While companies are cashing in on kiddos rolling around atop exploding, self-balancing and frustratingly mis-named two-wheeled ‘hoverboards’, people with more passion, knowledge and design prowess are attempting what has always seemed the impossible. People like Frank Zapata, CEO of Zapata Racing. The company recently published a video showing Zapata flying on what looks like a real life hoverboard. While some on the internet thought this new was a hoax, it’s all too real.

Time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved mobile device, be it iPhone, Android or Windows! The Weekly App Smack is the best of new or updated design and productivity apps (and maybe a couple of fun ones, too) for the busy design or engineering professional and this week we have a list sure to make you more efficient. Do you have an app suggestion that has made your life easier or changed up your workflow? Let us know in the comments below or send it into tips@www.solidsmack.com. Hit it! Procreate Pocket “Procreate Pocket, Apple and WWF are working together to protect life on our…

It started as a prank that went viral and had some wondering if Nintendo lost their minds. The prank in question was centered on a supposedly ‘leaked’ image of a new controller design for Nintendo’s upcoming new console designated NX, which was uploaded to reddit from a user known as Idriss2Dev, AKA David Im. The photo was immediately picked up by several well-known tech and news sites including NeoGAF, where the photo fell under intense scrutiny with users looking for any indication the photo was a fake. But how he pulled it off will leave you impressed.

The future of virtual reality promises immersive experiences that will completely redefine how we create and consume content. While we may not totally be there yet, some non-gaming VR “utilities” have been springing up that give further insight into what kind of experiences a VR headset will offer those who might consider using one for non-gaming applications. Among others that stand out is Virtual Desktop 1.0. Developed for the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, the $15 Virtual Desktop 1.0 VR utility enables headset wearers to use their existing computer in a custom virtual reality environment. In practice, this means that applications that are already used can be projected into…

Although the sport of lacrosse may elicit thoughts of East Coast prep schools, the game was in fact invented by a confederacy of six Native American nations – the Iroquois – whose territory once stretched from Lake Erie in the west to Lake Champlain in the east. Unlike the contemporary lacrosse sticks of today that are manufactured from various lightweight metals and injection molded plastics, traditional lacrosse sticks were crafted by hand from hickory trees using a steam bending process to achieve the shape of the “head” of the stick. While the contemporary sticks made with advanced materials might be the popular choice for most who are new to the…

In most cases, using a 60,000 psi waterjet to cut material is a perfectly safe and sane process. For those who have an appetite for the recent phenomenon of object destruction videos, it’s also the perfect tool for cutting everyday objects perfectly in half to see a real-world cross section. On the ‘object destruction’ YouTube channel Cut in Half – much like Will it Blend? and the Hydraulic Press Channel before it – a high-powered OMAX waterjet machine intended for thick sheets of metal is used to cut through everything ranging from a hard drive and a hair dryer to a running shoe and a golf club. While the entire…