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From: Apple Section - Ars Technica

Apple cleans up at prestigious D&AD design awards ceremony

Apple picks up two more Black Pencil design awards from D&AD, making Apple the winningest company in D&AD's 45-year history.

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Specing the rumored MacBook update

The latest MacBook rumor continues to take shape, with display manufacturers and a timeframe for fall 2008.

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Awkwardly-named app eases App Engine development on Mac OS X

Despite its long name, GoogleAppEngineLauncher is designed to ease the process of developing web applications for Google App Engine on Mac OS X.

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Use Fluid to bring mobile web apps to your Mac desktop

Fluid is a clever app for creating Site Specific Browsers to run websites in their own application windows on the Mac. With a little bit of tweaking, Fluid's browsers can use the mobile versions of sites that can let you get work done while staying out of your way.

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Friday afternoon Apple links, Obama on iPhone edition

This Friday's Apple links are aplenty, with discussions about Parallels Desktop, Adium's impending support for Facebook Chat, a new Google Reader for iPhone, Apple's plans for multi-touch Macs, Growl use in XCode, a podcast about Leopard Server, airplanes with iPod docks, and Barack Obama's secret love of the iPhone.

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Orange set to distribute iPhones in at least 10 countries

France Telecom's Orange has announced iPhone deals in at least 10 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, including exclusive deals for Belgium and Romania.

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$6,800 gets you thicker, heavier MacBook plus XO donation

When is a MacBook worth $6,800? When you buy one that is uglified tricked out by a European company that also promises to donate an XO laptop in your honor to undisclosed "governmentally sponsored education programs."

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Location-based services may be coming to an iPhone near you

Apple has some serious ideas for jumping on the location-based services bandwagon. With a device as appealing and powerful as the iPhone, can you blame the company?

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O2 hints at 3G iPhone, may offer full subsidy

Who doesn't like free iPhones? O2 users may be able to pick one up when the next-gen device launches. Telefónica Europe CEO Matthew Key has also hinted at a 3G iPhone announcement in the "coming weeks." Make that a free 3G iPhone.

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Time Capsule and Airport Extreme top sellers in their class

Time Capsule is topping the NAS category for recent sales, according to NPD. But Time Capsule's sales aren't cannibalizing Airport Extreme, as it, too, tops broadband routers.

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From: MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

ezGear iPod video cable allows charging
iPod accessory manufacturer ezGear on Friday unveiled a new video cable for all current generation iPods and the iPhone, allowing users to display content on the device to a television or other video display. In addition to the standard yellow-white-red RCA connector configuration, the dock-connectable adapter cable also has a female USB connection...


MacWireless.com PoE kit for Airport Extreme
MacWireless.com on Friday unveiled a Power Over Ethernet kit for the Airport Extreme Base Station (802.11n version) that allows users to position the router 328 feet from a power outlet. The kit provides power over an Ethernet cable between a pair of adaptors: one that sits on the power outlet in question and one that resides by the Airport. MacWir...


Apple wins black pencils for iMac, iPhone designs
Apple's iPhone recently won two prestigious black pencil design awards at the D&AD Awards in the UK, bringing the company's total to six since first winning the award in 1999. According to The Guardian, this makes Apple the most successful participant in the awards ceremony's 45 year history, this time taking home recognition for the design of the ...


Apple UK drops online return fee
Apple's UK division has dropped an extra fee it charged to people who bought from its online store, local magazine Computeractive writes. The fee was charged when shoppers decided to return an item, and was described by Apple as covering "collection and processing" relative to the initial cost of their purchase. According to Computeractive howeve...


Kekus ships Aperture lens distortion plug-in
Kekus Digital says it is shipping a new version of its LensFix plug-in, now tailored for Aperture 2.1. The software is intended to correct lens distortion for a variety of cameras and lenses; over 500 combinations are supported, and users have access to "thousands" of presets. The software further supports 16-bit quality, and rendering on Core Im...


