The Zipit is a little $99 WiFi device with LCD screen that is primarily targeted to homes with kids who instant message a lot and would use this as opposed to using a computer just to chat. Some folks are starting to hack it up in some really cool ways, here are a few sites I’ve gathered- Yahoo groups with instructions and posts about getting Linux on it, Zipit’s GNUpage, AiboHack’s Zipit page (he’s doing some amazing stuff) and a great Zipit overview page from Elk Grove wireless. If you’re in to these let me know, we might do an article on it in Make.

I’ll write this up once I get back from Etech– here a shot of the shuffle charging via a flexible solar panel. Should charge most USB devices, need to run some power tests to make sure… Another alternative power solution, like the hand powered version.

Tom’s Hardware has a cool step-by-step on building a long range Bluetooth sniper rifle. After construction they were able to find 20 devices from over a half mile away in downtown Los Angeles. This is part one of the article which is only hardware construction with the antenna, gumstick computer, etc.. the 2nd part of the article should be posted soon and it will explore “various open-source and never-before-released Bluetooth sniffing and attack tools on the Gumstix computer.”

Waxy posted a link to “Web of Letters” – you type in some words and using the new Yahoo API it will spell the words back with pictures. Here’s “Make Magazine”. Neato.

Gentlefolk, start your BeDazzlers! Two former producers from the “Daily Show” are now creating a new show on The Style Network that puts crafters in a steel cage fight to the death- glue gun to glue gun, with only one crafter emerging as the winner. NYTimes article here. We’re totally going to do a “Make off” now.

I really like it when people who’s content you read post the tools they use to get stuff done. Blogger Sean Bonner posted up his list of applications he uses on the TREO 650 to IM, Blog, Email, Surf and other activities while he’s attending SxSW and ETech.

A commenter on our Blockland post wanted to know where to get LegoCad, I’m pretty sure LDraw is what he’s looking for and it’s found here. LDraw is an open standard for making virtual LEGO models. The cool thing about this is, as LEGO comes out with new parts, LDraw supports them. Mac and PC guides here. And speaking of LEGOs. Check out the handmade LEGO designs from jewelry designer, Jacqueline Sanchez on design*sponge, She makes rings, cufflinks and more from LEGO/ Of course, I’ll need to make a version that also works with the LEGO robots somehow…