technabob » animated

desktop kung fu boys are here to kick your a$$

technabob — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:00:28 +0000

There’s nothing that makes your office or cubicle more cozy than some fun desk toys. So when I saw these animated martial arts kids over on a Japanese website, I said to myself “I must have these for my desk”!

KANFUBOI (that’s Kung-Fu-Boy to you and me) have one purpose in life, and that’s to kick, punch and chop their way through the day. Just set the little dudes on your desktop, switch ‘em on, and watch the punches fly. (Actually the one on the left kicks and punches, and the kid on the right chops). A built-in sound sensor sets punches flying on your unsuspecting victims.

Their packaging says “Try Me”, and I actually think that’s some sort of a dare. Of course, they don’t just do their Kung Fu moves, they let out the appropriate sound effects as they go.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Unfortunately, you’ll have to find a way to fly these in from Japan if you want a pair for your desk. They’re available from E-Goods for ¥1995 (appx. $18 USD) each.

usb boxer doles out the punches

technabob — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:23:30 +0000

Seems like a day doesn’t go by when some new bit of USB wackiness finds its way to my computer. Today’s find: this desktop boxer that connects to your USB port.

The pint-sized prizefighter is more sophisticated than your average USB gizmo, letting you throw punches using your computer keyboard. The left and right arrows control the fists, while the up and down arrows rotate the turntable. An on-screen score card keeps track of how many punches you land successfully.

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The USB Boxer is available from I Want One of Those for £29.95 (appx. $59 USD). That’s not exactly cheap, but according to the marketing collateral, it’s “The most advanced USB toy of 2008″, so maybe that’s worth extra.

monster piggy banks eat your money for lunch

technabob — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:55:56 +0000

I think these goofy guys look more like space aliens than monsters, but you get the point. Put your money in the mouth of these Money Monsters and they’ll gulp it down without so much as a “thank you”.

While they might not be polite, that doesn’t mean the Money Monsters aren’t vocal. When you feed them your paper money and coins, they’ll make one of 20 annoying comments like “money, money in my tummy”, then let out a satisfied belch. As they gulp down your cash, the creatures’ cycloptic eyeballs and ears move around.

They’re available from Firebox for about $25.

[via Pocket-lint]

roboboa robotic snake comes to america

technabob — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:49:33 +0000

The latest robotic critter from RoboSapien creator WowWee is the reptilian Roboboa. The snake-like robot can roam along the floor and raises its front end up like a real Boa Constrictor.

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The Roboboa not only can slither around thanks to its snake-like articulated body, it can serve a variety of fun an practical purposes too. The robot has electronic “vision” sensors which let it track and react to your movements. Thanks to an LED illuminated head, the boa can even be used as a movable desk lamp. It’s also got a built in alarm clock feature that’s sure to wake you from your deep slumber. Beyond its automated reactions, you can program your own custom sequences using an included 40-function remote control.

The robot has been available in Europe for a couple of weeks now, and can now be purchased in North America too. It’s $99 from the WowWee Online Shop.

[via RobotsRule]

painting with light

technabob — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:36:55 +0000

While they might be a bit “new-agey” for my taste, I think these LED light murals are still pretty cool.

Perhaps better suited for nightclubs or restaurants than for your home, these Light Energy Paintings can fill a wall with a dazzling show of colored light. The displays come in sizes as large as 48-inches in diameter, and use up to a dozen super-bright multi-color LED fixtures to project a variety of color effects onto a translucent screen.

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The company even makes versions which are mounted into cocktail tables and even a dining table too. What’s with that sculpture of the Fortress of Solitude in the middle of the picture, though?

The company’s LED displays range in price from about $2000 all the way up to $5000 and beyond, depending on the features you choose.

king titan robot walks, talks and generally looks badass

technabob — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:51:05 +0000

While this robot might just be a kids toy, it actually looks pretty cool. The King Titan Robot walks, talks, and has a shiny electroplate chrome finish that makes it really stand out.

King Titan measures about 15-inches tall and features removable weapons and armor. Unfortunately, it’s not programmable, but it does have some preset light and sound effects and little animated data monitor.

Best of all, the $40 robot is made by a company called the Happy Kid Toy Group Limited. How can you go wrong?

(FYI… the rendering above is a little exaggerated from the real version, which is a bit more chrome-like, with red LEDs instead of orange ones.)

haro: worst pc case ever

technabob — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:17:24 +0000

Wow, here’s a way to really crap up your PC…

The Haro PC case is a big green blob that encases your computer and attempts to give it a personality. The weird looking creature holds small computers (like the Mac Mini) with ease. When connected, it the case provides animated expressions, which can be controlled by the provided remote. In addition to its electric ear flaps, gesticulating arms and light-up LED eyeballs, Haro also can speak (in Korean, I assume,) making it even more annoying.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Now before you Anime fans hang me out to dry, I know that Haro is a beloved character from the Gundam series. But even, but even the staunchest fanboys would have to agree this thing is just plain hideous.

[via Thought from the Sidelines]

cool blue led clock with flipping numbers

technabob — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:38:37 +0000

Here’s another nifty LED clock out of Japan. This one features animated numbers that “flip” as each digit changes.

The square blue LED pixels gradually change to the next number simulating a scrolling effect. It’s definitely a pretty large clock, measuring 17.7″(w) x 4.33″(h) x 2″(d), and is designed to be easily wall-mounted. The clock costs ¥15500 (appx. $130 USD), and is available from Japanese retailer Rakuten.

[via Thoughts from the Sidelines]