Odd Gadgets - SlashGear

‘odd gadgets’ Stories

Sphero remote-controlled ball pre-orders started, apps released [Video]

Chris Burns, Nov 1st 2011 Discuss [1]

For those of you who've not yet seen this little device in action, I definitely recommend you head below at least for the video of it being controlled by its creating group's CEO, for this is Sphero, and there is basically nothing like it in the world. When I was a kid, I had a remote-controlled monster truck that had a bit of trouble doing much other than running along the sidewalk. Later there was the three-wheeled monster that was supposedly unable to get caught on its side - oh I caught it, alright. Now there's this, what's literally a sphere which I can control from my Android or iOS device, and it's up for pre-order right now. What more could one ask for? Read The Full Story

The Wooden Gadget collection: for chewers only

Chris Burns, Nov 1st 2011 Discuss [0]

Now that the holiday season is approaching much faster than I'm sure anyone in a position to have to drop their hard-earned bills would want it to, one must wonder what a tech-minded person might want, especially one who has everything, especially one who also has a kid: how about some wood? As it's been made clear here on SlashGear, many of us have kids of our own, and though we might want to keep them as far from the gadgets we've got engulfing our everyday lives as we can, they've inevitably got them in their mouths on the daily. That's why an engraving group by the fancy name of "3Princesses" has decided to make a line of wooden baby toys to nip the drool problem in the bud. Read The Full Story

Ultima Online creator runs his studio remotely with a robot named Mini-Me

Chris Burns, Oct 28th 2011 Discuss [4]

If there was one day this month that I would call the oddest for news, it would be today, ladies and gentlemen, and the show goes on with a robot that takes the place of Ultima creator Richard Garriot at his downtown Austin game development company Portalarium. If you've seen the show Big Bang Theory or are familiar with the Qbo open-source robot (with Android) you know that the idea for having a robot surrogate doing all your daily activities for you isn't a brand new idea. Indeed it wasn't even Garriot who made the robot in question here, he's simply using it. Instead its the combination of the fact that the creator of one of the most famous online multiplayer games has a robot doing his bidding and the fact that he once had it represent his mother at his own wedding. Read The Full Story

K-Bow Bluetooth Sensor Bow has first string quartet

Chris Burns, Oct 28th 2011 Discuss [0]

Today it was announced that come November, the Grammy award winning Kronos Quartet will be the first to do a a concert both composed for and performed with a bluetooth sensor bow. The bow in question is K-Bow, designed by Berkeley based Keith McMillen Instruments, aka KMI, and the quartet will be playing "Polar Suite" as composed by Douglas Quin as Syracuse University at the College of Visual and Performing Arts. This event will be part of a weeklong residency by the group and the K-Bow event will take place November 9, 2011, at 8PM. Read The Full Story

AUO brings transparent displays to vending machines [Video]

Chris Burns, Oct 28th 2011 Discuss [0]

This week in Yokohama the folks at AUO are showing off more than one transparent AMOLED display, the largest of which appears to be fully functional on a full-sized vending machine. What you'll see below is a machine that'll give you a bottle of water at the same time as it displays a jungle, complete with a giraffe head, monkeys, and a chicken, all of them playing for your entertainment. Not only this, the entire 65-inch display is entirely touch sensitive, so you can order your drink by simply tapping. Read The Full Story

Food Finish turns your food an edible chrome

Chris Burns, Oct 26th 2011 Discuss [5]

Is that chicken dipped in gold? No, but it sure looks like it is, and because it was sprayed that way with what The Deli Garage calls Food Finish, it's completely safe to eat, too. Ever wanted the Midas touch, and not just with your household appliances, with all of your tasty treats as well? That time has come, ladies and gentlemen, and although you can't quite buy this spray here in the USA yet due to some sort of shipping regulations, you can sit in wait while the spray gains popularity internationally. Read The Full Story

Rent Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Nymph submarine for $2,500 per day

Shane McGlaun, Aug 30th 2011 Discuss [5]

It would be great to have the kind of money that Sir Richard Branson has at his disposal. The dude has islands, aircraft, ships, and even spacecraft that he toys around with. One of the cooler things that Branson has is his fast Necker Belle luxury catamaran. The catamaran is said to be one of the fastest on the oceans, but the coolest thing about it to me is the Necker Nymph. Read The Full Story

HD Spy Camera light switch has motion detection and more

Shane McGlaun, Jun 24th 2011 Discuss [3]

If you want to be able to keep a very close eye on a certain part of your home or office the Spy Camera Light Switch with GSM Remote control from Chinavision might be perfect. I can certainly see this being used for some nefarious types looking to spy on people, but I can see the benefit of the camera for legitimate means too. In the business world often you have to keep an eye on who is in certain locations like the server room. Read The Full Story

Blacklight Trick Print Presented by Kobundo

Chris Burns, Jun 21st 2011 Discuss [0]

Printing - what in the world is SlashGear talking about printing for, that's just for graphic design and artwork, right? I say thee nay! This is totally sweet and everyone's going to love it, I'm telling you! This project involves Kobundo, a group that call the following method Trick Print, it being a method of printing which combines luminous RGB ink with regular CMYK ink in a single pass. What's this mean to the lay person? It means that instead of having to lay down CMYK colors from their cartridges first, then RGB second (something noone would do anyway,) they've figured out a method for lying down two color sets at once. Read The Full Story

LED Rave Gloves from EmazingLights

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 10th 2011 Discuss [1]

EmazingLights introduces its new Rave gloves. Apparently there is a new art form called “Gloving” that is evolving around these devices. They look like ordinary cotton gloves with LEDs attached to them. Dancers can perform new moves and colorful effects with them like tutting, digits, rolls, liquid and many others. The LED implanted gloves in the picture below are named “Skittles.” Read The Full Story

iPad Game for White Tigers Mimics Kitten Mittens Vibe

Chris Burns, Feb 4th 2011 Discuss [5]

This is one of those bits of content that I think noone saw coming. This video and explanation for an app just showed up in our mailbox and despite, or perhaps because of it's utterly unbelievable preview video, it is amazing. The name of the app that the following wacky commercial is about is "Game for Cats." Sound good so far? No? Sounds kind of weird and for cat people, people who love cats? Do press on. Read The Full Story

Secret Skateboard – For Office Women Under the Table

Chris Burns, Jan 17th 2011 Discuss [3]

This right here is a skateboard with style, for the woman skater with an desk job, just waiting to get back on the streets to do some sick 50-50 grinds, but currently filing papers and being a boss in the office. This is a board created by designer Carissa Carter and created as a treat for the owner. Made to be stroked, not ridden. Read The Full Story