Engadget

German museum recreates 130-year-old EV, looks like a steampunk Segway

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:14:00 EST

If you think that EVs are new-fangled rubbish, it'll serve you well to listen up. Five years before Karl Benz patented his original horseless carriage, messers. William Ayrton and John Perry engineered the electrically-powered Starley Tricycle. Germany's Autovision Museum spent around a year building a fully working replica of this transportation sensation of the 1880s. Considering the 130-year-old nature of the technology, the vehicle turned out to be very comfortable, super-quiet and fast: it'll top out at a respectable eight miles per hour, with a range of around 25 miles. After the break you'll be able to see the machine in action. No word on if the museum will produce any more in time for Christmas, but it would certainly be a hit with the steampunk commuter crowd.

Continue reading German museum recreates 130-year-old EV, looks like a steampunk Segway

German museum recreates 130-year-old EV, looks like a steampunk Segway originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sputnik 0667 PC mod: perfect for your early 1900s living room

Joseph Volpe — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:21:00 EST

Do ya hate that slick, aluminum unibody design that you just shelled out a thousand plus smackers for? Looking for something that just screams alt-tech, not high-tech? Then please, feast your steampunky eyes on this beauty of a PC mod that'll fit perfectly alongside your Memaw's china closet. Crafted by Swedish art student Love Hulten, this wood-grained cabinet of wonders takes its design cues from "the 20th century and old hi-fi." Hiding under that well-varnished hood is a Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 Mini-ITX motherboard with a 3.2GHz Core i3 500 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD and a GeForce GTX 460 GPU and a log-fire power supply. Love's hybrid commode is up for sale, but you'll have to contact the artist himself to get pricing. Check the sources below for a few more shots, as well as a bit of inspiration from the last millennium.

Sputnik 0667 PC mod: perfect for your early 1900s living room originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Datamancer Steampunk Laptop now available for anachronistic pre-order

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:59:00 EST

We really hope you've haven't grown tired of Steampunk over the years. Over-saturated? Passé? Perhaps, but there's still something undeniably alluring about the blend of Victorian-era mechanics and modern technology. That's why, even three years after we first caught a glimpse of it, we're pretty psyched to hear that Datamancer's Steampunk Laptop is actually being made available for purchase. Detailed specs haven't been offered, we only know that it will feature "cutting-edge internal components," but we can tell you there are a bevy of customization options. You can choose everything from the wood stain color, to keyboard fonts, to etched brass lids or clockwork gears like the original design (except these will tick and turn). You can pre-order one now (at the source link) for $5,500 -- a healthy discount over the estimated price once production on these one-of-a-kind machines kicks in to gear ($7,500+). Now we just have to decide between food and rent, or a work of PC art.

Datamancer Steampunk Laptop now available for anachronistic pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: hybrid hydrogen hovercraft, amphibious ice cream, and the transparent solar touchscreen laptop of our dreams

Inhabitat — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

Solar energy supercharged our power grid and gadgets this week as Inhabitat showcased a hot solar laptop set within a transparent case that allows sunlight to shine straight through it. We also saw a team of Japanese engineers' shoot for the moon with plans for a lunar photovoltaic plant, while back on earth Seoul officially launched the world's first solar-powered floating island. Scientists also used sunlight to create the perfect cup of joe with the Helios 4 solar coffee roaster, and now that the weather is finally heating up we couldn't help but share this sexy solar bikini -- which just hit the market!

In other news, green transportation set sail this week as Volkswagen unveiled a hybrid hydrogen-electric hovercraft and the world's first amphibious ice cream truck cast anchor in the Thames. Meanwhile, a new mini electric Humvee was spotted just a few streets away in London, students at the University of Adelaide unveiled a crazy electric di-wheel car, and a group of scientists unveiled plans to harvest Helium-3 from Uranus to help propel interstellar travel. Enerkam also took a big step towards transforming municipal waste into fuel by securing a $60 million investment, and we took you for a ride on 14 of the world's most amazing subways.

