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After all, it does seem reasonable that Microsoft would want to outdo an open source vomit-producing project.

Even now, it seems the C64 scene is alive and well.

Recently I stumbled across another, newer project. The Fuzebox. It's a 28mhz dual-chip(chip, not CPU) retro console, with 4KiB of RAM and 64KiB of flash. Someone actually got a movie player working on it...

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWWsSn_QKLM
Homepages:
- http://www.ladyada.net/make/fuzebox/
- http://belogic.com/uzebox/

Apparently many people are fascinated by working with minute amounts of memory.

Just clicked on the main site and was somewhat surprised by the layout. I don't think I've ever seem someone use that pattern for a website before.

Needless to say, It's been bookmarked for later dissection...

... Props all around to Ladyada ...

So, one component uses some code. How does that make the whole clock open source?

Here is the source. Just because you don't compile it doesn't mean it's not open source, it just means it's not open source *software*.

I attended the Microcontroller Monday classes at the local hackerspace, HacDC (http://hacdc.org/) where we worked from plans found on Lady Ada's sites (http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/ and http://www.adafruit.com/).

The other thing to do is get started with US FIRST Robotics (http://www.usfirst.org/) established by the inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen to "inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership." according to the web site.

I've been looking into this recently as well. Best bet I've found, in terms of "tinkering" ability is to use an Arduino and a GPS Shield (more details here). The two of these (and the GPS chip) will cost under $150, but allow you to code it to do whatever you want. Throw in a TouchShield and you begin to open up possibilities. The downside is the time/effort needed here. The "convenience" factor is not part of this solution... :)

From the headline I expected this to be about some persistence of vision application. Now that would be cool. Just imagine people waving their cellphones at each other.

I use a Minty and it works just fine.

By the way, try viewing altoids.com with NoScript or Flashblock enabled.

Ill just leave this here....

I read this exact same article the other day. Only at that time, it only listed the Arduino and it's progeny along with a couple of related projects.

In particular, I'm happy to see the x0xb0x make it to the list. The x0x is one piece of open hardware that doesn't nearly get enough attention. It's a perfect clone of the Roland TB-303 analog synthesizer which spawned an entire musical genre and left its impression on electronica in general. The parts list, build instructions, schematics, and board layouts are all open and free and there's an active community supporting and hacking it.

I consider the x0xb0x to be the perfect example of how to successfully translate the ideals of open source software to hardware hacking.

I read this exact same article the other day. Only at that time, it only listed the Arduino and it's progeny along with a couple of related projects.

In particular, I'm happy to see the x0xb0x make it to the list. The x0x is one piece of open hardware that doesn't nearly get enough attention. It's a perfect clone of the Roland TB-303 analog synthesizer which spawned an entire musical genre and left its impression on electronica in general. The parts list, build instructions, schematics, and board layouts are all open and free and there's an active community supporting and hacking it.

I consider the x0xb0x to be the perfect example of how to successfully translate the ideals of open source software to hardware hacking.

I've got quite a bit of experience using a TV-B-Gone in Wal-Mart stores, so let me fill you in on some details.

First, much to my disappointment, the TV-B-Gone doesn't work on whatever model of TV they have hanging from the ceiling blaring ads all day long. I've tried a bunch of times in different stores, both with the stock TV-B-Gone and with one of Ladyada's kits, using hacked firmware with more manufacturers' codes in it. No luck. I've also tried looking for a make/model on the TV's themselves, but have never managed to find one. The front of the TV's are covered with a cardboard or plastic cover, and the backs are next to impossible to see from the floor.

When you walk into many Wal-Mart stores, there'll be a small monitor hanging from the ceiling showing a feed from one of the security cameras. At least in this case, it turns out the cameras can't see the IR from the TV-B-Gone. The cameras are probably the variety that come with IR filters. Why they'd choose such models, I have no idea. I also have no idea whether any of the other cameras in the store see the IR or not, but the ones feeding the displays near the doors definitely don't.

Nobody from security has ever bothered me about using my TV-B-Gone. This isn't the Pentagon, it's freakin' Wal-Mart. The security people are probably making $7 an hour and really don't give a rat's ass if some jackass like me with a high-tech toy is walking around turning off TV's, especially considering I'm also a paying customer. I may be bored enough to turn off TV's for fun, but I'm not bored enough to actually drive to Wal-Mart just for that purpose.

Yes, it's fun to turn off the big-screen TV's while Bubba and his rode-hard-and-put-up-wet girlfriend are gawking at them, trying to figure out which one will fit through the door of their double-wide. But that's nowhere near as much fun as turning off the TV's in the video game section when Bubba's pudgy little 10-year-old son is in the middle of playing some Xbox game.

The x0xb0x is pretty much one of the most impressive things I've seen come out of the hacker/electronics/homebrew scene.

