Make: Online: Cellphones Archives

Archive: Cellphones

August 31, 2009

AR navigation system for Android

Wikitude Drive is an AR navigation system for the Android platform. Originally developed as a proof-of-concept, the app is a fully-functional navigation system that draws turn-by-turn directions over the live camera. [via AndroidGuys]

Controlling a light with your mobile via XMPP

Using a couple computers, a PhidgetInterfaceKit with RelayBoard, and a bevy of client/server software, Matthias Wagler and friends from Intuity Media Lab built a Rube Goldberg XMPP messaging system to frob a light using an Andorid-powered mobile device. Check out this behind-the-scenes video detailing set-up.

[via hackaday]

Speaking of 'Making Things Talk"...

August 27, 2009

Cheap iPhone macro lens for barcode scanning

This is an follow-up to an earlier post about yanking the lens from an old DVD player and using it with a cameraphone to take close-up photos.

It just so happens I have a need for a macro lens for something other than snapping picts of coins and PCB's. I'm working on a project that involves QR codes and thought this might help me out when dealing with fixed focus cameraphones. Alas, the focal length of DVD optics are meant for things measured in millimeters, so it isn't going to work for barcode scanning. Fortunately, after doing a little digging around, I found this handy Instructables project that uses the lens from a viewfinder of a disposable camera, a cheap rubber case, and a paper fastener, that seems like a viable solution.

[via Instructables]

August 26, 2009

Nice iPhone tripod mount

There are numerous DIY iPhone tripod mount projects out there, but this modified design by Jason Quinn is quite slick. His introduction of a silicone case to replace rubber bands in an existing design and good attention to finish pay off in overall aesthetics. It's a good riff on a great hack. [via sampletheweb]

August 25, 2009

Cameraphone DVD macro lens hack

Even if you've got a newer phone with an auto-focus lens you may still be able to take advantage of this resourceful macro lens hack. Disassemble an old DVD player for the lens, fabricate a lens holder out of cardboard, and place it before the standard lens with some poster mount, and you've got yourself a decent DIY macro lens.

[cnflikt via DIYphotography]

August 18, 2009

Root an Android phone the easy way

Using a custom APK file you can root your Android phone with relative ease. Once rooted, you're free to install one of the latest custom Android ROMs on the phone and enjoy new features still in development or scratch that itch the standard SDK won't facilitate.

Android Rooting in 1-click [via RyeBrye & Hackaday]

August 14, 2009

Nokia N97 GPS antenna hack

Some N97 owners find the integrated GPS doesn't perform as well as they'd like, so they've taken it upon themselves to render a proper fix. Using a copper wire attached to the existing antenna, Symbian Freak contributors Bruno and Teo have greatly improved their signal strength and can go about geocaching with fewer dropped signals.

[via Symbian Freak]

August 12, 2009

Add eye candy transitions to the Nokia N97

If you own a N97 and think the UI could use a little eye candy, you should check out this detailed tutorial by Vaibhav Sharma. In as little as five minutes you could be up and running with these custom transition effects.

[via TheSymbianBlog]

August 10, 2009

Personalized MakerBot-printed iPhone/iPod dock

Here's something for someone that has everything: a personalized MakerBot-printed iPhone/iPod dock. Made to order, the doc features a sturdy lower housing made from 5MM plywood and a custom top housing personalized with your initials or, if you choose, the standard "BotMade" logo.

[via Etsy]

Root an HTC Hero running Android

In this video David from theunlockr.com shows us how to root the Hero, HTC's latest Android phone. With a rooted Hero you can do all kinds of fun stuff like run apps and swap space from an SD card in addition to running apps as a privileged user. Overclocking also becomes a possibility once you pwn your phone. Remember folks: If you can't open it, you don't own it.

[via phonedog]

August 7, 2009

Inflatable buttons

Folks at Carnegie Mellon are developing displays with inflatable buttons to make for a tactile touch screen. The video has got to be seen to be believed. Via Core77.

August 6, 2009

DIY Hoffman box

Mobile developer Steve Bull needed to do some signal testing to pass the certification process for an app he was writing, so he improvised this Hoffman box using pots and pans found in his kitchen. A Hoffman box is a Faraday cage without the opposing electrical field or ground.

