Hasta La Gadget!

I don’t have a daughter, but if I did, I would never let her play with Barbie dolls. There’s already enough stuff out there that messes with their self esteem. They need a better doll role model.

As you may have heard, Barbie doll artist Nickolay Lamm designed a new doll, using the Center for Disease Control’s actual average measurements for a 19-year old girl. A more realistic girl. Now he’s back with a crowdfunding project to manufacture his realistically-proportioned Lammily dolls.

A pledge of $25(USD) or more will get you a First Edition Lammily doll. Nickolay has already nearly quadrupled his modest $95,000 funding goal in just a few days. That should tell you the kind of demand there is for such a doll. This one actually has curves and isn’t just a bean-pole with a tiny waist. This is awesome stuff for the young women of our planet.

[via Geekologie]

Pool tables come in hundreds of different styles, but if you really want to make your setup unique, check out OpenPool. It’s an augmented reality system that lets you project visual effects on the bed that react to the motion of the balls.

OpenPool is an open source program that uses a Kinect sensor to track the balls on the table, then feeds the visual effects to a projector mounted above the table. OpenPool also has an optional complementary device that triggers additional visual effects when a ball sinks into a pocket.

OpenPool isn’t for small time players though. You have to pledge at least $5,000 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a full OpenPool kit, which includes a PC, a Kinect and a projector – and that doesn’t include the pool table. You can also get a DIY kit – basically just the software and a mount for the projector – by pledging at least $1,000. Masse your browser to the OpenPool website to see additional information as well as more demo videos.

[via Gadgetify]

A few years back, LEGO builder Marshal Banana created an incredible Star Wars Sandcrawler model. Later, the model would find its way to Cuusoo, but never quite got to the point it needed to go into production. Now, it looks like LEGO has managed to finally release its own Sandcrawler kit, though it’s not as epic as the 10,000 piece original.

LEGO’s version of the Sandcrawler is about 1/3rd the number of bricks, at 3,296 pieces, but still looks pretty awesome. Part of the Ultimate Collectors’ series, the model is quite large, and has plenty of room for minifig Jawas and droids inside. Overall measurements for the vehicle are 18″ (L) x 9″(H) x 6″ (W).

It’s got a number of moving parts, including a ramp on the front that can be raised and lowered with the turn of a knob, a droid-lifting crane, and even has that vacuum sucky thingy for lifting up droids.

While its treads aren’t motorized, they can move when pushed across a surface, and they can be steered too. Here’s hoping someone figures out a way to hack a motor in there.

The set also comes with a number of minifigs, including four Jawas, Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, C-3PO, R2-D2, R5-D4, and four other droids. It even comes with some spare droid parts, because that’s what Jawas do. Below is just a sampling of the minifigs included:

You can check out the full details of the LEGO Sandcrawler in the video below:

LEGO expects to ship the Sandcrawler this May, and it will sell for $299.99(USD) at shop.lego.com.

If you watched the Oscars, you are probably familiar with the selfie that was taken at the show with Ellen DeGeneres and a bunch of other famous people in the pic. That wasn’t so much a spontaneous selfie as it was blatant product placement for Samsung. I’d say whatever it cost Samsung was money well spent.

Being a sucker for anything cool made from LEGOs, I happen to think this LEGO recreation of that famous selfie is better than the real thing. Can someone tell me if that is Kid or Play there blocking Angelina? I am pretty sure that hand in the air is her about to crush his skull.

The LEGO parody was created by an artist called Iain Heath from The Living Brick. It took him 12 hours to build and he stated work the day after the Oscars. Heath said, “As soon as an image that interests me begins to go viral, I rush to my LEGO collection, do a fast build, get it online as quickly as possible and ride the wave.”

[via Mashable]

Back in 2010 Nick Homer and his college buddy Stewart Clyde made headlines because of their silly invention: a remote-controlled motorized couch. Now Nick is working on a comprehensive guide for couch potatoes who have a very slight need for speed.

As with the original ride, Nick’s guide will consist of combining an electric wheelchair base with a loveseat. If you get both of those components used – and you should – the whole thing should cost you only about $150 (USD). Nick claims that his guide will have you napping in motion in just a few hours.

Lie down on your browser and head to Kickstarter. You only need to pledge $2 to gain access to Nick’s online guide, which will include videos, FAQs and recommendations for the supplies.

[via Gadgetify]