zedomax.com &#187; DIY Zedomax

Palm Pre Hack – How to Make Your Palm Pre into a Wireless Router/HotSpot!

Palm Pre has been literally “awesome” in the last couple days that I’ve had it.

I love this new touchscreen phone so much that I even registered a domain name for it called PalmPre-Hacks.com on the night I bought the Palm Pre.

Well, it turns out that my $199 investment on the Palm Pre has paid off already as I have figured out how to make it into a wireless router already.

It wasn’t easy because a lot of the instructions were not easy to find but I did find a good Palm Pre app called My Tether that can turn your phone into a WiFi router. (Yes, you can connect your laptop, iPod, or any other wireless device simultaneously!)

The greatest part about the Palm Pre is that it’s linux-based, it’s a linux computer in essence. There’s literally millions of linux experts out there who are developing apps with ease and I think there’s way more potential for the Palm Pre down the road.

Okay, call me crazy but it’s a Sunday and 4AM right now, I am just so excited that I got my Palm Pre to be a WiFi router!!!

Being too excited, I decided to launch the PalmPre-Hacks.com blog early as possible so the very first blog post is a detailed step-by-step guide to making your Palm Pre into a WiFi router.

P.S. This app also lets you tether using USB too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLJXAKTdKoI

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Thank you.

max — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:39:57 +0000

It’s been exactly 2 years, 7 months, and 26 days since this site was started. In the beginning, this site wasn’t even a real blog, I used basic HTML code to create couple pages that looked like a blog.

Of course, after using Wordpress and started covering more DIYs, HOWTOs, gadgets, and other cool tech stuff, we began to grow and grow.

As you can see, the initial traffic spike was caused by some of my earlier DIYs being dugg, dugg hard on Digg and made the front page couple of times, mainly thanks to Philip Torrone at Make magazine.

Our web traffic has almost reached that level on a consistent, daily basis and we want to THANK YOU EVERYONE who’s visited, commented, or even subscribed to our blog!

We will be upgrading the homepage soon to feature those early DIYs we made that got us the ground but in the meanwhile, you can check out the “original” Zedomax DIYs, where it all started here:

You can also download the free PDF open-source e-book that contains all these DIYs here.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Thank you.

Spy Hack – How to Make a Bump Key!

max — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:37:44 +0000

Spy Hack – How to Make a Bump Key!

Here’s a great video explaining how bump keys work and how to make one. It might come to become very useful for those of you who are forgetful and lock yourselves out.

I have been guilty of locking myself out of homes, cars, etc…etc… and I would have saved a couple hundred bucks if I had bump keys. (darn…)

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY – How to Make a Simple Green Laser Projector!

max — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:16:06 +0000

For complete DIY HOWTO, click here

Since I have been playing with green lasers for about a year, I never saw any good use for them except to point them to the sky or buildings.

Since the green laser has a lot of power, especially the one DragonLasers sent me recently, I decided it was time to make a simple green laser projector without me spending days to build one.

This simpler green laser projector was made so I could use it for my next party and I always wanted to make this. Although this laser projector only does one animation, 2 whirpools, I planned to improve upon after making this very basic version.

When the motor is stopped, it also displays a bunch of green laser stars like this:

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY – How to Make a Simple Green Laser Projector!

DIY Linux Web Server HACK – Automate your MySQL MySQL database backups

max — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:24:29 +0000

Okay, I’ve been running dedicated servers for couple years now and I used to mess around with Linux boxes back in college.

Here’s an essential automatic script and a cron job you will need in order to keep your backup automatic.

Yes, if you get a dedicated server, don’t get their stupid extra $15/month for backing up your database. (All they do is make scripts like this one and charge you for it)

You can follow this example and go spend that money on junk food.

So all you have to do is FTP your backup files.

This is way better than going into your phpMyAdmin and downloading from the web interface since the file is already ready for you to download.

Here’s how you do it:

1) Make a new file called backup.sh in your home directory. 2) Use the following syntax:

mysqldump -u[USERNAME] -p[PASSWORD] --opt [DATABASE NAME] > /root/backup/DATABASE1.sql

Here’s an example backup.sh file if you had 2 databases:

mysqldump -uUser1 -pPassword1 --opt Database1 > /root/backup/Database1.sql
mysqldump -uUser2 -pPassword2 --opt Database2 > /root/backup/Database2.sql
tar cvf /root/backup/sqlbackup.tar /root/backup/*

You can test your script by typing this:

sh backup.sh

(The mysqldump will overwrite the older file if you run this more than once)

3) If everything is working good, now you can put that script to be run once a day in your cron job.

