohibition of all distracted-driving activities (text-messaging, talking on your phone, etc). As a driver, it might be distracting having your wing man tripping on a computer-game that simulates the real environment. "Dude, I just crashed into the space-McDonald's!" This is what the safety-experts might characterize as a triggering activity that causes a cognitive-distraction, thus impairing driving-performance. For more on the emerging "distracted-driving" field see : International Standards Organization NHTSA [From Universität der Künste Berlin via Boing Boing]

'Smart' Rear-View Mirror Equipped With GPS

by Donald Melanson, posted Oct 12th 2008 at 11:12AM


Azentek apparently managed to get a few of its SmartMirror rearview mirror replacements out the door back in August, but that brief spat of availability promptly gave way to back orders and waiting lists, and no doubt a few disappointed customers. According to the company, however, it's now not only ramping up production of the GPS-packing mirrors, but promising that they'll be available at "major retailers" by the end of the year as well. In case you missed it the first time around, the $800 device crams a 4-inch GPS unit up alongside an apparently standard-sized rearview mirror, and it surprisingly doesn't skimp on too many features, with it boasting handsfree Bluetooth calling, a built-in speaker, text-to-speech functionality, and an SD card slot for expansion (a 2GB card is included). For some true redundancy, you can also use the mirror as a monitor for a rearview camera. [Via TWICE]

The Mind-Reading Controller for Video Games

by Evan Shamoon, posted Oct 12th 2008 at 9:12AM



Those who love video games but are hampered by poor hand-eye coordination will be happy to hear that biofeedback is on its way to the living room. A California-based company called NeuroSky showed off the newest version of its headset (called Mindset) at this week's Tokyo Game Show, and the response has been positive.

Essentially, the device is hooked up to a PC (playing a custom-made game) and can tell whether the player is focused or relaxed. It moves the on-screen character accordingly, as your brain waves prescribe.

"We brought this to the game show as a new interface, a new platform for game creators," NeuroSky managing director Kikuo Ito told AFP. "Once people get used to the idea of using brain waves for various applications, I hope we will see various products using this technology," he said.

In long-distance learning courses, for example, teachers could monitor whether students were attentive, he said, adding that train drivers and motorists could use it to judge their stress levels and alertness. And girlfriends could tell whether or not their boyfriend was listening to them.

Wait, maybe this is a bad idea. [From: SMH]

$60,000 Diamond-Encrusted iPod Earbud Covers

by Donald Melanson, posted Oct 11th 2008 at 4:43PM


Yes, you read that right, covers. As in, $60,000 of diamonds that clip onto a standard issue pair of iPod earphones. If the economic hard times are really hitting you hard, you can also opt for a $4,500 set encrusted with black or white diamonds, or even a set covered with the ever-popular multi-colored Swarovski crystals -- a veritable bargain at just $110. [Via musicradar.com]

Rideable Robotic Triceratops Yours for Only $300

by Engadget Staff, posted Oct 11th 2008 at 3:22PM


Playskool's Kota the Triceratops is a robot dinosaur that uses 11 sensors to respond to touch and sound by wiggling its horns, wagging its tail and turning its head. It also plays a few "adventure themed songs." Best of all, it can't stampede or impale anyone; like the animatronic Triceratops in 'Jurassic Park,' Kota can't get up and move around. That won't stop kids from adoring it though. Like Pleo before it, Kota's cuteness overpowers all. Don't believe us? Shipments have begun, so you can buy the cuddly robot and see for yourself. All you need is 300 bucks. Or you could just check out the video beyond the cut.

Continue reading Rideable Robotic Triceratops Yours for Only $300



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