Still having trouble deciding between a PS3 and a Wii? Let The Onion’s comparison help you out:
[Via: The Onion]
[Digg]
Monthly Archive for November, 2006Page 2 of 14
With the belief that encrusting things in crystals makes anything (everything) better, the opening of the U.S. Potato Board’s “Healthy Mr. Potato Head Quarters” in New York included this pair of crystal-encrusted Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads. Though a potato head with its own security guard probably isn’t that much fun to play with (unless you’re playing tag, but the guy in the background of this pic would probably win that game pretty quick) it’s definitely a sight to behold.
[Via: Reuters]
Though I haven’t had a chance to play it (which saddens me because it looks awesome), Gears of War is supposedly the game that will transform the Xbox 360 from another next gen into the must have system (sorry PS3, keep trying). One interesting fallout of the Gears of War popularity is the rise in popularity of the song that takes center stage in the ominous commercial. Just like the original Bravia commercial put José González’s “Heartbeats” song on the map, Gears of War has propelled “Mad World” (a cover of Tears for Fears’ 1982 hit performed by Gary Jules in 2001 for the Donnie Darko soundtrack) to the top of the iTunes download charts. I must say that I was one of the masses that downloaded this song based solely on the minute you hear during the commercial, but it’s one of those songs that just oozes emotion, and I love it for that. So go get yourself a copy, you know you want to.
Benjamin Heckendorm has written an interesting how-to for taking a classic arcade game motherboard (eBay, wink, wink) and consolizing it for use with any standard TV and controllers. This how-to also serves as the perfect starter for anyone looking to build the ultimate gaming bragging rights machine: an at home arcade machine. Game on.
[How-To: Consolize An Arcade Game]
[Via: MAKE: Blog]
RIP AllofMP3.com, I only wish I could have known you better. The used to be secret spot for downloading full quality music at your quality of choice without the hassle of DRM has finally succumb to its own popularity, as Russia has finally agreed to the US’s (RIAA’s) demands to shut it down. Though I must say I knew at some point that it would get shut down (if it seems too good to be true…), but I was actually surprised by how long they managed to stay in business. Even with this latest nail in the coffin, they still stand by their statement that what they are doing is not illegal (though I don’t think it will help much at this point). If only the record labels would have learned a lesson from AllofMP3’s popularity, instead of spending all of their time trying to shut it down, we might finally have a music download system that makes sense (and dollars) in the US. Oh well, I guess it’s back to P2P networks then until the record companies can figure things out. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me.
[AllofMP3]
[Via: Techcrunch]
[Via: Digg]
The Loofa, a favorite sponge for many showerers, is actually a vegetable that can be grown in your own back yard, not the sea creature that many people (myself included) assumed it was. Groovy Green has a great tutorial on how to grow and make a Luffa of your very own. Who knew?
[Via: MAKE: Blog]
If only I knew that Gold’s Gym would have made it possible for me to rip open elevator doors, I wouldn’t have denied that membership request. This is definitely one strong advertisement.
[Via: How Advertising Spoiled Me]
The Fossil O-Ring Digi by designer Phillipe Starck is definitely one unique looking watch, mostly because there’s a hole right through the center of the face (let’s see them do that to an analog watch, then I’ll be impressed). It tells the time with numeraled hours and minutes represented by blocks that fill up the display ring each hour. Plus, the buttons are hidden on the back to keep everything sleek and futuristic looking on the front. Though it might take some time to figure out what time it really is, this isn’t the kind of watch you buy just to tell the time with. It’s all about looking good, and the O-Ring is sure to do just that.
[Via: SlashGear]
Transformers: The Movie is going to be awesome. Because of it’s awesomeness, I predict a large number of product tie ins, because what’s more fun to play with than a car that also turns into a robot with guns? If you said nothing, you’re right, and you’re also the type of person who would love a 12-inch tall 20th anniversary Optimus Prime toy. This semi truck turned robot transforms into both (you guessed it) semi truck and robot, features individually moving fingers, has electronic lights and sounds, and speaks phrases from the 1986 version of Transformers: The Movie. Autobots transform and roll out!
[Via: Uncrate]
The Make: warranty voider is a Leatherman “Squirt” with the Make: logo laser etched on the side. It’s available in either pliers or electronics version, is small enough to fit on your key chain, and is perfect for “mobile fixing, hacking and MacGyvering”. The features are as follows:
Squirt P4 features
- Needlenose Pliers (spring loaded)
- Straight Knife
- Wire Cutters
- Extra Small Screwdriver
- Medium Screwdriver
- Small Flat Phillips Screwdriver
- Single-Cut File
- Cross-Cut File
- Opener
- Lanyard Attachment
- Awl
- Length: 2.25 in. / 5.5 cm closed
- Weight: 1.9 ounces / 55 grams
Squirt E4 features
- Electrical Wire Cutters (spring loaded)
- 20, 18, 16, 14, and 12 gauge wire strippers
- Straight Knife
- Tweezers
- Extra-Small Screwdriver
- Small Screwdriver
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Wood/Metal File
- Bottle Opener
- Lanyard Attachment
- Length: 2.25 in. / 5.5 cm closed
- Weight: 1.8 ounces / 52 grams
Each tool also includes a copy of the Maker’s Bill of Rights:
- Meaningful and specific parts lists shall be included.
- Cases shall be easy to open.
- Batteries should be replaceable.
- Special tools are allowed only for darn good reasons.
- Profiting by selling expensive special tools is wrong and not making special tools available is even worse.
- Torx is OK; tamperproof is rarely OK.
- Components, not entire sub-assemblies, shall be replaceable.
- Consumables, like fuses and filters, shall be easy to access.
- Circuit boards shall be commented.
- Power from USB is good; power from proprietary power adapters is bad.
- Standard connecters shall have pinouts defined.
- If it snaps shut, it shall snap open.
- Screws better than glues.
- Docs and drivers shall have permalinks and shall reside for all perpetuity at archive.org.
- Ease of repair shall be a design ideal, not an afterthought.
- Metric or standard, not both.
- Schematics shall be included.
But as one observant Boing Boing reader noted, the Make: warranty voider doesn’t exactly follow by the rules of its own Maker’s Bill of Rights.
- No parts list.
- Case is sealed by rivets — cannot be opened for repair.
- Need a drill to remove rivets and a riveter to replace them (i.e. ’special tools required’).
- Can’t get at components to replace them, thus entire assembly must be replaced, and proprietary parts are not available individually to the end user.
- Ease of repair not a consideration.
- No schematics included.
If you’re going to bundle two things together, it’s probably a good idea to make sure they agree with one another.
[Via: Boing Boing]
