Excellent article by MAKE pal Carlo Longino – As mobile phones become more powerful and pervasive, it was inevitable that they’d spawn the same kind of homebrew hacking culture as computers and the Internet. While the locked-down nature of cell phones and the closemindedness of wireless carriers has stunted that culture’s growth, a few developments are afoot that promise to give a big boost to DIY mobile programming… Link.
It might be time to build that MythTV box…I recently got a sample of Tivo DRM, accidentally I suspect. Recently a Simpson’s rerun recorded with a red-flag next to it (an icon I’ve never seen before). When I selected the episode, I got a message to the effect that “the copyright holder prohibited saving the episode past date mm/dd”. I also noted that this episode could not be copied using Tivo Togo (but ironically it could be “saved to tape” – I guess that is the analog hole). [via] Link.
We’re working with a partner to put together a focus group session about technology-related projects and the projects you Make on your time. In this session, we will be brainstorming new ideas and getting your feedback on possible future concepts. This session is hosted by MAKE magazine but conducted by an outside focus group facilitator and is designed to get creative ideas about how the marketplace can better serve your needs. The focus group will be held in San Francisco this Saturday, Sept 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All qualified participants will be compensated for their time. Link.
A great kit will allow you to make something you probably wouldn’t make any other way. You are given all the parts, and then you assemble and finish. Musical instruments, with their exactness, fit into that category for me. Years ago I used this kit to make a simple dulcimer. It was easy to build, and beautiful to behold and hear. Link.
Photographer and media hacker Jacob Appelbaum sent word of a project from the New Orleans area. Today one of the better adhoc hacks I’ve seen came into town. Behold the glory of a lunch pail made into a low power FM station. Link. Read more about Jake’s and Joel Johnson’s “geek aid” efforts on their blogs.
If you’re around the San Francisco Bay Area, please stop by Dorkbot-SF this Wednesday evening. MAKE: Magazine editor/publisher Dale Dougherty will talk about the “Making of MAKE.” Dale will be joined by managing editor Shawn Connally, art director Kirk Von Rohr, and me, your trusty special projects editor. Spot Draves and Jon Phillips will also be presenting their work. The festivities will begin at Blasthaus beginning at 7:30pm… Link.
Make writer Dave Prochnow shares his experiences living though the Hurricane…By hooking a DC motor to the rear hub of my bicycle with appropriate gearing, I was able to generate a fairly consistent 8V-9V power supply (see Plan1.gif). Don’t take this activity lightly. I’m a vigorous cyclist and skater practicing 50-60 miles per week. Maintaining this amount of power for roughly 30 minutes required a significant effort on my part. As they say, your mileage may vary. Link.
