A collection of unusual projects for computer hardware geeks of all ages explains how to create such projects as a personal Lojack system, Web-enabled coffee machine, cubicle intrusion detection systems, and a laptop battery extender.

Presents step-by-step instructions for a variety of projects to create ia high-tech home, including a pet monitor, a security system, a keyless entry, and a Linux-based home theater

Taking the DIY mentality to a whole new level, this book teaches techies how to hack, customize, and modify everything-from their sprinkler systems to the temperature of their barbecues.

The author examines issues such as the rightness of web-based applications, the programming language renaissance, spam filtering, the Open Source Movement, Internet startups and more. He also tells important stories about the kinds of people behind technical innovations, revealing their character and their craft.

Even if you've finished Halo 2 in Legendary Mode, you're not done with this game. Not by a long shot. You know there's a lot more you can squeeze out of Halo 2, and with the clever hacks we have in store, you'll turn the game into a whole new experience. Halo 2 Hacks is the creation of consummate gamer and Microsoft insider Stephen Cawood, an original member of the Halo 2 beta test team. He's got it all, whether you're into single or multiplayer games, a level 25 or above, or even a complete n00b. If you are a beginner, you may not yet appreciate that Halo 2 for Xbox is the biggest game to hit the galaxy. Ten million copies have already sold, including 2.4 million on the first day it hit the shelf. So you're in good company, even if you've never played its predecessor, Halo: Combat Evolved. Pick up this book and you'll be able to fully appreciate the Halo 2 universe. Halo 2 Hacks is packed with a horde of great hacks for weapons, levels, vehicles, game play and mods. You'll learn how to perform expert tricks, exploit glitches and find Halo 2 Easter Eggs - including the famous skulls. And discover all the nooks and crannies you didn't even suspect were there. Each hack has a thermometer icon to indicate its relative complexity, whether it's a beginner, moderate, or expert hack. Each one stands on its own, so you can either read the book from cover to cover, or jump around until you see a hack you want to try. This title was created with the help of numerous gamers from the Halo community. Whether it was a trick, a glitch or a mod, Cawood went straight to the source and gathered all of the necessary information to help you complete the hack. The mod section of the book features contributions from Grenadiac, MrMurder, Iron_Forge, GTJuggler, The Swamp Fox, and many more. Halo 2 Hacks also features a foreword by Ducain (the admin for HighImpactHalo.org), Louis Wu (the admin for Halo.Bungie.org) and Grenadiac (the admin for HaloMods.com). For all the brave souls who want to learn how to trick Halo 2 into running the hacks and mods of their choice, Halo 2 Hacks is a must read. Roughly half of this title is dedicated to creating your own Halo 2 mods. If you're a fan of tricking, glitching or modding, then this is the book for you. But only for gamers who think they're worthy of the distinction.

Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred is packed with fun craft and toy-making projects for geeks on a budget. Inside, you’ll find illustrated instructions for 24 quirky playthings. Part I: Kid Stuff contains child-friendly projects like the Lock-N-Latch Treasure Chest and a PVC TeePee; Part II: The Electro-Skiffle Band is devoted to homemade musical instruments; and Part III: The Locomotivated showcases moving toys, like a muzzleloader that shoots marshmallows and a steam-powered milk-carton boat. Each project costs just $10 or less to make and is suitable for anyone, regardless of experience level. As you build, you’ll learn useful sewing and carpentry skills, and the appendix offers a primer on electronics and soldering. You (and your kids) will have hours of fun making projects like: –A simple electric guitar – An oversized joy buzzer that (safely) administers a 100-volt jolt – Cool, mess-free, screen-printed T-shirts – Kites made from FedEx envelopes – Booming Thunderdrums made from salvaged x-ray film – Classic board games like Go, Tafl, and Shut-the-Box Whether you’re a mom or dad in search of a rainy day activity, a Scout leader looking to educate and entertain your troop, or just a DIY weekend warrior, the projects in Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred will inspire and amuse you. Now, roll up your sleeves and make!

