Why did it take take Blu-ray two years to catch up to HD DVD?
(Credit: Amazon)Universal is set to roll out the first Blu-ray/DVD "flipper discs"--a single, dual-sided disc that contains Blu-ray on one side and DVD on the other. The "Bourne" trilogy ("Identity," "Supremacy," "Ultimatum") will be the first movies to get the dual-sided treatment, with all three discs coming out on January 19.
The flipper discs are a good idea, as one of the biggest drawbacks to Blu-ray is that new movies you buy can't be played in DVD players. That loss of flexibility can be a real pain in locations other than your home theater (car, plane, bedroom), where you probably haven't upgraded to Blu-ray yet.
On the other hand, the flipper discs aren't quite as attractive an option as the increasingly popular Blu-ray-DVD combo packages that include separate discs for both formats. Overall, Blu-ray-DVD combo packages offer more value--you do get two discs to take anywhere you like. The only advantage flipper discs might have is if they can drive down the price of the movies.
HD DVD fanboys (somehow they still exist) will also be quick to point out that this is hardly new technology. HD DVD/DVD combo discs were around back in 2007; in that sense, it's unbelievable that it took Blu-ray this long to get onboard with a good idea.
(Credit:
Amazon)
Given the growing trend of people spending their entire lives in the bathroom, it makes sense that there's been a proliferation of waterproof LCDs, speakers, phones, DVD players and even remotes. But a radio that goes under water?
We're not talking about one of those music players for swimmers either. The "Aqua Radio" floats on the surface while submerging a corded speaker so you can "create your own underwater world with awesome deep-sea sound effects." Right.
Just for the record, the radio will play above the waterline as well, so the $15 you paid for it won't have been a total waste.
(Credit:
Exomos)
Shockingly, we're finding that not everyone can afford to pay the $80 million or even the $12 million charged by U.S. Submarines to make custom luxury submersibles. But there's still hope for you cheapskates out there who still wish to play Captain Nemo.
Dubai-based Exomos will sell you your very own yellow submarine (or blue, green, orange, black or white) for only $40,000. The battery-powered "Goby" model carries three people and can cruise up to 40 meters below the surface for 8 kilometers per charge, according to Red Ferret, with on-board GPS and sonar scanning technologies. Best of all, its "flat acrylic and bubble windows" provide 360-degree views.
Nice, but we're still saving up for a bionic dolphin.
This blows SeaWorld right out of the water. A new "bionic dolphin" vehicle, according to CNN, not only can swim alongside seagoing mammals but can also stand on its tail before dropping back down to cruise at speeds up to 55 mph with its 425-horsepower Corvette engine.
But this manmade Flipper is no cheap carnival sideshow: A custom version would set you back around $350,000, though its creators say the cost could drop to a mere $120,000 or so for a two-seater model. At those prices, the Kevlar-skinned creation may be headed for commercial or even Pentagon sales. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that dolphins have been used for national security. (More photos here).
(Photo: Noland)
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