For Fedora Core, you can edit this file /etc/cron.d/sa-update

Add the following line:

10 3 * * * root sh /root/backup/backup.sh

This will execute the script once a day at 3:10AM.

Now simply download one tar ball file whenever you feel like backing up your database.

You can probably change this a little bit and use it for many other things like backing up all your files too. (which I do)

If you have multiple servers like me, you can also automate your scripts to download backup databases to each server. That keeps things real redundant in case of server failure.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Linux Web Server HACK – Automate your MySQL MySQL database backups

DIY QUICK HACK – HOWTO make a bathroom ventilation fan using a PC fan in just 1 minute!

max — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:04:06 +0000

Okay, I haven’t been doing much DIYs but here’s a fun one for your bathroom.

Here’s the story:

My bathroom has a vent but no fan. Everytime I shower, the vent does not work well enough to ventilate the bathroom of the fog generated.

So, I decided to build a small little bathroom ventilation fan using some PC fans I had laying around the house and a 12 DC adaptor I also had around.

What you need:

1 PC Fan

1 12V DC Adaptor (You probably have one laying around the house too, you just don’t realize it. Look at the label of any old adaptors you have and find the one that says 12VDC. (9 to 15VDC works too)

2 screws (something to mount your PC fan onto your bathroom vent.

Now, just watch the video and see how simple it is to turn household junk into a useful bathroom vent.

DIY QUICK HACK – HOWTO make a bathroom ventilation fan using a PC fan in just 1 minute!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Christmas Wreath now on… Lifehacker!

max — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:31:39 +0000

TIgHT! We are on Lifehacker!!! Although it’s been almost a year since we last made that Christmas Wreath! Happy Holidays everybody!

Special Thanks shotout to Tamar Weinberg for featuring it as a Weekend Project. You made my weekend!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Christmas Wreath now on… Lifehacker!

Our LED Christmas Wreath has virally spread over the internet

max — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:51:30 +0000

Our LED Christmas Wreath has virally spread over the internet

In case you have been missing out, our LED Christmas Wreath has been “virally” spreading over the internet without our knowledge. Some people are even making money off our videos but we like it since it’s being virally spread everywhere.

Well, we just wanted you to know that this can be made by simply following our direction here.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Christmas DIYs – Go make yourself one of Zedomax’s LED Christmas Tree!

max — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:43:46 +0000

Christmas DIYs – Go make yourself one of Zedomax’s LED Christmas Tree!

Wow, it’s been almost a year since we’ve made some Christmas DIYs. To bring them back to life, we are featuring it here again and well tell you to go make yourself one by following our directions here.

BTW, we are going to go buy a real Christmas tree this year. (Well it’s plastic but not LEDs…)

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Halloween DIYs – Pitchfork LED, Talking Halloween Basket, and spinning wireless thingee

max — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:26:54 +0000

Pitchfork LED!

Although we haven’t been doing much DIYs lately, you can check out the Pitchfork LED for ideas for this Halloween!

Here’s the really cool spinning bluetooth wireless hoverboard!

Now if you are really serious, you can make this talking Halloween basket using couple LEDs and a CUBLOC chip.

Hmmm…I just can’t think of anything this year so you are going to have to review our last year’s DIYs for now until my thinking block is gone…

Videos:

Halloween DIYs – Pitchfork LED, Talking Halloween Basket, and spinning wireless thingee

Wow…I just can’t believe I made those things…but I am proud now…

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Live Blogging – Zedomax Booth at Maker Faire

max — Sat, 19 May 2007 21:08:19 +0000

Hey we are live at the Maker Faire, blogging live! See our automated camera that follows people? Well, it’s a $160 Logitech camera we got in a hurry at Best Buy last night just before the store closed. Glad we got it working although the internet here sucks sometimes. Anyway, our booth is really popular!

Garrett is doing a great job with the crowd while I am hiding in the back. (Why am I hiding? Blogging of course!)

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Live Blogging – Zedomax Booth at Maker Faire

DIY – How to make a Soju Lamp

max — Wed, 09 May 2007 04:18:52 +0000

Similar to the previous post, here’s Zedomax Soju Lamp. The great thing is that I didn’t even TRY to make it, it was just there from my dedication to drinking daily while blogging. (Yes, if you are over 18, we recommend this route. Make sure to have a companion while drinking. DWC – Drink with a companion) Although I drink beer mostly, sometimes I resort to Soju because it’s only 16% alcohol and let’s me drink less thus not getting a beer belly. Plus, soju does give you better ideas and let’s you be more creative. (Okay, kids, don’t follow my example until you are in your late 20s…)

Well, I haven’t really finished the Soju Lamp yet, I still have to finish the other side (I haven’t got to it yet, have been very busy with rice wine. Rice wine is very good too.)
One day, if I do finish my Soju Lamp, I will post a nice picture of it. (The above picture is actually a year and a half worth of work. Why I haven’t finished yet? Sometimes, I forget to save the Soju bottle caps.)

