Computers & Mobile

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

PayPal vending machine

PayPal vending machine

While walking the show floor at the PayPal X Innovate 2010 developers conference today I came across this cool PayPal vending machine prototype. Ray Tanaka and his crew at PayPal Labs hacked together the multi-part system using a mechanical candy dispenser, a couple of Arduino Duemilanove, a WiShield, relay, proximity sensor, and LED display. The end result allows you to scan a QR code, make a payment, and acquire munchies using a smartphone. As you make your payment, the machine will tweet your purchase and notify a payment confirmation display.

Grilled sausage scented iPhone soap

Grilled sausage scented iPhone soap

The holiday buying season is around the corner. What do you get that certain someone who has everything? Why, grilled sausage scented iPhone soap, of course! Talk about a gift giving trifecta. Combine supernatural gadget lust with a cardiac inducing appreciation of grilled meats, through in a little improved personal hygiene, and you’ve got one heck of a stocking stuffer.

Your Comments

Your Comments

And we’re back with our nineteenth installment of Your Comments. Here are our favorites from the past week, from Make: Online, our Facebook page, and Twitter. On Facebook, R. Joe Brandon had a great idea for what to do with the giant cameras: Now attach it to a kite a’la George Lawrence! 1lowlife wrote in […]

OpenStreetMap: The Maker’s Map

OpenStreetMap: The Maker’s Map

Steve Coast, founder of OpenStreetMap, is going to doing some authoring for us on this unique, editable world map project. Steve started OSM in 2004 and has been deeply involved in it ever since. He lives in Denver with his wife, where he also enjoys hang gliding and collecting hammers. – Gareth Branwyn OpenStreetMappers in […]