Last but not least, this week we officially unveiled 40 stunning finalists in our Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition - from a gorgeous geometric chandelier made from cut and folded Tetra Paks to a living LED light that doubles as a terrarium and a brilliant lamp made from a broken blender. We were also shocked to hear the World Health Organization declare that cell phones may cause cancer, so we rounded up 5 ways to protect yourself from cellphone radiation. Finally, we showcased a steampunk R2-D2 made from recycled materials, and if you're stepping up your exercise routine to hit the beach this summer you won't want to miss the S770 Pinnacle Trainer -- an energy-generating exercise machine that produces watts while you work out!

Inhabitat's Week in Green: hybrid hydrogen hovercraft, amphibious ice cream, and the transparent solar touchscreen laptop of our dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk USB cufflinks are as awesome as they are pricey

Vlad Savov — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST

You wouldn't think something classifiable as "wearable storage" would look so darn dapper, but here we are, staring at just about the finest cufflinks we ever did see. Not only are these handmade shirt cuffs beautiful in the most steampunk of ways, they're also pretty useful as each features an 8GB flash storage chip with the utterly ubiquitous USB connector attached. Basically, they're what James Bond would wear if James Bond wore really awesome cufflinks. The general idea behind them might not exactly be original anymore, but we can't really fault the execution here. What we could probably find fault with is our lack of $225 of disposable coin, the price one will have to pay to sport this unique pair of hand-carved, walnut-enclosed memory sticks.

[Thanks, Amelia]

Continue reading Steampunk USB cufflinks are as awesome as they are pricey

Steampunk USB cufflinks are as awesome as they are pricey originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra supercar has a steampunk interior that would impress even Dio Eraclea (video)

Tim Stevens — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:37:00 EST

After a number of leaks and teases Pagani has unleashed its Zonda successor to the world, and it's the Huayra, a name that we're still having trouble spelling reliably but know that it's pronounced "hoo-aii-ra." Compared to the company's current offering this new model has a relatively understated design, designed to "shape the wind" rather than tear it a new one like the Zonda does. That said, the Huayra still shares key elements that make it unmistakably Pagani -- headlights, short nose, and a decided pear shape that could make J.Lo blush. Sure, the nose is a bit questionable, making this look a smidge like a Fisker Karma to us, but it's the interior that really has us intrigued. Click on through for more.

Gallery: Pagani Huayra supercar

Continue reading Pagani Huayra supercar has a steampunk interior that would impress even Dio Eraclea (video)

Pagani Huayra supercar has a steampunk interior that would impress even Dio Eraclea (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you didn't get this Steampunk Etch-a-Sketch for Christmas, but you probably want it now, don't you?

Laura June — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:28:00 EST

What you're looking at above is a real, actual object found in the material world. It's an Etch-a-Sketch so modified, as to look like a glorious leftover from a bygone era that never was. What era, you ask? Oh, the Victorian era -- so named for the United Kingdom's longest reigning monarch -- with a great dash of fancy added into the mix. We're talking alternate history, people! A history so wonderful, so beautiful, that a lowly red plastic Etch-a-Sketch could end up both complex and inordinately heavy looking. Made by an industrious youth as a Christmas gift for a chum, we couldn't imagine a better way to make this boring old gadget look so jolly well festive. Hurrah!

We know you didn't get this Steampunk Etch-a-Sketch for Christmas, but you probably want it now, don't you? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'The Collective' steampunk USB drive is the stocking stuffer Jules Verne always wanted

Ben Bowers — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:33:00 EST

Miffed you didn't buy that $300 8GB steampunk USB drive we shared over the summer? Well, the good news is if you've got $395 worth of shillings lying around, Will Rockwell's 16GB steampunk USB drive christened "The Collective" is yours for the taking. Besides its J.J. Abrams-like name, particularly cool details to highlight include a brass manifold featuring four coolant pipes, a large framed cabochon which acts as a service light, and a faux-gauge made from a domed cover and watch hand. A storage tank serves as a cap for the drive and there's even a tiny plaque bearing Mr. Rockwell's engraved John Hancock placed smack dab in the middle. Last but certainly not least, the elaborate thumbdrive ships with a velvet platform and a glass museum case, so that all who visit may bask in its craftsmanship and finally see the rusted version owned by that Victorian-poser down the block as the tetanus carrier it really is.

