Donnerstag, 9. Dezember 2004

Mysterious Al vs. Carhartt. Mysterious Al's new window installation at Carhartt's flagship store on Earlham Street in London are amazing. The piece consists of eight massive stickers. Nice one, Al! [Eyebeam reBlog] 10:48:09 PM    comment []

HOW-TO: Hacking the iPod firmware (changing the graphics). So on Monday over at Hack A Day we posted a link to an iPod hack over at iPodHacks that let you extract all of the fonts and graphics from the player[base ']s firmware. Since then, a new application came out, and we wrote up how to change all the graphics on your iPod. Before we get started, here[base ']s a video (QuickTime) of our first hacked firmware to give you an idea of what we changed. In this How-To we[base ']re going to show you how to change the [base "]Do not Disconnect[per thou] circle/slash icon that endlessly and annoyingly flashes all the time on our desk. We replaced ours with the Engadget logo, the Sony CEO, and Hello Kitty but any graphic will do. You can also change battery icons, power status, boot up logos and fonts, or so it seems. We sprinted to write this up, so we might update it as we try some new things. Now on with the How-To! For this hack you[base ']ll need an iPod, obviously. We[base ']re using the iPod photo, but it should work with most iPods, so far we[base ']ve seen one person also hack an iPod mini and a 3g iPod. Next you[base ']ll need a Windows PC with Apple[base ']s iPod software installed. You can get that from here. Download and install the Apple software, this software contains the firmware we[base ']re going to add our own graphics to. Warning: When you do this, you will be restoring your iPod and will loose all data, etc[sigma]Also, this most certainly voids your warranty, so if something happens, you[base ']re screwed. But hey, you[base ']ll have your own branded iPod, that[base ']s hot and well worth it, right? Next up, download [base "]iPod Wizard[per thou] from here. We[base ']re not sure if Apple is going to freak out about this, it[base ']s just like changing icons in Mac OS X, so it shouldn[base ']t be a problem. Unzip the file, and start iPodWizard. Click Open Updater and choose the Apple Update Application you downloaded, it should be in Program files > iPod. Once open, choose the firmware for you iPod, we hacked the iPod photo first, so it[base ']s the IDR_FIRMWARE 5.4.0, we didn[base ']t try all the others out yet, but we[base ']re guessing folks will post which one is for which iPod as they start to hack away at it. The color one was easy, once you select the firmware you can click the arrows to see the icons, in our case, they were color. Find the image you wish to replace, we wanted to replace the circle / slash icon. Once you find it, click Save Bitmap and save the file to your system. From there use any bitmap editor to edit the image, we used PaintShop Pro and pasted the Engadget logo over the icon then saved it. Click Load Bitmap and load in the image you just created. Click Write, this will edit the firmware on your PC and then prepare it to restore to the iPod. Once that is complete, open up Apple[base ']s iPod update. Make sure your iPod is plugged in, and iPod updater will look for what firmware you can restore to, for us, it found the iPod photo and we had the option to restore, which will then add the new firmware with our custom image. Click restore, and in about 5 minutes you[base ']ll have the new image you made, keep in mind this kills all your data, so back up before you do this. Here[base ']s ours[sigma] The other one is Hello Kitty, since we know it[base ']s just a matter of time until someone starts selling a Hello Kitty branded iPod. Here[base ']s Sony[base ']s CEO holding the Network Walkman upside down. We like this image to remind us that even if you[base ']re Sony and invented the WalkMan, someone like Apple can come along and beat you hard. An image proclaiming that our iPod does not have any RIAA music or content! And, of course, Mickey Mouse. We also made one for our pal Leander from Cult of Mac. We think this is a great way to protect your iPod if someone steals it, too. Add your picture, name and phone number, it won[base ']t stop the thief, but it[base ']s still a good measure. On a side note, Apple and every other music player maker should make this part of the software that comes with their device, we all change the icons, desktops, and everything else on our computers, so it makes sense to be able to brand our music players any way we want. Here are some of the other graphics that you can likely change, lots of cool stuff for sure. Please post up links to your images in the comments, if someone does something really wacky, we might give out a prize or something. For more information on all this, and some troubleshooting, post up in our comments or over on where it all got started and where folks are still trying lots of things, on iPodHacks. iPod Wizard, whoever you are, nicely done! Phillip Torrone can be reached via http://www.flashenabled.com Weblogs, Inc. RSS feeds brought to you by iPod®. Meet Bose. Introduce your iPod® to Bose, then listen to the new SoundDock[dot accent]. [Engadget] 10:47:04 PM    comment []

Shut Up Already. Two designers have made these warning cards for obnoxious cell phone users, available in convenient PDF download-and-cut-out form. It's a good way to make it clear to people they're talking too loudly, and a good way to eventually get into a good, American fist-fight. Then someone can hand you a card that explains why they found your teeth in their soda to be "more than a little annoying." "Shut Up Already" [DraplinIndustries via MobileWhack] [Gizmodo] 10:44:13 PM    comment []

Build a snowman. Is it too warm where you live to build a snowman? Maybe it[base ']s too cold. Or maybe there isn[base ']t any snow yet. Whatever the reason, Better Homes and Gardens has a solution for you and your kids - a virtual snowman. Personalize him (or her) by just clicking and draging your choice of hats, faces, clothes, and arms. Finish up by adding sound and animating your creation. [Blogging Baby] 10:41:26 PM    comment []

