Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How to Make Ice Cream Without a Machine]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/how-to-make-ice-cream-without-a-machine/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/how-to-make-ice-cream-without-a-machine/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/how-to-make-ice-cream-without-a-machine/#commentsFiled under: ,

Making Ice Cream Without a Machine
Who, besides vegans and the lactose intolerant, doesn't love ice cream? Nobody. (Even the dairy-averse have found alternatives for this universally adored frozen treat.) Although precursors to what we know as ice cream have existed for ages, Harold McGee -- food science master and author of the must-have 'On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen' -- notes in his book that "the English term 'ice cream' first appears in a 1672 document from the court of Charles II, and the first printed recipes for frozen creams appear in France and Naples in the 1680s and 1690s." The custard-based recipe that most of us know as premium, New York or French-style ice cream began, naturally, in France, which also developed the heart-attack-inducing glace au beurre ("ice butter") with 20 egg yolks per pint of cream.

The main roadblock cited by home cooks who've made their own ice cream is the need for an ice cream machine. But stirring -- which, along with facilitating subfreezing temperatures -- is the main function of an ice cream maker and a relatively new process in the history of the dessert.

With all that in mind, we decided to cull DIY, no-machine-necessary methods of ice cream creation for all you cash-strapped and/or curious readers. With some basic science in hand, who needs a fancy ice cream maker?

SwitchedHow to Make Ice Cream Without a Machine originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingdave arnoldDaveArnolddiydondurmafoodFrench Culinary InstituteFrenchCulinaryInstituteguar gumGuarGumharold mcgeeHaroldMcgeeice creamice cream machineice cream makerIceCreamIceCreamMachineIceCreamMakerkulfisalepSwitchedCookstopWed, 11 Aug 2010 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Marriage Proposal a Success, Thanks to Twitter, Foursquare and Qik]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/marriage-proposal-a-success-thanks-to-twitter-foursquare-and-q/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/marriage-proposal-a-success-thanks-to-twitter-foursquare-and-q/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/marriage-proposal-a-success-thanks-to-twitter-foursquare-and-q/#commentsFiled under: , ,

proposal

Where many men have disappointed their girlfriends by offering casual, lackluster proposals, Digg's Matt Van Horn secured a definite "yes" from his girlfriend, Lauren, on Saturday by streaming his surprise proposal online so that their friends and family could watch. Fearing that Lauren would expect the proposal if he took her to their favorite spot overlooking San Francisco, Van Horn arranged for a friend to take Lauren there, where he hid behind a rock with another friend, filming everything to a Qik video stream.

Before the proposal, Van Horn rigged the Qik stream to sync to his Foursquare and Twitter accounts. So, when he did check into the park on Foursquare, the URL of the check-in was automatically posted to the Qik stream, which then posted the check-in to his Twitter account. Got that? Since Lauren's phone was already set up to receive Van Horn's Twitter alerts, she shortly saw that he was at the same park and turned around, shocked to see her boyfriend on his knees proposing to her.

Continue reading Marriage Proposal a Success, Thanks to Twitter, Foursquare and Qik

SwitchedMarriage Proposal a Success, Thanks to Twitter, Foursquare and Qik originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datingdiggFourSquaremarriageMarriageProposalQikQikVideoromanceSocialNetworkingtoptwitterTue, 10 Aug 2010 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Recruiting Video Salutes Wes Anderson's 'Rushmore']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/twitter-salutes-wes-andersons-rushmore-in-new-recruiting-vide/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/twitter-salutes-wes-andersons-rushmore-in-new-recruiting-vide/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/twitter-salutes-wes-andersons-rushmore-in-new-recruiting-vide/#commentsFiled under: ,

Twitter's Rushmore Treatment
Twitter's new recruiting video may not make you feel like working, but, if you're in your 20s, are sort of nerdy and remember the time you snuck into the indie-cinema to see 'Rushmore,' you will feel a nostalgic twinge.