HOWTO: Make sure you untwist your Soju bottle carefully so all of the metals stay intact. Then, simply twist the ends of Soju bottle cap while making sure NOT to twist it off the cap. Then shape it so it will fit right on the edge of your lamp. That’s all! Now, the rule is that you must finish all your drinks before putting it on your lamp. So make sure take a long term plan for this project. (Maybe 1-3 years based on your drinking and metal twisting skills. I’ve had many times where I’ve lost the metal ends even though I have a lot of experience…)

By the way, what is Soju? You can read all about it on Wikipedia. Well, to explain it simply, it’s similar to Japanese Sake, but slightly with more alcohol and somewhat like vodka in taste. Chamisul is the Soju you gotta go for if you want to real stuff.

You can email me at max at zedomax dot com if you have any trouble or if you start throwing up and can’t blog…just don’t blame me.

They say in Korea, in order to do business, you have to be able to drink this… (Well that’s what everyone says and I think it’s true…)

UPDATE: Here’s a video of what Soju does to you if you drink too much:

DIY – How to make a Soju Lamp

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 128 – HOW TO Make a Glowing Heart LED Night Light!

max — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:03:32 +0000

Printable Wiki version here

I was at my local Dollar Store the other day and when I saw this Heart shaped Touch Light, I had to hack one for my gf.Here’s a quick hack on how to make a regular Touch Light and make it into a Glowing Heart Night Light.

Click on “Continue reading” to see the complete howto.

Parts List

Touch Light from local Dollar Store: $1

CB220 Proto Board: $5

CB220 Module: $34

12V Adaptor: $9

11 RED High Output LEDs : about $5

Soldering stuff

screw driver

Total Cost for parts: $54

1) First you get the parts ready…

2) Unscrew the screws on the Tough Light and open it up.

3) Build the Proto-board and then build the circuit.

4) Get rid of the bulb.

5) You can use a 12V adaptor to power the thing or use 9V battery too.

6) Cut the end of the adaptor and slide it through the holes in the Heart Touch Light.

7) Connect the cut lines to the DC Jack of the protoboard

Connect the DC Adaptor ends as shown above.

9) Place the whole board on top.

10) Get a piece of plastic or make a little film piece using scotch tape.

11) tape it nice so the board stays in tact.

12) Download this program to the CUBLOC CB220 module:

Const Device = CB220

Dim Duty As Integer
Dim direction As Byte
Dim onoff As Byte
Dim ct As Byte
onoff=0

Output 5
Output 6
Output 7

Duty=0
direction=0
On Timer(5) Gosub here

Do
Loop

here:

	If direction=0 Then
		Duty=Duty+25
	Else
		Duty=Duty-25
	End If

	Pwm 0,Duty,1024
	Pwm 1,Duty,1024
	Pwm 2,Duty,1024

	If Duty>1024 And direction=0 Then direction=1
	If Duty<5 And direction=1 Then
		direction=0

		For ct=0 To 15
			onoff = onoff Xor 1
			Out 0,onoff
			Out 1,onoff
			Out 2,onoff
			Out 3,onoff
			Out 4,onoff
			Wait 50
		Next
	End If

Return

12) Screw the whole Touch Light together and test it out!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 128 – HOW TO Make a Glowing Heart LED Night Light!

DIY – The BEST WAY to blog – My latest strategy to blogging creatively

max — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:26:23 +0000

(Above is a screenshot of typical night at my apartment me blogging. Yes if you park at the Lincoln Park golf course, make sure to wave at me and yell out “Zedomax”)

Here’s some guidelines on best ways to blogging:

Wear comfortable clothes. My choice is the HULK Boxers from Wal-mart. (only $2.99) I usually don’t wear any shirts. If you must, make sure to wear a top that’s very open. (this will help your blogging creativity)
Get a comfortable desk and chair. I bought everything from IKEA. They got the best cheap stuff.
Beer is a must if you are serious about blogging. MGD is my favorite but I will go with a Mickey’s 40 occasionally. Try to drink about 2 to 3 beers a day. Too much or too little will kill your heart or kidney. Studies proven that little beer is good for you!
Marlboro lights too if you smoke. (not that i encourage it in any way. Just say NO kids. Do as I say, don’t do as I do)
Get a mouse you can get to know easily. My choice is the simple explorer from Microsoft. It clicks fast and never breaks.
Yes, a plant can help you.
Yes, a muscle-building book used as a mouse pad can really give you that extra umph you need for late night blogging.
Yes, make sure to use Wordpress for your blog. We recommend it.

