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Mechanical Yoshi Adds Mech To Mario

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:51 AM PST

Donald "KodyKoala" Kennedy built this magical mech Yoshi out of Lego and Playmobil parts as well as some nicely molded custom parts. His next project is Luigi, a noble goal in this era of reduced manufacturing prowess in the Western world.

via KodyKoala via NewLaunches


EV-neo: Honda’s Electric Scooter Goes On Sale (In Japan)

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:27 AM PST

Honda Japan today said [press release in English] that it will start lease sales of its new electric motorcycle, the so-called EV-neo on December 24. The 50cc scooters are primarily aimed at delivery services or individual businesses, 100 of which will have the chance to test the vehicle until March 2011. General sales will then start in April next year.

Once charged (which takes 30 minutes with a quick charger), the EV-neo’s electric motor allows for a travel range of about 34km – provided you constantly drive at 30km/h. The scooter is powered by a 72V/12.6Ah lithium ion battery and can be loaded with up to 30 kg of cargo.

Honda says that prices for the EV-neo start at $5,100 (for the most basic model). A quick charger will cost another $1,430. The PRO version you see above (on the right) offers a bracket in the front for a basket and a rear carrier.

At a press conference today in Tokyo, Honda president Ito also mentioned that his company is thinking about rolling out the “green” scooter in markets outside Japan, too.

Daily Crunch: On Watch Edition

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

LG Unveils The Next Android Phone Of Your Dreams: The LG Optimus 2X

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:26 PM PST

Wuh oh! Looks like LG just fired the starter pistol for the trend that’ll almost undoubtedly rule 2011: phones with dual-core processors. Claiming the title as the world’s first dual-core smartphone: the Android-powered LG Optimus 2X.

Now, at this point this thing is about as secret as Julian Assange’s hair color — but up until now, it was known by its internal name: the LG “Star”. Ready for a spec-fest? Peek behind the jump for the full details.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch, where we wonder if anyone reading the RSS feeds has ever noticed these extra bits of text tacked onto our ‘Read the rest’ links >>

Get Equipped With Mega Man E-Tank Mug

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:15 PM PST


I always wondered what was in those things. Mega Man must have been wired 24/7. No wonder he could jump so high! $9 at ThinkGeek.

Samus has these, too. But why can’t she just get an espresso machine attachment for her suit?

[via TinyCartridge and Go Nintendo]

RED’s Fixed-Lens Scarlet Tested On Camera For Kicks

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:06 PM PST

Red Scarlet Fixed Lens Camera – First video of a working Scarlet ! from Tonaci Tran on Vimeo.

While at a 3D HD workshop in Santa Fe, young Tonaci Tran was lucky enough to have RED’s Jim Jannard drop by with a working fixed-lens Scarlet, AKA the Epic Light. Jim handed it over for his inspection, and the result is the video you see here. It looks extremely manageable; people are going to be dying to get their hands on these for hand-held and mobile camera work.

Tran reports on his Vimeo page:

Let me tell you folks, it is real and is working. The Scarlet I was holding had the 5inch lcd touchscreen. The lens gear ring which can be set to zoom, iris or focus is buttery smooth. QUALITY. The electronic zoom works like a charm. I used the up-down rocker on the camera to zoom in on a Jeep in the parking lot (though I was “Mr. Shakey” due to the sheer excitement of finally getting to hold the Red Scarlet.) Justin O’Neill and I got to see it for a mere brief moment and off it went back to the vault. This should be comforting to those who may fear that RED wouldn’t have time for the Scarlet with all the Epic buzz going on. This gives me more confidence that the Red Scarlet is definitely around the corner. I have been really lucky to have held both the Epic and Scarlet. The Scarlet is lighter in weight than the Epic even with the fixed lens. This is due to the Scarlet body being more narrow. The weight felt very good and the camera felt rugged. Touch screen controls were functional.

