Hackaday Podcast

Ep 364: Clocks, Cameras, and Free Will

Apr 3, 2026
News and community challenges, including a green-powered contest and ongoing Artemis launch coverage. A mystery sound reveal and playful April Fools highlights. Builds range from clean non-3D-printed enclosures to lo-fi film-style cameras and an SMT tape counter. Weird and fun hacks include a mathy clock, electropermanent magnets, turning cola into mead, microwave metal casting, balcony solar adoption, and a debate over Copilot’s terms.
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ADVICE

Make A Gameboy‑Style Camera With ESP32

  • For low‑res lo‑fi cameras, use an ESP32 with an OV3660 sensor and implement dithering and fixed palettes to mimic Game Boy camera aesthetics.
  • The LilyGo T-Display S3 Pro gives a built-in touchscreen for toggling bit depths and dithering in real time.
INSIGHT

A Clock That Finds Meaning In Every Minute

  • Momentous Clock maps every minute to math or historical facts, revealing alternate meanings in ordinary times.
  • Christina notes examples like 1:27 showing Roman numeral C-X and 8:28 linking to MLK's 'I Have a Dream' date (8/28/63).
ADVICE

Count Tape‑And‑Reel Parts With A Sprocket Counter

  • Use a 3D-printed sprocket, LED/sensor pair, and microcontroller to count parts on tape‑and‑reel, accommodating transparent tapes where optical methods fail.
  • John made a hand-held device with spring-loaded idler, tactile feedback, and configurable parts-per-sprocket settings for inventory counting.
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