Android Controlled Lightbulb

Google has just unveiled their Android-Controlled lightbulb that uses the company’s new open-source wireless networking protocol from any Android device. "The search giant worked with Lighting Science Group to develop the omnidirectional 60-watt equivalent bulb, which can be dimmed or brightened on the fly by an Android-equipped smart phone, tablet, or laptop. The smart bulb is the perfect test bed for Google’s new protocol, which stands to open the door to a new wave of energy-efficient home systems."

"Artificial lighting accounts for about 11% of your home’s energy use, so smarter lighting systems are a surefire way to reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment – which accounts for a remarkable 38% of CO2 emissions in the US."

[VIA]

New Tempus Godmachine Watch

The Tempus Godmachine watch by the darkest illustrator/artist out there, Godmachine is now available from Vannen Watches. Only 150 have been made, they are hand-signed and numbered limited edition. Each one comes in its own black sealed body bag.

Flexible PaperPhone Concept Now A Reality

"PaperPhone is the world's first nextgen, thin film smartphone and interactive paper computer. It is based on a 3.7" flexible electrophoretic (E Ink) display that does not consume electricity when it is not refreshed. Thinfilm sensors allow the phone to respond to bending of the screen to navigate pages in ebooks, play or pause mp3s, make phone calls, or navigate apps. A flexible wacom tablet allows users to draw on the screen with a pen as if it were a sheet of paper." For more info, go HERE.
[VIA]

Robo-Rainbow Grafffmobile

Robo-Rainbow, by Swedish graffiti artist Akay is described by him as a "complicated technical solutions to aide in a simple act of vandalism.”

Everything about this video made me smile. The concept, the technicality, and the cinematography.

[VIA]

A History Of Gaming

A group of game design students in Munich put this little gem together. With 45 takes, this video was done all in one single shot (almost). Apparently there is a 'making of' video coming sometime soon, which is definitely gonna be posted!

Games:
Tennis for Two, Oscilloscope, 1958
Pacman, Arcade, 1980
Donkey Kong, NES, 1986
Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, 1991
Street Fighter II, SNES, 1991
Super Mario 64, Nintendo 64, 1996
Final Fantasy VII, Sony Playstation, 1997
Need for Speed: Hot Pursiut 2, Sony Playstation 2, 2002
Ecco the Dolphin, Sega Dreamcast, 2000
Super Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo Game Cube, 2001
Wii Sports Golf, Nintendo Wii, 2006
God of War III, Sony Playstation 3, 2010
Rock Band, XBox 360, 2008

XM25 Smart Rifle To Be Game Changer

That blog headline is according to US Military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Lehner, program manager for the XM25. The Pentagon has rolled out prototypes of its first-ever programmable "smart" grenade launcher, a shoulder-fired weapon that uses microchipped ammunition to target and kill the enemy, even when the enemy is hidden behind walls or other cover.

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System, about the size of a regular rifle, has now been deployed to US units on the battlefields of Afghanistan, where the Army expects it to be a "game-changer" in its counterinsurgency operations.

It fires 25mm air-bursting shells up to (700 metres), well past the range of most rifles used by today's soldiers, and programs them to explode at a precise distance, allowing troops to neutralise insurgents hiding behind walls, rocks or trenches or inside buildings.

The revolutionary advance involves an array of sights, sensors and lasers that reads the distance to the target, assesses elements such as air pressure, temperature, and ballistics and then sends that data to the microchip embedded in the XM25 shell before it is launched.

The Pentagon plans to purchase at least 12,500 of the guns - at a price tag of $US25,000 to $US30,000 each - beginning next year, enough for one in each Infantry squad and Special Forces team....Gary Oldman could soon be selling the US Military his own weapons in the near future!
Words & Info [VIA]

Pillow Universal Remote

This is a nifty design: a universal remote embedded within a pillow! With touch sensitive fabric buttons making this remote a hard one to lose....


[VIA]

ASIMO Turns 10!!

