Stanford University News runs down the hardware of the open source camera: “…the motherboard, per se, is a Texas Instruments ’system on a chip’ running Linux with image and general processors and a small LCD screen. The imaging chip is taken from a Nokia N95 cell phone, and the lenses are off-the-shelf Canon lenses, but they are combined with actuators to give the camera its fine-tuned software control. The body is custom made at Stanford.”

Computer science graduate student Andrew Adams – pictured above with Levoy – wants digital camera users to be able to download applications for their cameras, in the same way that we download programs that extend or improve our PCs. Levoy’s team hopes to have the Frankencamera’s operating system released publicly by next year for some crowd-sourcing action.

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[via PhysOrg]

The compact box can play full high-def (1920 x 1080) files in popular formats such as MP4, H.264, DivX HD, MOV, VC-1, FLV, VOB, WMV and AVI as well as less common formats like MKV, AVC-HD, RMVB and Minus VR. Of course, it can also play a variety of audio formats like AAC, WMA, OGG, MP3, and M4A with aplomb.There’s even support for subtitle formats including Advance Substation Alpha – which has the best file extension ever – .ASS . (There’s a full list of supported formats and codecs here).

In addition, the Ultio can connect to the Internet via a built-in Ethernet port or through a Wi-Fi network (if you plug in an optional USB networking dongle). Once connected, you can download media files using the system’s built-in BitTorrent client. Since it has an integrated Samba server and UPnP, you can use services like PlayOn or Tversity to stream video from Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and other web-based video services.

The Ultio has a nice array of video outputs, including HDMI 1.3, component video, optical audio, analog audio (yuck) and composite video (double yuck).

Keep in mind that the Ultio doesn’t come with any built-in storage. For best performance, you’ll need to drop in a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive (up to 1.5 TB). Otherwise, you can play files from a USB 2.0 hard drive or a flash drive. You can also stream media stored on your PC if you’d rather store files there. And the guys over at Mvix are even encouraging users to download all of the system’s open source and GPL sourcecode to see what else they can do with this little box.

You can find the Mvix Ultio over at ThinkGeek for just $169.99 (USD). The 802.11N Wi-fi dongle will set you back another $39.99. BYO hard drive.

Here’s a demo of the hack in action. It kind of hurt my eyes trying to read the message. How about a widescreen Meggy Mr. Oskay?

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If this is the first time you’ve heard of the Meggy Jr RGB, you can get more details about it here. For those who already own a Meggy Jr RGB, you can download the necessary software for the project here. Check out the original post at Evil Mad Scientist Labs for detailed instructions. Because I sure as hell wouldn’t be able to explain it to you in my own words.

But unlike any emulator I have ever heard of, OpenEmu treats these video game systems as plugins. Not only that, you can play with several ROMs at the same time, as shown in the picture above. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of awesome that is OpenEmu.

The window on the left is where you insert, activate and connect plugins. If you’re a fan of DAWs, think of Reason; OpenEmu’s kinda like that. If you’ve never used Reason, you’re missing out on a lot. And watch this video to get an idea of how OpenEmu works (and so to a small extent, Reason as well):

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I know right? WTF and FTW mashed into one. It’s kinda like a retro and trippy LittleBigPlanet, where you can fiddle around with what you’re given and create something else entirely. You can synchronize music with the effects and make a video out of a NES game in real time with just a press of a button. No meddling with video software needed.

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If you’re not into multimedia and you just wanna fiddle with games, OpenEmu can help you with that too.

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Who knows what else you can do with this thing? I mean we certainly didn’t expect what 2 girls can do with just 1 cup. Check out Peter Kirn’s article at Create Digital Motion for more details on OpenEmu, vade and Dan Winckler’s Vimeo accounts for more vids, or just wing it, download the emulator, and mess games up right frakkin now! *ahem* currently Mac only.

[via Retro Thing]

Thanks to a bunch of Japanese Twitter-lovers, anyone willing to use a heart monitor can update their Twitter feeds with reports on their heart rates. You know, so everyone who follows you when you’re doing anything particularly exciting, like watching his hilarious promo video. Or running. Or dying.

