Tech

Anker teamed up with Amazon to create a 2.1 channel soundbar that has Fire TV and Alexa technology built in. It supports full 4K UHD content with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, while it cranks out 100 watts of sound and has built-in dual subwoofers for cinematic sound. Drops 11/21/19.

Learn to build visuals for your own video games with this series of six intro-level courses, which cover the creation of game assets using free and open source tools like Inkscape and DragonBones. You’ll learn to make 2D characters and backgrounds, animate their movements, and design UIs and game branding and logos.

VPN Unlimited is a great way to protect your identity online, masking your connections behind a network of servers which hide your IP address and browsing history from being tracked, as well as providing global access to geo-restricted content. Grab a great deal on a lifetime subscription in The Awesomer Shop.

The latest edition of Ion’s rugged party speaker adds a wireless Qi charging station on top. It punches out up to 120 watts of sounds, runs for up to 100 hours per charge, and is IPX5 water-resistant. It’s also got built-in wheels and a handle for easy transport.

AudioQuest’s top-of-the-line digital-to-analog converter gives your computer or mobile device high-end headphone audio. It offers 24-bit/96Khz resolution, Hi-Res Audio support, a premium ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, and a high-efficiency amplifier, it provides incredibly clean and natural sounds in a super-compact package.

There are a million different Bluetooth speakers out there, so in a quest to create something a little different, woodworker Matt Jordan decided to build one out of a hunk of wood from an apple tree. Watch as he turns the log on his lathe, adding coffee grounds and colorful powder along the way to give the finished piece a dramatic look.

A fun DIY kit for musicians, electronics hobbyists, and just about anyone who likes cool gadgets. The Rhythmo Beatbox lets you build a MIDI controller and drum machine in a cardboard box. It’s got arcade-style buttons, built-in sounds, a battery, and speakers. Its companion mobile app enables sound customization.

Record, edit, and share images and videos from your Mac screen, then turn them into video presentations with this easy-to-use screen capture and video editing software. It provides all the tools you need to grab screens, annotate, and export, making it the perfect tool for creating training videos and demonstrations.

This useful pocket-size gadget uses a laser to accurately measure distances up to 130 feet away. It can automatically do the math to calculate distance, area, volume, horizon, and more. The included right-angle mirror makes measuring table heights a snap, and its built-in 6-axis sensor allows it to measure angles too.

VPCabs has been making truly impressive virtual pinball cabinets for a while now. These models let you play modern and classic games in a compact space. The Vertigo is a 76.5″ tall machine that stands like an arcade cabinet, while The Vortex is a 39″ tall tabletop model. Both can play classic arcade games too.

Game developer Dennis Gustafsson is working on a voxel-based engine that features incredible environmental destruction physics. While the video posted by Bluedrake42 is lacking in gameplay, to see how the world reacts to damage is one of the holy grails of gaming we’ve been promised and has yet to be delivered.

The cameras in smartphones today all seem pretty good, but if you want the best possible visuals, drop by Ubergizmo, who recently launched a precise and easy-to-digest camera rating system that consistently evaluates their image quality and hardware so you can make the most informed buying decision.

While most of us use our phones or computers when we need to do math, sometimes a desktop calculator would be more convenient. This model from Sengu will look great on your desk, with its case and keycaps made from real bamboo wood. Available in 29-key or 18-key variants.

Kick out the jams at your next party with Sony’s jumbo-size party speaker. It has a colorful 360º party light, Bluetooth support, a CD player, gesture-based DJ controls, karaoke mode, microphone and guitar inputs, and more. You can even chain multiple devices together for bigger spaces, and it has wheels for transport.

Learn to think like a hacker with this series of online training courses, which will teach you about cybersecurity attacks, along with methods to test networks and systems for vulnerabilities so they can be hardened against attackers. Save an extra 15% with code SAVE15BIZ through 9/1/19.

