Hasta La Gadget!

Mortars are an invaluable tool for infantry forces, but the problem is that they aren’t exactly accurate, only half land within 136 meters of where they’re aimed. That sort of success rate just won’t do in Afghanistan, where minimizing collateral damage is an imperative. That’s why General Dynamics built a mortar with pinpoint accuracy. More »

Apple design chief Jonathan Ive has insisted that the company is resolutely focused on product innovation not revenue, merely relying on being “operationally competent” to make money. Coming after the Cupertino firm announced $8.8bn in income in the last financial quarter, Ive said that Apple’s goal is always “to try and make good products”, the Telegraph reports, and that the he and the company “trust that if we are successful people will like them.” That approach almost saw the iPhone canned before it launched, in fact.

“Our goal isn’t to make money” Ive argued. “Our goal absolutely at Apple is not to make money. This may sound a little flippant but it’s the truth.” The designer – pivotal in creating the iPhone and iPad – credits Steve Jobs’ and his unusual focus for that approach.

“Apple was very close to bankruptcy and to irrelevance … You would have thought that, when what stands between you and bankruptcy is some money, your focus would be on making some money, but that was not [Jobs’] preoccupation” he explained. “His observation was that the products weren’t good enough and his resolve was that we need to make better products.”

Jobs’ ethos could have scuppered the iPhone before it had a chance to shine, Ive says. Refusing to accept products there were “competent” in favor of holding out for “great,” Apple struggled to get the face-detection system to work – recognizing when the iPhone was being used in a call, and thus deactivating the touchscreen.

“There were multiple times when we nearly shelved the phone because there were multiple problems” Ive said. “I hold the phone to my ear and my dear dials a number. The challenge is that you have to develop all sorts of ear shapes, chin shapes, skin color, hairdo … it seemed insurmountable.”

Apple sold 26m iPhones last quarter, less than the market expected. The company is expected to reveal the new iPhone 5 in the next few months, complete with a larger touchscreen and a newly redesigned casing. Meanwhile, a court case between Apple and Samsung opens today, in which the Cupertino firm alleges its Korean rival stole the design of the iPhone and iPad for its Android-based alternatives.

Apple design chief: We don’t care about money (and that almost killed the iPhone) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Golfing widows, I know how much you love the man whom you married, and yet loathe this hobby of his called ‘golf’, so why not try something different in your approach this time around. How about being nice to your man instead, by forking out a handsome amount for the Handcrafted Adjustable Putting Green? I am singing to the tune of $699.95 here, but before you gasp and start to wonder what other stuff you can purchase with such money, how about describing to you just what the Handcrafted Adjustable Putting Green comes with?

As the name suggests, this handcrafted indoor putting green will enable golfers to adjust the break so that they can improve their short game without missing a beat. Proudly made in the U.S., expert craftsmen were enlisted to craft this out from furniture-quality solid hardwood. Its base is able to be angled with a twist of a knob so that golfers can practice left- or right-handed breaks, right in the comfort of their own home or office. Some assembly is required, no doubt about it, and too bad you cannot enlist the help of someone from Ikea to help you get the job done.

[ Handcrafted Adjustable Putting Green copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I’m going to start saying that I’m taking this with a huge grain of salt. This robot looks very realistic, yet has a somewhat cheesy and viral attempt feel to it at the same time. Watch the video for yourself and see what you think. The video is supposed to be a how-to video from a company called Suidobashi Heavy Industry.

The video goes over how to ride a robot called the Kuratas. The 13-foot-tall wheeled robot is clearly a nod at the Mechwarrior series of video games and any number of Japanese animated shows. In the video, you can see petite Japanese woman climbing into the chest cockpit cavity of the robot and going over the controls, including a remote smartphone-operated mode.

The controls look easy-to-use and seem realistic. You’ll note on the left arm there are twin multi-barreled cannons. How scary would it be as a soldier on about film to have one of these massive robots come walking up? The video claims the top speed of the bot, which has a torso and two arms but rolls on wheels, is 10 km/h. The bot uses a diesel engine and can be driven in high or low modes. The missile launcher appears to be packed with water bottles and will “from time to time” hit its target.

If this is just a fake viral video, it’s extremely well done. If it’s real, we could soon have mechs walking the streets of Tokyo.

[via Daily Mail]

I think one of the reasons why designer branded stuff is so sought-after is because of the often ludicrous price tag that they carry. (Note that I said that was only one of the reasons, because others could also appreciate it’s beauty, design, and craftsmanship.) Take, for example, a Louis Vuitton handbag. You can buy one tote for close to a thousand bucks, or go for a functional, unbranded handbag that goes for just a hundred dollars.

If your significant other is clamoring for you to get her some designer goods, I’d say turn to a cheaper and ultimately creative alternative. Like this Louis Vuitton Waffle Maker. (Or maybe just a single waffle.)

It’s just a concept design that Andrew Lewicki thought of, but it would be one of those appliances that would exist because of the novel factor they bring.

You might not be able to afford an LV purse for your girl (or for yourself, if you happen to be a girl), but with one of these, at least you could chew on freshly-branded waffles every morning.

[via Gizmodo]