Hoffman Box - DIY in the kitchen

August 3, 2009

Palm Pre WiFi tethering

Interested in using your Palm Pre as a WiFi router? Recent Pre convert Max Lee has written a tutorial that may get you closer to 3G tethering bliss.

[via Max Lee]

July 24, 2009

Cameraphone microscope extension revisited

Back in March of 2008 we mentioned a class project from a group of UC Berkeley students working to develop a microscope extension for cameraphones. Led by Daniel Fletcher, the team has since updated their prototype, which is capable of acquiring objects at 1.2 micrometers across. In it's current form the device attaches to a Nokia N73 and is capable of viewing color images of malaria parasites and individual blood cells at 3.2Mp. This low-cost solution is used for telemedicine applications in developing worlds, where access to cellphone networks are more prevalent.

Could u txt me ur blood sample? [via RegisterHardware]

July 22, 2009

Unofficial Find My iPhone API

@brady over at radar.oreilly.com has an excellent summary of what some folks are already doing to integrate Apple's new Find My iPhone service into their location aware applications. He speculates formalization of these techniques into a service and offers meaningful use cases, citing established applications, that would benefit from granular location data. People are building real world apps against this service and a community is forming around its use.

[via radar.oreilly.com]

July 21, 2009

Makeshift handlebar smartphone mount

Maker Sebastian Dwornik needed a way to mount a mobile device to his mountain bike to field test some software he'd written. If you've ever tried this, you know what a pain it is to try to strap something small on to your handlebars, not to mention things can get pretty banged up while you're out-and-about. His solution, though crude, turned out to be quite effective.

The secret comes in the form of a brilliant product called Model Magic. Originally designed for young children to express their creative talents through modeling with it. The material is safe, clean, cheap, and air-dries within 24 hours to a firm and rubbery substance that holds the shape it was molded in.

It makes for an excellent shock absorber as well as a perfect fit for any device you sculpt it for. You can even paint it any colour afterward, but I just left it stock white for simplicity.

July 20, 2009

Android on dual-boot Nokia N95

Munch from Belgrade seems to have shoehorned Google's Android OS onto a dual-boot Nokia N95. The demo videos are rather grainy, but you can make out Android booting up and Google Maps running fullscreen. Munch vows to release the code for installation October 5th on his blog.

~~If you manage to get this running on your N95 when it's released, leave a note in the comments.~~

Update: turns out to be a complete fake.

[via gizmodo]

July 13, 2009

Plam Pre hacked to run on Verizon

Here's a short video from PreCentral user Cleanser showing off his Palm Pre hacked to run on Verizon's network. It's not perfect. Apparently the data portion isn't working, but at least it's a start.

Only problem is that I can't get data to work. Apparently webOS is checking to see if the device is provisioned or not before allowing a data session to take place. So my next step would be to somehow bypass this provisioning check.

July 3, 2009

Make: Projects - Outlet-mount device charging pocket

Most cell phones are provided with a very basic wall-wart charger, and you usually have to pay extra for a proper charging dock. The bundled charger is often unsightly in use, being just a transformer with a cord strung out to an end table or something where the cell phone rests. If you have a cat who likes to chew through cords, as I do, this can be more than just inelegant--it can be totally impractical. It's also a good project if you just hate, for aesthetic reasons, loose power cords strung out across the furniture.

A similar product is for sale at ThinkGeek, and that's where I got the idea. The nice thing about my version is that it requires no tools to mount or demount, being suspended by the plug on the charger itself. So you can quickly move it around to whatever outlet you want or take it with you when you travel. Plus it costs all of nothing to build.

Read full story

June 26, 2009

Broadcast live video from Android

Qik, the "phonecasting" folks, have released an early alpha of their software to the Android Marketplace. Unlike most streaming video services out there, Qik focuses on streaming live video from mobile phones. What makes this release unique is the diversity of the Android OS. It can be found on mobile phones, netbooks, picture screens, embedded systems, and set-top boxes. New possibilities arise when you add something like live video into the mix.

[via diTii.com]