DaftPunk
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ICYMI: NASA is going to colonize a space rock
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: Nasa launched the OSIRIS-Rex craft this week to begin its long and lonely mission to visit the Bennu asteroid. It'll return to Earth in seven years full of space rocks and hopefully nothing else. Meanwhile, Harvard Medical School has devised a way to see how bacteria evolves to become resistant to antibiotics.
New Daft Punk album Random Access Memories streaming on iTunes
The wait is over. Random Access Memories, Daft Punk's first proper album* since 2005's Human After All, is now streaming in its entirety over at iTunes. It features guest spots and contributions from Chilly Gonzales, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams, Julian Casablancas and others. While the album doesn't officially hit stores until May 21, its leak earlier today most likely brought about this early stream. Head over to iTunes to stream the album in one glorious 74-minute track. Don't worry, that's just the format of the stream. If you're not sold on Daft Punk or have been living presumably dance-free under a rock for a few years, we've included their delightful tune "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams for your listening pleasure below. *Yes, they did the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy. No, we don't count that as a proper album.
3D printed record puts a new spin on digital music (video)
If you thought downloading music from the internet had nothing new to offer, think again. One of the tech editors over at Instructables -- Amanda Ghassaei -- has put a new twist on the digital delivery of music by 3D printing a record. Ghassaei developed a technique that converts digital audio files into 3D printable (33 rpm) grooved plastic discs, that actually play on regular turntables. Not only that, she printed some functioning prototypes as proof of concept. The printer used was relatively high-resolution, with 600 dpi on the x/y axes, and layers just 16 microns thick, but the audio quality is still somewhat low -- 11KHz, with a 5 - 6bit resolution. The important thing, however, is that it worked -- highlighting even more uses for the burgeoning technology. Want to know what it sounds like? Skip the needle past the break for a lo-fi (or is it "warmer") demo that includes Nirvana, New Order, Daft Punk and more. Want to make your own? Head to the source for the blow-by-blow instructions.
Daft Punk's 'Derezzed' finally heard the way it was meant to be -- on five floppy drives
Love costumed French electronic duos, movies about video games and music made by finding alternative uses for outdated computer hardware? Well, feast your ears on this. MrSolidSnake745, who already has a pretty healthy selection of floppy disked video game themes, is offering the world his take on Daft Punk's "Derezzed," from the Tron: Legacy soundtrack, played on five floppy drives. It's loud, it's chaotic and it's enough to make us want to pull the old lightcycle out of storage. Video after the break.
Must See HDTV (October 3rd - 9th)
How can we still have fall premieres left? After the onslaught of the last two weeks it seems there's still a few to go, as old standbys like House join fresh faces like American Horror Story and Penn & Teller Tell a Lie on the premiere list. It's also a big week for Blu-ray discs, as seen above with a couple of classics showing up, some Disney favorites returning for the first time and special treats like Daft Punk's Interstella 5555 and Planet Earth Special Edition. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Pulp Fiction After waiting far too long for Quentin Tarantino's hit movie to debut on Blu-ray we got an early look at this one and it's worth the wait. Both the picture and audio quality are impressive, while we didn't have a copy of the imported version to compare them to the picture is clean and artifact free, while the 5.1 soundtrack gives equal time to the witty dialogue and occasional action. There's no audio commentary present, but there is about an hour or so of new HD extras included for the fans. If you've somehow avoided seeing this movie so far we don't even know what to say to you, but this is the best way to watch since it debuted in 1994. ($15.99 on Amazon, October 4th) House Everyone's favorite jerk of a doctor returns for an eighth and possibly final season tonight. With Cuddy gone and Dr. Gregory House locked in jail we're wondering if it can keep the medical procedural formula fresh for another year, but so far it's held up well despite cast rotations and the so often under-appreciated main-character-loses-his-mind plot twist. Don't have enough reasons to watch? Jaleel White is guest starring in tonight's season premiere episode, so there you go. (October 3rd, Fox, 9PM) The League If you've listened to our podcast or are participating in either of the official Engadget HD leagues, then you already know we're all in when it comes to fantasy football. The League returns this week for a third season and captures all of the insanity that happens when people stop being friends and start getting real... pretend. Despite its very intense focus on a group of friends and their over the top competition, as well as guest appearances by NFL stars, there's enough comedy there to keep watching whether you're watching tonight's game hoping a backup RB gets 75 yards and a touchdown or not. (October 6th, FX, 10:30PM)
This DIY Daft Punk helmet is way cooler than your DIY Daft Punk helmet (video)
Harrison Krix may never actually be invited to join Daft Punk, but at the very least, he'll likely have the coolest Halloween costume in the room for pretty much the rest of his life. It's true, we've seen plenty of folks have a go at the French electronic duo's signature headware in the past -- including one from Krix himself -- but few if any have shown quite the attention to detail as this project from the Atlanta-based graphic designer. At the center of the project is an Arduino-controlled LED with text that can be changed over WiFi with an iOS device. Relive the four month project in the three and a half minute video after the jump. And if you've ever wondered what Back to the Future might have looked like with Thomas Bangalter as Marty McFly, check out the source link below.
Monster builds Daft Punk Edition Tron Headphones, unwittingly unleashes moral quandary of a generation
We can't tell, is this (and by "this" we mean the entertainment machine that is Disney / Daft Punk / Tron / Jeff Bridges, melding with the monster that is Monster, and creating a pair of $350 ultra-glossy headphones) the ultimate payoff of our childhood hopes and dreams, or their ultimate ruination and desecration? Both? %Gallery-109596%
Handmade Daft Punk helmet produces some stunning photo ops
The man you see above you, Harrison Krix from Volpin Props, spent the last year and a half making the Daft Punk helmet he's wearing in the shot. Now, maybe that sounds like a crazy way to spend your spare time -- but then again, the photo opportunities seem to be killer for this guy these days. Hit the source links for many, many photos of its creation. Video below.
DS, Korg DS-10's formant synthesis used to create Daft Punk vocals, general awesomeness
You know, sometimes at Engadget, we feel compelled to cover a story not because it's particularly new, or newsy, or relevant to the topics of the day. Sometimes, you just have to cover something because it's amazingly cool. Enter this completely awesome video from the musician Denkitribe, wherein the DS, Korg DS-10 software, the software's formant synthesis, and the natural talents of said musician are used to replicate the vocals from Daft Punk's hit "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." There's not much we can put in text which this doesn't lay out in song. Check the whole thing after the break... you'll thank us later.[Via Technabob]
Daft Punk Homework: create your own EL suit
Good thing Halloween is months away. You'll need that time to hone your sewing skills in the noble quest to create a Daft Punk suit of your very own. Instructables has everything you need (except the electroluminescent wire, soldering iron, heat gun, and pleather tracksuit) to build an EL suit worthy of electronic celebration. Best of all, your tutor for the course is none other than the suits' creator for the duo's 2007 tour. Now get moving humans, it's time to let the robots rock the party.[Via Hack n Mod]
Get your own Daft Punk helmet... maybe
As far as bands go, Daft Punk is certainly one of the hardest for fans to emulate, with robotic suits and teams of animators unfortunately pretty hard to come by. Those with the dough to spare now have at least one option at their disposal, however, as the manufacturer of the duo's Discovery-era helmets is now offering to sell 'em to you for the hefty price of $65,000 apiece. It's apparently not quite that simple though, as you'll also have to somehow get permission from the band to call the helmets your own. Assuming you manage to do that, you'll then have to wait a whole year for the folks at LED Effects to put one together for you. Of course, you could also go the DIY route - and if you do, be sure to send us some pics.[Via The Daily Swarm]
