[Tom] pointed out this nintendo DS midi wifi hack demo. [0xtob] and [therain] put on a demo of using a ds as a midi device. Check out the video. The two most interesting applications demo’ed: [to me] The kaos pad app and using the DS as a midi playback device. [I wonder how long until we see a DS orchestra. Seems like the DS still has plenty of potential for development. [via musicthing]
Wii Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Sensor Bar
[duff] found this and sent it in. The video demonstrates that the Wii ‘sensor bar’ is just an array of IR leds. The actual sensor is in the remote control – which probably sends data to the Wii via RF. These guys faked the ir signal using a pair of standard remotes. This’ll probably open the door to some controller cheats as things progress. [Better than using a belt sander on a trackball.]
[Hey – If you want to get on the podcast, email some questions or comments as mp3s to podcast at hackaday.]
DIY HD Projector How-To
Part 5 of my DIY HD projector How-To is up over on Engadget. I’m still finishing it up, but I should wrap it up in part 6. I’ll probably make a better reflector mount, but the rest of it is coming along nicely.
Tuesday Mini-extra
[Jon] noted that this guy is using his Prius as backup UPS for his house. [It’s been around, but’s it’s worthy.]
If you’re having issues with Eagle for the contest, [weirdguy] suggests this tutorial.
[Lain Sharp] sent in his three blind mice project. This is his version of the 3D mouse. with an AVR to send the data to windows via serial port.
[Michael] added an aux ‘input’ to his car stereo in a unique fashion – he wired it directly to the car speakers and drives them from his iPod. [I’m not recommending this, but it’s certainly a different approach.]
Finally, [oliverjenks] sent in this table saw finger jig hack – using some random power transistors, light bulbs and a laptop to drive a stepper motor.
If you haven’t already, check out our Design Challenge contest. I finally got some fedex shipping notifications today, so I should be able to officially announce more prizes very soon.
Questions For The Podcast / Contest Update
The next podcast is coming… In the meantime, if you want to ask a question in the podcast, record it as a mp3 and email it to podcast [at hackaday dot com]. If you’re wondering, I will do the next edition in mp3 – no more m4a stuff.
Now, to answer a few questions about the Design Challenge.
What kind of circuit should it be?
Anything from a personal massage speed controller to a miniature omelet maker. Whatever you can fit on the board, ok.
Will you extend the deadline?
No. If you want to send us something later, we’ll still take it. [but you’ll be a bit late to win any prizes]
How many entries can we submit?
No limit, but don’t go nuts, ok?
How big can it be?
The board will be credit card dimensions, but a standard thickness (think FR-4 or something) No, we don’t care how big the components are.
Do the components need to be available from somewhere like mouser/digikey?
I’d hope so. We don’t want to have to reclaim parts from sunken Russian submarines to build the circuit.
How can I submit it?
Put it online and send in a tip, or ask where to send it via the tips line. Either way, use the tips line.
Homemade Cathode Ray Tubes
[dylan] tipped us to [Nyle Steiner] who’s been making his own cathode ray tubes Not satisified with that, he made an even smaller one[youtube] and he built an oscilloscope[youtube].
Once I noticed that he’s an amateur radio operator, I started digging around his site. His propane lawnmower is a great idea, his diy photocell makes me think of mr. wizard. If you dig tube amps, you’ll definitely be interested in his vaccum tube building experiments.
[Got a cool circuit? Lay it out on a PCB and enter the Design Challenge.]
Screen Saver Power Switching
This is another power control hack along the lines of the serial controlled power outlet. Instead of only managing a printer, [Brent] uses the IO lines of the parallel port to drive some SSRs in order to turn off all of his peripheral devices – think lamps, speakers, scanners, etc. He posted the whole thing over on instructables.
[Want to show off your skills? Send us a tip with your latest – or enter the Hackaday design challenge. I should have some more prizes to announce later this week. I’m just waiting for them to arrive.]
