web assistant

Remember Clippy, the annoying pop-up virtual assistant that would always dispense "helpful" advice, until you wanted to virtually bend it out of shape? Well, despite it getting axed several years ago due to across-the-board hatred, and getting called "one of the worst software design blunders in the annals of computing", Clippy has inspired the Department of Defense to fund the creation of a bevy of new virtual assistants. WTF, DARPA?

As we've reported before, it's often possible to fight planned obsolescence and resurrect your dead or dying iPod without bowing to the man by simply buying a new one. Putting a more morbid twist on the issue is the iPod Death Clock—enter in your serial number, answer a few quick questions, and get an estimate on how much time's left until your iPod's funeral, ticking down before your eyes! They'll also give you a link to add your funeral date to Google Calendar, an estimate on your battery's current capacity, and of course some handy links to purchase some replacement parts from their well-appointed shop.

As you can see, PopSci web assistant Abby's relatively new 5G 'pod only has a little over a year left to live. O mortality, does nothing escape your ever-present gaze?   —John MahoneyiPod Death Clock [via Lifehacker]