'The Collective' steampunk USB drive is the stocking stuffer Jules Verne always wanted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manufacture Royale debuts $1.2 million Opera accordion watch, Sir Steampunk scoffs

Darren Murph — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:18:00 EST

Well, pardon us. We balked at the $208 price tag affixed to Tokyoflash's RPM LED wristwatch, but the value proposition there now looks an awful lot brighter when compared to this. Manufacture Royale's looking to catch at least one or two elitists off guard with its new Opera Time-Piece, a $1.2 million device that's composed of 319 parts in the wilds of Switzerland. Purportedly, it was designed by Fabrique du Temps, and the minute repeater plays the hours in the key of A as the minutes chime in C sharp. It's also encased in 18k gold, sapphire crystal and a healthy dose of self-worth. Word on the street has it that only a dozen of these will be made available for sale, with the accordion casing being the standout feature in our eyes. In a manner of speaking, of course.

Manufacture Royale debuts $1.2 million Opera accordion watch, Sir Steampunk scoffs originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: GE's exoskeleton from a heavy metal past-future

Trent Wolbe — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:19:00 EST

Sure, plastic is light, durable, and easy to mold, but there's something so raw and medieval about a metal exoskeleton -- built long before anyone could call it steampunk -- that it makes us want to strap on our hard hat, hop in the Engadg-O-Matic Time Machine, and travel back to a bulkier past where we could give this big guy a painful hug. Check the source link for all sorts of adorable / frightening prototype illustrations of General Electric's army-commissioned "Hardiman force amplifying exoskeleton" from 1967, and feel free to drift off to happier times in the process. Just come back at some point, cool?

Visualized: GE's exoskeleton from a heavy metal past-future originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Send Google Earth for a spin with this RFID Steampunk globe (video)

Sean Hollister — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:25:00 EST

Some day in the not-too-distant alternate future, when we float through the air on water pressure rather than burning jet fuel, we'll need a reliable way to circumnavigate the world -- and the descendants of John Knight will step forward with this brilliant bronzed globe. The "Electromagnetic Geospacial Globe and Remote View with Obligatory Goggles" uses Touchatag's RFID system to direct your flying boat -- just plot a course by adjusting the brass arms, uncover your digital logbook, and Google Earth will give you a more slightly more accurate look at where you next adventure lies. See it in action after the break.

Continue reading Send Google Earth for a spin with this RFID Steampunk globe (video)

Send Google Earth for a spin with this RFID Steampunk globe (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A steampunk USB drive that could clean H. G. Wells' house

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:12:00 EST

Site ChipChick nailed it when noting the similarity between this 8GB steampunk USB drive and Rosie the Robot of Jetsons yore. The drive's creator, however, says it was inspired by a "narrow bridge" sign seen on a old country road. Really? Just look at that barrel-shaped cap staring down at you from atop a frilly gear collar; hands on hips in a tempestuous pose that makes us feel like we've somehow wronged her. Regardless, for $300 she'll make a fine addition to your alternate-history abode.

A steampunk USB drive that could clean H. G. Wells' house originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk Arduino Watch tells time, plays Breakout, thrills the world

Darren Murph — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:01:00 EST

We've seen no shortage of homegrown watches in our lifetime, and the quantity of Arduino-based gadgetry that graces the web each day might just outnumber the quantity of humans incensed by BP right now. But so far as we can tell, this is the first instance we've seen of the two combining in holy matrimony. The delicately crafted Arduino Watch: Steampunk Edition actually lives up to its name, providing augmented sensing of temperature and range, a 16-bit color drawing program, Breakout game and the ability to display time in digital, analog or binary. Best of all, the creator asserts that various other sensors and programs can be added on a whim, which is something your $4,000 Sea-dweller most certainly cannot say for itself. Speaking of cost, we're told that the whole shebang can be crafted for around $250, but considering that you'll be a local hero should you actually duplicate the effort here, you owe it to yourself to give those source links a long, hard look.

Continue reading Steampunk Arduino Watch tells time, plays Breakout, thrills the world

Steampunk Arduino Watch tells time, plays Breakout, thrills the world originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unicat retro TV channels the 1940s, bidding now underway

Sean Hollister — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:43:00 EST

How does technology a half-century old manage to be this sexy? We're not certain. But this one-of-a-kind, handmade retro television -- which seemingly combines an old desktop lamp and a giant magnifying glass -- definitely tugs at our heartstrings. With a 5.5-inch monochrome CRT screen and no inputs to speak of, you won't be watching Blu-rays on this set, and its PAL standard and 220V plug mean non-Europeans might not be bothered to try. Still, for an old over-the-air TV, it's remarkably full-featured, with knobs for volume, band (VHF-L / VHF-H / UHF), brightness, contrast and V-sync, and we can't get over its clean, handsome design. If your Nixie tube collection is getting lonely, check out the auction at our source link; bidding starts at €300.

