Technology Insight

Here’s a very funky cotton candy machine made out of little more than a small DC motor, two bottle caps, a firestarter, and a chunk of wood. That flame makes me nervous.

Cotton candy machine - Original link

Related:

• HOW TO - Make your own cotton candy machine - Original link

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Our pal Datamancer has finally finished and posted details on his steampunk laptop. And it was worth the wait. Seriously cool. He also has a tutorial on making the brass faceplate he used on the mod and a page showing his gorgeous custom-made steampunk keyboards. I like how he has a customer testimonial on the keyboards from sci-fi/fantasy author William King (who writes game fiction for Games Workshop).

Datamancer’s Steampunk Laptop -Original link
Custom Keyboards - Original link
Brass faceplate mini-tutorial - Original link

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Daniel has a great how-to on making your own metronome - Original link.

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DIY CSI - Original link.

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In case you need any more encouragement to learn how to solder (or want to bone up on your craft), Hack-a-Day has a really nice tut (the Grand Guru of Hardware Hackerdom himself Forrest M. Mims III even chimed in a good word in the comments).

How-To: Introduction to soldering - Original link
Followup: Soldering How-To - Original link

Related:

• Soldering Tutorial - Make Video Podcast - Original link
• Soldering Tutorial PDF - Original link
• It’s Learn to Solder Month! - Original link

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Simple Tesla turbine made out of CDs housed in a plastic CD “cake box” disc pack. Several different experiments are tried, using air, water, magnets, no magnets, saw blade attachment(!), etc. See the other videos on the YouTube Original link.

Revin’ Up the Tesla CD Turbine II With Magnetic Disc Pack - [via] Original link

Related:

• HOW TO - Build a 15,000 rpm Tesla Turbine using hard drive platters - Original link

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Chuck writes in -

One of our writers found some nice kits that let you get started making your own yo-yos regardless of your woodworking skill level. The company sells parts, blanks and cutters to make your own, and even a mandrel for turning your own blanks if you own a lathe. I think I’m gonna pick one up.

Toolmonger » Roll Your Own Yo-Yos - Original link & more.

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I have a wide angle lens that works ok when held up to the Canon TX1 - but instead of manually holding up I made a couple rings which are now a sort of makeshift adapter.

Laser cut circle.

2 rings.

Super glue.

Two rings.

Done!

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Here’s another Guitar Hero controller mod using an actual electric guitar.

Tips And Tricks To Build A Real Guitar Controller Just In Time For Guitar Hero 3 - Original link

Related:

• Guitar Hero/ Funde Razor - Original link
• Ultimate Guitar Hero mod - Original link
• HOW TO - Build your own custom full-sized wireless Guitar Hero controller (Funde Razor Guitar Hero mods)- Original link

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By Slash Lane Published: 10:00 AM EST A small Florida-based firm is suing iPhone maker Apple Inc, alleging that handset’s new touch-screen keyboard interface infringes on patent claims dating back over 7 years. Related AppleInsider articles: * Apple to license interface technology as part… * Apple’s interface held to the fire in dubious… * Quantum says no current plans for… * Touch sensor firm issues legal warning to… * Apple and Cisco return to the bargaining table After writing Apple in late February and receiving no response, SP Technologies, LLC on Thursday turned to a patent litigation-friendly federal court in Tyler, Texas, where it filed a formal complaint against electronics maker. Specifically, the 4-page suit charges that Apple’s iPhone keyboard interface treads on four claims outline in an August 4th, 2000 U.S. patent titled "Method and medium for readable keyboard display incapable of user termination." Via