GM introduces the 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche & a (popcorn) splash with an ethanol-burning Avalanche
 The 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche brings an improved central locking system and 2" more available cargo length, the tailgate gets some assistance from a torsion spring system, and a remote starter system is available. That starting system fires up either the standard 5.3L V8 and its 320 HP, or the 6.0L V8 with variable valve timing and 355 HP. Both engines route their power through the ubiquitous GM 4-speed automatic. The new 'lanche rides on standard 17-inch wheels or optional 20s, with a set of 18-inchers to show up late this year on the Z71.  The Chevrolet ethanol-burning Avalanche with GM's 5.3L V8 becomes the sixth vehicle in Chevy's lineup to be compatible with E85, joining the Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado, Impala, and Monte Carlo. The centerpiece of GM's display was a 15-foot-tall bucket of popcorn that was tipped over and driven through by a '07 Avalanche painted up in GM's Live Green Go Yellow livery. The air quickly took on a hint of butter, and a few minutes later those of us who wandered up to the truck proceeded to track popcorn all over the place. I'm glad that I don't have to vacuum the carpet after this intro. ditions).
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 This app is a mouse-based loop scratcher. It's pretty simple: load an audio file, then get to whippin' that mouse around for those crazy DJ scratch noises. There are scant settings, but it's a very simple app, with one real purpose. Great for working in apps like Acid though, making your own scratch loops. The developer AnalogX makes a bunch of crazy apps, so if Scratch isn't your cup of tea, there might be something else on the site to interest you. Read more..!
Songbird is out, who's singing?
 Songbirdversion 0.1 is finally out, an open-source music player built on Mozilla's XULRunner platform. It's like a browser and iTunes mushed together, but better. Why better? Because Songbird connects to almost any video or audio content on the web. The idea is opposite iTunes, where you buy songs from a centralized, DRM'ed source. Instead, given the platform, developers of any stripe can plug in to Songbird, and promote themselves. The guy spearheading Songbird is none other than Rob Lord, who once honed his chops on a project known as Winamp.
I like the idea of turning the content back over to the producers, instead of marketers. Songbird, as Rob says over in his interview on BoingBoing, isn't a "walled garden online service," which he compares to the old days of AOL and Prodigy. True, but one thing about a walled garden: those tending the garden can make sure everything is working for the user. The key here will be the experience, as the average user will typically choose the path of least resistance. Since we got the tip the story has been dugg, which means the site is down, save a tiny download link. Go to Google cache of the Songbird site.
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Fontanelli Heart-Shaped Bags
 Although it's supposed to be heart-shaped this black and red leather bag from Fontanelli reminds me of the Gaultier bustier backpack. The bag is made of highly polished shiny red leather with black accents and a black shoulder strap. It sells for $230. The Bag Lady fell for the crocodile-stamped leather version which sells for $310. Read more..!
 SiteAdvisor is a new web service that makes an attempt to alleviate problems. Currently only available in a Beta release, SiteAdvisor has both Internet Explorer and Firefox versions available. In Internet Explorer it shows up as a toolbar button, and in Firefox it shows up in the status bar. The SiteAdvisor "button" shows green for trusted sites, or red for sites that are deemed "risky", "spammy", or have "excessive pop-ups". Mousing over the icon will give more detail about the ranking of the site you are visiting. You can also see results immediately in Google searches immediately following the link to the search result. This appears to be a wonderful free service who's time has come. In their FAQ they mention that they plan to offer premium services, but that there will always be a cost-free way to benefit from their site scoring. Read more..!
 The thick Valentino-red band is lizard that has been treated to look like shark skin. The case is a wide rectangular Swarovskl-studded design of red and white crystals. Sells for $500. Read more..!
Text books for game developers
 Ever wonder what kind of text books are on the reading lists of aspiring and professional game developers? Morgan Kaufmann Publishers is promoting some of their latest contributions to game education. If you're considering a career in game development, you'll have titles such as 3D Game Engine Architecture, Artificial Intelligence for Games, Better Game Characters by Design, and MEL Scripting for Maya Animating to look forward to. Read more..!
