Cabinet
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Arcade cabinet brings wind, smell and bugs to VR
Koei Tecmo Wave, the company best known for the Dynasty Warriors game series, has unveiled an arcade cabinet that adds all-new sensations to virtual reality. The "VR Sense" enclosure is a "multifunction 3D seat" that brings movement, aroma, touch, wind, heat, cold, rain and mist to VR, the company says. It seems it's not meant for the home, however, but as a "pay-per-use" machine, designed to liberate you from your cash at arcades or other facilities.
Ask Engadget: help me tame my home network!
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Daniel, who needs our help to tame his home network. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "My home network is a mess. It used to be simple, after all, you'd just need a modem to connect to your ISP and a router. Lately, however, I've been adding more components like a NAS, a Z-Wave bridge, a 3G microcell and a computer for telecommuting. All of these things need a wired connection, which means I'm going to need to buy an eight-port switch sooner rather than later. As consumer hardware isn't designed to be uniform and stackable, I'm now living in a mess! What I'd like to know is how others have tidied up -- did you find an off-the-shelf cabinet or do I need to start building something on my own?" Here's where we turn the question over to you, our loyal Engadgeteers, to help solve and spread some peace through the gadget ecosystem this Saturday night. If you've tamed your own out-of-control home network, share your experiences below.
UAE Cabinet has adopted iPads
The UAE Cabinet is now using iPads to "achieve speed and flexibility in decision making" says HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister and Vice President. The above picture, tweeted by Sheikh Mohammed, shows cabinet members already putting their iPads to good use. These tablets are part of a larger "Minister e-briefcase" initiative that'll automate most of the cabinets' administrative operations. [Via The Loop]
Taito is making its own iPad arcade cabinet
First ThinkGeek's iCade went from joke concept to real product, then Atari introduced its own iPad gaming controller. Now Taito, maker of legendary video game Space Invaders, is joining the fray with the InvaderCade. GameSetWatch reports the cabinet has only a single button and a ball-top joystick for controls, but the InvaderCade also serves as a charging dock with stereo speakers and a headphone jack. The InvaderCade is coming to Japan on October 11 -- no word on a US release as of yet -- and its launch price in Japan will be around US$205. It'll be interesting to see if the InvaderCade actually catches on at that price and with single-game branding on the cabinet itself. The iCade costs less than half as much as the InvaderCade, while Atari's joystick accessory is cheaper still at $60. Both products feature more buttons and less specific branding than the InvaderCade, so Taito may have trouble justifying the product's higher price.
iCade-compatible games listed
Touch Arcade has a list of the games on the App Store currently compatible with ThinkGeek's iCade arcade stand for the iPad. It's certainly more than just the one official Atari app that it was compatible with at release, but the list is still pretty short, with only 16 titles included: No Gravity Warblade HD Sideways Racing Silverfish MAX Match Panic Mos Speedrun Velocispider Super Mega Worm Super Mega Worm Vs. Santa Compression HD IronStar Arena Emerald Mine Space Inversion Space Inversion 2 Space Inversion Puzzle Freeesh The good news is that with titles like Super Mega Worm and Velocispider in there, these are definitely some quality titles, not just filler-ware. The list is still pretty small when you think about the App Store in terms of total number of games. Hopefully spotlighting titles like these will encourage developers to step up and support the iCade, especially when a game like theirs makes sense for a real-life arcade stick and buttons. True, the audience of people that actually owns the device is smaller than the iPad audience in general, but the iCade is a pretty cool and unique setup, and it would be nice to see it supported a little more widely.
DIY Virtual Boy arcade cabinet costs only a headache to play
As you may have noticed, we have a bit of a soft spot for Nintendo's other 3D device, the Virtual Boy -- despite its many, many flaws. So, it seems, does DIYer Tighe Lory, who liked the oddball console so much that he built an full-size arcade cabinet for it. As you can see above, that comes complete with some custom joysticks that replace the Virtual Boy's controller, along with a sliding mechanism that lets you adjust the Virtual Boy itself to just the right height instead of forcing you to hunch over a table. It even has some buttons on each side specifically for Galactic Pinball, and some other authentic arcade touches like a Nintendo serial plate and a backlit marquee. Head on past the break for Tighe's grand tour on video.
