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Caption contest: Optimus Prime moonlights as clothes dryer
What does a superpowered Transformer do in his spare time -- you know, when he's not too busy starring in some of the worst written pieces of escapist cinema? Well, for one Taiwanese fella, there's nothing Optimus Prime likes doing more than supporting a bamboo stick used for hanging washed clothes. Seriously, the dude spent $1,600 on scrap metal, built a 14-foot model of his son's favorite mech superhero, and now has it serving as a spectacularly ornamental pivot for his washing. Classy. Oh, and video after the break. Richard Lai: [pumps up hydraulics] "Why hello there, cute little red car..." Tim: "Autobots, spin cycle!" Thomas: "Transformers: Revenge of the Snuggle Bear." Darren: "Man, it's chilly out today. Wait -- these aren't my threads! RAWWRRRR!" Paul: "Oh, sure, Shia said he'll be 'right back.' I hate that kid." Josh F.: "Do these windows make me look fat?" Laura: "Get Michael Bay on the phone. Immediately." Joanna: "Mommm, bathroom!" Chris: "After nine years, Johnny 5 finally admits that he'd been juicing." Joe: "There's not much more to this than meets the eye... sadly." Don: "You think this is impressive? Wait until you see Voltron mowing my lawn." Josh T.: "I need something to do until Transformers 3 rolls around. This cocaine isn't going to buy itself."
Diffus pollution dress is turned on by CO2, prefers a clean environment
We've seen LED-laced dresses before -- though sometimes we'd rather we hadn't -- but this one here is almost refined enough for us to consider wearing. Stitched together using conductive embroidery, hundreds of LEDs are connected to a CO2 detector and react to its input with anything from a slow pulsating glow to a blinking signal of doom. No mention of Morse code messages, unfortunately, but this is run by an Arduino chip -- which means programming malleability (read: near-limitless possibilities) should be built in. Just know that when you see the next Bond girl communicating with Daniel Craig via her haute tech outfit, we had the idea first. A closeup of the dress and processor awaits after the break.
New Avatar shoes available, fear the socks and sandals option
Now your Avatar can commit a high crime of fashion: wearing socks with sandals. Seriously, it's not OK. We're totally Mommie Dearest "no wire hangers" serious about it. The abomination is only one of pret-a-porter options the Avatars have available in the latest clothing update. His: Flip Flops High Top Sneakers Socks and Sandals 70's Leather Platforms Hers: Sunny Day Sandals White 60's Boots Remember that new Avatar clothing options are marked with a gold star. Also, remember to immediately block and remove any friends with the socks and sandals on their Avatar. It's a sin! [Image]
J-ware odor-free underwear could hit Targets, midsections soon
Truthfully, there's just not enough work being done in the area of advanced underpants, so we're absolutely elated to hear that textile experts at Japan Women's University in Tokyo are picking up the slack and moving forward with an amazing development. Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, is current testing the "odor-free" clothing, and it's said that he can rock the same drawers without any pungent smells for a solid week. The garb is designed to "kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly," and as if that wasn't awesome enough, they're also flame-resistant and anti-static. The best news? There are already talks of bringing this stuff to the commercial realm. Don't deny it -- you're already thinking of how stellar it'd be to wash clothes just once per month.
Breakfast Topic: Sunday best
Our guild recently had a picture taking, or more accurately, a screenshot-taking session for a local gaming magazine. Everybody came dressed to the nines, although what that meant exactly is different for every player. Some players donned their Lunar Festival chongsams, others put on their Tier 7s, while others still whipped out legacy outfits such as their Warlord's Raiment or the Death Knight's full armor from their starting area. We drew the line on one officer who wanted to show up in his skivvies and Mirror Image activated. We didn't want a naked troll showing up on the pages of a magazine, much less three four.When Love is in the Air in a few days, I'm going to dust off my tuxedo set and take some cheesy screenshots with my wife's character in a sexy black dress. One of our big kahunas, Liz Harper, is taking advantage of Level 80 to complete her full Judgement set. It's still one of the coolest armor sets in the game, I think. I mean, even one of the Top 10 players out of millions seems to think so. It made me think about what clothes we wear to look our best. None of us enjoy looking like a clown, right? I'm sure we keep some outfits stashed away in our ever-filling bank. What do you whip out when you're asked to wear your Sunday best? That Admiral's Hat, maybe? Or Blue Overalls and a pitchfork for that farmer look?
