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Arcade Piggy Bank: Change Invaders

Technabob — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:52:25 +0000

I think I must have spent at least 5,000 hours and 50,000 quarters in arcades playing video games when I was growing up. These days, the only games I get to play are on my home consoles or my iPad. Still, I like things which remind me of the heyday of arcade gaming, like this arcade cabinet inspired piggy bank.

The graphics on the side and front of the tiny cabinet are reminiscent of the ones on Space Invaders, and it’s got a little joystick and fire button for playing its rudimentary Invaders knock-off (called Earth Defenders) on its LCD screen. Each time you drop a coin in the bank (yes it can even be a penny) you’ll get 2 minutes of gameplay. As time ticks down, you’ll get a warning when you only have 30 seconds left so you can put another coin in the bank.

Sure, it’s not as cool looking as that official Space Invaders piggy bank from a few years back, but at $19.95 (USD), it’s also way cheaper than that one. You can grab the Arcade Piggy Bank over at Kleargear.

Quarters Shrunken Down to Size Through Electromagnetism

Technabob — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:24:48 +0000

When I was growing up, I remember seeing a native tribe somewhere on TV or the movies who had a bunch of shrunken heads hanging around their huts. I seem to remember that they looked like dried up apples that had been carved out. Maybe that’s what they really were and they didn’t actually shrink any human heads.

If you’d like to get your hands on a shrunken head without harming a hair on anyone’s head, then check out this oddity – a shrunken head U.S. Quarter.

These quarters have been zapped with 6,000 volts and 100,000 amps using a high energy electromagnetic field. The intense energy forces whatever is used as a conductor between its repelling magnetic fields to be compressed in about 1/100th of a second. The result of placing a quarter in this evil contraption is a smooshed coin like the ones shown in the pics here. While the center details are somewhat distorted, the edge, letters and numbers are pretty much intact, making of one weird looking coin.

You can get your hands on one of these shrunken quarters over at ThinkGeek for $24.99(USD). That’s right, it may be about 1/3rd smaller, but it costs 100 times as much – and you can’t use it in any vending machine.

Coin4 iPhone 4 Case: Change for Stand

Lambert Varias — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:00:54 +0000

Instead of using your money to buy a stand, why not use your money to be the stand itself? That’s the idea behind the Coin4 case. Designed by Alexandros Stasinopoulos and Vic Chen, the Coin4 has slots at various angles and locations on the back, so you can use a coin (or anything else that’ll fit) to prop up the phone.

The case was made for the iPhone 4 – meaning it should be compatible with the new iPhone 4S as well. The only thing that some iPhone 4 owners may not like about the Coin4 is that it’s rear end is quite thick and is curved. Stasinopoulos and Chen deliberately made it that way to make the phone easier to grip.

The Coin4 is sold by Taiwan-based Urban Prefer. Unfortunately I don’t know how much they’re selling it for because they still haven’t set up their online shop yet. But they are accepting orders via email: order@urbanprefer.com. Make sure you save some change for the stand.

[via Fancy]

Digital Bitcoins Become Real, Shiny

Conner Flynn — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:54 +0000

If like me, you’ve never heard of Bitcoins before, let me explain. Bitcoin is a digital currency that basically allows payments without needing centralized payment processors. You don’t need any stinkin’ banks and their greedy scandals and since you don’t need banks, the fees are super low. They are transferred from person-to-person over the Internet, worldwide.

These coins are generated all over the Internet with a free app called a Bitcoin miner. You mine your coins, store them in your wallet and then you can spend them. It was all digital, until now.

Now someone has created real silver Bitcoin coins in 1 gm silver rounds, stamped with the Bitcoin symbol, bringing them into the real world. That makes these the first digital currency to take a physical form. They look cooler than our currency. It’s not like you can use these at the corner shop, but at least they could be a good investment because they are pure silver. Silver, like gold, is going up, up, up.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Therichtimes]

Tiny Linutop 3 Computer Debuts With Intel Atom Cpu

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:59:37 +0000

I am all for taking up less space on the desk or beside my desk when it comes to choosing my computer. I am also all for power and performance – so for now I keep using my mid-tower rig since it’s packed with high-end hardware. If you don’t need high-end hardware, this new small form-factor PC from Linutop may be right up your alley.

