Sure, slap a tube on it, and watch the SteamPunkers and audiophiles line up with pockets full of green vomit in disgust.  This is the X-Tube, a USB/headphone amp made to look like a vacuum tube, promising high-quality DTS sound.  But there’s a problem.

That problem is “marketing”.  First, calling it the X-Tube was really stupid.  Go Google X-Tube and you’ll come up with a laundry list of porn sites.  Porn + Marketing = Win Fail (in this case).  Second, the fake tube gimmick is so overdone; the various communities that are into valves prefer real and fully functional ones.  Third, according to the DVICE blog I saw this at, there’s strong evidence to suggest that the DTS slapped on the plastic tube is a lie.  Lie + Marketing = Total Fail.  Last, is why?  Almost all modern computers, especially laptops, have built-in headphone amplifiers.

Via: DVICE

Having been exiled to California for the last 4 years, I returned home to Arizona and was quite surprised to find a significant change to my local friendly neighborhood Radio Shack.  This one is a Vintage Radio Shack.

Not just the usual collection of soldering tools, batteries, and home electronics; this one features a wide and varied array of restored and reconditioned vintage electronics.  The owner has a serious hobby and is constantly working to bring yesterday’s glory back to life.

Just how did they keep time before the invention of gears and springs?  You may be thinking sundials and hourglasses, but you’d be wrong.  Here’s a video on how it was actually done.

This is just plain cool, no matter who you are. I can only imagine the amount of video editing involved. It’s quite an insane project, but it puts a smile on the face.  Of course, the real question is: Who would buy this?  And does it have to be an old man?  Can we have one with Strippers?

Via: GEEK

Finally, something I would actually buy.  Much as I love MP3 players, they’re all too damn tiny.  These MintCube MP3 players are only 2-in x 2-in x 2in; small enough to be portable, but big enough to use on my desk.  The VU meter is cool, as long as it’s actually a real dBm meter.

Via: GIZMODO

I’m not sure it’s real, but it’s a cool concept.  The design is based on a 1954 TV, and some other old-fashioned elements.  I’m just glad it runs Windows 7.

Via: Yanko

Most impressive…  Steve Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder, and an impressive engineer has made himself a functional and practical Nixie-tube watch.  I don’t know why I have such a hard-on for Nixie’s, but it’s certainly more impressive than the steampunk toilet that came across my desk recently.  Seriously, some of you steampunkers have too much in common with pot-heads; instead of trying to make a bong out of everything, you try to make everything into a vacuum tube, like this Model 420 Pneumatiform Infumationizer.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak shows us that a nixie tube watch is probably a better idea in theory than it is in practice. It’s so bulky. Sure looks like a lot of trouble he has to go through just to change the time zone. Never mind that, if they could just make these things a whole lot smaller, we’d really be lusting after one.

via: DVICE

BTW, pot-heads suck.  Read my Official Position on 420.

Now, this is cool, no matter who you are.  A self-propelled Victorian house.  This is an HDRI photo of the Neverwas Haul.  And it’s not just pretty, it’s actually functional.  It even sports a pseudo-periscope called a “Camera Obscura”.  I only wish that there were more photos of the interior; as well as a generous amount of scantily-clad Victorian prostitutes and Whiskey.

Neverwas Haul, a self-propelled 3-story Victorian House, made from 75% recycled equipment and materials, returns with new interiors, operating system, and collections from its travels around the world (i.e., oddities of the Jules Verne era including a Camera Obscura, described below). The Haul measures 24 feet long by 24 feet high and 12 feet wide and is built on the base of a 5 th wheel travel trailer.

A cooperative effort of a number of artists, photographers and lens makers, the Camera Obscura is installed in the turret of the Haul. With the support of a trained technician, the public sees many a spectacular view. A camera obscura is a series of lenses creating an image that is projected onto a concave screen table (sketch included below) [not on this site]. The size of the unit is approximately 12 feet tall by 3 feet wide and is made from hand-made glass lenses, recycled brass fittings and antique ironwork.

Check out the Site for full details: neverwashaul.com

I ran across this recently, but I can’t tell if it’s real. It looks like a really good 3D rendering. Plus, the surface mount components on the PCB kind of ruin the valve tech feel.  Now, take this case and make it a “ship in a bottle”, that would be awesome.  Anyways, it’s interesting but not as cool as the Nixie Clock with GPS Accuracy that I recently posted.

BTW, I encourage you to subscribe to the RSS feed so that you can know when there are new posts.  If you don’t know how to use RSS feeds, figure it out; it’s the only way to keep up with your favorite blogs.  Sorry I’ve been out for a while. I had to move from California back to Arizona. California can fall off into the ocean, and I hope it does and takes Florida with it.

Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test.  WANT!  My new hero at wonderlandblog.com (never heard of him before) made a “Companion Cube” cupboard.  The Companion Cube is a surprisingly overly popular prop from the game Portal.  Portal is one of the games from The Orange Box and is separately available from the Xbox Live Arcade.  If you have a 360, get the Portal demo on XBLA, it’s a very fun game…

Anyways, the carpenter here has thoroughly documented how to create one for yourself.  Get info on The Orange Box too.  Portal is one of the funnest games I’ve ever played…

Oh, man.  Super nice models of the Nautilus (Disney version) from the Nautilus Drydocks (go there for more pictures).  I’m looking at the 66-inch model, and there’s exceptional attention to detail.  You could almost shoot with this as the hero model.  Even the wheelhouse is fully detailed.

They even have additional options to convert it to a Radio Controlled sub that can go into the water.  But you’ll never catch me putting such a toy into the drink.  Knowing my luck, somebody with a model HMS Warrior would come along and sink my sub.