Latest news with #retrofuturistic
Geeky Gadgets
a day ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Awesome Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck : Modular Design and Dual Screens
What if your next DIY project wasn't just another gadget, but a statement—a sleek, retro-futuristic device that turns heads and redefines functionality? Enter the dual-screen cyberdeck, a marvel of design and engineering that blends the charm of science fiction aesthetics with the innovative versatility of modern computing. Built around a Raspberry Pi and brought to life with 3D-printed components, this portable, modular creation isn't just a tool—it's a canvas for creativity and innovation. Whether you're a seasoned maker or a curious beginner, this cyberdeck challenges the boundaries of what's possible in DIY electronics, offering a rare combination of practicality and visual appeal. SECTOR 07 takes you through the unique design philosophy and technical ingenuity behind this cyberdeck, from its dual rotating screens to its programmable inputs and sensor integration. You'll discover how its modular, open source framework enables users to customize, upgrade, and adapt the device to their specific needs. Along the way, we'll uncover how this project bridges the gap between retro inspiration and modern utility, creating a platform that's as functional as it is inspiring. What could you achieve with a device that's as bold and adaptable as your imagination? DIY Dual-Screen Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck What is a Cyberdeck? Cyberdecks are compact, customizable computers inspired by the science fiction aesthetic, designed to perform tasks such as field computing, sensor integration, or data visualization. These devices combine portability, modularity, and distinctive visual appeal to create tools that are both functional and eye-catching. This particular project exemplifies the concept by integrating dual screens, programmable inputs, and sensor compatibility into a cohesive, user-friendly device. Whether for technical experimentation or practical use, cyberdecks offer a creative and adaptable approach to modern computing. Design Goals: Balancing Form and Function The cyberdeck was developed with three primary objectives: practicality, ease of assembly, and a retro-futuristic aesthetic. Each component, from the 3D-printed chassis to the electronic interfaces, was carefully designed to ensure usability and adaptability. The result is a sleek, portable device that balances form and function, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including data analysis, field experiments, and creative projects. This thoughtful design approach ensures that the cyberdeck is not only visually appealing but also highly functional and accessible to users of varying skill levels. Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck : Sleek Design, Ultimate Functionality Watch this video on YouTube. Find more information on Raspberry Pi 5 by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. 3D Printing and Modular Assembly The cyberdeck's structure is entirely 3D-printed, allowing for precise customization and iterative design improvements. This approach ensures that the device is both lightweight and durable, while also allowing users to modify or replicate the design with ease. Key features of the 3D-printed structure include: Snap-Fit Parts: Components are designed to fit together seamlessly, making sure durability and simplifying the assembly process. Components are designed to fit together seamlessly, making sure durability and simplifying the assembly process. Modular Design: The modular structure allows for quick upgrades or repairs, enhancing the device's long-term usability. The modular structure allows for quick upgrades or repairs, enhancing the device's long-term usability. Lightweight Materials: The use of lightweight plastics improves portability without compromising structural integrity. By providing open source design files, the project encourages users to replicate, modify, and personalize their own cyberdeck, fostering creativity and innovation within the DIY community. Custom Electronics and GPIO Integration At the heart of the cyberdeck is a Raspberry Pi, chosen for its versatility and extensive GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) capabilities. Custom-designed circuit boards streamline the assembly process and enhance the device's functionality. These boards are responsible for: Power Distribution: Making sure stable and efficient energy management for all components. Making sure stable and efficient energy management for all components. Connectivity: Supporting seamless integration with external devices and peripherals. Supporting seamless integration with external devices and peripherals. Sensor Integration: Allowing