Gadget Hacks News

News: Apple iTravel to Eliminate Airport Torture

The folks over at Patently Apple have uncovered some very promising looking plans for a future iPhone app called iTravel. iTravel plans to cover ticket-buying, electronic check-in, car rentals, and possibly even Apple designed airport kiosks. Fingers crossed it comes out soon. Apple excels at making dummy-proof, intuitive, easy-as-pie user interfaces, and man, the airline travel process sure could use a little streamlining.

Wow-Worthy Hack: Android Running on iPhone

David Wang of the iPhone Dev Team has achieved what is considered quite a jaw-dropping hacking feat. Yesterday Wang posted a video of Google's Android operating system up and running on an iPhone. Via CNET:

News: The New Unreleased iPhone 4, Revealed: Get the Dirt Now

Bad weekend for Apple, or so the New York Times reports. The top secret version of the next iPhone was mistakenly left in a bar, resulting in a complete breakdown of the yet-to-be released product.

News: Sock + Pencil = Super Cheap DIY iPhone/iPad Stylus

Looking for a cheap & easy stylus (but not interested in using processed pork?) Adam Kumpf of design firm Teague demonstrates how to make a DIY soft conductive stylus for the iPhone, iPad, or any device with a capacitive touch screen. All it takes is a pencil and sock. Yes, it's that easy. "We've been experimenting with conductive foams and fabrics in search of a middle ground. Fortunately, it's quite easy to make a soft, conductive writing tool using some pretty basic materials. All you need...

News: 10 of the Finest Cell Phone Mods

Oh, LifeHacker, we love you. You've brought us so many handy HowTo's: Hack Wireless Internet, Bypass Blocked Websites, Convert a Laptop Into a Projector, Watch TV & Movies on the Web For Free, 10 Must-Know Google Privacy Settings, and more.

News: Mmmm, I Wish My Bicycle Made Cotton Candy

In the far away land of China, cotton candy is made with bicycles. According to Make, the sugar is heated with propane, and the cotton candy is spun using the bike pedals. I've gotta get myself one of these (or next best thing, travel to China so I can sample it myself). Previously, Chinese Dropout Builds Submarine.

News: Listen Up! Before You Buy The iPad- 20 Biggest Complaints

Before you go running off to the Apple store, you may want to educate yourself. DVICE is kind enough to compile the 20 biggest complaints about the iPad from a whole slew of reviewers.

News: iPad Jailbroken Within 24 Hours of Release

Congrats to MuscleNerd, the first to jailbreak the almighty iPad. Via DVICE:

News: Zealot Vandalizes Own Car To Install iPad

All for the love of Apple.

MEET THE iPAD: Get All Your Latest Apple iPad News Now

The Apple iPad hits the streets today and fans have been lining up to purchase the much hyped product since last night (and for some, even earlier - see 5th video below).

News: Human Flesh Search Engines- The Web Goes Vigilante

The New York Times magazine posts a fascinating feature on a Chinese cultural phenomenon known as human flesh search engines. Out of China has borne cyberposses, internet vigilantes, who target everybody from twisted individuals violating social norms to government corruption.

News: Augmented Reality Contact Lenses with Terminator Vision

Remember, in the Terminator movies, when Arnold's field of vision is superimposed with all sorts of data? Sci-fi writer Vernor Vinge also described electronic contact lenses, technology that "projects" information right before the eyes.

News: Got an Itch? Let Your Chair Do the Scratching

The itch chair, designed by Dana Gordon and Alejandro Zamudio Sánchez, is a futuristic chair that scratches the back of the sitter.

News: Easy! Cell Phone Camera Macro Mod (5X Zoom)

Hack N Mod offers an incredibly simple cell phone camera mod that delivers striking results. All you need is a lens from an old DVD player and you can magnify your zoom by five times.

News: MEGA 3D Printer To Create World's First Printed Building

Architect Enrico Dini is an innovator in the world of 3D printing. Dini is racing to produce the first marketable printer that can print full scale structures on site. Development has been seven years in the making (which has left him nearly bankrupt, and cost him his marriage).

EMERGENCY: Save a Wet Cell Phone

You never know when you may need it. Just make sure you always have beef jerky or uncooked rice in the pantry. Handy breakdown on how to save a wet cell phone, courtesy of Geek Squad.

News: 10 Google Privacy Settings You Should Know About

Google has caught a lot of flack for various privacy infringements over time. Google Buzz was the latest uproar, when lack of proper prior testing allowed the tool to expose a slew of information users did not necessarily want shared, resulting in massive complaints. A Harvard student even went so far as to file a lawsuit (read more).

News: New Google App Locates Chilean Earthquake Victims

Wow, what can't Google do? Check out the winter Olympics, ride the Trans-Siberian railway, explore the world's largest airplane graveyard, and now, locate Chilean earthquake victims.

News: The Man Behind MacGyver

MacGyver. How can he not be a WonderHowTo hero?

