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This dude made a Zelda game in C++. What did you do this year? »
A French dude named Christopho has created The Legend of Zelda: Mystery of Solarus DX , essentially a fan homage to the Zelda world. It comes complete with the requisite durdle-durdle-string-string music of the original series as well as a back story so convoluted that Tingle himself might have something to do with it. However, it kicks ass. Zelda: Mystery of Solarus DX is an anhanced remake of our first creation, Mystery of Solarus. Written in C++, the project was unveiled on April 1st, 2008. Its objectives are to correct the many flaws of its predecessor: the battle system, the bosses, the use of items, etc. However, that is hardly all of of it as new graphical elements and musics will accompany you throughout the game. This Deluxe version will be the opportunity for you to relive the adventure in a brand new way, or even to discover it for the first time if you’ve never played it before! The game works under OS X, Windows, and Linux and is truly a sight to behold. Give it a download.
Home-built Kodachrome machine – that’s some serious DIY »
Film lovers may be finding it hard to get their hands on their favorite brand of film. Film dealerships are getting fewer and fewer, and many types of film currently being manufactured aren’t compatible with old cameras. What’s a guy to do when his favorite color stock is extinct forever? How about make his own? Putting film together isn’t as simple as brushing a photosensitive layer onto some plastic. There’s a whole science to doing it right, to say nothing of the chemical recipes necessary. The layers are micrometers thin and… well, there’s no use getting into the nitty gritty. If you wanted to build your own film-making machine, you’d have your nose in this kind of stuff all day long anyway. More details at the Flickr page. It is a sweet-looking rig though, isn’t it? I’d like to have one even if it didn’t make workable film.
Lock, Unlock: An Arduino-powered robotic lock »
Arduino-Controlled Lock from nootropicdesign on Vimeo . This kit uses a CD-ROM drive and an Arduino board to build a clever robotic lock. This dude used a bolt to create the project and it’s voice activated. I’d be a little worried that anyone could come up to the device and say “Unlock,” but what do I know about robotics. Also, that bolt looks flimsy. Maybe he could make a new system that shoots spikes through the floor?
Review: Samsung Behold II »
Short Version: T-Mobile’s 4th Android device has a lot going for it. 5.0 megapixel camera, all the smartphone basics, WiFi, 3G, GPS, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. But it feels kinda cheap, runs Android 1.5, and for $229.99? No thank you. I remember when Android was the cool hip new thing. Well, it still is, but the Behold II marks the end of when Android phones are unique. Every feature on this phone has already been done the same or better by someone else. Let’s start with the body. The phone is a bit heavier than my HTC Hero, but for some reason it feels cheaper. It’s just a hair taller and about the same width and thickness. You have 6 dedicated function buttons on the front, along with a 8-way directional selector. The left side has a volume rocker, and the right holds two buttons. One for the camera and one attached to the screen lock. The top holds the microUSB port and headphone jack. An expandable microSD slot is behind the battery door, and there is no physical keyboard. The interface was nothing to get excited about. You get three customizable home screens and a Google search bar. But the tab to access your apps is that arrow on the left side of the screen. It takes some deft maneuvering not the hit that when you’re trying to go the left screen. Perhaps the most unique feature on this device is the Cube. I’ll just let that sink in for a moment. The Cube is, as you might have guessed, a cube with a different multimedia function on each face. With a flick of a finger you can spin the cube and select the function you wish to activate. You can’t customize it however, so you’re stuck with YouTube, the Amazon MP3 store, Facebook, your photo folder, your audio player, and the video player. About the funnest thing you can do is swing the phone, and since the Cube is tied to the accelerometer, it’ll spin. Good for maybe two minutes of chuckles. So at the end of it all, its just another Android phone under T-mobile’s belt. It hit stores last week if you want to go grab one, but why when you can get the Droid for cheaper? The Behold II is $229.99 with a two-year contract.
