Straight outta the Church of Obsolescence comes Dan Beville, stonemason and apparent architect for the Cult of Holy Tech. Having been donated a pile of old motherboards, Dan has paid tribute to Our Lady of Computing Eternal by constructing these totally opposite of not rad stained, uh… silicon windows, set in a sandstone frame. I can’t imagine he didn’t spend some long man hours on these. Big propers, Dan! Oh, I just noticed the devil’s playing a fiddle. Adorable. [Via Overclockers]…

Like most newspapers and magazines, Sports Illustrated has been wondering how to handle the move to digital and internet distribution. Some publications are leaning towards iPhone and iPad apps, but the most promising technology in terms of widespread distribution is still the web. As the video shows, HTML5 has more than enough capability to create a compelling experience for magazine readers. The iPad is a success because people can envision themselves sitting on the train reading a book or magazine. But as devices like ebook readers and tablets become smaller, lighter and sturdier, and…

A survey of 4,000 UK shoppers has declared Apple’s iPhone to be a more important invention than flushing toilets or space travel. The smartphone has also been voted more important than the combustion engine and washing machine. The study, conducted for Tesco Mobile, puts the iPhone in eighth place on a 100 item list (below). The wheel was voted the most important invention in history, ahead of the plane, lightbulb, the world wide web and computers. Lance Batchelor, Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Mobile, said: “It’s amazing to see how much the iPhone is valued, sitting alongside inventions…

The updated design of the Big Red London Bus was revealed today, and yes, it’s still Big and Red. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, unveiled the new design today, and it should begin appearing on the streets in 2012. Using state-of-the-art technology and cutting edge techniques, the buses are more environmentally friendly, open and airy and visually striking, all while still retaining the retro look of the older iconic bus design. Johnson was thrilled with the design, saying he expected cities around the globe to be beside themselves with envy of the new look. “This iconic new part of our transport…

Perhaps not one for the Bridezilla, this design innovation will help reduce the carbon footprint of your upcoming wedding. The eco-friendly wedding dress is made from polyvinyl alcohol, an odorless, nontoxic polymer that dissolves in water. Perfect for that shotgun wedding where the less evidence there is afterwards the better, this is a perfect example of sustainable fashion in a use case where the item of clothing is normally only worn once. The blushing bride might not be so happy to discover that the family heirloom and longstanding wedding souvenir she purchased is due to become a sloppy…

We all know people who are just too happy. Annoyingly, overly happy. Well, here’s an invention for those people by those people. A designer actually looked at the common household nail and saw the opportunity for optimistic improvement. The git. It’s hard to believe this simple innovation has never been done before. The designer of the Happy Face Nail Cap, Jung-Woo Lee, felt that having a plain nail in the wall was a missed opportunity. You simply slip the nail cap over a nail and viola, happy nails. And what if you’re a miserable, pessimistic person, the kind of person who is grinding their teeth…

Pantone today unveiled their new Pantone color matching system, Pantone Plus. The new system adds new colors, new tools and a new arrangement to make viewing colors in a range easier. The Pantone matching system is a valuable tool in any designers arsenal, and with these changes Pantone is hoping to remain on the cutting edge of color selection. The video features Pantone’s iPhone and iPad app, myPANTONE. One new useful addition is the inclusion of a light checking tool that ensures correct lighting for selecting colors as accurately as possibly. Check out the new Plus series at Pantone’s website….

Some of the great ideas are just right there, waiting to be plucked from the tree of genius. UK designer Elaine McLuskey has an answer to the problem of holding a conversation in a noisy bar. We’ve all been there. You settle down in a booth with that special someone, hoping to get some quality time in, and just then the awful bar band fires up their rendition of Sweet Home Alabama. The answer? You both don goldfish bowls and speak directly into the holes on the sides. 23 year old McLuskey says this is the result of research into hearing impairment, although I’d recommend a little additional R & D time…

Apple has a host of patents to its name, and rifling through them can offer some fascinating insights into the potential future of technology and the possibilities that are open to the company as it executes its vision for the future convergence culture. We’ve taken a look at some of the most recently published Apple patents and chosen six of the most exciting to tell you all about. 1. iSpecs: an advanced head-mounted display system for the iPhone or iPod This system (above) may even host its own video camera or be able to communicate with the camera that’s already inside the iPod touch or iPhone….

Do you like your desk? If you’re lucky enough to work at home, and I’m fortunate enough to be one of these lucky people right now, you probably had big plans for creating the ultimate workspace. If, like me, you’re also a massive procrastinator, you’re probably just sitting at a plank of wood resting on two large crates. Some have higher hopes for their desk. Like 10,000ft high. The Clipper CS-1 is the ultimate in pilot geek chic, designed originally for CAD operators, the idea is for total immersion and zero distraction. While it may look a little claustrophobic, in the event of an emergency the exits…