Move over Rubiks cube and make way for the X-cube
Just when you think you might be able to figure out how to align the well-known Rubik’s cube something else comes along to challenge your mind even further, meet the X-Cube.
The official Rubik’s cube alarm clock
So you love games huh? Perhaps the Rubik’s cube was the first challenging toy that made you think for hours on how you were going to match the colors together and without fail you finally did and boy that victory was of epic proportions. So riddle me this… why don’t you have the official Rubik’s cube alarm clock?
Because Regular Rubik’s Cubes Weren’t Hard Enough
To the best of my knowledge, the Techi crew has let fly with a number of interesting Rubik’s Cubes in the past… or maybe it’s just been me. Either way, this one pretty much takes the cake in my opinion, as it’s made of movable type. Being a nut for both typography and Rubik’s Cubes, I’m tickled shades of pink not found in the visible spectrum of light.
But the catch, as you’ve no doubt noticed by the photo, is that this Cube is in Chinese type. Only Cube you’d have to learn a new language before solving. Unless, of course, you already know Chinese. Designed by fellow type enthusiast Shaun Chung, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sexier spatial puzzle.
See Shaun rap. Rap, Shaun, rap.
Chinese has a long history with the printing. In 105 AD, Cai Lun invented the paper. In 200 AD, the Chinese invention of Woodblock printing produced the world’s first print culture. In 1040, Bi Sheng invented the first known movable type technology. Therefore, I want to use a Chinese text for my cube. The text I used for my cube is called “Three Character Classic.” It is a traditional Chinese text that teaches young children to be a good person in the society. The text is written in triplets of characters for easy memorization, which is perfect for the cube since the cube is 3 by 3 on every side. The text is written by Wang Yinglin during the Song Dynasty, so I used a font called “Song,” which is correspond to the Song Dynasty when a distinctive printed style of regular script was developed.
The Rubik’s Cube Piggy Bank: You’re Totally Never Getting Your Change Back
If there was one object today that, above all others, I was made to select and define as ‘the pimpinest shit’, I think I’ve found it. Behold, for you look upon the Rubik’s Cube Bank.
At first, I didn’t get why this was cool. Then I realized that this is a piggy bank, and at some point, you’re gonna need to get your change back out of it, too. To put change into the bank, the yellow side must be solved. But to get change out, the green side must be solved, leading to all manner of adventures in frustration and self-control.
Well, maybe you’ll be frustrated. I can solve one of these things, can’t you?
If you want in on this hotness, sadly, it’s only available in Japan as of yet for about $40, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Patience is a virtue, guys.
Ernő Rubik Turns 66 – Respect The Cube!
My Rubik’s cube is sitting on my desk, to my immediate left, as it always does. I’ve been trying to solve it, developing algorithms, for months. I’m doing pretty well, but I’m by no means close to solving it. I’m sure hundreds of thousands of geeks around the world can echo this sentiment. That Ernő Rubik could design a puzzle so simple, and so goddamn difficult to solve, is his legacy. And what a legacy. There are 4.33 x 10*19 permutations in a standard Rubik’s cube! If you wanna split hairs, that’s exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations! And ONE of them is correct. For crap’s sake, Ernő. Calm down.
Anyway, today’s Rubik’s birthday. Dude turns 66 today, and I don’t want to hear about you forgetting to pay your respects to the master of all things not unpuzzling. I bet he gets a totally uninspired Rubik’s cube-themed cake every year. He’s probably so tired of that.
Anyway, take a moment to revere Rubik and watch another robot solve a cube. This one’s really, really creepy. Also, it appears to hail from Tron.
But No Star Wars Reference? I’m Not Impressed.
As a purveyor of offbeat geekery, I am absolutely obligated to show you this.
Here’s a girl balancing 15 books on her head while reciting pi to the 100th digit and solving a Rubik’s Cube.
Yep.
That is all.
A Rubik’s Cube for the Blind. Wait, what?
I bet you thought you were pretty bad-ass at solving Rubik’s cube, didn’t you? Thought maybe one day you might even beat this guy – who can solve one in about 7 seconds? Well, if you’re looking for a real challenge, here’s one for you: a Rubik’s Cube that has no visible colors on it at all.