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Personally, I’d like to have an automatic feed for something really random, like a tweet every time I curl my toes. Maybe just the left ones.

[via CrunchGear]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2009/06/30/why-not-tweet-your-heart-rate/feed/ 0 http://technabob.com/blog/2009/03/27/8-bit-computer-hackable-nes/ http://technabob.com/blog/2009/03/27/8-bit-computer-hackable-nes/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:58 +0000 technabob http://technabob.com/blog/?p=10857 When you think of 8-bit computers, classics like the Atari 400/800, the Commodore 64 and the Apple II probably come to mind. But there’s a new kid on the block that hopes to bring 8-bit computing back – this time for the hacker community.

This bare-bones looking “TV Computer” is based on the same 1MHz 6502 processor chip that powered many of the great 8-bit systems of days gone by. And like the home programming movement of the 1980s, the guys over at Playpower.org are encouraging the use of these cheap imports for the development of homebrew and open-source apps, to spur computer-aided education in developing countries.

Not only can the system run simple programs written in BASIC, it comes with a cartridge pre-loaded with an 8-bit music application, a “Visual Theremin” (whatever that means), a sprite manipulation program and a Chinese language GUI. As an added bonus, the system can play old school NES games (with the use of an optional 60 to 72 pin adapter).

So if you’re ready to get to brush up on your BASIC skills, or just want to play some Mario Brothers, you can find the 8-bit TV computer over at the MakerSHED for just $49.99 (USD).

The Fuzebox is a complete 8-bit gaming platform in a box that’s not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes.

Based on the open source Uzebox project, the Fuzebox is a ready-to-go kit from the folks over at Adafruit. The DIY 8-bit console is capable of cranking out 256 colors at a 240×224 resolution. The system has full video and audio capabilities on board, and can output to any monitor with an RCA or S-Video jack. You can play games with a standard NES or SNES controller.

Coding for Fuzebox/Uzebox requires knowledge of the C programming language. Just write your games on any computer, and transfer them via a USB-to-Serial cable to move them to the Fuzebox. There’s also a handy emulator available for you to test your programs before you move ‘em to your Fuzebox.

Curious to see what it can do? Here are a couple of demo videos running on an early prototype of the Uzebox platform:

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The basic Fuzebox kit (just the circuit board and parts) will run you $70 (USD), while a complete starter kit with a controller, power adapter and a custom enclosure for $100. You can get your hands on the kit along with schematics, programming instructions and some sample code over at Adafruit. A number of game examples and demos can be found on the Uzebox forums.

While the design hasn’t changed dramatically from the original renders, there have been some notable refinements. For starters, the keyboard has improved ergonomics, with rounded edges and better spacing between the keys. Power and volume controls have been moved to opposite ends of the console (presumably to decrease the likelihood of accidental power-offs). Another subtle change is the rounding of square corners on both the display and the case. And yes, the serif font on those keys is just a placeholder, and will probably change before the final production run.

And if you have any doubts that the Pandora is for real, here’s a recent video of a working prototype running Ångström Linux on its sharp 800 x 480 4.3″ LCD touchscreen.

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And here’s another more thorough walkthrough, with Pandora playing some game emulators:

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Yeah, it’s all a bit clunky at this stage, but if you’re into game emulation and the homebrew scene, the Pandora is definitely one to watch. All signs point to a first half of 2009 release for the Pandora, but given some false starts back at the end of 2008, there isn’t an official launch date yet. More details can be found on the Pandora website.

[via Open Pandora]

Matt over at Liquidware decided to build an “open source Gameboy” (known as the Gamepack) using off-the-shelf parts, including the modder-friendly Arduino microprocessor. While the Arduino may provide the brains of the operation, the 128×128 TouchShield Stealth color OLED touchscreen is most definitely the soul. Rounding out the build is an Inputshield board, which provides a tiny joystick (complete with rumble) and control buttons as well as a flat Lithium battery pack.

The Gamepack system is now available in kit form so you can build one for yourself. At this point, the Gamepack only runs some rudimentary homebrew demo code, but the hope is that others who grab the kit will contribute more advanced games, or maybe even a Nintendo emulator.

