Powdered rust reveals magstripe data
Very cool trick from anaglyph: Apply powdered iron oxide to the magnetic stripe on a card to visualize the encoded data. [via Boing Boing]
Hacks
Observing the microscopic world using a cheap webcam
The fine folks over at Tweak Labs converted a cheap webcam into a microscope by inverting it’s lens, then used it to create this excellent video of some microscopic creatures doing their thing.
Trim your SIM FTW
A GSM MicroSIM is pin compatible with a standard SIM. All you have to do is trim away the excess material and you’ll have yourself a DIY MicroSIM. Now you can use your $5.99 T-Mobile EDGE plan or hop on to Vodaphone if you’re abroad.
The 5-minute circuit board agitator, or, making temporary tools
I don’t etch circuit boards very often, so I can’t really justify purchasing or even storing much specialized equipment for it. Once in a while, though, I do need to produce a batch of boards, and having something as simple as an automatic agitator for the etchant tank can make the job much easier. So […]
Install Android 2.1 on G1 and MyTouch 3G
G1 and MyTouch users can now easily update to the latest Android 2.1 version of Cyanogen using this handy video.
“The Data-Driven Life”
The Data-Driven Life @ NYTimes.com explores a group of people that aren’t quite collectors, they’re trackers… Humans make errors. We make errors of fact and errors of judgment. We have blind spots in our field of vision and gaps in our stream of attention. Sometimes we can’t even answer the simplest questions. Where was I […]
Auto-opening trash can made from Ikea junk
I like the sentiment behind this build by Ikea hacker mcquarris.
