Wortmann has launched a new netbook called the Wortmann Terra Mobile 1020Go. The company isn't really big in the netbook business and not really a company we have heard of before.
Either way, the Terra Mobile 1020Go packs the usual features which includes an Intel Atom N450 processor running at 1.66GHz. It has a 10.1 inch screen that is backlit by LED. Memory wise it has 1GB of RAM and for storage it has a 160GB hard disk drive.
Wireless LAN on the netbook can connect to 802.11b/g networks. The netbook uses the NM10 Express Chipset along with Intel GMA3150 integrated graphics. [click to continue…]
You might remember back a few months ago when we mentioned a machine that automatically switched it's self off each time it was switched on, post found here. This device pictured above is the equivalent of that machine but built out of Lego rather than wood.
The principle behind the box is the same in that when a user flicks the switch to power it on, an arm jumps up and switches the unit back off.
'The hardest part was probably getting the flap to operate easily and smoothly, and to open and close at the correct parts of the cycle. Careful design of the "pusher" allowed the hole to be fairly small in the later prototypes. There were probably around ten partial or complete prototypes before I found a reliable method and layout. I use the latest prototype(s) as a reference for the next, so I try to have enough bricks around to keep several on the go at once.'
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There have been a number of robot gadgets built of LEGO that have been capable of solving the Rubiks Cube. However, as far as I am aware, this is the first one that is built of LEGO but powered by a Google Android device.
The kit uses the Motorola DROID moile phone along with a LEGO Mindstorms NXT and a lot of LEGO technic pieces (mainly in yellow). [click to continue…]
LEGO Digital Box is device that uses augmented reality to show customers in LEGO stores what a built up LEGO set looks like. To get it to work you simply hold the LEGO set box up to the screen where a camera captures the box, detects which LEGO set is to be found within and then displays the set built up on top of the box. The box can be rotated and the augmented reality image follows.
Purchase decisions at the point of sale are mostly driven by the excitement of customers about a product. This certainly applies to the toy market. Ideally, customers want to hold the product in their hands and look at it closely from all angles. But for products like LEGO® sets, it can take hours of construction before you know what the toy really looks like. The LEGO DIGITAL BOX from the LEGO Group comes to the rescue. Children, big and small, can now hold LEGO® boxes up to the DIGITAL BOX and watch a 3D animation of the product - from all angles, in every detail - in their hands. This is made possible by metaio software, which fuses virtual 3D animations into a live video of the actual product packaging. The technology not only creates a fascinating technical experience, but also gives retailers a unique selling pitch while helping to inform interested buyers. After all, customers get to see exactly how much fun there is inside!
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Occasionally we come across Lego gadgets which generally fall in to the category of cool because you have to admit, most Lego is cool.
The latest we came across just today was a custom built Lego Bugatti Veyron that was built at a scale of 1:8. Inside there's plenty of good features too including a 7 speed sequential gear box along with a reverse gear. The Veyron has a motorised retractable roof, independent suspension, all wheel drive, retractable spoiler and air break (motorised too of course), motorised forwards/backwards/left/right movements and a whole load more cool features that make it one of the best Lego sets I have seen. [click to continue…]
Amazon are having a day full of Gold Box deals on Playstation 3 games. Big discounts can be found on various games with some being great and others not so great games.
Right now (and for the next 3 or so hours) you can get hold of Tekken 6 for $17.99 which is quite a big saving.
Other discounts coming up through the day include the following...
1PM Pacific: You might have played this RPG on your 360. - Star Ocean
4PM: Help Lego Dr. Jones through your favorite cinematic moments. - LEGO Indy
6PM: Wave around your PS3. - I have no idea
7PM: Don't "tapout" on this great MMA deal. - UFC
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Gizmodo managed to get a trip to visit the LEGO underground secure vault which contains every single LEGO set ever made, still boxed and unused.
The LEGO sets are stored in a secure vault that has the environment controlled keeping it at the right temperature and humidity to best preserve the 1000's of boxed of LEGO bricks.
Visiting the Lego's Memory Lane”the secret vault guarding almost every Lego set ever manufactured”touched me in a way I didn't expect. This wasn't amazement or simple awe. I was already astonished to no end by the tour of the Lego factory. No, this was something else, something bigger than the impressive view of the 4,720 Lego sets inside this lair. These weren't just simple boxes full of bricks. These were tickets to ride a time portal to emotions and simpler days long forgotten.
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In Toy Story we see a number of Green moulded plastic Army Men that are called in to Andy's room to solve problems and get things moving in the right direction. The actual army men have been around for many years before (back to the 1950's).
Lego have now got hold of the idea and created Lego Green Army Men that resemble the originals. The complete set comprises of 6 pieces with the cost being $11 for 4 Army Men, a Jeep and Stretcher. [click to continue…]
By using Lego, a camera, photoshop and some imagination xxxfancypantsxxx, a user at YouTube, has created this cool looking Lego stop motion animation called Lego - The Force Unleashed.
The animation was part of a challenge to see who could make the best lightsaber duel. The special effects such as the lightsabers and blaster effects were done in Photoshop while the rest of it was done 1 frame at a time moving Lego men around and capturing every single change. The video is shown below... [click to continue…]
Roots and Wings Co have created a detailed tutorial that gives all the steps you need on how to make your own soap bars that look like bricks of Lego.
The mold that created the bricks was made of urethane and was shaped around actual Lego bricks. By attaching the real Lego bricks to a surface and building up surrounding walls it allows the liquid urethane to be poured and left to set. Once the mold is created it allows for soap to be poured and again left to set creating some colourful Lego soap bricks. [click to continue…]
Apple [AAPL] will have us wait another couple of months to get our hands on an Apple iPad here in the UK, but there is an alternative that you could get now... as long as your happy with it being built of Lego, and not working like an iPad of course.
The whole fake iPad is built of Lego and even has a lego screen that can be replaced to show other images on the device.
It's kind of a crazy idea if you ask me, but still interesting enough to post here at Gadget Venue. More pictures after the jump. [click to continue…]
What do you do if you have 5 Linksys WRT54GL routers in your home all boxed up... you strip one of them down and rebuild it with Lego. This is what a guy called Luke did. He had 5 spare that he purchased from Amazon as they were on offer.
The goal of converting the Linksys to Lego was to retain the stacking ability that the regular version has as well as retaining full functionality which included working LED's, buttons, ports and antennas as well as keeping airflow through the Lego casing to keep things running cool.
The design to build the Lego router was created in a program called MLCAD. The creator wanted to keep a sleek black look using smooth Lego bricks. By choosing a row of clear bricks for the LED's, two vents on the side and a reset button on the front the design was finished. [click to continue…]