If you asked us to drop $350 for 23 pieces of laser-cut plastic, we’d probably shoo you away, but it’s hard to resist the incredible charm of the Nanocade . Besides, designer Rasmus Sorensen’s actually selling the miniature arcade cabinet parts for just $229 right now, which makes the decision to finally build your own MAME machine a wee bit more affordable. You’ll still need to supply all the internals yourself, including buttons, an arcade stick, a monitor and glue, and even should you succeed, good luck prying guests away from your new coffee table conversation piece. Find the basic kit in your choice of Midnight Black or Arctic White at our source link. Note: It’s a bit of a bummer, but the Nanocade website says that handsome curved control panel displayed above actually isn’t part of the initial kit — it comes with a pair of flat pieces that meet at a (seemingly) wrist-chafing angle instead. Nanocade kit now on sale in the USA, somewhat less pricy at $229 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posts Tagged ‘entry’
Nanocade kit now on sale in the USA, somewhat less pricy at $229
Posted in Software Tools 
Tags: arctic-white, black-or-arctic, entry, midnight-black, miniature, panel-displayed, rasmus-sorensen, science and technology, Source, usa 
Comments OffIxonos shows off windowed UI for Android
When your tablet needs a windowed UI, has it crossed some undrawn, implied boundary that makes it too complex for the kinds of casual tasks you’d want to accomplish on a tablet? Hard to say, but the mobile developers at Ixonos took to MWC last week to showcase a windowed build of Android on top of a tablet developed by Aava — so at the very least, we know it’s possible. The system is built atop Froyo and allows apps to continue running in the background — they don’t suspend, which means you can, say, play a video while you’re off composing messages. The company also demonstrated the software on a dual-screen 7-inch tablet, allowing apps to be launched on either screen and transferred between them — all seemingly without any customizations needed to individual apps, which is going to be key for a system like this to gain any market traction. Follow the break for Ixonos’ press release and demo video. Continue reading Ixonos shows off windowed UI for Android Ixonos shows off windowed UI for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: allowing-apps, background, either-screen, entry, individual-apps, makes-it-too, Mobile, mobile phones, off-composing, press-release, science and technology, the-background, Video, windowed-build Comments OffInhabitat’s Week in Green: trains speed up, paint improves planes, and the CO2-scrubbing artificial trees
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. This week Inhabitat saw high-speed railways pick up steam around the globe as China announced plans to build a trans-continental railroad in South America and Japan began developing the world’s fastest high-speed train . We also saw eco transportation reach new heights as a kite-powered car completed an epic 5,000km journey across Australia and researchers developed a nanotech paint that will increase the fuel efficiency of airplanes. The automotive world is also gearing up for the Geneva car show as Toyota is getting set to roll out an all-electric IQ and Porsche pulled back the curtain on its Panamera S Hybrid and Boxster EV . In other news, this week we brought you an exclusive video interview where celebrated environmentalist Stewart Brand argues that nuclear power could save the world. We also explored several other alternative energy sources that are decidedly less controversial – PurposeEnergy is transforming beer brewing waste into a source of clean-burning biofuel, and a design duo has proposed a series of beautiful solar-powered artificial trees that scrub CO2 from the air. Roughly one in every six people do not have access to safe drinking water, so we were excited to learn about a pedal-powered water purification system based on the bicycle that holds great promise for the developing world. Speaking of cleaning up dirty water, this week Stephen Baldwin sued Kevin Costner over the oil-separating technology that cleaned up the BP oil spill. And last but not least, we were wowed by this hydrofloor system , which can save space and energy by concealing a swimming pool beneath your living room floor! Inhabitat’s Week in Green: trains speed up, paint improves planes, and the CO2-scrubbing artificial trees originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: Alternative, bicycle, china, entry, green, japan, kevin-costner, News, save-the-world, science and technology, show-as-toyota, south-america Comments OffRobot hand hits 20WPM, nearly ready to embrace infinite monkey theorem
