Eclectic junk from the four corners of the ‘Net. And pictures too!
I’m not sure if this is an ultra low power LCD display or if it’s doing the same trick that ePaper/eInk can do. That’s consume no power to keep an image on the screen. If so this is going to be one hell of a handy device for portable electronics.
[via Fosfor Gadgets]
I like a radio that you have to build parts just to get it to work. It makes the sounds sweeter when you know exactly how much work you put into it. I used to have a crystal radio that I listened to when I was working in my garage that I made from a paper towel tube. It was great! This kit isn’t a crystal radio but it does have a vacuum tube in it. Oh yeah, nothing says cool more than a glowing valve! This kit will make any home tinkerer happy, heck it will make tech bloggers happy too (hint hint, oh brother of mine!).
[via red ferret]
I was reading Hack-a-day this morning and saw that there is a new ultra cool hacker friendly device called a Chumby. The Chumby is a wifi enabled iPod’ish PDA like appliance that
Hardware:
266 MHz ARM controller (the MX21 by Freescale)
32 MB SDRAM running at 133 MHz bus speed
64 MB NAND FLASH ROM
320×240 3.5″ TFT LCD with PWM-controlled LED backlighting
Stereo 2W speakers
Headphone output
Ambient light sensor
Bend sensor (to pick up when you squeeze the chumby)
Two USB 2.0 ports, one on the main board and one on the outerware electronics
WiFi connectivity via a USB dongle plugged into the main board
Circuitry to detect the presence of wall adapter power and auto-fallback to backup battery power
Switching power supply network that can eat between 6V and 14V
Available microphone input on the chumbilical bus
Available SPI bus on the chumbilical bus
Serial debug port set to 115200 8N1
[via Christine.net, Scottjanousek ,hack a day]
How cool will this be?
Lumalive fabrics feature flexible arrays of colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fully integrated into the fabric – without compromising the softness or flexibility of the cloth. These light emitting textiles make it possible to create materials that can carry dynamic messages, graphics or multicolored surfaces. Fabrics like drapes, cushions or sofa coverings become active when they illuminate in order to enhance the observer’s mood and positively influence his/her behavior.
These creations are just too sweet.
Issuing forth from the fetid and possibly incriminating imagination of Weta Workshop designer Greg Broadmore come RAYGUNS: Dr, Grordborts Infallible Aether Oscillators! … Bespangled in fine detail and with various (most likely quite dangerous) moving parts, these wave weapons of yesteryear are the perfect ornament for a gentleman’s study or a deterring centerpiece for a lady’s powder room or chiffonier…
Seeing these works of art makes me want to pick up my razor knife and tube bender and have a go at making something like this. I used to make toy guns along time ago. They were never as sophisticated as these but they were fun to build.
[via boingboing]
