The combination strainer/bowl is $15 from Umbra. It rolls two steps of meal prep into one smart kitchen gadget, while solving one of life's most grating—albeit boring—problems. Ever been rinsing off some fresh fruit and dropped a plump strawberry into the nasty depths of your sink's drain? It's the small things, really. More here.
May 21, 2013
This Rinsing Bowl Cleverly Includes a Colander
Isn't this an ingenious design? This bowl has a moveable colander piece that folds in and out so you can wash and serve your fruit in the same piece.
The combination strainer/bowl is $15 from Umbra. It rolls two steps of meal prep into one smart kitchen gadget, while solving one of life's most grating—albeit boring—problems. Ever been rinsing off some fresh fruit and dropped a plump strawberry into the nasty depths of your sink's drain? It's the small things, really. More here.
The combination strainer/bowl is $15 from Umbra. It rolls two steps of meal prep into one smart kitchen gadget, while solving one of life's most grating—albeit boring—problems. Ever been rinsing off some fresh fruit and dropped a plump strawberry into the nasty depths of your sink's drain? It's the small things, really. More here.
The New Kinect Is So Sensitive It Can Read Your Heartbeat
Microsoft claims that the new Kinect is so sensitive that it can see the slightest movement of your wrists and fingers, the tension of your muscles and, amazingly enough, even your heartbeat.
So next time you exercise in front of the TV, it will be able to tell how much you are really working out. But I bet there will be a lot more to this feature, like a first-person shooter reading your heart beat and muscle tension to spook you at the right moment. And kill you for real. More here.
May 20, 2013
Why Brushing Your Teeth Makes Orange Juice Taste Bad
As Bytesize Science explains, it's because your tongue gets coated with a particularly troublesome foamy oral detergent.
May 19, 2013
YouTube Turns Eight Today
The youtube.com domain name was activated on February 14, 2005, and the first public preview of the site went live eight years ago today. So...birthday!
More than 100 hours or about four days-worth of video is uploaded to the site every minute now. Which is pretty staggering. On average, 1 billion people, almost half of worldwide internet users, visit YouTube every month. And yes, fine, we get it, there are adorable animal videos on YouTube. They are great. But at this point it's kind of gone beyond that.
More than 100 hours or about four days-worth of video is uploaded to the site every minute now. Which is pretty staggering. On average, 1 billion people, almost half of worldwide internet users, visit YouTube every month. And yes, fine, we get it, there are adorable animal videos on YouTube. They are great. But at this point it's kind of gone beyond that.
May 18, 2013
How to Make Your Own Anti-Venom without Poisoning a Horse
May 17, 2013
Earth's Atmosphere Is Slowly Escaping Into Space
As MinuteEarth explains, the process is very slow, and chances are we'll be long gone before its ever complete. But someday, our blue-green wonderland will probably be just another barren rock like its neighbor, Mars. So enjoy this whole life thing while it lasts. Happy Friday!
May 16, 2013
Someone Finally Designed a Folding Chair That's Easy to Store
They're light, they're cheap, they're marginally comfortable, but ironically, folding chairs are rarely easy to stack and store. They're supposed to be, but their random curves and bulges make it a task that's frankly just not worth it—especially knowing that Folditure's ultra-flat hanging Tilt chairs are about to hit the market.
The hinges and supports on the Tilt that allow it to fold are designed so that when collapsed, the chair ends up being as flat as a pancake. So when stacked, the risk of avalanche is slim to nil. But stacking isn't your only option. The tilt also features an integrated hanger so a whole mess of them can be easily hung up like a closet full of clothes. There's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but Folditure has put crazier designs into production, so there's a good chance these will be too. More here.
The hinges and supports on the Tilt that allow it to fold are designed so that when collapsed, the chair ends up being as flat as a pancake. So when stacked, the risk of avalanche is slim to nil. But stacking isn't your only option. The tilt also features an integrated hanger so a whole mess of them can be easily hung up like a closet full of clothes. There's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but Folditure has put crazier designs into production, so there's a good chance these will be too. More here.
May 15, 2013
Watch a Caterpillar Transform Into a Butterfly From Inside the Cocoon
Two research teams used the cutting edge imaging technique to routinely scan a chrysalis during its metamorphosis and generate 3D models of its organs and other internal structures changing over time. Smaller details—like details of the brain—are unfortunately still left out with the limitations of the technology. But as they improve, so will our understanding of this unique process. Not to mention, kids won't have to wait weeks to see a butterfly finally emerge—they can just hit fast forward.