The most important part is the clothes. If you are a guy, make sure you are in your boxers. Otherwise you are inhibiting your creativity from flowing all the way.
If you are a girl, wear a bikini and make sure you get that feel for being completely free from everything.

Now if this post helped you, make sure to pingback, trackback, and all that yada yada good stuff. If you are offended, please leave your comments as we will try to rethink our blogging strategy for the future.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – The BEST WAY to blog – My latest strategy to blogging creatively

Garrett’s USB Mouse Prank Device

max — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:28:34 +0000

SixAxisController HOWTO using a USB HID Portal

I was at work trying to draw some stuff and Garrett came over with his USB Hid Portal device and plugged it into my USB hub (which was annoying at first) then suddenly my mouse started making circles on its own! So we decided to call this the USB Mouse Prank Device… There’s really no howto on this but you can check out Garrett’s past USB projects such as:

USB HID Portal Device

and we will be bringing the USB HID Portal device to Maker Faire in San Mateo, California so c’ ya there!

(I am thinking about live blogging and maybe setup a live camera or somethin’… what do you think???)

You can get Youtube version here but it’s hard to see.

You can get the Blip.tv version here too which is a lot better resolution.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Garrett’s USB Mouse Prank Device

Maker Faire 2007 Zedomax USB Portal Preview

max — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 23:52:56 +0000

Maker Faire 2007 Zedomax USB Portal Preview

Here’s a preview of our USB Portal Project we will be showcasing at Maker Faire 2007.

It’s basically a BASIC programmable USB device so you can connect embedded devices easily to your PC whether that be a video game, industrial application, or whatever that you can think of.

Check out our previous PS3 6AxisController DIY where Garrett got the idea to make this. (i think….)

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Korea

max — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:21:45 +0000

Hey, we are opening Zedomax Korea! We have couple friends in Korea who are going to run the site. Hopefully, we will be able to get some Korean readers. Our ultimate plan is to become one of the premier tech blogs in Korea. Well, that’s our plan… Web 2.0 and blogging in general is not as popular in Korea but it’s starting to get bigger.

Check out Zedomax.co.kr if you are bored or you want to know what the heck we are doing on the other side of the globe.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Korea

Zedomax DIY 127 – Make an Ethernet controlled Color Organ!

max — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:08:53 +0000

Download Maxport v.1.3.0 package

For this weekend, we will show you how to make an ethernet controlled color organ that can be applied for some kind of stage lighting.

We will be using the party light we made and simply plugin the MaxPORT module to the serial port of the CuSB22R.

Click below for the full HOWTO:

Then all you need to do is make sure to plug in a LAN wire to it.

First you will need to download this MaxPORT package. This package includes the custom MaxPORT firmware you can load to the MaxPORT for custom firmware to allow downloading a program over ethernet. It also includes an open-source VB program you can customize to your application.

After you unzip the package, you will find a setup file, MaxportSetup.exe.

Run this and install the MaxPORT program into your computer.

The other files in the Zip file includes the Visual Basic source code for the MaxPORT program and some party light programs you can try including the ethernet controlled color organ.

Under Test Programs you will see two files:

partyautomatic.cul - This one is the party light program from our Party Light DIY.
partylightethernet.cul - This one is the ethernet controlled color organ program.

First, you will need to make the party light, so refer to our Party Light DIY.

Then, run the MaxPORT program.

You should see the following screen:

Click on Search and find the MaxPORT that’s on the network:

Once you found it, highlight it.

We need to load the custom MaxPORT Firmware in order to do some downloads, do click on, “Download XPORT Firmware” button and find the maxport130.rom file which is included in the zip file you downloaded.

It should download and the MaxPORT will reset itself. So click on “Search” again after about 30 seconds.

Next, select the correct IP address for your MaxPORT again and then select the “CUBLOC Object File Downloader”.

Select the file “partylightethernet.obj” and click OK.

After you download, click on “Set Debug On” and you will see a little debug window pop up.

Click on the Top message field and type “asdjkl”, and you will see your AC lights turn On according to your pressed keys.

Now enjoy your color organ that you can control via ethernet. You can probably now place the
controller on a static-IP or dynamic DNS address and play around more with it so you can control
lights in San Francisco from New York or vice versa.

