Author Archives: Jack Kieffer

Phantom 2 Vision: The Flying Quadricopter Camera That is Actually Useful

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The concept of the Phantom 2 Vision is not one of complete novelty. I will admit that. The Phantom 2 Vision by DJI, however, has something that the other quadricopter cameras do not: solid execution. (And great mobile integration.)

This RC copter will allow you to get the perfect bird’s-eye view photos, skyline images, and more! Plus, for those of us who just think that autonomous flying objects are cool, the “Return to Home” feature promises an awesome experience, as well as a safe landing at the takeoff spot.

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Stream HD video to your mobile device, which can be mounted on the Phantom 2 Vision’s controller, and use that camera feed to steer the drone and take pictures and video! It comes with its very own 14 megapixel camera, which can record 1080/30p or 1080/60i video.

What’s the range on this baby? Well, you can stream video from up to 980 feet away, which is awesome, and I don’t think you’d want to fly your new $1,200 toy much farther away than that anyway. While it does have the “Return to Home” feature, it does not have the “stop my loser friends from sending my $1,200 flying into a pond” feature.

It’s also got automatic stabilization to help you fly, and the ability to tilt the camera remotely. Battery life is rated at 25 minutes, and you can easily swap batteries too.

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Think you’re cool enough to bring the Phantom 2 Vision on the next family vacation? You can get your very own over at Amazon for $1,199(USD). If, like me, this is out of your price range, just do what I do: buy an Otterbox case, press the record button on your phone, and launch it as far as possible. You’ll get the same results give or take the entire thing.

Into photography? Take a look at the Kula Deeper, which lets you take some awesome 3D pictures, or the USB Camera Lens Humidifier, which is a way to take your money disguised as a humidifier disguised as a camera lens.

Anki Drive: Artificial Intelligence Brings Video Game Racing to the Real World

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Have you ever wanted to race some RC cars, but just ended up crying because no one was there to play against you? Anki Drive, a new toy (and technological marvel) coming out on October 23rd, 2013, is going to change everything. Mini remote control cars that know how to drive themselves by using artificial intelligence? YES.

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Think that this isn’t the greatest thing ever? What if I told you that Apple gave Anki the stage at one of their most high-profile tech keynotes of the year? Now that I have your attention, take a look at what is sure to be one of the most revolutionary toys ever brought to market.

Anki Drive allows you to, using your iOS device, race remote control cars against your friends. But, in addition to that, it lets you race remote control cars against cars driven entirely by artificial intelligence. The Anki Drive vehicles analyze their relative positions on the track 500 times per second, and make decisions accordingly.

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What’s more, players can give AI cars different tasks: when commanded to, computer-controlled cars will attempt to block a certain car by getting in front of it. They can also be told to put the pedal to the metal, of course.

This product is honestly mind-blowing to me – you can upgrade and level-up your cars, just like in video games, and you can use the cars’ weapons: tractor beams, shields, and more! Send opponents’ cars reeling or pull them towards you so that you can get a better shot! If this does not end up being the top-selling toy of Christmas 2013, I’ll eat both of my shoes.

The Anki Drive app is available for download on the App Store as of right now, but the product will not be available until October 23rd – more information is on the Anki Drive website.

Want more remote control goodness? Check out the remote control cockroaches and the world’s fastest remote control car, if you dare.

[via Uncrate]

Friendzoned: Bugs Pose with Their Buddies in These Beautiful Macro Images

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Insects, contrary to popular belief, are not that different from humans.  Studies show that our buggy friends suffer from one of the human world’s most common emotional ailments: the friendzone.  So, with that perspective, we look at these beautiful macro photos of bug BFFs.

Also note that many of these bugs were friendzoned by nature, as different species cannot reproduce with each other – this is, by definition, the reproductive barrier that defines a “species.”  Permanent, unavoidable, natural friendzone.

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This picture really speaks a thousand words: it seems to be the perfect friendship dynamic!  The best friendship since Shaggy and Scooby, rivaled only by Timon and Pumbaa.  Praying Mantis and Snail probably wouldn’t make a splash at the box office, but it would surely leave a trail of slime on our hearts!

