Sony introducing a new “iPod of eBook readers…”
If you’ve seen any of the MAKE presentations at conferences or MAKE fairs one of themes is usually about ebooks and the need for a great ebook reader – I use a hacked up Sony Librie from Japan (see the how-to and book creation here). The device is stunning, uses e-Ink, but sadly Sony really screwed up the roll out, DRM’ed the heck out of the device and now it looks like they’re going to try it again, in the USA. Buzz sent me this fantastic article in Business week that has a bit about Sony’s new reader, including some information about an “iTunes for books”… Link.
Drew writes “The quarter-scale dalek I was working on (which I mentioned in a previous 
MAKE is sponsoring “This Day in Apple History” over on Applematters – each day you can get an 
Procure IR modules from an old VCR, Raphael writes “Some time ago, I came across the Lirc (Linux Infrared Remote Control) website and decided to build a serial port IR receiver. They had a list of suggested IR receiver modules, but I was unable to buy one, so I had to think of using something else. A IR Receiver module is usually a photodiode and a 38khz detector. Most of them have 3 pins. VCC, GND, an output pin. If a 38khz carrier is detected, the output pin will become active. Some modules are active low, and others are active high. It is sometimes required to use an inverter(eg: 7404) to get the correct signal.” 
Make your own LEGO blocks “…not everybody has access to their own CNC machine, but for those who do, here is a lesson in building up custom lego parts. This is not necessarily a design just for those of us lucky enough to own a CNC machine. A manual milling machine, or even hand tools and a great deal of patience will do the job. This post IS however directed at somebody who owns some sort of CNC milling machine, has access to some plastics and the tools appropriate to cut them, and somebody who is not a rank beginner at building lego robots.” [
On New Years MAKE kicked it the virtual world. Here’s what 
Dave writes “Steve runs a kayak-building company but his spare-time project is designing a velomobile, that is, a human-powered, closed vehicle; technically a recumbent trike with a full body. There are a few commercial velomobile products in Europe, see links at the top of Steve’s page. His current design is just gorgeous (be sure to look at all the pictures) and makes clever, sophisticated use of hi-tech materials, and is very close to commercially practical.” 