Gizmodo: Megatron

All Spark USB Hub Gives You Unwanted Responsibility

Haroon Malik — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Captain Witwicky had an excuse; he didn't know the Decepticons were after the All Spark. In fact, he didn't even know what the Decepticons were. If you opt to purchase this All Spark USB hub, with four ports and retailing at £13.99 ($28), what exactly would be your excuse? Still, if you do decide the All Spark USB hub is for you, prepare to die at the hands of your maniac MacBook, once the All Spark gives it life. Scary. [Everything USB]

Megatron Jailed for Smuggling Drugs, Probably Lubricant Too

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:16:33 EST

Megatron has been jailed for six years and six months for a drugs crime. Not this one or this one, but Megatron Eardley-Wilmot, an Deceptimbecile from New Zealand who imported $100,000 of methamphetamine and ecstasy. His defense, according to his lawyer, is that he was a "normal guy" until "he had an accident and suffered a serious head injury." And then he changed his name to Megatron. Your honor, I rest my case. [Stuff.co.nz]

New Transformers Show Brings New Toys

Adrian Covert — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:40:31 EDT

While its not new news that Transformers: Animated is debuting on Cartoon Network in the spring, the surfacing of new toys from the show is. Over the last few weeks, concept shots started to surface ,and the bloggers at Toys R Evil have been diligent in gathering them into a single post. New characters like Bulkhead look pretty cool with a modern anime-inspired design. Check out a few shots here and check out the entire gallery at [Toys R Evil].

Transformers Hand Fans Make You Cooler, But Not With The Ladies

Adrian Covert — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:19:16 EDT

Our colleague over at Prime Diary has hipped us to a pair of Transformers hand fans that serve a purpose while upping your geek-cred. Painted as either Optimus Prime or Megatron, each fan has a removable top revealing a soft fan blade that offers instant cool when you and your Autobots roll out. Judging from the box art, it not only looks like a Japan exclusive, but comes in Ultraman, Spiderman, Batman and Superman flavors as well. More pics can be found at Prime Diary. [Prime Diary]

Transformer-Themed Bearbricks Protect The All Spark, Steal Food From Campers

Adrian Covert — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:43:30 EDT

Considering that we love Transformers and toys, it's no surprise that we're drooling over these Transformer-themed Bearbricks. The foursome of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee and Barricade were spotted at this year's Wonder Festival in Tokyo. The specialty toys from Japan come in various themes and colors, and this batch is to commemorate the Transformers Movie. They will be sold in packs of two, with the choice of Optimus Prime/Megatron or Bumblebee/Barricade. Sadly, these are Japan only, selling for 1,890 Yen. [ToysREvil via Hype Beast]

Real Life Optimus Prime Challenges Megatron To Epic Battle

kthompson — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 23:08:05 EDT

You may remember these two gentlemen, as we recently covered them in the run-up to the Transformers movie debut. Optimus Prime changed his name to honor his childhood hero, while Jason Burrows took the less drastic step of altering his middle name to Megatron. Now it seems that Optimus has had enough tomfoolery and wants to settle things once and for all:

Jason "Megatron" Burrows:
The mighty OPTIMUS PRIME is "OFFICIALLY" calling you out. If you are going to TAKE credit for bearing the name of my one true nemesis, then man up and take MEGATRON as your first and ONLY name. Otherwise, stop being a poser and come up with your OWN idea!

If you accept, we shall publically do battle to be recorded for the entire TRANSFANDOM!!!

"One shall stand, one shall fall!"

We know that 36-year-old Optimus Prime stands a mere 5'9" tall, but he's a trained soldier and firefighter serving in the National Guard. Some words he uses to describe himself are "spark, rank, intelligence, skill, courage, endurance, speed, strength and firepower."

30-year-old Jason "Megatron" Burrows is a hulking man with a passion for coed softball. He spends his days behind a desk at CBS Radio, which may handicap him when the mayhem breaks loose.

Dude Legally Renames Himself Megatron

AddyDugdale — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:20:52 EDT

This is Seattle man Jason Megatron Burrows. He used to be known as Jason Michael Burrows, but on July 2, Jason went to the courthouse and stood before the judge, who "ordered and decreed" he change his name to honor his childhood hero, Megatron, thus joining Gizmodo's other friend Optimus Prime in the pantheon of crazy-ass Transformer fans.

Then it was my turn... I walked to the front, where she had me raise my right hand to swear that I would tell the truth, whole truth & nothing but the truth. She asked if my name change was to defraud creditors, I said no. She asked if it would be detrimental to anyone else, I said no. She Then asked if I was indeed changing my middle name to that of my childhood hero, I smiled & said "Yes Ma'am." She said, "Then I do order & decree that your name be changed from Jason Michael Burrows to Jason Megatron Burrows" with a HUGE grin. There were quite a few chuckles from the courtroom... I was handed the paperwork & I split. =)

Why Megatron Will Never Beat Optimus Prime

Brian Lam — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:37:34 EDT

Megatron, man. What happened to you? Before this Michael Bay movie, you had some balls. You used to turn into a giant gun, or a gun that Starscream could pick up and shoot those goody-two-shoes Autobots with. A giant gun so big that Dirty Harry would have splat like a bug on a 80mph windshield if he had to deal with the recoil. Some kind of crazy f'd up die-cast Decepticon Walther P-38. But no more.

Now look at you.

The build quality is *excellent* and better than the Optimus Prime by Hasbro. I know, you've got batteries and sound effects now. (Still no Biew Biew Biew). And you've got some translucent under-wings that are spring-loaded and neon. And you have a chain-whip/grappling hook, secured to a spring-loaded three-pronged claw. But what's with all the ornate armor? Who redesigned you without asking any of the legions of Transformer fanboys?

You're all frilly. You call them spikes, but it looks like robot lace. And If you're way easier to transform, its because you don't really transform into anything but a frilly fake jet that observes zero laws of aerodynamics. Your wings look like wings on a paper airplane that I made in 3rd grade that crashed into Mrs. Pendleton's boob. Really, all you do to transform is fold out the wings on your back, flip your head up, and put giant spikes onto your arms. And your legs don't really transform into anything, they just sit underneath and back like a duck's while it squats on some eggs. Really. You look like a sissy gundam reject.

SPOILER: Autobots win in your new movie. Sorry, but what do you expect when a Red White and Blue 18-wheeler Cab goes head to head with a transformer that transforms into nothing? Prime is going to kick your ass.
Please go find your dignity and your bullets and turn back into the Megatron we all knew and feared would take over the Earth. – Brian Lam

RIP Die Cast Megatron

The Original Transformers Patents

Jason Chen — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:03:42 EST

Hot on the heels of the (probably not so much) original Vibrator patent, Google patent search fans have found some of the original Transformers patents.

This one is the one for Megatron, the guy who turned into a gun and needed someone else to fire him—the most co-dependent robot this side of Bender.

Of course this kinda toy wouldn't fly in here and now. Any kid holding a gun, even if it is a toy that transforms into a robot, would be shot by cops about 57 times before he could say "more than meets the eye". – Jason Chen

Patent [Google via MAKE]