Cardboard Warfare [Video]

To produce this short film, Youtube users pwnisher and his team used:

– 254 program crashes
– 427 manual frames to rotoscope
– 59 layers of sound effects
– a BUTTLOAD of cardboard and box cutters
– and a katamari

[Via TechEblog]

iPhone 4 Problems? There’s a Lawsuit for That.

It seems the increased speed and efficiency of the iPhone 4 has been matched by the legal profession. It took just days from the new model going on sale for the first class action suit to come Apple’s way.

As regular readers will have guessed, it involves the reception issues caused by the way the antenna is built into the casing of the phone itself and thus more susceptible to interference (largely through heat) when touched by the user’s hand.

The lawsuit formally names Kevin McCaffrey and Linda Wrinn of Maryland as the plaintiffs. If the application to become a class action case is successful, there’d be a single trial where the outcome would apply to any US iPhone 4 buyer who added their name to the case.

Whatever the merits of the case, it’s fair to say the lawyers involved are going full throttle. They’ve come up with nine different claims against Apple:

  • General negligence (they should have known the problem would occur)
  • Defect in design, manufacture and assembly (they didn’t make a working phone)
  • Breach of express warranty (they said the phone worked)
  • Breach of implied warranty for merchantability (whatever they said, it should have worked anyway)
  • Breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose (seriously, it’s a phone, it should still get a signal when you hold it)
  • Deceptive trade practices (it didn’t work and they took our money anyway)
  • Intentional misrepresentation (the dude in the commercial was holding the phone normally, and they didn’t mention the whole not working deal)
  • Negligent misrepresentation (OK, a little mistake we could live with, but come on, a phone that doesn’t work when you hold it?!)
  • Fraud by concealment (two hundred bucks, a monthly fee, and still it doesn’t work?)

AT&T is also on the hook for seven of the claims, all except the defect in design and the breach of express warranty.

Whether any of this makes it into a courtroom is another matter, but reading through it does look as if the countless advertisements showing people holding the phone in the “wrong” way will be the closest thing to a smoking gun.

I have a suspicion this won’t be the last of the claims, however. The fact that the problem disappears with a $29 accessory from Apple may not be a sinister and cynical ploy, but it doesn’t exactly look great to a skeptical lawyer.



A Second Opinion on Learning Disorders [Video]

Unfortunately, developmental disorders in children are often diagnosed by observing behavior only, but neuroscientist Aditi Shankardass knew that we should be looking directly at their brains instead. In the following video, she explains how a remarkable EEG device has revealed mistaken diagnoses and transformed children’s lives.

Amazon Acquires Woot

Yes, it’s true.

Holy crap! Woot has signed an agreement with Amazon – yes, the Amazon – to become an independent subsidiary of the ecommerce colossus. Woot HQ will remain in Carrollton, Texas, and will operate as autonomously as other Amazon companies like Zappos and Audible. More details forthcoming after we pick our eyeballs up off of the floor. Anybody see where Lefty rolled off to?

And to celebrate, they made this epic rap video:

Apple: We’re Not Wrong, You Are [PIC]

Did you know that Apple now offers an in-store surgical procedure to help you use your new iPhone 4G without the inconvenience caused by the device’s antenna problem. Behold:

[Via]

Wonder Woman Gets a Makeover, Fights Vampires?

It’s not a bad thing that DC is trying something to boost sales for the underachiever of the classic “holy trinity” that Wonder Woman makes up with Batman and Superman. And giving her a makeover isn’t a bad idea either, since as the new writer for the series, J. Michael Straczynski, pointed out, “What woman only wears only one outfit for 60-plus years?” Of course, her outfit isn’t the only thing that’s getting a makeover – her backstory is getting overhauled as well, even though this is apparently only temporary.

But all I could think when I saw this drawing of Wonder Woman’s new costume is that she looks as if she belongs on the cover of an urban fantasy novel. Probably with her back turned, and some weapon conspicuously sticking out of her back pocket, like handcuffs or a stake. Though at least there aren’t any visible tattoos.

Where’s the consistency? Besides the color scheme, would you look at this and think “Wonder Woman”? When other super heroes have gotten more modern looks (Batman comes to mind), it’s been more of a gradual change. An update is not a bad idea here, and I am all for Wonder Woman finally getting some pants (and possibly a breast reduction). I wonder what Wonder Woman cosplayers make of this?

But you can’t just wipe something so iconic without pissing off fans – and at the very least, we should get something iconic back. Maybe I’m old fashioned that way, but I like my super heroes to look like, well, super heroes.  Giving her a “modern sensibility” is one thing – just make sure she looks like she’s fighting villains, not vampires, please.