toys

Keep your Angry Birds, we'll take something a bit more classy

Birds and weapons? Sounds like a certain smartphone-game-turned-cultural-touchstone, right? Well, don't worry; we know you've heard enough about that particular phenomenon to last a few lifetimes.

No, this little blog item is about something far less widespread than a popular iPhone app. In fact, the "gadgets" in question here--if one dare call them that--are truly rare. So rare that they're expected to draw $2.5 million to $5 million at a Hong Kong auction later this month.

And though they were created in the early 19th century, and are anything but digital, they still manage to impress with the obvious technical mastery of their makers. … Read more

Give digital photos a retro look with Lo-Fi

People take a lot of bad and/or boring photos (myself included). Do it with a smartphone, though, and you've got a bunch of apps, such as Hipstamatic for iPhone and Vignette for Android, to make things more interesting or cover up flaws. However, things are a little more complicated for people who still use a regular camera, and that's where Lo-Fi comes in.

The software--available for Mac and Windows--lets you do what those apps do by quickly applying different effects based on film types, flashes, and lenses. What's nice about using Lo-Fi is that it doesn'… Read more

Toys 'R' Us building massive rooftop solar project

Toys "R" Us announced today that it plans to cover 70 percent of the roof of its distribution center, located in the leafy suburb of Flanders, N.J., with a solar installation.

The 5.38-megawatt solar project is a massive undertaking for a rooftop installation. Toys "R" Us claims this will be the largest rooftop solar installation in North America.

The Flanders distribution center is the largest distribution facility in the U.S. for the toy and electronics retailer. Toys "R" Us estimates that the roof spans about 32 acres. More than 869,294 square feet (almost 20 acres) of that roof will be covered in solar panels, according to the company.… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1450: Lick my 9Volt (Podcast)

Can you tell Brian Tong is back on the show? Actually, we're legitimately wondering whether a home-brew electroshock like battery licking could produce video game skill improvements like DARPA is seeing with their electroshock research. No, really. Also, Google shuts down Google Video, President Obama wants a universal login that's not Facebook Connect, and Match.com just got a whole lot more trustworthy. --Molly

Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (640x360) |  RSS (MP3) |  RSS (320x180) |  RSS (640x360)… Read more

iPad 2 scarce at Toys 'R' Us

Toys "R" Us store began selling the iPad 2 today, but only select stores have them.

The iPad 2 has been chronically selling out at stores everywhere so news that a new outlet will have the iPad 2 can potentially send shoppers scurrying to that location.

But don't expect to waltz into a Toys "R" Us today and get one. In the Los Angeles area, only select Toys "R" Us stores got a shipment of iPad 2s.

And a store in Tustin, Calif.--a Los Angeles suburb--had already sold out of the iPad … Read more

The 404 796: Where we're playing offense tonight (podcast)

If Wilson is the brains of The 404, and Jeff is the brawn, then what is Justin? Aside from answering that question, we're also thinking of new names for Jeff's hockey team and talking about Adobe's new software rental program, the iPad 2 coming to Toys "R" Us stores and Best Buy vaults, and the future of the Apple iPod Touch.

The 404 Digest for Episode 796

Adobe Creative Suite 5: Why buy when you can rent? Photoshop Touch SDK drives three Adobe iPad apps. Aviary.com puts light image edits in the cloud.

Episode 796 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Rumor: Toys 'R' Us to sell iPad 2

According to a rumor from tech site modmyi.com, Toys 'R' Us is training their employees to begin selling Apple's iPad 2 in their stores, offering perhaps one of their most compelling reasons for not wanting to grow up.

"We received a tip this morning from a Toys "R" Us employee that the venerable children's toy store will begin selling the iPad 2 next month. Although there have been rumors in the past about Toys "R" Us possibly carrying the iPad at some point in the future, this is the first we've … Read more

HPI Racing provides electric thrills at 1/10th scale

Last month, Ford unveiled it's electric Focus. This month, we've had the pleasure of tooling around with an all electric Mustang and, well, it's small. Actually, it's 1/10th scale small, because the electric car in question is the HPI Racing E10 RTR remote control car.

Okay, so it's a toy, but it's a pretty serious one. The $250-299 cost of entry will be prohibitive to many casual users.

The E10 RTR kit is the preassembled version of HPI's E10 R/C car chassis and accessories--RTR standing for "ready to run"--but there are quite a few user servicable parts. The simplicity of on out-of-the-box kit makes it easy for novices to setup and use. However, the wide array of upgrades and swappable parts makes it a great next step for users who want to get dig into the world of custom R/C.

Power flows from the removable, rechargeable 7.2V 1500mAh NiCd battery pack. THe E10 kit ships with an AC charger that recharges the battery pack in about 6 hours. However, we were only able to get about 30-45 minutes of play from a full charge, so we'd recommend that your first upgrade be either a second battery pack (about $15-20 at online retailers) or a step up to the GT 7.2v 3300mAh NiMH battery ($40 direct from HPI) for double the play time per charge.… Read more

Nanopad: A board game kit for magnet geeks

This year's Toy Fair in New York City was a little lacking in big-ticket excitement, but there were a few surprises for office geeks such as myself. Nanodots are high-powered mini magnetic balls, perfect for whiling away fidgety minutes at a desk. They come in packs of 216, cost around $30-$40 a set, and are tremendously addictive (just keep them away from small children--they're quite dangerous if swallowed). The problem with them generally tends to be finding a place to put them. They roll, they damage sensitive electronics, and they're easy to misplace.

The $20 Nanopad is a mat woven with iron, heavy and dense like one of those aprons you wear for dental X-rays. Nanodots stick to it like glue, and won't slide around and glom on to each other. On one side is a printed chessboard, perfect for building your own chess/checker/made-up board game set, if your inner geek dares. … Read more