Considering music's trend for tech beats with acts like Daft Punk, is it really easy to see a world where music groups are completely robotic. This is the case with an album appropriately called Music for Robots, and it is created by a man known Squarepusher. His robot band is called the Z Machines, and they are a three-part band. Their guitarist named MACH plays with 78 … [Read more...] about Squarepusher and the Z-Machines makes Music for Robots, by robots
Touch Screen Camera turns any laptop screen into a touchscreen
I'm sure that some members of my audience are reading this post with a laptop. Of those readers, you may be regretting that you didn't buy a touchscreen laptop. Considering that Windows 8 is touchscreen-optimized, I can see why. If you want a touchscreen for your non-touchscreen laptop, you can always get a Touch Screen Camera. What it is an attachment to your laptop … [Read more...] about Touch Screen Camera turns any laptop screen into a touchscreen
Diamond Powerball from Dynaflex
If you are not familiar with Dynaflex, then you might want to checking it out. I believe that they are best known for their Gyro Exerciser, and I'm going to do my best attempt to describe what these transparent balls do. The Gyro Exerciser have a rotor inside that you can spin with the help of some string that it comes with. Seriously, you wind up the string, yank it, … [Read more...] about Diamond Powerball from Dynaflex
Jot Script Evernote Edition from Adonit
I don't know if you have ever heard of Adonit before, but they make some pretty good styluses for anything with a touchscreen. I had a chance to try out the Jot Script Evernote Edition, with PixelPoint Technology. I have noticed that a lot of styluses have big points, which makes it very hard to make precise lines. In case you are wondering what makes the Jot Script … [Read more...] about Jot Script Evernote Edition from Adonit
Speculative Fiction Saturday: The Walking Dead (both the comic and the TV series)
Last week, I talked about The Road, which was originally adapted from a book. As promised from last week, I am going to be talking about The Walking Dead, a successful series on AMC, which was adapted from a comic book. I might as well start by talking about the superior product, which is inevitably the literary inspiration. Yeah, the comic book of The Walking Dead is … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: The Walking Dead (both the comic and the TV series)
Rovio adding another to the Angry Birds franchise with “Stella”
Now that the fad of Flappy Bird is pretty much ended, I guess Rovio felt a need to announce another Angry Birds game. This one is known as simply Stella, like the one in A Streetcar Named Desire. Very little is known about this game, but I don't think it will emphasize slingshots and knocking down stuff. This one appears to be about inspiration, empowerment, as well as … [Read more...] about Rovio adding another to the Angry Birds franchise with “Stella”
This is Ivanpah, the largest solar thermal plant
Yes, this is the world's largest solar energy system, at least this is what BrightSource Energy is telling us. The Ivanpah plant covers 5.5 miles, mostly with 173,500 mirrors. This Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System has 392MW of power, which is enough to make up 30 percent of all solar thermal energy in the United States alone. That is good enough for 140,000 … [Read more...] about This is Ivanpah, the largest solar thermal plant
Beyerdynamic A 200 p Headphone Sound Supercharger
I have reviewed products from Beyerdynamic before, and they put out some very cool headphones, like the T 51 p I reviewed a while ago. According to the company, headphones like the T 51 p cannot be used to their full potential, due to digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and analog output levels of mobile audio devices rarely meet genuine hi-fi standards. This is where the A … [Read more...] about Beyerdynamic A 200 p Headphone Sound Supercharger
Nokia announces the Lumia Icon
It's been a while since I wrote about a Nokia phone. The company announced their Lumia Icon, and it is made for speed, images, and video. Yes, it is another Microsoft Windows phone, and this one has a 5 inch screen with 1080p HD display. It also has a viewing angle of about 180 degrees, as well as Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Before I get into the features, let's … [Read more...] about Nokia announces the Lumia Icon
A keyboard of shortcuts with the Shortcut-S keyboard
Man, I don't know what it is with my headlines these days. However, if you are like me, then you have become accustomed to using some serious shortcuts. I don't know where I would be without the Ctrl C and V. So why not have a keyboard that is all shortcuts. This Shortcut-S Keyboard is a Kickstarter project, and it is definitely made for those who are into Photoshop or … [Read more...] about A keyboard of shortcuts with the Shortcut-S keyboard
Rayovac doing more than just batteries. Let them charge your mobile devices.
I'm sure most of you associate Rayovac with the company that makes batteries, and I generally see them on those endcaps full of batteries for whatever you need. I'm not certain if this is a more recent move, but Rayovac is making devices that charge your mobile devices. I only had a chance to try out one of these devices, and that is the Phone Boost 800. The version I … [Read more...] about Rayovac doing more than just batteries. Let them charge your mobile devices.
How to put yourself in a game
I think it is interesting to see how realistic video game characters are becoming. Just take a look at Link, Mario, and Samus Aran look almost human. What if there is a way to put yourself in a video game? This is now possible thanks to Ari Shapiro at the Institute for Creative Technologies at USC. Their system known as Fast Avatar Capture, involves using a Kinect to … [Read more...] about How to put yourself in a game
Beginning LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is out!
Okay, I'm sure that you all know that I write Lego books. I have written Practical Lego Technics and Lego Technic Robotics, and I have now written a book on LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. Yes, I have written on LEGO MINDSTORMS before, like when I saw them at CES 2014. In case you haven't figured it out, I wrote a hands-on review of them because I have lived and breathed LEGO … [Read more...] about Beginning LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is out!
VEX IQ is another modular toy set
Please excuse the dumb headline, but I am going a theme for today for modular toy sets. The next posting will make this incredibly clear why I chose this theme. The VEX IQ system is made to be a very easy-to-assemble toy that can be programmed to do all sorts of things. If that sounds similar to the Lego Mindstorms, it kind of is. I wouldn't say that this is a rip-off, … [Read more...] about VEX IQ is another modular toy set
MOSS Robot Construction System
Today is going to be Modular Construction set day, because I am going to be celebrating the launch of my sixth book, which is about Lego Mindstorms EV3. I'm going to talk about the MOSS Robot Construction System, which, unlike the Mindstorms kits, require no programming. The MOSS Robot Construction Kit appears to be designed for the Minecraft generation, and not for the … [Read more...] about MOSS Robot Construction System