Hot Hacks, Mods & Circuitry Posts
How To: Make a working motor out of a magnet
You can make a very simple homopolar motor using just a basic clamp, two strong magnets, a battery and a little bit of wire. Once you've completed the circuit, you'll be able to suspend a drywall screw between the battery and the magnet. Then watch it go!
How To: Make a Gauss gun out of magnets and a steel bar
To make a Gauss gun, all you need is a piece of metal rail, two magnets and steel ball bearings that fit on the rail. Then rig it up, and you have your own magnet-powered gun that shoots ball bearings!
How To: Play computer games on your PC with a PS3 controller
Here's a quick tutorial on how to set up a connection which will let your computer talk to a PS3 controller, so you can use it as an input device to play games on! All you need is to download the software and then update the driver!
How To: Use the free hard disk space on your computer as virtual memory
Turn unused hard disk space on your computer into RAM! This will optimize the performance of your computer and give it more processing speed (useful for playing games). You can achieve this through Control Panel and settings, and this tutorial shows you how!
How To: Hack a toy EEG into a working brain-computer interface
In this clip, you'll learn how to extract serial data from the $80 Mattel Mindflex or Star Wars Force Trainer. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started creating your own working EEG/BCI, watch this very-neat hacker's how-to.
HowTo: The $5 iPhone Macro Mod
Crabfu demonstrates how to mod your iPhone with a microscope for just $5 (UPDATE: the $5 microscope from Amazon is now selling it for $12.50... read more). Incredibly simple to make! Check out the sample images taken below the video.
News: DIY Trombone Flamethrower Hurls Flames AND Carries a Tune
What do you get when a musician (who also happens to be a pyromaniac) has too much time on his hands? A WonderHowTo hero and mastermind behind the hack of the ages.
How To: Prevent Cydia crashes on your iPhone or iPod Touch
In order to stop Cydia from crashing on your iPhone or iPod Touch, you'll need an iPhone or iPod with firmware 3.1.1, 3.1, 3.0.1, or 3.0, SSH installed both in your computer and in your device. Now first SSH your device into your computer and navigate to /var/lib/dpkg/updates. Delete the files named as 0000, 0001, 0002 and so on. Now your Cydia should work fine. If that doesn't work, try reinstalling Cydia on your iPhone or iPod Touch, as it could be a different problem.
How To: Understand circuit bending
In this video, we learn how to understand circuit bending. Circuit bending is noodling around with circuitry to see how it sounds and get different noises out of it. When you go into a motherboard and see the circuits that are inside of it, these can make noise if you re-circuit them. This can help you be creative and turn the electronic circuit board into a canvas. This can let someone immediately create something out of this and use it as an art form. It takes trial and error to find someth...
How To: Shoot macro photography on a budget
Create your own macro lens using the standard 50 mm lens that is shipped with your Digital SLR camera.
How To: Set up an HF portable radio while hiking
We will be setting up a portable radio in the mountains. It will be established in a clearing with available rocks for setup. The equipment we will be using is a Yaso radio with microphone and headphone, coaxial cable, slight line and weight, 13.5 battery pack, 2o and 40 meter antenna, pen and paper to record contacts.
News: Hacked View-Master Displays Digital Photos in 3D
Ever been warned that sitting too close to the TV might damage your eyesight? It won't. That probably won't stop this electronic View-Master from giving your poor mother a heart attack, however.
How To: Build a Mini Altoids BBQ
Instructables user vmspionage demonstrates how to make a tiny bbq grill with an Altoids tin "powered by a standard-sized charcoal briquette and capable of cooking a full-size hot dog (cut down to size) or smaller hamburger patties with ease." Impressive design and execution. You Will Need:
How To: Make a retro wireless headset
In order to make a retro wireless handset, you will need the following: vintage handset, a momentary switch, a resister, a Blue tooth headset, wires, a drill, and a blue LED and mount.
How To: Pull a "Virus of Doom" prank
In this video, we learn how to pull a "virus of doom" prank. once you have this downloaded, you can place the program into your start menu. Then, when someone else clicks on it they will get a large skull on the computer. It will say that the hard drive is formatting and the hard drive has been erased completely. You can download this link at http://householdhacker.com/content.php/130-Virus-of-Doom-Prank-Download. Once you download it, you will see what the icon looks like, then place it on y...
