Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Adafruit modder builds Captain Jack's Vortex Manipulator / Leela's wrist-lo-jacko-mator for real]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/#comments Image

This impressive wrist / forearm cuff is the brainchild of Adafruit forum member and modder Stephanie, who has built a sensor platform into the fashion accessory. The device can monitor the exposure value, track your movements over GPS, measure your galvanic skin response, tell you the temperature, humidity and even doubles as a watch and flash-light. It was built around Sparkfun's Pro Micro development board and a boatload of sensors purchased from Adafruit. We might just build one ourselves with a radiation detector, so that we can live out our Pip-Boy fantasies down at the mall.

Gallery: Integrated Sensors Electronic Bracer

Adafruit modder builds Captain Jack's Vortex Manipulator / Leela's wrist-lo-jacko-mator for real originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdafruitAdafruit IndustriesAdafruitIndustriesAlarm ClockAlarmClockCaptain JackCaptainJackExposure ValueExposureValueFlashlightGalvanic Skin ResponseGalvanicSkinResponseGPSHackHackerHackingHumidityIntegrated Sensors Electronic BracerIntegratedSensorsElectronicBracerLeelaModModderModdingPip-BoySensorSparkfunSparkfun Pro MicroSparkfunProMicroTemperatureTorchVortex ManipulatorVortexManipulatorWrist CuffWrist-lo-jacko-matorWristCuffWed, 30 May 2012 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/bananaphone-touch-synthesizer-replaces-ring-ring-rings-with-tunes/#comments Image

If you're tired of bananaphones that just make calls, the crew at Gadget Gangster now has a homebrew project to use them for musical escapades. A custom-coded (and appropriately named) Adafruit Propeller board turns a bunch of bananas into the Bananaphone TouchSynth, a synthesizer using the same capacitive touch principles that let a MaKey MaKey turn anything into a controller. The project as it's built won't be rocking stadium-sized crowds anytime soon -- not with those beeps and that lone speaker -- but there's nothing stopping it from scaling up to bigger sounds. Just remember that your fresh beats will turn very brown within a few days.

Continue reading Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video)

Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit propellerAdafruitPropellerbananabanana phoneBananaPhonecapacitivecapacitive touchCapacitiveTouchhackshome brewHomeBrewkeyboardMaKey MaKeyMakeyMakeymusicprojectpropellerSynthesizersynthesizersvideoMon, 21 May 2012 20:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/raspberry-pi-hands-on-and-eben-upton-interview-at-maker-faire-v/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/raspberry-pi-hands-on-and-eben-upton-interview-at-maker-faire-v/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/raspberry-pi-hands-on-and-eben-upton-interview-at-maker-faire-v/#comments Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video)

Unless you've been hiding under a rock lately, we're pretty sure you've heard about the Raspberry Pi by now -- a $25 credit-card sized PC that brings ARM/Linux to the Arduino form factor. As a refresher, the system features a 700MHz Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with an ARM11 CPU, a Videocore 4 GPU (which handles HD H.264 video and OpenGL ES 2.0) and 256MB RAM. The board includes an SD card slot, HDMI output, composite video jack, 3.5mm audio socket, micro-USB power connector and GPIO header. Model A ($25) comes with one USB port, while Model B ($35) provides two USB ports and a 100BaseT Ethernet socket. Debian is recommended, but Raspberry Pi can run most ARM-compatible 32-bit OSes.

This past weekend at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 we ran into Eben Upton, Executive Director of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and took the opportunity to spend some quality time with a production board and to discuss this incredible PC. We touched upon the origins of the system (inspired by the BBC Micro, one of the ARM founders' projects), Moore's law, the wonders of simple computers and upcoming products / ideas -- including Adafruit's Pi Plate and Raspberry Pi's prototype camera add-on. On the subject of availability, the company expects that "there will be approximately 200,000 units in the field by the end of June". Take a look at our hands-on gallery below and our video interview after the break.