Robot hands have been grabbing , crushing , drawing and otherwise actuating for years, but have you ever seen one properly type? That’s the primary purpose of a new Virginia Tech design. Engineers built this Dexterous Anthropomorphic Robotic Typing (DART) hand to mimic real human hands as best they could, down to individually-actuating three-segment digits and 110 degrees of wrist rotation in a similarly sized package. Using a total of 19 servo motors and high tensile strength wire for the tendons, they managed to create a single mechanical paw that can achieve an estimated 20 words per minute while typing. Next, they plan to cover it in silicone skin and add piezoelectric sensors to provide tactile feedback. Imagine that: the next time a secret family member severs your arm with a focused plasma beam, you’ll know where to go for replacement. Find a quick video and the full scientific paper at the links below. Robot hand hits 20WPM, nearly ready to embrace infinite monkey theorem originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: entry, focused-plasma, hands-as-best, member-severs, mobile phones, provide-tactile, science and technology, similarly-sized, virginiatech Comments OffKinect hackers give us iOS-friendly dodgeball and Human Tetris
Remember that Microsoft Rally Ball demo from a few days ago that showed Windows Phone 7′s integration with Xbox? Well, the gang at Supertouch has stolen a bit of Ballmer’s thunder with a new Kinect hack that lets you hurl digital orbs at your Kinect-controlling friend using an iOS device instead of a WP7 handset. The graphics for the game and the iDevice controls aren’t nearly as pretty as Microsoft’s cross-platform gaming solution, but the end result is pretty much the same — flingin’ balls with a phone while your friend dodges them courtesy of Kinect. Meanwhile, Frog Design has added a Human Tetris game to the Kinect’s repertoire where players perfect their Vogue-ing skills by striking a pose to match an approaching cut-out on screen. Finally, all the shape-shifting fun with none of the goofy silver jumpsuits. Vids are after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent these in] Continue reading Kinect hackers give us iOS-friendly dodgeball and Human Tetris Kinect hackers give us iOS-friendly dodgeball and Human Tetris originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: after-the-break, Design, device-instead, entry, Game, gaming-solution, hackers-give, human-tetris, kinect, much-the-same, players-perfect, science and technology, Video, Windows, windows-phone Comments OffImperia plug-in hybrid does 0 – 60 in four seconds, looks classy while doing it
If you’re tired of hybrids like the Prius or Volt , cars that could easily get lost in a Hertz parking lot, check out the GP. It’s the first and only product from resurrected Belgian auto maker Imperia, which previously operated in the early 20th century, but other than the pronounced front grille offers little resemblance to its forbears either above or below that pronounced bonnet. It has an inline four cylinder turbo engine offering 212hp that’s paired with a 134hp electric engine, itself backed by a Li-polymer battery pack. It’ll do about 45 miles on batteries alone but, more importantly, will roll the 0 – 60mph sprint in under four seconds. Or, at least, it will if it ever hits production. A concept of the car was unveiled at the Brussels Auto Show, but it’s anyone’s guess when it might actually hit the road for reals. Gallery: Imperia GP Imperia plug-in hybrid does 0 – 60 in four seconds, looks classy while doing it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: 134hp-electric, above-or-below, brussels, cylinder, cylinder-turbo, engine-offering, entry, hybrid, itself-backed, mobile phones, plug-in-hybrid, pronounced, science and technology, seconds Comments OffRedbox is planning a Netflix-like subscription streaming movie service, could partner with Amazon or Walmart
According to Company Town , Redbox prez Mitch Lowe informed analysts yesterday that its upcoming online movie service would be subscription-based like Netflix and Hulu Plus instead of charging per-movie like iTunes, Zune or Amazon VOD (we can guess why .) Users would pay the monthly fee to stream to various devices (perhaps to the new iPhone and Android apps ) and access discs at the kiosks. Lowe mentioned Redbox would have a partner in the service and while previous rumors pointed to CinemaNow , the Seattle Times suggests Walmart / Vudu and Amazon — rumored to be launching a subscription service of its own this month — as possibilities. Meanwhile, in its existing disc based business, word is Disney has decided to raise the amount it charges Netflix and Redbox for each DVD to the full wholesale price, although they’ll still be available the same day the DVDs go on sale. Redbox is planning a Netflix-like subscription streaming movie service, could partner with Amazon or Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: cinema, dvd, entry, hollywood, mobile phones, netflix, redbox, science and technology, seattle-times, streaming-movie, upcoming-online, various-devices, walmart, zune-or-amazon Comments OffRinspeed BamBoo electric concept is world’s largest HTC Flyer dock