The little rig is called the Linutop 3 and unlike the AMD power the Linutop 2 sported, the new version has an Intel Atom processor at 1.6GHz. We all know this processor from its long running use as the go to CPU in the netbook realm. The little rig runs the Linutop flavor of Ubuntu Linux and might be perfect for the alternate OS geek looking for a tiny PC.

The Linutop 3 measures just 9.25″ x 9.25″ x 2.16″. The machine has 1GB of RAM inside and supports up to 3GB. Instead of a hard drive, the system stores data to 2GB of internal flash memory and the OS is loaded on a 600MB flash device. I assume that the OS is not loaded on the main 2GB of storage, but the company doesn’t specify that. Other features include Gigabit Ethernet, VGA and DVI out as well as 3D graphics 6 USB ports, and more.

You can grab one at the Linutop store for 340 EUR (appx. $391 USD).

Super Mario Coin Purse: Perfect for Carrying Your Gold Coins

Technabob — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:14:05 +0000

If you read Technabob on any regular basis, you probably know that I’m a fan of Mario. I’m also a fan of Etsy. So whenever the two get together with something cool and imaginative, magic can happen. Take, for instance, this Mario-inspired coin purse.

Created by Rehashimoto, the 4-inch square coin purse is designed to look just like the question mark blocks from the Super Mario games. Each one is made from denim, cotton and felt, and decked out in a delightfully bright yellow. Gold coins not included.

The only one up there is currently sold out, but if you drop Rehashimoto a note over on her Etsy page, I’m sure you could get her to make you another one.

[via Gamefreaks]

Itazura Kitty Coin Bank: Like Ceiling Cat, but in a Cardboard Box

Technabob — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:58:17 +0000

Whether they’re playing keyboards, eating spaghetti and cheeseburgers, or just plain acting surprised, the Internet has more cats than it has porn. Take for instance, this so-cute-you-wanna-puke gadget from Japan, which also happens to feature a surprise cat.

The Itazura coin bank might look like a cardboard box, but put a coin on the plate, and your feline pal will stick his tiny little paw up and grab your money. Now why a tiny cat in a cardboard box needs money is anyone’s guess, but I’m betting he’s got a bad catnip habit to feed.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Cat ladies and cat gentlemen, you can get the Itazura coin bank over at Strapya World for $21.50 (USD). Strapping tape for the lid not included.

Penny-Dispensing Machine: an Interactive Representation of the Daily Grind

Lambert Varias — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:04:07 +0000

…or the daily crank, as the machine puts it. Says maker Blake Fall-Conroy, “Turning the crank will yield one penny every 5.04 seconds, for $7.15 an hour (NY state minimum wage).” Obviously the machine stops doling out money as soon as you stop turning the crank. I think $7 is slightly less than the minimum daily wage here in the Philippines. Then again, in New York $7 will probably only get you what, a movie? Not even?

The penny-dispensing machine measures about approx. 15 x 19 x 72 in. Its wood and plexiglass body houses “custom electronics”, a change sorter and a motor, among other things, all powered by the hand crank. Would you rather turn a crank for 8 hours or do actual work?

[via Boing Boing]

Choken Bako Dog Bank Will Eat Anything That’S Put on Its Bowl

Lambert Varias — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:32:23 +0000

The Choken-Bako dog bank features a hyperactive dog for a teller. Just place your money on its bowl and it will “eat” it. Actually there’s a slot on the bowl that’s connected to the coin box; the dog’s mouth just pushes the money into the slot.

I don’t think the dog cares exactly what it is that’s placed on its bowl, it’ll eat it anyway. So it’s quite a realistic dog.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The Choken-Bako dog bank won’t be available until November, but you can pre-order it now at Japan Trend Shop for $67 (USD) ($49 + $18 shipping). Or see if you can train your dog to store your money for you. That’s $67 of savings right there.

