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Project Calculator
People seem to enjoy tracking the time they spend on various projects, so it's no surprise that a plethora of project-tracking apps are cropping up. We've mentioned dozens in the past, including iRatchet, iBiz, Billable and even On the Job, but now users have a new choice on the 'simple and streamlined' end of the spectrum with Project Calculator from blue banana software. Project Calculator features many of the fundamentals one would need for recording the time spent on projects, such as tracking multiple projects, manually editing projects and the time spent on them, exporting to various formats (CSV, PDF, HTML, etc.) for sharing with clients, wages/cost calculation, searching, filters and much more. A demo is available, while a licenses costs a mere $14.90.
Spamtrap automatically prints, shreds spam for ultimate satisfaction
Watching the digits in front of your dedicated spam folder grow isn't entirely enthralling, and to be honest, witnessing just how much junk email you receive on a daily basis can actually be somewhat infuriating. The Spamtrap provides a much more tactile and satisfying way to demolish said waste, as it disregards the delete command and gets straight to the dirty work. The installation interacts with spammers by monitoring several email addresses, and once any spam is received, the Pentium II-based machine "automatically prints and shreds" the garbage so you can really tell the spam whose boss. Subsequently, the system then feeds blacklists with the information it receives in an attempt to further clean up the web for other individuals without such extreme means of purging their inbox. And for those environmentally conscience folks who are on the edge of irate, yes, the creator does go the extra mile by recycling the paper that inevitably gets wasted. Hit the read link for a video demonstration.[Via BoingBoing]
Illuminator's first product: the Bevy iPod Shuffle case
Sure, we've seen an iPod Shuffle go mano a mano with a knife-wielding owner, but the first product from Morphie's Illuminator project takes on bumps, drops, and bottle tops with the best of 'em. The aptly-titled Bevy wears a number of hats, the most obvious of which is a dashing 2G Shuffle protective case, but other built-in functions include acting as a key ring, earbud wrap, and bottle opener for when times are desperate. The Illuminator project was unveiled at this year's Macworld, and while hundreds of entries found their way in, this is the first of three winning designs chosen to be produced and sold to the public. The Bevy is currently available for pre-ordering in green, pink, blue, orange, and silver for $15.
Shell House provides cheap, radio-equipped housing for homeless
Hey, we can't all live in the pimped out mansions or nicely appointed lodges, but an NYU graduate student is making it her personal mission to do something substantial about it. The living portable project has yielded a cardboard-based Shell House contraption that requires just $35 worth of material, a bit of time, and a hearty dose of generosity. The DIY project allows interested citizens to build collapsible houses for homeless individuals, and moreover, gives them an opportunity to experience ubiquitous computing by way of an integrated radio network. Moreover, you can couple this with a homegrown solar heater, and you've got yourself a date with nature.[Via Core77]Read - Instructions on building a Shell HouseRead - Shell House homepage
Mondo Spider robot walks, consternates onlookers
Joining the Land Walker, Robotic Giraffe, and the Anchorage Mecha as some of the most exotic, over-the-top ways to get from point A to point B is the Mondo Spider, which required a team of skilled engineers and "thousands of hours" in order to assemble. The creators seemingly spared no cost on the mechanical arachnid, as it boasts an impressive array of gears, linkages, and sheer quantities of metal to bring it all together. The man-driven beast cranks up like your average vehicle, but slipping it into first gear gets the spidey's legs a-crankin', and before long, it actually gets up to a respectable pace and commands respects from anyone close to its path. It may not shoot rubber balls or pass a state inspection, but we can't imagine too many vehicles standing up to this intimidating monster. Catch the videotaped demonstration in the links below.[Via Wired]
DIY solar heater constructed with aluminum cans
A solar-powered air conditioner doesn't do one much good during a Vermont winter, but rather than cranking on the heater (or huddling under the heated Hello Kitty mat) just to heat things up in a relatively small garage, a clever DIYer set out to concoct his own solar heater using scrap parts and a bit of free time. The solar wall was primarily built with black-painted soda cans, a wooden wall, plexiglass cover, and an inlet and outlet to channel the air around. The homegrown "solar furnace" captured the sunlight beaming onto the south side of the building, and as cool air found its way into the toasty cans and rose through drilled out portals, it managed to heat up a respectable 15-degrees Fahrenheit before escaping into the garage. The creator did note that his next attempt would sport a relocated inlet and be much larger in size, but if you're interested in putting a few in-the-way parts to good use next winter, be sure to hit the read link for a pictorial how-to.[Via HackNMod, thanks Joe]