Note: The object file included here works with CublocStudio v.2.0.m, you have to re-compile
and make a new object file if you are using a newer version. So make sure to make new object file
using Cubloc Studio before downloading the file… (CublocStudio is free by the way…)

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 127 – Make an Ethernet controlled Color Organ!

Zedomax DIY Quickie – HOWTO make your wireless network faster!

max — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:17:05 +0000

Okay, this one is very simple.
First, download from Network Stumbler’s website.

Then install it and find out which channels other wireless networks in your neighborhood are on.
Then select a channel that is not near anyone else’s channels. This little tip I got when I used to work as an IT manager did help when our company network was in the same wireless channel as 20 other companies.
Of course, this might not help your wireless network if you don’t have that much interference in the first place but it does help since 99% of all wireless networks default to Channel 6.

Cheers!
This howtos got to be a no-brainer since it’s really common sense…dur…
via zedomax duh!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY Quickie – HOWTO make your wireless network faster!

Zedomax DIY125 – HOWTO make a Music Syncing Light Orb Alarm Clock!

max — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 02:28:21 +0000

Zedomax DIY125 – HOWTO make a Music Syncing Light Orb Alarm Clock!

Here’s the last DIY for year 2006!

Okay, we have seen some really cool Light Orbs while trying to make this Music Syncing Light Orb Alarm Clock.
We started with Tod’s creation and soon realize that 1 LED will not be bright enough in slightest light conditions though his Light Orb is tight let us say.
So we checked out RGB lights at Hackedgadgets.com. Which is cool and uses 4 Red, 3 Green, and 3 Blue LEDs.
Well during our google search for Light Orb HOWTOs, we came to the Ambient Devices schematic and their technical notes. Well it says that with the right voltage, you don’t need to use resistors.

We wanted to create a Light Orb that would be a mix of Light Orb, some cheap
Piezo music, and an alarm clock. We figured these would do very good Christmas
presents for our friends and family.

For HOWTO, CLICK HERE.

For Pictures, CLICK HERE.

For printable wiki version, CLICK HERE.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Christmas DIYs

max — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 05:13:54 +0000

In case you haven’t checked out what we’ve been digging up lately, you can click on the pictures
below and check them out!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Christmas DIYs

Zedomax DIY HACK – HOWTO make your own “PS3 SIXAXIS controller” style BASIC-programmable USB device!

max — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:13:48 +0000

Zedomax DIY HACK – HOWTO make your own “PS3 SIXAXIS controller” style BASIC-programmable USB device!

Remember we had a preview of the upcoming SIXAXIS controller for PC?

Well Garrett has now embedded the whole controller into his model airplane. He also added some
special effects such as the motor which will rotate at a speed proportional to the actual throttle
in the game.

Of course, there are ways to use your SIXAXIS controller on your PC, but here’s a way you can
create a PS3 SIXAXIS style controller for PC from scratch.

Now the question is, what will he embed it in next?

For complete HOWTO on the “PS3 SIXAXIS controller” style BASIC-programmable USB device, CLICK HERE.

For printable wiki version, CLICK HERE.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY124 – HOW TO make a $50 golf training aid for 5 bucks!

max — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:16:23 +0000

Voice Activated Christmas Controller

It’s getting near Christmas time and I needed to prepare some Christmas gifts for my parents.
Since my Dad does not get much time on the golf course these days, I figured I could make
a training aid he could use at home to keep his swing on path.

Since I didn’t want to spend 50 bucks on the golf training aid, so I decided to make one real quick.

To see complete HOWTO, click HERE

To see more pics, click HERE

To see printable wiki version, click HERE

Also check out our other Christmas DIYs:

LED Christmas Tree

LED Christmas Wreath

Christmas Controller in 5 Minutes!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY124 – HOW TO make a $50 golf training aid for 5 bucks!

Zedomax DIY123 – HOW TO make a Christmas LED wreath!

max — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:34:19 +0000

[gv data="IZzkUdAS8cQ"][/gv]

We were thinking that we could make another last minute DIY for that uses a Ryobi FAN from
Home Depot, high output LEDs, and an embedded computer. Although we have been spending
way too much time making DIYs and not working, we are glad we did make a cool Christmas
LED Wreath we are proud of. The video by the way did not capture the real effect because of
the frame rate of the camera but the pictures can be seen… Merry Leddy Christmas!

For HOWTO, click here. You can also check out our wiki version for printing to your printer.
For Pictures of the Christmas LED Wreath, click here.

Also check out our other Christmas DIYs:

LED Christmas Tree

Voice Activated Christmas Controller

Build Golf Club Training Aid Gift for 5 bucks!

Christmas Controller in 5 Minutes!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY123 – HOW TO make a Christmas LED wreath!