compatibility with a wide range of sensors for various applications. The GPIO pins provide users with the flexibility to connect sensors, buttons, and displays, making the cyberdeck highly adaptable for different projects. This integration of custom electronics ensures that the device is not only functional but also capable of supporting advanced experimentation and development. Key Features of the Cyberdeck The cyberdeck includes several innovative features that enhance its usability and versatility, making it a powerful tool for a wide range of applications. These features include: Dual Screens: Two rotating displays support both portrait and landscape orientations, offering flexibility for tasks such as coding, data visualization, or media playback. Two rotating displays support both portrait and landscape orientations, offering flexibility for tasks such as coding, data visualization, or media playback. Programmable Inputs: Buttons, a rotary encoder, and a linear slider provide customizable controls for various applications, from gaming to sensor calibration. Buttons, a rotary encoder, and a linear slider provide customizable controls for various applications, from gaming to sensor calibration. Mechanical Keyboard: A compact keyboard with interactive LED modes delivers tactile feedback and visual customization, enhancing the user experience. A compact keyboard with interactive LED modes delivers tactile feedback and visual customization, enhancing the user experience. External GPIO Header: An accessible header simplifies sensor integration and prototyping, making it easier to expand the device's capabilities. An accessible header simplifies sensor integration and prototyping, making it easier to expand the device's capabilities. Quick-Release Mechanism: The Raspberry Pi can be easily removed for upgrades or standalone use, adding to the device's modularity and convenience. These features make the cyberdeck a versatile and user-friendly tool, suitable for both beginners and experienced makers. Sensor Integration and Real-Time Data Processing The cyberdeck's compatibility with I2C sensors significantly broadens its potential applications. Users can integrate sensors for monitoring light, temperature, humidity, or even pH levels, making it ideal for scientific experiments, environmental monitoring, or data collection. The Raspberry Pi's processing power enables real-time data visualization, providing immediate insights and enhancing the device's utility for both hobbyists and professionals. This capability makes the cyberdeck a valuable tool for projects that require accurate and timely data analysis. Open source Documentation: Empowering Innovation To encourage replication and customization, all design files, schematics, and assembly instructions are available as open source resources. This transparency allows users to adapt the cyberdeck to their specific needs, whether by modifying the design, adding new features, or integrating additional sensors. By sharing these resources, the project fosters collaboration and innovation within the DIY electronics community, empowering users to explore new possibilities and push the boundaries of what can be achieved with a cyberdeck. Expanding the Potential of DIY Electronics This dual-screen cyberdeck demonstrates the possibilities of combining 3D printing, custom electronics, and programming into a single, functional device. Its modular design, programmable features, and sensor compatibility make it a versatile tool for a wide range of applications, from technical experimentation to creative projects. By sharing the project as open source, it invites others to explore, modify, and expand upon the concept, driving further advancements in the world of DIY electronics. This cyberdeck is not just a device—it is a platform for innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Media Credit: SECTOR 07 Filed Under: DIY Projects, Hardware, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Elon Musk opened a diner in Hollywood. What could go wrong? I went to find out
It was just before lunchtime on its third day of operation, and the line outside Elon Musk's new Tesla Diner in Hollywood already stretched to nearly 100 people. The restaurant has been billed as a 'retro-futuristic' drive-in where you can grab a high-end burger and watch classic films on giant screens, all while charging your Tesla. After months of buildup and controversy, the diner had suddenly opened on Monday, at 4.20pm, the kind of stoner boy joke that Musk is well-known for. Hundreds of fans lined up to try burgers in Cybertruck-shaped boxes, or take photos of the Optimus robot serving popcorn on the roof deck of the gleaming circular diner. But that was for the grand opening. Less than 48 hours later, when we visited for lunch, the Tesla Diner experience