Hardware & Computing
Physical hardware, devices, and computing
119 episodes · Page 4 of 5
#2818: The Connector Built for War Zones
The chunky military connectors in control centers aren't USB. Here's what they are, and how to use them on a laptop.
#2812: The Hidden Database of Everything You Own
Is there an API for product specs? Yes, but it's built for engineers, not homeowners — and Israel SKUs make it harder.
#2794: Build the Perfect Electronics Workbench in a Small Space
Chair first, then bench, then lighting. How to build a frustration-free electronics workstation in 60 square meters.
#2750: The Politics of Lighting Protocols
DMX, sACN, Eos vs. grandMA3—how the booth actually controls the lights.
#2699: Inside Android's Binder: No HTTP Here
Android's internal APIs don't use HTTP. They use Binder — a kernel-level IPC mechanism that's faster, tighter, and completely opaque.
#2667: Lost Phone, Found Tension: Security vs. Returnability
Can you secure your Android without killing the chance a good Samaritan returns it? We break down the tradeoffs.
#2621: Wartime Ingenuity: Powering Connectivity in a Faraday Cage
Four 18650 cells can't stack to 230V. The secret is switching, not stacking.
#2620: How Atomic Clocks Actually Keep Time
Why the second is defined by a cesium atom, not the Earth's rotation — and why leap seconds are causing chaos.
#2599: The $200 Printer That Changed Everything
What $200 buys you for printing keycaps, cable housings, and small parts at home — with real material and environmental math.
#2594: The Hierarchy of Immutable Code
From mask ROM to e-fuses: how hardware enforces a hierarchy of mutability in every computing device.
#2592: The Market That Never Went Away
From IBM terminals to Stream Decks — how macro keyboards evolved under the radar for decades.
#2585: The Pristine Key Namespace Nobody Uses
How unused keyboard keys, custom firmware, and layered macros can transform your workflow.
#2568: When Does Your House Need Three-Phase Power?
Why industrial machines need different electricity — and when your home AI rig might too.
#2564: The Hidden Genius of Everyday Objects
Nichrome wire, bimetallic strips, and the chemistry of browning — how a $15 appliance packs serious engineering.
#2556: The Weird Myths of Solid-State Storage
No moving parts, no sound waves — just electrons trapped in silicon. How solid-state drives actually work.
#2554: Bluffer's Guide to Car Talk: Sound Like You Know Engines
Stop saying "it went clunk." Learn the phrases that make mechanics think you know what you're talking about.
#2553: The Hidden Elegance of the Zipper
A deep dive into the Y-shaped tunnel, the bump-and-hollow geometry, and the silent history of the zip.
#2446: Why Airport Flight Displays Still Run Windows XP
The surprising tech stack behind airport departure boards, Times Square screens, and the Windows XP systems still running them.
#2432: The Hidden Cost of Flexibility in Chip Design
The economics and engineering of ASICs vs. CPUs and GPUs, from transistor placement to hyperscaler strategy.
#2364: The $1000 Military Clock You Can Build for $30
Learn how to build a precise dual-timezone clock using an ESP32 microcontroller, LCD displays, and USB-C power.
#2363: The Chasm Between Breadboard and Pacemaker
How do tiny computers power everything from hobbyist projects to life-saving medical implants? The engineering constraints are worlds apart.
#2358: ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi: The Microcontroller Mindshift
Why your smart thermostat doesn’t run Linux—and why that’s a feature. The surprising differences between microcontrollers and single-board computers.
#2330: Offloading Attention: The Case for Ambient Notifications
How USB lights and DIY setups are rethinking notifications to reduce screen overload and tap into your peripheral vision.
#2270: How Your Laptop Charger Conquered the World
The heavy travel transformer is extinct, thanks to a clever engineering revolution inside every power brick. We explain the tech and which devices ...