 


From: Wired Top Stories

800-Horsepower Hybrid to Race 24 Hours of Nurburgring
German boutique automaker Gumpert teams up with Lithium Technology Corp. to build the fastest hybrid ever. They're taking it to the 'Ring to prove "green" and "performance" aren't mutually exclusive.



'X-Files' Scribe Switches to Superhero Mode for 'Hancock'
Writer Vince Gilligan tells about directing the classic X-Files team and working with Will Smith to craft the perfect movie about a dysfunctional crime-fighter.



How to Set Up a Pirate Radio Station
The local airwaves a little too boring for your tastes? Take matters into your own hands by starting your own radio station. Follow our guide in Wired.com's How-To Wiki.



Can Charter Broadband Customers Really Opt-Out of Spying? Maybe Not
Charter Communications, one of the nation's largest ISPs, says its users can opt out of its plans to spy on their web usage to serve more targeted ads. But what few technical details are available suggest that there's no way to skip the spying part, and raise questions about whether the plan opens a gaping internet security hole.



Is Marc Andreessen Through with the Press?
Marc Andreessen has made two mid-year resolutions: ?No more public speaking? and ?More blogging.? They both seem related to his dissatisfaction with reporters. But Andreessen, in his widely-read blog, doesn?t exactly say what the problem is, and why now is the time to do something about it. Has he really stepped off the non-virtual stage for the last time?



Airwolf for Sale on eBay!
The coolest helicopter in the history of television is for sale. Yeah, yeah, it's a replica. But it's freakin' Airwolf!



File Sharing Comes to the iPhone
A new app called iSlsk lets users of unlocked iPhones and iPod touches tap into the Soulseek network.



Soaring Over the Alps on Homemade Jet Wings
Skydiving? B.A.S.E. jumping? Pfft. Child's play compared to flying 185 mph on rocket-powered wings you made yourself.



Silicon Valley Book Party Turns Up the Heat
Digg CEO Jay Adelson, Slide CEO Max Levchin and a host of other Silicon Valley movers and shakers turned up to help celebrate the publication of BusinessWeek columnist Sarah Lacy's new book, Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good.



Facebook, Google Square Off Over Which One Owns Your Data
Facebook has blocked Google's new Friend Connect service, ostensibly to protect its users' privacy. But the battle is really over which company gets to control all your personal information. Don't believe it? Read the terms of service.



 


From: MacInTouch

Amazon Update
Amazon has the best price on MacBook Air: just $1699, on sale today. Save $55-$105 off Apple's latest iMacs, too. Amazon rebates chop $150-$380 off the Mac Pro Quad and new Quad-Core models. VMware and Parallels are each on sale at $39.99. Save plenty on AppleCare, ".Mac", "Leopard", iLife, iWork and Office 2008, as well. Or cut $35 off the Mac's best voice-recognition system ever: MacSpeech Dictate. The new Photoshop Elements 6 is on sale at $79.99. Amazon discounts iPods, too, plus a huge selection of digital cameras and HDTV's. Kindle, Amazon's revolutionary wireless book, is back in stock after its sell-out, and Garmin's Nuvi 660 GPS navigator is on sale at a 57% discount. And, while you're saving yourself money, you're also providing critical MacInTouch support just by clicking through our links to purchase!

Report: Office 2008
more update experiences and laments about quality

Report: AirPort 802.11n
performance, hotfix

Report: Consumer Issues
customer satisfaction survey

Report: GarageBand
USB piano keyboard query [updated]

 

Tech
From: CNET News.com

Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including a fashionable Bluetooth headset, Bose on-ear headphones, and the BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Sprint.

Firefox 3 release candidate goes public
A preview release of Firefox 3 is ready for downloading, and includes many new features and performance improvements.

Yahoo tries to conceal lawsuit documents
Suing shareholders and Yahoo disagree about whether information on the company's employee severance plan should be public.

Podcast: How steely Pittsburgh is getting greener
Why Charter Communications' ad-serving plan is making waves; the Senate moves to curb online child porn; and industrial Pittsburgh sets an environmental example.

