Borg Cube Let’s You Know You’ve Got Mail

Filed under: DIYs, Hacks, Internet, Misc. Gadgets

emailcube

Resisting your e-mail is futile. When Jamie Matthews gets an e-mail, he just has to be notified. Receiving a glowing cube from Linden Labs at a job fair, Matthews just couldn’t resist turning it into something a little more worthwhile.

A simple python script runs on his computer, periodically screen-scraping his Gmail inbox looking for new mail. It then outputs a message to the serial port, indicating the mailbox status. On the other end of the serial connection is a Boarduino, which receives the message and toggles power to the cube.

There’s a highly detailed how-to guide on the main link below, check it out if you’re interested in having a cube light up after every 5 seconds of spam for Viagra you receive.

Link (via)

Bondesque: The Backpack Inflatable Pontoon Boat

backpackpontoonboat

Camping can be a real blast with some buddies and cold brews, but tugging along a boat with you can be a real bitch, especially if you don’t have a trailer hitch on your car. Thankfully, the 21st century has given way to the Backpack Inflatable Pontoon Boat. In under 15 minutes, you can assemble a full pontoon boat for you and your posse to ride downstream.

Weighing only 42 pounds, this sturdily built backpack won’t kill you (if they can do it in the Army, you can sure as hell do it for a vacation.) Each pontoon clocks in at a full 8′ long and can hold up to 350 pounds together. At $237, this is fun you and your friends can afford by giving up beer pong for a week.

Link (via)

N5 DS Card Reader Now Available

N5

For those not familiar with the storage device known as N5 let me be the first to tell you: it’s illegal to use this device for downloading Nintendo DS games off the ‘net. Of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t do it. 100-percent of the gamers interested in purchasing the N5 or it’s predecessor the R4 have every intention of downloading a slew of DS games. It’s pretty much its only use aside from loading up shitty Robert Palmer MP3s.

It does have the capability of storing other data types, after all it has a card slot for Micro SD and supports FAT16 or FAT32 filesystems. Don’t be worried about online or multi-card play either, as the N5 supports it so finding people to play against shouldn’t be hard if you grab the Metro-Wardrive with it. A one time fee of 70 bucks only to have access to every DS game in existence? What a steal. Literally.

Link (via)

Vladmaster: Viewmaster Film Wheels

vladmaster01

Remember when you were a kid a the Viewmaster 3-D was the coolest fucking thing since the hot fudge sundae? Of course you do. Now imagine if a hip artist with a keen liking for Kafka came up with her own set of Viewmaster film wheels. Such is the case with Portland-based artist Vladimir.

Vladimir first takes 3-D pictures of miniature, hand-built scenes. After the film is developed, it’s glued to the Viewmaster wheel and is ready for viewing. Each Vladmaster set comes with four reels for a Viewmaster 3-D, instructions and an audio CD to accompany the tale. Stories range from $18 and up.

Link (via)

Which Street Fighter Makes The Cut?

Filed under: Gaming, Misc. Gadgets

streetfighter

Udon Entertainment is offering a chance to win a free Nintendo Wii game. If you’re a fan of the fighting game genre then you know of Street Fighter. Orders placed today for a limited edition art book based upon Capcom’s storied Street Fighter and the many characters within puts you in the running for a chance to win a copy of Okami for Wii.

Also, Capcom will be creating a collection of figurines based on the upcoming Street Fighter IV. They’re looking for fanboy input, so check out the poll on Capcom’s blog. Now, this isn’t official but c’mon…it’s Capcom! Whenever it gets the chance to bleed out plastic figurines resembling Cammy, it will.

With Street Fighter IV coming our way, the art book would make a great gift for any Capcom fanboy. Don’t forget about Okami, either. That game is sweet.

Link (via)

The Something Store

Filed under: Internet, Misc. Gadgets

cardboardboxsomething

Why spend a ton of money on eBay for someone else’s crap when you can blow $10 and be done with it? That’s probably the concept behind SomethingStore.com, a new website that will send you something for ten bucks.

So far, customers have gotten items like a gourmet coffee maker, a wall clock, kitchen knives, a pair of designer jeans and lots of other wacky items. Nearly 7000 orders have been placed so far and I for one am intrigued. I’ll order an item today and we’ll see how it turns out. Shipping is included, so if you have a little extra cash sitting around, it might be worth checking out.

Link (via)

Mazda MX-5 Painstakingly Recreated with LEGO Blocks

LEGOMazdaConvertible

Don’t like LEGOs? Then get out of here, you commie bastard. Our man Bram Lambrecht has recreated his very own 1995 Mazda MX-5 convertible in LEGO form. Everything from the windshield, to the tires, to the hood looks dead-on like the real deal (although it isn’t the first car we’ve seen built out of LEGO blocks.)

Seems Bram is really keen on designing things with LEGO blocks. He’s made everything from spaceships to rocket-ships to custom keychains. I wonder if he can make his own ginormous LEGO tower

Link (via)

Fusion Man Flies Around on Rocket-Powered Wings

fusionman.jpg

What does an ex-fighter pilot do for thrills and kicks when he’s done shooting down krauts? He builds a unique rocket-powered flying machine, takes some opium and calls himself Fusion Man. Such is the life of 48-year-old Yves Rossy, the man behind the wings of his real-life Iron Man suit. Rossy is able to achieve speeds of 186 mph and altitudes of about 8200 ft.

It’s interesting how Fusion Man gets going on his wings. First, he jumps out of an airplane, after that, he coasts for awhile before igniting the four rockets on his wings. The entire time he is able to maintain complete control and even perform maneuvers like a 360 and barrel roll. All I want to know is how I can get my hands on one of these amazing suits. Who needs a FPV RC kit when you can become the airplane itself!

Link (via)

Darth Vader Cupcakes: Taste The Dark Side

Filed under: Design, Misc. Gadgets

dv32

Kati Peck might be a little bit of a nerd for creating a whole batch of intricately decorated Star Wars cupcakes, but as far as I’m concerned, she’s one talented nerd with a knack for baking. Each cupcake features our main man, Darth Vader, in all his Dark Side glory. Underneath his mask lie two bright-red lightsabers.

All this talk about Star Wars is giving me an elongated lightsaber. Thankfully, Kati also made a batch of Lost-themed cupcakes that look like a desert island when viewed overhead. One thing’s for sure, though: all these cupcakes look amazingly delicious. After the jump, more pictures/lunch!

(more…)

Remote Controlled Zombie. Period.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

RC Zombie

An awesome way to scare your grandmother for Resident Evil fans! This remote controlled zombie by The Chainsaw Mafia is a one-button controlled moaner straight out of a Romero flick. It’s operated by a controller shaped as a brain - how cool is that?

Almost as effective at scaring away neighborhood cats with the radio controlled lawn mower, one click of the button and your zombie will be shuffling about and moaning towards the nearest person with a brain (Sean Hannity need not fear.) The zombie is operated by 3 AAA batteries and will be available in July.

Link (via)