Why aren’t we living on the Moon? Why can’t I check into a space station hotel on my way to Mars? More than forty years have passed since a gang of dudes went to the Moon to play golf, plant a flag and hang out, and in that time our progress towards the stars has been dismal. The only solution is to inspire the next generation (being your prodigy progeny) to become astronauts, and the way to do this is through the Lego City Space Center.

Once you build your own space port (and let’s face it, you’re going to make sure you get a shot at this well before your kid gets anywhere near it), you can get your rocket into position and fuel the tank up ready to launch into the final frontier. Get the mechanic and the operator minifigs to make sure everything runs smoothly before your two astronauts board and wait for the countdown to hit lift-off…

Okay, it won’t actually launch a rocket into space, but then, neither will the manned missions to the Moon we were promised not so long ago. It will, however, launch your kid’s stellar imagination.

NASA’s budget might have been cut, but if you can find $81 | £50 | €58 in your pocket we can still go rocket.

Lighting up your life with nothing more than the smile on his face boots on his feet, this 7.5-inch minifig called the LEGO Dynamo Torch will provide a spot (or two) of illumination whenever and wherever you need it.

After a bit of arm twisting (to charge his built-in electric generator), the LEGO Dynamo Torch comes to life to provide a handy, eco-friendly light source around your home – without the hassle and expense of replacing batteries or having to remember to turn him off after use.

Officially licensed and including posable head, arms and light angling legs, the LEGO Dynamo Torch is available now from ThinkGeek for $24.99.

Erm…LEGO Dynamo Torch Minifig? Astroboy’s demanding his rocket boots back! Haha, just kidding. Or am I? *whoooooosh*…

Soaring high in the sky.
He may be small but only in size.
DynamoBoy, DynamoBoy.
He is brave and gentle and wise…to be on the run from a child he’s wronged with built-in lasers.

Need to defend your room from snooping siblings, but don’t know your amps from your ohms? Well, you can drop that weighty electrical-mechanics textbook ’cause this advanced robotic construction system called LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 will let you skip through years of study and step-up resistance in a snap – making the construction of your very own fully-functional, computerized robots fun (and easy enough to actually finish).

Featuring a USB-friendly, LCD-equipped, computer-controlled “brick” called the NXT that includes a built-in 32-bit microprocessor to act as your creation’s brain, this intelligent bit of LEGO kit can even be controlled by computer or your cell phone (via bluetooth) to fire at intruders without you being in the room.

Including easy-to-use programming software and step-by-step building instructions for four robots (including Alpha Rex above, and my personal favorite – Robogator), the LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 is available now from Firebox.com for $354 | £230 | €281.

Looking for a simple digital camera that won’t look absurdly obsolete and uncool before you figure out how to use it? Well, this new cam on the block called the Lego Digital Camera has got your searching squared away with adaptable and timeless brick style.

Featuring a 3-megapixel resolution and a color 1.5-inch LCD for viewing and setting up your shots, the LEGO Digital Camera even comes complete with a built-in flash and 128MB of internal memory – which should get you around 80 photos.

Being a proper LEGO-branded product, this colorful digicam can be built into your existing LEGO structures or used just like a regular camera and includes a USB output for simple image downloads to your computer.

Ideal as a child’s first camera (which has a good chance of being put back together after drops) and certainly the most appropriate cam to photograph your LEGO creations on, the LEGO Digital Camera measures 4″ long x 2.5″ high x 1.5″ wide, weighs 1lb and is available now from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

Source:
ThinkGeek

The Lego Corkscrew And Opener is a twist on bottle opener design that will leave die-hard Lego fans itching (DT-like) to break open a bottle. Featuring a giant genuine Lego brick for a handle, you can even add to it with your own bricks and create something truly unique.

Fitting nicely alongside your Lego iBlock MP3 Player, Lego USB Hub and Lego Brick Memory Stick – the Lego Corkscrew And Opener will help you build (brick-by-brick) that home-based Lego World you’ve been working towards.

From the look of the packaging, it seems like an official LEGO product – though I can’t find any mention of it at the Lego Store. Maybe it’s discontinued…and you know what that means. Rarity. Grab ’em while they last. $19.99 at Amazon.com.

Source:
Amazon.com

There are plenty of drab-looking USB hubs on the market, but if you’re after something a little more colorful and fun – these little Lego USB Hubs from Systown are a must.

Particularly ideal for hooking-up your Lego Brick Memory Stick or Lego iBlock MP3 Player, these Lego USB Hubs will equip you with ports-a-plenty for connecting all your other USB gadgets too.

Each brick comes with 4 ports and are available in your choice of either red, yellow, blue or black. Unfortunately, these unofficial Lego hubs look like they’re only available in Korea at the moment ($12 at DCX), but if we all click together and scream and shout politely ask local stores to order them in, we may just move mountains…of stock.

Sources:
DCX via Technabob and Geeky-Gadgets

Are you one of those people who just can’t seem to get enough Lego in their lives? If you are, I have yet another Brick-shaped device that may pique your interest. Called the Brick USB Memory Stick, it is a discrete way of carrying around your files and showing the world your love of Lego – all at the same time.

The Brick USB Memory Stick looks just like a regular Lego brick, but cleverly conceals a 2GB (plus 4GB in the UK) flash drive inside. To use the device, simply pop off the cap to reveal the USB connector and slip it into your computer’s USB drive. The cap, quite ingeniously, can be stored on top by clicking the two pieces together, just like building with real Lego.

The drives are available in blue, red or yellow and include a little lanyard tail that attaches to your keyring to keep them safe. Measuring only 1.22″ (3.1cm) x 0.62″ (1.6cm) x 0.43 (1.1cm), you could take them just about anywhere and if you buy up the shop, you could build yourself a very literal data mountain. Imagine that! $29.95 at Firebox.com.

Source:
Firebox.com

Our love of Lego is a mysterious phenomenon and one that many love to display proudly. It is for these folk that this gadget will appeal to the most. Called the Lego iBlock Mini MP3 Player, it’s a tiny music player comparable to the iPod Shuffle – styled in the shape of a standard 2×4 Lego building block.

The iBlock player, like the Shuffle, does not include a display. Not to worry though, as you have full control of all the functions like play/pause, skip and volume via controls cleverly built into the connector studs.

This unique MP3 player includes earphones, a USB cable and a lanyard to wear it around your neck with geeky pride and will work on PC or Mac without additional software. File transfer and charging is performed over USB, as we’ve come to expect.

The Lego iBlock MP3 Player doesn’t come with any internal memory, so you’ll need a microSD card of up to 2GB to store your music on. The player doesn’t seem to be stateside just yet either, but is available from Amazon.co.uk for £32.99 or CuteGadgets.co.uk for £29.99, in either black or white. Hardcore fans may even want to build themselves a Lego safe to keep it in.

Sources:
Amazon.co.uk and CuteGadgets.co.uk
Via: ElectricPig