CIGS companies eye building-integrated photovoltaics
Thin-film solar power companies want to integrate solar cells with buildings, but they still have a way to go.

Social graphs just wanna be free, but will they ever be?
I can't really work up the same sense of outrage that's accompanied Facebook's decision to give Google the middle finger.

HP to launch fall line of teen PC products
At a Teens and Tech event, Ameer Karim, director of HP's future and innovations group for consumer PCs, says the company plans to introduce new devices this fall that will be designed by teens, for teens.

Photos: Jet-powered wing propels solo flight
Aerial adventurer Yves Rossy flies over the Alps for five minutes with nothing more than the jet-equipped wing strapped to his back.

Hooray! Yahoo Mail ditches tagline ads
No more will the one-liner text ads clutter up the bottom of e-mail messages sent with Yahoo Mail, the company said.

Conde Nast buys Ars Technica
Publishing company will fit the decade-old technology enthusiast site alongside Wired.com in its modest stable of online properties.

Security Bites Podcast: Fujitsu gives biometrics a hand
This week, CNET's Robert Vamosi talks with Joel Hagberg, vice president of marketing and business development at Fujitsu.

Sugar Labs will make OLPC interface available for Eee PC, others
Former OLPC president forms Sugar Labs, which will put the low-cost ultraportable's Sugar interface on devices.

 


From: Gear & Gadgets Section - Ars Technica

Time Capsule and Airport Extreme top sellers in their class

Time Capsule is topping the NAS category for recent sales, according to NPD. But Time Capsule's sales aren't cannibalizing Airport Extreme, as it, too, tops broadband routers.

Read More...



Bill Gates demos Touchwall, vertical Microsoft Surface

If you can picture a vertical Microsoft Surface, you already know exactly what the TouchWall looks like. Trust me though, you'll want to see Bill Gates use it with (almost) no problems.

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AT&T now has refurbished 16GB iPhones for $349

Can't find a 16GB iPhone? Or the $499 for a new one? Now you can save 150 bucks on a refurbished one from AT&T.

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Guitar Hero IV drums revealed

The first pictures of the Guitar Hero IV drum set surface, and they reveal that it features raised cymbals and pressure-sensitive pads. Will this be your second set of fake drums?

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Philadelphia's municipal WiFi network to go dark

Philadelphia has failed to come up with a way to take over its municipal WiFi network from EarthLink, so the company plans to begin shutting the network down next month. The move serves as another nail in the coffin for municipal WiFi.

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Eye-Fi adds two new SD cards, including one with geotags

Wireless SD card purveyor Eye-Fi has added two new models to its line: the Eye-Fi Home with WiFi upload capabilities only, and the Eye-Fi Explore, which will geotag your photos using the Skyhook location service.

Read More...



Bold new BlackBerry 9000 to take on expected 3G iPhone

RIM introduced the BlackBerry Bold this morning, the company's latest and greatest smartphone that bears a striking resemblance to the iPhone. It has a handful of new features that the iPhone doesn't have, although the two could be neck and neck again once the Bold finally becomes commercially available.

Read More...



XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP brings games to the Zune

Microsoft has just released the XNA Game Studio 3.0 Community Tecnical Preview (CTP). The release allows for the development of games for the Zune, and Windows.

Read More...



Microsoft denies antipiracy features coming to the Zune

The same day that news of a possible antipiracy feature for the Zune surfaced, Microsoft has outright denied the report. Users who download content illegally to play on their Zunes can rest easy, for now.

Read More...



Apple and Orange in talks about multi-country iPhone rollout

Orange/France Telecom is in negotiation with Apple for iPhone rights in additional countries as questions about Apple's new iPhone business model mount.

Read More...



 


From: Wired Top Stories

800-Horsepower Hybrid to Race 24 Hours of Nurburgring
German boutique automaker Gumpert teams up with Lithium Technology Corp. to build the fastest hybrid ever. They're taking it to the 'Ring to prove "green" and "performance" aren't mutually exclusive.