was less a futuristic fantasy than a case study in how to fail with impunity. Many parts of the experience were breaking down, the food was mediocre, yet the fans were still cheerfully lining up to buy merch. The line to get into the diner on Wednesday morning was so long, an employee told us, in part because of technical problems. The app that allowed Tesla drivers to order from their cars was glitching, so the diner was 'prioritizing' Tesla owners who had to come inside to order instead. This meant that non-Tesla owners in the walk-up line might need to wait as long as two to three hours before we got our food. I expected at least a few people to leave the walk-up line immediately, but the only ones who did were two families of Tesla owners who went back to order from within their cars. Even if the app didn't work for them, they would still get their food faster. The hierarchy was clear: things were broken for everyone, but owners of Musk products had to suffer slightly less. The rest of us kept waiting in the hot sun. 'Retro-futurism', in this case, seemed to mean gorgeous, Tesla-inspired, mid-century modern architecture coupled with wait times that would shutter an ordinary McDonald's. An episode of Star Trek was playing on the giant drive-in movie screens, but the best entertainment available was watching tricked-out Cybertrucks arrive and depart. I counted at least six when I arrived, and more kept appearing: a neon orange Cybertruck with Texas plates, another floating on giant custom rims. I did not spot a single anti-Musk protester, though social media posts were advertising protests outside the diner later in the week. Musk's special projects have often unfolded with a degree of chaos. Most recently, his attempt to dismantle the large parts of the US government ended with him feuding with the president he had spent nearly $300m to elect. Serving high-end burgers to Tesla fans while they charge their electric cars should be much easier than launching space rockets, developing brain implants or running a social media platform that is not overrun with hate speech and harassment. And Musk's diner operation partners, the Los Angeles chef Eric Greenspan, who advised Mr Beast Burger, and restaurateur Bill Chait, of République and Tartine Bakery, have impressive food industry credentials. But the billionaire CEO tends to make big promises and not quite fulfill them. That appeared to be true even for a tiny burger joint. You don't have to own a Tesla to order a meal at the diner, and its appeal clearly reached far beyond Tesla drivers. There were many people in the walk-up line on Wednesday with babies and small children, some of whom were particularly excited to be visiting the Tesla Diner after seeing videos about it online. While we all waited and waited, employees in branded T-shirts brought us glasses of water and paper menus. Jake Hook, who runs a Los Angeles-focused 'Diner Theory' social media account, had described the Tesla Diner menu to me as 'all over the place', with a combination of 'very fast food shlocky' items combined with sandwiches made with 'bread from Tartine', the luxury California bakery. The diner also offers a mix of 'own the libs' and 'we are the libs' options: on the one hand, 'Epic Bacon', four strips of bacon are served with sauces as a meatfluencer alternative to french fries, and on the other, avocado toast and matcha lattes. There was a kale salad served in a cardboard Cybertruck: welcome to southern California. 'Diners are kind of a reflection of the community, and it doesn't seem to really be that,' Hook told me over the phone. 'It's like a diner-themed restaurant.' An employee gave the Wednesday walk-up line another update: they didn't have chicken, waffles or milkshakes, or any of the 'charged sodas', which came with boba and maraschino cherries and extra caffeine. 'It gets better and better,' sighed a man behind me. Josh Bates and his son Phoenix were in town for the day from Orange county, where they lived. 'We are big Musk fans,' he said. Phoenix, age 10, had been excited to visit the diner. 'I never seen Elon Musk open a restaurant, so I just wanted to come here and see how the food is,' he explained. But after waiting in line for 20 minutes and not getting much closer to ordering, Bates decided it was time to find somewhere else for lunch. 'It's the grand opening – things happen,' the father said. 