Mods: Arcade Invader » MAKE Magazine

How-To: SNES Super Gameboy line out audio

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 12:00pm PDT

Instructables user Kyle Robinson writes:

The Super gameboy (SGB for short) is Gameboy cartridge player for the Nintendo Entertainment system. Chipmusicians who use LSDJ or Nanoloop can use the SBG to compose on a large screen. Wether its at home with friends, or in a studio environment, the SBG can be a great tool for gameboy composing and today we are going to make it even better.

Check out his how-to for adding an audio line out to the SNES Super Gameboy.

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MSI Hackintosh tablet mod

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 5:00am PDT

Check out this slick tablet mod from alexbates. Chopped and channeled 1.6 GHz MSI Wind U100 sporting 120GB HDD and 2GB RAM. [via engadget]

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Permalink for 'NES cartridge harmonicas'

Ebay seller nes_harmonica is offering three of these old Nintendo cartridges that have been modded to contain working harmonicas. Why the heck would you do that? Turns out it's kind of a retro in-joke for NES enthusiasts. OhGizmo's Andrew Liszewski explains:

If you grew up in the 80's and played video games, at one point in your childhood you had to blow on an NES cart, or inside the console itself, to get it to recognize a game. In fact I never even had an NES, but I can still remember having to do it on a friend's system. At this point it's almost become cliche to bring it up whenever the conversation turns to classic video games, but that didn't stop one clever modder from attempting to turn a profit on Nintendo's folly.

Right now Super Mario 3, Dick Tracy, and Legend of Zelda models are available. [via Geekologie]

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Back in stock: Gakken SX-150

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 10:30am PST

The Gakken SX-150 is one of the most popular kits in the Maker Shed, and we just got a fresh new supply! We have posted a lot of projects that involve hacking and modifying of the SX-150. We've see Arduino controlled versions, fooling around with plasma, incredible analog cassette hacks, button mods, and more">[http%3A%2F%2Fmakermedia.com%2F%3BCX%3AMaker%2520Media%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fmakezine.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FMMlogos.gif%3BLH%3A54%3BLP%3A1%3BVLC%3A%23551a8b%3BDIV%3A%23cccccc%3B&adkw=AELymgVOBHGo-8XwgiLtfyb-v4d8R-77wisT3k5u0laekF0AoyAHYHakahvKgkm0kY4QcprSK0qfcZPk89O2idwgYuoGFxBCfWYqgNpIHkx8N-m_hY-Txqw&boostcse=0&q=sx-150&btnG=Search&cx=008032414425079535247%3Akplxrakvu20">more] ! Collin did a really nice video review too! Did you hack and mod your SX-150? Are you planning on it? Let us know in the comments. Thanks!

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In the Maker Shed: MintyBoost Parts bundle

Posted: February 20th, 2010, 10:21am PST

The MintyBoost Parts bundle from the Maker Shed includes everything you need to make the RuntyBoost version of the MintyBoost! We include the MintyBoost kit 2.0, our Make Project tin, and even the AA batteries. Yes, the batteries are included too! All you need to do is some simple soldering, and a few minor mods of the project tin, and you will have a great portable charger.

Features

(1) MintyBoost USB Charger Kit v2.0
(1) Make Project Tin - Measures 3-3/4" long, 2-3/8" wide, 3/4" deep
(2) AA Batteries. Yep, they're included!

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Creative cassettes & mechanical mods of Tapetronic

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 12:30pm PST

Mike Una points out the action-packed tape deck manipulations of French musician/bender Alexis Malbert, better known as Tapetronic. Very cool to see the focus of hacking turn a bit more toward the cassette itself, rather than just the playback mechanism. More over at GetLoFi.

