Awesome Tech

Lazy Game Reviews sums up the story of the first cover model for the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing series before unboxing and running through the software’s original MS-DOS version. A 62-page manual for a computer game. Good times.

Paweł Zadrożniak’s incredible orchestra of floppy drives, hard drives, and stepper motors is accompanied by a rare human appearance in this computer-controlled cover of The Buggles’ MTV-launcher, Video Killed the Radio Star.

Introduced in 1973, the power symbol may not be the most intuitive icon, but it actually has a very simple explanation. It’s a combination of “1” and “0”, and is meant to convey that the same button turns a device on and off. More in Lazy Game Reviews’ video.

Streaming speakers with minimal monochrome color schemes and physical controls. Available in two sizes, they can play audio via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast and 3.5mm aux. They also have built-in support for Spotify and Internet radio. (Thanks Tomas!)

We went behind the scenes with Mark Levinson to learn about the audiophile grade sound systems they make for Lexus vehicles. There’s no way to convey how amazing they sound without listening in person, but read on to get a sense of just what goes into making these systems so good.

A PC chassis that cools CPUs and GPUs more than most solutions, and without using any moving parts – no fans, no pumps – or electricity. Calyos’ proprietary vapor cooling system uses capillary action to cycle its refrigerant through its gigantic radiators.

Gnarly Racers are 1:38 scale remote-controlled cars that are equipped with front-mounted cameras for first-person racing. They go up to 20mph, last over 15min per charge, have a range of over 250ft and come with a headset and a removable monitor.

Inspired by an obstacle at a minigolf course, Himmee’s Loop is a table lamp that’s both whimsical and elegant. It has white LEDs that can be adjusted via a touch-sensitive dimmer. Himmee also offers a 6-foot-tall made-to-order version of the lamp.

Autel Robotics‘ top-rated X-Star drone matches the DJI Phantom 4 spec for spec, but for much less money. It packs a 4K/30 camera, a 3-axis gimbal, a 25m flight time, dual GPS/GLONASS navigation, and the ability to control and view flight from up to 1.2 miles away.

A CNC knitting machine. Kniterate (knit + iterate) lets you create apparel and accessories (or at least their prototypes) out of digital templates. You’ll be able to design templates using Kniterate’s web app or import previously made designs.

As sitting has been shown to cause nasty health consequences over time, standing desks are all the rage. ThinkGeek has gone one better with a desk that encourages you to swim while working. Waterproof laptop not included. Yes, we know this was posted on April 1.

(PG-13) “We’re going to use Snapchat in 12 easy steps!” SquirrelMonkeyCom resumes its Wonders of the World Wide Web parody series, this time to imagine what it would be like if Snapchat launched in the late ’90s. Some of it is exaggerated, but the struggle was indeed real.

This battery-powered lantern provides a bright, directional light source which can be stood up, flipped over, or hung from above. In addition to its quick-charger microUSB port, it can be juiced up via its three solar panels. Offers two brightness modes, plus an SOS flashing mode.

I Like To Make Stuff built his own scoreboard using an Arduino 101, LEDs, MDF and a ton of 3D-printed bulbs. For such a simple device, it took an extraordinary amount of work to make. No wonder these things are expensive. We’ll stick to apps and monitors.

Robotics company Festo developed this incredible appendage that mimics the movements and suction abilities of an octopus tentacle. It can grab and hold onto objects that might challenge other robots. It attaches to the end of their bendy Bionic Motion Robot.

Kyle McCabe shows off a neat prototype he put together a few years back – a car brake light that gets wider and brighter as more brake force is applied. A simple, yet smart idea we’d love to see go into production vehicles.

Samsung makes its Edge display standard with the Galaxy S8 and S8+. You get either a 5.8″ or 6.2″ 2960×1440 AMOLED display, 12MP rear camera, 2.35GHz 8-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, microSD slot, water- and dust-resistance, and eye- and face-recognition.

Handcrafted arcade machines with a minimalist retro cabinet. The Replay has a 17″ 4:3 LCD display with a scanline generator to recreate the look of CRT displays. It also has stereo speakers, 1- or 2-player setups, and customizable buttons, paint scheme, and an LED-backlit marquee.

A limited edition of MSI’s small form-factor gaming PC, decked out in snowy white, packing an Intel Kaby Lake Core i7-7700 3.6 GHz CPU, and GeForce GTX 1070 graphics, making it powerful enough to run VR games. Front USB 3.1 and HDMI ports make VR setup a breeze.

A winner of Android Japan’s Experiments: Object contest. Kosho Tsuboi’s Magic Calendar is a large digital calendar. Tsuboi’s prototype uses a low reflection display, but he hopes that in the future there will be an E-ink display that looks and feels like paper.

“I’m gonna need a moment here.” Watch Lazy Game Reviews geek out while opening and setting up an IBM AT – 8Mhz CPU! 512KB RAM! – and the legendary Model M keyboard. You can skip to 23:15 to see the setup come alive, but you’re going to miss out on the fun.

At first glance, this gadget looks like just another USB charger for your car’s cigarette lighter outlet. But this smartly-designed device also packs a spring-loaded glass breaker and a seat belt cutter, which can save your life if you’re ever in a car crash.

PC parts maker Corsair’s first attempt at a complete computer is a surprisingly competitive package. The One is a compact (mini-ITX) build with a restrained design, separate radiators for the GPU and CPU, a huge exhaust at the top, and a competitive price, given its power.