Mar 08
Think hacking starts and ends online? Think again. Forbes took a look at the damage an identity thief can do using just the address label on the magazines you subscribe to, and the answer ain’t pretty.
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Mar 08
Welcome to Feedback Loop, a weekly roundup of the most interesting discussions happening within the Engadget community. There’s so much technology to talk about and so little time to enjoy it, but you have a lot of great ideas and opinions that need…
Mar 08
Time to Let Go of Your Windows XP
Posted in: Today's Chili
It’s doubtful that any avid readers of the ‘brick are still sporting a Windows XP machine for their online perusing, however if you are (and our stats tell us that 15% of you Windows users visiting here are) you may want to pay attention.
After a few pushes of the date, Microsoft’s end of life for Windows XP is coming near and it appears they are sticking with it this time. After April 8, Microsoft will no longer be officially supporting the operating system. This doesn’t mean that your XP machine will suddenly quit working, but it does mean that in about 30 days there will no longer be technical support or more importantly, security updates for this operating system.
After some time this will likely leave an XP user that accesses the internet with some vulnerabilities to hacking and technical issues as other software continues to evolve. After all, believe it or not the OS is 13 years old. Windows 7 or 8 (assuming you’re sticking with Microsoft) maybe something to look into this month. Check out Microsoft’s XP countdown and you can see the end of life dates for other Microsoft OS’s at the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.
Mar 08
If you’ve stuck a toe in the online dating pool, you’ve probably come across some total hottie and thought "oh great, that lucky so-and-so is gonna steal away all the attention from my profile." Not so, says science—in fact, it’s the controversial-looking people, not the smokin’ specimens, who get the most attention. Here’s Head Squeeze‘s Hannah Fry to explain.
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Mar 08
A few years back, LEGO builder Marshal Banana created an incredible Star Wars Sandcrawler model. Later, the model would find its way to Cuusoo, but never quite got to the point it needed to go into production. Now, it looks like LEGO has managed to finally release its own Sandcrawler kit, though it’s not as epic as the 10,000 piece original.
LEGO’s version of the Sandcrawler is about 1/3rd the number of bricks, at 3,296 pieces, but still looks pretty awesome. Part of the Ultimate Collectors’ series, the model is quite large, and has plenty of room for minifig Jawas and droids inside. Overall measurements for the vehicle are 18″ (L) x 9″(H) x 6″ (W).
It’s got a number of moving parts, including a ramp on the front that can be raised and lowered with the turn of a knob, a droid-lifting crane, and even has that vacuum sucky thingy for lifting up droids.
While its treads aren’t motorized, they can move when pushed across a surface, and they can be steered too. Here’s hoping someone figures out a way to hack a motor in there.
The set also comes with a number of minifigs, including four Jawas, Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, C-3PO, R2-D2, R5-D4, and four other droids. It even comes with some spare droid parts, because that’s what Jawas do. Below is just a sampling of the minifigs included:
You can check out the full details of the LEGO Sandcrawler in the video below:
LEGO expects to ship the Sandcrawler this May, and it will sell for $299.99(USD) at shop.lego.com.
Mar 08
It will come as no shock to anyone to hear that the world’s coral reefs are in a state of decline. A company in Austrailia called Catlin Seaview Survey is going around the world documenting coral reefs with a 360-degree panoramic SVII camera highlighting what reefs look like now compared to what they will look like in a few years.
What does this have to do with Google Maps Street View? Well, Catlin Seaview Survey is going to take its camera underwater along the coast in Australia from Manly to Bronte. From there they will team up with Google so we can all have a look under the water in Australia. They hope to use the images for scientific research as well as educating us about the beautiful underwater world that lives along their coastline.
Mar 08
Spock Business Card Holder
Posted in: Today's Chili
What a great idea for all the Star Trek fans that have a desk job. This is a subtle way to display your allegiance to the Federation as well as your allegiance to your company.
Each statue is made out of a sturdy polystone, weighing over 1 1/4 pounds, and is meticulously hand painted. At $34.99 it is a perfect gift for yourself or the Trekkie in your life. Available for purchase at Entertainment Earth.
As always, Live long and prosper.
Mar 08
Cookie Genius
Posted in: Today's Chili
Are you heading to SXSW this year? If you are, please go find these! Master pastry chef Dominique Ansel will be selling these little shots of bliss along with his infamous cronuts at SXSW.
Mar 08
Bacon Alarm Clock Is the Best Thing Oscar Mayer Has Ever Done (Besides that Song)
Posted in: Today's ChiliMy alarm clock has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R… my alarm clock has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R. You will surely recognize the name Oscar Mayer as the company that makes more lunch and breakfast meats than you can shake a stick at. The company also makes bacon, which is the best food in the history of food.
Oscar Mayer has a new hardware and app combo for the iPhone that will wake you to the sounds and smell of frying bacon.
It’s not going to make you bacon like the Bacon Alarm Clock we talked about before. Instead, the Oscar Mayer app uses a cartridge that attaches to the bottom of the iPhone and produces the scent of bacon to wake you up. I’m not sure how I feel about that tease. The other issue is that you can’t just buy this thing. A limited number of them are being given away to people who take a quiz on the Oscan Mayer website. Those who win the dongle and app combo will get an extra vial of bacon scent. I guess once you run out of scent, you can’t get refills short of squeezing your own bacon juice.
We really love bacon around my house. I have spread that love for bacon to my kids too. My daughter even used crispy crunchy bacon to illustrate her food chain quiz recently in school. She is a genius.
[via Mashable]
Mar 08
The number one rule for hosting a successful dinner party? Make sure your guests fear gruesome death by dinosaur at least once during the evening. The best way to achieve the effect? These ice ripples that mimic that scene—you know the one—from the original Jurassic Park. No T-Rex needed!
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