Gallery: Raspberry Pi hands-on

Continue reading Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video)

Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdafruitAdafruit Pi PlateAdafruitPiPlateArduinoARMARM11BBC MicroBbcMicroBCM2835BroadcomBroadcom BCM2835BroadcomBcm2835DebianEben UptonEbenUptonhands-oninterviewLinuxMaker FaireMaker Faire 2012Maker Faire Bay AreaMaker Faire Bay Area 2012MakerFaireMakerFaire2012MakerFaireBayAreaMakerFaireBayArea2012Model AModel BModelAModelBMoores lawMooresLawPie PlatePiePlateRasbberry Pi FoundationRasbberryPiFoundationRaspberry PiRaspberryPivideoMon, 21 May 2012 06:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit wants to help you hack your Raspberry Pi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/adafruit-wants-to-help-you-hack-your-raspberry-pi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/adafruit-wants-to-help-you-hack-your-raspberry-pi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/adafruit-wants-to-help-you-hack-your-raspberry-pi/#comments Image

So you shelled out a cool $25 to get your hands on the Raspberry Pi -- and, after some hiccups, the thing actually shipped. Now what? Adafruit's got your back. The DIY-friendly company announced that it's getting ready to release its Prototyping Pi Plate Kit, which will help you leverage the little Linux box for some of those home-baked embedded computer projects you're itching to start. Nothing yet in the way of pricing or availability for the product -- not until Adafruit's done testing it on shipping Raspberry Pi units. In the meantime, you can always add it to your hacking wish list by clicking the source link below.

Adafruit wants to help you hack your Raspberry Pi originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitdiyhackingkitlinuxpiprototypingPrototyping Pi Plate KitPrototypingPiPlateKitraspberryraspberry piRaspberryPiThu, 26 Apr 2012 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/diy-descriptive-camera-captures-images-prints-out-prose/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/diy-descriptive-camera-captures-images-prints-out-prose/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/diy-descriptive-camera-captures-images-prints-out-prose/#comments DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose

Have you ever wished that cameras could capture not only an image of the scene in front of them, but also describe it to you in plain English? Ok, what if it bypassed the whole "photo" thing and just spit out a slip of paper with words on it? Well, if you're still interested, the impressive Matt Richardson (of Make fame) has a project right up your alley. The Descriptive Camera is a relatively simple device really. A Logitech webcam is connected to a BeagleBone dev board, which is in turn plugged into a thermal printer from Adafruit. Obviously, the tech required to analyze a scene recognize the objects then convert that pile of pixels into a slice prose is outside of the budget and capability of your average DIY project. So Matt turned instead to Mechanical Turk, Amazon's marketplace for HITs or Human Intelligence Tasks. Images captured by the cam are uploaded via the BeagleBone, where an actual person describes what he or she sees and the resulting literature is printed out. For more details and images check out the source.

DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitamazonamazon mechanical turkAmazonMechanicalTurkartBeagleBoardbeaglebonecameradescriptive cameraDescriptiveCameraDIYinternet of thingsinternet of things printerInternetOfThingsInternetOfThingsPrinteriot printerIotPrintermatt richardsonMattRichardsonmechanical turkMechanicalTurkprinterprojectWed, 25 Apr 2012 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/live-your-life-like-theres-no-tomorrow-with-david-lee-roth-in-a/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/live-your-life-like-theres-no-tomorrow-with-david-lee-roth-in-a/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/live-your-life-like-theres-no-tomorrow-with-david-lee-roth-in-a/#comments ImageSeriously, guys, when was the last time you ran with the devil? It's been a while, hasn't it? Leave it to David Lee Roth to show us all the way, yet again, this time courtesy of Arduino-based soundbox created with help from the Adafruit Wave Shield. The box runs on a nine-volt battery and has a big trigger button on the top that plays what sounds like Roth's infamous "Runnin' With the Devil" isolated vocal tracks through a speaker on the bottom. The box's builder has promised more to come -- we'd like to request a Murry Wilson "I'm a genius, too" box, if one isn't already in the pipeline.

