technabob » just plain fun

snaefell hybrid car-motorcycle: why? why not?

lambert v. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:26:26 +0000

What’s red, shiny, goes fast, and looks like a vehicular accident? The Pontiac Aztek, that’s what. I’d rather have the Snaefell, François Knorreck’s lovingly handcrafted car-motorcycle hybrid. It’s easier to think of it as a motorcycle with a car-like sidecar, because I don’t think that you can drive – or steer – with the car half.

Knorreck reportedly spent 10,000 hours and €15,000 (approx. $22,300 (USD)) to build this one of a kind vehicle. The Snafell is a combination of a Laverda motorcycle which Knorreck bought in 1976 and had already modified to be a sport bike, and the custom-built carbon fiber and polyester sidecar. The sidecar’s parts were culled from various automobiles, including a Volkswagen Golf GTI, a Citroen Xantia and an Audi 80.

The Snaefell – which incidentally is also the name of three volcanoes in Iceland – is powered by the Laverda’s 1000cc engine. I barely know anything about vehicles, so I don’t know if the triple exhaust is necessary, but damn if it doesn’t add to the quirkiness of this ride.

The sidecar has a gull-wing door and has a car seat, complete with seat belts. Say what you will about the Snaefell, but it’s sidecar might just be the most comfortable and safest one on the planet.

There should be more pics at Knorreck’s website, I just don’t know for sure because Internet fame has brought down the site. I really want to see it in action! Man this thing is weird.

[via designboom & kneeslider]

softer, gentler resident evil grenades

alisha k. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:24:15 +0000

These plush, handmade Resident Evil grenades will sadly not explode on impact… but that does mean they can be thrown over and over, to the great detriment and humiliation of your victim. Or you can just throw ‘em at the television, which is what creator Id decided to do.

Ah, lovely, colorful, and not-quite-deadly. Two out of three ain’t bad, as they say. Id’s softer, gentler grenades are at least life-size, so you know they’re satisfying in the hand, even if they are significantly more squeezable than a real grenade. Also? Less useful against zombies, or not-zombies, as the case may be (those last Resident Evil games have been veering away from the normal undead menace, after all… if you can call any violent, face-pounding menace of any sort normal).

But they look great in Photoshop, and really, that should be enough for anyone.

[via Geek Crafts]

usb big panda speaker: truth in advertising

technabob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:36:24 +0000

Why can’t products just tell you what they are? Do we really need non-descriptive names like Wii, Kindle, Nook, and Droid to describe our gadgets? Really? Product naming doesn’t get much more concise and descriptive than this here thing, the USB Big Panda Speaker.

Yep, that’s about it. ‘Nuff Said. The bulbous panda head speaker is available over at Gadget4All for $27 (USD).

They really do need to work on the name, though. Maybe something like Big Oval-Shaped Panda Head With Look of Constant Surprise Stereo Audio Output Device With USB Charging Cable. Or maybe just PanDasonic.

[via GeekAlerts]

google search stories: what did you search for today?

lambert v. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:52 +0000

Robert Wong and his co-workers at Google’s Creative Lab created a bunch of short and funny clips showing how their search engine helps people not just to find websites but to improve their lives: “In other words, the best search results don’t show up on a webpage — they show up in somebody’s life.”

Did that sound like a bunch of crap to you? It did to me, until I watched the videos.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Here’s another one, with a more ordinary story. Watch it and I swear you’ll think of your own search story:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Dawwwwwwww. There are a few more clips at the official Search Stories channel on YouTube. The videos reminded me of just how much we’ve come to depend on Google and the Internet for all sorts of things, from the simple to the complicated ones, that when we want answers there’s a good chance that we’ll immediately tell ourselves, “I’ll just google it.” It’s a funny (and scary) thought.

[via The Official Google Blog]

usb alien: in your cubicle, noone can hear you scream

technabob — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:40:13 +0000

Here’s a creepy little critter to put on your desktop, right between the stapler and your coffee cup.

Fresh off the boat from Japan, this USB gadget looks just like the grotesque giant-headed, acid-blood-dripping, eponymous alien of Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Alien: Resurrection (and the soon-to-be Alien prequel).

Just plug the nasty thing into your USB port, its grotesque inner mouth randomly pops out of it’s mother mouth, backlit by a glowing red LED. Yummy.

If you’re a fan of Alien, you’ve gotta grab one of these. They’re available for pre-order over at Strapya World for ¥3990 (appx. $44 USD), and should start shipping this December.

I think I’ll put this right next to Hello Kitty and Domokun.

touchscreen imac g4: a nice mixture of new, old and windows

lambert v. — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:53:05 +0000

Earlier this year we featured modder Jonathan Berg aka Dremel Junkie’s Wall-E casemod. Now he’s back with a 20-inch iMac G4 with touchscreen capabilities and *gasp* a bag of hurt a Blu-Ray drive.

