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Tech NewsEverything You Need to Escape from Alcatraz
Exactly 80 years ago today, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary officially opened its gates to some of America’s most violently incorrigible criminals—after all, it was the most escape-proof prison ever built. Escape-proof, that is, for everyone except three prisoners in 1962 and their trusty arsenal of brilliant, hacked-together gadgets. While we’re almost certain that Clarence Anglin, John … Continued
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Tech News
Deals: Cheap KitchenAid, Automatic Driving Assistant, iPad Air or Mini
We’re no strangers to KitchenAid deals around these parts, but this is one of the best ones we’ve ever come across. It’s the smaller 4.5 quart model, but if that’s sufficient for your mixing needs, $172 for a new mixer is a screaming deal. [ KitchenAid 4½-qt. Classic Stand Mixer, $172 with code JCPFRNDS] https://www.jcpenney.com/for-the-home/kitchen-dining/small-appliances/kitchenaid-4-qt-classic-stand-mixer/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004320005 … Continued
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Tech News
New York City’s Futuristic Skybridges Are a Thing of the Past
Pretty much every dystopian novel ever published alludes to a future, in which poor people are stuck on the ground while rich people navigate cities on luxurious skybridges. But New York won’t see that future any time soon. The cityis slowly demolishing all of its once futuristic skybridgesin favor of, well, good old fashioned sidewalks. … Continued
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Tech NewsThese Trippy 1970s TV Ads Warned That The Government Was Spying On You
In 1974, director Godfrey Reggio produced a series of public service announcements for the New Mexico Civil Liberties Union that were two parts “art house” and one part “makes u think.” The ads are weird, for sure. But they’re an interesting peek into the techno-reactionary fears of a country grappling with Watergate, the Vietnam War, … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsSploidWatching a gecko’s pupils contract and dilate is weirdly satisfying
Most animals contract and dilate their pupils depending on the light available around them. Geckos are no exceptionbut unlike other species the difference between those two stages are much more dramatic. They go from having cute round pupils in low light to evil narrow slits when it’s too bright. SPLOID is a new blog about … Continued
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Tech NewsTricycles Were Never This Much Fun When You Were a Kid
At one time it was best known for those compact folding scooters embraced by tweens a few years back, but nowadays Razor is making a new name for itself with electric ride-on toys that seem more exciting than getting your drivers license. If the Crazy Cart was any indication, Razor’s new Power Rider Tricycle will … Continued
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Tech NewsDesign
The Rise and Fall of the Fireman’s Pole
Imagine this: it’s 3:30 in the morning, and you’re deep in some pillowy dreamscape. All is calm; all is serene. Then, a piercing alarm whiplashes your senses: you’re awake now, scrambling in the darkness with ten equally frazzled men. In a flurry, boots are pulled on, helmets are snatched off shelves, and you’re flying down … Continued
Zachary Crocket- Priceonomics -
Tech NewsThis Canal in the Netherlands Will Soon Be a Water-Purifying Wave Pool
Starting in June 2015, you’ll be able to surf a place you never thought you could surf before: the canals of Rotterdam. The city is building RiF010, a one and a half meter, 14-second wave pool in the middle of the city. Hang ten, bro. The renders are a little silly, but just imagine an … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsMicrosoft
Windows 9 Might Have Cortana Built Right In
Last week a particular patent submitted by Apple outlined its plan to bring the mobile virtual assistant Siri to the desktop. It looks like Microsoft might be planning the same thing by bringing the Windows 8.1 voice assistant Cortana into Windows 9 proper. Cortana has actually been running within Threshold—Microsoft’s codenamed OS build widely belived … Continued
By Darren Orf -
Tech NewsA Wheelchair That Gives the Rider Even More Mobility Than Walking
The world’s already got its fair share of tank-treaded wheelchairs that can traverse any terrain, but a personal mobility device that looks as fun to ride as an ATV? There’s definitely still room for the HexHog in our hearts, on our hilly fields and mountains, and even in shallow water, apparently. With a price tag … Continued
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Tech News
So What Ever Happened to Post-PC?
The saying “Post-PC” by now is overused and tired, much like bemoaning Windows 8 or fawning over Apple products. We’re stuck in a hopeless Groundhog Day loop where we’re constantly entering, exiting, and reentering the Post-PC era. It’s all bullshit. Everyone is obsessed with pinpointing the exact moment we crossed over into this brave, new … Continued
By Darren Orf -
Tech News
The Supermoon Brought On A Plague of Astrozombification
Astrozombification is a serious condition of involuntary astronomy education in the face of supermoon hype. Maki Naro has a case study on the condition and its spread in the Sci-ənce Super Woo series. Read it, feel grateful you survived last night’s peak-hype, and prepare for the next inevitable outbreak. What is astrozombification? It’s the undeniable, … Continued
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Tech NewsDisney Developed Software To Revolutionize Macy’s Parade Balloons
The reason your favorite cartoon or movie character hasn’t appeared in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade isn’t necessarily because they’re not popular, it might be that crafting an inflatable likeness has just been too difficult. But to ensure no fad gets left out, the folks at Disney Research have developed special software making it easy … Continued
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Tech NewsHow to Hide a Nuclear Missile
After its Cuban Missile Crisis experience, Kremlin leaders wanted to ensure the USSR would never again be outgunned: one might call it ‘Cuban Missile Syndrome.’ The result were new missile systems, including schemes to cache nuclear warheads in the deep ocean and outer space. But before the strange logic of nuclear warfare could move off-world … Continued
Nick Blackbourn - The Appendix -
Tech NewsSamsung
Leaked Galaxy Note 4 Images Show Off Metal and Pleather
We already know a lot of rumors and speculation surrounding Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 4, but we had yet to see any leaked images of the thing. These photos provide that last piece to this phablet puzzle. Originally posted by GSMArena, these pics display some expected details—the S Pen’s location, fake leather-plastic backing, capacitive buttons, … Continued
By Darren Orf -
Tech NewsGadgets
Use Flickr To Preview the Picture Quality of Your Next Phone or Camera
Whether you’re in the market for a new DSLR or a new smartphone, image quality is probably pretty high on your list of considerations. From Instagrammed selfies to sweeping landscape shots, you want to find a camera lens that’s capable of producing pictures you can be proud of, and Flickr can help you. Thanks to … Continued
By David Nield -
Tech NewsPrivacy and SecurityA Farmer’s Terrifying DIY Guard-Bot Scares Off Bears with 25,000 Volts
Turkish farmer and amateur inventor Mustafa Karasungur cares more about protecting his crops from bears than basic safety. So using parts he could scrounge around his local town, he built a robotic sentry for his farm that terrifies bears and even shocks them with 25,000 volts of electricity. From this day on his pic-a-nic baskets … Continued
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Tech News
18 High-Tech Warships From the Future That Rule the Seas Today
War. War never changes. Mankind has fought naval battles for thousands of years. And in the 21st century, the navy is still the most important branch of any maritime nation’s combat forces. But technology does change, and if you don’t live near a navy harbor, there’s a chance you’ve missed all the newest ships being … Continued
By Attila Nagy -
Tech NewsGoogle
Acer Chromebook 13 Hands On: Gaming Guts in a Chromebook Body
Chromebooks are getting serious. After just having shipped the first full-fledged Core i3-powered Chromebook, Acer’s escalating again, with a new Chromebook 13 that comes with Nvidia’s K1, which is to say a hell of a lot of graphical horsepower. What’s that mean in practice? Nvidia’s K1 isn’t quite as impressive in a Chromebook as it … Continued
By Eric Limer
