Yet another classic from the annals of crowdsourcing heaven, is the brand new mega hot project called C.H.I.P. Billed as the world’s first $9 computer, it has blasted through its funding goal in something like two days and currently sits at $142,105 pledged on the crowdfunding page. It’s seems like a wonderful project and an incredible price… until you look closely at the details.
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There’s a bunch of new electric skateboards out on the market at the moment, but most of them are clunky looking cheapo units, with huge batteries and a weight to match. But now Generation 2.0 is coming to town, and these puppies are a whole new deal.
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Do we really need all these different measurements, weights, capacities and all? Life would be so much simpler if the world standardized on a single set of tools, but there’s too much ego involved we reckon. Anyhoo, for those who do a lot of conversions, here’s a nice little free smartphone tool for Android.
Read More![Unit Converter – nice little tool for converting stuff on your phone [Freeware]](https://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/unitconverter.jpg)
It’s all very well loving classical music, but wouldn’t it be great if we could all get much more involved, by perhaps producing our own interpretations of famous works? And without having to know how to play a single note on a piano? Well now we can, and it’s awesome fun.
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The computer business never stops still, and this goes for the hobbyist end of the market as much as anywhere else. The Raspberry Pi, for instance, has proved to be a real revolution in the home computing enthusiast world, especially since it’s encouraged so many exciting spin-offs to hit the shelves. The latest is the Kano, a DIY computer in a box.
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Anyone who’s ever driven a fully electric car will tell you how amazing they are. Silent, smooth and brisk. The only real drawback is that pesky battery range, and while it’s steadily improving, the fact that most of these EVs can only do around 80 miles per charge is still a major hurdle in gaining public acceptance. But perhaps there’s a way to combine the best of both worlds, using a petrol motor to keep the batteries charged for longer…
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Just five days after music streaming and download site Grooveshark was shut down due to legal pressures, it’s resurfaced, complete with all the same content and functionality. In a move reminiscent of the dodge ’em and run tactics employed by The Pirate Bay tormenting site, the folk behind the new Grooveshark claim that they’re ‘here to stay’. Which indicates the music industry is in for another long spell of Whac-A-Mole.
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When the first 3D printer pen was announced it caused a real stir, and rightly so. The idea of creating 3D plastic artwork using a pen like instrument was an amazing concept. And even though the original tools were rather clumsy, they gained an enthusiastic following from fans across the world. Now we’ve hit Version 2.0, and while it’s more an evolution than revolution, the results are still as much fun.
Read More![3Doodler 2.0 – cool new 3D printer pen is sleeker, more flexible and more fun [Review]](https://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3doodlermain.jpg)
We have to confess to being a little bemused by some of the marketing around today’s consumer technology. For example Beats, which as far as we can see is just a fairly mediocre range of gadgets with some fancy color design. We must be missing the point surely?
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The folks at NASA have successfully flown a 10 rotor electric prototype model plane which can take off vertically and then transition into a conventional aircraft mode for flight. Why, you may ask? Well for one thing, it’s very cool to watch, as you’ll see if you check out the video. Is it practical? Who knows? But it’s one more bit of evidence that says electric power will probably hit all forms of transportation eventually.
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We all associate places with memories, whether it’s where we first met our partner, or the time we made a complete fool of ourself after a party. Now, for those more romantic folk among us, there’s an online service which gives you a way to create a lasting piece of art to commemorate the important places in your life.
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Let’s say you need to keep track of someone urgently, because they owe you an ice cream or something. You could hire a private detective, or don your very own grubby raincoat and hang about at a nearby street corner. Or you could take advantage of the plummeting price of sleazy spy-ware and go buy a GPS tracker like this.
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Everyone’s got an old laptop or desktop PC lying around in an attic or cupboard somewhere. That’s just how it goes. Most of the time, it sits there because it runs like a dog, and no-one can be bothered to fix it, or junk it. But now you have a rather cool way to bring your old machine back to productive life.
Read More![LXLE Linux – revive that old PC! [Freeware]](https://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/lxlelinux.jpg)
We don’t often comment on TV entertainment, but we’re having to give it up to the team behind the Silicon Valley comedy. We’re on series two of this geeky startup comedy show now (and series three has a green light), and the writing remains top class, even if you really need to be a valley nerd to appreciate all of the in-jokes.
Read More![Hooli XYZ – great marketing shows that TV still has it [ok, so you’ve got to be a bit of a geek]](https://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hooli.jpg)
So we were the first people to ask some serious questions about this new crowdfunded project on April 30th, and one day later Indiegogo pulls it. Despite some previously loving coverage by the mainstream tech press. Wow guys, what on earth were you all thinking?
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