Gadget Hacks: Page 277

Rockets can be made from things you can buy at any electronics store - like a can of compressed air. You can even buy your own kit, or assemble your own by following the instructions in this video. Once you've built the chassis, just insert a can of compressed air and let it ride!

A remote control for a camera? Why not! You won't have to worry about racing the timer function any more! Build a remote control for your digital camera that will take the picture whenever you want. The range is as far as two miles!

In this video tutorial, we learn how to set up an Apple iPad as a remote control for PreSonus StudioLive 24. Whether you're new to PreSonus' DAW or new to digital recording more generally, you're sure to find much to take away from this free video software tutorial. Take a look.

Here's a quick tip for Android phone users! You can use the App Launcher (the icon is at the bottom of your phone, near the center) to open up your app screen, listing all your apps. From there, run all your favorite Android apps!

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use SimilarWeb, a free extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser, which makes finding new websites a relative cinch. For all the details, and to get started using this great browser extension yourself, take a look.

Is your Droid always running out of power, and a charger isn't always convenient? Start with a hand cranked flashlight, then wire it up so you can charge your phone by hand! Great for pulling your dying phone out of emergencies.

Start with a toy bullhorn that alters the sound of your voice when you speak into it. Then mod it using a few potentimeters and a few resistors as demonstrated in this video. Now you have a toy with an even crazier pitch!

Let your creativity out by making your own sidewalk chalk, which you can color however you want. You'll need plaster of paris, a mixing bowl, powdered tempura paint, warm water, wax paper and tubular molds. Once you mix everything and colored with the paint, set your mold, let them dry and then start drawing!

Because it's touch sensitive, you'll need to make a special kind of stylus to work with your iPad. This tutorial shows you how to take the kind of foam that electronics chips are stored on (conductive foam) and then attach it to a paintbrush to make the stylus.

Giving yourself root access will let you have superuser status on your B&N Nook eReader. Make sure your reader is on airplane mode, then connect it to your computer and follow the steps outlined in this tutorial to gain root access to your reader.

Want to get started in rocketry? You can buy launch kits from a hobby store, as well as a few rocket engines and an igniter. Once you have acquired these items, this tutorial will show you how to make a rocket body and launch your creation into the sky.

You can make a laser diode driver extremely inexpensively - the materials in this tutorial cost less than three dollars in total. Find out what to buy, and then this tutorial shows you how to assemble your purchases for a laser diode. Awesome!

Want to start your own rebellion against the hegemony of the American media? You can set up your own FM radio station and start broadcasting what you want. This tutorial shows you everything you need to know to become a pirate radio producer.

You can construct your own burning red laser very easily and very cheaply. All you need are a soldering iron, Phillips head screwdriver, an LPC-815 laser diode, and a RKCSTR driver. Once you have everything together, follow this video to build a burning red laser.

A Pixel Qi (pronounced 'chee') screen allows for some really amazing display options when added to your netbook. This tutorial shows you how to remove the original screen and repalce it with this amazing new screen. All you really need is a screwdriver!

You can actually build a burning red laster by assembling a few spare parts taken from old computers! This tutorial shows you what you'll need to look out for, and then how to build it. You'll probably need a diode, but that's likely the only thing to purchase!

Perfboard, or perforated board, is a simple board with evenly spaced holes and lined with metal which can be soldered on one side. The holes let you set up a board with circuits and wires as you need them for your own project. This tutorial shows you everything you need to know to build electronics on your own perfboard.

While single pendulums can seem orderly, a double pendulum can be extremely chaotic. This tutorial shows you how to build your own double pendulum out of polycarbonate plastic, skateboard bearings and a few various pieces of hardware. Then follow the tutorial to get your own crazy chaotic double pendulum.

Here's a fun weekend project you can use to add to a common toy. Get a yo-yo with concave sides, a few pieces of thin plastic (like from a CD case) and a few lithium-powered LEDs. Then follow this tutorial and get a yo yo that lights up when you play with it!

