Technabob

The LEGO Movie Teaser Trailer Released: A Brickbuster Motion Picture

Paul Strauss — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:37:46 +0000

If you’ve been reading Technabob for any length of time, you probably know that we’re huge fans of LEGO and LEGO paraphernalia. Now, it turns out that Hollywood is jumping onto the LEGO bandwagon with the upcoming release of The LEGO Movie.

It’s the first full-length flick based on the LEGO universe, and is being directed by the team behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the 21 Jump Street Movie. It actually looks pretty amusing from the first teaser trailer that was just released earlier this evening…

While it may look like stop-motion from the trailer above, it’s actually all CGI, which is a little bit disappointing, but I have to say they did a good job recreating the look of hand-animated minifigs, which have been such a popular thing on YouTube over the years.

The movie follows the story of Emmet, a LEGO minifig who finds himself in the unlikely position of being mistaken as the most extraordinary person in the land of LEGO, and must help save the world from an evil tyrant. In addition to a cast of thousands of minifigs, the movie stars Will Ferrell, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman, and is expected to snap together in time for a February 2014 release.

Games of Thrones Gates of Qarth Table: The Greatest Table That Ever Was or Will Be

Conner Flynn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:58 +0000

The crews of most TV shows use regular tables to have conferences and go over their work, which is fine because most shows are pretty crap. But that will never do for a quality program like Game of Thrones. What does the crew of Game of Thrones use? Why, the gates of Qarth of course.

Cat Taylor is a “Keeper of Scrolls/Behind the Scenes writer on the set of Game of Thrones.” She tweeted picture of a conference table that the crew uses to show how awesome they are and asked readers to guess what it was. Well, it turns out that this table was once the gates of Qarth.

How can you bot do great work at this table? Well, I have many complaints about the show, but still, it definitely makes everything more epic.

[via Nerd Approved]

Tauntaun Skin Rug: They Don’t Smell That Bad on the Outside

Conner Flynn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:55 +0000

Tauntauns make great rugs - great sleeping bags too when you are in the freezing cold of Hoth and don’t care how it’s insides smell. This tauntaun skin rug was designed by Malaki Keller and is 100% awesome.

It was designed as a 1:1 scale version of a tauntaun for Autumn Massey – who came up with the whole idea. Yeah, I knew my living room was missing something, but I was thinking more of an Ewok rug. Now that I see this Tauntaun, I might have to go with that.

It looks nice and soft and you have to love the details. Those horns and eyes are great. Best of all it doesn’t make that annoying Tauntaun sound.

[via Star Wars Blog via Nerd Approved]

Lumu iPhone Light Meter: Because You Can’t Trust Your Retina. Or Your Retina Display.

Lambert Varias — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:00:18 +0000

Professional photographers wouldn’t dare use an iPhone – or any smartphone for that matter – to take pictures for work. But they can use it to help them do their job. Take the Lumu for example. It’s a small device that turns the iPhone into a high quality light meter, which is used to determine the proper exposure for a photograph.

There are already light meter apps on the App Store – some of them available for free – so why would you bother getting the Lumu? The company behind the device claims that the light sensor in Lumu is way better than the ones found in any iOS device and even some DSLR cameras. Also, aside from providing users with the appropriate exposure settings, the Lumu app will also let users save notes, voice recordings, location data and more.

Pledge at least $99 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a Lumu as a reward. Each order also comes with a leather bag and string that you can use to store and carry the Lumu.

Here’s my idea for a mobile device peripheral: the Nuvuvu. It’s a device that prevents any smartphone or tablet from taking vertical videos. You’re welcome, world.

Snapcat for Android: Because Cats Want to Take Selfies, Too

Hazel Chua — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Cats are techie creatures. From playing games to wearing headphones (okay, so this was just an April Fools’ Day joke, but hey, I can totally see it happening), cats can do it all.

And now a developer has created an app intended for use by your frisky kitty so it can take its own selfies.

It’s aptly called Snapcat and it’ll snap pictures of your cat based on its movements. Once the app is fired up, a red dot appears on the screen. You cat will, in theory, be attracted to the red dot and will attempt to take a swipe at it. This swiping motion triggers the front-facing camera, which then takes a candid shot of your cat.

Once the photo has been taken, you can apply filters or add stickers to the image. When you’re done, you can share the image on social networks like EyeEm, Facebook, and Twitter – with the approval of your cat, of course. You can even post a snap on your cat’s Social Petwork page, if it has one.

