Gizmodo: rubiks cube

The Rubik's Cube's Secret Life as an 8-Bit Work of Art

Jack Loftus — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

First, the venerable Rubik's Cube recreated the masterworks of Da Vinci. Today's example, while not quite as grandiose, is still impressive. Ladies and Gents, the Space Invaders are here.

And Sonic. And Pac-Man. Even President Obama makes an appearance, although I don't think Hope: The Video Game is out just yet.

For reference, artist John Quigley says the Obama one took about 20 hours to complete. That time, since I'm a self-deprecating kind of guy, puts my personal Rubik's Cube record—which will remain undisclosed—to shame. [Technabob via CrunchGear]

Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Painted in 4000 Rubik's Cubes

Mark Wilson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT

It took five people two months to recreate Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper in Rubik's Cubes, but it will take those same five people the rest of their lives to solve it. [Popped Culture via firstcoastnews via Neatorama]

Transformers AllSpark Rubiks Cube Really Needs a Robot To Solve

Sean Fallon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EDT

Unfortunately, you won't be able to easily transform this Rubiks cube, and there are no robots around to help. You are on your own buddy. [Entertainment Earth via Gearfuse via Crunchgear]

Glass Rubik's Cube Allows The Satisfaction of Shattering it in Frustration

Adam Frucci — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Sure, this glass Rubik's Cube is pretty, but is it really wise to make one of the most frustrating puzzles ever out of something so breakable? [Walyou via Geekologie]

Bram's Cube Takes the Rubik's Cube and Makes It Devastatingly Hard

Adam Frucci — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:20:00 EDT

Are you able to solve a Rubik's Cube quickly and easily? Does that make you feel like a real smart guy? Well, piss off. Try the Bram's Cube, created by the creator of BitTorrent.

Bram Cohen, known as the dude who allowed you to download cams of shit movies you don't want to pay for, has created Bram's Cube. It's basically like a Rubik's Cube, but it has gears inside that add another layer of difficulty. So much difficulty that I wouldn't even want to attempt this thing. It just looks too frustrating for words. But hey, if you're a glutton for punishment and feel the need to be taken down a peg or two, go for it. [Shapeways via Today's Big Thing]

Uber-Geek Solves Two Rubik's Cubes While Playing Guitar Hero On Expert

Jack Loftus — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:05:00 EDT

What you're watching is "JRefleX93" playing Mr. Crowley in Guitar Hero on expert. With his elbow. While he does this, there are going to be two Rubik's Cubes entering the frame. By the end of the video they are solved.

He doesn't hit every note, sure, but he hits most of them, including the majority of those intense guitar solos. By the end he has a 77% rating and the hearts of geeky middle school gals the world over are his for the taking.

Money shot proof comes at the end, alongside a fade to black groan at about 6:15 that immediately destroys whatever geek cred this kid just spent six minutes of his life trying to create. [YouTube via Geekologie]

Finally, a Rubik's Cube I Can 'Solve' in Under a Minute

Adam Frucci — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:20:00 EDT

This "Rubix Cubewich" is made from cubes of pastrami, kielbasa, pork fat, salami and two types of cheddar. While the original puzzle will give you a headache, this one will just give you the farts. [Insanewiches via SeriousEats, Daily What]

Light-Up Rubik's Cube Tries to Fix Something That Ain't Broke

Adam Frucci — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:00 EDT

The Rubik's Cube is a classic puzzle, one that's tough to improve upon. This electronic version tries, but it doesn't look like it succeeds on adding much value to the original.

Rather than twisting the sides around, on this version you push buttons and have the lights move. How unnecessary! What this does add is 5 additional games, so if you've ever thought that the Rubik's Cube could use that, here you go. Only $63! What a deal! [Boy's Stuff via Foolish Gadgets]

NES and Rubik's Cube Mice Now Exist

Mark Wilson — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:30:34 EDT

We all know, if someone invented either a Rubik's Cube mouse or an NES controller mouse, we'd post about it. But what if someone invented both at once?

(Obviously we'd still post about it.)

In a wave of intellectual heat generated by a combination of her brain and our story on this NES mouse, Jeri from fatmanandcircuitgirl.com dual-invented what may be the ultimate pair of geek mice. While the webcam feed does little to capture the beauty of either device, rumor has it that SLR cameras melted under the blinding glow of this double-optical-Holy-Grail.