In the video (after the break), Twitter headquarters are transformed into something of a yearbook, with various teams of employees posing for the film as you would a picture. If you've seen any of Wes Anderson's 'Rushmore,' you'll immediately recognize the recruiting video as a modern day recreation of one of the movie's most famous scenes. In place of Max Fischer's Fencing Team and Yankee Racers groups, Twitter employees form teams, such as Infrastructure, Storage, Gardening and Tweet Fleet, and it's all shot in Wes Anderson's Futura-stamped style. [From: Business Insider]

Continue reading Twitter Recruiting Video Salutes Wes Anderson's 'Rushmore'

SwitchedTwitter Recruiting Video Salutes Wes Anderson's 'Rushmore' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>filmfunnyGeekChichomagemoviesrecruitingrushmoresocialnetworkingtoptwitterwebwes andersonWesAndersonThu, 05 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Long Island Town Uses Google Earth to Find Rogue Swimming Pools]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/long-island-town-uses-google-earth-to-find-rogue-swimming-pools/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/long-island-town-uses-google-earth-to-find-rogue-swimming-pools/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/long-island-town-uses-google-earth-to-find-rogue-swimming-pools/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Officials in one Long Island town are cracking down on rogue swimming pool owners by using Google's satellite imaging technology. According to an Associated Press report in The Wall Street Journal, Riverhead, New York's chief building inspector, LeRoy Barnes, Jr., is using Google Earth to locate swimming pools that haven't been registered for a city permit. So far, Barnes and his staff have discovered about 250 pools to be missing permits, and have collected about $75,000 in fines. The city claims that this rash of unregulated pools could have faulty plumbing or electrical work, which would endanger Riverhead residents.

Lillie Coney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C. told the AP, "The technology is going so far ahead of what people think is possible, and there is too little discussion about community norms." The decision to use Google Earth probably didn't stem from safety or privacy; the city used a free service to do a faster, more efficient (and invasive) job. It makes perfect fiscal sense, even if it might ruffle some feathers. [From: AP/The Wall Street Journal]

SwitchedLong Island Town Uses Google Earth to Find Rogue Swimming Pools originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleGoogleEarthLongIslandpermitpoolriverheadsatellitesummertopMon, 02 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Shark Week' to Feature Great Whites Swallowing HD Cameras]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/shark-week-2011-features-great-whites-swallowing-hd-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/shark-week-2011-features-great-whites-swallowing-hd-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/shark-week-2011-features-great-whites-swallowing-hd-cameras/#commentsFiled under: ,

Your faithful writer, bolstered by assurance in the strides we're making with shark-detecting technologies, was planning another trip to the beach this weekend. But it suddenly dawned on him that this August 1st will see the 2010 premiere of Shark Week! For shark-phobic rubbernecks, Shark Week is the ultimate car crash, keeping us glued to the television for tales (and tails) of torment and triumph, and it's even better (or worse) in high definition.

The Discovery Channel has upped the ante with a decidedly unscientific new program for the Shark Week lineup called 'Into the Shark Bite,' where seemingly accredited, but suicidal, marine biologists decide to entice great whites to partially nom on an HD high-speed camera. What can this possibly tell us about the anatomy and behaviors of the great white that was not previously known? Nothing, other than to cement in our galeophobic brains what will likely be the last image we see before we go crunchily into that good night. Slightly less terrifying HD sharks (photographed shooting through the air in 2,000 fps) will be featured on 'Air Jaws' (yes, great whites are rare for their predilection for spy-hopping and breaching the surface at fierce speeds) and the curiously more epic version, 'Ultimate Air Jaws.' If there were ever a time to cradle a comforting pillow while feeding your ridiculous phobias, that time is now. Engadget has a pants-wetting gallery here. [From: Engadget]

