Gizmodo

Microsoft Cutting Down on Annoying Warnings for Windows 7 [Windows 7]

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:40:00 EDT

Microsoft is planning to reduce the number of annoying warning popups appearing in Windows 7. Also known as user account control prompts, these things are proven to all too often either lull us into a robotic state of acceptance (clicking "yes" without reading) or a more active state of wrath. (YES, you stupid computer, I do want to install the Adobe suite that just cost me a month's salary!) The reason Windows programmers are able to reduce the warnings is funny: Most of them come from Windows itself.

We've all been there: The screen goes dark and suddenly Windows is warning us of a potential threat to our very lives! Even though this occasionally draws our attention to malware that's trying to sneak in, internal Microsoft studies show that the UAC prompts have been a security threat as well as a sanity challenger. But it's apparently self-inflicted, as 29 of the top 50 UAC prompts in Vista SP1 are Windows components.

According to Ben Fathi, a programmer who blogs on the Engineering Win 7 site, another leading cause of annoyance is duplicate warnings: IE7 will point out something, and then Windows will go and point out the same thing. Even if it is a threat—and it very likely could be—the redundance factor gets people all grumpy.

What makes us happy is that—long before Win 7 is in beta release—Microsoft already knows this, and has compiled a list of the challenges for the team:

• Reduce unnecessary or duplicated prompts in Windows and the ecosystem, such that critical prompts can be more easily identified.
• Enable our customers to be more confident that they are in control of their systems.
• Make prompts informative such that people can make more confident choices.
• Provide better and more obvious control over the mechanism.

Good for you, guys. Too bad this list wasn't around during Vista development. [Engineering Win 7 via Webmonkey]

Star Trek Original Series Now Warping on YouTube [Free Series]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:24:00 EDT

Just a few days after its TV anniversary, and in time for the new Star Trek movie, YouTube is now airing a bunch of full episodes of Star Trek. According to them, this is just the beginning:

We are starting to test full-length programming on YouTube, beginning with some fan favorites requested by you.

For now there are 15 50-minute episodes of each series—for Jason and Wilson they are are also showing MacGyver and Beverly Hills 90210—all supported by advertising. I don't mind the advertising too much, although it just feels like old school TV broadcasting (including the quality). But as long as I can watch them on my iPhone from time to time, I'm happy. Specially since I'm in my Star Trek mood now, maybe to save myself from all the Clone Wars and the rest of stormtrooper raping coming from Lucasfilm—if you didn't watch South Park this week, go and see it.

And maybe professor Michael Zeller will get his pop references right and help us solve one of the most important questions of all time: Imperial Star Destroyer or Enteprise? [Star Trek on YouTube via Cnet]

Energy Seed Concept Is Smart Way to Collect Spent Batteries [Design]

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:20:00 EDT

I threw away two batteries yesterday. I know, I know—it's almost the same as chopping down like five old-growth oak trees or something, but it was just so damn easy. And what else are you gonna do with dead batteries? That's exactly why I am jazzed about this Energy Seed concept by Sungwoo Park. You collect all the batteries that no longer power your digital cameras, baby toys and TV remotes, and you deposit them in the base of this lamp. The lamp then glows, because even a mostly spent battery will be able to power an ultra-efficient light source.

Park seems to think this is only a temporary solution, saying:

Of course once the bins are full, we’re left with the same original problem. Somebody has to collect all those spent batteries and recycle them.

But I say, that's just pessimism, Sungwoo—if you get some hippy cities like SF and Seattle to install these as points of collection, people would participate and the recycling would get done. Seriously, in this world of half-baked ideas, this one makes a lot of sense to me. Now, to go dig those dead D-cells out of my trash. [Yanko Design]

Lego Mindstorms Fat Boy Is Controlled with Actual Bike Handles [Lego]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:00:32 EDT

This remote-controlled Lego Mindstorms NXT Fat Boy bike is cute and stylized enough to guarantee a post on its own. But when you see that the actual controller is shaped like the handles of a real motor bike, then it's just not a matter of writing about it or not. It's a matter of taking a plane to Germany and stealing it.

