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IFA 2008 Hands-On Video
Notes
Notes: Labor Day Changes
Hey all. Labor day's always signaled the true end of summer to me, and this year, it marks many changes and breaks for the Giz team. Jason's taking a last minute vacation to some tropical destination, and I spent the day finding a ski cabin and getting ready for the upcoming snowboarding season. Jesús is leaving Berlin and getting back home before moving; Mark and Wilson are settling into new homes in new cities; Adam is in Cape Cod; John Herrman is ending his internship and returning to Scotland in a few days; CES prep starts to warm up. We rest so that we can brace ourselves and resist the rush of new gadgets the companies want to shove down our gullets. So, we're taking the holiday weekend to post a little less and relax a little more. If you end up missing us more than you can bear, here's a link to our most recent top stories and features. Otherwise, we'll see you on Tuesday.
Gadgets
Condom Gun Is Perfect Weapon for Sure Shooters, Hippies
Bang bang, she shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down.
Jump the gun to get a shiny close-up and obligatory NSFW money shot.
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thank giz it's friday
I've been seeing the trailer for the upcoming [REC] remake zombie flick Quarantine quite a bit recently and, naturally, it has got me thinking about zombie killing. The basic must-have weapons have always been a shotgun, pistol, chainsaw, baseball bat and a crowbar—but if you want to go the extra mile when preparing for Armageddon, the following weapons and tools will let the undead horde know that you really mean business.
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10 Scary Zombie Killing Weapons
I've been seeing the trailer for the upcoming [REC] remake zombie flick Quarantine quite a bit recently and, naturally, it has got me thinking about zombie killing. The basic must-have weapons have always been a shotgun, pistol, chainsaw, baseball bat and a crowbar—but if you want to go the extra mile when preparing for Armageddon, the following weapons and tools will let the undead horde know that you really mean business.
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4:00 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Sean Fallon
26,724 views,
121 comments
Latest by CrashingOut: projectED more »
Modding
Taking inspiration as well as construction cues from the massive NES controller table built in May, SCAD Inc., which I will charitably call a garage-based novelty enlargement collective, set out to build a giant-sized SNES controller, complete with functioning buttons. A few months later the build is complete, and it looks, well, huge.
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Four-Foot SNES Controller Actually Works (For Shaquille O'Neal)
Taking inspiration as well as construction cues from the massive NES controller table built in May, SCAD Inc., which I will charitably call a garage-based novelty enlargement collective, set out to build a giant-sized SNES controller, complete with functioning buttons. A few months later the build is complete, and it looks, well, huge.More »
iPhone Apps
Always a microcosm of the greater world, the App Store this week focused on two things us Americans have been thinking about a lot recently—the upcoming election, and tossing back a few this Labor Day weekend. And with this week's apps, there's no reason for your iPhone to be left out.
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The Week in iPhone Apps: Let's Get Drunk and Talk About Politics
Always a microcosm of the greater world, the App Store this week focused on two things us Americans have been thinking about a lot recently—the upcoming election, and tossing back a few this Labor Day weekend. And with this week's apps, there's no reason for your iPhone to be left out.
