Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/#comments Image

If you're tired of bananaphones that just make calls, the crew at Gadget Gangster now has a homebrew project to use them for musical escapades. A custom-coded (and appropriately named) Adafruit Propeller board turns a bunch of bananas into the Bananaphone TouchSynth, a synthesizer using the same capacitive touch principles that let a MaKey MaKey turn anything into a controller. The project as it's built won't be rocking stadium-sized crowds anytime soon -- not with those beeps and that lone speaker -- but there's nothing stopping it from scaling up to bigger sounds. Just remember that your fresh beats will turn very brown within a few days.

Continue reading Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video)

Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit propellerAdafruitPropellerbananabanana phoneBananaPhonecapacitivecapacitive touchCapacitiveTouchhackshome brewHomeBrewkeyboardMaKey MaKeyMakeyMakeymusicprojectpropellerSynthesizersynthesizersvideoMon, 21 May 2012 20:59:00 EST<![CDATA['Unique' Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/#comments Some products require no explanation. Take this "Unique Banana Shaped Bluetooth Handset," for example -- either you get it or you don't, but no amount of marketing, advertising, or sweet-talking is going to get a skeptic to appreciate its brilliance. If you're still reading this, maybe -- just maybe -- you fall into the "I need this, particularly at just $17.70" camp, and for you, take heart in the knowledge that you can be just 2 to 5 business days away from talking on a simulated piece of fruit that's connected to your phone via Class 2 Bluetooth 2.0. When's the last time you heard "standby time" quoted for a banana, anyway?

[Thanks, Larry]

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'Unique' Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananabluetoothheadsetFri, 23 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA['Unique' Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/unique-bluetooth-banana-has-truly-limited-applications/#comments Some products require no explanation. Take this "Unique Banana Shaped Bluetooth Handset," for example -- either you get it or you don't, but no amount of marketing, advertising, or sweet-talking is going to get a skeptic to appreciate its brilliance. If you're still reading this, maybe -- just maybe -- you fall into the "I need this, particularly at just $17.70" camp, and for you, take heart in the knowledge that you can be just 2 to 5 business days away from talking on a simulated piece of fruit that's connected to your phone via Class 2 Bluetooth 2.0. When's the last time you heard "standby time" quoted for a banana, anyway?

[Thanks, Larry]

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'Unique' Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesbananabluetoothheadsetmobileFri, 23 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Z8m brings 7.2Mbps HSDPA the banana way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/motorola-z8m-brings-7-2mbps-hsdpa-the-banana-way/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/motorola-z8m-brings-7-2mbps-hsdpa-the-banana-way/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/motorola-z8m-brings-7-2mbps-hsdpa-the-banana-way/#comments
We'd long since forgotten about Motorola's UIQ-based Z8 kick slider -- the introduction of the hotter, fancier Z10 pretty much sealed the deal for us there. Turns out Moto thinks there's still life left in the unusual smartphone, though, and it's taking an updated model to South Korea to prove it. The Z8m comes at a time when Motorola is looking to reassure its South Korean fans that the corporate break-up isn't going to affect its presence here, where SK Telecom continues to serve as its exclusive carrier partner; whether this is just the right phone to do it, we can't say, but we can say that we wish we'd get a version of it stateside. The headlining feature here is support for 7.2Mbps HSDPA (the original Z8 topped out at a mere 3.6Mbps) and appears to carry over the same type of UIQ setup from its predecessor -- just fine with us. Look for it to hit for around 500,000 won, which translates to just about $501.

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Motorola Z8m brings 7.2Mbps HSDPA the banana way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananaedgegsmhsdpakick sliderKickSliderkoreamobilemotomotorolaslidersymbianumtsz8mWed, 23 Apr 2008 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Z12 in the wild?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/05/motorola-z12-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/05/motorola-z12-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/05/motorola-z12-in-the-wild/#comments
The Z10's fresh out of the gate, but it probably serves Motorola well to be thinking well, well ahead -- like 5 megapixels worth of ahead, for example. The so-called Z12 "Skarven" has been rumored for a few months now, and this fairly legit looking shot claims to have a wide swath of the Z series lined up for a family portrait: Z8, Z10, and Z12, from left to right. It allegedly runs UIQ (much like the two kick sliders before it) appears to feature some touch sensitive controls up front, and should feature the aforementioned high-end cam, integrated GPS, and a two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat for all we know. With any luck, we might find out a thing or two at MWC in a few days.

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Motorola Z12 in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananain the wildInTheWildkick sliderKickSlidermobilemotomotorolarumorskarvenslidersymbianuiqz12Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[LG SV280, now in green]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/04/lg-sv280-now-in-green/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/04/lg-sv280-now-in-green/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/04/lg-sv280-now-in-green/#comments
Sorry, it's too easy; we're going to have to skip right past the "it must not be ripe yet" jokes here and play this one straight. The SV280 slider from LG takes a cue from Motorola's Z8 by curving to conform to the user's face when extended; the original was white, and LG's decided green is the way to go for round two. No, it's still not available 'round these parts, but the color's just bizarre enough to make us not sure we care.

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LG SV280, now in green originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananabanana phoneBananaPhonecdmaev doevdogreenlgmobileslidersv280Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:46:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's SV280 "banana style phone"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/#comments
Well, well! Who's copying who now, LG? The Korean firm rethinks (or, at the very least, rips from the Motorola RIZR Z8) ergonomics with its new SV280, apparently inspired by nature's perfect food: the banana. When closed, this clean-lined white slider looks like any other of its kind, but once opened (or is that peeled?), the handset curves to better fit against your face -- and we can easily see the ap'peel' (we so had to get that in somewhere) in that. Features include a 1.3 megapixel camera hidden under the slider, QVGA screen resolution, flashing sidebars for message notification, and an MP3 player. The rest of the phone's spec sheet is a bit of a mystery, but one thing that did pique our curiosity was the mention of "aromatherapy" -- and hey, who doesn't want the subtle scent of delicious fruits wafting toward their nostrils while they're on a call? In light of the local-market "Cyon" branding, expect this one to launch stateside in your wildest dreams only.