Sounds bomb to me. Of course, it’s way out of my price range, and even if it weren’t, I wouldn’t know quite what to do with it. I’m not a professional videographer, I’m just a guy. The T2i is more than sufficient for my purposes. Now if I could only afford one of those…

[via Electronista]

iMac And MacBook Pro Refreshes Coming In 1H 2011

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:41 PM PST


Not exactly the most groundbreaking news, but reports from suppliers (as usual, on tap at Digitimes) indicate that Apple will be launching new MacBook Pros in the first half of 2011 (likely in April, like last time). They also suggest we’ll see a new size of iMac appear. Big? Small? Convertible? Well, probably not convertible.

The latest iMac refresh was just a spec bump, so we may actually see some changes to the design this time around. The size? I would say 24 inches, since that fits nicely between 21.5 and 27, but taking the middle road hasn’t always been Apple’s thing. They tend to start from the middle and work outwards. So I’m not sure.

The MBPs also got a spec bump this year, and Digitimes hears we’ll see some changes to the chassis. I get the feeling we’ll see some of whatever the iPad 2 has got going on. Let’s hope for a new webcam; Apple is way behind on that, and if they want to push Facetime they need to step up the hardware. And of course you’re going to get Lion on them. Digitimes mentions four models, though… 13, 15, and 17-inch make three, so what’s the fourth?

Looks like Apple will be messing with my bank account again. May’s going to be a hard month.

Inside A Facebook Server Farm

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST


I may not agree with Time’s choice for Person of the Year (or their second choice), but I can still respect a good datacenter. These pictures from Time are worth a gander, though the IT-minded among you will likely be frustrated at the lack of juicy details like storage codecs, protocols, server models, and so on… but you can still admire the pretty cabling.

Check out the whole gallery here. I like to imagine the sound of the place. A steady hum if all is well, a few beeps here and there as backups and rarely-used databases come online, and the occasional step of an IT professional, walking among his servers like a shepherd in his flock.

[header image credit: Martin Schoeller for Time]

Another FCC Bandwidth Auction To Happen In July

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:30 PM PST

For people who care, there’s another FCC bandwidth auction coming this July. They’re selling off more of the 700MHz range, which will probably start another bidding war between AT&T and Verizon.

The frequencies really aren’t that useful unless you’re a phone carrier, but it could help to increase speed in the 4G segment. AT&T and Verizon already scooped up the majority of the 700MHz back in 2008, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them grab the rest of it to help complete their network needs, particularly in the 4G area.

[via Electronista]


Nikon Coolpix P7000 Firmware 1.1 Update Fixes Issues

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST

Nikon released a firmware update for the P7000 yesterday, fixing many of the problems that came up in the review. Most importantly, the image recording time has improved, and lens control has been optimized.

There’s been a firmware release for the P7000 from Nikon. The new version (1.1) fixing some of the issues that I had with the camera, as well as issues I hadn’t experienced. Here’s a list of the bugs fixed by firmware 1.1:

  • Image recording time at image quality settings that include NRW (RAW) has been reduced.
  • Lens control has been optimized to reduce the frequency with which the "Initializing lens. Cannot focus." message is displayed.
  • An issue that, in some rare cases, prevented zoom operation has been resolved.
  • An issue that caused the monitor display to exhibit a loss of detail in highlights (blown highlights) when the shutter-release button was pressed halfway with Active D-Lighting enabled has been resolved.

Nice to see that Nikon is working on the issues in their latest Coolpix. I’ve installed the new release, and it works extremely well. It even appears to have beaten the “lockup” problem I ran into. You can read the full review here.

A DIY Gorillapod Right In Time For Gift Giving

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:36 PM PST

Many digital point-and-shoot users often overlook the need for a tripod. Often times Facebook photos are full of blurry pictures, and that's just not professional. One of the most often used portable tripods is the Gorillapod. They're great for fixing your camera in almost any position. But all that comes at a price.

