Archive for February 9th, 2010
The bleeding edge of sailing technology
9, Feb 2010
I just sat down to peruse the Times and found this very interesting article describing some of the technologies being used in competitive sailing. To be sure, many of these have been around for years, but they’re being advanced every year and pushed to the limit by integration with onboard computers and all that. Hinged sails? Hundreds of embedded stress sensors? We are still talking about boats, right?
Are you a huge nerd? No? Sorry, I guess that solar backpack you’re wearing kind of threw me off. Looks like Playskool meets Transmetropolitan. Not exactly a babe magnet. I’m going to let you in on a secret, big guy: check out these Soular Power bags from Neon Green. If you absolutely must wear a solar panel backpack, it might as well be the coolest one out there, right?
That’s a bit like being the thinnest kid at fat camp, but… what? No, I’m not implying anything. Yeah, well, I’ll keep my good advice to myself from now on! Nyah! Get outta here!
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: Bags, Green, Headline, Solar Power
Hourtime Episode 13 – Pet Peeves
9, Feb 2010Subscribe in iTunes MP3 Download
I always wonder what is really meant when people say that BMW, or Ferrari, or whoever, colluded with this or that consumer tech company to create a product. Obviously they didn’t get the lead designer for the 5 series to work on these from the ground up, but at the same time they didn’t hire the guy who created the seat-recline mechanism.
I’m guessing they get a few sketches from the art department at BMW, who are asked what a BMW headphone might look like. Then Sennheiser does the rest, runs it by BMW for a thumbs up, and then proudly says “we collaborated!” That’s just my guess.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: audio, BMW, design, Headline, headphones, Sennheiser
Review: Microsoft Sidewinder X3 gaming mouse
9, Feb 2010Short version: The X3 is a rather ordinary mouse, but might serve as a good introduction to multiple DPI settings for your mom or dad, while still being comfortable and ambidextrous.
Features:
Ambidextrous design
Three buttons for custom DPI settings
Five total buttons not counting DPI buttons
MSRP: $39.99
Pros:
Simple and comfortable
DPI switching is easy and instant
Customization is straightforward
Cons:
A little too [...]
The Timex Thumbnail Watch: Decidedly not real
9, Feb 2010Look at this thing: it’s supposed to be a concept watch by Napoleon Merana, Steffen Schubert and David Takacs for a series called Timex 2154: The Future of Time. First, I doubt we’ll all survive until 2154 and if we do we’ll all be living in skin huts out on the tundra and second what [...]
Video Review: Yeti USB Microphone
9, Feb 2010Review:
The Yeti from Blue Microphones is a $150 USB microphone with four recording settings, zero-latency audio monitoring via a built-in headphone jack, and a 48 kHz sampling rate at 16 bits.
The mic itself is solidly built – and by “solid” I mean that the combined weight of the microphone and stand is almost 3.5 pounds [...]
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: audio, Doug Videos, Headline, microphones, Reviews, video, Videos
LEGO Universe beta signup goes live
9, Feb 2010Do you want to participate in the LEGO Universe beta? You may be able to! Here’s the sign-up site, but there’s no guarantees you’ll be selected. LEGO Universe? It’s a LEGO-themed MMO. Could be fun, yeah. It’ll be released for the PC later this year if all goes according to plan.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: Headline, lego universe, MMO, video games
Norwegians max out on iPad pre-orders
9, Feb 2010Here are two things you did not know:
1. Norway is exceptionally optimistic about the iPad, it seems, with electronics retailer Apple House (Eplehuset) having to halt pre-orders because the demand has outstripped their ability to deliver.
2. In fact, the people of those far north countries are so enormous and virile that they are actually purchasing [...]
BioShock 2: Great, good, or sorta meh?
9, Feb 2010So, BioShock 2. Presumably you’ve heard of it. It comes out today, and I really can’t figure out how I’m supposed to feel. I’ve read plenty of reviews—Rock, Paper, Shotgun’s is my favorite—and they’re sorta all over the place. We weren’t cool enough to get a review copy, but that’s not a big deal; Steam to the rescue.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: bioshock 2, Headline, video games