Category: Cool

Circuit Bending Games

circuit bending

If your into making weird noises and also like to mess with a soldering iron maybe you should give circuit bending a try. That’s where you poke and prod around the electronics of a device (like a Speak-n-spell) and cause the output sounds to be changed in weird ways.
I think I did this by accident when I was a very small child, my father had and electronic piano that would pick up radio stations if you touched some components on the back. Me and my friends thought that is was pretty cool at the time, but then again we were about six.

…examples of game cartridges and portable systems that have been circuit bent to create a nice glitch aesthetic & sound…Jumpstart has been bending the Gauntlet game on Sega Master System II here.

MAKE: Blog: Circuit Bending Games

Micro Butterfly

Butterfly

It’s small, it’s expencive, it’s so cool it burns. It’s a micro sized R/C airplane so small it’s safe to fly indoors. It might be the smallest in the world but i kind of doubt it. However I’m sure that it’s the smallest you can buy. Exerybody donate to the site so I can get one to review it. 🙂

Here are the specs for the true geeks out there:

Butterfly Airframe w/Installed:

  • 0.4g micro900 receiver
  • GB05 4mm 5:1 Gearbox
  • Carbon Fiber Propeller!
  • 0.22g HingeAct Actuator
  • Audible Tones and LED indicators
  • Built-In Low Voltage Cutoff

HFX900 Transmitter

  • 4 CH transmitter – Full Proportional
  • 3 User Selectable frequencies
  • Built-In lipoly Bahoma charger
  • Connects to FMS Flight Simulator!
  • 900Mhz ISM band USA, 868Mhz EU
  • FCC and CE Approved!
  • Requires 4 AA cells

ALSO:

  • 30mAh 0.9g LiPoly Bahoma Battery
  • FMS computer interface cable
  • CDROM w/Freeware FMS flight-Sim
  • nstructional Videos, and manual

The whole works, packed in a custom
fitted aluminum carrying case!

You know, the aluminum case is the real seller. Just think, you take the kids to the Pizza Gorp Playland so they can tear up the place and instead of gawking at the soccer moms you can nerd out to the tenth power once you open your case of R/C fun. You can even tell the waitress that if she sees the wings waggle to bring you another pitcher of beer.
Now if it could only carry a little camera and transmitter…

Plantraco’s RTF Butterfly – Fly in your Livingroom!

(Thanks to Keven for spotting this one.)

Pretty Camera… Want Pretty Camera…

HD Camera

I need one for recording my fish swimming in his aquarium… Ok, that might be a little overkill but my fish would look simply stunning.
Ok, back to reality. This is the kind of camera that you buy to make money with, not shoot home viddies of the kids romping around the pool. With this camera you should be out shooting indy films, or TV ads, or at least porn.

… HDV video camera and HDV recorder that supports 720p, has a 1.1MP 1/3″ 3CCD sensor and offers recording in PAL and NTSC. It supports MiniDV and DV and you can even connect an external HDD to record either 3h of video on 40Gb or 6h on 80Gb. If you want to make copies of your art afterworks, have a look at the HD50, that is 480/60p to 1080/60i compatible. It also comes with a FireWire connection. The camera will cost 6500 EUR and the recorder 3900 EUR, and they will be available from September onwards.

HDV camera and HDV recorder