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ReadySteady Is An Easy Way To Stabilize Your Pocketcam

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 07:15 PM PDT


So you’ve just picked up a Flip, Playsport, or what have you, but its light frame means your videos are shaky — your pans wobbly. Unacceptable!

Sure, you could tie a string to a bolt and use that to steady things, but why not buy one already put together for $30? This little thing might actually be pretty handy, and it’s travel-sized.

Rumor: Is Nikon Making Their Own Sensors?

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 07:00 PM PDT

Nikon has always been fairly closed mouth about exactly who makes their sensors, but it’s been standard knowledge that they are made by Sony. The rumor is that Nikon has started developing (and possibly manufacturing) their own sensors.

If this rumor is true, this would mark a departure for Nikon. The first clues to this popped up in marketing materiels, with the D3100 being labeled as having a “Nikon Developed” sensor. This clue was picked up on by photographer and instructor Thom Hogan, who was later able to confirm this via various contacts at Nikon. Sony did announced a few months ago they weren’t going to be producing full frame senors any more, so that could be part of what brought on this change by Nikon.

[via Nikon Rumors]

Meet The Bicycle That Fits In A Briefcase

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 06:00 PM PDT


When you say “foldable bicycle”, the first thing that comes to mind are those ugly little things with small tires, intended for the vacationer set. Turns out that there are other designs as well, bicycles that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to ride in public, but will still fold up small enough to fit into a briefcase.

These two bicycles were designed by a company named Kinfolk, with the paint done by Coat. There are two models, the International looking like a racing bike, and the City which is inspired by the rides of the Japanese businessman. Both bikes started out as art concepts, but are available for sale. Expect to pay a premium though, because each bike is handcrafted in Osaka by a 71-year old master frame builder. As such, there are a limited amount of them available. The International (pictured above) will cost a cool $3,815.66. The City bike, being smaller (and pictured to the right) will only cost $1,954.55. Both bikes are only available from the Wallpaper bicycle company, and you’ll need to email them in order to buy.

[via Cnet]

Weekend Giveaway: A 1TB ioSafe SoloPRO Rugged Hard Drive

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 05:09 PM PDT


In honor of the launch of ioSafe’s new SoloPRO rugged fireproof/waterproof hard drive I present to you the “Win a 1TB Hard Drive Plus Nirvana Weekend Giveaway.” What can you win? Well, a 1TB hard drive, for starters, and you can choose either the eSATA or USB 3.0 model. You also win true happiness and enlightenment, although the attainment of these things requires years of right practice.

To enter, comment below describing how you’ll test this fireproof and waterproof hard drive. Comment once and leave your email in the proper field. Don’t use Facebook Connect because it makes it hard for us to pick a winner.

Thanks to ioSafe for the great prize.

Note: The winner will recieve the drive in the third week of September and this contest is open to all comers.

Measure While You Scribble With The Messograf

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 04:30 PM PDT


I can’t say I’ve ever had a burning desire to check my tire tread while jotting down a note, but I suppose it must happen to some people. And it is for them that the Messograf is made. Thread measure, tread gauge, caliper, ruler, and pen it be.

Mainly, though, I’m posting it because we didn’t have enough chrome on the front page.

[via Notcot]

Tapi, So You Don’t Have To Drink From The Faucet Like A Cat

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 04:00 PM PDT


What can be said? Tapi is a little rubber dongle you put on your faucet to make it into a water fountain. Do you drink from the faucet all the time, but secretly feel that you’re not being fancy enough? This object is for you, my friend.

[via Laughing Squid]

Jet Mounted Laser To Be Tested For Distance This Weekend

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 03:30 PM PDT

Now that the whole “laser on a plane” thing has been resolved, the military is starting to test the technology on smaller platforms, and at longer ranges. Check out the video from first test, after the jump.

The first test was at a distance of 50 miles, and was successful. Wired reports that the test this weekend is at a distance of 100 miles, a much more comfortable distance, given the risk of multiple targets, and collateral damage from falling debris.


