Feb 13

HP’s exclusive Mobile Internet Ubuntu skin not so exclusive anymore

Posted in: hack, HP, Linux, Mini, mod, Today's Chili, ubuntu

Crazy kids and their crazy hacks have extracted all the juicy goodness of HP’s Mini-purposed Mi software for Ubuntu, including the launcher (pictured), the OS skin, and some application skins, and unleashed it for all Ubuntu users with an eye for black and some hacking skills of their own. From what we can tell, it’s not exactly a breeze getting the mod up and running — and most successful folks still cite a few tweaks they’d like to make — but it’s free, so we won’t look a gift theme in the resource files… or something like that. Instructions are in the forum, a bit more inspiration is after the break.

[Via Ars Technica]

Continue reading HP’s exclusive Mobile Internet Ubuntu skin not so exclusive anymore

Filed under:

HP’s exclusive Mobile Internet Ubuntu skin not so exclusive anymore originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Feb 12

Sony VAIO P gets HSDPA WWAN at last… via a mod, naturally

Posted in: att, hack, mod, netbook, sony, Today's Chili, vaio, wwan

Right, so integrated WWAN is awesome. But what’s not awesome is Sony’s decision to lock you down to Verizon Wireless on its ritzy new VAIO P. We’ve seen one team of investigators hack away in search of a SIM slot to no avail, but we should’ve known tnkgrl was the real lady for the job. Once again proving just how awesome she is, tnkgrl has not only modified the VAIO P to accept an AT&T SIM card, but she’s managed to get it working, host up the pictures to prove it and even provide a how-to guide enabling seasoned hackers to follow suit. Hit the read link for all the requisite details, but be sure you’ve got lots of spare time to give before taking this one on.

Filed under:

Sony VAIO P gets HSDPA WWAN at last… via a mod, naturally originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Feb 09

Hark! Dell Mini 12 kitted with an SSD

Posted in: hack, mod, netbook, SSD, Today's Chili

Like a proclamation from On High come the words: “Rejoice! No longer do you have to put up with a slow Dell Mini 12!” The kids over at Portable Monkey have taken a good look at Mtron’s 1.8-inch SSD (the inelegantly named MSD-PATA3018032-ZIF2 is going for ¥26,800 — about $294) and not surprisingly, the thing has far out-classed the Mini 12’s default 4200rpm HDD in benchmarks. On the other hand, the drive does draw a considerable bit of power, so battery life may be an issue — and at a height of 8 millimeters (as opposed to 5 millimeters for the standard drive) some folks have had a hard time installing the thing. Are you the type of person who gets giddy at the prospect of souping up your hardware? We thought so. Hit the read link for all the juicy deets.

Filed under:

Hark! Dell Mini 12 kitted with an SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Feb 05

Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film

Posted in: hack, mod, samsung, Today's Chili, touchscreen

Of all the DIY touchscreen projects we’ve come across lately, this is certainly one of them. The kids over at Netbook Mag have got their hands on the stately Samsung NC10 and were kind enough to put together a full blown, step-by-step guide to replacing its tired, non-touch responsive display with an exciting, new fashioned touchscreen. And if that weren’t enough, there’s a video of the software drivers being installed — with a cool, vintage 1994 Euro-rave soundtrack. How great is that? Check it after the break.

Continue reading Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film

Filed under:

Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Feb 04

Wiimote modded with terrifically minor results

Posted in: diy, mod, mods, nintendo, Today's Chili, wii

Remember DHRECK, the modder who modded a Wiimote by covering it in hemp and calling it a day? Well, he’s back, and this time he’s made one that’s slightly smaller than the original. That’s right: not totally teeny, or miniaturized (it’s not lethal, either) — just somewhat smaller than an actual, unmodified ‘mote. He’s made some other minor cosmetic changes to it as well, and the results are attractive. Check the gallery of fantastic photos after the break.

[Thanks, John]

Gallery: Dhreck Wiimote Mod

Filed under:

Wiimote modded with terrifically minor results originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Feb 03

Homebrew Street Fighter IV PS3 controller stands up on its own two legs

Posted in: controller, hack, mod, playstation, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, Today's Chili

Anyone can go out there and put their hands on a couple of commercially manufactured Street Fighter IV joysticks, but there is something really cool about a simple, well executed homebrew mod. This PS3 controller may not be the cutting edge of industrial design, but it does say: “I can’t wait for the new Street Fighter. It’s gonna be sweeeet.” Previously a wooden TV table and some controller stuff, the proper holes have been drilled, the innards affixed to the bottom and a picture of Chun-Li thrown in for good measure. We wouldn’t recommend placing a drink on the thing (we know how carried away you get) but who has time for a beverage when you’re consumed with vengeance?

