Gizmodo

WSJ: Apple Is Testing an 8-Inch iPad [Rumors]

Jamie Condliffe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:29:00 EST

According to a gaggle of anonymous sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Apple is currently testing a smaller version of the iPad. The big question is, how might this tie in with the rumored March launch of the iPad 3?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the smaller device features an 8-inch screen, compared to the 9.7-inch display of its bigger brother, but will maintain the resolution of the current iPad 2. An 8-incher with a 1024x768 display? That would be sweet, and also ties in with rumors about the increased resolution of the iPad 3 screen we're expecting.

The report claims that the smaller screens are being produced by AU Optronics and LG Display, and also suggests that this model might also run on LTE, as an earlier rumor suggested about the iPad 3.

While the chances of seeing both an iPad 3 and a smaller version of Apple's tablet launch next month are slim, the rumors tie together nicely. Hold tight, this is going to be fun. [Wall Street Journal]

How to Make a Bunch of Roses Using Duct Tape [Video]

Jamie Condliffe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:13:00 EST

In this hatefully commercial world we live in, nothing says "I love you" on Valentine's Day like a bunch of red roses. But if you can't locate a florist, or your partner has a sense of humor, why not try making a bunch using duct tape instead?

Over at Instructables, there's a great step-by-step guide that shows you how to make beautiful roses out of stuff you probably have lying around the house. In fact, all you need is:

Red duct tape (about 3-4 feet per rose)
Green duct tape (about 2-3 feet per rose)
Red marker
Green marker
Floral wire (or other stiff wire) (about 10 feet)

And the best part is they never die, so if you're so inclined you can reuse them next year. Let me know how your partner likes that. [Instructables]

How an Agoraphobic Visited Her Facebook Friends to Conquer Her Fears [Video]

Jamie Condliffe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:38:00 EST

In 2011, agoraphobic ArLynn Presser made a New Year's resolution. To combat her anxiety disorder, she vowed to visit all 335 of her Facebook friends, across 51 cities in 13 countries, in just one year.

The resulting journey, now dubbed the Face to Facebook project has been captured on film by Benjamin Gonzales, and is being made into a feature-length movie. It's a difficult, emotional struggle. This is the trailer — the film is scheduled for release later this year. [Face to Facebook]

Is This Motorola's First Medfield Phone? [Rumors]

Jamie Condliffe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:56:00 EST

Since Intel showed off their first demo Medfield handset, we've only seen a production offering from Lenovo, and that's only going to be available in China. Rumor has it, though, that this is Motorola's first Intel offering.

Offered up by Pocket Now, these images are reportedly of Motorola's first Intel Medfield phone. It looks quite a lot like the Droid Razr to me. Details are scant, but it apparently runs Ice Cream Sandwich, and rumor has it the camera will be instant-on and shoot 15 frames per second bursts. The big question is, will it show up at MWC? [Pocket Now]

BitTorrent Inventor: My Goal Is to Kill Off Television [Blockquote]

Jamie Condliffe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:31:00 EST

Torrent sites have been having a turbulent time recently, but that doesn't bother BitTorrent inventor Bram Cohen. Instead, he's insistent that peer-to-peer sharing is the future of the way we consume media.

According to GigaOm, on Monday Cohen demonstrated his P2P live streaming protocol at the San Francisco MusicTech Summit. We've explained his new idea before, and it should be capable of streaming live video across thousands of computers without any central infrastructure.

"My goal here is to kill off television," explained Cohen. He has his sights set on using the system for video conferencing, live streams of video game tournaments — or even live sports events. Let's wait and see how successful he is. [GigaOm; Image: DieselDemon]

The Netherlands Looks to Take the Lead in Relaxed Copyright Legislation [Copyright]

Andrew Tarantola — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:00:45 EST

US copyright laws are designed to protect the "fair use" of copyrighted content such as mash-ups and remixes—or they were, at least, until the advent of DMCA Takedown Notices. The Dutch government has taken notes on America's IP failures and is reportedly looking to explicitly protect such DMCA fodder, much to the chagrin of the European Union.

As has been debated at length, a major problem with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act—beyond its inherent draconian nature—is the fact that it both allows any copyright holder to demand the removal of any perceived infraction and puts the onus of proving the offending piece's fair use on the shoulders of its creator. Now the ACTA treaty, which is working its way through the European Commission, looks to offer the same sort of outdated protections to European content creators and governments alike. As an MPAA representative is quoted as telling a private ACTA meeting in 2010, "Bring in a censoring firewall to block piracy and you can use it to shut off sites that embarrass your government, like Wikileaks." See? It's a win-win situation.

"We all love YouTube," says Bernt Hugenholtz, Professor of law and Director of the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam, told a conference at The Hague last Friday. "Many of the videos we find there are creative remixes of material protected under copyright. They're mostly for laughs or political commentary, or they're simply absurd. If we applied the law today strictly, we would not be allowed to do these things."

The Dutch legislature, on the other hand, is taking the opposite approach by looking at explicitly protecting the fair use of copyrighted material. Current fair use exceptions in the EU are strictly defined and not up for interpretation by the courts as they are in America. As Marietje Schaake of the European Parliament points out,

We must ensure that there is competition and a free market but we have to protect creativity as well. Right now the entertainment industry, for one, benefits from these outdated laws. These big parties will do all they can to prevent reform or redesign at all.

So what does the Dutch stance on relaxed copyright protections mean for Europe as a whole? For one, it illustrates the growing reticence of individual governments to go along with restrictive copyright legislation like the proposed ACTA treaty. So far, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia have stopped their ACTA ratification process outright and the Netherlands will apparently not wait for a the European Commission to reach a compromise on the treaty but will instead forge ahead with its own legislation. This would certainly ruffle feathers across the EU, which has tried hard to normalize its IP protections among its members. [Radio Netherlands Worldwide via Technology Review]

Image: Sashkin / Shutterstock

Take a Tour Through the World's Biggest Cave Passage [Video]

Andrew Tarantola — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

Working as a National Geographic photographer is (thankfully) more than just panther attacks and paraglider crashes. Sometimes you get to explore the underground equivalent of "a previously undiscovered Mount Everest" like photographer Carsten Peter.

