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• Repurpose a Kobo Reader as a Weather Station

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Last month we showed you a clever hack that converted an old Kindle into a weather station; this new hack uses a Kobo ebook reader (cheaper hardware) and ditches the external server (less overhead). Even better, this new hack is simpler to deploy. You’ll need a Kobo unit, a free installer bundle courtesy of Kevin Short over at the MobileRead forums, and a few minutes to toggle on telnet access to your Kobo and run the installer. Hit up the link below to read more about the self-contained mod. Kobo Wi-Fi Weather Forecast [via Hack A Day] Can Dust Actually Damage My Computer? What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer Why Enabling “Do Not Track” Doesn’t Stop You From Being Tracked

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• Growing Plants that have been Exposed to Lunar Soil [Video]

  - by Asian Angel

  Lunar soil was brought back to Earth during the days of NASA’s Apollo program and scientists eagerly started conducting experiments with it. This short video discusses some of the research and results when plants from Earth were exposed to soil from the Moon. You can read more about these experiments by visiting the blog post linked below. The blog post also contains additional links related to the research. Gardening on the Moon [BoingBoing] Growing Plants in Moon Dirt [YouTube] HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux

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• How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server

  - by Tim Smith

  You have the latest drives for your server.  You stacked the top-of-the line RAM in the system.  You run effective code for your system.  However, what throughput is your system capable of handling, and can you really trust the capabilities listed by hardware companies? How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server How To Customize Your Android Lock Screen with WidgetLocker The Best Free Portable Apps for Your Flash Drive Toolkit

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• Code Monster Helps Introduce Kids (and Curious Adults) to the Basics of Programming

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’re looking for a fun way to introduce a kid to programming (or sate your own curiosity), Crunchzilla’s Code Monster is a real-time introduction to basic programming concepts. How does Code Monster work? Users are guided through the programming experience (using JavaScript) by a talkative blue monster that asks questions about the code and suggests courses of action. Play long enough and you travel from simple variables to more complex ideas like conditionals, expressions, and more. It’s not a comprehensive programming curriculum (nor does it claim to be) but it’s a great way to introduce people of all ages to programming. Hit up the link below to take it for a spin. Code Monster [via O'Reilly Radar] 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

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• Homebrewed Headphone Amp Shows Off DIY Resin Casting Process

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Although the guts of this DIY build are worth checking out in their own right, what really caught our eye was the beautiful resin cast case surrounding the build as it’s something that could be adapted to a wide variety of projects. Over at the electronics blog Runaway Brainz they were looking for a slick way to encase an amp project. Rather than go with a project box or similar construction, they did a resin pour and then sanded and polished the resulting encasement. The results are stunning and turn the electronic guts of the amp into a work of art. Freeform Headphone Amp [via Make] How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server How To Customize Your Android Lock Screen with WidgetLocker The Best Free Portable Apps for Your Flash Drive Toolkit

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• Repurpose Old Phones As Intercoms

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’ve got some old wired telephones laying around for want of a project, this simple hack turns two wired phones into an intercom. Over at Hack A Day, Caleb Kraft shares his simple phone hack inspired by his VW bus. He writes: In case you haven’t noticed from my many comments on the subject, I drive a VW bus. It is a 1976 Westfalia camper with sage green paint and green plaid upholstery. I absolutely love it and so does the rest of my family. We go for drives in the country as well as camping regularly. We have found that the kids have a hard time communicating with us while we’re going higher speeds. These things aren’t the quietest automobiles in the world. Pushing this bread loaf shaped hunk of steel down the road with an engine that might top out at 75hp results in wind noise, engine noise, and of course, vibration. I decided to employ a really old hack to put two functional telephones in the bus so my kids can talk to my wife (or whoever the passenger is) without screaming quite so loud. This hack is extremely easy, fairly cheap, and can be done in just a few minutes. The result is a functional intercom that you could use pretty much anywhere! For more pics of his setup (and a neat video of his rather retro ride), check out the link below. Hack Your Kindle for Easy Font Customization HTG Explains: What Is RSS and How Can I Benefit From Using It? HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It

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• Battle Zombies on Your Desktop with the Dead Island Theme for Windows 7

  - by Asian Angel

  Do you love battling zombie hordes? Then welcome to Banoi Island where a Zombie outbreak has just occurred and you must race against time to save the other survivors and yourself! The theme comes with eight wallpapers full of zombie fighting goodness to help turn your desktop into the perfect battleground. The theme is available in the following aspect ratios: 4:3 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1600*1200, 1280*960, 1152*864, 1024*768 16:9 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1920*1080, 1600*900, 1366*768, 1360*768 16:10 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1920*1200, 1680*1050, 1440*900, 1280*800 Download the Dead Island Theme for Windows 7 [7 Tutorials] How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To HTG Explains: When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers? How to Make the Kindle Fire Silk Browser *Actually* Fast!

