Filed under: ComputersRemember that real-life X-Wing rocket we reported about last week? They launched over the weekend and, unfortunately, things didn't quite go as expected. A few seconds after liftoff, the rocket nosed down and, unable to handle the stress, the wings ripped right off. After that the X-Wing flew apart and came tumbling to the ground in a variety of pieces that are probably scattered from here to Tatooine by now. Hit the link above for a video of the carnage.We're sure the results were a bit disappointing for the creators at Polecat Aerospace, but we hope they rebuild and try again.From TGDailyRelated Links: Real-Life 'Star Wars' X-Wing To Launch Next Week Hobby Rocket With Built-In Digicam 'Star Wars' Lightsaber Headed to Space  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, iPodDanny Williams's taste in music is so wretched, his own iPod tried to kill him. Very recently, the Douglasville, Georgia native looked down to find his pants pocket engulfed in flames. The culprit: his year-old iPod Nano.Williams walked away from the incident uninjured thanks to a piece of glossy paper in his pocket, which he believes spared him from being badly burned. But, as if having your iPod try to immolate you isn't frightening enough, consider where this episode took place: Williams works at a kiosk at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta InternationalAirport. As Williams said himself:"If TSA had come by and seen me smoking, they could have honestly thought I was a terrorist."This fire is just the latest in a series of recent lithium-ion battery flame-ups. After smoke and flames were reported by consumers last August, Sony has since been forced to recall more than seven million laptop batteries it made for its own computers as well as for Dell, Apple, Gateway, Toshiba and several others. This summer, a Chinese man was killed when his cell phone battery exploded in his chest pocket, sending a broken rib tearing into his heart. The lithium-ion battery has become so ubiquitous due to its small size and ability to hold a charge, making it the perfect power supply for our increasingly mobile world. Unfortunately -- while very rare -- it is more likely than other types of batteries to light on fire or even explode.As for this latest incident, Apple has pledged to replace Williams's iPod, but wouldn't comment further. As a result, we are unable to tell you which batch of iPod Nanos are affected and how widespread the problem might be. Hey Apple, we're all very aware that you came out with some shiny new iPods last month. But, resorting to these scare tactics to convince us to upgrade? That's a new low.From Geek SugarRelated Links:Another Dell Laptop ExplodesLaptop Battery Recall: Are You Affected?Cell Phone Battery Explodes, Kills Worker Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video Games, YouTube It's becoming increasingly clear elderly people are the new 11 year-olds, and that Nintendo's Wii is the new bingo. Four Erickson retirement communities put their heads together to organize Wii bowling tournaments in Wii Sports, and eventually the Wii Bowling Championship. Not only are these old folks refusing to eat their dinner and staying up all night playing video games, they're actually getting together for tournaments and making movies about the whole experience...and then putting them up on YouTube for the rest of us to watch. What's next? An 80+ Geek Squad? Starring such hurlers as Ginger "Ginger Snap" Kotz and Sally "High Roller" Pendergast and featuring more squinting than a George W. Bush State of the Union Address, the whole thing is put together like one of those NFL Films on HBO. We were wondering where they got the funding for it, until we realized it's also an ad for Erickson retirement communities. Still, as far as feel-good technology stories go, it kinda rules. From GeekSugarRelated Links:Nintendo Wii RehabSenior citizens going nuts for Wii Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, E-Mail AddictionWhile many e-mail scams are easily spotted due to their relative ridiculousness and are seemingly safe to simply ignore, one recent scam has its recipients not only taking it seriously but has them in fear for their life.The e-mail in question reads: "I have been paid some ransom in advance to terminate you with some reasons listed to me by my employer."And they don't mean "terminate" in the Donald Trump "you're fired" sense. In this case, "terminate" is used in the 'Sopranos', or perhaps more accurately, the 'Terminator,' "you're dead" sense. Yes, this particular scam claims that you are to be rubbed out should you fail to make a payment of several thousand dollars and you are to tell no friends or relatives as they may be in ones who called for your ultimate demise. Naturally.Despite being initially frightening, this scam revealed one small problem that had people who got the message smelling a rat: The e-mail gives no deadline or instructions on how to make the