'It is what it is. They're doing the best they can.' Bates wasn't the only Musk fan with this attitude. Ivan Daza, 36, who lived in Los Angeles, later told me that he had waited two hours the day before, only to be told around 6 or 7pm that the Tesla Diner's kitchen was closed. He had brought his eight-year-old daughter back the next day to try again. She had seen the Tesla Diner on YouTube and was especially excited to see the Optimus robot. But it turned out that Optimus was not in operation. Daza said he was surprised by the various problems the kitchen seemed to be having – he thought they would have a 'plan B'. But he was pleased the diner offered an 'experience'. The prices, though expensive, weren't that bad for Los Angeles. The burger was $13.50, without french fries. Later, as Daza ate the meal that had taken him two days to get, he grinned: 'Delicious.' The interior design was certainly closer to Disneyland than In-N-Out: all sleek and shining chrome, futuristic 1950s white chairs and tables, and beautifully designed lighting. The curved staircase up to the Skypad was decorated with robots in display cases on the wall. Inside a curved chrome window was what looked like a pretty ordinary, low-tech restaurant kitchen. I had waited in line for a full hour before I could place my order. When I finally got to the register, I asked an employee to remind me what on the menu was actually available. She said I needed to check the screen in front of me – they had whatever was there. It turned out, contrary to what I had been told, that I could order both chicken and waffles. After the long wait outside, my food arrived in about 10 minutes – much less than the three-hour wait I feared, but absurdly long for any fast-casual restaurant. A waffle, branded with the Tesla lightning bolt, was cold. The fried chicken had a tasty coating but was also cold. The heap of kale and tomatoes was only partially dressed with an odd dill-flavored dressing. The generic-brand cola tasted cheap and was served with a woke bamboo straw. But the food did come in elaborate Cybertruck boxes – and they were, to be honest, delightful. While locals seemed to be forgiving of the new diner's glitches, some tourists were less impressed. Rick Yin, 32, who was visiting Los Angeles from China with his mother, had stopped by the diner on their way to the airport to 'grab a quick lunch' that had turned out not to be quick at all. Yin had also been excited to see the Optimus robot in action, and had hoped the diner would be 'more hi-tech'. What he had found was 'a regular restaurant'. 'It's all right,' he said, while still waiting for his food. After eating, he said he liked the Cybertruck boxes: 'That's the only thing that's worth it.' I took my meal upstairs , to the Skypad, an open-air balcony with a view of the charging Teslas. The Twilight Zone was now playing on two giant screens. I sat down next to a steady line of people buying Tesla Diner merch: a $95 retro diner hoodie, $65 Tesla salt and pepper shakers, a $175 'levitating Cybertruck' figurine. There was a large popcorn machine in front of me, which seemed to be where Optimus had been serving snacks on opening night. Musk had been posting on X earlier in the morning that 'Optimus will bring the food to your car next year' and suggesting the robot might be dressed in a 'cute' retro outfit. In reality, Optimus was nowhere in sight. The robot was 'out today', an employee told me later, as if the pricey piece of machinery were a human celebrity with a busy schedule. 'Maybe tomorrow.' 'Is it possible to get some popcorn regardless of the robot?' a woman asked. 'It's probably old popcorn,' an employee told her regretfully. A different employee warned me that I could not walk down the same staircase I had taken up to the Skypad because it was too crowded and that 'everyone's colliding with each other and trays and milkshakes'. I would have to go down another way: a bland flight of stairs without any hi-tech decoration. During a Tesla earnings call on Wednesday, as the company disclosed declining revenue and profits, Musk highlighted his new burger palace as a success: 'Diners don't typically get headline news around Earth,' he bragged. He also called the diner 'a shiny beacon of hope in an otherwise sort-of bleak urban landscape'. (It is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, in a neighborhood full of high-end art galleries.) I'd had plenty of time in the diner line to think about 'retro-futuristic' experiences, and how good a description that was, not so much for this very ordinary diner, but for the rightwing political project that Musk had joined. We were now moving into a future that offered tank-like electric cars and on-demand drone deliveries, and also a resurgence of measles outbreaks and women dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications. But continuing to function in the United States right now requires being very good at compartmentalization. I tucked away the cardboard Cybertruck lids to show my co-workers, threw away the Tesla waffles, and went on with my day. Nothing works properly here any more, but hey, it's an experience.
Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Times
Welcome to the Tesla diner. Would you like a hat with that?