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Nature’s version of two friends stopping to get a drink out of a water fountain.  On a related note, I never understood how snails can survive on both land and water.  Are there just different types of snails?  do snails have gills?  The only logical conclusion: snails are robots.

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It seems that snails (and the occasional frog) are actually just the forest’s form of free public transportation.  Talk about a long commute.

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These pictures were all taken by Nordin Seruyan, who lives in an area that is heavily-populated by giant snails, and he did an awesome job capturing the essence of nature’s symbiotic relationships in these photos!

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Head on over to the Nordin Seruyan Photography page on Facebook and give this man your like!  My feelings would be appropriately represented by the Give That Man a Cookie meme.

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If you’re as into bugs as I am, you’ll want to head on over to look at these Solar Powered Robotic Bugs and these incredible Steampunk Bug creations!

[via Incredible Things]

Epic Nightmare Before Christmas Minecraft Rollercoaster: Buckle up for Burton

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It’s that time of the year again – a very long time before Thanksgiving – so we’re all getting ready to celebrate Christmas!  This Nightmare Before Christmas Minecraft rollercoaster is the perfect way for me to kick off my celebratory events.  I can only imagine how long this project took, as the rollercoaster has an incredible amount of detail and lasts for more than five minutes!  Update: I stopped imagining and checked the YouTube description – several builders took two and a half months in order to complete this project!  That’s three and six tenths of the time that it takes for a woman to go through pregnancy!

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The kids sit ’round the fireplace, and you gather them near – yelling and snapping and flicking their ears.  Watch a movie, you say, with the utmost delight – what the children believe, is a Christmas fright. – “Tim” Edgar Allen Amy Poehler

All of the design in this coaster is professionally done, and the characters are really brought to life.  Not only that, but all of this is done on an incredible scale.  The builders, of course, have stereotypical Minecraft-guy YouTube usernames: Rivergrl21, Nuro, WayHighMinecraftGuy, Vinny8Ball666, AnOldBum, Nycwatcherable, and DrWrebagzhoe.  My bet: DrWrebagzhoe is nothing more than a dentist, if that.  He can probably write prescriptions about as legally as these guys can build an X-Ray gun.  Hint: you aren’t allowed to build lethal X-Ray guns.  Anymore.

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This Minecraft rollercoaster is an amazing creation in itself, and will be that much more special to fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  And, now… the moment you’ve all been waiting for… I will attempt to hang 30 binder clips from my armpit hair the rollercoaster ride-in video is below!

Even if you did little more than get seasick and spit up during that video, you have to appreciate all of the work that was put into this creation.  Think of how many blocks were placed!  Think of how many dubstep versions of Halloween they had to sift through!

If you’re still hungry for more interwebz chow, check out the Minecraft version of Man of Steel!  If you’re not into unrealistic superheros with bad rock allergies, then cuddle up with the life-size Creeper cushion, which (supposedly) will not explode.  (It’s a marketing tactic – no one would buy it if they said straight out that it explodes.)

[via Nerd Approved]

Foodscapes: Complex Landscapes Constructed Entirely from Food

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Think you have an infatuation with food?  Well, as always, you’ve been one-upped.  Carl Warner, artist and designer, is more of a foodie than you will ever be. He has used his computer graphics skills in combination with his physical “playing-with-food” abilities in order to construct some of the most marvelous landscapes that this planet has ever seen: foodscapes.  They make me want to close my eyes and dance with the night* for the rest of eternity, except for when I have to stop and go get more Cheetos.

*sit on the couch with the lights off

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Above, you can see the real life Candyland.  No, not the electronic duo, and not the wonderfully-crafted board game.  This is the real deal, folks.  There’s even a real candy-girl sitting at the bottom of that well and waiting to crawl up at you in a spider-like fashion!  (Movies… what have you done to me?)

Tries to crab walk backwards down the stairs

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Just think about how long it took for this man to create each of those little corn blocks, and then be amazed.  Also, think about how long it is going to take that no-legged mushroom to pull his little cart all the way along the Great Wall of China!  That’s true dedication – that’s all-natural brawn and determination.

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If you would like to see more food landscapes, just head on over to Carl Warner’s website.  Otherwise, if you’re still hungry, you can always check out the iTray flying food tray and this delectable squid masterpiece.