Snapcat can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

[via Chip Chick]

Tech Deals of the Day: 6/18/2013

Paul Strauss — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:42:21 +0000

Our friends at TechBargains.com compile a list of daily deals to help you save money. Keep in mind that as with any good deal, products are limited in quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now.

If you’re looking to buy a product from a specific store, save money with updated and verified coupon codes here.

Computers & Peripherals:

ZyXEL PLA4201KIT Powerline Kit Ethernet Adapter $29.99 plus free shipping (normally $79 – use code: EMCXPWM65)
Microsoft Desktop 400 USB Wired Standard Keyboard $14.99 plus free shipping (normally $30 – use code: EMCXPWM52)
Asus PA248Q 24″ IPS LED LCD Monitor $259.99 plus free shipping (normally $349 – use this form and code: EMCXPWM49)
McAfee Total Protection Plus 2013 (3PC) + 8GB USB Flash Drive FREE plus free shipping (normally $69 – use this form)
Dell Inspiron 14z (i14z-2203sLV) Ultrabook Intel Core i5-3337U Dual-Core Ivy Bridge 14″ Ultrabook $499.99 plus free shipping (normally $749)
Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C-A06US Intel Core i5-3317U Dual-Core Ivy Bridge 15″ Ultrabook Laptop $849.99 plus free shipping (normally $169)
Sony SF64UY/TQMN 64GB SDHC/SDXC Flash Memory Card (Class 10, UHS-I) $34.99 plus shipping (normally $59)

Home Entertainment:

Pioneer XW-SMA4-K Wi-Fi Airplay 40W Speaker for Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad $179.99 plus free shipping (normally $299)
Dynex DX-32L200NA14 32″ LCD HDTV $169.99 (normally $229)
Samsung UN50EH6000 50″ LED LCD HDTV $699.99 plus free shipping (normally $1199 – use code: 2X25)

Personal Electronics:

Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon, Pentax, Sony, and Sony E-Mount DSLR Cameras $224.50 plus free shipping (normally $349 – use code: FISHEYE75)

Apps:

Tapatalk Forum Reading App (iOS) FREE (normally $2)

Bowers & Wilkins Maserati Speakers: Time to Cash in That 401K

Range — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:00:11 +0000

There’s something quite special about high-end speakers, in the way that they are often able to recreate acoustic performances very accurately, akin to what holography is to visual senses. I’m not sure that these Bowers & Wilkins speakers will do that, but they certainly look the part.

The B&W 805 Maserati Edition Speakers will please audiophiles and car enthusiasts alike. At heart, they are part of the 800 Series of Diamond speakers, adorned with lots of materials that you’d find in any Maserati. They come in maple veneer, black leather, standing tall on the stand that has a Maserati Trident logo.

These speakers are limited and the price hasn’t yet been announced, but given that the regular 800 Diamond Series speakers sell for $23,000(USD) a pair, so you can just imagine how much these will cost. They will be available this Fall, so start saving up now.

[via Uncrate]

Tabletop Arcade Machines: Half-Cabinet, Half-Amazing

Lambert Varias — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:03 +0000

We’ve seen a handful of tiny arcade machines, but Tiny Arcade Machines is way better. It’s a shop owned by YouTuber dabarduba, an electronics engineer in the UK. He makes compact arcade machines that fit on your desktop or bar counter. They look like arcade cabinets with their lower halves chopped off.

As you can see, dabarduba not only knows his electronics, he’s also got a degree in Appropriately Cheesy Arcade Cabinet Design. His machines come in both 1- and 2-player configuration; they can be loaded with thousands of arcade classics or rigged to play console or PC games. Here’s one of his machines running Street Fighter x Tekken:

You can see more videos of the machines on dabarduba’s YouTube channel. He also makes even tinier – but still functioning – machines, which are perfect for playing just one game, just like a traditional arcade machine.

The arcade machines are not cheap – they cost between £399 to £950 (~$600 to $1,500 USD) – but neither are back surgeries. You can order a unit from the Tiny Arcade Machines website, which also looks like it was made two decades ago. Seriously sir, you would get way more clients if you updated your website.

[via ThisIsWhyI'mBroke]

Foursquare Time Machine Turns Your Travels into an Infographic

Hazel Chua — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:06 +0000

If you’re an active Foursquare user, then you probably have a pretty detailed log on the places you’ve been to and when you were there on your account.

