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Are Private Game Servers Legal?

Online games that are hosted on a central server are quite common. Unfortunately, they have a unique flaw as time goes on. Unlike other games which can replayed long after they’re released, online games lose their servers when they die off. This then makes the entire game unplayable, as nobody has a server to connect to. The Private Server Some people, however, take it upon themselves to host their own server for the game. This is known as a “private server,” and it involves a lot of work to get one running. If the developer is successful, they can revive a game that has since… Read more

5 of the Best Graphical Git Clients for Mac

Using Git on the command line is fine, but for some people, it’s less than ideal. While simple commits are fine in the terminal, looking at extended diffs or other data isn’t always ideal. If you’re looking for a graphical Git client, you’re in luck. The only problem is deciding which one to choose. There are a bunch of GUI Git clients available for the Mac, but we’ve gathered together a few that should be on the top of your list. Before you start trying out clients randomly, give a few of these a shot. 1. GitHub Desktop If you mainly use Git to interact… Read more

AZIO keyboards make me want to go full on steampunk

NEWS – I’ve always been a fan of steampunk themed products because I like their gritty mechanical look and feel. I’m also a sucker for products that combine gears, levers, buttons, leather, and wood into retro-futuristic sculptures that actually do something useful. That’s why these retro compact Bluetooth keyboards from AZIO are calling my name.

AZIO has offered a variety of full-sized keyboards for a while now, but their Retro Compact Keyboard (RCK) series are more… well… compact! They offer these keyboards in all of the materials that I mentioned liking above. They feature mechanical backlit clicky keys resting over a leather or wood plate wrapped in a metallic frame.

Available in black, copper, white, or wood finishes, these are premium keyboards with a premium $219.99 price to match. If you’re ready to spend your tax refund, head over to aziocorp.com for all the details. Amazon carries some of the models as well.

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AZIO keyboards make me want to go full on steampunk originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 5, 2019 at 12:52 pm.

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How to Change the Keyboard Layout in Linux

When you spend any real length of time working on a computer, you learn that your preferences matter. Having your computer set up exactly as you like can make the difference between getting work done smoothly and dragging through something that’d otherwise be simple. Your keyboard and its layout are a major factor here, whether you’re writing, coding, or just relying on hotkeys. Even though they all have their own ways of handling it, every Linux desktop environment makes it simple to customize your keyboard layout for your language, region, and personal preference. GNOME/Budgie Begin by opening your “Settings” application. Locate the “Language” tab… Read more

MeetIDEA Mechanical Spider and Bluetooth Speaker review

REVIEW – Our Future Robot Overlords have chosen to favor you with this delightful little mechanical horror from MeetIDEA. It’s a robot spider that has a Bluetooth speaker. It’s also an educational toy that can be assembled and disassembled, perfect training for the kiddies in preparation for our dystopian future. Hopefully, the Robot Overlords come in peace. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a metal spider that you can assemble and disassemble. It’s also a Bluetooth speaker.

Hardware specs

  • All metal construction
  • Bluetooth 4.2 compatible
  • 4 hour play time on the bluetooth speaker
  • Roughly 4″ wide, 4″ long and 4″ tall
  • Approximately 8 ounces total weight

What’s in the box?

Your spider comes with a set of tools for assembly/disassembly, a USB-to-MicroUSB charging cable, and a leash if you want to take it out for a walk.

Design and features

Apparently, this beastie was inspired by the Ghost Recon film from Ubisoft. I’m a bit older, though, so I found it reminded me of a 1984 sci-fi movie called Runaway about an evil robotics expert who uses mechanical spiders to do his murderous bidding.  No matter where you draw your inspiration, this is NOT a murderous robot. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s pretty freaking cool.

(Side note: Runaway is pure 80’s sci-fi cheese, starring Tom Selleck is the police officer trying to stop the madness and Gene Simmons as the evil genius villain. Yes, THAT Gene Simmons. It’s wonderfully silly and campy, and I think you can stream it on Amazon. Prepare for laughs.)

All kidding aside, it’s a substantial and terrifically detailed little monster. There’s no plastic to be found in the build. It’s all metal with screws, nuts, bolts, springs, and plates making up the design. I’m guessing that there are 200 parts in the build, but there may be more. Check out how it uses gold parts to highlight the face. And check out those spikes. They’re so… metal…

And look at the detail in the leg armatures! While the spider doesn’t actually move, it can be completely taken apart and put back together again. Some tools are provided for this purpose. If you have kids who are into building stuff, they’ll go out of their minds over this! Although you might want to take a lot of pictures first. It comes fully assembled, and no instructions are included.

The abdomen of the spider is the Bluetooth speaker, kept in place with spring-loaded arms.

You can pop the speaker out to power it up, or charge it using the included USB charging cable:

The speaker itself is pretty basic & straightforward. There’s a power button and a charging port. It’s Bluetooth 4.2 compatible, with a 4 hour play capacity. Little blue lights blink on the speaker end when it’s in use.

The sound quality is kind of what you would expect for a little unit like this. It’s got clear sound with decent volume range, but not much in the way of depth. You won’t find deep bass notes, for example. It will play your tunes and podcasts just fine, though. And it will look awesome sitting on your desk. What more could you ask for?

What I like

  • Detailed construction and articulation
  • Serious post-apocalyptic steampunk looks
  • Great for little kids and big kids who like to build stuff
  • Comes pre-assembled, but includes tools for tinkering
  • Mechanical. Freaking. Spider. ‘Nuff said!

What needs to be improved

  • Speaker is pretty basic. But it’s a mechanical spider, so that’s OK.

Final thoughts

This is a fun little gadget that currently sits proudly on my desk. If you’re a steampunk or sci-fi fan, this is a great (and functional!) gizmo to add to your collection. And kids who like to tinker will love it. Just make sure you take lots of pictures to put it back together again… MeetIDEA offers no refunds if you break it down into all of its little parts.

Price: $39.90
Where to buy: Find it on the MeetIDEA.com
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MeetIDEA.

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MeetIDEA Mechanical Spider and Bluetooth Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 5, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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