payment that would save your life, which kind of defeats the point. Apparently, these particular frauds aren't too bright.After doing some digging, Harry Whitworth, a 72-year-old New Jersey man who got the threatening e-mail demanding $8,000 from him, found a similar scam out of Arizona with almost exactly the same wording and spelling errors in the message he had received. According to the FBI, 115 similar cases were reported around the country within a month last winter, with only the amount of money demanded varying, which went up to $80,000.First our credit is bad, then certain male body parts are too small, and now we're marked for death! Damn you, Internet!From APRelated Links:Cybercrime More Lucrative Than Drug TradeOnline Scam Targets Xbox UsersStudy Claims 83% of All E-Mail is Spam Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Advice, Columns, Editor's Picks We're asked all the time what constitutes a great, but affordable home theater package. Unfortunately, 'affordable' can mean very different things to different people. So, we've put together two excellent home theater set-ups for two different budgets, both of which are still firmly planted in the realm of reality. In other words, you probably won't need a winning lottery ticket to afford the payments on them.For the budget-conscious buyer:VIZIO VX37L 37-inch LCD TVAt just $799 for a top-notch LCD, you really can't beat VIZIO. Though you might not be familiar with the name, the company has been making some noise lately for offering high-quality sets priced with real people in mind. On this LCD, you get two HDMI inputs for connecting video sources with just one cable for picture and sound -- a nice feature at such a low price. The resolution tops out at 720p, but at this size that's all you'll need for HDTV broadcasts, DVDs and gaming. (More on 720p versus 1080p here.)Panasonic SC-PT950 Wireless Home TheaterWhen putting together a home theater, hardcore audiophiles will tell you to handpick your components and speakers separately. But, that quickly gets expensive and time-consuming. All-in-one systems, or HTIBs (Home Theater In a Box), on the other hand, give you everything you need in one convenient package - like this Panasonic kit, which includes a receiver, amplifier, five-disc DVD changer and speakers. In addition to an included iPod dock and the ability to up-convert DVDs to true 1080p resolution, the $440 system also boasts the convenience and easy setup of a wireless back speaker.TOTAL: $1,240Next >> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Computers, GoogleThis isn't the first time we have reported about the coming onslaught of mobile advertisements, and we're sure it won't be the last. According to a recent article in the Economist, marketers are referring to mobile advertising as "the promised land."Currently, mobile advertising consists primarily of text messages and accounts for about $871 million in a $450 billion industry. But marketing mavens are heralding the coming generation of mobile ads as the next big thing, some saying it is bound to supplant the traditional marketing pillars of television, radio, print, and billboards.Advertisers are excited because they believe that pushing ads to mobile phones will help them save precious ad dollars. Mobile phones allow for carefully targeted advertising, much like online ad services from Google. With more than twice as many cell phones as PCs in the world, the audience is quite tempting to advertising professionals.From Textually.orgRelated links:Direct-to-Cell Phone Advertising ComingIs it Wrong to Block Web Site Ads?Gigantic Bird's-Eye Billboards Target Air Travelers Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car TechWhy is it that the Japanese always get the coolest concept cars? Take a look at this follow up to Nissan's 2005 oddball concept car called Pivo. The ultra-compact vehicle can rotate its bubble-shaped cabin and wheels independently to facilitate squeezing into those hard to manage parking spots. It has a single front-access door while llithium ion batteries power motors in the wheels.Coolest of all is the so-called 'robotic agent' that looks vaguely like a disembodied robotic monkey head. The 'agent' assists with directions, takes verbal cues in both English and Japanese, and responds in a voice not unlike a 'Star Wars' droid.There will be a large public demonstration of the Pivo 2 on October 13 and 14 in Japan, so check back to see if any more interesting information comes to light, like commercial availability -- but don't get your hopes up. We certainly want one.From AutoBlogRelated links:Driverless Car Uses Lasers to Avoid ObstaclesNissan's All Electric Concept CarTwo Teens Invent Electric, Zero Emissions Unicycle  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersSome stories are just too good to make up. Such is the story of Ohio State Representative Matt Barrett. He was giving a Powerpoint presentation to a group of high schoolers when