Gizmodo

Future Solar Cells Will Be Made From Fly Eyes To Maximize Efficiency [Solar]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EDT

Scientists believe that fly eyes are perfectly shaped for manufacturing efficient solar cells. Specifically, copying the eye of the Blowfly would allow solar cells to "collect sunlight from a larger area than just light that falls directly on a flat surface." More »

The Triceratops Never Existed, It Was Actually a Young Version Of Another Dinosaur [Dinosaur]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EDT

Scientists are saying that the Triceratops dinosaur—you know, the three horned one—was actually a juvenile form of a Torosaurus, the three horned dinosaur you don't know. Apparently, dinosaurs' skulls can shape-shift. More »

Aluminum Rolls Uncoil For An Artistic Metallic Labyrinth [Art Installation]

Christina Bonnington — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EDT

Chikara Ohno's "Rolls" twists and turns through the air like giant silvery ribbons, using giant coils of aluminum siding as floor-to-ceiling decor and as chic glass topped tables. I hope the edges aren't sharp. More »

Public Libraries Are Beating Netflix, Redbox and Blockbuster in DVD Rentals [DVD]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EDT

Apparently, your local library is the biggest DVD rental store in the US. According to a survey released by the Online Computer Library Center, US public libraries lend an average 2.1 million movies/day. That's more than Netflix, Redbox and Blockbuster. More »

The Other End of The 70 Gigapixel Budapest Photo [Imagecache]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EDT

You've seen the 70-gigapixel picture of Budapest. Here's a picture of the gear that took the shot. That's two Sony A900s with massive 400mm Minolta lenses attached. Combined, these guys took 20,000 images to create the world's largest photo. [Wired] More »

These Boots Were Made For Typing [Shoe]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EDT

They're not the flashiest keyboard shoes around but for those looking to add a subtle geeky touch to their wardrobe, this QWERTY keyboard shoe sole definitely does the trick. I wonder what what my WPM would be wearing them. More »

Tomorrow’s Skyline Blends Glass And Concrete With A Liberal Helping Of Green [Architecture]

Christina Bonnington — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EDT

From green roofs to tree filled corridors to entire high rise floors left to plants and wildlife, forward looking architects are combining technology and imagination to bring nature into modern homes and buildings. More »

6 Takes On Apple's Magic Trackpad [Magictrackpad]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EDT

We think Apple's Magic Trackpad marks the beginning of the end for Mac OS X. Other reviewers of the Magic Trackpad touched on other subjects. Here are the highlights of what they said. More »

Don't Throw a Brick Into Your Washing Machine [Destruction]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EDT

Actually screw it, you can if you want to. Seeing a washing machine have a seizure is totally worth it. [Laughing Squid] More »

An RFID Globe That Controls a Google Earth Tablet [Globes]

Kyle VanHemert — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EDT

Google Earth's an incredible (and incredibly useful) piece of software, but there's still something to be said for the good old, three-dimensional globe. This one not only celebrates the brass-detailed spheres of yore but controls Google Earth for good measure. More »

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Review: Upgrade Complete [Review]

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Real-time tactics evolve with StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Blizzard's long in the making sequel to one of the most beloved, bestselling sci-fi strategy games of all time. Oh, so you've heard of it, then? More »

Practice Abstinence With This $434,000 Motion-Controlled Video Game [Abstinence]

Casey Chan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EDT

The University of Central Florida has developed a full-body motion-control video game that promotes abstinence. It lets tween girls control avatars that are placed in social situations that may lead to making out and, gasp, sex. More »

This Guy and His Partner Play Good Cop, Super Terrifying Robot Bad Cop [Concepts]

Kyle VanHemert — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:44:40 EDT

This is artist Jamie Martin's Cybernetic Autonomous Remote Barricade police robot, equipped with armor, impulse cannons, and smoke screens. If that sounds like a bad idea, Martin's one step ahead of you; he made this video of it going rogue: More »

Strained Graphene Creates Pseudo-Magnetic Fields Stronger Than Any Before Seen [Graphene]

