TechEBlog

Stepping on LEGO Bricks Can be Painful, This Clever Invention Aims to Solve That Problem

By Jackson Chung November 18, 2015

Photo credit: Brand Station | H/T: Bored Panda

Let’s face it, anyone, child or adult, who still has LEGO bricks lying around their home, has probably stepped on a few over the years, and it’s definitely not an experience you want to remember. Introducing Anti-Lego Slippers by France-based Brand Station, which are limited to just 1500-pairs, and boast thicker padding. Unfortunately, they will not be sold to consumers, but rather given away to those who fill out Christmas wishlists on LEGO France’s website. Click here to view the first image in this week’s art of trolling gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of a machine that turns vinyl records into techno.

Wooden Ferrari F50 Hits the Venice Canals in Italy, Doubles as Boat

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

Livio De Marchi, a master craftsman from Italy, decided to make his own Ferrari F50 out of wood. He spent 5-months replicating everything from the mirrors to logo, and now, it shares the historic Venetian waterways with gondolas and water taxis. This watercraft weighs in at around 2,000-pounds, which is only slightly less than the real steel / aluminum F50. Since it’s designed for water, this F50 is powered by a Yamaha boat engine rather than a V12. Click here to view the first image in this week’s geek life gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of a 3D-printed Stargate that actually dials.

NVIDIA SHIELD Console + Remote is Great for 4K Streaming, Gaming and Android TV, Get the Bundle for $175 Shipped

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

The NVIDIA SHIELD Console + Remote just might be the game system killer you’ve been seeking, and you can pick up the bundle for just $174.99 shipped, this week only, originally $249.98. This device transforms your experience from just watching TV to playing TV-powered by Android TV and the latest technologies. The hottest movies and shows in brilliant 4K. Your favorite songs at the touch of a button. And a new generation of great apps and games. GeForce NOW lets you stream a library of new and classic PC games at up to 1080p* resolution at 60 FPS from NVIDIA gaming supercomputers in the cloud. Product page. Continue reading for two more full video reviews and information.

How They Brought Jabba the Hutt to Life in Star Wars and 18 More Fascinating Photos

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

For those who have never seen any of the original Star Wars films, Jabba the Hutt is basically a large, slug-like alien, or as some like to say, a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat, who first appeared in Return of the Jedi (1983), though he is mentioned in A New Hope (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). The puppet required three puppeteers to operate, making it one of the largest ever used in a motion picture. Stuart Freeborn designed the puppet, while John Coppinger sculpted its latex, clay, and foam pieces. Puppeteers included David Alan Barclay, Toby Philpott, and Mike Edmonds, who were members of Jim Henson’s Muppet group. Barclay operated the right arm and mouth and read the character’s English dialogue, while Philpott controlled the left arm, head, and tongue. Edmonds, the shortest of the three men (he also played the Ewok Logray in later scenes) was responsible for the movement of Jabba’s tail. Tony Cox, who also played an Ewok, would assist as well. The eyes and facial expressions were operated by radio control. Continue reading for more fascinating photos.

When Paired with TrackingPoint’s Smart Rifle, Shotglass Shooting Glasses Lets You Shoot Around Corners

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

Similar to Google Glass, TrackingPoint’s Shotglass Shooting Glasses sports an integrated high-definition camera that works in conjunction with a wide-screen WQVGA display, but that’s where the similarities end. Powered by the Android operating system for one-touch video recording, when paired with the company’s XS1 or XS2 Precision-Guided Firearm systems, they can provide you with two unique fields of view on every shot, and even the ability to shoot around corners by utilizing the digital optics mounted on the gun. Continue reading for two more videos of the smart rifles.

At First, Divergent Blade Appears to be Just Another Supercar, But It’s Actually 3D-Printed and Faster Than a Ferrari

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

The Divergent Blade appears to be just another supercar at first glance, but once you find out the story behind this vehicle, you’ll realize it’s 3D-printed, and faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia to boot. Powered by a 700-horsepower bi-fuel engine (can be fueled with either petrol gasoline or compressed natural gas), it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.2-seconds. To understand just how fast this is, a Ferrari 458 goes 0-60 mph in roughly 2.9 to 3 seconds. However, what really makes the 1400-pound supercar stand out is its modular, 3D-printed chassis that’s printed from aluminum nodes and aerospace carbon fiber rods. Click here to view the first image in today’s viral picture gallery. Continue reading for the five most popular viral videos today, including one of a Luke Skywalker supercut of the many characters he’s killed in the movie.

Forget Refrigerators, eCool Earth Cooler Cools Your Drinks Underground Without Using Electricity

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

Say goodbye to beverage coolers, and hello to Earth Cooler, developed by Danish company eCool. This contraption basically holds up to 24 regular-sized cans, and is installed by simply burying it completely beneath the surface, or just any place with soil – garden, terrace, etc. The only tools required are either a garden shovel or a garden drill to make the hole deep enough. The top of the cooler is so well insulated that it maintains the same temperature throughout. Continue reading for a video animation of how it works.

Airbus Aerion AS2 Supersonic Business Jet Can Travel from New York to London in 3-Hours, Hit Mach 1.5

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

H/T: Mail Online

Unlike other business jets, the $120-million Airbus Aerion AS2 is the world’s first private supersonic jet, enabling passengers to travel between London and New York in just three hours, or from Los Angeles to Tokyo in a mere six. It has a top speed of 1,217 mph (Mach 1.5), which is a hair under the Concorde’s 1,350 mph, using supersonic laminar flow technology. The carbon fiber wing design will allow for lighter fuel consumption and increased travel ranges by reducing aerodynamic drag by 20%. The cabin is designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers. Continue reading for another video and more information.

NASA Captures Stunning Image of Saturn Moons Enceladus and Dione

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

Here’s a stunning image of Enceladus and Dione, captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. “The surface of Enceladus (313 miles or 504 kilometers across) endures a constant rain of ice grains from its south polar jets. As a result, its surface is more like fresh, bright, snow than Dione’s (698 miles or 1123 kilometers across) older, weathered surface. As clean, fresh surfaces are left exposed in space, they slowly gather dust and radiation damage and darken in a process known as ‘space weathering,'” said NASA. Continue reading for another video of Dione, as captured by Cassini.

Hardest Mario Maker Levels Revealed in These 5 Videos, are Nearly Impossible to Beat

By Jackson Chung November 17, 2015

Super Mario Maker is basically the end all for any fans of the famous plumber, as it lets you create and upload custom levels for the world to enjoy. You read that right, [layers may create and play their own custom levels based on Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U and share them online. Over time, new editing tools are unlocked, allowing players to download and play levels designed by other players. In addition to traditional Mario elements such as Goombas, warp pipes, and power ups, players are able to manipulate the behavior of various elements in unique ways. For example, they can stack enemies, have hazards come out of question blocks and warp pipes, use shells as protective helmets, and make cannons and Lakitu emit any chosen objects. These combinations are possible because editing tools in the game work in tandem with one another. This allows players to enlarge an enemy by giving it a mushroom, grant an enemy the ability to fly by giving it wings, combine different attributes, and more Continue reading to see some of the hardest custom levels to date.