Kolon's heated Sport Life Saver III makes a trip to Yellowknife totally doable
Kolon's Sport Life Saver III doesn't include any fancy extras like built-in Bluetooth, speakers or a pocket specially designed to keep old tater tots warm, but it does include an integrated heating module to keep your blood from chilling. Redesigned from the ground-up, this here coat sports a supple Gore-Tex Proshell 3L shell, a "survival kit," compass and a translucent hood. The standout feature, obviously, is the HEATEX function which provides heat of around 95 or so degrees Fahrenheit, though we're not told exactly how it's powered. Sadly, we're also left clueless when it comes to pricing and availability, but those who've been avoiding the slopes for fear of frigidness will probably pay just about anything.[Via BeSportier]
QIO Systems aims for interchangeable wearable garb with PANiQ line
iPod jackets aren't what we'd call "a dime a dozen," but they aren't impossible to find, either. QIO Systems is looking to take the next logical step in wearable electronics by giving gadget lovers the ability to choose which thread to wear while retaining the innate ability to play nice with one's PMP. The PANiQ controller is a removable, standardized dongle that can be attached to any piece of clothing in the burgeoning PANiQmode line of attire. Said clothing will tout inbuilt controls that will play nice with any device attached via a PANiQ module, with initial support including dock-connecting iPods / iPhones and Bluetooth devices. So far, PANiQ customers include Cole Haan, Zoo York, KILLA, iQuantum, Celio, Beaucre, and Bailo, but we're hoping that list grows exponentially in the near future.[Via CNET]
Wearable toy piano makes music, looks good doing it
Now here's a concept. A musical shirt with enough transistors to make even the hardest of hardcore nerd blush, and a long-sleeve garment fashionable enough to make even the world-class design student stop and admire. Mashed into one. The Musical toy piano shirt is that very piece, which was constructed to wow onlookers at the Electronic Textile workshop held this month in Switzerland. Packing removable batteries, speakers and circuitry, the shirt enables the wearer to emit eight different notes from Do to Do, and we hear there's nothing quite as cute as playing a song on yourself. See what we mean in the vid hosted just after the break. [Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Thanko USB bear gloves don't inhibit your typing, keep palms toasty
Ah, how timely! Over two years after the USB-powered G-Gloves hit the scenes, in comes Thanko to bring a much needed new face to the niche. These Kumasan mittens both get powered from a single USB port and even have cutouts to allow your fingers to move freely. There's no mention of a price nor any indication that these will ever be released outside of Japan, but this is definitely a must-buy if you're headed to that side of the globe anytime soon.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Microsoft to push cool factor with retro-inspired clothing line
It's actually kind of amazing how much dough Microsoft has spent over the past little while in an attempt to polish its image in the minds of the general populace, and as if those "I'm proud to be a PC" and completely incomprehensible Gates / Seinfeld spots weren't enough, the Redmond-based outfit is about to roll out its own clothing line (dubbed "Softwear") this month. And no, we're not kidding. Not even a little. Microsoft has purchased the assistance of Crispin Porter & Bogusky in order to ensure the results are actually desirable, and it has also hired rapper Common as a spokesman. We can't definitively say the shirt you see above is as fly as Pharrell's Gizmondo Enzo tee, but we'd rock it. We'd rock it hard.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Clothe your outer geek with the new JiNX fall shirtage
J!NX unveiled its new fall line of clothing (read: mostly geek shirts, and a few hoodies) during the clamorous din of PAX, and we thought we'd pass it along to you. They don't have much directly in the way of video gaming except for the old-school shirt above, but it's pretty darn 8-bitty. So, it's you're looking for more geekwear, hit the link and start shopping. Although, are geek t-shirts about to hit the "enough already" stage? It seems like everywhere you go there's a "Wish You Were Beer," or a "Darth Vader Does It On The Dark Side" shirt. In the future, archaeologists will dig up people clothed in these shirts and think we were either highly evolved, or incredibly stupid.
Ion-mask military waterproofing technology coming to civilian garb
Gore-Tex is fine and dandy, but the real argonauts out there know it still buckles under the most extreme conditions. Now, however, adventurists that happen upon a ridiculous amount of water could soon ford rivers (à la Oregon Trail, of course) without worrying about soggy socks. The technology, dubbed ion-mask, was originally crafted to "ensure soldiers' clothing remained impermeable to chemical weapons," but now shoe maker Hi-Tec has inked a deal that will being the solution to a smattering of its kicks. Reportedly, ion-mask can outperform "commercial waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex by more than a factor of 100," and in testing, it maintained its breathability / waterproof abilities even after 100,000 flexes. No word on when full suits will be doused in this stuff, but hopefully you'll be able to wear the same outfit to the office and the jungle here shortly.
Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits
The always-imaginative gurus at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft never cease to amaze, and at this year's IFA, they're delivering once more. The so-called "virtual mirror" gives to-be garb buyers an accurate look at what different outfits look like on their person without requiring them to try a single thing on. Granted, shopaholics are apt to detest this thing, but anyone with better things to do than try on four sweaters to see which one makes them look fat should be completely in love. The concept here is far from new, as we've seen both virtual makeover machines and fitting room enhancers before. Still, Fraunhofer's dream of getting you suited up and out of the store in mere minutes is one we'd love to see come true. Just don't ditch the traditional stalls too soon -- we wouldn't want any kind of worldwide uprising.[Via Physorg, image courtesy of Flickr]
All the World's a Stage: Dear Wrath
The art of roleplaying is like a field of tender soil. You only get something back after you put something in.World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. But wait... before we get serious about this new expansion of our relationship, Wrath, there's something you should understand about me: I may be a hunter, druid, rogue, warlock, warrior, shaman, and even a mage, but above and beyond all these things I'm also a roleplayer. Yes, I love all those promises you're making me these days about how wonderful our life together is going to be, but something inside tells me that you don't really understand what I really want. You only understand the part of me that likes to shoot, shred, stun, fear, strike, shock and even blast my pixelated enemies into oblivion. But what about my artistic vision?Oh sure, I see you smirking. What does artistic vision have to do with "Warcraft," "Wrath," and "Lich King?" ... well, you're forgetting the very first thing that anyone ever sees or hears about you: "World." You may have lots of violence, anger, and nasty enemies, but in the end what you really are is a world, a space, and a stage, where my friends and I can get together and have a good time. This is what you don't understand, Wrath: I'm a person, and I like to have things to do and talk about with other people that don't involve damage, threat, or recovering from damage and threat. Okay okay, you have a point. It's not like you've ignored this aspect of our relationship completely; I'll give you credit for that. In fact, there are some new non-violent things I'm really looking forward to, which I wouldn't be able to do without you.
