Posts Tagged ‘britain’
Synth Britannia : As If Ken Burns Were To Explain Autotune [Clips]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on December 8th, 2009
BBC4’s Synth Britannia was a sufficiently comprehensive look into the electronic music of postpunk Britain, from the pioneering soundtrack to “A Clockwork Orange” by Wendy Carlos, to experimental groups like OMD, Throbbing Gristle, and early Human League…
on to the pop greats that were my first real introduction to synth music, Depeche Mode and New Order. It ends in the middle ’80s as synth music transitioned to club music and rave culture, getting nowhere near this decade’s full-circle acceptance of ’80s synth and chip sounds in pop.
A lovely way to spend 90 minutes, especially for dorks of a certain age who felt a kinship between early synth pop and the captivating other of both Britain and anything electronic. Too bad it’s not available for watching on the BBC’s iPlayer. You’ll have to check the box where you keep your synthesized television experience.
Cellphones Mean Nothing to Londoners, Who Lose Over 10,000 in Taxis Each Month [Cellphones]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on December 1st, 2009
Either phones mean nothing to Brits, who are accustomed to getting them free on contract, or they're just crazy drinkers who can't keep a hold of their gadgets.
Around 1,000 laptops and iPods are also lost in the depths of black cabs each month, with the VP of security company Credant Technologies, who carried out a survey on the matter, commenting that in ye olde London times, "It used to be small items like brollies and briefcases stuffed full of boring office papers. Now it's laptops, smartphones and thumb drives, all chock-full of valuable information to an identity thief." [Credant Technologies, via The Reg]
Image credit: Annie Mole
Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on November 29th, 2009
[Thanks, pankomputerek]
Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Times Online | Email this | Comments British NHS lauds Wii Fit Plus for flabby bum-busting potential
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on October 27th, 2009
[Via Yahoo]
Filed under: Gaming
British NHS lauds Wii Fit Plus for flabby bum-busting potential originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsHP’s Pavilion dv3 and dm1 wash ashore on European land
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on October 27th, 2009
[Thanks, Adam and everyone]
Read - Official HP dm1-1000 page
Read - Official HP dv3-2200 page
Read - PC World UK listing for dv3
Filed under: Laptops
HP's Pavilion dv3 and dm1 wash ashore on European land originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRemainders – Things We Didn’t Post [Remainders]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on October 17th, 2009
Baby Gets Hit By Train, Strolls Away...There's a Hole In My Heart That Can Only Be Filled By—Stem Cells?...Beware Bobbies Bearing BlackBerries...Science Figures Out Why We Break Out Bubbly
Sure it's been the lead story on CNN and a big story on Gawker, but there just wasn't enough DIY mechanics or cellphone-related mayhem for us to pounce on this little gem. As a dad, I don't like seeing shit like this, but knowing there's a happy ending made it a bit easier to view. Oops, did I give too much away? [Gawker]
Hairband balladeers from the roaring '80s will be disappointed to learn that holes in the heart previously only able to be filled by some girl who is already dating some other guy can now be filled by a patch made of stem cells. As for the rest of us, we naturally assumed that if stem cells could give Christopher "Butthole" Reeve real Superman strength and build replica's of Shakey's Pizza, well, of course they can patch heart holes. [PopSci]
By March of next year, many British police officers will be handed a smartphone in order to maintain communication while increasing time in the field. It may work, assuming they block like a million distractions. Frankly, the only reason I wanted to even mention this in Remainders was to remind the world of that stroke of British police genius, Hot Fuzz, through Photoshop. It was that or an image of the gmilfy Prime Suspect herself, Helen Mirren. Did I choose wrong? [BBC via Engadget]
Science produces explanations great and small, and finally got around to one we've been waiting for since Heinrich "Coca" Cola invented the fizzy beverage: Why do we love the carbonation? Everyone used to think it was the exploding carbonation bubbles, but sure enough, it's the carbon dioxide itself—you listening, Al Gore???—that sends a message to open up the sour taste buds, delivering a genuine flavor change. Sure, it's not gadget news, but now, when you head out to the bars, you can order beer in the name of science. [Daily Mail UK]
Eye-Fi bringing trio of WiFi-enabled SD cards to UK
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on October 10th, 2009
Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, Storage
Eye-Fi bringing trio of WiFi-enabled SD cards to UK originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsEngland puts CCTVs in the homes of lousy parents
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on August 4th, 2009
Filed under: Digital Cameras
England puts CCTVs in the homes of lousy parents originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsBritain Putting CCTV Cameras in Homes to Make Sure Kids Do Their Homework [Surveillance]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on August 3rd, 2009
Thousands of "the worst families in England" are being put in "sin bins," or subsidized housing outfitted with closed-circuit cameras. The cameras will be used to ensure that children do their homework and go to bed on time. Holy shit.
The justification for this action is that if kids have structured upbringings, they won't get sucked into street crime and drugs. And because the housing is subsidized, the government isn't technically putting cameras in private homes; these are public homes.
But still, the precedent this sets is terrifying. This is the definition of a nanny state, a government that doesn't trust its citizens to live their lives autonomously so it sticks its nose into every little aspect of them for their own good.
Really, I think this can all be traced back to the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls. I mean, obviously Mr. Balls was mocked mercilessly as a child for his hilarious name. But really, Balls, do you have to take it out on the children of Britain? [Daily Express via Gadget Lab]
“Bionic” goose happy to have new leg, disappointed by lack of retractable laser cannon
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on July 12th, 2009
Filed under: Wearables
"Bionic" goose happy to have new leg, disappointed by lack of retractable laser cannon originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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