Mixed drinks are so fashionable nowadays and it’s not just being relegated to your local bartender’s expert hands. People are discovering the fun of making mixed drinks and cocktails and are doing it in their homes when they host parties. [Read more…]
Stop motion animation assisted by computers is a hot artform right now. Many animated movies are being made using this style. The process of stop motion is a very tedious process that requires minute movements individually shot and the accumulated shots put together to create the illusion of movement. Stop motion animation usually involves the use of puppets but a company in Japan is bringing the old world art of stop motion animation a great innovation that could possibly revolutionize the industry.
Japan-based SoftEther has released the QUMA for use by stop motion animators. The device consists of a small puppet that is spiritually similar to the wood mannequins artists use for posing when they want to draw the human body. But the difference here is that the QUMA mannequin’s joints are equipped with sensors.
This is how the QUMA works.
The mannequin is plugged into a PC through a USB port. Moving the mannequin will trigger the sensors, which detect when it is moved or adjusted. These data is then sent directly to the PC and interpreted by the 3D software. The QUMA significantly simplifies the whole process of stop motion because it eliminates a number of processes. Now, movements are directly put into the computer, which makes everything faster. The QUMA is also a great tool for traditional stop motion artists to slowly transition to computer generated or CG animation. The opportunities the QUMA opens for both traditional and CG animators is quite many and the whole animation industry is going to vastly benefit from it. The number of hours the QUMA can cut in production can translate to very significant savings, in the millions in fact for big budget major studio films. And if the price point is attractive enough (no price has yet been announced) this could open doors for backyard animators to produce sleek and polished stop motion animation from their homes.
We all need to exercise to keep ourselves healthy. Some people do this by going to the gym regularly. But there are some who, although they want to exercise, they just don’t like going to the gym. The reasons are varied – it takes extra effort to haul your ass to the gym, a hectic schedule or both. If you’re one of these people then the only other option is to exercise inside your home. If you want to make your home equipped for exercise you can consider getting a stationary bike.
Stationary bikes are great exercise equipment. It is easy to use, you can really burn a lot of calories and it’s a lot of fun to use. If you’re on the lookout for a stationary bike go and look for the ProForm Tour de France. This is a virtual training bike designed for those who are planning to join a bicycle race. In fact, the ProForm Tour de France has been recognized as the official training bike for the Toure de France itself.
What makes the ProForm Tour de France so different from other training bikes? Well, this is a bike that is quite smart. The bike is installed with what is called an iFit Live technology. What it does is to coordinate with Google Maps and allow you to bike through a mapped course on the map. The bike will then get information on the contours and elevation of the road you’re biking and based on that information it will rise up and down. So what the bike does is to simulate riding on that road. To make it more difficult for your body, the friction of the rear wheel is also controlled to simulate the drag and the effort of going uphill. This is one training bike that is virtually as good as the real one.
One thing I’ve noticed about gadget lovers is that they have a minimum of at least three gadgets that they use on an almost daily basis, and that’s just a conservative estimate. It’s not uncommon for an average person to carry a number of gadgets in his bag, what more a person who loves technology and gadgets. But with so many gadgets charging them becomes quite a chore. You need to keep track of as many chargers as your gadgets and it can be quite a bother sometimes. It’s for this very reason why multi-charging stations are becoming quite popular. [Read more…]
Not everyone is into cars, but those who do appreciate all things automotive realize just how much cool stuff one can find. Take this Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel – it is perhaps the coolest thing I have seen today. The replica is the same scale as the real steering wheel that Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso uses in his car. Well I guess I should also mention that the other Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa, has the same steering wheel.
If you are an F1 fan – a Ferrari fan in particular – daydreaming about being behind the wheel of the famous red racing car is probably nothing new for you. For majority of us, in all probability, driving a Ferrari (much less owning one) will remain a dream. Heck, many will probably only see a Ferrari on TV or in the movies.
With the release of this limited edition Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel replica, though, the chances of getting your hands on something real – not counting Ferrari apparel, key rings, and the like. And since it looks exactly like what you see the Ferrari drivers use during the races, you can easily improve your daydreaming experience.
Just how accurate is this replica? For starters, the Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel is made of genuine carbon fiber. Then you have the buttons, paddles, and switches – all of which actually move. If you buy the Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel replica, you also get a leather base (red, of course) plus a clear cover (to protect it from dust). The steering wheel weighs in at 14.5 kg (surprisingly heavy!) while the outer box measures in at 45 x 42 x 42.