What Your Body Will Do in the Next 30 Seconds
May 14, 2013
Windows "Blue" Is Officially Called Windows 8.1 and Free
Microsoft just announced on a call with shareholders that the Windows Blue update will officially be called Windows 8.1, which will be a free update. It'll be available for both Windows 8 and Windows RT.
A preview will be available to the public after the Microsoft Build conference. Windows 8.1 is expected to fix a lot of the biggest concerns users had with the Metro interface, without completely abandoning the concept. More here.
A preview will be available to the public after the Microsoft Build conference. Windows 8.1 is expected to fix a lot of the biggest concerns users had with the Metro interface, without completely abandoning the concept. More here.
Costco UK Will Happily Sell You This Awesome $115,000 F1 Simulator
What do you rely on your local Costco for? Gigantic boxes of diapers? Bulk packs of chicken fingers? In the UK, when you're stocking up on bangers and mash, you can also go home with a full-size $115,000 Formula One simulator. Although, sadly, they're not sold in bulk packs for bigger savings.
The simulator is powered by a reasonably well-equipped Intel Core i7 processor gaming PC with 16 gigs of RAM and a fast SSD hard drive. And the pseudo-wraparound display is composed of three 23-inch TFT LCD displays, accompanied by speakers on either side that complement a full built-in 5.1 surround system.
But when you crunch the numbers, the electronics don't come anywhere close to breaking the ten grand mark. So the $115,000 price tag is mostly covering the ultra-realistic Formula One car chassis the simulator is housed in. It doesn't actually move, but it's made from similar materials as the actual racing vehicles, including composites like carbon fiber which help sell the simulated experience.
Of course given Formula One isn't quite as popular in the US as it is around the world, don't expect your local Costco to start carrying this anytime soon. But a Nascar version could be the perfect Father's Day gift. More here.
The simulator is powered by a reasonably well-equipped Intel Core i7 processor gaming PC with 16 gigs of RAM and a fast SSD hard drive. And the pseudo-wraparound display is composed of three 23-inch TFT LCD displays, accompanied by speakers on either side that complement a full built-in 5.1 surround system.
But when you crunch the numbers, the electronics don't come anywhere close to breaking the ten grand mark. So the $115,000 price tag is mostly covering the ultra-realistic Formula One car chassis the simulator is housed in. It doesn't actually move, but it's made from similar materials as the actual racing vehicles, including composites like carbon fiber which help sell the simulated experience.
Of course given Formula One isn't quite as popular in the US as it is around the world, don't expect your local Costco to start carrying this anytime soon. But a Nascar version could be the perfect Father's Day gift. More here.
May 13, 2013
Leaked Pics of Nokia's New Aluminum Lumia Are Totally Gorgeous
We're already pretty into Nokia's just-announced Lumia 928, but here's what's coming next. Evleaks, who has a pretty great track record with these things, just showed the world Nokia's new phone, which seems to be the codename "Catwalk" phone we've been hearing about.
Details are scarse, but it's apparently very similar to the 920, just thinner, lighter, and with a better camera (no word on if this is the Xenon flash found in the 928, or something else). More here.
Details are scarse, but it's apparently very similar to the 920, just thinner, lighter, and with a better camera (no word on if this is the Xenon flash found in the 928, or something else). More here.
May 12, 2013
How to Stop Time With a Ceiling Fan, Two Flashlights and a Camera
He managed to achieve the same effect using a ceiling fan, some card board, two flashlights and one single GoPro Hero Black camera filming at 240fps. And while you can't film yourself jumping and dodging bullets, the results are truly awesome.
May 10, 2013
Solar-Powered Cat Toy Taunts Your Feline Forever
If you'd rather your cats weren't shredding the furniture to pieces while you're away at work all day, you need a steady source of distraction to keep them occupied. And as long as you've got at least one window in your home, this solar-powered cat toy will keep them entertained and out of trouble. Mostly.
Just suction cup the toy's base to a window so that the solar cells can soak up as much light as possible, and it will do the rest by animating a dangling plastic ball and feathers. Your cat won't be able to resist it, unless, you know, it sees a flicker of light on the wall, or happens upon a dustball. But it's still $40 well spent if it helps preserve your expensive leather couch for even a day longer. More here.
Just suction cup the toy's base to a window so that the solar cells can soak up as much light as possible, and it will do the rest by animating a dangling plastic ball and feathers. Your cat won't be able to resist it, unless, you know, it sees a flicker of light on the wall, or happens upon a dustball. But it's still $40 well spent if it helps preserve your expensive leather couch for even a day longer. More here.
