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Apple TV Update Adds AirTunes Streaming, Support for Other Remotes

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 11:03AM


For home theater junkies who've been having a difficult time taking the Apple TV seriously, you should definitely have a look at what the latest software update brings to the dinner table. First off, we should warn you that any non-Apple TV software (like, you know, Boxee) will be banished should you choose to update, but if you're kosher on that front, we'll continue on.

Apple's changelog notes that AirTunes streaming is now enabled, meaning that tunes can be streamed from the STB to AirPort Express speakers or other ATV units nearby. Additionally, the box can now learn other remotes, meaning that you can probably get your universal remote to handle this bugger, too. The last big addition is that Playlists in iTunes can now be seen on Apple TV, and there's also support for volume control in Music.

Grab the download from within your box now if you dare, and feel free to chime in with any other noteworthy changes you happen upon.

[Via TUAW]

Study Shows Cell Phones Can Trigger Mercury to Leak from Fillings

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 18th 2008 at 10:48AM

We're not even going to pretend we fully grasp what's going on here, but the long and short of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences' latest findings are that cell phones can trigger the release of mercury from one's fillings. Yes, seriously. The study asserts that out of 14 test subjects with fillings, those who used mobile phones had a statistically significant increase of mercury from urine tests than those who refrained from yapping. The science behind all of this is far beyond our IQ levels, but we're a little freaked out/not freaked out, regardless.

[Via textually]

Kami Kami Bite Counter Keeps Your Kid Masticating

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 17th 2008 at 6:01PM


We've no clue what kind of sick, demented parent would ever put their child through this, but for those with offspring who like to, say, swallow their hamburgers whole, we suppose it may come in handy. From the wide, wacky and utterly bizarre world that is Japanese gadgetry comes this: a bite counter from Nitto Kagaku. As you'd expect, the headgear keeps track of how many bites your kid takes, and it even plays a little jingle every 1,000 chews in order to celebrate the occasion. 'Course, there is the proven side effect of obesity, but at least they'll be making mincemeat out of everything they can get their hands on while gradually growing to 385 pounds.

[Via Engadget German]

Wireless ButtKicker Kit Ready to Rumble Your Posterior

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 17th 2008 at 5:25PM


Earlier this year, we were fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on perspective) enough to get our rumps on one of the famed ButtKickers. For those unaware, these devices are meant for installation underneath a seat or sofa in order to provide chair-rumbling effects to help you "feel" the film. Now, the Guitammer Company is making them even easier to install by cutting the wires, bringing low frequency audio transducers just inches from your derriere without any cords necessary. The above pictured kit will go on sale next Friday (yes, that's Black Friday for you Americans) for under $300 on Amazon -- are you really ready to rumble?

Tivo and Domino's Offering Pizza Via Your Remote Control

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 17th 2008 at 1:02PMBreaking News


Clearly catering towards the wants, nay, needs of the average American couch potato is TiVo and Domino's Pizza, which have collaborated in order to bring on-sofa pizza ordering to broadband-connected TiVo subscribers. If you'll recall, this service was actually announced for Australia earlier this month, but users in the US of A get the first chance to indulge. 'Course, this is far from the first unorthodox method of ordering pizza, and the lack of a scheduled delivery option is certainly a weak point, but this widget does reveal that all sorts of differentiating applications could eventually find their way to a TiVo box near you. Feel free to give it a spin tonight, but don't blame us if that backlit remote gets dimmed from grease seeping into the crevices.

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Circuit City Files for Bankruptcy

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 10th 2008 at 10:16AMBreaking News



Even after shutting down 155 retail stores and announcing plans to cut around 17-percent of its 43,000 employees, Circuit City couldn't avoid the dreaded bankruptcy court. Today, the Virginia-based company (along with 17 affiliates) petitioned for Chapter 11 protection in Richmond as it attempts to survive under the crushing pressure from Best Buy / Wal-mart. Beyond that, details about the outfit's future are unclear, though Best Buy has reportedly stated that it "might take over stores that distressed rivals close." Please, no.

[Via Bloomberg, image courtesy of AFSmith; thanks Daniel]

New 'Banjo Kazooie' Game Snubs SDTV Viewers

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 9th 2008 at 8:48AM


Whoa, boy. Talk about causing an uproar. Rare, the development studio behind the forthcoming video game 'Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,' has decided to move forward with the game without fixing a glaring textual issue when playing on an standard-definition television (SDTV). Essentially, the text in the game -- of which there a lot -- is darn near illegible on standard-def televisions. When playing the game on an HDTV (even at 'DVD-quality' 480p), it's relatively easy to make out what's going on; when attempting to play on an SDTV, things get ugly. As you can see above, we find it hard to believe SDTV owners will be able to stand the game-play for more than a few minutes, and amazingly, Rare has admitted that there are no plans to fix things before it goes gold.

So, how do you feel about this? As a presumed HDTV owner, you probably couldn't care less personally, but should SDTV-owning gamers be given more respect here?

[Via Joystiq]

Fujitsu's In-Car Safety Tech Senses Drowsiness, Wakes You Up

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 8th 2008 at 11:16AM

Not that we haven't seen similar technology from other outfits before, but we'll take as many in-car safety advancements as we can get. It's bruited that Fujitsu is conjuring up a sophisticated sensor system that can actually detect when a driver gets drowsy or begins to sink into a deep, dark wonder-world of sleep. Put simply, the system would detect specific changes in the motorist's heart rate via the steering wheel, and once it determined that you weren't exactly "with it" any longer, the car could then roll its own windows down, blast the stereo or jolt the wheel in order to get your attention. In our minds, the biggest issue here is to not cause an accident by spooking a sleepy driver out of their slumber, and we presume that's exactly what the company is working on in its R&D labs.

[Image courtesy of MetroHealth]

Blu-ray Holiday Primer Gets You Informed

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 7th 2008 at 3:30PM



If you've been conveniently ignoring all the ins and outs of Blu-ray (BD) while the prices have been out of reach, you may have found yourself feeling a bit behind the times now that the technology is becoming more attainable. No worries, though -- Forbes has hosted up a detailed Blu-ray Holiday Primer that gives you the skinny on BD's advantages over DVD, how it stacks up against digital downloads and what all those Profiles actually mean. If you've been scouting a simple crash course in Blu-ray before plunking down $150 or so (we hope, anyway) this Black Friday, you know where to head.

[Thanks, Anthony]

Digital TV Transition Spoof Video Is Both Informative and Hilarious

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 6th 2008 at 3:45PM


By now, you've probably seen at least one DTV transition commercial, and if not, you're clearly not watching enough television. Criticisms aside, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to point you at what will unquestionably be the most hilarious (albeit informative) digital TV conversion ad of all time. We won't even bother trying to explain what happens in this 1 minute, 53 second masterpiece, but as you can glean from the photo above, this is a can't-miss experience. Jump past the break and mash play.

[Thanks, Sean]

Continue reading Digital TV Transition Spoof Video Is Both Informative and Hilarious


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