well

Mathematics focused screensaver

MBSS Gravity Wells uses space-aged thinking to create a screensaver. While it looks gorgeous, there are some complicated elements that may scare off some users.

The program's interface is two-fold. Anyone happy with the default settings will simply enjoy the images on the screen. However, attempting to adjust the settings will discover a world of gravitational and geometric jargon that will confuse. Fortunately, experimenting won't hurt a thing. However, the Help file doesn't provide much insight. The images Gravity Wells produces are fascinating geometric shapes that utilize the entire color wheel. Users interested in changing the patterns … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 832: Kauai: one big digital converter box

In today's episode, Patrick Norton joins the gang for a rant-a-thon, IMDB turns 18, we're surprisingly not mad about the Android killswitch, Radiohead proves it made a winner with its digital album giveaway, and YouTube gives the Queen the giggles. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 832

IMDB turns 18 http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10067397-52.html

Android Market has a killswitch, but Google will refund your money if they use it http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/10/16/android-market-has-a.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10067543-16.html

HTC Dream T-Mobile G1 (black) http://reviews.cnet.com/htc-dream-t-mobile-g1/

FCC … Read more

The device that can make every techie stand to attention

Sometimes my heart sinks like the quality of Steely Dan's later period when I think of all the techies who spend the greater part of their lives hunched over their laptops, in the hope of fame, power and riches.

Or at least respect. Or maybe just decent salaries.

Those techie spines must experience more pressure than the entrails of Madonna's publicist at show time.

I am therefore delighted to have discovered iPosture. iPosture resembles those little batteries you put into your watch or your pocket vibrator.

The idea is that you stick it to your bra strap, your … Read more

Is the 'I can't hear the difference' myth killing the speaker business?

Sophisticated baby boomers and Gen Xers pride themselves on their ability to appreciate the finer things in life. They're wine snobs, crave gourmet food, drive exotic cars, buy 1080p high definition TVs, but for some bizarre reason think low-end speakers are just dandy. At a New Year's Eve party I polled perfect strangers about their hi-fi systems, and the three men and one woman all said that, sure, music was once really important, but now it's mere background. And they now owned very small systems, because "I can't hear the difference anymore."

Hmmm, I … Read more

Phishers take advantage of Wells Fargo's woes

Sites monitoring phishing activity are today reporting an increase in Wells Fargo phishing sites as thieves looking to take advantage of an outage over the weekend have started sending out e-mail pretending to be from the San Francisco-based institution.

On Sunday Wells Fargo experienced an outage of its ATM and online banking services. The problem, which also affected back-end systems for the bank's mortgage, equity and student loans, had been resolved as of Tuesday afternoon. Because the bank needed to use backup records, individual account balances might not up be up to date for a few more days. Through … Read more

Images done well on your Mac

Yesterday was Independence Day here in the U.S., and if you're like many (me included) you probably spent the day with friends and family, and maybe watched some fireworks when the summer sun finally went down. Chances are you dusted off the barbecue for chicken, hot dogs, and burgers, and maybe even had potato salad or other picnic foods. Another common practice with these types of gatherings, of course, is getting out your digital camera and taking a bunch of fun pictures.

Now that the fun is over, you might be thinking about editing and transferring those pictures to your blog or some other photo site. If you're looking for an easy way to get those pictures ready for prime time, I found a little program that offers a lot of useful tools you can download for the Mac.… Read more

LED lamp looks like alien vehicle

This designer LED lamp isn't quite egg-shaped enough to qualify for the evil ovum empire, but it's close enough. Just look at this thing--it's like a spherical spaceship opening up to reveal its alien passengers or a battery of death rays (most likely both).

The "Barry" fixture from Sweden's Flux has a mirrored upper interior that reflects about 70 white LEDs from the bottom half, according to OhGizmo. But the real offense here isn't alien domination of Earth; it's the price--$1,100.

If that's not enough to start a War of the Worlds, … Read more

New Year's Resolution: Stop caring about pointless USB devices

In the end-of-'06 wrap-up madness, there are a whole lot of people talking about Web 2.0, YouTube, social media, connected-home technology, the Wii and its corresponding Wiinjuries...the list goes on. But there's been almost no mention of the rash of completely useless USB-powered devices that infested the gadget market in 2006 with a viciousness that can only be compared to bubonic plague in a medieval village or head lice in a kindergarten classroom. I mean, they were everywhere. They're so ubiquitous, in fact, that I've decided I'm not going to touch 'em in '… Read more

Humanoid robot gets a grip, literally

If we toured a factory and saw these guys working the assembly line, we'd probably run in the other direction.

Japanese researchers are working on a multi-jointed humanoid robot with a "robust and dexterous human-sized robotic hand," a significant advancement beyond its clumsier and weaker predecessors, according to Pink Tentacle.

While other robots developed for fun boast features such as 17 adjustable joints, the hand alone of the prototype pictured here has four joints in each finger and a thumb with five. This allows flexibility that can perform far more delicate operations than previous robots could possibly … Read more