Nintendo/PC Up for Auction

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Mods / Hacks, PC / Laptop, Video Games, Videos,

We like the retro look of this PC built into an old Nintendo and apparently so do a lot of others. Its creator spent about 50 hours and €800 (~$1,180.00) to make it and it is now being auctioned off on eBay France. The event will run through December 9, and the bid last time we checked was about €625,00 (~$917.00.) Check out its innards, outers, and ports on the video. Not a bad deal considering he is also tossing in some NES and NES 64 gear to go with it.

Read More | eBay France (translated)

LCDetar Flashes Kaleidoscope of Colors

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Music, PC / Laptop, Videos,

If you think Björk was cool with her reacTable, take a look at Ben Lewry’s innovative LCDetar. He simply used an old laptop, stuffed it into his electric guitar, hooked up a few connections and there you have it. Displayed with constantly changing colors depending on what he plays, it worth taking a look at the results. We figure that even if his musical ability isn’t all that outstanding, most of his audience will still enjoy the performance.

Read More | TecheBlog

iPod Dock has Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Mods / Hacks, Music, Portable Audio / Video,

We’ve seen all kinds of alarm clocks, FM radios, lamps, iPod docks, and jukeboxes in our comings and goings. But have you ever seen anything that combines all of these into one? Well now you have, courtesy of Brookstone. This 1950s-motif-ed contraption even lights up when turned on, instantly making it the

centerpiece of whatever room it’s in. Perfect for the person who really has everything. Available for $99 USD.

Read More | Brookstone via Chip Chick

Protect Your Bluetooth Device from Hackers

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Smartphones, Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks,

A study by InsightExpress uncovered that 73% of mobile device owners are in the dark about protecting their device and data from Bluetooth hackers. If you fall into this bracket, listen up. There are three ways your gadget can be hacked: with Bluejacking, you’ll start receiving unwanted spam text messages, which can send your monthly bill (and mental state) skyward. The next level is Bluesnarfing, in which a hacker gains access to your data – and copies it for themselves. Most disturbing is Bluebugging, where a hacker can completely control your phone and make calls, obtain data, send texts and even eavesdrop on your calls. Prevention methods are amazingly simple, according to Ooi Szu-Khiam, a Symantec senior security consultant:

1) Turn off any Bluetooth features you’re not using.
2) Try to keep your device’s Bluetooth ID visibility setting at “hidden” so hackers can’t scan and find it.
3) Use passwords with a lot of digits, say 10. The more digits, the longer it takes to crack, if at all.

Read More | ZD Net

Sharing a 3G internet connection with the iPhone

Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Broadband, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Pyrofers has posted a how-to on turning a Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 6 phone with 3G access into a high-speed modem for the iPhone. The whole process seems a little extreme given that you would have to pay for, carry, and keep active a 2nd device at all times, but might be useful if you have a spare Windows Mobile device hanging around and if you can convince your work to pay for an unlimited data account for it. Fair warning - the hack involves registry editing on your Windows Mobile device so proceed at your own risk. As for us, we will likely just wait it out for the iPhone 2.0 (iPhone Extreme?) to come out with 3G internet access built in.

Read More | Pyrofers Projects

The LEGO iPod Dock. Seriously!

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, USB,

LEGO is that rare toy that’s still huge with kids on a totally fun level, and huge with their parents on a totally retro level, witness the LEGO USB drive.  Now LEGO has reached the pinnacle of adoration by being transformed into an iPod dock with speakers! What’s interesting is that the dock doesn’t need external power, so you can use it virtually anywhere, just don’t expect ear-shattering volume. Cute. Fun. Retro. Available for approx. $16 USD.

Read More | 10 x 10 via Gizmodo

Teen Unlocks iPhone

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Videos,

George Hotz decided to spend some time this summer unlocking an iPhone, so that he use it on his own network, T-Mobile. Partially inspired because his friend had just gotten one, the change of service fee, and the $20.00 monthly fee from AT&T for using an iPhone, he soldered two wires together and replaced the SIM card, although we are sure that the project is more complicated than he makes it sound in this CNBC video. It took about 500 hours to complete with the aid of four others online.

Being the kind fellow that he is, rather than selling his idea, he has posted it for free on his website, just in case you want to give it a try. Although he planned on selling one hacked iPhone on eBay, complications arose so he traded it for a Nissan 350Z and three 8GB iPhones. George left this weekend to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where he will major in neuroscience or what he calls “hacking the brain.”

Read More | cell phone digest

Hackers Protest on UN Website

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Editorial, Internet, Mods / Hacks,

Three hackers broke into the United Nation’s website this past weekend, posting the message, “Hey Ysrail and Usa dont kill children and other people Peace for ever No war.”  Identifying themselves as “kerem125,”  “Gsy,” and “MOsted,” this and other messages were posted on pages that were used for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. That same group claims to have hacked into several websites. After taking down the “offensive” pages, the original words were put back. Although we are not sure we agree with the means, it seems to have been intended as a caring end.

Read More | BBC

Colorware Now Offering iPhone Paint Jobs

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video,

With the iPhone selling as well as it is, we are betting there are plenty of opportunities for people to get theirs mixed up with that of someone elses. After all, do you really want to turn it on and verify that the wallpaper on any iPhone you happen to grab really is your bulldog in his pink tutu? This is why we are intrigued by ColorWare‘s latest addition to their custom paint services; that being for the iPhone. While it isn’t the cheapest thing in the world (but really - is anything involving the iPhone cheap?), we know from first-hand experience that ColorWare’s work is pretty darn impressive - just check out the paint job they did for our 3G iPod back in the day. To get a painted iPhone in your hands, you can take advantage of one of three options - you can pay them $149 USD and mail in your iPhone and they will do it up nice and send it back, or you can just purchase a brand new iPhone from them, which they will then paint and send to you. That runs $649 USD for a 4GB model, and $749 for an 8GB version.

Read More | Colorware

The Bleeding Edge 174: DARPA Grand Challenge Qualifier: Carnegie Mellon and GM’s BOSS Vehicle

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features, Mods / Hacks, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,

Read More | The Bleeding Edge