Continue reading Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video)

Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitAdafruit Wave ShieldAdafruitWaveShieldarduinoboxbuttondavid lee rothDavidLeeRothhackrunnin with the devilRunninWithTheDevilvan halenVanHalenvideoThu, 22 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/adafruits-internet-of-things-printer-combines-your-love-of-info/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/adafruits-internet-of-things-printer-combines-your-love-of-info/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/adafruits-internet-of-things-printer-combines-your-love-of-info/#comments Love staying connected and using excess paper? Adafruit's got your back with its latest project. The Internet of Things (IoT) printer goes online via an Ethernet jack, printing up data on 2.5 inch wide receipt paper. You can print things like Twitter feeds, news briefs or sports scores using its open source software. Putting the box together requires some soldering and an Arduino, but once you're done, you'll finally be able to live out your fantasies of becoming an old timey stock broker. Video of the printer with a slightly grating Twitter song soundtrack after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts

Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitarduinointernet of thingsInternetOfThingsiotiot printerIotPrinternewsprinterstockstwittervideoWed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's Circuit Playground app deciphers resistor codes, helps you remember Ohm's Law]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/adafruits-circuit-playground-app-deciphers-resistor-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/adafruits-circuit-playground-app-deciphers-resistor-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/adafruits-circuit-playground-app-deciphers-resistor-codes/#comments Circuit PlaygroundIf the names Phillip Torrone, Limor Fried and Collin Cunningham don't ring a bell then you probably need to hand over your geek badge. If, on the other hand, those names immediately make you sit up and pay attention, you maybe excited to hear the trio have just released the first Adafruit-branded app for iOS. Circuit Playground is a reference app for makers, hackers and tinkerers that helps you decipher resistor and capacitor values; calculate resistance, current or voltage; convert decimal, hexadecimal and binary values; and store PDF data sheets for ICs. The app is $2.99, but it comes with a $3 credit at the Adafruit shop, so it's kinda-sorta free. It's available for iPad and iPhone only, but an Android version is in the works. If you're an impatient Google fan, they suggest you check out ElectroDroid which performs many of the same functions and we can confirm is awesome. Check out the video after the break and hit up the source link to get Circuit Playground now.

Gallery: Circuit Playground

Continue reading Adafruit's Circuit Playground app deciphers resistor codes, helps you remember Ohm's Law

Adafruit's Circuit Playground app deciphers resistor codes, helps you remember Ohm's Law originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesappappscircuit playgroundCircuitPlaygroundcollin cunninghamCollinCunninghamdiydo it yourselfDoItYourselfelectronicshackhackersiosipadiphonelimor friedLimorFriedmakersmobilepostcrossPhillip TorronePhillipTorronereferencevideoMon, 06 Feb 2012 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/adafruit-flora-lets-you-wear-your-open-source-love-on-your-sleev/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/adafruit-flora-lets-you-wear-your-open-source-love-on-your-sleev/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/adafruit-flora-lets-you-wear-your-open-source-love-on-your-sleev/#comments
Let's face it, not every occasion calls for pulsating cufflinks, so Adafruit is offering up a little more diversity in its wearable line with Flora, an open-source electronics platform that you can wear on your person. The 1.75-inch board is not quite available for sale, but it's currently being put through some real-world testing. The platform features built-in USB support and will offer up modules for Bluetooth, GPS, OLED and a bunch more. No word on an exact date, though Adafruit has a page you can visit to sign up for shipping notifications, which has the timeframe at around 15 to 20 business days -- check that out in the source links below. As for cost, the company has promised "great pricing" for hackerspaces, resellers and educators. Video of the Flora in action after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve

Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit floraAdafruitFloraarduinofloravideoFri, 20 Jan 2012 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Roll up, roll up for the magical mystery Arduino tour]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/roll-up-roll-up-for-the-magical-mystery-arduino-tour/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/roll-up-roll-up-for-the-magical-mystery-arduino-tour/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/roll-up-roll-up-for-the-magical-mystery-arduino-tour/#comments
If this news isn't as obvious as John Obvious: Professor of Obvious studies at Cambridge University: we love Arduino 'round these parts. Phil and Limor of Adafruit Industries took a tour of the Italian foundry's Turin factory and took a gallery of pics (and video!) on the way. It's a great insight into how the building process works for the modding tool, and you can head on down to our source link to check out the gallery in full -- we've also included a direct link to the video as the guys walk down the production line in our more coverage link. We're so good to you, you know.

Roll up, roll up for the magical mystery Arduino tour originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdafruitArduinoBehind the ScenesBehindTheScenesDevDevsDIYFlickrHackHackersItalyMakeModModdingPhotosTorinoTourFri, 13 Jan 2012 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: fun stuff!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/#comments Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
For some, it's easy to forget about having fun -- fretting over buying the "right" tablet, e-reader or DSLR can strip the joy of unbridled silliness that Christmas allows you. This is your handy guide to stuff you can kick back and enjoy some crazy fun with. There's no ecosystem wars here, no desire to have the loudest or fastest plug-in gadget; just things you'd prefer to give and receive instead of a Sharper Image motorized tie rack... or back-hair shaver. So join us past the break, if you will, for a look at this year's collection of fun stuff!

Continue reading Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: fun stuff!

Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: fun stuff! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printingA Christmas StoryAdafruitAdafruit iCufflinksAdafruitIcufflinksBlade RunnerBlade Runner UmbrellaBladeRunnerBladeRunnerUmbrellabuyers guideBuyersGuidebuying guideBuyingGuideE-MotorbikeEntertainmentFarnsworth HouseFarnsworthHouseGeordi La Forgegift guideGiftGuidegraceGrace OneGrace One CityGrace One City e-motorbikeGraceOneGraceOneCityGraceOneCityE-motorbikehgghgg2011HMZ-T1holidayholiday gift guideholiday gift guide 2011HolidayGiftGuideHolidayGiftGuide2011holidaysiCufflinksKymeraKymera Magic WandKymeraMagicWandLegoLego ArchitectureLegoArchitectureLudwig Mies van der RoheMakeMakerMaker ShedMakerbotMakerbot IndustriesMakerbot Thing-O-MaticMakerbotIndustriesMakerbotThing-o-maticMakerShedNike+Nike+SportwatchNike+Sportwatch GPSNike+sportwatchGpsSaga BanjoSagaBanjoSci/TechSonySony HMZ-T1SonyHmz-t1Space NeedleThe Sharper ImageThing O MaticThingOMaticThink GeekThinkGeekUmbrellaThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Add lasers to a tennis ball, drive your dog crazy (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/add-lasers-to-a-tennis-ball-drive-your-dog-crazy-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/add-lasers-to-a-tennis-ball-drive-your-dog-crazy-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/add-lasers-to-a-tennis-ball-drive-your-dog-crazy-video/#comments
It's a "programmable disco ball," a "cat toy for humans," and a "personal laser light show," all rolled into one. That's how one Matt Leone describes his latest creation, aptly known as the Laser Ball. To realize his dream, Leone drilled a set of holes into a garden variety tennis ball, and inserted about 14 laser diodes, each with an attached strip of diffraction grating. Said diodes were then synced up with an Arduino-equipped Teensy microcontroller nestled within the ball, alongside a rechargeable battery. As a cherry on top of this DIY sundae, Leone then incorporated an infrared remote package from Adafruit, allowing him to remotely jump start his next house party. The result is a cyborg-like ball that makes any LED cube look... square. Check it out for yourself, in the video after the break.

