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MeeBlip Community Synthesizer Is Made By Bloggers For Hackers

Posted: 12 Nov 2010 01:21 AM PST

Bloggers Peter Kirn and James Grahame have come up with the MeeBlip, an open source virtual analog monophonic synthesizer. How can a hardware synthesizer be a community thing? For starters you have to put it together. No soldering required but you still have to put the stuff into the enclosure. The whole idea is that the story doesn’t end when you get the synthesizer. It’s a community synth, meaning that you get help from the Create Digital Music and the Noisepages communities to use and alter the MeeBlip and create new instruments or music projects based on it.

There are some problems though, like the fact that there is no way to power the synthesizer from batteries. You need a USB cable for that to either power it from a computer or from a USB wall wart. There is however a DIY kit available which apparently let’s you put other sockets on the MeeBlip, such as a standard 9V power jack. Of course this means a lot of soldering and all that.

The DIY version will set you back $79 while the basic kit will cost you $129.

MeeBlip

  • Virtual analog monosynth running on an Atmega32A microcontroller at 16 MHz
  • Dual digital oscillators with filter, LFO, ADSR envelope, FM (Frequency Modulation) and distortion
  • 2-pole resonant low pass filter in software (with high-pass mode)
  • DDS ("Direct Digital Synthesizer") oscillator waveforms (sawtooth / square / noise) at 40 kHz sample rate
  • Dual 8-bit weighted DAC audio output (approximates a 16-bit parallel DAC)
  • 8 potentiometers for continuous input (bank shift function allows two parameters per pot)
  • 16 software-defined parameter switches
  • 4-pole active lowpass anti-aliasing filter
  • Opto-isolated MIDI input
  • USB power connector (optional USB wall wart available)

The DIY board version adds:

  • Sockets for 1/4″ or 1/8″ audio output jacks
  • Sockets for 5VDC USB or 9VDC power jacks
  • On-board headers for external switches, potentiometers/sliders, MIDI jack, 5V or 9V power, audio jacks.

Daily Crunch: Open System Edition

Posted: 12 Nov 2010 12:00 AM PST

Graham Mercedes GP Trackmaster & Silverstone Chronograph Watches

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 06:50 PM PST

Graham watches of London is the official "timing partner" of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One race team. That means at least a few people there get cool Graham watches, and Graham gets to make another racing themed timepiece. There are two relatively new watches for the partnership. The Mercedes GP Trackmaster (sounds like an outfit from the 80's doesn't it) looks very little like many other Graham watches that people associate with the brand. Think of the large lefty triggered Chronofighter watch. For the Mercedes GP Petronas watch, Graham gave their Trackmaster watch an interesting treatment, but adding dauphine style hands, that are usually found on more "formal" timepieces. I suppose it has to so with the Mercedes Benz culture. Graham also says that the hands look like the points on the Mercedes three-pointed star. What is 100% Graham is the design of the subsidiary chronograph dials. There is also the very similar Graham Mercedes GP Silverstone Chronograph, which has a similar, but amended style, along with a different movement layout.


UK Retailers Threaten To Ban Publishers That Use Steam – Good Luck With That

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 04:55 PM PST

Some people just won’t accept their obsolescence quietly. A number of game retailers in the UK are outraged that their customers might get games from the secure and convenient Steam instead of leaving their houses and traveling across town to get it from their brick-and-mortar store. Consequently, they are threatening not to stock games from publishers who use the digital distribution service.

So their theory is that if people can’t get the game from a store, they won’t buy it at all? Cute!

The move is actually preparatory to the launch of their own digital stores, so it’s not quite that, but the threat of removing a game from physical shelves is somewhat less serious than it used to be. And in my opinion, such a move would be inconvenient to their customers, which makes it something retailers can’t afford right now.

The growth of digital distribution and the virtual monopoly of Steam in that sector are scary things for many, I’m sure. But Steam got where it is by being a superior product, and the way to fight it is to make an even more superior product. This whining isn’t going to accomplish anything, and publishers will probably see that the retailers are blowing smoke.

I feel for the poor buggers; I used to buy all my games “in real life,” but they’re selling games the way the music industry sold records 50 years ago. iTunes forced the music industry’s hand, and now Steam is forcing the retail game industry’s hand. If all they’re going to do is cry about it and stall, they’re just going to make it worse for themselves.