In this video, Peterson walks us through the Son Doong cave, believed to be the world's largest natural subterranean passageway. It's 2.5-mile length includes a main chamber three times the height of the Niagra Falls as well as its own jungle microcosm. Peterson's shots and descriptions of the massive cavern are simply breathtaking. [FStoppers via Peta Pixel]

Stem Cells Could Help Heal Broken Hearts [Medicine]

Andrew Tarantola — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Even after recovery, heart attacks can leave a lasting mark on your ticker—scar tissue weakens the muscle and prevents it from functioning as well as it did before seizing up. A pioneering stem-cell procedure, however, could cut the damage in half.

According to the results of a small safety trial by the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and published in the Lancet medical journal, introducing stem cells derived from the patient's own heart have shown an "unprecedented" ability to reduce scarring as well as regenerate healthy cardiac tissue.

During a heart attack, the organ is deprived of oxygen and its tissue begins to die off. As the heart heals from the attack, any damaged muscle is replaced by scar tissue, which prevents the heart from beating properly and pumping the requisite blood flow the body needs.

The CADUCEUS (CArdiosphere-Derived aUtologous stem CElls to Reverse ventricUlar dySfunction) study involved 25 patients—eight serving as the control group, the other 17 actually receiving the treatment. Researchers first performed extensive imaging scans to identify location and severity of scarring, then biopsied a half-raisin-sized piece the patient's heart tissue. Doctors then isolated and cultured stem cells from it and injected the lab-grown stem cells—roughly 12-25 million of them—back into the heart.

After a year, scarring in patients that received the treatment decreased by an astounding fifty percent while the control group showed no decrease in scarring. "These results signal an approaching paradigm shift in the care of heart attack patients," said Shlomo Melmed, dean of the Cedars-Sinai medical faculty. The scars were once believed to be permanent but this technique shows promise as a means to regenerate the damaged muscle. It should be noted however, that the heart's ability to pump did not increase as the scar tissue disappeared.

"While the primary goal of our study was to verify safety, we also looked for evidence that the treatment might dissolve scar and regrow lost heart muscle," Eduardo Marbán, director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, told PhysOrg. "This has never been accomplished before, despite a decade of cell therapy trials for patients with heart attacks. Now we have done it. The effects are substantial, and surprisingly larger in humans than they were in animal tests."

Researchers hope to soon begin an expanded clinical trial and, if the results are as promising as these, eventually use the procedure to assist the US's annual 770,000 coronary disease sufferers. [The Lancet via Physorg - BBC News]

Image: Shortkut / Shutterstock

iPad 3 Will Come in 4G LTE, WSJ Claims [Rumors]

Andrew Tarantola — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:09:06 EST

As alleged details continue to leak ahead of the expected Apple announcement on March 7th, the Wall Street Journal claims that an LTE-compatible variant of the new tablet will be available to AT&T and Verizon customers.

According to the WSJ,

Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. will sell a version of the coming iPad that runs on their newest fourth-generation wireless networks, according to people familiar with the matter.

Right now, it appears that the two biggest US carriers are the only ones with enough 4G infrastructure in place to handle the expected influx of LTE users so we'll have to wait and see if Sprint and T-Mobile follow suit. The WSJ also reports that the device should flip back to the 3G network when 4G isn't available. [Wall Street Journal via MacRumors]

The Super Soaker Lightning Storm Is A Water-Blasting Tommy Gun [Super Soaker]

Andrew Tarantola — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:00:00 EST

Nostalgia nothing, where were badass Super Soakers like this when I was a kid?

The new Lightning Storm is sure to turn the tide of next water war in your favor its 35-ounces of liquid ammo and full-auto firing. It's the largest battery-operated Super Soaker to date and runs on four AA batteries. This means you'll be able to assault your opponent's position—or at least lay down continuous covering fire—without having to stop and pump. Sure it doesn't shoot quite as far as the Nerf Hydro Cannon (25 feet for the Lightning vs. 35 feet for the Cannon), but who cares when you're toting more than double the water power?

The Lightning Storm also includes a detachable stock and blast shield. It will retail for $25 when it's released later this spring. [Hasboro via DVice]

Image: Raymond Wong/DVICE

Ghost in the Shell's Think Tanks Are Intimidating, Even in LEGO Form [Lego]

Andrew Tarantola — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:52 EST

Major Kusinagi's climactic fight against the Alakuneda Think Tank in the original Ghost in the Shell is easily one of the best fight scenes in modern anime. Now, that arm-shearing battle has gotten a bit cuter with a Think Tank made from stock LEGO bricks.

The tank and Maj. Kusinagi figurine are the brainchild of Cole Blaq. The tank itself is built exclusively from off-the-shelf blocks—hence it being grey rather than tan, like in the movie—but is impressively detailed down to its dual mini-guns, retractable front arms and fully articulated joints. Kusinagi, on the other hand, is a custom-painted LEGO Friends minifig (see, they are good for something), though I don't remember the Major as a brunette.

While he's only made these images available so far, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Cole Blaq releases instructions for this build so I can make one for myself. [Flickr via Brothers Brick via Technabob]

Tabber Will Teach Shredding Essentials with a Light-Up Fretboard [Video]

Eliot Van Buskirk - Evolver.fm — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

It's easy to make fun of Guitar Hero now that the craze is over, but one thing is for sure: It created a new enthusiasm for the guitar as an instrument, in these days of DJs and remix artists. We've seen a rash of startingly innovative new ways to teach people how to play the guitar, from the Rock Prodigy series to Wild Chords. Those are great, but Tabber could be better.

Perhaps taking a cue from those learning keyboards with keys that light up, the Tabber approach makes frets light up when and where you are supposed to play them (video below). Tabber was created as a hack in 24 hours at Music Hack Day Boston, and honed at Music Hack Day San Francisco over this past weekend, but it's real. And it works with any guitar.

To use Tabber - once it is released (it's currently in prototype form), you'll slide a slim sheath over your guitar's fretboard, which its creators say doesn't affect its sound much. That's where the lights go, and they cover up the first 12 frets of the guitar. To make them light up, you feed MIDI notes into the guitar from an as-yet-unreleased app running on your iOS device. The lights can run from a battery, meaning that the whole set-up is mobile and requires no computer.

"Tabber solves the fundamental problem with all existing learning methods: it keeps your eyes on the guitar," according to its official description. "Tabber is your visual teacher, guiding you through songs, chords and scales…. Users of all skill levels can interact with the software to learn, but also to awe their fans. Tabber is fully open-source so anyone can create light patterns in addition to the ones we have built in and use Tabber as a stunning visual performance."

