transmitter

AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine

I’m sure most of you have seen or been pranked by the Remote Control Fart Machine. It’s a two piece toy that consists of a transmitter about the size of a car alarm key fob and a receiver unit that you turn on and hide somewhere in the vicinity of your intended victim. Then you simply wait for the right moment, press the button on the transmitter and the speaker plays a pre-recorded fart sound effect. Juvenile and amusing. I’m sure if Apple made a fart machine, it would be something to behold…

reinvented AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine

Here’s how to make your own overpriced and overproduced, Apple-styled remote control fart machine. The tools you will need are as follows:

category 01 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine category 02 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine category 03 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine
category 04 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine 1 AirPort Express Base Station with AirTunes (USD$129)

1 Macally PodWave (IP-A111) Portable Stereo Speakers (USD$39.99)

Mac OS X v10.3 or later (USD$129)

1 AirPort or AirPort Extreme-enabled computer (

iTunes version 4.6 or later (FREE)

category 06 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine
category 07 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine category 08 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine category 09 AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine
airpoot AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine

All totaled, this almost entirely Apple produced remote control fart machine will set you back at least USD$896.99. That’s almost as competitive in the fart machine market as the Apple Leather Case for iPod is in the iPod accessory market!!

Before you use the AirPOOT to toot your own flatulent horn, you will also need at least one “fart” sound effect in an audio format compatible with iTunes. There are many ways you might go about acquiring such sounds:

  • You could visit CreateFarts.com and tailor-make an air brick for the occasion and have it emailed to you.
  • There are sound effects CDs available AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine with high quality, lowbrow effects on them. Get some and rip one off into iTunes.
  • You could employ the use of iFart… yes, there is actually already a freeware application in release for the sole purpose of composing fart-like noises.
  • Or, if you have no shame and nowhere else to turn, you could record your own “bottom blast” using Garage Band and a microphone you will never use again …ever.

In any case, you will need at least one such sound effect. More is better, as it will afford you the option of choosing the right sound for the right occasion and will also allow the sounds to vary from poot to poot.

The Set-Up:

  1. airtunes AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart MachineLoad the AA battery into the Macally PodWave.
  2. Connect the Macally PodWave to the AirPort Express using the stereo mini-jack on the base station.
  3. Turn on the Macally PodWave.
  4. Plug the AirPort Express into an appropriate wall outlet that is concealed, near your intended victim and within wireless signal range of the Mac you will be using to trigger the “sound effects”.
  5. Use the AirPort Admin Utility to create a new network. (consult your manual for details)
  6. Open iTunes on your computer and choose your AirPOOT from the speakers pop-up menu in the lower right of the iTunes window.

Now, you need only wait until your victim is near the AirPOOT and the focus of attention, and then simply play one of your “fart” sound effects from iTunes. Don’t be in too much of a rush though. The element of surprise is as important as any other part of a prank like this. You don’t want to come crawling out from behind the filing cabinet where you’ve hidden the AirPOOT, then run to your MacBook Pro across the office and then cut the digital cheese all at once–it’s too suspicious–you have to be subtle. Set up the AirPOOT and let it lie in wait for a while. Then spring the trap later in the day.

TIPS:

Set up the AirPOOT in the Airport Admin Utility at home, in private, and then unplug the unit and bring it to the prank location and plug it in. It will remember its settings.

You might want to set up the Airport Express with Password protection on just to prevent anyone else using the “AirPOOT” before its time has come to make itself known. It is also wise to note that once the prank is played, this USD$300 Fart Machine receiver unit may easily fall into the hands of your victim. Putting password protection in place may not ensure its return to you, it may not even prevent the unit from being used against you in the same manner, but it may just delay the retaliation, giving you opportunity to snatch the unit back.

As the PodWave was designed for use with the iPod, it was assumed that one would adjust the audio volume via the iPod’s click wheel. So, for use with the AirPOOT, you will control the loudness of the flatulence via the volume control in iTunes. You may want to practice at home to establish the perfect volume setting for your prank.

You don’t have to plug it directly into a wall outlet, you can use an extension cord if that helps the subterfuge.

adminut AirPOOT Express Remote Control Fart Machine
 

mini Radio Station

With your mini and iPod, no doubt the bulk of your music collection lives in iTunes. Set your music free and enjoy it throughout your house the old fashioned way using your stereos’ FM receiver. For a few more dollars, add a wireless remote that will work walls away from your Mac.

miniradiostation mini Radio Station

What you’ll need:

The first and most important piece to get in place is the transmitter. Griffin nailed it with the RocketFM. Like your iPod car transmitter, this USB audio device will transmit your Mac’s audio 30 feet through walls and floors. Your placement of the small and memorizingly-lit device will contribute a lot to the signal strength, as will the quality of your receiver. With a decent receiver, a centrally located RocketFM should broadcast throughout your average multi-story 2,500 square foot home.

rocketfm mini Radio Station

Set-up is a breeze. The software – a preference pane – isn’t even required for the unit to function, but allows you to switch the frequency to find a nice quiet spot on your dial. Unlike WiFi, additional receivers will not decrease the broadcast range. The zero latency of FM will have every radio in your house playing in sync.

The RocketFM is a great way to get music, podcasts and internet radio into your stereo. It worked flawlessly in my testing. But the transmitter is just the beginning. With an RF remote you can control iTunes from anywhere your radio can get the signal. So not only can you have your music playing all over the house, you can control it from wherever you are.

The last piece is to control iTunes on you mini from your PowerBook or desktop Mac. With freeware like TuneConnect you can search tracks, play pause and skip from another Mac on the network. Rather have the Mac control itself? Then iTaf (requires Tiger) will allow you to schedule your music and even start your mini.

Forget the tangles of speaker wire and the high cost of WiFi audio and turn your Mac into a mini radio station. Long live FM!

Brian

The BTCUP for iPod lets you listen to music or talk on the phone

btcup 20070912 191315 The BTCUP for iPod lets you listen to music or talk on the phoneMacally today announced the release of its BTCUP, a full-channel FM transmitter in a cup holder design that lets you enjoy your iPod in the car while also integrating Bluetooth hands-free functionality with Bluetooth-equipped gadgets.

The Macally BTCUP lets you listen to your iPod through the car’s speakers and gives the driver full access to the spin wheel and a clear view of the screen. Also it lets you manage incoming calls from Bluetooth equipped mobile phones by auto-switching between phone mode and iPod mode and allowing you to answer the call hands-free. It returns to music play mode when the call is completed.

Powered through the cigarette lighter, the BTCUP supports 3G through 6G iPods, iPod with Video, iPod Photo, 1G and 2G iPod nano as well as the new iPod classic and the new iPod nano. The Macally BTCUP will sell for USD$119.99, and is now available at leading electronics and technology retailers throughout the United States.

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