Continue reading Add lasers to a tennis ball, drive your dog crazy (video)

Add lasers to a tennis ball, drive your dog crazy (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitarduinoDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfinfraredIRlaserLaser Balllaser diodeLaserBallLaserDiodematt leoneMattLeonemicro controllerMicroControllerremote controlRemoteControlTeensytennis ballTennisBallvideoMon, 14 Nov 2011 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Arduino-powered glove brings real sound effects to your make believe gun show (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/arduino-powered-glove-brings-real-sound-effects-to-your-make-bel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/arduino-powered-glove-brings-real-sound-effects-to-your-make-bel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/arduino-powered-glove-brings-real-sound-effects-to-your-make-bel/#comments
The days of air-punching invisible Daleks and making your own sound effects are over: a team from Carnegie Mellon's Human-Computer Interaction course have built a glove that does it all for you. The Augmented Hyper-Reality Glove can identify upper-cuts and karate chops using flex and tilt sensors and play the accompanying sound effect using an Arduino-powered Adafruit wave shield. We can see some potential downsides -- flirtatious finger-gun fusillades accompanied by the sound of cannon fire might just ruin your date. If you're undaunted by such social faux pas, see the toy your inner-child always wanted in action after the break.

Continue reading Arduino-powered glove brings real sound effects to your make believe gun show (video)

Arduino-powered glove brings real sound effects to your make believe gun show (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdafruitAdafruit Wave ShieldAdafruitWaveShieldArduinoAugmented Hyper Reality GloveAugmentedHyperRealityGloveCargenie Mellon UniversityCargenieMellonUniversityCarnegie MellonCarnegieMellondiyGlovehackinghacksHCIHuman Computer InteractionHumanComputerInteractionModModdingsound effectssound fxSoundEffectsSoundFxtags: hackTags:HackvideoMon, 24 Oct 2011 14:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's iCufflinks pulsate with the power of your Mac love]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/adafruits-icufflinks-pulsate-with-the-power-of-your-mac-love/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/adafruits-icufflinks-pulsate-with-the-power-of-your-mac-love/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/adafruits-icufflinks-pulsate-with-the-power-of-your-mac-love/#comments Men have struggled for millennia to find the most immediate visual signifiers for their wealth and status. Adafruit Industries has now added to their list of choices with a set of iCufflinks that disposes with the metaphors and speaks of power literally -- by featuring a pair of power buttons. It's not enough to merely cast some Mac-inspired On / Off switches out of aluminum, however; Adafruit has also inserted LED lights within the iCufflinks, which can be programmed to pulsate to your chosen rhythm. Because keeping it classy and LEDs go so well together. If you've got $128 to splash out on a pair of eminently prestigious shirt adornments, the source link is where you'll want to head. And keep an eye out for the upcoming necklace version -- it'll be available to suave ladies and gents everywhere in the summer.

Continue reading Adafruit's iCufflinks pulsate with the power of your Mac love

Adafruit's iCufflinks pulsate with the power of your Mac love originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitaluminumappleattireclothesclothingcuffcufflinkscuffsdressglowingicufflinkslightlightsmacpower buttonPowerButtonvideowearablewearablesThu, 16 Jun 2011 08:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack explained: follow-along-at-home guide lets you reverse engineer USB, impress your friends]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/kinect-hack-explained-follow-along-at-home-guide-lets-you-rever/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/kinect-hack-explained-follow-along-at-home-guide-lets-you-rever/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/kinect-hack-explained-follow-along-at-home-guide-lets-you-rever/#comments So, there's already an open source driver for the Kinect -- who needs to learn how to reverse engineer USB all over again? Well, ladyada of Adafruit Industries, the folks responsible for the Kinect hack bounty and the USB logs used by the bounty winner to get a jump on his hack, has published a detailed guide on exactly how she sniffed the Kinect's USB chatter. The guide isn't for the faint of heart, but it's not completely unintelligible to someone with a bit of time and determination. If anything it serves as an excellent bit of how-the-Kinect-was-won history. We're not expecting Microsoft to reconsider its "Microsoft does not condone the modification of its products" stance on this issue, or its petty threat of law enforcement "to keep Kinect tamper-resistant," but we do hope they've learned one thing by now: they're fighting a losing battle.