Gallery: Homebrew Street Fighter IV PS3 controller

[Via PS3 Maven]

Filed under:

Homebrew Street Fighter IV PS3 controller stands up on its own two legs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Feb 02

Bacteria returns with IntoPlay, the expectant looking portable PSone mod

Posted in: handheld, mod, playstation, Today's Chili
Bacteria returns with IntoPlay, the expectant looking portable PSone mod

We’ve seen plenty of semi-portable mashups from modder extraordinaire Bacteria, and now he’s back with another luggable system that turns a PSone into a fully integrated handheld. The system is naturally made from a PSone console itself as well as a travel screen, a third-party controller, custom case, and, most importantly, a lot of skill and patience — roughly 100 hours worth. You cay buy the tangible bits in a kit on eBay for £49.99 (about $70 US), then follow Bacteria’s stupendously comprehensive instructions to build your own. Or, you can just watch the video below and live vicariously.

[Via benheck.com Forums]

Continue reading Bacteria returns with IntoPlay, the expectant looking portable PSone mod

Filed under:

Bacteria returns with IntoPlay, the expectant looking portable PSone mod originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Feb 02

Modder crafts homemade 12-cell battery for Eee, doubles stock battery life, grows unsightly hump

Posted in: mod, netbook, Today's Chili
Modder crafts homemade 12-cell battery for Eee, doubles stock battery life, grows unsightly hump

Remember the Eee 901 “hammerhead edition,” the extra-wide monstrosity that offered 10 cells of goodness in one less than aesthetic package? Welcome to that accessory’s homebrew cousin, the creation of a modder by the name of TenaciousDre who stole eight batteries from an old laptop and wired them up to the existing four-cell battery, creating a 12-cell shrink-wrapped bulge to protrude less than majestically from the back of his Eee. The good news is 12 to 15 hours of life with the laptop set on its most frugal settings; the bad news is a 12 hour re-charge time and a useless battery gauge that reads zero percent despite eight hours of juice remaining. We have seen uglier examples of excess in the computing world before, but would probably rather carry around a second (and third) battery than have to explain this tumor to every passer-by at Starbucks.

[Via Portable Monkey]

Continue reading Modder crafts homemade 12-cell battery for Eee, doubles stock battery life, grows unsightly hump

Filed under:

Modder crafts homemade 12-cell battery for Eee, doubles stock battery life, grows unsightly hump originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jan 29

Wasabi DX modchip lets you hack the ‘unhackable’ Wii, dream the impossible dream

Posted in: hack, homebrew, mod, Today's Chili, wii

Well, it wouldn’t be Thursday without another way to, er, “upgrade” your Wii. In this case, we’re proud to present to you the Wasabi DX. Like many a drivechip, this one promises to hack the “unhackable” Wii, sporting plug and play installation on your console’s (DMS, D2A, D2B, D2C, D2C2, D2E, epoxy D2E, or D2nothing / D3) drive. The firmware is stored in flash and can be upgraded from DVD, or downgraded (if you ever need to do that) from a backup on the chip itself. Like Wasabi’s previous offering, drive read speeds are limited to 3x, which might effect some games, but you were probably expecting that anyways. Pretty exciting, huh? No word on pricing or availability yet, but the company says to expect all that “soonish.”

Filed under:

Wasabi DX modchip lets you hack the ‘unhackable’ Wii, dream the impossible dream originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Jan 26

WiiKey’s new DriveKey frees ‘unhackable’ Wiis with zero fuss

Posted in: hack, homebrew, mod, Today's Chili, wii

At this point, we’re sorta surprised you can’t just look askance at a Wii and set it to running homebrew with your penetrating gaze alone — it seems like everything else has been accomplished in the hacking, modding and general humiliation of Nintendo’s little console. Brought to us by the WiiKey folks, DriveKey is a wire-free, solder-free, brain-free method for hacking any Wii on the market, especially those pesky new ones with “epoxy” drives or the dreaded hack-proof “D3” drives. DriveKey acts as a simple passthrough for the DVD connector cable, tweaking certain functions to allow for a bit more freedom in your Wii experience. Unfortunately, DriveKey limits the DVD drive to 2x read speeds, which might make certain games unplayable, and it also can’t be flash upgraded, unlike the WiiKey before it, to add more functionality or fend off a theoretical hack-buster update from Nintendo — though this hasn’t proved much of a problem for similar hacks. The chips go for around $70. Install videos after the break.

[Thanks, Gob]

Continue reading WiiKey’s new DriveKey frees ‘unhackable’ Wiis with zero fuss

Filed under:

WiiKey’s new DriveKey frees ‘unhackable’ Wiis with zero fuss originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments