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Modder cuts SNES down to size
Until that fine day when hell freezes over we can play Virtual Console games on the DS, our solutions for portable SNES games are few (beyond any existing GBA versions, of couse). Barriers like that exist for modders to break, however, and that's exactly what one intrepid engineer did with an extra SNES he had lying around. It took a bit more than that, though; not only did he gut the elderly system, but he also incorporated a PSOne LCD ... oh, and a hand-crafted wooden case. Together? They form a semi-portable, mostly-handheld, mobile SNES you can carry around and show off. Head past the break to see it in action.
Evergreen's do-it-yourself Acorn DAP and speaker pair -- but why would you?
Funny, that DAP on the left looks more like a grenade than an acorn to our jaded eyes. Nevertheless, you're looking at the "Acorn-type" speaker (?3,499 / $31) and MP3 player (?6,999 / $63) from Evergreen. The DAP hosts 1GB of flash for the all the MP3, WMA, and/or OGG files you can stuff in a shell. Just the latest creation from Evergreen's new DIY DAP kit (pictured after the break). Hmm, a pair of nuts, wood... you so naughty Evergreen.[Via Akihabara News]Read -- DAPRead -- speakerRead -- DIY kit
Axiom Audio reveals real-wood PC speakers with plenty of oomph
We aren't about to believe that Axiom Audio's Audiobyte is actually the first luxury speaker system made for the PC, but it's pretty swank, regardless. The setup consists of a pair of ultra-compact speakers, a dedicated stereo amplifier and an optional (but totally necessary) subwoofer. Additionally, the firm offers 'em up in seven different finishes including lacquered, real-wood Burled Walnut, and the standalone amplifier pushes some 55-watts to each 6.5- x 5.5- x 4-inch speaker. The pair houses a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter and a 3-inch aluminum cone woofer, and the optional Audiobyte subbie packs an isobarically-loaded 6.5-inch driver, but is unfortunately passive in nature. Interestingly, the system's amplifier features an integrated USB plug, so DAPs can be plugged in directly for audio playback sans a running PC. As for pricing, the 2.0 setup will run you between $349 and $559 depending on finish, and the optional subwoofer will tack on another $179 to whichever pair you choose. Click on for one more look, won'tcha?[Via CyberTheater]
Wooden mouse / keyboard for the budget-minded set
Why spend hundreds, thousands on a wooden keyboard when there's a sufficient alternative available for the low, low price of $16.99? Granted, the iteration you see above does seem to lack the level of quality exemplified in Hacoa's version, but it's also around $283 cheaper -- not to mention that delightful mouse that comes in this package. Still, we wouldn't be surprised if that (presumed) wood finish starts to peel off after a lengthy night of WoW -- you get what you pay for, remember?[Thanks, Phuong]
HACOA's $300 DIY keyboard now shipping: saw included
We're not much for whittling our own keyboards. Then again, we don't think dropping your PC into a vat of vegetable oil is a good idea either. Still, if nothing gets you hotter than the thought of taking a serrated blade to the Caps Lock key then by all means, have at it. The Hacoa DIY keyboard, ready for pre-order in Japan for ¥34,800 or about $300.[Via Impress]
DIY wooden keyboard kit brings out the carpenter in you
We caught a glimpse of Marubeni Infotec's wooden input peripherals earlier this year at Computex, and now the makers of the Hacoa brand are reportedly readying a DIY kit that will enable users to actually assemble one of their own. Apparently, the company is downright tired of working long hours just to crank out a minimal number of 'boards, so it's hoping to offload some of the labor and attract industrious consumers by offering up the Ki-Board DIY Kit. The package will purportedly include your choice of maple or walnut wood, a USB keyboard base, a few tools / connectors and a "plank with the beginnings of keys carved into it." Word on the street has it that these bundles will go on sale later this month for around ¥34,800, or just over $300.[Via PinkTentacle]
Audio Technica unveils ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones
Audio Technica's no stranger to high-end cans, and we must say, its flagship set for 2007 (its words, not ours) looks mighty sexy. The ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones are crafted from "Japan's finest Hokkaido cherry tree," feature 42-millimeter neodymium magnet drivers with fiberglass housing support, and come bundled with a carrying case to keep these beauties clean when not in use. You can pick these up to listen to (or just look at) come October 19th for ¥37,800 (or about $330).[Via AudioJunkies]
On woodworking: Why we can't have everything we want
A player on the official forums asked what the new woodworking profession would be like, how gathering wood would work, and so on. If it had been me I'd have asked, "How much wood could a woodworker work if a woodworker could work wood?" and "Where would a wannabe woodworker who would work with wood find wood with which to work the woodworker's wood work?" But I digress.Nethaera was kind enough to pop in and basically tell us that we were getting ahead of ourselves again, and imply that woodworking probably wouldn't work in this expansion."But why just one profession per expansion?" you ask? Got profession fever have you?Well Nethaera responds to this as well: We're never short on ideas. We have many that we would like to implement, but implementing them isn't always such a simple task. For a new profession you need to consider: How it will work? Where will the recipes come from and where in the world will they be placed? Who will the trainers be and what is their story? What recipes are necessary and what materials are required for them? What exactly will be the result of the profession as far as stat changes and enhancements be? What art assets are going to be needed? What technology will support it on the back end? Why will people want it? Is it ultimately fun and interesting? And many more things. Then in the end, it must balance out with the rest of the game as well as with other professions. Combine that with all the other things we are working on for Wrath of the Lich King and it isn't something we can just toss together overnight. So there it is, as usual: this whole "game development" thing can be a lot more complex than it seems, and consequently we players can't always have as much new stuff as we might want. Still, woodworking is in those Blizzard offices somewhere, percolating through the developers' brains -- so maybe one day we might actually get to work with the wood we've always wanted.
LG's 120Hz LCDs now with 52-inches of wood
In that overly-dramatized photo above, LG is touting the wonders of their newest 120Hz LCDs coupled with their latest take on the wooden bezel. The new XCANVAS models share the stylings of their previous wood sets and ship in Korea with 42- (42LY4D), 47- (47LY4D), and 52-inch (52LY4D) panel options. Other than a 178-degree viewing angle, latest XD processing engine, and a USB-host jack for a quick audio or image fix, the machine translated details are notably scant. Fine by us, we're not feeling the whole natural TV thing anyway.
Wooden Supercar takes to the streets
We've seen a smorgasbord of unusual ways to get back and forth to work, and while you could certainly catch us aboard a real-world Mario Kart or jet-powered scooter, traversing the 101 in a completely wooden automobile isn't exactly within our realm of acceptable risk. Nevertheless, the Sada furniture company in Japan has crafted such a vehicle, and the president of the firm has even driven it into a news studio just to show it off. Reportedly, the vehicle can actually reach a top speed of just under 50 miles-per-hour, but considering it would cost you around ¥3,900,000 ($32,819) to take one of your own home -- not to mention the implausibly high insurance rates on a flammable vehicle -- you're probably better off just living vicariously through the videos after the jump.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Marubeni Infotec knocks on wooden input peripherals
While we doubt a vast majority of you have gone and purchased a wooden PC just yet, a natural tower isn't necessary to enjoy the stained goods that Marubeni Infotec was showing off at Computex. While details concerning pricing, availability, and construction were all but nil, AVing's crew did manage to get its camera up close and personal with some of the wares. On display was a USB keyboard (complete with Scrabble-influenced keys), a number of colorful USB 2.0 flash drives, a multicard reader, and a four-port (we agree, the fourth port is hiding) USB hub. Click on through for shots so close, you can smell the sap.
ASUS' wooden "laptop": kills trees and reason with a single swing
ASUS is showing of its design chops this morning with a trio of laptops made from wood. Of course, these aren't the first (and certainly not the last) pieces of consumer electronics kit to go au naturel. We've even seen other wood-cased laptops before including ASUS' own EcoBook. But man, is the above "laptop" design practical by any stroke of the imagination? Still, kudos to you ASUS for pushing the design envelope. If these are the gaffes required en route to your product successes then we're willing to suffer (a little). Read-on for a few viable designs which, knowing ASUS, could see limited production runs.Read -- model 1 Read -- model 2 Read -- model 3
Gorgeous Zelda wood carving up for auction
Have you ever woken up and wished that you were in Poland, clutching sheafs of z??oty that you were free to spend on anything you wanted? No? Well, we bet you'll think that tomorrow after you see what's available on this Polish auction site. One fan put a lot of effort into this Twilight Princess woodcarving, and it could be yours, for a mere $50 US, plus a whole lot of shipping. If, that is, you can even convince them to ship to you.Or you can just stare at it and drool a little, which is what we did. Is it ever too late to learn how to do this stuff?[Via Infendo]
Thermoacoustics behind all-in-one cooker, fridge, and generator
Sure, building up a campfire in order to roast some eats in the wilderness could be fun for awhile, but for the reported "two billion people that use open fires as their primary cooking method," we're sure it loses its luster somewhere along the line. The University of Nottingham is hoping to change all that, however, by attempting to develop an all-in-one gizmo that acts as a "cooker, a fridge, and a generator," and relies on biomass fuels for energy. The £2 million ($3.96 million) SCORE (Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity) project seeks to create a "wood-powered generator capable of both cooking and cooling food," and it will purportedly rely on thermoacoustics to cut down on pollutants, increase efficiency, and be more reliable to future consumers in Africa and Asia. No word just yet on when this newfangled kitchen appliance will be ready to ship, but a portable version would probably do quite well in the camping market.[Via CNET]
Classy wooden router literally gauges network utilization
