Steorn gives up on free-energy, starts charging for USB-powered divining rods
![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/inb.YHC_5vZshLGv3sG3Tg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQwMw--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/9wE11ZCx0TuATMvrHyI5NQ--~B/aD0yMjE7dz01Mjc7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/https://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/lab-hallprobe01.jpg)
It all makes so much sense now. After conducting an elaborate infinite free-energy ruse from a rented art gallery in London, Steorn's business model becomes clear: get people talking about your name (no press is bad press, as they say) and then use that brand recognition to sell some crap. Meet the €289 (that's $400 mister) USB Hall Probe that turns your $1,000 PC into a $40 magnetometer. It's for "Hobbyist and educational experimentation scenarios," they say with a straight face. Look, we have no idea if this performs any better than the cheap hand-held gaussmeters available on-line. But considering the source, we can only offer an educated guess.
[Thanks, Tekdroid]