The Gamebone is an external gamepad for the iPhone platform that hopes to add buttons (and therefore gaming cred) to the buttonless devices, but we're just not confident it's been fully thought through.

First of all, games would have to be compatible with the controller, and given that so many games are dependent on the accelerometer (hell, the "looka that!" sensation of the accelerometer is the driving force behind a ton of these games), the Gamebone wouldn't work with a lot of the most popular games in the App Store. Plus, the Gamebone doesn't physically attach to the iPhone itself; it probably connects via Bluetooth. The makers say they'll supply a vertical and horizontal stand for the iPhone, but that's still sort of awkward for what's supposed to be a handheld device.

But these guys have a great grassroots feel: They're asking users to suggest a price point for the Gamebone's hopeful release in September, and we're all for expanding the iPhone's gaming capabilities. Let's hope they quell some of our concerns before then. [Kotaku]

Here's the stuff that we didn't post today. (Until now, obviously.)

• CNBC "confirmed" that Steve Jobs was back on campus, even though it had been "confirmed" a few times before that, and still very well might be "confirmed" again before it's actually confirmed. Incidentally our own "proof" that Jobs is back came from the fact that today's 3GS sales press release was the first to have a direct quote from His iNess since he took his health leave. Now that's subtle! [CNBC, Apple PR]

• Award-winning roboticist Hajime Sakamoto isn't content with Hajime 33, the extra-tall robot that can kick a ball. His long term goal? "To make a soccer team composed of robots that can beat a World Cup-winning team." We'll believe it when we see it, Hajime. And even then, before we post on it, we'll have to debate whether soccer is a viable sport or not. [Mainichi Daily News]

• Scientists who don't want to miss a thing are bleepin' pissed right about now: Nature reports that the military is blocking access to data on meteors that might be headed our way, collision-course-wise. So if we all die in a fiery fireball of fire, yep, we can thank the asshole military guy, just like in every single disaster movie. It's not gadget news, but it sure gnaws at our spleen nonetheless. [Slashdot]

• "There's No Leopard Like Snow Leopard," a new work sung to the tune of "There's No Business Like Show Business" by a guy who should not be singing at all. If he plans to continue, I think someone should introduce him to the Auto-Tune dudes. [YouTube]

Anandtech went through the trouble of running various speed-based benchmarks on the iPhone 3GS and Pre, clocking the time it took to launch various apps and load web pages. Though they share similar hardware, the iPhone 3GS was deemed "faster."

In general, the iPhone 3GS was about 20% faster than the Pre in any given test, loading all but a couple of web pages quicker. And though it's less accurate of a benchmark, the iPhone launched its core apps 3-4x faster than the Pre on average. While the two phones share the same platform, the iPhone 3GS runs on the Samsung SoC chipset and the Pre runs on the TI OMAP3 chipset.

The iPhone 3G was also in the benchmark mix. When it came to loading web pages, the 3GS was about 1.2x faster than the 3G (3x for some pages), and when it came to launching apps, it was anywhere from 1.4x-7.2x faster.

But to be fair to the Pre, in an earlier article, Anandtech offered up a couple of explanations why the 3GS might perform better in raw speed tests: first, Mobile OS X has been around longer, therefore having better and more thorough software optimization. Secondly, Anandtech speculated that the Pre might be prioritizing code around multitasking capability instead of raw speed, which works against the Pre's favor in these clock tests. Anyways, interpret these numbers how you will. [Anandtech via MacRumors]

These RROD coasters are clever, sure. But anything with Perler beads is about as classy as black velvet Elvis paintings or those creepy ceramic dolls your grandma collects. Translation: save these for D&D games in the basement. [GamerGrrrlz via Technabob]

I'm really, REALLY not understanding why Brando, purveyor of all things strange and gadgety, is selling a tissue holder looking like a certain fried chicken bucket— WITH OBAMA'S FACE on it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

To top it off, the slightly stereotypical product has Obama dressed up like Colonel Sanders, and also features a coin bank for change. Sigh. Get it? One has to wonder whether or not they merely thought it was funny, or if they really just hate Black America. And for the record, a Popeye's bucket (despite them frying up superior chicken) WOULD NOT have made it any better. Regardless, though...WTF!

Final verdict? THAT'S RAAAAAAAACIST! [Brando]

And it is oh-so-cute in its diminutive USB flash memory form. The opening mechanism is simple and ingenious.

It's just too bad this seems to be just a concept. [Guaran

Check out this newly-released clip of the incoming Transformers 2, in which kitchen appliances transform into small evil robots. It's official: Michael Bay has rolled Transformers, Gremlins, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua all into one. This spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. [Topless Robot]

There are two versions of the AIM app in the App Store right now. The free one, with ads, and the $2.99 one, with no ads. They both have push notifications.

The app does what was touted this year at the iPhone 3.0 event: display notifications when the app is closed, show you how many outstanding messages you have and basically keep you "connected" to the AIM service even when you're not actively using the app. The free version is here and the pay version is here.

We personally would go with the free version until the pay version of the better IM apps (Beejive, for example) go live. Boy Genius says it's live now, but we're still seeing the old version in the store. [TechCrunch]

This is the iLuv iMM153 Desktop Dual Alarm Clock for iPod, which has a bed shaker that is supposed to wake you up better than any alarm. Obviously, these guys haven't tried this with me yet.

Like any other alarm clock with dock—compatible with iPod touch 2nd generation, iPod nano 1st to 4th generation, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod with video and iPod 4th generation—the iLuv iMM153 has built-in speakers and FM radio. Unlike other alarm clocks, however, the iMM153 comes with a small unit that will vibrate to wake you up. At $59.99, it doesn't look bad, but I will need to daisy-chain a few of those if I really want them to wake me up. [iLuv]

Verizon nonchalantly upped FiOS's basic "triple play" broadband-phone-TV fee—$5 or $10 extra per month, depending where you live. The only drop was in the priciest bundle, which swapped out HBO for Showtime—finally, Dexter fans get a bone. [NYT]