Foursquare has just unveiled a new tool that their users can utilize that makes taking a trip down memory lane easier and more pleasing to the eyes. It’s dubbed as the Time Machine and it’s basically a data visualization tool that turns a user’s check-in data into an interactive infographic.

It’s not just a pretty graphic either, as the user can zoom in to certain colorful orbs to examine that particular check-in.

Foursquare is a social network, after all, so it includes options for users to easily share their individual graphics with their networks. Check out the clip below to see one user’s trip down memory lane care of the Time Machine.

[via Dvice]

Smart Ebike: German Car Company Outs Its First Electric Bike

Range — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:04 +0000

There are plenty of electric bikes these days, but from time to time, one comes along that sets itself apart, like this one from Germany’s Smart. Smart is best known for their ultra compact city cars, but I’m impressed with this e-bike too.

The Smart Ebike provides 250 watts of power from its front-mounted motor, and can reach speeds up to 15.5 mph. It’s supposed to be able to go even faster when you use the 3-speed gear hub. Its chain has been replaced by a carbon tooth belt, which is supposed to be more efficient and last longer than a normal chain.

It’s been designed to work for urban travel. Its rechargeable battery can cover up to 62 miles on a charge. It takes about five hours to charge it up, and there’s also a regenerative system that will top off the battery when coasting, braking or riding downhill.

[via designboom]

Knit Sarlacc Pit Hand Puppet: Where’s Boba Felt?

Conner Flynn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:00:40 +0000

Hand puppets are fun for kids, but these knitted toys really don’t quite hold the appeal today that they had in say, the 1500′s. So, how do you jazz up hand puppets so that people actually want to play with them today? Star Wars of course. More specifically, a Sarlacc pit.

Everyone wants to stick their hand inside a pit with a giant freaky monster living inside of it. Go ahead, put it on your hand and chomp down that Boba Fett figure. While you’re at it, go for young Anakin, and really get Jar Jar good. And Sarlacc pits love Ewoks too!

The knit Sarlacc pit hand puppet was made by pandacatification and unlike the real thing, it won’t need a thousand years to digest it’s victims. Take it to the beach and bury it, surprising your friends.

[via Play with Your Yarn via Neatorama]

Human Armchair Disguise: Come Sit on My Lap

Hazel Chua — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:30:42 +0000

I find it amusing how Sherlock Holmes is a true master of disguise and blends in so well with his surroundings that you won’t even know he was there (think Game of Shadows.)

If you’ve ever wanted to pull the “I’m on the armchair but you can’t see me” trick but aren’t very good with makeup, then here’s your chance: the Human Chair by artist Jamie Isenstein.

It’s basically a two-legged suit of sorts that you can wear so you can pretend to be an armchair. The front legs will be care of your actual human legs, though based on the image alone, I’m not very sure how you’re supposed to breathe or see very well when you’re in this thing.

Of course, it’s hard to ignore two very human-looking arms and legs jutting out of the armchair, so if someone notices before they take a seat, then prepare to get kicked in the shins very hard.

[via Incredible Things via Geekologie]

Google Street View Adds 1,001 New Destinations

Hazel Chua — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:30:45 +0000

Now you can take a trip to numerous destinations without having to leave the comforts of your home and without spending a single cent. How? With Google’s Street View, which has now been updated with 1,001 new destinations and places that were previously not available.

Google hasn’t released the full list of new locations, but they did highlight certain locations that will appeal to hikers, armchair travelers, and of course, actual travelers.

These new places include generous views of Singapore’s zoo, a peek inside the interiors of concert halls in Canada, and tours of the Mark Twain House and Mark Twain Museum in Hartford, Connecticut. Other must-see locations include Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park, Copenhagen’s canals, and Spain’s Seville Cathedral.

Where would you like to go today?

[via Google Lat Long via C|NET]

QuNeo Multitouch Music Controller: A Fingers-on Review

Paul Strauss — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:30:06 +0000

A while back, I wrote about the QuNeo, a reasonably priced, multitouch music controller, packed with triggers and modifiers. The folks at Keith McMillen Instruments were kind enough to set me up with a QuNeo so I could put it to the test.

The QuNeo itself is a lightweight and compact USB/MIDI/OSC controller, measuring just 9-1/2″ (w) x 7-1/4″ (h). It’s just over 1/4″ thick and weighs under a pound, so it can easily be tossed in your backpack if you like to travel and perform. It’s also been designed to be spill-proof, an added bonus if you like to have the occasional drink while playing.

