cube

Twist timer

Red Crab Cube Timer is a stopwatch application designed to time how fast it takes you to solve Rubik's Cube. Those who enjoy trying to solve the cube as fast as possible can use this free tool to add some flair to the timing process.

The program's interface is basic and easy to navigate but not very attractive. You can choose a plain background or one of 12 illustrated backgrounds as a backdrop for the timer, which appears at the center of the screen. All of the illustrated backgrounds have a psychedelic look that isn't particularly appealing, … Read more

Microsoft labs tests a Wikipedia of average Joes

Think of Microsoft's latest labs effort as the software maker's attempt to give everyone their own Wikipedia entry.

Dubbed EntityCube and now live to try out, the research project pulls together biographical information on anyone found on the Web.

Similar in some ways to other people-search projects that have been around for some time, EntityCube tries to cull the Web to build a dossier on whomever you can think of. Among the interesting features is the social graph that EntityCube builds, as well as its effort to automatically sort out information about different people with the same name. … Read more

An MP3 player for the vintage hi-fi set

If you love the look of old reel-to-reel tape decks, hi-fi receivers, and analog mixing boards, the latest MP3 player concept from Korea's Mintpass design team will probably leave you drooling.

The Cube MP3 player offers not one but three analog VU meters, capable of displaying volume, battery live, and FM radio frequency.

If the menage a trois of vintage analog gauges wasn't enough, the Mint Cube includes two rows of apologetically chunky buttons that hearken back to an era of cassette decks and bad hair. Other proposed features include Bluetooth audio, FM radio, A-B looping, shuffle, and … Read more

Q2 Cube Internet radio is a real pushover

People who like getting physical with their gadgets may warm to a new Internet radio that must be moved around to operate.

The Q2 Cube radio from Cambridge Consultants and Armour Group will change to one of four preselected stations when it's turned over on its side. Tilting the speaker back or forward lowers or raises the volume.

The Cube seems to be a bit bigger than palm-sized, so it would fit neatly on a cluttered desk. It wouldn't do as an alarm clock, since tossing it from the bedside table would presumably only change the station.

The … Read more

LugeCubes: A binge drinker's dream come true

LugeCubes are water molds for creating stackable cubes of ice 8 inches wide by 8 inch high by 8 inches deep. When stacked together, a channel in the ice created by the molds allows you to pour whiskey vodka Jager fruit punch through the ice and out a removable and reusable spout. The mere thought of this product makes my stomach hurt.

It's being sold through Quirky. Well, sort of being sold. You see, Quirky, a site that launched in June, takes products that spring from the minds of its community and drives them from idea to sales, all … Read more

Gadgettes 154: The Kitchen Sink Episode

Most of the time, you get everything BUT the kitchen sink. But being that we're the Gadgettes, we've decided you deserve a little something extra. So we decided to give you a kitchen sink too.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 154

Misting kitchen sink

Water Lounge Offers Relaxing Stink Control

Gorenje unveils new generation of kitchen appliances at IFA 2009 (thanks Karl!)

Rhapsody approved for iphone

USB Posture Alert Reminder will set you on the straight and narrow

Fug Hoof shoes (thanks Sparkman!)

Why Didn’t … Read more

Give depth to your world

Be prepared for some joy and a lot of frustration with 3D Maker. Getting the most out of this application will require you to understand 3D terminology, have sets of photos optimized for 3D, and own a pair of those red-green movie glasses.

3D Maker offers a floating palette with big, friendly buttons and a menu bar for additional tasks and filter. We selected a picture and clicked a button to convert. The application quickly rendered it in 3D (albeit with a large watermark in the trial version). Testing other 3D options quickly led to frustration. 3D Maker lacks certain … Read more

Lego robot solves Sudoku puzzles

Lego Mindstorms are futuristic toys for creative kids. But who knew these DIY robots can get creative themselves and solve puzzles?

Swedish programmer Hans Andersson bought a programmable Mindstorms NXT kit for his two daughters and then began tinkering with it himself. The result: a toy that can autonomously solve Sudoku puzzles in what looks like a matter of minutes.

The Sudoku Solver scans the entire puzzle with a light sensor before determining the missing digits in each square. Its computer performs image processing with a thresholding algorithm to make sense of the sensor data. Recognizing the existing numbers in … Read more

Camera Cube levels your shooter

The first thing landscape photographers check when they frame the shot is to make sure the horizon is level to prevent crooked shots. While you can try to adjust the shooter by estimating with your eye, the Camera Cube can help you be more precise.

Measuring 1 inch all around, this leveler attaches to any camera with a hotshoe. The three-way axis lets shutterbugs take straight snaps whether the camera is mounted vertically or horizontally on the tripod.

Some dSLRs such as the Nikon D700 have an onboard electronic leveler, too, though critics may say it won't be as … Read more