Make: Online: iPod Archives

iPod Archive: iPod

February 6, 2010

LEGO smartphone gaming rigs

These are fun enclosures for your iPod or other smartphone. I made a simple one for my G1, and now need to find some driving/biking games to try it out on. It was fun and frustrating to stir the bin in search of just the right part. So often, when kids build with them, they make wildly complex designs that are at times of low structural integrity. Is there any formal LEGO design curriculum out there?

This is a great way to test out your rapid prototyping skills. Once you get a decent iteration, then the hunt is on for a more permanent solution.

January 21, 2010

Building iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Have you wanted to build an iPhone app but didn't know where to start? Me too! I'd like to build applications that allow me to control electronics on an XBee network remotely via a host computer, or hack an interface to the powermeter on my bicycle. So it was very exciting to be at this month's Geek Dinner in Providence RI, which doubled as the launch party for Jonathan Stark's new book, Building iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, edited by O'Reilly Senior Editor and Providence Geeks co-founder Brian Jepson. Jonathan discussed the pros and cons of developing "native apps" versus "web apps" for the rapidly changing mobile phone platforms. He also discussed several nice open source tools for facilitating iPhone application development. This book is perhaps the most informative, accessible, and concise guide to iPhone coding I have come across. Very cool!!

One great benefit of Jonathan's book is his extensive use of the open source application development framework PhoneGap. It gives many of the benefits of native iPhone applications yet provides the ease of developing a web application. This is a great tool for those who want to create iPhone applications, but don't want to jump through the hurdles required to become a registered developer and wait for application approval. I am also rather impressed by the free HTML version available online.

Adjustable smartphone car mount Instructable

Check out this adjustable smartphone car mount indtructable posted by niftycurly. For about $2 in parts and in about 10 minutes time you could cobble together one of these for use with your new turn-by-turn navigation enabled smartphone.

January 18, 2010

Phillip's science, tech, DIY, making and more podcast playlist...

Pt 2449
Looking for some good podcasts? Here are my picks! I try and listen or watch about an hour of science programming a day, it's usually on a treadmill or pedaling a bike or if I am in a "hostage situation" like traveling. It's a way to pass the time while keeping active or while just waiting in line for something.

A few posts ago I mentioned I listened to a lot of sci/tech, etc and some commenters were interested in my playlist. So.... This is the list for the week, I try new ones out all the time, add them, remove them - if you have suggestions post them up in the comments! I'm always interested in discovering new ones. On a related note, during the holidays I spent about 14 hours a day shipping open source hardware, for those long runs of time I listened to audio books - that's not the list I'm posting here, but perhaps I will later if there's interest in that list too.

Each item after the jump has a show URL, RSS (XML) feed and an iTunes URL, with the second URL you can drag it directly in to iTunes or use the 3rd link, the iTunes link. Read on for the full list!

January 8, 2010

Alt.CES: Wood-housed electronica: ostensibly green or faux-maker?

One of the products released at this year's CES is iWave's Grass Roots Collection of personal electronics accessories -- iPhone cases, earbuds, and earphones, all cased in recycled wood.

They're due out Q2 of 2010 with a MSRP of $10-40.

iWave's press release explains:

The design-forward electronic accessory company is offering its loyal customers the opportunity to enjoy the green lifestyle without having to sacrifice stylish appeal to do so. The Grass Roots Collection will offer a selection of accessory options, including headphones, earbuds and cases for the iPhone/iPod, all made from reusable, environmentally friendly and fully recyclable materials like plastic, wood and bamboo.

Setting aside for the moment whether Grass Roots accessories really are green -- I'll take their word for it -- my first thought on looking at these was that they're meant to look like DIYers modded them.

This begs the question: are we going to start seeing companies mimicking the garage-borne aesthetic of maker projects? What would headphones look like if Kaden Harris built them? Will the low-rez look of Makerbot output catch on?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

January 4, 2010

LEGO Photo app converts photo to LEGO mosaic

With the new LEGO Photo iPhone app you can convert snapshots into a LEGO photo mosaic. Just take a picture, press a button, and watch the app build an image out of LEGO. Use the resulting image on your favorite social networking site or as a guide for your own layout. [via techchee]

December 28, 2009

Bluetooth keyboard hack for jailbroken iPhones

If you've got a jailbroken iPhone and want to use a bluetooth keyboard with it you can now download BTstack Keyboard in the Cydia Store. [via theiphoneblog]

More:

December 24, 2009

Virtual iPhone in AR app on iPhone

This augmented reality app from Ogmento for Orange Israel features an interactive virtual iPhone hovering over a stylized marker. The demo allows the user to control the virtual iPhone through its touch interface and superimposes it over a realtime camera view. [via gizmodo]

December 9, 2009

iVictrola iPhone acoustic amplifier

There have been a few acoustic amplifiers designed for the iPhone. The iVictrola from maker Matt Richmond has to be the coolest so far. The functional sculpture's simplistic design consists of a carved block of wood and an old Victrola horn that embodies both modern and old-timey charm. [via iPhoneSavior]

December 4, 2009

DIY iPhone Teleprompter

If you forget your lines in front of a camera, this may be the project for you. Using an iPhone, some coroplast, a cd case, and duct tape, maker Ben Eadie fashioned the hardware necessary for a DIY teleprompter. A trip to the App Store yielded the requisite software. Apparently if you're looking for software for a DIY teleprompter, there's an app for that. [Thanks, Dave!]