The story is pretty much this: In the early 80's, Roland comes out with the TB-303, an analog bass synthesizer designed to accompany musicians during practice sessions. The 303 bombed in the target market, though, because it sounded nothing at all like a bass guitar and was difficult to use. Years after the synth was out of production, DJs (ones that make music, not merely play it back) discovered it and eventually this one box spawned an entire music genre called acid.

So fast-forward to this decade where acid (and hence the 303) is still fairly popular even if not exactly mainstream anymore. For aspiring DJs and the dabbling techno hobbyist, a Roland TB-303 is nearly impossible to get. They're rare, old, and expensive. On the chance that one shows up on eBay, you'd like have to pay almost $3000 for it. Since the early 90's, many companies have tried to produce hardware and software clones but they usually fall quite short of the real 303 sound.

In 2005 or so, some MIT graduate gets a hold of a 303, reverse-engineers the circuits, designs an up-to-date 303 clone with identical analog circuitry and releases all her work in the form of schematics, PCB layouts, parts listings, and build instructions under the Creative Commons license. For the first time, a 303 clone is produced that sounds just like the original because it effectively *is* the original. And now anyone can buy a kit, source their own parts, or buy one from a builder.

Now THAT's what the hacker mentality is all about. Ladyada essentially did the same thing for this piece of synth hardware that open source communities do for software. And it's awesome.

(Disclaimer: I'm just about finished building a x0xb0x of my very own.)

I would like to buy a wavebubble from you, will you sell me one? No

I will pay you $500!!! No

Do you sell a kit? No

Will you build me one? No

Why not? It's illegal & I'm not keen on getting fined by the FCC so that you can impress your friends

http://www.ladyada.net/make/wavebubble/faq.html

If someone on a cell phone is annoying you, ask them to keep it down or turn it off.

I work in a retail store and people are constantly coming up to the counter talking on their cellphones, oblivious to how rude it is to the people around them and how often it inconveniences other customers (customers talking on their phones generally will not be paying close attention to the transaction or myself, causing the sale to take longer). I can understand and agree with why cell-jammers are illegal, but still, everytime a particularly obnoxious customer comes up to the register on their cellphone, it's hard for me to avoid thinking about building a Wavebubble. What's stopped me thus far is that I really doubt it would do any good -- if I cut off their signal they're just going to try to redial whoever they were talking to, as distracted as ever.

"They released all the projects as open source" means that the project information - code, schematics and layout - are open source. See: http://ladyada.net/make/simreader/download.html (The payphone schematics will be up soon, also CC 2.5 BY-SA)

If you aren't so hung up on Unix/Linux, consider using a micro-controller and building something that operates in the physical world. I have been looking at the Arduino http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino. This is a very small and inexpensive open source hardware/software board based on an Atmel Mega168 chip. You can buy a kit for around $15 US or an assembled unit for around $25 US from here http://www.moderndevice.com/ or from here http://www.ladyada.net/make/boarduino/index.html.

The software is free, and runs on Windows/OS X/Linus/Unix. You code it in C, and there are driver calls for all the on chip I/O devices. It can easily control DC motors and servos, so once you get those going there are a lot of robotic projects to explore.

There are a lot of on-line examples, so you have something to start with even if you are not hardware inclined. http://www.arduino.cc/playground/.

Google... MintyBoost, Forums, iPhone thread....

http://forums.ladyada.net/viewtopic.php?t=4663

Spec says no more than 100ma, 3g, touch, and possibly some others use MORE than that. The touch was found to be drawing 500ma according to one post - does that meet your definition of "far more"? In fact some charge attempts ended up draining the device instead of charging it!

2nd page of comments details some of the attempts to trigger charging mode by doing things like tying data lines together, adding pullup resistors, and throwing in some capacitors. Does that meet your definition of "funky"? It's obviously not some simple USB cable and has some lines wired up in odd ways to signal a charge cord.

Charging these things with DIY circuits has certainly been causing some consternation. Not sure what I will do for mine, picked up 10mins ago, but something portable to charge it like the MintyBoost would be nice for trips...

Does that clear it up for you? I don't think I was nearly as confused as you surmised..

The good:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/
- non-language specific programming musings

http://blog.brokep.com/
- The Pirate Bay's brokep's blog

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/
- interesting furniture hacks

http://www.ladyada.net/rant
- hobby electronics news

http://www.wired.com/rss/commentary/securitymatters.xml
- Bruce Schneier's blog

http://www.thefirsthourblog.com/
- reviewing the first hour of games, handy for people like me who have a 10 minute attention span

http://torrentfreak.com/
- P2P / legal news

The ugly:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/default.stm
http://ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere.com/
- destroy your faith in humanity, or at least the British

http://seenonslash.com/
- because sometimes -1 is funny

http://icanhascheezburger.com/
http://www.lolcats.com/rss.php
- still funny?