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Playing Rock Band with a real guitar

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 10:00am PST

Alan wrote in to tell us about Open Chord, an open hardware conversion kit that lets you play Rock Band and similar games using a real guitar. We've seen no shortage of DIY rock band guitar mods, however his uses the actual strings on the guitar, rather than adding extra buttons for each note. I'm not a guitarist, however it seems like this could be a fun way to practice fingerings. You could hook it up to an advanced version of Frets on Fire, and you have yourself a Mavis-Beacon style guitar tutor, or even convert it to output MIDI, and use it to play your favorite synth.

More:

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Dell netbook to Dell Android phone mod

Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:00am PST

Check out this build video of a Dell Inspiron netbook modded to resemble a gigantic Dell Mini 3i Android smartphone. [shanzai via androinica]

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MPG boosting tail cone

Posted: January 1st, 2010, 1:00pm PST

Darin is doing some amazing work to upgrade and test the aerodynamic improvements to his Pontiac Firefly, which was sold in the US as the Geo Metro. These cars were often sneered at for rolling off the assembly line with a tiny 3 cylinder engine. They didn't sport much power, but they also went an incredibly long distance on a gallon of gas. Excellent data and documentation of the mods is available at MetroMPG, and on EcoModder.

[Thanks Chad via Edmunds!]

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Multitouch display support in Linux

Posted: December 22nd, 2009, 4:00am PST

Adding a capacitive touchscreen to your Linux netbook just took a huge leap forward. Developers at ENAC Interactive Computing Lab in France recently published a video showing multitouch support on a standard PC running Fedora. [via liliputing]

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Celebrating PC "kustom kulture" at Exploratorium

Posted: December 17th, 2009, 4:00pm PST

Many years ago, back in the early days of computer modding, I did a piece for Details magazine where I "predicted" that PCs would become the next generation's muscle cars. That's pretty much become the case (...er no groaning puns intended) and that's what the San Francisco Exploratorium will be celebrating in their "Rods & Mods: The Kustom Kulture of Radical Computer Modification" show, Thursday-Saturday, February 11, 12 and 13, 2010.

For three days in February, the Exploratorium showcases the innovations and outlaw aesthetics of custom computer culture at Rods & Mods: The Kustom Kulture of Radical Computer Modification. An outgrowth of the hacker community, personal computer modding was born from the need for speed and personal style. From Thursday through Saturday, February 11-13, from noon to 5pm, look under the hood of this creative subculture and explore the hacking geekery that ignited a billion-dollar design industry. Rods & Mods features a showroom of souped-up PCs, restored classics, and experimental computers, as well as workshops, presentations, and a parts swap. Modders will be on hand throughout the event to discuss their work. This event is included in the price of admission.

Rods & Mods: The Kustom Kulture of Radical Computer Modification

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Modern Victorian home restoration

Posted: December 4th, 2009, 9:00pm PST

Over at Steampunk Workshop, Jake pays a visit to the home of Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum, in Sharon, Mass. Bruce and Melanie run ModVic, a Victorian home restoration company. They've also embraced the steampunk aesthetic and do steampunk mods, as they've done in their own amazing home, seen here.

A Visit to a Steampunked Home

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DIY netbook stand

Posted: October 29th, 2009, 5:00am PDT

This sturdy, portable DIY netbook stand is perfect for smaller models between 7-10 inches. [via liliputing]

In a nutshell, all you need are two IKEA shelf brackets, a drawer handle to hold them together, and some vinyl cabinet brackets to keep the laptop from sliding. You'll also need a drill, screwdriver, and hammer, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict you've already got those lying around.

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Balcony? What balcony? I don't see a balcony...

Posted: October 9th, 2009, 11:00am PDT

We don't see many transforming-house mods around here, and its a shame. Anyone ever try making something like this? It would be perfect for places that have seasons (who needs a balcony in the winter?), or for playing tricks on your would-be Romeo. [via core77]

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PS3 Slim laptop

Posted: October 2nd, 2009, 5:00am PDT

Console hacker extraordinaire Benjamin J. Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck) built this one-off PS3 Slim laptop for portable gaming without compromise. Along with the PS3 Slim, Ben incorporated a Gateway 1775W widescreen LCD display and had a little extra room left over for cable storage.

