Top 5 IPv6-ready wireless routers

Today is the day when IPv6 is permanently enabled by home-networking equipment manufacturers and Web companies around the world. So what do you do to get ready?

First of all, there's really nothing you have to do right away. The transition to IPv6 will be a slow process, and in the meantime IPv4 devices will still work. In fact, there are IPv4-to-IPv6 transition protocols, known as "dual-stack" protocols, that make it possible to wrap IPv6 addresses within IPv4 packets to help legacy devices work during the transition. In the long term, it's better to make sure your network devices support IPv6 natively. Some of them can be upgraded to support IPv6 via firmware, but others you might have to replace with new devices.

Speaking of new devices, the most important networking device for your home or small office network is the router. The broadband modem is important, too, but most likely it's the responsibility of the service provider to upgrade that.

Following is the list of top 5 wireless routers that are IPv6-ready.… Read more

Man creates mobile home -- in a plane

Most people want to get out of planes as fast as they can.

Bruce Campbell, however, thought it might be fun to live in one.

So he bought himself a Boeing 727-200, for a mere $100,000, and set to work on turning it into a gorgeous pied-a-terre.

You might be wondering where Campbell put his rather large mobile home. Well, he lives in the Oregon woods, so he just parked it in what might be termed his garden.… Read more

Zombie Gnomes: Apocalypse in your garden

If you're anything like me, you've thought about the zombie apocalypse. You've wondered how long your canned goods will hold out and if you'll be able to fortify the windows against the onslaught of zombified neighbors.

What you might not have considered is that the zombie apocalypse could start right in your own patch of rosemary. You won't know the true meaning of terror until you feel that nip at your ankle and see your once-quaint garden gnome now thirsting for your blood.… Read more

The data is in: The world's Wi-Fi routers support Obama

If America's Wi-Fi routers could vote, they'd likely reelect President Obama by about 6 percentage points.

That's just one of the unprovable conclusions I reached after looking at some clever new research by OpenSignalMaps, an Android app that relies on its crowd of users to keep track of all kinds of wireless data signals around the world. The app has gathered a database of almost 75 million geolocated routers worldwide and OpenSignalMaps co-founder James Robinson decided to parse some of that data for sentiments toward the president after noticing how many nearby routers were expressing themselves politically. … Read more

Cut to the chase with this 8-bit Mario board

You've got your Super Mario Brothers sneakers just in time for your Super Mario wedding, but aren't you lacking in the Super Mario kitchen department?

Online retailer Prairie Oak Studios has come to your rescue. Run by Jim Van Winkle, the Iowa-based crafts producer turns out beautiful cutting boards with all manner of designs.

Prairie Oak's Super Mario end grain cutting board is about 11 by 13 inches and shows your favorite 8-bit character with various varieties of wood that look like pixels.

It's put together with FDA-approved adhesives, smoothed with a seven-step process, and rubbed down with beeswax and grapeseed oil. … Read more

Wooden light bulb shines like Sauron's eye

The concept of an illuminated piece of wood might seem hard to visualize, but Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada created a surreal wooden light bulb that would make anyone do a double take.

Fukusada, who previously worked with Sharp, designed the "still under development" lamp with a "mix of modern design and traditional craft technique," as noted on his Web site. … Read more

Apocalypse-proof condos already sold out

What's your favorite doomsday scenario? Epidemic? Nuclear fallout? The Rapture redux? How about the Mayan apocalypse?

None of these will ruin your day if you live in Survival Condo, a converted nuclear ballistic missile silo in Kansas. With supplies of food, air, and water, you can wait out Armageddon underground.

For years, developer Larry Hall, a former software engineer, has been working on a 1960s-era Atlas F missile silo in north-central Kansas, turning it into luxury lockdown residences in preparation for inevitable end-times (see cleanup photos here). He says all units in the complex sold out this month, and there's even a waiting list. … Read more

Buffalo AirStation WZR-D1800H revew: 802.11ac performance inconclusive

The Buffalo AirStation WZR-D1800H is the first 802.11ac (aka 5G Wi-Fi) router on the market, and Buffalo's WLI-H4-D1300 wireless media bridge is the first 802.11ac client. Since those are currently the only two 5G Wi-Fi devices, it was impossible to get a complete picture of the 802.11ac standard itself by testing them.

However, I was able to quite easily pair them together and experience the 802.11ac connection. Unfortunately, while the connection was very fast, it wasn't close to what the 802.11ac standard has to offer.… Read more

5G Wi-Fi (802.11ac) explained: It's cool

Now that you can actually buy the first wireless networking products that use 802.11ac, Buffalo's router and media bridge, it's time you learned about the this new wireless standard. While the "ac" designation definitely does not mean "air conditioning," I can say for sure that 802.11ac is cool.

And by cool, I mean fast. That's the biggest difference about 802.11ac compared with previous wireless standards. But first let's see how similar it is.

802.11ac supplements 802.11n

802.11ac (aka 5G Wi-Fi) is the next step after 802.… Read more

Zelda fireplace insert: Legend in your living room

Etsy seller JamesBit is encouraging video game fans to warm their cockles in front of a Zelda fireplace insert. This fire is old-school Zelda, full of blocky bits of red, orange, and white.

The fireplace art piece is acrylic on your choice of canvas or wood. Just remember that either of those materials is flammable. Be sure to remove your Zelda fire to a safe distance before lighting a real fire in your fireplace.

JamesBit suggests placing the painting in a non-working or decorative fireplace, but don't let that limit you. It could be just as geeky hanging on your wall or warming your unused Wii console. … Read more