Gallery: UNICAT retro television set by DJ Design

[Thanks, Alex]

Unicat retro TV channels the 1940s, bidding now underway originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks

Sean Hollister — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:18:00 EST

In 2007, steampunk musician Yoshi Akai wrote his master's thesis on how to turn color into sound, and he's been dreaming up unorthodox ways of producing music ever since. Case in point: the Lego Sequencer MR II, a contraption that uses three-dimensional Lego structures to emulate a three-channel, eight-step sequencer, where each differently colored plastic brick produces a different sound and complex combinations (including tremolo and overdrive) are possible when the blocks are stacked. Akai tells us it works using resistors embedded in each and every block, with parallel networks of resistors formed as the bricks pile up, equalling lower resistance and thus a higher frequency sound generated by the contraption. While the result certainly won't back a techno track -- Akai says he's "building sound more than playing sound" -- it looks like a good step up from the lethargic phaser noise produced by his Wireless Catcher, a lot of fun to play with, and much less expensive than hiring a team of hot models. Video after the break.

Continue reading Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks

Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chumbophone proves that even Chumby can go retro (and like it)

Darren Murph — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:42:00 EST

For the seasoned DIYer, there's hardly anything that can't be done with a set of Chumby Guts. For a seasoned DIYer with a set of Chumby Guts, an old clock, a few brass horns and a Dremel tool, there's absolutely nothing -- save for spare time and determination -- standing between him / her and a homegrown masterpiece such as the one you're peering at above. Etsy member AbrahamBook's latest creation is a WiFi-enabled widget monster that is shoved within a half vintage, half steampunk-styled enclosure. The Chumbophone doesn't actually seem capable of making calls via the integrated horns, but we'd sure love to see a version that was. Not that we're trying to force any ideas down your throat or anything...

Chumbophone proves that even Chumby can go retro (and like it) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota's FT-EV II concept sports steampunk interior, joystick controls

Tim Stevens — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:00 EST

Toyota's FT-EV concept was tiny, quirky, electric powered -- and honestly a bit predictable. Its successor, the FT-EV II, takes that staid design and sends it way out there, leaving the exterior unchanged (some gold detailing adds a touch of flash) but dialing up the intrigue on the inside. The traditional wheel and pedal controls have been replaced by a gilded mechanical joystick contraption that would look appropriate on a Victorian-era rocket ship (had any such thing actually existed) leaving more legroom and what looks to be a more ergonomic driving experience. It's a control scheme the company used previously on its i-Real concept... chair... thing, but this is the first Toyota with doors to rock it. Will those sticks and all that brushed metal and faux-ivory still be there when this car releases? Not a chance, sadly.

Filed under: Transportation

Toyota's FT-EV II concept sports steampunk interior, joystick controls originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Comptometer does broadcast controls the steampunk way

Vlad Savov — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:04:00 EST

If you build a specialized type of hardware which, by design, rarely arouses emotions of physical desire in the general populace, you can see how you might have a bit of a challenge promoting your wares. How you get around that tiny issue is by pulling off a stunning steampunk mod while retaining the full functionality of the hardware, as British company Hi Tech have done with their Comptometer. The server controller, customized for use in live video broadcasting and editing, has already won a design award for what we understand to be "general awesomeness" and an unmissable video of its obscure workings lays just past the break.

[Via TechnaBob]

Gallery: Comptometer broadcast controller

Continue reading Video: Comptometer does broadcast controls the steampunk way

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: Comptometer does broadcast controls the steampunk way originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk mouse, now with 100 percent more skull

Vlad Savov — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:03:00 EST

If Lord Byron had been hip to this newfangled computer thing way back in his day, this might just have been the sort of peripheral he'd have been sporting. Made from a real sheep's skull -- and real brass, though that's somehow less interesting -- this mouse has everything a megalomaniacal world conqueror needs to feel at home: fine ornamental detailing, the soothing texture of real bone, and the enticing mental image of crushing skulls every time you click. There's not much wiggle room here, you'll either love it or loathe it, but don't fret about the sheep, it died of natural causes. More pics after the break.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Steampunk mouse, now with 100 percent more skull

Filed under: Peripherals

Steampunk mouse, now with 100 percent more skull originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mechanical cheetah comin' atcha!

