Monthly Archives: January 2010

You Are Not A Gadget

by Noemi Twigg
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You Are Not A Gadget

I know I am not a gadget, do you? That statement is actually the title of a book by Jaron Lanier. The full title is “You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto.” I haven’t had the chance to read the book, but the reviews I have read make it seem interesting enough for me to try and get my hands on a copy. From what I have read, what Lanier does in his book is to philosophically analyze what we take for granted on a daily basis: online tools and other related technology. An old saying came to mind: “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who Read more »

Cheap phone modelled on Coca-Cola cup

by andy
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Cheap phone modelled on Coca-Cola cup

Apparently there’s something to be said for making your gadgets less desirable to thieves. This usually involves not waving your shiny new cellphone around and shouting in it, but it can also include disguising them so they look like crap. Take this landline phone modelled on a takeout Coca-Cola cup. Yes, really. In fact, it’s a double whammy because, at $6.64, it really is cheap. The keypad is on the bottom of the cup and laid out in old-fashioned dial formation. The earpiece and microphone are located above and below the Coca-Cola logo. To hang up a call, simply stand the cup upright on a desk. It would be great Read more »

Nendoroids vs SD Gundams

by Nopy
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Nendoroids vs SD Gundams

Nendoroids are a relatively new addition to the world of plastic models/figures but they’ve been very successful in the last few years. The main selling point of Nendoroids are their small bodies and large heads, however there’s also another series of plastic models with these same features called SD (super deformed) Gundams. Unlike Nendoroids, SD Gundams have been around for ages. You could argue that the idea for Nendoroids came from SD Gundams, but it’s possible that both the manufacturers of Nendoroids (Good Smile Company) and SD Gundams (Bandai) came about the idea independently of each other. So with both companies deciding to shrink down their models/figures into little chibi characters, Read more »

Now you can truly say "I am Zuul!" with this costume

by Jayvee Fernandez
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Now you can truly say "I am Zuul!" with this costume

It’s finally time to own a piece of Gozerian apparel and declare yourself the Gatekeeper. Sigourney Weaver would have been proud if you owned a piece of this Deluxe Zuul Costume made of 100% silk and lame. This is a comfortable bedroom apparel that suits the most gifted of bodies that it works for both cosplayers and for husbands or boyfriends who really don’t care about the origins of this costume. You will be glad to know that each item is hand-measured right after you checkout, which means that you’ll always get the best size for your body configuration. The bedroom dress on Sigourney Weaver is a classic icon in Read more »

Geek Dive: USS Vandenberg and Big Ass Radars

by Jayvee Fernandez
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Geek Dive: USS Vandenberg and Big Ass Radars

Above: A photo of the USS Vandenberg’s radar dish used to spy on missile launches during the cold war. Below: The same radar dishes provide an eerie giant mushroom garden of steel underwater. I was blown away when I first heard that the USS Vandenberg was officially declared “open to the public” last year. Located 140 feet below the surface, the Vandenberg was a missile tracking ship that was used to spy on Russian missile launch operations during the Cold War. For all you movie geeks, this ship played the role of the Russian vessel for the sad 1999 action / horror film, Virus. Today the Vandenberg is one of Read more »

Steam: Diplomacy of Digital Downloads over Retail Boxes

by Jayvee Fernandez
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Steam: Diplomacy of Digital Downloads over Retail Boxes

Above: That’s a weekend promo for Company of Heroes. Steam is giving it away for 75% off, at roughly 12USD for the complete set of such an epic game (these were the guys who made the first Dawn of War RTS). Many such promotions abound on Steam, a digital downloads and content provider for PC gaming that owns roughly 70% of the industry for digital downloads. I’ve been on Steam since 2007 and have since bought a number of games from them. The trend however, is that the titles I purchase form part of the weekend promotion deals where I can get high ticket games at half or more than Read more »

The Ultimate Loo Concept

by Noemi Twigg
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The Ultimate Loo Concept

Who’s anal retentive? I think I have been called that several times in my life, but I think that whoever came up with this toilet concept is way more anal retentive than anyone I have ever met. So what’s it all about? Aside from that interesting look, this toilet has some useful features. Designer Dang Jingwie clearly cares for the environment and understands the need to conserve water. The contraption is a mixture of toilet bowl, sink, and vanity table. When you wash your face or brush your teeth (or even wash your hands), you may opt to save the used water to flush the toilet. There are two buttons Read more »

Whatever happened to the Rinspeed sQuba?

by Jayvee Fernandez
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Whatever happened to the Rinspeed sQuba?

Back in 2008, concept car manufacturer Rinspeed unveiled the sQuba, a James Bond inspired car from The Spy Who Loved Me. This month I grabbed a copy of EZ Diver from the magazine stand and lo and behold, an actual ad for the sQuba. Submersible up to 10 meters (roughly 30 feet), and built with non-corrosive waterproof materials, the sQuba is also a zero emission electric car on land which converts to twin jet turbines for underwater navigation. Practically speaking, the appeal of a car that can only go as deep as 30 feet doesn’t seem “purposeful” (see video) as I can easily get a DPV for less than 300 Read more »

Have you forgotten that you can get Half Life 2: Deathmatch for FREE?

by Jayvee Fernandez
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Have you forgotten that you can get Half Life 2: Deathmatch for FREE?

If you check the Steam bestsellers, you’ll probably come by Half Life 2: Deathmatch as one of the more popularly listed multiplayer games ever to be bought. Today it retails for USD $4.99 and that’s easy cash money to plop down. But did you know you can get it for FREE? That’s if you have an NVIDIA or ATI video card. There’s a big chance that you (or a friend) probably has one tucked inside his gaming rig. For ATI graphics card owners For NVIDIA graphics card owners Actually, the fine print is a “First Slice” promo for a demo version of Portal. It just happens to come with HL2: Read more »

3D Sunglasses

by Darice de Cuba
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3D Sunglasses

With 3D television being the next must have in the near future, 3D glasses are a must also. More and more movies are being made in 3D with the most recent being “Avatar”. I was glad the 3D glasses I got at the movies where still in a sealed plastic bag. But most times moviegoers get glasses worn by several people before them, not very hygienic. Now you can buy your own 3D glasses that also function as sunglasses. The maker of these 3D glasses, MicroVision Optical, says that they will also be providing 3D prescription glasses. Also a huge plus next to having a choice in frames, I saw Read more »