Rebecca Boyle - Pop Sci — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Putting the right kind of strain on a patch of graphene can make super-strong pseudo-magnetic fields, a new study says. The finding sheds new light on the properties of electromagnetism, not to mention the odd properties of graphene. More »

Bring The Stig Home With Top Gear's Stig-Copter [The Stig]

Christina Bonnington — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

All we know is, he's called The Stig. And that now we can race through the air with an RC mini-helicopter styled after the mysterious Top Gear cast member's iconic helmet. More »

This Pixar Luxo Jr Lookalike Lamp Was Made With a Bicycle Chain [Lamp]

Casey Chan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:40:15 EDT

Take the Pixar Luxo Jr Lamp and then remix it with a recycled bicycle chain and what do you get? An incredibly cute lookalike lamp that can be bent and shaped in multiple directions. More »

How To Justify Charging $11,000 For A Single Car Wash [Cars]

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:25:49 EDT

This is 30-year-old Gurcharn Sahota. He runs a car washing business out of his parents' garage. Now, before you start laughing and calling him a failure, consider this: He regularly charges up to $11,000 to clean a single car. Here's how. More »

Dry Off Your Wet Umbrella In Styrofoam Grass [Rain]

Casey Chan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:00:36 EDT

There has to be a better way of drying a wet umbrella than just shaking it silly. This Lawn for Rain concept—where you slide a wet umbrella into the styrofoam grass—might be it. More »

The Mysterious Box That Refused To Leave Amazon's Warehouse [Mystery]

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:38:02 EDT

I've learned nothing during the three minutes that I spent watching this video except that someone's order just plain refused to be a good little box and leave Amazon's warehouse. I'd just really love to know what's inside. More »

Make Your Hammer Feel Useful Even When It's Not Hammering [Concept]

Jeremiah Dobruck — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:20:00 EDT

Finally there's a tool box for people who just want their tools to look pretty. This concept by Tim Oelker incorporates your hammer into its design and gives the rest of your tools form-fitting homes. More »

Minimalist Drawing Lamp Focuses Light Where You Need It [Lamp]

Sam Biddle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:40:00 EDT

The Drawing Lamp, by designer Thomas Feichtner, is a barebones light source that can be leaned closer to your desk for a more focused glow. Feichtner describes the Drawing Lamp, which he designed for himself, as "reduced to the basics." More »

Thank You/Damn You Sys Admins! [It]

Brian Lam — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:20:00 EDT

National sys admin day is a good day to remember the complicated relationships we've all had with them. More »

DIY Wearable Computer Turns You Into a Cyborg [DIY]

Priya Ganapati - Wired — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EDT

Someday humans and computers will meld together to create cyborgs. But instead of waiting for it, Martin Magnusson, a Swedish researcher and entrepreneur, has taken the first step and created a wearable computer that can be slung across the body. More »

Meet QingTing, the Chinese Company that Copies Apple's Products and Website [Knockoff]

Casey Chan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:40:42 EDT

What did Picasso say again? Oh right. Good artists copy, great artists steal. By that logic, QingTing must be the greatest artist ever. [QingTing via giz-china] More »

The Explosions of Every Nuclear Bomb to 1998 [Art]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:20:00 EDT

This video, by artist Isao Hashimoto, charts every nuclear detonation from the US's tests in 1945 to the modern era. Even if you're versed in history, it still offers a perspective that's tough to entirely grasp in numbers alone. More »

The Goonies 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD [Movies]

Brian Lam — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:40:22 EDT

This reissue of The Goonies includes a board game and a treasure map on the box as well as some other junk. I'd get it, but I already own the DVD, and chunk ain't getting any prettier in high def. [Amazon via Uncrate] More »

Fastar Is An Action RPG That Makes Killing Squares Super Fun [IphoneGames]

Casey Chan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:20:31 EDT

Fastar is a side-scrolling Action RPG game that packs way more action than RPG. Basically, you run as fast as you can while destroying any square that jumps in your way. It's all about speed and it's ridiculously enjoyable. More »

Android 2.2 Download Now Available For HTC EVO [Android]

