Crave

Leap over rivers with this trampoline bridge

Is there anything more blissful than escaping gravity's grip by jumping on a trampoline? What if you could do that while going from point A to point B?

Paris architecture firm AZC has come up with a crazy way to cross the Seine River -- huge inflatable trampolines. Just hop from bank to bank. … Read more

Nissan to introduce steer-by-wire cars in 2013

I can't wait for cars to drive themselves, and here's one more step in that direction.

Nissan wants to cut the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the tires on some of its 2013 automobiles with steer-by-wire technology. It could make driving more like playing a video game, or more of a full-on engagement with the road, depending who you ask.

The system would replace the conventional rack and pinion setup with one that controls the tire angles and steering inputs with independent electronic controls, similar to the trusted fly-by-wire interface in aircraft. … Read more

Sony may have a new way to heat up gameplay

Imagine a game where your character traverses a frozen tundra with heavy snowfall. Upon entering this barren area, your controller gets cold, and you must move on before your fingers freeze up.

The next-generation motion controller by Sony could contain a key feature currently unavailable (at least, on a wide scale) in the video game ecosystem: thermal feedback. With so many ways to play video games these days, using a simple motion controller or camera-based motion capture device may not necessarily impress the experienced gamer any more. … Read more

Earth-like planet -- sorta -- spotted in Alpha Centauri

Roughly 25 trillion miles (or 4.3 light years) from home, astronomers have found that the Alpha Centauri star system hosts a planet with a mass similar to that of Earth. Galactic geeks may recall references to this star system in "Star Trek," "Avatar," "Transformers," and countless other fictional entertainment.

The planet, officially named Alpha Centauri Bb, orbits Alpha Centauri B and took more than four years of observing to fully classify. … Read more

Buzzworthy: Houseflies can now tweet

Anyone out there speak fly? Because I'd really like to know what these houseflies were saying when they tweeted the following last week:

``F`CZHGF`CZHGF`XZHGFDS`XZHFDS`XZHFDS`ZFD`ZFD`ZHGFD`HGFD`HGFD`HGF` HGF`HGF`HF`HF`HF``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

The flies have joined the social-networking masses thanks to artist David Bowen, who created fly tweet, a device that sends tweets based on the activities of a colony of houseflies with too much hands on their wings. The flies live and tweet inside an acrylic sphere that also contains a computer keyboard.

As the insects fly over the keyboard keys, their subtle movements trigger not-so-subtle tweets (really, flies, tweeting in all caps? Not cool).… Read more

Rumor Has It: Is Apple's next bright idea a colorful iPad Mini?

The best news about Apple sending out invites to a (probable) iPad Mini event next week, is that we can finally stop talking about iPad Mini rumors. Finally.

What we don't know yet, however, are any specifics. Will it be 7 inches? Will it come in a rainbow of colors? How much will it cost? All our questions will be answered next week.

Remember that we have a big bet riding on this one -- if Apple in fact announces the iPad Mini next week, Emily has to do something embarrassing! -- so leave us a comment and give … Read more

The 404 1,150: Where burritos > bagels (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- It's It: The story of the Bay Area's most famous dessert, or, the other San Francisco treat.

- This is why we behave so strangely in elevators.

- Snopes debunks "Elevator Express" trick.

Bathroom break video: Empty America series profiles San Francisco.

Episode 1,150 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  

Epic's Infinity Blade sequel delay puts it in iPad 4 territory

The work-in-progress game title used to demonstrate the graphical power of Apple's latest iPad may not be ready until Apple debuts the iPad 4.

Infinity Blade: Dungeons, the top-down, dungeon exploring meets finger swashbuckling hybrid that Epic Games demonstrated live on stage at the third-generation iPad's unveiling in March, is now said to be in ongoing development, with no firm release date.

The reason? Developer Impossible Studios, which Epic put together in early August from former employees of Big Huge Games, has been "busy adding their great ideas to the game," according to an interview with … Read more

How being an Apple fanboy can threaten your cat

I feel sure that the number of corporate hours lost to workers sitting and watching YouTube videos has a severe effect on GDP.

I would, therefore, like to contribute to that.

Here is a video, which Cult of Mac saw on Reddit, that shows the unexpected consequences of becoming a little too committed to Apple's software.… Read more