MAKE Magazine
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| Last updated Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:30
MAKE is a quarterly publication from O'Reilly for those who just can't stop tinkering, disassembling, re-creating, and inventing cool new uses for the technology in our lives. It's the first do-it-yourself magazine dedicated to the incorrigible and chronically incurable technology enthusiast in all of us. MAKE celebrates your right to tweak, hack, and bend technology any way you want.
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| Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15
Florin made a giant TV-B-Gone... 48 IR LEDs and an ATmega8 that sends the signals to the LEDs. Source code and schematics included. He writes - I arranged the LED’s in 4 rows of 12 pieces and the resistors fit quite nicely between the LED’s. I used four BD139 NPN transistors to drive the rows. It took me hours to drill and then solder this board(48 LED’s and 48 resistors mean 192 holes plus the other parts). The controller board contains an ATmega8 chosen because of it’s 8k memory needed to store all the codes, an 8 MHz crystal, an LED, a tact switch and some resistors and capacitors....
DIY Halloween : The Scarecrow from Hell
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:18
Well if not hell maybe just from that creepy dark crawl space in your house. You know the one..Anyway most scarecrows are smiling buffoons who can barely scare away crows much less people but not this guy. Here is a quick list of what you will need straight from our new friend over at Spooky Blue: Grape vines Large plastic cauldron Newspaper, paper towels, duct tape, some scratchy rope, an 8' 1x2 (or some sturdy post), and latex carpet adhesive An old lamp, and lots of black or gray cloth. Also don't forget our huge MAKE Halloween Contest! Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read...
Making Austin Weird: Pinball Cake
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:15
From now until the awesomeness that is Maker Faire Austin, I'll be highlighting projects that you can find at Travis County Fairgrounds on 10/18-19. Tickets here; see you there! What a wonderful combination: We will be creating a functioning pinball machine cake entitled "Maker Cake." Maker Faire attendees will have the opportunity to play real pinball on this cake. There will be mechanics to put the ball into play, working flippers, lights, sounds, pop bumpers, scoring, and of course, cake. Especially if you haven't played pinball in a few years, definitely check this out: the more digital...
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:00
Look at this strange and cool origami skeleton by Marc Kirschenbaum - there are 10 pages of complicated, hand-drawn instructions to make this model! Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Halloween | Digg this!
Maker Faire Austin: Teeter Totter
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:00
Maker Faire is a great place to bring your family. There are plenty of things to do no matter what age you are. If you have little kids, make sure to check out the Teeter Totters by Faith Schexnayder, they're a lot of fun! More about the Teeter Totters at Maker Faire More: More about Maker Faire Austin 2008 Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Maker Faire | Digg this!
Get Crafty at Maker Faire Austin - CRAFT Video Podcast
Download Now · | Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:00
Maker Faire Austin is happening soon, the weekend of October 18-19 at the Travis County Expo Center in Austin, TX. Find out all about the crafty activities in store for you and your family in this week's podcast. Download the MP4 Video or HD Version | Subscribe to CRAFT in iTunes Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Crafts | Digg this!
Add an integrated GPS on a DELL Mini 9
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00
Integrated GPS on a DELL Mini 9 via Engadget. Acabtp writes... So, I wanted to add a GPS receiver to my Mini 9, but I didn't want to have to use a dongle or other external device. I figured that a netbook really ought to just have it built in, so that's what I decided to do... Interesting, I wonder if this maker's project will end up being standard issue in the next round of netbooks/ultraportables. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Computers | Digg this!
Maker Faire Austin: Call For Flyover
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:26
We would love someone to take to the sky for a nice aerial photo of the make-tastic-ness that is Maker Faire Austin 2008 next weekend. Can anyone help us out?? Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Maker Faire | Digg this!
| Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:30
Here's a sweet example of a circuit-bent TR707 drum machine. Perhaps 'modified' is a more appropriate term as the added pitch controls seem more practical than exploratory. [via Matrixsynth] Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Music | Digg this!
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:45
You can watch (at least) 5 full episodes of MacGyver on YouTube now via Lifehacker. Update: Veoh has over 100 episodes! More: The MakeShift challenge invites MAKE readers to submit their solutions to a problem posed by the author, Lee D. Zlotoff (creator of MacGyver). Check out the past MakeShifts as well as the latest, use your skills to manage an outbreak of unknown origin on a passenger plane. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Online | Digg this!
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:34
Robert Oschler, of Robots Rule, has a video up showing a preview of his Robodance software controlling the new Wow Wee Rovio remote surveillance bot via a Nintendo Wiimote. With this set-up, a Wiimote can control the Rovio from just about anywhere in the world via Bluetooth and a Web connection. Robert plans on having this new version of Robodance available by early next year. For more information, visit the Rovio-Wiimote Robodance page. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Robotics | Digg this!
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:30
Alex built this optical square wave synth inspired by the work have Bleep labs. Nice removable LED tentacles! - opto_synth Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Music | Digg this!
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:05
Sparkfun preps for Maker Faire -The Flame kit is an interactive piece we've been working on. The individual flame has an ATtiny13 running some basic detection and LED pulsing firmware. All parts are through hole and the kit goes together in 5-10 minutes. We will show you how to solder! We plan to have 9 or so solder stations setup at our Maker Faire booth. A great, quick kit for beginners. The kits are free but we are accepting a suggested $5 donation that will go to a couple local Austin non-profits including the Angleheart Children's Shelter and The Robot Group. We've got magnets and a large...