'X-Files' Scribe Switches to Superhero Mode for 'Hancock'
Writer Vince Gilligan tells about directing the classic X-Files team and working with Will Smith to craft the perfect movie about a dysfunctional crime-fighter.



How to Set Up a Pirate Radio Station
The local airwaves a little too boring for your tastes? Take matters into your own hands by starting your own radio station. Follow our guide in Wired.com's How-To Wiki.



Can Charter Broadband Customers Really Opt-Out of Spying? Maybe Not
Charter Communications, one of the nation's largest ISPs, says its users can opt out of its plans to spy on their web usage to serve more targeted ads. But what few technical details are available suggest that there's no way to skip the spying part, and raise questions about whether the plan opens a gaping internet security hole.



Is Marc Andreessen Through with the Press?
Marc Andreessen has made two mid-year resolutions: ?No more public speaking? and ?More blogging.? They both seem related to his dissatisfaction with reporters. But Andreessen, in his widely-read blog, doesn?t exactly say what the problem is, and why now is the time to do something about it. Has he really stepped off the non-virtual stage for the last time?



Airwolf for Sale on eBay!
The coolest helicopter in the history of television is for sale. Yeah, yeah, it's a replica. But it's freakin' Airwolf!



File Sharing Comes to the iPhone
A new app called iSlsk lets users of unlocked iPhones and iPod touches tap into the Soulseek network.



Soaring Over the Alps on Homemade Jet Wings
Skydiving? B.A.S.E. jumping? Pfft. Child's play compared to flying 185 mph on rocket-powered wings you made yourself.



Silicon Valley Book Party Turns Up the Heat
Digg CEO Jay Adelson, Slide CEO Max Levchin and a host of other Silicon Valley movers and shakers turned up to help celebrate the publication of BusinessWeek columnist Sarah Lacy's new book, Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good.



Facebook, Google Square Off Over Which One Owns Your Data
Facebook has blocked Google's new Friend Connect service, ostensibly to protect its users' privacy. But the battle is really over which company gets to control all your personal information. Don't believe it? Read the terms of service.



 


From: Gizmodo

Sync Desktop: A Workspace With Integrated PC and Fold-Away Monitor [Furniture]

Besides being absolutely beautiful, this Sync Desktop concept from designer Gareth Battensby features a fold-away widescreen monitor and keyboard, a built in USB hub, scanner, mouse, webcam, easy-to-access DVD unit, and plenty of storage space. And because it is all seamlessly integrated into the design, the Sync can be converted into a standard desk for other projects whenever necessary. The only problem is that I doubt that it could ever become a commercial product unless there was a way to upgrade the hardware. [Gareth Battensby via Born Rich]




Eight Ways to Hurt Yourself Playing Video Games [Gaming]

wiimotechest.jpgWhen I was talking with the SteelSeries guys about their gear, one thing they were serious about was that gaming is a sport. I scoffed. But, we've shown you how to work out with nothing gaming gear and now PC Mag catalogs eight ways to hurt yourself gaming—like any other athletic activity. Besides sore limbs via Wiitis, there's Rock Band Hand from too much drumming/strumming, WASD wrist for hardcore PC gamers (and bloggers), Burning Bladder for WoWites, and um, something that vaguely resembles epilepsy for puzzle gamers. Not featured, however, is the most notorious of Wiinjuries:

Getting the shit beat out of you by your uncoordinated friend. Do you guys have any crazier gaming-induced injuries? [PC Mag]




Reader of the Month: Dr. Francisco Gómez Bravo [Reader Of The Month]

We don't usually give Reader of the Month awards, only stars to top commenters who actually post useful or funny stuff. But this reader doesn't comment in Gizmodo, even while he confessed he's addicted to it. He doesn't send us stories or suggestions to tips@gizmodo.com either. Or corrections. Nothing. In fact, I met him today for the first time, after my dog Jones bit me on the mouth this morning, cutting a very deep and nasty 1-inch-long injury in the shape of a seven—just below my inferior lip. His name is Dr. Francisco Gómez Bravo, and he's one of the top plastic surgeons here, in the Old Continent.