Yes, in addition to teaching you how to play, Tabber can display light patterns on stage once you learn your chops and start booking gigs - a win/win.

You can't buy Tabber yet, but the people behind it seem serious about releasing the light-up sheath, app, and even Tabber guitars. They include co-creators Rob Sanchez and Ryan Rogowski (a.k.a. Music Everywhere), Kipp Bradford (who plans to sell the hardware on kippkits), and Nick Holcomb of Holcomb Guitars, who is working on "full-blown Tabber guitars."

Evolver.fm observes, tracks and analyzes the music apps scene, with the belief that it's crucial to how humans experience music, and how that experience is evolving.

MIT's Error Correcting Codes Will Fix Your Crappy Wireless Reception [Wireless]

Andrew Tarantola — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:20:51 EST

It doesn't matter how many signal relay towers blanket your city, the quality of your wireless reception can often change drastically—sometimes within a few steps. But MIT researchers think they've figured out how to improve reception using error correcting codes that work regardless of signal noise.

Error correcting codes (ECC) are a means of encoding data and so as to transmit it without losing fidelity and regardless of the communication channel's level of noise. It works by sending out an encoded test message, like a codeword, to test the level of noise on a channel—the more noise in the channel, the longer the codeword needs to be. The problem is that on noisy channels, the codeword becomes prohibitively long, and on channels with fluctuating noise levels, the codeword may be too short to ensure proper transmission of the data.

MIT's solution for this problem is simple—use a single long code word broken into chunks. As Gregory Wornell, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT explains,

The transmission strategy is that we send the first part of the codeword. If it doesn't succeed, we send the second part, and so on. We don't repeat transmissions: We always send the next part rather than resending the same part again. Because when you marry the first part, which was too noisy to decode, with the second and any subsequent parts, they together constitute a new, good encoding of the message for a higher level of noise.

Basically the system will create a codeword, break it into sections, and send each section sequentially until the receiving device has enough of the codeword to decrypt the message. It works whether the channel has just a little noise or a lot.

While still in the research phase, there are few obstacles standing between this new system and copmmercial deployment said H. Vincent Poor, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Princeton University. "The codes are inherently practical," Poor told MIT News. "In fact, the paper not only develops the theory and analysis of such codes but also provides specific examples of practical constructions." [MITNews via TNW]

Image: Tatiana Popova / Shutterstock

Eating an Edible Helium Balloon Looks Like the Most Fun You Can Have at a Fancy Restaurant [Video]

Casey Chan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:40:00 EST

The chefs at Alinea, very probably the best restaurant in Chicago, have cooked up a super fun dish that'll brighten up any dinner table: an edible helium balloon. Yep, the entire balloon is edible, right down to the string which is "obviously dehydrated apple". The ballon is filled with helium and you can either pop the balloon with your mouth and inhale all the helium whilst eating or pop it with a needle and eat everything sans helium. Don't do that, suck the helium and sing.

Name me something more fun than that. This is at a three Michelin star restaurant! [Eater]

Perhaps the Most Striking Photo Taken in North Korea Last Year [Image Cache]

Mario Aguilar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST

Amongst the newly announced winners of the 2012 World Press Photo Contest, you'll find spectacular images from last year's most shocking news events. But some of the most stirring photos are solemn and sober, like this photo, taken in the North Korean capital Pyongyang just two months before the sudden death of Kim Jong-il.

Taken by Bosnian photographer Damir Sagolj with a 5D Mark II on October 5th, the photo is as beautiful as it is eerie—the illuminated, Big Brother-like portrait of Kim Il-sung (Kim Jong-il's father and predecessor) looms as the sole source of light in photo. It's as if all of the energy contained in the drab buildings framing the portrait had been sacrificed to ensure that the departed leader's face would shine in light forever.

It's possible that everyone is asleep. The photo was taken early in the morning, just before, as Sagolj puts it, "the revolutionary songs and propaganda speeches from loudspeakers wake the city up." But the grimmer reality is that in much of North Korea there is simply is no power to make the windows shine. While North Korea has made some progress in improving its electrical infrastructure, much of the country remains without power at night. The image to the left is generated from a satellite data that's nearly twenty years old, and current data indicates that the situation remains mostly the same. Sagolj's gorgeous photo is a close-up to the satellite's long, establishing shot.

The aerial perspective only contributes to the surreal effect of Sagolj's photo. It's almost like he could sense trouble on the horizon. I have no idea what was going through his head when he took this photo, but I suspect that as with all great news photography, the undoctored-reality recorded by the camera's image sensor says more than Sagolj intended.

Head over to World Press Photo to see more prize-winning photos taken in during last year's earth-shaking events in Japan, Egypt, Libya, and more. [World Press Photo and MSNBC]

Image via Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Bowers & Wilkins' New Surround Sound System Aims to Make Blu-ray Flicks Roar [Desired]

Mario Aguilar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:55:03 EST

I love audio gear, but until recently my obsession was limited to products geared around music. I watched Netflix on my computer, content to relinquish sonic control to my MacBook speakers. Then I got a TV, and a Blu-ray player, and now I'm addicted to ludicrous action movies. Looking at Bowers & Wilkins' latest Mini Theater system, I don't think I can be happy until I own it.

The MT-60D is an update to the bestselling MT-30 system. The centerpiece of the system is the new PV1D subwoofer, whose orb-like, acoustics-enhancing shape looks like an artifact from the future. The MT-60D also features five M-1 satellite speakers. Though tiny, the two-way speakers are powerful enough to blast every aural detail so loud your neighbors will hate you. Key improvements include an "anti-resonance" plug, inherited from B&W's excellent PM1 bookshelf speakers to unwanted sound waves from muddying up your sound.

When this system comes out in March, it's going to be expensive. Like $3000 expensive. It goes without saying, you could get a cheaper system that would do you fine. But fine isn't good enough for me, you see. I want insane. [Bowers & Wilkins]

TECHNOLOGY RED ALERT: SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY H V AN IPHONE [Twitter]

Sam Biddle — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:42:14 EST

It's not easy being Chuck Grassley. First, some jerk makes fun of your inability to spell on Twitter. Then, you continue to use Twitter without learning how to use a keyboard. Then you're hacked. But will an iPhone change everything?

