Smart Astro Color Changing Lava Lamp

Lava lamps are real classics when it comes to home decor – they hardly get out of date, and are always mesmerizing to boot. Well, it won’t hurt that the Lava Lamp is given an update in the 21st century, eh? This £84.99 Smart Astro Colour Changing Lava Lamp adds a modern update with touch sensitivity at the base in the form of a button, where you can change colors with but a single touch. You are able to choose from Green to Yellow and Blue to Red, where each one will go through several shades en route to its destination color. Heck, if you like a particular color which is in transition, just touch the button on the base and you’re good to go. This will work differently from other lava lamps as it uses LEDs and other kinds of high tech wizardry, achieving its hypnotic effect in the process.

Apple 3D Projection

 Okay, okay, I know what I’m dealing with here. There are huge fans of Apple, and then there are, well, everyone else. Honestly, I’m not a diehard fan either way, I find uses for both a Mac and a PC. I really love the iPad, but I’m no snob, show me something that does more stuff, and I’ll switch in a heartbeat. That being said, I am still excited about Apples jump onto the 3D bandwagon.

Apple has a patent for a 3D display that doesn’t require 3D glasses, this patent was approved only several days ago, even though it was applied for in September of 2006. Of course Apple is not the first company interested in these displays. However, Apple’s patent covers a really amazing technology involving a system that could deliver high-quality 3D images to multiple viewers with no funky glasses required. Yes!

It sort of works like this, the image would be projected onto a reflective, textured surface, that somehow would allow the pixels to be bounced into a viewer’s left and right eye separately, producing the 3D effect. it actually senses the locations of both eyes of each viewer, so multiple people could watch from many different angles. Coolness.

So if I have this correct, someday soon we could be sitting around our living room watching a sort of hologram in front of us… I don’t know about you, but THAT’S what I’ve been waiting for. And somehow, like it or not, Apple is probably just the company to make it happen, just that way. I hope they get it done, they usually do. I’ll bring the popcorn.

Remote control ball on Bluetooth

We can do a lot with our mobile phones, and apparently rolling a ball via Bluetooth is now one of them.

I guess that there is something interesting about a robotic ball, and it is a lot less flamboyant than the Prime8.

This is the Sphero, and I have a a video of this after the jump if you want to see how it rolls. Yes, that is a bad joke.

If you are one of those people that is sitting around and wondering what you can do with a remote controlled ball. My question is: what can’t you do with a remote-controlled ball? Just think of all the fun you can have putting two balls on a table, and then letting one try to push off the other.

From the video, it looks like the Sphero depends on tilt controls. I would imagine that millions of Super Monkey Ball users are seeing a practical use for their refined skills.

The company that has created the Sphero is Orbotix, and they intend to be showing off their remote control ball at CES 2011. Hopefully, I’ll get some shots of it there, and maybe even a video. I wonder if the Sphero is as transparent as it looks.

Change the second-generation Apple TV

No one said that hobbies were easy to throw away, and it's pretty clear that the Apple <apple accessories>TV still holds a dear piece of Cupertino's heart. In fact, we'd argue that the box's streaming abilities now tie into Apple's overall mission more than ever before, and with iOS 4.2.1 for the iPad<iPad accessories> (and the accompanying introduction of AirPlay), it's feeling less like an afterthought and more like a focal point. That said, we're curious to know if early adopters feel satisfied by their $99 box. Have you found it to function as-advertised? Still fuming over those output and / or color issues? If you were given the keys to the design kingdom, how would you turn the Apple TV into your perfect media streamer? Ditch the iTunes integration? Offer access to more content portals? Paint it pink and line it with LEDs? It only costs $0.02 to play, and the deposit slot's just below.

Nintendo Wii Roemote

Along the bottom of the Wii Remote, four blue LED lights indicate which player position the remote is currently set to. The controller automatically connects to the Wii console via Bluetooth wireless technology. Below the LEDs, an expansion port lets you connect a number of devices including the Nunchuck and Classic controllers for Virtual Console gaming (Virtual Console games and controller accessories sold separately). Other features of the Wii Remote include adjustable rumble force-feedback and a reinforced wrist strap to ensure safe use. A speaker inside the remote gives the player feedback about the strength of swings or the accuracy of their moves- such as realistic tennis noises as the "racket" connects with the ball in Wii Sports. Overall, the physical design of the remote is extremely sturdy and of very high quality, ensuring countless hours of Wii gaming fun!

The Wii Remote Plus controller combines the intuitive motion controls of the original Wii Remote with the precision technology of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, all built-in to a single unit. The Wii Remote Plus also packs a speaker, rumble feature, and external connector for other input devices, like the Nunchuk controller and the Classic Wii Controller.
With the Wii Remote controller, gaming becomes accessible to everyone. Thanks to advanced motion-sensing technology, game control is as easy as swinging a tennis racket, or steering a wheel. The Wii Remote controller also packs a speaker, rumble feature, and external connector for other input devices, like the Nunchuk and the Classic Controller.