Ion iCade Arcade Cabinet review
The iCade Arcade Cabinet began as an April Fool's joke in 2010, but this golden unicorn of iPad accessories has actually made it to production, showing up at our door last week. iCade creator ThinkGeek partnered with Ion to make this former imaginary gadget a reality, and so far it appears to be a hit, backordered for weeks soon after hitting the online store in April. The $100 cabinet pairs with your iPad or iPad 2 over bluetooth, bringing familiar hardware arcade controls to the Atari's Greatest Hits app, which includes classics like Missile Command (free), and Pong, which you can download from within the free Atari app for $1. The iCade is an awesome addition to your gaming collection, but it won't replace the hours of coin-dropping at your local arcade. Read on to find out why this accessory may become a permanent fixture on our desk. %Gallery-124649%
iCade arcade cabinet for iPad starts selling at $100, already on backorder
Humans, they just love mixing the old with the new. To wit, the iCade gaming cabinet for the iPad, an April Fools' joke that was just a fun idea this time last year, has gone and turned very real, replete with FCC certification and now a pre-order page. The Bluetooth-communicating iPad enclosure seems to have originally been on sale for immediate delivery, but ThinkGeek has burned through its first shipment of units faster than you can say "Atari's Greatest Hits." The second batch of $100 iCades is expected by May 20th at the very latest, although orders are being taken only from the US for now. The rest of the world needn't despair, however -- we hear building one of your own is a pleasurable and rewarding experience.
iCade hits FCC, gets torn asunder
The Ion iCade, our favorite April Fools' joke turned actual product, has just passed through the FCC and moved one step closer to retail reality. The arcade cabinet for your iPad had all its Bluetoothy bits laid bare and even brought along its user manual, in case you're the type who bothers to read those sordid things. There aren't too many surprises here except, perhaps, the inclusion of an Ikea-esque hex key -- some assembly required. With the green light from the feds, though, that means the iCade is right on schedule for its May 31st release. If you want to ensure you nab one of the first batch, you can pre-order it now for $99 from either GameStop or ThinkGeek. And, while you wait for the blissful marriage of Atari's Greatest Hits and Bluetooth joystick, you can peep the pics in the gallery after the break.
Spruce up your cooking with the Original Kitchen iPad Rack
If you've ever used your iPad in the kitchen, you know that the magical and revolutionary device doesn't always match up to the greasy, sticky, steamy reality of the cooking zone. We've proposed a few low-tech solutions to this challenge before, but when we heard about the Original Kitchen iPad Rack (US$29.95), I was curious to see whether it would make the kitchen a more tablet-friendly environment. Of course, the first challenge was getting the idea past our home's chief operations officer. "You're putting holes in my kitchen cabinets?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "I don't think that's a good idea." Once I explained that the mounting hardware goes completely underneath the cabinet and is out of sight, she relented -- with a good deal of remaining skepticism. The rack is a very simple affair, especially when compared to some of the more elaborate multi-site attachment solutions we saw at Macworld: three screw-in clips, patent pending, that are attached to the flat bottom of the cabinet anywhere from the back wall to about two inches from the front. The clear plastic rack itself snaps into the clips, but it's very easy to remove and stash when not in use -- the clips themselves are invisible. %Gallery-115803%
Ask Engadget HD: Setting up IR repeaters?
As your home theater setup grows, for many a problem is moving components out of line of sight, and still being able to control them. While for a few a Bluetooth or other RF technology takes care of remote control issues, the majority of devices still rely on IR control, and making that work is what our friend Keith is trying to figure out: "Hopefully you can help me out. My father in-law had a custom entertainment cabinet made that has no windows. Obviously in order to work the components, the doors have to be open. He currently has a Comcast DVR and Blu-Ray player (Magnavox), all connected to a 60" LG LCD TV; which he would like to control with the doors shut. Naturally he is looking at me to solve his problem. Never having set up a I.R. repeater, I've done a little research on the good ol' web. I was surprised to find a range of products and prices to be able to set this up. Secondly, some look easy and some look complicated. I need help. What is the best, fairly cheapest, and easiest way to set up a repeater for the components listed? Do I have to buy 2 repeaters to be able to control both components or do they make one that branches off." We've talked about setting up IR blasters before and how to shift your components to an out of the way cabinet or similar, but for this specific request we're wondering what you're relying on to keep those little bursts of light headed in the right direction. As usual, drop any recommendations in the comments. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Cabinet members in Saskatchewan getting iPads to reduce paper use
The Canadian Broadcasting Company is reporting that 18 Canadian cabinet ministers and five senior staff members in the province of Saskatchewan are receiving iPads in an attempt to get a handle on the costly consumption of paper. With the cost of the 64GB 3G iPad running about CDN$879 plus fees and taxes, the initial cost of the iPads will run about CDN$23,000. However, the government expects that double that amount will be saved in the first year alone, since paper and printing costs will be cut drastically, and fewer courier runs will be required to deliver physical documents. One senior official in the premier's office noted that he'll save 68 boxes of paper in his office alone in the first year. He noted that a single cabinet minister can often be loaded down with six to 10 kilograms of paper in a typical week. The government officials believe that the security provided by the iPad is sufficient for their needs. Unfortunately, there's no information available on just how much money will be wasted by all of the ministers playing Angry Birds HD during cabinet meetings (we kid!). Thanks to John for the tip (and sorry about the blatant display of Canadian stereotypes in the picture at the right).