Until that fatal moment, it was business as usual. My morning started like it normally does lately: dead in bed after a hangover from a night out, as opposed to my usual half-dead state. Addy and myself are moving to London next month, so we are enjoying Madrid and our friends here as much as we can, which means going out for tapas, great dinners, good wine, old rum, and dancing 'til late.

But I digress. The European Team—Addy, Kit, and myself—woke up today around 3AM New York time. That's 9AM for the Cool Geek of the Week and her husband, and 8AM in Portugal, where Kit lives. Brian appeared briefly in Campfire an hour later, bragging about his Wii Fit skills, and weeping about his long-lost super-hero figure from his boxing days—when he really looked like Captain America instead of a blogging version Cartman in spandex—like we all do in Giz except Buchanan, who looks like Kenny. We all talked for a bit, and then he left to pack for Brazil, where he's flying to now.

After he left, I started to scan the feeds, and work in the Mac OS X multitouch story, interviewing the author of the software over iChat. Addy popped in another window and told me that Jones was sleeping in a funny position, curled over one of his toys, next to her feet on the sofa. Jones is our border terrier, and happens to be one of the smartest, cutest, and most lovable dogs I've met—unfortunately, border terriers are also killing machines, as you can see here:

Yes. Killing machines that look like teddy bears, but killing machines anyway.

Wanting to see the Xmas-in-May carol scene, I sneaked into the living room. See, I play with Jones like I'm a real dog. And with the facial hair, the scruffy look, and the games over the rugs, he totally buys it. I'm his pal and his enemy. I give him food, get him out sometimes, play with him... and fight for his toys. So I slowly came closer to him, and his favorite chewing thing. He felt I was coming and—half-opening one eye—he growled.

I got closer. He growled back.

A little bit nearer. The primal guttural sound kept increasing. I could hear the always-bemused Addy softly saying "Jooones..."

Now I really was getting near to his toy.

He snarled.

I forced half an inch more. And then it happened.

In a millisecond, I had a small hair ball hanging from my lower lip, some kind of Son of Cujo chewing my flesh, making warm crimson spray all over my t-shirt. I felt it wet on my arms and chest while Addy screamed, Jones screeched, and myself—eyes wide open and completely silent—tried to make sense out of the blur of hair and fangs.

Two seconds later I was in the bathroom.

All I could see was the cold water instantly turning into red thanks to the massive bleeding from the highly vascularized—and extremely tender, as I discovered—face tissue. I looked up in the mirror and I saw it. A big seven dripping blood all over my neck, painting the white basin with blood. Luckily for us, we have a big hospital two blocks down from our home, and a few minutes later we rushed through the emergency doors.

Being the vain sucker that I am, the only thing I could think about was a huge scar just below my lips. Terrified, I kept asking everybody as they got me into a small operation room: "Do you think it's going to look OK?" All I got was smiles, a few vague "sure you are," and one "the other day a girl came in with a dog bite and half a lip gone, so consider yourself lucky." All until a young doctor—can't remember her name, but she looked like she was doing her practice years—came into the room to see me.

She was honest and told me that, most likely, the injury was going to get infected. Dog bites come with a load of nasty bacterium, so they are difficult to heal. She also pointed out that she would only use two stitches to hold it together, so in case it got infected, the goo could escape the injury easily. I didn't ask that, so I insisted, and she conceded: "yes, you may get a nasty scar. But don't worry, you can hide it with your beard. And it can be quite attractive."

Needless to say, I was less than fascinated by the perspective of looking like Captain Steve Zissou for the rest of my life, as much as I like my red hats.

