make

Make waves with this DIY lamp

Move over Clapper. There's a new way to control your lights, and it's way cooler (not to mention quieter).

The Luminch One is an interactive lamp that you can turn on and off simply by waving your hand. Created by Francisco Castro, the lamp features an Arduino (an open-source electronics platform) connected to infrared distance sensors that track your hand.

Waving your hand above the Luminch One will turn it on or off, while hovering your palm over the lamp and then moving it up and down will adjust the brightness of the bulb. … Read more

The 404 960: Where we tweet from our seats (podcast)

Leaked from 404 Podcast 960:

Facebook exploit exposes Mark Zuckerberg's private photos. Theaters set aside tweet seats for Twitter users. Finally: an app that can detect Photoshopping. Rumor: Apple to release 32-55 inch TVs next year.… Read more

Autodesk bringing 3D modeling to the masses

SAN FRANCISCO--You may not know CAD, but if you've got a computer, you can now start creating 3D models.

That's the idea behind 123D Catch and 123D Make, two new free software applications that Autodesk is planning on releasing on Monday. The two programs join the company's existing iPad app, 123D Sculpt, as part of a family of tools that are intended to give just about anyone the ability not just to make their own 3D designs, but also to get them produced as real, physical models.

Autodesk unveiled the two new applications at a press event … Read more

Hair's to you! A geometric haircut for math geeks

I'm growing my hair out, but I may have to reconsider my decision after seeing what British artist Nick Sayers has been up to.

Sayers is known for his geometric-art explorations. He decided to wear his passion on his head with a complex pattern of rhombuses shaved into his hair. The geometric cut was featured in Make's Math Monday column.

Carving four-sided shapes all over your head is deceptively complex. The human head is a challenging canvas with plenty of curves to throw off a geometric pattern. … Read more

The 404 881: Where we sweat it out (podcast)

CNET Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg (not that one) is back on the show and telling us why iPod docks, Beats Audio, and Spotify are ruining the music industry. Steve also has a few ideas on how to make one last buck off said music industry, and advises us on the rules of listening to music in public.

He still also has a pair of V-Moda earplugs to give away to a few lucky 404 listeners, so be sure to add him on Twitter and mention both of us in a Tweet for a chance to win!

The 404 Digest for Episode 881

Spotify and the search for meaning in music. Steve says: " They should stop making CDs." Do people really care how their gadgets sound? Planet Money podcast: Manufacturing the song of the summer.

Episode 881 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Google to speed up, host customers' Web sites

Google, banging its make-the-Web-faster drum again, announced a new service today to rewrite and host others' Web pages so browsers can load them faster.

But this time, the service isn't free.

The company's earlier moves in this area haven't cost a cent, but Google will charge for the new Page Speed Service when it arrives for the masses at some undefined time in the future. In the past Google used the argument that a faster Web leads to more activity and, ultimately, more ad revenue for Google, but with Page Speed Service, Google is going the old-fashioned … Read more

How to create QR codes on the Web

Barcode Scanner for Android

Quick response codes, QR for short, can be used to store many different types of information. For instance, they can store a phone number, a Web address, and even a map location. If you'd like to add a QR code to your Web site or print one on another product (such as a business card or promotional T-shirt), there are free QR generator sites that will allow you to do this. Follow these quick steps to help you create QR codes for personal or business use.

1. Open http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/ … Read more

Mobile Make Out: Pucker up on your iPhone

Mobile Make Out is an iPhone app on a mission. It wants to help your cheating heart get some release without completely destroying your real relationship. The free app works by connecting to another user over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You then smooch away on a pair of lips on your iPhone's screen while your app partner mashes lips on his own device.

This raises an interesting question. Is kissing someone else through your iPhone considered cheating? The app makers encourage you to invite your colleagues, friends, and strangers at parties to join you in your kiss-a-thon. Try explaining to your significant other why you were caught making out with your mobile phone. Somehow, I don't think that will go over well.

The best part about Mobile Make Out's marketing is its insistence that loving up your iPhone is "almost like the real thing." I'm not quite ready to test that out, but I suspect that necking the cold hard glass of an iPhone is pretty far from the real thing. The app does give a helpful warning that too much lipstick can damage your iPhone. So, ladies, go easy on the Avon.

There is a catch. It takes two iPhones to make the app work. That means having a potentially embarrassing conversation with the object of your crush. "Um, excuse me. Sorry to interrupt you in your cubicle as you're crunching spreadsheets, but would you mind downloading an app that will allow me to virtually smooch you up during work hours? Yes, I am married, but this is purely platonic, of course." Good luck with that. … Read more

Survey says fuel efficiency is a factor in new car sales and leases

This may not come as a surprise, but the American Chemistry Council on a Web site called Plastics Make It Possible has released a survey that reveals fuel efficiency is often a factor when buying or leasing a new car.

Of the 2,411 U.S. adults surveyed in an online survey by Harris Interactive, 78 percent said fuel efficiency is a key factor, while 63 percent consider safety features in their choice. "However, only 10 percent of those who know what contributes significantly to vehicle safety recognize that plastics and plastic composites contribute significantly to vehicle safety," … Read more

How to make calls using Gmail (video)

Earlier this week, Google introduced a feature that lets you make VoIP phone calls to landlines and mobile phones from within your Gmail account (and iGoogle). The calling service, which is available to U.S. Gmail users, integrates with the Google Talk chat app that you can find on the left-hand sidebar in Gmail.com.

Google's "Call Phone" feature has so far made a splash, inspiring 1 million calls in its first day--even before all Gmail users received the notification that they could activate the feature.

A favorable response is good news for Google, whose last … Read more