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At $249 for the Gamepack kit, you could buy more than 10 used Gameboys. But none of them would be nearly as cool as the one you built yourself.

[Liquidware Antipasto via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Bricksmith was created by Allen Smith. The application includes a parts browser, a full Lego color palette, drag-and-drop building, and more. It’s been around for a few years, but an updated version has just come out. The new version boasts added functionality and a sweet minifig generator.

You can download Bricksmith 2.0 for free from Sourceforge, but you have to have a Mac with OS X Tiger (10.4 or later.) Happy virtual bricking!

[via Make:]

The compact handheld will run a customized Linux distro in firmware, and is targeted to assume the throne from the aging GP2X platform.

The Pandora’s clamshell case will be roughly the size of a Nintendo DS, and will offer a substantial color LCD touchscreen display. To further support its gaming chops, the Pandora will sport dual analog joypads, a digital D-pad, A-B-X-Y buttons and a QWERTY keyboard just for kicks (or if you want to do more than play games).

The CPU under the hood is said to be powerful enough to emulate everything from the NES to the Super Nintendo to the Sony PlayStation all at full speed. Full specs are listed below:

• ARM® Cortex™-A8 CPU running Linux
• 800×480 4.3″ 16.7 million color touchscreen LCD
• OpenGL 2.0 ES compliant 3D hardware
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Dual SDHC card slots
• Dual analog and digital gaming controls
• 43 button QWERTY and numeric keypad
• TV output
• High Speed USB Host

The Pandora development team expects to start releasing developer kit in the next couple of months, with a goal of a full-on consumer launch this Summer. Retail pricing is expected to be around £199 (inc VAT) / $330 USD / €212 (Ex.VAT).

[OpenPandora via Retro Thing]

[Pandora FAQ]

The system can be programmed to display widget-like channels on your television, using a library of freely-available software. There’s even a built-in IR sensor so it can you can change widget “channels” with a remote control.

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Designed by engineer Robert Quattlebaum, the Ybox2 connects to your computer network using a built-in 10BaseT Ethernet port, and outputs video to your TV using a simple Composite video output (NTSC or PAL). The device is based on Uncommon Projects’ original Ybox platform, which first surfaced back in 2006 (shown in the video above).

The entire Ybox2 can be built for about $50, less than half of what the original version cost to build. At the heart of the system is a programmable Propeller 32-bit multi-processor, and the latest version improves on the original by adding an internal speaker as well as a multi-color status LED.

You can find more details, including the board schematics, parts list, and source code over on deep darc.

[via MAKE]

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As you tilt each cube, the player climbs through the environment, moving in concert with the angles of the physical cube. The objective of the game is to move the cubes to help guide the digital player to the exit of each cube’s virtual environment. Some of the doorways lead to another cube, while other are dead ends that make you start all over. The whole interaction looks like a Michel Gondry video to me.

Oliver developed the game to run under Debian or Ubuntu Linux, and plans on releasing it as an open source project soon.

While there’s not a whole lot new going on here, the GP2X F-200 Game System updates the portable by adding a touch-sensitive screen and a totally overhauled game controller. The console will come pre-loaded with a handful of homebrew games, but can easily be loaded up with emulators like MAME and GNGeo among others. One (hopefully) major improvement over older models is an upgrade of the crummy joystick to a 8-way digital D-Pad. They also updated the user interface and you can now multi-task, so you can play music while using other applications like the e-book reader. But who are we kidding, GP2X has always been about playing games.

Expect the new GP2X model to be released this October. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s likely to be around $200 or less. Play-Asia will be carrying the consoles once they’re available.

Running on top of Linux, OpenMoko will offer an open source framework for developing mobile device applications. The first smartphone to run the platform is the FIC Neo1973. Preliminary specs for the quad-band GSM phone sound pretty strong and include a Samsung s3c2410 processor, a 2.8″ VGA TFT touchscreen and onboard GPS capabilities. The industrial design and initial user interface screens also look very slick. The phone, along with a developer SDK should be available sometime this February.