[via Twisted Sifter via Geyser of Awesome via That's Nerdalicious!]

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Your Own Armory with Ease

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With all of the controversy going on regarding “real” weapons, what with their ability to cause bodily harm, it’s best to stay out of the eternally-burning fire of this argument. Instead of going to Walmart and purchasing an assault rifle, why not save yourself some money and some responsibility? Get the Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction series!

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You may be too daft to build your own M-16, but there’s no need to be dismayed! With Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction volumes 1, 2, and 3, you will become an unstoppable force of forcefulness.

In the first volume of the series, you will embark upon a quest to create 35 different weapons, including catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters. While I do not know what minibombs and combustion shooters are, the book assures us that these items are relatively safe. For someone who fell down while carrying a fork a couple days ago, driving it into my upper thigh, I am forced to reevaluate the idea of “relatively safe.” I was also banned from using the glue gun. (Plus glitter glue, since I put it all over my chest and pretended I was Edward Cullen.)

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The second and third volumes of Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction will further increase your knowledge of tiny-person violence, introducing you to paper dart watches, toothpaste periscopes, chopstick bows, bottle cap crossbows, and many more! If you ever wanted to build your own bottle cap crossbow, then now is your chance! (That little gem is located in the third volume.)

Of course, each book includes practice targets and tips for hiding your own personal armory. You’ll have to ante up $13 for each volume, but the money is well worth all of the revenge that you can exact! (Without incurring any serious legal troubles.) You can find all three Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books on Amazon.

[via Uncrate]

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Your Own Armory with Ease

Posted on by

With all of the controversy going on regarding “real” weapons, what with their ability to cause bodily harm, it’s best to stay out of the eternally-burning fire of this argument.  Instead of going to Walmart and purchasing an assault rifle, why not save yourself some money and some responsibility?  Get the Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction series!

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You may be too daft to build your own M-16, but there’s no need to be dismayed!  With Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction volumes 1, 2, and 3, you will become an unstoppable force of forcefulness.

In the first volume of the series, you will embark upon a quest to create 35 different weapons, including catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters.  While I do not know what minibombs and combustion shooters are, the book assures us that these items are relatively safe.  For someone who fell down while carrying a fork a couple days ago, driving it into my upper thigh, I am forced to reevaluate the idea of “relatively safe.”  I was also banned from using the glue gun.  (Plus glitter glue, since I put it all over my chest and pretended I was Edward Cullen.)

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The second and third volumes of Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction will further increase your knowledge of tiny-person violence, introducing you to paper dart watches, toothpaste periscopes, chopstick bows, bottle cap crossbows, and many more!  If you ever wanted to build your own bottle cap crossbow, then now is your chance!  (That little gem is located in the third volume.)

Of course, each book includes practice targets and tips for hiding your own personal armory.  You’ll have to ante up $13 for each volume, but the money is well worth all of the revenge that you can exact!  (Without incurring any serious legal troubles.)  You can find all three Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books on Amazon.

[via Uncrate]

Pizza Slice Friendship Necklace: For People With More Than One Friend

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We “social masters” are tired of being discriminated against.  Why all of these “one friend, two piece” necklaces?  I could never give one of my minions special treatment, because then my other minions would feel sad.  I value my worthless social minions, and am excited to hear that I can now include them all!  Thanks, Pizza Slice Friendship Necklace!

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How to use the Pizza Slice Friendship Necklace:

First, you will need to get eight friends.  This can be done relatively easily, as long as you’re not an awkward turtle and can carry a conversation.  If you get sweaty pits and pass out at the thought of talking to others, then a silent gesture will be enough.  (Bring $20′s, just in case you happen to look extra weird that day.)

Next, you will need to purchase the beautiful piece(s) of jewelry shown above.

The only thing left for you to do, after having purchased the Pizza Slice Friendship Necklaces, is to force your eight friends to wear them.  If you need to accidentally on purpose make your friends go temporarily unconscious, then do what you have to do.  And if you get caught, I was telling you the whole time that it is entirely illegal and immoral to ask unconscious people to befriend you.  Only befriend conscious people – they are less likely to have diseases and will stay friends with you for a longer period of time.

