Last week the free VMware player was released. It lets you run virtual machines, but not create them. Here’s a HOW TO for creating your own virtual machines. In this example, a usable VMware image using the VMware player and FreeDOS. I think one day I’d like to make an OS jukebox, you’d put in a quarter and it would “play” any OS you want and then you access the net, etc… Link.
The Dark Blade PC case was started in 2004, and it’s looking like it’s almost done. Made from milling a lot of metal, comes with 2 hydraulic pumps to keep it cool, it’s gorgeous. This is the type of PC case design you’ll see in some futuristic version of MoMa. [via] Link.
Front Row is a new media center application from Apple, it’s shipping on the new iMacs and you use it to manage movies, photos, music, DVDs and more from your couch – with a slick interface. No word if Apple will sell or distribute versions for that Mac you already have, but a couple folks have already hacked up a version of Front Row and have it working. Here’s a HOW TO of sorts via Digg and here’s a video over on TUAW + Flickr shots.
Old phone, with new cell guts, and functional. This project is a working cellular push-button telephone. The phone is an old telephone from my kitchen growing up that I modified into a working cellphone. The old bell ringer functions. You can talk and listen on the old handset. The phone is dialed with the buttons on its front. And it can be powered via a power cord spliced into the phone jack at the back. No text messaging, phone book, or camera phone junk. Smile. [via] Link.
Rick writes “A British equivalent to the Basic Stamp PIC micro controllers but cheaper. Free programming software and a good range of products for anyone who wants to control their world. Product can be purchased in USA and Australia.” Anyone use these? I’ve been trying to find something like this for beginners for a few projects. Link.
Make pal and Make faire participant Mark writes “…an extensive insight view of how I transferred my old digital camera (which would probably fetch only $30 on ebay or such) into a infrared camera. The whole idea is just that a lot of people probably have old cameras laying around, collecting dust, so why not make one of your old cameras an infrared one?” Link. Excellent how-to and documentation.
Great HOW TO by powderly on Instructables “The following is Instructions for assembling the first generation robot arm that my wife and I are developing for the Eyebeam Atelier AiR program as part of an animatronic self-portrait. This arm includes 4 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) from the wrist to the shoulder, runs at less than 20 W and is about 12 ounces. I am currently working on V2 with limit and home switches for each DOF, a single DOF hand and adding another 2 DOF to the shoulder. Motor control units for the arm are also currently being developed…” Link.
