Hasta La Gadget!

Given that September 9 is unlikely to finally reveal the fabled Apple tablet, this might be the nearest thing we have to it for a while yet — and it has one other advantage: it’s real. The iTab Mini is a mod project of the “more time and energy than sense” variety (our favorite kind) that melds together a 12.1-inch resistive touchscreen display with the remnants of an old PowerBook and a decidedly modern Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD spec. The outcome is, in a word, stunning. You can find a full run-through of the build at the read link.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

MacCores iTab Mini mod gives us a taste of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know, we wish we could say that there was more to this DIY cameraphone macro hack than tearing the lens out of an old DVD player and duct taping it over that of the cameraphone — but there really isn’t. And you know what? That’s OK. Some of the best mods are simple — so long as they work. And this one seems to work quite well, at least judging by the “before and after” shots after the break. And if you hit the read link, there’s even more where those came from. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have an old optical disc drive to smash open.

[Via Make]

Continue reading DIY cameraphone macro lens requires one old DVD player, zero tech savvy

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

DIY cameraphone macro lens requires one old DVD player, zero tech savvy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from a very concerned Mike, who is hoping to give his grandmother a way to properly interact with a laptop.

“I am trying to configure out a really dumbed down and intuitive PC for my grandmother. She recently had a stroke and while she is under my care I would like to repurpose a laptop for her to surf and email her children. Anyone have any experience with what input devices and UI’s are really understandable for the over 80 crowd?”

We know this is a bit “out there” for Ask Engadget, but we get the feeling Mike isn’t alone here. Anyone have any experience with unorthodox input devices and UIs designed for those with limited mobility and / or weakened vision? Spill the goods in comments below!

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Handhelds, Laptops

Ask Engadget: Good input device(s) and user interfaces for the ‘over 80 crowd?’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As all you compulsive modders and gadget freaks know, there aren’t too many devices that a well-applied touchscreen kit won’t make even better. And while there’s nothing really earth shattering about a homebrew HP Mini 1000 tablet, we don’t see too many of them. As with many a similar hack, things are pretty straightforward: remove the keyboard, cram in some components (actually, the term this guy uses is “squeeze”) and then fit the shell back together. Oh yeah, he’ll need to cut a hole in the shell for the touchscreen itself, as soon as he gets the actual touchscreen in the mail. Did we mention that he’ll be laser cutting the window for the display, the webcam, and the speakers at his school? Regardless, he gets into all that (and more) at the myHPmini forums — be sure to hit the read link for some of that action. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be inspired to embark on a similar project yourself. But first, check the video after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading HP Mini 1000 hacked into touchscreen tablet

Filed under: Laptops

HP Mini 1000 hacked into touchscreen tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes mods go to such lengths that words like ‘homebrewed’ and ‘DIY’ no longer do them justice. Presenting the Nintendo SNES Portable. Not the first, and probably not the last of its kind, this bad boy mobilizes Nintendo’s venerable console with a few buttons from a PSOne controller and a ridiculously detailed skinning job — yes, even the packaging gets a makeover. The sheer nostalgic overload at the sight of it must be worth something to Nintendo, no? There’s not a person, with both a heart and a history of gaming, that can glance at that bulky unwieldy-looking thing and not break into a wistful smile. Really, we dare you. More snaps after the break.

Continue reading Portable SNES mod is slick enough to hit retail

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Portable SNES mod is slick enough to hit retail originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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