NASA is going back to the Moon! We’ll follow the crew of Artemis II every step of the way.
Continue reading “Following Artemis II’s Journey Around The Moon”
Running DOOM On…a TrueType Font?
Over the years, DOOM has been ported to many things; think of any arbitrary device and chances are it can run the classic shooter. But what about something more esoteric like [Artem]’s DOOM in a TrueType font?
Okay, it’s not technically a port of DOOM, but it’s still very cool. TrueType actually has a bytecode used for hints to the render and, while not made for this, it’s just complete enough for this demo to run. Either to increase the over-engineering, or just to make it all a bit easier, [Artem] makes a simple DSL and a matching compiler written in Python.
All of this allows the byte code intended to implement serifs run arbitrary code, in this case, ray casting the walls for a DOOM demo. The final bytecode is 6,580 in size and, assuming your font renderer implements this, is very playable.
While this project’s implementation of the game is a bit abstract, the version of DOOM that you can run over DNS is the real deal.
Reflecting On Microsoft Windows Vista In 2026
It’s a bit of an understatement that at release Windows Vista rather fell flat. Much of the problem was due to how rushed of a release it was, with incomplete driver support and various glitches in the OS that ought to have been ironed out prior to release. In a retrospective, [SteelsOfLiquid] takes a look at what used to be the most infamous Windows OS until the arrival of first Windows 8 and subsequently the popcorn-fest that is Windows 11.
After a brief re-run of the development history and initial release of Vista, the OS is installed on a Core 2 Duo E8400 with 4 GB of DDR3 and a Geforce 310 card. This being the first NT6-based Windows version (with Microsoft jumping up to version 10 with Windows 10), it’s still got a lot of working software for it in 2026. Some have argued that Windows 7 is basically Vista SE in the vein of Window 98, so it doesn’t face the same software and driver hurdles as e.g. Windows XP does.
Thus the video focuses mostly on the software that was provided with the OS, giving a detailed look at an OS that many of us skipped in favor of sticking to Windows XP to the despair of Microsoft who had to push back that OS’s EOL by a few years as a result. For those of us who joined in the hate-fest against Vista it feels somewhat nostalgic to look back at an experience that in 2026 terms would have been less rough than trying to use Windows 10 or 11 until years of updates made at least the former not entirely terrible to use.
Here’s hoping that Windows 12 will be more of a modern Windows 7, especially in the GUI department, as it’s so nice to have a colorful OS interface with some tasty skeuomorphism rather than monochrome, flat icons.
Continue reading “Reflecting On Microsoft Windows Vista In 2026”
USB, Abstracted
Modern technology builds on abstractions. Most application programmers today don’t know what a non-maskable interrupt is, nor should they have to. Even fewer understand register coloring or reservation stations for instruction scheduling, and fewer still can explain the physics behind the transistors in the CPU. Sometimes tech starts out where you need to know everything (programming a bare-metal microprocessor, for example) and then evolves to abstraction. That’s where [WerWolv] wants to get you for writing USB code using the recent post USB for Software Developers.
Many USB tutorials assume you want to know about the intricacies of protocol negotiation, information about the hardware layer, and that you are willing to write a Linux kernel module to provide a driver. But thanks to abstraction, none of this has been absolutely necessary for many use cases for a long time.
While the post focuses on Linux, there is libusb for Windows. We presume the same principles would apply, more or less.
[Kerry Wong] Finds SMD Test Clips
One of the many problems you run into when you work with SMD parts is trying to probe the little tiny pins. While we usually watch [Kerry Wong’s] videos for the oscilloscopes, it makes sense that he’d also be looking for probes. The video below shows some cheap probes from China that can clamp onto tiny QFP pins.
The probes look a little like tiny needles, but the needle part isn’t conductive. When you push them, very tiny and rigid clamps come out. On the other end is a pin that will take a female header or, of course, you could connect another test lead to that pin.
Upgrading A MacBook Neo Using A 1 TB IPhone NAND Flash
For some reason the newly introduced MacBook Neo appears to be the subject of a lot of modding, though a recent mod by [dosdude1] leans into the fact that this laptop has been assembled using what are effectively iPhone 16 parts inside a laptop case. This consequently means that there’s an overlap with certain iPhone 16 components, such as the NAND Flash. Incidentally storage on the Neo is limited to 512 GB when you purchase it from Apple, which is weird since the same SoC in the iPhone 16 Pro happily uses 1 TB.
Even if it was just a price point thing that Apple went for, there’s seemingly nothing standing between a Neo owner with a hot air gun and sheer determination. As long as you’re comfortable soldering a fine-pitched BGA NAND Flash package, natch.
Of course, there was always the possibility that Apple used a different NAND Flash package footprint, but the installed 256 GB model chip that comes installed matches the replacement 1 TB model K8A5 chip as hoped. This just left disassembly and preparing the PCB for a storage replacement. Removal of the BGA underfill and desoldering the old chip without taking out surrounding SMD parts is definitely the hardest part, but handled in the video with the equivalent of an IC spatula and a temporary removal of some capacitors.
Interestingly, the uncovered IC footprint shows a whole perimeter of unused pads that might target other NAND Flash packages. Regardless, the new chip installed fine, giving the Neo 1 TB of storage and a slightly faster read/write performance.
Continue reading “Upgrading A MacBook Neo Using A 1 TB IPhone NAND Flash”
Need A Reactalyser?
We’ve noticed a recent surge in people recreating old projects from vintage electronics magazines, and we approve. After all, parts and PCBs are easier to get than ever, so other than replacing obsolete parts, it is usually much easier to build these projects now compared to when they first appeared. The latest one we’ve noticed was [Anthony Francis-Jones’] build of the “Reactalyser” from a 1968 edition of Practical Electronics. Check it out in the video below.
You may ask yourself what a reactalyser could be. We did too. Our guess was extremely far off, since we thought it might have to do with reactance.
We liked the retro-look radio that [Anthony] used as a case. He changed the circuit to use an OC71 PNP transistor and replaced a mechanical part of the device with more electronics. So this isn’t a totally faithful reproduction, but it does keep the spirit of the device.
This might seem like an odd circuit for something that would be totally trivial to make with a microcontroller. However, these kinds of circuits were very common prior to simple-to-use computers.
If you like these old retro builds, check out some of the ones we’ve featured from [Bettina Neumryr]. We need a name for this activity. We’ll suggest retromagging. Give us your entry in the comments. Continue reading “Need A Reactalyser?”
Printed Sleeve Gives Keys Some Grip
[Enginerd]’s chonky key handle is a beautiful use of 3D printing that helps people help themselves. The large wings, indented faces, and beefed-up grip make a typical house key much easier for someone with arthritis or difficulty gripping those brass slivers. Bright filaments in different colors can also help someone with vision limitations. The thing that will not improve is the space in your pocket or purse.
The design only requires a tiny bit of plastic, prints without supports, and what sets it apart from similar models is that you do not need any double-sided tape or bolts, only a keyring, so someone may have to assemble it for the user. The author is clever enough to use an uncut blank in the project photo so that no one will be decoding and copying their house key. We would wager they have read Hackaday if they are so prepared.
Some of the people who purchased early consumer 3D printers already need these kinds of builds, and there is no shortage of intelligent people creating remarkable open-source designs.
