Hasta La Gadget!

Here’s a fun and trippy hack made by programmer Peter Nitsch. Nitsch’s website converts feed from Google’s Street View to ASCII art in real time. You can also search for locations, just like in the vanilla web app. And yep, it has a “green mode.”

Here’s a closer look at that shot:

And here’s the Matrix mode:

You really should see it for yourself. Nitsch recommends using Chrome or Firefox 8 and above. The characters change as the view slowly pans. It’s like looking at the world from the point of view of a computer.

[via Waxy]

We’ve seen Star Wars chess sets before and we’ve seen some LEGO chess sets as well, but this one combines both and is a real work of art. It’s the third in a series of LEGO chess sets designed by Brandon Griffith. Each commemorates the three original Star Wars movies. You know, the good ones. At least two of them.

For the Return of the Jedi chess set, you can play as either the Imperials or the Rebels. Of course, the bad guys are always more fun. Brandon really did a great job of thinking out of the detail and building some clever pieces, with lots of detail.

The Endor theme of the board is really nice, especially the Ewok and Scout Stormtroopers as pawns. Though you’ve got to wonder about the Emperor as King and Darth Vader as Queen on the Empire side of the board.

If all chess sets were this cool, I might be bothered to actually play the game. Great work Brandon.

[flickr via The Brothers Brick via Nerd Approved]

I’m going to start saying that I’m taking this with a huge grain of salt. This robot looks very realistic, yet has a somewhat cheesy and viral attempt feel to it at the same time. Watch the video for yourself and see what you think. The video is supposed to be a how-to video from a company called Suidobashi Heavy Industry.

The video goes over how to ride a robot called the Kuratas. The 13-foot-tall wheeled robot is clearly a nod at the Mechwarrior series of video games and any number of Japanese animated shows. In the video, you can see petite Japanese woman climbing into the chest cockpit cavity of the robot and going over the controls, including a remote smartphone-operated mode.

The controls look easy-to-use and seem realistic. You’ll note on the left arm there are twin multi-barreled cannons. How scary would it be as a soldier on about film to have one of these massive robots come walking up? The video claims the top speed of the bot, which has a torso and two arms but rolls on wheels, is 10 km/h. The bot uses a diesel engine and can be driven in high or low modes. The missile launcher appears to be packed with water bottles and will “from time to time” hit its target.

If this is just a fake viral video, it’s extremely well done. If it’s real, we could soon have mechs walking the streets of Tokyo.

[via Daily Mail]

If your family eats a lot of fiber, you too can have a rebel fleet with a complete armada of X-Wing fighters made out of toilet paper tubes. This squadron’s company motto is “Wipe your butt, then wipe out the Empire.” “Do your duty for the fleet.” Okay, enough bathroom humor.

This is a cool project to turn your discarded toilet paper tubes into something useful and geeky. I didn’t come across any instructions, but if you just look at the images at homemademagic you can see how easy it is to create your own X-Wing. In addition to the T.P. rolls, you’ll probably need some paper towel tubes, cardboard and tape as well.

The X-Wing pilot shirt is of course required if you are going to be flying these things in both hands and making X-Wing noises. Even though many of us will look like Jek Porkins doing it. Okay guys, start using up more T.P. and make yourself a rebel fighter now!

[via Obvious Winner]

After the TMNT and Pokemon bras, now comes the Xbox 360 controller bra. It’s the prefect way to make your boyfriend stop fiddling with his Xbox 360 and start playing with your buttons instead.

Each Xbox 360 controller bra is handpainted with permanent paints. It’s definitely an interesting bra, especially since the full details can only be seen once you get comfortable in your underwear. It could also be worn to a sexy geek costume party. You’ll definitely be ogled by geeks a plenty in this bra!

Unfortunately, for now, this bra is sold out and the seller requires 5 weeks to deliver a final garment. I’m sure geekettes everywhere will be lining up to get theirs. It sells for $35 to $45 from SceeneShoes.

[via Walyou via Dressed Like Machines]