THE BEST Tech

Expand your programming knowledge with an outstanding bundle of eBooks from renowned tech publisher O’Reilly. Pay what you want, but 15 bucks or more gets you all 15 titles, covering SQL, PHP, R, C#, Java, TypeScript, Python, Scala, Rust, and more.

This unique MIDI controller makes it easier to play by teaching music theory. Simply select one of its 840 pre-loaded scales, and it maps only the applicable notes to its right pads, and chords on its left pads, so you can’t play a bad note. It has 96 velocity sensitive pads with polyphonic aftertouch and RGB backlighting, plus 24 hotkeys.

Evebot’s tiny, battery-powered printer works wirelessly with a smartphone app to print designs up to 1″ tall on just about any surface, rough or smooth, flat or curved. It works with three types of ink: permanent, invisible, and skin-safe for temporary tattoos.

Today’s computers are largely solid state devices, but some of the earliest examples of computers were mechanical. In this clip, you’ll get an up-close look at Charles Babbage’s 2.6-ton metal computer, a machine its 19th century inventor never got to see, but was eventually replicated in 1991 to prove that it works.

Drop took the Koss GMR-540-ISO gaming headset and made it lighter and more affordable. The GMR-54X-ISO features the same audiophile-grade 3D sound as the 540. It also has a detachable cable with inline mic, while the detachable boom mic has a new mute and volume switch.

An amazing new addition to the LEGO Ideas line-up, this fan-submitted piano design has 3662 pieces, and is actually playable. Its 25 keys move, its dampers work, and its bench height is adjustable. Plus, it works with a companion mobile app to play different songs as its keys move up and down. Available 8.1.2020.

Add smooth and bright lighting to your photography with Nitecore’s camera light. Its 96 high-CRI LEDs produce up to 800 lumens, with an adjustable color temperature range from 2500K to 6300K. It attaches easily into a standard hot shoe mount, and doubles as a 10,000 mAh power bank for charging your gadgets on the go.

The latest edition of the Roadie automatic tuner is twice as fast as the Roadie 2. It can tune almost any stringed instrument with geared pegs in a couple of seconds, and can quickly wind new strings to the proper tension before tuning. It also supports alternative tunings, and doubles as a vibrating metronome.

This burnout machine was built by Ford Performance and RTR to show off the potential of a pure-electric drivetrain. Based on the Mustang Mach-E, this one-off prototype uses seven motors and a high-performance battery to generate 1400 hp, while its monster wing and aero bits create up to 2300 lb of downforce at 160 mph.

More and more devices have done away with the headphone jack, insisting on a wireless connection. But if you want the sound quality of a hardwired connection, grab this stainless steel adapter from ddHiFi that converts the USB-C port on mobile devices into a 3.5mm audio jack. They also make a Lightning version.

For many of us, working from home means countless videoconferences, with Zoom being the most popular choice for big team meetings. Continuing their Wonders of the World Wide Web series, Squirrel Monkey looks back at what life might have been like if Zoom came out in 1988, and required a special dial-up adapter box to work.

If you’ve ever had to strip a piece of coaxial cable or other multi-layered wire, you know how difficult it can be to get things just right. The Nitronic ST730T is way more precise than hand tools. Simply key in the wire thickness and the exact lengths you want each layer stripped to, insert a cable, and it works its magic.

Flying multiple drones near each other can lead to accidental collisions. Now, engineers at Caltech have developed an data-driven method that can safely control the movement of multiple drones in crowded spaces, without pre-mapping the space or knowing what patterns the other drones will fly in.

From the “Satisfying Robots” file comes this video footage of the LiSEC TPA-A, a fully-automated system that applies thermoplastic spacers that provide insulation between panes of architectural glass. The robot securely holds the glass in place using suction, then rolls it along its conveyor as it works its magic.

The Q was looking for a way to power his plug-in gadgets while away from home. While he could have just bought a ready-made power pack, he decided to build his own, wiring together dozens of 18650 batteries, then connecting an inverter to convert the DC power into AC.

Max and Dave Fleischer’s 1940s Superman cartoons are beloved. But the quality of the public domain videos online isn’t very good. Jose Argumedo ran the episode “The Bulleteers” through Waifu2x, a neural network upscaling application that recovered an incredible amount of detail, especially compared to the source video.

To help deploy high-speed Internet access to rural areas, Facebook Engineering has been developing a robot which can ride along on existing power lines to install fiber optic cables, saving time and money compared to conventional methods such as digging. The system uses with special cables which resist weather damage.

Love to play arcade games on your PC, but don’t have room on your desk for a big controller? Thnikk’s Fightboard is a compact keyboard designed just for gaming. It features low-profile Kailh Choc switches, with eight remappable keys and RGB LED lighting. It can also be used with some consoles using adapters.

From webslingers to high-voltage Wolverine claws, The Hacksmith’s arsenal of superhero gadgets is approaching that of Stark Enterprises. This time, his shop put together a piece that combines Iron Man’s arc reactor with Captain America’s iconic shield, a weapon you can find in the game Marvel Contest of Champions.

Artist Benjamin Berg designed a series of throw pillows covered with pixelated imagery that resemble the graphical glitches we encounter in computers and video games. Some patterns are also available as throw blankets, clocks, tapestries, and wall murals.

Lots of us have been putting off getting a haircut during the pandemic. But Shane Wighton of Stuff Made Here finally decided to bite the bullet. Rather than risking a visit to the barber, he built a scissor-wielding robot to snip his locks for him. It seems like a dangerous idea, and the resulting haircut is right on par with a Flowbee.

Razer takes its popular Huntsman gaming keyboard, and shrinks it down to a compact 60% form factor. It has super-fast optical switches in either clicky or sound-dampened versions, programmable RGB backlighting, side-printed secondary functions, and an aluminum case in either black or white.

Sporting sleek, concept car looks, the all-electric Ariya kicks off a new direction for Nissan. The crossover offers up to 389hp in its e-4ORCE AWD version, and up to 300 miles of range with its 90kWh battery. Its interior is modern and minimal, and offers tech like ProPILOT Assist 2.0, which enables hands-free highway driving.

Improve your golf swing in the comfort of your own office or living room. The PhiGolf system uses a special swing sensor works with your clubs or the included swing stick to track your every move. When used with the WGT Golf app mirrored from your smartphone to your TV, you can even see where the ball went.

This unique wooden coffee table packs all kinds of useful features, including a pop-up mini table, Bluetooth speakers, dual drink coolers, hidden storage compartments, a charging station, and more. It’s set to retail for $695, but a $1 reservation secures a discounted pre-order price of $465.

While the weather is nice, it’s a good time to get out and ride your bike. But some days, bad weather just gets in the way. Now you can practice riding into the wind while indoors, thanks to this powerful fan from Wahoo Fitness. It can simulate wind speeds up to 30mph, and can dynamically adjust based on ANT+ sensor data.