Thirty minutes and two anti-tetanus shots later I was at home, back in business, thinking about the possibility of turning into Indiana Jones (fame and girls pouring all over me) or Harvey Dent (I would have to kill Jason, who thinks he's Batman.) And then, my friend Fernando Santiago popped in iChat. I told him first what happened, and then my fears. "Man, I have a friend who is one of the top plastic surgeons in Spain," he said, "let me call him." Five minutes later, another reply: "OK, meet me at the Ruber in half an hour. He's going to see you."

The Ruber is a very posh and super-expensive private hospital here in Madrid, so I went there with my credit card ready to be melted, obliterated, and disintegrated into oblivion. The words "Harvey Dent. Harvey Dent. Harvey Dent" kept hitting my brain, however, so I didn't care. As we came into Dr. Gómez Bravo's office, the first thing that surprised me was how young and sharp he was. Then I saw his completely clean desk, with an Apple Cinema Display, keyboard, and a wireless Wacom Graphire tablet top, with a Mac mini on a side table, mixed with books and folders.

All smile, perfect shirt, and elegant tie under his white coat, Dr. Francisco was really cool. He explained to me that—while it was true that dog bites usually get infected—the highly vascularized tissue in my face would make infections difficult, as the thousand of blood vessels—which made me look like Daredevil a couple of hours before that—would bring plenty of white cells and antibiotics to kill the bacterium.

He put this weird glasses on and start looking closely, cleaning the blood from the just-stitched seven. "Hrmmm..." he said—in my mind that immediately sounded like he would have to cut. The whole head. Then change it for a new one, and give the old one back to me in a jar. "There's a mismatch in how the injured tissue meets the chin," he continued, "You need a couple more stitches to align it perfectly. Otherwise, the scar would start growing big, red, and nasty. Hypertrophic scar." Or something like that.

All I really heard was: "Harvey Dent."

He then ordered some six zero thread ("the hospital will charge you for that later",) and proceeded to—very gently—sew the injury exactly how he wanted it. "There," he finally said, "we are done," after five minutes. I was happy. Relieved. I'm going to survive. Bye Harvey. He-llo Harrison! The three of us then started to talk about more mundane things, like the web page he wanted to do. He asked what did I do for a living. "Tech journo," I said. "He writes for an american site called Gizmodo," added my friend Fernando.

"Are you kidding me?" his eyes wide open. Fernando and myself looked to each other and said "no" at the same time. "Wait, do you mean you are "Jesús"? The guy who writes in Gizmodo US? What the... I read Gizmodo constantly, every day! I was reading one of your articles when you came through the door!" And pointing at this Apple screen, he opened Safari, clicked in the History menu.

The last twenty lines were all Gizmodo entries.

I was absolutely astonished. Here I was, a mere mortal, a jibba-jabber writer for a tech blog, a rambler for rent (see above) in front of a guy who is one of the top plastic surgeons in the country, charging a zillion-kajillion dollars per hour. And not any plastic surgeon: Dr. Gómez Bravo mainly does extreme reconstructions after big, very traumatic accidents. Not stupid boob jobs. He actually fixes lives—basically, this is a guy who must be considered a demi-god amongst his patients.

And there he was, talking non-stop, and telling me he was a huge fan of my work and Gizmodo; that he always reloaded the page many times a day, and just loved it. And he talked about it not just once, several times, naming specific articles, and just chatting about it until we left.

Then, as he was saying good bye, he opened the door for us and said to his secretary: "everything is OK."

Which really meant: "he doesn't need to pay." And yes, while I know that he received and treated me because I'm one of Fernando's close friends, his gesture was the best, most elegant thing I've seen in a long while.

So for all this, Dr. Francisco Gómez Bravo is the Gizmodo's Reader of the Month (and to me, reader of the whole year.)




Undressing a Woman Using a Large Digging Machine: Crazy Construction Worker Foreplay [Crazy Skills]

I'm not sure what show this video is from, but it is funny—and that dude's skills with a digging machine are impressive to say the least. It's not really NSFW because in the end she is no where near fully undressed, but you might want to take caution when viewing the video after the break just in case.

