The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for digital gadgetry, open code, smart hacks, and more. Processing power to the people!
Dell included a 16X PCI-E slot with the Dell SC420. Oddly only enough pins for an 8X card are present, and they placed 2 dividers preventing the use of a 16X card even though it’s a 16X slot. Knocking out those two dividers and running a 16x card at 8x is the plan. With the minimal effects of 8X vs. 16X, this modification was a go! [via] Link.
Paul writes “You recently posted my article on how to ubuntu linux for novices, and now I’ve got another for you. In this how to I show you how to setup and tweak the latest AJAX webmail client that recently gained lots of buzz, RoundCube. It’s easy to use, fast UI will make it a threat to Gmail, Kahuna and other webmail clients as it goes from alpha to beta.” Link.
Here’s an iTunes add-on for Mobile Phones. This free software allows PalmOne Treo 650 & 600 smartphones, Sony-Ericsson’s Walkman phones, Nokia’s XpressMusic and Samsung MP3 phones (with hard keys to control playback) to be synchronized with iTunes. It enables them to be a virtual iTunes phones like the Motorola ROKR, but without the 100 song limit. Link.
Mark writes “Having some issues with my G3-keyboard in my 12″ ibook, I was lucky to find a G4-keyboard cheap, only it was an Azerty-model and meant for a 14″… After trying all kinds of solutions, I decided in the end to make it a ‘Das iBook Keyboard'” Link.
Here’s another laptop to picture frame project – this one uses an iBook. The iBook screen was flipped around, a new color added and the whole thing uses a hockey puck to stand on its own. The power button was moved to a more accessible spot too. Link.
Seems to me this would could be used with a GPS and low cost portable computer for the blind…“a belt which enables its user to feel his orientation in space via vibrotactile stimulation. This belt is equipped with a set of vibrators controlled by an electronic compass: the element pointing north is always slightly vibrating. That way, the person wearing the belt gets permanent input about his heading relative to the earth’s magnetic field.” [via] Link.
Here’s a pretty good overview and how to on setting up Linux on a Mac or PC. I usually carry a few Ubuntu “live CDs” when I travel – these CDs allow you to boot in to Linux, but it won’t mess up anything on the hard drive. More often than not, the folks I show it to start using Ubuntu, it’s a pretty nice system and this how to is really handy to get it up and running on that old computer gathering dust you might have. Link.
