Tindie

The Scuttlebut is a newly unleashed device from the mad laboratory of James Hutchby – designed to bring experimental sound to the masses, from a simple exercise in electronic minimalism delivering an expansive range of sounds. Imagine a horde of critters from another dimension infesting the surface of R2D2s CPU and you’ll get close to what it sounds like!

The Scuttlebut is operated using two potentiometers, two buttons, a touch plate and light sensor – emitting high tech sound effects and low level glitches from two onboard oscillators, sculpted by three types of modulation (amplitude, frequency, and phase). It comes in kit form and was designed to be used in beginners soldering workshops, so is ideal for rookie makers and those new to DIY synth builds.

It has an on-board sequencer to record short bursts of playback, to deliver some form of sonic stability to the proceedings! The touch pad engages the use of the light sensor for theremin-esque control over the sound, through real world movements – inspiring for kids, critters and adults alike, powered by a 9v battery.

The kit comes with all you need for high tech interactions your neighbours and visitors from another planet – made by MadLab, who are based in Edinburgh. Hear the gremlin-inspired demo sounds below:

Keep Reading ›

ZiggyTheHamster, a hardware hacker who enjoys making mods for systems and whose first computer was the IBM PCjr., has set his sights on fixing a bug in decades-old Tandy computers.

The TandyMod+ Kit for IBM PCjr‘s purpose is to fix a memory mapping issue with Tandy 1000 applications. The Tandy 1000 is an IBM PCjr clone, but it has an annoying bug where the video memory is not fully utilized. This created a graphical issue where black bars run through the picture.

This mod fixes that and allows Tandy 1000 applications to access the full 32KB of video memory, which creates a clearer picture.

When you take a look at a side by side visual comparison of the application before and after the mod is installed it’s quite impressive!

Each TandyMod+ Kit includes one TandyMod+ ROM adapter board with ROM inserted and one DIP-16 socket. Each mod comes pre-tested and ready to go. So, go check out this sweet product if you’re tired of viewing your Tandy applications through window blinds!

Keep Reading ›

I’ve had a fascination with traffic lights since I was young. These days they cause me more stress than anything, but as a kid I was convinced I could predict the exact moment when they would turn green while sitting in the passenger seat of my grandmother’s car. She of course played into the whole thing, as grandmothers do.

Whether you’re looking to add a traffic light to your interior decor (which my grandfather actually did), set up a race track, or anything in between, with this 3 Channel Traffic Light Controller, you’ll actually know when the light is about to change since the power will be in your hands.

The board comes fully assembled and accepts standard 120VAC and 240VAC AC line voltage, while providing 500 watts per channel. This allows you to drive non-dimmable LEDs and incandescent traffic lights (as well as all household bulbs!). It also features the latest solid-state relays which result in quiet, effortless switching for long periods of time.

There are 10+ unique light sequence modes, along with 5+ realistic traffic modes. Even if you’re not using it to control traffic lights, the options here could make for some interesting light shows. As always, let your maker instinct be your guide.

Keep Reading ›

If you own a business or you want to broadcast a message to others in your area, an LED sign board is a great way to catch people’s attention. These have always come in different shapes and sizes, but it’s the details that decide how much you can say, and how many people could potentially see it.

In the case of this high-resolution LED sign board, the use of high pixel density P3.75 LED modules they are able to pack the LEDs close together. The entire display is about 8 cm tall and 75 cm long, providing a 160×16 LED matrix for your messages. This results in a clear and crisp image readable from more than 200 feet away. There are options for 29 transition effects with timing control, and you can make multiple messages at a time.

The display is controlled via a dedicated Android app, allowing you to make quick and easy changes. Top it off with a 2-year warranty on pixel damage from the seller, and you’ve got yourself a snazzy LED sign for a fraction of the normal cost.

Keep Reading ›

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, what do you get the jewelry-loving person in your life that has it all? Well, solar-powered flashing LED jewelry of course!

The solar-powered red LED earrings or pendant was created by Bobricius, an independent hardware developer who has been a part of the Tindie community since 2015. He has achieved an aesthetic that is reminiscent of Art Deco with the shape of the copper on the circuit boards echoing the contours of the LED and solar cells. Since they are powered by solar energy, there’s no batteries and no waste, which the environment will thank you for.