[Leggor—Thanks J.]

iPod Nano Switches Left and Right Channels With Headphone Insert [Ipod Nano Bugs]

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:40:00 EDT

If you have a new 4th-gen nano and a decent ear, you may have noticed something funny: After putting it to sleep, if you wake it up by inserting headphones, the left and right channels switch. I tried this with the most obvious stereo mix of all time, David Bowie's "Space Oddity," and it's really easy to duplicate yourself. While it's easy to correct, it's still definitely a weird, weird bug. Thanks to reader Matt for bringing it to our attention, and posting a thread at iLounge. Have you noticed it or any other weird glitches, like Genius' pathological avoidance of the lovely Norah Jones? (I'm serious, try it!)

Live Fish Remix MP3s, Have More Talent Than Most American Idol Contestants [Musical Fish]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:20:00 EDT

A Brazilian artist named Vivian Caccuri has put together an installation that uses the movements of live fish to remix the music played on an MP3 player. These fish are tracked using a proximity sensor and their activities trigger adjustments in processing levels, distortion and speaker fade to create a unique sound. Sure, it is about as pointless as snails being used to send email, but it is definitely relaxing to watch. [Vivian Caccuri via Crave]

SLAM Helmet Maps Room to Help Rescuers Navigate Through Smoke [Laser Helmet]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:50:00 EDT

Researchers are using a technique called simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) to develop helmets that rescue workers can use to navigate through heavy smoke. The helmet features an infrared laser scanner and software that bounces signals off walls and uses that data to create a map of the surrounding area.

The software also filters out variables like swaying and head-bobbing that could confuse the signal. Obviously, this technology is a long way from being implemented in the real world (as you can see from the crude helmet pictured here), but I can see how it could be a big help to rescue workers if some sort of monitor was added to the helmet or it was integrated into a handheld device. [New Scientist]

Live Vicariously Through Your Life Clock [Alarm Clocks]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EDT

The Life Clock from Jinsei Tokei is kind of like a Tamagotchi for adults—but instead of caring for it, the little guy living inside this box mimics your lifestyle. Well...sort of. You see, you can choose between three characters: a salaryman, a schoolgirl or a rock star. It gets up when your alarm goes off and it goes back to sleep when you set it at night. In-between that time it will do things like eat, shop and go out on dates. It will even cook if you use it as a kitchen timer. So, this is really a model of how to to live your life. You know—earn a little money, eat 3 square meals a day, find yourself a nice girl and do it all with a strict punctuality. Available for $55. [Japan Trend Shop via TRFJ]

Dish Network 1080p Compared to Blu-ray 1080p (Verdict: Not Bad) [High Def]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:10:00 EDT

At face value, "1080p high definition" means 1920×1080 pixels presented progressive scan (all at once). But if a clip is 1080p that alone doesn't necessitate that it will look good. Just as you can stretch a thumbnail in Photoshop to any gargantuan size you like, so too can content providers give you ugly 1080p.

So when Dish Network announced premium 1080p VOD that they compared to Blu-ray quality, we were more than a little skeptical. Sound & Vision was as well, which is exactly why they sat down with a Dish and Blu-ray version of Speed Racer to compare:

DISH 1080p immediately impressed me. Speed Racer's brilliant colors and intricate details looked fantastic whether I was watching the satellite or the disc. Flipping back and forth between the two sources while sitting at a normal viewing distance, I could detect only subtle differences. In fact, I couldn't be sure I was seeing any difference at all...From the way-too-intimate viewing distance of about 4 feet, I started to notice a subtle graininess in the DISH 1080p picture, especially in scenes of slow, steady motion...but the fact that there wasn't a substantial difference in picture quality between the satellite and the disc bodes well for DISH's new service.

So in other words, there's a difference between Blu-ray and Dish Network, but it's a pretty small one. So what's the catch? Only exclusive Dish VOD looks this good—most of their 1080p leaves a lot to be desired—and there won't be much of this premium content any time soon.

Still, it's good to see content providers step it up and provide 1080p content worthy of its reputation. [Sound & Vision]

Military Arming Shadow Drones, Could Give Novice Teen Pilots the Power to Kill [UAVs]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:50:00 EDT

Today, only seasoned, rated pilots are allowed to step behind the controls of an armed Predator or Reaper drone. However, the Defense Department is planning to change all that by fitting their low-flying Shadow counterparts with precision weapons. Currently Shadow drones function primarily as an intelligence asset—hunting down and collecting information on potential targets. They are also much lighter, smaller and cheaper than Predators or Reapers—which is why the Air Force felt comfortable allowing the most junior officers to pilot missions.

