A Brazilian with German accent on the prowl abroad
 The attractive VW SP2 was built by the automaker's Brazilian arm for the domestic market between 1972 and 1976. A total of 10,205 SP2s rolled out of the factory gates. They're powered by an air-cooled flat 1.7-liter four-cylinder, and employed a suitable running gear with rear swing-axles and double torsion bar setup up front, and a disc/drum brake setup jacketed by 14-inch wheels provided stopping power. Essentially a platform variant of the Type III, the SP2 was likely the lowest-slung Brazilian market car of its day, with an overall height of just 1158mm (38") -- shorter than the company's Karmann Ghia and Porsche 914. Read more..!
BMW-motivated quad sure to scare riders
 Gruter Gut's latest creation, the GG Quad, conquers the road on 16" alloys, and a BMW 1100cc-powered hybrid puting out 90 ponies to the ground via a six-speed gearbox. Top end for the crazy quad is about 106 mph-- a total that doesn't sound all that impressive, but is likely scary enough in real-life. The design isn't the only 'insane' thing about the GG Quad. The $43,000 asking price is barking mad too! Read more..!
PSP keyboard and cellphone attachments on USPTO
 So if you recall, way back at E3 2004 when Sony was showing off the PlayStation Portable for the first time in the US, they were also generating some buzz with translucent keyboard and cellphone attachments. Well, they have finally shown up online, albeit at the USPTO. In two filings dated November 10, 2004 (and made public in late February 2006 and only three days ago, respectively), a gaggle of Sony designers submitted applications for both "ornamental design[s]" for a keyboard and phone add-on for the PSP -- and the patent filings couldn't have been much less verbose. So will we ever see these things get manufactured and released? Sony's launched some unexpected PSP accessories recently, and Izumi Kawanishi has made it no secret that he wants email on the PSP, and a keyboard would be quite a nicety if that's in the cards. Link - keyboard Link - cellphoneRead more..!
LEGO lie detector makes interrogations fun
 LEGO-enthusiast Michael Gasperi's Mindstorms-based "Galvanic Skin Response Sensor" may be just the DIY option you need to liven up your next party. Basically a set of foil-lined velcro strips attached by 9V wire to an RCX control brick, Gasperi's lie detector works on the principal that people sweat more when they're fibbing, so his device measures the skin's electrical resistance of whomever's getting grilled. One word of caution if you decide to build one of these on your own, make sure to keep your subject alive by powering your detector from batteries and not deadly AC. Read more..!
Nvidia gets contract for next-gen Sony console?
 Here's another one for the rumor mill: Nvidia, which got about $30 million from Sony for the PS3 graphics engine, has signed on with Sony for another product -- and Nvidia execs say the new deal will run through 2007, and should earn the company "slightly more" than the PS3 deal. So, what's it gonna be, rumor-mongers? PSP2? Vaio media center? A color Reader? For now, though, Nvidia is playing coy, boasting about the deal, but going all silent on the details. Read more..!
It looks like the action mostly takes place from a top-down perspective and incorporates plenty of touch screen activity. We're particularly amused by
 Japanese broadcaster NTV is in the process of holding an expo in Tokyo, where they've lined up some leading Japanese manufacturers to show off their latest gear, along with concept products that will never see the light of an LCD screen. Among the current and near-future products were several video-capable cellphones, along with one that can wirelessly output stills to a printer. Panasonic showed off a system that can pipe terrestrial digital broadcasts into trains, coupled with a wireless system to allow commuters to hear a broadcast's audio via headsets without disturbing other passengers. Of the items on display, the one that looked most useful and almost ready for prime time was Sharp's media player with video-on-demand functions (shown above). The device is designed to pull down VOD broadcasts via wireless IP, and then store them for later viewing on a hard drive or memory card. Read more..!
Zelda DS: Phantom Hourglass Revealed w/ video
 Nintedo's site has a video showcasing the just-announced Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass. The video is pretty high quality, and definitely not some amateur bootleg from a keynote attendee. The footage shows off a multitude of ways DS gamers will use both the touch-screen and dual-screen features we've come to know on our handheld. The one that has us most excited is where you actually draw the path of Link's boomerang. Graphically, the game looks impressive--it is amazing how much of the cel-shaded look they managed to fit into a little DS cartridge. The game seems to be a follow-up to Wind Waker, and it looks like the action mostly takes place from a top-down perspective and incorporates plenty of touch screen activity. Read more..!
Prada Canvas Platform Wedge
 Put on these Prada Canvas Platform Wedge and you will instantly grow over three inches. Made of natural and white washed canvas, it features a white leather trim and adjustable elastic ankle strap. The covered wedge heel measures at 3 4/5". Price: $390. Read more..!