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:16:25 EDT

Android 2.2 is supposed to roll out to the Sprint EVO next week, but it looks like there's a direct download already available through HTC. Here's how to get it. Update: A warning from HTC. More »

This Week's Best Apps [Apps]

Kyle VanHemert and Casey Chan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:40:00 EDT

In this week's multitouch empire-expanding app round-up: images, kaleidoscope'd on the iPad; news, given the Pulse treatment on Android; iPhone cameras, Photo Booth'd; alarm clocks, beautified; Scrabble, made hexagonal; and helicopters, steered into battle on the iPhone, and much more! More »

Verizon Will Roll Out Android 2.2 To The Original Droid Next Week [Android]

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:12:12 EDT

We've heard some good news from Verizon folks: They'll push Android 2.2—also known as Froyo—to the original Motorola Droid next week. More »

How Much Fancier Can This Palindromic, Kinetic Museum Sign Get? [Design]

Kat Hannaford — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EDT

Yeh, your local museum may think they're pretty fancy with their glowing Helvetica sign, but does it have revolving parts that turn into a mirrored palindrome? London's V&A museum is scoffing in the face of yours. More »

Warning: People of Walmart iPhone App [IPhone App]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EDT

You know People of Walmart, the disturbing site that showcases the posh clients that you sometimes find in that fine establishment. Now, they have decided to put the same terror on the palm of your hand with this iPhone app. More »

Have No Fear, MythBusters Renewed For Seven More Years [Television]

Christina Bonnington — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:24:00 EDT

At Comic Con last Saturday, the MythBusting team of Jamie, Adam, Tori, Grant, and Kari announced that their contracts have been extended for 7 more years. After sharing sneak peaks of their upcoming season, they told fans that they plan on taking on more superhero and comic book myths in the future. [Popular Mechanics via BGR] More »

The Mind Behind the Flying Car's Design [Flying Cars]

Brian Barrett — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:20:00 EDT

As strange as it is to say, we really do live in a world with a flying car. And a few decades from now, when we're all ditching gridlock for the open skies, we can partly thank Jens Martin Skibsted. More »

Europe Could Be Eating Cloned Meat and Dairy Right Now [Cloning]

Kyle VanHemert — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:40:00 EDT

Whether you think it's cool and futuristic or gross and immoral, cloning can yield leaner, healthier livestock. And the Times reports that some cloned meat and dairy products are already thought to be lining Old World supermarket shelves. More »

Twitter Will Now Suggest People You Might Be Interested In Stalking [Twitter]

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:33:12 EDT

It can be tough to find fascinating people to follow on Twitter, but now and then you'll find someone whose tweets perfectly match your interests and you'll wish there were more people like that. Well, now Twitter will help you find those folks—if they exist: More »

This Is How Last Generation Fighter Jet Helmets Work [Airplanes]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:20:00 EDT

I always thought that last generation fighter combat helmets—like the Eurofighter Typhoon's Head Equipment Assembly or the F-35 demon helmet—tracked the pilot's head position using gyroscopes. It turns out that they are more Kinect than Wiimote. More »

How To Splice a Fiber Optic Cable [FiberOptics]

Kyle VanHemert — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EDT

It's 2010, which means it's almost the future, which means pretty soon your speaker wire-stripping and Cat 5 cable-crimping skills will about as useful as knowing how to cobble a pair of shoes. Here's how you splice fiber optics. [TWUntangled] More »

iPad Mount Makes Apple's Tablet the Priciest Fridge Magnet You'll Have [Ipad Accessories]

Kat Hannaford — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:40:00 EDT

Sure, you could try affixing some magnets to the back of your iPad, and get the same iPad-as-fridge-magnet effect for far less, but then what'd happen if the iPad dropped and shattered? You wouldn't have anyone to sue but yourself. More »

US iPad Data Cost Versus the World: We Lose [Ipad]

Brian Barrett — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:20:00 EDT

It's one thing to compare how much mobile downloads cost you across various US carriers. Here's how the US iPad data plan stacks up against what the rest of the world pays. It's not pretty. More »