MAKE: Blog: November 2005 Archive

« October 2005 | Main | December 2005 »

Archives: November 2005

Page 1 of 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 >>

November 30, 2005

Book Binding

Comic artist Toby takes you through the step-by-step process of binding your own book as he works on the assembly line to put together his comics for a MoCCA event. There are tons of photos and descriptions on the whole process. Link.

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Nov 30, 2005 05:08 PM
Crafts | Permalink | Comments (4)

Bait and Switch Camera Stores...

Most Makers I know are usually thrifty (in a good way) and on the prowl for a good deal, but be careful...Today will likely go down in web history as another example of just how quick and bad things can get online - we've lived through the Kryptonite bic pen lock swarm, the recent Sony Rootkit and now read the story of someone who may have discovered when those low-cost camera sites have deals that seem too good to be true, they usually are. Link. If you're a fan of Digg, this saga is the most "Dugg" story along with the most comments, ever. It will be interesting to see what happens next...

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 03:58 PM
Imaging | Permalink | Comments (4)

Treehugger round up...

Our pals from Treehugger sent in their weekly round up - "An office chair made from an Audi driver's seat. Cant afford an electric scooter? Try a dog-powered one. And, we find lamps made from recycled plastic bottles..." Read full story

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 02:30 PM
Announcements | Permalink | Comments (1)

Build a Magnetic Ball Levitator for $20

"There's a super article in Popular Electronics, May 1996, pp 48-52, 78, titled "Build a Magnetic Ball Levitator", by James Cicon. It describes how to build an electromagnet with an optical sensor which will keep a hollow steel ball floating in the air about 1/4" below the electromagnet. This is like the globe of the earth which is suspended in air under an electromagnet that can be purchased for about $125. The material costs for this project is only about $20." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 12:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Science | Permalink | Comments (1)

HOW TO - Build a Home Terabyte Backup System Using Linux

Wow, this will likely be commonplace in just a few years..."Build a low-cost, terabyte-sized backup server using Linux and back up your digital audio files, digital images and digital movie recordings. A terabyte-plus backup and storage system is now an affordable option for Linux users. This article discusses options for building and configuring an inexpensive, expandable, Linux-based backup server." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 11:45 AM
Computers | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Big Idea...

MAKE's special projects editor David Pescovitz wrote a great article for Salon about "Big Ideas" in tech, including a section on the Maker mindset. "Robugs, biologically based software, the GeoWeb, transgenic art and other hot frontiers in technological innovation." I really enjoyed it. Oh, when you click the link, you have to "click here and watch a brief ad" to get to the article unless you have a Salon account....Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 10:03 AM
News from the Future, Science | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Home-Built Effect Processor Express

"What you see before you is an OPEN DSP system. People are currently using it to create some of the most ORIGINAL-SOUNDING EFFECTS and INSTRUMENTS in the world, since its architecture is open. Its users tweak, modify, CUSTOMIZE, improve and develop the software it comes with. It's inexpensive and can be quite portable. It runs MIDI or connects to your Palm Pilot. Some programs don't require either to make fun and useful effects." [via] Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 09:44 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music | Permalink | Comments (2)

DIY Retro cellphone handset

Bill writes "When I saw the retro-phone handset on thinkgeek I knew I wanted one. Then I realized they wanted $30+ for it, and I thought to myself -- I can build that. So after some cutting, testing, and building I have finished my Retro-Cell phone handset, and I will show you how you can build your own for under $10.00" Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 07:11 AM
Cellphones, DIY Projects, Electronics, Retro | Permalink | Comments (2)

Another DIY iSight tripod mount

Here's another version of the DIY iSight tripod we posted earlier - Tguignar writes "I had a small metal adaptor made for me Friday afternoon at the shop we have at work - basically a small rectangle of some kind of iron magnets attach to with two holes in them, one of them threaded to fit the standard camera tripod screw. Sure enough, it works like a charm." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 04:34 AM
DIY Projects, Imaging | Permalink | Comments (2)

PAiA Synth kit founder John Simonton...

"Godfather of DIY synths" John Simonton died today, a pioneer in synthesizer kits and founder of PAiA. His work continues to have a following today, including many wild instrumental creations. He'll be sorely missed in the music/Maker community." Link and Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 03:19 AM
Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

Make your own Canon Digital Rebel remote

Here's how to make your own Canon Digital Rebel XT remote. "Instead of paying $20+ for a fragile remote on a short cable that has less features, I picked up about $10 in parts from Fry's." The article has a link to a how-to PDF and example photos. Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 02:17 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Imaging | Permalink | Comments (0)

DIY $22 Stereo Digital Camera

John writes "When I first saw the Dakota disposable cameras at a locals camera store I knew I’d be buying a few so I could make a camera that only exists in my dreams, a digital stereo camera. After seeing the Use the (PureDigital) Dakota Digital Camera with your PC, I ran out and bought a few of these $11 dollar gems and set to work hacking them up. I figured I'd write up how I did it in case anyone else wants to try it themselves. It's a pretty easy hack all things told, but still darn cool." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 01:11 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Imaging | Permalink | Comments (0)

Meet the Blinkybugs

Obeyken writes "Electronic / kinetic bug art. I build these small, insect-like sculptures with simple motion-detecting "antennae" that respond to various stimulus such as movement, vibration, or air currents. When picked up, handled, or otherwise stimulated, the bug comes to life as its LED eyes blink rhythmically. I have one sitting on my monitor right now that blinks as I type. They're constructed from LEDs, bits of wire, guitar strings, and coin-cell batteries (the PCB battery holder is the bug's "body"). My original plan was to deploy them throughout San Francisco as a sort of "electronic graffiti" but thus far they haven't survived too long in the wild..." Link. You could also make your own, the design is the how-to.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 12:10 AM
Arts, DIY Projects, Electronics | Permalink | Comments (4)

TuneBuds - Shuffle - USB audio

Griffin has a nice new product hack, they tapped the USB on the iPod Shuffle and it's now both the lanyard and headphones in one - nice work "TuneBuds keep both the earbuds and shuffle handy around the wearer's neck. Just snap TuneBuds onto the shuffle's USB connector, and you're up and running (or dancing). TuneBuds' audio cable, integrated into the lanyard, keeps you free of excess cords and tangled lines." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 30, 2005 12:01 AM
Portable Audio and Video, Toolbox, iPod | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 29, 2005

More wall art made from book text...

McWhizzleteeth has a follow up how-to on making two-tone text for wall posters made from the text of books - "The "Origin of the Species - wall hanging" project makes a nice use of opacity masks in Illustrator, embedding an image in a field of text by changing the opacity throughout. But pulling this off can be difficult to figure out. This guide will run you through the steps to embed an image in a field of text merely by changing the opacity of the text itself." Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Nov 29, 2005 09:47 PM
Arts, DIY Projects | Permalink | Comments (0)

Page 1 of 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 >>

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!

New @ MAKE

Maker Faire - Austin, TX tickets!

Maker Faire Austin, TX - (October 20-21) tickets are now on sale! This two-day, family-friendly event celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It's for creative, resourceful folks who like to tinker and love to make things. We call them Makers - Link.

DIY Halloween

It's here!! DIY HALLOWEEN 2007 from the editors of MAKE and CRAFT brings you 40-plus DIY projects for the holiday that's made for makers. From the craftiest costumes to amazing animated props and the latest in computer-controlled haunted house effects - Link.

Enter the DIY Halloween contests!

We have a MASSIVE DIY HALLOWEEN contest this year! Makers and Crafters, it's time to enter our 2nd annual ghoulishly fun Halloween contests! Anyone, anywhere, can enter all or just some of the contests. MAKE, CRAFT, Instructables and Popular Science have teamed up and there's plenty of time to win! Here's how to enter - Link and here are all the great prizes!!! - Link.

Phillip Torrone
Senior editor
Tel: 707-827-7311

Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker

Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher

Suggest a Site!

Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT

Bre Pettis. Bre Pettis
Video Maker

Rob Sullivan. Rob Sullivan
DIY Halloween

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Current Podcast

The future is... Maker Faire Austin - adventures in time! - Weekend Project Podcast For this week's Weekend Project Podcast we're making sure you've seen our latest Maker Faire video "The future is... Maker Faire Austin - adventures in time! " Baron Von PT and the Brebot travel forward in time to gander... More...

Get the Make blog sent via email

Enter your email to receive the Make blog each day:

WOW! Thanks to everyone involved with Bay Area Maker Faire: attendees, makers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and crew...it was AMAZING! Over 400 Makers and 45,000 attendees! Be sure to check out photos @ Flickr, and our Maker Faire posts for all the action! Next up, Maker Faire Austin: Oct. 20 & 21, 2007 - Travis County Fairgrounds!