Now, we'd never take full credit for someone else's genius, but THANK GOD we were here to post that NES concept mouse, thereby causing the mental chain reaction necessary to make the real NES mouse exist today. (Shh, this one from 2007 never happened, people.) It's OK, a hero needs no thanks. [The FatMan and Circuit girl via adafruit]

Rubik's Cube Card Reader Will Only Make You Look Smarter

Mark Wilson — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Of course, it's not an officially licensed real Rubik's Cube (unless you're looking at the easiest Rubik's Cube in history), but Brando's "270˘X x 270 X Card Reader" comes close enough.

Three levels of the card reader rotate 270-degrees each, with slots to fit SD/SDHC, T-Flash (Micro SD/Micro SDHC), MMC, M2, MS, MS DUO, MS PRO, MS PRO DUO and XD cards. Just don't be surprised when every jackass in your office is constantly grabbing pulling the hub's USB cable from your computer, only to find that, no, this piece of crap isn't a real Rubik's at all! $12 [Brando]

The Petaminx: A Mind-Boggling, Satan-Loving Homemade Dodecahedral Puzzle

Andi Wang — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:40:13 EST

As technology advances, I have to say I'm no longer that easily impressed. Solving a 3x3 Rubik's Cube in under a minute? Meh. Solving this DIY Petaminx? Congrats—you're probably autistic. [Make - Thanks Seung!]

Rubik's TouchCube Is The World's First Touchscreen Rubik's Cube

John Mahoney — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:08:33 EST

Sometimes we don't know what we need, and certain magical companies make that decision for us. I'm afraid Techno Source may have done exactly that with this, the world's first touchscreen Rubik's cube.

The TouchCube works just like its more antiquated brethren, but instead of grinding the actual spinning cogs (manual labor is for suckers!), a simple swipe of the finger in a straight line or an 'L' shape (for rotations) does the trick. There's an accelerometer built in that ensures only the upwards-facing surfaces respond to your touch, so you can still hold the thing.

And it wouldn't be a touchscreen Rubik's cube without a few improvements: namely, the TouchCube can solve itself as you watch, and even teach you, step by step, how to do it. So you can be one of those kids we all marveled at in school (Ben Shepple, this one's for you) who could solve a cube in a matter of seconds. Built-in memory will also save your cube's state if you need to take a break.

Techno Source has spent three years hard at work in their underground puzzle and wonderment factory to bring us the TouchCube, and now, behold, it can be ours. For $150 this fall. We'll try to do some hands-on solving later this week at NYC's massive Toy Fair-be on the lookout for more.

Rubik's Cube Salt and Pepper Mills Will Season Your Meat, If You're Intellectually Worthy

John Mahoney — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:20:00 EST

Actually, only one layer will spin-the one that grinds up your peppercorns and kosher salt as you see fit. Solve the ancient riddle of seasoning, if you dare! [Giftmonger via Coolest Gadgets]

Rubik 360 Will Probably Take That One Guy Another 26 Years to Solve

Jack Loftus — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST

The Rubik's Cube folks figured out a way to make the simple puzzle even more maddening than before. For Graham Parker, the guy who took 26 years to solve the original, this is bad news.

The new puzzle, called Rubik 360, is set for an official unveiling at the German toy industry fair on February 5. Like the original, the premise is simple. It's the execution that's going to cause people to lose 26 years of their lives trying to solve it.

Basically, players must get a number of colored balls from a clear inner sphere into their matching slots on the outer sphere. You'll do this by shaking the balls through a middle sphere that has only two holes.

Said Professor Rubik himself on the new puzzle that bears his name: "I feel that the 360 is one of the most innovative and exciting puzzles we’ve developed since the Cube – adopting elements of my original design, challenging the solver to use skill, dexterity and logic."

Quick question, since I'm still a bit hazy on how this works: Could this be the first Rubik puzzle that solves itself during the shipping process to retailers? [Sunday Telegraph]

Man Solves Rubik's Cube After 26 Years of Trying, Weeps in Victory

Sean Fallon — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST

You know those guys who can solve a Rubik's cube in a matter of seconds? Well, Graham Parker is definitely not one of them.

After 26 years of trying, Parker finally managed to solve the Rubik's cube that confounded him. Now, you may be thinking that he only occasionally picked up the puzzle, slowing his progress—but the reality is that he obsessed over it day after day, night after night.

'I cannot tell you what a relief it was to finally solve it,' the 45-year-old from Portchester, Hampshire, said. 'It has driven me mad over the years – it felt like it had taken over my life. I have missed important events to stay in and solve it and I would lie awake at night thinking about it.

'I have had wrist and back problems from spending hours on it but it was all worth it. When I clicked that last bit into place and each face was a solid color, I wept.'

Seriously. His wife claimed that it was like three people were in their marriage. When she met him, he was already obsessed with the cube. And she still married him? What a saint.

