Technology

Mac OS X Tiger follow up

Mac OS X Tiger follow up

x.jpgOn Friday’s MAKE:Audio show we had a quick review of Mac OS X Tiger and now that’s we’ve been banging on it for a few more hours, here are some cheers and jeers. Spotlight search is creepy fast, it’s finding everything almost instantly. Dashboard and its Widgets are fun but take up a lot of memory, not sure if it matters though. The RSS screensaver is also fun, here’s a video of what it looks like. Only Macs that are 1Ghz G4 and above can do join in multi-video chats, but multi-audio seems to be fine on some sub 1Ghz machines here. Even if you bought QuickTime Pro 6+ you need to repurchase QuickTime 7. Overall a great release, it’s living up to all the stellar reviews. Some photos from the Seattle store (4th in line!).

Making Widgets

Making Widgets

wid.jpgMac OS X Tiger is out today, so that means we’re going to see a ton of really neat widgets, if you want to get started building here’s an overview…Based on Web Kit technologies, Dashboard Widgets are created using a mix of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. This extends the ability to develop Widgets to a very wide audience. If you know how to create a web page, then you know how to create a capable Widget. Link. We’ll have some examples once we make a few too.

MAKE Extras: PC DVR and Magstripe Multi-Track

Two MAKE Extras published today– these are projects and updates that MAKE publishes online, for all to see, no dead trees. One is a recipe for a PC-based Digital Video Recorder (DVR) / media server / multi-console game machine that does everything except charge you every month. Link. The other Make Extra is an update to MAKE 01’s Magnetic Stripe Reader project, which shows you how to read the data off of stripes in any of the the three standard locations on a card. More power to you! Link.

Unlocking the Treo 650 from Cingular

Unlocking the Treo 650 from Cingular

treo.jpgThis isn’t a new unlock code, but I wanted to post up -why- people unlock phones. “So I’m off to Thailand for 2 weeks tomorrow (more on this later). Here’s the code and a post from Rojo’s Kevin Burton. “I wanted to unlock my phone so that I could buy a prepaid GSM SIM chip to use my phone in Thailand for cheap. The only problem is that stupid Cingular locks the phone but you can just buy a new SIM chip”.

Motorized luggage?

Motorized luggage?

powercell3.jpgI’ve been traveling over the last couple days and just saw this “Why struggle with heavy baggage? Dragging suitcases through busy airport lounges is tedious, backbreaking work – but it doesn’t have to be that way”. Motorized luggage. I’ve found airports don’t like wires, batteries and motors built in to things that normally don’t have them, at least not my little projects. I’ve been thinking of building a suitcase that powers a WiFi finder when rolled (vibrates the stick, beeps or handle glows) but realized I’d have even more trouble with my bags.