[via Tech Report]

New Kinect Bounties, And Now Macs Can Get In On It

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST


What, you thought an open-source driver for the Kinect was the end of the fun and cash prizes? Nah. Since the Kinect has been cracked wide open, the good times are just beginning. I mean, if Microsoft doesn’t want to let us control our computers with that thing, you better believe someone else is going to make it happen.

But out of the goodness of their hearts? Well, probably in time, but a little pecuniary incentive always hurries things along. In this case, it’s two more $1000 bounties, these ones from Googler Matt Cutts.

The first thou goes to the person who makes the “coolest” open source implementation — game, app, whatever. The second goes to the person who makes development for the Kinect on Linux easiest.

Got some ideas? Got a Kinect? Check out the rest of the contest stuff here.

Plus! Kinect has been hacked to run on OS X, so all six of you who want to get a little more Microsoft in your Macs can do so. Check out the video:

Can Old-School Hard Drives Compete With Today’s?

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:30 PM PST


Well… no. But it is kind of a fun exercise to compare the HDDs of yesteryear with modern ones. The performance increase is really spectacular, and it’s helped enable things like HD video playback, high-resolution textures, and all kinds of other stuff. You may not have thought your drive was slow back in ’98, or that the one you’ve got now is particularly fast, but this little comparison ought to put things in perspective.

Hot Hardware gathered up a number of drives from the last 15 years, starting with a 2.1GB WD Caviar from ’96, and ending with another Caviar, a 2TB from last year. How nice: a near-perfect 1000x increase in space, and a significant (but not quite as large) improvement in performance. They hooked them up to a modern machine as well as they could, and put them to the test.

Check out the whole comparison here. And if you’ve got any old hard drives lying around… well, they’re pretty useless. But they make good decorations!

Avenger Adapter For 360 Claims Maximum Customization

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 02:00 PM PST


If you’re not satisfied with your Xbox 360 controller, and don’t think the new one will satisfy you either, give this Avenger thing a shot, since nothing less than ultimate luxury is enough for you. And hey, it looks cool, too.

The Avenger appears to be a 360 controller accessory designed for customization of the standard controller. The buttons appear to be up on stalks now, and the triggers are… also on stalks. And presumably you can adjust the force required to activate them.

Mainly I’d just want one of these things so that could be “my” controller if I had friends over. Oh no, guys, you get the baby controllers.

[via Kotaku]

Cool Idea: Separate Key Puts Your Stang Into Race Mode

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 01:30 PM PST


I’m not surprised that it’s a Mustang, a brand of car that’s always walked the line between consumer and enthusiast, that’s going through with this great idea. We all know Mustangs like to run, but the fact is they’ve been tamed somewhat by the necessities of everyday driving. Sure, you can still get a thrill when you put the pedal down, but if you were to take it to a track day, you’d wish you had it tuned for something more serious.

The TracKey for the Mustang Boss 302, which should be available through your dealer at some point, is a red key that, when you put it into the ignition, accesses all the computer-controlled aspects of the car and re-tunes them for a race environment. Launch control, brake balance, fuel mixture, everything. It can’t turn you into a racing driver, though, so watch yourself.

I just love this, and I’m not even a car guy. The fact that so much of every vehicle is computer-controlled has never really bothered me, but I’ve always wondered why we didn’t get more customization options. Imagine if you had a few keys like this, each loaded up with specific settings. One for your track days, one for going to the store, and one for when junior wants to take it for a spin. He gets a hundred less horsepower and second-gear launches.

It’s not clear how much the TracKey will cost and when it’ll be available, but I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully this kind of thing will be available for more cars as the engine control unit gets more and more standardized.

Apple I For Sale For $200K

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 01:26 PM PST


It’s almost payday, folks! Whip out your wallets and see if you can’t pick up this vintage Apple I, one of the original pieces made by Jobs and Wozniak during the great Apple-ing of 1976. It comes with a signed letter from Steve himself.

Christies will auction the item this month and it is expected to sell for 150,000 euro.

via 9to5mac via Dailymail

Bullet Ball and Bullet Ball Extreme: Gender Neutral

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 01:00 PM PST

It’s gender neutral. Probably old, but charming nonetheless.