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Quickpwning
QuickPwn Tools Released For Firmware 2.0.2 on Windows and Mac
Just a few days after the Dev Team released its jailbreak tool for the 2.0.2 firmware to Mac users, WinPwn 2.5 and the QuickPwn Tool for Mac have both appeared at about the same time, offering the ability to QuickPwn the latest iPhone and iPod Touch firmwares. In other words, not only can you jailbreak your iPhone or iPod and enjoy sweet, sweet Cydia and Installer action, but you also don't have to go through the irritating process of building a custom firmware and carrying out a lengthy restore in iTunes. More »
iPhone
When I complained on Twitter about a 2 hour iPhone sync, Giz reader Brandon Lusk told me I was lucky. He had a much longer sync, sometimes over 6 hours. I called bullshit. And so, he provided me with two videos, time-lapsed; this one is over 8 hours. That's a full night of sleep. That's a full day of high school. That's longer than it takes to fly cross country, or drive from SF to Los Angeles. After seeing this video, I stopped complaining and tried to figure out what caused Brandon's problem with him. More »
8+ Hour iPhone Sync Timelapse Video (AKA Be Thankful For Your "Short" Two Hour Sync)
When I complained on Twitter about a 2 hour iPhone sync, Giz reader Brandon Lusk told me I was lucky. He had a much longer sync, sometimes over 6 hours. I called bullshit. And so, he provided me with two videos, time-lapsed; this one is over 8 hours. That's a full night of sleep. That's a full day of high school. That's longer than it takes to fly cross country, or drive from SF to Los Angeles. After seeing this video, I stopped complaining and tried to figure out what caused Brandon's problem with him. More »
1:00 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Brian Lam
50,736 views,
97 comments
Latest by knackers: Why is a full backup required when it's basically a 1-way sync from your PC to your iphone (effectively your more »
Navigation
In the last few months car navigation systems have seen a variety of enhancements, from aerial photography to 3D city modeling to live traffic data and internet connectivity. None, however, have done live video. The Travel Pilot N700 has a small camera stuck on the back of the windshield-mounted unit that feeds live video on which navigation instructions are superimposed. The unit also features voice control, live traffic info, WLAN and Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to read and warn of traffic signs with the integrated camera. The price is expected to be about $740, but the N700 is exclusive to Europe, for now. Video demo after the jump. [Motor Authority via Navigadget]
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Blaupunkt Travel Pilot N700 Overlays Directions on Live Video, Reads Street Signs
In the last few months car navigation systems have seen a variety of enhancements, from aerial photography to 3D city modeling to live traffic data and internet connectivity. None, however, have done live video. The Travel Pilot N700 has a small camera stuck on the back of the windshield-mounted unit that feeds live video on which navigation instructions are superimposed. The unit also features voice control, live traffic info, WLAN and Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to read and warn of traffic signs with the integrated camera. The price is expected to be about $740, but the N700 is exclusive to Europe, for now. Video demo after the jump. [Motor Authority via Navigadget]
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ifa 2008
Panasonic to Mass Produce 150-Inch TV, Requires Your Own Nuclear Power Plant
Panasonic is saying that they are going to start mass-manufacturing their 150-inch 2,106 x 4,096 display, which obviously is not directed at consumers unless a) they have their own Quad-HD video material to play and b) they have their own nuclear power plant, since this beast eats 1,500 watts, which in the Michael Phelps scale is 243 pizzas, two roasted pigs stuffed with chicken breasts, five chili burritos and two dozen plates of pasta with veal meatballs. Hmmm. Meatballs. [Engadget]
TM506 review
The Gadget: Sony Eriscsson's TM506 is the first phone to be sold by T-Mobile that supports its still-rolling-out HSDPA network on the 1700/2100 MHz band.
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Lighting Review: Sony Ericsson TM506, T-Mobile's First 3G Phone
The Gadget: Sony Eriscsson's TM506 is the first phone to be sold by T-Mobile that supports its still-rolling-out HSDPA network on the 1700/2100 MHz band.
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12:30 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By John Mahoney
4,790 views,
27 comments
Latest by SneakerFiend: Aww man i want something lifechanging to come to t-mobile already. I was already planning on the 2.5G iphone and more »
Ifa 2008
Samsung Ultraslim TV Looks Like Giant iPhone 3G
Scratch one more notch for Apple design influence, because next year's top-of-the-range Samsung Ultraslim LCD TV All-In-One 1 looks like an oversized iPhone 3G, down to the finish in black or white. The 52-inch TV—which is 1-inch at its thickest point—includes all the circuitry and ports in its ultra-slim body, with no breakout boxes or hunchbacks. The result is the slickest TV we have seen in the whole of IFA 2008, beating the Sony ZX1. And the best looking so far this year. More »
12:25 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Jesus Diaz
18,695 views,
51 comments
Latest by MastaFalse: This is what happens when you don't feed the bitches, Jesus. more »
MS Paint Contest
For this week's bonus MS Paint contest, I asked you to create fantastical fantasy gadgets using everyone's favorite rudimentary coloring program. Unsurprisingly, you guys have some pretty twisted fantasies that you want taken care of via unlikely technology. From promoting alcoholism to suggesting we turn the decomposing corpses of hippies into oil, today's Gallery of Champions really runs the gamut of subtlety and good taste. I salute you, MS Painters.