Most of the kits you find at Radio Shack are firmly rooted in the 60's and 70's, where the most high tech item in the kit is the venerable old 555 timer and maybe a transistor plus 50 cents worth of resisters and a couple capacitors and an LED or two.

One who dismisses discrete electronics in favor of microcontrollers and other "high tech items" has left the path of enlightenment. At some point, you are going to want to use that microcontroller to actually control something.

Want to interface with a $5 surplus LCD display? No problem with an Arduino. Try that with a 555 timer. Want to interface with a cheap GPS module? No problem with an Arduino. Let's see you do that with discrete components.

Learning electronics is about having fun, and with microcontrollers you can have lots of fun fast. And you don't have to give up making spaceship sounds with a 555 timer, either. You can just add the sounds to your spokePOV and really impress your neighbors (and your kids). :-)

I try to mix it up a bit. Plenty of blinking but also C code, analog and digital design You can check out the kits at http://www.adafruit.com/ or if you want to -really- DIY you can just make them from the OS plans at http://www.ladyada.net/
For example, http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html

Lots of Software/Computer Geeks also like Arduino-based kits and projects because you can skip straight to building stuff instead of learning Ohms Law http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino

I try to mix it up a bit. Plenty of blinking but also C code, analog and digital design You can check out the kits at http://www.adafruit.com/ or if you want to -really- DIY you can just make them from the OS plans at http://www.ladyada.net/
For example, http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html

Lots of Software/Computer Geeks also like Arduino-based kits and projects because you can skip straight to building stuff instead of learning Ohms Law http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino

I try to mix it up a bit. Plenty of blinking but also C code, analog and digital design You can check out the kits at http://www.adafruit.com/ or if you want to -really- DIY you can just make them from the OS plans at http://www.ladyada.net/
For example, http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html

Lots of Software/Computer Geeks also like Arduino-based kits and projects because you can skip straight to building stuff instead of learning Ohms Law http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino

But a much, much better option is to buy this starter kit and learn the hot new Arduino instead of the aging Basic Stamp. You'll need to start a junk drawer of components, including resistor assortment like these four kits. Local Amateur Radio HamFests and eBay are both good places to fill out your junk box.

Some good resources:

o The Arduino Home Page
o Peter Anderson's Arduino page (the whole site is great, and most can be adapted to the Arduino)
o Sparkfun Tutorials (and don't miss out on their store that has all the good stuff)
o The Electronic Goldmine is a great resource for odd surplus electronics.

I suggest a POV toy: http://www.ladyada.net/make/minipov3/index.html

One lady, actually, the inspiring Limor- http://www.ladyada.net/bio/index.html . FWIW, June 22 is Sunday, so it's not a ton of time to wait.

What you seek is called the WaveBubble project. Fully documented, downloadable PCB schematics and so on.

Gotta put in a plug for Make magazine, which is a fun read, and full of good projects that anyone can do.

I teach an undergrad course in computer organization (basically beginner architecture), and I've gotten lots of ideas from Lady Ada and Evil Mad Scientist. We use AVR microcontrollers, and the cheap-o USB programmers from Lady Ada, to do a bunch of fun and easy projects.

My kids are 8 and 5, and are playing around a lot with LEDs and magnets. I probably won't let them solder until they're teen-agers (lead in solder sucks, but solder without lead also sucks), but they are getting to breadboard some stuff.

And of course, mentos and coke is always a good idea.

I'm in the same boat (programmer never did hardware). I just started this book and am having a blast: Making Things Talk Although I got sidetracked by this great site: Lady Ada which sells a kit you can assemble.

I'd suggest that you buy an Arduino starter kit from Lady Ada's site, and try her Arduino tutorial.

And join a nearby Arduino user group!
David Mellis just started one in Boston, which led me to purchase an Arduino last night!
The forums on the arduino site mention quite a few regional user's groups, maybe you can find one near you?

Join SSBTST (Silencing Stupid Bitches Through Superior Technology):

http://www.ladyada.net/make/wavebubble/

Built one, use it in trams, very often. Their frustration and the WTF looks they give to the cellphone are priceless.

Captcha: tackle

Yeah, likewise, if I'm hiring electrical engineers and someone in Human Resources throws away a resume because it's from some guy named bunnie or some chick named ladyada, they can either clean out their desk by 5 PM or I'll have security do it for them.

Nicknames by themselves aren't career-limiting moves, and either of those two people would do OK if they listed their nicks on their resume pages.

This website details the design and construction of the "Wave Bubble": a self-tuning, wide-bandwidth portable RF jammer. The device is lightweight and small for easy camouflaging: it is the size of a pack of cigarettes.

If gadgets can't crash planes, then the ban is costing billions of hours per year of lost productivity by business people who want to work in flight.