Switched'Shark Week' to Feature Great Whites Swallowing HD Cameras originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>great whitegreat white sharkGreatWhiteGreatWhiteSharkhdhigh definitionHighDefinitioninto the shark biteIntoTheSharkBitesharkshark weekshark week 2010sharksSharkWeekSharkWeek2010topSun, 01 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[V-Swing Camcorder Records and Analyzes Your Golf Swing]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/v-swing-attaches-to-golf-bag-to-record-and-analyze-your-swing/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/v-swing-attaches-to-golf-bag-to-record-and-analyze-your-swing/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/v-swing-attaches-to-golf-bag-to-record-and-analyze-your-swing/#commentsFiled under: ,

V-Swing Camcorder
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Golfers are notorious for dropping thousands of dollars on swing coaches to lower their scores, but a new camcorder claims to render those costly lessons unnecessary by making you the coach. According to DVICE, the V-Swing is a hands-free camcorder that attaches to a golf bag and records your swing as close as six feet from the tee. The $350 device has a wide-angle lens mounted on a long, adjustable neck. You can watch your swing in full-speed, slow-motion or even frame-by-frame on the V-Swing's 3.5-inch screen. Once golfers are done at the course or range, they can review their wobbly swing mechanics with the help of the included V1 motion-analysis software, which lets users upload their videos to the Web for critique by community golf pros.

Sure, you can't share a beer at the clubhouse with the V-Swing, but it's cheaper than a human coach, and, best of all, it doesn't berate you when you slice into the water hazard for the third consecutive time. [From: DVICE and V-Swing]

Continue reading V-Swing Camcorder Records and Analyzes Your Golf Swing

SwitchedV-Swing Camcorder Records and Analyzes Your Golf Swing originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysiscamcordercameragolfsportstopv-swingv1videoThu, 29 Jul 2010 08:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Cast Off and Log On With Incredible Fishing Tech]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/cast-off-and-log-on-with-incredible-fishing-tech/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/cast-off-and-log-on-with-incredible-fishing-tech/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/cast-off-and-log-on-with-incredible-fishing-tech/#commentsFiled under:

Fishing Gadgets

When the days are long and the weather is warm, there's nothing like spending some time down by the lake, river or ocean. We're not expert anglers, but, as it has many other hobbies, technology has made fishing easier and more accessible. In fact, if you're willing to spend the cash, you can catch some fish without any expert knowledge or fly-fishing blood in your veins. For the first-time fishermen (or, maybe, old pros looking for a new edge), we've compiled a list of eight essential pieces of technology that will get you well on your way to snagging that record-breaking catch. But, trust us, we have our digital scales handy, so we'll know exactly how big your miracle snag actually is.

Continue reading Cast Off and Log On With Incredible Fishing Tech

SwitchedCast Off and Log On With Incredible Fishing Tech originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BassProShopscabelaCarpFishingCarpFishingBiteAlarmDaiwaDaiwaReelsfeaturesFishFinderfishingGarminGarminFishfinderoutdoorRadio-controlledFeedBoatRocketFishingRodtopunderwaterUnderwaterCameraXbox360Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[With 'Shark Week' Imminent, Look Forward to the Great-White-Warning SMS System]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/22/with-shark-week-imminent-look-forward-to-the-great-white-warn/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/22/with-shark-week-imminent-look-forward-to-the-great-white-warn/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/22/with-shark-week-imminent-look-forward-to-the-great-white-warn/#commentsFiled under: ,

a shark tag sensor on the ocean floor
Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' saw its 35th anniversary last month, and your writer reignited an irrational, but very real, childhood galeophobia by re-watching the entire toothy franchise just before a July 4th trip to the beach. It didn't help matters that the original Jaws (yes, we know, fictional) attacks occurred around Independence Day on Amity Island, and that the real-life Coast Guard issued a warning about carcharodon on the Eastern seaboard just after a great white was caught off of Massachusetts earlier that week. Needless to say, your writer was wary of the water. Perhaps he would've felt better had the Long Island lifeguards come equipped with a shark-warning texting system.