Product Page

[Lou, vacuum!]


Are The TV Studios Encouraging Piracy By Not Playing Nice With Google TV?

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 12:30 PM PST

You know, if people once again turn to piracy it’ll be their own damn fault. Google TV has begun to trickle out, and it’s… OK. Not great, but not outright trash. It’s easier to put up with if you’re an earlier adopter, techie type, but if you’re Joe Public? You’re not going to sit on your couch with a clunky keyboard and fiddle around with resolution settings when all you want to do is watch Glee. But what if you can’t even watch Glee? More and more networks and content providers have decided to play hardball with Google TV, banning their online streams from being accessed by Google TV. Have television executives learned nothing from the music business’ woes? Napster and all that nonsense was ten years ago!

Now, the other day I said something to the effect that the television business isn’t in imminent danger of bursting into flames. That’s probably fair to say. But I can still be disappointed in the industry’s stance as it relates to the future.

Why would you outright ban something like Google TV from accessing your stream? On a technical level, what’s the difference? A browser is a browser is a browser, right? If I’m watching Hulu on my laptop using Firefox, how is that different from watching Hulu on my TV using Google TV?

Or, what’s to stop me from connecting my laptop to my TV with an HDMI cable?

Nothing, exactly.

But it seems like all these television folks who are screaming that Google TV will be the death of the industry need to learn a thing or two from what happened to the music business. Rather than fight this thing tooth and nail, thereby pushing people to piracy—why would I play by the rules and watch approved network streams when I can just fire up BitTorrent and get an MKV file that I can play anywhere on any number of devices, no questions asked—perhaps the TV industry would do well to sit back, analyze the situation, and realize that a bunch of techies using the Logitech Revue won’t put them in the poor house.

What might put them in the poor house is the continuous fight against anything and everything that might make them have to take a few minutes to think about the future.

But, whatever, there’s nothing worth watching on TV as it is. I’m glad I realized that many years ago.


Paper Jamz Guitar Torn Down

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 12:00 PM PST

If you recall, Paper Jamz instruments allow kids and adults alike to play music using what amounts to a paper guitar. But how does it work?

Basically you have a set of touch sensitive switches under a paper surface. To get at it, the haxors at EDN had to soak the thing in the tub for a while.


via Make


Fat Cash: Call Of Duty: Black Ops Makes $360M Its First Day, Activision Say It’s Biggest Launch In Entertainment History

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 11:30 AM PST

As a caller on Ron & Fez reminded us a little while ago, Call of Duty: Black Ops (also known as BLOPS) had the biggest entertainment launch in history, taking in some $360 million in first-day sales. But as we all know, that’s a reasonably misleading statement. How do you compare "entertainment launches" across different entertainment, um, sectors? Let’s take movies. If one person buys BLOPS, then Activision makes ~$60 (minus retail’s cut of the action, etc.). Yet if one person sees Avatar in 3D, then Fox makes ~$15. (It’s around $15 to see a 3D movie in New York.) So if 10 people buy the game, that’s ~$600 in Activision’s bank account. If 10 people see Avatar in 3D, then Fox makes ~$150. So, yeah, not really a fair comparison.

But, credit where credit is due: that’s an awful lot of people buying and playing the game. Nicely done, Activision.

Well, PC gamers bought the game, though I’m not too sure how many people can be said to be actually playing it.

Activision says it sold 4.7 million units in the US and the UK.

I still maintain that Half-Life 2 is the better single-player experience (as if saying "Half-Life 2 is really good" is a controversial opinion!), but I fully understand that not many of those 4.7 million people bought BLOPS for its single-player campaign.

You’re free to disagree with my opinion (but you’re wrong).

Original Apple TV Price Dropped To $150, Better Buy Than The New Model?

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 11:00 AM PST


The original Apple TV was loved by many. It was hackable, fun and functional. But then Apple went and crashed the party with the new model. It lacks a lot of the selling points of the original like local storage, legecy outputs, and 3rd party support. So yeah, you may want to opt for the older model if you’re the type that’s never satisfied with out-of-the box features. CE Pro points out that it just dropped in price from $230 to $150. Good deal? I think so.

Did Best Buy just leak a picture of the Nexus S?

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 10:37 AM PST

Either one of the Best Buy Mobile graphic designers is gettin’ creative with his photoshops, or Best Buy just leaked a shot of an unannounced Android handset (possibly the Nexus 2/Nexus S) in their online sales flier.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

The Kinect Is Now Basically Wide Open

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 10:30 AM PST

Adafruit said they’d offer $3,000 to the person who essentially open-sourced the Kinect. Well, as you recall, Hector Martin released the first open source, free as in beer drivers to the wild and the contest is over. The Kinect is cracked.

We know this subsidized / commodity hardware can now be used for robotics, art, science, education and more. For $150 it's loaded with tons of great sensors and cameras – now it's unlocked for creativity. We expect to see a Chumby hacker board and/or BeagleBoard using a Kinect for it's vision-system robot soon! Who knows FIRST robotics might use these for their next robotic competition.

Here is the new OpenKinect Google Group for more information but as of right now you can grab the driver here and rock out.

Thank You, History Channel, You’re Doing Veterans Day Right

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PST

We all agree that the History Channel is a limp vestigial of its previous glorious self, right? Now, it’s all reality TV shows about con men and truckers. But today is Veterans Day and unlike on the Fourth of July, the programming is appropriate. The Pawn Stars marathon shown on the 4th made me want to microwave Beanie Babies. It still gets me going that out of all the programming that could have been shown on the 4th, History Channel opted for Pawn Stars. Today though, when America’s military veterans are to be honored, History is running a Patton 360 marathon. Thank you. (I’ll ignore the Ancient Aliens program that comes on at 8:00 pm.)

Video: First Trailer Of Rockstar’s LA Noire

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 09:30 AM PST

Edge had a big article about LA Noire several months back. It’s sort of a detective/spy game that takes place in 1940s Los Angeles. Think LA Confidential.

Once again, the 800 scripts on our site seem to be interfering with the ability of the video to load, so you may have to ctrl-r a few times.


More Airport Security Backlash: UK Security Minister Throws A Fit When Asked To Leave Behind Banned Item

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 09:00 AM PST

These airport security stories just won’t go away. Who knows, maybe if the public keeps up the pressure we’ll actually see some, you know, sanity when it comes to security policies and not merely knee-jerk reactions that are the equivalent of putting a used band-aid on a broken arm. Over in the UK, where things are certainly poised to get quite interesting, the Government’s Ministry of State for Security was annoyed when she was asked to hand over an oversized (read: banned) aerosol can that she had tried to bring aboard an airplane. Righteous indignation followed. You know, "Do you know who I am? I should be able to bring whatever I want on board an airplane!"

The minister, Baroness Neville-Jones, was on her way to Washington, DC to discuss the war on terror with her American counterparts.

Officials say that she had "inadvertently" left the banned item in her luggage, and that—eventually—she complied with security staff.

When she was asked to leave behind the item, she told security staff that "of course" she knew how important it was to follow the rules.

Yes, you would expect the Minister of State for Security to be able to understand and follow security rules!

Black November Is On: Wal-Mart Starts Offering Free Shipping

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 08:30 AM PST

Today Wal-Mart is offering free shipping with no minimum on walmart.com on around 60,000 items. The deal will run until December 20th and may continue until Christmas. This is, in short, an attempt to grab commerce through this lucrative month and into the next from other retailers like Amazon and Toys’r'Us.

The holidays are usually an extremely brisk time for online sales and retailers are hoping this year will be better than last. Most retailers reported at least a 16% increase in sales last month, which bodes well for the rest of the season. Another interesting data point is the estimated Kinect sales numbers topping out at 425,000 since launch. This either suggests consumers aren’t ready to dance around in front of their TVs or, a more likely scenario, the Kinect will be the must-have item this season and parents are waiting before they buy.

As for the free shipping, the NYT isn’t very keen on the idea:

But given Wal-Mart's scale and influence in the marketplace, its free pass for shipping sets a new high — or low — in e-commerce. And it may create an expectation among consumers — free shipping, no minimum, always — that would make it harder for smaller e-commerce sites to survive.

Free shipping, to be fair, will definitely make it much harder for the smaller sites to thrive this year. Incidentally, this Wal-mart deal on a previous-gen iPod Touch isn’t bad if someone has to play Secret Santa at the office.
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