Rated: 40% (1 votes)
Loading ...Visible Gears
Mark
I’ve written about clocks where the gears are visible before (just not here). This will be a little update on that post.
I recently came across this, which led me to this, this and this.
I love to see the internal workings of clocks/watches like this. It’s probably partly what I like so much about steampunk.
There’s something really exciting about seeing just how mechanical things like this work. I could sit and watch the internal workings of a mechanical watch for ages - it’s just I’ve better things to do with my time. (8+)
The one above is apparently an all chrome affair, which surprised me a little as in the images I did think it looked a little plasticy.
Rated: 90% (2 votes)
Loading ...Tasty Spaces
Mark
For this entry I’m going to let the product do it’s own talking …
Stereo Cubic presents the change of light shade by cube modeling, and the cutting declined surface not only presents thickness of stereo, but also allows more various and free placing ways available, and the concrete will make melodious music more vigoroso and steady to create a more comfortable and tasty private space for you.
Yep.
So I guess what they are trying to say is that cement speakers are more likely to provide you with a powerful, clean sound.
Cool.
The bit that I like best though is the dimensions, as laid out on the product page : 12cm x 12 cm x 12 cm (per speaker), 13 cm x 32 cm x 13 cm (packaged). Because nothing’s going to damage concrete in transit.
I wonder what the postage cost is for concrete these days …
Rated: 90% (2 votes)
Loading ...Star Wars Designer USB Drives
Mark
Star Wars geekery combined with computer geekery? Surly not! But yes! Mimoco have announced the impending release of 8 (count ‘em, 8!) Star Wars character themed USB flash drives.
Featured characters are Leia, Luke, Han, Boba Fett, Vader, Chewy, a Stormtrooper and R2. As I write this Vader and R2 are sold out. Chewy and the Stormtrooper are available for order now and the other four are available for pre-order.
They’ll be out by February next year; price is expected to be between $50 and $110 for 1GB to 4GB capacities.
The cap on both the Luke and Boba models is made to resemble the characters’ helmets, which can be removed to show their faces. In addition, each drive in the series comes preloaded with exclusive content specific to the character.
Rated: 60% (2 votes)
Loading ...iPod Docking Stations
Mark
I have an iPod. So does my wife. She also has one of these docking stations (in black), but these are not the kind of docking stations I had in mind. I have something a little more stylish to talk about today.
No, today I want to talk valves.
There’s a growing trend recently wanting to re-incorporate valves into modern technology, most of the time it seems to be a purely cosmetic feature, rather than an integral function.
This post will concentrate on the latter.
First up we have the Roth MC4 (and soon to be released MC8) Music Cocoon. The Music Cocoon has been designed for use with the iPod, any portable audio device (that’s why there is a 3.5mm socket on the back of the amplifier), any device which outputs audio to a 3.5mm jack (e.g. a laptop), or a CD player (that’ll be why there is a pair of RCA sockets on the back as well).
This means that regardless of the source unit, the MC4 can handle it, which immediately makes it more useful than a simple docking device but it’s not the most stylish looking of units.
Next we have the Fatman iTube ValveDock.
The Fatman iTube is a dock compatible with all iPods except the Shuffle. The iPod docking portion is the bit that looks like a treadmill, which is kind of ironic as the company is called Fatman. The other dock section is a valve amplifier that can export your video files onto a television or speaker system easily with the included remote.
Fatman also makes iTube 182 with ValveDock and iTube ValveDock Carbon Edition with Speakers.
Finally there’s the Shanling MC-30 iPod Music Center
This is my favourite of the lot. Alongside the iPod support, it’s a CD player, AM/FM tuner and a tube power amplifier. Inside the brushed aluminium chassis, the MC-30 sports a number of decent audio technologies such as Philips VAM-12 pick-up mechanism coupled with CD-7II servo system for low jitter tracking and D/A conversion accomplished by Burr-Brown PCM1738 DAC chip.
Still, at £500 it’s not cheap.
So there we have it, a quick round-up of my favourite iPod docks of the moment.
The images below are all clickable.
Rated: 60% (2 votes)
Loading ...Eat more toast!
Mark
I’ve written about waffles, now it’s time for toast to get a look-in, or more precisely, toasters.
A concept only, right now, but given the state of the kitchen-gadgetry market, don’t be surprised to find this in your local, well your local anywhere that stocks kitchen-gatery *shrug*.
This toaster rotates, the central hub is what actually provides the heat, and you can remove each compartment once the toast is done and keep it warm on the hot plates until you are ready to eat it.
Other than simply looking cool there seems to be little or no benefit to this concept. I guess you could have as many as 6 and as little as 1 slice on the go at any one time and not require the whole toaster to heat up, which is a good thing.
Other snazzy toaster links :
Toaster Printer
Glide Toaster
Roller Toaster
Pirate Toaster
Rated: 64% (5 votes)
Loading ...Privacy Scarf
Mark
Sometimes, a little privacy is required to view ’sensitive’ or ‘personal’ material. Need I say more?
Read more here.
Rated: 50% (2 votes)
Loading ...Pedal Power
Mark
Further to my previous post (seen below) on rocket powered transportation, I’m now going to take it back to where it all began : the humble wheel.
This is a most curious item for me, because I just do not know who the target buyer is.
I mean, short of an actual unicyclist - and how many of those do you know? - who would actually want this item?
It’s basically a 20″ wheel with pedals on it. It really has to be the most minimalist unicycle I have ever seen.
I do like this part of the description on the manufacturer’s site :
Weight : light! 
Rated: 73.33% (3 votes)
Loading ...Sinclair C5 - Rocket Powered
Mark
“Note that jet engines are inherently dangerous things to run and must be treated with care and respect, you will be solely responsible for your own safety and the people around you.”So says the seller of the pictured, souped-up C5.
According to the sellers eBay listing I am with some reluctance selling it to fund another jet related project. *grin*Expect speeds of up to 100 mph!
According to the creator’s homepage for the project :
There are Jet Powered Shopping Trolleys, Go Karts, Lawn Mowers and even a Jet Powered Wheel Chair.
This says to me that there is only one thing left to do and that is build a Jet Powered Sinclair C5.
I still can’t help but think you’d look like a 7w@7 driving it down the street though. (8+D
Rated: 60% (2 votes)
Loading ...How Far is Far Enough?
Mark
So then, what kind of range do you need between your ‘phone - for example - and your internet router? 10 meters? 20 meters? 50 meters?
How about 18.6 miles?
Yep, you read that right, miles.
The AIRcable Host XR Bluetooth USB Adapter (catchy name) features a standard USB connector, H2-compatible HCI interface, and the ability to work with Windows, Linux, and OSX. The aluminium case is designed for reduced interference and there’s no need for an external power supply.
Learn more from here and here.
You can pick one up for a mere $129 (USD). That is, if you can think of a real use for the thing. Which I can’t. *shrug*
Rated: 60% (2 votes)
Loading ...Music in Isolation
Mark
Ideal for a music lover that wants to minimize any aural spillover onto others.
The sonic chair provides a unique audio experience, allowing you to sit at the very centre of a sound system.
Background noises will not disrupt the enjoyment of music (or audio book), and what the listener chooses to hear is hardly audible beyond the chair.
You can even connect your iPod or laptop and work without distraction.
But this is the best bit for me, the chair would be ideal in a cinema situation.
Just imagine walking into an auditorium with row upon row of these things. Perfect sound isolation from all the yobs that picture houses seem to let in these days.
Bliss.
You could even connect an iMac up to the sound system and sit it on the provided swivel table and have your own personal cinema experience. (8+)
More information here.