If Microsoft’s Surface PC has you dreaming about the future of computing, but the $12,000 price tag has brought you back to reality, then check out Maximum PC’s build of a multitouch surface computer that uses just $350 in parts and a bit of creative hacking.
The whole thing achieves the Surface like interface through the use of some infrared LEDs, a PS3 Eye camera, a projector, and some acrylic, and the wood cabinet gives it some class, though that would be purely optional if you wanted to keep it geek-tastic.
The computer itself is just a common Core 2 Duo, 2 gig RAM machine, and the software is all open source, so you could technically build one of your own if you were so inclined.
Just don’t let on to the price when your friends wonder where the spare Clevelands came from.
Have you ever just wanted to shoot your alarm in the morning and go back to bed?
(Or perhaps the better question is, have you ever NOT wanted to shoot your alarm in the morning and go back to bed?)
Well now you can, thanks to a clever bit of electronic hacking and modification.
The Phaser Blasted Alarm Clock uses a gaming gun to shoot the alarm to sleep, and also integrates a tilt sensor so that you can change the time and set the alarm using just the gun itself.
When a laptop ages, it’s easy to ponder a replacement for the outdated machine.
However, with some new software, outside the box thinking, or hardcore hacking, an old laptop can also take on a new life as a server, a photo frame, a backup, and more.
If you’re interested, Lifehacker’s got the guide to turn your old machine into a new toy, so check out the list to see what you can do with yours.
If you’re looking to get things done in the new year, then check out 43 Folders’ recap of their most popular, most visited, most commented on, and personal favorite posts about David Allen’s GTD from 2006. From getting started with GTD, to hacking GTD, to doing a “mind-sweep”, this list will have you getting more things done than ever before. Just remember to breathe every once in a while.
