Nanoscope, the DIY ipod nano fatty A/V dock

January 20th, 2008 by

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

You’ve got to hand it to modder Mark Irwin, who did his fellow tinkerers proud by assembling a bunch of found objects into a very handy audio / video dock for the squat new iPod nano. The project is brilliant in its simplicity: Irwin just carved a nano-sized slot in an old slide magnifier, embedded some discarded speakers, and ended up with a super-handy viewing station on the cheap. Check out the video after the break for inspiration on how you, too, can help put an end to this national Made for iPod nightmare perpetrated by Griffin, Belkin, Monster, and their evil cohorts.

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Posted in Apple, ipod, mods, ipod nano, IpodNano, ipod dock, IpodDock, projects, 3g nano, 3gNano, builds, mark irwin, MarkIrwin, modders | No Comments »

How-to build your own wireless, autonomous hovercraft

December 31st, 2007 by

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation, Wireless

So to be clear right off the bat, this is not the type of hovercraft that you might commute to work or class in, but rather a small RC version more suitable for transporting babies or adorable pets. That being said, Instructables user bradpowers has posted step-by-step guide for the ambitious modder to build his or her very own remotely-controlled or autonomous ‘craft, from constructing the frame to assembling the lift and propulsion systems to setting up the onboard PIC. Definitely not a project for the easily distracted, however, a successful build will surely make you the delight of neighborhood children for blocks in every direction. Check out a video of the little guy in action after the break.

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The Mindstorms NXT gramophone, or, If Edison played with LEGOs

November 22nd, 2007 by

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots

Lying somewhere between the roboflusher and LEGO car-producing LEGO factory on the practicality scale, José Pino’s Mindstorms NXT gramophone brings together all the fun and tinny sound of this antiquated music system with today’s modern DIY sensibilities. Using little more than an off-the-shelf NXT kit running at 25% power, and, um, a fast food beverage cup, Pino was able rig together a very basic platform for spinning his vinyl, although scratching is probably not recommended on this rather delicate setup. Keep reading for a quick video walkthrough accompanied by those old-timey tunes so popular among today’s seniors.