3d illusion arts: Walyou

Walyou

Mecha Slippers: I’m Gundam At My House
Peek-i Turns the iPhone into a Spy Camera
What Google Fiber’s 10Gbps Speed Increase Could Mean for the Internet
Gibson Memory Cable Transmits and Records Sounds

Posted: 02 May 2014 07:00 AM PDT

Robots don’t necessarily have to be stopping evil or stomping cities all the time. They might just as well become a comfy pair of slippers for geeks who value coziness.

For those of you who always wanted to have your own mecha, now you’re halfway there. This pair of slippers were made to resemble the legs of the classic Japanese giant robots, and have a sensor that produces robot sounds as you walk. Not only will you look the part, you will sound the part too. Get them at ThinkGeek.

See more about these in the video below these lines.

Source: Nerdgasmo

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Peek-i Turns the iPhone into a Spy Camera

Posted: 02 May 2014 06:30 AM PDT

Spy cameras must have become a fetish, as there are many people who tremble with emotion at the idea of catching others in the act while doing something compromising. For those people, the Peek-i must be one of the best iPhone camera accessories ever invented.

Not few are the ones who fantasize about being James Bond, the modern Sherlock Holmes or Austin Powers. However, one of the abilities people must have in order to become a spy is seeing around the corners, or at least at very wicked angles compared to where the camera is pointed. The Peek-i iPhone camera accessory enables shooting at such angles, and thus, helps making dreams come true.

More precisely, Peek-i reflects images and enables iPhone’s camera to take pictures at a 90-degree angle. After attaching it to the iPhone with the help of an included magnet, the Peek-i can be rotated in any direction, not just to the left or to the right.

At the moment, Peek-i is featured on Indiegogo, as its developers thought that crowdfunding is the way to go. They set a $1,000 goal there, and at press time, it was beat by 2,235%. That’s quite a feat in the crowdfunding world, as other projects struggle to reach their goal. The small price of the Peek-i must have affected the performance of the campaign as it only costs $15. You also have the option to buy 2 such camera accessories for $25. There are plenty of other combo packs, so as long as you are willing to back the project, there’s an option for you.

The stickers also play a decorative role, so if you don’t want need the spy cam all the time, Peek-i is still useful somehow. Sticker packs can be bought separately for $5 a pack of 30, or you can get them with your Peek-i, assuming that you opted for a bigger combo pack.

One thing you should be careful about is the possibility of getting sued for taking pictures in areas where photographing is forbidden. Also, taking pictures of people without their permission is a bit wrong, so you might want to use this tiny gadget on your friends. After all, you don’t want to annoy the wrong kind of people with an iPhone camera accessory.

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What Google Fiber’s 10Gbps Speed Increase Could Mean for the Internet

Posted: 02 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

Google Fiber currently offers an Internet speed of 1gbps, which is the fastest Internet speed available in the US. Right now, that Internet is only offered in three cities. But Google recently announced an even bigger plan than 1gbps speeds. Google Fiber is currently working on a 10gbps connection. Google’s CFO is optimistic about the timeline for this faster Internet speed, saying that the goal is to have the 10gbps connection available in three years. Though it’s hypothetical right now, a connection this fast backed by powerhouse Google would have many ramifications for the Internet and for Internet service providers.

Higher Speeds Mean Better Applications and Software

The average Internet speed in the US is 9.8 megabits per second. With Google’s proposed 10gbps speed, running Internet software and apps that require a lot of data will be possible. At that speed, you could download an HD movie under one second. Internet apps, software, and cloud storage will be able to adapt their designs to consume more data, translating into faster and more complex performances. This may seem like a speed needed only by big businesses with big data to manage, but that soon might not be the case. With the introduction of 4k streaming on Netflix and other sites, current bandwidths might be stretched too thin to do the high quality justice. Google 10gbps can handle 4k just fine.

