Computers & Mobile

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

DIY GPS tracking with Mologogo – review

DIY GPS tracking with Mologogo – review

MoloEarlier, we posted about the DIY cheap GPS tracking service Mologogo, you can get a cheap $60 pre-paid boost mobile phone, register on the site, download a Java app and you’re pretty much done. The phone will transmit your position to server (Uses Rails, Linux, Google Maps) and you/your friends can view where you are at in real time. I’ve hacked up tons of solutions to do the same thing, and this is simplest and cheapest (pretty much free if you have the phone, or $60 if you go pre-paid + 0.20 / day). Here are some photos and screenshots of the service in use…

Messages from the virtual world to a real world wrist watch…

Messages from the virtual world to a real world wrist watch…

Sl-1
MAKE has “virtual land” in Second Life, a 3d virtual world where you can make anything, build things and anything else you can imagine. In our MAKE:land area you can preview our “virtual edition” of MAKE as well as watch movies and meet other virtual makers – and now, when you visit MAKE, in the real world, I get a message on my wrist watch…here’s how we did it – You could also do this to get a text message or email on your phone…

TOOLBOX: FLY pentop computer from LeapFrog

TOOLBOX: FLY pentop computer from LeapFrog

LeapMAKE pal Chris Ford writes “The FLY pentop computer from LeapFrog is a new toy that Leapfrog is putting out. It is supposed to be released Oct 12. It recognizes handwriting and repeats what is written. I had the pleasure of trying one out last night and was absolutely blown away. It’s writing recognition is exceptional (I have horrible penmanship and it didn’t even skip a beat). It works as a scheduler and keeps your appointments. It does math (basic arithmetic)…

Sony Librie Hacking

Sony Librie Hacking

Dsc05050
The Sony Librie is an e-ink ebook reader. It’s stunning. The display looks so “real” it appears as if it’s a sticker or printed on the screen. The bad news is, the ebook format is some wacky DRM Sony put on it, so you can’t get any ebooks on it you own. But with some firmware hacks, converters and the step by step how-to I’m writing up you can- it’ll take me awhile, there’s lots to do- but for now here are some photos of some tests (MAKE Blog and Cory Doctorow eBooks so far…)