Hasta La Gadget!

Back in 2008, Daniel Jansson designed a concept mouse based on the NES controller. Instructables member champx turned the concept into reality and made a wireless mouse that actually uses parts from an NES controller.

As you can see, the champx’s mouse doesn’t look exactly the same as what Jansson imagined, nor is it as polished, but it’s still pretty awesome. As you might expect, champx used a couple of NES controller buttons for the left- and right-click mouse buttons, and a NES controller D-pad as a scroll wheel. Champx used the base of the original mouse, then made the new body out of Makrolon, a brand of polycarbonate. Next, imagine a montage of champx gluing, hacking, sanding and painting set to the music from Punch Out, and voila!

Head to Instructables to see how champx made the mouse. Surprisingly this is actually his third take on a NES controller mouse. He also posted his other builds on Instructables; his first build is literally the entire NES controller itself used as the body of a mouse.

[via Damn Geeky]

A few months ago we saw how a smart guy figured out how to make small 3D printed records that could be played on a toy turntable. Instructables employee Amanda Ghassaei has trumped that hack: she figured out how to 3D printed records that can be played on any turntable, just like an ordinary vinyl record.

Whereas the audio on the 3D printed toy records had to be input note by note on a custom software, Amanda was able to write a program that automated the process in a very precise manner: “It works by importing raw audio data, performing some calculations to generate the geometry of a record, and eventually exporting this geometry straight to the STL file format (used by all 3D printers).” Sadly, even the high-end Object Connex 500 printers at the Instructables office were unable to encode the geometry at a resolution high enough to create a high quality record. But the fact that even this is now possible is still nothing less than mind-blowing.

Wow. 3D printing hardware’s only going to improve in time, so I’m sure Amanda can eventually recreate professional grade records should she pursue it. Once again we’re seeing people using current technology to go back to a more physical and tactile interaction with gadgets. 3D printing is the bee’s 3D printed knees. Check out the links below for more details on Amanda’s project.

[via Instructables & Amanda Ghassaei via I Heart Chaos]

Next to its modest exterior, the second most notable thing about the time and space machine in Doctor Who is that it’s way bigger on the inside. It’s relatively easy to make a model or even a life-sized replica of its facade, but a clever fellow has managed to make a tiny TARDIS that looks bigger on the inside.

The replica was made by writer/DW fan/clever fellow Greg Kumparak. Initially he just wanted to make a small model of the TARDIS out of wood. After adding a working light on its roof, Greg thought he was really done with the project when an idea came to him: add an interior. Which is why he ended up not making an interior – at least, not a real one. I don’t want to spoil Greg’s neat handiwork, so just watch the video below to see what he did.

Teleport to Greg’s website for more details about his cool project.

[via TechCrunch]

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of fun and inspired Christmas trees based on video games, science fiction and other pop culture memes. So I figured that this holiday season, I’d put together a compilation of some of my favorites of all time.

Pac Man Christmas Tree – Madrid, Spain – Wocka, Wocka, Wocka!

Godzilla Christmas Tree – Tokyo, Japan: Shoppers, run for your lives!

Cthulhu Christmas Tree: I’m H.P. Lovecrafting it!

Portal Christmas Tree: Fruitcake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test.

Robots Build a Christmas Tree – Only Nieman Marcus could afford this rig.

Dalek Christmas Tree: Your presents have been exterminated.

Minecraft Christmas Tree: Unfortunately, the boxes are filled with creepers.

Tesla Coil Christmas Tree: Santa in his jolly red Faraday suit.

Super Mario Bros. 2 Christmas Tree: What ever happened to King Wart anyhow?

Katamari Christmas Tree: Deck the Balls!

Pretty great, eh? Can you guys think of other geeky Christmas trees you’ve seen? If so, post them in the comments below and spread the joy this holiday season.

Looking for a fun stocking stuffer that I’m pretty sure your intended recipient doesn’t already have? Then check out Quantum Bits. They’re little light up thingies that react to motion.

Just toss em around when you’re bored, and the tiny motion sensors inside will cause a pair of bright white LEDs to blink when they move around. In addition to throwing them in the air, you could glue them onto your shoes so they light up with movement, or even attach them to a speaker so they blink with the vibrations. I also like the idea of velcroing them to my cat’s paws.

Each Quantum Bit is rated to last up to 100,000+ flashes, so they should keep blinking for a good long time.

For $19.99(USD), you get a set of eight Quantum Bits – and you can order them over at ThinkGeek now.