We're about 12 hours away from seeing the thing for real, away from the speculation and leaks, but these two photos popped up just a few minutes ago. We don't know if it's real, but it's definitely possible.
So here's what we can see in these photos, sent by a tipster to Engadget: A tablet in the general form of an iPhone, including the trademark home button, looking like it's encased in some kind of S&M leather case with snaps. It's running what seems to be a larger, scaled version of the iPhone's Google Maps app. In the upper left, it looks like it says "No Service," which would be referencing 3G (also a ha! moment for AT&T, if it uses AT&T) as well as a Wi-Fi logo. Very little else can be ascertained, including the most important pieces of the puzzle, the software and keyboard.
Is it real? It's the most likely suspect in my mind, not least because it only popped up the night before the event—Apple's security is so tight that this is the most leakable time. But it is, right now, unconfirmed.
Stay tuned until tomorrow, when we'll be liveblogging the Apple event from San Francisco. [Engadget]
Bill Donahue made a trip to the headquarters of SkyMall, purveyors of the most useless gadgetry in the western world (good luck competing with Brando). My favorite part of the article? SkyMall's president is named Christine Aguilera. Ha!
It is kind of an interesting piece, though—SkyMall doesn't make, design, or even (to my surprise) ship products. They just pick and choose their favorites and assemble them into a magazine, and maybe provide some customer service. Mostly, the piece is a portrait of a company that could not be in a worse industry during a recession: Sharper Image and Circuit City have already bit the dust, and SkyMall's profits are way down. But there is a very cheerful-sounding guy working there, and I like their rationale for dismissing a USB-powered air-conditioned shirt:
"You have to unplug it to get up and go to the printer?" Downey said, vaguely incredulous. "I vote no."
"It's a geek shirt," said McCoy. "It wouldn't sell."
Bill Donahue made a trip to the headquarters of SkyMall, purveyors of the most useless gadgetry in the western world (good luck competing with Brando). My favorite part of the article? SkyMall's president is named Christine Aguilera. Ha!
It is kind of an interesting piece, though—SkyMall doesn't make, design, or even (to my surprise) ship products. They just pick and choose their favorites and assemble them into a magazine, and maybe provide some customer service. Mostly, the piece is a portrait of a company that could not be in a worse industry during a recession: Sharper Image and Circuit City have already bit the dust, and SkyMall's profits are way down. But there is a very cheerful-sounding guy working there, and I like their rationale for dismissing a USB-powered air-conditioned shirt:
"You have to unplug it to get up and go to the printer?" Downey said, vaguely incredulous. "I vote no."
"It's a geek shirt," said McCoy. "It wouldn't sell."
Lexon recently announced a new line of sustainably powered gadgets that are decidedly down to Earth. That is, they're made from bamboo and maize bio-plastics. And let me tell you, corn has never looked better.
If you're in the market for a new calculator, alarm clock, or FM radio, why wouldn't you want it to be made from corn and bamboo? Especially when it looks this handsome.
Not only are the devices made with sustainable materials, they're powered sustainably too: the clocks grab up energy from the sun and the radio has a fold-out crank to get its juice. From the looks of things, that radio doubles as a portable speaker for MP3 players and the like. Just don't bring it around any pandas. [Core77]
Lexon recently announced a new line of sustainably powered gadgets that are decidedly down to Earth. That is, they're made from bamboo and maize bio-plastics. And let me tell you, corn has never looked better.
If you're in the market for a new calculator, alarm clock, or FM radio, why wouldn't you want it to be made from corn and bamboo? Especially when it looks this handsome.
Not only are the devices made with sustainable materials, they're powered sustainably too: the clocks grab up energy from the sun and the radio has a fold-out crank to get its juice. From the looks of things, that radio doubles as a portable speaker for MP3 players and the like. Just don't bring it around any pandas. [Core77]
If there's anything technology has been driving towards, it's the innovation that allows corpses to wink. Finally! But don't worry, there's a use for this for people other than flirty necrophiliacs.
