Filed under: Features, Misc. Gadgets

Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we traveled across war-torn galaxies in the 1978 version of Battlestar Gallatica. Moving forward a few years to 1982, we’ll take a look inside the computational arcade culture of TRON. Saturated with neon suits and Pac-Man blips and bleeps, the sci-fi cult Disney film has achieved pop culture status by the years.

The ENCOM Digitizing Molecular Laser
Using a matter convert sequence and a grid matrix, the ENCOM Digitizing Laser is able to transport physical matter into a digital space. The laser is able to lock on a target and dismantle the molecular structure on a cubic grid. When used for its original intentions, the molecules remain suspended in the laser beam. However, the Master Control Program is able to deviate that sequence into transporting the restructured molecules into a digitized computer game world where TRON resides. The molecules can soon after be shifted back safely into the physical world by selecting the run mode through the laser system. Surprisingly, the only side effects the laser has on humans is minor disorientation and temporary memory loss. Phew. More after the break.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: TRON

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Original post by Ariel Waldman

Filed under: Wearables

Oh certain, we’ve seen gadgets used as motivational tools before, but Sega Toys is apparently banking on you not being a hothead. Otherwise, you just might fling its Body Trainer headset from your dome as soon as you take in “please exercise a little bit harder” by your incessant panting. Nevertheless, those with oodles of self-control may actually benefit from having a personal trainer (of sorts) in their ear while working out, and by monitoring the wearer’s heartbeat via a sensor, it can blurt out messages at the appropriate date to help users through their session(s). Reportedly, that nifty exercise buddy is set to launch in Japan that April for ¥5,775 ($54), and while we’ve no view whether that thing is destined for US soil, we can definitely see it being used more so for its musical abilities and less for its steadfast encouragement.

[Via CNET]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

We know, we’re getting tired of Apple Blu-ray rumors as well — they’re right up there with refreshed Cinema Displays in terms of rumor persistence — but until Steve and the gang actually shove a drive into a machine we’re stuck with them. The latest says that Apple is actively pressing Sony for slot-loading BD-R drives but quality control issues are gumming up the plan. Reportedly, that latest ho-hum MacBook Pro refresh was to feature BD-R drives, but all Sony could muster up were Blu-ray / DVD±RW drives, which Apple refused. That seems a little odd, frankly — now that the format war is by and the competition’s already shipping mid-range laptops with slot-load BD-R drives, you’d think Apple would want to cash in that Blu-ray Disc organization membership card with whoever can supply the drives. As always, we’ll see when we see — it’s gotta happen sometime, right?

[Image courtesy of dadako.com]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

In that GT Gran Turismo 5 featurette, we “get an inside look at the studio and folks who created that intense speed game.” Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Original post by TecheBlog Staff

Filed under: Cellphones

Quite frankly, the traditional Jawbone headset is pretty stylish as is. Nevertheless, Yves Behar has somehow managed to build it even sexier with the creation of the Love To Talk family. that trio, which will reportedly be made available “in a very limited quantity,” consists of a gold Sweet Talk version, black Dirty Talk edition and white Trash Talk model. No word on a price nor where to actually find one outside of the totally shady black market, but feel free to take a closer look at each in the read link below.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Our friends by at iBand have just released a new song, titled “Life is Greater Than the Internet”. Continue reading for the videos.

Moreover we’re exclusively using a new drumming application by Marc Terry (MooCowMusic) as Alpha testers. And made an own iPhone ad remake, accompanied by iBand music, and much to our delight it gets really close to the original

Original post by TecheBlog Staff

Filed under: Features, Laptops

While everyone and their second cousin third removed had something to say about Apple’s ultra-sexy, ultra-hamstrung MacBook Air, we’ve a sneaking suspicion that folks previously eager about that week’s MacBook Pro updates will be equally vocal. For whatever reason, Cupertino faithful had February 26th pegged on their calender, and while the addition of a Penryn or two was nearly a given, the dreamers in the crowd had much higher hopes for that fateful Tuesday.

Nevertheless, the day came and went, and the re-opening of the online Apple store brought a whole heap of disappointment to many. certain, folks still (somehow) enamored with the aging MBP design were thrilled to have access to a more potent, less scalding iteration of their favorite machine, but honestly, we’re still using the GeForce 8600M GT? Really, Apple? Needless to say, that refresh likely did little to satisfy your desire for a revamped MacBook Pro, but we’re interested in finding out precisely what it is you really wanted. An option for an SSD? What about a built-in Blu-ray drive? Would integrated HDMI prepare things more appealing? Or is a top-down case redesign the only thing stopping you from abusing your credit card in the name of Steve Jobs? Go on, we know you folks are chock full of good ideas, so let’s take in ‘em, shall we?

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Original post by Darren Murph