WOW Cube Diagnostic mode – possibly the coolest screensaver.
This was a pre-order that I paid $249 for on 6/6/2022 [For the WowCube System Starter Pack].
In the two years since, they had shipped some cubes, had some issues, got some feedback, and went to a lot of trade shows.
Now it looks like they have taken delivery of a big batch of cubes and are starting to deliver. They “upgraded” me to the Space Invaders Cubed edition (I suspect this is the only edition they are currently producing, or have stock in.) and I paid my $19.75 shipping fee on March 3rd 2024 and it was delivered on March 8th 2024. (Yep, 21 months later….hey, at least I got it…I’m looking at you Peachy Printer, CST, and Yomee yogurt Kickstarters….)
I am happy/impressed with the hardware. The cube looks and works relatively well. [The only issue I have is that the accelerometer based “tap detection” requires you to hit the cube harder than I’d like…]
Aquarium screensaver
The software appears to be solid, but basic. [There are 24 screens, but I could only find 5 widgets I wanted to add to the cube…] They have enough games and applications so the app store doesn’t feel barren, but it’s not yet a thriving ecosystem. And due to the 3 screens per module, 8 modules per cube, and custom OS….every piece of software has to be written specifically for the cube.
4 of the 5 widgets I installed. (21 screens to go!)
The charging bases have issues. They include two in the pack, and one of mine has already broken. Apparently you are not supposed to slide the switch from “charge” to “store/reboot” while the green light is on (Everyone got an email about that about 5 days after one of mine broke…I’m not sure if that was why it broke, but it sure could have been…) I’ve seen them make an announcement about a “new improved” charging base with a “reboot button” (instead of a slider switch), so perhaps that will get fixed in the future.
Steam Pipes game
Do I recommend you order one? At the current $500+ price point, only if you are rich and don’t have something better to do with your money. At $250 (in 2022 dollars) +20 S&H I’m happy to have one to play with, but it is definitely a toy / collectable display piece.
As an engineering marvel, it’s very cool, and a unique piece of computing hardware I’m happy to own, but from a cost benefit analysis, a Nintendo Switch or Oculus 2 will give you much more entertainment for your bucks. [And possibly be less fragile?]
WowCube main website: https://wowcube.com/
Same, long waits, lots of delays and excuses. And same only 5 widgets and few games. I think they tried to oversell it and came up short, but in another 30 years, someone will put this to shame as it sits unused for 29 years