Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Storage

Be honest with yourself: has there ever been a time when you felt like taking a hammer to a computer of yours? Yes, of course. Apparently some of the clever minds at plankton figured out a way to let people live out that fantasy without totally destroying their partially functional machine. The “nailed” USB flash drive features 2GB of internal storage, an unmistakable design and a rather huge head to ensure that even novice nailers don’t miss the target. Of course, it doesn’t take any responsibility for damage incurred by inserting said drive in the previously referenced manner, but a few light taps should suffice in most instances. Pick one up now in galvanized or blued (okay, not really) for €29.50 ($46).

[Via technabob]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Nothing too fancy from Kingston Technology today, just a couple of more capacious flash drives and an all new one for good measure. For starters, the DataTraveler 400 with MigoSync software and the DT100 are both now available in roomy 16GB flavors. Meanwhile, the DT101 arrives on the scene with security software, capacities up to 8GB and in cyan, pink and yellow hues. Each of the newcomers should be available now, with the 16GB DT400 demanding $196, the 16GB DT100 costing $85 and the DT101 line ranging from $14 to $44.

[Via BIOS Magazine]

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Original post by Darren Murph

The iPod Touch is cool enough in and of itself, but I guess adding a bit more “touch” to it won’t hurt. RockRidgeSound’s iClooly is an aluminum stand intended for the iPod Touch that’s obviously inspired by iMac computers. The frame can be rotated by 90 degrees for either vertical or horizontal viewing. The iClooly was etched with cutouts made for the headphone jack as well as the dock connector, in case you don’t want to use the headphone extension provided and would prefer to listen using external speakers instead.

The iClooly iPod Touch stand measures 115 × 45 × 100mm (w x d x h) and is a lightweight at only 55 grams. If you’re in Japan, you can grab one on June 7 for approximately $48. For the rest of us residing outside the land of the rising sun, we’d just have to wait and see whether we’d even have the chance to get our paws on one.

Original post by Mariella Moon

If you are one of those accident-prone people who tend to drop your iPhone or iPod and hate having to keep buying a new one, you may want to check these cases out. mStation/mophie has just released the new Ratchet 360 degree Belt Clip Swivel case, designed for the iPhone, iPod Touch, Nano, and Classic. The Ratchet protects these handheld portable devices through a strong, shock-resistant silicone Base Case. This handy product also comes with a spring-loaded belt clip, allowing people to listen to their music, surf the Web, and call a friend from any angle.

“With Ratchet, we’ve given consumers a wide array of options to carry their iPods and iPhones” says Ross Howe, sales and product development director for mStation/mophie. “You can clip it to your belt, pocket, backpack, etc. providing easy access to your media no matter what you’re doing, and because the Ratchet and Base Case are designed for each other, you never have to remove your iPod from one to use the other.”

Original post by Jared Preusz

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Watch out, battery-powered MAVs — your viability could be seriously in danger. Based on a patent application from University of Florida aerospace engineer Subrata Roy, he’s reckoning that a micro air vehicle could be propelled by plasma. Scientists have known that passing a current or magnetic field through a conducting fluid generates a force, but exploiting it for use in moving an aircraft has proven futile thus far. The phenomenon, simply known as magnetohydrodynamics, has typically been tested on larger crafts, but Mr. Roy’s invention would boast a wingspan of less than 15-centimeters and resemble a flying saucer more so than a 747. Of course, this fantastic idea has yet to become much more than just that, but for armed forces and entities obsessed with surveillance, this could undoubtedly be big.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Handhelds

In a move sure to bring the polygraph haters out of the woodwork, the US Army is issuing a handheld lie detector to select soldiers in Afghanistan in order to “root out potential terrorists” and help “narrow the list of suspects after a roadside bombing.” The DoD isn’t asserting that the device is perfect, but it’s hoping the detection capabilities are accurate enough to save American lives and sniff out allegiances that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Hailed as PCASS (Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System), the underlying unit is a TDS Ranger that relies on three sensors connected to a respondent and integrated software that uses Green to signify truth, Yellow if it can’t decide and Red if it recognizes a filthy liar on the other end. Nevertheless, we’re certain Lafayette Instrument Company is stoked about the deal — you know, considering that the Army has already purchased 94 of ‘em at $7,500 apiece.

[Thanks, ladderless]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

You know how we love the electric cars around here, but internal combustion sure does sound sexy — a big V-8 literally brings the noise in a way the nearly-silent whir of an electric motor can’t hope to match. Well, it looks like the mad geniuses behind the $80,000 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid have hit upon an appropriately high-tech solution: speakers placed inside and out that allow drivers to give their rides any sound they want, including one described as “like something between a Formula One car and a jet plane.” Interesting, to be sure — but seeing as the Karma can hit 125mph and go from 0-60 in six seconds, we’d be happier if that rig just screamed at people to get out of the left lane.

