From Juxtapop:
I finally got around to watching every Harry Potter film. Never saw them before, never read the books. Then it hit me. They have all the same powers as Mario.
Still Alive (Portal): The Floppy Drive Edition [Video]
Behold the portal theme song as performed by youtuber Sammy1Am with the help of 4 floppy drives.
Oh, and while you’re here, be sure to check out his version of the Imperial March as well:
[Via GTDW]
New Toyota creates “waku waku doki doki”
Toyota has shown off a new car design where the entire exterior is a video display. The car also has an augmented reality display on the inside of the windshield as well as an internet connection for the passengers.
Sadly the car is merely a demonstration model: it’s not likely to be on sale any time soon, but does serve to show that the concept is at least feasible. It’s called the Fun-Vii, with the latter letters referring to vehicle, interactive and internet. Toyota’s boss Akio Toyoda said the aim was to create “waku waku doki doki”, which USA Today helpfully translates as “a heart aflutter with anticipation.”
The most prominent feature of the car is the exterior which is a sleek black by default. However, it can not only change color, but can also display custom images and messages. Toyota showed off some examples of the car being used for advertising, which would be a lot simpler than repainting it to display each new campaign.
During a demonstration at the Tokyo Motor Show, the company set the car up to display a smartphone-like “home screen” with the “buttons” triggering demonstrations of the various features. Sadly this appeared to simply be a well-choreographed exhibition rather than the side of the car actually being touch-sensitive.
The gadgetry continues on the inside with the entire interior also an electronic display. At its simplest this can be used to change color to meet different moods. In a more complex use, the windshield can display navigation information, traffic updates and even details of traffic hazards that are in the driver’s blind spot. There’s also an option to get information through audio as with many existing GPS devices.
Toyota has also suggested that if the car was produced, it could communicate with other vehicles running the equipment. For example, if following a friend to an unfamiliar location, you’d no longer have to worry about keeping them in sight for the entire journey, even if they took a short cut not known to the satellite navigation.
The entire car would be operated by a permanent Internet connection, which presumably means it’s a lot more hypothetical in some regions than in others. As well as providing the navigation information, the connection could also provide entertainment content for passengers.
Toyota maintains such a vehicle will one day be on sale, but is certainly keeping its options open about the timescale: it’s simply describing it as the “car of 20xx.”
Half-Life: Origins [Live Action Short]
Half-Life Origins is an independent short by Infectious Designer.
Everyone remembers the first time they stepped onto the Black Mesa Transit System and into the shoes of the unexpected hero, Gordon Freeman. Half-Life Origins is a short film that takes you back to where it all began.
This also comes from the same people who made the very awesome Beyond Black Mesa, another Half-Life themed short based in the same universe.
A Geek Girl’s Guide to Holiday Shopping
While millions of Americans fought tooth, nail, and pepper spray to get their hands on some mighty deals, this geek girl somehow managed to avoid the annual contact sport known as Black Friday. While sitting in my office, pouring over YouTube videos of people at their very best in Holiday cheer (and boxing), I took the time to reflect on what is most important this season: presents (/sarcasm). And how to acquire them for the people most important to me.
Now I don’t know about you, but my friends range in a wide and varied sort. Some are gadget geeks, others are Otaku, then there are those who simply freak out over sports. Whatever your flair is, there has got to be a gift for the die hard fan we all know and love.
LomoKino 35mm Movie Camera – $79.00 from Lomography.com
For the Hipster Geek, you can’t go wrong with the LomoKino 35mm movie camera. Even Hipstamatic doesn’t have an app for this yet!
Get ready to have your world turned upside down! The LomoKino, Lomography’s very own 35mm movie camera, is set to revolutionize the analogue landscape forever. Forget about the rules and direct your own stunning short films – with this handy camera, all you need is a 35mm roll and your creativity!
Air Swimmers Flying R/C Sea Life – $39.00 from The Neatoshop
Do you have a friend who always wanted to be a Marine Biologist? Now’s your chance to fulfill his dreams and get him his own flying fish (or shark!). Okay, it really has nothing to do with marine biology, but imagine how cool you’ll be if you give out one of these in the Secret Santa exchange. Way better than that singing fish. Also, a good gift for Dr. Who fans who may want to recreate the man-eating, flying fish scene from A Christmas Carol.
- Hours of flying sea creature fun for the whole family
- Durable, high-quality nylon material will stay inflated for weeks
- Remote functions: Climb, descend, and tail fin control for turning
Click Watches – $149.00 from Watchismo
You know that old pal of yours who liked to build computers in his garage? He might have gone on to build one of the most successful electronic companies in history. But if he’s anything like my dad, he may be a whiz with a punch card, but is horrible with showing up on time for lunch! Ooh and aah your tech savvy friends with these nifty time pieces from Watchismo.
If you look at the circuit boards of an 80’s arcade game, you’d find these Dip Switches. This type of switch is designed to be used on a printed circuit board along with other electronic components and is commonly used to customize the behavior of an electronic device for specific situations. Each switch activates a different function of the watch as seen in the diagram below. Functions ranging from bar graph metered time display, 12 hour and 24 hour digital time display, month, date, day of week and backlight.
Custom Body Pillow – $60 – $120 from Dakimakura Pillow
Do you have a friend who suffers from the “forever alone” syndrome? It’s hard getting out there, meeting new people and finding things in common to talk about. Don’t let your best bud go alone this holiday, you can get him (or her!) a custom body pillow printed with their favorite anime character, western movie star or comfort food.
Dakimakura is a hug pillow: over-sized pillows designed to be extremely huggable. These are security objects and usually never leave the grasp of sleeping Japanese children. So addictive is the comfort provided that many older men and women still use them.
Star Wars Themed Kitchen Goods – $9.99 – $29.99 from Williams-Sonoma
For the baking geek who also likes to walk on the Dark Side, Williams-Sonoma has an array of cookie cutters, stencils, even sandwich cutters that you can take a bite out of the Rebels (or the Empire, if you lean that way) every time you cook!
Marvel Comics Digital Subscription – $59.88 from Marvel.com
What do you get the discriminating comic fan who owns every #1 issue ever printed? Since they probably won’t be taking those books out any time soon, they can still enjoy what’s inside without getting grease on the pages with a digital subscription to Marvel Comics!
- Access to over 10,000 New and Classic Titles
- Exclusive New Issues Available Online First
- Stories Featuring Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men, Hulk & More!
Stephen Colbert Interviews Neil Degrasse Tyson [Video]
Note: Be sure to skip ahead to 6:00 to go directly to the interview.
A discussion about science, society, and the universe featuring an out-of-character Stephen Colbert and renowned astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson. Please note that this interview took place at the Kimberley Academy in Montclair, New Jersey back in 2010.
[Youtube]
Assassin’s Creed Art Nouveau [Pics]
Men in Black 3 Teaser Poster [Pic]
Sony has just released the first teaser poster for the May 2012 release of Men in Black 3, a picture of Tommy Lee Jones made entirely out of small MIB3 logos.
Men in Black III (stylized MIB3 and formerly known as Men in Black III-D) is an upcoming 3D science fiction comedy film starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. It will be released as the sequel to Men in Black II on May 25, 2012, ten years after its predecessor,[2] and will also star Josh Brolin and Jemaine Clement, with Barry Sonnenfeld returning as director, and Steven Spielberg returning as executive producer. The film is the third entry in the Men in Black film series which is based on the Malibu comic book series The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham. Principal photography began in New York City on November 16, 2010. [Source: Wikipedia]
[Via Collider]