This latest Arduino project turns it into a twitter home security system of sorts. The Arduino is used to monitor a home burglar alarm and send out status messages should the status change: Like when the alarm was activated or shut off, error messages, or just when the alarm actually sounds because you are being robbed.

The Arduino’s digital IO pins are wired up to the alarm’s output signals. An XBee wireless module was added, because the alarm control panel is some distance away from the ethernet hook-up, and a simple Linux server (with the USB XBee receiver) monitors any changes and sends the Twitter messages. @alarmdude By the time help gets here I’m gone. Left the zune on your desk.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.
You can’t make this stuff up. It doesn’t speak very highly of Microsoft’s Zune, when this thief takes everything on the desk, spots the Zune, unplugs the earphones and takes them, then throws the Zune back onto the desk before leaving. Yeah, that’s not a ringing endorsement for the device.

The details are a bit sketchy, but the word coming out of Sweden is that some 35-year-old tech obsessed dude was brazen enough to steal several prototype phones from Sony Ericsson’s Lund offices on Monday or Tuesday. As you might expect, he was arrested on Wednesday when police found the prototypes at his home. Oh and he apparently also had a hundred other phones.

According to Sony Ericsson, the thief wasn’t employed by them, but had a “working relationship” with the company. They think he used a pass card to gain entry to the building. Police also got their hands on a laptop with some questionable content. They’re estimating the total value of the theft totaled about $90,000.

It’s the middle of the night. You’re lying in bed when you hear a prowler. Not a problem at all thanks to the Safe Bedside Table by James McAdam. Just jump up out of bed, wear your tabletop shield and grab your table leg club. You may want to shout something cool, like “This…is…Sparta!” then go do battle. The thief will be caught off guard and momentarily stunned to see somebody actually brandishing a club and shield. One quick hit to the head and it’s all over. The wife won’t be questioning “that stupid little table” anymore.