Posted Jan 28th 2008 12:38AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Cellphones
Sure, it seemed like we’d heard the end of the story on HTC phones and the case of the missing drivers, but the cats over at the xda-developers forum have something else in mind. There is currently a $5199.51 bounty on offer from various members of the group for a hacker (or hackers) who can come up with drivers to get their Kaisers’ Direct 3D up to par, thus increasing the video capabilities of the phone. If you’ve followed the case, you’ll know that HTC has essentially stonewalled users looking for an upgrade to their poorly performing handsets, and has intimated that if customers want improved video performance, they should look to future hardware as opposed to upgrades on their current models. Clearly owners are looking to take matters into their own hands — and they’re willing to pay for it. We can’t wait to see what they come up with, and if anyone out there has the ability and the time, here’s a stack of cash that could be yours.

[Thanks, Jaime]

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In today’s world this figure is not so surprising because of the availability and prices of cellphones these days. The only thing surprising to me is that this is only 10% higher than the 1 billion sold last year. I would have expected there to be more of an increase, but it still is a pretty remarkable number.

According to this study done by Strategy Analytics, they expect there to be 1.24 billion cellphones sold by 2008. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got past this mark as more phones are made and prices are going down. Another interesting thing here are the top 3 cellphone manufacturers worldwide. They are Nokia coming in first, then Samsung, and then Motorola. Here’s for a great cellphone year in 2008.

Via [ubergizmo]

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USB Roll Up Drum Kit
Frankly, a much more sensible option to a full sized drum kit. Plus, when you’re finished you can roll it up and store it in a drawer.

See price

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Posted Jan 27th 2008 10:16PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Transportation, Networking
It’s coming to planes, so it was bound to make its way onto trains. According to a report, a 45-mile commuter railroad line in Massachusetts is about to get a WiFi upgrade, bringing wireless connections to more than 18,000 passengers across 17 stations. Utilizing Sprint’s EV-DO service, this will be the largest deployment of train-based WiFi outside of Europe and will bring access to 45 coach cars in the line. “There is not one commuter rail system in the country that has this right now,” said Kris Erickson, MBTA deputy chief of staff, adding, “We know there are going to be some technical glitches, but we want to get in there and test it in a real environment and get a much better idea how to do it.” The plan is to eventually bless all 13 commuter lines in Massachusetts with wireless capabilities, thus allowing networked games of Sid Meier’s Railroads! to actually be played while on a railroad.

[Via Wi-Fi Networking News]

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Another hour another pink phone coming, this time its from AT&T in the form of the Sony Ericsson W580i. As usual with the newly colored handsets, the W580i is going to keep the same specs as the original black model that was launched back in October.

The pink W580i retails for $79.99 after a mail-in-rebate and comes along with a 2-year agreement.

Read [AT&T] Via [EngadgetMobile]

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Posted Jan 27th 2008 5:24PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Transportation
We don’t know about you, but we were doing far, far less productive things than Andrew Angelloti when we were 16. The green-minded youth — a forum member over at Ecomodder — has taken his 1988 Mazda pickup truck and converted it to run solely on electricity using $6,000 he’d earned as a part-time lifeguard. According to Andrew, the truck reaches a top speed of 55 MPH, sports a range of 40 miles per charge, and has acceleration that’s, “Not that bad.” The mod uses 20 flooded lead-acid batteries (for 120 volts), and a 60 HP, 9-inch electric motor. For most of us, that one major conversion would be enough, but Andrew is cracking away on his second EV mod, working his magic on a 1992 Toyota Tercel and gunning for more speed and a larger motor. Who said kids were lazy these days?

[Via Digg]

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Mini Hot Hearts Hand Warmers Pack Of 2

Simply click the discs inside the hearts and you will have instant heat for around half an hour. Our Double Hot Heart hand warmers are great for keeping those winter chills away. To reuse simply heat in boiling water until the liquid goes clearStays warm for 20-30 minutes Non Toxic.

Technorati Tags: Girls Goodies

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We tricked you, and if you just clicked on that link the sore memory is probably even fresher than for those who knew better. We are very sorry, and to make it up to you, here’s Elise Frappier stripped half-nekkid and posing with a Macbook. Who is Elise? Macenstein’s Mac Chick of the Month, of course. Jump for her Mac-y outy gallery shots.galleryPost(’mcchgi’, 3, ”);

The 24-year old Canadian may look like she has nothing in common with you, but that stops at aesthetics. She loves Apple products, her dearest and most loved Apple possession is her Titanium G4, but she still twiddles her long locks, chews bubblegum and reminisces about the old skool SE/30 Macintosh her father owned. She may like the Pussycat Dolls to rock to, but we’ll forgive her because she wears a black bra better than any of us ever could, (even if Eric claims otherwise.) [Macenstein]

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newVideoPlayer(”superscreen_gizmodo.flv”, 475, 376,”");Given that we’ve covered the topic of real-time 3D animation in 2D video signals before, we must be fairly obsessed with the topic. But placing a 3D CG image into a video signal and manipulating said signal is still, in our book, pretty freakin’ cool. Here’s a tech demo of ‘Installation’ by MIT Media Labs. After you are done drooling over their hot camera/display, watch as they place 3D objects into the image and pan around the room. We can’t wait until the technology serves its ultimate purpose and Madden places a leaner version of himself on the football field to show “what he would have done” during that last play. [MIT]

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The ad featured below almost makes me wish I was a farmer. Almost. Personally, I would drive the Valtra Revolution everywhere and after you watch the video, you will see why. I want one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUNKnmbfcHM

[via Fresh Creation]

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