MarkHoekstra
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Mark Hoekstra of geek technique passes away at 34
Mark Hoekstra, blogger and hacker extraordinaire, has passed away at the age of 34 after suffering a heart attack last Wednesday. The sad news of Mark's passing is making its rounds, and we at TUAW would like to offer our condolences to his family, his friends and his readers. Many of Mark's hacks and adventures are thoroughly documented on his blog, geek technique ... evidence of Mark's creative drive and problem-solving ability. He was a geek's geek in the proudest sense of the word. We've regularly admired Mark's extraordinary determination and imaginative solutions. We'll miss you, Mark. Thanks, Eliot.
The Slurpr WiFi aggregator promises "free" broadband -- and jail time
Oh my, the 5-0 won't like this one bit. Meet The Slurpr, a WiFi access point which aggregates up to six "available" (read: unprotected) 54Mbps WiFi channels into one bigazz, "free" connection. It's the latest invention by Dutch hacker, Mark Hoekstra and his new sidekick (or is it the other way around?) Boris. Of course, use of the Slurpr in its current incarnation will likely violate wardriving laws in at least few countries. So the inclusion of Mark's next feature -- 64/128-bit WEP-cracking -- could well land you in a Turkish prison. Still interested, Billy? Then head on over to Mark's site where you can pre-order the €999 / $1,347 box today. [Via Bomega]
Add Compact Flash to almost any iPod
Remember that iPod mini maxed out with a Compact Flash card mod? Well, Mark Hoekstra is back with a new CF card modding picnic that works with any 1/2/3/4G iPod. The mod works (eventually, anyway) by installing a CF adapter of Hoekstra's design. No need to solder all 88 connections yourself! By removing the spinning hard disk, the mod also promises to extend your battery life. As Mark points out, he "won't go all Art Lebedev" on us; he'll produce the adapter for a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time. Good, cause high-density CF cards aren't cheap. Check the mod in full video action after the break. Hey, isn't that the effigy of Steve Jobs on that slice of toast?
iPod mini maxed out with CF card
It looks like iPod minis aren't obsolete just yet thanks to Mark Hoekstra's flash card mod, which entails switching out the original Microdrive with a 4GB flash card. iPod minis served a short term in Appledom, but come to think of it, they're a manageable size, have one of the more durable iPod casings, and they don't look half-bad either. After the modding is complete, a quick restore in iTunes reloads the card with Apple's firmware (you can also upload other software like Podzilla), then you're all set to jam out. So if you own a member of this dying breed (and have a steady hand), use this little proof-of-concept to extend your mini's lifespan while one-upping Apple at the same time.[Via digg]
The iPod bicycle charger...because you can
You just knew that any bicycle related gadgetry was gonna come from those "fiets" lovin' Dutch, eh? Sure enough, Mark Hoekstra has managed to convert a standard dynamo electric generator into an iPod charger. Check out the read link for all the deetz to do-it-yourself. And don't worry Mark, this is sweet enough that we won't make fun of ya for riding a girl's bike. Ah hell, na na nana na! [Via TUAW]