Combine that with the fact that high-end Predator pilots are severely fatigued from round-the-clock duty, and you can see why the DoD is making this move. It would expand the fleet of armed UAVs and make them cheaper to operate overall. Sure, the thought of 18 or 19 year old pilots fresh out of basic behind the controls of these machines is a bit unsettling—but it's not like this would be the first time the US threw a teenager into battle. Plus, we are taking about unmanned vehicles looking for specific, high-value targets. There is probably less chance of major incidents involving friendly fire or civilian casualties. [Inside Defense via Danger Room]

The Dark Knight Blu-ray on Preorder!!! [Blu-Ray]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EDT

ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG $24.95 ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG Features ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG. [ZOMG via ZOMG]

10 Ways to Ditch Guitar Hero and Score With Real Groupies [Thank Giz It's Friday]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

So, Guitar Hero: World Tour is set to drop on the 26th. That is all well and good if you are a fan, but the last time I checked, record labels were not handing out millions of dollars to Guitar Hero virtuosos so they could tour the world and score with groupies. The only way that is going to happen is if you learn how to play a real instrument and get yourself on stage. That is where the following gadgets can help.

Drums:

Drum Kit Shirt: Sure, you could by a real drum kit—but that can be expensive. This drum kit shirt plays seven drum sounds when you tap different areas and it will only set you back $30. [Think Geek via Link]

Drum Table: Yup...it's a table with drums built-in. The way I see it, this would be a great way to score with the ladies when everyone is drinking at a party. I mean look at this dude, he seems well on his way to a foursome. Prices range from $800 to $2,900. [Musical Furnishings via Link]

DrumPants: By dismantling a MIDI keyboard and hooking it up to his pants with a couple of piezo transducers, Tyler Freeman was able to turn his legs into playable drums. If you throw the shirt on top of this, you would basically turn your entire body into a giant kit. [Link]

Guitars:

Angel Sword Guitar: Slay your fans with rock and slay your enemies with steel. Too bad this nerd axe is a one of a kind item. [Link]

Gibson's Robotic Guitar: If you are too lazy to manually tune your guitar, this Gibson will do it for you at the push of a button. Servos tune the guitar to one of seven presets with A440 as a default and the remaining six based on hit songs. Unfortunately, this limited edition instrument will set you back well over $2000 if you manage to find one. [Gibson via Link]

Moog Paul Vo Edition: Moog, a company known for their synthesizers, have branched out to the world of guitars with the Paul Vo Edition. What makes it worth $6500 you ask? Well, it sure as hell isn't looks. However, it does claim to have "infinite sustain." Sure, you can already achieve similar effects with pedals, but the Moog product site claims that it is "like no other sustainer; infinite sustain on every string, at every fret position and at any volume. You may have heard sustain before but not with this power (we call it "Vo Power") and clarity." [Moog via Link]

Synthesizers:

Beamz: The Beamz system uses a series of six lasers that play sounds from instruments like the guitar, violin and even the cowbell when the beam is broken with your hand. If it feels like a Sharper Image gadget to you, good call. Beamz was on sale there before the company went belly up. Don't let that deter you though. You can still get your hands on one from the Beamz website for $400. Oh, and this video is the most hysterically uncomfortable thing I have watched in a long time. [Beamz via Link]

Korg DS-10: Unlike Guitar Hero, you can actually use this game to make music. Basically, Korg took their famous MS-10 synthesizer and squeezed it onto a DS. It features a four-part drum machine, six-track (analog synth x 2, drum machine x 4) /16-step sequencer, delay, chorus and flanger sound effects and the ability to exchange sounds and songs and play multiple units wirelessly. Currently available in Japan for 4,800 yen ($48). [Korg DS-10 via Link]

Piano:

Mini Grand Piano: Have you priced grand pianos lately? Yeah, we are talking tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is that this version from Segatoys will only set you back $570. The bad news is that each one of the playable keys is only 4mm wide. It may be mini, but you can still play like mozart with a stylus. [Audiocubes]

"Alternative" Instruments:

Light Up Tambourine: Okay, maybe cool instruments aren't your thing. However, that doesn't mean you can't rock out. Hey, Davy Jones got lots of chicks playing one of these back in the day. Available for $15. [LB Toys]

Air Guitar (Bonus): So you are good at Guitar Hero but you lack actual musical ability. No worries—you always have air guitar. And if you are wondering how you can get groupies doing something so lame, check out the video of air guitar champion Ochi Dainoji Yosuke doing his thing. So the lesson here is that it's not what you play but where you play it. I'll bet groupies are into anyone performing on a stage. Available for around $4. [stuff4me]

