Month: October 2005

Understand the iPod iTunesDB

ITunesDB – wikiPodLinux
From the site:
This page details the format of the binary files used on the iPod to keep track of the music it contains as well as its play history. Collectively we refer to these files as the iTunesDB however there are in fact a number of files, each with their own format, that make up this database.

Wow

I/O Brush: The World as the Palette
This is a great idea! A video paint brush that uses colors, shapes and movement from the real world. Checkout the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=vwl98dU0kY8

From the site:
I/O Brush is a new drawing tool to explore colors, textures, and movements found in everyday materials by “picking up” and drawing with them. I/O Brush looks like a regular physical paintbrush but has a small video camera with lights and touch sensors embedded inside. Outside of the drawing canvas, the brush can pick up color, texture, and movement of a brushed surface. On the canvas, artists can draw with the special “ink” they just picked up from their immediate environment.

Java + USB

Universal Serial Bus – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On the ITP PComp Listserv there was recently a thread about USB and Java. I have some interest in this so I figured I would do a bit of searching around.

Here is what I found:

jUSB – Java USB API for Windows

jUSB: Java USB (Linux)

The Java Community Process(SM) Program – JSRs: Java Specification Requests – detail JSR (JSR 80: JavaTM USB API)

JSR080 – javax.usb

It seems that the Communication API can work with USB devices that implement the communications device class. USB devices can extend from any of the following device classes that are supposed to be supported by the underlying OS. Thanks to WIkipedia Entry

USB human interface device class
USB mass storage device class
USB communications device class
USB printer device class
USB audio device class
USB video device class

A world of webcams

Newest Webcams
From the site:
Random live webcams from the Net

These webcams were found automatically through a variety of clever search techniques. Their owners might or might not have intended for them
to be public. But they obviously are. Many of them are security cameras in companies or
semi-public places. If you hover over the picture you’ll see what location information is available.

Interesting how “security cameras” are not “secure” themselves..