Here's the perfect gift for the steampunk-loving, chess-playing DIYer

I have a fascination with these cold-cathode tubes commonly called Nixie tubes.  They are no longer made, but there are still some available.  They lend themselves to all sorts of steampunk applications today.  They can light up to display numbers or letters, so they lend themselves especially well to clocks, some of which have been featured on The Gadgeteer.  ThinkGeek has available a few chess sets using Nixie tubes.  The DIY Nixie Tube Chess Set kit contains 32 IN-15 Nixie tubes and all supplies you need to assemble an inductive chess board.  When you set the pieces on the board, the designation for the chess piece lights up.

The Gadgeteer , Here's the perfect gift for the steampunk-loving, chess-playing DIYer, Here's the perfect gift for the steampunk-loving, chess-playing DIYer

Mercedes recalls 2013 SL models over airbag fault

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 130 SL-Class roadsters built between January 16, 2013 and April 30, 2013 over concerns that the vehicle's airbags won't fire if a very light person is in the passenger seat. The issue rests with what's called the Occupant Classification System. The OCS is a system that figures out if there's an occupant in a seat based on the amount of weight being exerted on a sensor, and will arm or disarm the airbags accordingly.

Autoblog , Mercedes recalls 2013 SL models over airbag fault, Mercedes recalls 2013 SL models over airbag fault

Incapsula: Bots Make Up 61.5% Of Internet Traffic

Here is a rather interesting statistic, at least according to a new study by Incapsula – that 61.5% of all Internet traffic happens to be generated by bots. Just in case you were wondering, Incapsula happens to be a company that offers up cloud-based services to web sites. 61.5% is definitely a staggering number, but it did not happen just that way overnight. In fact, Incapsula claims that the figure had already hit 51% in March last year, which is already more than half of all Internet traffic.

Ubergizmo , Incapsula: Bots Make Up 61.5% Of Internet Traffic, Incapsula: Bots Make Up 61.5% Of Internet Traffic

UK man avoids fine after snail eats his car's tax disc

Cars in the United Kingdom are required to have what's known as a tax disc - a little, circular sticker fitted to the inside of a car's windshield. It signifies that tax has been paid on the car, and is roughly analogous to the registration stickers on some American license plates. In the US, though, we don't really have to worry about anything eating our registration stickers. A British repair shop did, though, when they found a snail snacking away on the tax disc of a Peugeot van they were repairing.

Autoblog , UK man avoids fine after snail eats his car's tax disc, UK man avoids fine after snail eats his car's tax disc

Oppo N1 now available for $599

Oppo N1 review | Discuss the Oppo N1 at AndroidForums.com's Oppo N1 section. Oppo promised the N1 would be available for purchase unlocked in the US today, and that promise was fulfilled. The Oppo N1 is now available for sale for $599. You can get the device in white in the 16GB configuration for that price, or opt for the 32GB model for $50 more.

The N1 is a rather interesting phone, with the Chinese OEM electing to go with one 13 megapixel camera that can be rotated 206 degrees.

Android Phone , Oppo N1 now available for $599

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, Oppo N1 now available for $599

Halo: Spartan Assault Headed To Xbox One Dec. 24 For $14.99

Microsoft announced its once exclusive Windows Phone 8 title, Halo: Spartan Assault, would start making its way across additional platforms. The title made its way to Windows 8 this past summer, and Microsoft announced it would be making its presence on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 this month. Well – we have some good news for Xbox One owners and some bad news for Xbox 360 owners regarding the title's release this month. Xbox One owners will be able to download Halo: Spartan Assault on December 24 for $14.99, Microsoft announced.

Ubergizmo , Halo: Spartan Assault Headed To Xbox One Dec. 24 For $14.99, Halo: Spartan Assault Headed To Xbox One Dec. 24 For $14.99

Samsung announces 10 million Galaxy Note 3s shipped

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is leaving its predecessors in the dust – it sold 5 million units in the first month of availability and now a month later the number of units shipped has reached 10 million. Note that the number of sales is probably lower than the number of shipments as those are supplies sent to retailers and carriers. Still, the numbers are impressive – the original Galaxy Note took 9 months to reach 10 million units shipped and the Note II took 4 months.

