When I first saw this proof of concept synchronized grid of iPods I wondered why somebody would go through all the trouble. I have to catch myself when I think like this. Sometimes it’s best to just appreciate the polychromatic glow and short staccato chirping for what it is.
John Boiles, who earlier this year showed us how to control an RC car using an iPod’s internal accelerometer (and also how to control the lights on a dance floor in more or less the same way), is a member of Austin, TX, based engineering collective Waterloo Labs, who have up-gunned his iPod technology to control steering, breaks, and acceleration on a full-size automobile. Definitely not the safest hack I’ve ever blogged, but probably the most impressive. Great work, lady and gents.
Dubbed EasyPay, each unit will consist of a iPod touch and a special case which houses a barcode scanner, card reader, extra battery and mini-USB connector. The system runs custom POS software and uses a Pogo Sketch stylus to capture cardholder signatures.
Got an old radio from the ’20s, and want to bring it back to life? Well, the quickest way is probably be to remove all those dusty components and use the cabinet to hide a new stereo. That’s not what radio hacker Greg Charvat had in mind for his, though.
John Boiles, he of the iPod-controlled RC car, also produced this sweet wirelessly controlled power box, which he demonstrates in this video by controlling different sets of X-mas lights plugged into it by shaking his iPod. See it work around 1:40, then be sure to check out the dance party at 2:40. The iPod is enclosed in the “Law book” prop everyone is shaking around while they rock out to vintage Bon Jovi, et. al.
More Dorkbot Austin goodness! John Boiles demonstrated this radio-controlled car steered using his iPod’s built-in accelerometer via its built-in WiFi transceiver. All you have to do is tilt the iPod, and the car goes. It starts to move around 1:10.
Using an Arduino Diecimila, breakout board, female PS/2 connector, and sundry components Ben has built an interface to connect a full-sized keyboard to his jailbroken iPhone.
