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Gadget Hacks How-Tos

iOS 18 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos, News

How To: Build a simple MIDI controller

Do you need just a few more controls? Perhaps your wondering how hard it is to make your own controller? Then follow the steps in this 2 part series and build your first MIDI controller in about an hour for very little cash. Using only 8 electronics parts, a pre-made case and a DIY midi interface that is USB powered- you can build a controller and it wont require a degree in electrical engineering. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, on building your own DIY MIDI controller watch this vi...

How To: Hack a 9-volt battery

Want AAA batteries for cheap? Learn how to hack a 9-volt battery with this money-saving video tutorial from Make Magazine's Kip Kay. All you'll need to replicate this hack at home is a pair of needle-nosed pliers and one or more Energizer 9-volt batteries. For instructions on how to extract quadruple A batteries from an Energizer 9-volt, watch this how-to video.

How To: Make a hard drive speaker system

Looking to make use—if not necessarily good use—of your old hard drives? This how-to presents instructions for creating a hard drive speaker system to use in conjunction with an MP3 player. To follow along, you'll need an MP3 player (e.g., the Samsung YP-S3), at least one spare hard disk, wire, a soldering iron, and a screwdriver. For step-by-step instructions on hacking together your own hard drive sound system, take a look.

How To: Eavesdrop with a cell phone

Want to bug a room on the cheap? This video how-to demonstrates how to make a simple eavesdropping device using a cell phone with auto-answer support and conventional plug-in type headset. For detailed advice on setting up this expedient spy bugging device, consult this friendly how-to. Eavesdrop with a cell phone.

How To: Build a simple Van de Graaff generator

Want to build a Van de Graaf electrostatic generator? Who doesn't! This video tutorial will show you how. To follow along at home, you'll need the following items: a rubber band–the longer the better–, a small motor, a small glass object like a Christmas tree light, and some type of plastic roller. For simple, step-by-step instructions, watch this Van de Graaf-buildin' how-to.

How To: Solder the basics

Soldering isn't hard as you might think. This video will cover the basic soldering techniques for electronics and electrical wiring. It presents a comprehensive look at the soldering process, covering everything from choosing a soldering iron and solder to proper soldering technique. Get started soldering with this electronics how-to.

How To: Solder electronics the right way

New to soldering? This how-to video answers the questions for these common beginner soldering questions: what is flux? what tip should be used? do solder fumes contain dangerous amounts of lead? why regularly clean and tin the iron tip? Watch this video computer-circuitry tutorial and learn how to solder correctly.

How To: Solder Deans connectors

If you're a hardcore RC hobbyist, odds are you may have occasion to solder a Deans connector from time to time. This two-part video tutorial will show you how. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to build an adapter to fit two batteries into a single female output using deans connectors. For more information, take a look.

How To: Put an unresponsive iPhone into DFU mode

iPhone not booting up? This video shows how to recover your iPhone if it is unresponsive or even getting ready to Jailbreak it, by putting it into DFU Mode. DFU, device firmware upgrade, mode bypasses the current OS and allows you to upgrade or downgrade. Watch this video cell phone repair tutorial and learn how to restore a crashed iPhone by putting it into DFU mode.

How To: Play the Tetris theme on a Samsung flip phone

Have a Samsung flip phone and an affinity for Slavic video games? You're in luck! This how-to presents complete, step-by-step instructions for playing the Tetris theme song on most any Samsung flip-form cell phone. For easy reference, the keypad tab is as follows: 6 345 432 236 543 457 4 222. Play the Tetris themesong on your own Samsung phone with this video tutorial.

How To: Jailbreak an iPhone 3G on 2.0.1 with WinPwn 2.0

If you’ve recently updated to firmware 2.1 (click here for undocumented 2.1 features) and lost your jailbroken status, you’ve most likely heard that the Dev Team has released QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows users! Some of you have already jailbroken your iPhone 3G on 2.1 firmware when QuickPwn and Pwnage Tool for Mac was released.

How To: Hack an Apple iPhone running 2.0.2 firmware

There is a security flaw with any Apple iPhone running firmware version 2.0.2. This flaw potentially gives a person access to your email account and contacts when you have your iPhone locked. This video demonstrates a simple, but impermanent, fix for stopping others from accessing your private information. To protect your own Apple iPhone, watch this tutorial.

How To: Circuit bend a battery-powered toy

Take your old electronics and make them scream with glitchy goodness. This an extremely easy project and makes a great project for first-time solderers. Circuit bending involves taking electronic devices that make multiple sounds and wiring in switches to set off glitches or loops. Using an out-of-tune toy, the first part of this video series demonstrates how to apply a basic pitch bend using a potentiometer. In the second part, you'll learn how to bend the same toy by applying body contact. ...