Although Sprint didn't mind showing off its snazzy new router earlier today, a crafty DIY'er has concocted a classic of his own to balance things out. Admittedly, homegrown routers aren't exactly common, but this step back in time really puts the modern day approach to shame, as its wooden construction, curvaceous shape, and tasteful use of analog equipment would tempt even the neatest of neat freaks to keep this one outside of the networking closet. Granted, this certainly isn't the most simplistic of projects we've come across, and it will require quite a bit of handiwork beyond the usual steady hand, but if you're feeling courageous and want a dash of class to counter the rat's nest of cabling behind your rig, click on through to the read link for all the minutiae.[Via Slashgear]
LG launches eight new flat screens
Who wants a flat screen hanging on the wall made out of plastic? Seriously, how tacky would that look next your craftsman-style wood trim and mantle? Well LG's got your back with two new flat screens decked out in classy, Italian wood, and for the 'traditionalists' out there, six models made out of the plastic stuff. Deets are a bit sketchy right now, but we do know that the two with wood trim are both 60-inch 1080p plasmas (60PT1DRW / 60PT1DRA) with a price tag of ???9,900,000 ($10,500). The other sets include a 37- (37LB5DR) and 42-inch (42LB3D) LCD, a 42- (42PB4DR) and 50-inch (50PB4DR) plasma and 32- (32LB3D) and 42-inch (42LB5DR) LCD with LG's propriety DVR system. Prices start out at ???2,100,000 ($2,240) for the 37-inch and for the ???2,600,000 ($2,773) 42-inch LCD; ???2,300,000 ($2,453) and ???4,500,000 ($3,733) for the 42- and 50-inch PDP; along with ???1,700,000 ($1,813) and ???2,500,000 ($2,666) for the 42-/32-inch DVR-enabled LCD. The jury is still out though if it would be more cost effective to have one of those custom wood frames made for our current plasma. Oh well, it's just an excuse to buy another plasma.
Furni's ALBA wood and acrylic fashion clock
Fashion clocks aren't necessarily the highest form of technology, but that's not to say we don't value them: alarm clocks are after all one of the first things you see in the morning, so why shouldn't it be an aesthetically attractive one? Furni's ALBA beech wood and acrylic clock definitely falls into the latter category, with its minimalist mix of old and new materials being particularly pleasing on the eye. At only $88, it's also happily on the affordable end of the fashion clock chart. As part of Furni's spring '07 range, the ALBA will be shipping on June 1, and you can pre-order now.[Via MoCoLoCo]
Wooden iPod cases
Website CoolAsFunk tracked down these fabulous wooden iPod cases from Japanese wooden-toy manufacturer Asuka Koubou[1] via distributer Rakuten. Your 5G or nano iPod slips into the case, leaving access to the docking port, scroll wheel and screen. It's not entirely clear what keeps the iPod from slipping right back out again, but given how marvelous these things look, who is going to quibble about mere functionality, darling? If my ability to read Japanese pages works--and, frankly, it rarely has--it looks like these cases sell for about 5775 Yen each, or about $50 in US currency.[1] Thanks Calexifan
Asus EcoBook touts bamboo casing
Green is most definitely in, and while LG is out crafting environmentally friendly big screens, Asus is stretching for the eco-minded set with its dashing EcoBook. Getting a bit of hands-on action, CNET was able to grab hold of Asus' bamboo-clad laptop long enough to catch jungle fever, but sadly, we've absolutely no idea what type of potency lies beneath the forest hood. Of course, with such a conservative message, we fully expect a ridiculously long battery life and a ULV processor, and true road warriors should probably invest in a decent humidifier to carry along in your laptop bag. It was noted that a good bit of thought went into the design, as the enclosure features interchangeable (and biodegradable) panels (pictured after the break), silver keyboard / trackpad, and a nifty PowerGear performance button, and considering all the experience Asus has in coating portables with materials other than plastic, we're sure the final product will be up to snuff whenever it decides to land.[Via Techie Diva]
LG readying 60-inch wood-framed plasma display
If the glossy black, matte silver, or brushed aluminum looks are simply too played out for your next HDTV, LG is hoping to spruce up your options by offering up yet another forest-inspired offering. Details are admittedly scant on the forthcoming 60-inch 60PT1, but we do know that this beast of a PDP will rock a dark wooden frame that could hang in perfect harmony in your kid's pimped out treehouse. Additionally, it seems that LG will only be loosing 1,000 of these limited edition units worldwide, and that folks in Korea (well, not North Korea) will get first dibs when they finally appear. Of course, meticulously crafting such a beauty apparently takes time, as you won't be finding one of these for sale until "March at the earliest," but that should give you enough time to sell off a car or two in order to finance this presumably pricey luxury.[Via AkihabaraNews]