The product comes in two models, one option is smaller and a good fit for a set of earrings, the larger version can be added to a necklace as a pendant. The solar cells work indoors just fine, for any night owls or vampires who like to avoid direct sunlight.

Be sure to check out the Bobricius’ other items too — there are about sixty products in his store. Many of them are wearables if you’re looking for a different design or color with equally cool features.

Keep Reading ›

Immersion is key when you’re watching a great movie or find yourself fully invested in a gaming experience. The problem is that everything is confined to the four corners of your screen. Sure, VR and AR can help alleviate that, but you’re not always going to be inside of a headset.

The answer lies in ambient lighting. It may sound like a small thing, but in this case, it has a profound effect on amplifying the space of your entertainment.

The Compact LED Ambilight from LedLab changes the color of an LED backlight depending on the image from your monitor. This expands the image by projecting similar colors beyond the range of your screen.

You can see the effect on display in this video, which gives you a great idea of how dynamic lighting can enhance the atmosphere in your living room.

What makes this design unique is the fact that it can be powered directly from a computer’s USB port. Other similar options on the market require a separate power source, which adds more wires to your setup.

You’ll need to install the STM32 virtual port driver and a program called Ambibox to capture the image, but this will allow the software to also reduce the consumption of the LEDs, which will avoid overloading the port.

The device comes presoldered based on the size of your monitor, so it’s ready to use out of the box once you install the necessary software.

Keep Reading ›

It has been amazing to see the progression of PCB art in recent years. The designs continue to impress and rival that of every other medium in the world of art. The edge that PCBs offer, of course, is the ability to incorporate electronics into the design.

This RedFox PCB is undeniably beautiful, but it also offers a chance to practice your SMD soldering. The kit comes with everything you need to build it yourself using whatever techniques you prefer, but you can purchase a fully assembled version as well.

While the starting point for many will always be flux and a soldering iron, this is a chance to try out solder paste with a hot air rework station or a toaster oven to the electronics portion of the assembly. In either case, when it’s finished you’ll love this elegant design and it’s mysterious glowing eyes.

Keep Reading ›

The Sega Dreamcast is the epitome of “before its time.” The console had so many amazing ideas that would eventually find their way into future devices, but it lacked both the adoption and the security to compete in the market.

Between concepts that weren’t quite ready for prime time, and a rampant piracy problem, it never managed to find the success it deserved.

If you still have yours and you want to get it online for projects like DreamPi, this telephone line voltage inducer is the perfect fit. By providing power to a dry telephone line, you can use it with a modern computer modem and without the need for a telephone network.

Even if you’re not interested in connecting a Dreamcast to the World Wide Web, this device will also let you connect two old phones together to form an in-house connection free of any network needs. All you need to provide is a 9 volt battery and you’re all set!

Those who are looking to incorporate their own power supply will also be happy to know that this kit includes 2 pieces of heat shrink tube for sealing the power wires once you splice them.

Keep Reading ›

To ring in the new decade, Sophi Kravitz and I wrote an article over on Supplyframe Hardware detailing the tech breakthroughs of the last decade. We also made a few predictions of our own about the future.

Sophi predicted that we would eventually see a return to minimalist designs and that things like alarm clocks would become separate from our smart phones. How right she was.

The Agora Clock V2 fits perfectly into this prediction, offering a minimalist clock with a 2.13″ e-paper display and a simple buzzer alarm. The battery lasts for a year and charges via micro-USB (which is included). It also features a sleek 3D-printed case made in a textured bed, which offers a unique finish.

The processor is the same as an Arduino UNO (ATmega328P), and both the hardware and firmware are open-source. They say we should cut out the light from our phones and devices before bed, so this alarm clock is a perfect place to start.

Keep Reading ›

The DIY 7-Segment Display Module is a 7-segment display module made from 0603 LEDs that’s compatible with the 0.56″ 7-segment display footprint. They are pin-compatible with many other 7-segment display modules on the market as well.

The design proves you can create a compatible display by placing a lot of 0603 SMD LEDs onto a PCB. This project was originally created for a STM32F072-based Simon game board, and the creators liked it so much that they decided to share it with others.

You can choose from several different options, such as different LED colors, PCB colors, and whether you want the DIY kit, partially assembled, or fully assembled package.  The different LED colors include, blue, green, red, white, yellow, pink, or purple. The PCB comes in black or green.

Keep Reading ›