No, no it won't, Senator Chuck Grassley has revealed in a hot new tweet. He might have 21st century technology, but he's still the same old school incoherent rascal we've known. I think it's safe to interpret "h v" as have, unless he meant "harvest," perhaps a reference to a recent Iowa corn event. We can all look forward to many more tweets from Chuck now that he's mobile—and what thrills will autocorrect bring us? Will he use emoji? Will he buy glasses? Is it an iPhone 5? Will someone please help Chuck Grassley use Twitter? [Chuck Grassley Internet Twitter Headquarters]

Modular Kitchen Tools Let You Finally Build the Perfect Spoontula [Cooking]

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:20:00 EST

Like a kitchen-friendly version of Voltron that's come to help you with dinner, Enrico Azzimonti's Take It line of cooking cutlery come in unorthodox shapes that can be combined to further expand their functionality.

There are four sets to choose from, around $16 each, that feature redesigns of forks, spatulas, and even spoons. Their bent handles make them easier to use in deeper pots, while a special groove near the top allows them to be combined and used as serving tools as well as cooking utensils. Certainly handy, but they'd be even cooler if they turned into robot lions. [Enrico Azzimonti via designboom]

CloudMagic for Android: Super Fast Search on Super Strong Steroids [Video]

Casey Chan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:04:40 EST

Search is king on Android, it is Google's OS after all. But there's a way to make search even better on Android: an app called CloudMagic. It's the fastest way to search through your personal Google juice (Gmail, calendars, etc.) and Twitter tweets.

What does it do?

Think of CloudMagic as a search engine that only searches you. It indexes your Google and Twitter data and then cuts down search speed significantly because it doesn't get bogged down by any network or server delays. It's like if Spotlight (or Quicksilver) for the Mac was available on your Android phone. You can search through your Twitter, Gmail, Google Apps, Docs, Calendar and Contacts through CloudMagic.

Why do we like it?

Cause it's fast. Like almost Google Instant fast. As you type, results will pop up immediately. And you'll ask yourself, why doesn't search always work like this? Why did it take so long before? And you'll continue exploring life enlightening questions because you've saved so much time searching for stuff with CloudMagic. The app also supports voice searches too.

If you're a heavy Twitter user, you'll find that CloudMagic effectively fixes the mess that Twitter search has become and if you're not, you'll still love it for its Googleness. If CloudMagic adds Facebook and other services, it'll be an indispensable tool for Android. [Androinica]

CloudMagic

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The iPad 3 Will Appear March 7th? [Rumors]

Sam Biddle — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:45:13 EST

Pour yourself a glass of red wine and put on your tech gossip pants, because we've got another iPad 3 rumor: iMore says Apple's next tablet will be announced on March 7th, packing serious power.

According to their sources "who have been reliable in the past," we can expect the following:

Apple currently plans to hold their iPad 3 announcement on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Along with the 2048×1536 Retina display, the iPad 3 will feature a quad-core Apple 6 system-on-a-chip, and possibly 4G LTE networking.

The relayed word from iMore's Rene Ritchie—who's usually pretty reliable—jibes with AllThingsD's "first week of march" prediction, as well as Apple's tablet track record. Whether or not Apple's big reveal is exactly on March 7th or not, it's almost certainly popping up somewhere around that point on the calendar. Now we just wait and see what trickles out ahead of time. [iMore]

Basically Every Band's Kickstarter Video Ever [Video]

Brent Rose — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:40:00 EST

We all love Kickstarter. We all also hate Kickstarter. Especially when it's for your friend's band. They're all the frigging same. "So stoked to be working with this person you've never heard of on this song that you don't like!"

Lucky for us, the writers of Portlandia noticed that too. And now that they've made every band's horrible Kickstarter video ever, the bands of the world can stop subjecting us to it. Please? Pretty please? [IFC via Laughing Squid]

Google's Acquisition of Motorola Is Really Real [Google]

Adrian Covert — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:15:59 EST

As far as the Department of Justice is concerned, Google's swallowing of Motorola Mobility isn't going to violate any antitrust laws, so they gave it the OK. Long story short, we won't be seeing a repeat of the whole AT&T-Mobile ordeal. [Reuters]

Your Heartbeat Could Be Your Password [Science]

Kristen Philipkoski — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

A technology in the works might soon allow you to unlock your hard drive by simply touching your keyboard. Your unique heartbeat, emitted through your fingertip, would be your password.

Chun-Liang Lin and his team at the National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan translated a human heartbeat into an encryption key using an electrocardiograph reading from an individual's palm. Their unique series of thump-thumpa generated a secret key.

The part that blows my mind is that your heartbeat is so unique that that pattern never actually repeats. You will never get the same exact timing of beats twice. So the encryption scheme is based on the math behind chaos theory, which dictates that outcomes are highly sensitive to initial conditions, leading to widely divergent outcomes (it's sometimes referred to as the butterfly effect). The research will appear in an upcoming issue of Information Sciences. If they're going to create a product, they better hurry up if they want to beat Apple, where engineers seem to have been working on something similar since at least 2010.

I had no idea heartbeats could be so unique! Somehow the whole idea has awoken the romantic in me. Happy Valentines Day everybody! [New Scientist via Dvice]

When Progress Leaves Us in the Dark [Privacy]

Adrian Covert — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:44:03 EST

The Obama administration has prosecuted more government officials for media leaks than any other before it. Combined. The New York Times notes the government's ability to perpetually keep tabs on anyone with security clearance. This more vigorous approach can mostly be attributed to rapid advances in technology.

But to what extent will this cripple the media's role as a watchdog? If the government is punishing those who leak information pertaining to wrongdoing, where does the secrecy stop? And more importantly: what happens when technological progress makes society take a huge step back?

Previous administrations have refrained from being too zealous about punishing those who leaked information. Instead, they licked their wounds and tried to better protect classified information. A leak was more a check than a betrayal.

Now that it's possible to keep track of individuals locations and phone conversations and electronic communications with minimal manpower, suspicions and half-baked evidence of leaks have become hard truths. Footage from private surveillance cameras can be subpoenaed in court cases. It's understandable that one can't turn a blind eye to indisputable face like they could debatable ones. But damn, that doesn't make the reality—or our burgeoning technological landscape—any less disconcerting.

By squeezing off the ability of government officials to call foul on their peers, the American government is, in effect, imposing a form of censorship.

That's not a rallying against protecting matters of public safety. But like the NY Times points out, prosecuting the one who leaked information about an Al-Qaeda detainee who was tortured, and not prosecuting any of those who actually did the torturing (which isn't legal, BTW), is problematic.