You can certainly use Skype to make free Internet phone calls through your iPod Touch, though the microphone/headphone combo headset sold by Apple is thirty dollars. Make one for a fraction of that cost using a headphone splitter and the mod process outlined in this video.

Here's a creepy weekend project! Take an old analog rotary phone (which you can easily find in an antique or vintage store). Unscrew the earpiece and then alter the parts according to the tutorial so you can start 'talking to ghosts'.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use the Graph Your Inbox! extension for the Google Chrome web browser to visualize Gmail usage over time. For all of the details, and to get started using Graph Your Inbox! yourself, watch this home-computing how-to from Tekzilla.

In this clip, you'll learn how to play Blizzard's popular real-time strategy game, Warcraft III, on Garena. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.

In this clip, you'll learn how to use the basic features and functions of the beta version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.

Google's Goggles mobile app was a big hit on the Android market, and now they've given iPhone users the chance to enjoy the awesomeness of Google Goggles. This iPhone app only works on the Apple iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS, and it's available in the App Store for download. Simply type in "Google" or "Google Mobile App" and you'll find the app with the Google Goggles feature built in.

In this tutorial, we learn how to change the default header graphic of the iNove 1.4.5 WordPress theme . It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.

In this tutorial, we learn how to download and install a Chrome extension that will enable you to check your Gmail without losing your present page or pages. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.

If you're a filmmaker or graphic designer, you need a good way to present your work, and in today's age, you need a website portfolio. But really, anyone in the visual arts could benefit form a web portfolio, and the easiest way to make on is in WordPress. This video series will guide you through setting up a WordPress site using pages to create a portfolio website.

In this video guide, you'll learn how to upload a new app to the Google Chrome Web Store. Whether you're a budding developer or a seasoned pro merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're unlikely to find a better source than this official video guide from Google. Take a look.

In this webmaster's guide, you'll learn how to get started using the Google Chrome Web Store's licensing API. Whether you're new to the web development or are a seasoned professional merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this video guide. Take a look.

In this webmaster's guide, you'll learn how to create quick sitelinks for a website in the Google Search index. Whether you're new to the world of search engine optimization (SEO) or are merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're unlikely to find a better source than this official video guide from Google. Take a look.

In this webmaster's guide, you'll learn how to use the Google PageRank tool to track a page's rank in the Google Search index. Whether you're new to the world of search engine optimization (SEO) or are merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're unlikely to find a better source than this official video guide from Google. Take a look.

Sprint has a new cell phone coming out soon, and it's called Transform (by Samsung).  If you want to get a head start on learning your way around the new Android-powered mobile device, the official Sprint User's Guide has been leaked onto the web, thanks to Sprint in Overland Park, Kansas.

In this webmaster's guide, you'll learn how to get started using Google Chrome Frame — an open-source plug-in that brings many of the features and functionalities of the Chrome web browser to Internet Explorer 8. For more information, and to get started using Chrome Frame yourself, take a look.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to assign shortcut buttons on a Nokia C3 smartphone. Whether you're the proud owner of a Nokia C3 or are merely considering picking one up, you're sure to be well served by this helpful guide.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use the official Skype app on a Google Android smartphone. Specifically, this video addresses how to find your contacts and place phone calls. For all the details, and to get started using Skype on your own Android mobile phone, take a look!

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create and share virtual mixes with Tumbltape, a new, Tumblr-centric replacement for the late (and much lamented) Muxtapes. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this how-to from the folks at popSiren.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use the NowDoThis web application to manage to-do lists and get important tasks done. For all the details, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using NowDoThis yourself, take a look.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to share anything too big to send in an email attachment quickly and easily over the web with the Drop.io hosting service. For all the details, and detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use Teleflip's flipOut email-to-SMS service to send free text messages over email. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this how-to from the folks at CNET TV.