See? No strum bar.
(Credit: YouTube)The closer you can come to feeling like a real rock star in Guitar Hero or Rock Band the better, right? As long as you don't have to deal with the occasional drug overdose or huge bills from angry hotel managers, life is good. Now, two dudes on the Internets bring us slightly closer to living our fantasy.
YouTube user adderd019 posted a video of what is believed to be the world's first light beam gaming guitar. The guys took a gaming guitar, removed the strum bar, and replaced it with a single infrared beam, projected by a LED emitter.
The beam is 5 millimeters wide, and instead of having to stroke the strum bar, you can now tap, flip, slide, or emulate a real musician by pretending you have a guitar pick between your fingers to play each chord. As long as you break the infrared beam, you're good.
The beam is invisible, so we'll have to take the video's word that this actually is what they say it is. Although why someone would fake this is beyond me.
If the guys release schematics and instructions, maybe I'll actually start playing Rock Band. I don't like playing things I suck at, so I have little interest in the game as of now. Not sure if an invisible and intangible strum bar will make a difference, but that's the excuse I'm using now for my suckage.
Command your own fleet of nerds with this replica of the original Star Trek communicator, and guess what? It also happens to double as a VOIP phone, meaning you can use it to actually talk to another human being using Skype, AOL Instant Messenger, iChat, etc...
Bad news, though: unfortunately, the device does not have built-in Wi-Fi, so you must use USB for connectivity...worst. communicator. ever. Good news, though! Whoever designed this replica had the foresight (and the fear of vengeful Trekkies everywhere) to include buttons that play sound effects from the original series and a real mesh flip cover, just like the original!
Since I'm not cool enough to make a relevant joke about the authenticity of this device, I asked a co-worker for his thoughts and he scoffed in my face, telling me he'd rather wait for a badge communicator from TNG (The Next Generation) that works as Bluetooth speakerphone. Transport beam should be available for $20 more.
The Star Trek USB Communicator is available now for $75.
(Credit:
TechLasers)
Talk about versatility. On one hand, high-end flashlights and personal lasers can be used to blind, electrocute, and stun assailants, all before making breakfast.
But then there's a softer side, or so we're supposed to believe. That's why TechLasers is marketing its "Power Pair Valentine's Special Gift Pack," which includes "two Infiniti 125mW green laser pointers, one Infiniti 15mW green laser pointer, two LaserShades, and two cap sets," according to BornRich. As far as the romance meter goes, it ranks right up there "My Clocky Valentine."
(Credit:
Ranking1)
Crave has seen some bizarre health and fitness equipment, but this may deserve a category all its own. The Korean-made "Photo Sauna Cauterizer" (cauterizer?) emits a laser with a "low level of radiation" for what its manufacturer claims are a variety of health benefits. An understandably skeptical Red Ferret says the claims involve "some kind of oxygen rejuvenation." Call us chicken, but anything that mentions cauterization and radiation in the same sentence isn't something we want strapped anywhere near our waistlines, or anyplace else on our bodies.
(Credit:
Gadgetizer)
With so many distractions on the road these days--inside the car, as well as out--how is a person supposed to notice the flashing lights on the radar detector? Rocky Mountain Radar has found an answer to the sensory-inundated driving experience with the "C-450 Laser Detector."
Not only does it detect and scramble radar guns and beams, but Gadgetizer says the C-450 also issues a voice alert when police vehicles are within range. Does it help promote road safety? Of course not. But neither do cell phones and DVD players.
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