And that's exactly what researchers at Western Australia's Department of Fisheries are trying to set up. Tagging sharks and other marine life is nothing new (as evidenced by Dr. Hooper and Quint's tag-and-barrel system), but the Australian tags come with 20 satellite-linked buoys and 50 sensors on the ocean floor that relay the whereabouts of 75 great whites to some kind of Jaws-watch HQ. In addition to providing behavioral information about these little-understood apex predators, the system can send lifeguards an emergency text when one of the voracious animals swims within a quarter mile or so of a coastal buoy.

Continue reading With 'Shark Week' Imminent, Look Forward to the Great-White-Warning SMS System

SwitchedWith 'Shark Week' Imminent, Look Forward to the Great-White-Warning SMS System originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese-made watermelon cooler.
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Apparently, enjoying a fresh slice of watermelon isn't a strictly American experience; just check out this Japanese-made watermelon cooler. According to Crunch Gear, it also has the ability to warm your melon (for whatever reason), or anything else you put under its plastic dome. For about $230, you can wheel your watermelon right up to the beach and bask in your lack of frugality.

Now, a round cooler isn't such a terrible idea, and the existence of this device makes some sense knowing the high cost of Japanese fruit. Putting a watermelon inside a square cooler wastes space that could be otherwise used for cold beverages. But we have no clue why anybody would want to eat warm watermelon. Even if you are inclined to do so, there's a cheaper alternative fpr warming your watermelon -- the sun. [From: Joybond, via: Crunch Gear and Gizmodo]

Continue reading Picnics Not Weird Enough? Try This Rolling Japanese Watermelon Cooler

SwitchedPicnics Not Weird Enough? Try This Rolling Japanese Watermelon Cooler originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coolerfoodJapanOnlyInJapantopwatermelonweirdTue, 20 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Posterior-Poking 'Pay & Sit' Bench Begs for Bucks or Jabs Your Butt]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/17/posterior-poking-pay-and-sit-bench-begs-for-bucks-or-jabs-your-b/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/17/posterior-poking-pay-and-sit-bench-begs-for-bucks-or-jabs-your-b/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/17/posterior-poking-pay-and-sit-bench-begs-for-bucks-or-jabs-your-b/#commentsFiled under: ,

fabian brunsing's 'pay & sit: the private bench'
Designer Fabian Brunsing is worried about commerce encroaching on public space. His 'Pay & Sit: The Private Bench' installation in Berlin is exactly what it sounds like. A series of retractable metal spikes embedded in the planks stick up from the seat of the bench; a fee of about $0.70 (0.5€) deposited into the attached coin box will cause the spikes to recede. While we couldn't calculate a definitive time-frame, it seems like 'The Private Bench' isn't too generous before it pokes the spikes back up.

This cheeky design questions the growing necessity to pay for the privilege of using a public space and services. But, unlike a pay toilet, there's not much upkeep cost for a bench. Sure, someone needs to scrape the pigeon crap off of it every now and then, but that's about it. Still, it's a fun little torture device -- but we would have liked if it had resembled Kafka's Harrow from 'In The Penal Colony.' "HONOR THY BENCH." [From: Geekosystem]

Continue reading Posterior-Poking 'Pay & Sit' Bench Begs for Bucks or Jabs Your Butt

SwitchedPosterior-Poking 'Pay & Sit' Bench Begs for Bucks or Jabs Your Butt originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wunda Weeder
Gardening is usually backbreaking work. Planting, weeding and harvesting require physical exertion and near constant squatting or bending over. Thanks to the strangely named Wunda Products, there may be hope for the chronically lazy who also dream of having their own homegrown produce. The Wunda Weeder consists of a simple metal frame with a platform for a face-down, reclining person, a headrest to reduce neck strain and an electric motor to keep the contraption moving, thanks to rooftop solar panels. The vehicle allows the user to suspend themselves over tilled soil or crops to perform their horticultural chores.

