Gadget Hacks How-Tos

How To: Use a basic stamp to create multiple projects

This video introduces you to the basic stamp to create your own electronics. The basic stamp is a microcomputer that can be programmed using basic to do anything from turning on a LED light to cellphone ringtones.

How To: Make sounds with circuit bending

Circuit bending is when you take an old sound producing machine and change the circuitry to make new sounds. Make Magazine's Bre Pettis and circuit bending expert Justin Gerardy discuss the various tips and tricks of circuit bending.

How To: Make a vinegar battery

Need to use up vinegar? Here is an interesting way to convert your standard vinegar into a working battery. Learn the technique to create an alternative source of energy using vinegar. Make a vinegar battery.

How To: Make a cola and pennies battery

Learn how to make a functioning battery from a can of soda. I made a battery out of cola and pennies. Awww, snap! Who's got iPhone power at burning man?! Me!

How To: Make an astrocam from a webcam

Learn how to take detailed photographs of outer space using a modified webcam. These are some really cool hacks & mods from a guy on youtube. Avoid the high costs of telescope cameras and supplement with an inexpensive webcam.

How To: Turn a pencil into an emergency light

You are stuck in the middle of nowhere and can't see a thing. Luckily you have pencil and your car battery. You can create 20 minutes of bright light using the graphite from a regular pencil, wired to the positive and negative of your car battery. Basically, the graphite serves as a bright filament for your emergency light. Follow along with this how-to video tutorial to learn the step by step process of turning a pencil into an emergency light.

How To: Choose between high-speed Internet and cable and DSL

Are you looking to upgrade from that clunky dial-up connection to high-speed Internet access? Find out who comes out on top when DSL and cable go head-to-head.

How To: Add email addresses and forward emails with cPanel

If you have a business website, you might want to have separate emails for each department or person. In this Cpanel video tutorial you will learn how to add email addresses and forward that to another email account. Make sure to hit "play tutorial" in the top left corner of the video to start the video. There is no sound, so you'll need to watch the pop-up directions. Add email addresses and forward emails with cPanel.

How To: Password-protect a directory in cPanel

Ever wanted a specific directory in your site to be available only to certain people? Password protecting a directory can be done several ways. In this cPanel video tutorial you will learn how to password protect a directory. Make sure to hit "play tutorial" in the top left corner of the video to start the video. There is no sound, so you'll need to watch the pop-up directions. Password-protect a directory in cPanel.

How To: Change folder permissions in cPanel X

In this cPanel X video tutorial you will learn how to change folder permissions using the file manager. Make sure to hit "play tutorial" in the top left corner of the video to start the video. There is no sound, so you'll need to watch the pop-up directions. Change folder permissions in cPanel X.

How To: Change the SIM card on your iPhone

Want an iPhone but you think AT&T is too expensive? This video will teach you how to swap out you SIM card so that you can use your iphone on other mobile carriers. Be aware that some iPhone features may not work on other carriers.

How To: Remove company logos from cell phones

With a little elbow grease, a sugar cube, and some can do attitude, you will be able to remove the logo off your cell phone. Simply polish up the area with the cube and remove any pesky logos left behind by the company.

How To: Make a free call using fring

Here are a few little tricks you can use to make a free call using fring. After a few simple adjustments free calls can be made to your friends and loved one for free.

How To: Turn your hotmail or gmail into an online hard drive

Need some storage space that you can access anywhere in the world? Why not use your hotmail or gmail and get free 2gb online hard drive. Turn your hotmail or gmail into an online hard drive.

How To: Send an SMS text message for free in the UK

Have a friend in the UK that you'd like to surprise with a text message? This video will show you how to use cbfsms.com to send free text messages within the UK.

How To: Charge your cell phones with normal batteries

So you're on a trip and you forgot to bring a cell phone charger. Don't want to spend 30 dollars, but need to have your cell phone on? This video will teach you how to charge your mobile phone with regular batteries. All you will need are: a charger plug, resistor 2, cell phone, and 4 AA batteries AA.

How To: Charge your phone with USB

This is a great way to charge your phone if you ever loose your car charger. Simply splicing a USB cable with an adaptor for your cell phone will create a homemade charger that can easily hook up to your computer and charge your cell phone.

How To: Permanently block your cell phone number

If you want to block your cell phone number for all calls, this is the video for you. Learn to block not just one call, but all further calls with the push of a few buttons. Now no one will be able to see your cell phone number.

How To: Repair or improve your phone signals

Have you ever broken the antenna off of your cell phone but did not want to buy another one? Here is a quick, cheap way to repair your antenna. This method also helps to improve bad reception on existing antennas.

How To: Trace any IP address in the world and see location

Ever wondered where someone was located? Check this out to find out where in the world someone is located by using their IP address. Trace any IP address in the world and see location.

How To: Build jackhammer headphones

These home-made hifi headphones work as well or better than Sony or Bose noise-cancelling headphones. Cost: $2. Time to make:one minute. Difficulty:none. Unlike the commercial products, these block outside noise instead of cancelling it.

How To: Build your own HD DVR

Want to break free from the confines of DVR land? If you're tired of spending all the money to download program listings from your DVR, then it's time for a change. If you don't want to mess with DRM files anymore, but want to backup your system, then MythTV is the way to go. You'll need to build your own PVR (personal video recorder) with thanks to MythTV, and it will end up costing you less than $500. Well worth the investment. The MythTv software is free and open source, so you just need t...

How To: Make an immersion heater while in prison

Prison isn't really the place to snuggle up to your prison inmate. Learn from the once incarcerated Angelo how to keep yourself warm with a homemade immersion heater.

How To: Make a battery cigarette lighter while in prison

Everyone has a Zippo but if you don't, try making this battery cigarette lighter instead. Learn from the once incarcerated Angelo how to stand out in a smoky crowd with this crafty prison invention.

How To: Trace Any IP Address

Using a simple trace trick, you can easily look up the IP address and its location for any website. This method uses a command line command to first find the IP address of a given website, and then uses a free online tool to get that IP's location.

How To: Master streaming video with Blip.tv

Get yourself on the internet. Learn how to master streaming video with Blip.tv and Andrew "Action" Schlack. Action Schlack is one organized guy: you can even see him looking down to read his off-camera cue cards, how professional!

How To: Make and repair audio cables

In this video series, watch as professional sound engineer Kip Bradford teaches how to make and repair audio cables. Learn the tools needed to repair and make audio cables, learn what kind of solder to use, learn the types of connectors and wires to use, how to solder audio cables, how to remove solder from a solder joint, and how to roll audio cables.

How To: Sign Up for a Myspace Profile

How to sign up for a Myspace profile. The simple steps necessary to belong to this network. Part 1 of 14 - How to Sign Up for a Myspace Profile.

How To: Wire an electrical outlet

In this series of how-to videos, home improvement expert Amelia Tallman shows you step-by-step instructions on how to install a new power outlet in a wall of your home. She demonstrates how to strip the existing wires, drill holes and properly install a new box for a new outlet. She also shares tips for improving your home by installing insulation using a blower, which should help you save money on energy costs by maintain temperature. By following the advice and techniques shown in these fre...

How To: Build electronic circuits

Does this sound difficult? It probably does to most people. Don't feel overwhelmed. Iin this step by step video series it will not only be better explained but Ross Safronoff, our expert, will show you how simple it really is and how to put it to work for you. Electricity is very powerful when harnessed correctly. He will walk you through every piece of equipment and detail of how electricity works and how we use it to our advantage as well as show you how to put it to use on a garage door. B...