Adidas X Google Talking Shoe

As part of Art Copy Code, Google have joined forces with Adidas to create The Talking Shoe. Using an accelerometer, a gyroscope, Bluetooth and some other off the shelf technologies, the Talking Shoe translates the wearer’s movements into funny, motivating and timely commentary. Check out the video below.

Extreme iPad Dock

This Faberge-inspired iPad dock makes me want to be sick in my mouth, swallow it and be sick again.....

[VIA]

Dog Space Suits From The 50s + 60s

[VIA]

Apple Apple Apple

So two bits of news that made me angry and happy. You can guess which way round: Firstly, Apple shareprice is down 20% from its all-time high in Sept of $705. This marks a $138bn loss in its value. Some people are saying that its because Apple cannot meet the demand for their products and others are saying that investors' sentiment towards the company is generally changing due to slower earnings growth and managment changes.

Secondly, Apple have managed to win possibly the MOST contentious patent awarded recently. Yes, the 'Rectangle with Rounded Corners' patent has been awarded to them. "Previous design patents on the iPad and iPhone have included at least one additional feature in solid lines — like the home button, the back surface contour, the bezel shape, the side profile, or the edge-to-edge screen. This one ignores all of that and simply focuses on the shape of that peripheral edge. It's a broad patent. Really broad. Granted, an argument can be made that the horizontal and vertical lengths of the solid edge line in the drawings limits the patent coverage to a specific proportional design that excludes tablets with different aspect ratios, but you wouldn't want that to be your primary defense..." I'm sorry, but Apple are really starting to grind my gears...

[VIA]

Skydive From Space: Felix Did It!!

Over 8 million people watched Felix step off that capsule and hurtle through the sound barrier and into the record books.
His records:
Highest jump: 128,097ft or 24 miles (39 km)
Highest manned balloon flight: 24.261miles (39.045km)
Fastest freefall: 1342 km/h or 834mph (Mach 1.24)
He was in freefall for 4 minutes and 19 seconds, missing out on the record by 17 seconds still held by Joe Kittinger.

 

Check out all our previous posts that lead up to this epic event dating back to January 2010!
First Supersonic Freefall
Skydive From Space Update 
Skydive From Space Update 2 
Skydive From Space Update 3 - A sad day
Skydive From Space Update 4 - It's back on!
Skydive From Space Update 5
Skydive From Space Update 6 - First manned test flight!
Skydive From Space Update 7 - 2nd manned test flight!
Skydive From Space Update 8 - A teaser

 Image [VIA]
Video [VIA]

Skydive From Space: This Is IT!!!!

Felix Baumgartner is making his attempt at his 120,000ft skydive from space today, Right NOW in fact!! Check out the feed over at http://www.redbullstratos.com/live/ or at the YouTube feed below.
This is the moment I've been blogging about for nearly 3 years!! Do not miss it!!

Skydive From Space Update 8

If like me, you cannot wait to watch this epic event happen LIVE, perhaps this teaser from Felix Baumgartner's test jump will show you what's in store. (WARNING: You will watch this probably 5 times in a row!!) Enjoy!

When Engineers Own Dogs

Wounded Eagle Gets 3D Printed Beak

After being shot in the face by a poacher seven years ago, Beauty the bald eagle lost most of her beak.

 Without it, she couldn’t feed herself, and likely would have died in the wild. But now, Beauty’s getting a second chance at survival in the form of a 3D printed beak.

 

Will 3D Printing Be The Next Big Internet Issue

There's an interesting article I read over the weekend on Techcrunch. The article makes a very good point that 3D printers- (machines able to print solid objects in 3-dimensional form using layered printing technique) are currently available to the general public on small-scale. These printers are able to make small toys & jewellery and in the commercial space, make larger household items and even prototype engine parts.

However, it will soon be possible to download instructions on how to print weaponry and even create synthetic chemical compounds, ie. drugs... Where does this leave us in the future? Will it be possible to monitor the internet for all these dodgy things we 'could' be making in our homes?

read more HERE..

Transform Doodles and Ideas Into Digital Text Files

"Italian sketchbook manufacturer moleskine has teamed up with application developer evernote to create pocket-sized notebooks capable of transforming text into digital files. Together with an app designed specifically for the iPhone and iPad, the program transforms doodles and writing into a digitized version that becomes searchable and sharable. smart stickers tag specific pages, organizing them into categories for a fast and easy way to track and archive newly created files."

[VIA]

Raspberry Pi Custom Lego Casing

The Raspberry Pi is seriously cool. If you don't know what it is, it's basically a $35 credit-card sized computer! Check out RaspberryPi.org and get inspired!
The computer itself has no casing which is a dream for customisers. This one in Lego by Brian Gillespie is really cool.

[VIA]

Kuratas: The US$1m Super Robot

Did someone say Gundam?
Japanese electronics company Suidobashi Heavy Industry have created this super robot called "Kuratas" which can be yours for US$1m. It has a top speed of 10km/h and measures four meters in height, weighs four tons and has four wheeled legs that can either be controlled remotely through the 3G network or by a human seated within the cockpit. Oh, and it has twin gatling guns which fire 100 BBs a second.

[VIA]

Skydive From Space Update 7: 2nd Manned Test Flight

Felix Baumgartner has completed his second test flight and plunged to Earth from an altitude of about 96,640 feet (25.9 kilometres). His top speed was an estimated 536mph (863km/h). He's aiming for a record-breaking jump from 125,000 feet, or 38 kilometres, in another month and hopes to go supersonic, breaking the speed of sound with just his body.

Videos from HERE and HERE
Image from HERE

STREETART.IO: Instagram for Street Art

StreetArt.io can only be described as "Instagram for street art". Developed in Adelaide Australia, this app helps curate the locations of the best street art around the world, giving users a digital / mobile reference guide to what is where around their areas and abroad.
Download it from iTunes and check it out for yourself.

[VIA]

Renard Grand Tourer

The Renard Grand Tourer’s carbon-fiber monocoque weighs only 11 kilograms!!, and is reinforced with Kevlar, to make it resistant to impact and vibration.

[VIA]

Skydive From Space Update 6: First Manned Test Flight!!

Toyota Fun Vii Car Video

The Toyota Fun Vii is a spectacular design concept unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this week. The 'Vii' stands for Vehicle, Interactive, Internet. It's a car, a gaming machine and a smartphone all in one. Almost every part of the car can interact with the internet. Almost every surface of the car is a touchscreen that can be adjusted by the driver, including color changes. Oh, and the car can drive itself. VIA - Amelie Dupont!

Ultimate Star Wars Geekery

SoundTank By Nik Nowack

Nik Nowak is a Berlin-based sound artist who creates fully-functioning vehicles/sculptures and installations that can play music and look bad-ass....

[VIA]