Shiro AS, the soccer ball MP3 player
 This soccer ball-shaped Shiro AS 1GB flash player gives 'em all a run for their money by sporting one of the least pocketable form factors we've seen yet. It includes an OLED display, FM recording, a 10 hour batter life, and supports MP3 and WMA, though there's no word on Windows Media DRM support. The player is due in Singapore this April. Read more..!
The LEGO difference engine
 Lego logic gates be damned, we're stepping up to the Babbage big time now, and the Lego difference engine's where we're at. Andrew Carol's design computes 2nd or 3rd order polynomials to 3 or 4 digits, no small feat for a system built of simple blocks that he's been working at on and off for years. Read more..!
 Some new screens have surfaced for Atari's upcoming Xbox 360 racer, dubbed Test Drive Unlimited. In addition, the publisher has released the following gameplay details: * More than 125 licensed and customizable vehicles * Massively Open Online Racing (M.O.O.R.) via Xbox Live * Unlimited number of players can be on the same island at the same time * Voice support for up to seven other players Read more..!
 Tonia Welter's USB cuff links, it's not actually known if they have any memory or wireless capabilities or useful functions outside their holding those French-cuffed shirts of yours in place. Read more..!
 There is still a community of developers creating those old point-and-click type games. Brain Hotel is a fine example, and well regarded. You can download it to your machine, or play online. The premise is, you fight the forces of evil, which in this case are supervillians cast in the mold of the very first supervillian: Aaron Burr. Yes, the guy who killed Alexander Hamilton. Read more..!
The WR-07 Transformer robot
 If you're a fan of Transformers then check out this robot in disguise. The Himeji Soft Works developed WR-07 bot is a fully functional wheeled vehicle that converts into a Robo-One ready battle-bot bent on kung-fuing you into submission. Watch WR-07 skillfully placate his human spectators into docility prior to attempted escape! Read more..!
I-O Data's DVR-UW8DP dual DVD burner copies discs without a PC
 Duping CDs and DVDs often involves a painful back-and-forth, or at the very least, dumping tons of files on your hard drive as an interim step. Fortunately, I-O Data seems to have a good solution: the DVR-UW8DP, a dual DVD burner that works with or without a PC, and will be available in Japan next month for ¥53,000 ($448). Without a PC, using it is as simple as putting a CD or DVD with data on it into one slot and a blank into another, and pressing one button. When connected to a PC via USB, it's a double drive that can be used to both play and burn discs. Read more..!
Japan's "real" 3D image projector
 A new device developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology uses lasers to project "real" 3D images into the air. A special projector can cast three-dimensional shapes of white light between 2 and 3-meters into the air -- previous devices only tricked the eyes into thinking the image was 3D. The images are created by blasting the nitrogen and oxygen in the air at fixed points resulting in glowing plasma emissions which hang-out just long enough to etch an ephemeral image. The 3D images are, gulp, accompanied by a series of satisfying "tiny explosions" from the expanding air. With improved lasers, scientists say they'll be capable of projecting images at greater distances with more color variation making the device suitable for pyrotechnics or outdoor advertising. Read more..!
Volvo S80 detects intruders' heartbeats
 It seems that the engineers at Volvo also know our fear of going out to the car alone at night, terrified, and have incorporated a heartbeat sensor inside the new S80 sedan that alerts your wireless key fob if there's a criminal-type lying in wait for you as you approach. Read more..!
Mage Knight Apocalypse updates
 Worthplaying has added 14 new screenshots from Namco's upcoming Mage Knight Apocalypse, the Diablo-style RPG based on the popular WizKids tabletop game. GameBanshee has also been busy updating their character profiles for the game with this month's installment featuring the undead Necromancer, Kithana (an elvish twin of Kingdom Under Fire's own vampire babe, Morene). Mage Knight is scheduled for an April 4 release and will feature online competitive and cooperative modes for up to five players. Read more..!
 Inspired by the famous 1952-1957 Ferrari F2 Racers the steel boxter is made from heavy gauge steel and is finished with a chip resistant non-toxic powder coating. Some assembly is required. No age requirement listed. Price $750. Read more..!
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-Lytir1
