technabob » crazy

world’s loudest alarm clock will definitely wake you up – and make your ears bleed

technabob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:33 +0000

Hit the snooze bar too many times every morning? Do you sleep through the alarm? Maybe you should check out KipKay’s latest hack, sure to jolt you out of bed in the morning.

This extra-loud alarm clock gets its power from a couple of 140-decibel electric horns. A relay, a 12-volt laptop power supply and a whiff of solder later, and this cheap alarm clock was transformed into the most ear-shattering alarm clock you’ll ever hear.

Here, have a listen:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As an added bonus, it’s guaranteed to wake all members of your immediate family and each neighbor on your block.

[via MoHacks]

going commando with modern warfare 2 peripherals

chris h. — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:08:56 +0000

I’m not sure if slouching back in a chair playing Modern Warfare 2 in front of a television or computer screen is the sort of activity that requires camouflage, but who am I to argue with the video game peripheral gurus at Mad Catz, who have taken it upon themselves to develop a full line of military chic Modern Warfare 2 accessories.

I’m not kidding when I say “full line” — Mad Catz is sparing no expense to capitalize on Modern Warfare 2’s inevitable success. Their peripherals lineup includes:

Gamepads for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
A “sniper mouse” for PC FPS traditionalists
2 keyboards for PC, one “elite” and one standard
Faceplate and “Console Skinz” for Xbox 360
Controller faceplates for Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers
“Throat Communicator” for Xbox 360

I’m excited for Modern Warfare 2 as much as the next guy/gal (the first Modern Warfare sent First Person Shooter shivers up my spine like only Half-Life 2 has been able to) but I don’t think I’m ready to explain to my friends, family, and colleagues why I have a microphone choker for playing this game. I’ll just stick with the wireless headset, thank you.

[via MaxConsole]

diana multi-pinhole operator camera by lomography helps you take puke-inducing pictures

lambert v. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:11:41 +0000

Lomography’s new Diana Multi-Pinhole Operator allows users to use up to 3 pinholes in one shot. The pinholes create a ripple, cross-eyed effect that only worsens becomes crazier once you add the color filters to the mix. The Diana Multi-Pinhole Operator has a focal length of 29 mm, a pinhole diameter of 0.277 mm and an f/128 F stop. View angle is 103 degrees, but thanks to the pinholes you can take a panoramic shot. A sort of panoramic shot. The weird, dizzying kind.

The camera uses 120 film, but if you want to use the cheaper 35 mm film you can get the 35mm Back+ attachment. Here’s a sample shot that used 3 pinholes but no color filters:

Isn’t that what characters in movies see when they’re high, poisoned, or suffering from heatstroke? But that’s a wall of white compared to this one:

Now we’re going through the rabbit hole. By the way, the Diana Multi-Pinhole Operator is as analog as it gets, as it doesn’t even have a shutter or a lens. It has a switch under the front barrel for selecting how many pinholes you want to use, then you a lever that you lower to let light in, then raise to stop light from coming in. It couldn’t be harder. I meant simpler.

How’s that for a panorama. You can get the Diana Multi-Pinhole Operator for only $65 USD at Lomography. Barf bag not included.

[via GeekAlerts]

v-cube 5×5x5, 6×6x6, 7×7x7: like rubik’s cubes on crank

technabob — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:40:14 +0000

I had enough problems trying to solve the original Rubik’s Cube. Heck, I was often tempted to just peel all the colored stickers off and place them on the proper sides of the cube whenever I got frustrated with the damned thing. So when I came across V-CUBES, I just about lost my mind.

V-CUBE cubic puzzles come in 5×5x5, 6×6x6 and an insane 7×7x7 configuration for the true puzzle masochist.

The mammoth 7×7x7 cube is made up of hundreds of individual pieces which rotate around an inner mechanism that was precisely engineered to turn quickly and smoothly (hence the slightly bulging appearance of the cube). If I’m doing my math right, the V-CUBE 7 offers up about 1.95 * (10^160) permutations, so that should keep you busy for just a little while.

Think that seems unsolveable? Check out this video clip of master puzzle solver Frank Morris cranking through the V-CUBE 7 in just under 7 minutes flat:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

And just in case that’s not complicated enough for you, the V-CUBE guys are working on future models all the way up to 11×11x11. O.M.G.W.T.F.R.U.B.I.K?

You can find all of these cubes over at the V-CUBES Online Shop. Prices range from about $35 to $70 USD.

[photos via Flickr and speedcubing]

minesweeper made out of pixelblocks

technabob — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 13:53:52 +0000

From the “someone has too much time on their hands” file…

A true geek going by the screen name Cursors managed to take enough time out from his busy office life to build a giant reproduction of the Windows game, Minesweeper, entirely out of tiny plastic pixelblocks. The finished display used over 38,000 individual blocks and stands over 6 feet tall.

View the entire photo archive here.

[via geekologie]