For those do-it-yourselfers wanting to take advantage of the Gorillapod's design without paying the price, it's as easy as DIY, thanks to Instructable user Matth3w.   Using Loc-Line modular hose and some mahogany wood for the base, the project has relatively few parts.  Your basic woodworking tools are needed such as a saw, drill, and a grinder. You can even get creative by painting the wood whatever color you want.

This unassuming alternative to the Gorillapod will make a great gift for this holiday season. Check out the full post at Instructables.

[via unplggd]

Meister Prodigy, Brandon Jennings Version, Looks Suave

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST


The Meister Prodigy has been around for a while, but I think I like this new one the best, designed for Brandon Jennings with the Bucks colors. The plain black one is a little too understated, and the black-and-white one is too contrasty. This one hits a nice medium, and the colors are especially nice if you’re a Bucks fan… or just like green and red, I suppose.

[image and via: Hypebeast]

It Was Only A Matter Of Time: Now You Can Get To Second Base On Kinect

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:48 PM PST


SHUT IT DOWN, everybody. You can now use your real hand to grope a virtual lady. We’ve come a long way since Trespasser.

Yes, using the open source Kinect toolkit and some willing cyber-dames, ThriXXX has put together a proof of concept for… whatever this is. And it’s not like there isn’t a market. I’m not clear on the specifics, nor am I sure I want to be, but there is a thriving sex games community, not that anybody involved will admit it. Even the guy in this video has his face blocked out.

Of course we’ll keep you apprised of new developments in this exciting field.

[via CNET]

Zero Punctuation: Splatterhouse

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:23 PM PST

The review as NSFW as Splatterhouse. But you’re still going to watch it, aren’t you? Yeah, I know.

NEO-GEO PS3 Controller Appears To Complement Your NEO-GEO PS3 Games

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:30 PM PST


If there’s one thing I hate (just one, you understand), it’s playing games with the wrong controller. Right now, as I’ve found occasion to mention today already, I’m playing Mega Man 9. It’s great (and hard as coffin nails), but I feel like a chump playing it with the 360 controller. It feels squishy and laggy. Similarly, if I were to play Samurai Shodown or Metal Slug on the PS3 (they’re coming out on the 21st), it would be weird to do so on a Dual Shock. Luckily, SNK has a solution.

Their NEO-GEO controller is slightly different than the original, which only had four buttons (I thought some of the arcade versions had six, but I could be mistaken), and of course the original ABCD layout has been replaced with the now-familiar Playstation icons.

It’s actually been available for a little while now, and you can find a brief review from an early importer over at I’m Next Online. Sounds like a pretty solid buy for fighter players who need more decisive access to the 8 semicardinal directions.

[via OhGizmo]

Seven Tasteful Gifts For Kindle Owners And/Or Lovers

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:50 PM PST

Kindles are fantastic devices, but they can’t live alone. They need cases, lights, and other  items to complete the experience. We’ve rounded up seven of the best around items that are must-have accessories and could be the perfect gift for the Kindle lover in your life. Best of all, they’re not all that expensive and if you act quick, Amazon should be able to get most of them to you before the holidays. If not, most are found within the walls of retail stores like Best Buy and Target anyway.

If nothing else, give the gift of a Kindle ebook. Even a $10 gift card is better than nothing. This of course applies to Nook owners as well. Just find out the make of the e-reader and seek out the relevant gift card for a great stocking stuffer. But for everything else, click through for seven amazing gifts perfect the Kindle owner in your life.

Dodocase

There isn’t a sexier Kindle (or iPad) case on the planet than the Dodocase. They’re handmade in San Francisco, somewhat affordable, and are dripping with timeless charm. The company just announced the Kindle 3 edition, which is available in red for $49.99 or pink, green, blue, purple and charcoal for $54.99.

Amazon lighted case

Much to the surprise of many buyers, the Kindle is not backlit. You have to provide your own lighting just like a normal book. This of course means there are a zillion and a half different Kindle lights available, but the official Amazon lighted case is about the best two-in-one solution. It’s nearly a bargain at $59.99 when you consider most quality cases are nearly that anyway and this one includes a low-profile light.

