A Sad Day for NASA Fanboys
Loren Feldman nails it in this video — we’re watching what’s left of NASA go on display in museums while China is working hard at go back to the moon. Read more…
Apple = IBM
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 26, 2012 in Tech
There’s a really sad article by George Colony which assumes that with the death of Steve Jobs that Apple will follow the fate of companies like Sony and Disney and fade out into oblivion. While I agree that nothing lasts forever, it’s also important to note that nothing is certain: And thus I give the example of the company that Steve Jobs hated in his youth — IBM. Read more…
iPhone Panoramics on the Fly
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 26, 2012 in Tech
Forget trying to stitch together the perfect panorama using Microsoft’s Photosynth – in theory, it’s a neat idea but in practice, not really. Instead, try something new. Introducing Dot, the first panoramic video lens for your iPhone 4 and 4s. So, how does it work exactly? You just snap it on over your phone’s camera, download the app and begin shooting 360° videos on the spot. Not only that, but the app also allows you to control the direction of the camera yourself or swap over to a panoramic widescreen mode. Read more…
If It’s Original It’s Just Not Android…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 26, 2012 in Tech, Videogames
So what you’re looking at above is the Sony PSP — right? Wrong! It’s the JXD V5200 which is of course powered by Android, the preferred OS of uninspired industrial designers. Although I have to admit that there is something cool about ripping off poor ignored Sony, and I can only hope that duo screen faux Nintendo DS comes next. Although if you’re an old school Nintendo fanboy check out the JDX 100 which reminds me slightly of a Game Boy from back in the day: Read more…
Before the Mac There was the Alto: An Amazing Commercial from the 70s
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 25, 2012 in Tech
Shown below is an amazing commercial from the 70s for the Xerox Alto: This amazing computer was first released in 1973 and featured all the cool features we associate with the PC today like a graphic user interface, a mouse and desktop publishing. While the the computer was a commercial failure, it went on to inspire the Macintosh in the the 80s and Windows in the 90s. Read more…
Mind-Controlled Cat Ears Street-Dated
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 17, 2012 in Hobbies and Collections, Tech
Remember these? Last May we posted a video for Nuerowear’s mind-controlled fashion accessory “necomimi” — or cat ears. That right, they’re a pair of car ears you can control with a thought. Until now, they haven’t been made available for sale. The first batch will go on sale at the Nico Nico Super Conference being held in Chiba later this month for just 7,900 yen — that’s about $100 a pair. Of course, that’s a special price just for the event. They’ll actually retail for about $112 after that. I still can’t imagine anyone wanting to sport a pair of these on a daily basis, but once again, I’m sure they’d make for a fantastic addition to any cat-girl cosplay. Read more…
Neat E-paper Watch Kickstarter: Pebble
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 15, 2012 in Tech
I try not to share too many Kickstarters, if only for the fact that most are pie-in-the-sky dream ideas with poor planning or bad concepts. There are still plenty of good ones (ie, Double Fine) that have had success, but as always, remember: you are donating. Anyway, enough from me – instead, here’s a solid-looking Kickstarter called Pebble. It’s an e-paper watch with bluetooth support to hook up to your smartphone, and thus can run useful apps and display notifications (it vibrates, too). Another neat fact: the battery lasts roughly 7 days – not bad! Read more…
Facebook Buys Instagram; People Whine
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 9, 2012 in Tech
This morning, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Facebook’s impending billion dollar purchase of the popular photo app Instagram. With its built-in social networking features and easy-to-use interface, such a sale would seem like a no-brainer, but it wasn’t long before my twitter-feed lit up with complaints and negativity in response. Many of them were quick to brag about how they’ve never used the app, claiming that the Facebook acquisition only strengthens their resolve. Perhaps the most annoying tweet I’ve seen on the subject insists Facebook’s purchase proves there’s a market for “pretentious hipster bullshit.”
Google Invites You to Explore the White House
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 8, 2012 in Tech
Sometimes you’re laying in bed, relaxing, and think to yourself: I want a tour of the White House. But you can’t, because you’re in bed, and the White House isn’t very close at the moment. Kind of inconvenient, right? Why can’t you have the entire White House at your fingertips? Thankfully, Google has teamed up with the White House, the President, and the First Lady to create a virtual tour of the White House. Secret bunker rooms not included. Click here to try it out, or watch the video above to get a taste!
Elecom’s Portable Lazer Keyboard
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 2, 2012 in Tech
There are so many awesome gadgets out there, many of which I can’t afford. The latest to catch my eye is a portable, projection-based Bluetooth keyboard for iOS and Android devices. The Elecom TK-PBL042BK — catchy name, I know — is a self-contained, rechargeable unit that projects a red wire-frame keyboard onto the surface of your choice. The keyboard itself comes with adjustable brightness settings to save battery life, and features up three levels of sensitivity, clocked up to 350 characters per minute. There’s even a mouse-mode built-in. Impressive, isn’t it?