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Do you want a fun and easy-to-build circuit? Here’s the simple, but fun Atari Punk Console – with schematics and parts list. It’s a quick build, so you can easily build it during an evening.

It takes its name from the old Atari computers of the 80s because it makes similar sounds.

And after my (not-so-intense) research (I basically just read about it on Wikipedia), I’ve come to learn that the circuit was first published in a Radioshack magazine in 1980.

Here’s a short clip of me playing with the circuit I built:

[Read more…] about Build an Atari Punk Console this evening

A circuit simulator is a tool for “seeing” what a circuit does. In comparison to mechanical machines such as a bicycle and a lever, electronics cannot be easily inspected by the naked eye.

When you look at a bicycle you can observe it and see that stepping on the pedals makes a chain turn, and that this chain moves the bicycle wheels.

In contrast, if you open up an audio amplifier, it will be really hard to tell what it does if you don’t have previous experience in designing and building electronic circuits.
[Read more…] about How a circuit simulator can help you understand any circuit

A common decision to make for hobbyists and inventors is Kicad vs Eagle.

Both of them are decent programs for designing your own Printed Circuit Boards (PCB).

And both are very popular.

But if you’re just starting out, which one should you choose?

After six months of testing, I am finally ready to give you the result.

[Read more…] about Kicad vs Eagle – Which one is best? [2018 comparison]

Texas Instruments sponsored me to do a challenge and write this post.

What would it be like to not have access to power plugs?

That’s what Texas Instruments challenged me to try.

They’ve built some really nice resources that you can use in your next power supply design, and now they want to spread the word: www.ti.com/power

In the challenge, I could not use any device that was plugged in for a whole day.

So, to prepare for the day, I charged up my two most important devices: My mobile phone and my laptop.

At 6.30 my alarm clock wakes me up. (It’s an app on my phone, so it’s allowed ;) )

[Read more…] about My day of unplugging

Are you a brainiac?

A year ago, I launched Electronics For Kids together with No Starch Press.

Now you can get this book, and a lot of other “brainy” books, for whatever you want to pay!

And – you’ll support charity while you’re at it =)
[Read more…] about Pay what you want: The humble book bundle

I just tested Manga Screen!

This is project that started four years ago.

From a hot, tiny room in a small village in Guatemala – I developed the first version of the touch interface for the screen.

The screen was called Manga Screen.

[Read more…] about I just tested Manga Screen!