Sep 11, 2009

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) enjoyed a successful launch of its H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) this morning from the island of Tanegashima, south of Japan. The launch was overseen by JAXA engineers in Tsukuba, Japan and NASA flight controllers in Houston. It represents a big step forward for the International Space Station, as Japan's automated freighter will be able to resupply the mission even after the American shuttle fleet is grounded in 2010 (or, as suggested by the presidential review panel, as late as 2015).

Japan's HTV freighter is entirely unmanned and is currently carrying 4.5 tons out of a possible 6 tons of equipment and supplies to the ISS.

"This HTV-1 vehicle is a demonstration flight to verify its functionality and performance," Masazumi Miyake, one of JAXA's senior officials in the US, told the BBC. "After completion of this mission we are planning to launch one operational HTV per year on average."

Unlike other craft, the HTV will not try and dock on its own. Instead, it'll park itself under the ISS and be pulled into place by a robotic arm.

JAXA, via BBC News and Spaceflight Now

Poor Missy is back in rescue through no fault of her own: what a terrible shame. Heathlands Sanctuary is offering to help out with Missy's future medical requirements. She's an easy-going girl who loves to ramble in the countryside.

Sep 11, 2009

No points for presentation here, but the Remote Buddy is a $40 solution for keeping four of your remotes stored and tacked. The unit comes with four color-coded receivers, and pressing the corresponding button on the Remote Buddy will cause the receiver to chime — which means you'll probably hear it from between the sofa cushions. It also has space for a drink, if you're into that.

Of course, you could just avoid all the clutter with a universal remote, but, while plenty more awesome, those are also plenty more expensive.

Remote Buddy, via 7Gadgets

Sep 11, 2009

By: fungus amungus

Sep 11, 2009

If you're a little bit anal, you're probably seriously bothered by tangles of cables. And that includes the power cable running from your laptop.

If you've got a MacBook, the PowerCurl will help ease your uptight mind by keeping your cables neat and tidy. Simply pop it over the power brick and wrap up both ends of the cable. Voila! Neat and tidy.

Quirky via Gizmodo

Sep 11, 2009

Next time you have a spare $135,000 lying around, why not pick up a Goldmund Eidos Reference Blue Blu-ray player? This 66-pound behemoth has such beautiful design, we're thinking it would be right at home in an art gallery. But does it make the Blu-ray movies look any better? Only those with golden eyes and ears will know for sure.

Those precision spring-loaded legs, a completely isolated power supply and fancy Goldmund Magnetic Damping drives the price up into the stratosphere, along with that ritzy Goldmund name. And hey, expensive Blu-ray player collectors, Goldman is limiting this production run to 50 units, and there are certainly enough suckers available to snap up every one.

For crying out loud — save yourself $132,000 and just get one that loads fast.

Sep 11, 2009

You bought your 50-inch HDTV. But now you want better speakers. You want a Blu-ray player. You want to play your iPod or iPhone through your better speakers. And you don't want to spend more than $500.

Well, three out of four ain't bad.

Panasonic's SC-BTX70 is a compact 2.1 virtual surround sound system that incorporates both a vertical Blu-ray player, and an integrated iPod/iPhone dock. Unfortunately, it's $1,000 which seems a bit high since you can buy all three pieces separately (including a Web-connected BD Live Blu-ray player rather than the no-frills player in this system) for less. But then you'd have to hook them all up separately, which means three separate remote controls, you couldn't navigate your iPhone/iPod on your HDTV, and it wouldn't look as good as this jet black system. Decisions decisions.

Jessie is a true golden girl and will be a fantastic companion for someone. She's had a very sad time recently but that Goldie spirit is undefeated and she is unfailingly loving, gentle and placid. She's hoping that there is someone out there who will love and care for her in her twilight years. She would be happy to live with another elderly dog, she's fine with children and seems to ignore cats. Perfect? We think so!