GSM Arena , Samsung announces 10 million Galaxy Note 3s shipped

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, Samsung announces 10 million Galaxy Note 3s shipped

Google Glass Plays Nice With WordPress Unofficially

Google Glass has definitely seen improvements ever since it was announced, although it did get into spots of trouble with certain folks from time to time. In fact, we do know that Google Glass will eventually support prescription glasses too, and this time around, we have PR firm Weber Shandwick rolling out an unofficial WordPress plugin for Google Glass, which means you can now publish content to just about any WordPress-hosted blog using but simple verbal commands. Those who happen to own the Google Glass can now snap a photo or shoot a video, before speaking out your thoughts in a caption and uploading your entry.

Ubergizmo , Google Glass Plays Nice With WordPress Unofficially, Google Glass Plays Nice With WordPress Unofficially

BioWare Hopes To Share More Mass Effect Details In 2014

The original conclusion of Mass Effect 3 left much to be desired, so much so that the developers had to release an update that extended the ending which hopefully gave players a better conclusion. Now if you were worried that would be the end of the franchise, it's not as BioWare has confirmed that a new Mass Effect game has been planned for either 2014 or 2015.

Ubergizmo , BioWare Hopes To Share More Mass Effect Details In 2014, BioWare Hopes To Share More Mass Effect Details In 2014

Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 410 64-Bit Chipset For $150 Devices

Apple made headlines when they announced the iPhone 5s not because of the looks of the device or its features, but rather the fact that they achieved an industry first by introducing a 64-bit chipset into a smartphone. Naturally several companies later announced their plans to hop aboard the 64-bit bandwagon as well, but it looks like coming in at second place is none other than Qualcomm, whose SVP at that time dismissed the notion of such technology.

Ubergizmo , Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 410 64-Bit Chipset For $150 Devices, Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 410 64-Bit Chipset For $150 Devices

Aldi Unveils Medion Lifetab Budget Tablet In The UK

Tablets come in all shapes and sizes, but if you're too fussy about what brand you are purchasing, you might be interested to learn the UK budget supermarket chain, Aldi, has launched their own Android tablet which is priced at around $131 after conversion. It seems that the low price point was a hit amongst customers as there have been reports that there were long lines of customers who couldn't wait to get their hands on the device, with one outlet at Old Kent Road in South London reporting that hundreds of customers "battled" it out for their remaining 12 units.

Ubergizmo , Aldi Unveils Medion Lifetab Budget Tablet In The UK, Aldi Unveils Medion Lifetab Budget Tablet In The UK

First Wearable App Awards Results Are Out

The hype around wearable devices has considerably increased in 2013, and we saw quite a few products being released this year which catered to consumers who are more than willing to start using these devices. Apart from a few smartwatches, we also saw Google ramp up the production of its smart glasses, the Google Glass. With the wearable trend catching on, and more exciting things bound to come in 2014, its about time that the general public was made aware of the truly praiseworthy creations that otherwise might not have gained much popularity.

Ubergizmo , First Wearable App Awards Results Are Out, First Wearable App Awards Results Are Out

Samsung Reportedly Expects To Sell 330 Million Smartphone Units Next Year

Samsung's mobile division is a cash cow for the Korean giant, it makes some of the most popular Android smartphones and tablets on the planet. Though in 2014, the company is expected to shake things up a bit. Rumor has it that Samsung is going to focus less on high-end smartphones, and that it will move its focus towards low-end devices and tablets. The company has reportedly reduced its smartphone sales expectations for 2014, it was previously rumored that Samsung expected to sell some 360 million units. Latest rumors coming out of Korea have us believe that Samsung aims to sell 330 million smartphone units next year.

Ubergizmo , Samsung Reportedly Expects To Sell 330 Million Smartphone Units Next Year, Samsung Reportedly Expects To Sell 330 Million Smartphone Units Next Year

Apple's Deal With China Mobile Is Still Being Negotiated

Apple signing a deal with China Mobile would be the equivalent of Apple signing a deal with NTT DOCOMO, as China Mobile is China's largest carrier at the moment with 740 million subscribers. According to a report last week, that certainly seemed like the case, but as it turns out, it seems that The Wall Street journal might have been ahead of themselves as there have been reports suggesting that the deal is still being negotiated, as opposed to having been finalized as what the earlier report would have suggested.

