Don't even try to deny it -- you've been holding one mean grudge against that ridiculously accurate DeepNote bot ever since you saw it dominate Guitar Hero in mid-July. Really though, all that pent up aggression is completely unnecessary, and if you've been fruitlessly aiming to concoct one of your own, we've found the perfect place to start. The video posted up after the jump gives a fantastic overview of how the device actually works, and while it's far (very far) from simple, it's nothing the seasoned DIYer couldn't handle on an extended weekend. Give it a look if you're head over heels for PCBs and flashing LEDs (oh, and shameless rock 'n roll).

[Thanks, Jeremy]

In reality, quite a bit of time has passed since we've heard of the next great leap in the (seemingly) never-ending journey towards quantum computing, but we're incredibly relieved to learn that at least someone is still out there, somewhere, pressing on. An international team of researchers have reportedly shown that they can "control the quantum state of a single electron in a silicon transistor, even putting the electron in two places at once." Essentially, the team is using tiny semiconductor transistors to "control the state of a quantum system," but there is still a long ways to go before any of this is meaningful. The crew managed to discover a few things by chance, yet to create a quantum computer, they would need to "position atoms of arsenic (or some other material) in the transistors more reliably." For those of you way too geeked out, fret not -- we'll let you know when all of this technobabble finally amounts to something.

[Thanks, Chris]

While Bug Labs may have brought modular gadget kits to the forefront, you won't find us kvetching about yet another formidable opponent. Machine Collective has just launched a website to showcase its modular prototyping platform, which essentially consists of a number of interchangeable I/O modules "designed to work with development platforms such as Arduino and Wiring." Needless to say, the possibilities for DIYers and electrical engineers are pretty much endless here, though you'll have to "wait a few weeks" before excitedly beaming in your order and credit card information.

[Via MAKE]

Those with loads of disposable income probably wouldn't mind ponying up for the relatively inexpensive rumble cartridge made specifically for Nintendo's DS Lite, but the frugal (and engineering) sets will certainly appreciate Xyzzy's efforts. After dissecting a Pokemon Pinball GBA game and ripping the rumble motor from a salvaged Nokia 5100, he put his circuitry knowledge to work and conjured up a rumble device that fit flush in the DS Lite and cost him nothing more than a little blood, sweat, and tears. Be warned, however, that this guide isn't for the faint of heart (or those who don't natively speak in 1s and 0s), but feel free to tag the read link and get busy if you dare.

[Via Joystiq]

In order to truly judge the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of a newfangled technology, we all know trial by fire is the only way to go. Hence, it follows logic that about 1,000 printed organic RFID tickets will be tested at the Organic Electronics Conference this September in Frankfurt, Germany. The badges will be converted by Bartsch and are "set to be used to monitor the flow of attendees during the two-day conference and exhibition." Deemed the "first ever printed, low-cost organic tickets," these devices will be trialed in order to judge their data collecting abilities and to show whether or not these would be good candidates for use in "public transportation and logistics" applications. So, for those of you heading over to this here event, make sure you're packin' some sort of RFID jammer when waltzing through the door -- you know, just to give these newb tags an unexpected challenge on their first day at work.

As we've seen time and time again, the desire to really know what's going on behind the scenes seems to be a growing trend, and while there's a number of pre-fabricated methods to keep track of your vehicle, mischievous offspring, or straying SO, why not take a little initiative and build an alternative yourself? Thankfully, a crafty DIYer has done just that, and has spelled out the details in order for you to replicate his work. The homegrown device is built around the Telit GM862 GSM-GPS module, and all told, he spent around $286 to scratch the mobile GPS itch. The device is small enough to be crammed into nearly any nook or cranny, and can transmit its position via text message to the owner. So go on, give the read link a visit and bust out your credit card -- just be sure to not let the soon-to-be-tracked individual know what you're up to, capiche?

[Via NaviGadget]

As if there weren't enough "almost theres" in the world of printable circuits, now we've got yet another team developing their own iteration of a printing press for electronics. The group, which includes scientists from DuPont and Organic ID, has reportedly "fabricated a printing plate used to print the source-drain level of an array of thin-film transistors," essentially solving some of the low-resolution constraints seen on prior competition. The goal is to eventually posses the ability to "print large, flexible circuits using machines similar to printing presses," and while it seems to be a ways from commercialization, initial testing and comparisons to more traditionally-created transistors have produced glowing results.

[Image courtesy of HowStuffWorks]

It looks like MIT is raising the bar yet again, as this time it's taking a break from crafting autonomous UAVs and stackable vehicles to cram optical circuitry on your everyday silicon chip. In an effort to "integrate the optical circuitry with electronic circuitry" on the same silicon wafer, researchers have devised a method which will harness the "enormous power of light waves in networks" while offering up a way to manufacture the circuitry cheaply. The crew has reportedly already been playing around with a working prototype, and suggests that it could eventually "redefine how optical networks are built." Moreover, the development addresses the existing "signal weakening over distance" issue in fiber optic transmissions by "splitting the light beams as they pass through a circuit, rotating one of the polarized beams, and finally rejoining them on their way out of the circuit, which retains the signals' strength." While there's no projection of when this technology could actually hit the mainstream, anything that makes it less expensive to rollout FiOS (and similar networks) to more people most definitely has our vote.