The Rubik’s TouchCube first surfaced back in February earlier this year, and the “available sometime in the Fall” release date that was given translates to very soon, if not already. The official Rubik’s TouchCube website claims the cube is already available at Best Buy, though a quick search of their online store returned no results, while The New York Times Gadgetwise blog claims it will be in stores on October 18, just a few weeks away.
For those who haven’t seen it before, the Rubik’s TouchCube is essentially the same sliding puzzle toy you had as a kid, except the moving parts and colored stickers have been replaced with illuminated panels and touch sensors that allow you to turn or twist a series of squares simply by swiping your finger across them. And for nostalgia’s sake there’s even an option to turn on an accompanying sound effect that’s an actual recording of the original cube’s twisting sound.
The best part is that thanks to a “powerful processor” inside, the TouchCube always knows the exact number of moves needed to solve it, though I imagine you could get all the sides back to a uniform color by simply resetting it. It definitely looks a lot cooler than the original, but is it $150 worth of cool?
If you’re a big fan of the LEGO Star Wars game for the Nintendo DS (the good second version, not the crappy first) or just happen to be a LEGO maniac (like Zack, RIP) you might be interested in this protective case for your DS Lite. Not only does it protect your hardware while still letting you open and play it, but it also features a LEGO base plate on the top and bottom that you can decorate with an included LEGO Star Wars tile mosaic, or any LEGO creation for that matter. $14.99 available from StarWarsShop.com sometime in November.
Wow, check out what Etsy seller 123smile is now selling! We’ve covered their LEGO flash drive creations before, but these new Minifig USB drives are a must-have. They’re available in 2GB ($59.95), 4GB ($69.95) and what looks like 4GB high-speed ($79.95) capacities and come in a variety of characters including Star Wars figures which I’m sure will be their best seller. Now I’m not saying LEGO should copy what 123smile is doing, but come on! When you see things like this you have to wonder why the company can’t think of anything more creative than another flashlight?
At this point even I’m a little sick of the recent flood of LEGO themed electronics and gadgets, but how can anyone resist taking this minifig LED lantern on their next camping trip? The oversized minifig swings from the “easy carry handle” and his white shirt provides 360 degrees of lighting thanks to a set of 4 white LEDs inside. It’s powered by 4 x AA batteries which are included, and is available from Perpetual Kid for just $19.99.
It might not be quite as complicated as the Petaminx dodecahedral puzzle we brought you back in March, but if you don’t have the plastic casting skills of Jason Smith to make your own, this twelve sided IQ Pentagon puzzle from Brando is probably your best alternative. It’s just $49.90 and if you do order one I suggest snapping a few photos when it arrives because once you mess it up I’m pretty sure you’re never going to get it back to its original state.
Update 2: Sorry guys, the promo code is “ohgiz” and not the one at the bottom of this article. 20% off!
We wrote about BuckyBalls a few days ago and the company got in touch, offering some sets as giveaways. If you don’t know, BuckyBalls are 216 tiny magnet balls that can be re-arranged in any number of ways. I’ve got mine on my desk right now, and they’re awesome!
We’ve got three up for grabs, and all you got to do is leave a comment on this post.
Yeah… entering is that simple. Winning is different, since we’ll choose winners not at random, but at our discretion. And by “our”, I mean my dictatorial opinion. It might be the most entertaining comments, or the most compelling, or the most creative… I’ll decide. In other words, earn your BuyckyBalls guys; it just takes a little comment.
Oh yeah, and enter once. Be nice. We’ll be checking.
Update: Oh yeah, guys, I almost forgot. If you don’t win, you can still be a winner by entering promo code “ohgizmo” and get 20% off your own set of BuckyBalls!
Hard on the heels of the Nerf Vulcan EBF-25 is the Nerf Raider CS-35, a semi-automatic Nerf gun that makes use of an honest-to-goodness drum magazine, which manages to cram 35 darts into a single mag, letting you fire for a long, long time without having to reload. And the reloading system is modular, so that you can quickly swap the drum out for spring clips holding seven darts each.
The CS-35 is powered in the traditional Nerf manner, by you. Pulling the front grip back ‘charges’ the gun, while pushing it forward cocks it and chambers a dart. Squeeze the trigger to fire, or if you hold the trigger down, you can fire as fast as possible by just slamming the front grip back and forth. A big button on the side of the gun lets you easily release ammo clips, and Nerf thoughtfully included a port on the other side that opens to let you clear out jammed darts. The CS-35 is made of plastic that feels solid and durable, and easily accessible screws suggest that this Nerf gun should be simple to open up and modify.
The one thing to keep in mind is that loading systems aren’t completely modular across all of the guns, and neither are the darts. The drum mag takes only “streamline” darts, and you can’t use it in (for example) the Vulcan. By the same token, you sadly can’t use the Vulcan’s ammo belt in the CS-35. Aww.
The Nerf Raider CS-35 officially goes on sale today for a mere $30; you can find it at most major toy retailers nationwide.
Not as wimpy as your standard Power Wheels, but not as dangerous as a real ATV, this all terrain Polaris ride-on falls somewhere in the middle, making it ideal for kids and pre-teens. It’s modeled after the Polaris Ranger RZR, but the dual 24-volt electric motors can only power it to a top speed of about 7 MPH. The 15-inch molded wheels and rear suspension should help it navigate even the most unkempt of backyards, and a set of power brakes are automatically engaged whenever the driver removes their foot from the accelerator. And since today’s modern kids couldn’t possibly go for a ride without their tunes, the mini Polaris comes standard with an FM radio featuring an aux-in for connecting an MP3 player. $1,000 from Hammacher Schlemmer.
I’m impulsive, but heck… not this much. But when I saw the Buckyballs from Zoomdoggle, I made a purchase right away. Like, within 30 seconds. It’s a set of 216 small rare earth magnets that can be reconfigured in endless ways. It’s a toy. It’s crazy stupid and useless, kind of like a Hula Hoop or a Rubik’s Cube. But if you watch the video below, I bet you’ll want your own.
They’re $30 plus shipping, and free shipping if you buy two. Use promo code “GetBucked” for 10% off.
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