How To: Record your screen in OSX Snow Leopard
In this video, we learn how to record your screen in OSX Snow Leopard. First, you need to have QuickTime 10 installed on your computer. Now, go to "file", then "screen recording" in QuickTime. After this, you can right click and change the settings that are on it, if you want to use your microphone and if you want the screen to record. When you are ready, click the record button and it will start to record. To stop it, click on the top of the window and press "stop recording". After this, you...
How To: Install Steam games on a Mac without Windows
In order to install steam games on a Mac without Windows, you'll to download the Crossover application. After you have the Crossover software, place the CD in your hard drive. Click on "Install Unsupported Software, after you highlight it in the list. Click "continue". Rename the bottle. Click on create. Click continue. Follow the install wizard through, accepting the terms and clicking "next". Register your product ID, if you haven't already done so.
How To: Build a high-powered air cannon that shoots rolled up T-shirts
Remember The Simpsons episode where Maude Flanders died? Do you remember how she died? Well, here's a hint… it has to do with this Kipkay tutorial.
How To: Construct a simple magnet and battery powered homopolar motor
Motors. The word screams of complexity. They're everywhere and in everything, from car engines to airplanes to toys and electric wristwatches. But sometimes the most complex things can be really simple, as in the case of the homopolar motor, where the main point is a magnetic field. The only items you'll need to make a DIY homopolar motor are a AA battery, copper wire and a rare earth neodymium magnet. This tutorial will show you how to build this simple motor.
How To: Wire your Sanwa JLF joystick to a non-common ground PCB
For beginners, one of the biggest questions is how you can wire your stick to a non-common ground PCB. In this great video, you'll learn how to rewire a Sanwa JLF joystick to work with a non-common gruond PCB and even disperse some myths on methods that others talk about.
HowTo: Make a Flashlight That Will Last Forever
That's right, no batteries required. Ever. Instructables user brunoip demonstrates how to make a flashlight that uses a "small stepper motor to generate energy and many capacitors for keep it stored for several seconds".
How To: Mod a Wii Hori fighting stick to work on the Xbox 360 using Sanwa parts
This great video series goes through the entire process, from unboxing the Wii Hori fighting stick, to taking it apart, wiring, adding buttons, and everything else that you'll need to finish the project and have it ready to go for play on your Xbox 360!
News: DIY "Blow Me" Breathalyzer Makes For a Fun Party Game
The DrinkShield is not quite as dirty as the picture above may convey. Circuitry nerd Craig Smith (who also happens to love drinking) has developed a breathalyzer that can be turned into a potentially naughty party game.
How To: Extract a spy quality camera & mini-DVR from a Barbie Video Girl fashion doll
Barbie has joined the espionage community, in the form of Barbie Video Girl, and it's time for you to interrogate her to extract those military-grade secrets she has stored in her spy equipment. That's right, Barbie is now equipped with a fully functional digital camera and mini-DVR (digital video recorder), with 256MB of internal memory, which equals roughly 30 minutes or video recording time.
News: Sexy Black Dress = Cell Phone?
We've seen wearable electronics before, but we've yet to see a dress that dually operates as a cell phone. The idea is interesting, though not especially pragmatic (yet).
How To: Play Bubble Explode on the Apple iPhone 4 or iPod Touch
Need some help figuring out how to play Bubble Explode on your Apple iPhone? This video tutorial presents an overview of the game's essential rules and objective. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started playing Bubble Explode on your own Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 or iPod Touch, take a look.
How To: Build a portable personal heater
In this video, we learn how to build a portable personal heater. This is a great weekend project that is easy to make and will keep you warm during a freezing winter. You will need: two double a batteries, charger, twin double a battery charger, winding wire, and balsa wood. First, cut the wood the size of the battery holder and cut it out. Now, reel off 30 ft of winding wire and hold down with duct tape. Wind the wire around the piece of wood and tape down the other end of the wire. Scrape o...
News: Think You're Good at Mario? Try Playing With Your Eyes
Now that you've mastered hand control, here's a new challenge for you. Try playing Mario using just your eye movements. The video below describes how the system works, and if you're feeling extra ambitious, scroll down for two HowTo videos, paired with (1, 2, 3, 4) build details.
