02/15/2008
TowleTech V.92
In this week's tech news, Jon Barrett looks at Dubai's latest architectural extravaganza, Isabella Rossellini's weird foray into fly fornication, Spore, tattoo inoculation, and how to successfully leave Facebook forever.
Dubai has the world’s tallest building, artificial islands arranged like a map of the world, and the world’s only 7-star hotel, and now it’s set to be home of the largest and tallest arch bridge ever. Envisioned by New York-based architecture firm Fxfowle, the $817-million bridge will be one mile long and 670 feet tall. Construction starts next month and will last for four years.
Ink fans rejoice: Scientists in Germany say that tattoos could be the ideal way to deliver therapeutic vaccines into the human body. So far, in studies with mice, tattooing a vaccine produced 16 times more antibodies than a simple injection into the skin, according to the BBC. Need to know what not to do when you get your next vaccine? Wired.com's Sonja Zjawinski found this blog, Horrible Tattoos, which is chock full of world's worst skin art.
It’s only a rumor, but one worth repeating: 9to5Mac reports that Apple is likely to drop the price of the iPod Touch and iPhone by $100 within the next two months. But didn’t it just hike the price by $100?
One thing's for certain, though. Those of us with iPhones are going to town with web searching. Google reports that it has seen 50 times more searches on iPhones than any other mobile handset.
Electronic Arts announced this week that the long-awaited and long-delayed game Spore will finally go on sale September 7. Along with the announcement, EA released the broadest selection yet of images from the game, which was developed by legendary designer Will Wright, who also created The Sims. The game, which allows players to develop from single-cell organisms to sophisticated creatures and civilized tribes, will be available in Mac, PC, and Nintendo DS versions. Catch Spore in action here.
Andy pointed out this story from The New York Times earlier in the week—how it’s close to impossible to quit Facebook. Now Valleywag has posted instructions on how to ditch the social network site without calling your lawyer. Meanwhile, Facebook has responded too, updating its help page with the question "How do I delete my account?"
And in another follow-up to one of Andy’s posts earlier this week: You don’t need to throw away your Polaroid camera now that the company is quitting the film format that made it famous. Geek Technique shows you how to turn it into a digital shooter instead.
Here’s a little something for those of you who don’t mind burning cash and calories at the same time: The Aquafit 19 Dual Temp is a $40,000 gym/spa that allows users to have a full underwater cardio workout by using the included rower, tricep pull-down, and simulated jogger or swimming facilities. As Gizmodo reports: “The exercise area maintains the water temperature at levels that are ideal for the body’s thermoregulation during an intensive workout, while the spa area heats up to get things steamy and soothing.”
Starbucks announced that it will be getting rid of its for-pay Wi-Fi service through T-Mobile in favor of an AT&T plan that will provide up to two hours of free Internet service for customers.
Twenty-two years after Isabella Rossellini pushed the filmic envelope in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, she’s doing it again with a series of one-minute shorts meant to be viewed on your mobile phone. The series, called Green Porno, is a cartoon-like look at how insects copulate. In each of the films, Rossellini plays one of the copulating insects. Check the Sundance Channel for updates on when the shorts are ready to hit a small-small screen near you.
This is a refreshing concept phone from Nokia—especially refreshing when you consider that Americans recycle only 1 percent of millions of cell phones they discard every year. The “Remade” is a clamshell made of recycled aluminum cans, plastic drink bottles and rubber parts from old car tires. See a hands-on video of the concept phone here.
Bad news for Apple and Nike (not to mention Lance and Matthew): A popular Idaho marathon, the Race to Robie Creek, has banned competitors from wearing iPods and other MP3 players. Organizers cite safety concerns and a new law from USA Track & Field that outlaws "video or audio cassette recorders or players, TVs, CD or DVD players, radio transmitters or receivers, mobile phones, computers, or any similar devices."
Still concerned or confused by the warrantless domestic spying program that telecoms are partnering with the government to open the door to wiretapping American citizens? Mark Fiore's Snuggly Bear explains it in the cuddliest way possible.
Posted 3:58 PM EST by Jon Barrett in TowleTech | Permalink
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If anyone has any old cell phones, go to greenphone.com. They'll pay you for the phone, and shipping as well. (I have no association with this organization, but I hate the thought of old phones gathering dust in drawers---or worse, in landfills---when they can be put to good use.)
Posted by: Paul R | Feb 15, 2008 4:20:29 PM
I have to laugh- just today one of the writers at Gizmodo was saying how he was SO sick of writing about YET ANOTHER FANTASTICAL PHALLIC SKYSCRAPER/ IMPROBABLE SPRAWLING MAN-MADE ISLAND complex from the United Arab Emirates, also known as the people who have no fucking idea what do do with the trillions of dollars the US has sent them in oil money but build yet another monument to their maculine egos.
I've been intrigued and repeatedly invited to visit the UAE by a cousin who's lived and taught there for over ten years. But all the glitz and glam of their building Vegas/Disney in the desert can't cover up the dirt of their abusive labor practices, misogyny, and utter HATRED OF GAY PEOPLE.
The UAE is doing its best to present itself as modern and semi-progressive, but if you're African-American or Asian, don't even think of it. My friend, a Japanese woman artist, spent a month there on an art grant, and they treated her as if she were a Chinese prostitute. Which are common due to human smuggling.
All these shiny buildings , islands and toys are pretty distractions for how they treat a wretched underclass. It's also a police state, and if they suspect you're gay, good luck with that. You can be arrested and detained on mere suspicion before you're deported.
Screw them and their big glitzy, empty buildings.
Posted by: Arun | Feb 15, 2008 7:03:35 PM
I love that tattoo.
Posted by: Jeff | Feb 16, 2008 12:20:02 PM
Well maybe the marathon could ban runners from wearing clothes too ;)
Posted by: SXJ | Feb 16, 2008 12:42:58 PM
Aaagh! Isabella Rosselini Doing It as a huge cartoon bug?! Repeatedly?! We live in terrifying times, my friends.
Posted by: oakling | Feb 16, 2008 7:43:29 PM
Unfortunately (or fortunately), most vaccines are white or transparent, so they'd make rather poor artwork.
Posted by: scientitian | Feb 17, 2008 1:46:25 AM