onlymatt's Blog

h(y)r | sweet little online mag featuring a whole host of goodies. Go to features, product then matt jensen to see my boy matt putting together some goodness for you fixie crew. He does plenty of tasty furniture also, watch this space I will dig up more pics...

Thou software unlock is still looks agonizingly far away, the guys over over at Brando came up with a simple hardware unlock solution for you 3G iPhone, that doesn’t even requires you to scratch your sim!

The Vader Project , a "reimagining of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today's hottest pop and underground artists", was recently on display at Star Wars Celebration Japan. A lot of them are pretty cool. says Geekologie... understatement of the decade I say - best thing on the interwebby I've seen this year. And that is a big statement.

Melissa Saenz at Caltech in Pasadena was tipped off when a visitor looked at her screensaver, which made no noise, and said, "Does anyone else hear that?"

She quizzed him and found that his experience had the hallmarks of synaesthesia: a trigger through one sense was giving rise to a sensory experience in another. It was automatic and her visitor had experienced it as far back as he could remember.

via New Scientist

I was up early inline for a 16 gig iPhone this morning. Problem was in my hillbilly town they only had 8 in stock. So back to looking at them online. Found this, looks good... if its not vapourware? Fingers Crossed.

BeatMaker introduces a new generation of mobile instruments and music creation software. Inspired by hardware beatboxes, loop samplers and software sequencers, it combines them to turn the iPod into a unique, inspirational software instrument.

Chemists in Japan report development of the world's first DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts. The finding could lead to improvements in gene therapy, futuristic nano-sized computers, and other high-tech advances:

No S**t

If you want a simple approach to the division of time (the day in this case) feel free to try the free ProgressClock™. This clock simplifies time by showing the elapsed percent of the day.

Its been done before I know, but this is a nice version.

(image from funmint)

I can't believe that this Faile Print hasn't sold out yet! Go get it! (I got mine. 25 colour print, who can resist?)

Tender Forever

25 Color Relief Print
Somerset Satin 300g
28 x 32 Inches
Edition of 315
Stamped and Numbered
Signed, Faile 2008

The Buy Now print features a 25-color relief print on a 300 gram Somerset Satin paper. The print was made using magnesium plates, registered, inked, and printed on a hydraulic press. This is the image that was used to create the TATE Modern piece. On view now, through August 25th.

A performance artist has created a robotic crawling japanese business man. This is supposed to symbolize the crash of the asian economy. It means something else to me. But make your own minds up.

If you have read many of my posts over the years you will be aware of my love for Earth Ships. This is a great interview with a key figure in that scene: Michael Reynolds.

If only the Planning Department down here in the Westcountry had slightly broader minds...

The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft have traveled beyond the edges of the bubble in space where the sun's constant outward wind of particles and radiation slams into the interstellar medium that pervades our galaxy.

Because they are leaving the solar system on paths that are about 45 degrees apart, the data reveals details about the shape of the bubble created by the solar wind. The fact that they crossed the edge of the solar outflow--a region called the boundary shock--at different distances out from the sun proved that this bubble is squashed rather than being a symmetrical sphere.

via MIT

Across cultures, classes, and aeons, people have yearned to transcend death.

Bear that history in mind as you consider the creed of the singularitarians. Many of them fervently believe that in the next several decades we’ll have computers into which you’ll be able to upload your consciousness—the mysterious thing that makes you you. Then, with your consciousness able to go from mechanical body to mechanical body, or virtual paradise to virtual paradise, you’ll never need to face death, illness, bad food, or poor cellphone reception.

Now you know why the singularity has also been called the rapture of the geeks.... According to this report its not going to work out as planned. But I still have high hopes!

Read the tech schtick below, but basically stick it to a flat surface and plug in. Dope.

Power-Ply 380 Roof Integrated Photovoltaic (RIPV) module is designed for flat roof applications and is easily installed over TPO, PVC, EPDM, Modified, and Built-Up roof systems. Its unique design combines high-efficiency cell technology with direct roof application to maximize energy generation for a given roof area. In addition, it eliminates the need for racking systems or other mounting structures that penetrate the roof, resulting in faster installations and less distractions for building owners.

These stones are real and known to mortals as Trovants.