Spam has always been a big problem on the Internet. Tom Scott looks back at the history of CAPTCHA and other solutions attempted over the years to weed out bots from humans submitting forms, and the endless game of cat and mouse which is being fought on the digital battlefield.

Known for their in-depth automotive repair manuals, Haynes is now making a series of kits which let you build your own rudimentary gadgets, including a retro LED handheld game, an analog synthesizer, a working amplifier, a film camera, an FM radio, and a Simon-esque memory game.

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is best known for the “snap, crackle, pop” sounds it makes when swimming in milk. If you love that sound, but like things one louder, then check out this invention by Dominic Wilcox, which amplifies the sound for everyone to enjoy at the breakfast table.

This pocket-sized projector can output images from 30 to 200 inches in any darkened room. It’s got a high quality DLP light engine, 1080p resolution, and 200 lumen brightness, all from a box about the size of a smartphone. Save an extra 15% off in The Awesomer Shop with code SAVE15TODAY (valid through 8/31/19)

Sony’s high-end APS-C camera has a crazy-fast 0.02 autofocus speed, continuous shooting at up to 11 fps, 5-axis in-body stabilization, 2.2x more battery life, and 4K video with no time limits. Equally as exciting is the announcement of a new 70-350mm E-mount superzoom lens, for crisp action shots at a distance.

(PG-13: Language) Gadget guru Sam Sheffer is friends with deadmau5, who was kind enough to give him a behind the scenes tour of the centerpiece of his Cube V3 stage set, a gigantic, cantilevered cube covered with programmable LED panels. It can rotate and tilt on a turntable with deadmau5 performing behind it.

Let’s face it, soundbars are ugly. They look like an afterthought. Canvas takes a new approach, stacking your TV on top of a sleek modern stand that packs four speakers and 200 watts of amplification. Initially, it’s only compatible with LG OLED B and C series displays, which happen to be some of the best TVs you can buy.

An elegant mechanical Bluetooth keyboard with rounded keys, a zinc alloy frame, real leather surface, pillar-style adjustable feet, and full backlighting. Choose from black/chrome, white/copper, or black/copper designs. Save 15% off the regular price in The Awesomer Shop.

Type foundry Pangram Pangram teamed up with CASETiFY to create a series of unique iPhone cases and Apple Watch straps. Each one features a bar-code label inspired by travel, shipping, parking, or shopping. The baggage tag design can be partially customized with text of your choice.

Get a great deal on this speedy and aggressively-styled gaming mouse from Azio. It features an on-the-fly adjustable DPI setting from 800 to 2400 dpi, six buttons, a scroll wheel, and blue LED lighting. Save 24% in The Awesomer Shop.

Inspired by the ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance tech coming to some of its cars, Nissan engineered a golf ball that drives itself to the hole once on the putting green. The ball has an internal motor and works with an overhead camera and sensors to make its way to the cup regardless of how the player hits the ball.

Whether you’re trying to shoot video over the heads of a large crowd or want to capture top-down video like a low-flying drone, this this aluminum alloy selfie stick should do the trick. It collapses down to 19″ but can reach distances up to 51″. Its base can be opened up as a tripod too, and it includes a Bluetooth shutter remote.

Take a trip back to the 1950s, when appliance company Westinghouse shared their vision for the “all electric” house of the future. While some of the user interfaces are incredibly dated, there are some ideas here that would find their way to homes in the 21st century – and yet others we’d still love to see.

rctestflight shows of a custom pickup that combines a 1960s Ford F-100 with a Dodge chassis and Cummins diesel drivetrain, and has what may be the brightest vehicle lighting ever. He built two versions – first with 40 100-watt LEDs, but decided it was too diffuse, so “downgraded” to just 18 units with parabolic reflectors.

Kenma’s unique silicone phone cases feature a surface on back which can be written on, then erased. It’s compatible with oil-based ballpoint pens, and is designed to resist smudges and ink bleeds. Available from Amazon Japan or importer Japan Trend Shop.