September 24, 2009 by traveler.

Since the Segway hasn’t injured enough users, Honda has released a motorized, self-balancing unicycle to really amp up the hurt. You know it’s up to the task, because Honda included the balancing skills of their Asimo robot. (Fall 1, Fall 2).

Wow- I can close my eyes and picture all the fractured ankles. If you enjoy laziness and danger, the new U3X is a dream come true.

———
Check back soon for the second part of my Cairo/Giza photologue.

Posted in Tech, Junk, Weird, Video, Toys, Funny, Design, Gear | No Comments »

May 5, 2009 by traveler.

Ouch. Consumerist reports that a Best Buy customer in Texas opened a brand-new MacBook Pro box and instead of a laptop, he found…a paving stone.

Is this becoming a trend? First it was the Chinese newspaper & rocks in a Nintendo DS box, and now this. While Wal-Mart made good on the missing Nintendo DS, apparently Best Buy told the proud new owner of a paving stone that “Apple seals the boxes, not us. Take it up with Apple.” Hmm. I’m gonna go with…the customer gave his credit card to Best Buy for this purchase, not Apple.

Which makes this potentially simple- customer notifies credit card company that he is having this problem with BB and is working to resolve it. If BB still won’t rectify the situation, he gets credit card company to reverse the charge and file a grievance against BB.

Of course there is another important question- could this be a shady customer’s shakedown attempt? Guess Best Buy and the credit card company will work that all out. Maybe it’ll turn out that this guy ends up throwing that paving stone back in his yard where he found it. Who knows.

Posted in Junk, Weird, Gripes, Business, Tech, Nintendo, Toys, Apple, Gear | No Comments »

February 4, 2009 by traveler.

Step aside, Crackberry. There is a new game in town, and this one is solely for the tot-on-the-go. Leapfrog’s new “Text & Learn” is sure to redefine the term ‘Crack Baby’.

Is this the future of children’s edu-tainment? CNET explains that the device is aimed at preschoolers and it will teach them spelling and basic computer skills. Sounds fair, but it will certainly stretch their dexterity as well. I can’t slam this device, though, because I had a similar device ‘back in the day’. My mini-desktop computer served the same basic functions, and it was surely seen as a sign of the apocalypse by many child advocates at the time. It was great, though, because it built basic computer skills and it taut me to spelle wurds.

So relax and let your kid work with the Text & Learn- it may aid their development. Just don’t be surprised if your child texts you ‘I gotta go potty’.

Posted in Business, Weird, Tech, Toys, Gear, Pics | No Comments »

December 31, 2008 by traveler.

Happy New Year!!! A celebration like this deserves some good tunes. Lemme fire up my Microsoft Zune…hmm…that’s odd. It seems to have frozen. Wonder if anyone else is having that problem. Aahh! It’s Z2K! Oh crap, what if the reason it is frozen is because it is linking to all the ‘red ring of death’ XB360s and they are preparing to sprout laser cannons and take over a la War of the Worlds!

Thankfully there is a solution. Shoot- I sure hope there isn’t an i2K on the way. ::Shudder::

Posted in Junk, Business, Tech, Apple, Design | No Comments »

July 13, 2008 by traveler.

So I’ve been looking around for iPhone news, and I stumbled upon this awesome Youtube video. A KTLA reporter tries to interview people waiting in line for the new iPhone. Armed with a bunch of dumb questions, this reporter gets slammed by his interviewee.

Another example of anti-tech prejudicial thinking. KTLA obviously preselected questions that assume the people waiting for the new iPhone are basement-dwelling, Dungeons & Dragons-playing, acne-covered virgins. Hmm…most people I saw in line at my local AT&T store were totally normal; largely young and professional. Not too many Geek Commandos there.

I can’t tell who’s being more of a Jack@$$ in the video- the ‘reporter’ or interviewee. The reporter seems like a shoo-in with his juvenile questions, but then the interviewee goes off without having any sense of humor at all. Just when you almost feel bad for the KTLA reporter (after all, he is basically the messenger), then he pulls a guy out of the crowd with a goofy hat as if to prove his point that the people in line are losers. Even for KTLA, its a new low in classless ‘reporting’.

Posted in Tech, Video, Gear, TV | No Comments »

June 24, 2008 by traveler.

The Electronic Software Association issued a press release highlighting the results of their recent study. They studied whether employers used training that includes game-like simulations. Check out the chart below for a run-down.

93% of companies surveyed either offer interactive training currently or plan to in the next 5 years? That’s pretty good. I’m guessing that the other 7% of companies are represented by Jack Thompson.

Posted in Business, Tech, Games | No Comments »

May 28, 2008 by traveler.

First we learned about the space gap.  Now we find out that the international space station’s sole toilet is on the fritz? Aw jeez.

Sounds like they need a plumber in space asap. But where would you find one? Hmm…

Posted in Tech, Nintendo, Games, Wii, Pics | No Comments »

May 21, 2008 by traveler.

We are quickly approaching June, and we still have cold, rainy weather. What’s going on? Thankfully, there is a new advancement in umbrella technology ready to save us all. It is called Nubrella. Get it? Kinda like New Umbrella. At least they didn’t call it Dumbrella. Check out this thing in action.

Yeahhh. You’ll laugh at mere mortals with their ancient umbrella technology while you are safely cocooned inside your hands-free bubble. Thank goodness its hands-free…you’ll need a free hand to flip people off when they (invariably) ridicule you.

Check out the video at 00:29. The guy walking down the street in a black suit with his nubrella looks vaguely familiar…what does that remind me of? Oh yeah- I know…

Dark Helmet, baby!

Posted in Tech, Video, Design, Funny | 2 Comments »

May 18, 2008 by traveler.

The current generation of US space shuttles is scheduled to retire in 2010. No problem- the next generation of shuttles will be ready in…oh wait…2014? Oops. And delays may push the date even further back? Crap.

I’m no space expert, but that seems like a big gap. Almost a half-decade without any space shuttles? Stark Industries better get on top of that. With their rocket technology and Tony Stark’s power suit designs, I’m sure they could build a space shuttle in record time. =P

Posted in Tech, Old News | No Comments »

May 17, 2008 by traveler.

National Police Week 2008 is coming to a close, and it reminded me of a story I read awhile back.  National Police Week honors the service of law enforcement officers, and it remembers the sacrifice paid in the line of duty. According to the NLEOMF site, 35 officers were killed in 2007 in traffic incidents. 

There is a new technology being fielded that may prevent some deaths and injuries in car chases.StarChase allows cops to launch a GPS tracking unit onto suspects’ cars during a chase. This GPS data can then be analyzed from a safe distance to keep track of the offending vehicle. Pretty sweet.

The LAPD is putting this in their vehicles, which is smart for the car chase capital of the US. Like many other Angelenos, I had the fortune of watching a chase pass right in front of my house. It would have been awesome if I saw the cops blast the StarChase onto the suspect’s vehicle.  At any rate, this technology looks to be a good tool in the cops’ arsenal.

Posted in Tech, Video, Old News, Gear | No Comments »