How To: Create a rumbling sound effects pipe with PVC, drum skin, spring and glue
Need some cool sound effects for your next film? Kipkay's got an idea… the "Rumble Pipe". This noisemaking pipe creates a rumbling sound perfect for any drone SFX. Try it out. It's just a little sounds effects gizmo. Cheap and easy!
How To: Root your G1 or MyTouch 3G with one click
In this tutorial, we learn how to root your G1 or MyTouch 3G with one click. First, go to theunlockr and download the MyTough 3G Root video. Now, go on your phone and click on the settings. Go to applications, then check "unknown sources", then go back and click on "sd card" and un-mount it, then format it. Once the numbers pop up again, it means your card is mounted and formatted. Now, plug your phone in with the USB cable to your computer and mount it. Now, go to the site and download the t...
How To: Make the world's loudest alarm clock
In this video, we learn how to make the world's loudest alarm clock. If your alarm clock does not wake you up, this is for you! First, you will need to take apart your alarm clock and find the wires that are connected to the tiny speaker that is inside of it. After this, grab two very large horns that have enough decibels to wake you up. Now, find an old 12 volt ac adapter and solder two wires from the adapter to the spot where the alarm sends signals to the alarm clock. Now, test out your al...
How To: Jailbreak ANY iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad on ANY Firmware!
www.jailbreakme.com has recently created a new way to Jailbreak any iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad, regardless of the firmware it is running. It is EXTREMELY easy! If you were thinking about Jailbreaking, but were afraid you did not have the technical abilities to do so, now you can! What is "Jailbreaking?"When someone says that their iPod, iPhone, or iPad is "jailbroken," they mean that they have installed Cydia, a third-party app store.Why Jailbreak? Why not just stick with the original App St...
How To: Solder with a soldering iron
In this tutorial, we learn how to solder with a soldering iron. You will need: tinning pads, desoldering braid, and an adding component. Start off by heating the copper, before you add the wire. You need for the acid to flow from the core onto the copper to create a surface that will accept the solder. A cold solder will break or cause burn. If you use too much solder, use the braid to remove it. Next, place the wires onto the holes and heat them onto the circuits where you want them to be pl...
Water Music: Conducting with Conductivity
What do you get when you mix water-filled bowls with electrical wiring and human hands? The answer may shock you. Artists Ion Furjanic & Isaac Souweine write, "Electric Tea 1.0 is the first in a series of works that put sound where it doesn't belong. [It] uses porcelain bowls, metal orbs, speaker wire, water, and the conductive power of the human body to create a water based musical controller."
How To: Use your Mac's screen as a gaming display
In this tutorial, we learn how to use your Mac screen as a gaming display. First, you will need to plug a USB cable into your computer that also has a source to place in a cable to your television. After you have connected these, the program will start automatically. To change this to view on your computer, change the controls to go onto your computer instead of the television. Now, turn on your game console and you will hear the start up noise on your computer, then see the game load onto yo...
News: Brain-Computer Interface Gives New Meaning to "Mind Control"
Can a well-directed thought be as good as a mouse click? With an Emotiv EPOC headset, the answer is yes. And then some. Though Emotiv describe their device as a "high-resolution, neuro-signal acquisition and processing wireless neuroheadset," we're quite content to call it a thinking cap.
How To: Wire an electrical plug in the United Kingdom
Here's how to remember what wires go where when wiring a plug in the United Kingdom. UK plugs have two or three wires going into them: brown, blue and yellow-green. L in the blue tells you it goes on the left. The R on the brown tells you it goes on the right. If there's a yellow-green one it's the ground or earth.
HowTo: Spooooky Illuminated Fingers
A little early for Halloween, Instructables user faridbayan88's glowing fingers seem to somehow belong in a Daft Punk video. Whatever direction you decide to take the project, the effect is spooky and surreal. Learn how to do-it-yourself.
HowTo: Pirate Vinyl Records
Every once in a while you stumble across a HowTo on the internet that seems too good to be true. Magic. This happens to be one of them.
How To: Hack an HTC HD2 phone to use wireless charging
Want to mod your HTC HD2 Microsoft Windows smartphone to use wireless charging—without breaking your warantee in the process? It can be done! And quite easily at that. For complete details, and to get started modding your own HD2 phone to work with wireless chargers, watch this handy hacker's how-to.