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Sanyo showcases uber-pricey IH rice cooker
Hot (ahem) on the heels of Matsushita's induction heating stove comes a similar contraption from Sanyo, but this one has a certain fondness for pressure cooking. The IH pressure rice cooker sports a copper lining that is reportedly sandwiched between layers of stainless steel and aluminum, which enables it to heat up quickly and retain a high degree of heat throughout the cooking process. Additionally, this device promises "even heating" that comes with the IH territory, comes in white / black (ECJ-XP10) or champagne gold (ECJ-V10), and will run you a staggering ¥131,250 ($1,076) when it lands in September.
Tamed pets will stay for 30 minutes
Mania's Arcania has been doing some experimenting with tamed pets on the PTR, and she's got a few great tips for all you hunters picking up new pets. First and foremost, apparently any pet you tame, no matter how happy it is or how often its fed, will stick around with you for at least 30 minutes, so if you tame a new pet and don't have food for it, you've got that long to find some. Dismissing a pet or having it die actually stops that timer, too, so if you don't have food and the time is about to run out, you can dismiss the pet, and then recall it when you have food to feed it.She's also looked at some more technical information on how quickly pet health returns after various kinds of dismissals-- in most cases, it looks like your pet actually comes back with a lower percentage of health, which then ticks back up to full in just a second. Probably won't affect most Hunters, although a few of the situation she goes through sound like battleground PvP to me, and it could be that Hunters there are using their pets so quickly that it might make a difference. More testing is on the way, she says.But at least the taming schedule will probably help Hunters who end up grabbing a rare spawn as a pet and then realize they don't have the food to feed them. We've got more breathing room than we knew we had.
Sony's Tretton describes console war with food analogies
A little known fact: in the game industry, everything gets equated to food. Nintendo's Satoru Iwata did it, as did Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima (though, later, he gave new analogies). Our newest public food statement comes from Sony's Jack Tretton in an interview with GamePro, who unsurprisingly relates the PlayStation 3 to a Surf n' Turf (i.e. steak and lobster).The PS2 is "your favorite burger restaurant," and as for the rest? The Wii is "a lollipop, and I'm too old for lollipops," he said. "The other one [Xbox 360] I get sick from once in a while because the cook isn't always reliable." Red ring of burn! That jab is sizzling! Okay ... we're done. Regardless of your fanboy affiliation, do phrases like this make you as hungry as they do to us?[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Matsushita's IH cooking utensil perfects your stir-fry
When you've eggs that essentially boil themselves and gizmos that take the skill out of concocting a decent breakfast, where's the need for culinary prowess? For the chefs who feel that modern technology is diluting their art, Matsushita's latest invention isn't likely to enthrall you, but for those in need of a quick stir-fry lesson, the KZ-VSW33D should fit the bill. The electromagnetic induction heating (IH) cooking utensil, better known as a stove here in the states, uses infrared temperature sensors which can quickly determine if the bottom of the pan has cooled off since the prior reading (you know, while you're hurling it about trying to impress onlookers), and can then adjust in order to provide an even amount of heat throughout so that certain sections don't end up, um, extra crispy. Of course, such a snazzy cooker demands quite the premium, as this uber-efficient device will run you a staggering ¥409,500 ($3,310) when it lands in September.[Via Tech-On]
New Cooking Recipes!
As mentioned in yesterday's Rogue post, I highly believe in Cooking as a skill that's excellent to have. You save yourself money in regards to buying food, and you have a highly portable and common source of buffs. For those of us who have classes that can't cast buffs, this is a real boon -- although every class can benefit from added buffs! So when I saw the mentioned addition of more new Cooking recipes in the patch, I had to get out there and see what was available. For those of you who haven't gotten time to check into them, here's the lowdown. There are three new recipes available from the lovely dancing barmaid, Kylene, in the bar in the Lower City. The amusing thing about these three new recipes (at least to me) is that they have you cooking the off-hand fish "weapons" that you can catch. (Of course, this means that gone are the days of Monty Python Fish Slapping Dance renditions. Wait... Maybe that's just my guild. )Nonetheless, for those with an eye for fresh fish and sampling the finest in Azerothian Cuisine, check out the Good Eats after the jump!
Automatic waffle maker hits version 2.0
While it certainly looked about perfect to us, we know how picky engineering inventors can be, so it's not too surprising to see the folks behind the automatic waffle maker crank out a version 2.0. We can't be sure, but the video (shown after the jump) does seem to suggest that the newest iteration cooks up your breakfast without quite as much mess as the original, and the hardware behind the magic looks to have seen upgrades all around. Best of all, however, is the title splash screen that lets you know you're still looking at a beta creation, which ought to mean there's an even more sophisticated version around the bend. Bargain bin griddles, watch out.
