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USB hubs for for those in their own universe
Non-Star Wars enthusiasts may find these items utterly tacky on their desktops, but the official R2D2 and Darth Vader USB hubs were designed for hardcore fans who are in a galaxy of their own, far far away. In addition to the four USB ports, the R2 hub turns its head, lights up, and whistles the signature sounds associated with the droid. The Vader model features its own sound effects and glowing red eyes.
Unfortunately, the USB hubs appear to be located in a particular region of the universe called Japan, at least for now. Though we're sure that with … Read more
Buzz Out Loud 721: Copy an MP3, lose your house (VIDEO)
Buzz Out Loud 721: Copy an MP3, lose your house
House overwhelmingly passes controversial Pro-IP Act http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/ 20080508-house-overwhelmingly-passes-controversial-pro-ip-act.html
Infringement ‘detrimental to the public health, safety’ http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/09/0029224
Windows XP SP3 sows havoc, users complain http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/ operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207600950… Read more
R2-D2 gets revenge with 'Star Wars' pens
As witnessed by the unfortunate travails of R2-D2, Star Wars product merchandizing can go horribly awry. So sometimes it's safer to go with a simpler product for branding purposes, even if it means going analog (gasp).
Case in point: These Lego Star Wars Pens as seen on Uber-Review. The set pictured here includes Yoda, Darth Vader, and, yes, even the hapless, chirping R2-D2.
In addition to serving as perfectly serviceable writing instruments, these pens can be dispatched so you can mix and match their various parts while waiting for the next blockbuster arrives from the Lucas Empire. Because there … Read more
Make an R2-D2 mailbox out of paper
When the U.S. Postal Service launched several hundred R2-D2-skinned postal drop boxes around the country last year, it also quietly released a printable paper craft version for Star Wars fans who don't live near one of the limited edition mail receptacles. Being that I don't have good enough quality paper or glue stick skills to accomplish such a feat myself, I let the pros do the work then post their shots to Flickr.
Ron over at PaperKraft.net has put together a wonderful paper rendition of the lovable droid. While not as intricate as his Howl's Moving Castle … Read more
2008 CES: R2-D2's Reincarnation as a projector or webcam
Hardly a Geek could help but smile at the R2-D2 digital projector from Nikko. The latest incarnation of the licensed R2 franchise is functional: The large version of R2 hooks up with any standard media, but doesn't do High-Def nor does it really save you from the evil galactic empire as its made of shiny plastic and the Millennium Falcon that comes with it only doubles as a remote control. A lightsaber you want, it is, then your option is to get the smaller version of R2 that is actually a webcam and the lightsaber is a remote for … Read more
The ultimate indignity: R2-D2 soy sauce bottle
Poor R2-D2. Once everyone's favorite chirping bot, it's now reduced to serving as a lowly desktop accessory or novelty USB key. And as if this weren't bad enough, it's beheaded on a regular basis. We can hear Tim Moynihan weeping as we speak.
But all that pales in comparison to its latest incarnation--as a soy "source" bottle. "All you have to do is pour some soy sauce into his orifice, close him up, and then pour," Tokyomango says. The horror.
Cheap R2-D2 projector is stuff of nightmares
As much as we appreciate the occasional Star Wars knickknack, $2,500 seemed a tad steep for an R2-D2 projector. So we were pleased at first upon hearing that a low-budget version would be available.
Until we saw it. The product shots of the "R2-D2 Night Projector" from National Console Support is enough to give a grown man nightmares. First of all, its head pops off, which seems to be a disturbing trend for the poor guy. Second, it looks as if it's projecting some bizarre Dali-like painting on the ceiling instead of the promised Death Star … Read more
R2-D2 speakers for moderate 'Star Wars' freaks
Sure, we like R2-D2 as much as the next geeks, but only up to a point. A projector that runs $2,500 seems a bit excessive, for instance, and even the $350 Webcam is steep in our book. At the same time, we can do better than just a lame Mimobot.
The perfect compromise may be a pair of R2-D2 computer speakers like the cheeky duo shown in the photos here from Japan's Taito. But did they have to come up with a design that forces their decapitation to reveal the speakers? (We couldn't help but think of … Read more
