Gizmodo: clubs

Wacom Dips Toe In Club Scene With Nextbeat Wireless DJ Controller

Jack Loftus — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:59:00 EDT

Wacom, the tablet and touchscreen company that's made a name for itself in graphic design circles, is about to enter the discotheque.

The entry is called Nextbeat, a music controller that lets prosumer DJs mix and manipulate their beats with a variety of touchscreen controls and a portable "pod" that docks with the main unit. In theory, it could allow DJs to leave the booth and enter the dance floor maelstrom, if they so choose.

The Nextbeat is slated for release in Europe (surprise) and Japan this summer. No pricing info was available, nor was there any mention of this portable beat box making an appearance Stateside. It will be on display, however, from March 24-28 in Miami Beach at the Winter Music Conference. Pacifier and glow sticks are not included [technabob]

British Club4Climate Nightclub Charges Itself With the Power of Dance

Jack Loftus — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EDT

As the clubbers in Britain's first-ever eco-nightclub rave their little hearts out in the coming months, they'll be doing their part to conserve energy. Well, their feet will be, because the energy that powers 60% of the club is going to be generated by the springy dance floor beneath them. The springs in the floor are connected to power generating blocks made of piezoelectric crystals. It's similar to what Enviu, a Netherlands-based research group, proposed for Holland-based clubs, but with a different accent. Like that system, the British club's crystals produce current when subjected to pressure created by the gyrating bodies above. But millionaire founder Andrew Charalambous didn't stop with spring-filled floors—he's taking the entire green thing very seriously.

Beyond the self-sufficient floor, the club will also sell organic spirits served in polycarbon cups; and the bathrooms will feature a recycled water system for flushing the toilets.

Entry to the club costs about $20, but clubbers who can prove they arrived on foot, bicycle or public transportation will get a free pass (so long as they sign a pledge promising to work towards curbing climate change too, that is). Charalambous hopes to open the club on July 10, with US-based clubs in New York to follow, as part of his Club4Climate campaign. [Evening Standard]

Helio and Buzzd Make Location-based Yelp-like Service For Your Phone

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:23:13 EST

Yelp is great, but what if you could find restaurants and clubs based on where you are right now? Thanks to Helio phones' GPS service and the Buzzd software, you can. It works as a built-in app on your Helio phone (the two companies partnered up today) and will allow you to even message your friends to update them on where you're going right from the service. There's even real-time activity finding to figure out what's going on right now, something we're sure Jack Bauer would appreciate if he weren't so busy shooting up terrorists. [Buzzd]

En Garde! The Safe Bedside Table

gizmodo.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 14:14:36 EST

Let's get all hypothetical for a second. Pretend you're sleeping at home and some dude breaks in and is going to rob you/kill you. How will you defend yourself quickly? Enter the Safe Bedside Table, a genius creation from designer James McAdam. What looks like a simple, basic table at first, quickly becomes a shield and sword ready for your defense. We're talking King Arthur-style, though, because you'll be greeting those attackers with a medieval-style shield and wooden club. No sharp swords or maces here. Remember to call 911 first before you start screaming things like, "Have at you, blackguard!" The whole thing is made of cherry and steel so it won't look hideous, either.

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