Vlad Savov — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:12:00 EST

Actually, it's just a sculpture with articulated joints, but by all the gods of steampunk, it looks glorious. The product of 60 hours' labor and a selection of used transmission parts, disemboweled household appliances, and 20-gauge steel, the mechanical cheetah stands 24 inches tall and 50 inches long. It looks like a stripped down robocat skeleton, and its joints can be maneuvered to mimic the movements of the real feline or to strike some downright awesome poses. Hit the source link for video of the mech cheetah simulating a run, as well as creator Andrew Chase's thoughts on the project, or click past the break for more images -- including a bonus snapshot of a mech giraffe.

Continue reading Mechanical cheetah comin' atcha!

Filed under: Robots

Mechanical cheetah comin' atcha! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mechanical Memory Key stores your data with the precision of an Antide Janvier timepiece

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:24:00 EST

Listen up, steampunkers: Have you been having a hard time finding an appropriate USB thumb drive to wear on a gold chain next to your pocket watch? Artype's 16GB Mechanical Memory Key is a handcrafted beaut, with materials that include Purpleheart for the case and twenty-six rubies. When this device is drawing USB power it glows green from beneath the gears, taking you back to your days as a hacker during the reign of Queen Victoria. Sadly, the device pictured above has already been sold, but at $165 a pop we're sure this particular artisan has plenty more of these guys in the works. Two more glamor shots for you after the break.

[Via Boing Boing]

Continue reading Mechanical Memory Key stores your data with the precision of an Antide Janvier timepiece

Filed under: Storage

Mechanical Memory Key stores your data with the precision of an Antide Janvier timepiece originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rusted Steampunk USB Drive offers 4GB of storage, free tetanus infection

Tim Stevens — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:51:00 EST

Steampunk mods are becoming rather more prevalent these days as tech-addled creative types reject modern sensibilities and revert to a non-existent, whimsical past. The latest such escape is called "Rusted Steampunk USB Drive - no.2," a follow-up to an earlier, slightly less rusty object d'USB. It appears to be built around a 4GB SanDisk Cruzer drive, augmented with weathered, laser-cut hunks of metal. The curvy flourish on the front says "You probably shouldn't put this in your pocket," while the dueling swordfish on the back say "I survived a trip to Rapture and all I got was this corroded chunk of storage." Yours for $40.

[Via Geeky Gadgets]

Continue reading Rusted Steampunk USB Drive offers 4GB of storage, free tetanus infection

Filed under: Storage

Rusted Steampunk USB Drive offers 4GB of storage, free tetanus infection originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Steampunk Segway ditches electric motor for the sake of authenticity

Darren Murph — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:42:00 EST

Wouldn't be caught dead on an honest-to-goodness Segway? How's about this creature? The Legway, an appropriately dubbed steampunk'd Segway, ditches the electric motor in favor of Fred Flintstone-esque motoring techniques, and it also relies almost entirely on recycled materials. The crazy part? Its creator even took the time to hand craft a step-by-step guide to building your own, which undoubtedly foreshadows the real human transporter revolution. Unfortunately, there seems to be no word on whether this thing will also reverse in unstoppable fashion when you least expect it, so stay sharp out there. Vid's after the break, and it's absolutely hilarious.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Video: Steampunk Segway ditches electric motor for the sake of authenticity

Filed under: Transportation

Video: Steampunk Segway ditches electric motor for the sake of authenticity originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility

Joseph L. Flatley — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:41:00 EST

We love this steam powered USB charging device. It's well built, useful, loud, and totally anachronistic -- the same could be said of many of our editors here. According to the inventor, the thing is based on a Jensen #75 steam engine, which is used to drive a Lego Technic motor. The motor, in turn, feeds into a voltage regulator circuit, providing a continuous 5V charge to which ever USB device you might connect to it. This prompts us to ask a few obvious questions, including: "when is someone going to build us an appropriate steampunk PMP to go with the thing?" And, of course, "aren't Legos awesome?" Video after the break.

