Geek In Me

by Darren Murph via switched.com

Impact gear isn’t exactly the hottest peripheral out there for game consoles, but TN Games is apparently finding plenty of hardcore gamers willing to splurge on its FPS Vest. Now, the outfit is finally getting official with its HTX Helmet, which we first heard about as the year began. Utilizing the company’s 3rd Space technology, it’s designed to be used in conjunction with the 3rd Space Gaming Vest and will enable wearers’ to feel blows to the head when fired upon. We’re talking bullets whizzing by, impacts of shots — the works. If, for some incredibly odd reason, that sounds like your idea of fun, be on the lookout for a 2009 release.





by Joshua Topolsky via engadget.com

What you’re looking at is an actual Wiimote and nunchuk wrapped in high-grade hemp. Modder DHRECK wanted to recontextualize Nintendo’s controller by turning the sterile, white plastic into something much more natural. In his words, “In stark contrast with the original Wii-mote set, what was once sleek, cold, white and hard plastic has now become a slightly fuzzy, natural, warm and textured concoction.” We know what you’re thinking — and the answer appears to be no. If you want to get high while gaming, you’re still going to have to pause.





by Thomas Ricker via engadget.com

After making a false start earlier today, Sony Computer Entertainment just announced the official, global launch of its free, Life with PlayStation PS3 service. Initially, Live Channel will deliver worldwide news and information such as weather and live camera images from 60 cities around the globe — more interactive content will be delivered in time.





by Donald Melanson via engadget.com

This toaster may only have one setting, but that setting is NES, and that’s good enough for us. Created by the same console modder behind the monstrous Super Genintari, this project is certainly a good deal less ambitious than that endeavor, but it hits all the right marks nonetheless, including a functional front lever that acts as a power switch, and some red LEDs that light up your cart but probably won’t do much for your toast.





by Alan Tsang via ps3fanboy.com

We see you. We see you salivating all over your keyboard. If you are a serious Gran Turismo fan, this is the stuff dreams are made of. The winner of the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Middle East Challenge Ahmad El Azmi received a free trip to Japan to drive a Nissan GT-R and he took home the above GT Racing Pod. Valued at $15,000, the Racing Pod is equipped with a 40″ Sony Bravia TV, a PS3 and a Logitech Driving Force GT Racing Wheel.

However, El Azmi wasn’t satisfied with the setup, and decided to disassemble and reassembled the entire Pod. He added a shifter mounter, inverted stand for the pedals, a surround sound system and replaced the DFGT with a Logitech G25 Racing Wheel. Kudos to you, sir, you have successfully made the world jealous.





by Terrence O’Brien via switched.com

Fresh from the “well wasn’t that obvious” file, new research shows that heated car seats could lower sperm count. Turns out the electric heat generated by heated car seats raises body temperature, which interferes with sperm production. The ideal temperature for making sperm is a few degrees cooler that the average body temperature of 98.6 degrees, which is why tight pants and underwear (both of which raise body temperature) can also decrease sperm count.

The Daily Mail reports that researchers at the University of Giessen, Germany, tested the effects of seat warmers by monitoring the core temperature of 30 volunteers while they sat on heated seats for 90 minutes. As expected, the temperature ‘down there’ of all the volunteers rose quickly, with one man topping out just over 103 degrees.

Researchers didn’t test sperm levels, but they do know that simply sitting for a prolonged period of time can reduce sperm count, so a heated seat only exacerbates the problem.