The controller itself offers 16 touch-sensitive trigger pads, as well as nine virtual sliders, two virtual wheel controls and 17 additional programmable buttons. It’s ideal for controlling software like Ableton Live, Traktor, and even can be used with Garage Band.

What makes the QuNeo unique is the fact that its pad can sense pressure, velocity and location, which means you can have fine-grained control over your inputs, not available with most other input devices. One of my favorite things is that you can use this technology to do things like pitch bending when you move your finger across the surface of each pad. Each input is backed by colored LEDs, which can provide visual feedback when playing or adjusting settings.

One thing you’ll quickly learn with the QuNeo is that each of its 16 drum pads is actually comprised of multiple trigger points. So you can set not just each pad to trigger a sound, but each of its four corners can act as a trigger. Though if you prefer that the entire surface of each pad trigger the same note, you can set the QuNeo into one of its drum controller modes. Each pad can be used to sense velocity so depending on how hard you hit the pad, the note or track you play can change in amplitude.

To use the QuNeo, I had to simply install the latest software (PC or Mac), select which music apps I use, and connect the device to an open USB port. There’s also a small amount of configuration in each music app to tell it which controller you want to use. I then selected which of the 16 pre-installed preset modes I wanted by pressing the mode button in the top left corner, then selecting the pad which corresponded to the preset number. Factory preset modes include predefined drum and grid modes as well as settings for popular music applications including Serato, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Traktor, Reason, Battery, and even for controlling Korg’s iMS-20 and BeatMaker iPad synthesizers.

Once in Ableton Live 9, I was able to use the default Ableton Live presets, which provide easy access to clip playback and track recording controls. This allowed me to quickly play, mute and manipulate clips by touching the corners of each button. I was also able easily assign individual buttons, sliders and wheels as MIDI trigger using Ableton’s standard MIDI assignment interface if I wanted to override the presets.

I did find it a little tricky to assign triggers to MIDI inputs directly in Ableton, only because each one of the QuNeo’s pads outputs multiple trigger codes based on where you press. That said, you can always build a proper set of presets using the QuNeo preset editor if you want to skip Ableton’s built-in MIDI assignment screen. QuNeo’s editor allows you to create your own set of assignments for any of the triggers, providing a tremendous amount of control over how the interface is used.

Overall, I’ve found the QuNeo to be incredibly flexible and robust. Since it’s completely programmable, you can truly make it match your individual workflow, whether you’re into live performance, or are looking for a controller for studio recording.

However, with great power comes complexity. First off, you’ll definitely want to watch the video tutorials for your music software of choice up on their website. You’ll also need to really familiarize yourself with all of the presets which are listed in the manual, and then memorize which triggers are assigned to each button, slider or wheel. This isn’t a unique challenge to the QuNeo – all programmable controllers have similar constraints. Someday, I’d love for the buttons on these things to have OLED or LCD screens in them so you could see what’s assigned to each one at a glance, instead of relying on memorization.

Since I wouldn’t consider myself an expert musician by any stretch of the imagination, here’s a video showing off some QuNeo performance techniques from some talented performers:

The QuNeo lists for $199(USD) and is available from a variety of retailers, including Amazon. Keep in mind that if you want to connect the QuNeo directly to a MIDI synthesizer, you’ll need to purchase the optional MIDI expander box for about $50.

Disclosure: Keith McMillan Instruments provided the device for review in this article. However, all reviews are the unbiased views of our editorial staff, and we will only recommend products or services we have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

Guy Puts Donkey Kong in a Barrel: At Least It’s Not on Fire

Conner Flynn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:00:13 +0000

It’s like beating Kong in a barrel… Wait, that’s not how the saying goes. But you can say it now. This custom-built Donkey Kong tabletop arcade machine has been put into a barrel. Why? So you can drink and game of course.

Joel Griffin Dodd wanted a fully functional game of Donkey Kong in an old barrel so that he could have beer and cocktails on top of it. How drunk can you get? You probably shouldn’t try to jump over it, though that’s better that than smashing it with a mallet, I suppose.

It looks like a fairly straightforward build. Just put together a mini arcade system and stick it inside a barrel. Then put some glass on top of course. Not that I thought of it or was able to build one myself. Nice work, Joel.