Zedomax DIY122 – HOW to Make a LED Christmas Tree!

max — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 01:14:08 +0000

LED Christmas Picture Gallery

Check out zedomax’s latest creation, LED Christmas Tree that also does POV.

Links to article:

LED Christmas HOWTO

wiki version

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY122 – HOW to Make a LED Christmas Tree!

Preview of Upcoming Zedomax DIY – Make your own PC 6 Axis controller like the PS3 6 Axis controller!

max — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:53:33 +0000

UPDATE: Check out Zedomax DIY121 for complete HOWTOs and more!

Preview of Upcoming Zedomax DIY – Make your own PC 6 Axis controller like the PS3 6 Axis controller!

Today, I was able to get a sneak preview of 6 Axis PC USB controller made by
Garrett from scratch.
It looks really cool, kinda like the Nintendo Wii controller and the PS3 controller.
He used a CUBLOC 405 module, accelerometer, and an unknown USB controller.
Garrett says he will have a howto very soon, so keep checking over the next couple
days for the 6 axis controller. It’s not wireless yet but that should be the easy part.
Here’s some pictures I took although Garrett told me not to. (Sorry Garrett,
it’s way too cool!)
Go left!

Stay in the middle!

Go Right!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

CNET’s James Kim and family missing — have you seen them?

max — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:14:55 +0000

CNET’s James Kim and family missing — have you seen them?

Help us find James Kim by watching the video on ipod and more! Every click will help the video get on top of YouTube.

We’ve received word that a respected member of our tech community, James Kim (whom many of you may know as CNET’s senior editor of digital audio), and his family have gone missing. As we understand it, last weekend James, his wife Kati (above right), and his very young girls Penelope (left) and Sabine (baby), drove from their home in the SF Bay Area to Seattle. They were expected back some time Sunday, but were last seen by a hotel clerk at 5:45 PM on Saturday in or between Gold Beach or Portland, Oregon. We sincerely do hope they are all safe, and our hearts go out to the Kim family.

We’ll have more information as we get it. If you have any information as to the Kim family’s whereabouts, please contact the SFPD at 415-558-5508 during normal business hours, and 415-553-1071 after hours.

via

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax Christmas DIY – Voice Activated Christmas Lights!

max — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 03:13:54 +0000

Zedomax Christmas DIY – Voice Activated Christmas Lights!

Here’s Zedomax Christmas DIY #2, a “better” version of Christmas Light Controller.

Garrett has been building this cool voice activated Christmas Light controller.

It’s a Christmas Light Controller that can be voice activated or set your Christmas
lights to different programmed modes. Garrett explains the source code in detail.
The source code is open-source, so you can skip programming and simply copy
and paste his code.

Basically the Christmas Lights respond to the sensitivity of sound. You can easily
set your Christmas Music on and watch your Christmas tree sync to the music or
set it to automatic blinking modes.
Slightly different from the Music syncing Christmas Lights, you can connect up to
48 AC devices by hacking it even further, but we will leave that to you.

Check out the DIY on our wiki for better viewing.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – How to Make Christmas Light controller in 5 minutes!

max — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:52:10 +0000

DIY – How to Make Christmas Light controller in 5 minutes!

Okay, today we are going try to build a computer controlled Christmas Lights in 5 minutes.
I’ve been rolling around the neighborhood this late November and some people already have
their Christmas lights decorated.

Well I’ve seen many “static” Christmas lights that always stay on. Today, I will show you how
you can customize your Christmas lights by using a PLC,
a Programmable Logic Controller.

You can also check out our wiki version of on our new FREE DIY wiki too.

UPDATE: Wow, Christmas light controllers CAN BE expensive, check out these prices for these controllers…

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Web Hacking – PHP hacks

max — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:12:39 +0000

I am just reading up on my new book, PHP Hacks from O’Reily. But I found
this cool site on stumbleupon about PHP Hacks who are not geeky enough
like me to buy a book.

I find these PHP hacks can help you in making your website or blog better
since most websites and blogs are based on PHP.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Web Hacking – PHP hacks

Garrett’s DIY – Upcoming Boe-Bot Hacks – Remote Controlled Insect

max — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:35:54 +0000

Here’s a video of upcoming boe-bot hacks from Garrett using a Parallax Boe-Bot platform and CUBLOC CB220.as brain. This little creature has couple of cool looking features such as a tail, antennas, and eyes that can be remote-controlled via a regular TV remote-control. HOWTO will follow soon. In the meanwhile, you will just have to enjoy Jackie decorating Garrett’s remote controlled insect…

Garrett’s DIY – Upcoming Boe-Bot Hacks – Remote Controlled Insect

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Garre’ts DIY – Home Automation Project – Part One: Real-Time Clock and Calendar

max — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:47:04 +0000

Garrett shows you how to setup your time and automatically sync with your PC’s time on the CB290 Proto Board, so you can program to do a lot of things such as home automation.