Granted, the ones doing the leaking need to be smarter. Even without the specter of sophisticated tracking technology, using email as a form of clandestine communication seems immensely foolish. If people are going to operate beneath a shroud of secrecy in the name of accountability, they should put some effort into covering their tracks and reinstall that element of doubt.

But one has to wonder if 10, 20 or 30 years from now, it will even be possible to outwit Big Brother and accomplish anything without their knowing. Machines continue to grow more intelligent. The biggest tech companies continue to work closer and closer with the government. Our world continues to shrink.

Progress is progress, and it will happen, and it should happen. But it almost always comes at a cost. And in this case, it's one that makes me shudder. [NY Times]

DIY Rapid-Fire Pellet Gun Shoots Your Eye Out For Just $15 [Video]

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:40:00 EST

YouTuber Nighthawkinlight shows you how to turn $15 worth of air hose parts, and a plastic soda bottle, into a remarkably devastating airsoft-like pellet gun that will riddle a foam target into dust.

Except, they fail to mention that the whole thing is powered by a tank of gas or air compressor that will most certainly push the budget for this creation well past the $15 mark. So instead, I guess I spent my morning building an elaborate rattle. [YouTube via Geek]

Bacteria Battling Water Bottle Uses a UV Blasting Cap [Hydration]

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Camelbak's best known for its water-filled backpacks, but instead of focusing on just hydration, the company's new All Clear bottle incorporates a bacteria eliminating ultraviolet cap for those times when you have to fill up from a non-filtered source.

Instead of replaceable filters or chemical additives, to purify 25 ounces of water all you have to do is fill the bottle, securely attach the cap, turn on the ultraviolet lamp and then shake it for 60 seconds. The process is claimed to kill 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.99 percent of viruses, and 99.9 percent of protozoic organisms.

Just keep in mind the $100 bottle is being positioned for recreational use instead of hardcore survival. You should be fine when filling it up from a lake or a stream, but dirtier and stagnant sources of water will probably require a more complicated purification process to remove sediments and other harmful things that could make you wish you had just stayed thirsty. [Camelbak via Gizmag]

Windows 8 on ARM: Everything You Need To Know [Windows 8]

Justin Kerr - MaximumPC — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:40:00 EST

Up until late last week Windows 8 on ARM was a complete mystery. We know the product existed, that it would launch at some point in the future, and it would sport the Metro interface Microsoft has been showing off for almost a year now. The silence on just about everything else had led many to wonder if Microsoft was further behind on the ARM version than they were letting on, but this week they finally opened up the information floodgates. That might sound like a bit of an exaggeration, but 9000 words is a bit more than we were expecting. It makes for an interesting read, but let's be honest here, most of you just want the CliffsNotes right?

We've got you covered.

Important For Everyone

Application Compatibility

Microsoft has maintained its monopoly on the desktop largely through the ability to innovate, while still maintaining backwards compatibility. With WOA (Windows on Arm), nothing you are running today will work, no exceptions. Some core Windows functions such as Explorer will make the jump, but if you installed it yourself, or downloaded it from the web you'll need an X86 device to use it in Windows 8.

It's not all bad news mind you. Metro applications purchased through the Windows 8 store will run identically on both x86 and ARM based devices, and can be installed on 5 separate pieces of hardware at once. Developers will also only need to write and compile their applications using one set of code that works perfectly on both x86 and ARM based devices. The fact that this works is an amazing step forward, and perhaps one of the single most important innovations in Windows 8.

Microsoft Office

Windows on Arm will come bundled with some core Microsoft Office functionality, but the exact details are still a bit unclear. Versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote will all come standard, run using the desktop interface (not metro), and is a great concession for those of us who purchased older versions such as 2010 that won't run on ARM. It remains to be seen if the Office version being offered is feature complete, or if upgrades will be offered to unlock advanced features. No mention was made of Outlook.

You Can't Turn It Off

You don't turn off tablets, and since WOA is being aimed directly at this market, it won't either. It is being designed from the ground up to make efficient use of battery life while in a partially suspended state, but otherwise is being designed to run constantly.

Windows 8 ARM Will Ship Concurrently With X86 Editions

We still don't have an exact release date for either version at this point, but what we do know is that both will ship at the same time before the end of 2012. Of course Microsoft can ship the bits, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to buy them, or more importantly, any hardware running it. Microsoft's hardware partners may be ready with devices on day one, or they may not.

Windows Updates

Microsoft claims that all WOA-based systems will receive updates through traditional updating tools built into the OS, but we remain a bit skeptical. This isn't an easy promise to make given how many variations there are of ARM hardware. Even Windows Phone 7 has begun to fragment as Microsoft struggles to maintain a common set of features across dozens of different phone implementations. In the case of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft even laid out strict hardware restrictions which should have made updating easier, but turned out to be more difficult than originally intended.

x86 vs. ARM, What To Buy?

This isn't an easy question, but at least the pros and cons are easier to understand following Microsoft's post.

Pros: Better battery life, smaller form factors, free copy of Office.

Cons: No desktop application compatibility, and the chance of being left in the dust by your OEM with an orphaned device if it doesn't sell well. You'll always be able to get driver updates from Intel, AMD, and NVidia for X86 hardware, but with ARM you are at the mercy of the OEM.

No Internet Explorer Plug-In Support. The X86 version of Windows 8 will allow for browser plug-ins while using the desktop version of Internet Explorer 10, WOA will not. The big take away here? No flash! This problem will no doubt be solved by third party browsers given the open and accepting nature of the Windows 8 App Store, but is still one more nail in the coffin for Adobe.

Important For Geeks

Windows 8 Is One Code Base

Windows on ARM shares a nearly identical code base to the client, server, embedded, and even its upcoming update to Windows Phone. Each version of Windows on Arm will need to be modified slightly to match the hardware it's being targeted towards (a problem unique to ARM), but updates should happen in tandem across all variations. Driver update on the other hand may be a different story.

Wintel Is Still Alive and Well

Windows on ARM is an important release for Microsoft, but they made it clear that they are more engaged with Intel and AMD than ever before. Don't believe me? Here is a direct quote from the blog: "We could not be more excited or supportive of the new products from Intel and AMD that will be part of Windows 8-across a full spectrum of PC form factors including tablet, notebook, Ultrabook™, all-in-one, desktop, and more that all take advantage of the new capabilities of Windows 8 while Windows 8 takes advantage of new features in hardware."

