Leaving for another day the question of whether consumers have the right to modify video-game software they’ve legally purchased, a federal judge last week dismissed a lawsuit by California game maker Tecmo against the proprietors and users of a game-hacking website, after the company quietly settled with the two main defendants. Not sure what the settlement was so this might not be over yet. Link.
Zippo has some hardcore lobbyists! You can now bring empty Zippos on planes, at least in checked luggage that is. I’ve been following this Zippo thing pretty closely since I use a Zippo shaped camera and those aren’t allowed. The little camera has a cool mode that will take photos on a timed basis so when I travel I like to have it take time-lapse pictures out the window while I am gone. Link.
A long time ago you could modify a RadioShack dialer so it would play tones that simulate money was dropped into a payphone. Well, now it’s time for the old to meet the new. Here’s a How-to for doing this with an iPod- the ability to do this has been turned off on payphone for years now but it’s a fun thing reminisce about. I think the iTalk would be the best way to do this for playback if it were to work. Link.
If you can’t get enough of DIY R2-D2 building, here’s another from Italy– … taller (1.5 mt) but walks (with 2 or 3 legs) and beeps like the original, and flees from people holding light sabres! Oh, and comes with bluetooth and usb…The robot actually is the resulting prototype of a research project in creating a kind of slave or companion robot with a friendly interface. Link.
Researchers at the University of Essex are using Linux and tiny embedded computer modules to build fleets of unmanned aircraft that fly in flocking formations like birds, while performing parallel, distributed computing tasks using Bluetooth-connected Linux clustering software. The Gumstick modules measure 3.1 x 0.8 x 0.3 inches (20 x 80 x 8mm), and weigh “less than a tablespoon of water,” according to Gumstix. Link.
Amazing project that guts a Mac Mini and adds batteries. This is a pretty detailed article with photos, and great step by step. The Mac Mini ran for just over One Hour and 50 Minutes (1:50) on the Li-ion Polymer batteries! Link.
I just created a Wikipedia directory of local tool-lending libraries. After some light googling, I found twelve– three in the SF Bay Area, two in upstate New York, and the rest scattered. But I would imagine there are many more, and I hope people add to the list. Link.