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MS Paint Gadget Fantasies are as Twisted as They are Unlikely
For this week's bonus MS Paint contest, I asked you to create fantastical fantasy gadgets using everyone's favorite rudimentary coloring program. Unsurprisingly, you guys have some pretty twisted fantasies that you want taken care of via unlikely technology. From promoting alcoholism to suggesting we turn the decomposing corpses of hippies into oil, today's Gallery of Champions really runs the gamut of subtlety and good taste. I salute you, MS Painters.
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12:00 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Adam Frucci
15,947 views,
38 comments
Latest by stryder100: I for one welcome our new wooden overlords. more »
mini-notebooks
Why I Hate Netbooks
The other day I walked into a coffee shop where I witnessed a man—a grown man—hunched over a tiny laptop. He wiggled with cautious, uncertain movements like a fat guy squeezing his way into an old pair of pants. His hands, too wide for the keyboard, made him look klutzy and a bit stupid. His face, in almost erotic proximity to the tiny screen, squinted to either see more clearly or repress the eyestrain. And to top off this scene of sleek convenience, a long, mismatching wire complete with power brick connected the computer to a nearby outlet. After all, such a small machine could never be expected to run off battery power alone!
Netbooks are torture.
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11:00 AM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Mark Wilson
15,121 views,
54 comments
Latest by LoganAdams: I have a 12" iBook G4 (typing on it now). It's my perfect computer for just about everything away from more »
mini-notebooks
Why I Love Netbooks
Just because I’m a fat American doesn’t mean I’ve always wanted a fat American computer. Over the years I have grown to hate so-called performance laptops from Dell and HP. They were big, ugly and heavy enough to rip your shoulder out of your socket, and getting bigger, uglier and heavier all the time. Why didn’t we get those little laptops, you know, the ones made for Japan and available only on Dynamism? Like the lady who buys shoes a few sizes too small, I sought a computer that could be used for emails and surfing and not require steroid supplements to transport. Oh, and could it be cheap, too? I spend all my money on fast food.
Netbooks are wonderful.
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11:00 AM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Mark Wilson
13,157 views,
26 comments
Latest by mgslegrand: I'm typing this on my new MSI wind (just got it an hour ago). I don't have anything bad to more »
PSP
PSP 3000 To Have Worse Battery Life, But Sony Takes Note
The PSP 3000 will have a brighter LCD with a wider color gamut and 5 times the contrast ratio of the PSP 2000. From the shots we've seen, it blows the old screen away—and that screen was already pretty decent. There is, of course, a catch. And that catch is that the PSP will lose somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes of battery life compared to the old PSP, putting its playtime to 3 1/2 to 4 hours. But to compensate, Sony will be rereleasing the just-discontinued PSP extended battery to the market which should still provide 8-10 hours of play. [Gamespot via Maxconsole]
Porn in the sky
I will never understand why some religious groups keep whining about the most inane sexual things, from Susan Storm's bra size to Princess Peach's underpants, but the last protest by religious group "Focus On The Family"—urging people to bully American Airlines for their in-flight unfiltered wireless internet access—makes me want to start slapping them right, left and center. Apparently, "Focus On The Family" is imagining row after row of seat screens full of all kinds of human, animal, and mini-fig genitalia. Their senior analyst for media and sexuality—take that Dr. Ruth—David Weiss had this very stupid thing to say:
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Religious Group Now Protesting Online Porn in the Sky While God Smiles Suspiciously
I will never understand why some religious groups keep whining about the most inane sexual things, from Susan Storm's bra size to Princess Peach's underpants, but the last protest by religious group "Focus On The Family"—urging people to bully American Airlines for their in-flight unfiltered wireless internet access—makes me want to start slapping them right, left and center. Apparently, "Focus On The Family" is imagining row after row of seat screens full of all kinds of human, animal, and mini-fig genitalia. Their senior analyst for media and sexuality—take that Dr. Ruth—David Weiss had this very stupid thing to say:
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