Kinect hack explained: follow-along-at-home guide lets you reverse engineer USB, impress your friends originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustrieshackhackskinectmicrosoftmodmodsreverse engineerreverse engineeringReverseEngineerReverseEngineeringusbusb hackusb hackingUsbHackUsbHackingxbox 360Xbox360Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Open Source Hardware community finally gets its Constitution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/open-source-hardware-community-finally-gets-its-constitution/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/open-source-hardware-community-finally-gets-its-constitution/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/open-source-hardware-community-finally-gets-its-constitution/#commentsOpen Source Hardware movement finally gets its Constitution They, the people of the open source hardware movement, in order to form a more peaceful community for sharing, establish bigger and cuddlier Chumbies, ensure continued Arduino creativity, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of hackery to ourselves and our posterity, have established the Open Source Hardware Draft. It's a sort of 11 commandments for those who would share or use an open source hardware design, indicating what documentation is required, how derived works must be allowed and, perhaps most importantly, that each use must include attribution to those founding engineers who came before. Its current version, 0.3, was ratified yesterday by a group of dignitaries including folks behind the Arduino, Adafruit, and Chumby, along with plenty of other underground industry big-wigs. Now that this bit of official business is out of the way, hopefully they can all get back to crafting homemade coilguns.

Open Source Hardware community finally gets its Constitution originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesarduinoattributionchumbylicenseopen source hardwareopen source hardware draftOpenSourceHardwareOpenSourceHardwareDraftWed, 14 Jul 2010 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's Monochron retro clock now on sale, changes time with every match point]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/adafruits-monochron-retro-clock-now-on-sale-changes-time-with/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/adafruits-monochron-retro-clock-now-on-sale-changes-time-with/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/adafruits-monochron-retro-clock-now-on-sale-changes-time-with/#comments You might have the vaguest of memories seeing this piece before -- it made a cameo in an Engadget Show segment -- but here we are with a much clearer picture of Adafruit Industries' Monochron clock, now also on sale! As is its modus operandi, the timepiece is open source... but should you plan on sticking to default, you'll be gifted with a great retro-style Table Tennis for two. The best part? The time changes whenever the clock "loses" -- something tells us that gives one side at least a 59-to-1 advantage. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Monochron retro clock now on sale, changes time with every match point

Adafruit's Monochron retro clock now on sale, changes time with every match point originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesclockclocksmono chronMonoChronpngretrotable tennistable tennis for twoTableTennisTableTennisForTwotimetime pieceTimePieceFri, 26 Feb 2010 21:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/#comments The votes are in, dear readers, and you've spoken loud and clear: from our original 23 finalists, your votes have boiled it down to five well-deserved winners who've clearly put time, effort, thought, determination, and old-fashioned elbow grease into their designs for gracing the metal back of Amazon's 6-inch Kindle.

So what happens next? We'll be working with winners and coordinating with the good folks at Adafruit Industries to turn these designs into reality thanks to some insanely high-powered precision lasers -- picture that scene in Goldfinger where the film's namesake tries to cut 007 in half to get an idea of just how high-powered we're talking about here -- and rest assured, we'll be posting plenty of pictures as they come out of the workshop! Follow the break for the lucky five (presented in order with the most votes first).

A huge word of thanks to Amazon, Adafruit Industries, everyone who submitted entries, and the voters who figured out where these Kindles belong!

Continue reading Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners!

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Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industrieAdafruitIndustrieamazoncontestfeaturesgiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: vote for your favorite Kindle design by Monday!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/reminder-vote-for-your-favorite-kindle-design-by-monday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/reminder-vote-for-your-favorite-kindle-design-by-monday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/reminder-vote-for-your-favorite-kindle-design-by-monday/#comments
Our Kindle contest that we're running in cooperation with our good friends at Adafruit Industries and Amazon has drawn to an epic conclusion, and there's simply no other way to put it -- we're blown away. We received literally dozens upon dozens of incredible, art gallery-worthy entries and it was all but impossible to narrow them down to a group of finalists -- but after an entire weekend of mulling, debating, and hand-wringing, we've done the dirty work and narrowed it down to a group of just twenty-three. Now, dear readers, the fate of five Kindles lies in your hands and your hands alone. The laser awaits.

