Kites are so 1904 and, soon, being out in a wide, empty field will take on an entirely new meaning. The Buzzball is a work in progress – in what looks like an oversized, tricked out hamster ball, you can control the direction of a giant, motorized pod all while sitting inside it and waiting for it to take you in whatever direction it chooses.

According to the manufacturers, the pilot’s body will remain upright in the pod when it starts moving, but will eventually rotate in any other direction the ball starts to move. The pilot can control the direction of the ball using left and right control triggers and, once the ball picks up speed, both the ball and the pilot go from making partial barrel rolls to complete rotations.

No word yet on when it will be available and for how much, but you can enter your email address on the site and receive product updates. And we’re hoping it’s at least air-conditioned, because being stuck inside a giant, rotating plastic ball on a hot day seems like it would make for a sloppy situation.

Labels: Gadgets

Digg is rolling out a new recommendation engine this week. The new feature's goal is to help users discover content from like-minded individuals amid the clutter of the 16k+ stories submitted to Digg.com each day.

You know how when you are browsing Amazon.com and the site suggests related products based on what you are viewing and what you've already purchased? This new Digg feature works kind of the same way. It analyzes your previous "diggs," or stories you've voted for, then lets you know what other users with similar tastes have recommended.

If you want to know more, Digg execs Kevin Rose and Anton Kast go into detail about how it works on the Digg blog.

Rose will also probably explain the new feature during his next Diggnation podcast.


methodshop

Labels: tech news

If you're looking for a unique way to see Italy, we've got quite the adventure to tell you about. Italy by Ferrari offers you the opportunity to tour Italy as part of a real Ferrari team while personally driving one of the latest models of Ferrari. For eight days you'll zip through Rome and Tuscany, while enjoying seven nights accommodation in 5-star luxury hotels.

The best part of the Italy by Ferrari trip is the lack of hassles. You get to enjoy the thrill of driving while your private tour director and his staff take care of everything else. During the day you'll get to travel up to one thousand kilometres accelerating through the steep, winding roads of Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany, putting your driving skills to the ultimate test. The next morning you will find your car cleaned, refilled and checked up, ready for the start of your day.

The Italy by Ferrari trip starts in Rome where you'll get a full tour and a chance to visit the Ferrari store. After a brief introduction to the world of Ferrari you'll hit the road on Day 3 for a spectacular drive on the world famous Mille Miglia. After driving up to 200km that afternoon you'll leave your car behind for a luxurious trip to the Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort.

Day 4 brings a tour of the magnificent Val d'Orcia and yet another trip to the Fonteverde. On Day 5 you'll embark on a 2-hour drive to Florence for a guided tour of the historical centre. The final day of driving, Day 6, brings you back on the famous Mille Miglia for a trip to the Italian coast where you'll enjoy the Mediterranean Sea before ending your adventure.

Italy by Ferrari includes the 8 day tour, 4 days of driving the Ferrari, car insurance, 7 nights accomodations at 5-star hotels and two meals at world famous restaurants, spa treatments, transfers and a 2-3 person travel staff. For more information, including pricing, be sure to call 866-297-7725 or email info@italybyvespa.com.

The PimpWiz.com Bottom Line: There's no better way to explore Italy than in the driver's seat of a Ferrari.

Labels: Scott Bernstein, Travel

You could take sommelier classes, or you could at least just pretend like you have at least a moderately fluid understanding of wine for the low, low price of five grand! The Grotto WineBar is both a wine preserver and dispenser that keeps four bottles of your favorite vino fresh for about two months after opening, and cools as low as 45 degrees. You can even dispense it to three glass depths – taste, half, and full glass. Everything is also digitally controlled by LCD screens, so with the touch of a button, you can impress your date and snobby guests by programming the variety, vintage, temperature, and glass amount needed for the perfect glass of wine.

If you’re an avid collector of wine, you can store extra bottles with as many additional WineBar dispenser units as you want. The best thing is, it fits into most standard 24” cabinets, so feeling like a baller doesn’t have to also take up a ton of space – especially if you’re balling in a studio apartment.

Grotto WineBar, $5000 for four-bottle set