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German robotics group crafts LEGO factory to build... LEGO cars
It's one thing to craft something remarkable all by your lonesome, but constructing an entire factory to handle all the dirty work for you is really doing something. A robotics group assembled (ahem) at a German "grammar school" (VHG) in lower Bavaria has fabricated a feat that even Toys R Us would marvel over, as the group's expansive LEGO Mindstorm factory was built entirely out of LEGO blocks, and moreover, programmed to assemble LEGO-based vehicles. Taking a note from every other major assembly plant in the world, this automated construction site feeds blocks from one end to the other, carefully pushing, pulling, and connecting pieces as necessary to completely assemble a LEGO car. While we've no idea how you'd even begin concocting this same masterpiece at your own domicile, nor how tough it is to be admitted into this apparently incredulous university, you'll reportedly need at least 2,000 man hours and €3,000 ($3,937) just to get started, but feel free to click on through for a lengthy video demonstration.[Via MetaFilter]
How-To: Make your own MP3 player
We got a whiff of MAKE's Daisy a while back, but now we've finally managed to get our hands on one of these open source MP3 player kits. Today we'll whip out our soldering iron and show you how things shake out. The kit isn't dirt cheap at $115 each, but it's completely open source and flexible - making it ideal for a SunDIY afternoon (har), or for that soldering-iron-weilding open source fanatic in your life. Read on!
Daisy MP3 Player Kit, a DIY DAP for $120
Looking for a weekend project, or haven't found a music player that'll satisfy your inner creative geek? Well, meet MAKE's Daisy MP3 Player Kit, an open-source setup that'll play MP3 and WAV files all from one little chip board. Of course, this is a kit, not a full-fledged player, meaning Daisy comes in parts -- you'll have to give it a power source and a case should you want to actually use it in the real world. You can buy whole kit (the caboodle is extra) from MAKE or direct from its Oakland-based creator for $115. By the way, if you manage to strap the Daisy to some sunglasses or other headwear, we figure that would place you right smack in the middle of the wearable MP3 spectrum, which ranges from the ridiculous iSoundCap to the sublime DIY Oakley Thump shades.[Via MAKE:]
How to: Make a travel case for your second gen iPod shuffle
This How To might have a limited audience, since it is only relevant to people who own the following items: Apple in-ear headphones a second gen iPod shuffle The in-ear headphones come with a case that is suitable for use as an iPod shuffle case, with some alterations. Follow these instructions, which consist mainly of getting rid of the pins inside the headphone case, and you've got yourself an Apple branded shuffle case. Pretty sweet.[via MAKE]
How to create a screensaver for your iPod
Rocking Linux on your iPod and hacking the firmware to change the on-screen graphics are certainly nifty tweaks to distinguish your otherwise commonplace Apple gizmo, but tossing a screensaver on there definitely ups the ante. While you may have seen video loops running on 5G iPods displayed at your local Apple Store, you probably figured a genius from the service bar rigged it up using a soldering iron or proprietary software, but the simplicity behind the secret is quite refreshing. To fancy up your own 5G (and likely 5.5G) iPod, simply create a folder dubbed "Demo Mode" and rename any video clip "Demo." After 2 minutes of stagnation while on charge, the device will automatically begin looping your recently renamed file, which is (presumably) sure to bring pure geek elation to even the most imperturbable PMP junky.[Via MAKE]
MAKE creates a drawbot that doesn't get angry
Last time we saw a drawbot, it drew a happy face and then got angry. This new drawbot, shown in a MAKE video, is the latest from our friends who created one of the most popular mooks in the US. The idea behind their bot is to have it scan an image and then reproduce that photo by drawing it -- for now, they've gotten the robot to illustrate a star, but they're working on getting it to reproduce human faces. Still an impressive piece of machinery, but we'll wait around for the version that you can set up at a bar mitzvah to draw big-headed children engaged in their favorite activities.
Sony's PRS-500 e-book reader in the wild
Speaking of the future, we always thought that by the 21st century we'd all have digital pads to read stuff on, instead of these old-fashioned analog "books." Well, that's what Sony's betting on with its PRS-500, anyway, which has just been spotted in the wild for the first time -- in the hands of none other than Phillip Torrone of MAKE magazine (and Engadget) fame. We'd previously reported that this $350-ish e-book reader was going to be delayed (again), but that somehow it would be shipping in time for "the holidays." Given Sony's other problems of late, though, we wouldn't be surprised if the company was referring to our next summer holiday. Remember, regular ol' books may be low-tech, but at least they don't explode. Keep reading for another snap, and then head over to MAKE for the full lowdown...
