Technabob » tower

Revo K2 Speaker/Dock Looks Like a Skyscraper for Ants

Range — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:00:08 +0000

Revo has just released information about their K2, and no it’s not a real skyscraper, but it certainly looks like a distinctive speaker and dock combination for your iDevices and smartphones. It’s a “towering column of aluminum and molded rubber,” and given its substantial footprint, should give other docks a run for their money.

The K2 will play a variety of different radio formats, and it’s compatible with almost all iDevices. In addition to FM and the European DAB and DAB+ formats, it can wirelessly stream Internet radio, Last.fm and music files from PCs and Macs. The column outputs 40W of sound, powered by dual class-D amps, and disperses audio in 360 degrees. It also comes with a “secret-until-lit” OLED display, motorized iOS device dock, and an array of different connection options. It’s made out of glass, aluminum, and soft plastics as well as rubber.

When it’s released, you’ll be able to download a free app called RadioControl, which will allow your phone to act as a full-blown remote control for the device. The whole package will be released October 17th, but get ready for the bad news, because it will cost you £299.95 (~$488 USD). That’s Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin territory.

[Revo via NotCot]

Take Gorgeous Shots with the Kaleidoscopic Pentax Rainbox K-r

Hazel Chua — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:00:49 +0000

I’ve been thinking about investing in a good DSLR for a long time now, but I never really committed or made good on it. First, because I don’t know squat about ISOs and post-processing. And second, because I get intimidated to pieces whenever I walk inside the camera shop and see rows and rows of huge, black SLRs just waiting to be lifted back home. Plus the photography aficionados hanging around the display don’t help, either.

(Of course, I know SLRs are huge and bulky and heavy in nature, but I retain rights to complain about it because I am a woman with muscle-less arms.)

But today, I laid my eyes on possibly the most gorgeous DSLR that might just push me to overcome the first factor that’s been holding me back from getting one: the Pentax Ribbon K-r.

Isn’t she just a beaut? Now I may not know much about cameras, but I know women, and women like me sometimes need a shove in the right direction, even though it’s just the appearances that’s drawing us in.

The Pentax Rainbow K-r [JP] is actually a limited-edition DSLR that encases Pentax’s K-r series of cameras in an all-new and colorful housing. The design was cooked up in conjunction with Tower Records, and the Rainbow is actually the second camera released as a result of their’ collaboration.

The bad news is that it’s only being released in Japan. The good news is that you can likely pre-order one from Japan-based importers like Rinkya.

They don’t come cheap and will retail at around $1,100 (USD), but this set does already come with a DA 35mm F2.4 AL lens. However, the ~~blah-looking~~ normal Pentax K-r is priced at $800 with the added lenses though, so technically you’re paying an extra three hundred bucks for the added color.

Call me crazy, but I actually think it’s worth it.

You can check out the specifications of the Pentax K-r right here.

[via CrunchGear]

Self-Loading LEGO Dice Tower: Perfect for Old-School RPG Fans

Range — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:03:22 +0000

Where are the self-loading dice towers when you need them? Well, that’s one of the reasons why YouTube user Skadar decided to build his own.

The build relies on a lever system that’s completely manual, and although I won’t speak to the quality of the dice mixing, it certainly gets the job done when you need a bunch of random dice thrown.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

For some reason, I’m thinking this would be good for tabletop RPGs.

[via Make:]

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/self-loading_lego_dice_tower.html

Tsutenkaku Towerbot Makes Almost as Much Sense as a Godzillabot

Range — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:10:26 +0000

You got to hand it to the Japanese, they’re always coming up with the wackiest concepts. In an era in which we are trying to make robots look more human or just make them more useful, there’s nothing like this tower-shaped robot to get to the heart of the matter.

Tsutenkaku is its name, and from the promotional video, it makes me think that the goal is to actually produce a gigantic building Transformer robot. This robot is about 5’6″ high, and no less than 7 different Japanese companies thought that it was a good idea to produce a walking tower robot like this.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Apparently, the robot was created to help make Osaka cooler. For some reason, they thought that a robot, which could strike poses and light up like a Christmas tree, would accomplish this. It’s scheduled to make its debut next week in Tokyo.

[via Plastic Pals]

Itower Omega: Give Your iPod a Lift

Technabob — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:53:25 +0000

Usually, I just write off most stuff that mall-dweller The Sharper Image puts out as either too pedestrian, too tacky or both. However, I’m gonna give them a break on this one. Their new iTower Omega is actually quite striking, integrating an entire iPod-ready stereo system into a handsome looking black tower.

It stands almost four feet tall, and has a nice black-cherry wood finish (laminate, though.) A media player dock sits on top and works with any iPod with a docking connector.

The $299 iTower Omega features four stereo speakers, a single dome tweeter, two subwoofers and 60 watts of amplification under the hood. Frequency response is nothing to write home about at 100Hz to 16KHz, and I can’t imagine that stereo imaging will be very good, given the design. However, if you’re looking for a sleek way to incorporate an iPod sound system into your room, this one looks as good as anything out there.

Tech Deal: All Games, Cds and Dvds 25% Off at Tower

Technabob — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:52:49 +0000

The Tower Records website is offering an amazing deal on all video games at the moment. Until January 22nd, 2007, all video games, cds, dvds, books and accessories on the site are 25% off.

A cursory check of the site turned up recent titles like Lost Planet, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Gears of War for just $44.99 each.

Tower has been racked with financial woes in recent years and appears to be liquidating what inventory they currently have on hand. Better take advantage of this deal before they run out of what you’re looking for.

[via XBOX360FANBOY]