Gizmodo++
READ MORE: Announcements, Gizmodo
We've boldly gone where the other sites have gone before—into a new design! Yes, our new w-i-d-s-e-s-c-r-e-e-n layout allows us to put up larger images while at the same time making the site less cluttered-looking than before.
Since this is a new layout, if you're seeing any weird behavior in your browser—we get lots of Lynx fans—drop us a line. Hopefully you all like this new look as much as we do.
Special bonus, our animated logo that you only got to see in our video segments is now our standard logo. Weee!
EcoModo - The Best of Treehugger
READ MORE: Best of, EcoModo, Treehugger, roundups
This week at TreeHugger: Ecodrive, a Canadian supplier of electric vehicles, will be releasing the world's first electric motorcycles and scooters powered by Polymer Lithium-Ion batteries. In further two-wheeled news, the bicycle came out on top as the world's most energy-efficient vehicle. We're nearly buried under a deluge of electronics recycling news: Dell and California unleash new plans designed to keep your junk out of the world's collective trunk. Lastly, we discover electroCeramescent lighting technology: like LEDs, but better?
Happy 4th!
READ MORE: Announcements
Happy 4th everyone! Hope you all have a fun and safe holiday and fiesta, remembering to check out our tips for fireworks safety.
See you all tomorrow!
Image courtesy Ace Clipart
Gizmodo Today
READ MORE: Announcements, Gizmodo Today
Feature
Tuning Fork
Rumor and Conjecture
Rumormill: Leopard to Use Mapping Software to Track Stolen Macs
News
Other Bits and Bytes
B&W XT Speakers
Altec Lansing iM9 Portable Speakers
B-Flex Be Dancin': Tiny USB Speakers
BenQ to Ship Blu-ray Burner in August
Marantz SD4051 Dual Transport Cassette (!?) Deck
Magnetic Floating Bed: Oh. Your. God.
Electric Bluetoothbrush
The Space Invaders Carpet
We Work for You (and Money)
Copilot Live for Motorola Q Reviewed (Verdict: #1 Choice)
High Score: The Best of Kotaku
Surfboard USB Drives
BlueBird BM-300, Looks Chocolatey
Easybook M3 Digital Notebook
Lego Mindstorms NXT Impressions
Blackberry to Get Wi-Fi, Other Added Features
Sony PSP, Where a Downgrade is an Upgrade
HAVA Video Streamer, Better Than Slingbox?
Bronx Basement Tech School Sees No Student
Flying Car: LaBiche Aerospace FSC-1
Triple-Decker Case Mod: Whoa!
AT&T U-Verse Fiber Service First Look
Touch Typist: French Maid Keyboard
12 Killer Apps for Palm PDAs
Newark Airport Screeners Fail To Find Hidden Weapons In Federal TestOther Bits and Bytes
READ MORE: Bits and Bytes, roundups
• Palm Ends Treo 650 Euro Shipments [The Register]
• U.S. Accuses Qualcomm of Unfair Practices in Korea [Yahoo!]
• Microsoft signs Motorola as vital ally in fixed-mobile convergence [The Register]
• Steve Jobs owns 138 million shares of Disney, worth $3.9 billion [Morningstar]
B&W XT Speakers
READ MORE: B&W, Bowers & Wilkins, Home Entertainment, XT Series
B&W must be real proud of itself, releasing these svelte-looking XT speakers that would look great pretty much anywhere. There's four models in the XT series and they each serve different purposes. The XT4 is a three-way speaker; the XT2 is a two-way speaker; the XTC is a two-way center channel speaker; and the PV1 is a subwoofer, which may or may not fit in your low-rider.
Each model comes with the high quality components that you might expect from Bowers & Wilkins. The XT4 has a Nautilus tweeter located on the top, which is supposed to provide "wider dispersion for a better image stability." The XT2 also has its tweeter up top, but is a little smaller than the XT4. Meanwhile, the XTC can be used vertically so as to function as front speakers and not just a center channel. Finally, the PV1—that's the one that looks like a bowling ball—performs as admirably as a subwoofer can be expected to. It produces 500 watts of "ICEpower amplfication" and can accept both speaker and line level inputs. The PV1 can be had in a number of different colors, including silver or gray, and the other three can be gotten in the silver you see here in the picture.
The XT4 costs about $3,129 per pair; the XT2 costs $1,287 per pair; the XTC is $1,011 and is sold singly; the PV1 is $1,749, also sold singly.
Product Page [Bowers & Wilkins UK via Tech Digest]
Altec Lansing iM9 Portable Speakers
READ MORE: Altec Lansing, Portable Media, Speakers, iM9, iPod
It's a parade of endless portable audio accessories and Altec Lansing is the latest company hoping you spend your hard earned money on their useful products. The iM9 promises to deliver "concert hall acoustics" in small spaces, like dorm rooms or Manhattan apartments. Since it's designed for the iPod, expect a whole host of iPod-centric features, including its ability to charge the iPod and transfer data to and from a PC when its docked.
