Indiana Jones' graphics meant to go unnoticed

There's just something about that familiar Indiana Jones music. You know it--dun ta dun ta, dun ta da...

Even having spent months slaving over some 450 computer-generated images for the just-released Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the admittedly jaded Hayden Landis still gets excited when he hears that theme song.

"The little kid in you comes out," said Landis, computer graphics supervisor on the film, recalling the music in the opening of the movie trailer. "I grew up with Indiana Jones."



It's that very nostalgic feeling that Landis and his team at Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic tried to create with the film's visual effects--at director Steven Spielberg's request, Landis said.
Read more »

This robo-caddy will follow you anywhere

Some of the most important technology in golf has nothing to do with virtual putting, digital scoring, or video analysis of your swing. Case in point: The Shadow Caddy.

This Australian-made marvel can follow you onto the first tee, through all 18 holes, and into the clubhouse, perhaps with the exception of sandtraps. And it will do it all by itself, without even a remote control. This robo-caddy works by communicating with a sensor worn by the player and navigating its way around the links with built-in processors.

The pefect accessory for the lazy duffer, it makes the remote-controlled caddy look like a dinosaur by comparison. Maybe you can even get a golfer's golfer's Segway and see if it can keep up. Or you can just a Golf Ball Launcher and save the trip altogether. <

Via Crave CNET

Fighter pilots get much welcome relief

At one point or another, all boys want to be fighter jocks. The cool aviator glasses, the outstanding flight suit and the honking helmet just add to the thrill of flying a multi-million-dollar investment to shoot down another multi-million-dollar toy.

But do we really know the risks? No, I'm not talking about being hit by a sidewinder at 20,000ft, or blacking out from pulling too many Gs. What if, heaven forbid, you drank too much just before a long sortie and you didn't have time to go to the loo?
Read more »

Tokyoflash's Infection watch dazzles and confuses

Just like there are times when you don't want strangers to look over your shoulder and see what you are typing on your mobile phone, we don't want people to know the time by stealing glances at our watch, either. Tokyoflash's Infection timepiece is one of the most subtle ways of telling these sneaky fellows to get their own watches, or look somewhere else.

Instead of using common denominators like moving hands or numerals to tell time, the Infection watch has 12 red LEDs to indicate the hours, 11 yellow LEDs with each of them representing 5 minutes past, and four green LEDs to show single minutes. According to the product description on the Web site, these multi-colored lights "pulsate and move like cells across the curved face to present the time from beneath the attractive, mirrored mineral crystal lens".

A conversation starter for sure, though you'd probably end up looking every bit like a dork if you can't tell the time on your own watch a few drinks later. Yours for US$138 inclusive of a five-day worldwide shipping period.

Thanks, Paul!

INBED's 2D bed companion

This goes right up there on the funny wall (funny haha or funny weird, take your pick) with the bizarre Triumph solar bra and the pointless Sushi specs. In this case, creativity, fired by teenage testosterone on overdrive, has resulted in an NYU student's virtual project called the INBED. Using infrared-sensitive light, this projects a virtual girlfriend that appears to lie next to you in bed. Kiss her on the cheek, and she'll bury her face in the pillow. Lie on your side, and she'll spoon herself against you. Of course, since it's all composed of pixels, satisfaction is not guaranteed. Maybe someone ought to ship Mr NYU student a Hizamakura Lap Pillow from Japan. At least that's something he can really cosy up to.

Via New York Times

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (2237)

» Digital Cameras (988)

» Notebooks (1238)

» PC & Peripherals (1312)

» Handhelds (585)

» Printers (83)

» Home AV (1147)

» Music & Play (895)

» Gadgets (1488)

» Future Tech (396)

» Green Tech (172)

» Lifestyle (157)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (58)

» Cars (99)

» Games and Gear (248)

» Software (96)

» Web (118)

Previously...

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Hot Topics

Subscribe to
Crave

What's Hot

apple apple inc. apple iphone apple ipod asia battery camera game google inc. iphone microsoft corp. microsoft windows mobile phone photograph singapore smart phone software sony corp. video

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads