Computers & Mobile
The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for digital gadgetry, open code, smart hacks, and more. Processing power to the people!
Here’s a free 411 service (800-free-411) instead of paying your cell carrier (92 percent of the $8 billion the carriers earn annually on directory assistance calls is profit) you get the same 411 information plus a location based audio ad. I’m going to try it and see how it goes. [
Rita and Google Earth overlays
DIY Weather channel – Ivo Janssen writes “I was browsing the Hurricane Rita path on the NOAA website, and then realized that Google Earth does image overlays. So I turned NOAA’s boring picture into fascinating 3D views of the hurricane path. Currently, it’s slated to miss Austin, make landfall at Matagorda Bay, take US-77 to Temple and Waco and then go on over Forth Worth”. Link.
Google to offer secure WiFi VPN
I could access the page, then it went away…Google Secure Access is a downloadable client application that allows users to establish a more secure WiFi connection. By using Google Secure Access, your internet traffic will be encrypted, preventing others from viewing the information you transmit. Link.
Control Stuff With Your Mac
Andy writes “I picked up a Velleman K8055 USB I/O card the other day and was a bit disappointed that the only software that came with it was a closed source Win32 DLL and a simple control panel for the board. So I don’t have to boot into Windows to play with it I’ve produced a Mac OS X application that talks to the board. It’s open source too so you can write your own control applications”. Link.
Josh writes “After scoping out the new AJAX multi-platform IM client 
Andy’s Plywood Case Mod
Josh writes “This is my friend’s weblog, he made this computer for his friend out of spare parts he had lying around, and lacking a case, he mounted it on a piece of plywood and added some led lights. Not really an innovative project, but pretty pro nonetheless”… Link.
HOW TO – Portable CE 2.0
The idea is simple: Using the Windows CE emulator, I could have my entire “internet communications system” on a virtual machine that I carried around with my on my USB keychain. I could essentally plug it into the USB port of any machine running Windows, and bring up the emulator and use Internet Explorer, Messenger, Inbox, etc. Version 2.0 is now based off the new ARM based Device Emulator which can run native Pocket PC binaries. Yes, you read that correctly – with this version, you will be able to run most Pocket PC apps from emulation. Link.