Gadget Hacks How-Tos

How To: Record a screen capture on an iPhone

A quick trick to do a screen capture on iPhone. A great skill to have especially when your iPhone is misbehaving, so you can show the Genius Bar whats up. This will record a video of your screen. It's how people make tutorials on a PC. You can do this easily on your iPhone. This works on the 3G and regular iPhone. Record a screen capture on an iPhone.

How To: Make Arduino circuit boards for robotics

This week on Make Magazine is a project with parts from the Arduino Starter Kit. Skip over building the Proto Shield. Otherwise, it's a simple build that doesn't require any soldering. Arduino is a speaking control for robotics. It can be used in other Make kits or robotic projects. This is a circuit bending and circuit board project that involves basic circuitry and wiring.

How To: Use Google's Chrome browser

Just a really quick overview of Googles new browser, Chrome, and some of its features. you can get it at Google.com/chrome This goes over Opera, Firefox and Safari differences. Chrome automatically adds favorites to your tab. The incognito setting lets you browse in a porn-mode without any cookies, history or cache clearing.

How To: Solder wires like a professional

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Melt the solder to connect wires for switches and permanent circuits. Heat the surface before you put the solder on it. Don't drip the solder for it is too much and not necessary. Make sure you wash hands and have a ventilated room because solder sometimes has lead in it.

How To: Solder a wire onto a switch when building circuits

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Strip the wire and make sure the wire is tied on tightly before soldering. Don't drip balls of solder. Make sure the tip is clean. Then hold it on the joint to be soldered for 4 seconds. Then poke the solder on the surface and it will melt with the heat.

How To: Cut and strip wires safely

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Use wire strippers where they are like scissors. To cut off the wire's insulation and strip it you need to know the wire's gauge. Check the gauge on both the wire and the stripper.

How To: Solder to a metal strap

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. If you want to make a homemade switch watch this video on using solder to tie the wire. Use sandpaper to clean where you will solder.

How To: Make a laundry detergent lamp

A nifty step-by-step guide to making your very own laundry detergent lamp. Upcycle that recyclable detergent bottle and gain a swell lighting fixture for your home! This involves some basic circuitry and wiring of a cheap lamp fixture. You use the laundry detergent bottle as the base of the lamp. It's a bit arts & crafts project and a bit conservation! Help our mother nature with this nifty at-home craft decoration project!

How To: Build a Mini Hovercraft

Create a miniature hover craft from the fan, polystrene or Styrofoam plate, batteries and double-sided scotch tape. It really works. Powered by two 9 volt batteries you can use paper plates for the body of the hovercraft if need be. This is a cool cat toy or just a household hack.

How To: Make a cheap lucid dream mask

Did you know you can stimulate yourself to have a lucid dream? Well, it may take a little bit of practice first, but this sleep mask can certainly help you have the most interesting and realistic dreams of your life (yes, kinda like "Inception.") Just check out this video to learn how to make a super cheap lucid dream mask out of two LED lights and a pair of goggles.

How To: Embed web content into a mobile Android application

Designing a cool app for Android? If you were looking to integrate web content into your Android app, you can—and the Android Developers are here to show you how it's done! It's all done with an embedded WebView, allowing you to embed HTML, Javascript and style sheets from your web content. If you were looking for a quick answer on how you embed your web content into your app, let the pros at Google teach you the right way.

How To: Hack Smart Cards for satellite TVs

Notorious hacker Chris Tarnovsky opens his underground laboratory to WIRED, providing a peek into the world of satellite television smart-card hacking. This complicated process involves nail polish, a pin head and various acids -- so don't try this at home (unless you're Chris Tarnovsky)! Chances are you won't even know what's going on here, but that's not going to stop you from watching this video tutorial on how to reverse-engineer a satellite TV smart card, is it?

How To: Solder electroluminescent EL wire

Looking to find out how to solder EL or electro luminescent wire? This is a great tutorial on cutting the jacket and soldering the 40 gauge corona wires. They're very fine wires and you don't want to nick them while stripping them. You also need copper tape to help join the wires.

How To: Use PayPal to buy and sell on eBay

New to eBay? Don't worry, setting up an account and buying and selling doesn't take that much effort at all. Everyone who has an Internet connection has at one point come across eBay, to find the perfect gift for their loved ones, to find the cheapest deals on plasma televisions and computers, or to get rid of their dusty, old record album collection in their web store.

How To: Track purchases on My eBay

New to eBay? Don't worry, setting up an account and buying and selling doesn't take that much effort at all. Everyone who has an Internet connection has at one point come across eBay, to find the perfect gift for their loved ones, to find the cheapest deals on plasma televisions and computers, or to get rid of their dusty, old record album collection in their web store.

How To: Shop and buy smart on eBay

New to eBay? Don't worry, setting up an account and buying and selling doesn't take that much effort at all. Everyone who has an Internet connection has at one point come across eBay, to find the perfect gift for their loved ones, to find the cheapest deals on plasma televisions and computers, or to get rid of their dusty, old record album collection in their web store.

How To: Bid and buy merchandise on eBay

New to eBay? Don't worry, setting up an account and buying and selling doesn't take that much effort at all. Everyone who has an Internet connection has at one point come across eBay, to find the perfect gift for their loved ones, to find the cheapest deals on plasma televisions and computers, or to get rid of their dusty, old record album collection in their web store.

How To: Make noise canceling headphones and an LED light

Let Forbes help you make a few do-it-yourself projects in record breaking time. This video tutorial contains information on how to make three various projects. Learn how to make your very own noise canceling earphones out of junk old headphones, make an LED light, and make a simple marshmallow shooter. This projects are not only easy and quick to make, but fun. Make noise canceling headphones and an LED light.

How To: Repair an HP iPAQ RX3100, 3400 or 3700 PDA

Need a quick repair job for your HP iPAQ Pocket PC RX3100, 3115, 3400, 3415, 3417, 3700, or 3715? Well, this video tutorial will show you how to disassemble the phone after it's been damaged. You'll see exactly how to take it apart, then simply reverse the instructions to put the HP iPAQ RX3100, 3115, 3400, 3415, 3417, 3700, or 3715 back together.

How To: Repair an HP iPAQ H4150 or H4155 PDA

Need a quick repair job for your HP iPAQ Pocket PC H4150 or H4155? Well, this video tutorial will show you how to disassemble the phone after it's been damaged. You'll see exactly how to take it apart, then simply reverse the instructions to put the HP iPAQ H4150 or H4155 back together.

How To: Repair an HP iPAQ 110, 111, 112, 114, or 116 PDA

Need a quick repair job for your HP iPAQ Classic Handheld Pocket PC 110, 111, 112, 114, or 116? Well, this video tutorial will show you how to disassemble the phone after it's been damaged. You'll see exactly how to take it apart, then simply reverse the instructions to put the HP iPAQ 110, 111, 112, 114, or 116 back together.

How To: Find song lyrics online

Get that song you heard on the radio out of your head and into your record collection with this how-to, which will teach you how to find song information using the Google search engine. Find a song by accessing the Internet and typing in lyrics using quotation marks. Learn to find a song with tips from a professional musician in this free video on music.