 This Lace watch by Van Der Bauwede is a stainless steel watch set with a row of 78 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.53 carats) on the case. The dial has a lace work motif with Gothic numerals set with diamonds and the crown is set with a briolette-cut diamond. The watch has a quartz movement and a sapphire crystal. The embroidered strap closes with a lingerie hook. Read more..!
 Eye-catching without being overly dramatic, Bottega Veneta's butterfly-style sunglasses are perfectly chic--and likely to flatter any face. Available in three colors: brown/yellow, violet/azure, and olive/green. Price: $290. Read more..!
Manolo Blahnik Raffia Buckled Mule
 Manolo Blahnik's Raffia Buckled Mules are feminine, sophisticated and classic. Made of metallic gold raffia, the golden buckle is detailed with coral stones for a little flare and color. The heel measures at 2". Although a bit pricey, these will last for years. Price: $630. Read more..!
 Hobo International has a minimalist design style while producing accessories that are functional and easy to use. The Hobo International Astor is a framed clutch whose top handle can fold in to achieve a more streamlined appearance. The interior in lined with nylon and is accented with antiqued brass hardware. Shown here in yellow, it is also available in black, sky, cuoio, and pearl. Bag dimensions: 15 1/2'' L x 6'' H x 1 1/2'' W Price: $115. Read more..!
Vista getting 60% code rewrite?
 The "Microsoft insider" apparently spoke to Australia's Smarthome News, and claims that up to 60% of the oft-delayed Windows Vista's code will have to be rewritten over the next several months. Additionally, the company has apparently pulled developers from the Xbox team in order to meet an internal deadline to launch the operating system at next year's CES in early January. Smarthome also claims that Microsoft will also offer Media Center as an "optional package" with Vista, though we suspect that this isn't a new development, but rather refers to the Vista Home Premium version of the program, which will include Media Center and other goodies. Microsoft has reorganized its Vista team, bringing in Steven Sinofsky from the Office group, but rewriting that much code would take a lot longer than the nine months. Microsoft's Robert Scoble has checked in with the company's PR people, and says the article is "hogwash." Microsoft's PR agency, according to Scoble, says the article is "absolutely not true," and that, in addition to Vista not requiring a major rewrite, none of the Xbox developers are moving over to the Vista team. Separately, Microsoft said that, although the next version of Office will be done in October, and will be made available to corporate customers before the end of the year, retail versions will ship in January to coincide with the Vista release. Read more..!
Ben Heckendorn unveils his best portable 2600 yet
 Ben Heckendorn's latest build -- a slick-looking Atari 2600 portable -- definitely shows the professional and innovative design proving that his skillz have never been tighter. After having stuffed almost every retro console imaginable into a portable package, Heckendorn has returned to the Atari classic for at least the third time, improving upon older versions like the Phoenix 2600 in cartridge placement, screen size, and overall build quality.
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Scion tC Release Series 2.0 to debut in New York
 Toyota Motor has announced that the 2.0 limited-edition Scion for 2006 will debut at the New York International Auto Show, ahead of its launch in mid-April. The tC Release Series 2.0 (tC R.S. 2.0) gets the Blue Blitz Mica signature color, a stainless steel mesh grille treatment, and satin-finish 17-inch alloy wheels. Side airbags and front/rear side curtain airbags are included in the package. Interior 2.0 gets front and rear seats trimmed in black Alcantara and a Pioneer Premium AM/FM/CD audio system with an iPod hookup and color-changing LED display. Scion adds a 35-watt subwoofer and XM Satellite Radio to the entertainment mix. Only 2,600 of the tC 2.0 will be sold. MSRP is set at $18,260. Read more..!
Streamline typing with text substitution
 Lifehacker is running a feature called Save time with text substitution, which explains the use of text-substitution apps Textpander (for Mac) and ActiveWords (a Windows app). The apps work by defining fast keyboard shortcuts for text you find yourself typing frequently, like personal info in web forms, HTML tags, special characters, e-mail signatures, and so on. The site compares the productivitiy boost that comes with Textpander and ActiveWords to that of Mac launcher-plus and cult favorite Quicksilver. Read more..!
Mobber adds chat to your pages
 Mobber adds a bar at the top of your web pages with tiny icons of people (those visiting your page at the moment), and allows you to chat with them, as a group or individually. Mobber uses iframes, so Myspacers are out of luck (they promise a Myspace-friendly Mobber bar in the future). Mobber is free to download. Read more..!