[Image via CNET.au]

Real Life Autobots Found in Chinese Scrap Yard [Robots]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:45:00 EDT

It's got to be tough distinguishing your scrap yard (a big lot filled with junk) from a competitor's scrap yard (another big lot filled with junk). But one Chinese entrepreneur from the Zhejiang province had a plan to promote his particular pile of junk as something special. He'd build full scale Autobot sculptures. While it's tough to find fault with any of the work, his best is definitely this converted BMW 7-Series. And until a free shiny red semi pulls into town, it'll probably stay that way. [China Car Times via Jalopnik]

Movie Parties and Photo Sharing Might Be Coming to New Xbox Experience [New Xbox Experience]

matt buchanan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EDT

Besides just looking a lot snazzier, the New Xbox Experience uses a whole new foundation that's server-based rather than sitting on your hard drive, so it's easy for Microsoft to add on features and apps. One possibility is basically movie parties—you and your friends could all watch Indiana Jones on Netflix at the same time—or more likely, photo sharing. Update: A reader reminded us that movie sharing was actually supposed to be in the NXE in the first place, so you can probably count on it. But uh, where'd it go in the meantime?

All Microsoft has to do is "build that app, drop it in, party enable it and we’re good to go" says Xbox senior strategist Rob Gruhl. So while the movie party feature isn't specifically planned on, since "those types of things are certainly the aspiration," according to Xbox marketing head Albert Penello and they've discussed photo sharing, it looks like we can definitely expect to see some social app action like that in the future. [MTV Multiplayer]

Direct Note Access Music Software Now Even More Revolutionary [Music]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EDT

Back in April we discovered a new music recording program from Celemony Software that could potentially revolutionize the music industry. It allows recording engineers to isolate and manipulate individual notes (as opposed to an entire chord) from a performance (no matter how lame) and turn it into a flawless piece of music. Celemony has revealed new details about DNA that claim the program will be able to handle "complete mixes (rather than a simple piano progression, for example)," but stresses that the more complex the job, the less likely you are to isolate individual notes.

Melodyne Plugin 2, the first product to incorporate DNA, has also added the ability to cut and paste / overlap notes and chords individually or in sequence. Unfortunately, the release date of the plugin has been pushed back to 2009—but Celemony has promised to run a public beta testing program prior to launch so people can familiarize themselves with the technology. The fact that it is getting pushed back sucks, but it's better late than never. After all, the recording industry needs a good kick in the pants to get their focus back on quality. [Music Radar]

Hackers Use Nvidia Graphics Card to Smash Wi-Fi Encryption 10,000 Percent Faster [Hack]

matt buchanan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Here's one way to tap the parallel processing power in Nvidia's graphics cards: Wi-Fi security hacking. Russian hackers reportedly bored through WPA and WPA2 encryptions using a brute-force technique juiced with one of Nvidia's latest graphics cards (they don't say which ones). The card supposedly made the "password recovery" process up to 10,000 percent faster. The report's notably skimpy on the details, but if true, that's a whole lot of busted for Wi-Fi security. [SC via DSL Reports]

Vibrating Pet Glove Invites Jokes Involving a Certain Synonym for 'Cat' [Pets]

Adam Frucci — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Apparently, your cat enjoys it when a soft, vibrating material is rubbed against it. That's why this vibrating pet glove exists. When your cat feels lonely and just needs a tender touch, slip on the vibrating pet glove and give it the massage it so desires. It even wipes clean with a damp cloth if your cat is wet or dirty. It uses 3 AAA batteries, and it totally doesn't look like a vibrator, so you can just leave it sitting out and not worry about your mom popping over to visit and making your feel uncomfortable. I mean it, uh, doesn't look like a regular pet brush. [Product Page via Book of Joe]

Paper Tank Only Fires Cheap Furniture, Supermarket Coupons [Design]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Being the blind bat that I am, I first got excited when I saw this M1 Abrams tank made out of paper because I thought those were comic-book pages. Is that Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos? Maybe colored Milton Canniff's Steve Canyons? Doug Murray's 'Nam? Then I zoomed in and I realized what it was.

