Another MagPi leaves the nest
Just a quick post to flag there is another issue, just out, of the excellent Raspberry Pi magazine, MagPi. It’s number five.
Resource
Microsoft Gadgeteer takes on Beagle Board and Arduino
Here’s a piece of news that may be of interest – Microsoft has announced the official launch of Gadgeteer, a set of electronic parts designed to be plugged together to build prototypes, or even working electronic devices. Remote controlled cars and cameras are given as possible examples.
Video: Hand soldering tutorials, Australian style
We’ve highlighted the Ben Heck Video Shows recently, but don’t forget the Electronics Engineering Video Blog, hosted by Dave Jones.
Arduino angled devkit for USB 2.0 platforms
A news story for Gadget Masters to note, from interface chip supplier Future Technology Devices International (FTDI). The company is tapping in to the Arduino open-source community to simplify the design of USB 2.0 interfaces in embedded systems – it has introduced a development kit for its Vinculo USB 2.0 platform.
Projects to Make with a Dead Computer
Here’s a good book for all budding Gadget Masters that has only just come to my attention – 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer by Randy Sarafan, who is described as a New Media artist but may be better known to you through his work for the excellent Instructables.com.
Fold your own resistor value colour wheel
Thanks to reader Alan Metcalfe for bringing this to Gadget Master’s attention. He describes it as “a simple Mr Spock circular (resistor) calculator, to cut-out and make”.
Build your own electric kids' go-kart
Well, here’s a great resource in a similar vein – a site dedicated to “built-for-fun electric vehicles”. Electric go karts, to you and me. See buggies.builtforfun.co.uk/index.php
LED Wizard calculates resistors and draws schematics
Here is an excellent resource, certainly worth bookmarking if you are creating your own LED lighting systems – the LED series/parallel array wizard.