Chiptune is fun to mess around with, but programming on a tiny Gameboy screen can get a little annoying. Nintendo created the Super Gameboy to allow players to plug Gameboy cartridges into their SNES, so it would stand to reason that you could run LSDJ or Nanoloop through your TV. But how to get the audio out and recordable? Kyle Robinson has a nifty little Instructable on how to add an 1/8″ audio jack to the cartridge. Only basic soldering ability required.
[Instructables via Make: Online]
There are a number of APC battery manufacturers out there, some good, some bad. Here we look into which brands have risen to the top of the industry, and how they got there- What defines a strong APC battery brand, what sets them apart from the competitors, and what a buyer should be able to expect from their products. To a certain degree, in essence, it’s all down to a degree of professional ethics.
With regards to APC batteries, there are really only a few manufacturers that most retailers are willing to bother with. It’s not difficult to identify the top brands as APC batteries do have something of a ‘niche’ market. For those of you who have been buying APC battereis for years, then you will know exactly who to purchase from, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a competitive market, because it is.
You should consider, in the first instance, purchasing your APC battery from the main manufacturers which are really CSB and Yuasa. Simply put, these two companies, above any others, have a stellar reputation for delivering quality APC batteries in a full range of shapes and sizes. This is why, no matter what retailer you’re looking at, the vast majority of the top rated APC suppliers stick to these two brands. It’s simply good business, as CSB and Yuasa consistently deal in reliable, well made equipment. It’s a good idea as well if you are a buyer to stick to APC batteries from CSB and Yuasa.
This isn’t to say that there are no good companies besides CSB and Yuasa, but with these two, you can always expect top quality, reliable APC batteries. Considered amongst the best in the industry is CSB and Yuasa. This is due to the fact that they are consistent in producing good quality and reliable batteries.
In any event, you shouldn’t buy from any company, including the two referenced here, without doing some research. Double A batteries are suitable for your gameboy, but workstations, networks and home computers need reliability for a full year which is why we use APC batteries. It would be wise to browse some message boards relevant to APC batteries and ask for recommendations and read reviews and opinions on various APC battery manufacturers.
Changing specifications without notice, it should be noted, is a tendancy of stockists of APC batteries. Therefore, before placing any order, you should always remove your current APC battery, check its specifications, and make sure that you are ordering the correct size and shape for your APC replacement battery. Despite being the right type of battery, the most common complaint received by APC battery retailers, is that the batteries don’t fit the hardware when they arrive. The additional costs incurred when this happens, is the responsibility of the buyer.
By Chris Scott Barr
There are some people in this world that need to be connected to the internet at all times. Sure, I’m an internet junkie, but I don’t think I’d ever go so far as to install a permanent WiFi hotspot in my car. GM announced that they will soon start offering Autonet, an always-on wireless internet solution for your car.
The device can be installed in your new van, SUV, truck or crossover starting later this month. Installation will set you back $499, while service is going to cost $29 a month with a 1GB cap. There is also a 5GB package, though no price was listed. The WiFi signal will reach up to 150 feet away, so you won’t be limited to using it just in your car. Great, now kids can check their Facebook and watch YouTube on long car rides. All my brother and I had was one GameBoy to fight over.
[ GM ] VI A [ CrunchGear ]
By Chris Scott Barr
Long car trips aren’t much fun, especially if you’re a kid. That was true enough at least when I was young, as we only had books, Walkmans and maybe a Gameboy to keep us occupied. Nowadays kids get in-car DVD players, laptops, iPods and DS/PSP’s. Well now they can even get a PS2 installed in their parents minivan.
Sure, many in-car DVD players give you the option to hook a gaming console to them, but then you have to mess with running the cables, and powering the stupid thing. Audiovox has crafted an overhead console which sports a 10.2-inch LCD screen and a PS2. The PS2 is in a custom housing, so they didn’t just cram a Slim into a fancy compartment. The system comes with a pair of controllers, along with two games (Rachet & Clank: Going Commando and Hot Shots Golf 3). The real kicker here is the $950 price tag. If it were a PS3 or Xbox 360, I’d still say that was too much money. However, since we’re talking about a 9-year-old console it’s just ludicrous.
[ Audiovox ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]
The only reason I’m writing about this is because it looks ridiculous. It’s the “Retro Cassette Stereo Mini Speaker for iPod/iPhone,” and it’s exactly as it sounds. Plug your iPod in there, and off you go.
Will it revolutionize the industry? No. Does it represent a “paradigm shift” of some sort? No, sir. Does it sound good? I haven’t heard it, but I would guess it’s not going to win any awards.
That said, it probably will net you some sort of hipster cred, along with that GameBoy you’ve got wrapped around your neck:
Happy trails, America.
Mother of God. I used to have a TI-83 for calculus classes, but all I ever had on it was DrugWar and a little racing game that was as hard as nails. Come to think of it, how did I even get those on there? They must have been copied, device to device, all the way from the originals. We didn’t have the benefit of the internet at the time (at least, not as it is today). But who knew there were full-fledged RPGs on the thing? I guess that, considering a large amount of high-school and college students are required to buy these things, it’s actually a pretty popular platform. There have to be 20 or 30 million of them out there at the least!
I don’t know how the TI-83 stacks up against the original GameBoy, which had some serious RPGs on it, but I have to imagine they’re at least close relatives. This amazing list of great RPGs for everyone’s favorite calculator both intrigues and repels me. The idea of spending hours staring at the device that made my life hell for at least a year or two makes me queasy, but on the other hand… RPGs on a graphing calculator, people!
And in the related section on YouTube… Zelda?!