Geek culture

QR U?: Pop star dress gets beady with QR codes

There is a place where technology, Iceland, music, and fashion collide. You might think Bjork would be involved somewhere, but this magic place actually involves Icelandic pop star Kali from the group Steed Lord.

Kali is known for her boundary-pushing fashion along the lines of Lady Gaga. London designer Thorunn Arnadottir recently added to her eclectic wardrobe with a painstakingly beaded QR code dress.

While we've seen QR code fashion and QR code wall art recently, the dress, called "QR U?," ups the difficulty level considerably. The design is inspired by African bead work and executed in Swarovski crystals.

The QR codes link back to sites and videos that relate to Steed Lord. One YouTube video features a snippet of the song "Vanguardian" being sung by an animated QR code (check it out below).… Read more

Life-size pet Daleks roll and rotate

One thing had always perplexed me about Daleks. As a "Doctor Who"-watching kid, I contemplated the thorny issue of how they got up stairs. Now, I have the opportunity to do some testing on my very own life-size Dalek.

U.K. company Firebox.com is offering officially licensed Dalek replicas. Each one is more than 5 feet tall and is hand-built to order. A variety of classic colors are available.

Sci-fi fans love to obsess over prop accuracy. Firebox.com uses the original molds and specs from the BBC prop department, so that every nob, plunger-looking attachment, and laser shooter is dead on.

The Dalek replicas won't try to exterminate you, but can get some action out of them by playing with the rotating dome, extendable plunger arm, and casters. I'm imagining taking one of these for a stroll around the neighborhood on a leash.… Read more

The 404 852: Where it's always bummy in Philadelphia (podcast)

It's our last show before the three-day weekend, so we're wrapping up with a review of the movie box office, and some new services that'll help with the cost of tickets. We're also exploring the idea of 4D movie theaters, and quizzing Wilson on another episode of Tang that Tune. Also, be sure to tune into the second half of the show for the debut of Jeff's new recurring segment, Squishy Moments with Jeff Bakalar!

The 404 Digest for Episode 852

MoviePass: See unlimited movies in the theater for $50 a month. 4D movies: what the heckbeans is that? Do something cat! 2/5 stars for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Episode 852 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Call of Duty convention deploys Sept. 2-3

Activision is aiming to build the Call of Duty community in a big way. The publisher last month announced Call of Duty Elite, a new service for fans of the military first-person shooter series with a wealth of social-networking bells and whistles. Today, Activision followed that up with the introduction of Call of Duty XP 2011, a convention it dubbed a "celebration" for the game's community.

Set to take place on a 12-acre compound in Los Angeles September 2-3, Call of Duty XP 2011 will serve as a coming-out party for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer mode. An expected 6,000 attendees will be able to get their hands on the game's cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, as well as check out the fully functioning Elite service for the first time.

Read more of "Call of Duty convention deploys Sept. 2-3" at GameSpot.… Read more

'True Blood' inspires bloodsucking V-Moda V-80 headphones

When it comes to fantasy shows on HBO right now, I'm more of a "Game of Thrones" kind of guy, but I've been hearing a lot of chatter about the new season of "True Blood" as well. As V-Moda continues to offer more personalized headphones, the company's latest addition to the lineup is a partnership with HBO to bring "True Blood" fans a special-edition V-80 on-ear headphone.

The hardware features dual "ear shield" covers that pop off and allow the user to customize the design to go along with favorite images from the show, including a night club, Fagtasia, and the Japanese symbols you see on the "Tru Blood" beverage. V-Moda goes a step further and even lets you choose your own blood type to laser etch onto the earpiece, bringing you that much closer to the action.

In terms of the headphones themselves, the V-80 model is V-Moda's lightweight mobile headphone that features dual 40mm drivers and an extra bass push without the hassle of popping in extra batteries (looking at you, Monster). Other accolades for the V-80 include a Kevlar-wrapped cable, integrated remote control and microphone, and a "True Blood" exclusive "exoskeleton" protective case with a blood vial zipper.

The True Blood V-80 headphones are available now at the HBO online store and other online retailers for $230.

More pictures of the True Blood V-80s after the break.… Read more

Judge to wayward teen: Hand over your Xbox

Think back to when you were 13. What was the worst punishment you could imagine? Maybe it was being grounded or getting your allowance docked.

For me, it would have been having my "Star Trek"-rerun viewing privileges revoked. (I know, I've always been geeky.)

A 13-year-old in Belfast, Ireland, with a series of burglary charges under his belt is seeing his own nightmare punishment come true. A judge ordered the surrender of his Xbox console as a condition of bail.

According to a report from BBC News, Belfast High Court Justice McLaughlin wanted to teach the young man what it was like to have something of value taken away. The console will be returned once the charges have been settled.

The teen faces five counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary, according to BBC News. He allegedly stole two electric drills and a mobile phone during break-ins to a high school, shopping center, and house earlier this year.

This raises some interesting options when it comes to doling out repercussions for modern teens. The threat of not hanging out with buddies was once a top-of-the-line discipline move. These days, it's all about cell phones, computer time, and gaming consoles.

There is an old-style sanction to go along with the Xbox abdication. The alleged teen burglar is also barred from hanging out with his co-accused in the case.… Read more

The 404 851: Where some things even Justin Timberlake can't bring back (podcast)

We're taking a three-day weekend to celebrate Independence Day, which means that tomorrow we'll make our annual walk-of-shame to McDonald's for breakfast. So it's only appropriate that today we talk about a Consumer Reports survey that confirms McDonald's as the worst beef-on-a-bun you can buy.

Wilson insists on waiting until tomorrow for the return of Tang That Tune, so today's stories include Justin Timberlake investing in the return of MySpace, a TIL about the etymology of popular software company names, and the long-awaited review of the HP TouchPad tablet.

The 404 Digest for Episode 851

Justin Timberlake wants to bring Sexyback to Myspace. TIL how Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft etc. got their names. "Science" confirms In-n-Out Burger is the best...guess which is the worst!

Episode 851 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 850: Where Jill will do anything for love (podcast)

Aunt Jill's been busy with her own podcast Jill On Money, but today she joins us on The 404 to answer your financial questions. Listen to this episode to find out what each of us did as teenagers to make money, how kids today can make the most of their time, and the best way to handle your monthly credit card debt. Plus, Jill helps us out with another Tang That Tune, now with a video and audio intro thanks to Patrick and Jamey!

The 404 Digest for Episode 850

Listen and subscribe to Aunt Jill's podcast, Jill on Money! Check out #AuntJill's Twitter, and send her your questions!

Episode 850 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Teen girl allegedly offers virginity for iPhone 4

Many of you may remember the teen who reportedly sold his kidney for an iPad 2. Well, the obsession with gadgets may have reached yet another all-time low, if a story out of China is to be believed.

A recent Korea Herald article describes a Chinese teen girl who publicly posted a shocking proposition on Weibo (China's version of Twitter): buy her an iPhone 4 in exchange for her virginity.

The unnamed teen from Guangdong posted that it is her "dream to own an iPhone 4," but her "father won't let her get one." So, she took to the social-networking site with a picture of herself and some personal information, asking anonymous users of the microblogging service to buy her Apple's most powerful smartphone in exchange for, well, her body. … Read more