[Arbroath via about:blank]




Question of the Day: Do You Still Play With Toys? [Question Of The Day]

After diving into the disastrous effects having a toy collection can have on the love life of a grown man, I feel compelled to ask: are you an adult that still plays with toys? And, just to be clear, when I say "toys" I am referring to products normally reserved for children—like action figures and legos. If you do, make sure to list your favorites in the comments.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.





 


From: washingtonpost.com - Technology

American Accused of Shoddy Maintenance
Maintenance work by American Airlines on hundreds of jets was so sloppy that it posed a safety risk -- a lapse that forced the carrier to ground many of its planes and strand hundreds of thousands of passengers last month, according to a report by federal regulators released yesterday.



Priced to Sell
General Electric is pulling the plug on its iconic appliances division.



Kid e-Land
Disney is hoping that after kids check out the new "Chronicles of Narnia" movie this weekend, they'll want to go online and chat about it using game characters dressed in fashions from the movie's dreamworld.



A Very Hostile Bid for Yahoo
When Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer was trying to buy Yahoo, he didn't want to appear disagreeable, let alone hostile.



Keeping Your Profile Clean
A careless comment in your blog (or in someone else's). An embarrassing incident recounted in your local newspaper. A racy photo on MySpace. Any of these can sully your online reputation.



 


From: Ars Technica

Recent job listings on the Ars job board

Ars Technica has 18 awesome new job listings to get your creative juices flowing.

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MySpace "cyber bully mom" will stand trial in LA

Lori Drew will soon go on trial, accused of fatally "cyber bullying" a young teen. But research shows that her high profile case isn't typical of adult/teen Internet encounters.

Read More...




VIA talks up Isaiah dual-cores, 45nm transition

2008 isn't even halfway over, but VIA is making long-term plans around its new Isaiah architecture. By 2009, the company plans to transition Isaiah to a dual-core design on a 45nm process.

Read More...




Orphan works bill clears Senate committee, may soon find home

Orphan works legislation is moving full steam ahead in both the House and Senate, but some copyright owners are convinced the bill will make it too easy for others to rip off their work.

Read More...




MySpace spammers given largest fine in CAN-SPAM history

Two individuals responsible for using MySpace accounts to spam other users failed to show up in court this week to fight the CAN-SPAM charges. The result was a default judgment of $234 million against the dynamic duo—the largest judgment so far in CAN-SPAM history.

Read More...




 


From: NYT > Technology

 


From: Autoblog

Audi R8 race car to tackle Nürburgring 24 hrs

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Click above for photo gallery

This year's Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race will feature perhaps the most wicked Audi R8 yet: a lightweight, custom-built racer that makes the road car look tame by comparison. To comply with the requirements for participation in the race, the stock 4.2L V8 donates its block and is rebuilt from there. The race-spec motor's displacement drops to 4.0 liters but it delivers a hefty 530 horsepower and 353 lb-ft of torque. The R8's stock front and rear bodywork is replaced by new, widebody carbon kevlar panels. The outboard intakes in the nose are replaced by blanks, and out back, the custom exhaust's dual outlets poke through the spot where the license plate would reside on the production car. Other obvious additions are the front splitter, large rear wing, rear diffuser, and multiple cutouts in the aft bodywork to help with engine cooling. The entire package weighs in at just 2,755 pounds -- this thing should absolutely haul. German magazine Sport-Auto has been covering the car's development. We'll see how the car fares in competition next week.


