Arduino-modded stoplight makes the bestest server monitor you'll see this week

Keeping an eye on your server health isn't the most romantic of pastimes. That's what compelled modder mkanoap to build a computer-free monitoring system that was as cheerily simple as Xymon's red-yellow-green symbols. His solution? Install an ethernet-enabled Arduino into a stoplight and mount it on the wall of the office. On one hand, the cubicle creativity factor just has to be commended, but on the other, we're guessing it's not an entirely selfless endeavor -- it's not exactly enthralling answering those system status calls, you know? Anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps can click our source link, which includes details of where to acquire a stoplight without a stealthy, nighttime, screwdriver-assisted jaunt to your nearest intersection.

Samsung moves to block iPhone 5 in Korea, expands its anti-Apple offensive

Well, since Samsung couldn't get an early peek at the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, the company has simply decided to take a page from Apple's playbook. A senior exec told The Korea Times it plans to file a request to block the sale of the upcoming iOS handset in its Korean homeland the moment the device is announced. According to the Times, the anonymous exec said it would leverage its wireless technology patents and demand that Apple either remove the telecommunications features -- turning the iPhone into an iPod touch -- or simply be banished from the Korean market. The knock-down-drag-out war between the two companies has only seemed to escalate in recent weeks, as Sammy has taken a much more combative and offensive approach. We can only hope the two get tired of divvying up the globe and declare a draw in this game of patent Risk.

McConnel's Robocut mower verges on obscene

Woe betide any Appalachian tiger swallowtails who get caught up in this ungodly four-foot flailhead. Moving to higher ground won't save them either, because Robocut's 40hp Isuzu diesel engine and high grip tracks can chew up 55-degree slopes without ever pausing to contemplate. The bargain price? £40,000 ($60,000) plus extra for antihistamines.

Fusion Micro mod weds PSP and GameCube hardware, but battery won't last the honeymoon

It may not be the first console we've seen modded and squeezed into portable clothing, but we've got to admire the sheer pluck of cramming all the GameCube's goodnesss into PSP hardware. Modder Ashen, also responsible for the stockier GameCube Fusion, has managed just that, with some heavy-duty adjustments and modifications. The Fusion Micro is a fair bit chunkier than the original PSP, mainly due to the fan and heat sink behind all that busy hardware. Other modifications include an extra analog stick on the right to mimic the GameCube controller and two card slots for games and emulation. Despite this impressive engineering, however, it won't stand up to extensive plays; this unholy union of Nintendo and Sony can only squeeze out about two hours of gaming from its 5000mAh battery. Click on after the break to see Zelda in action, alongside a full break-down of the controls and modifications

Shogun Bros. updates Chameleon X-1 mouse / gamepad, tosses it up for pre-order

Perfection is an undeniably lofty goal, but that's exactly what Shogun Bros. is striving for, with a freshly announced update to its Chameleon X-1 gaming mouse. Available in three different colors, the company's "Perfect Version" of its gamepad / mouse boasts an enhanced rubberized coating for better grip, a new layout for remote control operation and, perhaps best of all, extended battery life. Other than that, it's essentially the same device we saw way back in December, with a 5-stage adjustable 1600dpi optical sensor, a full slate of 16 buttons and force feedback support. Shogun Bros. won't be releasing this perfected peripheral until October 1st, but you can pre-order one now at Amazon, for $60. Hit up the source link to make the purchase, or slice past the break for a very succinct press release.

Kapvik micro-rover is the useful sidekick Mars Rovers have always dreamed of

Mars Rovers are big, expensive and prone to damage -- that's why a team from Carleton University is developing the Kapvik micro-rover. Kapvik is designed as a remote-operated sidekick to the primary rover, capable of being dispatched as a scout or to handle side-missions on its own. After the Spirit Rover was trapped in soft soil and lost, the smaller bots will include tethers to pull bigger robots out of trouble -- reducing the chances of losing millions of dollars worth of equipment (and breaking more nerd hearts than a cancelled Daft Punk show).