News: Travel the Trans-Siberian Railway (From Your Couch)

Dream of traveling the legendary Tran-Siberian railway, but can never quite get a trip together? Well, now you can do it from the comfort of your living room. Google Maps offers a virtual journey of the 5,752 mile trek from Moscow to Vladivostok.

News: Ultimate Aircraft Boneyard Now Visible on Google Maps

For some time now, I've been dying to make the trek to the world's largest airplane graveyard outside of Tuscon, AZ. The ultimate field trip that I never seem to get around to.

News: Apple Bans Boobie Apps (+ Swimsuits, Skin & Innuendo)

For all iPhone users whom enjoy Apple's wide selection of titillating apps, bad news. All gone. Not only are the R-Rated apps gone, but so are the apps that may be merely PG-13.

News: Augmented Reality Tattoo—Holographic Skin Art

Another innovative use of augmented reality - we've seen transparent walls, t-shirts that play Rock, Paper, Scissors, an iPhone operated video game drone; and now, a tattoo that comes to life. Just tattoo a simple "barcode", point a webcam at it, and a flying animated dragon will appear, hovering.

News: South Koreans Use Pork Digits as iPhone Stylus

What do you do in those cold weather months, when your hands are warmly gloved and you can't bear exposing your poor fingers to the harsh elements? Apple didn't think of this problem when finessing their iPhone touchscreen, but not to worry, South Korea has the answer to this pesky problem.

News: Google Street View Takes You Inside the Olympics (via Snowmobile)

Google Street View has civilization well covered, but what about the great outdoors? Street View now travels via snowmobile in the unpaved Canadian wilderness, just in time for the winter games.

News: Fire Breathing Snowman

Nick and Anna Berte of Bel Air, Maryland mischievously rigged their snowman with a flamethrower.

News: Goodbye Twitter, Hello Google Buzz?

Are Twitter and Facebook in trouble with the advent of Google's brand new social networking tool, Google Buzz?

News: Futuristic 'Transparent Walls' Could Prevent Accidents

More augmented reality fun (Rock Paper Scissors Tee, Video Game Drone) and another peak into our sci-fi future.

Meet Disco: YouTube's Version of iTunes

Says Metafilter, "YouTube has launched Disco. From TestTube - the GoogleLabs of YouTube - it's like Pandora lite with videos. Create and share playlists, or just search for an artist and see what it comes up with."

News: DIY Digital Combination Clock

Ever wondered how a digital combination lock works? Instructables member Nino123 is kind enough to demonstrate the inner workings, with a step-by-step HowTo on building your own.

News: Play Rock Paper Scissors... Against Your T-Shirt

Leave it to the Swedes to come up with this incredibly novel idea (a country that seems to constantly produce culture that sits at the pinnacle of hipness- in terms of design, fashion, and music).

News: Mod Your Power Wheels Into WiFi Halo Warthogs

Tim Higgins brings Halo's warthog vehicles to reality with a live action game created with laser tag weaponry, game controllers, and kid-sized jeeps.

News: The Fastest Text Messengers in the World

This past Friday, LG held their annual Mobile World Cup (re: publicity stunt), a speed-texting competition. Two Korean teenagers were named fastest and most accurate texters, raking in $100,000 in championship money. America came in second, with a $20,000 cash prize.

News: Eggsellent DIY Speakers

Says creator and Flickr user gomhi, "Handcrafted loudspeakers using chicken eggshell as cabinet. They sound narrow, but I'm pleased about the result. "

News: Remote Control Your Car via iPhone (Albeit Dangerously)

Bonafide How-It's-Done (not exactly a HowTo) on remote-controlling your car via iPhone and Power Wheels. Brought to you by some crazy Texans, over at Waterloo Labs.

News: Nokia Concept Phone Fueled By Coke

It appears there are endless things you can do with Coke. The Nokia Coke-powered phone is not in production, but certainly an interesting idea. Designed by Daizi Zheng, the Coke phone is an eco-friendly solution to charging your cell.

Google Releases New Superphone: the Nexus One

Finally, what appears to be a fair and worthy competitor to the iPhone: Google's Nexus One. Unfortunately, not much competition concerning the price- runs exactly the same amount as the iPhone.

News: Levitating Alarm Clock Literally Lifts You Out of Bed

Via Jeff's Arduino Blog, the Princess and the Pea Alarm Clock:

News: Remote Control Your Lawn Mower

Time to make those lazy Sunday afternoons even lazier. Instructables member johndavid400 has posted a full HowTo on modding your lawn mower to operate via remote control.

News: Ignite Prey and Light Cigarettes With a Laser Burner

Looking for an (explosively) fun Thanksgiving project this week? Something that involves fire and lasers? Check it out. YouTube creator StyroPyro lights ten matches in 9 seconds with a modded laser. One word: Awesome. Luckily both StyroPyro and Kipkay provide HowTo's. First, How to building a burning blue/violet laser. Below, Kipkay demonstrates how to build one with a cheap Bic lighter casing (as well as store bought parts). Have fun.