[Sources: Sport-Auto, German Car Scene]

 

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IDEA ERA concept built in 30 days to celebrate 30th anniversary

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Click on the image for more shots of the IDEA ERA Concept

The term Barchetta, which literally means 'little boat' in Italian, is applied to a small, two-seat open-air sports car called the ERA concept introduced by the Italian styling firm IDEA Institute. Like many past barchettas, the ERA is doorless, meaning drivers and passengers get to do their best Bo Duke impression as they enter the roadster over the doors. What's especially impressive is that such a cool design was drawn up, rendered and molded into reality in just 30 days. Conceived at a meeting on April 8, the vehicle is meant to commemorate IDEA's 30th anniversary and the initial design was approved on the same day. Feverishly working around-the-clock, the vehicle's team pounded out a very nicely designed model, which at this time features no powertrain. With its curvy body and peaked fenders all around, the ERA has a hint of the old Birdcage racer in its profile. Suggested layouts include both a transversely mounted four-banger driving the front wheels or a longitudinal V6 providing the proper rear-wheel-drive layout.


[Source: IDEA Institute via Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

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VIDEO: Another Pontiac G8 ad that goes after our childhood

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Click above to view the video after the jump.

If the ad campaign is any indication, those of us born in the late 1970s are the demographic Pontiac's aiming at with the G8. First, there was the Spy Hunter themed TV spot, and now this one, which pays homage to the seminal car-guy experience of zooming around on a carpet in 1/64 scale. Hey, we're cool with that. The G8 GT does induce heart palpitations in many of us who still cling to our battle-scarred collection of now-vintage Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars with our initials etched into the underside. Like many of the other tiny cars we racked up miles on, a miniature G8 would have made us wish for either a shrink-ray, or a personal fortune by the time we hit 16 so we could buy a real one. Video embedded after the jump.

[Source: AdGabber]

Continue reading VIDEO: Another Pontiac G8 ad that goes after our childhood

 

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Michael Schumacher to race a Honda CBR1000RR in German Superbike

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Seven-time Formula 1 racing champion Michael Schumacher will be racing this weekend on a Honda CBR1000RR at the IDM International German Motorbike Championship. There are rumors that he'll be racing under a false name, Marcel Niederhausen. Now that the cat is officially out of the bag, so to speak, he may as well skip the alias. Schumacher will race alongside current champion Martin Bauer for Holzhauer Racing.

With this announcement, all of the previous events which Schumacher took part in start to make more sense. Superbike racing is very hotly contested, and the bikes feature nearly two-hundred horsepower in race trim. Therefore, it would have been an exceedingly bad idea to race in this series without a few warm-up runs. According to event organizers, the thirty-seven year old Schumacher has been testing for the last few weeks with members of his new team and "he surprised many experts with fast times." We can only hope that our "retirements" will be so enjoyable.

[Source: Motorcycle News]

 

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Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro.

Audi has released the first official images of its newest concept before the wraps are taken off at the Lake Wörther Tour in Austria later this month. Think of the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept as a smaller, racier, more attainable version of the Audi R8 V12 TDI concept shown in Detroit, with power provided by the highest specific output diesel in the world.

Look past the DTM-inspired bodywork and you'll get an aluminum-enhanced glimpse of the oilburning jewel that lies beneath. The 1,968cc turbodiesel produces 221 hp and 332 lb.-ft. of torque available at an oh-so-low 1,750 rpm. Power is sent through a six-speed manual transmission before it reaches the ground through Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi claims that the A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro can reach 62 mph in 6.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 149 mph. We believe it.

While the body work might be a bit over the top, the tuned A3 sits 26mm lower than stock and rides on 20-inch wheels that fit cleanly into blistered wheel arches, widening the A3's track by 33 mm in front and 46 mm in the rear. Stopping power in the front is provided by six piston calipers clamping 356mm carbon ceramic discs, while standard steel brakes are fitted out back. Inside, it's all business with a bit of show car flare, including a flat-bottom steering wheel, bolstered buckets, aluminum trim, toggle switches and a red starter button to get the party underway. Audi has also fitted the concept with a its Drive Select system, which can change throttle response, exhaust sound, power steering assist, ESP settings and magnetic ride damping on the fly.

Audi isn't saying that the A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro is destined for production, but it would make an excellent runabout for the times when rolling the R8 V12 TDI to the store would be overkill.

Make the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept

 

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