A Moment Of Silent Nostalgia, Please, For These Old-School Skates

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 03:00 PM PDT


Back in the day, not only were these bits of iron the latest gadgets, but they were a means of gaining character. By which, of course, I mean scars. Nowadays you’d be charged with reckless endangerment if you even let a kid try these things on.

The set above is actually for sale, and touchingly, they’re the seller’s actual old pair and come with a book adjuring the reader not to let scraped knees get in the way of rolling glory. I imagine someone has bought them by now, but if you need a nostalgia fix (or just want to show your kid how it used to be), you can probably find a similar pair on eBay.

The LG Optimus Tablet Won The Internet Today

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 02:25 PM PDT


You know what? The LG Marketing VP should get a raise. Stating the LG Optimus Tablet will be better than the iPad to the Wall Street Journal won the Internet today. It is without a doubt one of the most talked about tech stories of the day, which means the VP of Marketing simply did his job.

Our post on the tablet is today’s most commented story across the entire TechCrunch network. It’s Engadget’s second most commented post of the day and one of the highest visited posts on Gizmodo so far today. It even occupied the top spot on Techmeme for most of the day with 25 blogs joining in on the conversation. All because of a silly little quote.

The old adage that there’s no such thing as bad publicity still applies today. I didn’t catch one article about the LG tablet that was all-out praise or didn’t mention the iPad at least a few times. Most everyone doubted the VP’s statement at least a little.

But that’s fine. I didn’t even know that LG was working on a tablet before the story broke early this morning. That’s probably true for most of our readers. A few months from now, no doubt after a couple of carefully-timed ‘leaks’ and pre-announcements, the tablet will finally hit the retail market and we will all have in the back of our mind that this thing is supposed to be better than the iPad.

Chances are the VP’s statement is a bit of an exaggeration. That’s his job, right? He supposed to talk up his company’s products like they’re the best thing in the world. After all, most of the time, the only thing separating a salesman from a marketing flack is a college degree. Their goals are often the the same. But there’s a thin line here. It’s fine to talk up products when they’re months away from release. We’re a fickle bunch and as the product nears release and more info becomes available, our expectations will likely level off.

Perhaps the LG tablet is better than the iPad. We haven’t seen it. We have no idea whether it is or not. However, if LG keeps talking it up like a bonafide iPad killer, it better deliver. Perhaps it should be called the LG Optimistic instead.

Sonnet Outs VESA Mounting System for The New Mac Mini

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT


The Mac Mini is wonderfully small so why waste precious desk when you can simply mount the computer on the back of your monitor? The idea is nothing new, but Sonnet’s system works worth the update Mac Mini. The mounting system attaches to the rear of your monitor using the VESA mounting points, but is designed to provide full access to the Mini’s optical drive, SD card slot and all the rear ports. It even comes with shorter cables so you’re not defeating its purpose by using the standard length cables. $60 when it drops this September.

CrunchDeals: Steam S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Pack

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 01:30 PM PDT


Time for some weekend FPS goodness. Steam is running a sale on S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadows of Chernobyl, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. Best part, it’s $9.99. How can you pass up a deal like that?


Bottle Collects Morning Dew, Elf Tears

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 12:59 PM PDT

Are you one of those people who loves to drink the effluent from the blue sky? Do you love dew, unicorn sweat, and angel rain? Then this is the flower-shaped dew-catcher for you.

Essentially you put this thing from Quirky on your old bottles and it grabs and collects dew. Why? God only knows, but it costs $5.25 and is available from Quirky. Again, I have no words, but clearly someone wants this thing.

Designed by the Quirky community in just 24 hours, Petal Drops is a flower-shaped funnel that fits on top of standard threaded water and soda bottles, providing users with the chance to easily and elegantly capture rain water and repurpose it for watering plants. Rainy days may not seem so bad anymore.
- Made in the USA using a corn, tapioca, wheat, and potato based polypropylene bio-resin.
- Contemporary design.
- Fits most threaded-neck water and soda bottles.

via Quirky


Dubious Study: Android users are dirty, dirty cheaters

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 12:20 PM PDT

Remember that “study” from a few weeks back indicating that iPhone users are having more sexy-time than the rest of their smartphone carrying counterparts? Well, it turns out that they may just be having more of the sort of sexy-times that one would generally admit.