Oh, and you know this is a record. A spokesman for the World Cube Association, said it was 'definitely the longest it has taken' to finish the cube. Now that is a true champion. [Metro]

Pantone Rubik's Cube: Color Matching For Nerds

Sean Fallon — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:45:00 EDT

If pouring over color swatches at Home Depot leaves you overwhelmed, the Rubitone could make the process easier by helping to assess your options in a form that nerds can understand. Unlike a traditional Rubik's cube, the object here is not to solve it, but to match colors that might look good in a bedroom or living space. The problem is that Rubitone is only a concept, so my walls will just have to stay plain and white for now. [Rubitone via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Rubik's Mirror Blocks: The Cube Taken to New Dimensions of Trickiness

Kit Eaton — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:50:00 EDT

Check out this new variation on Rubik's Cube: instead of colors and symmetrical cubes, this beast has all-mirrored surfaces and a bizarre asymmetric rectangular block setup. As you twist it, the blocks poke out in different ways, and it's these cues you're supposed to use to solve the puzzle. Bloody hell, it looks hard...the box itself seems tricky. Apparently it's due for release in Japan soon for around $20, but there's no word yet on when it'll bring its fun/screams of frustration/puzzle-induced headaches to the US. [Technabob]

Question of the Day: Do You Still Play With Toys?

Sean Fallon — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:40:00 EDT

After diving into the disastrous effects having a toy collection can have on the love life of a grown man, I feel compelled to ask: are you an adult that still plays with toys? And, just to be clear, when I say "toys" I am referring to products normally reserved for children—like action figures and legos. If you do, make sure to list your favorites in the comments.

Rubiks Cube Alarm Clock Puts a Twist Into Telling Time

Sean Fallon — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:30:00 EDT

If this were just a simple clock shaped like a Rubiks Cube it would be cool. Throw in the ability to twist the top row to switch between time, temperature, alarm and date modes and it becomes awesome. Plus, it is priced at an affordable $24.98 and you never have to endure the shame of being unable to solve it. [What on Earth via GeekAlerts]

Rubik's Cube Security Gadget Looks Too Complicated To Be Useful

Jason Chen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:20:06 EST

Could you imagine if you had to solve a Rubik's cube every time you had to access your email? Your Google Groups friends would call you up in about a week wondering if you died. Cheng-Li Hung thinks differently, and designed up this rather cool-looking (and slightly simplified) Rubik's security system. To secure your computer, just set up a color combination that only you know. "Solve" the cube for your color combo and you're back in. You can even set a time limit so people can't just guess. Neat idea, but it's too impractical to work. [Yanko Design]

Build Your Own Rubik's Cube Subwoofer in 164 Easy Steps

Sean Fallon — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:30:18 EDT

Well, maybe not "easy" steps—after all, it took designer Zachary Paisley 80 days, some serious manual labor, $1586 in total build costs, and a whole lot of math to put together the world's first Rubik's Cube-shaped 15-inch Direct-Servo Subwoofer. I think you will agree that the results were worth the effort. Naturally, when something this cool comes along, we pick the brain of those responsible. You can check out a full interview with Zachary after the break, along with a gallery of the build, and a link to his instructions on how to make one of these for yourself.

Sean Fallon: Why Rubik's?
Zachary Paisley: The idea for the Rubik's Cube came about from shopping for subs and looking at what DIY-ers were doing with their builds—in two words, "boring me." The entire thought process behind most DIY-ers, especially when it comes to audio, is to make it look like a major manufacturer built it, to make it blend into the background. I saw one man who turned his end table into a sub and another who built it into his desk. I thought "why not take the opposite approach?" Rather than have people ignore something I made; I want them to REALLY notice it. From there, the specific design for the Rubik's Cube just came to me as I was driving to work; it seemed a perfect fit.

SF: What was the most difficult aspect of the project?
ZP: I have been building sculptures and other artworks since high school but this was my first speaker build—two completely different ball games. To be honest though, the design, calculations, building—none of that was out of reach for me. The hardest part was convincing everyone who was watching (family, girlfriend, roommates, a pissed off landlord, even more pissed off neighbors) that I wasn't insane and attempting something like this WAS a good idea—I received a lot of flack for it.

SF: Did you encounter any major problems with the build along the way?
ZP:Yes—two. The first I encountered halfway through. I worked out the dimensions of the sub to be a scale representation of the puzzle, but miscalculated the thickness of the wood needed for the outer squares. I had to increase the thickness of the outer shell, which forced me to increase the thickness of the inner shell. It cost me five days' work. The biggest mistake, though small (no pun intended), was the end-weight. I guessed about 75 lbs and bought legs that I thought would work. After attaching them (without the driver/amp) the legs practically ripped out from the 100 lb shell just from blowing on it. I put in some bun feet meant for couches and haven't had any problems since.