The world's most advanced robot has turned 10!
To celebrate, Honda is releasing a free app for iPhone and Android called Run With Asimo. Take a walk through Asimo's history and control him too!
Check out the video below which features the robot on a madcap dash through its own history.
[VIA]

Driverless Vans Reach China From Italy

Remember when Google's autonomous car did 1000 miles and everyone was impressed?

Back in July, a group of autonomous orange EVs from Vislab left Italy on a trip that would take them through cities like Moscow and wastelands like the Gobi Desert, all thanks to an array of laser scanners, cameras, and of course GPS.
It was a 13,000km journey (8,078 miles) that was made with minimal driver intervention and, thanks to the EV-nature of the vehicles, without stopping once for gasoline - though they were limited to about four hours of travel each day before having to recharge. They arrived in Shanghai on 28th October.

[VIA]

Skydive From Space Update 3

It is a sad sad day.

Red Bull GmbH and Red Bull North America Inc have decided to stop the Red Bull Stratos programme with immediate effect.

Felix Baumgartner had been scheduled to undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to 120,000ft (36.5km) and attempt a freefall jump that would, for the first time, reach supersonic speeds, as well as deliver valuable scientific data.

Despite the fact that many other people over the past 50 years have tried to break Colonel (Ret) Joe Kittinger's altitude record, and that other individuals have sought to work with Red Bull in an attempt to break his record, Daniel Hogan claims to own certain rights to the project and filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit earlier this year in a Californian court.

That "Mr. Hogan" is apparently one Daniel Hogan, who reportedly pitched Red Bull on a similar skydiving idea in 2004.

Due to the lawsuit, they have decided to stop the project until this case has been resolved.

For a project that has been 3 years in development, this petty claim really pisses me off.
I've been waiting and waiting for this event.

[VIA]

Felix meeting Neil Armstrong in August 2010

[VIA]

Jet Powered

You can give anything jet power!

ESPVisuals iPhone App

It's here!!!!!
ESPVisuals now has its very own RSS reader so you can enjoy all your favourite art, graff, toys and videos whilst on the move, all laid out neatly.
A HUGE thank you to Implode for spending who knows how much time on this.
You fucking rock!!

Check out some screenshots below and then get it HERE

Skydive From Space Update 2

4 people now have their eyes on this record.

Felix Baumgartner, who with the help of Joe Kittinger, the man who has held the record since 1960, is well on his way to complete this insane challenge. A photo of his gondola which wil take him up to 120,000 Feet is below.

The rivals are:
Steve Truglia, a British stuntman.
Cheryl Stearns, a pilot for US Airways who holds 30 skydiving records.
Michael Fournier from France, who has attempted the freefall record 3 times and has been his dream for 20 years. His last attempt was in May 2010, but was cancelled due to a technical fault.

My money's on Felix.

Check out our previous post on him and his spacesuit HERE.


1. Camera Systems
Three pressurized housings on aluminum arms will contain a total of three HD, three ultra-high-resolution video and two digital still cameras. Four more cameras record outside and three inside. "We basically built a flying television studio," says Jay Nemeth of FlightLine Films.

2. Outer Fairing
The Gemini shape of the capsule is "really a very elegant way of putting a lot of insulation around a lot of the systems," says chief engineer Bill Dodson. R-24 equivalent foam, covered by a fiberglass shell and fireproof paint, helps guard against temperatures as low as minus 100 F.

3. Liquid Oxygen
Redundant liquid-oxygen tanks with independent lines provide 10 hours of O2 for the 3-hour flight, plus pressurize Baumgartner's suit at altitude. N2 flowing from an oversize liquid-nitrogen tank will keep the cabin's oxygen level to below 30 percent, minimizing fire risk.

4. Pressure Sphere
A pressure sphere, molded from fiberglass and epoxy, sits in a chrome-moly steel load frame "like an egg in a bubble-wrap container," says project director Art Thompson. It will be pressurized to 8 psi—equal to 16,000 feet—but is designed to withstand 50. "It's definitely overbuilt."

[VIA]

1000Mph Land Speed Record Update

The Bloodhound SSC team have finished their modelling and are ready to build the machine that will smash the speed record in 2012.

