The recently released 2009 edition of Guinness World Records covers a whole host of inspiring, intriguing and amazing records in the fields of technology, science, gadgets and video games.
Lightest mobile phone
The world’s lightest mobile phone is the modu, which weights 40.1 g. It is manufactured by modu of Israel and was launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 11 2008.
The modu is just 72.1 mm tall, 37.6 mm wide and 7.8 mm thick. It has a full-colour screen and 1 GB of internal memory for music and photos.
Best-selling smartphone
According to analyst firm iSuppli, the original Apple iPhone outsold all other models of smartphone in the USA in July 2007, its first full month on sale. In the last four months of last year, Apple sold 2,315,000 iPhones, making the iPhone the fastest-selling smartphone yet.
"Records are being broken all the time," says Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records. "And the iPhone is the nicest, sexiest bit of kit out there."
Worst internet blackout
In just one week during January 2008 no less than four undersea internet cables were cut, breaking the connections of millions of users in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Some experts have blamed ships dragging their anchors across sea floors – whereas others suspect intentional sabotage by unknown agents.
Strongest genetically modified mouse
In November 2007, American scientists announced the creation of a genetically modified mouse with extraordinary physical abilities. In tests, the mouse ran nonstop at 20 m per minute for five hours. It is described as being 10 times more active than a normal mouse.
"I just loved the idea of a real-life Mighty Mouse," Guinness World Records editor Craig Glenday told Tech & Gadgets.
Best-selling video game
In 1985, Nintendo released Super Mario Bros on the NES console. The game’s large, complex scrolling levels changed 2D platformers forever and it remains the best-selling video game of all time, with over 40 million copies sold.
"It has that kind of unending appeal," says Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records. "It's somehow reassuring that all these oldies and classics are still with us."
Most successful entertainment product launch
On April 29 2008, the release of Grand Theft Auto IV generated $310 million (£174 million) worth of first-day sales. This is more than five times the $60 million (£34 million) revenue made by the most successful 24 hours for a movie – a record held by Spiderman 3.
"Halo 3 was the first time that a game had overtaken movies," says Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records. "But then GTA IV, available on more platforms, smashed that record."
Most-played online game
Since January 21 2008, Call of Duty 4 has been the most played Xbox Live game, according to unique user statistics, consistently beating Halo 3 into second place with more than 1.3 million people playing the game daily. High figures are also reported for the PlayStation 3 edition of the game.
"Everyone has this idea that the most-played online game is World of Warcraft," Guinness World Records editor Craig Glenday told Tech & Gadgets. "But the amount of variation in Call of Duty 4… makes it the record holder."
First fully submersible sports car
The first fully submersible sports car is the Rinspeed sQuba car, manufactured by Rinspeed of Switzerland. It was presented to the public at the Geneva Motorshow on March 6 2008.
This open-top car can be driven on land, float on the surface of water and steered to depths of 10 m – by a driver wearing breathing apparatus. The sQuba, inspired by James Bond’s underwater car in The Spy Who Loved Me, is also environmentally friendly, powered by lithium ion batteries.
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