This Snoopy Flying Ace USB hub connects up to three of your USB devices while the battling beagle takes on the elusive Red Baron. And this isn’t just one of those boring inanimate USB hubs. When plugged in and switched on, Snoopy’s Sopwith Camel starts rocking back and forth, its propeller spinning in the breeze.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more… Now I can’t get that Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron song out of my head.

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You can get the Snoopy USB hub over at Strapya World for ¥5,280 (appx. $56 USD). Be sure to check out Astronaut Snoopy while you’re there.

[via 7 Gadgets]

Brainz showcased some of America’s present and future killing machines, developed in the superpower’s quest to lessen bloodshed. On their side at least. I must say, these warbots look like a bunch of proto-Decepticons.

The white one on the left is Boeing’s X-45 UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle). Here’s how Brainz describes them: “Like horrors from a science fiction film, these things are meant to travel in packs, autonomously, and engage targets with lethal speed, maneuverability, and armament.” Sounds like Protoss Interceptors to me.*pees a little*

Uhm anyway the “dwarf-sized autonomous helicopter” on the right is the MQ-8 Fire Scout. Although he looks friendly with his smile and starry eyes, the MQ-8 is a killing machine. It can be fitted with Hellfire missiles and other “laser-guided armaments”; testing is also being done with alternative versions that are equipped with .338 caliber rifles. For pew pew pewing humans.

The one on the left looks like a movie prop, but its actually the US Marine Corps’ Gladiator. Smaller than a Mini, the Gladiator can be fitted to carry supplies for fleshbags, or it can be equipped with “enough mortar tubes to level a building a quarter-mile away.” Wow.

The one on the right isn’t actually autonomous, but I’m mentioning it because it comes closest to being the future infantry. Called TALON, it’s remote-controllable for up to 1,000 ft away, and although it “only comes up to knee height”, the TALON is a remote-controlled nightmare. It can be fitted with an M16, a .50 caliber rifle or an M249 machine gun. In the future, Counter-Strike players will have to choose between terrorists and TALONS.

So Old Snake was right: War has changed. Read the full article at Brainz and be cautiously impressed. I mean it would be stupid to assume that these things can’t be used, hacked or reverse-engineered for evil purposes. Why can’t we all just get along, you know, buy the world a Coke?

[via Switched]

I actually tried to justify to myself this gadget’s dimension-shattering existence, thinking that it might be useful for very young kids or people with special needs, such as amputees. But look at what’s inside the box: battery box, plastic rings, nuts, wire, plastic suction cups, sticky pads, screws, plastic discs with pulley, connecting sleeves, terminal block, screw driver, base plate with guide, motors and detailed instructions. Batteries not included. Tell me, Middlesex University, which would be easier: to ask someone to assemble the motherflipping contraption, or to ask someone to launch a paper plane? Using their built-in hands?

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I don’t care if the paper planes it launches move at the speed of light. This is like someone eating your food for you. Someone that you have to purchase for $16 and build. Notice also that the box says “kits created by specialists who teach teachers”, and not “kits created by specialists who create kits”. The second one would have been so much more reassuring.

Kids: remember what happened in WALL*E? Use your limbs. For the sake of humanity.

[via computersight]

The fan plugs into your USB port, and has a soft “propeller” that’s designed to not slice your digits off if you happen to get in its way. The little aircraft isn’t built to be aerodynamically sound since it would fly off of your desk otherwise. (Although that would be really cool, IMHO.)

The airplane fan should be landing soon from Kikkerland. I’ll post back when I have more details on when and how much.