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Auto Tuning Guitar Pick

Dec 8

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tuner-build-into-the-picThe Stimmmopped is an electronic guitar tuner made to be used as a guitar pick. This uses two LEDs synchronized to blink at the exact frequency of the string you are tuning. Pluck the string with the corner of the PCB and then shine the light on the string you are tuning. As the vibrating string moves back and forth it will only pick up the spot of light when the frequency matches that of the blinking LED. Once in tune, both red lights will appear to be constantly illuminated and immobile on the string.

An Atmel ATmega8 is used to control the device, interfacing with two buttons and a seven-segment display to choose the pitch currently being tuned. Gibson has a robotic guitar that features an auto-tuning mode, but if you don’t want to shell that much this low cost and simple build is for you.

[via Stimmmopped]

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Boxee Gets an Upgrade

Dec 7

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The Boxee team unveiled its upcoming beta release tonight. From the outset, it looks a whole lot more pretty and user friendly. Native search powers, media queues, much improved looks, and easier navigation are coming to computer-connected TVs soon.
Boxee is based on the same core code as the XBMC project, but has differentiated itself with a different (and, in our opinion, not quite as appealing) look and a social, net-connected focus. The new home screen brings a new look and those social/feed aspects front and center.

BoxeeTVLibrary

It’s divided up into three columns of items on the bottom: friend recommendations on the left, featured media from Boxee and its partners in the middle, and items you’ve queued up on the left.BoxeeHomeScreen

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Cell Phone Jammer

Dec 1

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332373631_4df091e053_bI hope everyone enjoyed your thanksgiving weekend and for the rest of the world I hope your weekend was just as pleasurable.  Usually on holiday weekends I like visit my local movie theater and check out the latest holiday movie.  This year I had the pleasure of some idiot that just had to answer his cell phone while we are all trying to enjoy the movie.  After people told him to be quiet multiple times he finally walked out, talking the entire way out of the theater.  So I got to thinking, why doesn’t the theater block cell phone calls, hospitals do!  Probably a safety concern and since you are already at the hospital it doesn’t matter.

After doing a little research when I got home I found this little treasure.  A DIY Cell Phone Jammer that I can fit right in my pocket.  Now I can block cell phones around me and if there is an emergency I will just turn it off and no one will be none the wiser.

The Cell Phone Jammer is really just a RF jammer that can be built as a DIY project from Adafruit’s Wave Bubble. The Wave Bubble calls itself a self-tuning, wide-bandwidth portable RF jammer.

Self tuning is via dual phase lock loops which nullify the need for a spectrum analyzer. Multiple programmable frequency bands make it work across a range of RFs. Tuned antennas give it a range of 20 feet. Output power is .1W (in high bands) and .3W (in low bands). Two hours of jamming work over dual frequency bands (as used by some cell phones) with a rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery should be enough for your dirty deeds. Or you can get more hours over a single band as used by cordless phones, GPS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. All this can be crammed in a palm sized cigarette pack. That’s about 7″ x 4″ x 3.2″.

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The Wave Bubble site backs-up the project with details under Share-Alike so go ahead and make yourself one.  As the site warns, this is advanced stuff asking for lots of circuitry savvy.

Note: Using a RF Jammers to block communication by disrupting the signal is an exclusive right of the authorities. Among other things they are extensively used to prevent remote activation of explosive devices by terrorists. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules apply and they take a dim view against illegal use of RF jamming devices.

[ Cell Phone Jammer via HacknMod and Wave Bubble ]

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24 Outrageous Home Theaters

Nov 25

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10First off, if you are the owner of one of these theaters I LOATH YOU. Honestly, it is just because of an overwhelming and uncontrollable feeling of jealousy.  Especially you mister Batcave, COME ON!  You probably have some cool bookcase that swings out of the way when you tilt the statue’s head back to reveal a fireman’s pole that leads to your homemade tumbler. But at least now I get to use the Batcave tag for this article.  F U Sir, I say good day sir…I SAID GOOD DAY!
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Boxee, I Can’t Quit You

Nov 24

Posted by diynerds in Articles | 3 Comments

boxee logo apiI guarantee that you will have a love affair with Boxee the same way I do.  I really can’t quit you Boxee (if you start charging it will be a messy divorce) BUT FOR NOW you’re free and together we will live happily ever after together. What other free program out there allows you to access thousands of free video content from all the major networks on Hulu, play music from Pandora, connect to social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, and lets not forget Flickr. Boxee makes use of all those content providers, to your advantage, and piles all that content into one simple and clean design.  Then they take that awesome GUI (Graphic User Interface) and stream it straight to your living room television.  Boxee is an essential ingredient for any DIY Nerds out there.

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