Tech and Amusing Stuff

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Who can forget the Power Pad? It’s the first thing that came to mind, for us at least, when Nintendo unveiled the Balance Board. Oh, the many days we spent running in place as we virtually raced friends. Going outside and doing it for real was for losers!

The Power Glove. Not only was its marketing hilarious, but who can forget the antagonist’s role in The Wizard? This thing was touted as such a mold breaker when, in reality, it was a pretty horrible way to try and play a game. The thing just couldn’t ever work right.

While not peripherals, technically, these controllers, which released on both the NES and SNES, helped Nintendo realize that just a traditional game controller might not be enough. If Nintendo didn’t constantly strive to innovate, they would most certainly perish.

The Game Boy received some odd peripherals back in the day, most notably the Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer. The camera took really low-quality photographs and the paper to restock was really expensive (actually, you can still buy it and it still is expensive). Despite all of that, we recall fond memories of using the peripheral to play spy on our siblings way back in the day.

The NES Zapper is still one of the most recognizable peripherals today and, even with Nintendo’s reissue of the peripheral for the Wii in the white shell you see before you, remains the most awesome thing you can ever hold in your hand. Well, aside from a bag full of money, we suppose.

R.O.B. (short for Robotic Operating Buddy) was, sadly, only supported by 2 games (although you can use him in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, if that counts). Despite that, R.O.B. was a huge success in managing to get Nintendo’s NES system onto store shelves via a bundle, as retailers were scared to stock video games following the big crash.

The Super Scope was the Zapper for the SNES. Ditching the Zapper name, it came bundled with Super Scope 6, a collection of games such as Blastris, a form of Tetris, and LazerBlazer, a more traditional light gun game.

Released with Mario Paint for the SNES, the peripheral received support from numerous titles following its release. There have also been folks who’ve modified the mouse to work with their PC, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The titular N64 title came bundled with the microphone accessory you see before you. Players would be able to give Pikachu voice commands, which he would then perform in-game. The technology behind this title would later then be built into the DS.

When the GameCube released, Nintendo would put out a little music title by the name of Donkey Konga. Bundled with the game was the bongo controller you see before you. The controller would later be used in other GameCube titles, such as Donkey Konga 2 and 3, as well as Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat.

After their dabbling with the technology on the N64, Nintendo would come back to the microphone again on the GameCube. With the release of Mario Party 6, the company bundled in a new microphone.

While not direct inspiration for the Balance Board, this is a timeline of Nintendo peripherals so cut us a break. Releasing a mere month before Wii Fit (and, in turn, the Balance Board), the Wii Wheel (which comes bundled with Mario Kart Wii) allows the player to feel more at home in controlling a racing title, rather than just holding the Wiimote sideways on its own. Of course, not everyone feels that way.

And it has all lead to here, the Balance Board. What a crazy ride. We can’t wait to see what other great peripherals Nintendo has in mind for the future.

Via Wii Fanboy

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Gizmodo got their hands on the new Dell Mini Inspiron, an Eee-PC-sized mini notebook, details are scarce since Dell hasn’t officially announced it yet. Stay tuned for new information.

Via Gizmodo

$75 million

The Portabello Estate

Corona del Mar, Calif.

The triple oceanfront lot along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California is only part of what makes the Portabello Estate so pricey. The unique design resembles a nautilus shell, with a dramatic grotto surrounded by “chambers.” Built in 2002, the home has eight bedrooms and 10 full baths in nearly 30,000 square feet of ultramodern space.

$80 million

Southampton, N.Y.

The interior space of 13,500 square feet across four stories contains nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four powder rooms and a movie theater. That’s enough to catch anyone’s eye, but what’s really unique about this property is the waterfront. The home is situated between a pond and the ocean, and there is 1,000 feet of shorefront and 1,000 feet of pond front.

$85 million

Bel Air, Calif.

One of the last homes designed by famed California architect Wallace Neff, this estate rests on seven acres of land in the Holby Hills area of Bel Air. Lawns, walking paths and gardens surround the 12-bedroom, 10-bathroom main house, and there’s also a hardcourt tennis court and pool. Inside, the home bends around a giant central atrium with curving hallways and overlooks.

$88 million

BootJack Ranch

Pagosa Springs, Colo.

We included the BootJack Ranch on our list because, while the price includes 3,100 acres of land, it’s a luxury property more than a working ranch. The main house is 13,800 square feet and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Outlying guest cabins and lodges can host up to 50 people and bring the total interior space up to 77,000 square feet. In addition, there’s a 12,000-square-foot spa and aquatic center.

$95 million

Hillandale

Stamford, Conn.

With its stone construction, hedged gardens, grass tennis court, manicured gardens and distinctive chimneys, Hillandale has all the markings of an English country manor. The 20,000-square-foot residence has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. It’s so big that the property straddles the New York-Connecticut border. The grounds also include four guest and staff residences and two barns, all connected by five miles of private roads.

$100 million

Maison de L’Amitié

Palm Beach, Fla.

In 2004 Donald Trump bought former health care executive Abe Gosman’s palace, Maison de L’Amitié, center, at a bankruptcy auction for $41.25 million. The refurbished version comes complete with a ballroom, conservatory, 100-foot-long ballroom and 475 feet of oceanfront.

$100 million

Tranquility

Lake Tahoe, Nev.

Conveniently located on the tax-free Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, this 210-acre property is owned by Joel Horowitz, co-founder of Tommy Hilfiger. The 20,000-square-foot main house is modeled after a Northern European mountain home and has a 3,500-bottle wine cellar. An indoor swimming pool and atrium, as well as a 19-seat movie theater, ensure constant entertainment, even if you’re snowed in.

$125 million

Dunnellen Hall

Greenwich, Conn.

On 40 acres of rolling hills, with lawns and meadows broken up by tree lines that provide privacy, this Jacobean manor has 21,897 square feet, 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. Vaulted ceilings, travertine marble floors, bay windows, limestone walls and wood paneling are notable interior features, as is a 52-foot-long indoor swimming pool.

$125 million

Fleur de Lys

Beverly Hills, Calif.

The latest addition to the $100 million-plus club, Suzanne Saperstein’s gem is aptly called the Fleur de Lys. Modeled after Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles, the 45,000-square-foot home took five years to build following Saperstein’s accumulation of five acres in Holmby Hills during the 1990s. Should strolling the grounds bore you, there is a 50-seat screening room and a library filled with first-edition books. Auto collectors will salivate over the nine-car garage.

$165 million

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Once the home of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst, this 6.5-acre mega-mansion in Beverly Hills was built in 1926 and was featured in the film The Godfather. The compound comprises six buildings that have a total of 29 bedrooms. There are three swimming pools and a movie theater.

Via Forbes

Nintendo has confirmed new DS Lite colors for the European market due out on June 13th, no word on US release dates.

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Via Crooked Brains

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Via Wii Fanboy

That’s pretty bad ass if you ask me….

Via Gizmodo