For the commdore+xbox project I don't want to have to push 5 on/off switches. understandably...

1. the xbox needs power

2. the wifi adapter needs power

3. the speakers need power

4. the commodore 5" CRT monitor needs power.

I built a small voltage regulator and relay setup that controls the on/off functionality of the wifi,speakers, and commodore monitor. it uses an external 12volt supply 3amps, has a 7806 to generate the 6v supply for the wifi adapter, and it's all controlled by a relay, that is in series hooked into the 5v supply of the xbox hard drive.

so when the xbox turns on it's hard drive, the relay then supplies power from the secondary power source to everything else.

hence, one button turns on everything, instantly. it's beautiful.

National Geographic posted a video of a new request from Australian scientists to control the cane toad issue by introducing meat ants.

video

Ahhhh what could go wrong?

the can toad was introduced to Australia to control beetle populations but then the toad grew rampant and became an issue. apparently having not learned from mistakes, they want to do the same thing again.

I already have a sculpture series I'm working on directly inspired by  Australia and the cane toad, this is just more fodder. when, when will researchers learn...

introducing a carnivorous insect that multiplies at an alarming rate 'hoping' that it will go after the toads, and not EVERYTHING else is ridiculous... I love it. I truly do.

For the new Q5 Audi campaign "Don't buy another box" I did the web banners and online material, some 3d paper cars, and I also modeled the box used in all the print material with 3DS Max.

It's not art, but it's still kind of cool to see something I made all over the place...

the Audi Q5 is an SUV size vehicle, but it's deffinetly no box unlike say, a mercedes SUV, which is what we're getting at *cough GLK

I use XBMC installed on an old xbox hooked up to my projector to play back movies and music. It's great, XBMC is free and far superior to apple tv and a great use for a cheap old original xbox.

I've been using it for the last 5 years and have loved it, but I decided I wanted to have a second unit in my bedroom. I had a spare xbox lying around pieced together from spare parts from repairs I did to other peoples xbox's, so it made sense to use it.

But how? I could mount an LCD on my bedroom wall, have cables running all over the place, but really, that'd be kind of .. typical. I don't watch enough media in my bedroom to warrant it taking over the space. I just want something there for watching an episode of Dexter or Office before I fall asleep. something more of a conversation piece than practical.

Enter the Commodore SXBOX-64 project.

Stage 1 (complete)

I found the motherboard schematics online and wired the xbox video out to hook into the 1982 commodores 5 inch CRT screen. it works perfectly! stage 1 was getting it running. wifi, software, and wiring. I'm also not cutting any wires, I'm building custom connectors for the internal connections so I don't destroy this rather vintage peice of hardware.

Stage 2 (what I'm doing now).

Build a new power supply for the CRT monitor (12v) that also spits out 6v for the wifi adapter and then add a relay so it's controlled via thexbox. I only want one power button. So when the xbox turns on, it should turn everything else on as well.

Stage 3

Replace commodore internals with xbox motherboard (but keep 1982 crt monitor. In order to do this I need to re-remove all the parts (I had to dismantle it already to clean it) pack them for safe keeping (so I can one day put it back to the original state if I want) cut the middle metal connector carefully, build a new power supply and then pack it all back up.

Stage 4

Keyboard hack. the commodore keyboard should control the xbox.

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This definitely isn't as easy as simply drilling 4 holes andmounting an lcd, and the commodore cost more than a base line lcdwould.... but this is about having some fun and making somethingincredibly geeky.

Progress. Working with a screen now. Twittering without a computer.

A few weeks back I decided to try out the Arduino platform for working with micrcontrollers. I've been using pic's for the last few years (mostly the 16f628a) but I just haven't been impressed with the software or the community. Arduino is fully open source, and so the hardware and software are both free to use and edit. There's nothing like this in the world of PIC microcontrollers.

if I had to describe PIC's I'd say it's like walking into a room and everyone inside the room stops talking the second you walk in and they all start giving you sideways looks.

Whereas with arduino the second you walk into the room everyone jumps and cheers and shakes your hand and throws piles of code at you. Here here! Look what I've made! You should make it to! here's how!

It's a completely different way of working and I'm loving it.

ANYWAYS, yesterday I managed to get an arduino connected to the internet AND sending a twitter to my account, and I have to say, it was pretty easy. where something like that with a PIC had me pulling my hair, it took me all of an hour on the arduino.

I have at least 20 projects on paper I've wanted to have Ethernet for and now I finally do.

My tools are almost where I want them for my next series. Just a few more purchases.....

Back in 1998 when I was using 3D Studio Max (now 3DS Max) version 3 and buying up every issue of 3d world magazine I could get my hands on, the sgi 320 system was there, in the ads taunting me with it's high end (for the time) specs and $7000 price tag a high school student would never afford...

Now years later I bought the empty chassis of a 320 and retrofitted it. It required cutting socket holes for a standard power supply, and building a custom motherboard bracket in plastic, but it works.

It'll be used for controlling my soon to be acquired CNC machine and therefore 3d work.