11 cool Nintendo DS mods

Posted in Nintendo DS by Conner Flynn on August 30th, 2008

Obama DS Lite
While we’re waiting with bated breath for a possible new updated Nintendo DS model that has been rumored, we thought we would take a look at some of our favorite DS mods. Like the Wii, modders love to spice up Nintendo’s boring design and put their own personal touches on the device. Some are weird, some are awesome, some will make you wonder what’s in the modder’s local water supply, but all are creative.

Pac-Man mini portable mod

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 28th, 2008

Pac-Man mini portable modMany of us have fond memories of Pac-Man as well as other Namco arcade classics, so what could be better then putting a whole bunch of Namco classics in a portable? That’s what modder Sam Thornley did. The portable Pac-Man Mini console is built around one of those Jakks Pacific Namco Arcade Classic systems, with a tiny 2.5-inch LCD display and it gets it’s power from a set of 4 rechargeable AA batteries.

He did a great job as the end result is a nice clean retro looking portable that will match your Wii. Thanks to a direct composite video connection, the screen image is super sharp. It will play Pac-Man, Galaxian, Rally-X, Bosconian, and Dig Dug.

MacPack: The ultimate back to school retro geek backpack

Posted in Mac by Conner Flynn on August 26th, 2008

MacPack: The ultimate back to school retro geek backpack
Here’s something for old school Mac fans who need a little geek chic. The kind of geek chic that will throw your back out. Someone over at Instructables converted a 1988 Macintosh SE into a chiropractor’s dream. A chunky, spine dislodging MacPack. Basically you just hollow out a Mac and attach some straps. I’m sure you won’t stand out at all. And I can’t see anyone throwing rocks at you, trying to break the screen…

Guy merges PS2 guitar with Guitar Hero: On Tour

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 20th, 2008

Guy merges PS2 guitar with Guitar Hero: On TourWhen most of us are jamming playing Guitar Hero with our regular sized guitars, the last thing you want to be doing is play on a little handheld. But when playing On Tour with a tiny handheld, it might help a whole lot to have a real guitar.

This modder hacked a wireless PS2 guitar to integrate with Guitar Hero: On Tour and now jams extra hardcore. He attached the PS2 guitar directly to the DS controller. He also added an FM transmitter so the music can stream through a home stereo, rather then the DS speakers. Great job! Check out the video below.

Mini Colecovision case mod hits ebay

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 19th, 2008

Mini Colecovision case mod hits ebayAtari and Nintendo seem to get all the glory when it comes to case mods, but there are those out there with a love of Colecovision as well. Probably those who love to play the Smurf game. This mini ColecoVision does everything the original console did, it’s just smaller. A full 50 square inches smaller and 1 pound lighter to be exact.

In addition to shrinkage, the modder also gave it some upgrades. Like composite, S-Video and RCA audio jacks. It also boasts an “intro skip” button that will let you skip past those annoying loading screens on Coleco games. The console includes a refurbished ColecoVision hand controller, a Donkey Kong game cartridge, a power supply, and a six foot, gold-plated, A/V cable. If you can’t live without this thing, you till have 9 hours. It’s currently bid up to $374.99.

iPhone mod makes Apple logo glow

Posted in iPhone by Conner Flynn on August 16th, 2008

iPhone mod makes Apple logo glow
The short video clip below starts off like it might be some kind of creepy videodrome clip featuring that one chick from Sex and the City, but it’s not and it’s not that chick. Before you know it, shows off a modded iPhone with a glowing apple logo that can serve as a nice bright flashlight.

That’s because some Russians have replaced the Apple logo on the back of an original iPhone with a glowing version. There isn’t much detail, but apparently they swapped out the aluminum logo for a glowing one. Apparently, custom software allows the user to select the brightness of the effect independently of the screen brightness.

The Wii gets DVD playback, not from Nintendo

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on August 13th, 2008

The Wii gets DVD playback, not from Nintendo
Hackers will get a machine to do all kinds of things that it should do, but doesn’t. Correcting the oversights of those damn lazy companies. We want things the way we want them. That’s why some Wii coders have made it so the Wii can have DVD playback.

It’s done by installing a hidden channel on the console, which gives it a DVD access library so you can watch all your favorite dvds with the MPlayer application, an open source media player. The install file works on both modded and unmodded Wiis. They are apparently experimenting with playing media from SD cards as well. Now you’ll be able to watch any DVD you want one last time before Blu-Ray creeps into your life.

Datamancer Archbishop PC case mod

Posted in Cases by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2008

Datamancer Archbishop PC case modThe Datamancer Archbishop PC case mod is different from most case mods that we’ve seen. It has an entirely overwhelming religious theme. I t’s probably pretty heavy as well since it was made out of stained glass. If you or your Neighbor Ned Flanders should want to buy this Gothic and holy case mod, you can check out the Steampunk art show at the Hamptons Antique Galleries in Bridgehampton, NY between August 16th until August 24th, 2008.