Skins

Kindles have a sort of anti-style with their low-profile, minimalistic design. But some people like to personally their wares. Most run around $20 and cover the front and the back of the Kindle allowing even those Kindles housed in a case to get in on the fun.

Marware case

Yeah, it’s another case, but this one is a tad different. The front flap of the Marware Eco-Flip  Kindle Case flip over top and there’s a little place to slip your hand through that makes holding the Kindle a non-affair. There’s even a little pocket to store business cards or whatever. Not a bad option for $29.99.

Moleskin DX case

Moleskin notebooks are classics. Now you can get the same look for the Kindle. The DX version brings a notepad on the opposing flap from the Kindle. Perfect for notes and or doodles.

Newspaper subscription

Part of the fun of a Kindle is that it can wirelessly and magically get newspapers and magazines. Why not give the gift of the New York Times on the Kindle this year? Or the WSJ. Or USA Today. Those and a bunch others are available.

Kate Spade case

Many upscale brands latched on to the Kindle early on. Kate Spade is one and has constantly outed unique cases and accessories for the e-reader. The cases are pricey, but they’ll also constructed with the same care and quality found in other Kate Spade products. The unique style also helps justify their additional cost.

Video: Yes, These Kids Are Google Earth Sky-Diving

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:30 PM PST

There’s no way around it: this is pretty neat. This here video shows a bunch of teenagers, from Japan, running a sky-diving simulation using nothing more than Google Earth and a projector+blank mat.

The kids hook up a laptop running Google Earth to a projector, then project the image onto the white space. They’re then suspended over the map and Google Earth is made to zoom through the different zoom levels, giving the sensation of going sky-diving.

Fans are then added to give everything a little bit more realism.


Help Mozilla Find a Bug, Earn Big Fat Cash

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:00 PM PST

Help Mozilla squash a bug, earn some money. Nothing wrong with that, right? The organization that brought us Firefox has expanded its program that pays people between $500 and $,300 for finding and reporting glitches in its software. The program originally only applied to Mozilla’s applications, like Firefox and Thunderbird, but now applies to its various online sites, like getpersonas.com and addons.mozilla.org.

The aim of the newly expanded program is to help secure the rest of the members of the Mozilla family.

Security researchers (who are the real hackers, by the way; push-button script kiddies are not hackers) are to be on the lookout for things like cross-site scripting (XSS) and injection that could cause the Mozilla Organization headaches down the road.

Video: Dreamcast Emulation Coming To Android

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:34 PM PST

The Dreamcast. Nearly 11 years later, it still tugs at my heartstrings. The 9/9/99 launch; the way it felt to run from the whale in the first level of Sonic Adventure; burning hundreds upon hundreds of hours in Phantasy Star Online… perhaps it was just because I was the right age, or because I had just the right amount of free time, but the Dreamcast was the last console that made me feel like I was playing with magic.

And now, that magic is coming to Android. Not officially, mind you — but through a different sort of magic: emulation.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch, the source of mobile news for 10 out of 10 people that read MobileCrunch.


PixelJunk Shooter 2: More Glorious 2-D Shooter Action

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:45 AM PST


One of these days, I will buy a PS3. And then I will disappear from this earth for a month or two while I complete Uncharted 2, Demon’s Souls, Valkyria Chronicles, and now PixelJunk Shooter 1 and 2. The new trailer posted today for the new game just enhances the feeling of nostalgic love I had for the original. Lava, monsters, great 2-D art, and they’ve even added some sweet multiplayer modes.

I hope that, as the PixelJunk series swells in numbers, the developers don’t try to make it too much like other games in order to get more sales. I’m sure they know it’s their original vision and art that make it what it is, but I imagine there’s always the temptation.

In the meantime I’m going to throw my 360 out the window before long if I can’t get past these goddamn elephants in Mega Man 9. Any tips?

[via Playstation.Blog]
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