Posts Written by Paul Strauss

Photographer Dan Forbes and Wired put together this gallery of early prototypes of iconic gadgets and gizmos. From the super-soaker to the Atari 2600, their beginnings are humble.

Volvo demos its latest tech, a pedestrian-avoidance system which is supposed to detect people in the direct path of the oncoming car. Looks like they need to stamp this one “Beta.”

Subaru is back with the latest update of their sporty STI, with improved suspension and handling, while still cranking out 305 hp from its 16-valve turbo-4. (Thanks, Colin!)

Luke Geissbuhler and his family attached an HD camera to a weather balloon and sent it skywards. On its 100,000-foot odyssey, it captured some incredible footage and landed safely back on Earth.

(NSFW) Yeah, we know you’re too civilized to swear on Twitter. But if you want to see how all those other people are doing it, head over to Cursebird, which tracks and scores profanity in real-time.

We never thought there might be a way to improve upon the cardboard pizza box, but the guys at e.c.o. have developed the pizza box of the future. We’re not sure it’s really green, but it is cool.

Austin Meys demonstrates his sheer upper body strength, bending metal, destroying decks of cards and climbing ropes with only his arms. You don’t want to be in the ring with this kid. (Thanks, Mike!)

Triple Aught Design’s thoughtful Stealth Hoodie bridges the gap between waterproof hardshells and highly breathable fleeces; 3 layer softshell, welded elbow seams, 6 pockets, media ports and D-ring.

Looking for a way to really bother the neighbors? Say goodbye to tinny outdoor speakers, and hello to SpeakerCraft’s BoomTomb, with its 250-watt amp and subwoofer you bury underground.

Italy’s Alessi is working on a sleek tablet based on Android 2.1. It will offer a 10.1″ HD touchscreen, fast access to the web, widgets, and other apps. Also, a DVB tuner for countries that support it.

Kick your balls just about anywhere with this compact table that measures just 20″ long by 12″ wide. Looks just like the big tables, but fits perfectly on your desk or coffee table.

NBC and Netflix announced you’ll be able to stream hundreds of episodes of Saturday Night Live, The Office, 30 Rock, Law & Order: SVU, Battlestar Galactica, and more in your instant queue.

We test drove the new Nissan Juke recently, and the sport cross proved to be a tight little ride; waist up, sports car with a 1.6L 188 hp engine; waist down, SUV with 17″ wheels. Coming October 2010.

Show off your favorite PANTONE color, while simultaneously racking up spurious debt with these colorful credit cards, currently available in colors from the Spring 2011 fashion color report.

While neither Waldo nor the Bourne movies are particularly timely, we thought this parody by The Imponderables with Waldo taking on the agency that erased his identity is just too funny to pass up.

Depth puts gamers on one of two teams: divers or sharks. Divers seek treasure, sharks try to kill them, but can only see wild thrashing or blood, making for the ultimate game of hide-and-seek.

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball: congrats to the Arizona Rampage, the 2010 Adult Dodgeball World Championship winners. Yes, there is adult dodgeball and a World Championship.

Glycine’s Swiss-made watches feature timeless, minimal designs, large, readable face graphics, and are made from durable stainless steel and mineral crystal glass.

If you grew up playing the Sonic the Hedgehog series, you’ll be thrilled to play the upcoming Sonic 4, a return to the roots of the classic platformer, complete with tributes to levels like Casino Night.

Dexter is back. While you wait for tonight’s season premiere, take a tour of the room where Dexter’s various murderous props are stored and prepped for the show. How ’bout that bin full o’ heads?

Looking very much like a convertible version of the 599, the SA Aptera is perfect for a sunny day outing, but don’t let its leisurely style fool you. It’s got a 611-hp V12 and goes 0-to-60 in 3.1 secs.

We don’t know if this is the official video for LCD Soundsystem’s latest single, but it made us want to buy the track. Plus, it’s got an awesome junkyard robot, break-dancing and bushy eyebrows.

N is for Nurburgring: Aston Martin’s 2011 Vantage N420 Roadster has a 420 hp 4.7-liter V-8, top speed of 180 mph, custom side strakes and 19″ diamond turned alloy wheels, all for a mere $145K.