Hasta La Gadget!

Electronic musicians are always looking for new ways to do the same old things. Case in point: OTTO, developed by Luca De Rosso at the IUAV University of Venice for a master’s thesis. Based on an Arduino and Cycling ’74’s Max / MSP software, you can drop an audio loop in it (via USB) and manipulate it in real time by moving your hands around the touch surface. Sure we’ve heard these kind of edits before, but never on a device that somewhat resembles the old Simon memory game. That has to count for something, right? Suffice it to say: we want one. Be sure to check it in action after the break.

Continue reading OTTO slices beats, has no effect on tin cans

OTTO slices beats, has no effect on tin cans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

You know what would have been awesome to have as a toy when we were growing up? Not a baby to swaddle and feed, or a Barbie doll to dress up and imagine careers for, or a fake pet to worry about neglecting. No, we’d have preferred Snoozy the Sloth, who merely breathes and take naps with you when you cuddle him. The sloth’s epic simplicity — a plush toy with Arduino guts and a 2 DC motor diaphragm to pump the air in his “lungs” — makes him a perfect companion for our downtime. Created by Justin Blinder for a toy-making class at Parsons The New School for Design, Snoozy is merely a prototype, but we really hope the toy industry is watching: they could learn a lot, in our sleepy, sleepy opinion. There’s a video of him napping after the break (and hit the read link for a shorter one of his innards). Yawn.

[Via Gizmodo, thanks, Jesse]

Continue reading Snoozy the Sloth is a breathing, napping toy after our own hearts

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Snoozy the Sloth is a breathing, napping toy after our own hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

After the boundless Arduino-based inventions we’ve witnessed over the years, it was really about time Arduino did a little something for itself. Guilherme printed up his own paper Arduino designs, which do away with the regular printed circuit board and substitute a colorful combination of paper, cardboard and nerdy needlepoint. It’s almost precious enough to get us to pick up a soldering iron once more, despite the horrible disfigurement caused by our last run-in with melting metal.

[Via Make]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Paperduino is like the cardboard fort version of every hacker’s favorite I/O board originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It’s been a mystery for ages, but at long last, it seems a simple DIYer has found a solution. We all know that the best beers are the ones brewed at home, but after a given amount of “test sips,” things can easily get a little out of control. In order to simplify the homebrewing process, the brilliant BrewTroller was concocted during a short stint with sobriety. In essence, the system utilizes a Sanguino microcontroller platform which was inspired by the tried-and-true Arduino in order to give brewers complete control over temperature and the like. When connected to a simple menu-driven display, it removes the need to bang out a paragraph of code while tipsy in order to tweak the flavor ever so slightly. Hit up the read link to have a look at the progress, but make sure you strap on those Beer Goggles first.

[Via HackedGadgets]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

BrewTroller simplifies homebrewing, makes it doable while inebriated originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments