Gadgets point

The latest word from behind Apple-authorized cashiers is that Cupertino has stopped shipping out fresh stock of its entry-level 21-inch iMac. The Core 2 Duo-equipped machines were already looking long in the tooth in this Core i- something era, and so predictably the latest speculation centers around the idea of Apple taking its full iMac range into Core i3, i5 and i7 territory. Nobody really knows any of the specs for the moment, but resellers are apparently being advised to sell through what stock they have and to "keep inventories lean" for the next few weeks. Considering Apple's last all-in-one overhaul coincided with the introduction of the Magic Mouse, we're starting to suspect the company might have another iMac plus touch input device combo coming -- potentially in the very near future. Source: Via[ appleinsider ]

You won't be coloring us shocked if this plays out exactly as rumored, but word on the street has it that Panasonic will be busting out a consumer-level 3D camcorder as early as next week. 'Course, this is a company that already has a built-to-order 3D camcorder available to those with just over 20 large in need of a new home, and with the 3D push happening at a breakneck pace, it was just a matter of time before one of the big boys came along and served up an option for the Average Joe / Jane. Specifics on the device -- which will be "shown at a Tokyo news conference scheduled for July 28" -- are few and far between, but we're hearing that it'll be "about the same size as a conventional consumer-use camcorder," will integrate a pair of lenses in the front and will ring up at "far less" than professional models. Source: Via[ Engadget Spanish ] Via[ PCWorld ]

Here's a tidbit in today's Microsoft quarterly earnings that we previously overlooked: a $240 million cost of revenue "primarily... resulting from the discontinuation of the Kin phone, offset in part by decreased Xbox 360 console costs." In other words, the company took at least a quarter billion hit due to manufacturing, distribution, and support costs of the Kin (according to Microsoft's definition of "cost of revenue"). We don't know how much Xbox 360 offset, unfortunately, but we can add this figure to the $500 million Danger acquisition and the full marketing cost for the product (which we also don't know, but anecdotally, it was on par with other major campaigns) to reach... well, at least $800 million in regret for the folks in Redmond. Source: Via[ Engadget ]Via[ Electronista ]

For those who get scared at the sound of thunder, this lightning strike may be a bit too extreme for you. Continue reading to see the entire sequence -- language is definitely not work safe. Source: Via[ Techeblog ]

Boasting one of the better rhyming straplines I've heard in a while, eBossWatch is a registry for bosses prone to sexual harassment. "Nobody should have to work with a jerk," claims the National Sexual Harassment Agency, and if the testimonies are to be believed, it's the best thing since Dolly did disco . Not content with merely being a searchable database (Noah and Tyler, my two bosses at Fast Company, have both checked out okay) it's also got a Worst Boss section where the truly execrable top dogs are outed. Interestingly enough, of the 25 dawgs, five of them are women , with 15.9% of all complaints in 2008 being filed by men--this one especially sounds nice. The site, which was inspired by the FBI's National Sex Offender Registry, was launched yesterday. It sends, apparently, "a strong message to those intending to sexually harass their employees or co-workers that they will be publicly held accountable and will su

In a world where many teens seem to lack both patience and common sense, one teen in Glendora, CA, demonstrated both masterfully. Steven Ortiz, 17, used Craigslist to trade his way up from an old cell phone to a Porsche.  It took him 2 years of bartering like mad, but it appears that the effort was worth it. He’s the only student at Charter Oak High School who drives a Porsche to school. His path from old cell phone to Porsche included working his way up to an iPod, then a MacBook Pro laptop. Eventually, Ortiz traded up from electronics to dirt bikes, then cars and trucks, and an SUV. “A lot of my friends are jealous,” Ortiz said. “A lot of my friends come up to me and tell me, ‘You want to trade my phone for a car? Try to get me a Ferrari.’ I tell them it’s not that easy. It takes time and patience, definitely.” Video after the break. Ortiz’s skill at identifying a good deal started years ago when he would buy cell phones off of his friends. At $30 each, he would turn

Though they probably won't look anything like Honda's adorable EV-N, the Japanese automaker's got some new technological vehicles up its sleeves -- in a speech today, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito formally announced plans to produce a plug-in hybrid competitor for Toyota's flashy new PHEV Prius by 2012, which rumor has it will sport an estimated fuel economy (when it's using fuel, we assume) of roughly around 140 miles per gallon. Better still, a completely battery-powered electrical vehicle will also go on sale by 2012, and you won't have to fly to Japan to try them out, as they're slated for the States as well. Hydrogen fuel cells are apparently still Honda's long-term solution, though the FCX Clarity received only a passing mention. In the short term, Honda's still circling the wagons around part-gasoline systems like the Civic (which will receive a Li-ion battery pack) and the Fit Hybrid, destined for Japan this fall. Source: Via[ Hond

Nikon was joining the league of mirrorless cameras, the whole world's been waiting for its arch rival to make the next move in the battle of smaller prosumer cameras. Today, Canon finally gave away some hints about which camp it'll side with -- probably just sticking with traditional DSLRs, but smaller. Canon's Masaya Maeda didn't share any specific details, but here's how he dodged Reuters ' inquiry: "It's not a question of whether or not you have a mirror. There is a consumer need for good-quality cameras to be made smaller. We will meet this need." And to add some icing to that bland statement, Maeda reinforced that it wouldn't be a challenge for his company to retain a mirror (hence a viewfinder, which is essential for obtaining better results and higher shooting rates) in a smaller design, and that they've made very small SLR cameras before (likely in reference to the film era).  Whatever happens, here's hoping th

Nokia claims it always prioritizes antenna performance over physical design, and we'll take them at their word, but that apparently didn't exempt one Espoo handset from Apple's grip of doom. Here's the Nokia N97 Mini going down for the count, from a full seven bars to two. Of course, Apple doesn't mention whether calls or data drop when the handset's held this way. Video after the break. [Thanks, Lyndon W.]  Source: Via[ Engadget ]

Apple posts record $3.25b profit in first full quarter of iPad sales, says more 'amazing products' coming this year Apple just posted up its third quarter earnings -- its first full quarter selling the iPad -- and, well, it's raining cash in Cupertino. The company posted a record profit of $3.25b on record revenues of $15.7b, which is up from $1.83b and $9.73b from a year ago. The big stat? Apple sold 3.27 million iPads, nearly matching the 3.47 million Macs sold -- and Mac sales were up 33 percent from a year ago to set a new quarterly record. Yeah, damn. iPhone sales -- including the first few weeks of the iPhone 4 -- were up 61 percent from a year ago to 8.4 million, and the iPod continued its slow decline, down eight percent to 9.41 million units sold. Over half of the Apple's sales -- 52 percent -- were international, and Jobs is quoted saying "we have amazing new products still to come this year." Not a bad way to he

That's right, SpaceShipTwo has successfully completed its first flight with a full crew aboard, which "lasted more than six hours and included tests of systems aboard board the spacecraft, according to Virgin Galactic. Video after the break. "There have been several preparation flights during the last month, suggesting the team is preparing for the glide flight even though no date has been released." Source: Via[ Techeblog ]

Final delivery of Google’s Nexus One Android handset means that the company’s web store will close shortly   Google is to stop selling its Nexus One online, but the Android phone will still be available in the UK via Vodafone Photo: Reuters      Google is to abandon its online web store and stop selling the Nexus One Android handset. The phone, which was the first Android handset designed by Google itself, was initially sold only at google.com/phone, but in a blog post the company’s vice president Andy Rubin said that the method had not worked and that the company had now received its last delivery of the handset. Writing in May Mr Rubin said on the company's Nexus One blog: “While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not. It’s remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it’s clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also

The Nokia Kinetic isn't just a sleek concept phone. It's a sleek concept phone that raises itself up into a standing position when a call comes in. Huh? Inside the Kinetic is an electromagnet that can shift weights in the curved base, causing the phone to tilt upright on cue, that cue being an incoming call. Telemarketer again? Tap the phone to decline the call and it'll fall back down. It's intended to be a playful feature, though I can see it being useful in a quiet office where even vibrating phones are sometimes an irritant to others. The Kinetic's pretty clever, though designer Jeremy Innes-Hopkins will have to do some serious convincing if anyone's going to go for the bulbous form factor of this thing. Source: via[ dvice ]

The Wall Street Journal reports that “people familiar with the situation” indicated that Kallasvuo, who has held the CEO title since 2006, will soon be ousted for a new leader. And continued to report as “They are serious about making a change,” one person familiar with the matter said. Nokia board members are “supposed to make a decision by the end of the month,” that person said. The CEO of a major U.S. high-tech company recently spurned Nokia’s approach after meeting with Chairman Jorma Ollila, because the candidate wasn’t interested in moving to Finland, this person said. Nokia also has flown in at least one other U.S. based executive to interview for the CEO job, the person said. If the reports are true, it looks like there could be a shake-up at a U.S. based company as well as the mobile manufacturer poaches American companies for a new leader. While the news strikes hard, it strikes fast as the decision by Nokia board members will be made by the end of th

