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Christmas Cheer Entertainment

Yet Another Holiday Gift Guide 140

Posted by CmdrTaco from the because-you-can dept.
ptorrone writes "I was tired of seeing all the gift guides that had a lot of useless junk, since I work at MAKE Magazine I thought I'd try another approach and write a gift guide for holidays that might be useful for people that like to make stuff." Most of the stuff here is under a hundred bucks. There are many great ideas in there that could get you on your way to some stupid hack.
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Yet Another Holiday Gift Guide More

Yet Another Holiday Gift Guide

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  • most of this stuff is pretty hard to do.

    • Re:question (Score:3, Insightful)

      by ptorrone ( 638660 ) *
      the marshmallow shooter is super simple, i'd also say installing linux on an ipod now is simple too - it's a one click install from most systems...hmm, the pov kit and cvs camera aren't so bad either. if you attempt any of these and need help, just email me or post on make in the comments, we can help you.

    • Re:question (Score:5, Funny)

      by TheOtherAgentM ( 700696 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:40PM (#14161668)
      What part of that was a question?
    • I thought this was a guide that listed novel things I could make to give people as gifts, not a list of finished or almost finished products for others to add on to their projects. Talk about disappointed.

  • MAKE (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tiberius_Fel ( 770739 ) <fel@emp[ ]reborn.net ['ire' in gap]> on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:20PM (#14161496)
    I think my family would be upset if I gave them makefiles for their gifts instead of the gifts themselves... :P

  • My holiday gifts... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by davidwr ( 791652 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:22PM (#14161516) Homepage Journal
    TheOpenCD [theopencd.org] download - a few cents of ISP bills
    Blank CD - dimes or less
    Not having to disinfect my relative's PCs every few months - priceless

  • 3G Ipod (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SafteyMan ( 860733 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:27PM (#14161560)
    The 3rd Generation Ipod idea is great. I still have my 3G. Besides looking awesome (completley white in the front with ALL touch-sensitive buttons. It also looks bad ass when the backlight is on because the buttons glow red) it was the Linux Project's origional goal.
    • Where can you get one for $30 though?

    • Re:3G Ipod (Score:3, Insightful)

      by dummkopf ( 538393 )
      I agree that the older ones are nicer. But unfortunately mine did not make it to tell... The HD started screeching -- a sign of sudden death coming up. When I took it to the store I was told that it would be cheaper to get a new one. Geez! What kind of thorw-away society are we! Maybe we should collect old 3G iPods where the drives do not work and use them as christmas tree decoration?

      • Re:3G Ipod (Score:3, Informative)

        by geekoid ( 135745 )
        "Geez! What kind of thorw-away society are we! "

        Geez! where have you been for 25 years?

        It's also cheaper to buy a new TV then pay someone to fix one, same with radio's, furniture, etc...

        This is a byproduct of mass assembly of integrated parts.

  • Dopamine molecule (Score:5, Funny)

    by Jotii ( 932365 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:29PM (#14161581) Homepage
    My mom said she wanted something for Christmas that would make her happy, I'm planning to build a dopamine [wikipedia.org] molecule with toothsticks.

  • poor marketing stunt of MAKE (Score:4, Interesting)

    by dummkopf ( 538393 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:31PM (#14161607) Homepage
    Just got my renewal notice today. I know there are some who like it and some who hate it. I am not too fond of MAKE and I find it quite an interesting coincidence that just around the time the first year of MAKE is almost over -- translate to: we have to all renew -- there is a shashdot post from a MAKE contributor. Good marketing. Very subliminal... Still, I will probably not renew. Go ahead, shoot me now.
    • I got my last issue warning as well today. Very strange indeed. I think I've received like 4 of these. Anyone use AAA? Well, then you get the idea.
      Heck, I'm an O'Reilly author, you'd think they could spare an extra subscription. in fact, they gave the first one that is now expiring that I am being hit up for now...
      o well...

    • just around the time the first year of MAKE is almost over -- translate to: we have to all renew

      Ah--someone didn't use the get 1 free issue coupon ;-)

      there is a shashdot post from a MAKE contributor.

      More insiduously, Phillip Torrone is associate editor of the magazine.

      At least he picked a good title for the slashdot post.

      And, in addition to being a not-so-subtle marketing ploy, the list does have some good gadgets. And it does seem interesting to geeks: highly ranked on digg & del.icio.us.