At an expected price of $8,000, when the Wunda Weeder goes on sale later this year, we wouldn't expect to find it in too many small gardens or farms. The company claims the device could triple farm productivity in some cases, but we're sure those are very specific indeed. Many larger farms are so heavily mechanized and automated, there would be little to gain from spending tens of thousands of dollars on a fleet of Wunda Weeders. Besides, we like knowing that the food we eat was produced through sweat and hard work... even if it wasn't our own. [From: Wunda Weeder, via: DVICE]

SwitchedSolar-Powered Wunda Weeder Lets You Garden While Lying Down originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Backpacking Guide
If you're like many young students graduating from high school or college, you're probably planning a little time off -- perhaps a trip abroad in that great American tradition of backpacking. But stuffing whatever you happen to have lying around your room into a bag is a terrible idea for such a journey. You'll want to be properly prepared, and, if you're anything like us, that means making sure you've got the right tech tucked away in the deep recesses of that brand new 70-liter pack you picked up. Here are our suggestions for the essential equipment and gadgets you'll need to survive your travels, while making sure your nights in the hostels are entirely pleasant experiences.

Continue reading Best Backpacking Gadgets for Your Summer Travels

SwitchedBest Backpacking Gadgets for Your Summer Travels originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcerAspireOne532hbackpackingdmc-ts2featuresinternationalInternationalTravelLeathermanJuiceXe6NexusOnePanasonicLumixDmc-ts2steripentoptravelTravelSmartOutletVoltageConverterSetTue, 13 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Portable Outdoor Speakers for Pool Parties, Beach Bums and More]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/12/best-portable-outdoor-speakers-for-pool-parties-beach-bums-and/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/12/best-portable-outdoor-speakers-for-pool-parties-beach-bums-and/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/12/best-portable-outdoor-speakers-for-pool-parties-beach-bums-and/#commentsFiled under: ,

Best Portable Outdoor Speakers

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Summer is a time for outdoor parties, wherever possible -- be it the beach, rooftop, courtyard or front stoop. And with traditional boomboxes having gone the way of the dodo, you'll need something else to blast your digital music. We've rounded up some of our favorite portable speaker options on the market. All are iPod and iPhone compatible (with shielded speakers to prevent interference), have AUX-in to support any MP3 player with a headphone jack, and are battery powered, enabling you to load it on your ten-speed, and be the life of the pool party.

Continue reading Best Portable Outdoor Speakers for Pool Parties, Beach Bums and More

SwitchedBest Portable Outdoor Speakers for Pool Parties, Beach Bums and More originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alteclancinginmotionAltecLansingaudioboschboschpb360boseBoseSounddockfeaturesgrace digital audioGraceDigitalAudioGraceEcoExtremeihomeihomeip46logitechLogitechPure-fiAnytimeoutdoor speakersOutdoorSpeakersphilipsphilipsfidelioDS7550speakerstopMon, 12 Jul 2010 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Wi-Fi Equipped 'Halo' Bike Lock Sounds the Stolen Bike Alarm]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/wi-fi-equipped-halo-bike-lock-sounds-the-stolen-bike-alarm/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/wi-fi-equipped-halo-bike-lock-sounds-the-stolen-bike-alarm/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/wi-fi-equipped-halo-bike-lock-sounds-the-stolen-bike-alarm/#commentsFiled under: ,

Halo Bike Lock
Some of the Switched team take to two wheels for the daily commute, and, although the streets of New York are hardly the safest place to be biking, we're usually more concerned about bike theft than we are swerving taxi drivers. Most of us use the low-tech approach of riding a cheap-o road bike, and lugging around a heavy chain to lock it up, but we're now considering the Halo bike lock concept. Art director Steve Hunt embedded a wireless Eye-Fi card in the bendable circular lock in order to alert you, via the 'Love Your Bike' iPhone app, if somebody's tampering with it. (Granted, the system is entirely dependent on your bike being parked in range of a free Wi-Fi hotspot.) If your lock has been snapped off, and left on the ground, you'll have no luck in chasing down your bike. Still, at least the smartphone alert will give you a head start on catching the thieving crook. [From: Steve Hunt, via: Crunchgear]