Whether or not it actually sounds like the Boston Pops is debatable, but Altec Lansing tried its darndest to make sure it doesn't sound like a dictaphone. MaxxBass (note the two X's: that means quality) attempts to simulate the skull-rattling low frequencies produced by subwoofers. Also appreciated is the inclusion of a second input jack for connecting other devices.
Weighing only four pounds, it's not too heavy for you to haul around town. It's available now for $199.
Product Page [Altec Lansing via The Red Ferret Journal]
B-Flex Be Dancin’: Tiny USB Speakers
READ MORE: Audio, JLabs, Peripherals, Speakers, USB, b-flexof, music
B-Flex is a tiny speaker array you can plug into your laptop. Even the best internal laptop speakers sound like a tin can, so this couldn't be any worse. New company JLab Audio claims a frequency response range of 200 to 20,000 Hz with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 80db. Plus, the flex cable lets you manipulate the speakers to their optimum listening position.
Perhaps the most appealing spec is the 3.24-inch width and 7-inch height of the speakers, small enough to fit in just about any briefcase. Plug it into a USB port, and you get instant tunes with no drivers, batteries or power cables needed for non-ancient Windows, Mac or Linux machines. Looks like a lot of speaker for $39.95.
Product page [JLab Audio]
BenQ to Ship Blu-ray Burner in August
READ MORE: BW1000, BenQ, Blu-Ray, Blu-ray Writers, Peripherals, Storage
BenQ decided it didn't want to let those other weasels steal all the thunder, so it decided to finally release its own Blu-ray burner next month. We saw the model BW1000 back in April—a shiny, strange toaster-like device which will be able to burn BD-R discs at 2x, and will also handle most flavors of DVDs and CDs. A collaboration between Philips and BenQ, this writer will be able to store 50GB of data.
Now it will be a race to see who can pump the most volume into the Blu-ray burner market, with Sony, Pioneer, Philips, Panasonic and now BenQ all vying for market share. There have been numerous rollouts, announcements, introductions and launches, but it's mostly talk with a few units trickling out here and there so far. Ironically, BenQ may just beat one of the main inventors of Blu-ray, Sony, to the punch, if it delivers this unit in August. Even if the burners ship in volume, will anybody want one? If anybody's actually interested in buying one of these BenQ burners, they'll have to shell out $1022.
BenQ unveils Blu-ray writer [Reuters]
Marantz SD4051 Dual Transport Cassette (!?) Deck
READ MORE: Cassette Decks, Home Audio, Home Entertainment, Marantz, SD4051
It is July, 2006, right? I'm just wondering because Marantz is coming out with a dual transport cassette deck later this year, the SD4051. That's right, a cassette deck. Color me surprised because I thought I had a better chance of seeing Windows Vista released than seeing a cassette deck ever again. While it does look nice, the mere thought of incorporating a cassette deck into my home audio system sends shivers down my spine.
Phobias aside, the SD4051 does have a few advanced features that might make you want to consider it, especially if you've got a bunch of tapes laying about. Users can control variables like pitch and playback transport in order to make sure that recordings sound as close to perfect as possible. Sound recording bias is automatically adjusted by the unit and the recording side makes use of auto reverse. Normally, I just burn MP3s, but this sounds much more fun. And easier.
Since your dusty old cassette tapes probably have probably been around for a while and don't necessarily sound as good as they used to, Dolby B attempts to decrease that annoying hiss.
It's scheduled to be released in late August in Japan for about $320.
Press Release (in Japanese) [Marantz Japan via Fareastgizmos.com]
Magnetic Floating Bed: Oh. Your. God.
READ MORE: Beds, Decor, Gadgets, Magnetic Floating Bed, Science, design
Every so often, we like to take a look at things whose functionality isn't measured in gigabytes or megabangs, but instead just look amazing. This magnetic floating bed, I submit, may be among the coolest things we've ever covered. Designed by Dutchman Janjaap Ruijssenaars, it's got enough magnets to keep 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) floating in the air. To make sure that the bed doesn't float away should it become windy (or "interesting," wink wink), it's tethered to the walls by four cables.
Technically, the magnetic floating bed is for sale, but at a price of 1.2 million euros ($1.53 million), you're not likely to find it in your local mattress store.
Nederlander ontwerpt zwevend bed (in Dutch) [Revu via OhGizmo!]
Electric Bluetoothbrush
READ MORE: Bluetooth, DIY, Electric Bluetoothbrush, Gadgets, Gag Gifts
You've certainly heard of the electric fork (haven't you?), and now close on its heels comes an equally valuable item, the Bluetooth toothbrush. This skillfully crafted one-of-a-kind item was received as a going-away present, and at first glance it looks real—it's packaged and presented just like an actual product.