  What sorts of airplanes will we be flying in 2030? According to Airbus, this "fantasy plane" concept is a reasonable guess, a lightweight model with curled wings and a U-shaped tail. Oh, and invisible floors. Sure, the design itself isn't that crazy, but some of the interior features sure are. How about "holographic projections of virtual decors, so that each passenger could transform his or her area into a workspace, a bedroom, or a Zen garden"? Or walls and a floor that can turn "invisible" so you have a better sense of the landscape below. That one sounds both amazing and absolutely terrifying. Having ridden in a glass-bottomed ferris wheel car and almost soiled my shorts, I can't imagine how looking straight down from 30,000 feet would feel. At this point of time there is no need to worry for another 20 years. Source: via[ Gizmodo ]

 From the outside it appears to be just another apple.But on deeper inspection the fruit reveals its true colours.Take a bite and you will find the Redlove's distinctive hue runs all the way through to the core. Deceptive: It may look like a tomato, but this is the world's first red-fleshed apple that has gone on sale in Britain.Not only is the apple said to be extremely tasty – it has a 'berry nuance' – it is even healthier than your average apple as its red flesh is richer in antioxidants. The new fruit will even keep its colour after being cooked or pressed, producing cider that looks more like cranberry juice – or an unusual looking apple pie. It also has the advantage of not turning brown, making it better than normal apples as an ingredient in a fruit salad. The Redlove is the result of 20 years of painstaking work by Markus Kobert, a Swiss fruit grower. He has cross-pollinated a number of varieties - including one that has pink flesh but no taste - to come up wi

  Tag Heuer, best known for their fancy, manly watches, also makes fancy, manly eyewear, and the Squadra night vision glasses are their newest pair. They have titanium arms, high-contrast lenses, and make all the other spectacles nearby feel kinda wimpy. Just look at the Tag Heuer eyewear site . That Flash intro is like a James Bond movie. And the Squadra glasses sound like James Bond glasses, too, with -0.25 diopter ophthalmic lenses and oleophobic, anti-reflective treatment . Basically that just means they make it easier for your eyeballs to see at night, which is especially useful for international super spies and Le Mans-winning racecar drivers (this year's champs wore the Squadra specs), but still at least sort of useful for regular people like you and me, too. If you want to give your eyes the ego boost, the Squadra are available in two shapes for $450.  Source: [ Tag Heuer via Luxist ]

Scientists have discovered the first cometary planet, one with a huge tail, a stream of gas being ripped off by solar winds at 22,000 miles per hour. This jovian world is located 153 light-years from Earth. The planet—called HD 209458b—orbits 100 times closer to its home star than our Jovian neighbor, traveling in an astonishingly fast 3.5-day orbit. For comparison, Mercury—our solar system fastest planet—has an 88-day orbit. Since HD 209458b is so close to the sun, the stellar winds are ripping the planet's atmosphere apart. Scientists have used the Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to gather evidence that support the theory that its 2,000ºF atmosphere is being ejected from its body at 22,000 miles per hour. According to astronomer Jeffrey Linsky, of the University of Colorado in Boulder: Since 2003 scientists have theorized the lost mass is being pushed back into a tail, and they have even calculated what it looks like. We think we have the best observational eviden

20th Century Fox has put a date on its release of Alien Anthology on Blu-ray—October 25. Believe it or, yet more "unreleased footage" has been salvaged for the $139 six-disc set. Click through for the full content list. ALIEN ANTHOLOGY: The Ultimate Collection Featuring All Four ALIEN Films Hatches On Blu-ray from October 25 With Never-Before-Seen Bonus Material And The Debut Of The Exclusive and Groundbreaking Interactive Experience, MU-TH-UR Mode ON BLU-RAY, EVERYONE WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM Fans Have A Chance To Board The Nostromo During Comic-Con At Booth #3528 And Enter The Hibernation Chamber Of The Doomed Intergalactic Crew Comic-Con 2010 LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sometimes, the scariest things come from within. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents one of the most successful and terrifying film franchises of all time when the ALIEN ANTHOLOGY debuts on Blu-ray for the first time ever from October 25 internationally and on October 26 in North America. Al

Brammo's new electric motorcycle, the Empulse, is the big brother bike to the Brammo Enertia. Compared to other electric motorcycles, it's faster, lasts longer and still surprisingly affordable. Not to mention that it actually looks like a motorcycle. Where the Enertia was cute and charming, the Empulse is beastly and powerful. The Empulse can reach speeds up to 100mph and has an average range of 100 miles off a single charge. It'll actually come in three models: a 6kWh, 8kWh and 10kWh version with each averaging a 60, 80, and 100 mile range on a single charge. Pricing ranges from $9,995 to $13,995 depending on which motorcycle you spring for. The Empulse uses features similar to what we've seen in the MotoCzysz E1PC—like the liquid-cooled motor—but for a more practical setting. Brammo won't go into details about the battery but they've managed to cook up something super powerful at a very low cost. The rest of the bike draws inspiration from conventional m