The most impressive Mario cake ... EVER
Su-Yin from The Journal of a Girl who Loves To Cook has crafted the most breathtaking Mario cake we've ever seen. The inspiration came when a friend spotted the Super Mario wedding cake and said "Su Yin could do better than that!". So ... she did. As with any serious art project, the design began with a sketch and took several days to complete. The results, as you can see, are beyond stunning. Check out the gallery below and marvel at Su-Yin's ability to blend food, art, and geekery into one delicious dessert.%Gallery-3495%
Taylannas' Menus That Talk vocalize what's for dinner
Auditory menus might be an old trick, but it's likely to make Taylannas some serious coin if implemented in any number of eateries. The Florida-based startup has announced plans to dole out "slim electronic tablets about the size and shape of a DVD case" that sport touchscreen displays, speak numerous languages, and can even have its buttons imprinted with Braille to help the blind wade through the interface. As the title implies, the menus will vocalize what's on the docket, as customers can select different segments (drinks, dinner entrees, desserts) to be read aloud. The obvious benefactors are those who are visually impaired, but even customers who are hard of hearing were taken into account as the Menus That Talk devices also have a "detachable hand-held earphone" that reportedly syncs with most modern hearings aids. Still, we have to wonder if restaurants that rely on a quiet, low-key atmosphere won't disable the volume functions or demand a built-in whisper mode in order to maintain sanity during the evening rush.[Thanks, Joe B.]
Comcast to add Food HD, HGTV HD and A&E HD
We received some tips from readers in the Boston area that Comcast has added Food HD, HGTV HD and A&E HD to the HD lineup. This is usually a good indicator that all Comcast customers will be enjoying these channels soon, but there is no official word. This is turning out to be the year for new HD channels, so we hope that these will be available to everyone, along with all the rest of the new channels announced for this year, that at least DirecTV will be carrying after their new birds are operational.[Thanks Bob!]**Update** According to Multi-channel news it is now official. They will add the new channels to every Comcast area that has the available bandwidth.
Keyboard waffle iron cooks up your favorite peripheral
While you may lobby that nothing's sweeter than an automated waffle maker, Chris Dimino just might counter that. This design guru has apparently concocted a retro inspired, and ever-so-slightly altered kitchen appliance that cooks waffle that are a bit wider and more familiar than usual. This piece of cookware sports an integrated stand for holding four jars of syrup, and the iron itself presses a nifty keyboard each and every time -- caps lock key and all. Of course, we don't expect retailers to start stocking these things anytime soon, but if you're serious about your words waffles-per-minute, we're sure Chris could make arrangements.
CNC hot-air gun used to draw faces, text on toast
Slicing up ole Xbox consoles or using immensely powerful lasers to heat your morning cup of joe are certainly entertaining ways to make industrial machinery a bit more fun, but the CNC Toast printer ups the ante by providing an over-the-top replacement for those plastic molds we used as youngsters. By hacking a CNC hot-air gun to respond to a "computer-dictated X-Y control system" and affixing it to the carriage of a printer, the evil scientists were able instruct the toasty (ahem) blaster to move around in a user-selected pattern in order to print images and text onto pieces of toast. Cleverly dubbed "digital toast imaging technology," the apparatus was able to affix a number of slightly awkward faces on slices of bread, and even imprint "Hello World" onto one piece in particular. Still, you can't get the full impression of how geektacular this truly is without seeing it in motion, so that's why you should click on through right about now and hit play, cool?[Via HackedGadgets]
Apple's iPod Shuffle: the next great appetizer?
Although this won't go down as the first restaurant to mix in a little iPod action with the meal, it's fairly safe to say that Fat Duck chef Heston Blumenthal has melded portable audio with dining like no other. Apparently, the culinary guru "wanted to experiment with using sound to enhance a dining experience," which landed a person with a plate full of silver electronics and tangled white cord to compliment the rest of the Sound of the Sea dish. Aside from the food itself, the iPod was pre-loaded with "soothing sounds of the sea breeze and waves gently caressing the seashore," presumably to further enhance the eating experience. Still, we can't really envision how listening to sounds related to our meal would make things more appetizing -- you know, unless deafening moos just jazz up your taste buds when rolling by a burger joint.[Via Kottke]
FiOS gets three new national HD channels
The FiOS fun just isn't in Florida anymore. Those three new HD stations that randomly appeared on some people's lineup are now nationwide. The addition of HGTV, Food Network, and LMN (Lifetime Movie Network) brings their HD lineup to a boastful 27 stations. While Comcast and TWC are turning off their analog streams to make theoretical room for new HD stations, and ticking off more than just a few people by doing so, Verizon is slowly but surely adding national high-def stations. Fiber-optic has quite a bit of room thanks to a totally digital stream but unfortunately, it's not available everywhere just yet.