Aussie Invader, the Australian rival team are in the middle of building, as are North American Eagle, the US team.

Cept Update

The Spradio by CEPT is making a comeback...watch this space!

Cept has just released an edition of 10, individually hand painted silk screen prints on 300gsm water colour paper , (Based on his original sketch for the wall piece) all printed signed, painted and numbered by the artist. Entitled, "Again & Again" Edition of 10 56cm x 76cm




Last 2 images from HowAboutNo's Flickr

Tron Legacy Merchandise

The new Tron Legacy action figures are the first to feature impulse projection technology, which brings the characters to life by projecting digitized, illuminated and moving faces onto the helmet just as in the film. The line features a special 12″ Ultimate Sam Flynn figure. The character also speak phrases from the TRON: Legacy film. With prices ranging from $40.

The Tron Legacy Zero Gravity Light Cycle features six-foot light-emitting trails and legendary Air Hogs technology allowing the vehicle to be driven on a wall or even upside down. Includes controller (SRP $34.99, ages 8 & up) Upside-Down, WTF???!!

The new Tron Legacy gaming peripherals from Razer include: an ergonomic gaming mouse incorporating Razer’s 5600dpi 3.5g gaming grade sensor, a gaming keyboard with programmable keys and macro capabilities as well as a detachable keypad, and a high precision mouse mat – all designed to create the ultimate gaming experience
featuring highly detailed finishes and lighting effects. The product line will range in price from SRP $79-139.

Tron Legacy Deluxe vehicle is a detailed replica from Tron Legacy that come to life when a character is inserted and lights up. The Deluxe model features launching projectiles, tri-color light changes, pop-up air brakes (pop-up blasters on the Light Runner) and gravity tilt sounds, just like in the movie ($19.99, ages 4 & up).


[VIA] & [VIA]

Dolphin's Artificial Tail Fin

A tyre manufacturing company has come to the rescue of Fuji the dolphin who was stricken by a mysterious life threatening illness and lost her fin. She caught a disease that begun gradually rotting her tail and it had to be amputated to save her life.

For a while the now 37-year old Fuji survived without a fin, but her lack of exercise and weight gain proved problematic.
A friend of the handler's working at one of Japan's leading tyre makers, Bridgestone Corp, offered to make them an artificial tail fin for Fuji, the first of its kind in the world. The result was a tail fin 30 centimetres in length and 70 centimetres wide, a bit smaller than the tail of a healthy dolphin of Fuji's size.

LittleDog Robot

This is a creation from Boston Dynamics who help develop and build advanced robots for clients such as the US Army and SONY. It's totally weird but totally cool!

Interesting Cameras Of Old

Le Coultre Compass Camera
Designed by Noel Pemberton Biling, and manufactured by Swiss watchmaker Le Coultre, the Compass incorporated the most features in the least possible space. Long before our modern micro miniature digital cameras came along, the Compass camera had just about every feature imaginable in the smallest possible size. It even incorporated stereo and panoramic photo features. The complete kit includes a beautifully made tripod with a pocket clip like on a pen.



Thornton-Pickard MkIII Hythe
Designed to emulate a Lewis machine gun, the Hythe camera was used as a training tool for aerial gunners. In wartime, 120 roll film was much cheaper (and safer) than live .303 ammo. The "gun's" controls are comparable to an actual Lewis gun, but the charging handle advances the film and cocks the shutter. The trigger fires the shutter. The simple fixed focus, aperture and shutter speed were intended to judge a gunner's aiming skills, not take a pretty picture. Although purely a camera, it uses an actu al functioning Lewis gun magazine.
[VIA]

R.I.P. Dr Sennheiser

Late during the evening of 17 May 2010, only a few days after his 98th birthday, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser, audio pioneer and founder of today’s Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, passed away.

Through his company Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser had a crucial influence on the development of sound transmission technologies and was instrumental in forging many ground-breaking developments in electroacoustics and transmission technologies. Under his guidance the first shotgun microphones and open headphones were created and he oversaw important developments in wireless radio and infra-red transmission.