Computers & Mobile

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for digital gadgetry, open code, smart hacks, and more. Processing power to the people!

Smarter iPad 2 Smart Cover

Check out this super sleek wooden roll top cover for the iPad 2 from Dutch case manufacturer Miniot. Made from a single piece of cherrywood, the case fits snug to the tablet using internal magnets. The design differs from the stock Apple Smart Cover with its rigid rolling arch, smooth organic lines, and its lack of hinge. Though I have yet to hold one in my hand, from what I’ve seen in the video demonstration it appears to offer superior support when used as a stand to prop up the device.

Continue Reading Adam Flaherty6
Top 10: Free Downloads

Top 10: Free Downloads

Woohoo! Free stuff! Not counting software, here (except a coupla fonts), because almost without exception, all the software we’ve covered on Make: Online is free, and we’ve covered a lot of it. Free software’s a whole series of round-ups. Here you’ll find templates, calendars, posters, plans, papercraft models, and other cool stuff you can download and use completely gratis. Enjoy!

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan6
Litte Pictureframe is watching You

Litte Pictureframe is watching You

Nikolaus Gradwohl wrote in to share his little pictureframe project, which turns an old LCD picture frame into a fun animation piece: I found a cheap digital picture frame at a local electronics store a while ago and searched a project for it. So i installed 60 jpegs with eyes looking in different directions on […]

Continue Reading Matt Mets4
Steady Stylus

Steady Stylus

Dutch maker Ivo Beckers (shapedad) created this capacitive stylus for folks with limited mobility and is based on customer feedback. Capacitive touch devices like the iPad are useful tools for Assistive and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT). Check out Ivo’s wears here.

Continue Reading Adam Flaherty4
How-To: Set Up a Basement PCB Fab & Use It To Make a POV Business Card

How-To: Set Up a Basement PCB Fab & Use It To Make a POV Business Card

This Instructable from Jared Foster doesn’t just show you how to make his cool persistence-of-vision business card. It takes you through the construction of a circulating etch tank, the modification of a laminating machine to make a stencil applicator, the assembly of a controller to turn a toaster into a reflow oven, and the cobbling-together of a vacuum pickup tool for SMT components. And then you get some practice using all that cool stuff making a POV business card. It even comes with obligatory American Psycho allusions.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan2

Smart Cover for Original iPad

Dan Provost over at Studio Neat managed to brute force one of those fancy new Smart Covers onto his first generation iPad by gluing four rare earth magnets to the spine of the iPad. It doesn’t turn the iPad screen on or off and you’ll have four magnets glued to your iPad when you’re not using it, but it does perform as a cover and stand.

Continue Reading Adam Flaherty8