SF:You talked about it a bit on your project site, but give us a quick idea of the sound quality one could expect from the Rubik's Subwoofer.
ZP: In a word—"Danceable." Just Kidding! Admittedly, I was trying to not get my hopes up but was quite surprised by the quality. I had listened to other subs on my system before for testing purposes and they taught me not to get one for stereo purposes. This sub, however, has turned me the other way. After playing around a bit with the stuffing/phase/crossover, I was able to so seamlessly blend the sub to my other speakers. My goal here all along was to make a sub that I could use with my music and not a god-awful booming box heard two miles away. In all seriousness, it's got some great sound and I'd happily put it next to anything bought for thousands more at an audiophile hangout, maybe I'll even offer a million dollars if they can prove it's better.

[SF: Sounds like a challenge! I'd put my money on Zachary though.]

SF:Would you ever consider selling your creation, or making another for a paying customer?
ZP: I've been told to market it by a few people and I even received an offer. I don't know if I could ever sell the prototype though, it's quite special to me. As for making another for a paying customer, I'd love to—I had a blast making this one. It was really the first time I got to blend my art into A/V engineering (what I do professionally). In fact, I had so much fun making this I'm currently working on the equations and drawings for two stereo fronts in the likeness of Coca Cola vending machines, one old fashioned and one newer. In all seriousness, I would definitely make a sculptured speaker for someone who wanted one.

SF: So how about making a subwoofer out of Legos—the tech geek's other favorite toy?
ZP: I had SOO many Legos as a boy! Of course the catch to Legos is which one do you model after—they come out with new types of bricks every five minutes! Legos would make a GREAT system—5.1: long bricks for the fronts, the four-prong square for the sub and the angled ones for the rears. Good call! Want me to build you one, Sean?

[SF: Hell, yeah, I would like a Lego subwoofer. Make a few in fact. I'll put them together and make the coolest Lego fort ever.]

SF: Can you even solve a Rubik's Cube?
ZP: The closest I ever came to solving a Rubik's Cube as a child was ripping the colors off to match the sides I needed them to. I actually bought a cube for photo purposes last week and before I had the chance to photograph it, my girlfriend jumbled it beyond recognition...two hours later I found a website that allows you to map the sides and then gives you the method for solving it. Thank God.

Hit the following link for a complete list of build instructions. [Project Cube 2007]

Rubik's Cube from Strapya Simple Enough for Dubya

AddyDugdale — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:00:56 EDT

This mini Rubik's cube from Japan is one of those little phone straps that you attach to your mobile. As well as giving you hours of fun, it will scratch the back of your cell, annoy you when you talk, and give people an insight into your beliefs and how your brain works.

Slowly.
The '80s aren't just a decade, they're a state of mind.
Mullet just sounds so derogatory, don't you think?
Nope, Sudoku's too much for me.
Wham! Bam! I Am! A Man!
A man who is tired of stonewashed denim is tired of life.

Product Page [Rakuten via Tokyo Mango]

Rubik's Cube Coffee Table Makes Your Apartment "Cool"

Adam Frucci — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EDT

Personally, I've never been a fan of the Rubik's Cube. That's probably because it makes me feel like a complete moron, and I just end up peeling the stickers off and replacing them so it looks like I completed the puzzle. What can I say, I have no scruples.

If you can complete the Rubik's Cube legitimately and want to feel superior to others by decorating your home with the puzzle's motif, take a gander at this coffee table. It'll look great in your dorkatorium, but it's one of those items that's guaranteed to get tossed in the garbage as soon as a female moves in with you. But hey, if you're looking to keep that from ever happening, go nuts.

Also, you're a jerk for being able to complete the puzzle. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Gizmodo Australia]

The Irregular Rubik's Cube

Jason Chen — Tue, 22 May 2007 09:00:02 EDT

Going the complete opposite direction from the Idiot's Cube, this irregular cube is a Rubik's Cube that you need to solve with both color and shape. Called the Irregular IQ Cube, this strange geometric shape is supposed to end up like a standard Rubik's Cube when solved, but looks like a kid's science project when not. For only $8.50, you too can have a cube that rolls off your table every day to remind you that you should have studied harder in school.