SwitchedWi-Fi Equipped 'Halo' Bike Lock Sounds the Stolen Bike Alarm originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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uplink vest
You can tell somebody is into exercise for the right reason (namely, to stay healthy, and not to get "totally ripped"), when they're willing to look completely goofy while doing it. "After all," says the true health nut, "the more comfortable I am, the further I can run/bike/speed-walk!" Well, sir, meet your new best friend: the Uplink.

Designed by Adam Hammerman, this solar-powered personal speaker system comes in the form of a vest, and, its creator claims, allows for comfortable listening while also permitting the wearer to hear crucial ambient noises -- like the roars of oncoming vehicles, or the taunts of neighborhood toughs. The key to the gadget's success lies in its four ultrasound speakers, which are compatible with any number of gadgets -- from an iPod, to a BlackBerry, to a GPS unit. So, don your Uplink, short-shorts and neon safety vest, dial in to that conference call and jog with the certainty that -- when those kids start throwing rocks -- you'll hear them hurtling toward you, and know when to really start sprinting. [From: Adam Hammerman, via: Engadget]

SwitchedSolar-Powered 'Uplink' Gives Joggers That Goofy Look They Love originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball in 3-D
If you're the type who thinks baseball is boring, just you wait for this weekend's match-ups (July 10th and 11th) between the Yankees and the Mariners on DirecTV. The games will be carried, by YES in the Northeast and FSN in the Northwest, in brilliant, magical, life-altering 3-D! Of course, you'll need one of those expensive 3-D TVs, and enough 3-D glasses to pass around to the entire family, and live in one of the nine states that are (partially) covered by those stations' broadcasts.

DirecTV will be able claim that it's airing the first 3-D baseball game, but let's be honest here: unless Robinson Cano hits a home run directly at one of the cameras, 3-D isn't going to make baseball too much more exciting to those who think of it as nap time, anyway. Then again, if you're like a good chunk of the Switched staff, 3-D TV just gives you a headache anyway. We're lucky, then, that the games will still be broadcast in good ol' fashioned HD, as well, for us 3-D hating Yankee lovers. [From: Business Wire, via: CrunchGear]

SwitchedBaseball Joins the 3-D TV Ranks This Weekend originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-D3-DTVbaseballDirecTVFSNmarinerssportstopyankeesyes networkYesNetworkFri, 09 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nike's World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/nikes-world-cup-pinball-game-goes-digital-with-led-screen/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/nikes-world-cup-pinball-game-goes-digital-with-led-screen/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/nikes-world-cup-pinball-game-goes-digital-with-led-screen/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nike World Cup Pinball
Whenever we see a pinball machine in a bowling alley or movie theater lobby, we quickly drop in some quarters and play a round or two for nostalgia's sake. We say nostalgia, because, sadly, these classic machines aren't as prevalent as they once were. Nike, surprisingly enough, could give them a much needed population boost, though. According to Geekosystem, the shoe company recently unveiled a digital LED pinball machine at its Madrid store to promote the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Essentially, it's just a screen, built into a housing that's designed to look like a pinball machine. But, judging by the video (after the break), the experience looks pretty close to the real thing. Best of all, since it's digital, you can change the machine's theme with each round, too.