The Desktop Will Be Included, But Only For Office

It was rumored for months that Microsoft would strip the desktop interface out of the arm version, especially because well, nothing runs on it. It turns out however that while desktop will make an appearance, it's only there to allow proper functionality of the bundled Office 15 applications. You can access explorer, probably the task manager if you should need it, but otherwise it will be completely locked down and useless. If you get homesick while using metro you can go visit your old stomping UI, but all the Windows have been boarded up. (Drum Roll).

You Can't Install It Yourself

I'm guessing more than a few of our readers have installed a copy of Windows in their day, but don't expect to do the same with Windows 8 ARM. Each installation will need to be carefully tweaked for the hardware, and while I'm sure at least a few of our readers might be able to pull it off, it's doubtful you'll never be able to buy ARM hardware without Windows 8 pre-installed.

Windows 8 will also include an in-place restore function on both ARM and X86 editions, allowing for an OS refresh whenever you feel the need.

We expect more details to be released over the coming months, and hopefully, even some hardware. What are your early impressions?

Maximum PC brings you the latest in PC news, reviews, and how-tos.

The Bulldog Security Deluxe 500 2-Way Vehicle Starter System Is Your I-No-Longer-Fear-The-Cold Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

Chris Beidelman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

For some reason the wheel is often identified as mankind's greatest invention. But let me tell you, it's not. Do you know what is? The remote control. I don't care if it's for your TV, your radio, your toy helicopter, or even your folding mattress, being able to do things remotely is mankind's greatest gift to itself. If I have to do something why should I have to go somewhere to do it? I want, nee demand, to be able to do it from afar, without reaching, stretching, or straining myself. And ladies and gentlemen, that's where the remote enters the picture. Without it I would never be able to change the channel, turn up my Styx, snap an awkward group photo, or even start my car on a cold winter's morn in my pajamas like this $60 Bulldog Security Deluxe 500 2-Way Vehicle Starter System with LCD Screen and Trunk Release allows. That's half the regular $120 asking price for *Alexander M. Remote's greatest invention. (*I probably made him up.) -AL

Top Deals

• Bulldog Security Deluxe 500 2-Way Vehicle Starter System with LCD Screen and Trunk Release for $60 (normally $120 {Savings of $60 / 50% off})

• Adult Swim in a Box [DVD] for $50 with free shipping (normally $70 {Savings of $20 / 29% off})

• Printable Valentine's Day Cards to color for $0

= Free

= Refurbished

= Rebate

Computing and Peripherals:

• 60GB OCZ Vertex 2 SSD OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G for $70 with free shipping (normally $90 {Savings of $20 / 22% off} - use coupon code EMCYTZT1180 and this form)

• Microsoft LifeCam Studio Q2F-00001 1080p HD Webcam for $45 with free shipping (normally $70 {Savings of $25 / 36% off})

• 8GB Kingston Apple Memory Kit (2x4GB Modules) for iMac and MacBooks for $30 with free shipping (normally $48 {Savings of $18 / 38% off} - use this form)

• Rosewill RNX-G1 USB 2.0 Wireless Black Dongle with External 2dBi SMA Antenna for $8 with free shipping (normally $19.99 {Savings of $12 / 60% off})

Gaming:

• Silent Hill HD Collection (Xbox 360, PS3) + $5 Amazon Credit for $40 with free shipping (normally $40 {Savings of $0 / 0% off})

• The King of Fighters XIII (Xbox 360, PS3) for $40 with free shipping (normally $48 {Savings of $8 / 17% off})

• Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360, PS3) for $29 with free shipping (normally $37 {Savings of $8 / 22% off})

• Wii Rock Band 3 Midi PRO-Adapter for $21 with free shipping (normally $40 {Savings of $19 / 48% off})

• Mafia 2 [Xbox 360] for $10 with free shipping (normally $15 {Savings of $5 / 33% off})

• Blood Drive (360) for $8 with free shipping (normally $20 {Savings of $12 / 60% off})

• Dungeon Defenders (PC Digital Download) for $3 (normally $15 {Savings of $12 / 80% off})

• Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition (PC Download) for $2 (normally $10 {Savings of $8 / 80% off})

Home Entertainment:

• dynex DX-P9DVD 9" Portable DVD Player (REFURBISHED) for $40 with free shipping (normally $99.99 {Savings of $60 / 60% off})

• 42" RCA 42LA45RQ 1080p LCD HDTV for $400 (normally $442 {Savings of $42 / 10% off})

• 40" Sony Bravia KDL-40EX500 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV (REFURBISHED) for $520 with free shipping (normally $850 {Savings of $330 / 39% off})

• 32" Sharp LC32SV29U 720p LCD HDTV for $230 (normally $99 {Savings of $-131 / -132% off})

• 24" Toshiba 24SL410U Class REGZA SL 1080p LED-Backlit Full HDTV for $200 (normally $250 {Savings of $50 / 20% off})

• Sceptre E243BD-FHD 23" 1080p LED HDTV with Built-in DVD Player for $177 (normally $249.99 {Savings of $73 / 29% off})

• JBL Harman Kardon Soundsticks III Speaker System for $112 with free shipping (normally $139 {Savings of $27 / 19% off})

• Adult Swim in a Box [DVD] for $50 with free shipping (normally $70 {Savings of $20 / 29% off})

• Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume One (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray] for $35 with free shipping (normally $80 {Savings of $45 / 56% off})

• Degrassi Junior High – The Complete Collection [DVD] for $32 with free shipping (normally $80 {Savings of $48 / 60% off})

• Philips SPA7210 Multimedia Speakers for $20 (normally $40 {Savings of $20 / 50% off})

• Two Philips SPP5085B 8-Outlet Home Theater Surge Protectors for $17 (normally $42 {Savings of $25 / 60% off})

• The Hit List [Blu-ray] for $11 with free shipping (normally $14 {Savings of $3 / 21% off})

• The Runaways [Blu-ray] for $11 with free shipping (normally $14 {Savings of $3 / 21% off})

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 [Blu-ray] for $10 (normally $30 {Savings of $20 / 67% off})

• Final Destination 5 [Blu-ray] for $10 (normally $30 {Savings of $20 / 67% off})

• Pulp Fiction [Blu-ray] for $8 with free shipping (normally $20 {Savings of $12 / 60% off})

