The name is a bit odd, I have to admit, but this looks like one fun toy for the DIY enthusiast out there. It’s called the Meggy Jr RGB and it’s a programmable handheld console that features an 8×8 LED matrix made up of wonderful colored lights. It uses an ATMega168 microcontroller, similar to that of the Arduino. In fact, you can use Arduino code to program the Meggy Jr. With six buttons available, you could end up making a game or an audio interface with this thing.

Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories has a whole write up on it and how it can be used. It’ll be available next week.

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For those not familiar with the Dead Sea Scrolls, they are the only known surviving copies of Biblical documents made before 100 AD. So, it’d be nice to try and preserve them in any way possible. What better way to insure its longevity than the immortal internet? Now, not only is the oldest Hebrew record of the Old Testament discovered to date, it’s now the first ever to be put on public display on the Internet.

“The project will involve the documentation of all of the thousands of Dead Sea Scrolls fragments belonging to about 900 manuscripts, and placing them in an Internet databank that will be available to the public,” the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said.

On top of that, infrared and color imaging scientists will help improve the quality and restore worn down fragments that have broken off from the original piece. Let’s hear it for the preservation of the Jewish faith. Thanks JDate! Erm… I mean, thanks Israel Antiquities Authority!

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No, really. This sculpture really does suck. It’s made from a shit-ton of colorful drinking straws and you can make your own if you find yourself inclined to do so. It’s not just a sculpture, though. It’s also a lamp! Yes, light up your room and take a hit. Let the grooves flow, then, snap out of it and realize your lamp is made of straws. Way to go, tackimaster!

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The company that could turn your iPod or laptop any color is back and offering the iPhone 3G in exciting new colors. No longer are you limited to a black or white iPhone 3G purchase. Now you can plunk down $150 extra and get a wacky neon green paint job. It’s similar to T-Mobile’s skinning service except not affordable in the slightest.

You can get combine colors if you want to mix it up and represent your favorite sports team if that tickles your fancy. Unfortunately, the price is just too high for us to recommend it. Each additional option will cost you more and more. You might be better off trying to DIY this one.

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What better way to translate audio signals into light patterns than with this DIY project from Electronicpeasant.com. Throwing a few parties at your house while your rents are in Tahiti? Build a bunch of these, throw on some jam band music and take some hallucinogens to pay tribute to the late great Albert Hoffman. Perhaps some of your friends could bring over their DIY E-bolas to turn the party into a real rave that’ll have the police there (partying with you) in hours (they were busy).  With LEDs for lights, the color organ was designed for extended battery use and doesn’t burn too much power. After all, no one wants to change a battery whilst under the influence.

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Sky Factory’s new programmable “SkyCeilings” is just what introverts need to raise their Sims “room” stat. In an effort to make surroundings either at home or at the work place aesthetically pleasing, Sky Factory’s ceiling creates an illusion of nature by introducing changes of light and color; all in real-time as if it actually were to simulate the local rising and setting of the sun.

I live in a room with no windows. I haven’t seen the sun in seven years.  This is exactly the healing tool I need to enhance my physiology and well-being.  Ah fuck it, I love looking like Liz Taylor.

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Electroluminescent wiring isn’t anything new but using it in the world of fashion is a whole new experience. Take these two dudes who designed replica Daft Punk suits out of the EL wiring. If you’re wondering how EL wiring works, it’s basically a thin copper wire with phosphor around it. When voltage flows through, it glows. Simple, right?

Now, the genius who brought Daft Punk’s works of art to life has an article up on how to turn your clothing into a bright mess of color. Hit up the link below to peep the Instructables article on getting funky. And by getting funky, I mean EL wiring. Boobs after the jump.

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Who doesn’t love Nike? Between their excellent sportswear and baller shoes, Nike is always pushing boundaries in the art world. The latest project to come from the most popular athletic shoe manufacturer is Nike PhotoiD, a new art movement/marketing gimmick that lets users take photos of cool things they see in real life and apply it to a custom-designed pair of kicks. See some graffiti you like? Take a picture and throw it on your Dunk 6.0s.

Be warned about a few things before popping a sneaker freaker though. One, the shoes will only feature the two most dominant colors, not a silk-screened version of your photo or whatever you had in mind. Also, you’re limited to a pair of 1985 Dunk high-tops, which I’m sure no one is complaining about. Lastly, no US service. This marketing campaign is being rolled out in Europe and Europe only my friends.

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If you’re LED crazy, you won’t find a cooler LED anywhere else. The BlinkM-Smart LED is king over all other LEDs. It’s able to drastically change color and using BlinkM Sequencer, software that fuses a color picker with a drum machine, it can blink and fade in nearly any pattern. Make it flicker like a candle or flash like a police light. It can pretty much do anything but walk your dog for you. They’re $13 bucks a pop and are sure to illuminate your life with variety. All it requires is 5 volts applied to it in your project and you’re good to glow.
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These new car stereos by Clarion stand out among the crowd by offering a colorful choice for your car’s interior design. Clarion offers three new models, the DUB275MP (white color), DFZ675MC (black and blue) and DMZ375 (grey and blue), which will surely add some life back into your vehicle.

All models offer 4×50W amps, USB and SD support, as well as the possibility to add a Bluetooth device to the mix. Check out the other models after the jump. (more…)