[Via Autoblog]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We can’t say with a straight face that the capital of Azerbaijan is high on our list of places to vacation at, but for Star Wars fanatics, the case could be different. Reportedly, Heerim Architects has dreamt up a couple of “lunar inspired” projects for the Asian country, one of which (Full Moon Bay) looks an awful lot like the Death Star. Granted, the building looks entirely different from varying angles, but we’re choosing to focus on the one that brings back fond memories of light sabers blazing and wookiees waltzing. Truth be told, we’ve no idea if these facilities will ever break ground, but we’re absolutely certain the powers in Dubai are already planning to recreate the entire Star Wars universe if this thing goes forward.

[Via Inhabitat]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Remember that R2-D2 projector that’s been taunting you for months? Of course, how could you forget? Apparently, these critters are getting set to roll off the assembly line (seen above, if you couldn’t piece it together) and into eager hands everywhere. The R2-D2 DVD Projector is up for pre-order right now for a stiff €2,799 ($4,114), and while that’s most definitely more than we’d like to pay, it’s probably better than waiting for all 4,000 to run out and being forced to pay “market price.”

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Original post by Darren Murph

Sasseen writes “George Lucas has announced that the animated Star Wars television show, which we’ve discussed previously, will be kicking off with a feature-length theatre release. Lucas felt that, ‘there were a lot more ‘Star Wars’ stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the animation forward.’ A fully animated film will be released in theaters on August 15 with a TV series of more than 30 episodes planned to follow on Cartoon Network and TNT. Also of note from the article, ‘A new character named Ahsoka, Anakin’s padawan, will be the first female Jedi to be a character of focus’.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Original post by Zonk

This Instructable shows you how easy it is to turn a cheap plastic squirt gun into a much fancier, more realistic accessory for cosplay, using faux wood finishing and aged metal technique.

Steampunk Pirate Gun Mod - Link

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

From the MAKE Flickr pool, a desktop trebuchet made from coffee stirring sticks, paper clips, string, zip ties, etc.

Office Supply Trebuchet - Link

Related:

• Lazyperson’s Kaden Harris - Link
• The Eccentric Cubicle: The Philosophy of Improvisational Fabrication - Link

From The Maker Store:

Eccentric Cubicle by Kaden Harris
Price: $29.99
Buy: Maker store - Link.
Sample chapters: - Link.

Who says office cubicles need to be dreary? In this book, author Kaden Harris (creator of www.eccentricgenius.caEccentric Genius) introduces aspiring and die-hard Makers to a highly entertaining parallel universe of surreal office-based projects that are sure to pique the curiosity of even the most jaded office mates.

From desktop guillotines and crossbows to mood-enhancing effects and music makers, each project presents a different set of challenges and opens new avenues of Maker lore. There’s a strong emphasis on the basic mechanical theories and principles of the devices presented in the book, as well as the fabrication techniques you need to use. But this is far more than a book of project “how-tos”. Eccentric Cubicle offers oblique industrial design and fabrication philosophies, countless cultural reference points, and innumerable bad puns.

This book is a dream come true for you office-bound souls who are tech DIY enthusiasts, hobbyist engineers/designers, and Makers at heart. Imagine having your cubicle sport projects such as:

• A mechanical golfer Lucid dreaming induction device
• USB-powered bubble blower Fog machine
• A desktop guillotine
• And a whole lot more

In the Eccentric Cubicle, Harris starts with classic, time-honored principals, then modernizes and augments his designs with performance enhancements and updated feature sets — all while precariously balancing form, function, and oddness. Scavenging and repurposing materials and components at every opportunity, he challenges and inspires you to modify and adapt the projects and designs to meet your own scale, performance, and aesthetic requirements. Bring character and life to your office desktop with Eccentric Cubicle!

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It’s no secret that gadget aficionados like ourselves have mounds of kit that was hot stuff in its heyday, but figuring out what to do with it once its prime has passed is still a mystery to some. ‘Course, the entrepreneurs in the crowd simply offer their previously loved wares up to the world via eBay (or similar), but for those lacking the time / motivation to do so, rest assured, companies are on the prowl to totally take advantage of you. TechForward and NEW are two firms that are looking to make a mint from entering the gadget buyback realm, and as you’d probably expect, the cash doled out to suckers individuals who bite on this is woefully less than market value — but then again, it’s ultra-convenient, shipping is free and it’s guaranteed, hassle-free money. Sounds like the pawn shop just got with the times, eh?

[Image courtesy of PlanoPawnShop]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

Mobiblu sure loves the cubes, and the Korean company busted out its latest take on the concept today, the Nanum. The screenless unit actually unfolds to a cross shape, but still features 1GB of storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, Lego-esque pop-out buttons, dimensions of just 1.1 inches a side, and support for MP3, WMA, and WAV. No word on Stateside availability or pricing, but travelers to Korea can get their box on (but not the Boxon) in red, white, or light green. Check a few pics of the unit folded and unfolded in the gallery.

[Thanks, Jules]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Original post by Nilay Patel