See it in action after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Product Page [Brando]

The Idiot's Cube

Jason Chen — Tue, 01 May 2007 19:15:52 EDT

Rubik's Cubes too hard to solve? Try out this Idiot's Cube, and you'll never feel inferior to Will Smith again. Plus, it's a pretty inexpensive way to tell someone they're too stupid to figure out a real puzzle. Just in time for Mother's Day! – Jason Chen

Product Page [Cool Things]

Rubik's Revolution: Crapping All Over 2 Classic Games

Travis Hudson — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:00:46 EDT

Imagine your two most beloved childhood games. Now imagine them mating and producing a deformed child. That is what the Rubik's Revolution is—the deformed love child of the classic Rubik's Cube and color/sound game, Simon. They took all of the puzzle out of the Rubik's Cube by not allowing the blocks to rotate. There are supposedly six different color and light games that the Rubik's Crapolution can play, but they are all pretty much the same thing: sound matching, color matching and pattern matching. Thanks for defecating all over my childhood, Rubik's Revolution. Jump to see a video of children, who obviously don't know any better, actually playing with the toy.

Don't waste your $20 on this toy later this summer when it is released.–Travis Hudson

Product Page

Sudokube—The Regular Rubik's Cube is Too Boring Anyway

Travis Hudson — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:15:25 EDT

The Sudokube is exactly what it sounds, and looks like. This little mind-puzzle combines a favorite puzzle game with an age-old mind boggler, the rubik's cube. The lack of colored tiles makes it very color-blind friendly! $10.

On a related note; you know what really grinds my gears? The fact that I still have a rubik's cube sitting on my desk unfinished, but a 3-year-old can do it in 114 seconds. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just a superchild? Stupid kid and its stupid super smartness. –Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Mario Rubik's Cube Combines Best, Worst of 80s

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:45:00 EST

Here we have two of the biggest cultural phenomenons of the 1980s together at last: Mario and the Rubik's Cube. One of these things is still a beloved part of both children of the 80s and current children's lives; the other, well, it's kind of kitchy, I guess.

Personally, seeing Mario all over a Rubik's Cube makes me want to play a Mario game, not frustrate myself with that infernal puzzle. But hey, if you feel differently feel free to go to Japan and spend $17 on this thing. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Kotaku]

Rubik's Cube For the Lazy

Jason Chen — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:25:15 EST

If they've got Rubik's Cubes for the blind, why not one for the lazy? Speaking of lazy, whatever happened to those omnipresent moving walkways, auto-shavers, and sexy, sexy robots from The Jetsons? We thought the future was supposed to be so lazy-friendly, when it turns out we have to do even more work than before. – Jason Chen

Artist Site [Spy.org.es via Not Cot via uber review]

Rubik's Revolution: Hot Potato in a Cube

Mark Wilson — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:26:49 EST

After 300 million Rubik's Cubes have sold worldwide, it's apparently time for a revolution (translation: new product that won't be as big a deal). While manufacturers added obligatory lights, sound and voice effects to the Cube, they've ~~tweaked~~ ~~altered~~ obliterated gameplay in the process. How so?

I don't think the cube actually spins anymore.

Instead, the Revolution features 6 games that seem to focus on reflexes: like "Light Speed" and "Rapid Recharge". These concepts may be a lot of fun, but from the videos on their site this glorified Bop It is a Rubik's in name only. Further evidence: children are having fun playing it! Does this piss off anyone else?

Available for $19.99 this summer. – Mark Wilson

Product Page

Rubik's Cube MP3 Player's Puzzle: Who Would Want It?

Adam Frucci — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:44:59 EST

From the cool-looking-but-totally-impractical department comes this Rubik's Cube MP3 Player concept. Look, it's a Rubik's Cube! And it plays music!

It's neat and all, being controlled by twists of the columns, but who wants to carry around a Rubik's Cube in their pocket? And I prefer my controls to be something I don't have to think about, not something I need to think extra hard about. Somehow I think this will stay a concept for the foreseeable future. –Adam Frucci

Yanko Design [via Oh Gizmo!]

Personalized Rubik's Cube: Family Photos + Arcane Game = Fun?

Gizloco — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:24:32 EST

Who hasn't wasted hours of their life trying to solve a Rubik's Cube? An online service is now offering to put any picture (I see no rules against racy photos) on a Rubik's Cube for your enjoyment. The pictures need to be at least 300 dpi in size with a recommended resolution of 900x1500 pixels. Then, after a short wait, you get your personalized Rubik's Cube delivered right to your door, initiating the long battle of trying to put Grandma back together again.

A simple concept to be sure, but think of all the revenge opportunities presented by this Cube. Why not give one to one of your co-workers whom you hate with a picture of him/her cheating on their spouse? The possibilities are pretty much endless here. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Personalization Mall via New Launches]