Archive for December 2013

I’ve written about a number of smartwatches over the years, but the Qualcomm Toq is the first one I’ve had any extended period of time with. The Toq differentiates itself from other smartwatches through the use of Qualcomm’s proprietary Mirasol display, which provides ease of reading in daylight conditions, and minimizes battery use.

Ever wonder why SD cards are dirt cheap? At the 2013 Chaos Computer Congress, a hacker going by the moniker Bunnie recently revealed part of the reason: “In reality, all flash memory is riddled with defects — without exception.”

I’ve seen some really cool Star Trek themed gear and even rooms over the years. If you are a fan of the original series, you might appreciate the décor in the home of Line Rainville. She has been a fan of the original Star Trek series since her youth.

Here’s one of the latest offerings from one of our favorite geeky jewelers, Paul Michael Bierker. It’s a ring that looks just like Wonder Woman’s tiara. It has five custom cut rubies and can be made from sterling silver, gold, palladium or platinum alloy.

Just because Christmas is over, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still make some paper snowflakes. It is still winter in the Northern Hemisphere after all. And Sonia Harris of Comic Book Resources has just the flakes for you.

The six-sided die is one of the most recognizable symbols of gaming and gambling. But as Dr. Matt Fleming states, cubes don’t roll well. You know what does? A dodecahedron. So Matt put the numbers one through six twice on a 12-sided die.

While pretty much every smartphone today looks like a thin slab of glass and plastic or metal, this upcoming device eschews these conventions, going with a dramatically different approach.

Ever wonder how much game consoles would cost you today if you adjusted their prices for inflation? Well, here is a handy chart showing you all of the details. I can’t believe how many of these I have owned.

At the 2013 Chaos Communication Congress, a group of hackers called Mema Haxx showed off a neat trick: streaming and controlling applications from a PC to a Wii U GamePad. They even played a bit of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker from a Gamecube emulator.

These lock pick earrings are perfect for the cat burglar in your life. Catwoman certainly wouldn’t be caught without a pair. This is one accessory that can get you out of tight spots and into some others.

I remember subscribing to an email list a few months ago because the site was hosting a giveaway. Normally, I don’t mind a few emails a month, especially if they’re promoting something that I’m interested in.

While today's vehicles have integrated GPS, satellite audio, and even mobile apps, they're only the tip of the high-tech iceberg. Let's take a look at some amazing high-tech ideas which could find their ways to our cars in the not-too-distant future.

The latest TokyoFlash concept watch from UK designer Peter Fletcher is one of his coolest yet. The Hayabusa LED watch features a case inspired by the Spartan armor of the same name from Halo.

One of the most significant controversies of recent years has been the NSA’s mass surveillance of individuals via telecommunications and internet data monitoring. And while the ‘bots which are watching us are not much more than bits of data coursing through CPUs and electronic storage devices, it’s sometimes easier to imagine a physical manifestation of such unseen evils.

Welcome to Mr. J’s carnival. You must be 1.5″ tall to ride. That’s because this is a LEGO diorama featuring the Clown Prince of Crime’s headquarters of sorts. Made by Paul “Brickbaron” Etherington, it contains lots of moving parts and depicts Batman and other characters in dire straits against Joker and other villains.

There are thousands of sites that makers can use to sell their costumes, including major ones such as eBay, Etsy and deviantART. But if you want a site that’s focused solely on costumes, check out CosTrader.