Koss Pro4AA headphones are ancient classics you can still buy for $100, but if you’re finding their steel construction a bit uncomfortable these days, why not repurpose the old cans into a delightful wall accessory? That seems to be the thinking behind these lovely hooks made by Etsy seller jtbaldwin. Use them to hang your coat—or your new set of headphones. [Etsy] More »
Fall must be the season for surprisingly fixable thin smartphones. Repair part supplier DirectFix has posted a currently rare, video-based teardown of the Motorola Droid RAZR M that shows just how well Verizon’s mid-range smartphone copes with surgery. In practice, it fares quite well: those unafraid of voiding their warranty can disassemble the Droid RAZR M from top to Kevlar bottom, replacing parts like the battery, cameras and flash with a minimal risk of damage. Not all is sunshine and roses, however. The display assembly is a single piece, which could be as costly to fix as it is easy to replace. We won’t mind if it ever means dodging a full-price replacement in the event our RAZR meets the sidewalk.
Continue reading Motorola Droid RAZR M torn down to its bare Kevlar essentials (video)
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Motorola Droid RAZR M torn down to its bare Kevlar essentials (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Since the iPhone 5 Lightning adapter has a chip that prevents you from using third-party cables, you can forget about using an inexpensive off-brand dock. And since Apple hasn’t yet released its own branded dock, you’re basically stuck, for now, just plugging the phone into a loose cord. More »
Do you remember how you spent hours trying to avoid barrels in Donkey Kong? Well, this classic platformer has gotten a revamp, nay, it has been transferred over into real life thanks to the efforts of avid DIY enthusiast Martin Raynsford, where this physical representation of a Donkey Kong level relies on an Arduino that will relay signals from the NES controller to the Donkey Kong “screen”. Constructed with near pixel-perfect accuracy thanks to the wonders of laser-cut parts, it is a beauty to behold albeit being rather limited at this point in time.
You will not be able to rack up high scores or anything of that sort since Mario remains smack in the middle, where he is there to face a continuous barrage of barrels and ball bearings to jump over. Torture for the rotund Italian plumber, that’s for sure, while his brother Luigi and Bowser shack it up with Princess Peach, taking turns between themselves. Martin claims that there is a second version in the works, and we certainly hope Mario will have some off time to live out his love life then, too.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Project Sausage Drone parachutes sausages safely, LEGO Go-Kart for humans and not minifigs,
We’ve seen quite a few NES mods in our day, but we can’t say we’ve ever seen one hooked up to anything quite like this. Built by DIY-er Martin Raynsford, this contraption / work-of-art makes use of an Arduino (naturally) to relay signals from the NES controller to the Donkey Kong screen brought to life above, which was constructed with near pixel-perfect accuracy out of laser-cut parts. As Raynsford points out, though, things are still a bit limited in the game’s V1 state. There isn’t much of an actual “game,” for starters — just Mario stuck in the middle with a never-ending loop of barrels / ball bearings that you can jump over. A second version is planned with a greater degree of control, but we’re guessing the video for it won’t be quite as hypnotic as the one after the break.
Continue reading Mechanical Donkey Kong game tests your barrel-jumping skills, patience
Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Alt
Mechanical Donkey Kong game tests your barrel-jumping skills, patience originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Trying to count the bees buzzing about in a hive is like trying to count the grains of sand on a beach. But if you’re worried the deadly virus that has been decimating beehives across the country might be jeopardizing your source of fresh honey, check out this honey bee counter that tracks the comings and goings of your hive’s population. More »
Most of the world’s ice cubes are cloudy, soft, and weak. These hazy rocks are less dense, and they melt faster, leaving your drink watered down and terrible. Plus, opaque ice is just ugly. More »
The Replicator may have just been pushed off this writer’s Christmas list. (Note to self: send updated letter to Santa.) But, this isn’t a loss for MakerBot Industries, because it’s being replaced by the Replicator 2, the newest model of 3D printer from the company. This is a big boy version of its previous devices that were aimed more at tinkerers than serious designers, and that’s reflected in the $2,199 price. The build plate is significantly bigger, with the ability to spit out creations that measure 11.2 x 6.1 x 6.0 inches (410 cubic inches). That’s a full 37 percent larger than the original Replicator, but the machine itself is the same exact size. The frame is no longer assembled from laser-etched wood, instead there’s a powder-coated steel frame with PVC plastic sides to help shield the various moving parts and lend an air of professionalism to the affair. The extruder is designed specifically for use with MakerBot PLA, a new plastic material based on corn, that Bri Pettis claims wont expand when exposed to the heat — which means it wont contract when it cools, leading to smoother printed objects and less cracking. The new printer has a resolution of 100 microns, by comparison, the original Replicator had a layer resolution of 270 microns. Now each layer of plastic is as thin as a sheet of copy paper, resulting in smooth printed prototypes.
Gallery: MakerBot Replicator 2 eyes-on
In a departure from previous models, the Replicator 2 is shipped fully assembled. You need only lift it out of the box and plug it in to get started. And one of our biggest complaints about the setup process, leveling the build plate, has been addressed. The new model now has a simplified three-point leveling system, what should eliminate some of the opportunity for error in the four-point system of its predecessor. The Replicator 2 even comes in an experimental dual-extrusion model for those that like life on the cutting edge, called the Replicator 2X, that retails for $2,799.
To run all this there’s a new software tool, called MakerWare that greatly simplifies the act of printing objects. You can even drag and drop multiple models into a virtual build platform, scale them and tweak them (either independently or simultaneously) before sending them to the Replicator 2. Perhaps, most interesting of todays announcements is the MakerBot Store — an actual physical shop — in NOLA. The company believes this will help expose people to 3D printing who might otherwise be confused by the concept. You can order the Replicator 2 now direct from MakerBot. But, be warned, there’s a four to six week lead time on deliveries.
Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Filed under: Misc
MakerBot unveils Replicator 2, 2X and launches retail store, we go eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Cats are cute. Maybe the cutest thing ever. They are even cuter when they are piloting cardboard military vehicles like this one. You can call it the Meow 1 Abrams if you want. Or the Kitty Panzer.
This kitty in his cardboard vehicle of destruction will lay waste to all other cute cat videos and pictures. At least until someone turns the vacuum cleaner on. Then it’s time to didi mao and head for cover under a bed or a couch.
And what you don’t see in the pic is that there’s another kitty hiding in the box, a gunner who shoots hairballs with amazing accuracy as he meows furiously.
(P.S. If you don’t happen to have the cardboard boxes and paper tubes lying around to make one of these for yourself, you can always pick up Suck UK’s version, but it just doesn’t quite have the same charm.)
[via Obvious Winner]
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