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Speed Up Windows XP Boot Time
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Mods / Hacks, PC / Laptop, Software,
If you are someone always looking to gain as much speed from your PC as possible, you will likely appreciate a few of the tweaks offered by Hacking Windows XP. In chapter 8, which is featured on ExtremeTech, it goes through many different ways of optimizing the settings in Windows XP and your computer BIOS which result in faster boot time. This is probably more for the casual PC user, rather the the elite geeks out there. While reading, I didn’t really come across anything I personally didn’t already know. Still, it’s a good read.
Read More 
| ExtremeTech
Yet another cool thing you can do using the PSP web browser hack. If you point your browser to http://mob.e-messenger.net/mobile/ you are able to sign in to your MSN Messenger account. This allows you to use the PSP to instant message your MSN contacts, no downloads needed.
Read More | Mobile Messenger
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Here’s a little something to do with that old floppy drive that you no longer have a need for. Ohmslaw.com has some nicely laid out instructions on turning a floppy drive into a robot. The instructions for the Floppy Robot are for a 3.5"drive - but never fear. There are also instructions for the 5.25” Floppy II.
Read More | Floppy The Robot
Latest Gear Live Videos
Use 3.5-Inch Hard Drive With Mac mini
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Mods / Hacks, PC / Laptop,
If you are looking to boost the performance of your Mac mini so you can start doing things that the Mac is known for - power user software - then you should know that the hard drive is slowing you down. Even if you max out your RAM, the 5400 RPM laptop drive can just be sluggish at times. Now, you can just go with an external firewire drive, but that can be expensive. Arthur Whalem of the Arizona Macintosh Users Group has put up a nice guide to modding the Mac mini so that you use a standard hard drive, which rests outside of the unit, to pick up speed. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it works.
Now this is funny - it seems that someone was able to hack into the computer that controls a digital construction warning sign on I-75 in Michigan. The sign was being used to update commuters on the construction status of the highway, but was changed to read “Speed limit 100 mph go go go.” Authorities say they are looking into who did it, and how they were able to do it. Maybe subcontracting things as important as highway signs isn’t the way to go.
Read More | i-hacked
Until someone decides to actually manufacture and sell a car mount for the Playstation Portable, you can make one of your very own using an Intec desktop stand, Velcro and some spare time. A PSP411 reader shared his experienced in making his car mount, providing pictures and video. You will need to connect an audio cable from the PSP to the aux port of your stereo to get the best sound – or use an FM transmitter.
Read More | PSP 411
ThermalTake Xray PC Lighter and Cup Holder
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Mods / Hacks,
What the heck? Apparently this thing has been around for a while, but it’s news to me. Basically, the Thermaltake Xray fits into a 5.25” drive bay, and provides a bit of comfort for chain smoking, beer-swilling computer users. You see, the Xray provides both a beverage tray and a cigarette lighter. The light can be removed, and you can use the port to charge in-car accessories like a cell phone. Now you can finally be the envy of the LAN party - it’s just sad that it took this to get you there.
Read More | ThermalTake Xray Product Page
If you have a car with OnStar but don’t use the subscription, this one might be for you. If you can solder a serial cable, then you can jack into your GM OnStar system and run GPS diagnostic software or switch the thing to NMEA mode so you can use it with your very own GPS mapping software along with your in-car PC. We are all for taking control of our own technology.
Read More | OnStar Hack
This is a slick hack involving a bicycle wheel and a persistence of vision toy. One thing that’s really cool about this one is there is a second led row that blinks out bitmaps backwards on one side of the wheel. This lets you print out text messages and have them be readable from both sides. It appears to work really well. Bicycle messengers get ready, now you can sell advertising while you work!
Read More | drewish via Hack A Day
The cool thing about the Gameboy Advance is that, aside from playing games, you can use it to do all sorts of other things. One devoted person modded theirs into a fully functional GPS unit. It turns out that all you need is a GBA, a GPS device with a serial out, and a flash cartridge for the Gameboy Advance. The software used to do the mod is all free. Nice!
(Thanks Gohan!)
Read More | GBA GPS
