Celebrity Nerds: Lil' Wayne's got a modded Xbox

by **Laura June** posted Oct 9th 2009 at 3:39PM

Celebrity Nerds confirms what you always knew, deep in your heart of hearts: that stars are nerds like us. Send in your own confirmations of this fact right here.

Now, we don't have photographic evidence of this one, so Wayne, if you happen to be a reader, feel free to snap a pic of yourself with the console. Either way, we have enough proof to proudly classify Lil' Wayne a... you know, nerd. GTR has published a video of the New Orleans-born rapper having a conversation with KRS-One during which he says he's got an "Xbox that has every game from A-Z, Atari, Nintendo, pong, movies & even porn." Whoa. Where can we get one of those? Wayne claims that the Xbox was a gift... but we bet he hacked it himself. Video is embedded after the break.

[Via Joystiq]

by **Laura June** posted Oct 5th 2009 at 10:27AM

Hey, not all mods are outlandish and creepy. Some are just plain old... utilitarian. Acidmods got a request for a modded Xbox 360 controller that would move the X, Y, A, and B buttons and the right joystick. The fully functional finished product looks a little odd to the eyes, of course, but it's also done so well that it looks like a stock unit. As you'll see in the video after the break, the modded controller would take some getting used to for most of us, but it sure has character.

by **Laura June** posted Sep 26th 2009 at 3:04PM

We've seen so many mods around here that sometimes it's truly hard to get excited over the minor stuff. Well, this doesn't fall into that category in any way. A computer scientist at the University in Warwick has developed a method to use Microsoft's Xbox 360 to detect heart defects and help prevent heart attacks. Based on a demo created by Simon Scarle a few years back when he worked at Rare studio, it's based on a modded chip that -- instead of producing graphics for the game -- now produces data tracking how the electrical signals in the heart moves about damaged cells, creating a model of it. The model can then be used to help doctors to identify defects and disturbances in the heart's beating. This significantly decreases the costs and complications of creating a model of the heart, which is currently done by supercomputers and is very expensive. Scarle's project and findings were just published in the August issue of the Journal of Computational Biology and Chemistry. Looks like we'll all have a response the next time someone tells us that gaming is good for nothing, right?

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 25th 2009 at 2:48AM

Ben Heck. Just the mere mention of the name brings chills to the spines of all who mod, and if today's the first day you've ever come into contact with those seven letters, prepare to be changed. Forever. The Great Modder's latest gig involved the creation of a one-handed Xbox 360 controller, but the catch was that it required completion within a ridiculously short period of time. Essentially, the left analog stick was repositioned to fit on the underside of the controller, enabling the user to operate that with his / her leg while handling the right side of the pad as usual. Check out a video of the admittedly raw looking final product after the break, and feel free to grab some inspiration while you're there.

[Via HackADay]

by **Nilay Patel** posted Sep 24th 2009 at 10:26PM

So this is interesting: apparently Google's hit the developer of the Cyanogen modded Android ROM with a cease-and-desist letter, asking him to stop distributing the closed-source Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. What's a little strange is that Cyanogen is targeted at "Google Experience" devices like the G1 and myTouch, so it's not like Google is really protecting anything here -- leading us to wonder if they're just using the copyright argument to shut down a popular mod that's tempted over 30,000 users into rooting their phones. That's just speculation on our part, though -- the dev says he's trying to open a dialogue with Google, so perhaps we'll find out some more answers soon.

[Via Android and Me]

by **Vladislav Savov** posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 5:30AM

We don't know exactly how to say this without overloading your nerd subsystem, but this R2D2 unit packs eight consoles, an integrated sound system and a projector for throwing your Jet Grind Radio sessions onto a wall. The only extras you'll need are the masses of controllers you see above and the steady constitution to not erupt into geek euphoria. Popular Science reader Brian De Vitis is the man you have to thank for this splicing of console goodness, and he's been kind enough to also provide a picture of the R2's mobo-laden innards. It awaits just past the break.

[Via Hack N Mod]

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 22nd 2009 at 9:23PM

It's hard to believe that BUG Labs has been helping tinkerers thinker for two whole years now, particularly when you realize that its BUGbase has been operating sans WiFi all along. At long last, after a painful battle with the licensing overlords connected to WiFi and Bluetooth, BUG has finally received approval to ship the BUGbase WiFi (which does BT as well) both here in the States as well as in Europe. Aside from those two huge additions, BUG also upgraded the device with a friction-fit docking connector and improved power management, not to mention a few subtle "under the hood" tweaks designed to make everyone's lives a little easier. Oh, and for existing BUGbase owners? A special BUGWiFi module will be shipping in a few weeks, and yes, all of BUG's other modules will be compatible with either base. Once you're done hopping around like a jovial schoolgirl, feel free to order your own BUGbase WiFi now for $449.

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 22nd 2009 at 1:42PM

We've seen our fair share of Wall-E mods over the months, and yes, we've also seen an impressive papercraft creation or two. But frankly, we've never, ever seen a papercraft Wall-E, let alone a papercraft Wall-E that serves a purpose. TotoroYamada took the time to concoct what he describes as his own personal Mail-E, a servo-equipped paper robot that's programed to check his inbox every few seconds and bust a move when a new message arrives. Cuteness overload is in full effect -- just peek the videos after the break if you've any doubts.

by **Paul Miller** posted Sep 21st 2009 at 3:22PM

Nokia has been handing out the N900 for selective "artsy" uses lately through its "Push" program, and the folks at Tinker it now! sure seem to have put their model to good use. They've paired the device with all matter of nostalgia, including a Rolodex, FM radio and a 3D Viewmaster. Our favorite by far, however, is the Speak & Spell hack, which puts the gargantuan Speak & Spell keyboard to good use in penning text messages for the N900 -- which displays them in the classic font and even articulates your words with a speech synthesis engine. It's all a testament to the flexibility of Linux, hacker ingenuity and of course liberal application of Arduino, but it's also a little advertorial-ey, so you might want to leave your gag reflex at home for this one.