Ubergizmo , Apple's Deal With China Mobile Is Still Being Negotiated, Apple's Deal With China Mobile Is Still Being Negotiated

Facebook News Feed Changes Put Focus On Content Source's Quality

Facebook recently announced some changes to its News Feed, it says that these changes are being made to show more relevant content to users in their News Feed. The company said that it would analyze a wide variety of factors to determine which content to show and what to hide.

Ubergizmo , Facebook News Feed Changes Put Focus On Content Source's Quality, Facebook News Feed Changes Put Focus On Content Source's Quality

Android Screen Mirroring To Chromecast Might Be Coming Soon

Google launched the Chromecast earlier this year, the $35 HDMI dongle has a lot of potential that has been locked down by the company. Immediately after it was released, independent developers managed to root the Chromecast, opening up a world of possibilities. Google then rolled out an update, breaking the ability to root the dongle. As of now users can only stream content from selected apps such as Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go etc, but its possible that the company might release an update soon that would bring a major feature.

Ubergizmo , Android Screen Mirroring To Chromecast Might Be Coming Soon, Android Screen Mirroring To Chromecast Might Be Coming Soon

IRL: 18 holes with the Zepp GolfSense swing analyzer

File this under "things we don't normally review at Engadget": a hand-worn sensor that analyzes your golf swing. Truth be told, it's too niche a product, and most of us are too busy playing around on Moto Maker to be bothered with a putting green. That said, we do have at least one golfer on staff: contributing editor Steve Dent. With his $112 gadget in tow, he headed to the nearest course - and brought his A-game.
Zepp GolfSense swing analyzer

Despite its reputation as a calm sport, golf can turn the most zen among us into club-bending, cursing lunatics.


Engadget , IRL: 18 holes with the Zepp GolfSense swing analyzer, IRL: 18 holes with the Zepp GolfSense swing analyzer

"Nexus TV" set top box rumors return, point to first half of 2014

It's safe to say that Google's conquest of taking over your living room hasn't been all that successful. For all the promise it showed on paper, the Google TV platform never really took off for multiple reasons, such as often the cost of the device in comparison with other competitors, like the Roku, the ecosystem and the interface. So when the Chromecast was released and sold like hotcakes, many wondered if this was the end of the Google TV platform. However, Google always said that it wasn't, and rumors are once again swirling of a “Nexus TV” set top box that would release in the first half of 2014.

Android Phone , "Nexus TV" set top box rumors return, point to first half of 2014, "Nexus TV" set top box rumors return, point to first half of 2014

ASUS Padfone Mini Press Picture Renders Leak

It's hard to argue that the ASUS Padfone series isn't an innovative and potentially awesome product: rather than pay full price for a phone and tablet, the ASUS Padfone is a phone that – when inserted into the Padfone tablet shell – becomes the tablet. There was the original ASUS Padfone and Padfone 2, most recently the Padfone Infinity, and we're set to see the ASUS Padfone Mini on December 11th. Now, for the first time, we're seeing press renders of exactly how the Padfone Mini will look:.

Android Phone , ASUS Padfone Mini Press Picture Renders Leak, ASUS Padfone Mini Press Picture Renders Leak

World's Strongest Man champion pulls a dozen Nissan Note hatchbacks to set record

On December 1, Zydrunas Savickas, a five-time World's Strongest Man champion, pulled 12 Nissan Notes (the equivalent to our Versa Note) weighing 28,530 pounds over 16.4 feet in 32.9 seconds. The feat, performed in Lithuania at the end of the country's Car of the Year test camp, was enough to secure him the Guinness world record for "Most Cars Pulled By One Man.". "Once I got into my stride pulling the 12 Nissan Notes, [it] was fine," Savickas said after the pull.

Autoblog , World's Strongest Man champion pulls a dozen Nissan Note hatchbacks to set record, World's Strongest Man champion pulls a dozen Nissan Note hatchbacks to set record