Hasta La Gadget!

Snap! MacRumors got burned by this “9.5” Mac Netbook” when it didn’t bother reading the small print, and then came back with a rather bitchy retort.

First, the truth. This is not a Mac Netbook. It’s not even a real computer. It is in fact a handmade, carved wood MacBook, complete with pencil details drawn onto the screen and shell, lovingly crafted by Kyle Buckner. It is quite fantastic, and clearly real-looking enough to fool the Mac Rumors folks, despite the rather tongue in cheek teaser posted by the Cult of Mac. Under the headline “Is THIS the New Apple Netbook???”, Lonnie Lazar wrote the following:

Cult of Mac received this image tonight from a trusted contributor – and we just had to share.

We have more images that will take time to process and details about the provenance of this device we must parse, so bear with us until all can be revealed.

Mac Rumors then picked it up and responded thusly:

The explanation may be as innocent as a Chinese knock-off, but it seemed interesting enough to discuss (and pick apart). Hopefully, we’ll hear more details of the photo soon.

Apple has been rumored to be working on a miniaturized “netbook”. Rumors have pegged it at 10” (diagonally) and with the possibility of a touch screen.

Then, when Cult of Mac posted the full gallery and explanation after having a little fun, Mac Rumors got all bent out of shape:

Update: Turns out it’s a Pencil drawn, wooden model, and Cult of Mac’s sources are perhaps not to be trusted.

Mee-oow! Despite the cat fight, we’re sure everyone has made up now. As for the model itself? Gorgeous. In fact, I’d love a custom OS X pencil-drawn theme to run on my Wind Hackintosh.

Possible Photo of 9.5” Mac Netbook? [Mac Rumors]

Is THIS the New Apple Netbook??? [Cult of Mac]

MacBook Art Project is a Labor of Love [Cult of Mac]

Searching for the perfect coffeetable is a struggle we know well. DIYer macetech has sidestepped the whole “boring” furniture problem by installing 81 ShiftBrite LED modules into a 2×2 foot IKEA table which run a sine plasma into HSV/RGB conversion by way of an Arduino. Sure, it’s probably not something your grandmother would want in her living room — but your friends would undoubtedly be pretty jealous to see this thing hanging out in your place. Watch out for seizures, though. Video of the table in action after the break.

[Via Make]

Continue reading DIY ShiftBrite coffeetable a beautiful, headache-inducing conversation piece

Filed under: Household

DIY ShiftBrite coffeetable a beautiful, headache-inducing conversation piece originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen iPod hacks run the gamut, from the useful to the just plain absurd, but no matter how rough around the edges such a project may seem, we always get a kick out of the ingenuity and hard work involved. Today’s DIY wonder comes from a cat named Benjamin Kokes, who’s using his engineering chops to put together a GPS peripheral for the iPod nano. As the project stands right now, he’s taken a reference board sporting a Nemerix GPS and written a screen driver for it, allowing it to do its thing on the handheld. Apparently, all this bad boy is capable of doing right now is finding a satellite and displaying your latitude and longitude — but we’d like to see your old nano do that! Hit the read link for the whole, sordid tale in geek-tastic detail, or to speak with the developer if you’d like to give this a shot your own self. Tell him Engadget sent you.

[Via Technabob]

Filed under: GPS, Portable Audio

iPod nano GPS hack ensures that you and your MP3s make it home safely originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drawdio is a mashup of drawing plus audio. First, watch the quite jaw-dropping video.

Done? Good. The original Drawdio, from MIT hipster Jay Silver, was a ripped-apart electronic toy bought in Bangalore, India. The “harmonium” was then modded to play when a circuit was completed.

The latest Drawdio works in the same way — a circuit is completed by touch. You can hook it up to a faucet and then touch the water, or even complete the circuit with the graphite in a pencil, literally drawing the music. This is where the name came from.

The best part? (there’s always a best part)? You can make your own. Schematics are available for download and you can go the super lo-fi breadboard route or use the diagrams to print your own circuit. Pencils not included.

Product page [Drawdio via the Twitter]
Schematics, kits [Drawdio]

A crafty Guitar Hero DIY-er has built a little project with possibly startling implications. The includes ambient light sensors in front of the television which are triggered by the light of the notes on screen during Guitar Hero gameplay. The sensors trigger an Arduino to turn on LEDS on a nearby setup. In the video (which is after the break) you can see the entire thing in action — which maker Joe says can eventually lead to a rig which plays the game for you. The horror!

[Via Make]

Continue reading Guitar Hero arduino note visualizer lights our fire

Filed under: Gaming

Guitar Hero arduino note visualizer lights our fire originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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