If you picture music industry CEOs as cranky old white men who are completely out of touch with technology and mad at the world for changing around them, you're pretty damn spot-on. Wired has an upcoming profile on Universal Music CEO Doug Morris, and the guy seems as fit to run a newly tech-based company as a dog is fit to pilot a submarine. He basically sees technology as his enemy, wishing his days away for a simpler time where he could control every aspect of a record's distribution. Oh, and he compares the music industry to a character in "Li'l Abner," a comic strip that stopped running in 1977. 1977! I can't wait to read the entire profile, but there is one choice quote available now:
This is how they do hot tubs down under. This homemade contraption was built using a large storage container, an LP gas bottle, stainless steel tubing, polystyrene packing material, and some corrugated iron. You can spend however much you want on a hot tub with a built-in HDTV or 1,500 jets or whatever, but it still won't be as awesome as this thing with its little monster burner. Amazing. -Adam Frucci
[Make]
Our parents were too cheap to buy us one of those plasma balls that arc'ed "lightning" to your fingertips when touched, but this Plasma Bulb Night Light is a cheaper way to relive our childhood than to look on Craigslist for a some lady to breast feed us. This night light keeps away demons at night while simultaneously throwing blue and purple lightning all over your room. No points for finding out what happens when you smash the glass and free all those latent electrons. -Jason Chen
A Go Nintendo reader by the name of Craig has one hell of a dad. After all, it takes a great dad to build a sweet looking Wiimote cabinet like this. I'm no carpenter but it doesn't look all that difficult to make from a design perspective. You could probably find something similar in your local furniture store. However, the detail work on the front is done quite well. I would love to have one of these. It probably won't be all that popular with the ladies, but then again nerdy stuff never is. So who really gives a damn. -Sean Fallon
[Go Nintendo]
Ever drove by one of those billboards on the roads advertising fireworks or a strip joint and said to yourself "I could live up there?" Well someone named Brendan O' Grady has. In fact, his idea for a billboard-like living module earned him a victory in the Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation competition, which is apparently some big-whig architectural rendering contest.
The Aeroform as he calls it, features a streamlined design for "optimal aerodynamic and climactic performance." Even the name is derived from the term "aerofoil" which refers to a structure that provides stability or a steering function in a flying object. The whole thing even looks like some sort of aircraft intake if you ask me.
No doubt that something like this would be really fantastic to live in — that is until you stumbled out of your house drunk at 4am and tumbled head first into the abyss. Probably a major reason why this concept may never see the light of day. -Sean Fallon
The next big thing in homeland-security technology is a T-ray machine, which can see through leather, fabric, cardboard and paper, but can't penetrate water or metal. T-rays (terahertz rays) used to be really hard to make without massive gear, but now researchers in Turkey and Japan have figured out how to build a compact T-ray machine using—what else?—high-temperature superconducting crystals. T-rays may prove to be the next great ray; they can even look half an inch into your skin and spot tooth decay in your mouth. And unlike X-rays, which do evil things to your cells, T-rays don't have the energy to cause cancerous cell ionization. They're totally harmless, except of course when used to look at you naked. -Wilson Rothman
Sometimes the only way to make something old new again is to increase its proportions to a gigantic scale. The mantra has worked for the fast food, automobile and twine industries for some time. So its introduction into the vintage console modding market was inevitable. Take this gigantic, functional Atari Joystick. In video, this oversized controller has both Oscar performance and Nobel Prize written all over it. Award cat fight! -Mark Wilson
Google has announced that it plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in sources of renewable energy to help them power their vast server farms. The money, which will go to people like engineers and researchers looking into new forms of solar, geothermal and wind power, will both help the Googe save money in the long run as well as help the environment from damage due to Google's energy usage. Analysts didn't seem to get the first part of that statement, however, issuing comments like Jordan Rohan of RBC Capital Markets' "The only positive byproduct of this project that would be anything other than environmental is that it might make Google managers and executives even prouder of the fact that they work there, and it may help retain key employees who think their goal is to do good in the world. But I'm really stretching." Let me break it down for you, you overpaid idiots.
The only problem with diamond and gold iPods is that they tend to be a little bit expensive for us normal people. Some though are just plain ugly.
There are cheaper alternatives though that will glamorise your player – in this case the chunky iPod nano 3 - without breaking the bank. The latest skins from IXOS - part of its First By IXOS budget brand - promise just that and, as you can see, they are just as shiny and brash as the real thing.
The one in the photo is the XMI419-DI Silicone Diamante, which will set you back the princely sum of £10. It’s described as a “heavy duty silicone case with fashionable diamante-effect jewels”.
The other Diamante offering is the XMI429-DI Crystal Diamante, a crystal clear case with diamante jewelling around the scroll wheel and screen.
It costs £15 and you can see a photo of it, and the less brash £18 aluminium model, after the jump.-Martin Lynch
According to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), movies sales have topped 1 million in Europe and that it is outselling HD DVD by a factor of 2:1.
Of course, HD DVD were crowing recently that HD DVD player owners buy almost four times more HD movies than Blu-ray player owners.
Considering Gfk sales tracking results are being used for both camps' statements you’d be forgiven for being a bit confused and thinking that maybe they are cherry picking results to make themselves look good. The BDA is adamant though that HD DVD folk have been telling porkies.
"The facts are simple: whenever the consumer has a choice, they decide overwhelmingly in favour of Blu-ray Disc," commented Frank Simonis, Chairman of the BDA European Promotions Committee. "According to Gfk, in Europe, Blu-ray Disc movie titles have outsold HD-DVD movie titles by 2 to 1 during the year to date, and by 3 to 1 since PS3's launch in March. The trend is clear: customers continue to buy more Blu-ray Disc movies than HD-DVD movies, and that is what counts. Viewing attach rates in isolation is an inaccurate and crude measure of performance."
Anyway, the Gfk figures give Blu-ray a whopping 73% of the market, leaving HD DVD with just 27%. If true, then Blu-ray is winning in Europe like it is in the US. Tune in next week for another episode of ‘Massaging Statistics: How To Win When You’re Losing’.-Martin Lynch
The fledgling online storage market could soon get a shock kick up the arse as the rumour mill goes into overdrive today about new Google plans.
According to Wall St. Journal reports, Google could introduce a significant online storage service – think of it as Gstor, why not - that would allow people to store everything on their PCs online, allowing access from any number of devices using a password. Let’s not even mention the security implications.
Quoting Google deep throats, users would get some storage for free and then pay for greater amounts – although pricing details are unavailable. Google already offers some free storage to Gmail users but this would be a dedicated service for all. It could launch as soon as in early next year.
Google is certainly the not the first in the online storage space but it will be the biggest and could drive the market for Web-based storage. Jump now to see a chart of some of the main online storage players.-Martin Lynch
Pricey watch maker, TAG Heuer, knows a thing or two about making watches that can look good in a chunky way, tell the time across numerous time zones simultaneously, survive some harsh weather conditions and accurately capture the moment buying one emptied your wallet.
The luxury brand is now aiming its sights on the mobile phone market with plans to launch its first series in 2008, thanks to a deal with French design manufacturer Modelabs. Why not? We have Bang & Olufsen, Prada and even Armani doing phones so why not a watch maker? There are very little details on what will make the phone more than just a phone with a TAG Heuer badge but the official babble sounded suitably high-brow and nonsensical.
“Thanks to this new luxury communication instrument, TAG Heuer is continuing to express its DNA, a combination of technology and design based on the same principles as the launch of its Avant-Garde Eyewear in 2002,” said TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.
What? This nonsense probably means something to someone somewhere.-Martin Lynch
If you picture music industry CEOs as cranky old white men who are completely out of touch with technology and mad at the world for changing around them, you're pretty damn spot-on. Wired has an upcoming profile on Universal Music CEO Doug Morris, and the guy seems as fit to run a newly tech-based company as a dog is fit to pilot a submarine. He basically sees technology as his enemy, wishing his days away for a simpler time where he could control every aspect of a record's distribution. Oh, and he compares the music industry to a character in "Li'l Abner," a comic strip that stopped running in 1977. 1977! I can't wait to read the entire profile, but there is one choice quote available now:
Our parents were too cheap to buy us one of those plasma balls that arc'ed "lightning" to your fingertips when touched, but this Plasma Bulb Night Light is a cheaper way to relive our childhood than to look on Craigslist for a some lady to breast feed us. This night light keeps away demons at night while simultaneously throwing blue and purple lightning all over your room. No points for finding out what happens when you smash the glass and free all those latent electrons. -Jason Chen
The next big thing in homeland-security technology is a T-ray machine, which can see through leather, fabric, cardboard and paper, but can't penetrate water or metal. T-rays (terahertz rays) used to be really hard to make without massive gear, but now researchers in Turkey and Japan have figured out how to build a compact T-ray machine using—what else?—high-temperature superconducting crystals. T-rays may prove to be the next great ray; they can even look half an inch into your skin and spot tooth decay in your mouth. And unlike X-rays, which do evil things to your cells, T-rays don't have the energy to cause cancerous cell ionization. They're totally harmless, except of course when used to look at you naked. -Wilson Rothman
The only problem with diamond and gold iPods is that they tend to be a little bit expensive for us normal people. Some though are just plain ugly.
The fledgling online storage market could soon get a shock kick up the arse as the rumour mill goes into overdrive today about new Google plans. 
Pricey watch maker, TAG Heuer, knows a thing or two about making watches that can look good in a chunky way, tell the time across numerous time zones simultaneously, survive some harsh weather conditions and accurately capture the moment buying one emptied your wallet. 
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
