Geek culture

'Deadliest Warrior' weapons guru makes the cut

LOS ANGELES--When Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior" needs to re-create weapons of the distant past to pit soldiers of bygone eras against each other, it turns to weapons fabricator David Baker and his workshop.

Hidden away in the vast basement below the "Deadliest Warrior" Los Angeles studios, Baker and his team combine historical research with carpentry, metallurgy, and weapons expertise to forge copies of the swords, shields, bows, and arrows used by antiquity's greatest armies. Baker brought years of experience making swords and other realistic period weapons for Hollywood to "Deadliest Warrior," and he brings a passion for weaponry to every creation. … Read more

The 404 861: Where we're putting it all out there (podcast)

Have you ever received a phone call from a mystery number, but had no way to find out who was on the other side? A new online service called NumberGuru lets you perform a reverse number search to identify the source, and our friends from BeenVerified.com are in the studio to tell us all about it.

There are a few services like WhitePages that offer similar features, but NumberGuru is free and accessible from the Numberguru.com Web site, or with any one of its smartphone apps. Even better, the site lets you share comments on phone numbers to warn other users about spammers and telemarketers, and BeenVerified.com also offers background checks to dig up more details about the caller.

The 404 Digest for Episode 861

BeenVerified does background checks. Why bother to remember when you can just use Google? Great fear as PS1 discs begin to oxidize and degrade after 10 years.

Episode 861 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 860: Where we're selling Spotify invites (podcast)

Spotify has finally made its way to the U.S., successfully striking deals with all four of the major record labels to provide a unique music-streaming service, and Wilson's already a member with a premium account. If you're weren't lucky enough to get an invite to the party, we'll be selling them to the highest bidder.

In other news, Jeff's friend brings us news about a man in China who built an iPad clone from scratch, except I already have my eyes set on a Buy.com deal for an Archos 7" Android tablet for $90 shipped! If you already have the Archos, let me know if it's worth the money, or if I should wait for Amazon's tablet to launch in October.

All this plus e-mails from the public on today's podcast!

The 404 Digest for Episode 860

Spotify lands in the United States. Chinese "hacker" makes iPad clone from scratch. Amazon to launch its own tablet in October.

Episode 860 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 859: Where we embrace our inner geek (podcast)

It's Embrace Your Inner Geek Day...which applies to everyone else who doesn't have a daily tech podcast. To me, Jeff, and Wilson, it's Wednesday and today we're wondering how a picture of Jeff got onto The Huffington Post.

We're also whining about the Netflix hype that ignited a social-media fire, discovering how the genesis of Internet and raving have a symbiotic relationship, and introducing another user-submitted Tang That Tune!

The 404 Digest for Episode 859

Netflix price hike ignites social-media fire. Jeff makes unwitting debut on HuffPo. How the Internet transformed the American rave scene. Hey it's Embrace Your Inner Geek Day! Wilson laughing for 10 hrs (thanks Kokesh!)

Episode 859 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Beer arcade: Video games + beer = awesome

As much as I'm reluctant to use the phrase "man cave," mostly because I don't have the space for one of my own, I have to say that I have found a pretty nifty man cave essential. Behold, the Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade!

The Beer Arcade comes from Northern California-based Dream Arcades, which also offers premade arcade cabinets and DIY arcade kits. Take a high-end gaming PC with PlayStation 3 connectivity, a 5.1 audio system, add full driving controls with dual-motor force feedback and variable resistance on the pedals, and, as the name would suggest, a beer tap.

I know, right?

Those are the basics, but it goes further than that. The Beer Arcade also comes loaded with a dozen driving sims (including Hard Drivin' and S.T.U.N. Runner, a few faves of mine) and a fully adjustable steering wheel and seat, and variable-resistance clutch, brake, and gas petals. As Dream Arcades is quick to point out, "Of course we don't condone REAL drinking and driving, but kicking back a few Bud Lights while playing your favorite games is a different story!" … Read more

A Star Wars video game unlike any other

Video games tend to be more enjoyable on a large screen, but what happens when you harness the power of a 20-foot-wide multitouch display that runs at 8,160x2,304 resolution? Some incredible pew pew.

Fleet Commander, designed by computer science grad student Arthur Nishimoto and developed at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois in Chicago, is perhaps the most tantalizing "Star Wars" concept game ever made.

Under development for several years, it currently harnesses the power of a giant multitouch LCD wall to "explore how a real-time interactive strategy game that would typically rely on complex keyboard commands and mouse interactions [could] be transferred into a multi-user, multitouch environment," according to EVL. Fingers are tracked via TacTile software. … Read more

Angry Birds T-shirt design gives rise to cakes

Having the ability to create an extraordinary cake is something you'll never see on my resume. That doesn't stop me from living vicariously through those who can bake something that looks like art, like an an almost-too-realistic Angry Birds cake.

The "Furious Fowl" Angry Birds cake is originally inspired from a T-shirt design by Brian Cook that is sold at the artist-driven Threadless clothing store. Jamie Masterson and her husband are self-described addicts of the popular smartphone game, and decided to create the cake as an entry on Threadcakes, which is a Web site that encourages … Read more

The 404 858: Where dreams really do come true (podcast)

News of the Black Eyed Peas' hiatus proves that if you wish for something long enough, dreams really do come true. On today's episode, Jeff tells us about the long-awaited intersection of tech geekdom and hockey, we analyze WebMD's involvement in the spread of "cyberchondria," and we dispute a Dutch study that claims smoking marijuana makes you a better gamer.

The 404 Digest for Episode 858

Geekdom and hockey collide: The campaign for NHL player Mike Commodore to wear No. 64. The Black Eyed Peas go on hiatus; Jeff celebrates. WebMD reports: Internet makes hypochondria worse. Does marijuana make you a better gamer? Jeff's Cute Animal Video of the Week, starring a street-crossing sloth. Mitch B's custom 404 iPhone case and BodyGuardz iPad case!

Episode 858 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Mice belt buckles unfasten your inner geek

Circuit board and MP3 storage neckties step aside. Someone has created something even geekier--belt buckles made of old computer mice.

It all started when the designer, a Texas maker of leather goods, was throwing away a box of old mice. He realized the devices were about the same size as the belt buckles he wears. Hence was born a new way of showing off your inner geek.

Apple fans can enjoy these treasures, as well--the designer also created Mac variants, ranging from the older Apple Pro mice to the Mighty Mouse (no, not the cartoon). He hasn't created Razer versions yet, but we're hoping for a glowing Death Adder edition.

Each buckle measures about 4.25 inches by 2.5 inches and will fit a belt up to 1.75 inches. Sadly, the belt comes apart the normal way; there's no left-clicking or scrolling involved for unbuckling.

Head on over to the creator's Etsy shop if you wish to get your hands one of these belt buckles. They will set you back at least $20 apiece.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

The 404 857: Where we tripped over a zombie (podcast)

Does anyone else not understand Google+, or are we just getting too old for the Internet? After a week of using Google's new social network, we're not ready to leave Facebook, so let us know if we're missing something here. In other news, Jeff and Wilson met a real zombie, YouTube upped its video time limit to 10 hours, and Google might be tracking your sexual activity online, yikes.

The 404 Digest for Episode 857

Google+ invitations no longer so scarce. YouTube ups video time limit to 10 hours. iPad rumors suggest new iPad 2 with better screen this year. Sexual activity tracked by FitBit shows up in Google Search Bay Area from Eric performs our first ever user-submitted Tang That Tune!

Episode 857 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more