Interestingly, this project was nearly destroyed by a California earthquake, proving that God and the devil really do fight and that anyone building a religious case mod ends up in the middle. I’m guessing it sends you straight to hell if it catches you looking at porn.

The Lego Brick PC

Posted in Cases by Conner Flynn on August 10th, 2008

The Lego Brick PCLegos aren’t just for play you know. They can also be used to construct and even fix important real life things that you can use. Like this Lego PC case for example. Looking like some shiny black monolith, it’s made entirely out of black Lego bricks. Look how nice and shiny that is. He didn’t just randomly put Lego bricks together either. He used MLCAD to specifically design the PC before building.

The PC is a Mini-ITX form factor that allows for a low power PC inside, which runs a 1.5GHz VIA C7 processor and has a 250GB Seagate hard drive. It’s even got dual gigabite ports on the JetWay motherboard. Very nice. Check out the below video to see how he did it. Yet another real life situation solved by Legos. Have you played with Legos today?

Homemade PSP phone is not what we were hoping for

Posted in PSP Phone by Conner Flynn on August 9th, 2008

Homemade PSP phone is not what we were hoping for
This guy got sick and tired of waiting on a real honest to god PSP phone, so he took matters into his own hands. He integrated what looks like a HAIER mobile phone with a touchscreen to the back of the PSP, getting rid of the UMD drive. He gets props for doing it and I don’t want to rain on anybody’s PSP parade, but um, well I have to say it’s a tad fugly isn’t it? Still, at least he’s doing something to birth a PSP phone into the world.

Vancake is a VW bus for tiny hippies

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on August 5th, 2008

Vancake is a VW bus for tiny hippies
Does this qualify as a Lowrider? I have no idea. It’s claimed that the Vancake is the lowest Volkswagen Bus in the world. Tiny hippies use it to go back and forth between Burning Man and Middle Earth. It measures only 3 feet tall and was originally a VW Camper.

Apparently it manages to be street legal. Designers Just Kampers and Andy Saunders created the Vancake in just three days. They did all the work during the Bug Jam festival at the UK’s Santa Pod Raceway from June 18 to June 20, which consisted of removing the Volkswagen’s roof, putting in an electric sunroof, and completely redoing the paint job. It may be street legal, but it’s just plain wrong.

DIY Tumbler built by one man, not Batman

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on August 5th, 2008

DIY Tumbler built by one man, not Batman
Have a look at this thing. Can you believe it was built entirely by one man who is not Bruce Wayne? This is Bob Dullam’s replica of Batman’s Tumbler. It’s clearly the work of a mad genius. It looks awesome yes, but he didn’t skimp on the specs. It’s got the afterburner, the huge double-barrel wheels, and the body has all of the stealth angles.

As reference, he used only any and all images that would be available to you or me and the movies. And he did it in his garage. The neighbors must have thought he had gone a bit batty. And yes, he owns his own Bat suit as well.

Computer gets jammed in a toaster, becomes compu-toaster

Posted in Computers by Conner Flynn on August 4th, 2008

Computer gets jammed in a toaster, becomes compu-toaster
Why anyone would want to put a computer inside of a toaster is beyond me.(As if I never thought about it). And the creator didn’t just stuff a computer into some modern plastic toaster, instead he went the full distance and jammed it in a vintage chrome toaster. And not a 2 slice job, but 4 slice.

The only downside is that one wants it to still make toast, maybe with the computer’s excess heat, but alas it has no toasting abilities. It does have a 3600 MHz processor, 2.5 inch hard drive, DVD-rom drive, and a router inside. It’s what the PC may have looked like in the 1950’s…If toast never existed.

The Robostool provides comfort before the coming Robo-revolt

Posted in Uncategorized by Conner Flynn on August 3rd, 2008

The Robostool provides comfort before the coming Robo-revolt
The RoboStool is a homemade robotic footstool that’s ready for any human’s lazy recline. What it does is cool, but it’s also a robot that blends into it’s surroundings, looking like an innocent piece of furniture. RoboStool has three modes: universal remote, beacon navigation, and thermal sensor following.

The video shows the beacon navigation. Just push a button on the remote and it will power up in a scary sort of way and come to you. Then just put your feet up and rest. How’d he make the thing? The creator used the Parallax Propeller Chip on a Proto Board. For the drive he used the new Parallax Motor Mount Kit and two HB-25 motor controllers. I’m guessing it has to revolt. I mean, you’re demeaning something that is already a slave, by treating it like a…A foot stool. And you know damn well that some of these bots eat you from the feet up.

Coffin modded car makes for one morbid race

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on July 30th, 2008

Coffin modded car makes for one morbid race
Here’s a car to die for…I bet the engine croaked…These things are normally kept underground to prevent 3 coffin pile-ups on the highway. Bad jokes aside, where do you get the gonads to make a car out of a coffin? Isn’t that like thumbing your nose at death? It can only end with a high speed chase,with a very unhappy grim reaper on your tail. Of course it’s a fairly easy mod. You get a new coffin.(Yeah. Don’t go digging up relatives.) Add an engine,wheels steering etc and you’re off.


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