Month: November 2005

Bait and Switch Camera Stores…

Bait and Switch Camera Stores…

Canon5D FrontMost Makers I know are usually thrifty (in a good way) and on the prowl for a good deal, but be careful…Today will likely go down in web history as another example of just how quick and bad things can get online – we’ve lived through the Kryptonite bic pen lock swarm, the recent Sony Rootkit and now read the story of someone who may have discovered when those low-cost camera sites have deals that seem too good to be true, they usually are. Link. If you’re a fan of Digg, this saga is the most “Dugg” story along with the most comments, ever. It will be interesting to see what happens next…

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Build a Magnetic Ball Levitator for

Build a Magnetic Ball Levitator for $20

Lev30“There’s a super article in Popular Electronics, May 1996, pp 48-52, 78, titled “Build a Magnetic Ball Levitator”, by James Cicon. It describes how to build an electromagnet with an optical sensor which will keep a hollow steel ball floating in the air about 1/4″ below the electromagnet. This is like the globe of the earth which is suspended in air under an electromagnet that can be purchased for about $125. The material costs for this project is only about $20.” Link.

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HOW TO – Build a Home Terabyte Backup System Using Linux

HOW TO – Build a Home Terabyte Backup System Using Linux

8590F1.InlineWow, this will likely be commonplace in just a few years…“Build a low-cost, terabyte-sized backup server using Linux and back up your digital audio files, digital images and digital movie recordings. A terabyte-plus backup and storage system is now an affordable option for Linux users. This article discusses options for building and configuring an inexpensive, expandable, Linux-based backup server.” Link.

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The Big Idea…

The Big Idea…

StoryMAKE’s special projects editor David Pescovitz wrote a great article for Salon about “Big Ideas” in tech, including a section on the Maker mindset. “Robugs, biologically based software, the GeoWeb, transgenic art and other hot frontiers in technological innovation.” I really enjoyed it. Oh, when you click the link, you have to “click here and watch a brief ad” to get to the article unless you have a Salon account….Link.

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The Home-Built Effect Processor Express

The Home-Built Effect Processor Express

Death“What you see before you is an OPEN DSP system. People are currently using it to create some of the most ORIGINAL-SOUNDING EFFECTS and INSTRUMENTS in the world, since its architecture is open. Its users tweak, modify, CUSTOMIZE, improve and develop the software it comes with. It’s inexpensive and can be quite portable. It runs MIDI or connects to your Palm Pilot. Some programs don’t require either to make fun and useful effects.” [via] Link.

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DIY Retro cellphone handset

DIY Retro cellphone handset

Retrophone HandsetBill writes “When I saw the retro-phone handset on thinkgeek I knew I wanted one. Then I realized they wanted $30+ for it, and I thought to myself — I can build that. So after some cutting, testing, and building I have finished my Retro-Cell phone handset, and I will show you how you can build your own for under $10.00″ Link.

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