You see, these electroactive polymer artificial muscles use soft acrylic or silicon layered with carbon grease to contract like muscle tissue when it gets a little jolt. It's being tested on cadavers, but the hope is that it'll eventually allow paralyzed folks to blink as well. They're hoping to get it to patients within five years. [UC Davis via Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery via Engadget]
If there's anything technology has been driving towards, it's the innovation that allows corpses to wink. Finally! But don't worry, there's a use for this for people other than flirty necrophiliacs.
You see, these electroactive polymer artificial muscles use soft acrylic or silicon layered with carbon grease to contract like muscle tissue when it gets a little jolt. It's being tested on cadavers, but the hope is that it'll eventually allow paralyzed folks to blink as well. They're hoping to get it to patients within five years. [UC Davis via Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery via Engadget]
Before being sentenced to life in prison for first-degree homicide, Kevin Singer was an avid fan of tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. His appeal to unban the game in prison failed though, so he won't be rolling anymore d10s.
Apparently officials at Wisconsin Waupun prison feel that D&D "promoted gang-related activity and was a threat to security." They originally banned the game back in 2004—after another inmate expressed "concern about Singer and three other inmates forming a "gang" focused around playing the game."
Singer has since then attempted to appeal that decision on the grounds that it "violated his free speech and due process rights." He lost his lawsuit in federal court and all of his D&D-related materials—including a 96-page scenario manuscript—were confiscated. [Oakland Tribune via Boing Boing]
Before being sentenced to life in prison for first-degree homicide, Kevin Singer was an avid fan of tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. His appeal to unban the game in prison failed though, so he won't be rolling anymore d10s.
Apparently officials at Wisconsin Waupun prison feel that D&D "promoted gang-related activity and was a threat to security." They originally banned the game back in 2004—after another inmate expressed "concern about Singer and three other inmates forming a "gang" focused around playing the game."
Singer has since then attempted to appeal that decision on the grounds that it "violated his free speech and due process rights." He lost his lawsuit in federal court and all of his D&D-related materials—including a 96-page scenario manuscript—were confiscated. [Oakland Tribune via Boing Boing]
Bill Gates is about the most mild-mannered and genuinely nice, um, unbelievably rich head of a multinational monolithic corporation that you could imagine. So why is Jon Stewart antagonizing him with anti-Zune and pro-iPhone barbs? Oh, right. Because it's funny.
Warning: Clips are from Hulu, which means they're US-only. Sorry, foreigners, but, well: U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Last night's The Daily Show featured Bill Gates as a guest; great choice, except for a little awkwardness early on when one of Jon Stewart's bits included a casual reference to iPods. On the plus side, Jon learned that "Zuuuuune" is a fun word to say. The setup: President Obama has been feeling "detached" from everyday Amurricans, but his attempts to ingratiate himself haven't gone that well:
Bill was good-humored about the whole thing though; after all, this is Jon's mistake. Evidently he doesn't read my reviews, that I work so hard on, because if he did he'd know that the Zune HD is great, a far cry from the punchline the Zune line once was. Thanks a lot, Jon. Way to make me feel small. My insecurities aside, Jon later asked Bill if his retirement opened him up to new opportunities, like, say, owning a certain extremely popular smartphone:
When will this Microsoft/Apple war end, Jon? It's like the Israelis and Palestinians, except in every way. [Hulu]
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We're about 12 hours away from seeing the thing for real, away from the speculation and leaks, but 
Bill Donahue made a trip to the headquarters of SkyMall, purveyors of the most useless gadgetry in the western world (good luck competing with 
Lexon recently announced a new line of sustainably powered gadgets that are decidedly down to Earth. That is, they're made from bamboo and maize bio-plastics. And let me tell you, corn has never looked better.
You see, these electroactive polymer artificial muscles use soft acrylic or silicon layered with carbon grease to contract like muscle tissue when it gets a little jolt. It's being tested on cadavers, but the hope is that it'll eventually allow paralyzed folks to blink as well. They're hoping to get it to patients within five years. [
Before being sentenced to life in prison for first-degree homicide, Kevin Singer was an avid fan of tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. His appeal to unban the game in prison failed though, so he won't be rolling anymore d10s.