Computer Case Doubles as a flat-panel Mount

Why pay outrageous department store prices for an all-in-one PC when you can simply purchase an ATX/Micro-ATX compatible computer case with a built-in mount for your LCD monitor? Actually, don’t answer that because you can’t actually buy the L-2000 LDorado (from Korean company 3RSystem) in the US.

The LDorado can handle monitors between 19 and 24 inches and features seven expansion ports, a DVD/CD drive slot, and front-mounted USB ports, audio jacks, and power button. I’ve no idea what this apparatus costs but if you’re one of those “determined” types, you might be able to build something like this yourself.

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A collection of iPhone costumes for your perusal

Halloween has come and gone as it tends to do every year and this year saw its fair share of Apple-inspired costumes. DVICE has compiled a list of what it’s judged to be the best iPhone costumes of Halloween 2008. There are some pretty good ones in there, like the MySpace guy up on the left there and the baby in an iPhone stroller on the right. The list also includes a dog wearing an iPhone, which looks kind of cool.

Most of the rest kind of all look like cardboard boxes with tin foil around the sides. Two guys made costumes with working screens (there’s a video here), although they actually wore them last year. Still pretty cool, though.

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CrunchDeals: Acer Aspire One for $289 at Woot.com

Woot.com is selling the Acer Aspire One netbook for $289.99 plus $5 shipping. It’s the version with the Linpus Linux operating system, 512MB of RAM, 8GB SSD, and three-cell battery. It sells for around $330 elsewhere so if you’ve been waiting for this particular model, now might be the time to pull the trigger.

This deal is only available today (Saturday).

woot.com

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MSR-H101 Hexapods kit lets you build your own nightmares

Robot builder Matt Denton apparently first built a one-off Hexapod robot for himself some time ago, but he's now taken things one big step further and is offering a kit of a similar bot to the general public through Micromagic Systems. In addition to being excessively creepy (just check out the video after the break), the MSR-101 Hexapod also looks to be relatively simple to get going straight out of the box

, with it boasting a built-in HexEngine with plenty of pre-loaded settings, and built-in PS2 controller suppport, which'll let you parade your creation about without having to mess around with it too much beforehand. Of course, there's also plenty of room for more experienced robot builders to get their hands dirty, and Micromagic is more than happy to sell you a whole slew of optional add-ons for the kit. Those just looking to get started, however, can simply grab the base kit in their choice of black, red, or silver for an entirely reasonable €105, or roughly $168 -- just don't blame us if you never get a good night's sleep again.

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Sick of waiting for your G1 to update? Here is how to update it manually

If you’re constantly glancing at your G1 to check if T-Mobile has graced your handset with the oh-so-slow-to-roll-out RC29 update (”By November 11th”? Pah!), you might be glad to find out that there’s now a way to expedite the process. A user over at xda-devhas worked it all out.

All you need is a computer, internet connection, a way to transfer the firmware to your Micro SD card and half a brain.

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Tablet BrickBook: Third party, of course, and expensive as hell

If you really like explaining things to strangers, you’ll love having one of these. Because every passer-by will stop, think, and then ask the obvious question. And you’ll have to talk about where you got it and how much it cost and why hasn’t Apple done this yet, blah blah blah. If you’re prepared for that, this looks pretty hot. They’ll take the brand new aluminum MacBooks (not MBPs yet, I think) and turn them into the kind of tablet you wish was already on offer.

It’ll cost you $1300 for the privilege, though — and that’s not including the laptop you have to buy. I guess that’s the price you have to pay to be the coolest kid on the block. That is, until the real multi-touch sub-$1000 Mac tablet hits the market. So basically forever.