If you followed all of the above steps exactly as they were written, one of your friends should be attractive as the friend shown below: (complete with the out-of-place seductive expression):

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Remember to remind friends that these necklaces are not for eating.  These necklaces are for wearing.  If you do have a group “necklace-eating party,” just make sure that everyone keeps the chain on so that you can pull the pizza slice back out in case of an emergency.  (Hint: swallowing a metal slice of pizza is almost always an immediate medical emergency.)

You can pick up one of these Pizza Slice Necklaces for £14 (~$19 USD) over at the Lazy Oaf online store. Lazy oaf.

[via: This Is Why I'm Broke]

Giant Space Octopus: KR-KN LEGO Star Wars Space Destroyer

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The Empire had one last shot at destroying the Rebel Alliance, having built up an army of hundreds of thousands of ships and Destoyers with which to attack Rebel scum. Unfortunately for the Empire, the Alliance had discovered a rare species of Space Kraken. And, deciding that “Kraken” was a lame name, re-named their discovery the KR-KN, which is much more advanced piece of nomenclature.

Sending thousands of Ewoks to their unfortunate deaths on a series of suicide missions, the Alliance was eventually able to implant computers in the minds of the KR-KN that they had discovered, allowing them to control these beasts.

Their diet? Empire Destroyers.

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This incredible LEGO creation was built by Iain Heath, a master of building awesome stuff, and was originally shown off at the 2013 Emerald Comicon. It is now, however, at its permanent residence in Tableau Software, shown below.

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As you can see, the KR-KN Destroyer Destroyer was tactfully placed in front of the company’s “Tangled Sperm” masterpiece, which is juxtaposed with their “Floating Pieces of Goldfish” painting. Iain Heath originally created the piece because of the criticism that LEGO Destroyers were receiving for being big, gray, and boring. And, since Iain is such a logical man, he came to the conclusion that nothing adds a little spice to a work of art like a giant octopus.

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New video game idea: play as the KR-KN and float around in never-ending, randomly generated space maps until you find something, at which point you hit all of the buttons at the same time and wildly swing your eight limbs until you kill it. I would buy that game in a second, especially if they added some KR-KN on KR-KN action with customizable tentacle suction cups and such.

If you love giant octopi, you are probably an octophile or perhaps an octogenarian. You should also go take a look at these Octopus Chandeliers and these LEGO Star Wars Mosaics, which are awesome.

Jack Kieffer owns Cool Gizmo Toys, a site where geeks go to do awesome things and then pass out on my fancy futons.

Thanksgiving Dinner in Cupcake Form: No More Undercooked Turkey!

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People everywhere are having to cook a delicious meal for a bunch of greedy mouths this upcoming Thanksgiving, but don’t crack under the pressure. Don’t crack, friends, because you don’t need to hold all of that weight yourselves – I have a couple of tips to give! (Also, you’re not an egg, no matter what your body shape may tell you.) The first is to tell all of your relatives that they should arrive at a time that is two hours before the actual time. This way, they are obligated to help you cook! The second is to just buy some Boston Market and then deem it homemade.

These Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes are another perfect way to shirk your duties, if you’re lazy like I am, but they’re also a perfect addition to any hard-planned Thanksgiving meal. As most of us know, dessert is the most important part anyway. That’s why I just eat it first and second.

These cupcakes look delicious on several different levels – sweet potato cupcakes? AM I IN HEAVEN? There’s a wonderful tutorial available on Make.Bake.Celebrate, the home of food geniuses, but you don’t need to look at that. Just have someone else make them so that you can act as the professional “food tester.” You know, just to make sure they’re not poisoned. WHAT IF THEY POISONED THEM IN BETWEEN BITES? I guess I’ll just have to eat all of them to make sure.

These cupcakes are great, but there are definitely more to be found, since you can never have enough of this wonderful creation. Check out the Frankenweenie Cupcakes and the Fried Cupcake Nuggets, which make me drool all over myself.

[via Instructables via That's Nerdalicious]

Jack Kieffer owns Cool Gizmo Toys, a blog for geeks, their friends, and their friends’ friends.