How To: Beat Crimson Room

Does playing Crimson Room leave you feeling vexed and flummoxed? Whether you're stuck or after the easy satisfaction of having someone else play the game for you, you'll like this video, which presents a complete walkthrough. For step-by-step instructions on escaping from the Crimson Room, take a look. Beat Crimson Room.

How To: Use the Microsoft Popfly Web application creator

Microsoft Popfly is a fun, easy way to build and share mashups, gadgets, games, Web pages, and applications. Popfly consists of two parts: Popfly Creator is a set of online visual tools for building Web pages and mashups; Popfly Space is an online community of creators where you can post, share, rate, comment and even remix creations from other Popfly users. This how-to demonstrates how to use both. Take a look. Use the Microsoft Popfly Web application creator.

How To: Use the Nokia E71 cell phone

Some cell phones have so many functions, they're almost more like mini-computers and can thus, be somewhat tricky to use. This instructional video slide show explains the different functions and features on a Nokia E71 mobile phone. Click around this tutorial and learn how to optimize your experience with the handy Nokia E71. Use the Nokia E71 cell phone.

How To: Use a Palm Centro cell phone

Some cell phones have so many functions, they're almost more like mini-computers and can thus, be somewhat tricky to use. This instructional video slide show explains the different functions and features on a Palm Centro mobile phone. Click around this tutorial and learn how to optimize your experience with the handy Palm Centro. Use a Palm Centro cell phone.

How To: Use a Palm Treo 650

Some cell phones have so many functions, they're almost more like mini-computers and can thus, be somewhat tricky to use. This instructional video slide show explains the different functions and features on a Palm Treo 650 mobile phone. Click around this tutorial and learn how to optimize your experience with the handy Palm Treo 650. Use a Palm Treo 650.

How To: Use a BlackBerry Curve 8330 cell phone

Some cell phones have so many functions, they're almost more like mini-computers and can thus, be somewhat tricky to use. This instructional video slide show explains the different functions and features on a BlackBerry Curve 8330 mobile phone. Click around this tutorial and learn how to optimize your experience with the handy BlackBerry Curve 8330. Use a BlackBerry Curve 8330 cell phone.

How To: Create your own ringtone

Check out this electronics tutorial video that provides step by step instructions on how you can create your own ringtones. Learn how to make ring tones from your personal music files. Surprise your friends when they ask where you downloaded your ringtones by telling them you made them yourself.

How To: Sign up for, and use, YouMail visual voicemail

Ever wished you could check your cell's voicemail online? You can, for free, with the YouMail web application. In this tutorial, you'll find step-by-step instructions for signing up the the YouMail service. For more, or to get started signing up for you own YouMail account, take a look! Sign up for, and use, YouMail visual voicemail.

How To: "Hack" Sarah Palin's Yahoo! Mail account

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to exploit weak security questions to take control of a given Yahoo! Mail account in much the same way Sarah Palin's Yahoo! account was recently "hacked." (To access Sarah Palin's account you will need, in addition to the tutorial, some manner of time travel device.) For a detailed, step-by-step reenactment of the "hack" (scare quotes very much intended), take a look. "Hack" Sarah Palin's Yahoo! Mail account.

How To: Display RSS feeds on your website with Feed2JS

An RSS feed is a dynamically generated XML summary of information or news published on a website. The Feed2JS tool provides an easy way to display RSS feeds on your website, all without knowing the least bit about XML. All you need to enter is the URL for the RSS source and decide how you'd like it to be formatted. For more on using the Feed2JS tool, watch this video tutorial. Display RSS feeds on your website with Feed2JS.

How To: Understand how the Google robot spiders your website

If you're looking to increase the ranking of your website in Google, and so increase your traffic, you'd do well to at least a rudimentary understanding of what Google looks at when considering the relevance of a web page to a given query. This SEO tutorial offers a cursory explanation of how the Google search robot sees, or spiders, your website. Drive more traffic your website with this SEO how-to.

How To: Use Gmail to retrieve email from other addresses

In this video tutorial dedicated to the Google's Gmail, you'll learn how to set up Gmail to retrieve mail from a second email account. This tutorial also looks at how to set up labels and filters, and explains the Gmail Archive function and Gmail Conversations. Become an advanced Gmail user with this video tutorial!

How To: Create an impressive photo slideshow online with Roxio

Why let all the photos you've taken over the years with your digital camera sit on your computer in loose piles, forsaken? In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use Roxio's free photoshow application to create impressive photographic slideshows. For more information on photoshow, or to get started creating your own slideshows, watch this Internet how-to!