So here's what we need from you: pick your favorite by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 3rd. That's it. We'll take the five top vote-getters and award each with a 6-inch Kindle engraved with their design -- and of course, we'll post pictures of the finished products before they go out to their lucky owners.

Hit the read link below to view the finalists and cast your votes! Good luck to everyone!

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Reminder: vote for your favorite Kindle design by Monday! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesannouncementcontestcontestsgiveawaygiveawayskindleFri, 31 Jul 2009 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/#comments Our Kindle contest that we're running in cooperation with our good friends at Adafruit Industries and Amazon has drawn to an epic conclusion, and there's simply no other way to put it -- we're blown away. We received literally dozens upon dozens of incredible, art gallery-worthy entries and it was all but impossible to narrow them down to a group of finalists -- but after an entire weekend of mulling, debating, and hand-wringing, we've done the dirty work and narrowed it down to a group of just twenty-three. Now, dear readers, the fate of five Kindles lies in your hands and your hands alone. The laser awaits.

So here's what we need from you: pick your favorite by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 3rd. That's it. We'll take the five top vote-getters and award each with a 6-inch Kindle engraved with their design -- and of course, we'll post pictures of the finished products before they go out to their lucky owners.

Follow the break to see the entries (which you can click to see in larger form). Below each design, you'll see a number -- these correspond to numbers in the poll, which you'll find directly below the entries. Just choose your favorite by number and we'll take care of the rest.

Good luck, contestants -- and good luck picking from all of these amazing entries, readers!

Update: The contest is now closed. No votes have been counted since August 3rd at 11:59PM ET. Stay tuned for the winners!

Continue reading Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins!

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Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazoncontestfeaturesgiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: don't forget to design your own Kindle and take it home!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/#comments
We know you've been wracking your brain for the past week trying to dream up that perfect etching for the Kindle's hindquarters, but time's running out -- Friday at 11:59PM EDT is the deadline -- so put digital pen to digital paper and get your entry submitted on the double!

Need a refresher? Head on over to the announcement to learn all about our awesome Kindle design contest -- and a big thanks to Amazon and Adafruit Industries for making it possible!

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Reminder: don't forget to design your own Kindle and take it home! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecontestdesigngiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Design your own Kindle (and win it) with Engadget, Amazon, and Adafruit Industries!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/#comments
Reading isn't just about the text that you're reading, it's an intimately personal experience in every sense of the word -- the way the book feels, the crease of the pages, the wear on the cover, it's all totally unique to your copy at the time that you're reading it. Put simply, it's an experience no one else will ever have. Between three models, dozens of accessories, and countless e-books, no two Kindles are alike, either -- but Engadget has partnered with Amazon and the DIY experts over at Adafruit Industries to hook up five extraordinarily lucky readers with truly unique reading devices. These guys are the laser etching experts -- see one of the Kindles they've done here!

Here's the deal: we're asking you to think of a design that would look great on the Kindle's brushed metal back -- something that means a lot to you, something that'll make passers-by drool with envy when you casually hold up your new toy while reading The Economist from the comfort of your train, plane, or bus seat. Draft up that design (seriously, make sure it's awesome, because you'll be facing some stiff competition) and send it to us. We'll post some of our favorites as finalists and hand the reigns over to you -- our dear readers -- to select five winners who will each have their designs laser-etched into reality on the backs of their very own Kindles!

