tech e blog

This 150 LED-equipped R/C plane is a great idea well executed, and it performs to match. Taking to the skies brightly and gracefully. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

The creator tells us the brightest model consumes 75W of lighting electricity and is "painfully bright at night."

Designed by Vivien Muller, the "Octocube" is basically "a radiator, built entirely from 90-degree pipe pieces." No word yet on if this concept will go into production. Click here for first picture in gallery.

At least there's some physics in there, though: a large surface area heater like this would be a good compromise between heating efficiency and compact size.

UC San Diego have created HIPerSpace, a massive multi-display setup that's apparently great for playing Grand Theft Auto IV on. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Researchers down at UC San Diego have re-engineered their middleware to enable such masterpieces as this to be played on the big monolithic HIPerSpace screen, and needless to say, we can't imagine much real work getting done with this new functionality coming to light.

For those who prefer egg-shaped iPod docks, this gadget is just for you. When cracked open, the "two pieces become your satellite speakers while the base acts as a subwoofer." Click here for first picture in gallery.

The base also provides a dock for your MP3 player. It recharges via induction and when portability is a must - comes with a cool neoprene jacket.

Breaking away completely from the standard lamp designs, this gamer decided to put an old NES Zapper and custom-built Duck Hunt cartridge to good use. Continue reading for a brief overview. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Anyone with old VHS tapes lying around, will appreciate this nifty hack, which turns the cassette into a functional USB hub. To build it, you'll need: a "USB hub, some LEDs, a small switch (optional) and some cables." Project page. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Have any old VHS tapes lying around? Really? What the hell is wrong with you? That stuff should have been tossed ages ago. Anyway, since you have one, it might be a good idea to repurpose it into something useful - like a USB hub

Available in 19-inch or 32-inch displays, this 30 LCD setup by 9X Media "can be arranged in any number of different configurations (complete with multi-screen servers)." No word yet on pricing.

Of course, if that's a bit too excessive for you, 9X Media will also gladly sell you any number of smaller configurations, although you'll have to chat them up for a quote if you move beyond the nine to twelve screen range

The NeoCube is basically "composed of 216 individual high-energy sphere magnets, which can be formed into BILLIONS of shapes and patterns." Video after the break.

Rubik's Cubes are nice if you actually want to think, but how about for those times when you're just sitting there and you want something to fiddle with? The Neocube has 216 spherical neodymium magnets that connect and make a cube, a sphere, or any other obscene shape that springs to mind.

No other dishwasher quite matches the design of the Mural, which "slides along the length of the rack, cleaning as it goes." Pricing and availability have not yet been announced. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Putting your dirty dishes into a dishwasher to clean them only to move them again to a cupboard for storage, is a pretty inefficient system when you think about it.

Here's a first: a notepad with an integrated keyboard. This allows musicians to try out their tunes right then and there, or in private with its built-in headphone jack. No word yet on availability. Click here for first picture in gallery.

It's a keyboard-in-a-folder, and is the perfect tool for busy musicians and composers. Travellers stuck in the same train carriage as someone carrying this should thank their lucky stars that Yamaha didn't make a version for drummers