Here's a podcast Ben made that runs through the build process:

December 3, 2009

Wii remote for MAME on iPhone

Mobile gaming mastermind ZodTTD has updated his mame4iPhone app to use BTStack, allowing the use of a Wii remote as a controller. I could see using this with the iPhone app video out hack as a low-cost casual gaming console. It would be pretty cool to go from playing a mobile game directly to playing the same game on a large screen with a controller. It's no Xbox, but give it a few years.

November 23, 2009

iPhone macro lens carousel

This iPhone macro lens carousel mod is a great way to recycle that pile of scavenged optics you've got laying around. [via LifeHacker]

Cheap iPhone macro lens for barcode scanning

Cameraphone DVD macro lens hack

Macro-Lens iPhone hardware mod

November 16, 2009

iPhone home button earrings

Symbology befitting a Dan Brown novel exudes from these handcrafted iPhone home button earrings. Do they imbue the wearer with mystical iPhone powers? Does wearing two buttons break Apple's Human Interface Guidelines? You'll just have to acquire a pair to find out. [via iPhoneIndia]

November 10, 2009

Synchronized iPod touch grid

When I first saw this proof of concept synchronized grid of iPods I wondered why somebody would go through all the trouble. I have to catch myself when I think like this. Sometimes it's best to just appreciate the polychromatic glow and short staccato chirping for what it is. [via Gizmodo]

November 9, 2009

Driving a car with an iPhone. A freaking car. For reals.

John Boiles, who earlier this year showed us how to control an RC car using an iPod's internal accelerometer (and also how to control the lights on a dance floor in more or less the same way), is a member of Austin, TX, based engineering collective Waterloo Labs, who have up-gunned his iPod technology to control steering, brakes, and acceleration on a full-size automobile. Definitely not the safest hack I've ever blogged, but probably the most impressive. Great work, lady and gents. [Thanks, John!]

November 4, 2009

iPod touch POS system

If you've ever shopped at an Apple store you've probably experienced their relaxed point of sale (POS) system. You walk in, try out new gear, talk to a sales rep, swipe your card, sign a screen, blurt an email address, and you're out of there. Usually you skip the register, yet your wallet always seems lighter after each visit. It's all very smooth and thought out. But something has always bugged me about the whole process. The sales reps have always used a third-party mobile device to complete the transaction. It just didn't go well with the jeans and black turtleneck vibe.

Well, it would seem that Apple has picked up on customers pestering them about this minor user experience discrepancy and are about to remedy the situation with a new POS system based on their wildly popular iPod touch mobile entertainment device. Dubbed EasyPay, each unit will consist of a iPod touch and a special case which houses a barcode scanner, card reader, extra battery and mini-USB connector. The system runs custom POS software and uses a Pogo Sketch stylus to capture cardholder signatures.

Apple's new iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout [via AppleInsider]

October 20, 2009

iPod-accelerometer-controlled dance floor lights

John Boiles, he of the iPod-controlled RC car, also produced this sweet wirelessly controlled light dimmer, which he demonstrates in this video, controlling different sets of X-mas lights by shaking his iPod. See it work around 1:40, then be sure to check out the dance party at 2:40. The iPod is enclosed in the "law book" prop everyone is shaking around, together with their booties, while they rock out to vintage Bon Jovi, et. al.

iPod-controlled RC car

More Dorkbot Austin goodness! John Boiles demonstrated this radio-controlled car steered using his iPod's built-in accelerometer via its built-in WiFi transmitter. All you have to do is tilt the iPod, and the car goes. It starts to move around 1:10.

October 15, 2009

iPhone PS/2 keyboard interface with Arduino

It's tricky getting a keyboard working with an iPhone. Why is that? Does Apple go out of their way to make the two incompatible? It sure seems like it. With such an awesome touch interface you'd think they'd have the keyboard thing figured out. Luckily there are folks like maker Ben Kurtz who go out of their way to scratch an itch. Using an Arduino Diecimila, breakout board, female PS/2 connector, and sundry components Ben has built an interface to connect a full-sized keyboard to his jailbroken iPhone. It's a bit circuitous, but it gets the job done using easily resourced parts.

How To Connect a PS/2 Keyboard to the iPhone [via hackaday]

If you're interested in building a jailbreak-free keyboard interface for your iPhone, check out chapter 12 in iPhone Hacks.

In the Maker Shed:

October 14, 2009

Coffee sleeve iPhone stand

The onslaught of DIY iPhone stands continues. This time around we find ourselves in a cafe with a warm beverage and the need to watch BMX stunt videos. Luckily we remembered to bring along our nice utility scissors and the Barista was kind enough to include a cup sleeve with the drink. The overall execution and reuse of recyclables on this project should gain high marks for those keeping score at home.