Paul Coudamy's Hard-Wear jacket watches your back when no one else will
Let's face it, the streets are rough these days. And just because someone admits to having your back, that doesn't mean they won't turn and run in the heat of battle. Granted, the very spark that sets off said conflict could be this questionably designed coat, but we digress. Paul Coudamy's Hard-Wear jacket includes a totally inconspicuous camera on the rear which reportedly beams happenings onto a wrist-worn LCD. Not exactly James Bond type material here, but we suppose it'll do for the double-o in training. Take all those orange blocks away and your chances of being looked at would decline remarkably, wouldn't you think?[Via Talk2MyShirt]
New WoW shirts at Jinx
Long-time purveyors of WoW wear, Jinx have updated their line with some new spring fashions. There are five new t-shirts available for both men and women, and one nifty Carrot on a Stick keychain (if only it made your car go faster). Many of their older designs (specifically, Alliance, Horde, and each class) are also now available in youth sizes. You're never too young to say "glory to the Alliance" with your t-shirt.I like most of the new designs, although I still have yet to actually buy anything from Jinx. I'm not too keen on the Illidan one; it's a little melodramatic for me. The Hunter design calls in mind the good old days of Shadowmelded Aimed Shots, and the faux-vintage baseball shirts are cute. My favorite, though, has to be the 8-bit Molten Core shirt (which, by the way, is a limited edition). That's one of my favorite of Blizz's many April Fool's jokes, and it plays well on cotton.
Jinx puts WoW shirts on sale
This may not qualify as big news on a day when we learned more about Wrath of the Lich King than we have since Blizzcon, but in case you're in need of a new t-shirt or two, Jinx is having a sale on four WoW-themed designs. Each design, in men's, is available for $5, and they are: Horde crest Alliance crest WoW Burning Crusade Note that all sizes in each of the four designs are out of stock except large and extra-large, so I hope your size is one of those. The sale continues until May 14th -- go get your shop on!
The merits of WoW clothing
My weekend so far has been packed full of nerdisms, as I'm currently squeezed into a one bedroom apartment with five of my guildmates. Most of us had never met in person before this week, so a couple of us took the obvious route of wearing a Warcraft t-shirt at the various bus stations and airports as a 'hey, it's me!' sign.Friendly ribbing demanded at least a few accusations of rampant nerdery because of said shirts(most of them coming from the girl wearing a Super Mario shirt, nice try). It made me start to wonder, is wearing WoW swag really that nerdy? Is it a bad thing? I don't think so, personally. To me, it's pretty much the same as wearing a t-shirt of your favorite band. Of course, there are people that think band shirts are corny, so who knows? It's just a little sign that you're a fan, and it certainly helps that my WoW shirt is incredibly comfortable.What about you guys? Do you own WoW gear? If you don't, do you think it's silly? Do you feel the same about band shirts and things like that, or just WoW?
Piezing dress generates power, attracts nerds as wearer moves
Solar-powered dresses are so two years ago. These days, dames in the know are all about that piezoelectric material, evidenced by the incredibly flashy Piezing. Dreamed up and designed by Amanda Parkes, this piece of garb is all set to steal the show at the 2ndSkin expo in San Francisco, and according to CNET, it features electricity-generating fabrics around the joints of the elbows and hips. When the wearer walks, bends or gets downright nasty on the dance floor, the mechanical stress conjures up energy which is stored as voltage in a built-in battery where it can presumably be used later for charging your favorite handheld gizmo. Sure gets our electrons flowing.[Via textually, image courtesy of James Patten]Read - 2ndSkin expoRead - CNET article on Piezing
Keyboard-infused pants make it okay to grab your crotch
Okay, so maybe tapping that space bar repeatedly in mixed company wouldn't be entirely appropriate, but if you've actually managed to mingle with fellow civilians while rocking these, they aren't likely to mind. Dreamed up and designed by Erik De Nijs, these über-geeky pants boast a built-in keyboard that's apparently Bluetooth-enabled. Beyond that, you'll also find sewn in speakers, a pocket made especially for travel mice of all flavors and a "joystick controller" strategically located just behind the front zipper (saywha?). Hate all you like, we just penned this very post on a pair of these bad boys. Only kidding. [Thanks, Hans]