It’s… a self-rolling ball »
I’ll tell you what. Fill a city with these things, and I’ll move there. I can’t think of a greater source of childish delight than a playground full of these things, haphazardly zipping around the asphalt, attracting the attention of every bird, dog, and blogger that passes by. What’s happening is there’s a solar cell in there that charges a small battery. When the battery achieves a certain level of power, it discharges, driving the wheels and rolling the ball. A clever layout of rods and rollers inside ensures that the solar panel is always pointing upwards. It serves as little purpose as anything I’ve ever seen, yet now I can’t imagine a happy world without it. And I love the fact that if suddenly all humans were eliminated from the earth, these little guys would keep on rolling until the sun exploded.
Your hipster GF will love these iPhone earrings »
You could spend $14.95 to buy the set pre-made , or follow your mom’s advice and make a set yourself. It means more that way. [via MAKE ]
Court sides with Apple, those dudes at Psystar are hosed »
Apple’s charges of copyright infringement and DMCA violation against Psystar have stuck and, friends, things ain’t pretty for the two brothers in Miami . The problem with Psystar’s approach wasn’t that they were crazy for trying it. It’s that the were selling a counterfeit unit. Apple contends that Psystar has violated its distribution right by offering and selling Mac OS X on Psystar computers to the public. Psystar admits that it has distributed Mac OS X (Chung Exh. 17 at 4). But Psystar responds that its conduct is protected by the Section 109 first-sale doctrine. Section 109 provides that “the owner of a particular copy or phonorecord lawfully made under this title, or any person authorized by such owner, is entitled, without the authority of the copyright owner, to sell or otherwise dispose of the possession of that copy or phonorecord.” 17 U.S.C. 109. This provision is a limitation on the distribution right. It applies only to an owner of a copy. Groklaw puts it best when it writes: I know. They’ll say, but, but, but … what if they hadn’t used the master and just used each copy, then would it work? Sons, why do you think Psystar used the master copy? Because it’s a business, and in a business, efficiency is money. That’s why businesses set themselves up, to make money. The whole world is not with you on a holy war to destroy EULAs and the GPL. Even this rinkydink business wanted to make money. Theoreticals belong on message boards, not in business and definitely not in courtrooms, and even on message boards, everyone told you for years that this wouldn’t work out if someone tried it. It’s been tried. It didn’t work out. Shine on, you crazy Psystar diamonds. I guess I’ll never get support for the janky Hackintosh we bought. Thanks, Alex
Build your own battery powered USB charger »
Apparently Monday is DIY day here at CrunchGear, as we have another project for you. Battery powered USB chargers are nothing new — but building one yourself, that’s something different. Using a few components from your local electronics store and a 9v battery, you too can solder together your own little frankencharger. It’s a pretty easy build. Solder the battery connector wires to a regulator, and then from the regulator to the female end of a scavenged USB cable to the regulator, and you’re set. The hardest part will be finding a female end of a USB connector, unless you want to just chop the end off of a cable. You can read about the whole process here (there’s a little more to it then I’ve described). One thing to be aware of: I contacted an electric engineer friend of mine, and he advised me to be very cautious with this build. It is a strong possibility that this device could short out and destroy the device you are trying to charge. In this case, it might be better to spend the $20 and buy one from your favorite retail outlet. [via Gizmodo ]
DIY: Multi-stage water rocket »
I know, I know. Water rocket. Whatever, right? Been there, done that, it’s cool and all, but it’s kinda like the diet coke & mentos thing. It’s been done to death. Well, this ain’t your daddy’s water rocket, let’s put it that way. No sir, this is a multistage water rocket with a nose cone, and parachute recovery system. This is the work of a water rocket scientist, or possibly a student with too much time on his hands. This thing is a beast, and the inventor was kind enough to write up instructions on how you can build one yourself . Seriously, fins. Nosecone. A launching system. Two stage rocket. Check it out, it’s quite impressive.
DIY Proton Pack »
Jeezum crow! This guy has made a fully functional (kind of) Proton Pack from Ghostbusters including a trap, ecto goggles, and some coveralls. He added a few lights controlled by an Arduino board. The best part? He added lasers to the blasters. Now he just needs to remember not to cross the beams and that your halloween party can be a promotional expense so you should invite clients instead of friends. The instructions are, obviously, at Instructables .