Author: Caleb Kraft

1567 Articles

Hack Your Litter Box

September 16, 2008 by 40 Comments


Cat poo stinks.  We all know it. Those of us who have cats, though frequently amazed at the sheer magnitude of stench our cuddly friends are capable of, do little to remedy the situation.  Sure, sometimes we buy the fancier kitty litter or the special food.  [agraham999] decided to be a little more proactive.  He built an automated exhaust system for the litter box. He wasn’t content to just rig a fan blowing to an exhaust vent either, he hooked it up to an automation system and a motion detector.  The total cost for the project was $80, not including the mac mini that serves as the brains.

Be sure to read through the comments for some very in depth discussion about power usage and solar conversions.

[via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Arcade Cabinet That Plays Every Game In The Universe

September 16, 2008 by 9 Comments


Ok, maybe we’re exaggerating a little bit. It may not play every game in the universe, but the CMACC gets pretty close. CMACC stands for “Complete – Multi Arcade Console Computer System” and is comprised of a giant pile of gaming goodness. [Mayhem] packed a PC, Xbox, Xbox360, Dreamcast, Wii, PSP, and a DS into the cabinet. He seems to have overlooked the Virtual Boy though.

He’s using GamEx as a front end for a multitude of emulators, including MESS which emulates tons of old desktops like Commodores and Apples. The cabinet, while not as elegant as the Retro Space, wins major geek points for the cup holder.

[via Engadget]

Top 10 Greatest Hacks Of All Time, According To PC Magazine

September 15, 2008 by 4 Comments

PC Magazine has published their top 10 greatest hacks of all time.  Seriously, just ten *eyeroll. It is fairly cute though and there are a few interesting tidbits.  Most notably, [Ben Heckendorn] made the list with one of his portable units. We’re a bit surprised that they didn’t choose the fantastic work he did on the one handed controller, since it could actually help people play who previously couldn’t.

LED Random Blinking Mood Lighting

September 15, 2008 by 7 Comments

What is it about pseudo random flashing LEDs that make us go gaga?  We don’t know, but there’s definitely something there. [seligtobiason] has this obsession too.  After seeing several more complicated projects, he created this elegant, simple, and cheap piece of art. The entire thing is pretty much just some flashing LEDs, some resistors, and a power supply.  It really isn’t anything groundbreaking, but the effort and cost involved are tiny compared to some other similar projects.  sure, it doesn’t synchronize over time based on input like the firefly project.   But for a quick cheap project, the results are quite nice.

We would put one in our home, right next to the node blinky.

Apple Tries To Stop Sneaker Hackers

September 14, 2008 by 19 Comments

Apparently, Apple has decided that extending DRM to your Nike accessories will keep hackers at bay.  Sick of people cutting the sensors out of their Nike shoes for use on other apparell, they have applied for a patent. Ever noticed the warning that it’s illegal to pull the tag off of a mattress?  Did that stop you?

[via Slashdot]

Giant Mechanical Spider Awakens In Liverpool

September 6, 2008 by 4 Comments

While we were away, we missed the story about the giant mechanical spider in Liverpool.  That spider has come to life, and you can watch the video courtesy of the BBC.

Named La Princesse, she an art project designed to build tourism and boost the economy.  Developed by french company La Machine, she looks amazing.  It looks as though it takes 9 people to pilot her, possibly another running the crane she’s suspended from.  Watch the video and see her reach out and tap an onlooker’s umbrella with one of her legs.

[via Gizmodo]