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Fallout DRM not be exactly “mild”

Earlier this month, one of the Fallout 3 developers at Bethesda described the intended DRM for the game as the “mildest form possible.” Well, Securom7 isn’t really the mildest form possible, since it has a serious problem coexisting with drive emulation software like Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120%. Now, they could have done a lot worse, and to be honest, it doesn’t interfere with most users. But it doesn’t seem to be deterring pirates (I count about 50,000 people downloading it on TPB as I write this), and after making a serious statement like your DRM will be “basically nothing,” the vocal minority will have its say. Even the pirates will complain! (look on the right)

The solution? Get that sucker on Steam. I did. No disc, no worries, and it doesn’t seem to have any trouble living next to my Daemon Tools, either. Clicky there –>

The risks associated with digital distribution are all but eliminated at this point, while the difficulty of using discs becomes greater and greater. Like Blu-Ray, boxed copies are going the way of the dodo. It’s too much effort to go kicking and screaming so I’m just going to go limp.
[thanks for the tip, Matt]

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What better way to toughen up the Wii than with a Nerf game?

Now, let me make one thing clear. If they made an awesome Nerf game (indeed, if they have already made one), with “dart time,” Nerf shotguns, Nerf arrow sniping, and water ballons, complete with “Nerfalities” and stuff like that… if they made that game, no one would care that it was Nerf because it would just be awesome.

however, that the new Nerf N-Strike is not that game. The Nerf/Wii blaster is a good idea (though I question its durability) and they have the right idea with the real Nerf guns in-game, “over-the-top” action and so on. But with only four players it’s not going to be a Nerf War, and for the money you could get a couple real Nerf guns and start blasting for real.

Wow, the word “Nerf” is in that paragraph ten times. I guess it’s unavoidable. Nerf

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Review: Black & Decker Smart Driver.

Since we started our Gift Guide I’ve been leaning towards ever more esoteric yet thoughtful gifts for the nerd in your life. That said, I present to you the Black & Decker Smart Driver, one of the coolest little drills you’ll ever own.

How often has this happened to you? You’re trying to install a ceiling fan and you’re on a ladder and trying to drill the fan into a pancake adapter you installed over the old wiring harness. The screws aren’t going in and when they do they go too deep for your big power drill so you have to grab a standard screwdriver and push through plaster and eventually steel to finally seat the base of the fan. Then you’re standing up there and you touch the wrong wire and shock the hell out of yourself and throw the screwdriver across the room. You then sit down for a minute on the couch and refuse to get back up on the ladder and three beer later it’s time to watch Ghostbusters so you’re about done with all that fan noise and you slowly get drunk and wonder what ever happened to Winston.

If you’re saying “John: All the time,” then you’ve come to the right place. This odd little drill has a six position clutch and is able to perform small jobs with aplomb. It includes multiple tips, including tips that fit most IKEA furniture screws and lasts 18 months on one charge thanks to the built-in lithium battery. It’s extremely small and light - almost toy-like - and in our tests it held a charge for about four hours of continuous use.

Two features, however, make this a life-saver. First, there’s a blue LED work light that shines a bright light on the area you’re drilling. This is a lifesaver under sinks and behind appliances and furniture. Second, it has a magnetic screw holder. Oh. My. God. That’s right: you place a screw on the holder and it stays put until you screw it into the wall. This addition in itself is worth the price of admission.

This is not a heavy-duty drill. I wouldn’t send this down to the boys on the job site and expect them to erect a California-style Ranch with this. It is designed for small jobs and small repairs and would make a great PC screwdriver provided you keep the magnet away from the hard drives. It costs $39.99 at Amazon and is perfect for the hardware klutz: it comes with most everything you need and it keeps your screws straight. What more do you need?

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Robot lord forced to serve beers, will have revenge.

See how the robot points to that cup? It’s actually looking for human blood to power its internal engine. When he’s at full power there will be no more buy-backs.

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Video Interview: Microsoft’s Bob Muglia On Going After The Clouds

Steve Gillmor is at the Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles where he caught Microsoft senior exec Bob Muglia on camera for an interview that touches upon Microsoft’s new cloud initiatives, how it relates to its existing server business, Silverlight, and what Microsoft is like without Bill Gates around every day. Muglia is the senior vice president in charge of the server and tools business, which was responsible for $3.4 billion in revenues last quarter alone. Here’s what he had to say:

Type rest of the post here

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