Gadgets

HOW TO make DRM-free ebooks for the Sony Librie e-ink ebook reader (part I)

The Sony Librie is a stunning e-ink ebook reading device with the most print-like book reading experience you can have at this time (the display moves microscopic black and white particles held within spherical microcapsules). For the most part, it hasn’t been a success in the market; Sony crippled it with DRM, and only released in it Japan. But the hackers and tinkerers of the world have taken this device and modded the firmware. Now we’re going to show you how to make non-DRMed ebooks for free…

Continue Reading February 29th, 2008 Phillip Torrone24

Pocket (or TV) spelling bee

@The NYC Toy fair 2008 Franklin showed off their new product, a T-Mobile Sidekick looking device called the “Speaking Spelling Bee” – this isn’t a DIY/science kit type thing, but I really liked it and it’s a unique gadget (and I haven’t seen it anywhere else)… You can play it on the go, or plug […]

Continue Reading February 20th, 2008 Phillip Torrone2

The Zygote interactive ball

Zygote Interactive Ball in action at Building Interactive Playgrounds, Italy ZYGOTE is a lightweight inflated ball, illuminated from within, that responds to pressure applied to its surface. Interacting with the ball is simple: punch it, bounce it, squeeze it, or tap it and the ball’s internal LEDs react instantaneously. Dozens of balls released to an […]

Continue Reading February 14th, 2008 Collin Cunningham6

Lamp facelift

Rob sent in the latest gadget freak, he writes – Seeing great potential in a normal, off-the-shelf product, Pete Griffiths designed a circuit he popped into the lamp to give it a new lease of life. His design combines a PIC and three constant current buck converters to create the RGB LED controller. This controller […]

Continue Reading February 14th, 2008 Phillip Torrone

LEGO coin sorter

Kevquest writes – This is a Lego Mindstorms designed Coin Sorter. This sorter will sort a handful of coins dumped into it’s separator. The NXT displays how many of each type of coin sorted and the total amount of money sorted.

Continue Reading February 12th, 2008 Phillip Torrone6

HOW TO – Make “Joy Slippers” – draw with your feet

Plusea shows you how to make slipper that you can “draw with” – This Instructable will show you how to make a pair of cozy slippers that are designed with two analog inputs each that sense the pressure being weighted from the body on either the toe-ball or the heal of the foot. Later steps […]

Continue Reading February 11th, 2008 Phillip Torrone4

Greener gadgets design competition results

The winner looks like a MAKE project, woo! – The EnerJar took top prize of the design competitionâ€”both a favorite of the judges and the crowd at the Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City. The EnerJar is an easy-to-build, DIY device that accurately measures the power draw of electrical appliances. Sitting between any wall […]

Continue Reading February 10th, 2008 Phillip Torrone14