Technology

New LEGO MINDSTORMS!

New LEGO MINDSTORMS!

Lego Mindstorms News 2GoRobotics writes “LEGO is finally rehauling it’s Mindstorms kit. At the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, LEGO Group announced LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT, a new system that redefines the consumer robotics category which the company created in 1998. Robot Magazine has pictures and video. Press release here. My summary is here. Link to Robot magazine. Best feature? Download programs via Bluetooth! UPDATE: Wired has a preview of their cover story for next month about this [via] here.

Sony’s new eBook reader at CES…

Sony’s new eBook reader at CES…

0104Sonyebook 400X403Remeber when we posted about a new Sony eBook reader? Here’s a photo of the new Sony eBook (e-Ink) reader “The Sony Reader, an eBook device with electronic-ink technology created by E Ink. It’s similar to the Librie product previously distributed in Japan.” Link. I have a feeling that it might be a better idea to eBay one, mod it and then make your own books (HOW TO here) but I’m going to stay cautiously optimistic that the book purchasing might not be as dead on arrival as the previous version.

HOW TO – Make a RFID-Zapper

HOW TO – Make a RFID-Zapper

180Px-22C3 Mahajivana Img 0430 360X240The RFID-Zapper is a gadget to deactivate (i.e. destroy) passive RFID-Tags permanently. The development-team presently consists of two people. Goals are a proof-of-concept and the construction of at least one functioning and appealing prototype, as well as a documentation of the project, so that everyone can build an own RFID-Zapper. Thanks John! [via] Link.

Secondary display laptop at CES (make your own)…

Image001 LowOn Slashdot I saw that ThinkComputers.org has an overview of some of the new gadgets at CES (yearly consumer electronics show in Las Vegas) and their round up includes a laptop with an display on the outside of the case…. “ASUS had a really cool concept that is not in production yet, but may be in a year or so. It is a laptop outfitted with an Auxiliary display, or external display. This display is used for quick date book and note checking to save the end user the time. ASUS is working directly with Microsoft on this technology and Vista will be outfitted it support this type of technology.” images here and here. Awhile back we made our own DIY version since it seems it’s going to take a bit longer until you can actually buy these, the how to is here.

HOW TO – The Super POV, the video!

HOW TO – The Super POV, the video!

Super Pov-9-1Remember the cool Bluetooth enabled POV project (spells words in the air with light) that Mikey Sklar made? Well, he was kind enough to let us put an excellent 3 minute video in our iTunes video podcast feed. So if you’d like to see how it was made, just click here to subscribe to our iTunes feed and you’ll automatically get the video along with all the other great audio and video from MAKE (the video will play on PCs, Macs and video iPods). Link to M4V (17MB).