He’s been showing me how this device will eventually control everything in his apartment, which is kinda cool…

Here’s an example that might change your mind. Consider the one piece of automation that exists in nearly every home: the thermostat. You don’t have to think about turning the furnace or air conditioner on and off, you merely set a desired temperature that you find comfortable. The thermostat does the rest. This saves you a lot of time and frustration, as opposed to walking into the furnace closet and flipping a switch every time you’re too hot, or too cold.

Applying automation to other devices can deliver just as much of a benefit. One of the most useful types of automation is scheduling. Based on the time, date, and time of year, you may want devices to behave differently. This article deals with the first step in creating a scheduled automation system: accessing and processing the current time and date.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Garre’ts DIY – Home Automation Project – Part One: Real-Time Clock and Calendar

DIY – Use the golf POV for your next Ad, here’s a Nike Swoosh

max — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:49:10 +0000

DIY – Use the golf POV for your next Ad, here’s a Nike Swoosh

Here’s a Nike Swoosh Garrett and I made using the Golf POV from last week. We also got some sideview footage for more swing analysis. It seems that the letters of Nike helps in seeing the backswing versus the downswing.

We know, that this would look a lot better with Tiger Woods on it…

You can observe the backswing plane as the backwards Nike and the downswing plane as the forward Nike symbol.

Here’s a 45 degree angle:

Here’s a sideview:

Well that does take the swing analysis concept a little further. Now you can also analyze your backswing and downswing plane. You want your downswing plane under your backswing plane, which means you are swinging inside-out. Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons has a good detailed instructions on the planes of a golf swing.

If you need a free ad for your website, let us know, we will make you one!

Or you can make your own in about 2 hours.

Oh yeah, here’s the source code for the Nike Ad we made.

Send all inquiries to max@zedomax.com

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY118 – HOWTO Make a Golf Club POV training aid!

max — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:02:48 +0000

Golf Club POV – version Ben Hogan

Zedomax DIY118 – HOWTO Make a Golf Club POV training aid!

The other day, Garrett hit up on some basic POVs.

So we were thinking about how we could have a POV while making it useful. Well since people like to hit up the driving range or the golf course at times, we figured we could just make a POV out of a golf club. At the same time, we can make it kinda useful too.

Full Article via Link

Full Article via Link [html in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Garrett’s DIY #1 – Persistence of Vision Device

max — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:41:22 +0000

(Garrett in Action!)

Garrett’s DIY #1 – Persistence of Vision Device

Here’s a cool persistence of vision DIY by Garrett!

Full Story via Link

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY117 – HOWTO Make a Digital Drawing Board with an old joystick in 5 minutes!

max — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 23:59:55 +0000

Zedomax DIY117 – HOWTO Make a Digital Drawing Board with an old joystick in 5 minutes!

via Link [html in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 116- Halloween HOWTO make a talking pumpkin basket!

max — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:55:48 +0000

My girlfriend asked me she wanted a cool halloween basket for her house on halloween, so I made her a halloween backet with some parts that I had lying around.

I figured I could use the voice module that I bought at Radio Shack for like 10 bucks a couple months ago, so here it goes.

We are going to use the PWM (Pulse-Width-Modulator) to make some glowing LEDs, and basic digital outputs to do a simple lip sinking action along with the voice module from Radio Shack.

Zedomax DIY 116- Halloween HOWTO make a talking pumpkin basket!

via Link [html in english]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Halloween Pitchfork Program Update – Flaming Trident

max — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 23:04:07 +0000

Halloween Pitchfork Program Update – Flaming Trident

Today, I figured I needed some more cool LED movement for my halloween pitchfork,
so added a little flaming trident routine…

Just use this program instead:

Download Trident Program

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Circuit – Wireless Microphone transmits to FM frequency

max — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:57:46 +0000

Here’s a cool wireless microphone circuit that transmits to your FM radio…

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Circuit – Wireless Microphone transmits to FM frequency

Zedomax DIY 115- HOWTO establish serial connection with PCs bluetooth 2.0 with ACODE-300

max — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:55:56 +0000

Okay, today at work I have been getting a lot of calls on how to connect the ACODE-300 serial to bluetooth converter module to a PC or Laptop with bluetooth…

Well since the ACODE-300 is bluetooth 1.1 compliant and bluetooth 2.0 is backward compatible, the ACODE-300 should have no problem in establishing serial connection with a PC.

