technabob » star trek

utah school selling its old spaceship simulator. wait, schools have spaceship simulators now?

lambert v. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:55:38 +0000

You lucky Alpine School District students and your Space Education Center with its spaceship simulators. I hate you. All I had when I was a kid were teachers who liked to gossip and humiliate students who didn’t go to church. I hope you never find a buyer for your fancy schmancy USS Galileo, which has “stations, networking, speakers, a main viewscreen, and anything a futuristic starship should have” built in. The auction itself doesn’t say that it’s supposed to be a replica of the Star Trek USS Galileo, but it is it’s quite a ways off from the design of the real deal. And I hate it.

Eh, who am I kidding. The auction still has 19 and a half days to go and the current bid is already at $3,200 (USD). I’m pretty sure the simulator cost way more than that though. Here’s a few more pics of this stupid simulator. I wish we had one at our school. But we didn’t so I hate it.

Rich nerds and awesome schools, go to Public Surplus and bid on this baby. You don’t want your child, or your students, or yourself to not have a spaceship simulator. Trust me, the pain never goes away. Damn you awesome schools and your awesome amenities! Damn you all!

[Via UberReview via Born Rich]

to boldly go where no lighting has gone before

alisha k. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:41:46 +0000

It seems like just the other day that we were talking about some seriously cool lighting, and already we’ve got a reason to dig the rare subject up again: the Star Ship chandelier. Yes, Star Ship. The name is important, see.

Gee, that design looks somehow familiar… and undeniably slick as a hanging light fixture. Definitely a lot cooler than a boring old ceiling fan (uh, except not literally).

Not that I’m insinuating anything here, but this sure looks like something that would have fit right into that summer movie with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. iTrek, was it? Star Gleam? I forget. But if you’re painting everything in your home white and adding a few touches of chrome, you might want to drop $189 on this space travel-approved chandelier.

[via SlipperyBrick via Gearfuse]

star trek online: beam me up already

alisha k. — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:54:19 +0000

If you’re not one of the devotees attached to the official community–yes, one already exists–for the as-yet-undated MMORPG Star Trek Online, you might not have seen much about the forthcoming game, and that means you can boldly go into this screenshot without any expectations.

And bam! It delivers… and by delivers, I mean beams your crew down into adventure galore. In Star Trek Online, every player will have their own ship and will be able to explore and fight in space and – as you can see – planetside via missions and other aspects of the game. You’ll even have NPC redshirts to sacrifice. What would a Star Trek universe be without some folks who are just slated to die?

Unfortunately, the only parameters we have on release are that it’s due sometime before 2012, which means it won’t be available soon enough.

[via Gamekyo]

spock monkey: half-vulcan, half-sock, half-monkey

lambert v. — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:51:05 +0000

That’s right: each Spock Monkey is a combination of three halves, resulting in one logical, emotionally detached yet huggable primate. I used Vulcan math to calculate Spock Monkey’s constitution.

Each Spock Monkey is lovingly handmade, so each of them is unique. Some are uglier than the others. There’s also a Captain Kirk Sock Monkey. No monkey McCoy though.

Each Spock Monkey (or Capt. Kirk Sock Monkey) sells for $46 (USD) at Cottage Linen. Don’t feel bad about separating the Spock Monkeys from each other, because they’re all adventurers, seeking new frontiers. Every Spock Monkey is also sent off with one hell of a going-away party. Seriously, check out the party. It’ll make your day.

[via irrg! orrrrg!]

to boldly go where no baby has gone before

alisha k. — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:17:30 +0000

If you have children in your life (or are just a Halloween junkie!), you’ve probably begun to notice that retailers are already loading up on the candy and gear, and that means the question of those pesky costumes is looming over your head. One geek mom, however, got a jump on the holiday with a simple-yet-cool take on a classic: the Starfleet uniform… for babies.

Maker Rinnial’s daughter will match her father this Halloween, as he’ll be similarly clad. This mini uniform is from the Star Trek: The Next Generation era, when apparently it was totally cool for toddlers to run things in space. One of those little skirts from the original would have been cute, too, though.

[via Geek Crafts]

rise from your grave, apple tablet development rumors

chris h. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:53:05 +0000

You just can’t keep a good rumor down. One would think Apple aficionados would have enough to talk about, what with Snow Leopard now gracing the machines of any Mac-owner willing to pony up the paltry $29 Apple asking price.