Long ago in Los Angeles, the booming city was dotted with weird and wonderful buildings designed to be irresistible to hungry motorists. It was the burgeoning age of the automobile in southern California, and eclectic structures shaped like hot dogs and doughnuts used neon signs to beckon hungry drivers in for a quick meal. Now a new era of spectacular drive-in diners has arrived — or at least one of them has. Elon Musk unveiled the new Tesla Diner in Hollywood last week, promising that if the 'retro-futuristic' restaurant was successful he would establish them in cities around the world. 'An island of good food, good vibes and entertainment,' is how the world's richest man described his latest venture. The diner opened on Monday, marking Tesla's first foray into the restaurant business. • Elon Musk warns of 'rough' times for Tesla after worst quarter in a decade Customers lined up around the block on Santa Monica Boulevard to sample what the diner has to offer. The crowds were still there when I visited on Thursday afternoon, enduring an almost two-hour wait in the sun, and entertained by The Jetsons playing on a big screen. A worker said the 24-hour diner had been packed until 2am. Inside, the diner delivers on Musk's futuristic promise. A circular entrance resembles a spaceship corridor, and a sweeping counter allows diners to sit with a view of the kitchen staff busy making food. The ambient lighting has an Art Deco design. Food is ordered on touch screens and comes in mini Tesla-shaped boxes, resembling the vehicles that the company is traditionally associated with selling. A hot dog costs $13, fries $4 and a few rashers of 'epic' bacon $12. The Tesla hamburger costs $13.50. If a high-end drive-in can succeed anywhere, it is surely here. Not everyone was a fan, however. A driver speeding past repeatedly yelled, 'f*** Tesla'. The culture that produced Los Angeles drive-in diners goes back a century, according to Kim Cooper, a preservationist who runs the Esotouric tour guide company with her husband, Richard Schave. In the 1920s, the growing city was filled with empty lots. Programmatic architecture, or buildings that look like things, became popular. Business owners realised that if their restaurant was shaped like a burger or a tamale (a traditional snack popular in Mexico and Central America), it had a better chance of attracting passing trade, Cooper said. Being home to Hollywood helped. 'It came out of the motion picture industry. Studio carpenters knew how to make these wacky, prop-type buildings that would last a little while,' Cooper said. 'They weren't meant to be permanent.' By the 1940s, Los Angeles was a 24-hour city, busy building material for the war. Factory workers coming off shift at all hours needed places to go for food or to see a movie. By the time the 1960s had arrived, drive-ins were places to hang out. 'People drove from place to place to show off their cars. There was a lot of peacocking,' Cooper said, adding that the Beach Boys were born of this cruising culture. As well as the music of Brian Wilson, Los Angeles can thank Hollywood for exporting the seductive image of the diner around the world. Films including Grease and Pulp Fiction have prominently featured drive-ins and diners. Eventually, the quirky buildings thrown up by Hollywood craftsmen as a side job began to show their age. As the 1980s rolled around, they became run down and some were demolished, the land they occupied now eyed up by property developers. The drive-through replaced the drive-in because it was quicker and more convenient, both key advantages in a faster-paced world. Some treasures survive, however. Norms, a 24-hour coffee shop on La Cienega Boulevard, opened in 1957 and remains a classic example of Googie architecture — a style influenced by the atomic age: The Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, meanwhile, was built in 1949. The towering red neon sign is a local landmark: 'The ones that have survived are very precious because they are high-concept architecture,' Cooper said. 'They're really cathedrals — they're pop cathedrals.' Adam Chandler, the author of Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America's Fast-Food Kingdom, said drive-ins were popular across the country, but especially in Los Angeles. 'They had a magic in California, in part because the weather is so conducive to drive-ins year-round,' he said. Route 66 ends in Los Angeles, Chandler notes, and California was the ultimate prize for America's sweep westwards. 'The idea of mobility is really wrapped up in this image of California,' he added. This nostalgia could mean success for Tesla's diner. 'It points to a time when things seemed a lot simpler,' Chandler said. 'You'd socialise by being out in the world, driving, it was a statement of independence. In lots of ways, people are thirsty for the analogue world where you drive out and see people and engage with people. 'It's much different now in the digital space. People connect and don't necessarily have the same kinds of relationships that they did in chance encounters when you'd go to popular spots and run into people.' That is why 'the emergence of more third places is a good thing,' Chandler said, referring to spaces that are not the home or workplace. If the Tesla Diner's early success does not lead to a fresh wave of similar restaurants, the allure of the LA drive-in will still endure, he thinks. 'You can put the top down because our weather is fantastic,' Cooper said. 'You can go from place to place at night, listen to music and yell at the car next to you and have an adventure that you can't have anywhere else. 'And you feel like an Angeleno. I think everybody wants that.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Elon Musk opened a diner in Hollywood. What could go wrong? I went to find out
