Alibaba has just unveiled its first smartglasses in China, the Quark series, which include AI assistance built directly into the frames. You can get them in two versions: the S1, which simply displays all of the information in front of your face, and the G1, which is more low-key and has no display at all.
Apple’s AirPods Max have always been pricey, but at $399 (down from $599) ahead of Cyber Monday for the USB-C version, that hesitation goes away fast. These over-ear headphones deliver a full experience from the very first listen. The design wraps around your head with a breathable knit mesh canopy and anodized aluminum cups that feel substantial without weighing you down. Weighing under a pound, they fold flat for easy storage in the included slim case which now has a better magnetic closure to keep everything secure.
LimX Dynamics, a China-based robotics company, has recently made waves, literally, with a new video showing one of its bipedal robots transforming into a full-scale Tyrannosaurus rex right in front of your eyes. The robot, built on their slick TRON1 platform, has enough going on to catch you from the start, with a detailed T-rex skin covering body that includes a gaping head, tiny limbs, and a long swishy tail that truly looks like it’s swaying as it moves.
Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage has spent years turning rusted wrecks into rolling works of art. His team loves big ideas that take cars to new places. A six-wheeled Ferrari Testarossa is a big idea. Stretching the classic 80s wedge into a six-axle beast would combine Italian style with American excess. But what started as a handshake deal between Rawlings and builder Alex Danton has turned into a public feud over money, credit and unfinished metal.
ASUS introduced a device 15 years ago that blurred the line between an input tool and a standalone machine. The Eee Keyboard PC housed a full Windows computer within the body of what appeared to be a standard keyboard. After a long wait, it was released in mid-2010, just as netbooks were reigning supreme in portable computing and businesses were pursuing ever-smaller footprints. For $600 ($893 today), you got a silver wedge weighing more than 2 pounds, ready to connect to a TV or monitor for web browsing, movie playback, or light work. ASUS referred to it as a living room companion, something to use for quick chores without having to pull out a whole laptop.
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works engineering team knocked it out of the park earlier this month. An F-22 Raptor hurtling through the Nevada sky at breakneck speeds was communicating with an unmanned drone from inside the cockpit. The pilot flew the fighter with ease, commanding the drone’s motions from the plane’s seat. This test flight was a first for a fifth-generation aircraft, since it seized full control of a loyal wingman while still airborne.
Fossibot builds phones for people who push devices to their limits, and the F113 takes that to the extreme. This thing weighs 500 g (1.1 lbs), with a body made of reinforced plastic and rubber that can withstand drops from 2 meters and submersion in water up to 1.5 meters. IP68 / IP69K certifications for water and dust resistance, and MIL-STD-810H for extremes mean you can take this to construction sites, hike through mud or rain without breaking a sweat. A side-mounted strap lets you hold it like a tool, which comes in handy when you need both hands free but still want quick access.
On July 30, 1987, Bandai launched Karaoke Studio in Japan, making it the first of its kind and a genuine pioneer in the area of karaoke games. TOSE manufactured and published this Nintendo Famicom bundle, which included much more than just a cartridge. It came with an additional piece of hardware, a large device that slips directly into your Famicom’s cartridge bay, as well as a special grey microphone that plugs right in. Guinness World Records has even labeled it the first karaoke video game, and it’s easy to understand why, with its super-accurate voice detection system and very excellent song collection.
Porsche recently handed over the keys to a fully customized Panamera Turbo Sonderwunsch that had been created just for one lucky owner in Dubai. This bespoke beauty is a one-of-a-kind vehicle designed from the ground up to suit the owner’s specific preferences. And this isn’t the only one-of-a-kind; the company’s Sonderwunsch program creates all sorts of interesting vehicles for customers who enjoy getting involved in every detail, from the paint job to the inside trim.