I guess not.

The Financial Times reports that Apple is “racing to offer a portable, fully-featured, tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season.” Of course, this is considerably less rumor and a lot more… inevitability. It’s no secret that Apple has been working on a tablet, and talk of it has persisted for, what, almost two years now? Steve Jobs himself has admitted to canning Apple’s tablet project twice, the first time due to its battery life and the second time due to “insufficient memory.”

As to what this tablet is, exactly, some suspect it’s a multimedia device — the perfect mobile movie companion — like an iPod Touch x2. Or maybe x3 or x4. But according to a source of Gizmodo’s, one they claim “has always been 100% reliable,” this 10-inch Apple tablet would also come in the 13-inch and 15-inch variety and run Mac OS X.

If this thing sports Apple’s usual design tropes, it’ll look like something from J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, which means I’ll have to buy it. But if anyone were to perfect a sleek, stylish, touch-interface tablet, it’d be Apple. Can you say MacBook Touch?

Guess we’ll find out soon enough. Or maybe not. Who knows? I don’t.

[via Gizmodo]

star trek tricorder replica doubles as media player

lambert v. — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:01:15 +0000

While other replicas only look awesome or have loopy sound effects, Ameralis Grafx‘ Tricorder PMP-09 is not only a replica of the famous Star Trek tricorder, it also serves as a portable media player.

It’s equipped with a 2.8″ TFT colored screen, 8 GB of memory, and a battery that can play 4 hours of video or 12 hours of music before needing to be recharged. The PMP-09 handles AVI, MP4, MP3, WAV, JPG and BMP files. Too bad it doesn’t have a browser. If you could access Google and Wikipedia on this thing you’d practically have half of the functionality of the fictional tricorders.

The media player also comes in 6 different variants, each with their own version of the LCARS interface, also seen in Star Trek. That’s the Starfleet model in the picture above, and below are the Medical, Borg and Marine models. Wait. The Borg had tricorders?

In addition to the stock LCARS interface in each gadget, users can download 12 more interfaces. Here’s the PMP-09 in action; ironically its media playing capabilities are not demoed in the video so it ends up looking like, well, like a replica:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Useless replicas are already pricey, so it’s natural to expect that a useful one would be expensive as well. The Tricorder PMP-09’s starting prices are $350 (USD), $400 and $430, depending on the model. Check out Ameralis Grafx’ website for more details.

[via Engadget]

star trek cakes might not help you live long

lambert v. — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:02:54 +0000

Neatorama recently posted a bunch of Star Trek cakes, which I assume would be the perfect food for your Star Trek marathons. They’re also unhealthy, but who cares right? All for the sake of awesome. Here’s one of them, a cute and miniature bridge scene on top of an otherwise ordinary base made by reality TV show “Ace of Cakes”:

Here’s another one, a fairly large replica of the Enterprise made by European Cake Gallery. Cake Wrecks has a few more shots and details regarding this faster-than-light cake:

Man that’s a big cake. Finally, we have the Borg cake. I think it’s kinda ugly but it’s a testament of geekery nonetheless, because it’s actually a wedding cake. An evil wedding cake.

Look at that poor Enterprise ship. Eat the Borg cakes you merciless bystanders!

Warp to Neatorama for more Trekkie cakes.

klingon cradle for badass babies

alisha k. — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:58:58 +0000

I’m not a particularly huge Star Trek fan–not the dressing-up kind, just the appreciating, occasionally-watching kind–but even I have to say that this is probably the most awesome crib in the history of cribs. If Cribs was about cribs instead of cribs, this would have its own show, even though it’s a cradle.

Not enough for you? How about the Klingon rocking horse, for parents who want to ginsu their babies:

Or the Klingon baby rattle, for parents who want their children to ginsu them:

It’s a good thing these are part of an art show and not actual baby products, because you know someone would buy them. When it comes to that rattle, that someone might be me.

[via Geek Central Station]

trouble with tribbles? well these certainly won’t help [star trek]

technabob — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:50:25 +0000

Sure, you may have loved J.J. Abrams updated take on Star Trek, but it just didn’t have enough tribbles for my taste. Thankfully, there’s a solution for the recent tribble shortage.

Now you can be the proud owner of your own roomful of the little purring furrballs.

These interactive replicas of the original TV critters not only look just like the originals, but they vibrate and emit a friendly cooing sound when you move them. For something a bit more disturbing, switch ‘em into “agitated mode” for a malicious scream when you pet them (or whenever Klingons are near). How can you resist?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

They’re available in classic beige, grey and dark brown – so you can raise a genetically-diverse tribble biomass. You can start collecting your own tribbles over at Entertainment Earth for $24.54 (USD) a pop, or $67.58 for a set of three. If I’m doing my math correctly, you’ll only need to spend about $67,580 if you want to replicate the population that was on the original TV show.

knit star trek meerkats. yes, meerkats.

alisha k. — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:27:41 +0000

Knit and crochet dolls are cute simply by definition, so you really don’t have to go the extra mile to summon a chorus of “awww.” If you do, however–and Alison Oddy sure did–the effect can be dramatic. But maybe that’s just because we’re talking about meerkats here.

And these aren’t just regular knitted meerkats, but Star Trek meerkats, circa the original series. But if you prefer your meerkats to bow to Captain Picard, Oddy can hook you up with a Next Generation set.

Of meerkats. In Star Trek uniforms. And you can get a set for £22, or around $36 U.S.

[Meerkats via Geek Crafts]

geek corsets: imagining darth vader as a sexy (female) beast

alisha k. — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:49:43 +0000

Straight from the what files come these geektastic corsets designed to evoke Star Wars and Star Trek character, and I can’t decide if they’d make great Halloween costumes, or if they look like something from an adult film parody of the classics.

One thing is indisputable: the workmanship that went into these costumes and corsets, by EveningArwen, is amazing. The corsets look good and they make great outfits. But $200 a pop is a hefty price to pay.

But I guess for those folks who grew up weaned on the various versions of Star Trek, these togs might be fantasy come to life. Not very practical for beaming down to unknown planets, though.

[EveningArwen's store via Geekologie]

make your own tiny starship enterprise from spare parts

technabob — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:04:32 +0000

I just got back from watching the glorious new Star Trek movie, so I must have the Enterprise on the brain. And while this tiny Starship Enterprise isn’t quite as dramatic as the mammoth star vessel from the film, it’s just as cool in my book. Maybe even more so.

Built by a guy going by the name “Wolf” (no, not Worf), this mini light-up Starship Enterprise “sparebot” is crafted from three LEDs, a couple of resistors, some wire, a magnetic reed switch and a 3-volt button battery. And it’s sure to defeat those pesky Romulans – assuming they had a tiny little ship too.

Wolf has been kind enough to post the schematic for his teensy Enterprise over on his website. Captain Kirk would approve – then he’d fly it into the middle of a black hole.

[via Hack a Day]

captain kirk’s chair: for the ultimate trekkie decorator

technabob — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:20:47 +0000

With all of the buzz surrounding the release of the new Star Trek movie, here’s a little something to remind you of the kinder, gentler days of the original series (or ST: TOS for those in the know).

This life-size replica is a dead-ringer for Captain Kirk’s original swivel-throne from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Not only does the chair look like the original Cap’ns seat from a distance, it’s even got all of the original controls in the arms.

Measuring in at 41″(h) x 42″(w) x 39″(d), the 215- pound chair is a perfect reproduction of the seat that Shat sat on for all 3 years of his 5 year mission. Made from wood, leather and various plastic bits, this substantial throne is the perfect place for you to bark out orders to your own crew. (Or to issue a Red Alert to Comcast customer service when your cable cuts out.)

Captain Kirk’s chair is available in a limited edition of only 1701 pieces (get it?) over at Entertainment Earth for a whopping $2200 (USD). I wonder how much that is in Federation Credits? And if you really can’t get enough Trek, you could always cut a hole in the seat and put one in your bathroom over the toilet seat.

[via Inventor Spot]

star trek iphone: the simple way to show your love

alisha k. — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:30:09 +0000

So with the new Star Trek movie taking critics by storm, it’s only natural that people are flocking to the franchise’s fandom ranks, and that means more and more folks are going to be slapping Star Trek insignia on anything with a semi-flat surface. With that in mind, you’ve got to take a moment to admire the people who find creative-yet-simple ways to jump on a bandwagon.

Now, I’m not insinuating that this cool fellow is a recent convert to Star Trek love; maybe he is and maybe he’s not, but if you are and find yourself scrambling for some way to show the world, take his cue and remember that it’s all about glue. And, apparently, rhyming.

