Apple Patent Shows Ordering, Paying by iPhone (And Queue Skipping) [Patents]

from Gizmodo by Jason Chen

Nothing except a 2nd-gen iPhone with GPS and 3G would make us happier than if Steve pulled out this invention at MacWorld 2008 next month. This patent, which details a cashless payment system via the iPhone, will allow people to order stuff on their phones via Wi-Fi, pay for it, and skip everyone in line that doesn't have an iPhone. It's like calling ahead to place an order, except you have to wait at the store and you don't have to talk to anybody. Great for the type of person who enjoys being in the company of other people but not communicating with them in any way. [Forbes - Thanks for the image, Zatz!]

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WTF: Buy 2 HD DVDs Get a Blu-ray Disc Free? [Image]

Augustine: marketer's mistakes (or strokes of genius) can be amplified (spread around the world) in no time.

from Gizmodo by Mark Wilson

Well played, Mr. Blu-ray fanboy. Well played.

*Image taken in the Virgin Music section of Myer Sydney City store on 26 December 2007. [phlog] Thanks Derek!

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Microsoft Leaves Comments Open on YouTube (oops) [Marketing Mishap]

Augustine: moral of the story? make a better product first by listening to customers, THEN start a web 2.0 marketing campaign

from Gizmodo by Haroon Malik

Microsoft's PR department are attempting new and innovative ways to get Windows products to the masses. Their latest effort involves the launch of a YouTube channel with various promotional content. Unfortunately for Microsoft, their PR team decided to leave the comments open. Bad move.

The videos are sure to get your pulse slowing down in no time, but the comments the Microsoft haters have scrawled about the place shall give you all a mighty chuckle. The image above has some of the classics we found, but we are quite certain you guys are going to want to have your say. Microsoft fanboys and fangirls, take heed; this is your hour of worth—deflect the slander that taints Microsoft's YouTube channel thus...or join in, whichever makes you happiest. As long as you're happy, that's all that matter to us. [Microsoft YouTube Channel via TechCrunch]

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Hidden Water Tank Windproofs San Francisco Condo Tower Against Bay Gusts [Water Tech]

Augustine: good to know they think about these things

from Gizmodo by Adrian Covert

Want to prevent your own condo tower from bending back and forth like a stick of rubber? Easy, hide a 50,000 gallon water tank at the top and cover it up. That's exactly what developers did for San Francisco's One Rincon Hill, the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River. The building uses a 416,000-pound water-filled tank to create tuned liquid damper (a first for the Western U.S.), thus preventing the building from moving around if a strong enough wind comes in from the San Francisco Bay.

Though experts say it's unlikely such a situation would arise, a lack of protection against such a wind could cause feelings of motion sickness and discomfort in residents. The nearly-completed building is the largest structure built in SF in over 30 years. [SF Chronicle via Curbed SF]

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Axiotron's Modbook Now Shipping [Macbook Tablet]

from Gizmodo by Haroon Malik

We previously brought you news of Axiotron's brilliant Modbook, which is essentially the first real Macbook tablet. Although it's Apple authorized, it is not an official Apple product, obviously. Nevertheless, the guys at Axiotron have gone to work on an item all fanboys are lusting after, and the end result is looking rather tasty.

The main draw of the Modbook is the Wacom digitized pen-sensitive LCD slate-style display, which is combined with either a 2.0 GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a built-in iSight camera and an integrated 24x DVD Combo drive or 8x DVD SuperDrive. We have not tried it out properly yet, but if you have $2,290 saved away for a Macbook tablet, the Modbook maybe the solution to your weighty wallet woes. [ Axiotron]

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