British Red Phone Box mobile phone

Posted in Mobile Phones by Conner Flynn on July 20th, 2009

British Red Phone Box mobile phoneBad teeth and Monty Python aside, nothing says British like a red phone box. The phone itself is fully functional and comes with a 65K color TFT screen, a camera, SMS, MMS and GPRS/WAP 2.0. Sure, those specs aren’t great, but it’s a red British phone box. What did you expect?

We really would have preferred a blue version. At least that way, it would be very Doctor Who. They really missed out on that idea. It could have all of the geeky sounds and everything. Oh well. You will get some early 00’s polyphonic style ringtones. 20 to be exact. Stuff like God Save the Queen and other British tunes.

Fire-Breathing robo dog is ready for the apocalypse

Posted in Robots by Conner Flynn on December 10th, 2008

Fire-Breathing robo dog is ready for the apocalypseThe dudes at the Mutoid Waste Company just need 3 more of these beasts, then they can roam the future wastelands as the Four Robo-dog-men of the Apocalypse, spreading fire and carnage wherever they ride and fulfilling prophecies.

For now they have one. These guys love them some scrap metal and Larry is their latest creation to crawl out of the gates of the workshop and onto the streets of London, breathing fire with each step forward. See the bot in action below.

London to deploy bomb-proof garbage bins

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on November 2nd, 2008

London to deploy bomb-proof garbage binsAccording to the TimesOnline the lack of High-tech garbage cans in UK cities have pedestrians complianing. But not for long. Next year hundreds of bomb-resistant bins with “blast intelligent technology” and LCD screens displaying the news will be placed throughout London’s financial district.

Many bins had to be removed during the 1980s at the height of the IRA bombings as bombs were regularly left in them. So, London has been without places to put their garbage for nearly 30 years? I thought that’s what the BBC was for? I kid. I kid. Though putting the news on garbage bins has a certain irony to it.

The Traffic Tree is one confusing stop-light

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on October 12th, 2008

The Traffic Tree is one confusing stop-lightThis bit of public art blends nature with traffic in one confusing sculture. It’s Pierre Vivant’s Traffic Light Tree. A giant sculpture of fully-functioning traffic lights in London. For some reason it’s parked next to a roundabout near Canary Wharf.

It was created by the Public Art Commissions Agency and it’s sure to confuse tourists, since roundabouts are confusing all by themselves. Remember the Griswolds in that Vacation movie? The light cycles of the Tree/Traffic Light mimic the action of Canary Wharf, imitating the landscape, while the light patterns match the rhythm of the domestic, financial and commercial goings on. Pretty strange, but neat.

The Rolling Bridge retracts out of the way

Posted in Outdoors by Conner Flynn on August 28th, 2008

The Rolling Bridge retracts out of the wayThis is a great design for a bridge. It retracts into itself like one of those rolly-polly bugs. It’s creator is Thomas heatherwick and it’s an award-winner as well as a fantastic addition to the grand union canal system in london. There are other movable canal bridges, but the rolling bridge curls up on itself to form an octagon by using hydraulics. Check out the video below to see it in action. It’s always nice to see a fresh take on an old theme. Turns out London bridges aren’t falling down, they’re just moving.

The Tardis shed: Where Timelords keep lawn mowers

Posted in Home by Conner Flynn on July 5th, 2008

The Tardis shed: Where Timelords keep lawn mowersSheds are not gadgets, but sheds do house and hold many of our gadgets. Over at an interesting site called Readers Sheds they like to showcase all kinds of sheds.

One that comes up again and again is the Tardis. They have literally appeared everywhere throughout the UK. Apparently these sheds are also capable of being bigger on the inside and get frequently attacked by Daleks.

Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator: Original GPS

Posted in GPS by Conner Flynn on May 7th, 2008

Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator: Original GPS
In the days before satellites frantically transmitted data to GPS receivers, there was at least one similar device making the rounds in London during the 20s. The Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator had put maps squarely onto users’ wrists. It works the way it appears, basically using rolled up paper maps that show the route of a particular area.

The driver just had to turn the two knobs, which turn the rollers, thereby moving the paper maps. This Wristlet can actually store about twenty maps making it a pretty comprehensive navigation tool…For the time. To see the Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator, you can check it out at the National Trust House where it is on display until June 1st.





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