Talk about your cross promotions. The Rinderknecht-built Rinspeed BamBoo concept electric car looks to be the stuff of a gadget nerd’s dreams. Unfortunately, that dream resembles a dystopian future envisioned by a Neal Stephenson novel whereby everything we own is sponsored, slathered in corporate logos. But hey, it’s just a concept, and production vehicles never look like the original idea so anything goes… and we mean anything . To start with, the breadbox-inspired dash features a Siemens VDO display with a docking station in the glovebox for the new HTC Flyer tablet. The BamBoo dash is flanked by flowery JBL GreenEdge speakers and the starter key is styled after a Swiss army knife. And if we’re not mistaken, there’s a webcam extended off a stalk from the center of the dash. An interesting piece of work right on down to the cluster of old school throw switches for the wipers, lights, hazards, etc. But that’s just the cockpit. The radiator grill has been replaced by an internet-connected “identiface,” developed by Daimler subsidiary MBtech, whereby the occupant can display any number of messages to onlookers from Facebook or Twitter, for example, or even the radio station preset you’re currently jamming. The inflatable rear seats are removable as is the inflatable waterproof roof developed by Tecnotex that doubles as a beach blanket. The whole kit is powered by a 54 kW electric motor capable of a 120km/h top speed and battery capable of pushing the sporty golf cart some 105 kilometers before requiring a recharge from an RWE intelligent charging station. Look for it to make its big reveal at the Geneva Motor Show. Until then, head over to Autoblog to feast on their gallery of images with a few choice shots added below. Gallery: Rinspeed Bamboo [Thanks, Tim] Continue reading Rinspeed BamBoo electric concept is world’s largest HTC Flyer dock Rinspeed BamBoo electric concept is world’s largest HTC Flyer dock originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: automobile, docking-station, entry, even-the-radio, facebook, from-the-center, geneva-motor, green, Inflatable, inflatable-rear, mobile phones, rinspeed-bamboo, swiss, waterproof-roof, webcam-extended Comments OffSwitched On: Iconic trends meet ironic ends
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On , a column about consumer technology. This week saw significant and contrasting twists for the legacies of two operating systems that had their roots in the heyday of the PDA. HP revealed that it is killing off the Palm brand , and Nokia announced that — while it would continue to “harvest” less capable versions of the Symbian operating system on its basic handsets — it would shift away from the operating system in its smartphones in favor of Windows Phone 7 . In some ways, the demise of the Palm brand and the loss of Symbian’s last major supporter at Microsoft’s hands represent the end of an era. Continue reading Switched On: Iconic trends meet ironic ends Switched On: Iconic trends meet ironic ends originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: entry, hands-represent, its-smartphones, Microsoft, mobile phones, Nokia, operating, palm, science and technology, Symbian, system-on-its, trends-meet, Windows Comments OffHP’s ‘Everybody On’ ad goes to the Grammys, causes nationwide cringing
HP told us to watch for a special new campaign during the Grammys, so watch we did — only to find this commercial and occasional on-stage pimping of the HP TouchPad. The latter is standard business practice, to be sure, but the former? Well, words (nearly) escape us. You really have to watch it for yourself, but just imagine a butchering of Lou Reed’s classic (though far, far overused) “Walk On The Wild Side,” where tales of doping and cross dressing have been replaced with tales of… Tweeting. And Digging. And other really trite stuff. The cinematography and general message of the commercial is actually spot on, but it all gets crushed under the weight of this bad musical decision. HP played this same video at the event on Wednesday, but little did we know it would be the kick-off of the company’s marketing onslaught. We’re honestly taken aback by how off key (no pun intended) this ad is. You would think after all the bad press Palm got on its previous big ad campaign (and even after some not-so-gentle advice ) the folks in charge would think twice about something this potentially polarizing. We won’t lie — we’re disappointed. Both by HP / Palm, and Lou Reed. All of you guys… back to the drawing board. Look on the bright side, though — at least you’ve got about six months to wash this out of people’s brains. HP’s ‘Everybody On’ ad goes to the Grammys, causes nationwide cringing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in Software Tools Tags: campaign-during, commercial, cross-dressing, crushed-under, drawing, entry, grammys, honestly-taken, mobile phones, potentially, science and technology, the-commercial Comments Off