It was just before lunchtime on its third day of operation, and the line outside Elon Musk's new Tesla Diner in Hollywood already stretched to nearly 100 people. The restaurant has been billed as a 'retro-futuristic' drive-in where you can grab a high-end burger and watch classic films on giant screens, all while charging your Tesla. After months of buildup and controversy, the diner had suddenly opened on Monday, at 4.20pm, the kind of stoner boy joke that Musk is well-known for. Hundreds of fans lined up to try burgers in Cybertruck-shaped boxes, or take photos of the Optimus robot serving popcorn on the roof deck of the gleaming circular diner. But that was for the grand opening. Less than 48 hours later, when we visited for lunch, the Tesla Diner experience was less a futuristic fantasy than a case study in how to fail with impunity. Many parts of the experience were breaking down, the food was mediocre, yet the fans were still cheerfully lining up to buy merch. The line to get into the diner on Wednesday morning was so long, an employee told us, in part because of technical problems. The app that allowed Tesla drivers to order from their cars was glitching, so the diner was 'prioritizing' Tesla owners who had to come inside to order instead. This meant that non-Tesla owners in the walk-up line might need to wait as long as two to three hours before we got our food. I expected at least a few people to leave the walk-up line immediately, but the only ones who did were two families of Tesla owners who went back to order from within their cars. Even if the app didn't work for them, they would still get their food faster. The hierarchy was clear: things were broken for everyone, but owners of Musk products had to suffer slightly less. The rest of us kept waiting in the hot sun. 'Retro-futurism', in this case, seemed to mean gorgeous, Tesla-inspired, mid-century modern architecture coupled with wait times that would shutter an ordinary McDonald's. An episode of Star Trek was playing on the giant drive-in movie screens, but the best entertainment available was watching tricked-out Cybertrucks arrive and depart. I counted at least six when I arrived, and more kept appearing: a neon orange Cybertruck with Texas plates, another floating on giant custom rims. I did not spot a single anti-Musk protester, though social media posts were advertising protests outside the diner later in the week. Musk's special projects have often unfolded with a degree of chaos. Most recently, his attempt to dismantle the large parts of the US government ended with him feuding with the president he had spent nearly $300m to elect. Serving high-end burgers to Tesla fans while they charge their electric cars should be much easier than launching space rockets, developing brain implants or running a social media platform that is not overrun with hate speech and harassment. And Musk's diner operation partners, the Los Angeles chef Eric Greenspan, who advised Mr Beast Burger, and restaurateur Bill Chait, of République and Tartine Bakery, have impressive food industry credentials. But the billionaire CEO tends to make big promises and not quite fulfill them. That appeared to be true even for a tiny burger joint. You don't have to own a Tesla to order a meal at the diner, and its appeal clearly reached far beyond Tesla drivers. There were many people in the walk-up line on Wednesday with babies and small children, some of whom were particularly excited to be visiting the Tesla Diner after seeing videos about it online. While we all waited and waited, employees in branded T-shirts brought us glasses of water and paper menus. Jake Hook, who runs a Los Angeles-focused 'Diner Theory' social media account, had described the Tesla Diner menu to me as 'all over the place', with a combination of 'very fast food shlocky' items combined with sandwiches made with 'bread from Tartine', the luxury California bakery. The diner also offers a mix of 'own the libs' and 'we are the libs' options: on the one hand, 'Epic Bacon', four strips of bacon are served with sauces as a meatfluencer alternative to french fries, and on the other, avocado toast and matcha lattes. There was a kale salad served in a cardboard Cybertruck: welcome to southern California. 'Diners are kind of a reflection of the community, and it doesn't seem to really be that,' Hook told me over the phone. 'It's like a diner-themed restaurant.' An employee gave the Wednesday walk-up line another update: they didn't have chicken, waffles or milkshakes, or any of the 'charged sodas', which came with boba and maraschino cherries and extra caffeine. 