• Lincoln Lawyer [Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy] for $8 with free shipping (normally $40 {Savings of $32 / 80% off})

• The Expendables [Blu-ray] for $8 with free shipping (normally $30 {Savings of $22 / 73% off})

Personal Portables and Peripherals:

• Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55MM Nikkor VR Lens (REFURBISHED) for $440 with free shipping (normally $499 {Savings of $59 / 12% off})

• Opteka BP-SC4000 Ultra Thin Solar Powered High Capacity 4000mAh Backup Battery and Charger for $25 with free shipping (normally $99.95 {Savings of $75 / 75% off})

• Sly Electronics 2GB MP3 Video Player for $19 with free shipping (normally $25 {Savings of $6 / 24% off})

• Samsung A107 AT&T GoPhone No Contract for $3 (normally $14.99 {Savings of $12 / 80% off})

Miscellaneous:

• Axion AXN-9900 9" Widescreen LCD Digital Picture Frame for $30 with free shipping (normally $69.99 {Savings of $40 / 57% off})

• Bulldog Security Deluxe 500 2-Way Vehicle Starter System with LCD Screen and Trunk Release for $60 (normally $120 {Savings of $60 / 50% off})

Hobomodo:

• Seven Essentials sample for $0

• Printable Valentine's Day Cards to color for $0

• Signature Collection Travel-Size Item (from Bath & Body Works) for $0

If a deal looks too good to be true, investigate the store and see if it's a good, reputable place to buy. Safe shopping! [Thanks TechDealDigger, Dealzon, FatWallet, Brand-Name-Coupons, Logic Buy, GamerHotline, Cheap College Gamers, CheapStingyBargains, TechBargains, Slickdeals.]

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The Most Complicated Way to Ruin Your MacBook [Gadget Painting]

Jamie Condliffe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:40:00 EST

If you've got some time on your hands and never really liked your MacBook anyway, then you should think about dying it. Not only will it ruin your laptop's iconic design, it also takes hours to do.

Over at Brain Deadlock, there's a comprehensive step-by-step guide which shows you exactly how to dye your MacBook any color. After all, why leave it to the so-called experts Colorware — who can provide you with a primary-colored MacBook Air, Nook or Nintendo DS given some dollar — when you can do it in your own kitchen?

The process isn't for the faint-hearted: it involves sanding down your computer, boiling up three boxes of your favorite RIT fabric dye on top of your stove, and presumably getting high on fumes along the way. Even then, you can't dye the entire thing, so you keyboard and battery section will remain their original color.

Still, it's a project to occupy some time, I guess. But, even though it's this year's color according to Pantone, why the hell choose orange, of all colors? [Brain Deadlock]

Here Are the Crazy Things the TSA Found Last Week: Cannonballs, Grenades, Ninja Stars and More [Tsa]

Casey Chan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST

We poke fun of the TSA for being dumb but sometimes we forget that normal people do even dumber things. Like pack a grenade launcher in their carry on. Or try to bring a cannonball on board. Here's a list of the crazy things the TSA found just last week.

In the picture above, from left to right, two cannonballs, a grenade launcher, 'fantasy' knives, grenades, ninja star, nunchucks, throwing knives, a Kukri knife and a whole bunch of other sharp objects. Just a week in the life of a TSA agent, I guess. Honestly, this list is almost as impressive as all of 2011. I mean, a cannonball? These weapons were found in various airports across the country which means there are dumb people everywhere. However, my favorite response to why a passenger tried to bring a kitchen knife on board with them has to go to this guy, who simply responded that there were "no good knives in Cancun." Oh, people.

Of course there's more than just crazy items found, the TSA pried out 23 guns through airport security last week with 14 of them being loaded. People, you can't freaking carry a loaded gun onto an airplane. That just isn't happening!

I don't know if I'm more happy that the TSA weeded these items out or sad about humanity that people actually think they can bring this stuff on a plane.[TSA]

Why I'll Never Trust a Human With My Data Again (Updated) [Data]

Mat Honan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:01 EST

On Valentine's Day, I may have an unexpected present: My websites might all go dark, and a decade's worth of data may vanish. My host's domain registration is set to expire tomorrow, and the man behind it has disappeared. (Update: He's back! See below.)

Like a lot of other people, I came across Cornerhost when it was an early advertiser on Metafilter, a decade or so ago, when sites like MeFi and Google were pioneering the text ads that are now a de-facto standard. It courted bloggers and small businesses with reasonably priced plans that supported scripting and great tech support, from a real live human being.

Cornerhost bills itself as web hosting with a human touch, and that's just what it has been. In all that time, if I've ever had a problem, I've emailed the company's owner, founder, chief technician and self-proclaimed janitor. These are, of course, all the same guy. And that's the problem.

Because today the site's founder has, basically, vanished. At least from electronic communications. His voicemail box is full. He isn't answering emails. He hasn't updated his Twitter or Facebook pages since November. His blogs are dormant. He is gone. Or sick. Or dead.

Meanwhile, the domain registration for his servers is set to expire tomorrow. If that happens, none of his customers will be able to log in via FTP or SSH to get their data. Some, on certain servers of his, already cannot. An expired security certificate is another problem, thwarting some people from a control panel.

There is no way for his users to simply renew his domain registration for him. And there's a very real chance that his customers' data could vanish into a black hole. There's a wiki that some customers have set up to help people recover data, but that only helps those who are aware there's a problem.

My guess is that very many—perhaps even most—of his customers are unaware that this is coming. I only discovered it yesterday, quite randomly, on Twitter. Some of his other customers have made a valiant effort to reach out to people who will be affected, but certainly everybody doesn't know about it. (Like my friend and colleague Roberto Baldwin, who is also a Cornerhost customer, and had no idea this was coming until we spoke today.) Many customers are just going to lose data. In some cases, years and years worth of data. Blog posts. Photos. Documents. Emails will bounce. Things will fall apart. Given that there are a few small businesses hosted there, some people are even going to be put out of business, at least temporarily.

All of this isn't to go after Cornerhost. I cannot imagine what kind of problems led up to this, but whether the owner has had a major health problem, or was simply overwhelmed by the day-to-day fatigue of running a small business, it illustrates a major problem: If you trust an individual or small company with your important data, your data is only as secure as that person.

Look, I love small businesses. And I prefer to do business with them. But the sad fact is that when it comes to data, your information is likely more secure in the hands of a giant MegaCorp than with an individual. Because, after all, what happens if that individual goes away? Who will protect your data?