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• Plastic Clamshell Packaging Voted Worse Design Ever

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  We’ve all been there: frustrated and trying free a new purchase from it’s plastic clamshell jail. You’re not alone, the packaging design has been voted the worst in history. In a poll at Quora, users voted on the absolute worst piece of design work they’d encountered. Overwhelmingly, they voted the annoying-to-open clamshell design to the top. The author of the top comment/entry, Anita Shillhorn writes: “Design should help solve problems” — clamshells are supposed to make it harder to steal small products and easier for employees to arrange on display — but this packaging, she says, makes new ones, such as time wasted, frustration, and the little nicks and scrapes people incur as they just try to get their damn lightbulb out. This is a product designed for the manufacturers and the retailers, not the end users. There is even a Wikipedia page devoted to “wrap rage,” “the common name for heightened levels of anger and frustration resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging.” Hit up the link below for more entries in their worst-design poll. Before you go, if you’ve got a great tip for getting goods out of the plastic shell they ship in, make sure to share it in the comments. What Is The Worst Piece of Design Ever Done? [via The Atlantic] HTG Explains: What Is RSS and How Can I Benefit From Using It? HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online

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• Craft a Drinkable Density Column

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Earlier this month we shared a clever 9-layer density column demonstration you’d most certainly not want to drink. This smaller demonstration, however, is a delicious column of fruit flavors. The secret sauce? In the previous experiment we shared the secret was using fluids with naturally varying densities (such as lamp oil and vegetable oil); in this experiment you’ll be relying on varying amounts of sugar in each layer to change the density of the water and keep them separate (and edible). You’ll need some Skittles, a few drinking glasses, water, and for best effect, a tall and narrow glass or graduated cylinder. Hit up the link below for the full details on the experiment and tips on how to carefully layer the liquids. Make a Drinkable Rainbow in a Glass [i09] Can Dust Actually Damage My Computer? What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer Why Enabling “Do Not Track” Doesn’t Stop You From Being Tracked

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• Weekend Project: Make Your Own Ferromagnetic Fluid

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Experiments this simple and fun give you no reason to leave all science-based goofing off to the professionals: whip up a beaker of ferromagnetic fluid to capture magnetic waves in motion. The premise is simple: by combing a viscous liquid (in this case vegetable oil) with a magnetic powder (in this case MICR copy toner) and introducing a strong magnetic source (such as neodymium rare earth magnets), you can actually see the magnetic waves in physical space. It’s like the old magnetic filings on the table top trick, but in 3D. Check out the video above to see how you can mix up a batch of your own. How to Make Magnetic Fluid [YouTube] What Is the Purpose of the “Do Not Cover This Hole” Hole on Hard Drives? How To Log Into The Desktop, Add a Start Menu, and Disable Hot Corners in Windows 8 HTG Explains: Why You Shouldn’t Use a Task Killer On Android

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• How To Make a Youtube Video Into an Animated GIF

  - by Eric Z Goodnight

  You’ve likely seen webpages and picdumps everywhere, with goofy, ridiculous, and funny animated GIFs. Here’s how you can have some fun by making your own in a matter of minutes, using your favorite Youtube videos and Photoshop. While animated GIFs may be pretty useless, they can be funny and fun to make. See what you can do with your favorite Youtube videos and Photoshop, and a surprisingly little time.How To Make a Youtube Video Into an Animated GIFHTG Explains: What Are Character Encodings and How Do They Differ?How To Make Disposable Sleeves for Your In-Ear Monitors

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• DIY Homemade Hybrid Rocket Engine [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Remember the guy with the cool DIY astronaut ice cream build? He’s back with a mini hybrid rocket engine that runs off oxygen and acrylic. I built a small rocket engine for demonstration purposes. The engine is built from a 2″ diameter acrylic rod through which I drilled a 0.5″ hole. The oxygen at 80 psi or less is passed through the hole and then is forced through a convergent-divergent nozzle at the tail end. The nozzle’s throat is about 0.25″ and expands to 0.625″. I lit the engine by inserting a burning cotton swab (with wooden stick) while a small amount of oxygen was flowing. The acrylic catches fire very easily in a pure oxygen environment. The engine can be throttled and shut off completely, which is a major benefit to hybrid engine designs. Solid-fuel rockets cannot be throttled or shut off, which makes them difficult to control. [via Make] HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It? How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference How To Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems

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• How To Easily Back Up Your Gmail and Perform Scheduled Backups With GMVault

  - by Chris Hoffman

  We all know backups are important, but we rarely think about backing up our email. GMVault can automatically back up your Gmail to your computer and even restore the emails to another Gmail account – convenient when switching Gmail addresses. We’ve also covered using Thunderbird to back up your web-based email account, but GMVault has a few advantages, including its integrated restore function and easy integration with the Windows Task Scheduler. 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

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• What Is Disk Fragmentation and Do I Still Need to Defragment?

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Do modern computers still need the kind of routine defragmentation procedures that older computers called for? Read on to learn about fragmentation and what modern operating systems and file systems do to minimize performance impacts. Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-drive grouping of Q&A web sites. Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot

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• TableTop: Wil Weaton, Morgan Webb, and Friends Review Pandemic [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  In the newest edition of TableTop, the board gaming video blog, Wil Weaton and his friends take a look at Pandemic–a challenging cooperative board game that pits players against a viral outbreak. Check out the above video for an overview of the game (although be forewarned they’re playing it on the highest difficulty setting) and then, for more information about it, hit up the Pandemic entry at BoardGameGeek. [via GeekDad] 7 Ways To Free Up Hard Disk Space On Windows HTG Explains: How System Restore Works in Windows HTG Explains: How Antivirus Software Works

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• CPU Wars Is a Trump-Style Card Game Driven by Chip Stats

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’re looking for the geekiest card game around, you’d be hard pressed to beat CPU Wars–a top-trumps card game built around CPU specs. From the game’s designers: CPU Wars is a trump card game built by geeks for geeks. For Volume 1.0 we chose 30 CPUs that we believe had the greatest impact on the desktop history. The game is ideally played by 2 or 3 people. The deck is split between the players and then each player takes a turn and picks a category that they think has the best value. We have chosen the most important specs that could be numerically represented, such as maximum speed achieved and maximum number of transistors. It’s lots of fun, it has a bit of strategy and can be played during a break or over a coffee. If you’re interested, you can pick up a copy for £7.99 (roughly $12.50 USD). Hit up the link below for more information. How To Customize Your Wallpaper with Google Image Searches, RSS Feeds, and More 47 Keyboard Shortcuts That Work in All Web Browsers How To Hide Passwords in an Encrypted Drive Even the FBI Can’t Get Into

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• Score Minimalist Wallpapers at Simple Desktops

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’re looking for some ultra-minimal desktop wallpapers, the curated selection at Simply Desktops has subtle wallpapers for all tastes. Whether you’re looking for something geeky, musically inspired, or abstract, there’s a plethora of minimalist wallpapers to choose from. Curated by Tim Watson, the growing collection showcases wallpapers with an emphasis on minimal design. In addition to browsing the collection via the web you can even automate the process of swapping your minimalist wallpapers by downloading the–currently Mac-only–Simple Desktops app. Hit up the link below to browse their archives, then post a link to your favorite in the comments! Simple Desktops How to Sync Your Media Across Your Entire House with XBMC How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 2 How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 1

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• Vintage Fan Home Movie Captures the Filming of Return of the Jedi

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Back in 1982, Jeff Broz and a group of his friends heard the next Star Wars film was being shot out in the California desert so they did what any fan would do; they trekked out into the desert and crashed the set. In this 7 minute home video we’re treated to views of the set, actors at work, and other behind-the-scenes footage of the production of Return of the Jedi. It’s hard to imagine, given modern security practices and secrecy surrounding movies, that a bunch of kids could just walk onto a set and start filming these days. [via Neatorama] HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux Hack Your Kindle for Easy Font Customization

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• If Computer Problems were Physical Life Events [Video]

  - by Asian Angel

  Things can be bad (and frustrating) enough when you have problems with your computer, but what if those events actually crossed over into physical reality? Note: Video contains some language that may be considered inappropriate. If Computer Problems Were Real – Awkward Spaceship [via Fail Desk] How To Properly Scan a Photograph (And Get An Even Better Image) The HTG Guide to Hiding Your Data in a TrueCrypt Hidden Volume Make Your Own Windows 8 Start Button with Zero Memory Usage