Berg encountered a couple of problems while modding the G4, the first being the proprietary connector that the iMac monitor uses to connect to its controller. He remedied it by installing a shelf on the back for the new connectors. He then installed a surface acoustic wave touchscreen, saying, “its high resolution does not distort the image at all.”

The second problem was the lack of real estate in the base of the iMac: “I initially wanted to make it a Core 2 Duo all in one. Unfortunately, there is a lot less space in there than you think. Its very impressive how Apple constructed it. because it was convection cooled, the parts literally stacked on top of each other. They fit together like a puzzle. The disk drive alone probably takes up 70% of the volume in the base.” He states the solution to this problem more vaguely though: “I decided to keep the computer separate.” But if it’s proof you need, don’t worry, Berg’s got it all on camera:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Although we all know that a conventionally oriented desktop touchscreen monitor would be a pain to use for more than a few minutes, I think Berg still deserves a round of applause. And major plus points for the Blu-ray drive. But wait!

He had some leftover parts and decided to use them to build a “big touch screen remote equipped with Windows 7 Media Center and a convenient blu-ray player hooked up to my HD TV.” This time he used a 17-inch HP monitor and painted the whole thing black. The touch screen is resistive, which according to him is less sensitive and operates at a lower resolution, but that’s okay Mr. Berg. You turned a white iMac G4 into a black touchscreen Windows Media Center remote control. If that’s not modding then I don’t know what is.

[via Hacked Gadgets]

car launching: exactly what it sounds like

lambert v. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:42:59 +0000

Think Gay Wilkinson’s anvil launching antics were crazy? 3 months ago, Bob Moravitz and his family and friends went beyond launching a small piece of metal – they launched cars. And a pickup. and a camper with a boat in tow. And two school buses. KARE 11’s Joe Fryer calls it “Crash for Clunkers”.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. I’d like to add that boredom is its father. And for people whose needs are mostly being taken care of, daddy reigns supreme: “The idea was inspired last year by boredom and a strong desire to drive something off of a cliff. So Bob’s son Rick and his buddy Jake figured out a way to turn big cars into remote-controlled toys.”

Rick and Jake rigged the vehicles so they could remote control the steering and the throttle. Brakes? What brakes?

The insane…ly fun event lasted for 8 hours. Moravitz didn’t charge spectators for their show, but he says they got enough donations to cover the insurance that he bought for the event. Redneck geeks sure are crazy.

[via KARE 11 via nfttu via Make:]

pac-man wedding cake: with this ring, i thee wokka, wokka, wokka

technabob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:01:08 +0000

Looks like Mr. and Ms. Pac-Man finally got hitched. At least that’s what I first gleaned when I stumbled onto this geektastic Pac-Man wedding cake.

Actually, this wasn’t the main wedding cake, but actually a groom’s cake that blogger The Domestic Scientist recently made for a friend’s wedding. And while the cake is fully edible (black icing, gumpaste ghosts and all) you might not want to try and eat the Pac-Couple – as they’re crafted from Super Sculpey. (Unless you’re into eating modeling clay.)

[via Flickr]

nasa launches free iphone app

lambert v. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:54:40 +0000

Space puns ftw! NASA recently released a free iPhone app that promises a ton of content for space fans, including mission details, videos, images, and twitter feeds. The mission portion is probably the geekiest part of the app, allowing users to read mission details, view launch or arrival countdown clocks, and even follow the orbit of certain spacecraft.

The images section will surely be a hit, because it’s basically a treasure trove of cool and free wallpapers for you iPhone. There are two galleries available – the NASA image of the day and the Astronomy picture of the day. Is there any difference between the image of the day and the picture of the day?

The videos and updates sections offer more content, with YouTube clips in the former and twitter feeds in the latter.

Check out the app’s official page for more info. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download it here (iTunes link). Do you think the other government agencies should come up with their own apps? I wonder what the IRS app would offer.

[via MethodShop]

alien sonogram t-shirt: sigourney shoulda had one

technabob — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:47:35 +0000

Know someone who’s gonna have a baby? Here’s a fun t-shirt for moms-to-be with a fondness for sci-fi.

Designed by Ruby Red Design, this “Who’s the Daddy?” Alien maternity t-shirt ($26 USD) features a sonogram image of an embryonic H.R. Giger creature growing inside your body.

Now you might ask why the alien is placed chest-high on the t-shirt instead of over your belly. The video clip below should offer ample explanation…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

On second thought, maybe you should ask for that epidural when it’s your due date.

minivan speakers for tiny soccer moms

technabob — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:04:35 +0000

One of my recurring nightmares is about the day I end up driving a minivan. Thankfully, that particular dream hasn’t come true, but this new gadget might keep that idea in the back of my mind if I kept it in my pocket.

This minivan mini speaker from Korea’s Newgood is perfect for those times when you don’t need a lot of sound, but want something more than a pair of ear buds. While they won’t blow your eardrums, I bet these little vehicles would get a million miles to the gallon if they could actually drive. And they’d probably have tiny little DVD players in the headrest of each of the front seats too.

Each minivan measures just 9cm (appx. 3.5 inches) long, and cranks out tunes from your favorite media player. The tiny little vehicle charges up a built-in battery using an included USB dongle, and even has teensy little LED headlights for nighttime driving.

I haven’t found anyone outside of Korea selling these yet, but they’re cute enough that I’m hoping someone will decide to import them so suburbanites around the globe can enjoy them. For now, you’ll have to admire them from afar over at 10×10, where they sell for 13,700 Korean Won (appx. $12 USD) – a whole lot cheaper than a real minivan.

frolicat bolt entertains your pets with laser, not lightning bolts

lambert v. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:08:01 +0000

So pet owners, you don’t have to worry – the FroliCat BOLT is basically a laser pointer for lazy people. Simply turn it on and projects a red dot and moves it in random patterns for 15 minutes, or until your cat (or dog, or baby) realizes what’s going on and attacks the gadget itself.

The FroliCat’s adjustable mirror allows you to direct the dot up to the ceiling if you want. Here’s the FroliCat in action, complete with jangly hoedown music:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can get the FroliCat at Amazon for $17.25 (USD). Ironically, the FroliCat has a manual mode; I think if you’re going to wave this thing around anyway then you’d be better off with a laser pointer.

[via GadgetGrid]

tetris gift boxes: perfect for gifts shaped just like tetris bricks

technabob — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:29:04 +0000

Looking for a fun way to wrap your presents this holiday season? Nothing says “I’m a complete gamer geek” like these Tetris block gift boxes.

Each colorful Tetris brick-shaped box measures 1 3/8 inches (3.5cm) deep (other dimensions vary), which means they’re not going to be big enough to hold that Lexus that you planned on giving me this Christmas. However, they are large enough to hold small trinkets like jewelry, candy, and assorted stocking stuffers.

You can grab a set of 7 Tetris boxes for $15 (USD) over at littlewhitedog’s Etsy shop. Keep in mind that they’re shipping from Dublin, Ireland, so you’ll want to allow plenty of time if you want ‘em to wrap this year’s presents.

question mark ring: for romantic cyborgs. or geeks.

lambert v. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:10:30 +0000

If your partner is geeky enough, you might get away with using capitolagirl’s Silicon Gallies question mark ring to pop the question.

The question mark key is a silver-toned adjustable ring with a black laptop computer key on a glass tile. The ring comes with a black gift box and a gift bag.

You can get the ring for a mere $16 (USD) at Etsy. You can also choose a different laptop key, and if a ring’s not your thing, capitolagirl also sells bracelets, earrings, hairpins and cufflinks. Want to get out of a relationship? Wear the Esc key ring and let your partner get the hint.

cool rider: like a segway, but not really

technabob — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:52:43 +0000

Lately, we’ve been running into lots of unusual personal transportation vehicles. The Cool Rider is just the latest attempt to dethrone the venerable Segway from the top of the single-person transporter heap.

The Cool Rider isn’t quite as schmancy as a Segway, but it still looks like a fun way to get around. The vehicle features a powerful single-wheel drive system that can pull you along the streets at a zippy clip.

The battery-powered motor can hit a top speed of 12 mph, and can run for about an hour per charge. The battery pack is removable too, and plugs into any wall outlet. The other unique thing about the Cool Rider is that you can detach the standing sled from the back and just use it to pull you on your skates or rollerblades.

While the $1250 (USD) retail price isn’t exactly pocket change, the Cool Rider does sell for about 1/4 the price of a Segway. Sold? Then head on over to Opulent Items and plunk down your credit card. While you mull it over, why not watch this Cool Rider video clip…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Gotcha.

BTW, Did you notice that none of the people in the photos are wearing a helmet or knee pads? I don’t know about you, but the whole thing looks just a little bit dangerous to me. I’d have to bet these things aren’t street-legal anywhere around here.

[via 7Gadgets]

gundam gun ballpoint pens might blast a hole in your paper

technabob — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:19:52 +0000

Fans of the classic Japanese Anime series Gundam will recognize these familiar items. Except instead of firing deadly projectiles, these miniature weapons fire ink onto paper. Well, they don’t really shoot ink, they just write like any other ballpoint pen. But they sure do look cool doing it.