    • So, why don't you like it? I've been thinking of getting a subscription, and I'd like to hear someone's negatives. If anyone has any positive experiences to add, I'd like to hear those, too. :)
      • hard to tell. just did not appeal to me. the things i would have liked to do often were just outlined, the lame stuff was always presented in detail. i guess i expected something slightly different from what i got.
        • hard to tell. just did not appeal to me. the things i would have liked to do often were just outlined, the lame stuff was always presented in detail. i guess i expected something slightly different from what i got.
          I remember reading an article on Make in the Boston Globe that stated that they are doing this on purpose. The vague instructions partially occur because of them trying to lock a person in on a specific product (ie vcr) when any vcr will do.
      • I didn't renew. The signal/noise ratio was simply too low. For example, there was an article about how to defeat MacroVision's video copy protection and the solution was to buy a product that filters it from the line. That's "making"? And they had product reviews for things like wallets and such. I just didn't get the point of that. I'm also not a big fan of the "WOW!" style of writing they use.

        That's not to say there aren't good points. There were interesting articles such as how to make your own biodiesel

    • Re:poor marketing stunt of MAKE (Score:4, Interesting)

      by ptorrone ( 638660 ) * <pt@nOspAM.adafruit.com> on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:52PM (#14162150)
      i wrote the gift guide (with the help of anyone at o'reilly who sent me ideas for thing to include) and i am associate editor at make. this wasn't any marketing stunt, not sure what i could say or do to prove that, but it's the truth. i'm sorry you don't care for make. what could we change, what could we improve? feel free to email me too, my contact info is on the make about page.
    • Could it also have something to do with the fact that Christmas is coming up?
    • /me Pulls a Glock 9 ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== ==Bang== Congratulations, You're 50 cent.

  • PVC pipe (Score:4, Funny)

    by nizo ( 81281 ) * on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:32PM (#14161609) Homepage Journal
    I want to get this for my SO so bad, just so I can take a picture of her face when she opens it. The only problem is she will then proceed to beat me with her new PVC whackin' stick, so maybe not.

    • Re:PVC pipe (Score:5, Funny)

      by bcattwoo ( 737354 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:12PM (#14161887)
      The only problem is she will then proceed to beat me with her new PVC whackin' stick

      After which you will be left alone to beat your own whackin' stick!

    • Equally good (Score:4, Funny)

      by geekoid ( 135745 ) <dadinportland&yahoo,com> on Thursday December 01, 2005 @08:17PM (#14162293) Homepage Journal
      got oa thrift store, get the uglies dree you can find. Maybe something with a stain, and definatly the wrong size.

      Put it in a very nice box, and have it wrapped professional in expensive paper. Something gold.
      Set it where she can see it. Anticipation is great.

      Get something VERY Nice that can be put under some paper that the dress sits on in the box.

      Take a picture just as she opens the box and sees the stained monstrousity.
      This is not only funny, but you will get to see the fake 'oh it's nice ' face. Always good to know.

      Then when she setis it aside, point out the other gift.

      this is very funny, but be sure the other gift really is nce. Like diamond earings, or a gift card for a new car.

      I did this to my third wife...

  • me tired too (Score:5, Funny)

    by NoGuffCheck ( 746638 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:33PM (#14161616)
    I was tired of seeing all the gift guides that had a lot of useless junk

    me too, I just didnt expect to find one on slashdot , cheers Taco!
  • Just get your son/daughter/niece/nephew/wife/girlfriend/uncle/au nt/mom/dad/secretary/prostitute/other-person an iPod nano/video for Christmas. It worked every year for me.

  • Last year's holiday hack for under a $100 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by xmas2003 ( 739875 ) * on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:34PM (#14161622) Homepage
    Christmas Projector: $10
    1/2 Roll Duct Tape: $2
    Leftover Wires: $0
    Fooling the World: PRICELESS! [komar.org]

    Cost me a LOT more $$$ this time around (the webcams are a grand apiece), but hey, at least it is real this time. [komar.org] And note that theme for 2005 is Christmas Lights for Celiac [celiaccenter.org] as I try to raise money for the University of Maryland to find a cure for this malady.

  • Just remember... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:35PM (#14161632)
    ...not to buy a crappy present. [whatacrappypresent.com]

  • Very nice... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Brain_Recall ( 868040 ) <brain_recall@ya[ ].com ['hoo' in gap]> on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:42PM (#14161688)
    I hate "here's my blog!" posts on Slashdot as much as other people (or even the shameless MAKE plug). But there are some things on there I did like.

    For example, this is neat. [circuitspecialists.com]

    A variable 40W grounded soldering iron with replaceable element and a 0.8mm tip? FOR $35?! Where do I sign up?