something unexpected showed up on the screen: porn. Yes, a whole directory of the naughty stuff was on the same thumb drive from which Barrett was showing the presentation. Somehow it was displayed on screen as he spoke to the students. Barrett initially claimed the stick was given to him as a gift and had no idea where the stuff came from. As of today, however, he is blaming his son for the transgression.Barrett has issued a statement calling this an "internal family matter" and asking that the media "respect for our privacy as we deal with this situation."We're all dying to hear what sort of father son talk this will create. From WKYC-TV and TechCrunchRelated Links: Nude Celebrity E-Mail Infects More Than Curiosity Students Taught Naughty Text Messaging as Homework How Presidential Candidates Are Using the 'Net  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Editor's Picks, Interviews, Celebrities, BlackBerryR&B songstress Keyshia Cole made a big splash with her debut album 'The Way It Is' and songs like "Love" in 200. Now, after some appearances on songs by P.Diddy ("Last Night") and R. Kelly, Cole is back with a new album, 'Just Like You, which features collaborations with Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim, among others. Working with so many artists means keeping in close communication, which Cole does impressively well thanks to a fierce loyalty and dedication to her BlackBerry, as you'll learn in our latest Switched Questionnaire.What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set?My BlackBerry phone.What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love or hate about it?I have a BlackBerry and I love that you can go on the Internet and I love that the signal is adequate.Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?I sent a text message to Missy talking about an appearance on 106 and Park togetherWhere do you go pretty much every time you get online?KeyshiaCole.comName one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop (any gadget) could do that it doesn't do now?I wish my iPod had a tracking devise connect into the system so I could know where goes when it disappears.What upcoming gadget can you not wait to get your hands on?T-Moblie Pearl 8100 because it would cool to download songs and listening to my favorite tunes.You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?My BlackBerry so I could communicate for assistance.What's the most-played song or artist on your iPod?"Voyage To Atlantis" by the Isley Brothers.Blackberry, Sidekick, or Treo? BlackBerry.Do you have an iPhone?No, but I'll probably get one soon.What's the longest time you've ever spent playing a video game in one sitting?One hour.Do you use/have a Mac or PC?I have a Mac.Related Links:Celebrity BlackBerry AddictsThe Switched Questionnaire: Jamie KennedyC'note's D'Lo Perez Loves His Sidekick Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesAfter a record-breaking opening of $170 million in just 24 hours, 'Halo 3' has racked up more than $300 million in sales in its first week of release. Master Chief's last stand to save mankind is not only one of the year's best-selling games, it's also responsible for doubling sales of the Xbox 360 console. According to Microsoft, the weekly average of 360 sales experienced a 200-percent increase in the week leading up to 'Halo.'This is good news for Microsoft, of course, which can use the proceeds of this success to throw water at some other fires that have erupted recently. Most recently, there was the faulty packaging that lead to scratched discs in the premium edition of 'Halo 3' -- Microsoft is replacing those for free. The company has also been forced into extending its warranty program for the 360 because of that nasty rash of defective systems (estimated at one point to be as high as 30 percent of all 360s sold). Outside of its gaming division, the Zune media player has still failed to capture the interest of the public while Windows Vista is being largely ignored or abandoned in favor of Windows XP.While there's no doubt that 'Halo' is a cash cow for Microsoft right now, the company may not be able to count on similar video game successes in the years ahead. Earlier this week, the Internet was awash with rumors that 'Halo'-creator Bungie is parting ways with Microsoft -- something that could definitely put a crack in the foundation of Gates Manor. From ReutersRelated Links:Is 'Halo'-Creator Bungie Leaving Microsoft?'Halo 3' Annihilates Sales RecordsIs Your Copy of 'Halo 3' Scratched, Too? