There are countless reasons we should be recycling our garbage as much as possible, from dwindling natural resources, to the harm our disposable lifestyles are doing to the planet. But perhaps the most convincing reason to recycle, at least your empty paper towel and toilet paper cardboard tubes, is this fantastic Toobalink building set. More »
Are you an avid fan of the Half Life 2 series? I am quite sure that when you first laid your eyes on the Half-Life 2 Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator (aka gravity gun), you were blown away completely by the kind of things it could do in-game. Of course, this led to the gravity gun proving itself crucial in solving some of the game’s puzzles, and was also quite fun to use just to amuse yourself in-game. Here is something you can hold in the flesh and bring home – the $149.99 Half-Life 2 Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator Replica, which is a limited edition gravity gun that comes in a 1:1 replica form factor, complete with LEDs, handles, triggers, and unique sounds.
There is also a fold-away kickstand for display purposes, letting you proudly show it off to all and sundry who drop by your house and are worth their gaming salt. This Gravity Gun (let’s just call it this for now, as it is easier to roll off the tongue) is made out of molded plastic, and will boast of orange LEDs, a couple of handles and an equal number of triggers, and a quartet of sounds from the game. You might want to place an order as soon as possible, since once they are sold out, they are more or less gone forever!
[ Half-Life 2 Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator Replica copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
By day three CES usually becomes a sea of sad and tired faces wandering the floor, but the show has only just opened and this singing frog already looks like it’s ready to put an end to its miserable gig. Part of the Interactive Plush Pals family from Viatek it’s a sound activated moving speaker that strives to make listening to your music more fun. But looking into its eyes that just ooze depression and sadness you can’t help but wonder if its designers missed the mark. [Viatek] More »
If you grew up in the 1980s playing with Fisher-Price’s now iconic Little People Barnyard Playset (remember the mooing sound effect when you opened the barn door?) prepare to be just a little saddened at the company’s modernized version of it. More »
If you’re a raging geek with offspring, firstly congratulations on convincing someone of the opposite sex to procreate with you. Second: get these electronic component plushies for your child immediately. More »
Lego has been into robotics for quite some time now, but today at CES, the company unveiled the new Mindstorms EV3 robotic system, which is Lego’s first robotic system that comes with iOS and Android app support. The best part is, we got some hands-on time with a few of the robots on display at the company’s booth at Pepcom.
A main focus to the EV3 system is the central Intelligent Brick, which runs on Linux and an ARM9 processor, both of which make the system even faster and more easily hackable than its predecessor robotic systems. Aside from speed specs, the biggest change on the Brick is the addition of Bluetooth, which allows builders to control their robots via an Android or iOS app. There’s also a USB port and an SD card slot.
Another addition to the system is that the robots’ eyes are actually infrared sensors, which can detect motion, so whenever you wave your hand in front of the robot, it will detect it and either attack, flee, dance, whatever. One of the robots was a dragon, and whenever a person crosses its path, it will extend its body and open its fiery mouth to attack.
The EV3 robotic system from Lego will go on sale sometime this summer for a pretty penny — 35,000 of them, or $350. The Mindstorms EV3 will essentially replace the Mindstorms NXT 2.0 line, which came out in 2009. The programming software kit itself works on both Windows and Mac OS X.
Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots hands-on is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Lego’s Mindstorms kits were born into a world where the PC reigned supreme for control; the company is ushering in 2013 with an acknowledgment that its build-it-yourself toy is part of a much wider universe. Its updated Mindstorms EV3 runs on new Linux firmware that’s ready for Android and iOS control out of the box, creates an overall more hackable platform and allows further programming on the core Intelligent Brick itself; accordingly, there’s an SD card slot for local storage. A built-in infrared sensor expands the possibilities for a more autonomous design, as well — Lego suggests that EV3 constructs can follow other moving gadgets, or even their creators, around the room. It should also be the first Lego bundle with its own 3D construction guide, as a new app built with Autodesk’s help lets builders see the process from every angle. We won’t have the chance to put a kit together until the EV3 line ships in the second half of the year, but Lego already expects the core unit to sell for $350.
Gallery: Lego Mindstorms EV3
Continue reading Lego Mindstorms EV3 arrives tailored for mobile, infrared and more hackability
Filed under: Household, Robots
Source: Lego
You know what they say as a man grows up – he might not be playing with little green army men made out of plastic any more, but would have moved on to big boys’ toys. Some of these could be rather expensive, while others are affordable, such as the $89.99 Doctor Who Tardis Play Tent. You can be sure that the little ones in your home too, would not be able to resist playing with this, but you can kindly ask them to move out so that you can check out the 11th Doctor’s control room all by yourself. Not only that, since it is made out of sturdy canvas construction and stand at nearly 6 feet in height, there is plenty of space in there to hook up with other Doctor Who fans should you erect this at your backyard the next time you host a party in your home.
If you do not want to place the Doctor Who Play Tent outside of your four walls, place it right in your living room, it would not mind such a position, either. Entering it, you are able to use your imagination as to what goes on within the four canvas walls. Once done, just fold it back and it can be easily stashed away in the storeroom without taking up too much space. Of course, you might want to have some heart for the little ones and let them play in it from time to time, right?
[ Doctor Who Tardis Play Tent copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
This remarkably articulate robot hand was supposedly built by Lego enthusiast ‘Barman’ using two Mindstorms NXT control units, six motors, and some utterly brilliant engineering. But surely it’s from more nefarious minds than that. More »
There’s a notion among amateur photographers that spending thousands of dollars on high-end DSLRs will instantly turn every shot into a masterpiece. But in reality, a talented and skilled photographer can create magic with any caliber of hardware—even a $20 Buzz Lightyear camera designed for three year-olds, as David Hobby of Strobist proves. More »
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