[Via AVING]

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LG's SV280 "banana style phone" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananabanana style phoneBananaStylePhonecellphonecyonkoreakoreanlgphonesv280Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's SV280 "banana style phone"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/lgs-sv280-banana-style-phone/#comments
Well, well! Who's copying who now, LG? The Korean firm rethinks (or, at the very least, rips from the Motorola RIZR Z8) ergonomics with its new SV280, apparently inspired by nature's perfect food: the banana. When closed, this clean-lined white slider looks like any other of its kind, but once opened (or is that peeled?), the handset curves to better fit against your face -- and we can easily see the ap'peel' (we so had to get that in somewhere) in that. Features include a 1.3 megapixel camera hidden under the slider, QVGA screen resolution, flashing sidebars for message notification, and an MP3 player. The rest of the phone's spec sheet is a bit of a mystery, but one thing that did pique our curiosity was the mention of "aromatherapy" -- and hey, who doesn't want the subtle scent of delicious fruits wafting toward their nostrils while they're on a call? In light of the local-market "Cyon" branding, expect this one to launch stateside in your wildest dreams only.

[Via AVING]

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LG's SV280 "banana style phone" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aromatherapybananacdmaergonomicev doevdolgmobilesv280Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Automatic banana peeler operates in low gear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/20/automatic-banana-peeler-operates-in-low-gear/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/20/automatic-banana-peeler-operates-in-low-gear/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/20/automatic-banana-peeler-operates-in-low-gear/#commentsApparently, utilizing bananas to satisfy one's DIY cravings is becoming all the rage, as just weeks after hearing about a Texas-sized geostationary blimp, Donkey Kong's favorite fruit is showing up in yet another bizarre contraption. The uber-slow automatic banana peeler is fairly self-explanatory, but if you're still miffed at just what this thing does, we assure you the video demonstration will allow plenty of time for you to fully grasp the concept. Essentially, the creation stands the banana upright and grabs hold of the peeling, and by utilizing some sort of "BBQ machine," it unwraps the fruit at an incredibly sluggish pace. Of course, we'd love for an interpreter to click on through and decipher exactly what these two fellows have to say about this thing, but considering that we actually enjoy fruit more when it's fresh, we aren't particularly interested in waiting five to ten minutes before enjoying a perishable snack.

Continue reading Automatic banana peeler operates in low gear

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Automatic banana peeler operates in low gear originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artautomaticautomation banana peelerAutomationBananaPeelerbananacookingculinarydiyfoodfruithackmodpeelervideoTue, 20 Mar 2007 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Geostationary banana blimp to hover over Texas?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/geostationary-banana-blimp-to-hover-over-texas/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/geostationary-banana-blimp-to-hover-over-texas/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/geostationary-banana-blimp-to-hover-over-texas/#commentsWe've always heard that everything's larger in Texas, and since it's home to one of the largest PC / accessory vendors on the planet, will soon have the world's largest domed stadium, and calls the "Godzillatron" its own, we're starting to believe it. Cesar Saez feels the larger than life love too, as the artist is crafting a "helium-inflated 300-meter banana" to hover above the Lonestar state for a month, and while we'd just love (ahem) for it to pack a bevy of voyeuristic camera gear, this fruit is strictly for gazing at. The Geostationary Banana Over Texas project seeks to lift the dirigible above Texas for no other reason than to express his apparent appreciation for the uniquities in life, as Mr. Saez himself simply stated that "Texas is as symbolic as the banana," leaving us all to wonder what exactly that means. Nevertheless, the project is slated to cost around $1 million when it's all said and done, and while we're not precisely sure when the giant yellow balloon will lift off, we doubt it'll be hard to miss.

[Via TechDigest]

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Geostationary banana blimp to hover over Texas? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftairshipartbananaCesar SaezCesarSaezcraftdesigndirigibleGeostationarytexasFri, 09 Feb 2007 05:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Conceal your Bluetooth headset inside a fake banana]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/conceal-your-bluetooth-headset-inside-a-fake-banana/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/conceal-your-bluetooth-headset-inside-a-fake-banana/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/conceal-your-bluetooth-headset-inside-a-fake-banana/#comments "I've got a feeling, so appealing! Cellular, modular, interactive-odular, ding-dong ding-dong ding -- BANANA PHONE!" Forgive us, it's not often that we get to quote Raffi songs around here, okay? Good, so Raffi fans, gather 'round, because this is one hack you won't want to miss. A clever fellow by the name of Larry Pesce took one Bluetooth Jabra BT110 headset, disassembled it in true geek fashion, and glued it inside a fake banana purchased from a craft store. And from the photos, it looks like it can be opened again to replace the existing AA battery. Here's a fun weekend prank: replace your household fruitbowl with fake fruit, each with its own unique electronic function inside, and send us photos of the reactions of your housemates/family. Or not; but dude, bananaphone!

[Via MAKE]

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Conceal your Bluetooth headset inside a fake banana originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bananabanana phoneBananaPhoneCulturefruitjabramobileperipheralsraffiweekend projectsWeekendProjectsMon, 28 Aug 2006 12:50:00 EST