Hack into common household products and convert them into really cool stuff! This true hacker's guide shows how 30 common household items can be hacked and tweaked into products totally different than what the manufacturer intended. Garage and basement tinkerers will get fully illustrated step-by-step coverage of exactly which products are "hackable," how to hack them, and how to convert them into some unique, fun stuff. You will learn how to hack a telephone solicitor zapper that hangs up on phone spammers, create a robot that's a digital plaything for Fido, and hack their home into an abode that would make a security expert envious.

Table of Contents

DisclaimerDedicationForewordIntroductionPart 1. The Fine Art of Hacks, Mods, and ExpansionsChapter 1: Baby You Can Mod My RodChapter 2: Twist Dem NutsChapter 3: Power to the PeopleChapter 4: Shuttered But Not ShackledChapter 5: Smile, Say 43-68-65-65-73-65Chapter 6: Eat to the BeetChapter 7: Put Your Finger on This PulseChapter 8: You Stud MuffinChapter 9: High Five, Wi-FiChapter 10: You Are Mow Wonderful, To MeChapter 11: Wanna Play House, Doll?Chapter 12: Recycle, Reuse, ReduxChapter 13: Knit WitChapter 14: Google(plex)Chapter 15: Some Heavy PettingChapter 16: Harem Scare 'emChapter 17: Beat Your BeatChapter 18: One Way, Feng ShuiChapter 19: Courage! I'd Rather NotChapter 20: 'Tis the SeasonChapter 21: Tail-e-EssenChapter 22: Perk Me UpChapter 23: Call MeChapter 24: Get da Case on Deez GoodsChapter 25: Red Flag, Top GunChapter 26: Tattoo You; and Me, TooPart 2. Case StudiesCase Study 1: iRobot Roomba -- A Clean Room Makes a Dirty Mind (Especially with Mind Control)Case Study 2: WowWee Robotics Robosapien and Friends (The WowWee Factor)Case Study 3: Apple Computer iPod -- Hack to a Different DrummerCase Study 4: Sony PSP -- Make Your PSP Happy, Hack it into a Sony Mac OS PSP and LocationFree, LocationFree, LocationFree TVEpilogueAppendix A: Things to Know, Places to Go (Text and Links supporting the text)Appendix B: DIY Death (An examination of how manufacturers are designing not to be hacked)Index

About the Author

Dave Prochnow is an award-winning professional writer, editor, and contributor to numerous technical publications and is the Contributing Editor for Nuts and Volts and SERVO Magazine. He is the author of 27 nonfiction books, including the bestselling books The Official Robosapien Hacker's Guide and PSP Hacks, Mods, and Expansions, both published by McGraw-Hill. In 2001, Dave won the Maggie Award for writing the best how-to article in a consumer magazine. To learn more about Dave's books and other projects, visit his web site: www.pco2go.com.