Apple's Got a Huge Waiting List of Cops Who Need iPhones Cracked
It's no secret that the police aren't very good at breaking into encrypted iPhones, but they've been asking Apple for help. A lot of help. According to reports by CNET the government asks for so much help that the "please decrypt this iPhone for me" waiting list is at least seven weeks long.
Law enforcement is getting increasingly fond of performing forensic analysis on mobile devices that were involved in crimes, but pulling it off ain't easy. According to a search warrant affidavit CNET dug up, an ATF agent spent three months last summer "[attempting] to locate a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency with the forensic capabilities to unlock [an iPhone 4s]" before he turned to Apple. But the turnaround was far from zippy and took a couple months.
It's not impossible to brute force into an encrypted iPhone. If the pin is just four or five digits, it can be done in under an hour with specialized tools, but passcodes nine or ten digits long take years. Apple's got a better trick, though. What it is isn't exactly clear, but it's in high demand. Seven weeks is better than nothing, but you can bet that list is only going to keep getting longer unless Apple shares its goodies. More here.
Law enforcement is getting increasingly fond of performing forensic analysis on mobile devices that were involved in crimes, but pulling it off ain't easy. According to a search warrant affidavit CNET dug up, an ATF agent spent three months last summer "[attempting] to locate a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency with the forensic capabilities to unlock [an iPhone 4s]" before he turned to Apple. But the turnaround was far from zippy and took a couple months.
It's not impossible to brute force into an encrypted iPhone. If the pin is just four or five digits, it can be done in under an hour with specialized tools, but passcodes nine or ten digits long take years. Apple's got a better trick, though. What it is isn't exactly clear, but it's in high demand. Seven weeks is better than nothing, but you can bet that list is only going to keep getting longer unless Apple shares its goodies. More here.
May 9, 2013
This Portable Sound Camera Shows You Where It's Loud
Trying to pinpoint what exactly in your car is making that weird ticking noise can drive anyone to madness. As sensitive as our ears are, they're not always as great at precisely locating where a sound is coming from. Thankfully you have four other senses to help, particularly your sight, which this unique SeeSV-S205 acoustic imager lets you use to actually see sound.
Designed by Professor Suk-Hyung Bae and developed by a joint venture between SM Instruments and Hyundai, the four pound 'camera' uses 30 sensitive microphones arranged in a spiral pattern to provide visual feedback on sound intensities. Think of it as a thermal camera that's more concerned with decibels than degrees.
And so its use isn't limited to a laboratory setting where it's tethered to equipment and displays via heavy cables, the SeeSv-S205 is designed to be highly portable, wireless, and ergonomic to hold. So it can be easily used to troubleshoot a noisy engine, listen for infestation problems in your walls, or just prove once and for all that your annoying friend needs to use their inside voice. More here.
Designed by Professor Suk-Hyung Bae and developed by a joint venture between SM Instruments and Hyundai, the four pound 'camera' uses 30 sensitive microphones arranged in a spiral pattern to provide visual feedback on sound intensities. Think of it as a thermal camera that's more concerned with decibels than degrees.
And so its use isn't limited to a laboratory setting where it's tethered to equipment and displays via heavy cables, the SeeSv-S205 is designed to be highly portable, wireless, and ergonomic to hold. So it can be easily used to troubleshoot a noisy engine, listen for infestation problems in your walls, or just prove once and for all that your annoying friend needs to use their inside voice. More here.
The Last Umbrella You'll Ever Buy Can Easily Survive a Wind Tunnel
Working with experts at the International Institute for Product and Service Innovation at the University of Warwick, Collier designed the Rainshader to funnel rain towards the front and back of the umbrella, not in all directions like with a traditional design. And since it protects the user like a waterproof dome that extends well below their shoulders, there's less chance of them getting completely soaked.
As an added bonus, the $40 Rainshader is also made from fiber glass struts instead of metal. And that, coupled with a rubber handle, means you're not wandering around in a storm acting like a mobile lightning rod. More here.
May 8, 2013
DIY Cleaning Products? All You Need Is This Bottle
There's so much brain-melting, fish-mutating crap in the products we use every day to clean things. Natural products tend to be pretty expensive, but not if you make them yourself with this clever cleaning bottle.
It's $10 and it has everything you need—bottle, nozzle, lemon juicer, cloth, and a booklet of recipes for your own cleaning solution. Hey, you could buy something with fancy branding, but why would you when you could just concoct something on your own for less money? More here.
It's $10 and it has everything you need—bottle, nozzle, lemon juicer, cloth, and a booklet of recipes for your own cleaning solution. Hey, you could buy something with fancy branding, but why would you when you could just concoct something on your own for less money? More here.
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