Catalogs schmatalogs and newspapers ads. A good metaphor of the brutality and power of marketing. Maybe the killing nature of consumers markets getting into recession. Or the need for war economy these days. Whatever it is, it looks pretty. [The Contaminated]

Josh Pyke's Guitar Boat Floats on an Ocean of Rock [Guitar Boat]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:15:00 EDT

Up until now, I had never heard of Aussie indy-rocker Josh Pyke. However, sailing the seas on a giant guitar is something that tends to get people noticed. The boat is prominently featured in the video for his new single Make You Happy, and it appears to be an accurate replica of his favorite guitar. Unfortunately, it is not an actual, playable instrument—which is just as well. Jamming on this thing would require far too much effort. [Zimbo via Born Rich via DVICE]

Dealzmodo: MSI Wind Now Available for $430 [Deals]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00:05 EDT

MSI keeps upping the rebates on their Wind U110 netbooks, probably to stay competitive with the cheaper Acer Aspire One. If you're interested, the 3-cell battery Wind, good for about 2 hours of battery life, can be picked up for $430 after rebates. (A 6-cell Aspire One is just $400). The Wind has 120GB of storage as opposed to 160GB on the Aspire, but the Wind also features a 1-inch-bigger, 10" screen. Those interested in a 6-cell Wind will pay $480 after rebates. [Amazon via Lilliputing]

Sponsor Shout-out [Thanks Sponsors]

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EDT

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New OLED Tech Has Built-In Touch Control, Works Like Magic [Oled]

matt buchanan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:45:00 EDT

One of drawbacks with traditional touchscreens is that the touch action requires layers of junk between the light source and the surface you're smudging, which makes it dimmer. Fraunhofer IPMS is showing off a breakthrough in OLED tech that doesn't need any of the crap, since the OLED itself reads touch signals. Obviously, that opens up all kinds of sweet possibilities, since OLEDs are incredibly efficient (and this touch tech doesn't make them any less so) and brilliant. A phone with a gorgeous, insanely bright OLED touchscreen? Sign me up. [Science Daily via OLED Display via Engadget]

Bill Gates Reimagined As Penis for Condom Ad [Nsfw]

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EDT

We're not sure that Bill Gates signed off on this unofficial endorsement for 'Belgium for Love' brand condoms, but that didn't stop the company from placing his more characaturish features on a condom-wrapped penis with the caption, "I finally discovered an efficient antivirus!!" In case dominating the worldwide computer market, being one of the richest men alive and breaking entirely new ground on what it means to be a philanthropist wasn't enough, Bill can finally say he's made it. To see the full NSFW photo, hit the link. [Coilhouse via CopyRanter]

Army Keeps Military Green Push, Embraces Solar, Wind, and Bio-Fuel Power [Green Military]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:15:00 EDT

The Army is following the Air Force's green efforts to cut their energy expenditures and, presumably, don't see their weapons budget cut. They will install solar panels and windmills, while investing in bio-fuels and energy conservation in bases all around the country. According to Keith Eastin, assistant Army secretary for Installations and Environmen, this will be good not only for the military, but for all of us:

The Army plans to increase efficiency and serve as a model for the military and the nation when it comes to the operation of our housing, buildings, and forward operating bases. The Army will use its considerable purchasing power to push green projects that might not otherwise receive needed money.

One of these projects is the installation of a 500 megawatt solar thermal plant in Ft. Irwin, an Army base located in the Mojave Desert. Another, the purchase of 4,000 Small Neighborhood Electric Vehicles similar to the Peapod, which will always beat the SUVs currently in use at these bases.

The effort will have to be really serious, as their energy costs have increased a full 40% during the last seven years, even while they have cut consumption by almost 8%. According to their latest numbers released this week in Washington, D.C., right now they are spending $2 billion on fuel every year. However, most of it goes to feeding the generators that power the temporary bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, so no matter how much money they spend on saving energy at home, they still will have to feed the monster around the world. [DODBuzz]

Temperature Sweater Puts Annoying People in Their Place [Clothing]

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

You're sitting there freezing your ass off and someone comes up to you and says "cold enough for ya' today?" then laughs. If you have ever been in this situation you know how annoying it can be. Thanks to the temperature sweater you can reply by extending your arm, pointing to the temperature gauge on your wrist that is clearly displaying 2 degrees Fahrenheit, then turn up your hand and extend your middle finger. [Generate Design LE via RGS]

The Week in iPhone Apps: Into The Deprivation Chamber [IPhone Apps]

John Mahoney — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:50:00 EDT

It's been a rough week. We've seen so many stock market trend graphs looking like cross-sections of the Grand Canyon, so many sad traders. Doomsday proclamations a-plenty. So a hard week calls for an escape for hard rest, and thankfully, the App Store this week is eager to provide the visual and audio accompaniments for your weekend sensory/media deprivation.

