Eastern Geek

Signage Fail: Translate Server Error

2008-07-19T10:03:00.007+08:00

I don't normally do this, but this sign in China is simply epic.Lesson to all: Do not rely solely on an online translator.Image via AdFreakNo I don't read Chinese, but it's a sign for Chan Ting, literally translates to Restaurant (thanks Penny).

These Folks In Boston Are Freaking Me Out With Their Big Dog

2008-06-20T14:35:00.001+08:00

It's old news but the ongoing development on the Big Dog by Boston Dynamics is yielding spectacular results it's literally freaking me out. Big Dog, a project partly funded by DARPA (the same folks behind the Grand and Urban Challenge) is touted as The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth, and by looks of it, they are not exaggerating. It is a quadruped robot that walks, runs, and climbs on

Simple (and dirty) Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) For Motor Speed Control

2008-06-10T11:58:00.032+08:00

Simple circuit for DC Motor speed control (fan speed control, light dimming and etc) using the 555 timer. Also a good starting point for novices wanting to get their hands dirty with the 555 timer IC. Some would argue that this is not the most efficient approach, but hey (read the title), it's simple, and it works. click image to enlarge click image to enlargeIntroductionThose of you modders

Harness Solar And Wind Energy With These "Leaves"

2008-03-06T12:15:00.003+08:00

SMIT, a start-up company in sustainable design have came up with GROW, a device that harnesses both solar and wind energy to generate electricity.GROW is a hybrid energy delivery device that provides power via the sun and wind, and draws inspiration from ivy growing on a building.The idea is simple, each leaf consists of photovoltaic cells and a piezoelectric material as it's stem. The

Lego PC Case Mods Are Awesome

2008-03-04T16:35:00.013+08:00

The boys (and girls) in Billund would be mighty proud of these, PC Case Mods made out of Legos.click image to enlargeHousing a VIA Epia PD Motherboard 1Ghz, Nvidia 6200 PCI Graphics, Laptop 80 Gig 7200Rpm Hdd, Laptop DVD, and 1 gig Geil DDR memory (powered by 200 Watt PSU), the specs may not be impressive by today's standard. But who cares.. (link)click image to enlargeAnd the wheels, I'm not too

DIY Vortex Light Of Terror

2008-02-29T12:15:00.017+08:00

Step-by-step instruction on how to make your very own LED Vortex Light. A DIY light / lamp that will look super-cool on your desktop, living room or as a night light. I'm quite sure however, that it will not strike terror in anyone. This is a simple project that costs me RM 25, and a day to complete.Caution: Image heavy page, may take time to fully load. Another thing, I'm currently stuck with a

The Life And Death Of The Rocket Powered X-Wing Fighter (With Decapitated R2 Unit)

2008-02-26T13:08:00.001+08:00

A guy and his friends have built a 21-foot long X-Wing model that can actually fly. It did fly, and some of you probably know how the saga ends.Image by: GizmodoThe X-Wing model is huge. At 21 feet long and with a wingspan of over 19 feet it is, in fact, big enough to fly a kid in.20 people, 8000 man-hours and 6 month to build. It's powered by four Class M rocket engines complete with

Vista SP1 Is Out - With List Of Programs That Won't Work On SP1

2008-02-22T14:00:00.011+08:00

Microsoft have finally released Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Vista. Less than a year after the launch of the original Vista.Microsoft Vista SP1 represents a significant first move toward a faster, more secure, and slightly more open Vista.Higher degree of program compatibility than with the RTM version. Increased speed when copying large files and connecting to networked PCs. Overall speed

Musical Tesla Coil Of Doom - Sings The Super Mario Tune

2008-02-21T18:23:00.008+08:00

Who could forget the sight of Soviet's Tesla Coil zapping Allied Paratroopers in the old Command and Conquer. And apparently, you can make a Tesla Coil sing too. What better song to pick than the Super Mario tune! Basically, a Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer, named after its inventor, Nikola Tesla. The same guy who kicked Edison's butt in AC vs DC War Of Current. And to make it

Rinspeed Squba - World's First Submersible Car

2008-02-16T18:13:00.008+08:00

A Swiss company unveiled the world's first submersible car. Yes, you heard me right. Image made available by Swiss car maker Rinspeed shows its new model, the sQuba, which the company claims is the world's first submersible car.Unlike military vehicles, which can only drive slowly on a lakebed, Rinspeed says its car can provide a stable "flight" at a depth of 30 feet. Passengers will be able to

Homemade 38 Million Candlepower Flashlight.

2008-02-15T16:54:00.011+08:00

Image by PopSci So what does a bored Optics Engineer do in his free time? Build a handheld flashlight so bright it can toast a cat, of course. The 45-year-old Dutch optics engineer has been building his own lights since he was eight, but his recent 38-million-candlepower creation, the Maxablaster, is more like a miniature star. To start, Ottow stripped out the innards of a powerful commercial

Replicating Criss Angel's Matrix Muscle Suspension / Levitation.

2008-02-13T14:15:00.009+08:00

Learn how to replicate one of Criss Angel's most famous illusion / magic trick, the Matrix /Muscle Levitation (aka Muscle / Matrix Suspension). In particular, the illusion he did at a park, where he leaned backward with just one leg on the ground. He's suspended as though by magic.If you miss that one, here's the video:First of all, I'm not out to debunk anything. I'm just hoping to replicate the

MIT OpenCourseWare

2008-02-07T12:19:00.003+08:00

Every geek's dream is either to become a Jedi, or to gain entry into MIT. Sadly, I've achieved neither. But thanks to the good people at MIT who came up with MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW for short), we muggles can now take a peek into the world previously reserved for the best and brightest.MIT OpenCourseWare is an initiative geared towards making the materials for nearly all MIT courses freely

Living With Windows Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)

2008-02-02T13:24:00.005+08:00

Image Credit: Taringa!I was about to get some cash at an ATM machine a couple days back, and an all too familiar sight greeted me. The windows stop error screen affectionately known to most us as the Blue Screen Of Death (a.k.a BSOD). Unfortunately, no camera handy at that moment.Nonetheless, ever since Windows XP made it's way into ATMs, I've personally encountered several incidences of windows