[via Obvious Winner]

Super Mario Bros. Layer Cake, I Mean Level Cake

Conner Flynn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:12 +0000

Forget layer cake, level cake is what it’s all about for gamers. This amazing Super Mario Bros. cake represents the water, land and sky levels from the game in amazing detail.

If I could eat this cake, I would start on the bottom with a fork, taking a big chunk that includes some fish and coins. Then I would move up to the land level for some piranha plant and goomba goodness. I’d try a coinbox too. Then it’s time to eat some vine and clouds to top it all off. Now that I’ve made a mess of the cake, no one else will want it and it will be all mine.

This cake was baked and decorated by cake maker Cakecrumbs who did an amazing job… of making me hungry. Thanks.

[via Obvious Winner]

Tech Deals of the Day: 6/17/2013

Paul Strauss — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:32:38 +0000

If you’re looking to buy a product from a specific store, save money with updated and verified coupon codes here.

Computers & Peripherals:

Dell UltraSharp U2713HM 27″ LED LCD Monitor $549.99 plus free shipping (normally $799 – use coupon code: AFNJ0968)
Fantom GreenDrive 2TB USB 2.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive $69.99 plus free shipping (normally $134 – use this form)
Dell Inspiron One 23 Intel Pentium G2020 Dual-Core Sandy Bridge All-in-One Desktop Computer w/ Integrated 23″ LED LCD Display $399.99 plus free shipping (normally $649)

Home Entertainment:

Westinghouse LD-4680 46″ LED-Backlit LCD HDTV $298 (normally $499)
Refurbished Orion SLED4668W LED LCD HDTV $299.99 plus free shipping (normally $649)

Personal Electronics:

Pre-owned Barnes and Noble 8GB Nook Color Tablet $39.99 (normally $99)
Tom Tom XXL 550 5in Touchscreen GPS $69.99 (normally $99)
Refurbished Emerson Portable Weather Clock Radio FREE plus free shipping (normally $29 – use this form)
Klipsch Image E1 Noise-isolating Headphones FREE plus free shipping (normally $49 – use this form)
Sony Action Cam HDR-AS15 16.8 MP Camcorder $169.99 plus free shipping (normally $269 – use coupon code: SONYACAM)

Toothless Cosplay: How to Wear Your Dragon

Lambert Varias — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:00:13 +0000

The last cosplay I featured was very faithful to its source material. It was also legitimately creepy. This Toothless quad suit on the other hand may not be the most polished costume out there, but it is one of the most adorable ones I’ve ever seen.

Based on the protagonist’s best buddy in the animated movie How to Train Your Dragon, the suit was made in 2011 by Jessica Angus aka Monoyasha. She says it’s quite comfortable and can easily be removed for transport or storage. In case you’re wondering, the wearer sees through an opening on the costume’s neck.

You can find out a bit more about Jessica’s costume on her deviantART page, where she also posted a few in progress shots.

[via GeekTyrant]

The Walking Dead Cross-Stitched Page: Fabric Novel

Lambert Varias — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:00:36 +0000

The title already spoils it, but you have to see this to believe it. Sprite Stitch forum member Cross Stitch Ninja backs up his or her moniker with this jaw-dropping cross stitch piece. If you think cross-stitch is only good for pixel art, think again. Prepare to have your ~~mind blown~~ brain eaten.

I guess the letters kind of give it away, but other than that if I saw the image above with the unstitched borders cropped out I would’ve thought it was a ballpoint pen drawing.

Even Tony Moore, the artist who drew the original panel, was thoroughly impressed by what Cross Stitch Ninja did. You can see a higher resolution version of the piece as well as in progress shots on Cross Stitch Ninja’s Flickr page.

[via Sprite Stitch via io9 via Boing Boing]

Neue Werkstatt NW3 Sustainable Speakers: Woody Goodness

Range — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:53 +0000

Wood is the go-to material when you design speaker enclosures, and these new ones from Neue Werkstatt (German for “new factory”) really let the natural look of wood shine through.

The NW3 speakers are each made by a small carpenters workshop in Germany. The wood used is sustainably-harvested pine, and the interior insulation is made out of a natural wool batting. Surfaces are finished with a solvent-free stain and natural wax, letting the natural woodgrain really stand out. The audio components inside the enclosure come from Danish audio company Peerless.

I haven’t had a chance to listen to the NW3s yet, but I definitely like their style. They look very natural, and offer a nice accent for modern interiors.

[via designboom]