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The X-wing stands out as one of the most well-known vehicles in the realm of science fiction. While some may contend that the Millennium Falcon is more legendary, these crafts would not be the sci-fi symbols they are today without their creators and, more significantly, the inspirations they drew upon. In the case of the X-wing, designer Colin Cantwell found his muse in an unexpectedly ordinary setting: a British pub.

A few years back, Cantwell initiated an AMA discussion on Reddit, where one of the initial inquiries focused on the inspiration behind the X-wing’s design. He remarked that it needed to be “ultracool and distinct from all other aircraft associations,” but the initial spark came from a simple dart aimed at a target within a British pub. From that point, he developed the design further. One iteration featured a significantly larger wing-to-nosecone ratio, but he eventually chose the version that fans recognize and cherish today.

Cantwell’s contributions extended beyond merely crafting the X-wing’s iconic appearance; he also played a crucial role in determining the ship’s operational elements, particularly its trademark folding wings. Instead of looking to more conventional British hobbies for inspiration, Cantwell found his muse in the old Wild West gunfighters. He envisioned the ship “drawing its guns like in a Western,” leading to what became a staple of sci-fi cinema.

It takes a collection of creative minds to design a starship

Colin Cantwell boasts numerous credits throughout his career. He was also responsible for the designs of the Y-Wing, TIE fighter, and Star Destroyer for “Star Wars,” and contributed to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (a remarkable film you should definitely watch). He even advanced modern OLED computer monitors by developing a program to enhance Hewlett-Packard screens’ color displays. Nevertheless, several other visionaries played a role in bringing ships like the X-wing to fruition.

One of the most significant contributors associated with “Star Wars” — besides George Lucas, of course — was renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie. He converted many of Lucas’ descriptions into illustrations that acted as storyboards and a visual guide. However, regarding the vehicles, he primarily refined Cantwell’s concepts. Another key figure was art director Joe Johnston, who supervised visual effects. Johnston took Cantwell’s designs and made slight adjustments to accommodate the requirements of the special effects team during filming.

While a majority of Cantwell’s ideas transitioned to the big screen with minimal alterations, some underwent considerable modifications. For example, Cantwell originally conceived the Millennium Falcon, which later served as the blockade runner ship attacked by a Star Destroyer in the opening sequence of “Episode IV: A New Hope.” Nonetheless, remnants of Cantwell’s initial design can still be traced in the final design of the Millennium Falcon. Although Johnston is credited with creating Han Solo’s iconic starship, the original cockpit Cantwell envisioned was repurposed for the Millennium Falcon that appeared in the film.

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Amazon Prime also includes a concealed benefit for Kindle users, allowing you to receive one complimentary book each month from a range of unreleased options. This means you can read a book ahead of the crowd.

While reading is the main attraction of a Kindle, it actually offers several other features as well. You can utilize your Kindle for marking up documents or surfing the internet just like you would on a regular tablet. Additionally, you can leverage its built-in tools to monitor your reading habits or enhance your vocabulary.

things you definitely shouldn’t do with your Android device.

An Android phone is generally meant to be powered on around the clock, keeping you in touch with your news, social media, and everything else. Similar to other electronic devices in your home, particularly your PC, an Android smartphone functions somewhat like a living entity. It requires regular breaks to remove old data and protect itself from potential threats. Your device can run for days without needing a complete shutdown, certainly, but if you remember to give it a decent pause at least weekly, you might notice your phone operates a bit more reliably. Occasionally rebooting may also contribute to your phone’s overall lifespan.

In the beginning of 2025, the History Channel reality program “American Pickers” highlighted what might be termed a “smart home” from the 1930s. It provides an intriguing look not only at the progression of technology but also at the ingenuity of the homeowner in that era. Previously owned by telecommunications pioneer W.J. Moore, the residence situated in Caro, Michigan, boasts a distinctive design and arrangement. The show’s hosts referred to it as the “wizard’s castle,” labeling it “without a doubt the most customized home I’ve ever visited in America.” Most notably, it includes features that today, nearly a century later, could be recognized as early examples of the smart home concept.