[thanks, Thomas!]

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This MP3 player is da bomb

Posted: September 22nd, 2009, 4:30am PDT

Not since the WiFi sniffer built to look like a sniper rifle has there been a project with "Bad idea" stamped so many times over it. Matt from NYC Resistor cased a Sansa 2GB MP3 player inside of a decommissioned training hand grenade.

(There was already something of a bomb scare at NYC Resistor when a box was opened with four grenades in it. Yikes. A discovery like that'll sure starch your shorts. It was finally figured out that Matt had ordered them.)

MP3 Gr3nade! [via Hack a Day]

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MAKE 19: Kustom Tonkas

Posted: August 27th, 2009, 7:00pm PDT

About a year ago, Phil posted about Telstar Logistics' rockin' custom Tonka truck mods. As it turns out, Todd Lappin wrote a how-to for turning this classic toy into a one-of-a-kind ride for MAKE Volume 19. Todd has a longstanding tradition of presenting this durable classic to all friends and family members upon arrival of their firstborn child. When Todd had his own firstborn baby girl, there was no doubt she was getting a Tonka, but naturally he wanted to mod hers to be extra special, and his Tonka modding days began full force. First came the Rat Rod Tonka detailed by Oakland pinstriper Eric Kirby (my favorite, pictured above), followed by a pink Hello Kitty Tonka and a whole pink Tonka brigade:

In the article, Todd shares his extensive Tonka modding knowledge garnered from numerous mods. Deconstruct, prep, paint, rebuild, add flair, repeat. Why reinvent the (plastic) wheel when you can learn from a pro?

Pick up your copy of MAKE Volume 19 in the Maker Shed or on a newsstand near you.

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Tennis for Two from the ground up

Posted: August 25th, 2009, 5:30am PDT

Inspired by EMSL's classic oscilloscope gaming project, Romain Christophe's put his own spin on the project. A Dedicated CRT + customized drive circuitry dress up right nicely in the wood & acrylic enclosure - and the controllers he built exude a fine blend retro-class.

Check out more pics + his mods to the original project schematics over at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

More:
Remaking a video game from 1958

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Mods: Arcade Invader » MAKE Magazine

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MAKE Magazine (18 unread)

How-To: SNES Super Gameboy line out audio

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 12:00pm PDT

MSI Hackintosh tablet mod

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 5:00am PDT

NES cartridge harmonicas

Posted: March 14th, 2010, 7:53pm PDT

Back in stock: Gakken SX-150

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 10:30am PST

In the Maker Shed: MintyBoost Parts bundle

Posted: February 20th, 2010, 10:21am PST

Creative cassettes & mechanical mods of Tapetronic

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 12:30pm PST

Playing Rock Band with a real guitar

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 10:00am PST

Dell netbook to Dell Android phone mod

Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:00am PST

MPG boosting tail cone

Posted: January 1st, 2010, 1:00pm PST

Multitouch display support in Linux

Posted: December 22nd, 2009, 4:00am PST

Celebrating PC "kustom kulture" at Exploratorium

Posted: December 17th, 2009, 4:00pm PST

Modern Victorian home restoration

Posted: December 4th, 2009, 9:00pm PST

DIY netbook stand

Posted: October 29th, 2009, 5:00am PDT

Balcony? What balcony? I don't see a balcony...

Posted: October 9th, 2009, 11:00am PDT

PS3 Slim laptop

Posted: October 2nd, 2009, 5:00am PDT

This MP3 player is da bomb

Posted: September 22nd, 2009, 4:30am PDT

MAKE 19: Kustom Tonkas

Posted: August 27th, 2009, 7:00pm PDT

Tennis for Two from the ground up

Posted: August 25th, 2009, 5:30am PDT