Apply Star Trek pin to iPhone case with glue. That’s all it takes, folks. You can even manage this before the film opens, should you be able to track down a pin! It’s easier and cheaper than a uniform, certainly… and more discreet as well.

[iPhone Savior via Gear Live]

trekkie porn: customized starship enterprise replicas

lambert v. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:30:52 +0000

30 versions of the USS Enterprise are being distributed to cinemas across the United States to promote the upcoming Star Trek movie. Each 34-in replica was cast from the same 3D model made for the movie by Industrial Light & Magic. The replicas were made by various artists, including Gizmodo’s Senior Editor Jesus Diaz. Here’s his take on the iconic vessel:

It’s nice, but personally I don’t like how it looks too much like a toy. That’s just me though. The sculptor and illustrator Rafael Burgos opted for a scarier replica:

Wouldn’t want to be on that ship. The collective design team H5 chose a yummy approach for their Enterprise replica:

Cookie Monster will instantly become a Trekkie once he sees that. You can view the other Enterprise replicas along with some info on their creators on the movie’s official website.

[via Gizmodo]

on ebay: candy conquers the final frontier with limited edition star trek pez set

lambert v. — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:24:26 +0000

Trekkies like candies too. This limited edition, 8-piece Star Trek Pez gift set is further proof that Trekkies aren’t so different from you and me and therefore must not be shunned, no matter how obsessed they are with made up languages and men that wear headbands over their eyes.

The set features the USS Enterprise and its crew: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Chekhov, Hulu, Boxee, and Xubuntu.

This Star Trek Pez gift set is for sale on eBay until April 27 for the low price of $17 (USD) plus shipping. If you miss this auction and don’t mind paying a few (star)bucks more, just Google “Star Trek Pez” and you’ll turn up a variety of sets for around $20 and up.

[via Bayraider]

journey to the final final frontier with the star trek casket and star trek urn

lambert v. — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:40:12 +0000

How much of a Trekkie (or -er) are you? How far would you go? Roleplaying? Dressing up in costumes? Being fired into space in a photon torpedo casket?

I’m not a Star Trek fan, but I must admit that the casket’s really decent; the logo is fairly small and the Photon Torpedo-inspired design is sleek. Still, it would be a bit weird to be buried in a theme casket. Nothing wrong with it though. But what if you want to be cremated, so that your spirit will immediately be released from it’s fleshy and bony and in my case skinny cage? Then the Trek urn might be for you:

Mmm shiny. This one’s way geekier than the casket, that’s for sure, but still tasteful. I bet some Trekkie out there would be willing to buy this one just for decoration.

Both the casket and the urn will be available this year via Eternal Image. Price TBA.

[via The Presurfer]

klingon keyboard: kliboard? keyngon? gibberish?

lambert v. — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:00:44 +0000

Heads up Trekkies: Cherry Keyboards are currently selling Klingon Keyboards. Yes, it has Klingon font as well as some English numbers. It’s perfect for, you know, if you suddenly find yourself in a chatroom with Worf.

If you’re not liking the inscription on the keys, don’t worry. That’s just a mock up; it’s an edited image of Cherry Keyboard’s plain old English keyboard. Cherry Keyboard says that the real deal will have “Laser etched, abrasion proof keycaps” and “rubber sheet technology for long life” to ensure that the keyboard will meet the transcendent taste of those who speak James Doohan’s gibberish. I’m kidding. Lower your Mek’leths. It connects via PS/2 though. So retro.

Cherry Keyboard claims that they will only produce a “limited quantity” of the Klingon Keyboard. You can already reserve it at Cherry Keyboard’s site; it sells for £44 ($64 USD).

[via Dvice]

rock-paper-scissors-lizard-spock: game of the year on a shirt

lambert v. — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:55:42 +0000

I’ve always wondered how Paper beats Rock. So what if it covers Rock? That’s not the same as being cut or crushed. Cafepress ups the confusion but in the process has created the Game of the Year, nay, the game of the 23rd century.

Paper disproves Spock. Disproves. Why the hell is Paper so powerful? Notice also that Spock can only vaporize Rock. My nose is bleeding. This game is awesome.

The close-up up top is taken from the shirt above, which is a women’s plus size shirt that sells for $30 (USD) at Cafepress’ site. The diagram is featured in a variety of shirt types and sizes; I’m pretty sure there’s something for everyone there. I want giant posters of this in all grade schools. I want giant posters of this period.

[via Fashionably GEEK]