-
-
Tech Report: iPhone
Ben shows up at 3am to hang out with the folks who are waiting in line for the new iPhone.
-
iPhone 2.0 Worldwide launch on June 9th
A June 9 launch date for the iPhone 2? No surprises there, and now it looks like inside sources are confirming the June 9 date, which is also when Steve Jobs' keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is scheduled.
But Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz has got wind of the details of the launch, and his source tells him that the Second Coming will be a worldwide event -- not just in the United States. He also claims that his snitch, "someone very, very close to the 3-G iPhone launch", says that the current fixed pricing model will be discontinued in favor of a more Euro-friendly flexible price point, one that can shift subject to the markets and the whims of the telcos.
The last point concerns Spain. As we reported this morning, Telefónica will indeed carry the iPhone, and will be launching it along with its brand new Madrid megastore on June 18.
This seems plausible enough. Despite the odd delay, all of Apple's hardware ships worldwide immediately upon launch. And the evidence coming in from around the world corroborates Jesus' story: The million and one one-line press releases from cellphone carriers announcing deals with Apple, for one, and the iPhone drought in the UK, Germany and even the online Apple store, for another. What is amazing is that Apple kept things quiet for so long, considering the amount of people involved.
So far, we count over 40 countries with iPhone deals, and in some of these there will be multiple carriers offering the iPhone. Here's what I believe to be a comprehensive list, not including the countries where the iPhone is already on sale, in no particular order (actually, the order I found them on Google): A June 9 launch date for the iPhone 2? No surprises there, and now it looks like inside sources are confirming the June 9 date, which ... more -
AT&T forking over a $1.3 billion down payment for auction wins
No surprises here, but boy is that going to be a difficult expense to justify on the ol' corporate card. AT&T says it'll pay a $1.3 billion down payment to the FCC within the next 10 days to get a lock on that spectrum it just won, $500 million of which was paid up front before the auction began. The company will be pushing the remaining $5.3 billion over the counter before April 17, and is financing the purchase with funds from operations and a good bit of debt. We haven't seen a similar filing from Verizon yet, but we're guessing the company is facing similar deadlines for its $9.36 billion of spectrum. No surprises here, but boy is that going to be a difficult expense to justify on the ol' corporate card. AT&T says it'll... more
-
Yahoo sued for spurning Microsoft
Two Detroit pension funds have sued Yahoo Inc. and its board of directors, saying they breached their duties to shareholders in trying to thwart a takeover by Microsoft Corp.
The lawsuit was filed in Delaware Chancery Court on Thursday by lawyers representing Detroit's police and fire retirement system and general retirement system, as well as "all other similarly situated public shareholders."
According to the lawsuit, Yahoo's board is pursuing "value- destructive" third-party deals in an effort to fight off Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft, which on Feb. 1 announced a takeover bid of $31 per share in cash and stock, a 62 percent premium over Yahoo's previous day's closing price. Two Detroit pension funds have sued Yahoo Inc. and its board of directors, saying they breached their duties to shareholders in trying... more -
Transparent toaster invented
Other uses for the transparent toaster:
Holding books
Toasting books
Displaying your new Macbook Air
Lighting your Macbook Air on fire Other uses for the transparent toaster: Holding books Toasting books Displaying your new Macbook Air ... more -
Top 10 Gadgets of the Year
We see a lot of new gadgets every year, and 2007 was no exception. But every mountain has a summit, so we humbly present, from the bottom to the top, this year's heap. We see a lot of new gadgets every year, and 2007 was no exception. But every mountain has a summit, so we humbly present, from the bot... more
-
Bright Blinds: Add A Window To A Blank Wall
"Two Japanese designers have created Bright Blinds, which are blinds to be hung on blank walls to give the appearance of a window underneath. Electroluminescent sheeting is responsible for the simulated daylight, and the amount of light emitted is controlled via the same methods as traditional blinds. Not nearly as cool as Philip's Dynamic Daylight Window, but a neat concept none-the-less. Except they won't work. It's like the time I tried to cheer myself up at the office, despite working in a windowless interior cubicle. You know what I did? I drew a window on my whiteboard -- with a beach outside, complete with palm trees and bikini babes. And let me tell you, that shit didnt work worth a damn. If anything I was even more depressed." "Two Japanese designers have created Bright Blinds, which are blinds to be hung on blank walls to give the appearance of a window... more
-
Best Product Ever Ever Ever: The Wine Rack
From geekologie.com:
"The Wine Rack, made by thebeerbelly.com (who also produce a fake beer belly to sneak beer/liquor into places) is a sports bra-looking alcohol container! That's right ladies (and sick men), now you can sneak booze into the movies for me. For only $30 you can buy my undying love and affection. I've always dreamed of suckling bourbon from a woman's teat, and now my dream is reality. This would be perfect for my girlfriend, because she's flatter than hell. Did I just say that? I was lying, she's concave. No boobies whatsoever. No word on when they'll be available, but suffice it to say this will be the hottest present of the year. And ladies: If you don't mind wearing the Wine Rack for me, I'm yours forever. I'll even cook and do the laundry. Just kidding, you know that's your job." From geekologie.com: ... more -
Dynamic Daylight Window Is Trippy, Cool
From Geekologie.com:
"The video above is a demonstration of Philip's new Dynamic Daylight Windows. It's awesome. Even more awesome if you're on drugs. By waving your hand around you can adjust the level of darkness, as well as color hue. I want them installed in all my windows. Apparently hotels are considering them to aid travelers deal with jet lag. Of course hotels could probably save a lot of money and just go with the jet lag remedy I've been recommending for years -- a free mini-bar. I can get so drunk I don't remember my name, let alone the time of day. After a week or so I wake up and I'm good to go. Simple.
