From the category archives:

Gadgets

Gibson Firebird X Guitar Features Auto-tuning And Built-in Effects

Not everybody will want tech wizardry on their musical instruments, but if you do, the Gibson Firebird X is definitely something to consider. The guitar features automatic tuning, previously seen on the company’s Robot guitars, and offers a suite of effects built-in. You’ve got the standard pickup selector, volume and tone controls, an 11 position rotary knob for selecting effects such as echo, reverb, compression, distortion, modulation and EQ. There are also switches for mixing effects’ signal strength and changing between the standard and piezo pickups. The inclusion of Bluetooth for wireless pedal switching also takes it one step closer to gadget Nirvana. Pricing hasn’t been mentioned just yet, but it’s expected to be available on a limited run from December 11th 2010, so don’t expect it to come cheap.

(Via Ubergizmo.)

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Guitar Sidekick – Media Device for Guitarists

by Ian Scott on August 24, 2010

Guitar Sidekick iPhone holder


A Macworld article indicates there are currently over 500 guitar-related iPhone apps.

Every up-to-speed tech geek, guitar player will want this mechanical interface.

You’re looking at the Guitar Sidekick, an accessory for mounting your iPhone, Blackberry, Droid or other similar media devices to your guitar. The above article link tells you all about it, but the picture basically says it all.

The Guitar Sidekick is available at: www.castiv.com

(Via Strat-O-Blogster Guitar Blog.)

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Top 5 DIY iPhone Stands

by Ian Scott on May 22, 2010

You’ve already forked out plenty for your iPhone or iPod touch, so why tax your wallet further by buying an expensive stand?

Whether you want to save money, keep your personal drain on the planet’s resources to a minimum, or are looking for a quick-fix solution at your desk, we’ve found five fantastic iPhone stand designs that require no more than everyday objects — and some MacGyver-style skills.

Have a look-see below at our homemade docks, then have a go at making your own and let us know the results in the comments box below!


1. The Paper Clip Stand


What you’ll need:

Overview:

This solution utilizes a large paper clip, cunningly straightened and then twisted to make an impromptu stand for your iDevice. Depending on how strong you are, you might need pliers to help manipulate the clip, but the principle is pretty darn simple — and pretty darn effective. Mods include wrapping a rubber band around the ‘legs’ to aid stability.

In the immortal words of MacGyver himself: ‘A paperclip can be a wondrous thing. More times than I can remember, one of these has gotten me out of a tight spot.’

MacGyver Rating: 5/5


2. The Cassette Case Stand


What you’ll need:

Overview:

We love that this takes (almost) obsolete tech and upcycles it into a useful object. You can use either a cassette case from an old camcorder tape, or an old audio tape (which, if you’re of a certain age, you’ve almost certainly got lying around at home).

Put the tape and the cardboard sleeve to one side, open the case, flip it around, and — presto! — a minimalist desk stand. To make it a super-stable solution in landscape, you might want to use a file to make a nice neat groove for the iPhone to better sit in.

This really works for us as an easy way to keep our iPhone out of calamity’s way on a desk surface.

MacGyver Rating: 4/5


3. The Pencil Stand


What you’ll need:

Overview:

This easel-esque stand can be created from five pencils and several rubber bands. It will require some dexterity to get the pencils in the right place, as you use the bands to hold it all together, and then a little more to get it to stand up straight. However, it is a strikingly simple design once made, and can be collapsed down to nothing again, should the occasion require.

Although this requires the most stuff to actually make, the Boy Scout-style binding process keeps it firmly in MacGyver territory.

MacGyver Rating: 4/5


4. The Sticky Tape Stand


What you’ll need:

Overview:

Perfect for those ‘I just want to catch ten minutes of [insert favorite show] while I eat lunch at my desk’ moments, this devilishly simple solution requires only a roll of sticky tape to work. Simply stick a bit of tape to the back of your iPhone or iPod touch — and voila! — your iBuddy is propped up at a nice angle while you consume both your lunch and choice of video-based media.

It’s not quite duct tape, but damn!

MacGyver Rating: 5/5


5. The Paper Stand


What you’ll need:

Overview:

The instructions call for the use of at least a 270 gsm paper or card stock, so assuming you have that, simply print out the template (available for both A4 and U.S. letter size paper), cut, fold, and faster than you can say ‘origami,’ you’ve got yourself a new dock.

And this one really is a dock (rather than just stand), as it includes space for the iPhone’s cord underneath. We would suggest that anyone not old enough to have a Facebook account should find a responsible adult to take care of the craft knife elements.

(Via Mashable!.)

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i-Tab Offers Rock Stardom By Way of Huge Geekdom

by Ian Scott on February 27, 2010

Music and technology aren’t unfamiliar bedfellows, but the i-Tab offers a unique method for enhancing your guitar with gadgetry: clamp it on. Like a TomTom for tunes, the electronic songbook prompts players with chords and lyrics for thousands of songs.

For hundreds of years guitarists have mastered their instrument with patience and practice. But this is 2010—who has time to practice? The i-Tab accelerates the learning process by offering thousands of dynamic tabs, scrolling chords at any tempo while you stumble your way through the song.

The device has a 5′ touch screen—using your guitar pick as stylus is encouraged—and 4GB of memory to hold the songs, which can be downloaded through a tab store. The company claims there will be 5000 tunes available at launch.

On some songs you can accompany your noodling with backing tracks that can be played over speakers or headphones. And youll probably need them—having the i-Tab clamped to your guitar isnt likely to win you many bandmates. Sure itll fast-track your fingerpicking, but at what price.

Well, the price of $199 and looking like a dweeb, as it turns out. Pre-orders are slated to be filled first week in March. [i-Tab via Oh Gizmo]

(Via Gizmodo.)

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Just a Cheap iPhone/iPod Adapter USB Hub

December 2, 2009

If the Griffin Simplifi is too expensive for you, this $15 generic iPhone/iPod 3-port USB hub will allow you to sync an Apple product while accommodating up to three other devices that resent your favoritism. [USBFever] (Via Gizmodo.) Enjoyed this article?WebsiteWordPress themes!

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Computer That Sent First Email 40-Years Ago

October 31, 2009

What you’re looking at above is the computer that sent the very first email via ARPANET, 40-years ago on October 29, 1969. Simply put, ‘the message was sent from the UCLA SDS Sigma 7 Host computer to the SRI SDS 940 Host computer.’ Click here for first picture in gallery. Like most systems of the [...]

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Top 10 DIY Projects for an Extra Day Off

September 7, 2009

It’s the last day of an unusually long weekend, and there’s absolutely nothing on the schedule. Break out the tools and pull up one of these nifty DIY projects to improve your living space and boost your can-do cred. 10. Light up your yard with mason jars Buy a mess of ground-staked, solar or battery-powered [...]

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Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks in New York City: Canon 5D mark II

July 6, 2009

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