Why do you need this?

Well let’s say you are using an MCU (Microcontroller) such as AVR, PIC, Make Controller, Basic Stamp, or CUBLOC. If you were to use the ACODE-300 module on the MCU side and if you wanted to write a customized C++ or Visual Basic program on your PC to control the embedded module, you would need to know this.

Zedomax DIY 115- HOWTO establish serial connection with PCs bluetooth 2.0 with ACODE-300

via Link [html in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 114- Halloween HOWTO make a Pitchfork LED!

max — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:24:41 +0000

Okay, I grabbed a pitchfork for halloween for a dollar at the new $1 store in SF Fillmore district…
I didn’t really have any ideas but after I put in bunch of LEDs on the pitchfork, I realized you can display letters too!
Anyways, this is the most fun diy so far.

Zedomax DIY 114- Halloween HOWTO make a Pitchfork LED!

via Link [html]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 113 – Build a bluetooth controlled Holloween Hovercraft party light!

max — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 03:34:47 +0000

Okay, the other day we made a cool hovercraft, today we will add a bluetooth module and a embedded computer to make it spin

so we can take it to our friend’s next Holloween party and start groovin’

Zedomax DIY 113 – Build a bluetooth controlled Holloween Hovercraft party light!

via Link [html in english]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY 112 – Zedomax Hovercraft version 2 – Asteroid!

max — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:42:17 +0000

Okay, yesterday through the instructable, we made a simple hovercraft. Today, we are going to take

it to another level by taking FOUR PC fan coolers and running the FANS at 24VDC instead of the

12V DC rating. I think they are okay up to 30VDC, well, our fans are still running�

Here’s Video:

Zedomax DIY 112 – Zedomax Hovercraft version 2 – Asteroid!

via Link [html in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY – Hoverboard tried…?

max — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:56:14 +0000

Here’s Zedomax Hoverboard based on earlier article DIY

I got too excited about the DIY I had to make one. So I just hacked out my computer 12V fan

and got my leftover over Pizza Hut paper dish and wala!

The only problem I encountered was that the battery was too heavy, so when I tested w/ a

DC power supply instead, I could get it to hover over my desk about 1mm…

So, maybe next time, I will try 2 fans…

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Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY – Hoverboard tried…?

DIY – Make User Interface in 5 Minutes!

max — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:18:31 +0000

Here’s Zedomax User Skeleton Program that you can make in 5 minutes or so.

This should help you jump start your embedded application I think…

Full Story via Link
Full Story via Link [HTML in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – Make User Interface in 5 Minutes!

DIY – Make a Ethernet Temperature Monitor

max — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:37:47 +0000

Okay you’ve built the digital thermometer but you ran out of ideas and didn’t know what to do with it. Well if you wanted to, you could add a Lantronix XPORT ethernet serial device to the serial channel and monitor temperature remotely over the ethernet. Now I have the ability to check temperature of my room even when i am in Hawaii or New York!

The greatest thing about these little XPORTs is that you can enable any microcontroller w/ serial ports to be ethernet ready…

Full Story via Link
Full story via Link [html in English]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – Make a Ethernet Temperature Monitor

DIY – Build a digital thermometer in 1 minute!

max — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:06:50 +0000

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Okay, it seems like the only class I really enjoyed in college was the embedded computer class. All the other circuit classes and computer language classes bore the hell out of me because they was no actual physical result.

With embedded computers, you actually physically get to see stuff and that’s what I liked about it.

Well I started w/ the Motorola MC68 series microcontrollers and it took me almost a week to make a digital thermometer. I had to make everything from scratch. It was still interesting because I made something physical and it worked!

Anyways, now I am glad I can do the same thing except it only takes me 1 minute!

Full story via Link

Full story via Link [HTML]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – Build a digital thermometer in 1 minute!

DIY – Make an alarm system in 3 minutes! (Part II – Add a motion sensor)

max — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:45:41 +0000

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The other day I was walking through RadioShack and found this neat little Motion-sensing Door Chime/Alarm.

Since I already had an alarm system, I decided I could simply add a motion-sensor to my existing alarm system.

Full DIY via Link

Full DIY via Link [html in english]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – Make an alarm system in 3 minutes! (Part II – Add a motion sensor)

DIY – Make a wall clock from scratch!

max — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:47:44 +0000

Okay, today I am going to show you how to make Zedomax Wall Clock that I use to keep track of current time, date, and the most important, the temperature in fahrenheit and celcius.

I am very sensitive to the temperature, especially when it gets hot, I gotta turn on the fans…

Here’s a video: