Why Developers don't rush to create apps on new hardware/platforms.
A common fallacy is assuming that any new platform in an exciting market — recently, smartphones and tablet computers — will be flooded with developers as soon as it’s released, as if developers are just waiting outside the gates, hungrily waiting to storm in.
Using Python to Encode Cassette Recordings for my Superboard II
See Part 3 to see real-time audio encoding/decoding used in conjunction with telnet.
10.1 inch Notion Ink Tablet - $375
Hello Everyone! The most awaited day has finally arrived! It took some time, but now when as we look back, it seems more than worth it. This is a rather detailed post and I will try to answe…
A Homebrew 8-Bit Computer
Sadly, I was born a couple years too late to grow up with an 8-bit home computer. (though I did use Apple IIs in elementary school.) In an attempt to compensate, and relive a childhood I never had, I've decided to design and build my own 8-bit home computer.
Pull the plug. Your battery will thank you
One question that I have been asked frequently is “do laptop batteries fade faster if they are continuously plugged in?” A reader asked thi...
DIY: Cheap, ultra low-power radios that communicate over thousands of miles
QRSS is a term used in ham radio to mean "very slow speed morse code". QRPp means "using a very low power radio transmitter". What happens when you combine
Hacker builds working 1/10th scale Cray 1
No hackerspace is complete without it's own rockin' supercomputer - and when a Gibson isn't available, a Cray-1 will have to do. My 1/10-scale,
14 Megapixel, Six Monitor Ubuntu Karmic Setup
I recently took the opportunity to reboot several pieces of my technology stack. The coolest perhaps is my new 6-monitor machine running Ubuntu Karmic. It is nontrivial to be comfortable that everything (CPU, GPUs, monitors, OS) will play nice together so I’ll detail exactly what I did so that others can repeat it…
Space Shuttle computer has 1MB of RAM
NASA's space shuttle was controlled by a computer running on only 1 megabyte of RAM. The hardware was over 30 years old during its last flight.
Marco Arment: The new MacBook Air
The new MacBook Air was released today, and it’s a hell of an upgrade. It got much better and it’s at an extremely compelling price.
Oh look, an iPad
This morning, Apple updated the MacBook Pro line with new internal components, including new processors, new graphics chips, a higher-resolution screen option on the 15” (finally), and bigger batteries.
A true single-sided circuit board.
In electronics, it is common to talk about single sided circuit boards. The most common type is a circuit board that only has printed wiring on one side, and components on the other side. There are also surface-mount boards, where all the wiring and components sit on one side. But aren’t all of those really just…
BU-808: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries
Manufacturers take a conservative approach and specify the life of Li-ion in most consumer products as being between 300 and 500 discharge/charge cycles.…