Jan 16
Need to put out a forest fire? Why not bomb it with chemical-filled missiles? At least that was the plan in 1961.
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Jan 16
Here is a fun/terrible thing! If you search for "iTunes" in Google, the top sponsored result is something called itunes.download-new.com (don’t go there), which is nothing but a festering rat king of malware.
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Jan 16
One of inventor Steve Hoefer’s favorite creations is his knock-activated lock: a lock that only opens if you enter the correct knock sequence. Steve says he’s built the lock a dozen times. Instead of becoming increasingly complex, his latest build is actually easier to put together compared to its predecessors, thanks to a couple of Adafruit products.
This build uses Adafruit’s piezoelectric sensor, solenoid lock and mini microcontroller. You can install the lock on any wooden drawer or door that’s at least 2 1/4″ deep. Once installed, you simply record your secret knock, and the device now knows to only unlock if the same knock is repeated.
Knock twice on your browser and head to the Adafruit blog for Steve’s instructions, parts list and Arduino code.
[via Boing Boing]
Jan 16
Bees populations are mysteriously dying worldwide, and that’s a problem: one-third of the world’s crops are pollonated by the black and yellow fellows. To try and figure out what’s causing the bee decline, Australia’s national science agency is strapping RFID tags on bees’ backs to detect changes in their movement. It’s the beenternet!
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Jan 16
Over the years, Dyson’s managed to vault its line of household suction beasts into the world of enviable gadgets — a rare feat for a home appliance. And the company hasn’t been sitting on its laurels with recent successes: Dyson’s engineers have …
Jan 16
(Credit: Left Field Labs)
Though they only allow simple tunes, there’s something rather fascinating about music boxes and turning their handles and watching their pin-and-comb mechanisms produce their clear, chiming notes, like a tiny piano. The first music boxes started arriving toward the latter half of the 18th century, but a company called Left Field Labs has offered a modern — and personal — twist.
A new project called Music Drops asks you to compose your own 16-note tune using a grid. Clicking the squares indicates which notes are to be played (as far as we can ascertain, the scale starts at A at the top of the grid, and descends nearly two octaves), and you can create chords.
Then the company converts the music to a 3D-printable file using WebGL, and you can order a 3D-printed, drop-shaped music box that plays your tune when you turn the little handle.
(Credit: Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNET Australia)
“We are all about using technology to help humans be, well, more human, and so we updated this small device with some of the emerging technologies of our time,” Left Field Labs wrote. “We wanted to create a modern day adaptation to put tech and cheer right in your hand.”
Related stories
Jan 16
(Credit: David Katzmaier/CNET)
Leaked from today’s 404 episode:
– Virtual reality 2.0: Taking a ride in the Oculus Rift Crystal Cove Prototype.
– NASA JPL takes a VR tour of Mars with Oculus Rift and Virtuix Omni (video).
– Hands-on with PlayStation Now: Everything we know so far.
– Sony at CES: PlayStation Now, “Breaking Bad,” and the “wow” factor.
– PlayStation Now will need DualShock for all devices.
Ep. 1410: Where we tour the Crystal Cove with Scott Stein
Episode 1,410
Listen Now: … [Read more]
Related Links:
The 404 at CES 2014: Where we steamed up with Peter Brown (podcast)
Gaming finally has its day at CES 2014
11 must-see videos from CES 2014
Gaming has a growing presence at CES 2014
What mattered at CES — Day 2
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Jan 16
We know how extreme photo retouching can get when human bodies are the focus
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Jan 16
We’re back and (sort of) recovered from a week in the desert at the world’s biggest tech trade show. But Terrence, Ben, Marc and Joseph just can’t get enough of each others handsome faces, so they’ll be cramming into the studio to talk about the …
Jan 16
It’s never not fun to watch everyone’s favorite Red Hot Nickel Ball completely destroy something. But sometimes it’s more impressive that nothing happens. Like these eggs, man. They’re practically invincible!
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