The Juicebox is an embedded computer designed to form the core of a simple ebook/MP3 player device. This little guy can do a lot and here’s a site that has pretty much everything you’ll need to start hacking at it. For $50 or under it might be a good platform for projects, but I think the Gameboy SP has more things you can do with them (We have a great article on this in issue 02!) Link.
SkypePTT from Usefulapps is a push to talk client for Skype to be used in conjunction with a Bluetooth enabled PC (the PC links to Skype, the phone is effectively used as a PTT headset). The obvious limitation ishat you need to remain within Bluetooth distance of your PC. Interesting, I’d like to see a client like this for all phones since it basically just makes your Bluetooth phone in to a headset. Link.
ExtremeTech has a good guide on setting up a Linux based home theater PC. The article details many of the ups and downs of setting up a system like this- they got everything working mostly (KnoppMyth distro) CDs, video, TV, guide viewing and show recording, weather and media libraries. In the end they have some good ideas for additions to the current distribution. Link.
RoboCup soccer match results are in via Sportsdot.org- The American entry from CMDash from Carnegie Melon fell 2-0 in robot soccer to the powerhouse German squad, the MicroSoft HellHounds. After the match, the German robot dogs were programmed to flex their metal biceps. With the time to devote to development and the financial backing of a company like Microsoft, the German entries are much more polished than their American counterparts at the moment. Last month at the RoboCup German Open, the Germans dominated nearly every category. Link.
exogenous writes “A full-size working harpsichord made from Lego”. With the exception of the wire strings, this instrument is entirely constructed out of LEGO parts–the keyboard, jacks, jack rack, jack rail, plectra, soundboard, bridge, hitch pins, tuning pins, wrestplank, nut, case, legs, lid, lid stick, and music stand are all built out of interlocking ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) plastic bricks and related pieces. There’s even a MP3 of it playing. Link.
Tom’s Hardware takes a look at the build-it-yourseld laptop systems. If you like building your own PC, this might appeal to you. It seems like it will always be a little more expensive, but you’ll get exactly what you want. The cool part is in the end you get to put it all together yourself, the article also includes a video. Thanks Spyder. Link.
I’m really interested in the Yahoo! Music Engine because of Ian Rogers who works for Yahoo! -he posted a list of reasons you should or shouldn’t use the new player and service. Napster taught us alll price matters, so $5/month is better, IM hooks (finally some does IM sharing), OGG and FLAC Encoding and plug ins for podcasting, as well as other roll your own type addons. I’m going to try it, looks different, looks like someone is listening…and that’s what it takes to get me to install something. Link.