Study: many don't know the model of their phone
We can understand your phone's model name slipping your mind. Heck, we've even confused the occasional Nokia 6680 with a 6682. In a study commissioned by consulting group LogicaCMG, British research firm Ipsos MORI has found that 49% of surveyed users feel the pain, unable to recall their phone's model on command. More frightening, though, is that full 9% of folks don't know the model or make of their piece. As LogicaCMG's COO points out, "many operators could well be trying to sell advanced data services based on the incorrect assumption that the users they are communicating with have basic knowledge of their own handsets." We shudder to think that the under-informed masses could slow down 3G rollouts that are already poking along at a turtle's pace in some parts of the world, but we can see how being unable to distinguish a Samsung from a Sony Ericsson could limit your ability to make use of, oh, pretty much any feature beyond voice calling.[Via textually.org]
Steam powered iMac
I spent much of my college days reading Victorian literature, and since I also happen to be a SciFi geek it should shock no one that I enjoy Steampunk (though I would be shocked if many of you even know what Steampunk is). It seems that Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane share my love of melding 21st and 19th century technologies together because they are responsible for the Steam Powered Internet Machine.It makes me so happy to live in a world where a steam powered iMac exists.[via Make]
Make's coverage of RoboGames 2006
Having already blown our entire travel budget attending CES, E3, and various other important events in sunny locations, we weren't able to scrape together the funds to hit up this year's annual RoboGames festival in San Francisco, but luckily Make magazine/blog has filled in the void by providing some excellent coverage. Formerly known as the ROBOlympics, the event has grown to over 20 categories and demonstrations, covering some of the same territory we saw at the Eastern Canadian Robot Games -- such as sumo wrestling, fire-fighting, and line-following -- but also throwing in a little RoboCup-style soccer football, a new 3-on-3 hockey tournament, and even a trio of so called Tetsujin events in which otherwise unathletic individuals sport hydraulic mech suits which enable them to perform amazing feats of speed, strength, and dexterity. Besides sponsoring a display table among the likes of Lego and NASA, Make also has its Media Maker Bre Pettis filing daily videocasts and flickr photosets from the scene, featuring such Engadget faves as Vstone's Robovie-M, Kondo's KHR-1, and HiTec's Robonova as well as several other non-competitive models like Mark Sherman's snakebot and a rig that can play and seemingly defeat children at Connect Four. You can follow the links below to get a feel for all the action, and stay tuned to Make because Day 3 coverage is only starting to trickle in.Read- RoboGames siteRead- Make @ RoboGamesRead- RoboGames Day 1Read- RoboGames Day 2
DIY cable release and serial cable for Canon Digital Rebel
While DSLR prices are dropping, the prices for accessories are not, so the folks over at Make have come up with a way to make a cable release and serial-port cable out of electronics you might already have laying around. The cable release, which helps to prevent camera-shake during long-exposures, requires a 2.5-mm stereo phone plug, some flexible wire and a switch. The serial-port cable, which allows you to make "bulb" exposures with the Remote Capture software included with the camera, requires a few more parts and some coding knowledge, but the reward could be well worth the effort for astrophotographers or people who want more cred at the next Maker Faire.[Via Make: Blog]
Maker Faire (Part 2)
We've got more odd creations and far out gadgets from our leisurely Saturday and Sunday at the Maker Faire. If you liked round one, check out round two to see more from the Faire and find out about this robot made from scrounged and garage sale parts. See you next year, Maker Faire!
More laser etched Powerbooks
Philip Torrone is at it again. 3 more Powerbooks have received the laser etching treatment (read about the first one he did, or get yours done by ETCHamac). This time the Powerbooks get a NeXT logo, a bunny in a tsunami, and some tasteful blossom branches.I really want to get this done to my Powerbook, since new tops only cost $35 (for the 15 inchers). Would you do this to your precious Powerbook?[via O'Grady's PowerPage]
Make a frame out of a Powerbook
Do you have a need for a digital picture frame and own an old Powerbook you no longer want? Well then, you should craft your own digital picture frame out of your Powerbook following these directions. If only I hadn't traded in my old TiBook for an Aluminum Powerbook.[via Make]
Real-life Frogger (or: Roomba hacking is fun)
MAKE: Blogger (and one time Joystiq contributor) Phillip Torrone and Limor Fried (creator of the awesome Pac-Man LED bike wheels) teamed up recently at the SXSW conference in Austin to use a Roomba robotic vacuum to play a real-life game of Frogger! Armed with only a Bluetooth-enabled Roomba, a green t-shirt, and the alcoholic consumption necessary to devise such a brilliant idea, they managed the little "frog" across four lanes of traffic ten times before falling under the wheels of a Toyota 4-Runner. Afterwards Torrone said, "We had a lot to drink before we got here but there's nothing to sober you up like steering a robot through traffic." Ah, truer words were never spoken... not ever. [Thanks, redLlama]
Animated LED Pac-Man bicycle wheels
Using LEDs and a "persistence of vision" technique, ladyada has created an animated Pac-Man scene on the spokes of her bicycle. Want your own? She directs us to her tutorial for SpokePOV, an "easy-to-make electronic kit toy that turns your bicycle wheel into a customized display." Using a free schematic, some open source software, and a kit that goes for about $37.50, you can make your own custom bicycle light show. Pac-Man's taken, so how about Mario and a goomba? The Prince and a katamari? I'm seriously inclined to do this even though, in Philly, my bike would get stolen faster than you can say wakka wakka wakka.[Via MAKE: Blog][UPDATE: Corrected the gender of ladyada to reflect that that means Lady Ada. Thanks, breath.]