Lawd have mercy, the thing actually turns on. Now if we could just get it to brush teeth remotely, we could save a few steps in our morning ablutions.
The Space Invaders Carpet
READ MORE: Carpet, Peripherals, Space Invaders, Video games, design
It was just a few months ago that we reported on the existence of Space Invaders wall stickers and judging by the overwhelming response, it appears that the public can't get enough of those evil, Earth-coveting space aliens. Carpet Invaders, created by Poland's Janek Simon, incorporates everyone's favorite Space-based invaders into a nice, Persian rug. Perfect for parties, as indicated by the pictures of youthful 20-somethings on the project's home page, or for keeping you company while you sit alone in your room, the carpet is "powered" by a PS2 that projects the game onto the carpet via an overhead projector.
Be warned, however, that the project's home page is full of half-crafted metaphors, explaining how the game is somehow a representation of our own lives or some other beatnik nonsense. Thankfully, it doesn't detract from the project's allure.
Janek Simon and his Carpet Invaders [Dis Location via Kotaku]
We Work for You (and Money)
READ MORE: Announcements, Comments, Tips
A site like Gizmodo lives and breathes reader story tips—not just because we are too dumb to find our own stories, but because we love to post up things you'd like to discuss.
So a gentle reminder: If you've got a story you think is a good match for Gizmodo, please hit up our editors by email or AIM—tips@ goes to all the editors and is a great place to start. And if you don't have a comments login (or have had an old one go south; it happens), head on over to our Live Campfire Chat Room where we'll be giving comment invite codes away for the next few hours.
Let us know in the comments of this post when you're up and running! If we break 100 comments I'll take everyone out for ice cream.
Update: Invites are closed! Thanks, everybody!
Copilot Live for Motorola Q Reviewed (Verdict: #1 Choice)
READ MORE: ALK, CoPilot Live, GPS, Smartphones
You might be familiar with the CoPilot Live, a $299 software and hardware add-on for mobile PCs that turns that smartphone into a GPS unit. Its tiny GPS receiver communicates with the phone via Bluetooth, and the maps are stored in a flash memory card. Now the CoPilot Live's maker, ALK, has released a special version for the Motorola Q, and Mobility Today has reviewed it. According to reviewer David Ciccone, it looks like ALK has another winner on its hands, with this unit performing quickly and effectively:
This weekend I made 6 trips with numerous different changes in my route to see how the CoPilot reacted. Pleasantly suprised this unit responded quickly and effectively... CoPilot for the Motorola Q is now my #1 choice for navigation.Get thee hence, ALK! Time for us to try this one out for ourselves.
CoPilot Live for the Motorola Q [Mobility Today]
Product Page [ALK Technologies]
Tuning Fork
READ MORE: Home Entertainment, PVR, ReplayTV, TOP, TiVo, Tuning Fork, feature
ReplayTV Back for a Replay
By Brian L. Clark
Yesterday, I watched a Frontline documentary called "The Dark Side," which covered Dick Cheney's efforts to expand executive powers after 9/11. That's not such a big deal, but the fact that I watched it online at www.pbs.com, I think, is. Here it is, weeks after originally the original airdate, and I can go to a website to see a show I missed last month. I like that kind of convenience, but as you've heard me say before, the option to aggregate those shows in one central location is something I want even more.
Well, this week, I may have seen another step toward that kind of integration when ReplayTV, which was first to market with digital recording, announced it had an Alpha version of DVR software for the PC. ReplayTV lost the initial DVR Wars to TiVo. But the company is shifting its focus to concentrate on allowing PC users to do all the same things you used to be able to with their box.
High Score: The Best of Kotaku
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Gaming may slow down in the summer but hot sweaty coverage never stops at sister site Kotaku. What's been going on for the last week of June?
There has been a bit of a tizzy going on amongst the blogger crowd, with a 1UP contributor calling out Loco Roco's character design as... maybe a bit racist. Maybe stereotypical is a better word. We take a look at the issue from two perspectives and watch the e-fists fly.
More potential bad news for Take-Two Interactive as someone on the executive team might be indicted on criminal charges related to the infamous "Hot Coffee" scandal. It's only conjecture at this point from a Wedbush Morgan analyst, but the analyst in discussion ain't no dummy. Further, actor Roger Hill filed a lawsuit against the company, demanding payment for the allegedly unauthorized use of his likeness in Rockstar's homage to The Warriors. You're really eating into the executive escort fund, Rog. Cut it out.
Surfboard USB Drives
READ MORE: Flash, Peripherals, Surfboard, Surfing, USB Drives
Surf's up, dude, even if you live in the Midwest. Wal-Mart, of all places, has these gnarly 1GB USB 2.0 flash drives in four radical styles for around $33. You gotta love the design on these things. Nice. Even I like them, even though, as you know, Charlie don't surf.
Product page [Wal-Mart, via Chip Chick]
Gizmodo, the gadget guide. So much in love with shiny new toys, it's unnatural.