Hardware Changes

The speed of an Internet connection isn’t the only thing that affects how fast you can download information. It also depends on servers and the computers themselves. If Google manages to roll out their faster speeds in three years like they've said they plan to do, and if they offer those speeds widely, the devices we use to log onto the Internet might see some upgrades as well. Cell phone providers like T-Mobile offer unlimited data plans, which is especially great when you can connect to a wi-fi network with your phone, but phones themselves can't currently survive at speeds that fast. Japan was able to transmit 10gbps from a mobile device in 2012, but the device itself wasn’t a smart phone. It was a van full of antennae and battery power.

Breaking up Monopolies

The recent merger of Comcast and Time Warner caused quite a stir in the ongoing discussion about cable companies and their power as ISPs. BY creating an entity almost twice as large as it was previously, Comcast has an extreme amount of power when it comes to negotiating deals with tv networks, Internet companies, and the like. Though there are multiple ISPs, the United States is essentially divided into areas with only one or two service provider options. If Google expanded as an alternative ISP with better data speeds than anyone else, the de facto monopolies ISPs have would change drastically.

The Possible Impact on Net Neutrality

As cable providers grow more powerful, their resistance towards net neutrality will only grow. Large Internet service providers charging Netflix and others more for fast streaming is a cost that’s likely going to end up on the shoulders of the consumer. Since the large companies are against net neutrality, a distinct possibility exists that their sheer size will allow them to muscle their way into achieving the results they want. Google as a company is in favor of net neutrality.

If Google becomes a major player as an ISP, their stance on net neutrality becomes a very important one. Since they won’t put restrictions on how and what they stream, Internet quality for Google 10gbps users won’t suffer, the way it might if an ISPs network gets bogged down or has certain sites or content providers restricted.

Though it’s hard to imagine needing 10gbps Internet right now, a faster connection in the average home isn’t the only effect Google will have when they develop this technology. It could impact the cable company monopoly, net neutrality, and the devices we use every day. While the average American home might not have access to Google Fiber in three years, considering their 1gbps is only available in three cities, the specter of Google Internet is on the horizon and promising changes.

Gibson Memory Cable Transmits and Records Sounds

Posted: 02 May 2014 05:30 AM PDT

The renowned American maker of guitars invented a guitar cable that is capable of recording every guitar lick that goes through it.

This would be particularly useful for the ones who perform a perfect riff one day, but can’t remember bits of it the next day, due to some specific beverages that were consumed during the initial session. With the help of the Gibson Memory Cable, guitarists will be able to play back a riff from the previous day and reproduce it perfectly.

The Memory Cable is the result of a team effort, as Gibson collaborated with audio recording specialist Tascam to get it done. The working principle of this little gadget is rather simple. A 4GB microSD card is used for recording up to 13 hours of music at CD quality. The 44.1kHz/16-bit sound WAV files are then transferred to recording software using the said microSD card. It’s uncertain whether the Memory Cable works with cards of a higher capacity or not.

Measuring 16-feet in length, the Memory Cable is not extraordinary in this aspect. When not powered by the two batteries (an AA battery for its recording function and an LR14 for the clock), this gadget can be used as a common cable, its functionality remaining unaltered. It’s probably best to opt for rechargeable batteries, as the AA one only lasts for up to 8 hours of recording. The one powering the clock has a longer lifetime, as it lasts a whole year.

Besides guitars, the Memory Cable can handle all sorts of electric instruments, from bass guitars to drum machines and synthesizers, so Gibson isn’t restricting its potential customers.

Gibson plans to launch the Memory Cable in May, and anyone wanting to capture ideas or store creative moments will have to shell out $100 in order to have it. Guitar cables usually cost a fifth of that, so the price may seem steep for a moment there. Still, the features of this cable, while not overly complex, are worth every penny. The only thing that could make it less impressive was if it proved to be cumbersome while using the musical instruments, but that’s very unlikely, as the recording module isn’t big, and its weight is really negligible.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Z-Machines guitarist that employs 78 fingers for the perfect riff, and the Guitar Wing that adds digital fx to guitars and basses.