Given Moore’s background in the formative periods of technological advancement, having established Moore Telephone Manufacturing Company and Moore Telephone System in the late 1800s, it’s understandable that the residence would incorporate what people of that time might have labeled high-tech innovations. Today, however, they seem basic compared to our AI-enhanced smart home environment. Nevertheless, it offers a captivating look into the past and the preliminary developments in smart management for lights, locks, even a home security system and garage door opener.

Preliminary automation

The automation of chores using fundamental smart home devices is at the heart of modern smart homes, and Moore devised an analog approach to achieve this long before this century. For instance, the carriage house, which functioned as his workshop, contains a pulley system that operates like a primitive version of an automatic garage door opener. Another pulley system was constructed for a zipline that extended over the backyard pool, enabling him to drop in from a model plane, with the homeowner sharing an image of Moore using it in the ’50s.

Within the house, there’s hardwiring that manages everything from door locks to lighting, arguably the earliest recognized form of smart lights and remotely controllable locks. Although he couldn’t rely on voice commands or applications to illuminate the lights or secure the door, he devised an intricate control panel — akin to smart control hubs or smart displays, similar to devices like the Amazon Echo Hub and tablets like the Google Pixel Tablet and Apple iPad, all of which can serve as gateways to manage smart home devices. It was designed so he could complete tasks with a simple button press. He configured what could be seen as zones with titles such as “south hall” to manage only the connected devices in that region. The family’s notes outlining instructions that Moore typed are still preserved, offering insight into how he organized everything and how it functioned at one point.

A glimpse into the future

Moore was evidently ahead of his era, extending beyond mere automation with a self-created alarm system. A clever interpretation of a smart security setup or smart alarm, it had the ability to lock doors, activate lights, and notify emergency services through a connection to his telephone line in case of a break-in. No fees or subscriptions were necessary. The control panel also included light indicators to convey the status of water pumps, an impressive alternative to push notifications and other mobile alerts for its time. Comparable indicator lights were established in other parts of the house, such as near the fireplace, so he could be aware when a door was ajar, for example. Essentially, he had his own rendition of a Ring video doorbell or smart lock application through physical, illuminating buttons.

While the devices and mechanisms in the home no longer operate, there are efforts in place to restore it to its initial condition. From a technological viewpoint, it offers a remarkable look back at how the notion of automating tasks and developing smart devices in the home isn’t as recent as we believed. The technology is certainly dwarfed by today’s advancements, but during that time, they would have been considered equally revolutionary. You can view the segment of “American Pickers” Season 23, Episode 19, on the History Channel or YouTube.

TV specifications when purchasing a new model in the 2010s, there’s no doubt you encountered significant buzz surrounding 3D TVs. Inspired by the monumental success of “Avatar” in 2009, each leading brand hurried to integrate 3D technology into their product ranges, and for a short period, it genuinely appeared that this gimmick would gain traction. So why did television makers choose to halt the production of 3D TVs just a few years later?

In theory, the concept of delivering the 3D thrill of cinemas to your home seemed appealing, but that breakthrough never fully transpired as firms anticipated. At that time, buyers had just completed the transition from analog to digital, and persuading them to spend money again on a feature requiring special glasses and providing a restricted selection of content was challenging from the outset.

The excitement extended beyond TVs, as Nintendo sought to capitalize on it with the glasses-free 3DS in 2011. They shifted to the 2DS in 2013 (and to the Switch a few years later) since numerous games did not feature 3D support, and gamers frequently kept the 3D slider deactivated. Ultimately, a combination of abrupt industry shifts, hardware demanding too much from average users, and a scarcity of content that left countless 3D remotes collecting dust sealed the fate of the technology permanently.

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the most trustworthy brands. Nevertheless, there lies an inherent risk in that small assumption: if your refrigerator ever fails and loses its cooling capability, even slightly, you may face food spoilage that could jeopardize your and your family’s health. The optimal method to avert this is to set up a thermometer in your refrigerator, ideally a smart one.

Whether it’s because of motor issues or faulty sealing, it can be somewhat challenging to determine when your refrigerator isn’t operating correctly at first glance, even if you peer inside. You can’t ascertain whether it’s at its ideal cooling temperature based solely on intuition, after all. Installing a thermometer in your refrigerator will provide you with a solid, empirical reference point that you can check swiftly and effortlessly. If that thermometer is a smart device that can alert your phone whenever there’s a rapid temperature change, that’s even better.