Near a village, just south of central Romania a number of stone formations with alien features lie dormant, witnesses to the passing of time; that is – until it rains. Not long after the last drops of water fall, they begin a multiplication process. Small oval or round blain-like forms appear on the upper part of them, and they start to increase in size.

As the cost of sequencing a single human genome drops rapidly, with one company predicting a price of $100 per person in five years, soon the only reason not to look at your "personal genome" will be fear of what bad news lies in your genes.

University of California, Berkeley, scientists, however, have found a welcome reason to delve into your genetic heritage: to find the slight genetic flaws that can be fixed with remedies as simple as vitamin or mineral supplements.

Drugs that encourage the growth of new neurons in the brain are now headed for clinical trials. The drugs, which have already shown success in alleviating symptoms of depression and boosting memory in animal models, are being developed by BrainCells, a San Diego-based start-up that screens drugs for their brain-growing power. The company hopes the compounds will provide an alternative to existing antidepressants and says they may also prove effective in treating cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's.

Considering how little attention the PS3's motion-sensing functionality currently receives, we're not inclined to think that Sony's making an even deeper push into the Wii's territory, but a site called Playstation Lifestyle says that Sony conducted focus-group testing on a controller similar to the Wiimote earlier this year. Apparently the device was mounted on a foot-tall mini-tripod, and was demoed with tennis, fencing, and paintball mini-games, as well as used to play Quake on a laptop. That's not to say that Sony's ever going to bring this stuff to market, but it would certainly be interesting if it did -- and coupled with those persistent Xbox 360 remote rumors, the gaming landscape could suddenly be overrun with people miming tennis.

I caught this on Greenbang today:
According to sites that watch all things Apple, the company has filed a patent which hints that iPods and iPhones might be up for the solar treatment in the future. I can see it happening. And I want one.

This is an old pickup with a crazy looking contraption in the bed of the truck composed of ducting, PVC pipe, a 50 gallon drum, an old furnace, and of course, a lot of duct tape among other many other things.

It was a wood burning oven that catches the combustible fumes from the wood coals, condenses any moisture, then feeds the fumes into the engine to make it run.

If this is for real I might have to do it to my Bay Window Bus if fuel keeps going up the way it is...

A new manufacturing process could mean improved efficiency for solar cells. The technique, which is being pioneered by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, results in “hairy” solar cells.

The hairs are visible only on the microscopic level. They’re actually nanowires: tiny silicon or metallic structures used to complete very small circuits.

A Nature News article describes the initial plans for an ambitious effort to begin mapping the complete human proteome: the set of all human proteins expressed in all of our cells at all points during our development and adult life.

This is a project of vastly greater magnitude and complexity than the sequencing of the human genome. Unlike the genome, which remains essentially static between cell types and over time, the proteome is tremendously dynamic, changing constantly in response to cell-cell signalling and environmental stimuli.

via

They Say...Half of the world's poor suffer from waterborne disease, and nearly 6,000 people - mainly children - die each day by consuming unsafe drinking water.

LifeStraw® water purifiers have been developed as a practical way of preventing disease and saving lives, as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water by the year 2015

I say.. Lets start giving 'em out ASAP. Start in Burma.

Councils across Britain are to start using lie detectors to catch benefits cheats claiming money they are not entitled to.

It is hoped the 'voice-risk analyser' system, which monitors speech patterns, could save taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.

The device looks for changes in the sound of a claimant's voice, a sign they might not telling the truth.
Officers using then are able to ask for further evidence to support any claims highlighted as being suspicious.

15 councils currently have access to the machines which are expected to be rolled out nationally.

Seems pretty heavy. It'll be finger up the bum next!

MAKE @ RobotBusiness 2008 Segway RMP - video powered by Metacafe

A little peek at the what is supposed to be the new Segway personal transport device. Its got more styles than the present contraption I'll say that much. It appeared at RoboBusiness - there isn't any information available about it at this time other than it "might" cost up to $50k and it can move in any direction (omnidirectional wheels, but the term was hyperdirectional?)

Concern about the potential health effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in consumer plastic products, is growing, following the release this week of a draft report from the US National Toxicology Program (NTP). That report says there's "some concern" about the potential negative health effects of BPA on infants and children and calls for more research to determine just what the risks of BPA exposure might be.

This has been bubbling under for a while now, and I for one have been trying to switch to metal containers...