The worldwide video game console market surpassed $10 billion in 2003. Current sales of new consoles is consolidated around 3 major companies and their proprietary platforms: Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. In addition, there is an enormous installed "retro gaming" base of Ataria and Sega console enthusiasts. This book, written by a team led by Joe Grand, author of "Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty", provides hard-core gamers with they keys to the kingdom: specific instructions on how to crack into their console and make it do things it was never designed to do. By definition, video console game players like to have fun. Most of them are addicted to the adrenaline rush associated with "winning", and even more so when the "winning" involves beating the system by discovering the multitude of "cheats" built into most video games. Now, they can have the ultimate adrenaline rush---actually messing around with the soul of the machine and configuring it to behave exactly as the command. This book builds on the motto of "Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty" and will appeal to the community of hardware geeks who associate unscrewing the back of their video console with para-jumping into the perfect storm. Providing a reliable, field-tested guide to hacking all of the most popular video gaming consoles Written by some of the most knowledgeable and recognizable names in the hardware hacking community Game Console Hacking is the first book on the market to show game enthusiasts (self described hardware geeks) how to disassemble, reconfigure, customize and re-purpose their Atari, Sega, Nintendo, Playstation and Xbox systems

You’ve mastered the basics, conquered the soldering iron, and programmed a robot or two; now you’ve got a set of skills and tools to take your Arduino exploits further. But what do you do once you’ve exhausted your to-build list? Arduino Playground will show you how to keep your hardware hands busy with a variety of intermediate builds, both practical and just-for-fun. Advance your engineering and electronics know-how as you work your way through these 10 complex projects: –A reaction-time game that leverages the Arduino’s real-time capabilities –A tool for etching your own printed circuit boards –A regulated, variable-voltage power supply –A kinetic wristwatch winder decked out with LEDs –A garage parking assistant that blinks when your vehicle is perfectly parked –A practical and colorful pH meter –A ballistic chronograph that can measure the muzzle velocity of BB, Airsoft, and pellet guns –A battery saver that prevents accidental discharge –A square-wave generator –A thermometer that tells the temperature using a sequence of colored LEDs Each project begins with a list of required tools and components, followed by the instructions, full sketch, and circuit board templates for the build, as well as directions for building a permanent enclosure. You’ll even find the author’s design notes, which are sure to provide inspiration for your own inventions. Gather your parts, break out the soldering iron, and get ready to take your Arduino skills to the next level with Arduino Playground. Uses the Arduino Nano and Pro Mini boards.

"If I had this book 10 years ago, the FBI would never have found me!" -- Kevin Mitnick This book has something for everyone---from the beginner hobbyist with no electronics or coding experience to the self-proclaimed "gadget geek." Take an ordinary piece of equipment and turn it into a personal work of art. Build upon an existing idea to create something better. Have fun while voiding your warranty! Some of the hardware hacks in this book include: * Don't toss your iPod away when the battery dies! Don't pay Apple the $99 to replace it! Install a new iPod battery yourself without Apple's "help"* An Apple a day! Modify a standard Apple USB Mouse into a glowing UFO Mouse or build a FireWire terabyte hard drive and custom case* Have you played Atari today? Create an arcade-style Atari 5200 paddle controller for your favorite retro videogames or transform the Atari 2600 joystick into one that can be used by left-handed players* Modern game systems, too! Hack your PlayStation 2 to boot code from the memory card or modify your PlayStation 2 for homebrew game development* Videophiles unite! Design, build, and configure your own Windows- or Linux-based Home Theater PC* Ride the airwaves! Modify a wireless PCMCIA NIC to include an external antenna connector or load Linux onto your Access Point* Stick it to The Man! Remove the proprietary barcode encoding from your CueCat and turn it into a regular barcode reader* Hack your Palm! Upgrade the available RAM on your Palm m505 from 8MB to 16MB· Includes hacks of today's most popular gaming systems like Xbox and PS/2.· Teaches readers to unlock the full entertainment potential of their desktop PC.· Frees iMac owners to enhance the features they love and get rid of the ones they hate.

Presents recipes ranging in difficulty with the science and technology-minded cook in mind, providing the science behind cooking, the physiology of taste, and the techniques of molecular gastronomy.