Form and Functions - Awesome homemade calculator watch (make your own too!)
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:51
David Jones really liked his old Casio CFX-400 scientific calculator watch. As a professional electronics design engineer, he appreciated the greater functionality it had over other calculator watches, which typically support only the four basic functions. He was saddened when his 20-year-old Casio finally bit the dust, so when he looked around and realized there was no one making scientific calculator watches anymore, he decided to make his own. He calls it the μ Watch ("Micro Watch"). His goals were to make a scientific calculator watch that was good-looking and practical, and could be assembled...
Wonderful collection of circuit bent gadgets
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:20
Techdweeb has a great collection of circuit bent gadgets... I really like the "Super Ear Blaster". The bender writes- This was one of those generic chinese drum machine thingees, the kind that shares its guts with 1000s of other toys, but the external plastics change depending on who does the packaging. I really like this version of the drum toy because it has pretty lights and sounds great when bent. Very Aphex Twin. It also has dog and frog sounds... This one has two optical resistors for optical sequencing and pitch control that are switchable "on" and has pot control for making it go realllyyy...
DIY Halloween : Monster in a Box
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:06
It's Friday so I thought I would share one of the more complicated Halloween projects with you. This is Monster in a Box. This prop is something you see in a lot of professional Haunted House and makes a great scare. Why? It has all the essential elements. It not only makes a ton of Noise it also moves and makes a great distraction from an actor or something else flying out at them on the opposite side of your Haunted House or party. Here's a sample of the materials from the author: "No complete parts list for our MIB exists but reading through this guide should give you a good idea of the...
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:00
MAKE and CRAFT friend Leah Buechley writes in about an awesome opportunity: Daniela Rosner, Eric Paulos, Amanda Willams, and I will be holding a workshop called DIY for CHI (Computer-Human Interaction conference). The session will examine DIY communities & practices through a series of hands-on activities & discussions. Come spend some time with this great group of thinkers & builders! Apply to the workshop by submitting an instructable by October 23rd. From the site: People creatively repurpose and modify existing materials to produce new things. These techniques are sometimes...
Wooden sculptures look like fabric
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:00
Tom Eckert makes incredible wooden sculptures that often look just like draped cloth. He also made this awesome Tank Chair. From the images of his tromp l'oeil sculptures, you would never know that that satin is actually carved and sanded from wood. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Arts | Digg this!
Making math "uncool" is hurting America... (with math is cool round up)
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:30
If you read all the articles about America falling behind in math and science you can't help but be bummed out, but that's not how we roll at MAKE... Below is a snip from a recent report about how we're collectively making math uncool, instead of pointing fingers or complaining, I'd like to ask everyone to post up in the comments on what *you're* doing with your kids to make math more fun and "cool"... We have a lot of teachers and parents who read MAKE so let everyone know what's working and what's not, I'll send a Maker's Notebook to a good suggestion or story... (check out links after the jump...
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:35
Here's a note from Dale our publisher... Perhaps the most interesting question in Wednesday's presidential debate was a question asked near the end by Tom Brokaw... "Should we fund a Manhattan-like project that develops a nuclear bomb to deal with global energy and alternative energy or should we fund 100,000 garages across America, the kind of industry and innovation that developed Silicon Valley? Alas, this question was not really answered by McCain and never directed to Obama to answer. It is an interesting question about where we should look for alternative energy technologies and...
Making Austin Weird: Ambient LED Thing
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:04
From now until the awesomeness that is Maker Faire Austin, I'll be highlighting projects that you can find at Travis County Fairgrounds on 10/18-19. Tickets here; see you there! Nick Petraniec's appropriately-named ambient LED thing is an artful use of LEDs with fades to create blue-riffic ambiance. Here's a 2x1 inch prototype: Check out the 24x19 version at Maker Faire! Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Maker Faire | Digg this!
Weekend Project: Hot Glue Web Gun
Download Now · | Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00
Make a spooky spider web shooter from a hot glue gun that will spread the creeps all over your haunted house! Thanks go to Edwin Wise for the original article in Make: Halloween.To download Hot Glue Web Gun MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes. Pick up your copy of the Make Special Edition: Halloween at the Maker Shed. Over 40 projects for the holiday that's made for makers. From the craftiest costumes to amazing animated props and the latest in computer-controlled haunted house effects. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Weekend Projects | Digg this!
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00
Matt Daughtrey did this terrifyingly cute Halloween project using his LMDriver platform - he's created disembodied floating eyes that look around and blink. You can find information about it here. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Electronics | Digg this!
Visualize all of the pins on your Arduino in real-time
| Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00
Here's an interesting use of the TouchShield (which we've covered here before on Make) for the Arduino controller that serves as a pin visualizer that lets you check if all of your I/O pins are working correctly as programmed and displays voltage on analog pins and logic state on digital pins. All signals are followed in real-time with this code that is downloadable from the project link below. Liquidware Pin Visualizer, via Electronics Lab Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Arduino | Digg this!
Weekend Project: Hot Glue Web Gun (PDF)
Download Now · | Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00
Make a spooky spider web shooter from a hot glue gun that will spread the creepsall over your haunted house!Thanks go to Edwin Wise for the original article in Make: Halloween View the PDF Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in MAKE PDF | Digg this!