World of Warcake: The Delicious Crusade
Talk about a supportive fiance, Flickr user Cakecraft baked a massive Alliance cake for her soon-to-be husband in honor of his new guild. It took her over 20 hours of grinding to get this sucker finished, and "is the equivalent of seven 9"x13" cakes." Wow, indeed.She does give a shoutout to the makers of the Horde cake, which inspired her. Don't bother checking the taverns around Ironforge for this one, although she might make you one for enough gold.
Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, bee killing edition
Apparently, we should all feel incredibly guilty for simply using our cellphones, as not only are we encouraging the growth of ear tumors within our bodies, but now we're hearing that radiation flying out from our mobiles are demolishing the world's supply of crops. All jesting aside, a controversial report is now claiming that "radiation from mobile phones are interfering with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving (and pollinating) species from finding their way back to their hives." The comically-named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is reportedly being seen on a much larger scale in the US and Europe, and elusive "evidence" is purportedly backing these dodgy claims up. Backers of the shocking data are even going so far as to suggest that in the future, our refusal to set aside the cellphone could cause "massive food shortages as the world's harvests fail." Man, this sounds worse than Y2K, for sure.[Via Slashdot]
American Burger Company installing iPod jukeboxes in eatery
Jukeboxes that play nice with your iPod have long since been available for your pool hall or living room, but John Tunney of American Burger Company feels the Apple-centric music machines would fit a bit better inside a tried-and-true eatery. Subsequently, the new Hicksville location sports a dozen Logitech mm50 sound docks, and allows customers to bring in their tunes and shows to distract them from quality conversation while scarfing down a burger. Apparently, the restaurant is hoping the honor system will keep users from blasting their tunes too loudly in public, and just in case you happen to forget your Pod when coming in to grab a bite, the bevy of plasma screens and open WiFi signal should keep you plenty occupied whilst chewing.[Via ChipChick]
Cooking Navi goes high-end
Cooking Navi has been a smash in Japan, so it's hardly a surprise that the game would get a sequel. This particular sequel, however, is somewhat of a surprise. Shaberu! DS O-Ryouri Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel (Talking DS Cooking Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel) is a new version of the game containing recipes from the chefs who cook in the prestigious Japanese hotel.We're thinking about picking up Koei's latest nongame, since we'd love to try some gourmet Japanese cuisine. But we have a concern: isn't Cooking Navi supposed to be about basic recipes and helping regular people make them? Seriously, look at those seven chefs on the box. This interactive cookbook has the potential to be the hardest game on the system.
Automatic banana peeler operates in low gear
Apparently, utilizing bananas to satisfy one's DIY cravings is becoming all the rage, as just weeks after hearing about a Texas-sized geostationary blimp, Donkey Kong's favorite fruit is showing up in yet another bizarre contraption. The uber-slow automatic banana peeler is fairly self-explanatory, but if you're still miffed at just what this thing does, we assure you the video demonstration will allow plenty of time for you to fully grasp the concept. Essentially, the creation stands the banana upright and grabs hold of the peeling, and by utilizing some sort of "BBQ machine," it unwraps the fruit at an incredibly sluggish pace. Of course, we'd love for an interpreter to click on through and decipher exactly what these two fellows have to say about this thing, but considering that we actually enjoy fruit more when it's fresh, we aren't particularly interested in waiting five to ten minutes before enjoying a perishable snack.
Aldi stores to sell budget 47-inch LCD HDTV?
With the ever-dropping prices in the big screen television realm, it's not too surprising to hear of more and more companies dropping their ticket in the hat hoping to snag business from bargain hunters. While the success story of Vizio could be hard to replicate, an unconfirmed report from TechDigest is reporting that Aldi stores could end up offering a mysterious 47-inch LCD HDTV before too long. No word on what brand / model this thing could end up being, nor if it'll sport a swank Aldi sticker front and center, but we are hearing that it'll boast a 1600:1 contrast ratio, integrated Freeview tuner, wall mounting bracket, S-Video / VGA / composite video inputs, a pair of HDMI ports, automatic volume correction to muffle those blaring commercials, and a three-year warranty to top it off. Of course, we have absolutely no idea if an April trip for mangos and steak sauce will lead to an LCD TV impulse buy, but drop the price in comments if you catch a glimpse.
Automatic waffle maker simplifies breakfast
With all the flowers starting to bloom and bunny rabbits (stuffed or otherwise) beginning to emerge, we're sure it won't be long before you're busting out the Wham-o Peeps maker, but if you've been pondering a way to make those hearty breakfasts pop out a tad quicker, we've got just the thing. Apparently, a group of waffle-lovin' kiddos have concocted an automated machine that not only opens and closes on queue, cooks and unloads the finished waffle onto your plate, and closes back for easy cleanup, it even boasts a tiltable pail filled with waffle mix and a funnel so that filling the hot iron is no longer your (messy) responsibility. The project was crafted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and looks to be constructed primarily of wood, strings, and pulleys, and while we certainly wouldn't recommend that novice DIYers try this unaided, be sure and hit the read link for a look at waffles made easy.