Prototype Philips remote control mimics a book
Although Chen Hung Ming's Book Style remote control isn't the first gizmo to mimic pages of the past, this prototype device adds a whole new meaning to flipping through the channels. Reportedly crafted for a short-term Philips project, Ming set out to construct a remote that was "perfect for everyone," had a simplistic interface scheme, and would appeal to a broad group of ages. Still, we can't imagine that this "universal" remote would be any easier to program that the internet-savvy controllers that are already available, but the clever colored tabs are indeed a thoughtful inclusion when considering the elderly. Of course, we've no idea if Philips (or anyone else, for that matter) plans on commercialization the design, but click on through for another glimpse anyway.[Via YankoDesign]
Welcome Home, Pioneer keeps tumbleweed on its toes
For those living on the range in, say, Oklahoma, this one should hit pretty close to home, as the Welcome Home, Pioneer installation melds dynamic balancing with an American icon in a nifty DIY creation. The system utilizes a tilting platform constructed from "recycled bike drive trains, EMT conduit, and canvas" that is set into motion based on the commands given by an infrared security camera and integrated motors. Interestingly, the actual space and lighting requirements for the motion-sensing processes to function as designed are quite rigid, but if it's concocted correctly, it can "run unattended for an indefinite period of time."Click on to the read link below for a myriad of photographs and videos of the construction process, and of course, a videotaped demonstration of the tumblin' in action.[Via BoingBoing]
InsideOutside garb alerts you of uncomfortable areas
Sensor-laden clothing isn't exactly atypical this day in age, but the InsideOutside project takes wearable alerting to a new (albeit uncomfortable) platform. The garments are supposed to be rocked underneath of your corporately-approved suit and tie, and can purportedly assist you when coming in range of areas or situations that you don't spot right off, but you know would make you antsy if you did. Essentially, the garb "heats up or cools down uncomfortably" when the wearer gets near user-selected situations that they don't appreciate, meaning that you can program the clothing to tip you off when nearing CCTV farms, pop concerts, and rival fans of your alma mater. Sadly, we've no clue whether or not these sophisticated threads will ever make it to the retail scene, but if this thing (eventually) allows you to add spots to your discomfort list on-the-fly via your mobile, we're sensing a real winner. [Via MAKE]
Solar powered Wii station a steal at $1,431!
The sun drives climates on our little blue planet, feeds plants with its warm light, and makes our pale gamers' skin dark and crispy with its evil death rays. And thanks to Tom's Hardware, it also powers a mobile Wii kiosk. Costing a mere $1,431 to build (the HD TV and Wii were the largest expenses), the solar panel feeds a battery that provides 6-8 hours of play time. The panel only provides 1/10 of the power needed to run the set-up, but keeping it charged is as easy as staying out of the shade.Want to really impress us? Build a wind-powered Wii kiosk.[Via TwitchGuru]
Bucket Mousetrap: less mouse destruction, more awesome
Is it a better mousetrap? Probably not. But it's pretty dang cool, and any hack that calls for a solenoid and a bucket as its main ingredients is alright in our book. The mousetrap is triggered by infrared emitter / detector pairs, with the enclosure holding the electronics standing right over the bait. When the mouse (or other hapless victim) interrupts one of the IR pairs, the electromagnet releases the bucket and the mouse is trapped. We're pretty convinced this is an optimal situation for the mouse, since he gets fed, doesn't get his neck snapped, and ends up at a rave when it's all over -- peep the video after the break to see what we mean.[Via Make]
OmniPlan 1.0 goes official, retires 'beta' tag
You've seen the screenshots, and you've even seen it in beta. Now, and for the first time ever, OmniPlan - the project management app from the makers of OmniOutliner and OmniAnythingElse - has gone officially official. The ultra-hip 'beta' moniker has been put to rest in the back yard in favor of a final 1.0 app, complete a non-expiring demo (though limited to 20 items in a doc), a $149.95 price tag and a $60 'Competitive Upgrade Rebate' for anyone switching from a valid copy of PMX, FastTrack Scheduler, Merlin, and ConceptDraw. Now there's a way to make a splash.
