I just did this mod to my WII controller and love it!

Now I have LEDs on my wiimote that correspond to the cursor colors used by the Nintendo Wii. For example pointing the player 2 controller at the screen gives a red cursor, this mod changes the corresponding LEDs on the wiimote to match that of the screen.

Here is how it’s done:
(click on the photos to enlarge)
Step 1
Things you will need to change the led’s for your controller are:

• Triwing screwdriver (found at playasia.com)
• Surface mount led’s (0603) in the colors of red, green, and yellow
• Soldering iron
• Tweezers
• De soldering Braid

Also I would recommend a magnifying glass of some sort (surface mount led’s are small)

Step2
Open the controller by unscrewing the four screws and pressing in on the upper section near the top and pulling the two sides apart with some force.

Step 3
Heat up each side of the led’s solder by applying heat with your soldering iron and remove the solder with the soldering braid. To remove the led. heat up each side of the lead and gently wiggle it from side to side to release it from the solder. Click Here For a more in depth Tutorial For removing Led’s

Step 4
Use De soldering braid to clean up the connection of the old solder.

Step 5
Take some new solder add it to one side of the led connector. then slide the led in place when the solder is still in liquid form. Then add solder to the other side.

Step6
Repeat until you have all 4 led’s displaying different colors

Their are more tutorials at wiimotemods
pics from wiimotemods

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If you have not bought a new TV in the last month, you may not know. But all TV’s that do not have a built-in digital tuner, also known as an ATSC receiver ,have a warning label sticker saying it will need a “converter box” in 2009 because of a switch to digital broadcasting.

Why are they doing that?

Well, Those stickers are mandated by the Federal Communications Commission to be on all analog TV’s starting in May.

What’s happening is that on February 17, 2009, TV broadcasters will be turning off their analog over-the-air broadcasts, the kind you tune into with rabbit-ear antennas.

The FCC is making the TV stations do this for various reasons but mainly because digital broadcasting is much more efficient, using less of the valuable radio spectrum.

What will happen is the government will take that spectrum back and auction it off for other uses.

The funny part is that they converter boxes mentioned on the label are not really yet available.

There are prototypes from LG Electronics and RCA and I am sure other companies will jump into the fray real soon.
Why, because about 20 million U.S. households get only over-the-air analog TV. This is a huge customer base to market to!

From what we understand you won’t need a digital converter to watch cable or satellite TV, or play movies from DVD players or VCRs also, game consoles are also unaffected.

But if you go through the hassle of getting a converter box, you may find that your picture quality has improved a great deal.

The boxes will go between the rabbit-ear antenna and the TV set, converting the digital broadcast to an analog signal the TV can use. They’ll need a power supply, and come with their own remote.

The price for a box is expected to be between $50 to $70, but the government will be issuing two $40 coupons (actually plastic cards that work like gift cards) to each household that asks for them. See this post for more information.

They say if you go through the hassle of getting a converter box, you may find that your picture quality has improved a great deal. This we will have to see.

They are also telling us, digital broadcast will contain some program information, so you will be able to bring up a little window showing the name of the show you’re watching.

If you’re getting a new TV, look for one that has a built-in digital tuner, also known as an ATSC receiver. Sets that only have an analog tuner, also known as an NTSC receiver, are being phased out of stores already.

Here are some good links regarding Digital TV:
www.dtv.gov
www.ntia.doc.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.ce.org/hdtv
www.ceknowhow.com
www.CheckHD.com
www.myceknowhow.com
www.antennaweb.org

There is also a lot of good info on Digital TV Here.

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There is a fundamental change occurring in the world of technology!

This video from Popular Mechanics shows a new type of computer. They say it could be available to the public soon as next year.

The idea is not that new, they have been working on this for a few years now. But it’s getting closer and closer to becoming reality.

You will note that no key board is shown, but I am sure they must have some type of wireless keyboard connected.

If you could put this in you living room and have it also control your TV and audio system it would be pretty sweet!

The other day NPR ran a story this morning about the comeback of vinyl.

CD sales are declining, but there has been a resurgence in vinyl. Audiophiles are drawn to records because there aren’t any anti-piracy restrictions and people claim they just sound better than their digital counterparts

Apparently sales of new vinyl records are up about 10%. Sales will approach a million this year. CD’s will probably be about half a billion.
They mention the popularity of a turntable with a USB interface and speculated on other possible reasons for the resurgence.
They do mention sound quality and lack of DRM as possible causes. But sound quality can and will be debated.

Unfortunately most people have not heard a true analog recording. I am talking about an analog source, going through an analog receiver or amplifier.
Personally I have listened to both. I must say that true analog is better than any digital recording. The problem though is most folks that try analog try it through a digital amplifier or receiver. When you do this, you can eliminate the true effects of an analog recording.

Like most people, I no longer have a turntable or an analog receive, but if you ever get a chance to listen to a true analog setup, you absolutely must give it a listen! You will here things you never heard. The only way I can describe it is that it is a more “honest” sound.
You hear the music just the way it was recorded. not the way someone’s or some companies digital setup converts it.

I am not dissing CDs or downloaded digital music. They are both great and have their place. I myself, at this time am running digital sound exclusively. If you want to read more about digital audio, see here.
But if you are a total audiophile, check into analog. you might be surprised.

Even though it is still cold in some parts of the country summer is definitely coming. Just sooner is some places than others.
But are you ready to watch TV or movies in your backyard or your pool?
If not here is a nifty, relatively inexpensive setup.

Do a little shopping and you can get your self:

1. An 8 foot outdoor inflatable screen. starting at $189.90
2. A decent projector, available from many sources, starting at $1,000 on up.
3. Sound system - Anything from a HTIB (Home theater in a box), which can include a DVD player to dedicated sound components.
4. A video source. You can use anything from a Laptop, Cable box, etc…

Add a storage box or cart, to put your things in when not in use, and you are ready to go. This can all be accomplished for around $2,000.

Now you can sit in the pool, sip your favorite beverage and watch your shows or movies! Just be careful that you don’t drop your remote into the water!

If you want more than this, just like your in home theater setup, you can go to the extreme and spend thousands on custom designed systems or upgrade at your hearts desire. But this will get you going and definitely give you hours of entertainment.

According to PCWorld rumors can now be put to rest: Microsoft just officially announced the impending release of its Xbox 360 refresh.

The new model, due to hit stores on April 29 at a price of $480, boosts hard drive capacity from 20GB to 120GB; and adds an HDMI interface, the optimal interconnect for high-definition video playback. The Xbox 360 Elite will support playback at up to 1080p resolution.

You can read more here.

I have been waiting for this box. I am still running the original Xbox and have been planning to upgrade once Halo 3 is out. But interestingly the new model doesn’t integrate a next-gen optical drive for playing packaged high-definition Hollywood movies; Microsoft will instead continue to offer its kludgy HD DVD Player add-on.

So it looks like the waiting game is still on. I have time before Halo 3 is out and who knows, maybe Microsoft will change things or have something else new between now and then.

The SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS has FINALLY arrived! The long awaited client that makes Slinging TV possible on Palm OS smartphones will be available as a public beta… click here to read more | digg story

Thanks to Matt Whitlock and consumer community sites like TechLore users can connect together so they can help each other, but sometimes only the manufacturers of a product are capable of providing the assistance you need.

How many times have you had a question or problem with your device, and haven’t had a clue how to get a hold of the manufacturer?

This is why we will be working to maintain the ultimate list of customer support telephone numbers, links to websites, e-mail support, links to user manuals, and FAQs for as many CE manufacturers as possible.

This is a great list, spend sometime and bookmark it See the full list here!