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersOk, this has simply gone too far. It's one thing to block access to certain sites or even kill new Internet cafes, but to prevent an entire nation of people from using a technology as wonderful as RSS is just plain cruel.Today, the Chinese government enacted a blanket ban on RSS feeds. We can only assume that this is because RSS feeds are quicker and easier to update. They can also be updated more often, making them much harder to censor than regular web site content.The iron fist of oppression can only win for so long, however. Resourceful users have several workarounds at their disposal like a Firefox (a popular web browser) extension Gladder and the anonymous web browsing tool Tor.All we know is that if someone took away our RSS, we'd be mighty pissed off.From TechCrunchRelated links:AT&T Admits Error in Censoring Pearl Jam SongChina Freezes New Internet CafesGovernments Increasingly Censoring the Web Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, ComputersYou're looking at the face of online music piracy. Jammie Thomas, a 32-year-old single mother of two accused by the RIAA of sharing 24 songs on peer-to-peer service Kazaa, has lost her protracted legal battle. Yesterday she was ordered to pay a whopping $222,000 in damages, which amounts to $9,250 for every song shared -- this despite the fact that the RIAA was never able to prove Thomas even had Kazaa installed on her machine. Thomas maintains her innocence. Though the RIAA has sent threatening letters to more than 26,000 people it believes are guilty of illegally sharing copyrighted music, Ms. Thomas is the first to actually fight the RIAA in court. Most others have either quietly settled for fines of a few thousand dollars or had their cases dismissed for lack of evidence, as did an Oklahoma mother last year who was targeted by the RIAA.We hate to play right into the RIAA's hand, but the Thomas verdict should serve as a warning to the rest of you file-sharers out there. This victory will certainly encourage the RIAA to get even cockier in its strong-arm tactics against accused sharers. So, if you are one of those 26,000 people who received a threatening letter from the RIAA, we hate to say it, but your options are looking pretty limited. From BBC NewsRelated Links: LimeWire Music Site Goes Legit Teen Faces Jail Time for 20-Second 'Transformers' Recording Illegal Russian Music Site Closes. Or Did it?  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, GoogleIf you're like us, your e-mail inbox is so full you haven't seen its bottom for a long, long time. While it's easy to send a quick response, it's even easier to not send that response and put it off for later, resulting in a massive backlog. The answer? E-mail free Fridays! Employees at Intel and U.S. Cellular, along with a few others, have agreed to do everything they can to reduce their reliance on e-mail on Fridays, doing crazy and backward things like using the phone or (gasp) even walking over to the next row of cubicles!That might help to reduce the flow for a bit, but others are taking a more drastic measure: declaring e-mail bankruptcy. When their inboxes are buried in such a dismal state, they simply wipe the entire thing and start fresh. Bankruptcy has more liberating effect, but just like with real bankruptcy, if you don't start forcing yourself to be a bit more diligent you're just going to get in over your head again.If you can't make yourself do anything with all those mails, try signing up for Gmail, which assumes you leave everything in your inbox. You can then search for past e-mails rather than categorizing them. And with upwards of three gigabytes of storage, chances are you can put off deleting those old e-mails indefinitely.From USA TodayRelated Links: Nude Celebrity E-Mail Infects More Than Curiosity Don't Just Call Your Friends, Spam Them! Gmail Overhaul On the Way?  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, iPhone, E-Mail AddictionPrivate medical practice is one of the few industries that hasn't been drastically changed by the advent of the Internet. But sometimes, all it takes is one resourceful individual to change how entire an industry utilizes the online space. That's why we'll be keeping a close eye on amateur photographer and Brooklyn, New York-based M.D. Jay Parkinson.Dr. Parkinson opened his own private practice in September with no waiting room, no exam room, and no receptionist. In fact, his entire practice is online. All his medical records are stored online at Life Record so that he has 24/7 access to them via his MacBook or iPhone. For a flat fee of $500 a year, each patient receives two house calls and an unlimited number of consultations via IM or e-mail, as long as they live in Brooklyn. Parkinson is out to serve the uninsured creative types in his neighborhood (which happens to be the hipster-haven of Wiliamsburg). And to that end, Parkinson has surveyed over 2,000 doctors to find the lowest prices available for scans, imaging, and tests.Parkinson plans to charge $150-$200 for additional house calls beyond the first two, but says "I'll probably make some exceptions or accept artwork for my services."From WiredRelated Links:Nintendo Wii Rehabilitates Injured Soldiers, Stroke VictimsCell Phones Interfere With Most Hospital Equipment, Study SaysAre You a Cyberchondriac? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments