Don't you hate those tiny buttons on an average Media Center PC's remote control? Well, some whiz kids have conceived the opposite extreme: an oversize "stepping remote" stitched together from two PS2 Dance Dance Revolution mats and a converter box. For those taking up this DIY project, the C language source code to program the mats with your Media Center PC is available here.
And here's a video of the remote foot mat in action.
(Via Crave Asia)
First off, massive geek respect to anyone who's managed to hold on to their "Empire Strikes Back" AT-AT Imperial Walker from childhood. But it takes a geek visionary to tastefully slap a boombox into the side of one and paint the thing K.I.T.T. black. This thing is like an '80s nostalgia heart attack. If you know who did this, give them a hug from me.
(via Boing Boing)
The economy is in trouble and we're all cutting back on spending, unsure of what the future might hold. We're also starting to realize that maybe doing things ourselves instead of hiring outside help is a great idea.
But if you're someone like me, building a deck in the back yard or, heck, painting vaulted ceilings, just isn't something you're proficient at. But luckily for us, there are a slew of sites across the Web that provide articles and videos that can help us complete any project.
5min.com I like 5min because I can learn about almost anything in, well, 5 minutes or less.
5min features videos from users who are experts on a particular subject. Sometimes, their expertise is buying an electric shaver. Other times, it's installing weatherstripping. Either way, you can find anything from the simple to the complex on 5min.
Although the videos are great, my favorite feature on 5min is the company's video player. Unlike some players that only let you play, stop, rewind, and fast-forward a clip, 5min's video player lets you zoom in, proceed frame-by-frame, and run the video in slow motion so you don't miss any steps. That feature comes in especially handy when you watch a video on a complex topic and the expert is moving too fast in their instruction.
eHow
eHow is a fantastic how-to site that includes both videos and articles. And although there aren't nearly as many videos on the site as other services like 5min, eHow still provides a fine alternative for learning how to get things done.eHow enlists the help of professionals to create the more than 300,000 articles on the site. From learning how to tie a tie, to how to caulk, the site has it all. That said, if you're looking for video, you're not going to find much on eHow--it's designed to provide step-by-step text instructions. Sometimes, especially when I need to figure out how to build something like a deck, that's ideal. But for simple topics like learning how to throw a baseball, a video works much better. In those cases, I tend to use sites like 5min or Expert Village instead.
You will be forced to sit through commercials on the company's videos, but that's not a big deal--they're only 15 seconds long and run before the clip. I should also note that the site's video player doesn't offer all the extras like those that you'll find with 5min, so you'll probably find yourself moving the slider back quite often to figure out how to do something.
But video isn't what eHow is all about. The site is ideal when you want to bring instructions with you wherever you need to complete a task. Unlike 5min or Expert Village, I don't need to sit in front of my computer to see how to sand wood flooring when I use eHow; I can print out the instructions and read them. And on complex projects, having that option is ideal.
Expert Village
Expert Village is a little different from a service like 5min, which allows users to upload videos to display their expertise. Expert Village employs experts who work in fields ranging from music to home improvement who research particular topics and create short videos--usually no longer than five minutes--detailing how to perform a particular task.
The value of Expert Village's use of experts is seen almost immediately. Sure, you can find a really informative video on 5min and it might provide the same quality as something on Expert Village, but generally, that's the exception, not the norm.
According to Expert Village's internal figures, the site features over 131,000 videos that have been viewed more than 292 million times. And given the wide range of topics those videos cover, Expert Village is an ideal source for help.
One especially nice offering that shouldn't be overlooked is Expert Village's series. Unlike 5min or even eHow, some Expert Village experts stay on one topic and create a series of videos to walk you through a process.
For instance, one expert is teaching Chinese etiquette.… Read more
I'll catch some hell for saying it, but Apple's fifth-generation iPod (aka the iPod Video) is one of the best hard-drive MP3 players of all time.
Say what you will about sound quality or the easily scratched screen, compared with today's iPod models the 5G iPod has a lot of advantages: it's compatible with just about every iPod accessory ever made; video output is built right in; you can use it with older computers and old versions of iTunes; and there are countless ways to hack and modify it. Unfortunately, the old guy just doesn't … Read more
You could use a gadget like the iFlyz to secure your iPhone while watching a video. Or you could just grab some pencils and rubber bands and be more DIY about the whole thing.
That's what Roland Hutchinson did. The editor of Geeky Gadgets wanted to watch Inauguration Day coverage on his iPhone last week while working on his PC, but was having trouble propping the device up at just the right angle.
So he grabbed some pencils and rubber bands and fashioned an iPhone stand. You're not going to see this thing in Apple stores anytime soon, … Read more
I've always been fascinated by the concept of alternate universes. I imagine various universes in which an Eric Franklin does not work for CNET in San Francisco, but instead still lives in his hometown of Chicago and owns an import video game/comic book/action figure shop.
Or maybe, instead of refusing to join his high school football team at 16 as I did, Eric Franklin No. 3213 not only joined the team, but became an NFL superstar. Hey, athleticism runs in my family so that last fantasy ain't so far-fetched.
Although my chances of becoming a god … Read more
It all started when a free, unsolicited copy of Cycling '74's Max/MSP 5 hit my desk. How, or why, the holy grail of interactive audio/video authoring software found its way to me is still a mystery, but I'm glad it did. In fact, I felt so grateful I knew I had to return the kindness by creating something ambitious with it. That's when I e-mailed Matt.
My friend Matt Ganucheau is a guru when it comes to Max/MSP. Because this particular piece of software is so adaptable, he's used it to program robots, create video DJ software, author plug-in effects for music applications, and give life to busty mannequins (he hates when I bring that up). With my motivation and Matt's know-how, I was sure we could come up with something interesting.
Editor's note: The following video gets nerdy and very loud. If DIY and electronic arts projects don't interest you, you probably won't be interested in this video or the remainder of this article.
Getting creative wasn't easy, however. I felt like a colorblind kid who'd been thrown a deluxe box of Crayolas. Most people who come to Max/MSP already have a problem in mind that they wanted to solve, like "How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?" or "How can I create propane-powered flame organ?" Instead, I had a solution in search of a problem. … Read more
Here's a really ingenious way to record your cycling stunts. All you need is the old-school bicycle bell that you use to warn pedestrians or freak out your cat.
Jens Almstrom has found out that by removing the upper casing of the bell, there is usually a screw at the bottom chassis, which has the same dimensions used for most tripod sockets. What he did was to simply mount the camera onto that screw, and there you have it--a simple fix to record your journey or stunts with your BMX.
Our advice is to not fumble with the controls … Read more
If you're contemplating liquidating some of your assets, eBay, Craigslist and others are probably looking pretty attractive right now. Don't forget about the garage sale though!
A good way to dress one up, or turn those old pizza boxes into holiday gift baskets is to head over to iStockPack. It's an Instructables-like community that's filled with various projects to put together anything from a cigar box to a cardboard cookie jar using nothing more than materials you may have laying around the house.
Users can submit their own designs with instructions, which go into one … Read more
The 404 is back together again and this time around we welcome DIY comic book artist Samuel Vera to the show. Artist, publisher, and do-it-all for Crazee Comics, Sam sits in for a chat about the state of the comic book industry, how to get your start in publishing, the war between online and print comics, and the recent surge of comic book movie adaptations.
Don't forget to come and say hi to us tonight at our second 404 meetup at Gstaad Bar on 26th and 6th Avenue in New York! We'll be there at 6:30 tonight, kicking back and celebrating our 200th episode anniversary, and you're welcome to join us! We want to meet as many of our New York listeners as we can, so if you're in the New York area, come check it out--if nothing else, Natali Del Conte, Mark the Intern, and Dan the Mantern will all be there as well.
Big thanks to our buddy Samuel Vera for coming on the show today. Listen in for seriously helpful tips on how to publish your own comic and even hear Sam's opinions on existing comics and his humble beginning in the thriving comic book industry (no matter what Wilson thinks). He also weighs in on a few current events including the closing of two corporate pillars of American excellence: Circuit City and Mother's Cookies. All right, all right, nobody is going to miss Circuit City but Mother's Cookies gave us the famous ANIMAL CRACKER! You're never going to believe this, but neither Jeff, Wilson, nor Sam knows what those are. Whaaaattt? Is this a West Coast thing or what? I don't get it, but nevertheless I'm still really bummed out because I practically survived off those things for the first half of my life. Hmm, that explains a few things...RIP Mothers Cookies, we'll almost remember you and your deliciously sprinkled confections.
EPISODE 203 Download today's podcast … Read more
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