The rules:
  • Send your design to us by emailing it to contests [at] engadget [dawt] com with the subject "I want my custom Kindle!" (no quotes). Submissions must be in EPS or AI format, must be in black and white only, and must be composed strictly of vector graphics with all fonts converted to curves. We can scale your design as necessary, but keep in mind that you'll be dealing with an etchable area roughly five inches by seven inches. You can find a (very large) image of the back of the Kindle 2 here for your reference.
  • We can't print anything you don't have the rights for, so to be safe, original work is the best!
  • You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  • Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • Five (5) winners will each receive one (1) Amazon Kindle 6" Wireless Reading Device customized by Adafruit Industries. Approximate retail value is $299.00.
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
  • Design entries can be submitted until Friday, July 24th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
  • Full rules can be found here.

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Design your own Kindle (and win it) with Engadget, Amazon, and Adafruit Industries! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecontestetchinggiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2laser etchingLaserEtchingTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/#comments
The gang at Adafruit Industries are on a mission -- and they won't rest until every man, woman, and child on this planet has access to the DIY and open source electronics they crave. The most recent project of theirs, Citizen Engineer: SIM Card Hacking, is a comic book that both serves as a primer on GSM and SIM cards and tells you how to build a SIM card reader. And if that weren't awesome enough, if you purchase the title for $35 they'll throw in the reader kit -- either enabling your thirst for knowledge or jump-starting you on your path towards a new life as a hacker / fixer for the Russian Mafia. Video after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit

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Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriescitizen engineerCitizenEngineercomic bookComicBookhackmobilemodsim cardsim card hackingsim card readerSimCardSimCardHackingSimCardReaderFri, 10 Jul 2009 04:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/adafruits-citizen-engineer-comic-book-sim-card-reader-kit/#comments
The gang at Adafruit Industries are on a mission -- and they won't rest until every man, woman, and child on this planet has access to the DIY and open source electronics they crave. The most recent project of theirs, Citizen Engineer: SIM Card Hacking, is a comic book that both serves as a primer on GSM and SIM cards and tells you how to build a SIM card reader. And if that weren't awesome enough, if you purchase the title for $35 they'll throw in the reader kit -- either enabling your thirst for knowledge or jump-starting you on your path towards a new life as a hacker / fixer for the Russian Mafia. Video after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit

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Adafruit's Citizen Engineer comic book / SIM card reader kit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriescitizen engineerCitizenEngineercomic bookComicBookhackhacksmodmodssim cardsim card hackingsim card readerSimCardSimCardHackingSimCardReaderFri, 10 Jul 2009 04:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Kindle 2 sees the wrong end of a laser, recommends you don't panic]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/video-kindle-2-sees-the-wrong-end-of-a-laser-recommends-you-do/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/video-kindle-2-sees-the-wrong-end-of-a-laser-recommends-you-do/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/video-kindle-2-sees-the-wrong-end-of-a-laser-recommends-you-do/#commentsVideo: Kindle 2 sees the wrong end of a laser, recommends you don't panic
If there were anything a frequent traveler needs more than a towel (and money, and identification, and maybe a cellphone...) it's a Kindle 2. To celebrate its ability to provide free access to the world's great information repository from absolutely anywhere (within in the United States that has cellular access), Adafruit Industries has turned the K2 into something of an ode to Douglas Adams's great epic: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. After a little burning action courtesy of its Epliog 35 watt laser (which we've seen in action before), the e-book reader now sports the most valuable advice ever given to a man (or alien). Sadly it still won't give you directions to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, but it will at least let you download and start reading it in under a minute. Ford Prefect would be proud.

Continue reading Video: Kindle 2 sees the wrong end of a laser, recommends you don't panic

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Video: Kindle 2 sees the wrong end of a laser, recommends you don't panic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazon kindleamazon kindle 2AmazonKindleAmazonKindle2dont panicDontPanicdouglas adamsDouglasAdamsepliog laserEpliogLaseretchhitchhikers guide to the universeHitchhikersGuideToTheUniversekindlekindle 2Kindle2laserFri, 13 Mar 2009 08:53:00 EST