Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Ultrasonic Cutting: The Future of Cake Slicing (and More)

2025-03-22

From a single slice of cake at home to thousands for a commercial bakery, the way we cut cake needs an upgrade. Regular knives struggle with sticky foods, leading to messy cuts and inefficiency. Enter ultrasonic cutting, a technology that uses high-frequency vibrations to prevent sticking, resulting in perfectly clean cuts. This isn't just for food; it's used in rubber, textiles, and more, even melting and sealing edges. While maybe overkill for home use, it's a game-changer for anyone who needs perfectly sliced cake – or other materials.

(hackaday.com)

Tech ultrasonic cutting food processing

DIY Perks: Hacking an LCD Screen for OLED-Level Blacks

2025-03-08

Remember the rich blacks and vibrant colors of CRT TVs? DIY Perks shows how to achieve similar results with an LCD screen. By removing the backlight from an older LCD and using a de-wheeled DLP projector to project a high-res luminance map onto the back of the screen, they dramatically improve black levels and contrast. This clever hack bypasses the limitations of traditional LCD backlighting, producing an image comparable to OLED displays. A must-see for retro enthusiasts and anyone seeking superior image quality.

(hackaday.com)

Hardware LCD hack DLP projector high contrast

The 56k Modem: How It Broke the Shannon Limit

2025-03-06

In the dial-up era, 33.6 kbps was once considered the speed limit for modems on standard phone lines. However, the 56k modem emerged, shattering this limitation. This wasn't a breakthrough of Shannon's Law, but a clever exploitation of the digital transformation of the phone network. At the time, the core of the phone network was digital, only the 'last mile' remained analog. The 56k modem achieved higher speeds by having ISPs send digital signals directly into the phone network, bypassing analog conversions. Although actual speeds were affected by line quality and other factors, the 56k modem made the internet noticeably more usable before broadband became widespread.

(hackaday.com)

Tech 56k modem digital communication Shannon's Law

3DBenchy Goes Public Domain: The End of a Licensing Saga

2025-02-15

The popular 3D printing model, 3DBenchy, has been released into the public domain! Following a controversy where Prusa Printables purged derived models due to a third-party report, copyright holder NTI Group, along with original creator Daniel Norée and former Creative Tools CEO Paulo Kiefe, has transitioned 3DBenchy and its website to the public domain. This allows for free download and modification, resolving the licensing issues and preventing further disputes. The community can now freely use and adapt this iconic model.

(hackaday.com)

Development

Running MacOS 9 on an Unmodified Nintendo Wii: A Retro Hack

2025-02-11

A hacker has successfully run MacOS 9 on an unmodified original Nintendo Wii console! This was achieved by leveraging the Wii's PowerPC processor, similar to those in older Mac G3 machines, and the Wii's ability to run Linux-based OSes. While the installation was challenging, MacOS 9 was successfully booted, running games like DOOM, Internet Explorer 5, and even iTunes (with some audio/visual issues). Attempts to run MacOS X failed, but this feat is still impressive, showcasing the potential of repurposed hardware.

(hackaday.com)

Tech Nintendo Wii

Bambu Connect's X.509 Certificate and Private Key Extracted

2025-01-20

Following Bambu Lab's announcement of locking down network access to its X1-series 3D printers with new firmware, the X.509 certificate and private key from the Bambu Connect application have been extracted by hWuxH. This application was intended to be the sole method for third-party software to send print jobs to Bambu Lab hardware. The Bambu Connect app, a relatively simple Electron application, employed obfuscation and encryption, but not enough to deter determined users. The de-obfuscated main.js file reveals the certificate and private key used to encrypt HTTP traffic with the printer, the only obstacle preventing tools like OrcaSlicer from communicating with authentication-enabled Bambu Lab printers. Bambu Lab's next steps are unclear, highlighting the ineffectiveness of security through obfuscation alone.

(hackaday.com)

Hardware 3D printer security X.509 certificate private key leak

All-Band Radio Receiver: Listen to Everything at Once

2025-01-12

Ido Roseman built a simple, untuned radio receiver to discreetly monitor air traffic control (ATC) conversations during flights. Rejecting the complexity of traditional radios, it uses a Schottky diode detector and a high-gain audio amplifier to pick up signals across a wide frequency range, from medium wave to VHF. Reception is limited to nearby strong transmitters, but it surprisingly captures pilot-ATC communications. The design includes an LM386 amplifier for standard earbuds and a 3D-printed case for stealth. This clever hack demonstrates that simplicity can yield surprising functionality.

(hackaday.com)

Hardware radio receiver

Retro Tech: Tektronix's Vintage Soldering Training Videos

2025-01-09

This article highlights two vintage soldering training videos produced by Tektronix in the 1970s and 80s. The first video, aimed at assembly line workers, focuses on practical PCB soldering techniques. The second, geared towards repair technicians, delves into more advanced skills like desoldering and PCB repair. Both videos blend practical demonstrations with theoretical knowledge of soldering chemistry and tool usage, showcasing Tektronix's dedication to high-quality soldering.

(hackaday.com)

Hardware retro tech soldering techniques electronics repair