Bloom: Highlight of the week here at Gizmodo HQ is Bloom, Brian Eno and Peter Chilver's generative music app in action above (crank up the sound!). Touch the screen and create instant loops in a Music For Airports piano style which will degenerate and evolve in real time. You can also watch it do its own thing, creating a generative loop that's always different. Because why shouldn't a few spare minutes in line or on the can be enhanced by improvisational iPhone-assisted ambient sketches? Take the pain away...for $4.

RjDj: In a similar vein and just released today is RjDj. It records sounds from your environment via the iPhone's mic and then processes them into a playback loop, adding delay and shifting pitch according to preset "scenes." The effect is really, really cool, even just walking around the house. An ice cream truck rolled by my open window and I almost fell over, just now. There's a free version with one scene, and a $3 version adds another processing scheme. Check out the video above for some serious beatboxing with RjDj—neat stuff. Thanks, Gaby!

i.TV: Your weekend needs a well-structured plan for backlit entertainments. And thankfully the value quotient is very high with the free i.TV, which is a nicely designed TV schedule app that does a lot. Aside from giving you a nice schedule grid, it also pulls descriptions, reviews and images from each show, YouTube trailers for any movie on TV, and allows you to bookmark individual shows, channels or genres to keep track of them individually. Oh, and it also finds nearby movie theaters for showtimes and trailers for current theater runs, too. Free.

iNietzsche: Your sensory deprivation hovel also needs Nietzsche, obviously. iNietzsche provides a random quotation from our favorite nihilist at varying levels of translation precision. Free.

CameraBag: And for when it's time to go back into the world, CameraBag. It's not new this week but I want to right the wrong of missing it by mentioning it here anyway, because it's very cool. There are a lot of cheap-o photo effects apps in the store, but CameraBag is the first I've seen to add unique effects from actual classic cameras/film types to your iPhone's pics. You can add the distinctive vignetting of a Holga, a nice Kodachrome color effect, and a few others. Sure you could do all of this in Photoshop too, but CameraBag is a one-stop shop. $3

This week's app coverage on Giz:
•A sneak peak at the forthcoming South Park iPhone app shows downloadable show clips, wallpapers, contact icons and looks generally great. No streaming episodes though, yet.

•A nifty trick blocks ads in mobile Safari, for jailbreak only.

•Those greedy sonsabitches at MLB.com are already selling next season's version of the MLB at Bat baseball news and stats app, because you're forced to buy the same app again for each new season.

•TouchType adds a highly desired feature—the ability to use the landscape keyboard for emails for 99 cents.

•iPhone OS 2.1 is caught scrimping on the email downloads while in sleep mode.

•And a peak into the innards of the iPhone software 2.2 beta reveals Street View for Google Maps, the ability to turn off auto-correct while typing and Japanese emoji icons.

This list is in no way definitive. If you've spotted a great app that hit the store this week, give us a heads up or, better yet, your firsthand impressions in the comments. And for even more apps: see our previous weekly roundups here, and check out our original iPhone App Review Marathon. Have a good weekend everybody.

Computers Screw Stock Market Even More Than It's Already Screwed [Recession]

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:42:00 EDT

As if we didn't have enough with the stock market going down in flames on its own, computers have decided to screw them a little bit more and make everyone go "WTF" for a few minutes this morning. After dropping around two hundred gazillion points yesterday, today the Dow Jones industrials saw another drop of 700 points, which was suddenly reduced to 125 and then went down again. Everyone thought "rebound" for a second there, until they realized what was really happening.

The reason of the sudden swing was artificial, caused by a large chunk of computer-driven orders that pushed the values up, only to drop down again after these were processed. At least according to the Associated Press, which says that this early roller coaster was "likely caused" by these orders, which "kicked-in when prices had fallen far enough to make some stocks look like an attractive bet. But that buying reflected no lifting of the market's deep despair, and selling continued."

Oh noes. Maybe we should all cheer up and let computers run the whole thing for a while then. Or just send stocks to hell altogether. [AP — Thanks OMGponies]