    Maybe not for true professionals, but even this would be a nice iron for just thier home projects. I already have a dual-tempreture Radio Shack, but I want to give this to myself for Christmas.

    • Yeah, that's the coolest thing I've seen on the list so far. Although hacking one of those $20 CVS cams sounds like fun also (but the catch is that they're only $20 with a coupon).

      I wonder whether it uses standard (by which I mean Weller-type) low voltage iron sockets and tips? If I could go out and get a Weller iron and attach it to a $35 base station, and it was anywhere near temperature accurate (actually, hell with that, for the difference in price I can get a non-contact IR thermometer, it just needs t
    • A variable 40W grounded soldering iron with replaceable element and a 0.8mm tip? FOR $35?! Where do I sign up?

      I looked at that one too. It's a ripoff of the Hakko 936 model, which I ended up buying instead. [hmcelectronics.com]

      There are some reviews of it on HAM sites and stuff, that are probably worth reading. It don't remember their being anything terrible about it, but think there were so gotchas. (Onlike my dollar-store soldering iron that actually managed to melf itself!)
    • Maybe not for true professionals

      I dunno about that. I have one of those Circuit Specialists stations to replace my two Wellers with the magnetic control (they can cause ESD problems) and I've done a few electronics consulting jobs with it.
      Or maybe I'm not a professional cause I don't see the need to pay $200+ for an iron when a $35 one works just as well :-)

  • Where to get long range RFIDs? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by licamell ( 778753 ) * on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:44PM (#14161710)
    They mention an RFID kit from PhidgetsUSA in their list which look kind of cool (and they are definitely pretty cheap), but they only have the ability to be read like 1-4 inches away. Does anyone know good suppliers of RFIDs (readers & chips) that work in larger distances. I would love to make a tracking kit for objects around the home, i.e. keys and such, but this would require much longer distances to be any use. I have looked around some, but can't find any good ones, it seems you have to be in the business of ordering tons of RFIDs if you want to buy anything decent. And of course there's the FCC license thing, but this is slashdot... so let's not worry about that for now. Any insight would be appreciated.
    • RFID readers get expensive mighty quick.

      My dad just bought me RFID for Dummies(R)because I told him I was interested in 'em. Check out the TOC and Index @ Amazon [amazon.com]. The book is geared towards the business aspects of evaluating & implementing an RFID system, but it still has good basic info.

      I mostly want a reader for fun & to snoop on all those RFID access cards & key fobs.
    • Long range RFID is pretty hard to come by for any kind of realistic price.
      There are basically two types of RFID systems:
      Active (a transponder with a battery and processing power) - as used in some toll booths for your car
      Passive (a tag that is powered by the signal from the source)

      Long range means that you have to have an active system, which makes it a lot more expensive to do.

      You can coax a medium(ish) range ~1.2m (or less) using a HF passive system (13.56 MHz), and a large gate antenna (think the size of
    • iAutomate.com has come out with a RFID product which supports up to 400ft, and is very affordable compared with the other RFID solutions out there. Unfortunately, it only works with the Homeseer home automation software at the moment, but this is about to change (check out the last few posts in the thread mentioned below), since they are coming out with a serial device which interfaces this hardware, so any software package could support this technology. To check out how people are using it etc, check out
    • Long range RFID is very tricky business. You really have to understand how it works to understand the problems.

      The reader sets up a strong AC magnetic field. The tag uses this field for power. The tag then shorts out its own coil in a modulated pattern which, due to magnetic field coupling, is detectable by the reader.

      This is essentially a big air-core transformer.

      These fields have very little coupling at large distances. The coils for both the reader and the tag become larger the further away

  • The "C-900" cassette... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Tackhead ( 54550 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:49PM (#14161744)
    I've been wondering about cassette adaptors and how they work. (Because sometimes you can't just rip out your folks' tape deck and install a CD or MP3 player when you're driving 'em around on your Christmas vacation. Well, you can, but they'll get annoyed.)

    Anyone know how the Griffin SmartDeck [griffintechnology.com] works? It appears to be a cassette deck adaptor that can respond to (changes in tension?) cassette deck commands, and relay them to an iPod.

    The iPod shuffle (and the even cheaper thumbdrive form-factor MP3 players with drag-and-drop) is proof that you don't need much internal space to make an MP3 player.

    Once upon a time, the Mobiblu [mobiblu.com] folks (yeah, the same guys who did the 1-inch-cube MP3 player) built a player into the form of a cassette adaptor.