iPad arcade cabinet brings April Fools' joke to life (video)
Nope, this isn't the first iPad mod you'll have seen, but it's likely to be the biggest crowd pleaser yet. Inspired by the iCade cabinet -- an April Fools' joke that had most of us asking where we could buy one -- this really real arcade cabinet integrates Apple's slate, hooks it up to a set of old school controls, and lets users go to town with such old timer classics as Mr. Do! It's still in prototype form, hence the boxy exterior, but the action on screen is looking as good as you'd expect. See it on video after the break.
iPad arcade cabinet built out of cardboard
ThinkGeek posted an iPad arcade cabinet as an April Fool's joke this past year, but gamer Hideyoshi Moriya actually did build just such a cabinet out of cardboard and hardware -- you plug the iPad into a dock, and then you can control software with the joystick and buttons via an Arduino board. You can see a full video of the device running (along with some cute puppies) after the jump below. ThinkGeek was only kidding, and Moriya is just joking around, but there is definitely a viable demand for something like this. Sure, the cabinet form built out of cardboard is totally a prototype, but a little stand that you could just plug the iPad into and then control arcade games with buttons and a joystick? That thing would sell like hotcakes.
Retro Space arcade cabinet dispenses with (most of) the throwback formalities
Yeah, we get it, those arcade glory years were indeed glorious, but we're a bit past the point of needing a retro cabinet at home large enough to house an entire army of quarter gremlins just to rock a bit of MAME standing up. Retro Space chucks the cabinet chubbiness, keeps all those mashy buttons, robust joysticks and spinny white ball things we know and love, and adds in a full-powered PC and a 24-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD. It's a tad bit boxy, but we'll probably manage to overlook that for another decade or two. No word on price, but expect something in the two or three thousand dollar range.[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Doctor Who wants to time warp, play retro games
Most of us have probably dabbled around with a Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator before, but have you ever crammed one into a TARDIS? Those things are supposed to be bigger on the inside than the outside. Anyhow, one man decided that having a dedicated stand-up gaming cabinet wasn't enough, so he built this pillar of geek awesomeness.Check out the two different sections, one on the building of the iconic blue Police Box, and the other on the console. He even had the 7th doctor, Sylvester McCoy, autograph the thing. Is it still a sin to covet thy neighbor's sci-fi gaming cabinet? If so, mark us down in the "sinner" category.[Thanks, Douglas!]
Humongous Xbox 360 doubles as a cabinet
Hot on the heels of the enormous Wiimote cabinet comes an absolutely gigantic Xbox 360 that truly has to be seen to be appreciated. Thankfully, there's a video of the thing waiting in the read link, but this beastly player opens up to reveal the perfect storage area for periodicals and pamphlets that are sure to collect dust and rarely ever be touched by human hands again. Additionally, a light was added behind the power button (no, it's not red) for good measure, but last we heard, the original Xbox controller (aka Duke) was no longer on speaking terms with its biological cousin (pictured).[Thanks, J]
Craftsman builds Wiimote cabinet, neglects wrist strap
We're not exactly sure why folks aren't as inclined to create confections, earrings and door unlockers with those other controllers, but something about the Wiimote just brings out the craftsman in DIY'ers at large. This go 'round, Craig has constructed a functioning cabinet that closely resembles Nintendo's heralded controller. Unfortunately, we have all ideas that it won't actually enable you to participate in any Mario Party 8 mini-games, but considering that there's no wrist strap tacked on the bottom, we wouldn't recommend whirling this about, anyway. Check out a few more shots over at the read link.[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
The Last Starfighter arcade cabinet
For those that grew up with even a vague interest in video games, the movie to watch was The Last Starfighter. Ironically enough, the game to go with the film was never published or put into the arcade cabinet form, although it turns out Atari did produce a polished and final version. Now the game has been made complete thanks to the work of an extremely talented cabinet designer who refurbished the cabinet shown in a documentary of the film. It looks almost indistinguishable from the film version: damn what we woulda' given to play one of these back in the day! You can even download a full version of the game used in the cabinet in a convenient executable file, free of charge.[Via MAKE]
Mirror Collage Plasma TV Cabinet conceals your set, decorates room
In most cases, tactfully hanging your PDP on a wall could pass as a piece of art, and while there are certainly alternatives out there for those too hesitant to hang, this creation certainly ups the ante. The Mirror Collage Plasma TV Cabinet spans far enough around to accommodate "most 50-inch plasmas," and as the picture above depicts, it covers your set with a variety of mirrors that not only block your display, but purportedly "create the illusion of more space" in your room. Of course, the real draw here is that this piece is precisely what we fellows have been needing to convince our better halves to let us adorn a wall with a television -- the only problem, however, is that staggering $4,649 price tag that comes along with it.[Via Luxist]