'It gets better and better,' sighed a man behind me. Josh Bates and his son Phoenix were in town for the day from Orange county, where they lived. 'We are big Musk fans,' he said. Phoenix, age 10, had been excited to visit the diner. 'I never seen Elon Musk open a restaurant, so I just wanted to come here and see how the food is,' he explained. But after waiting in line for 20 minutes and not getting much closer to ordering, Bates decided it was time to find somewhere else for lunch. 'It's the grand opening – things happen,' the father said. 'It is what it is. They're doing the best they can.' Bates wasn't the only Musk fan with this attitude. Ivan Daza, 36, who lived in Los Angeles, later told me that he had waited two hours the day before, only to be told around 6 or 7pm that the Tesla Diner's kitchen was closed. He had brought his eight-year-old daughter back the next day to try again. She had seen the Tesla Diner on YouTube and was especially excited to see the Optimus robot. But it turned out that Optimus was not in operation. Daza said he was surprised by the various problems the kitchen seemed to be having – he thought they would have a 'plan B'. But he was pleased the diner offered an 'experience'. The prices, though expensive, weren't that bad for Los Angeles. The burger was $13.50, without french fries. Later, as Daza ate the meal that had taken him two days to get, he grinned: 'Delicious.' The interior design was certainly closer to Disneyland than In-N-Out: all sleek and shining chrome, futuristic 1950s white chairs and tables, and beautifully designed lighting. The curved staircase up to the Skypad was decorated with robots in display cases on the wall. Inside a curved chrome window was what looked like a pretty ordinary, low-tech restaurant kitchen. I had waited in line for a full hour before I could place my order. When I finally got to the register, I asked an employee to remind me what on the menu was actually available. She said I needed to check the screen in front of me – they had whatever was there. It turned out, contrary to what I had been told, that I could order both chicken and waffles. After the long wait outside, my food arrived in about 10 minutes – much less than the three-hour wait I feared, but absurdly long for any fast-casual restaurant. A waffle, branded with the Tesla lightning bolt, was cold. The fried chicken had a tasty coating but was also cold. The heap of kale and tomatoes was only partially dressed with an odd dill-flavored dressing. The generic-brand cola tasted cheap and was served with a woke bamboo straw. But the food did come in elaborate Cybertruck boxes – and they were, to be honest, delightful. While locals seemed to be forgiving of the new diner's glitches, some tourists were less impressed. Rick Yin, 32, who was visiting Los Angeles from China with his mother, had stopped by the diner on their way to the airport to 'grab a quick lunch' that had turned out not to be quick at all. Yin had also been excited to see the Optimus robot in action, and had hoped the diner would be 'more hi-tech'. What he had found was 'a regular restaurant'. 'It's all right,' he said, while still waiting for his food. After eating, he said he liked the Cybertruck boxes: 'That's the only thing that's worth it.' I took my meal upstairs , to the Skypad, an open-air balcony with a view of the charging Teslas. The Twilight Zone was now playing on two giant screens. I sat down next to a steady line of people buying Tesla Diner merch: a $95 retro diner hoodie, $65 Tesla salt and pepper shakers, a $175 'levitating Cybertruck' figurine. There was a large popcorn machine in front of me, which seemed to be where Optimus had been serving snacks on opening night. Musk had been posting on X earlier in the morning that 'Optimus will bring the food to your car next year' and suggesting the robot might be dressed in a 'cute' retro outfit. In reality, Optimus was nowhere in sight. The robot was 'out today', an employee told me later, as if the pricey piece of machinery were a human celebrity with a busy schedule. 'Maybe tomorrow.' 'Is it possible to get some popcorn regardless of the robot?' a woman asked. 'It's probably old popcorn,' an employee told her regretfully. A different employee warned me that I could not walk down the same staircase I had taken up to the Skypad because it was too crowded and that 'everyone's colliding with each other and trays and milkshakes'. I would have to go down another way: a bland flight of stairs without any hi-tech decoration. During a Tesla earnings call on Wednesday, as the company disclosed declining revenue and profits, Musk highlighted his new burger palace as a success: 'Diners don't typically get headline news around Earth,' he bragged. He also called the diner 'a shiny beacon of hope in an otherwise sort-of bleak urban landscape'. (It is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, in a neighborhood full of high-end art galleries.) I'd had plenty of time in the diner line to think about 'retro-futuristic' experiences, and how good a description that was, not so much for this very ordinary diner, but for the rightwing political project that Musk had joined. We were now moving into a future that offered tank-like electric cars and on-demand drone deliveries, and also a resurgence of measles outbreaks and women dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications. But continuing to function in the United States right now requires being very good at compartmentalization. I tucked away the cardboard Cybertruck lids to show my co-workers, threw away the Tesla waffles, and went on with my day. Nothing works properly here any more, but hey, it's an experience.