Continue reading Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cajun Crawler swaps Segway wheels for Theo Jansen's creepy leg mechanism

Paul Miller — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:33:00 EST

If the Segway's current movement mechanism and cast of characters astride them wasn't keeping you up at night, the Cajun Crawler should seal the deal. Based on the work of kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen, the Cajun Crawler holds up a Segway-style platform with a scary collection of steampunk-like mechanical legs, which can scurry across a floor with surprising agility. The project was built by a team of folks at the University of Louisiana, who do not know the meaning of fear. Video is after the break.

[Via Nowhere Else]

Continue reading Cajun Crawler swaps Segway wheels for Theo Jansen's creepy leg mechanism

Filed under: Transportation

Cajun Crawler swaps Segway wheels for Theo Jansen's creepy leg mechanism originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites

Laura June — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:29:00 EST

We see plenty of Steampunk mods around these parts, but this one surely takes things to a new level of insanity. Constructed by D. Maddocks, the SteamPunk Frankenstein PC case mod is monstrously, beautifully cobbled from -- among other things -- a church vent and some cold cathode tubes. When the backlighting is fired up it's quite breataking to behold, though -- at over eight feet tall -- we're not sure we'd like to see it in our own parlor, we can certainly admire the beast from afar. One more daguerreotype after the break, but hit the read link for the whole set.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites

Filed under: Desktops

SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Handcrafted Scrabble keyboard could stand to be commercialized

Darren Murph — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:22:00 EST

Um, can you say "sell like hotcakes?" Datamancer's incredibly amazing Scrabble keyboard is one of the slickest, most ready-for-market DIY projects we've ever had the pleasure of eying, with each letter key being constructed from an actual pre-owned Scrabble game piece. The USB keyboard itself was built with an aluminum casing for an "industrialized twist," but obviously it's the top that keeps us drooling. Oh, and there are even LEDs hidden beneath the Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock keys, suggesting that a completely backlit iteration isn't too far out of the realm of possibility. A few more images are tucked away in the read link -- you owe it to yourself to check 'em out.

[Via SlipperyBrick]

Filed under: Peripherals

Handcrafted Scrabble keyboard could stand to be commercialized originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk monitor initiative goes awry, out pops wooden enclosure

Darren Murph — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:54:00 EST

The monitor you see above was awfully close to becoming exactly like this, but thankfully, the wood gods spoke to Scuba_SM's heart before he could round up another batch of Victorian-era tubing. The 22-inch wooden enclosure completely covers up the fact that an awkward looking LCD monitor is sitting on the table, and the solid maple top / base caps, light cherry stain and light coat of satin finish polyurethane make for something that's actually enjoyable to gaze at. Overkill? Maybe. Classy? Yes, please.

Filed under: Desktops

Steampunk monitor initiative goes awry, out pops wooden enclosure originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk monitor mod is almost too pretty to use

Darren Murph — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:06:00 EST

The modding world is severely overran with me-too steampunk hack jobs, a fact that we find particularly disheartening. But every so often, we stumble upon a diamond in the rough such as this: a masterpiece of steampunk theater that truly exhibits dedication to the craft. Australia's own Mad Uncle Cliff set aside a copious amount of time over a number of weeks in order to construct this beauty, which includes a full-fledged PC, speakers and LCD (obviously). Check the read link for the build saga, and don't forget to pay your respects before leaving.

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Displays

Steampunk monitor mod is almost too pretty to use originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Parker Steam Synthesizer runs on steam, sounds like a theramin, Bjork wants

Joshua Fruhlinger — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:04:00 EST

If synth rock was meant to go hand-in-hand with fantastic steampunk universes (and we really can't see why it wasn't), instruments would look something like the thing you see here. This is the Parker Steam Synthesizer, a steam-powered music synth that runs on water and some coal. Designer Lorin Edwin Parker controls steam pressure with a ball valve which activates a dynamo. The dynamo is a magnet motor attached to a flywheel that creates an alternating magnetic field which is then turned into electricity by an inductive pickup. That pickup is finally plugged into an amp and you have some trippy electro from a device that could have been around years ago. He says it will run for about 20 minutes on one tank of water, which, in our estimation, is just long enough for Bjork to hear it and add to her band's already-insane inventory. By the way, the Read link includes a .mov file so you can see this thing in action.

