Retro computer enthusiast Bill Kotaska has successfully built a replica of Busicom’s historic 141-PF printing calculator using vintage Intel chips. It’s the 37th anniversary of the world’s first single chip, customer-programmable microprocessor, the tiny Intel 4004. It was the Japanese calculator maker known as Busicom which later introduced the first product ever built around an Intel microprocessor. So, in light ...
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Consumers Avoid Linux For Their Netbooks
When it comes to netbooks, a Linux operating system drops the price down significantly as opposed to it’s more pricey XP counterpart. As anyone who has ever worked in retail knows: consumers are cheap. Very cheap. It’s no surprise that when they see the price tag of a Linux-based netbook they buy it without thinking twice. They quickly find that ...
Read More »Samsung P3 Sneak Peek!
Samsung is updating its portable media player with the successor to the Samsung YP-P2, the Samsung P3. The device will be formerly announced in January, joining the media player race alongside the iPod, Toshiba U103 and the non-existant MySpace PMP. Subtle changes include its rectangular aluminum body and three inch 480 x 272 touchscreen. You can expect it to have ...
Read More »Colorful Fun With Meggy Jr RGB
The name is a bit odd, I have to admit, but this looks like one fun toy for the DIY enthusiast out there. It’s called the Meggy Jr RGB and it’s a programmable handheld console that features an 8×8 LED matrix made up of wonderful colored lights. It uses an ATMega168 microcontroller, similar to that of the Arduino. In fact, ...
Read More »My New Netbook: Acer Aspire One
My new netbook arrived today! This computer takes me beyond the realms of popular. It’s the Acer Aspire One, and I’m about to open this box up�to see what’s inside! Hit the jump to take a peek.
Read More »The Nokia E63: Goin’ Plastic
Nokia has formally launched its latest handheld device, the E63, as a budget alternative to the E71 and a competitor to RIM’s Blackberry. The E63 sports a 3.5mm audio port, a two megapixel camera with LED flash in addition to a microSD card slot for extra storage and a redesigned QWERTY keyboard with a smaller space bar and some extra ...
Read More »DIY Nintendo Digital Clocks
Nothing is more fun than taking a broken video game console and putting it to good use. Years ago, I turned a Dreamcast into a guitar amplifier, which was one of my favorite DIY projects. Now we have some hardware hackers turning NES and SNES systems into bedside clocks. Hollow out some cartridges, turn ’em into a clock and lock ...
Read More »Dead Simple: Hiranao Tsuboi LED Watch
Looking for a no-nonsense wristwatch that tells time and sets you apart from the Tag Pack? Look no further than this watch from Japanese designer Hiranao Tsuboi. It tells time with orange LEDs in four quadrants and nothing more. Too bad I waited until the end of this post to inform you that it’s a non-production concept. I know. It ...
Read More »Circuit City Files For Bankruptcy
I really don’t see much of a future for Circuit City. If it’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, replacing CEOs, closing stores and losing cash, explain to me how the company is supposed to survive. Says Bloomberg: On Sept. 29, Circuit City reported a loss of $239.2 million that was more than triple from a year earlier after sales fell ...
Read More »iPhone 3G Tethering Confirmed
After months of speculation and rumors AT&T CEO Ralph De la Vega has confirmed that both AT&T and Apple will officially offer the capability to use the iPhone 3G as a modem. How well Apple’s iPhone 3G will perform as a modem remains to be seen as does its availability. If you’re one of the 3G users who’ve been patiently ...
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