Glass Brick Light With Smart Control

When I was idly browsing Instagram I came across an advert for (in my opinion) an incredibly expensive (€139) glass brick light. I can't find the original advert but I believe this article shows the light from the same company. The light used manual filters to change the colour, was not smart and I think… Continue reading Glass Brick Light With Smart Control

Mechanical Keyboard Prototype With V-USB & QMK

Mechanical Keyboard Prototypes

This is a relatively complete guide on how to build a mechanical keyboard prototype and get it functioning with QMK. Two different microcontrollers will be demonstrated (ATMegs32A, ATMega328P) and it should provide a solid starting point for anyone wishing to build a keyboard from the ground up. This is going to the the base I… Continue reading Mechanical Keyboard Prototype With V-USB & QMK

NeoPixel LED Controller

NeoPixel LED Controller - Example Candle & Strip Lights

Building a NeoPixel LED Controller with MQTT and HomeKit support. Expanding on my previous project to add LED lighting to my work area, I wanted to investigate a lower voltage and more customisable LED system. I had read about WS2812B or NeoPixel LEDs but had not built anything with them. I have since build a… Continue reading NeoPixel LED Controller

Build A HomeKit Enabled WiFi LED Strip

12v WiFi LED Strip Circuit Diagram

I have a work area that I wanted to provide some additional lighting for, and like everything else in my home I wanted it to work with Apple HomeKit. I did not want to spend a large amount of money buying something like a Phillips Hue Strip so I thought I would build my own.… Continue reading Build A HomeKit Enabled WiFi LED Strip

Classic Mac Emulation On macOS

Space Quest VI - OS 9 - Sheep Shaver

Classic Mac Emulation On macOS, having just resurrected my 2008 Mac Pro from the doldrums, it has now become a permanent feature in the office / retro basement.  Giving me the opportunity to play about with some emulation options without disturbing my main work Mac.  I have been working on Classic Mac and Amiga emulation, with… Continue reading Classic Mac Emulation On macOS

Rebuilding my 2008 Mac Pro Desktop

MacPro 2008 Rebuild A Look Inside

Rebuilding my 2008 Mac Pro, it's almost 10 years old and has languished for the last year hidden behind boxes, under powered and forgotten, it was time it had an upgrade and I fixed some of the destructive maintenance that had been done to it over the years. But first a quick history of how… Continue reading Rebuilding my 2008 Mac Pro Desktop

Relaxing, it’s probably good for your health

Having been recently diagnosed with a manageable but ongoing health condition, I have been thinking more about relaxation and taking a bit better care of myself, not something that is unusual in the circumstances. I know its all the rage to think about mindfulness and whatever the buzzword is this week for taking time to… Continue reading Relaxing, it’s probably good for your health

Frustrating Tech – IPV6 Inbound KVM Issues

IPv6 inbound KVM issues caused some head scratching but ultimately lead to a solution, networking is tricky and often frustrating, but a little perseverance / angry googling can pay dividends. Having some time ago built a general purpose server (from my old gaming pc and now running Ubuntu 16.04) that provides services to our home… Continue reading Frustrating Tech – IPV6 Inbound KVM Issues