Ok. This thing uses autopilot to infer its location, and probably sight maps too.

What would prevent it from getting.. well, "fucked up", by using this on a wee higher power setting?

Lemmee see... USB changeable, dual bands, 30 ft radius (well, the whole inside the metal tube of the plane), and looks like cigarettes.

Or, how would one make an EMP pulse using a workable "laptop" with lithium batteries and capacitors? Im sure Boeing doesnt use Tempest on low earth flights (jets I'd imagine otherwise).

Thats right. I shouldnt be talking about this, as I "might" alert the terrorists. HINT: They already know, and can search the internet just like you. They also have a brain to devise stuff, just like us. I use the standard security "excuse": Its better to know a vulnerability and have the chance to shut down the service than it is to not know and take the proverbial beating for it.

Not that anyone reads these comments down here, but there is a viable *and* diy solution from my fav. feminine fabricator, ladyada. Essentially it's an RF jammer, and apparently it works quite well :).

After reading up on what it is, I think that I'll avoid posting direct links, as that might seem to be 'advertising'. I'm not sure, but I really wouldn't like for her to get fined with 11 grand 'cause of some over-enthusiastic fanboy...

Here's one, theWavebubble.

If a woman goes into a job interview and says she is self educated in engineering subjects, she is laughed at. If a man does the same thing at the same interview, what do you expect the result would be?

I'd be laughed at, too. If you interview for an EE job without an EE degree, you had better have some impressive personal/professional projects under your belt to make up for the lack of sheepskin. Women, for whatever reason, don't spend that much time obsessing over that stuff on their own time.

There are exceptions, like Limor Fried from MIT. (Disclaimer: Limor is my girlfriend. She just doesn't know it yet.)

Yesss!!! The Art of Electronics is all you need to start with, in fact is "All You Need" (r). From there on just play yourself, experiment, read, burn capacitors, have fun!.

There are tons of more or less detailed projects in internet, ask Mr. Google

For a starter's microprocessor kit, I'll go fo Arduino it's cheap (22 euros plus shipping), all included (no need for a programer), and it's Open Source (well, that's slashdot, what else could you expect?;-).

If you're after audio look into DIY Audio & Video the cricket amp is a good starter project, and sounds nice (provided you do have an electric guitar). Or may be you prefer to assemble your own mp3 player or this other .

If you're after radio applications, ARRL is your place to go.

If you like robotics, the list is endless, try Kronos Robotics, DIY robotics (in UK), BEAM walkers , etc.

And for lots of ideas,as well of lot's of references, read Make , or just keep reading slashdot ;).

Actually, Adafruit were doing "Open Source" business before starting this Laser service. They sell DIY x0xb0x kits, and they provide full schematics and part list for the thing, as well as the instructions on assembling one.

With Roland TB-303 being in really short supply, the x0xb0x is a really good alternative for creating Acid sound. It is true to the original reverse engineered clone. Sounds the same as the real thing. :D And has some nice things like USB port. :)
I've got one kit from them, and Im planning to use the schematics to make another box without purchasing anything from them.

Still, they are great! :)

Adafruit are the same people that made x0xb0x - a Roland TB-303 reverse engineered clone. (Hmm, there was a wikipedia article some time ago, but now it is gone.) Which is open source hardware. Or more likely free hardware, as in GNU definition of free. Btw, it sounds great, like the real thing, but clearer. Must be the advances in transistor manufacture since '82s...

They make money by selling you pcb's and kits with all the transistors, diodes, triodes, and necessary chips. The documentation is publicly available, with all the necessary schematics and part numbers, so you're free to make your own copy.

I've bought a kit from them, and they are great. :D

I would nominate Limor Fried (aka ladyada). She makes really cool electronic hacks. Check her out at ladyada.net.

Karma Whore:PJRC, Minty MP3

For about $50 bucks you get about 100 games built in, so it's a good deal. A friend of mine has an NES clone built into a clone of an N64 controller that outputs to the TV...it also includes an extra controller and light gun that plugs into the main controller, along with 100 or so games.

Your friend needs to chop it up and build one of these.

Last I heard, it's back in a pre-order phase, after doing a round of orders (check the forums for some really cool mods to the design). Apparently they're having problems tracking down some of the parts, but they post instructions and parts-needed for everything (including USB interface, IIRC), if you wanted to build your own. (the orders were either for kits, or pre-builts, I don't recall which.)

I just went to the link, and it doesn't seem to work: Google Cache

~electro1

If you want to build your own hardware TB-303 clone (and plus some), check out Ladyada's open-source x0b0x kit. (cached). The documentation is excellent, even for a beginner builder. And, they've gone and painstakingly measured all the transistors from an original TB-303 to accurately recreate the sound. It's a steal at $300.

The previously slashdotted Minty MP3 has an FM transmitter using a MAX260x chip.