Sony pulls plug on PSone production
 After 11 years of existence as one of the most popular consoles of all time, the PSone is finally getting the adios from Sony. The original PlayStation, through its original and PSone iterations, has sold over 100 million units, and brought joy to millions of users worldwide. Of course, you'll always be able to grab a PSone on eBay if a Spyro urge hits, or just dive into your storage shed to dredge up your original PlayStation. The good news is that Sony is working on a PSX emulator for the PSP, and you can always pop an old game into your PS2 or PS3. Read more..!
Clean up your Outlook inbox with Speedfiler
 SpeedFiler does one thing, and it does it well. The Outlook Add-in gracefully extends Outlook's filing command (Ctrl Shift v) with a smart window that narrows your folder list as you type. This means you don't have to go searching for the appropriate folder by scrolling through a huge list of folders. Just typing in the folder name on SpeedFiler toolbar and optional folder names will begin to autopopulate. SpeedFiler can also be setup to request a folder for sent mail, every time you send a message it'll go in the folder. If you want to check it out, you can download a trial copy, valid for 30 days. To purchase, SpeedFiler will set you back $19.95 Read more..!
Wikipedia helps with high-def
 Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics and Wikipedia is here to help. Shopping for a high-def TV can be stressful with all the different terms and specs, and a good amount of you want to know more so we are turning to Wikipedia for help. These terms can be overwhelming at best so you may want to glance over 'em Read more..!
GDC: The "Iwata, drop the bomb" (-omb) guy
 This guy was hanging outside the line for Satoru Iwata's keynote and I'm just guessing that The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Sega Genesis and Turbo-Grafx 16 games weren't the bombs this Nintendo University alum was thinking about. He was probably waiting for something of the Nintendo GO or, better yet, the Nintendo ON variety Read more..!
Gateway's Profile 6 desktop lots of expansion, not so sleek
 Gateway's claims to haveone of the most serviceable all-in-one desktop PCs around in their recently updated Profile 6 line. The new unit keeps it kind of old school with a 3GHz P4 631, with HyperThreading instead of that Dual Core stuff all the kids are talking about these days. Fronting the box is an adjustable 17-inch LCD, which hides such functionality as a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, WiFi, 512MB of RAM, and a 80GB HDD. You can also upgrade the Profile 6 using it's available PCI, and PCI Express, memory, HDD, and even floppy disk drive slots. We should be seeing this unit in the US this April for around $1200. Read more..!
Philips Streamium WACS700/05 WiFi music system reviewed
 TrustedReviews took a look at Philips' latest music streamer, the WACS700, which is available in Europe now for about $938, and can be purchased in the US through the usual sources. The base unit includes a CD player and 40GB hard drive, along with embedded Gracenote software, so that CDs can be ripped PC-free with song data included. The system can connect to a home network via WiFi or Ethernet, and music from your PC can be transferred to the WACS700's hard drive over the network (unfortunately, it doesn't support streaming files from your PC; you first need to transfer the music to the unit itself). While TrustedReviews found the sound quality decent and some other features, including wireless reception, to be good, the reviewer also found the WACS700 to be lacking in a number of key features, including support for DRM'd files, slow ripping (as long as 20 minutes per CD), and the size of the hard drive (40GB is too small). Conclusion: while it's not cheap, it is cheaper than other offerings, and could be an ok solution for the less technically inclined. Read more..!
Korea's domestic robot gets a smiley face
 The final version of Korea's planned army of networked domestic robots may look nothing like this prototype, designed to do mundane tasks like answering the door and playing media files. And, yes, it can connect to the net and download orders from the mothership. Read more..!
Crackdown another GTA on crack
Evergreen's MusicBaby DN-MPS100
 Here's an old school Kloss-looking box, the Evergreen's MusicBaby DN-MPS100, which is not much more than a couple of speakers, a couple of knobs, an aux-in, and a USB port for playing audio off your mass-storage compliant USB device. This one goes for about $67 US, and will play with more than one kind of device. Read more..!
Loken feels cheated after BloodRayne experience
 Kristanna Loken has officially gone off the deep end after drawing comparisons between the works of Uwe Boll and The Bard. Referencing her role in the director's upcoming Dungeon Siege film, Loken suggests, "My character basically lives in the trees with her band of women and protects the forest, I would think a la Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream." This is a sign of the apocalypse. The Terminator 3 star also feels cheated by Romar Entertainment's weak efforts in distributing BloodRayne, and she wasn't expecting such negative reactions to her first Boll collaboration. "I was actually very, very surprised. I know that Uwe does not have a great track record, to say the least." I think you've stumbled upon something, idiot. Read more..!
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-Lytir1