Intel: Ivy Bridge GPU to support 4K resolutions

Color us unsurprised that Ivy Bridge is destined to be faster and smaller than its predecessor, but unbeknownst to us is an interesting tidbit concerning the upcoming architecture's GPU. The revamp will support resolutions in excess of 4K (topping out at a maximum of 4,096 x 4,096) -- a sizable jump from the WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) limitation of its Sandy Bridge's forebearer -- opening the door to all sorts of resolution independent goodness. Guess that means you won't need a discrete GPU in the future to power that bodacious (but pricey) pro-level display. Have a peek in the links below if you're hungry for more.

Amazon Appstore goes global: available now in Europe, Australia and India

Amazon's Appstore hasn't set the world on fire just yet -- perhaps due to the fact that it was a US-only store since launch. That could soon change, with a number of Amazon customers reporting that the curated Android marketplace is now open for business across western Europe, also working in India and Australia. We've tested it for ourselves, and can confirm it's functioning with our Amazon UK account, though its dedicated webpage is still based at Amazon.com. Register with the site, and you'll be able to rush the free daily app downloads, which has previously offered the likes of Angry Birds Rio and SwitftKey -- worth a regular visit, regardless of what time zone you're in.

Microsoft locks Metro-style apps to Windows Store, developers and enterprise keep sideloading privileges

Microsoft's battening down its hatches, and restricting distribution of Metro-style apps to its Windows Store. Developers and enterprise customers (as well as Win32 desktop apps) get the slide this time 'round the OS reboot, with continued and unfettered access to sideloading on the platform. The decision, much like Apple's approach to iOS, falls in line with Redmond's current Windows Phone 7 app policy, leaving the wild, wild west of unpoliced apps to users of Android's open-source ecosystem. Of course, it's only a matter of time before denizens of the interweb's shadowy underworld hobble together a means of bypassing MS' security measures, and open the floodgates to nefarious apps. We're still waiting to get our hands on those Win8 slates, but in the meantime, look forward to a curated experience.

Polyamorous Google Wallet adds Visa to its arsenal

To the delight of shopaholics everywhere, Visa has announced that it's jumped on the Google Wallet bandwagon -- giving card users access to the snazzy, new NFC payment system. Much like MasterCard's announcement last week, the licensing agreement will allow Visa users to link their credit, debit and prepaid cards to Google's offering for fast mobile payments in places that accept the service. The credit card company has dabbled in mobile payments before through payWave, but with plans to integrate into GW, we'll surely be seeing more of it in the near future. As momentum over the NFC-powered mobile phones grows, it will be interesting to see if the Real Housewives can part with their phones long enough for their assistants to pay for those Manolos.

Samsung taking Bada open source in 2012?

Samsung invited the world to adventure with its own smartphone OS, Bada, almost two years ago and so far most of us have turned down the offer. Of course, that trip could look more appealing if a Wall Street Journal rumor is true and the company is planning to open source it for use by developers and other manufacturers alike next year. Citing the usual "person familiar with the situation", Samsung apparently isn't interested in snagging any outside companies like, say, webOS, but wants to strengthen its independence from Android after Google announced it will purchase Motorola. Right now, it feels like we've already seen this story play out for the still-kicking Symbian. On the other hand, maybe Samsung, with its massive manufacturing capabilities and current hit-making prowess, can strike the right balance of hardware, software and apps to make it worthwhile. If it tries and fails, well, maybe the folks in Redmond will be looking for another close friend.

LG LU6200 spotted in the wild, with 720p HD display taking center stage

If LG's tease routine didn't whet your appetite for the LU6200, these freshly leaked pics might do the trick. Obtained by Korean site Money Today, these in-the-wild images appear to corroborate many of the specs we've already heard about, including that 4.5-inch AH-IPS display at 720p resolution, eight megapixel camera and 1.3 megapixel front-facing shooter. This device is also rumored to feature a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and will reportedly ship with Android 2.3.5, though it'll be ready to update to the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich, as well. The LU6200 is expected to hit the Korean market sometime next month, where it'll run on LG Telecom's U+ LTE network