If you have $2,230.15 (shipping and tax not included) to spare and you are a true Ferrari fan, then you ought to go to the Ferrari online store now to order one. There are only 250 units of the Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them sell like hot cakes.
Oh, and just for fun, wouldn’t this be the perfect companion for the Ferrari 150 Italia Full Size Steering Wheel replica? (Yes, I am a Ferrari-Red Bull fan.)
F1 Red Bull Seat
I usually classify people between coffee drinkers and tea drinkers. I myself am mainly a tea drinker (do I do indulge in the occasional espresso if I want a quick pick me up). But one thing I’ve noticed is that it is the coffee drinkers that usually get the new and high tech devices for their liquid indulgence. For example, I’ve already mentioned the CBTL Kaldi Machine a few weeks back. It makes us tea drinkers feel left out. [Read more…]
A big majority of people who love gadgets also love to build things. It is evident in the hobbies that they usually get into. The fascination with building could be traced to how gadget lovers love to find out what makes different things work and how different elements come together to make a complex machine. [Read more…]
My work is one hundred percent reliant on a computer. What this means is that I spend an inordinate amount of time facing a monitor, typing away. I usually clock in 12 hour days so by the end of the day, I’m really tired and my eyes are so fatigued I sometimes have difficulty focusing on objects. [Read more…]
Going on trails is a favorite pastime and physical activity of many people. Walking around trails is great exercise and also a great way of being with nature. There are people who bike these trails as a way of exercising and giving their biking skills a test, which can be quite challenging for some trails. But with trails you just can’t bike all throughout the trip. There are certain sections where a bike may not be able to go through it. When this happens you need to walk in order to traverse the trail, but this becomes difficult if you have to guide your bike through the difficult parts of the trail.
What you need if you trail bike is to have a bike that is very lightweight and allow you a level of freedom that pushing along an old bike won’t give. It’s a good thing that there are companies that continue their research and development to address requests coming from consumers. One of the best innovations in trail walking and biking is the Bergmonch Scooter. This new product is one of those hybrid style vehicles that carry the qualities of two products. The Bergmonch Scooter is actually a cross between a mountain bike and a downhill bike. This bike makes it easy to bike around trails, which people love, and going downhill, which most bikers actually get a thrill from. When you look at the Bergmonch scooter you’ll immediately notice how high the front is compared to traditional mountain bikes. The proportions are intended because downhill biking always require that the front is higher so that on a slope the biker won’t feel like he’s going to fall.
But before you go downhill you have to go uphill first. The Bergmonch Scooter can actually be folded and be attached to your backpack so you can go uphill more easily.
Bicycle Wine Rack
What’s your favorite mode of getting around? What’s your favorite (alcoholic) beverage? If your idea of relaxation is to take your bicycle out into the countryside (or the park, if you are an urban dweller) and enjoy a nice bottle of wine some time during the day, then you are in luck. I just discovered this little Etsy shop selling a handmade wine rack designed especially for those who like to spin their bike’s wheels. ((Etsy Shop))
Jesse from Montreal, Canada, obviously has a penchant for carrying a bottle of wine while on his bike and has come up with the Bicycle Wine Rack to solve the problem of keeping that bottle intact without getting in the way. The Bicycle Wine Rack is made of leather and some antique brass fasteners.
Those of you who pay particular attention to aesthetics will be interested to know that the leather is oil-treated and vegetable-tanned, meaning that it will become even more beautiful with age and use. And as you continue with your regular forays into the great outdoors on your bike, your Bicycle Wine Rack will only benefit from it.
As for functionality, the image may send across the message that the Bicycle Wine Rack is not a very secure contraption. However, there are hidden clamping mechanisms put in place by the maker, ensuring that your wine bottle has never been more secure! If you need more proof, here is a video showing the Bicycle Wine Rack in action.
I am not so sure about using the frisbee as a wine glass, but whatever floats your boat!
I know the Bicycle Wine Rack is not an electronic gadget, but it is a perfect accessory for someone who is always on his/her bike. With all the accessories that you get for your mp3 players and phones (not to mention tablets and other gadgets you take with you on the go), why not make sure that you always have space for a bottle of wine? After all, you never know when it will come in handy.
Other important details…the Bicycle Wine Rack will only fit bikes that have a 1-inch frame, so if your bike is special, then you might have to get an equally special rack made. Also, the racks have been rather popular so the newer units are taking longer to ship.