More on each component and the build
By Mike Haney
Posted 02.01.2005 at 5:10 pm
Look around the Web and you’ll find countless how-to articles for building a media PC or home theater PC (HTPC) for as little money as possible. And those stories are not wrong: just about any computer with a TV tuner card and the right software can serve as an HTPC. In fact, it’s not a bad way to re-purpose an old machine—the processor requirements for most of the living room tasks are not heavy, especially with a tuner card that handles the encoding onboard instead of pawning it off to the main processor.
Q: Can I back up my console games to CD or hard drive and play them on my PC?
By Ben Zackheim
Posted 02.01.2005 at 2:20 pm
A: Short answer? Yes. Long answer: Yes, but the road may get bumpy. The underworld of game emulation is ruled by cliquish bands of code geeks loyal to beta-at-best homebrew applications. That said, the process is fairly straightforward.
First, back up your games on your PC with Game Copy Pro (dvdwizardpro.com). You can burn a title to another CD or DVD, or just keep the ripped file on your hard drive. The handy utility tackles Xbox, PSOne, PS2, Dreamcast, Gameboy and GBA.
By overlaying GPS data on a satellite map, you can make massive drawings all over the land
By Phillip Torrone
Posted 02.01.2005 at 2:00 pm
Dept.: Tech Lesson
Tech: GPS drawing
Tools: GPS receiver, free software
Cost: $100 and up
Dabbler | | | | | Master
You don’t have to be a tech jock to make a sleek and silent home-theater PC, but everyone will think you are
By Mike Haney
Posted 02.01.2005 at 1:00 pm
Dept.: DIY
Tech: Home-theater PC
Cost: $2,006
Time: 9 hours
Why DIY? More choice, prettier end product
Dabbler | | | | | Master
With the right mix of metals, you can make an alloy that turns to liquid at any temperature you choose
By Theodore Gray
Posted 02.01.2005 at 1:00 pm
Element: Indium
Project: Prank spoons
Time: 6 hours
Dabbler | | | | | Master
Sulfur is stinky and noxious, but that didn't stop people from using it to beautify their furniture
By Theodore Gray
Posted 01.01.2005 at 8:00 pm
Element: Sulfur
Project: Furniture inlay
Time: 4 hours
Dabbler | | | | | Master
Using eight leftover LCDs, Ryan Hoagland designed a window with endless possibilities
By Paul Wallich
Posted 01.01.2005 at 7:00 pm
Dept.: You Built What?!
Tech: Virtual window
Cost: $425 (PC, video cards and displays were found or donated)
Time: Eight hours
Practical | | | | | Popcorn
Q: What is podcasting?
By Dave Winer
Posted 01.01.2005 at 4:00 pm
A: Podcasting is a way of having Internet audio programs—from amateur talk shows to professional radio—delivered automatically to your MP3 player so that you can listen to them anytime.
Unlock your device and tap into the developer community to get the coolest (unapproved) applications
By Phillip Torrone
Posted 01.01.2005 at 4:00 pm
Dept.: Void Your Warranty
Tech: Sidekick developer kit
Cost: Free
Time: 20 minutes
The Luddite Likes: Tablet mode for Web surfing, reading and DVD viewing Verdict: All laptops should be tablets
Dabbler | | | | | Master
Whether by mail or broadband, the latest new releases are coming straight to your living room
By Noah Robischon
Posted 01.01.2005 at 1:00 pm
Tech: Online movie rentalCost: Freeâ€$30Time: Instant to three daysBeta | | | | | Final
Apple's Airport Express
Posted 12.01.2004 at 7:00 pm
Airport Express
Cost: $129
Tech: Portable wireless router
Roadworthy? Essential for frugal frequent travelers
apple.com
Modify your old digital camera to take a pic every few seconds until it’s full, then send it up on a kite
By Phillip Torrone
Posted 12.01.2004 at 5:00 pm
Dept.: Void Your Warranty
Tech: Auto-trigger cameras
Cost: $1.50
Time: 1 hour
Dabbler | | | | | Master
Surplus Traders
By Joe Brown
Posted 12.01.2004 at 5:00 pm
Marvin Birnbom started selling WWII surplus in 1947. That business has grown into surplustraders.net, which offers more than 900 pages of deeply discounted electronic overstock. The site lists both bulk deals—1,000 AA batteries for eight cents each, 10 keyboards at $4.50 per—and a few individual items (12.1-inch LCD screens for $89 apiece). But Birnbom, a hobbyist himself, will sell you any quantity of anything as long as you meet the $30 minimum order. Just give him a call: 514-739-9328.
Today’s easy-to-use video-editing software can turn tedious raw footage into a flick you’ll want to watch again
By Steve Morgenstern
Posted 12.01.2004 at 4:00 pm
Dept.: H2.0 Labs Tech: Video editing Cost: Free to $100 Time: A few hours Steal | | | | | Splurge
Nike Free 5.0
By Steve Casimiro
Posted 12.01.2004 at 4:00 pm
Nike Free 5.0
Tech: Shoes emulate barefoot running
Cost: $95
Does it work? Surprisingly, yes
