Category: Computers

USB Data Transfer Thingy

Xmultiple Flash Point

Eh, I might see a use for this if your real lazy and don’t want to have your computer with you every waking moment of your life. Not that anyone if fool enough to pull a stunt like that.

Xmultiple has come up with a new technology called FlashPoint, which lets you transfer files between all kinds of flash drives (or any other USB memory peripheral) without a laptop or any USB bridge. With SOTG (Sharing-On-The-Go) technology, Xmultiple’s new ShareDrive USB flash memory pen drive is small, light and powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Comes in 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB sizes.

Brainy USB Could Be Laptop Killer

The High Altitude Slug Project

The High Altitude Slug Project

No, this isn’t some banana slug snuff project, the slug this uses is the Linksys NSLU2 wireless USB storage device. After a little firmware hacking you can convert your ‘Slug’ into a web server, streaming MP3 server, or eve a VoIP PBX!
Not to be outdone by others, these guys are planning on sending theirs up in a tiny R/C airplane attached to a weather balloon. The plan is to release it at 100,000 feet and have it fly home. On it’s way down the craft will take photos and make temperature and barometric readings. All this will be run by the 266MHz XScale computer in the NSLU2. Pretty darn impressive for a simple wireless USB port!

The High Altitude Slug Project

Soviet Computing Hardware

Soviet computers

This is great stuff! Old Soviet calculators (mechanical, electromechanical, and all electronic) and home computers on display. Loads of pictures and info about them. The first pocket calculator (B3-04) looks a lot like an old Commodore calculator I once had. Could this have been a case of calculator espionage, or simply parallel design…

[via Boingboing]
Soviet Calculators Collection. By Sergei Frolov

[via Boingboing]
USSR Home-Computer

PDA Robots

I was looking at my old Palm III PDA and thinking just how handy it was in it’s day. I still think the handwriting recognition on it was the best.
I was thinking that something so useful shouldn’t be stuck in a box somewhere to be forgotten, it should be hacked and mangled until it can do something else! 🙂
I found this book, “The Ultimate Palm Robot“. Looks like to might have some useful info on how to interface hardware on to the Palm platform. Looks like it uses the Palm Pilot Robot Kit as the base for the projects. The holonomic drive system will turn just about any head. You can read a nice review of it here at the Gadgeteer. If your up for spending $300US on your little ‘bot your doing better than me!
For $85US there is the SVX 203C Robotic development system, but it looks like they might not be sold any more.

Finally, there is this clever little paper manipulating robot that uses a Palm III as it’s brain.
So it looks like if you do have an old Palm PDA you can still get some action out of it in the form of a robot.