Related Sections: Cellphones
Star Trek communicator actually communicates
There's no shortage of Star Trek communicator replicas, but this one's different: Instead of playing a repertoire of goofy sound effects, it's actually a communicator. If you use a VoIP phone system such as Skype (which has been recently improved a lot) on your Mac or PC, this realistic replica wirelessly connects to a USB transceiver and beams your conversations into the final frontier and back. Now all it needs is that little chirping sound when you open it.
Will somebody just go ahead and make this timeless design into a regular cell phone? Ever since the Motorola StarTAC (get it? StarTAC/ Star Trek?), phone makers have been flirting with the whole Star Trek communicator paradigm.
But then, it might be difficult to be taken seriously when talking into one of these, so maybe that's why it's never made it as a cell phone. If you do decide to go for it, just don't wear a red shirt when you're talking on it, or your chances of being killed will suddenly increase by 73%.
Via Oh Gizmo
By Tom Black at 4:21 PM ON 02/05/09
Why don't you include real info like the manufacturer of this device? Is this even a real item or just a prototype? Maybe it's not even that. When you lack details it's tempting to consider this posting a hoax.
By ARFunk at 11:28 PM ON 02/05/09
Instead of making a ST communicator cell phone, how 'bout communicator Bluetooth speakerphones?
By AaronAgassi at 3:16 AM ON 02/08/09
I was tempted when I thought it was VOIP like the latest Skype phone. Cell phone service remains as predatory as credit cards.
By emp69 at 6:54 AM ON 02/08/09
some one should just make a proper star trek mob\cell phone just to show every one who said the gadgets was unrealistic and when they do all i can say is it dont seem UNREALISTIC NOW DOES IT AND IN YOUR FACE HA HA
By GeekGirl at 8:15 AM ON 02/08/09
I REALLY want this as a working cell phone! Please!
Also, on your next profile of such a cool product please let the readers know when and where to go to look for the object. The last time I fell for a DVICE, I spent many fruitless hours of looking on-line, got a failed response from the presumed manufacturer, and after a couple weeks saw another article showing the item I wanted wouldn't be available for months after my son's birthday.
By Marymeet at 9:16 AM ON 02/08/09
By editor13x at 10:17 AM ON 02/08/09
Follow the link at the end of the article giving attribution to the source. That takes you to this at Gizmo:
By Andrew Liszewski
Obviously timed to cash-in on the resurgence Star Trek will be experiencing thanks to the upcoming movie, Dream Cheeky will be releasing a USB VoIP/Skype phone that’s a perfect replica of the communicators used on the original Star Trek TV series. Due out in April, the ‘phone’ is compatible with XP, Vista and OS X Tiger or greater, and comes with speakerphone, mute and volume control functions, as well as an assortment of Star Trek related sound bites like “Transporter room ready to beam up.” I have no pricing info at this time, but don’t expect it to break the bank.
By jtnewsom at 11:00 AM ON 02/08/09
Star Trek communicators have already becoming antiquated by our 21st century middle school girls. By 22nd century having to vocalize one's thoughts should be a thing of the past as we will be using something that by all outward appearance would be telepathy. For now we have blue tooth. Soon we will have hulu. haha haha...
By Kagehi at 2:15 PM ON 02/08/09
Heck with the cell idea, go all the way to one of those that works as a "walkie talkie" type thing when you click the button on the side. I mean, seriously, if you are going to have something you can call specific places with, why not one you can direct talk to other people's devices with? Now, *that* would be the real thing, well, at least until they get powerful enough to talk to the ISS. lol
By daynar at 8:02 AM ON 03/19/09
if you make it i will buy it but it also has to function correctly
By Bob at 8:22 PM ON 04/13/09
I've been saying I want to see a communicator cell phone for years. I'm shocked that it hasn't happened yet. It doesn't seem like it'd be that difficult to pull off.
I also want a working phaser. ;-)
By Joe at 2:16 AM ON 04/25/09
The 1975 issue of the Star Fleet Technical Manual has the circuit diagram and component list to make a walkie-talkie version of the communicator. My 5-year-old wants me to build one for him, but it's going to be a pain to cram everthing into a small enough package... I figured that someone would have built on by now. As Kagehi said, that would be closer to the real deal.
on your cellphone!
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Joe:
The 1975 issue of the Star Fleet Technical Manual has the circuit diagram and component list to make a walkie-talki...More »