Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve seen theremin mod after theremin mod, but those seeking that distinct sci-fi sound without the physical labor or hefty price tag haven’t had much of an outlet until now. Meet Beep-It, a $35 analog optical theremin that sports a simple on / off switch, volume control, one quarter-inch jack, and light sensitive resistor to make you the master of that otherworldly sound. According to its creator, Michael Una, the little sonic music maker started off as yet another mod — a “single-oscillator square wave theremin” in a petri dish — back in 2008, and underwent a number of incarnations before getting the wood grain treatment you see here. Beep-It is now available at select retailers or direct from the company’s website — then again, we suppose you could hire Bobby McFerrin to do the same thing. Trippy demo after the jump.

Continue reading Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody’s game (video)

Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody’s game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s no Bill Paxton Pinball, but Ben Heck’s portable Sega Genesis CDX is certainly up there in terms of superfluous gaming mods. As Heck points out, a lot of the console’s games were “FMV nonsense,” but, like most gaming systems, the 1994-released CDX had its ardent supporters. For those of you who fit the description, Heck’s combined the CD drive and motherboard from an old CDX with a chopped six-button Genesis controller, an old camcorder battery, and a four-inch LCD screen to bring you a bulky but portable console. Now you can enjoy a game of Snatcher at the laundromat while your Sonic the Hedgehog Underoos hit the spin cycle. Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Sega Genesis CDX now portable thanks to Ben Heck (video)

Sega Genesis CDX now portable thanks to Ben Heck (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unless you’ve been away from the Internet over the last few days, you would’ve no doubt heard about Woz’s special appearance at the Engadget Show on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, a few websites ran with some quotes that they pulled from our interview — specifically, the highlight was Woz “confirming” that the white iPhone 4 was indeed delayed due to camera issues. Well, I don’t think this is the case at all. In fact, I’m sure there are plenty of other good reasons for why Apple’s been delaying the much anticipated flavor of its flagship smartphone, but the camera just isn’t one of them. Head right past the break and all will be explained.

Update: Our man Woz has just responded in the comments:

I said plenty to make it clear that I know nothing of Apple’s reasons for rejecting anything ever. I told how when I got my white iPhone 4 assembled I tested the flash photos and they did indeed have problems. I spoke of testing flash photos versus non-flash ones and comparing flash photos between my white and black iPhones. I don’t recall saying that it was a ‘reason’ Apple rejected the parts although I had read that.

For the last part, we were referring to 0:55 in the interview video after the break, but now that Woz has spoken, it could’ve been a joke at the time that got misinterpreted by some websites. They tend to do that with Woz. Read on!

Continue reading Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds)

Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whether it’s sheer boredom or the pursuit for something awesome, we really don’t care — the motivation behind writing software to allow Microsoft’s Surface to control Parrot’s AR.Drone is as immaterial as the wireless connection between the two devices. Jump past the break for video of this pair of much-loved niche machines getting their groove on.

Continue reading Microsoft’s Surface becomes the world’s biggest remote control for the AR.Drone (video)

Microsoft’s Surface becomes the world’s biggest remote control for the AR.Drone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wondering where your HP Slate has been all these weeks since you ordered it? Well, at least one of those precious Windows 7 tablets has taken a little detour from its supposedly enterprise-centric destiny to make a cameo appearance… as a dashboard infotainment system. HP, in its inimitable wisdom, has decided to grace the opening of its Vancouver store last month with a customized GMC Yukon Denali truck, which is where we find the company’s Slate casually showing off its Acrobat Reader and other big boy OS advantages. We wouldn’t really say embedding the Slate into your dash is the worst idea in the world, though the rest of the characterful customizations to this Denali just might be.

[Thanks, lmwong]

Continue reading Visualized: the HP Slate’s new job

Visualized: the HP Slate’s new job originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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