Another one to add to the LEGO project list- The VCR is controlled by the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System. It has a motorized top-loading deck, working tape reel drive and IR remote control.The deck accepts a cassette that holds two reels of (imaginary) tape. Beta, VHS and now Technic. Link. Source included on the site.
Wow! Looks like we’re going to be getting iPodder-like functionality in iTunes 4.9 (coming out in the next 60 days). For now it seems there’s only going to be free content (not purchased through iTunes) so I’m guessing you’ll add a playlist and a RSS feed and the podcasts will be downloaded automatically. The Yahoo! Music Engine has a neat plugin that does this now, so I’m excited about seeing this in iTunes soon. Link. Update: Looks like Apple will be picking the podcasts for download.
New episode of from the shadows is released! In anticipation of the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of The Sith, the From The Shadows Crew took a trip to the “Star Wars Line” in Hollywood. There FTS met up with Aaron Mosny Master Sabersmith of Saberology.com. Following in the tradition of the Jedi and the Lightsaber, Aaron has created the “Perfect Dueling Weapon” utilizing forms including Kendo, Kenjitsu, Iaido, Chinese Broadsword, and European fencing. Unlike shanai, boken, or fencing foils, this weapons design could be used for almost any martial form. Link.
A proposal to ban photography on the city’s subways to deter surveillance by terrorists has been nixed by police and transit officials. Charles Seaton, a spokesman for NYC Transit, the division of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that runs the subways, the buses and the Staten Island Railway, confirmed to the Daily News that the photo ban has been scrapped. Here’s a story from last year when this all started. And here are 200 photos sent to the NYCTA Link.
Bruce writes “This site contains 45 new microcontroller-based projects from this semester, plus 150 older projects. Projects include a turbidty meter, video games, and an electronic flower. All projects are designed and constructed by students during the last month of classes in the spring semester”. Great stuff! Link.
A broken VCR finds some audio (would be interesting to repeat this). The Simpsons as read by WGBH. WFMU’s Station Manager Ken discovers an extra audio track on the Simpsons that describes the visuals for blind people. He even provides a 21 MB, 23 minute MP3 of a recent episode that is surprisingly listenable…Are podcasts of TV show audio tracks next? Will we be listening to Family Guy and the Daily Show during our commutes? [via | via] Link.
Roadcasting is a system that allows anyone to have their own radio station, broadcasted among cars in an ad-hoc network. It plays the songs that people want to hear and it transforms car radio into an interactive medium. The site has a movie, screenshots and source code. [