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diy
diy
The Ultimate Geek Scooter is a Rolling Entertainment Center
One would think that owning a normal scooter outside of Europe would be geeky enough, but the guys behind this project simply were not satisfied with a run-of-the mill vehicle. In fact, they managed to cram a PC with a 1.2 GHz Mini-ITX motherboard, 1GB of RAM, a 2GB SSD, Bluetooth, and wireless internet into the frame along with a TV and radio tuner, 8" LCD touchscreen, GPS, web cam, system status monitor, a mobile PVR and even an electric guitar PC uplink.
diy
Have any old VHS tapes lying around? Really? What the hell is wrong with you? That stuff should have been tossed ages ago. Anyway, since you have one, it might be a good idea to repurpose it into something useful—like a USB hub. As far as DIY projects go, this one should be simple enough—even for a novice. All you need outside of the tape is a USB hub, some LEDs, a small switch (optional) and some cables. It looks cool, and when all is said and done you can act all high and mighty about your herculean recycling effort. Additional image after the break.
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DIY Glowing Video Tape USB Hub: Put an Old VHS Tape to Good Use
Have any old VHS tapes lying around? Really? What the hell is wrong with you? That stuff should have been tossed ages ago. Anyway, since you have one, it might be a good idea to repurpose it into something useful—like a USB hub. As far as DIY projects go, this one should be simple enough—even for a novice. All you need outside of the tape is a USB hub, some LEDs, a small switch (optional) and some cables. It looks cool, and when all is said and done you can act all high and mighty about your herculean recycling effort. Additional image after the break.
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apple
My MacBook Cable Replacement Tip at Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools
After years of wanting to, I finally submitted a Cool Tools entry, and my friend Steve Leckart edited it for me. It's about using a spare Playstation cable, which one of the smart readers at KK.org recognized as a IEC C7 cord, instead of the nub or grounded garden hose that comes with a Mac Laptop.Why? My reasons for doing it are over at [Cool Tools]
macbook air
Hacked MacBook Air With Built-In 3G Wireless
This is what every MacBook Air needs: built-in 3G wireless. In order to get this goodness into the MBA, Jordan Bunnell busted up a Verizon USB727 Air Card and soldered it up with the MBA's unused USB controllers on the motherboard and used a little bit of voodoo to get power flowing to the card. There's a little bit more elbow grease to get the antenna ports situated and the card crammed in there nice and properly, but as you can see, it pays off. Check out the whole nerdy process in detail over at his site, though our heart's a little too faint to attempt the feat. [Get Listed Locally via engadget]
gaming
Audio Ping Pong is a Pain in the Neck...Literally
The arduino platform has been the basis for a lot of bizarre gadgetry over the years, and the audio ping pong project by Mike McCracken certainly stands up to the best of them. The game is essentially the classic Pong with one major alteration—instead of using your hands and eyes, the game is controlled with audio cues and head movements. More »
booze
Put Some Age On Your Cheap Booze With the Help of 15,000 Volts
Why get drunk on cheap booze when you can get drunk on cheap booze that actually tastes good? That is the question Jon Sarriugarte asked himself when he and a buddy set out to solve the problem of how to artificially age brandy. Inspired by a single sentence in a book from the 1930s, they decided that electric current would do the trick. Fortunately, John already had a luminous transformer in his basement (don't we all), and he proceeded to pump 15,000 volts into a glass of bitter brandy. To his surprise, the taste had mellowed considerably. More »
keyport
Build Your Own Keyport for 20 Bucks, Save $280
You could pay $300, send Keyport all of your keys and wait for months for your sweet keyfob and get nothing back, except for maybe your money. But then you're still out a Keyport. Or, you could build your own for about $20 and an hour of time your time, using a Leatherman Micra modded with a little elbow grease and key-grinding to hold all of your keys in a compact unit with flip-out action. And just think of how manly and awesome you'll feel after messing around with real tools and sweating. Hit the link for a step-by-step. [EDC Forums via Toolmonger, Thanks Keith!]
