Just need a little kick start!

Over the last year I've seen the odd post about these inventions that creators are looking for financial backing. It's a website called kickstarter.com I spent most of the night just browsing there are a ton of really interesting and useful items just looking for a bit of support. And if you pledge certain amounts and they reach their goal then you can get the first release of the product.

I haven't dived in just yet, but have a look at the pic I attached it shows some of my favorites so far. It includes paper me it is supposed to be a paper likeness of you. There are carbon fibre sunglasses. Autonomous robot powered by an iPhone. A rotating iPhone mount. And a robotic face TJ that can be remote controlled.

So you can see this could be a dangerous websites for somebody with a weakness for the unique and latest gadgets. So we will see if I get brave enough to commit to a pledge. I'll keep you posted. In the mean time check it out and let me know what you find.

My Next Watch!

Ever since the first iPod Nano Watch i saw I began to imagine what it could be. Being an die hard iPhone user, I'm not interested in the iPod features of the current Nano I already have those features on the phone, I'm just excited by the possibility of an iOS device on your wrist. It does not even need a full iOS, just enough to make use of bluetooth connectivity.

I would love to have call display and notifications with the ability to read text and email preview. Streaming would be fun but not necessary. Just the convenience of not having to pull the iPhone out of your pocket just to see what the vibration was. Seems simple in my mind, but if any of the early release images of the next nano it looks like they just threw a camera on it, really? another device with a camera, seems like they have a pattern.

I hope they come out with a bluetooth watch device, I'd stand in line for it for sure.

Working Towards Rear Steering

Well I began looking into this a couple weeks ago. I started by bidding on a few auctions and loosing, then finally I won one. I picked up a Traxxas TQ3 (3 channel radio and receiver with a yellow crystal). So while I waited for delivery I looked into the different mods that others have done to make it suit the rear steering needs of a crawler. So today the delivery arrived and I got to work. I decided to experiment with some other rc parts laying around my workbench. So I took apart my custom ridez pistol grip controller. I removed the steering mechanism and figured it was totally possible to fit that into the old red toggle switch on the TQ3. After an evening of fitting and soldering and testing. I think I have it set. Here are the pics. (oh ya i mounted a tire from the custom ridez as well).


So it can be used by your left hand thumb while driving, or by switching your right hand from steering the front wheels to the back. So far I have not worried about self centering, so it will actually hold the steering until I move it back. I will post my results when I get a servo mount and steering arms fabricated for the rear axle. Man this is getting more and more fun. Gotta love custom.