These Gundam-inspired ballpoint pens are being released as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the series, and come in a variety of different styles. While I’ve always enjoyed the graceful, destructive force of a beam rifle, I have to say I’d really like to show up to all of my meetings carrying a pen that looks like a 280 mm Zaku bazooka. I only wish it would fire tiny little rocket-propelled grenades at the guy who creates a 50-page PowerPoint deck that actually has only two bullet points that actually mean anything.

Gundam Ballpoint pen weapons sell for ¥990 (appx. $11 USD) each. You can grab the entire collection over at StrapyaWorld now, but you’d better move fast before they sell out.

smash bros. characters given d&d-style alignments: fanboys & fangirls debate!

lambert v. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:01:44 +0000

Nintendo’s wildly popular Smash Bros. franchise is a dimension-shattering, world-colliding crossover in itself, but deviantART member Nakabeast added another delicious layer of nerdity by assigning Dungeons & Dragons alignments to some of the series’ most popular characters, like series newcomer Solid Snake:

If you think about it, Solid Snake can’t really be anything but Chaotic Good. But I’m sure some of the other entries will ignite forums and websites with warring geeks, disputing the accuracy of the assignments. Oh, Nakabeast, you thought you were merely making a fun poster, didn’t you? You don’t know what you’ve started.

For example, a bunch of jokesters at Reddit point out that Link bashes pots, steals from shops and beats up helpless poultry and so he can’t be Lawful Good. Also, how the heck does Koopa embody Lawful Evil? Download the full-sized version at Nakabeast’s deviantART page, grab some food and drinks and your AD&D rulebooks, and start debating!

[via Reddit via GoNintendo via Level Select]

utah school selling its old spaceship simulator. wait, schools have spaceship simulators now?

lambert v. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:55:38 +0000

You lucky Alpine School District students and your Space Education Center with its spaceship simulators. I hate you. All I had when I was a kid were teachers who liked to gossip and humiliate students who didn’t go to church. I hope you never find a buyer for your fancy schmancy USS Galileo, which has “stations, networking, speakers, a main viewscreen, and anything a futuristic starship should have” built in. The auction itself doesn’t say that it’s supposed to be a replica of the Star Trek USS Galileo, but it is it’s quite a ways off from the design of the real deal. And I hate it.

Eh, who am I kidding. The auction still has 19 and a half days to go and the current bid is already at $3,200 (USD). I’m pretty sure the simulator cost way more than that though. Here’s a few more pics of this stupid simulator. I wish we had one at our school. But we didn’t so I hate it.

Rich nerds and awesome schools, go to Public Surplus and bid on this baby. You don’t want your child, or your students, or yourself to not have a spaceship simulator. Trust me, the pain never goes away. Damn you awesome schools and your awesome amenities! Damn you all!

[Via UberReview via Born Rich]

to boldly go where no lighting has gone before

alisha k. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:41:46 +0000

It seems like just the other day that we were talking about some seriously cool lighting, and already we’ve got a reason to dig the rare subject up again: the Star Ship chandelier. Yes, Star Ship. The name is important, see.

Gee, that design looks somehow familiar… and undeniably slick as a hanging light fixture. Definitely a lot cooler than a boring old ceiling fan (uh, except not literally).

Not that I’m insinuating anything here, but this sure looks like something that would have fit right into that summer movie with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. iTrek, was it? Star Gleam? I forget. But if you’re painting everything in your home white and adding a few touches of chrome, you might want to drop $189 on this space travel-approved chandelier.

[via SlipperyBrick via Gearfuse]

aero spider laser cars drive on walls, follow laser beams, confuse cats

technabob — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:14:30 +0000

Takara Tomy’s latest remote-control car is definitely unique. Not only does the Aero Spider Laser drive on walls or ceilings, it goes where you tell it to using a light gun.

The gun-shaped controller projects a bright red light beam (not sure it’s really a laser beam) where you want the car to go, and the car follows along. The vehicles stick to smooth surfaces using a reverse-fan mechanism that creates suction between the bottom of the car and the wall or ceiling.

Each car has a set of photosensors mounted into it that detect the light beams’ position and tell the car which direction to turn. Place the light beam in front of the car, and it follows, place the beam at the back of the car, and it turns around and starts following the light again. And if you thought that all sounded cool, wait til you get a load of this…

Convinced? The guy in the skintight blue suit has me sold already. In action, the cars are actually pretty cool. Here’s a good video clip showing off how the Aero Spider Laser works. And more people dressed in silly outfits for no particular reason. You gotta love Japanese marketing.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Aero Spider Laser cars start shipping early this month, and are available over for pre-order over at Hobby Link Japan for ¥6,000 (appx. $65 USD).