The internet is simply a way to connect people. But what happens when a person, who forms a vital link in that chain, disconnects? I'm about to find out.

I'm hoping my host will pop back up. That he's simply going to pay to renew his registration, and that all of this will go away. But in the meantime, I'm backing up all my data and shopping for a new host.

One with a staff. And robots. Lots of robots. Because human beings tend to fail.

Update: Just a point to clarify. In the comments, some people have pointed out that the Cornerhost domain registration isn't set to expire tomorrow. However, the Cornerhost servers, which live at Sabren.com, are. Cornerhost is the front end, Sabren.com servers store all the data. It's the same company, however, run by the same individual.

Update 2: The host just said he's "not going anywhere." Apparently my data is safe. No word on why he hasn't been replying to emails, tweets, and Facebook wall posts, but at least this is good to know.

A user here has been tracking down and emailing other cornerhost customers, warning them about the expiring dns records for sabren.com.

There is no reason to panic. The DNS records renew automatically every year, and this would have happened at midnight tonight, but I went ahead and renewed manually just now.

Cornerhost isn't going anywhere, and neither am I. Things have been pretty bad for me personally, but they're starting to turn around.

It's true that the control panel seems to be down. I am investigating and should have that fixed today.

It is also true that I've been doing a really poor job of replying to emails lately. For that, I apologize. I feel terrible about it, and it is going to change. In fact, I expect to come out of this with a much stronger, effective, and reliable business system that isn't dependent on just me holding everything together.

I will write more soon, but I wanted to at least get this post out the door.

Original Image: Ulza/Shutterstock

Is the iPad Getting Pulled from China Stores? [Apple]

Kyle Wagner — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:59:14 EST

Apple lost a lawsuit over the rights to the term "iPad" in China, and now its über-popular tablet might be in the process of being yanked out of Chinese stores.

There are reports that the Chinese Administrations of Industry and Commerce are confiscating iPads found on sale. The report says, though, that in some cases it's just for show, and the stores are selling iPads to people who ask for them specifically.

The spat actually started when Apple sued Proview Technology Shenzen over the name—even though the company's Hong Kong branch had sold the rights to Apple back in 2009. While logic seems to favor Apple in this particular dispute, it's hard not to chuckle a bit at Apple getting socked in the nose in a lawyer fight it started. [Xinhua, Hebei Youth Daily via DigiCha]

What If iOS Looked Like the Original Mac OS? [Ios]

Mario Aguilar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:40:00 EST

One of the iPhone's most striking qualities is iOS' beautiful interface. Still, I love this conceptual rendering of iOS made to look like the OS on the original Macs.

The iOS '86 concept by Anton Repponen wonderfully re-imagines the default iOS home screen in the style of the original Mac OS, down to the classic Chicago bitmap font. It's a neat idea that almost makes me wish I could skin my iPhone's beautiful 960x680 screen with an old low-resolution GUI—just to see if it looks this nice in real life. [Anton Repponen via 9to5Mac]

The Two Faces of Lego Frodo—Plus My Precious Gollum Minifig [Lego]

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

I love all the new Lego Lord of the Rings' minifigs, but I have one favorite: Gollum. They truly captured his creepy nature, yet he still looks cute. My favorite detail, however, are the two faces of Frodo, showing his transformation through the story.

Here's Gollum, holding his precious fish and pissed off.

My other favorite is the huge cave troll from the Mine of Moria set.

Mattel Is Finally Making the Back to the Future Hoverboard [Toys]

Casey Chan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:50:22 EST

First, the Back to the Future Nike Mags came out. Now, Mattel has announced that it'll be making the pink hoverboard Marty McFly made infamous in Back to the Future II. My life is complete. Well, almost.

The Mattel hoverboard doesn't actually hover as it's only a 1:1 replica of the movie version but that's okay! It's still a must have piece for any BTTF fan. The ad for the BTTF hoverboard at Toy Fair claims its "movie accurate" (there's a hole where Marty ripped off the pole) and can "glide over most surfaces" (though it doesn't work on water, heh). I've previously held out on buying unofficial hoverboard replicas because I was waiting for Mattel to come out with an official version. Now that it's finally here, I'm beyond excited.

Mattel will start taking pre-orders for the hoverboard from March 1st through the 20th and will ship the board during the 2012 holiday season. Even if it's not the fairy tale floating hoverboard I dreamed about as a kid, I'm all in on this. But what gives me a bit of pause is this part of Mattel's press release:

Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production. If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged. The price will be announced later this month.

I expect every self respecting BTTF fan to buy a hoverboard to make sure it happens. Don't ruin it for me! Pre-orders will be taken on MattyCollector.com. We'll update you when we find out the price. [ToyArk via SlashGear]

When Anti-Theft Concept Devices Were More Brutal [Video]

Michael Hession — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:40:00 EST

In the digital age, anti-theft devices usually consist of some sort of location-based tracking service. The technology featured in this video brings us back to a simpler time, when thieves were stopped in the most physical way. Not only will this briefcase brutally crush the perp's fingers, but anyone within a 10 foot radius should watch out. [YouTube via Best Jewish Videos]

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Windows 8 on ARM: Everything You Need To Know [Windows 8]

Important For Everyone

Application Compatibility

Microsoft Office

You Can't Turn It Off

Windows 8 ARM Will Ship Concurrently With X86 Editions

Windows Updates

x86 vs. ARM, What To Buy?

Important For Geeks

Windows 8 Is One Code Base

Wintel Is Still Alive and Well

The Desktop Will Be Included, But Only For Office

You Can't Install It Yourself

The Bulldog Security Deluxe 500 2-Way Vehicle Starter System Is Your I-No-Longer-Fear-The-Cold Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

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Follow Dealzmodo on Facebook

The Most Complicated Way to Ruin Your MacBook [Gadget Painting]

Here Are the Crazy Things the TSA Found Last Week: Cannonballs, Grenades, Ninja Stars and More [Tsa]

Why I'll Never Trust a Human With My Data Again (Updated) [Data]

Is the iPad Getting Pulled from China Stores? [Apple]

What If iOS Looked Like the Original Mac OS? [Ios]

The Two Faces of Lego Frodo—Plus My Precious Gollum Minifig [Lego]

Mattel Is Finally Making the Back to the Future Hoverboard [Toys]

When Anti-Theft Concept Devices Were More Brutal [Video]