Bug Labs Open Source Linux Hardware Gets a Pico-Projector Module, More

Previous modules include GPS, screen, camera, proximity/accelerometer, and some powerful features on the core hardware unit. But a projector? Now we’re really interested. I just recently got my BUG developer hardware from Bug Labs and have begun to work with it. The idea: a Linux-powered, open source mini computer with little modules you snap on […]

Getting Started in Flash Augmented Reality

Grant Michaels points to a lovely post on getting started with augmented reality using Flash. FlarToolkit/Flash Augmented Reality [Mikko Haapoja] It’s all free for FlarToolkit, and with free tools for Flex out there, you could build a whole free toolchain. Of course, we tend to like Java and Processing round these parts, so I can […]

Happy New Year with Augmented Reality, Flying Words of Wisdom

Need some New Year inspiration on several levels? dickypan points to this brilliant New Year’s video. It’ll make you feel good about all dimensions of 2009. Motion graphics fly out of augmented reality, triggered by small objects on the screen. The work is based on an open source framework. Here it’s running in Flash, as: […]

ivideosongs.com: Like GarageBand’s Artist Videos, But First, and No Software Needed

Here’s a novel concept: Provide video tutorials that teach you how to play an instrument and walk you specifically through the technique of a song Make them available as downloads Charge US$4.99 each Get the artists (and producers) involved in the original song Let people hear the original track Break down the song piece by […]

GarageBand ‘09 Details, Including Artist Lessons

Apple has posted the details of GarageBand ‘09. Most of the new improvements are in the form of the new Lessons feature, both built-in “Basic Lessons” and a la carte, $5 “Artist Lessons.” The basic specs: Basic lessons: Included with the program, these teach you the fundamentals of piano and guitar, with side-by-side notation, frets, […]

GarageBand ‘09 Celebrity Lessons, US$4.99; But How to Really Learn to Play Music?

Photo: transcribed solos by Jamie Aebersold. Not high-tech, but invaluable. Now, let’s hope Apple’s latest is just the tip of the offering for tools to help make us better musicians. Photo here, below (CC) naturalkinds. What’s the biggest obstacle in music making? For most people, it’s basic musicianship. I’m not at the Macworld keynote, but […]

Apple’s 17” MacBook Pro: 3 USB Ports, FW800, Mini DisplayPort, LED Backlight

It’s port talk time again. As I suspected, Apple’s 17” MacBook Pro does get one additional port. You get 3 USB ports and one FireWire 800 port – though this means that, even though there’s almost no hardware that supports FW800, you’ll need an adapter for FW400 devices like HDV/DV cameras. At least unlike the […]

Chip on the Go: SID Player for iPod Touch, iPhone Plays C64 Tunes, Says Something

One chip to rule them all: over a quarter century later, the sounds of this chip are reborn in the newest mobile devices. Photo (CC) Dejdżer / Digga. Take a look at the long view of history, and the Commodore 64 fares nicely. It remains the most popular computer of all time. And this newfangled […]

Korg DS-10 in Ensemble Jams

The Nintendo mobile is a solo instrument no more. Lovers of the Korg DS-10 cartridge for the Nintendo DS handheld are making their own ensembles. And one such trio is a selection of who’s who in Japanese game music. The Korg DS Trio performed a celebrity concert after the Tokyo Game Show. GameSetWatch has an […]

Interactive Audio Folks Converge at GDC: IASIG Meetup

Photo: Ben Hanbury, from a very cool BBC event. Sort of sums up game audio, this. For one area in which forward-thinking digital music types are doing innovative work in game and interactive audio, look no further than the Interactive Audio SIG. They’re doing really interesting stuff in looking at how tools can support future […]