Check out the flipper action after the jump. This probably doesn't signal a pinball revival, but at least it keeps alive one of our favorite games -- even if it is a hybrid version. [From: Geekosystem]

Continue reading Nike's World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers

SwitchedNike's World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArcadeledmadridnikepinballsportstagtopVideoGamesWorldCupWorldCup2010Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA['Wet Circuits' Power Strip Promises to Save You From a Watery Electrocution]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/wet-circuits-power-strip-promises-to-save-you-from-a-watery-el/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/wet-circuits-power-strip-promises-to-save-you-from-a-watery-el/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/wet-circuits-power-strip-promises-to-save-you-from-a-watery-el/#commentsFiled under:

Wet Circuits Power strip
Without the power strip, where would we be? We'd be too busy rewiring our houses to run this blog, that's for sure. Despite our indebtedness to this marvel of modern convenience, though, we still find plenty of fault with the power-consolidation gizmos. For one, there's the problem posed by that oddly shaped charger that takes up the space of two outlets, though it needs only one. Fortunately, we've got that situation handled for us. But what about those times when you're fiddling with said chargers, and accidentally spill your Natty Light all over the place? What then?! You dig deep into your drinking money, pony up $35 and get yourself a water-resistant, shock-preventing Wet Circuits power strip, that's what. (Note: We don't actually know that this thing is beer-resistant. Hell, we don't know if it's water-resistant.)

Check out the video below for a demonstration of the power strip's, er, power -- as narrated by a poorly overdubbed lady in a lab coat. [From: Wet Circuits, via: Ubergizmo]

Continue reading 'Wet Circuits' Power Strip Promises to Save You From a Watery Electrocution

Switched'Wet Circuits' Power Strip Promises to Save You From a Watery Electrocution originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homepowerpowerstripsafetytopunderwaterwaterresistantwet circuitsWetCircuitsWed, 07 Jul 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Eradicate Summer Insects With Extreme Suckage]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/05/eradicate-summer-insects-with-extreme-suckage/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/05/eradicate-summer-insects-with-extreme-suckage/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/05/eradicate-summer-insects-with-extreme-suckage/#commentsFiled under:

how to suck in wasps
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Winged nuisances, particularly those with stingers, serve as one of the few detriments to the lazy, sweltering days of summer. Apparently drawing inspiration from David Spade and 'Tommy Boy,' a resourceful insect adversary named Matthias has created an effective and inexpensive method of thwarting those painful and itchy assailants.

Faced with an almost inaccessible wasp nest, Matthias combined a wooden box with a glass lid and a blower with a 3-horsepower motor, thereby creating an awesome "wasp sucking machine." He placed the contraption in close proximity to the wretched hive, in a location where the flying irritants would "get sucked in on the landing approach." Matthias's design even enables observers and insect haters to see the buggy fruits of the device's sucking power, which, judging from the skin-crawling photo, is very real.

Continue reading Eradicate Summer Insects With Extreme Suckage

SwitchedEradicate Summer Insects With Extreme Suckage originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diyhomeinsectstopwaspsMon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GearBox's Smartphone-Controlled Ball Is Another Reason to Skip Catch With Your Kid]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/01/gearboxs-smartphone-controlled-ball-is-another-reason-to-skip-c/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/01/gearboxs-smartphone-controlled-ball-is-another-reason-to-skip-c/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/01/gearboxs-smartphone-controlled-ball-is-another-reason-to-skip-c/#commentsFiled under: ,

gearbox ballWhile the majority of tech heavyweights have spent their time working on creating better smartphones, GearBox has been devoting its energies to far more important things: smart toys. And, as its first step toward creating a new generation of even lazier, even more obese kids, the company has just unveiled its very own robotic ball.

As the company explains on its blog, the new ball is, for all intents and purposes, like any other ball -- except that it's controlled by a smartphone. As long as their phones are equipped with the necessary sensors, users can merely tilt and turn their phones to control the toy. GearBox is currently working on a slew of app games involving the ball, including curling, golf and games for pets. It has even developed a feature called 'Ambient Data,' which syncs the ball with your computer, and allows it to change color when you get an e-mail or Facebook message.

Continue reading GearBox's Smartphone-Controlled Ball Is Another Reason to Skip Catch With Your Kid

SwitchedGearBox's Smartphone-Controlled Ball Is Another Reason to Skip Catch With Your Kid originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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