In an equally-quoted-for-sarcasm “study” from AshleyMadison.com (the entire purpose of which is to arrange affairs for married people), the “facts” are in: Android users just seem to love to get their cheat on.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

T-Mobile G2, LG C900, and Samsung Cetus all make their early photographic debuts

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 12:19 PM PDT

Man, oh man — just when we were starting to think that it was a slow week in terms of handset leaks, it seems a venerable geyser has been struck. Not one, not two, but three handsets have just made their way in front of the good ol’ spy cam. Two of ‘em are WinPho 7 handsets, one is rockin’ the Android.
Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Walking Table: Creepy, Amazing, Or Both?

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 12:00 PM PDT


The engineering and design on display here are impressive. But I’m getting a sort of Silent Hill vibe from this thing. Like I’d hear it stomping around downstairs and then go down there and it would exact retribution for all the tables in my life that I never knew I’d hurt. Its rudimentary but terrifying mobility an analogue to my stunted senses of design and empathy. Oh god!

Pocketbook Pro: The E-Readers Are Coming (To IFA)

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Knowing nothing else, I'd say that this year's IFA show in Germany (think CES, but European) will be all about tablets and e-readers. All the tablets I've seen thus far have been sorta "meh," but I'm reasonably bullish on e-readers, if only because I actually find them useful. Will I see these new Pocketbook e-readers on the show floor? Looks like.

There's four models: the Pocketbook Pro 602 and 902, and the Pocketbook Pro 603 and 903. That one up there is the Pro 902.

All four will come with the usual features—Wi-Fi, 3G modem, snf a decent bit of built-in storage (2GB)—but they'll all also have a touchscreen interface (sorta like that Sony Reader that's moving about the ol' rumor mill right now).

The only difference between the models will be screen size: 6 inches and 9.7 inches.

There will also be a tablet, the Pocketbook IQ, that will run on Android 2.0.


Get the Band Back Together And Sing Into the Shure Special Edition Super 55

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 10:24 AM PDT


This $299 may look like something Betty Boop used to record that “Boop boop be-boop” thing she used to do but it isn’t. It’s a high quality, high-output mic with a supercardioid polar pattern and vintage styling for those who need a little extra to get them through the session.

Based on the original Shure Unidyne from 1955, this mic has a 60 to 17,000Hz and a “shock-mounted cartridge minimizes handling noise and ensures quiet operation.” Sadly, it won’t make me a better singer.

Product Page

The PXP 3000 Isn’t Much Of PSP Clone And That’s A Good Thing

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 10:00 AM PDT

PXP is a PSP cloner but their latest product sways a bit from the original. The PXP 3000 looks more like a movie prop than an emulator and media player. But you’re going to buy it for its capabilities and looks anyway. It’s only $70 and can play, NES, FC, GB, GBC, and MD games alone with support most every media file available. Plus it has those killer looking stereo speakers up top and a camera. Take that Sony PSP. [ChinaGrabber via pmptoday]

Install Android 2.2 Froyo On Your Droid X Right Now

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 09:10 AM PDT


How nice. It seems like an early OTA Froyo release leaked onto the interwebs early this morning. The install process isn’t nearly as cut and dry as, say, the Droid’s 2.1 installation, but it’s still doable as long as you don’t mind spending a few minutes (or hours) following dozens of steps spread out over various forum threads.

The Bugatti Veyron Phone Probably Won’t Break Any Land Speed Records

Posted: 20 Aug 2010 08:59 AM PDT

If there’s the Bugatti Veyron watch, why not a Bugatti Veyron phone? It can be yours for only $398.99 AU via ebay and seems well worth it in my opinion. I mean, how awesome is a phone that revs during startup and uses headlights as a flashlight? The seller is even throwing in international charging adapters and a 1GB microSD card. The Bugatti Veyron: Top Gear Test Track and iPhone Slayer. Click through for the video. [via Cloned in China]
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