box

Portal has caused something of a stir among gamers. The unassuming little physics-warping first-person puzzler has gotten a lot of attention for two of its unique characters, the SHODAN-on-valium computer system GLaDOS and the Weighted Companion Cube. GLaDOS hasn't seen much love among DIY gamers, mostly because she's a disembodied voice for most of the game. The Weighted Companion Cube, on the other hand, has seen replicas, cakes, and even (like in my case) Halloween costumes.

Valve has recognized the WCC nerd-obession and plans to duly cash in on it. The company will sell plush Weighted Companion Cubes. … Read more

Programmers behind the BusyBox collection of open-source utilities have settled a September lawsuit that contended Monsoon Multimedia's use of the software violated the General Public License (GPL).

Under the terms of the settlement, Monsoon may ship its Hava digital TV products using the BusyBox software without objection from BusyBox, according to a joint announcement Tuesday from Monsoon and the Software Freedom Law Center, which represents BusyBox.

In addition, Monsoon has agreed to appoint an open-source compliance officer to monitor the issue, to publish on its Web site the source code for the version of BusyBox it uses, to undertake &… Read more

Like it or not, the cubist period may be here to stay for music devices, at least in the U.K. That's where Logic3 is continuing the angular trend by introducing its "JiveBox," an all-in-one device for the iPod that manages to pack several components and patented technologies into its compact frame of less than 6 inches cubed.

It's no cheapo speaker dock, SlashGear notes, retailing for more than $300. But you do get an LED bar that lights up in different colors on the outside of the case--which, it seems, may be a requirement.

Okay, it's not a costume so much as it is a cheap helmet made from a cardboard box. But it's mine, it's nerdy, and it's something I'm strangely proud of.

Out of the five games that came with The Orange Box, Portal turned out to be the surprise hit. Sure, lots of people looked forward to Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life 2 Episode 2, but Valve's crazy little space-warping puzzle-adventure managed to receive the most praise from even the most jaded reviewers (not-work-safe language in link). It was short, but chock-full of clever, challenging … Read more

As strange as it may seem, the portable hard drive has continued making a play for the runway with designs ranging from leather to real gold. What makes it even more curious is that these boxes aren't usually put on a pedestal for all to see. So it makes sense, in an odd way, that a TV set-top box would try to make a bold fashion statement of its own--it is, after all, usually kept in a more conspicuous place.

Enter Sky HD, the HDTV service of the United Kingdom's BSkyB network, which is offering an entire line … Read more

Not everyone has the cash to pump into a real racing car, nor the skill to execute a driving technique like a perfect drift. But if you do feel the need for speed, you can still take a seat--in the D-Box GP-200.

It's a bucket seat that's been outfitted with five speakers and three hydraulic jacks that simulates racing action onscreen. Pair it with a PC game like rFactor or Flight Simulator X and you can almost feel the wind in your hair at full throttle. For all this heart-pounding action, its $16,425 sticker price isn't … Read more

Don't worry, LCD makers. Even if those ridiculously thin OLED screens do end up taking over the flat-display market, there will always be a use for your wares--inside engagement ring boxes.

The "Euricase" is one such example that features a 2-inch LCD inside the lid bearing your personal message, as well as a clock, alarm, calendar and even a photo album that can store either 500 images or 60 minutes of video, according to Everything USB. And at under $200, it won't cost as much as the ring itself unless you got it at the drugstore.… Read more

Waiting for Google's online hard-drive service to launch? Check out Digital Bucket, a new storage service that's simple and intuitive. We've seen plenty of virtual desktop services here at Webware, and the one thing many have in common is attempting to emulate an existing GUI. In the case of Digital Bucket, that look and feel is the Microsoft Windows file explorer, and as I've found by using the service this morning-- this isn't a bad thing.

When it comes to files, drag and drop is by nature a very effective way of moving things around. … Read more

After hitting a veritable grand slam with its sale for $380 million Monday, Sling Media is back at the plate already, hoping to connect for another hit with its next Slingbox.

Still buzzing from the news of its acquisition by EchoStar, the Foster City, Calif., company is expected to release a new model of its place-shifting gadget on Thursday. This version will be called the Slingbox Solo, and its features and price fall right between the high-end Slingbox Pro and low-end Slingbox A/V, both released exactly one year ago. (Sling also confirmed that it will not be refreshing the … Read more