[Via Nokia Conversations]

by **Tim Stevens** posted Sep 18th 2009 at 8:31AM

Ben Heck moves shoulder buttons to PS3 the front, spins us right round, baby, right round

If you've ever wished that those buttons on your videogame controller were over here instead of over there, you know who to call. Master modder Ben Heck's latest creation isn't his most amazing, but it fulfills a need for one gamer, that is to "make the shoulder buttons easier to get at." The result is a somewhat inelegant mod (by Heck's standards), bringing the L and R buttons to the fore, ditching the "last generation" rumble motors in the process. No loss, right Phil Harrison? Video demonstration after the break.

[Via technabob]

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 18th 2009 at 2:08AM

Jeffrey Stephenson is to case mods what Benjamin Heckendorn is to console mods. There, we said it. After watching the former pump out wood-grained mod after wood-grained mod, Sir Jeff has issued yet another -- wait for it -- wood-grained mod. The black walnut mission-style side table is actually a full-blown PC in disguise, with a standard ATX mid-tower within that's equipped with an Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA graphics and dual stage temperature-controlled exhaust fans. He notes that it'll be available next Spring for those with fine tastes, though we're sure he'd customize it to fit your living room suite for the right price.

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 17th 2009 at 9:37PM

There's "desperate for companionship," and then there's "just plain cool." We're going out on a limb here and suggesting that the scenario you see unfolding above is a case of the latter, with modder Carl developing a robotic partner that not only rides shotgun on this tandem bicycle, but also helps pedal. A PMG-132 electric motor is connected to Joules (that's the robot, just so you know), and thanks to an array of nuts, bolts, joints and the promise of a better life in Carl's garage, Joules has graciously agreed to help power the bike for as long as his owner decides to exercise. Trust us, there's a truly touching video waiting for you after the break, and you'll immediately lose five nerd points should you choose not to head down there and look.

by **Donald Melanson** posted Sep 16th 2009 at 12:59AM

magicJack may still be sorting out its own fairly ambitious cellular plans, but it looks like some folks are taking it upon themselves to put the cheap phone call-making device to some exciting new uses -- like this crafty modder who crammed his trusty "MJ" (as those in the know call it) into his Eee PC 1000HE netbook. That mod apparently took a full day of tweaking to get working just right, but it does indeed seem to work as promised, and will let you make dirt cheap phone calls simply by plugging any old phone directly into your netbook (via a headphone jack). Unfortunately, there's no step-by-step how-to just yet, but you can check out some pics of the process at the link below and do your best to follow along.

by **Tim Stevens** posted Sep 14th 2009 at 8:34AM

Video: Ben Heck amazes with upgraded Atari 800 laptop -- again

Of all the legacy platforms that have been massaged by modder extraordinaire Ben Heck, it seems the Atari 800 is his favorite. One got the portable treatment back in November of 2005, and he then re-worked it in late 2006. He's done it again, creating the third revision of the 8-bit luggable, completely overhauling the mod in period brownish/beige plastics, with old-school LED lights and an authentic keyboard that even pops up after the laptop is opened. Inside things are a bit more modern, with a 2.5-inch HDD serving the games (no more pressing PLAY on the cassette drive) and a GameCube power supply, of all things. It's a lovely creation that Ben himself rather enthusiastically demonstrates after the break and we, like him, wish we could add one to our collection.

[Via technabob]

by **Darren Murph** posted Sep 12th 2009 at 2:23PM

Okay, so maybe this here mod isn't nearly as extreme as shoving an entire PC into the case of a classic Game Boy, but it's still pretty fantastic in its own right. Completed at some point during the dog days of summer, the 80GB Game Boy had its innards stripped and replaced with parts that enable a 2.5-inch 80GB SATA HDD to operate beautifully as a standard USB hard drive. The display you see here is (unfortunately) an illusion, as it's simply a professional-looking still insert that merely gives the impression of it paying Game Boy titles while offloading spreadsheets. Now, if someone could figure out how to make it pull double duty...

[Via technabob]

Celebrity Nerds: Lil' Wayne's got a modded Xbox

Acidmods moves a few buttons and a joystick on Xbox 360 controller

Computer scientist mods Xbox 360 to detect heart attacks, girls still mysteriously elusive

Ben Heck throws together one-handed Xbox 360 controller, probably with one hand

Google hits Android ROM modder with a cease-and-desist letter

R2D2 turned into retro gaming shrine, includes head-mounted projector

BUGbase WiFi finally overcomes, ships in the US and Europe

Papercraft Wall-E checks email, dances a jig when new message arrives

N900 hacked to replace the innards of a Speak & Spell, can never bring back your childhood

Ben Heck moves PS3 shoulder buttons to the front, spins us right round, baby, right round

Mission-style PC casemod easily slides into your La-Z-Boy collection

Video: Joules robot rides shotgun, helps pedal on two-person bicycle

magicJack gets hacked into a magicNetbook

Video: Ben Heck amazes with Atari 800 laptop -- again

Original Game Boy repurposed as external hard drive

ASUS UL80Vt review

HP Envy 15 unboxing and hands-on

Motorola DROID review

Crazy-hinged Dell Adamo XPS hands-on!

BlackBerry Bold 9700 hands-on and impressions

HTC's HD2 hands-on

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 hands-on

Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis

Engadget Podcast 170 - 11.08.2009

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