[via Random Good Stuff]

Fill ‘Er Up Gas Gauge Piggy Bank Should Never be on “E”

Technabob — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:54:28 +0000

Another fun creation from the guys over at Fred & Friends, this new piggy bank has a built-in gauge to tell you how close to full it is.

The Fill ‘Er Up savings bank looks just like the gas gauge on a car, but instead of keeping track of fuel, it keeps track of coins. And just like when your gas tank is on “E”, you’ll need to feed this with more money to keep it running. As simple and fun as the idea is, I think all piggy banks should have this feature. It’s part of Fred’s latest collection, so I don’t know how much it will cost or when it will hit stores, but for now, keep an eye on Perpetual Kid, since they’ve been known to stock lots of goodies from Fred & Friends.

NES Controller Pouch Keeps Your Gold Coins Safe

Technabob — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:56:11 +0000

Looking for a place to keep all those gold coins you collected from punching at question blocks? Why not keep them in this crafty NES controller coin purse?

These zippered pouches are made from soft and fuzzy appliquéd felt. Measuring in at 2-1/4″ x 4-1/4″, they’re perfect for carrying coins, business cards, makeup or even better yet, a bunch of your Nintendo DS cartridges.

Each purse is lovingly handmade by California artist Lindsey Porter, and they retail for just $15. Be sure to check all the fun items in Lindsey’s Etsy shop. (I especially dig her 3.5″ floppy coin purse.)

Super Mario Rains Down Real Coins

Technabob — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:48:58 +0000

Usually when I think of Mario’s primary currency, I think of those little gold coins (and maybe some power-packed ‘shrooms). So I was pleasantly surprised to see this arcade machine from Japan in which Mario pays out with real coins.

This ultra-rare Capcom Super Mario Fushigi no Janjanland machine by was recently photographed by Flickr contributor Silent K on a visit to the Taito Game Station in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

I’m not sure exactly how the game plays, but I figure anything that involves Mario and pays out real dough has got to be good.

[via flickr]

Exploding Piggy Bank Sends Coins Flying

Technabob — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:32:01 +0000

Put your cash in this bomb-shaped piggy bank and if you’re not a good saver, you’ll be punished. The electronic piggy bank waits for you to add coins too it every day. If you’re not consistent, it’ll explode, sending coins all over your desktop.

If you don’t add coins each and every day, the bank will start to vibrate, flash its lights and make sounds once an hour until you pay up. If you don’t get to it in time, BOOM! Coin-tastrophe!

Japanese toymaker TakaraTomy plans on releasing the exploding piggy bank just in time for the New Year, so you can start out 2008 right by keeping your resolution to save more money. It’ll cost about ¥3,000 yen, or about 2,700 pennies if you’re already starting to save up for one.

[Reuters via electro^plankton]

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]

Koolatron Coin-Op Fridge Keeps Can Moochers Out

Technabob — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:09:44 +0000

If you have a mini-fridge in your cubicle, you might have run into the occasional thief making off with your precious pop. This new fridge seeks to change that by requiring payment before doling out your canned beverage of choice.

The Koolatron Coin-Op Mini Fridge lets you chill up to ten cans of your favorite 12-oz. canned drinks (up to five cans each of two flavors). Then it requires deposit of money (Quarters only, though) before it dispensing a can. And it even comes with a dozen special tokens that you can keep for yourself, so you won’t have to pony up the dough for your own soda.

The Koolatron comes in both blue and silver versions and is available from Solutions (web only) for $149.99.

[via 7Gadgets]

Piggy Bank Eats Coins for Lunch

Technabob — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 05:09:07 +0000

Actually, there are no pigs involved in this bank. Rather, just another case of a bizarre gadget from the streets of Japan.

With its oddly misshapen wedge of of a head, Banpresto’s Face Bank is a rather disturbing looking device. Using an object sensor in its eyes, it detects your approaching hand and starts to chow down on any coin that gets within reach of its mouth. Once it’s done chewing up your money it swallows it for safekeeping.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The Face Bank is available from gadget importer Strapya-World for ¥2380 (appx. $20 USD)

[via TokyoMango]