wi-fi
Bazooka-Like Wi-Fi Predator Snags Distant Wi-Fi Signals
The Wi-Fi Predator is like a Wi-Fi swiping sniper rifle, capturing distant ethereal Wi-Fi signals for your internets. Basically it tosses a directional antenna with the relatively easy (and awesome) DD-WRT router firmware hack, which will let you boost your router's power to 200dB and set it to feed off other wireless signals. The instructions look lengthy and scary, but they won't take you more than an hour or so. More »
ben heck
It looks like the PS3 is finally getting some hot mod love from console modding's reigning wizard, Ben Heck. We don't really have all the details since he hasn't announced the project yet, but the display looks like it's the one he used for the Xbox 360 Elite laptop, for a true 720p picture. He's obviously been leveling up his already formidable powers though, 'cause this is one of his most polished projects yet. There's another shot from the side after the jump. Update: Turns out, we stumbled onto a special project for Engadget to auction off for charity! If you'd like to own this bad boy, more details are here, or at Ben's site. [Ben Heck, Thanks Wallop]
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Ben Heck's Latest Wonder Project: PS3 Laptop
It looks like the PS3 is finally getting some hot mod love from console modding's reigning wizard, Ben Heck. We don't really have all the details since he hasn't announced the project yet, but the display looks like it's the one he used for the Xbox 360 Elite laptop, for a true 720p picture. He's obviously been leveling up his already formidable powers though, 'cause this is one of his most polished projects yet. There's another shot from the side after the jump. Update: Turns out, we stumbled onto a special project for Engadget to auction off for charity! If you'd like to own this bad boy, more details are here, or at Ben's site. [Ben Heck, Thanks Wallop]
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stabbing
Homemade Conan the Barbarian Booby Trap Almost Stabs Verizon Agent to Death
Long Island is a dangerous place, filled with bad accents and crazy people wandering around, like Verizon technicians. Eric Stetz knows mere deadbolts won't keep them out. No, you've gotta get medieval, Conan the Barbarian style. So he built a booby trap out of a massive knife, crutch and elastic trip-cord to poke intruders in the head. To death. Like the Verizon guy scheduled to visit his apartment. More »
security
The PWN 2OWN contest, as we all know, saw the Mac OS X weed crumble first, with Vista following soon after. Ubuntu was the only OS that was impenetrable to attack, but news is surfacing that Vista should have had a longer lifeline, if only Adobe had patched the flaw they knew about all along.
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Adobe Knew of Vista PWN 2 OWN Hack All Along
The PWN 2OWN contest, as we all know, saw the Mac OS X weed crumble first, with Vista following soon after. Ubuntu was the only OS that was impenetrable to attack, but news is surfacing that Vista should have had a longer lifeline, if only Adobe had patched the flaw they knew about all along.
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pranks
Kid Brings Camera Taser to School, Almost Gets Tased by Cops
Remember that camera modded to shock anyone who used it? Some genius thought it would be absolutely hilarious to use it at school. (Okay, it would be.) Anyway! The mischievous little bastard didn't even get the chance to zap the schoolyard bully before the cops swooped in and busted his ass, though they deprived us of ironic hilarity by not tasing him. Instead, they slapped him with possession of a dangerous weapon on school grounds, attempted assault and breach of peace. So try this at home, not at school, kids. [WCBS via Geekologie]
iphone
iPhone Pwnage Tool to Be Released
iPhone Pwnage Tool to Be Released Tomorrow Someday
The iPhone Dev Team's Pwnage tool is set for public release tomorrow. The tool allows you to upgrade any iPhone with the latest firmware from Apple, modified to make it work with any compatible carrier in any part of the world, and install any application, as well as adding custom payloads, additional software like SSH, FTP, and other applications.
Update: Due to legalities the Pwnage tool has been delayed. We'll keep you updated with any release information as we get it. [iPhone Dev Team]
software
It's Time V1.0 Brings Leopard Theme, Usable Dock to 5G iPod
Apparently, the It's Time hack provides iPod classic users with a proper Leopard theme, complete with a usable dock and other added OS X inspired fun stuff, including a Front Row-esque Now Playing screen and Finder-styled progress bars. We haven't confirmed this one ourselves and the images certainly are rendered, but if you're up to nothing, try this one out and let us know how it goes. [It's Time via iPod Wizard]
hd-dvd
How to Get Your Hacked Obsolete Object on Gizmodo
Chase Sechrist and Dan Weatherford went to work on Toshiba's HD-A1 HD-DVD player and, while it's pretty much only good as a doorstop now, at least it says something nice. [Doom9's Forum—thanks Mazyar!]
hacks
Digital Billboards
A well known 18 year old graffiti artist that goes by the name "Skullphone" has expanded his repertoire of vandalism to include 10 digital billboards around L.A. Earlier this week, onlookers were treated to Skullphones's calling card in between the normal ads running on the display. Nice work dude, let's hope that the police and the folks at ClearChannel appreciate art. Updated: Apparently, it wasn't a hack, but a two-day paid "art project." [Skullphone and Curbed L.A. via Textually and Supertouch]
Digital Billboards Hacked in Southern California
A well known 18 year old graffiti artist that goes by the name "Skullphone" has expanded his repertoire of vandalism to include 10 digital billboards around L.A. Earlier this week, onlookers were treated to Skullphones's calling card in between the normal ads running on the display. Nice work dude, let's hope that the police and the folks at ClearChannel appreciate art. Updated: Apparently, it wasn't a hack, but a two-day paid "art project." [Skullphone and Curbed L.A. via Textually and Supertouch]
design
The Illusion PC is a Hellraiser
There are quite few entries in this year's Microsoft Next-Gen PC Design competition, but the Illusion PC is one of the standouts due to a unique magic trick. A 3D object appears to be hovering inside of the case—giving the impression that there are no internal components. According to the designer, this effect is fully customizable and a website could be developed for theme support.
