TechEBlog

Tag

Computers

Browsing

Metisse: X-Based Window System

By

Metisse is basically “a windowing system, based on the X Window System.” Demonstration after the jump. More information here.

It is designed with two goals in mind. First, it should make it easy for HCI researchers to design and implement innovative window management techniques Second, it should conform to existing standards and be robust and efficient enough to be used on a daily basis, making it a suitable platform for the evaluation of the proposed techniques…a tool for creating new types of desktop environments

Read More

Mimoco’s Star Wars Flash Drives

By

Mimoco has unveiled a new line of Star Wars-themed USB flash drives, which will come in 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB capacities and be limited to just 2500-3500 units each — depending on the character. One potential negative, pricing is expected to start at $79.95.

While the remaining three Star Wars characters have yet to be announced, Mimoco’s giving you a chance to win ’em all if you can guess them correctly, though we somehow doubt that our favorite fish-faced leader Admiral Ackbar will be among them

[via engadget]

Read More

How to: Make Hard Drive Speakers

By

Leevonk shows us “a way to make a speaker out of a hard drive that actually looks really elegant.” Full instructions here. Video demonstration after the jump.

It will only work if the thing is resting ontop of a good sounding surface, if you’re holding it in your hand it won’t work. This is like how the strings of a guitar won’t make much sound without the big flat guitar beneath them

[via Make]

Read More

ATC Mouse – Carpal Tunnel No More

By

What sets the ATC mouse apart from other mice is that it “uses yaw and pitch instead of motion to move the cursor on the screen.” Video after the jump.

…operates in an easy natural motion common to everyday tasks, without forcing the user into unnatural and possibly detrimental positions. The controller maintains the users last set position and the corresponding cursor position

[via Gizmodo]

Read More

(Video) Bluetooth Snarfing

By

Tom Rowles of G4TechTV manages “to download the phonebook off a Nokia 6310i from over 1.1 miles away.” Watch after the jump.

They also take over they phone and get it to text their phone a message…has to be seen to be believed. They made their rig from cheap off the shelve parts, just goes to show how dangerous unsecured bluetooth can be

[via Hack247]

Read More

A Look Back: “The Secret History of Hacking”

By

This interesting documentary charts the “beginnings of hacking and phreaking, featuring such technology legends as Steve Wozniak (Apple) John Draper (Cap’n Crunch) and Kevin Mitnick.” What are your thoughts? Video after the jump.

The hacker community, the set of people who would describe themselves as hackers or described by others as hackers, falls into at least four partially overlapping categories. Sometimes alternate terms such as “cracker” are used in an attempt to more exactly distinguish which category of hacker is intended, or when attempting to put a contextual distance between the categories due to the Hacker definition controversy

[via Hack247 – Wikipedia]

Read More

Obi-Wan the Cursor

By

Russ used a Obi-Wan (Qui-Gon?) toy, “Makezine Controller, small X program, OSC, and a pair of servo motors” to create a “real-life cursor”. More info here. Video demonstraion after the jump.

The X program tracks the cursor, and ten times a second, sends an OSC (Open Sound Control) command using sendOSC to the controller

[via engadget – Make]

Read More

Hard Drive Exposed

By

In response to our Hard Drive Movements post a few days ago, Joshua Marius decided to show us everything that goes on inside of a hard drive when the lid is removed. Video (bonus clip included) after the jump.

A typical hard disk drive design consists of a spindle which holds one or more flat circular disks called platters, onto which the data is recorded. The platters are made from a non-magnetic material, usually glass or aluminum, and are coated with a thin layer of magnetic material

[via Wikipedia]

Read More

A Look Back: “Compatible Computers”

By

Hack247 provides us with this interesting ‘Database’ segment from the 1980’s. It focuses on Pete Perkins and his supposed “compatible computers” aka Apple/IBM computer clones. Video after the jump.

He makes a fair point though, his machines are more than just copies. They are an improvment on the original allowing you to connect other homebrew hardware to them…. plus the fact that they were nearly half the price of their lesser-abled official versions

Read More

USB AC Adapter

By

Thanko’s USBACH01 allows you to charge any USB-powered gadget without the need for a computer. Best of all, it’s priced at a very affordable $11. Product page here. No word yet on availablity.

…you’re no doubt aware of the endless stream of devices that either charge up, or work only when connected to a USB port. The problem with that is that a USB port is usually tied up to a computer, and there’s a decent chance the computer is not with you at all times

[via OhGizmo!]

Read More