[Via MusicRadar]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Parker Steam Synthesizer runs on steam, sounds like a theramin, Bjork wants originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIYer crafts Victorian-style all-in-one PC

Donald Melanson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:37:00 EST

It's getting tough for steampunk fans to out-do one another these days, but DIYer Jake von Slatt has taken a solid shot at the crown with his latest creation, which one-ups most of the competition by going the all-in-one route. Of course, the fact that added thickness only adds extra character in this case makes things slightly easier but, as you can see in the fairly thorough how-to linked below, it's still not something to be attempted lightly, with it even including a nail-biting encounter of a monitor with a table saw. Click on through for a video of that, and plenty more pictures of the entire process.

[Via Uber Review]

Filed under: Desktops

DIYer crafts Victorian-style all-in-one PC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini gets the steampunk treatment, matching keyboard and monitor

Donald Melanson — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST

It takes quite a bit for a steampunk mod to get our attention these days, but this Mac mini created by steampunk enthusiast Dave Veloz certainly fits the bill, and the matching keyboard and monitor aren't too shabby either. As you can sort of see in the images above, the detail even extends as far as the cables connecting the mini to the keyboard and monitor, with a suitably Victorian-looking Apple logo rounding things out nicely. The monitor also one-ups similar projects with a genuine granite base, while the keyboard goes all out with leather in place of the felt used on other attempts. Be sure to hit up the read link below for a closer look at the whole package.

Filed under: Desktops, Displays

Mac mini gets the steampunk treatment, matching keyboard and monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old gear gets steampunky new life with "Ambience Enhancer"

Donald Melanson — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:02:00 EST

While it's not quite on the level of some of the steampunk gear we've seen, devientART member porkshanks' so-called "Ambience Enhancer" is at least considerably more practical than some of those previous contraptions, and it recycles some gear that would otherwise have been discarded, or has already been discarded. That bit of kit is an MP3 player that was apparently found on the ground near a bus station, which got spiffed up with some brass and leather and then got paired with a set of vintage Cannonball Empires headphones, whose innards were replaced with those from a set of some decidedly more recent Sony MDR-006 phones. The whole thing was then, naturally, made wearable with a handy wrist strap.

[Via Gadget Lab]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Old gear gets steampunky new life with "Ambience Enhancer" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second steampunk laptop wants to be clockwork

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:50:00 EST

You like Steampunk, do ya? Well, looks like we've got another laptop iteration for you today, this time entitled "A Clockwork Laptop." Yeah, it's got a bunch of brass and copper fittings -- plus some gothic looking legs -- and an overall retro fantasy style that some people like and others may hate. Make sure to check out the hundred or so cogs inside a glass screen on the back of the real screen. To turn it on you even have to turn a rusty key embedded inside the thumb rest: although you'll still be booting into an anachronistic Ubuntu install if you do so. Check out s'more pics at the link below, and know that you'll never be arsed to make anything even half as impressive. Also, anyone getting a strange craving for a glass of milk after seeing this?

[Via UberReview]

Filed under: Laptops

Second steampunk laptop wants to be clockwork originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Full-scale Iron Scopedog woos women while invading Japan

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:31:00 EST

You'd think that a 13-foot / 2 ton, cast iron Scopedog mecha wouldn't require the services of a knee-pad wearin' festival waif, but there you have it. Built by Kogoro Kurata -- the celebrity blacksmith behind the Steampunk laptop -- this 1:1 scale robot was locked and ready for action at Japan's Character and Hobby Collection 2007 show held over the weekend. Seriously though, how tough could the mech be if he's held at bay by some chinsey chain-link?

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Robots

Full-scale Iron Scopedog woos women while invading Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell 1907FP gets flamboyant steampunk makeover

Darren Murph — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:56:00 EST

The antique-minded modder over at Steampunk Workshop had it right: what good is a brass-clad mouse and keyboard with a 21st century monitor destroying the mojo? Fret not, as a Dell 1907FP was torn apart, blasted with gold Krylon, and decorated to the hilt with flashy pieces that your great (great) grandmother would surely love. Best of all, this here creator went above the call of duty by dressing up the monitor with gilded triggers to depress the monitor adjustment buttons underneath the panel. Trust us, you need to see this one to appreciate the passion behind it, so feel free to visit the read link for a plethora of photographs and even a few vids.

