gadget n review

Apple needs to explore new iPhone materials because the current glass back sucks. It gets dirty too easily. It's Russian-hooker naff. And it's way too fragile. Thankfully, there's a fix for that: JackBacks. JackBack feels more natural, organic and artisanal than others, most probably because the way they are finished—sealed, sanded, and finished with a Tung oil. It's very pleasant to touch. And instead of getting dirty, the more you touch it, the more beautiful it looks: Your skin oils will naturally give the wooden back an even better look and texture. After a month of use, mine looks much better than the first day. Installation is quick and easy: Take off a pair of screws with the provided tool, take out the glass back, install this one. The iPhone 4's dimensions don't change. The JackBacks are replacements to the official glass back, with the same thickness and the same precision in the holes for the camera and flash. ( Gizmodo )

Is music so important to you that you cannot live without it? Not even when you go swimming? If you answered in the affirmative, then we would suggest you actually do your bit and purchase some sort of waterproof rated protective case for your portable media player – the iPod range ought to have something like that. Apart from that, you would also need a decent pair of earphones, and who better to deliver that than with the DryBUDS Sport? Boasting an over-the-ear clip, the DryBUDS SPORT was specially designed for runners, swimmers, skiers, boaters, and just about anyone else who is active without being worried about getting wet. According to Dr. Roy Archambault, CEO of Dry Corp.“Our customers asked us to design these headphones because they wanted to be able to maintain their active lifestyle while utilizing their DryCASEs with their portable electronics. We listened and are pleased to present them with our latest waterproof creation, DryBUDS SPORT.” What you see on the right is no...

Air guitar, an ancient tradition for those of us who don’t actually know how to play a guitar, along with air drumming, air piano and I want to say air bass? Well thanks to this Kickstarter project that plans to turn your iPhone into an air guitar, your dreams of rocking out without actually knowing how to play a guitar may very well come true, assuming if the creators of the Air Guitar Move manages to raise $25,000 in the next 25 days. The Air Guitar Move is a combination of a motion sensing pick attached to the dock connector on your iPhone, along with an app that would allow you to rock out on your iPhone any time and anywhere. No word on how the app will function but for those who are interested you can head on down to their Kickstarter page and make your donations if you would like to see the device actually make it into your hands.

"Instrument for Blank Architecture" is a mobile listening device, adaptable to the space which it occupies. A tripod that is equipped with a balancing device and is generally used by a land surveyor to document landscapes and topographies, here, becomes an instrument dedicated to the exploration of mental landscapes. ( core77 )

Some say that PC case modding is a form of art, and if you were sitting on the fence requiring more concrete evidence, then surely even the TRON Lightcycle PC from Bods Mods is capable of swaying your mind. This is not a street legal version of the fantasy vehicle in the 3D blockbuster that was screened at the end of last year, as it measures just 40″ long (or should we say, short?), but underneath the hood you will find an ATX motherboard, liquid cooling, and a generous number of blue light strips. The designer actually started from scratch to custom build this unique PC chassis, using SketchUp, Google’s 3D modeling app, alongside tons of foam shaping and Dremel work. ( UberGizmo )

Designer Franklin Gaw has come up with an interesting concept that brings new life, quite literally, to camping lanterns. It can help you replant the woods you enjoy walking through while also lighting your way. The idea is to have the lantern double as a terrarium, which can grow saplings of native trees. When the sprout is large enough to plant, you pop open the lantern, and transplant the sapling to help replant the forest. The idea is interesting enough but I can't help but wonder how the heat from the light source affects the sapling. The lantern would need to use an LED bulb and probably have an open top or some way to let the excess heat escape so that it doesn't burn the foliage of the plant. That, or use a bulb so dim that it can't necessarily help you find your way through the woods at night. ( Gizmodo )

This robot has been developed by Japanese researchers to take advantage of 'ground effects,' which allows the craft to hover off the ground at an extremely low height, thereby avoiding friction. The idea behind a craft is that it will someday be used as a train replacement. The lack of friction means it's able to travel as fast (possibly faster) than a train (which rubs against a rail and wears it down), and in theory, would be cheaper and more efficient than a maglev train, which has a significant drag coefficient. On the downside, this thing controls like a plane, with pitch, roll and yaw having to be taken into consideration. One concept has the craft in a tightly-fitted corridor, which prevents it from racing out of control. ( Gizmodo )