TTYM #2

The beautiful art of electronics

Author

Tech it till you Make it
February 07, 2025

Stuff that I find online as I go about my life as a maker, electronics engineer and overall proud nerd. You’re getting this because you registered on the supertechman.blogspot.com blog. I was a nerd before it was cool.

Art, electronics or both?

In every endeavor one embarks on, be it running, smoking or electronics, there will always be someone that does it more and better than you - that realization can make you want to give up forever (bad for most things, but good for smoking). I first came across these prototype electronics works of art on this YouTube short (yes, really, I watch YouTube shorts). When I was done recovering from the shock and still ashamed of how I treat my breadboards, I decided to find out more in the name of all the makers and electronics enthusiasts of the world (no need to thank me). I’d seen a few neat 8-bit computers that were amazingly complex at the cost of tidiness, and I'd come to learn that you couldn't have one without the other. Well, think again.

One of those prototype 8-bit computers. Source: https://www.tausquared.net/8-bit/

The tidy devices I posted are all made by James Albin, (there are others but he’s the one that I originally saw, so kudos and all emphasis on him, plus he’s a good YouTube shorts creator!). Dive right in for more content of this sort and up your breadboarding game today!

(*not sponsored) Nerds need to carry stuff too.

Style and looks: good. Painful back problems: bad.

I’m in the market for a tech backpack, here’s what I’m considering and why. Maybe you need to carry stuff around in style too.

The original LTT backpack

Pros:

  1. Space for everything, even medium sized dogs.

  2. Durable and hyper-versatile.

Cons:

  1. Absolutely huge.

  2. Expensive @USD249.99.

LTT commuter backpack

Pros:

  1. Reasonable size.

  2. Reasonable price.

  3. Same durability and versatility as the original LTT backpack.

Cons:

  1. Frequently sold out.

Mr. Backpacks Men’s High-Capacity Travel Backpack

Pros:

  1. Super-reasonable price.

  2. Can fit all the tech you need and more.

Cons:

  1. No idea about the durability of this thing.

  2. Not my favorite in terms of looks.

  3. On the “larger” side of the spectrum.

Now tell me: which one should I go for? Is there another you’d suggest. Help a maker out and let me know.

Let’s get practical: vernier caliper measurement modes.

Be honest: you didn’t know about the Step measurement, did you?

What is this thing?

Yep, that round thing on the window of this train, what is that? Let me know if you know or if you want to guess. There are no prizes other than a well-deserved and prestigious shout-out on the next TTYM issue. Whether you know what that is or not, make sure to read the next issue to learn or confirm.

That’s all folks!

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