    I'd like to wedge the Griffin SmartDeck's ability to use the tape player's controls into the form factor of the MobiBLU DAH-220 form factor, perhaps with the buttons carved into the shell of the "tape". No staticy FM-adaptor stuff. No dangly wires.

    Something like this [mac.com] (or the sequel, here [mac.com]), but without the problems [blogspot.com] that caused this guy to give up [blogspot.com] and end up with a more dangly solution?

    As far as I can tell, some tape decks respond well to this sort of treatment, and some require that the tape adaptor have the full-size gears/etc. to maintain proper tension.

    The ideal product would fit in the tape's form factor, and use the tape's built-in buttons. No need to teach the old dogs any new tricks - it'd just work like a 900-minute cassette tape capable of infinitely-fast fast-forward/rewind, that would never break. (Every 5-10 hours, you'd eject the "tape", carry it inside with you, and recharge it (and fiddle with the music on it) by means of USB.)

    Anyone ever tried this, and if so, how far did you get?

    • Tape adapters work great, especially for the price. My brother uses one every day for his iPod in his car and my father used one every day for satellite radio in his car. The only problem we ever had was the wheels in the tape (I don't know why they are even there since they don't do anything) started squeeking. These are the parts that would be where the axle would go on the tape reels. A little WD40 and that was solved.

      If you can use one, do it. I want to listen to my iPod in my car but I don't have a ca

      • in some decks, if the gears aren't there, the tape assumes no motion=end of tape and auto stops or flips.

        having two toothed wheels geared together and in motion (twist one- does the other move?) keeps some decks from making false assumptions about the "casette" poisition.
    • Nice, but forget rechargeable batteries and put a generator in it to run it off the drive spindle.
      • Or better yet, a battery that can charge off the mechanical work of the drive spindle, so you can pop it out and plug in some headphones to use it like a normal MP3 player. Need to recharge? Hook it up to your computer to charge over USB, or pop it in any tape deck and hit RW or FF. Brilliant.

        My only problem is that my car has a CD player without a line-in, and no casette deck. I've tried the FM tuner thing, and the quality sucks, and sucks hard. I wonder if it would be possible to create an MP3 pla

  • USB Rocket Launcher (Score:5, Interesting)

    by ctid ( 449118 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @06:50PM (#14161747) Homepage
    The coolest gadget I have seen so far this Christmas is this USB Rocket Launcher [marksandspencer.com]. I had picked one up in the shop before I remembered that I live on my own and I've got no-one to shoot them at!

    • Re:USB Rocket Launcher (Score:5, Funny)

      by pavon ( 30274 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:09PM (#14161871)
      I had picked one up in the shop before I remembered that I live on my own and I've got no-one to shoot them at!

      This, my friend, is why god invented cats.
    • Feel like posting more than a two line review? Specifically:
      • What's the range like?
      • How easy is it to control?
      • Have you tried connecting a webcam to it for better visual aiming?
      • What protocol does it use? The site said it comes with software, does it appear as a USB serial device with a simple protocol, or do is it something more complicated - the real question being how hard would it be to write custom software for it for a different platform.

      Enquiring minds want to know (although they are tempted to

    • After discussing it with my co-workers, I decided to place an order. Imagine my surprise when they told me they wouldn't ship to the US! I guess the world really doesn't revolve around us after all.

      Anyone know a reseller who will ship these to the States? Or does this violate some sort of weapons export restriction(s)?
  • Ya mispelled cheap bastards
    • cheap bastards
      cheap bastard

      Fixed that typo for ya, cause it says right there above the story: Posted by CmdrTaco

  • I've been making a pic based version of spokepov from scratch. This is the first I've heard of the kits, and it seems like a great deal. There's a lot of wiring without a PCB, and $35 for a complete kit including PCB is a great price.

    • Hi Jason,

      I was just wondering what compiler you are using to program your PIC. I did some programming on PIC's in Uni using MPLAB about 3 or 4 yrs ago. However, I'm not too fond of programming in Assembler. Do you know of any C based compilers that are free? I'm just interested in doing some hobby projects, and the C compiler from MPlab is not free.

      Thanks...
      • I usually use JAL. I don't know of any free C compilers, but generally C doesn't work too well with the PIC architechture anyway.
  • I have been looking for either a DIY FM transmitter for the pc, or an inexpensive one that I can increase the range on. I remember an older slashdot story that had one that was something on the order of 2 watts, but googling has turned up very little (so far I have found extraneous FM devices, and all the PC based ones are mostly irrelevant results.)

