Intel's Core i7 chips, otherwise known as Nehalem, are here and over at Bit-Tech they've got hold of an i7 965, 940 and 920 and run them through a testing process to check if they're as crazy fast as we'd heard they were. And the results are that yes, indeed they are. If you're a power user, doing fast video conversions or otherwise stressing your processor to the max across all its cores and with hyper-threading, then the top-end 965 is a beast of a chip, apparently. But at $999 it's steep. Bit-Tech rekons if you're an enthusiast or a gamer you're probably better off looking at the low-end 920 chip, which still delivers quite a punch for a mere $284. Hit the link for the full review, processor fans. [Bit-Tech]

It's a given that each firmware update for the iPhone and iPod Touch will seal up exploits used by the Dev Team to 'Pwn' the devices, but nobody expected the new MacBooks to present a problem for would-be Jailbreakers. Users over at HowardForums and iPodTouchFans are reporting problems running the Pwnage tool on the new aluminum MacBooks, which don't seem to be able to recognize an iPhone or iPod Touch when it is booted into DFU mode, a vital requirement for jailbreaking.

It's a very specific problem, too — the tool still runs, and users who have a pre-modified firmware created on another Mac or Windows machine are able to 'restore' their devices to a jailbroken state without any trouble. It's the creation of modified firmware, which is the central purpose of the Pwnage tool, which has been axed.

Though the hardware is where one sees the most conspicuous changes in the new MacBook, this problem most likely stems from a subtle software modification. It's not clear what specifically changed, but a new build of iTunes, unique to the new MacBooks, seems like a likely candidate. Of course, this news comes just after we're once again reminded of the App Store's awesome competition-busting rules. Your move, Dev Team. [Howard and iPodTouchFans — Thanks, Charles]

"About the size and weight of a hen's egg" runs the tagline for this projector. That'd be some special large cubic hen then. But this Pico Cube EPP-HH01 from Epoq projector is undeniably tiny—it's just 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches across, which Epoq says makes it the world's smallest. It projects VGA resolution images from its LCoS image chip with a 3W LED light source giving it a 80:1 ANSI contrast ratio. It's no high-end video projector of course, but you don't expect that from a gadget of this size. And it does somehow squeeze in a speaker, making it handy for impromptu business presentations and such. It's due to ship this month, for a suitably tiny $230. [Gadgetcraver.com]

We have got confirmation from a reliable source: Circuit City is closing 155 stores tomorrow: "They are going to be midwest ones, which are underperforming right now. Liquidators will be taking control of these stores this Monday." He got more juicy details and his opinion on the possibility of Circuit City going under because of the current economic situation. Update: Circuit City's Director of Corporate Communications Bill Cimino has replied to the rumors in an internal forum. Update 2: Another reader who works at Circuit City confirms the closing. Read more about it after the jump.

Basically, underperforming stores in certain regions are going to get shut down. This doesn't mean we are going out of business. Personally, I think that some stores can support themselves while others can't.

I know my store has a daily budget of about $38,000. We usually hit our budget and always make our goals, but some of the other stores in the region can't do that. There are still profitable stores even with the economy being crap. But then, the West Coast stores account for about 30% of the company's total revenue.

One of the store directors—obviously not from the Midwest—is quoted as saying that "we should have done this 10 years ago". The source points out that Circuit City is trying to refocus on the customer: "They are really stressing to us that we must have better customer service than before because they want us to win back our customers".

We will discover it tomorrow, but our source has been 100% right before.

Another Circuit City employee and Gizmodo reader jumps in about this:

I work at CC and we had a store meeting today in which we were explicitly told 155 stores were closing and a liquidity firm is going to take them over. Employees will be allowed to stay through that process if they wish. What the internal forum posting was saying was that the post about the truck of Sony products turning around or whatever was false, it has nothing to do with the store closings, which is definitely true. I have no idea if the Sony thing is true or not.

A word of warning if you end up installing the Waterbirth Vessel in your home: Be sure to clean it out before the guests arrive for that big hot tub party you've been planning (the placenta floats, fyi). More seriously, this design from Darling Dushinka sports an adjustable seat, massaging jets, overhead bars and supports, and a shotgun seat for the daddy-to-be. No word on the filtration system, though, which they should probably include if this thing ever hits the market. And lastly, in a head nod to NBC's The Office, the headline quote was uttered with hilarious results by that crusty ol' character Creed last Thursday.

Better news. It comes as part of a birthing suite:

[Coroloft via Born Rich]

This $2,500 tricycle is pretty straightforward. Made of titanium, the hook is the trike is nigh indestructible, meaning rich little snots can pedal around the driveway without fear of bending the frame or snapping it in two. Racing to the mailbox for the latest Hammacher Schlemmer catalog has never been safer. A carbon (fiber?!) seat, white leather saddle and white rims complete the look. Just be wary of that silver spoon in your kids' mouth as jockey for position at playtime. Hello? Choking hazard, anyone? [Jan via FirstBike]

As we reported last Sunday, Netflix Watch Instantly was "coming soon" for Mac users. Well, coming soon is today, dear readers. If you're into being a beta user, head over to Netflix to opt in at the sign in page, and give her a try. Of course, there are a few things to understand before you start streaming. You'll need to download Microsoft's Silverlight; and Netflix is imposing a six machine limit (PC, set top, whatever). Additionally, not all movies are available for viewing through the Silverlight player. Still cool though. Bye-bye DVDs?[Venture Beat]

If you, like me, do unnatural things with your iPhone, go pick up a 10-pack of Wireless Wipes. Why? Because touchscreens are apparently hotbeds of scum and villainy. And germs, which is what a British study discovered when it found they carry "tens of thousands of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus." Another study, conducted in Arizona, randomly tested 25 mobiles and found staph on nearly half of them. Staph, in case you didn't know, causes everything from pimples and boils, to pneumonia and meningitis, which explains the chronic headache and hallucinations I've had for the better part of the past week. Wireless Wipes cost $2 for 10, are fast drying, non-streaking and—most importantly—non corrosive. [ChipChick]

Arthur van Poppel took our Guide to Build Your Own F-35 Lightning II Fighter Jet too seriously and actually built the damn thing. Sure, it is a scaled version and it doesn't come with a demonic helmet, but you can actually drive the thing like a car and the level of detail is absolutely amazing.

He even make a second seat on top to drive his kid around and other modifications that Lockheed Martin can't possibly match, like spitting confetti from its engine or the build-in bad soft rock soundtrack. [ muziekkunstenaar via Dark Roasted Blend]

What's the deal with Weird Combos of the Day that they involve booze more often than not. Is it because the people in charge of product synergy are more than occasionally enjoying the products they're synergizing? Perhaps. Or it could be that in reader Charles' case in Shanghai, that whoever's stocking these shelves are stretching a bit between the two types of creams. No matter; the Nivea probably tastes rich and creamy going down too. [Thanks Charles!]