Lockitron - Keyless Entry Using Your Phone... as a Key

This feels like the future.

A future in which grandparents will no longer understand how to lock and unlock their door.

• Lockitron Website
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Instacube

It seems that prefixing "Insta-" to your name is a super way to get a frightening amount of money in a short period of time.

If you were one of the 3,434 backers of the Instacube you can expect to be the toast of your hipster circle of friends for about 15 seconds at some point when it ships in the coming months.

• Instacube Kickstarter Page
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Drink it in - Portraits in Tea, Vodka, Whiskey and Ink

These energetic pieces by Carne Griffiths are ink drawings with a difference. Some of the washes are produced using uncommon mediums including tea, vodka and whiskey. Good to see those spirited artistic juices flowing!

Pictured are two portraits from his current exhibition called "Fragments" which can be seen for a limited time at the Ink-d Gallery.

• The Artist's Website
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Flat Sound - A Speaker in a Poster

The latest project in Finn Magee's "Flat Life" series is an actual working speaker cleverly disguised as wall art. Magee's previous Flat Life projects were a poster-lamp (Flat Light) and a poster-clock(Flat Time)

The "Flat Sound" poster uses a flat, flexible speaker technology developed by UK based Warwick Audio. Technical specifications on the speaker are hard to come by except that it is only 4mm thick and that it appears to connect to devices such as iPods via a standard 3.5 inch jack.

It is available in limited numbers for around 250 pounds from auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York as well as Lazydog gallery in Hamburg.

• Visit Finn Magee
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Cardboard Cat

Just me or is there a lab-specimen/stuffed-pet poise to this cat's pose?

These 3D cutout "d-Torso"^[1] models are the work of Japanese company Aki Co.. The process of designing them involves making a 3D scan of a real world object then computer modelling and laser cutting the cardboard pieces.

If you get one of these and you have a real cat, make a video of them together. Lols should ensue.

1. "d-Torso" is an appropriately creepy name for these things

• Buy it on Amazon
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Polaroid Z2300

This looks like the ultimate party camera.

The headline feature is of course the integrated printer. In true Polaroid tradition it uses a chemical process ("ZINK technology") so there's no messy ink or ribbons. Also since the camera takes an SD card you could even use this as a printer-on-the-go to print pictures off the card of another camera.

Best of all the photos have a peel-off sticky back for instant hijinks

The camera itself is decent featuring a 10MP sensor, a color LCD

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Trouble in Toyland

I wonder how Woody & Buzz would feel about this stylish fella landing next to them in the toy chest?

This 18inch Patrick Bateman "action figure" features a ball-jointed neck and is poseable at the shoulders and wrists - just in case his factory position isn't creepy enough. He also speaks many of his lines from the movie including my favourite: "I've got to return some video tapes"

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Thumbs Up Stamp, Yay!

Turn your thumb into a little dude who is with you everywhere you go. You'll never be lonely again.

• Visit Mikke Remikke
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And if a double-decker bus… Crashes into us

Please, Please, Please - A Tribute to The Smiths starts out with an energetic version of Panic by Kitten, which doesn't wander too far from The Smiths own style, making it a gentle introduction to this compilation, especially for diehard Smith fans^[1] who may be sensitive to any mishandling of Morrissey's precious material.

They needn't worry though as the album continues with outstanding performances throughout; William Fitzsimmons gives a tender rendition of the title track, The Wedding Present deliver a satisfyingly thrashy Hand In Glove^[2] and Sara Lov is a (new to us) revelation with her take on Well I Wonder.

Shoplifters of the World Unite by Tanya Donelly is hauntingly slowed down to good effect, as is There is a Light That Never Goes Out by Trespassers William, a bold move to fuck with such an iconic track, but it works.

Speaking of bold, opinions are sure to be divided by Mike Viola's treatment of the distinctive vibrato guitar chord from How Soon is Now, possibly Johnny Marr's most enduring sonic legacy. Viola's version features a more orchestral sound that lacks the edginess of the original, but engages the listener on a different level. If challenged on his interpretation, you might hope Viola would insolently hiss: "You shut your mouth... how can you say... I go about things the wrong way", you know the rest...

1. Correct nomenclature... MozArmy?
2. Incidentally the cover features a photo of Sandie Shaw who also covered Hand In Glove in 1984

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Tamiya Sneaky Germans are Sneaky

You sometimes have to wonder if those whacky model makers at Tamiya are having a lend of us. While each figure is charmingly detailed and realistic, the composition of this product shot from the Tamiya website is pure slapstick.

Taking a more meta view, for all of their exaggerated caution, none of these German Infantry have noticed the enormous person in front of them taking their photo.

• Buy Sneaky German Troops
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