[Via Digg]

Filed under: Displays

Dell 1907FP gets flamboyant steampunk makeover originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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News Brews blends RSS feeds into multicultural beverage

Darren Murph — Wed, 16 May 2007 01:51:00 EST

Getting updates on the weather and current time is no problem for modern day coffee machines, but Benjamin Brown's project aims to blend the hottest worldwide news into a multicultural cup of joe. Rather than taking time to find out what's going on in the world around you with your eyes, the News Brews hopes to shovel the latest RSS feeds into your brain via your taste buds. The steampunk-inspired device "connects to internet news feeds and parses them to determine the relative frequency at which different coffee growing regions are mentioned," which means that your brew will differ each day depending on how frequently a given country is mentioned. Of course, not everyone will be down with an unexpected coffee suicide of sorts to wake them in the AM, but trying to figure out what your mouth is reading on the drive to work certainly beats running others off the road or illegally texting at stop lights.

[Via TechDigest]

Filed under: Household

News Brews blends RSS feeds into multicultural beverage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2007 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Steampunk mouse and the mouse mouse

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:24:00 EST

Hopefully that'll be the last time we're forced to write "mouse" three times in a headline, although the quality of these two mouse mods makes it completely worth it. First is the Steampunk mouse, which would look brilliant sitting next to your steampunk laptop and steampunk keyboard. You could even get your steampunk robot to help out with the construction, which took around 10 hours and only cost the creator Jake $5 to make. If you skip to the real -- as opposed to steampunk roleplay -- description you'll see that it's made up of an nameless laptop mouse and a "big jumble of bits and bobs from [Jake's] parts bin", which tends to be the case with most steampunk efforts. We wouldn't be surprised if the next mouse mod, the mouse mouse, was made using material found in a bin either. In this mod, noahw and canida over at instructibles stuffed a real, taxidermy mouse with the parts from a hacked computer travel mouse. Words cannot describe the combination of horror and awe at seeing the electrical guts of a real rodent being splayed for all to see. Now all that's needed is a PC case modded into a burrow and a mousepad with fake droppings.

[Via MAKE; thanks, jiltedcitizen]

Read -- The mouse mouse
Read -- The Steampunk mouse

Filed under: Peripherals

The Steampunk mouse and the mouse mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam powered R2-S2: the R2 Steam Too

Paul Miller — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:05:00 EST

Just when you thought steampunk robots couldn't get any nerdier, along comes Crabfu -- creator of the steam-powered RC Rover and other magnificent creations -- and totally raises the bar. The R2-S2 (R2 Steam Too) claims to be the predecessor of R2-D2, and while its steam engine makes this guy quite the sluggish one, we're sure he still has that same heart of gold we've come to know in R2-D2. Crabfu built the bot out of an broken Hasbro R2-D2 Interactive Droid, and after gutting the electronics, he hooked up a fancy new pair of steam engines to the existing gears, squeezed in an old Cheddar Boiler and slapped on a few Victorian steampunk details for good measure. Peep the video after the break to see this puppy crawl.

[Via MAKE]

Filed under: Robots

Steam powered R2-S2: the R2 Steam Too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RSS telegraph puts the challenge back into reading the news

Evan Blass — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:07:00 EST

It would be one thing if the Steampunk Workshop had just salvaged an old telegraph machine and hacked it to translate RSS feeds for kicks, but no, these guys went all out and machined by hand what is at the same time one of the best-looking and most useless projects we're ever seen. Still, modding culture doesn't necessarily place the highest value on functionality, and the detailed instructions and videos provided by SW ensure that you can come up with something just as polished. Anyway, this one looks like it's gonna take you awhile -- especially if you don't have your own band saw -- so take a quick peek at the vid after the break and then get on over to the hardware store post haste; and you do manage to build a working replica, don't forget to do the totally meta thing and send us a vid or MP3 of your creation tap tap tapping this very post out in Morse Code.

[Via MAKE:]

Continue reading RSS telegraph puts the challenge back into reading the news

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

RSS telegraph puts the challenge back into reading the news originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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