    Therefore, just in time for Christmas, the perfect slashdot article! :)

  • Armatron! (Score:4, Interesting)

    by TubeSteak ( 669689 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:16PM (#14161910) Journal
    LEGO Robotics Invention System 2.0
    It looks like a big claw/arm
    Picture [makezine.com]

    Back in my day it was called the Armatron [samstoybox.com]
    I didn't know that they made a Mobile Armatron

    Since battery rechargers were pretty bad back in the day, I killed an excessive number of alkaline D-Cells playing with my Armatron.

  • Some items that are missing (Score:3, Interesting)

    by technoextreme ( 885694 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:18PM (#14161921)
    Personally. I think that everyone should forget lego mindstorms and go for Vex Robotics. This kit is a full fledged robot waiting to be built. No more having to worry about only being able to use three sensors and two motors. http:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?p roductId=2104567&cp=&pg=2&kw=vex&parentPage=search [http]
    If that doesn't tickle your fancy why not try a scrap metal toy. This is a neat piece of art work that uses rare earth magnets to hold the metal pieces together. http://www.toymagnets.com/gifts/gizmo_scrap_metal_ sculpture.cfm [toymagnets.com]

  • Babies (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    That's the only thing I want to make for Xmas.

  • Just say "Please, no!" (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:19PM (#14161938)
    I asked my relatives not to get me or my wife anything for Christmas. It's not as if anyone puts much thought into it anyway, so why waste the time and money and future storage space in my house? I've pleaded with my wife to get her relatives to stop giving us stuff. I really don't understand why people bother. I hate getting crap I don't want. It just underlines how little they are interested in who I am. I wish they'd give money to charities instead. As my wife has insisted on buying me stuff every year despite my pleading, I broke down and wrote out a long list for her to choose from so she can have packages to wrap for me and I don't have to bite my tongue on Xmas morn.
    • A nice thing that I think is common in Japan is giving gifts which are edible / perishable. Finely wrapped, they can be as beautiful as a 'product', as useful and, once consumed, occupy no space at all afterwards. Of course, giving expensive melons to the spouse might not go to well in all cases. She might be happier with the addage that nice things come in small packages. Yes, I'm still talking about fruit!

  • What a Crappy Present (.com) (Score:3, Informative)

    by popo ( 107611 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:23PM (#14161956) Homepage


    Remember, don't give CD's!

    http://www.whatacrappypresent.com/ [whatacrappypresent.com]

    Save your wallet [jfold.com].

  • PVC is cool (Score:3, Interesting)

    by lawpoop ( 604919 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:26PM (#14161972) Homepage Journal
    Here is the PVC flamsthrower project [blueyonder.co.uk]. Great for frying Zerglings!

  • Proliants off-lease from the Dot-Commers (Score:3, Interesting)

    by NineNine ( 235196 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @07:29PM (#14161994)
    I've noticed that right now there are a shitload of *very* heavy duty Proliants available (Ebay, ubid, etc.) that are all coming off 5 year leases from dot-com companies with too much money and not enough sense. I got myself a nice Christmas present [ubid.com] just recently for an insanely low price.


  • "The Bread Builders" (book)

    Just the thing for loafing around in the back yard and won't cost you much dough, not that I knead it that much.

    Seriously, a chapter on Pizza Crusts is probably nearer and dearer to our hearts. I've fiddled around with them for years before finding, not a pizza stone, but a big flat piece of iron, scattered with a little corn meal is nearly ideal. It takes a while to get it up to temperature in a home oven, but it never fails to please.

    what i'd really like for christmas

    • Re:Bread Builders! (Score:3, Informative)

      by winkydink ( 650484 ) *
      Unglazed Mexican quarry tile is an order of magnitude cheaper than a commercial pizza stone. The bottom rock of my oven is essentially continuous tile with a 1" gap around the sides for air flow. I can't comment on Pizza Crust, but I can make some of the best artisan bread you can get without a commercial steam-injection oven.

  • thank you (Score:3, Insightful)

    by akhomerun ( 893103 ) on Thursday December 01, 2005 @08:28PM (#14162353)
    thank you very much for the MAKE magazine advertisement.

    i know, this will get modded down, but that's because it's right. i mean, come on, it's so obvious "i work for this company, and they have a great article. read this article that i made for the company that pays me! The more readers i get for my columns, the more likely i will get promoted! so therefore, i think i'll post on slashdot and get free publicity!"

    i mean, really i wouldn't even post something like this for one of the open source projects i have started.
  • Please post your purchases from the MAKE gift guide under my christmas tree [urbanoutfitters.com].
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Can those guys teach me how to make a copy of Ready Made?

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