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• That Physics of Coffee Rings [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  The rings left behind by coffee cups are distinctly uniform in their distribution–the stain is always around the edge. This video from the University of Pennsylvania’s Physics Department demonstrates why. Check out the above video to see the physics behind the ring-shaped stains and how altering the shape of the particulate in the liquid completely changes the shape of the stain. The Coffee Ring Effect [via Neatorama] HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7 HTG Explains: Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full

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• WolframAlpha Can Now Do In-depth Analysis of Your Facebook Account

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’re a big fan of WolframAlpha’s ability to crunch the numbers on just about anything–and we certainly are–you’ll likely be just as delighted as we were to watch it massage the data from your Facebook account. Find out your most liked, discussed, and shared posts, see your Facebook habits, and other neat trends. I unleashed it on my account this morning, not sure what to expect from the results. Within the results tabulation WolframAlpha provided me with all sorts of neat data break downs. I now know exactly how many days it is to my next birthday, the composition of my aggregate posting habits (how many posts are status updates, links, or photos), the time of day when I do the most posting (and what the composition of those posts is), and my average post length. I also know my most liked post and my most commented on post. It will even crunch the numbers on your network of friends (60.6% of my friends are married, for example). By far one of the more interesting data analysis it does on the friendship data, however, is organizing all your friends into relationship clusters so you can see who in your Facebook network is friends with other people in your Facebook network. The service from WolframAlpha is free: simply visit the WolframAlpha search portal and type in “Facebook report” to start the process. You’ll be prompted to create a WolframAlpha account if you don’t have one and to authorize the WolframAlpha Facebook app to access your data. Your Facebook data is cached to your WolframAlpha account for one hour in order to crunch the numbers and display the results. WolframAlpha HTG Explains: How Windows Uses The Task Scheduler for System Tasks HTG Explains: Why Do Hard Drives Show the Wrong Capacity in Windows? Java is Insecure and Awful, It’s Time to Disable It, and Here’s How

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• Bullet Time in Real Life: Impacts Slowed Down with High Speed Cameras

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Combine a little shooting range fun with a camera capable of shooting a million frames per second and you’ve got yourself the basis of pretty hypnotizing video. In the video above various rifle and handgun rounds are fired at a variety of materials–sheet metal, plate metal, gelatin–and captured in a halo of fragments and splatters. Have an equally enthralling high speed video to share? Throw a link in the comments! [via Mashable] How To Be Your Own Personal Clone Army (With a Little Photoshop) How To Properly Scan a Photograph (And Get An Even Better Image) The HTG Guide to Hiding Your Data in a TrueCrypt Hidden Volume

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• Connectify Dispatch: Link All Your Network Connections into a Super Pipeline

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Connectify Dispatch is a network management tool that takes all the connections around you–Ethernet, Wi-Fi nodes, even 3G/4G cellular connections–and combines them into one giant data pipeline. At its most simple, Connectify Dispatch takes all the network inputs available to your computer (be those connections hard-line Ethernet, Wi-Fi nodes, or cellular connections) and merges the separate data connections seamlessly into one master connection. If any of the connections should falter (like your 3G reception goes out), Connectify automatically shifts the data to other available networks without any interruption. In addition you can specify which network Connectify should favor with connection prioritization; perfect for using your cellular connection without breaking through your data cap for the month right away. Hit up the link below to read more about Connectify Dispatch and the companion app Connectify Hotspot. Connectify Dispatch Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot

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• Tempescope Displays Weather by Recreating It

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Yesterday we showed you an umbrella stand that signals raining/clear skies by color, today we have something even more interesting: an ambient desktop weather station that recreates the outside weather. The Tempescope pulls down the current weather report from Weather Underground’s API and feeds it to an Arduino board which in turn controls the device. When it’s raining, it pumps water down to simulate rain in the chamber. When there is lightening, LEDs flash. When there is cloud cover, an ultrasonic generator creates a fine mist inside the cylinder. Finally, on sunny days the entire thing glows warmly. To say that we want one would be an understatement. Hit up the link below to read more about the project, the display modes, and to peek inside the device. Prototyping “Tempescope”, An Ambient Weather Display [via Hack A Day] How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

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• Your Brain by the Numbers [Infographic]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Your brain is a rather impressive piece of hardware; check out this infographic to see its specs laid out including power consumption, calculation speed, and more. Hit up the link below for the full resolution image. Your Brain by the Numbers [Scientific America] Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary

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