2 new bundles revealed for France
These two new DS Lite bundles of popular Sega games Sonic Rush and Project Rub are not confirmed to be limited edition DS Lites like the ones we've seen with Pokemon and Final Fantasy characters on them, instead featuring the black and pink DS Lites respectively. However, each bundle does include a limited edition pack-in, such as a Sonic figurine and T-shirt. The Project Rub bundle is stated as costing 129,99 € and the Sonic Rush bundle is stated as costing 169,99 €.
Stay on top of classes with assignment planner
I've always thought keeping track of school-related courses, assignments and projects was a little clunky with apps like iCal and Entourage, and apparently Logan Rockmore agrees, so he created assignment planner. Answering the call of students everywhere, assignment planner brings a number of classroom-focused abilities to the time management table, including: * filtering assignments by completion status and type * course and textbook tracking * color-coding assignments based on your criteria * Dashboard widget to quickly monitor assignmentsNaturally, a demo is available, but assignment planner's price is just right: $5 scores you a license for this Universal Binary app.Thanks Ronald
Control your IR devices via SMS
As the site clearly indicates, "The purpose of this circuit is to make the human life better and easier," and we couldn't agree more. If you've got an ancient Ericsson lying around that would otherwise be ready for the recycle bin, this circuit gives your faithful friend a new lease on life as an SMS-actuated IR sender capable of controlling up to eight devices, depending on how you opt to build it. A simple 8-digit text message to the phone is all it takes to send the appropriate ON or OFF signals, and as an added bonus, the author shows you how to wire the phone directly into the circuit so a battery's no longer required. A better and easier human life, indeed.[Via Make]
Wow your friends with your very own "Time Fountain"
Alright, this project isn't for the faint of heart, but nobody said stopping time would be easy. Instead of boring you with construction details that we don't really understand, we invite you to sit back and marvel at this crazy creation, inspired by such disparate elements as the artwork of Shigeko Hirakawa and the TV show Smallville. The basic principle of the "Time Fountain" involves fluorescent water for extra leet looks, and UV LED strobe lights that are timed in such a way to make the dripping water look like it's slowing down, stopping or even dripping backwards. It's probably best if we just show you the effect, so click on for the vid in glorious YouTube-vision and be amazed.[Via MAKE]
Curio Basic offered for free until midnight, August 7th
Remember Curio from Zengobi, that unique brainstorming and project management app we found a couple weeks ago? As a thanks to all the publicity they've been getting lately the company has decided to offer Curio Basic for free - but only until midnight, EDT on Tuesday, August 7th. All you need to do is enter some basic information at the promotion page, and a license (a $39 value) will be emailed to you. Definitely note, however, that one of Zengobi's terms is that they can cancel this offer at any time (probably in case they get slammed with too many requests), so I would recommend you run, don't walk, to snag your copy. After all: you can't beat 'free'.
Widget Watch: Basecamp
Basecamp is an award-winning, web-based project management service from the much-loved 37Signals, makers of the equally-loved Backpack. Since Backpack has had its own widget for a while now, it seems that Kennedia Consulting felt it was high time Basecamp received the Dashboard treatment as well. The cleverly titled Basecamp Widget offers an interface to the pleasantly simple, yet powerful, Basecamp web service, allowing you to: View Milestones, Todos, Posts and Contacts for your active projects Complete and Uncomplete Milestones Complete and Uncomplete ToDo items The author has also stated that a slew of additional features are planned for the widget, depending on how much interest is expressed from the community (hint hint). So check out the widget, submit some feedback and let the developer know you care.
Shiira 2.0 Preview
Shiira has always been the browser we all have installed, play with when we're bored or need to test site compatibility, but never really use in day-to-day work. Despite the fact that the current version has essentially all the features of Safari, the interface and features always felt a bit unpolished, at least to me. Delusions of Grandeur has a preview of the next version of the open source browser, Shiira 2.0, and it looks to be a refreshing change. Sporting a newly designed interface, multiple ways of viewing tabs, full screen mode, plugin API, and so much more, Shiira 2 will be pretty, if nothing else.
OmniPlan
Well, the cat's out of the bag folks. OmniPlan is the name of that now not-so-super-secret new piece of software from Omni Group. As the name oh-so-subtly suggests, OmniPlan does project planning, complete with Gant charts and whatever else you project planning people do. I'm not quite sure what all of the features do, as I have zero background in project planning, but it's sure pretty!OmniPlan has been in private beta for about a week, and a public beta will be released on Wednesday.