A much longer video demonstration after the jump that features a woman with a laugh that makes me amorous." From Geekologie.com: ... more -
Mitsubishi planning 3D Blu-ray player
"...The demo was run from a massive Dell desktop and output onto a large DLP set. In an effort to inject new life into the fading rear-projection category, the company's pitch was that the 3D technology worked with existing DLP TVs and projectors (due to DLP's native 120Hz refresh rate, which allows you to split it into 60/60 for 3D) but not with LCD and plasma displays.Most of us were pretty impressed by the demo, which included clips from movies, commercials, and sporting events. There was real depth to the 3D and you got that whole feeling of things poking out at you from the screen. All the demo material had been shot in 3D, but the kicker to the whole presentation was that Mitsubishi apparently has a Blu-ray player in its labs that can convert existing 2D movies into 3D on the fly. Better yet, according to company reps, it may be available early next year." "...The demo was run from a massive Dell desktop and output onto a large DLP set. In an effort to inject new life into the fading... more
-
Tech Heaven '07
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) celebrated its 40th anniversary this week in Las Vegas with the CES. With 1.8 million net square feet of exhibit space, the CES displayed all the latest trends and products in the electronic world. The three day-event was chalked full with big name lectures and product unveilings. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) celebrated its 40th anniversary this week in Las Vegas with the CES. With 1.8 million net s... more
-
Interactive Graffiti Billboard Lets You Be Simultaneously Tough and Geeky
"Finally, graffiti and technology have joined to create something beautiful. Mark Ecko is designing digital citylights that will consist of a giant LCD screen and a Bluetooth interface that will allow passerby's to "spray graffiti" by accessing the screen via Bluetooth. They will then be able to use their cell phone cursor to spray any phallic object and/or clever curse words they can think of.
Not sure when or even if this will come out (and it looks like it'll be in Germany) -- but it's a godsend for tech-savvy gang members. By the way, if you're not sure what a "citylight" is -- it's that large, vertical LCD screen that you see in the picture." "Finally, graffiti and technology have joined to create something beautiful. Mark Ecko is designing digital citylights that will ... more -
GPS-Enabled Shoes for Prostitutes Launched
"An art-and-commerce initiative called The Aphrodite Project has developed GPS-enabled PLATFORM SHOES FOR PROSTITUTES. The shoes have "an audible alarm system, which emits a piercing noise to scare off attackers. The shoes are also outfitted with a built in GPS receiver and an emergency button that relays both the prostitute's location and a silent alarm signal to public emergency services. Where there are problematic relations with law enforcement.... the shoes will relay the signal to sex workers' rights groups." "An art-and-commerce initiative called The Aphrodite Project has developed GPS-enabled PLATFORM SHOES FOR PROSTITUTES. The shoes ... more
-
Two-way Video Conferencing for iPhone
well.......kinda....
-
portable media player that can be recharged by "cranking it"
"The Trevor Baylis Eco Media Player EMP-MX71 is a multi-function media player that can be powered either by USB connection to PC, or by using wind-up power from a small crank handle on the back of the player. One minute of winding can deliver 40 minutes of playback." "The Trevor Baylis Eco Media Player EMP-MX71 is a multi-function media player that can be powered either by USB connection to PC,... more
-
Oakland Gets Smart
Interactive maps, e-mail updates, and RSS feeds of crimes in areas that you care about. Maybe we can employ this in Iraq.
-
related topics
Tech Culture
Contributors (55)
Tech Culture