Apple's gone out an bought itself another mapping company. This time it's Canadian firm Poly9, which makes interactive 3D software designed for use in a browser. It could be an important step towards Apple making their very own Google Earth. The acquisition was made "recently," though it's not clear exactly when. It comes on the heels of Apples purchase of mapping service company Placebase last year. Combined, the technology from the two companies would give Apple the foundation for a potent mapping platform. The Poly9 Globe project, for instance, is a Google Earth-like program that takes up just 303kb and can run on any platform. Moving away from Google's 3D globe imaging would be a major salvo in the ongoing Apple/Google feud, but it would also give Apple something they very much value in the iPhone and iPad ecosystem: control. Neither company has commented so far, but expect to see some Cupertino cartography sooner than later. Source: cyberpresse

It's been a long, ugly road, but HD2 owners and hackers alike can finally bask in the glory of an open device with top-notch hardware and specs that still give mid 2010's best phones a run for their money. We'd already seen a stock Android 2.1-based ROM, but now we've got your choice of stock Android 2.2 or Android 2.1 with Sense, too -- seriously, pick your poison. Though HTC clearly never intended to get this kind of Sense on the HD2, there's something that just feels right about it, isn't there? Follow the break for videos of both firmwares in action. Source: hdblog.it

Considering how thrilled I was just to find this story, I can only imagine the delirious, all-consuming excitement felt by Dave Crisp, a British hospital chef, when his metal detector uncovered this pot of 52,000 Roman coins. Crisp was lolling with his detector in a field in southwestern England when he made the discovery, eventually unearthing some 50,000 silver and bronze coins dating from 253 to 293 AD. Over 700 of them bear the face of Marcus Aurelius Carausius, a Roman general who ruled Britain and was the first to make coins in the region. Crisp, a self-described "metal detectorist," explained that he would have to share the coins' estimated $1 million value with the farmer who owns the land on which they were buried. Still, I imagine that the prospect of a $500,000 payday will be enough to inspire a whole new generation of detectorists. Source: CNN

If lie detection is your thing, choices aren't exactly scarce: you can go with Lego for the kids, Skype-centric for remote fibber identification, or even use a headband if you can corral your suspect long enough. Hoping to add to that list is the University of Utah, whose eye-tracking lie detector has been licensed to a local company in order to explore its viability as a commercial product. As with Blade Runnner 's Voight-Kampff empathy test, Utah's methodology revolves around monitoring things like eye movement, pupil dilation and response time -- with the major difference being that you're trying to identify truth evaders rather than skinjobs. John Kircher, one of the lead researchers, claims results so far have been as good as or better than those obtained with polygraph testing, though he admits the project is still in its early stages. No worries, though, we're sure they'll perfect the technique in time for our post-apocalyptic, Vangelis-sco

Normally it's the big game you have to worry about, but thankfully, when these two tiny animals attacked this wildlife photographer, someone was standing nearby to take the shot. Source: via [ Buzz feed ]

Don't let anyone ever tell you that being a viral-video star is not a viable profession. Business Insider reports that the DeVore family has made roughly $150,000 since January of last year, when David DeVore uploaded a video of his son, also named David, to YouTube. That video, ' David After Dentist ,' became an Internet phenomenon, and, thanks to licensing deals and a partnership with YouTube, the family has been raking in the dough. Of those licensing deals, the one with the highest profile was certainly the Vizio commercial aired during the Super Bowl , but David DeVore hasn't been shy about selling the likeness of his heavily medicated son. In fact, a recent deal will result in a line of 'David' scrubs for dentists. During his interview with Business Insider, DeVore even took the opportunity to openly court Crest and Colgate for a sponsorship deal. The original video still draws over 100,000 viewers a day, and the family has every intention of continuin

Another player has entered the high-end compact camera fold, and this time it looks like Samsung is in it to win it. The TL500 (aka EX1) is a 10 megapixel shooter with a larger than usual 1/1.7-inch CCD backing up a 24 - 72mm 3x zoom lens that will take you all the way down to F1.8. In the Photography Blog review, that lens earned the camera one of its few criticisms, starting very wide but not offering enough magnification on the other end of the scale. A lack of 720p video recording is another bummer, but other than those two it's basically all positive, with the build quality and controls earning high marks, and the resulting images (helped by full manual exposure controls) looking as good as you'd expect. The camera isn't particularly reasonable at $449, but it does at least deliver on everything it promises.  Source: [via engadget ]