Variometers are used by para/hang gliders to measure their vertical climb/sink rate. This data helps pilots find and catch thermals. The software runs on a flash ROM cartridge and captures flight data. The data from up to 50 stored flights can be recalled later. The altimeter is a simple pressure transducer that plugs into the link port on the Gameboy Advance.
[thanks Sean2e]
natrium42, the original PassMe designer, has released a guide for building a serial interface on the Nintendo DS. It does require you to flash a new firmware on the Passme, but other than that it is just a matter of soldering wires to the RX and TX. He’s tested it with a keyboard, a bluetooth module, and a USB adapter. If you want to hook it to a computer you’ll need the level converter he suggests. There is a lot of potential here.
In other news: StoneCypher has offered a bounty for an open source TCP/IP implementation on the DS; it’s already broken $1100.
[thanks pete]
Development of DSLinux continues to progress. The work of developer Pepsiman has really helped move things along. They’ve got a working Sash shell and framebuffer support. Just yesterday a touchscreen keyboard was added to ease use. It’s still in early development; The shift, alt, and ctrl keys don’t work and the repeat rate is a little quick. I’m sure they’ll get the bugs ironed out soon enough. I look forward to seeing some unique homebrew user interfaces that take full advantage of the dual screens.
oh yeah. this is what the world needs next in mass production. now before you start yelling at me over belt buckles and nintendo’s obsession with them, let me point out this is not the NES belt buckle you all saw awhile back (though both are insanely cool and nostalgic) nor is this the game boy floppy disk drive we showed you. this is the work of an artist and hacker. one that isn’t afraid to make a statement with a working game boy strapped on as a belt buckle. the link provided shows you the play by play of how it’s made and how it’s applied and chromed out. within hours you’ll be sporting your bling bling belt buckle in all it’s nintendo glory. plus, take it to parties and insist that chicks play some link’s awakening and if they don’t get you past the first dungeon, there will be consequences. thanks [FRANKLI]
We like old hacks like this! I mean, the gameboy color and the floppy disk drive are both so passe, so why not use them together to try to make something cool? Well apparently the french can, so props to Jean Francois for doing this. The link we give you is the Google-english-translated page so you can actually read more about it. this doesn’t really serve an insane purpose like storing all 10,000 of your pirated GB ROMS on the disk, but it’s very in depth about the technical advantages and aspects of doing this project. very nice work….does the ’90s proud.
thanks [togi]
This will take patience, time, skill, and jolt cola. Tim Schuerewegen released the driver and application necessary to allow anyone with a Nintendo DS, a GBA flash cart, and a supported wireless network card to load any homebrew demo/app on their DS. You could do it with PassMe
but now it can be done wirelessly.
What You Need
PCI or PCMCIA wireless network card with the RT2500 or RT2560 chipset
(complete list here)
NOTE: USB version (RT2570) will not work
* Tim’s modified driver and application (local mirror: driver, application)
* Gameboy Advance flashcart (more info here)
* A computer with Windows 2000 or Windows XP
just take your time and read everything step by step
for today’s links, i thought it would be a kick to round up all hacks portable gaming related. several of these you may have seen before, several of them you may not have, but they are all worth investigating and may serve as some inspiration and technical instruction for your own portable gaming project.
benheck’s portables:
atari 2600 vagabond 2000
atari 2600 mass produciton prototype (phoenix)
playstation 2 portable
n64 portable
other portable conversions:
another cool n64 portable
ladyada’s gamegrrl
extend your portable:
ultimate gba game console
gameboy advance gps
gba robotics kits
softhacking:
gameboy programming
gba programming
ds programming
and, of course:
hackaday on your playstation portable
you can use our psp portal here
