Awesome Tech

Microsoft’s HoloLens tech is one of the most promising augmented reality systems we’ve seen. KennyWdev shows off a version of Portal that’s been modded to work with the goggles in the real world. It’s not perfect, but it’s a cool glimpse at the shape of things to come.

Give your keyboard an interstellar makeover with this set of 104 galactic key caps. They’re dye-sublimated for durability, and the design wraps all the way down the sides of each key, unlike those cheaper Nebula keyboard stickers. Compatible with Cherry MX switches.

A great looking and great sounding Bluetooth speaker that also happens to be a great deal. Archeer’s A320 speaker has two 2″ 5W midrange drivers, and a 5″ 15W subwoofer, enclosed in an enclosure made from bamboo. Measures 9.8″ W x 5.2″ H x 3.1″ D.

This quirky little robot is small enough to take anywhere, and can be used to sketch out line art images of anything you can draw on screen. Its robotic arm copies your hand movements, though its sketches have a bit of wobble to them – which gives them added character.

Since his paper books have been replaced by digital ones, 17-year-old Blake Hawkins didn’t have much use for his school locker. So he built a soda vending machine that fit the cabinet perfectly. It has two dispensers that can hold up to six cans each. Instructions here.

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is the world’s first LTE router that delivers up to 1Gbps downloads and 150Mbps uploads. Its battery lasts up to 24h per charge. It has an Ethernet port, dual-band Wi-Fi and a USB-C port. It will debut on Australian telecom Telstra for ~$270.

iBuypower’s new computer doesn’t come with a mouse or a keyboard, but it does come with a display – a transparent display built into its side panel. The 19″ 1280 x 1024 screen acts like a second monitor, so you can show whatever you want on it. 2017 y’all. The fyooch.

A 23.6″ full HD Android computer designed specifically for playing board games. It works with finger touches, game pieces and cards, and can store digital versions of physical board games. A $99 reservation gets you an early bird system for $250 off the MSRP.

A 27″ 1080p matte digital video frame with a 2W speaker. It comes loaded with 10 high resolution videos, with more available on its store, as well as live streaming from cameras located around the world. It also has alarm clock, Google calendar and weather apps.

World Cup USA footballer Jay DeMerit is the man behind this line of unique Bluetooth speakers crafted from slices of reclaimed wood logs. Each one is made from an unused cut-off, dead standing, or felled tree that would have otherwise gone unused.

Plugies give your mobile gadgets the same kind of convenience you’re used to from Apple’s MagSafe connectors. Just attach the Lightning or MicroUSB dongle into your device and you’ll have a quick-release magnetic charging connection. Save 30% in The Awesomer Shop.

The latest wearable tech for astronauts, this custom-fit spacesuit weighs just 20 pounds, and is made from modern materials which improve mobility and comfort. The suit was designed for use on Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is expected to transport a crew to the ISS in 2018.

A mechanical keyboard with a charming design. The Lofree can be used wirelessly or with a cable, can be paired with up to three devices at once, and has three backlight settings. It’s based on the Apple keyboard layout but you can use it with any PC or mobile device.

The latest addition to Teenage Engineering’s awesome Pocket Operators is a programmable drum machine you can tote in your pants. Available by itself, or bundled with Microtonic VST letting you upload custom sounds. A nifty calculator inspired pro case drops this April.

We’re not sure why freakin’ Whirlpool is allowed to use crowdfunding, but their product is intriguing. Zera takes up to a week’s worth of leftover food and turns it into fertilizer in 24 hours with the help of an additive that consists mostly of coconut fiber and baking soda.

To promote its high capacity batteries, Kreisel converted a Mercedes-Benz G 350 d into a fully electric vehicle. It has two motors that produce up to a total of 360kW and goes from 0 to 62mph in 5.6s. Its batteries last up to 186mi and can be quick-charged to 80% in just 25min.

This reel of vintage ads produced for ComputerLand’s Bay Area stores is a perfect time capsule of early desktop computing tech, from “economy-sized computers” with giant floppy drives, to daisy-wheel printers, to Apple and Atari systems that could even run Visicalc!

Podo’s tiny adapter not only adds Bluetooth compatibility to practically anything with an aux input, it can also pair with another Jack to stream audio to two devices at once. It has a built-in clip and lasts up to 12h per charge.

Marathon Watch Company’s bedside clock not only displays time, indoor temperature, and humidity, but you can choose from 256 different LED backlight colors to suit your mood or environment. It’s also got a pair of USB charging ports built in, increasing its usefulness.

The NES Classic Mini was one of the hottest holiday gifts. But if Santa didn’t bring you one, you can still score one without having to dig into your pocket. Drop by The Awesomer Shop to win your own, along with an 8Bitdo wireless controller and Retro Receiver. (Ends 2/8/17)

A crazy cool modular single-voice analog synthesizer that’ll have you cranking out fat beats, crunchy noises, and amazing electronic sounds for your musical creations. It works completely standalone, or can be controlled by studio apps, sequencers, or keyboards via MIDI.

Fret Zeppelin uses a row of removable and non-intrusive LEDs together with a mobile app to teach new and intermediate guitar players. It shows notes, chords, scales and styles. It can also use MIDI files to show the chords for songs and act as decorative lighting.

Fujifilm’s compact mirrorless shooter has a big 24.3MP APS-C sensor, and a fixed 23mm f/2 prime lens for incredible image quality. It’s got a slick hybrid optical/digital rangefinder, and a precise and whip-fast new autofocus system. Available in classic silver or black.