The Punisher is ready to kill you now. Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, is digitized and ready for streaming. The Punisher game demo can be downloaded all over the place this morning [~] but we[base ']re pointing you to 3D Gamers, as usual. Fans of the comic series should keep their expectations in check, just in case. Hey, the thing could be brilliant. We haven[base ']t tried it yet. We[base ']re just going on previous experience with comic games. Licenses like The Punisher have been delegated to secondary status, for the most part. If this title turns out to be an exception, we will gladly eat our superhero tights. Let us know what you think, since no one around here will be able to try it out today. [Joystiq] 10:40:20 PM    comment []

The MyAy. We[base ']ll overlook the really awful pun they[base ']re making with the name, but Siemens is working on a prototype for a new spy gadget called the MyAy that[base ']ll let you keep tabs on things when you[base ']re away. Basically a cellphone without a screen and that you can[base ']t use to make phone calls, the MyAy has a bunch of different built-in sensors for detecting movement, changes in temperature, and acceleration (like if someone decides to swipe it), as well as a microphone, and can send you text message when something ain[base ']t right. The idea is that you leave it in your home or your hotel room or office and if a fire breaks out, for example, the MyAy will detect the rise in temperature and automatically alert you via text message. They[base ']re supposed to be testing this thing next year, with a new version with a camera and GPS possibly in the works. [Engadget] 10:38:43 PM    comment []

Vonage launching videophone service. They[base ']re sorta behind the Packet8 ball with this one, but Vonage just cut a deal with Viseon to use their videophones in a new broadband video calling service that[base ']ll be introduced next year. No details on pricing or on the videophones themselves, but Viseon[base ']s website promises a big announcement at CES next month. Weblogs, Inc. RSS feeds brought to you by iPod®. Meet Bose. Introduce your iPod® to Bose, then listen to the new SoundDock[dot accent]. [Engadget] 10:37:44 PM    comment []

Ultracade Arcade Legends. If you have a hankering to recapture the glory days of legendary 1980s video games like Centipede and Missle Command, Ultracade Technologies may have you covered. Their 68[per thou] Arcade Legends video game cabinet has the look and feel of the gaming machines of old. The machine has a 25[per thou] monitor, two joysticks, a trackball and 12 push buttons. It comes installed with 35 classic games and an additional add on pack can be purchased separately to bring the total to 42. A tabletop version of Arcade Legends is available as well. [Luxist] 12:17:58 AM    comment []

Robbie Williams Porsche. I[base ']m obsessed with celebrity-owned cars. First it was Shaq[base ']s Mercedes now this 2002 Porsche 996 Twin Turbo customized for British popstar Robbie Williams has caught my eye. Williams used this car when he was staying at his Beverly Hills home. The car has the usual custom features such as special wheels, doorsills, and a top of-the-line stereo system. One other detail the seller couldn[base ']t fail to mention was the [base "]skirt cam[per thou] which is mounted below the passenger vent behind a tinted lens. The car also has two other cameras flush mounted camera lens in the bumpers. Just the thing for the upscale voyeur. [Luxist] 12:14:01 AM    comment []

Weightless Headset Phone It's not actually weightless, of course, but the Weightless Headset Phone is less than 1.5 ounces, so you can stay tethered to it and never have to get up to answer the phone or stop what you're doing. It's not just a headset, it's the actual phone with an integrated keypad for dialing out. You can move 100 feet away from the recharging base without losing reception. Fits over one ear so you can keep the headset for your mobile phone over the other ear. $130 at Hammacher Schlemmer . - Mia [Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women] 12:12:49 AM    comment []

Good Hotel Guide Top Ten. The Times has sent out a trusty hotel snob to review the Good Hotel Guide's Top Ten 2005 picks for the best independent hotels in Britain -- a welcome contrast to the USA'a AAA list of the 85 best chain hotels and resorts in North America. The UK list runs from major London hotels to Liverpool's only boutique hotel, and makes an excellent guide to more local accommodation. [Wanda Lust] 12:11:41 AM    comment []

Couture Chunks. Apparently a row has broken out between BA and Virgin now that Virgin has begun flights to Sydney with a promise to undercut BA's fares. Virgin took off on its inaugural flight with a stock of specially designed "ethnic" airsick bags, mocking the disasterous BA plane branding exercise of 1997. Virgin seems to have taken a rather disturbing interest lately in the regurgitation of its passengers; the airline recently agreed to print the best 20 designs of the annual Design for Chunks airsick bags competition on its in-flight sickbags. A gallery of the winners is online. [Wanda Lust] 12:10:43 AM    comment []

The Portofino Club. The Portofino Club, is a private luxury residence club, which offer access to a collection of million-dollar homes in 17 vacation destinations from Venice, Italy to Vail, Colorado.  The homes have amenities such as daily housekeeping and state-of-the art electronics.  Members pay a deposit and annual fees and are entitled t o 42 days of use each year without additional charge.  In advance of each visit, the member receives an information packet detailing local attractions and services and the member services staff makes arrangements for event reservations, and bar and kitchen stocking.  The Portofino Club is offering 500,000 airline miles as a bonus to new members who join before the end of the year. [Luxist] 12:05:43 AM    comment []