Monthly Archives: March 2013

IRL: IOGEAR GearPower GMP10K, SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller and the Metabones Speed Booster

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Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Timbuk2 Commute bag, SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller and the Metabones Speed Booster
Anyone out there a fan of Sony's mirrorless cameras? How about Canon's premium glass? Good. We knew there'd be some of you. In any case, with this week's IRL, we'll be sharing everything you ever wanted to know about the Metabones Speed Booster, which fastens your full-frame EF lenses onto Sony's E-mount NEX cameras. And, of course, what would an IRL column be without an external battery pack? (Seriously, we can't live without 'em.)

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R2-D2 Bra Lights up, Makes Sounds: Bleep Bloop Boob

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Last month we saw a pair of custom R2-D2 heels that used components from a toy Artoo to light up and make sounds. Instructables member Seamster used the same tactic but instead of making a shoe, he made a bra that some of you might have been looking for.

r2 d2 bra 1

r2 d2 bra

Seamster made two pairs of ‘bot bras, one dubbed the “R2-DD2″. The first one uses duct tape for the dome and is relatively easy to make, while the one pictured here has a dome made of papier-mâché and wood fillings. It’s harder to make but as you can see the end result is really cool. Though it doesn’t look very comfortable.

Head to Seamster’s Instructables page to find out how to make one of these awesome bras. C-3PO must be so jealous of Artoo.

[via Geek Crafts]

 

PBS shows how hacking is reclaiming its good name after a bad rap (video)

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PBS explains how hacking got a bad rap and is reclaiming its good name video

Hacking is still a loaded concept for many, often conjuring negative images of corporate espionage, fraudsters and prank-minded script kiddies. PBS' Off Book wants to remind us that hacking wasn't always seen this way -- and, thanks to modern developments, is mending its reputation. Its latest episode shows that hacking began simply as a desire to advance devices and software beyond their original roles, but was co-opted by a sometimes misunderstanding press that associated the word only with malicious intrusions. Today, hacking has regained more of its original meaning: hackathons, a resurgence of DIY culture and digital protests prove that hacks can improve our gadgets, our security and even our political landscape. We still have a long way to go before we completely escape movie stereotypes, but the mini-documentary may offer food for thought the next time you're installing a custom ROM or building your own VR helmet.

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Bacon Condoms: Pork for Her Pleasure

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Guys hate condoms right? But everybody loves bacon. Now everyone will want to use condoms since they come in… bacon flavor. Like the box says, they “make your meat look like meat.” Now that bacon condoms exist, no children will ever be born again. Because… bacon.

bacon condoms

These bacon condoms come from J&D’s (the guys who made Bacon Salt) and aside from making your junk look like bacon, they have “baconlube”, an ultra premium water based meat flavored personal lubricant. You can’t go wrong with that. Or can you? Now you can make bacon in the bedroom as well as on the stove.

I’m pretty sure this is an April Fool’s joke, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an idea whose time has come.

[via Obvious Winner]

Company of Heroes 2 Closed Beta Kicks off April 2

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If you’re a fan of military-themed real-time strateg games, you’re probably familiar with the game Company of Heroes. Sega has announced that the second game in the franchise is set to start its closed beta early next month. Company of Heroes 2 will kick off it closed beta April 2. That is next Tuesday if you don’t have a calendar in front of you.

coh2

The initial phase of the closed beta is open to eligible pre-order customers only. Sega says that in the coming weeks it will have a second phase of the beta allowing a wider audience to take part. The closed beta will use Steam and players will need the free Steam client to redeem their closed beta access key.

During the closed beta, players will have access to multiple player and skirmish game play with six maps. The beta will support 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 competitive game play and single player game play. Players will have access to the first 40 levels of progression and will be able to customize load-outs. The full game is set to launch for PC gamers in June 2013.

It’s World Backup Day: no time like the present to protect the past

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It's World Backup Day no time like the present to protect the past

There are two kinds of computer owners: those that backup their data, and those who will backup after they lose something irreplaceable. It's that last group for whom World Backup Day exists, and the special occasion has returned for a third year to make sure we all wind up in that first, very responsible camp. Thankfully, it's easier than ever to have at least some kind of safety net. Along with ridiculously high-capacity external hard drives, both Mac and Windows users have simple built-in software to make backup a set-it-and-forget-it affair. No money or room for an extra drive on the desk? No problem: cloud storage is ubiquitous, and even includes unlimited options. Mobile users have it a little easier with a myriad of Apple, Google and Microsoft cloud services, although there's third-party options in that space, too. In short, you've got few excuses to skimp out when it comes to safeguards, and enough choices to seriously consider using two or more -- which might be wise in this dangerous era of meteorite showers and brick-tossing robots.

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Source: World Backup Day

Millenium Falcon Turntable: Wookie Wookie

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In a club far, far away, Marco of Picotek Design must be wowing the crowd not just with his beats but with his one-of-a-kind gear as well. His highly modified turntable is based on another highly modified piece of equipment: the freighter-turned-smuggler’s ship Millenium Falcon.

millenium falcon technics 1200 turntable by picotek design

Marco said he stumbled upon the toy replica of Han Solo’s ship and got it for a mere $2 (USD), albeit with some of its parts missing. He stowed it away for a couple of years, then one day decided to combine it with another relic from the 70s, a Technics 1200 turntable. Marco says he’ll upload more pictures of the turntable soon.

[via Obvious Winner]

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: TORQ Roadster, quantum-dot solar cells and an invisibility cloak

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Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

DNP Inhabitat's Week in Green TKTKTK

This week, Team Inhabitat traveled to Mountain View, Calif., to get a look at the 100 percent sun-powered Solar Impulse airplane before it embarks on its first flight across the United States. Inhabitat editors also braved the crowds at the 2013 New York International Auto Show to report on the hottest new hybrids and electric cars. Some of the green cars unveiled at this year's show were the compact Mercedes-Benz 2014 B-Class Electric Drive and BMW's sexy new Active Tourer plug-in hybrid. The Tesla Model S was named the 2013 World Green Car of the Year, beating out the Renault Zoe and the Volvo V60. And speaking of new auto unveils, Epic EV unveiled its new all-electric TORQ Roadster, which looks like a roofless Batmobile and can go from 0-60 MPH in just four seconds.

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PocketBands Put a Pocket on Your Wrist

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Need more space than what your pocket currently provides you with? Need a discrete compartment to stash stuff that you really want to keep secure? Need a place to store your essentials when you’re out running, biking, or surfing?

Then no worries, because PocketBands are coming. These colorful rubber bands look just like your typical baller bands, except they’re not.

pocketbands 1

Each PocketBand has a teeny, tiny covert pocket on the inside which can hold a single flat key, a little cash, a USB drive or an SD card. The space is really limited, but hey, what do you expect from a wristband? I’d have to say that it’s definitely better than nothing, though.

PocketBands1

Each band is made from a “stretchy, surgical-grade silicone” and is sweatproof and waterproof. The PocketBand is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, where a minimum pledge of $10(USD) by April 21, 2013 will get you one of your very own. $20 will get you a set of 3.

[via Gadget Review]

Engadget Podcast 337 – 03.28.13

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Missed us live at our new weekly livestream home on YouTube at 3PM ET last Thursday? Fret not, because we've got you covered here with the video and audio recordings as usual. So, listen on your own time as Tim, Brian and Peter talk everything from OUYA to Angry Birds hand sanitizer. Stream it below, or catch the subscription links and video embed after the break. Happy weekend!

Hosts: Tim Stevens, Peter Rojas, Brian Heater

Producers: James Trew, Joe Pollicino

Hear the podcast

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