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bold and earnest, with terrific chemistry: Here's what critics are saying about 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Marvel's newest superhero movie landed in theaters on July 25. Early reviews for The Fantastic Four: First Steps are in: It's a reboot worth watching. Set in a retro-futuristic, midcentury America, The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows Marvel's First Family — Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) — as they work to protect Earth from a planet-consuming space god named Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Following its release on Friday, the film's commercial success is already apparent. Marvel's latest superhero flick has earned a whopping $24.4 million in previews, surpassing Superman's $22.5 million previews high from earlier this month. In addition to nabbing the best preview result of the year so far, First Steps is projected to make between $100 million and $110 million in its opening weekend, according to Variety. The film has already received better reviews than its 20-year-old predecessor. The Los Angeles Times criticized 2005's Fantastic Four for its lack of 'a strong, dramatic through-line,' while Entertainment Weekly called it a 'clumsy, cheesy and chintzy adaptation' with special effects that look 'dated the moment you see them.' Roger Ebert gave the original film a single star rating, calling it 'in short, underwhelming.' Here's a roundup of some of the early reviews for The Fantastic Four: First Steps: A possible cure for 'superhero exhaustion' Variety says that while director Matt Shakman gives 'the Fantastic Four sufficient time to establish their personalities,' the film, at times, resembles 'a live-action take on 'The Jetsons.'' Still, First Steps, per the outlet, 'feels like a fresh start' and could be 'just what it takes to win back audiences suffering from superhero exhaustion.' 'A smooth-enough ride that can even be periodically thrilling' The New York Times commends the film for being 'Marvel's most earnest attempt at something daring in years, bumpy as it may be,' while also wishing for a more fleshed-out backstory that doesn't rely on 'the pre-existing groundwork of a previous movie.' First Steps' 'premium cast' and 'the polish of this retro universe' take viewers on 'a smooth-enough ride that can even be periodically thrilling,' the Times writes, despite being 'a family drama disguising itself as a superhero film.' 'A worthy exercise in creating something that doesn't feel nostalgic an era' The Los Angeles Times praises the film for bypassing character origin stories while still 'underlining that these are settled-down grown-ups secure in their abilities to lengthen, disappear, ignite and clobber.' With 'emotionally credible performances' from its stars and a vibrant world for them to play in, the publication says the reboot is 'a worthy exercise in creating something that doesn't feel nostalgic for an era — it feels of an era.' 'The actors are so terrific and their chemistry so palpable…' A standout feature of First Steps is the chemistry between the cast, as the Hollywood Reporter writes, 'The actors are so terrific and their chemistry so palpable that the hangout scenes in their fabulous Baxter Building penthouse — with a domestic droid that's like Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons meets Number 5 from John Badham's Short Circuit — are some of the movie's most appealing interludes.' The publication also praises screenwriters Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer for crafting a superhero quartet that is 'also a family, struggling like most of us to handle the most daunting responsibilities life throws our way.' The 'cosmic-level escapism we desperately need right now' NPR lauds the film's embrace of the 'soaring appeal of superhero cinema,' as well as its commitment to 'exactly the kind of cosmic-level escapism we desperately need right now.' First Steps, with its 'retina sizzling' and 'retro-futurist visuals,' is intentionally — and expertly — ungrounded, leaving 'groundedness sulking glumly on the ground where it belongs.' A 'solid, intelligent, occasionally inspired comic book movie' The film's 'dazzling setting,' with its ability to 'evoke a jumbled-up amalgamation of things we've seen and things we've only dreamed of,' is reason enough to watch it, according to On top of its top-tier look, the outlet also commends First Steps for being 'a solid, intelligent, occasionally inspired comic book movie' that manages to live up to audience expectations, thanks to its 'grounded' performances and thoughtful production design. Solve the daily Crossword
