Street Tech

One of the most frequent concerns we’ve heard from would-be buyers of the iPod nano is: “I wonder how easily it would break if you dropped it.” This expensive little plastic and silicon wafer does appear to be fragile. So, the always-curious gadget weenies at Ars Techica put a nano to the test. They were amazed at its durability. It still played music even after being run over by a car. Twice! In the end, it only succumbed after being tossed about 40′ in the air, onto concrete, something you’re not likely to do with yours.

After the carnage was complete, they did an autopsy and detail their findings in the last installment of the piece.

This thing may look goofy as all get out, but in the privacy of your own home, who’s gonna know? I’ve been looking for a decent solution to writing and Web surfing while watching TV and computing on my patio that doesn’t leave me hunched over a TV table or my lap. This could be it.

In the article on GizMag, it’s promoted as a great desk for workgroups in open plan offices. Okay, now THAT would be beyond ludicrous looking. If I get one, I’m going to shove it in the closet when people come over to visit.

At 250 Euros (about US$300), this kind of silly seating doesn’t come cheap, either.

We’ve been enjoying Brendan I. Koerner’s “Low End Theory” columns on Gizmodo. His most recent one is on the ridiculous techno-crap sold in the Sharper Image catalogs.

Street Tech had its own run-in with the makers of one of the all-surface, no-depth gizmos in which the “Image” traffics. It was the flat-panel, wall-mounted CD stereo system they used to sell. I called the manufacturer and asked for an evaluation unit for ST. The PR guy said: “For a review? A critical review?” Yes. “It’s an inexpensive system you know?” Yes. We’ll keep that in mind. “Is this going to be a comparative review” (They *always* ask that). No. Stand alone. “It really is a nice looking system.” I see that. That’s one of the reasons we’d like to take a look at it. [Pause] “Okay. We’ll get one out to you.” It never arrived. A follow-up email went unanswered. But I’m sure it would have looked very nice on the wall. Sharp, even.

Again with the noodles. This image, taken from the iLounge review of the Game Boy Micro, shows one of the custom faceplates that are being touted as a key feature of the diminutive sibling to the Game Boy Advance SP. Honestly, we don’t get it. It’s like the GBA SP, only smaller, with a scratchier screen, and less software support. As it says in the review: If only this thing sold for US$50, instead of $100, THEN you’d really have something.