Book Description

OS X and iOS Kernel Programming combines essential operating system and kernel architecture knowledge with a highly practical approach that will help you write effective kernel-level code. You’ll learn fundamental concepts such as memory management and thread synchronization, as well as the I/O Kit framework. You’ll also learn how to write your own kernel-level extensions, such as device drivers for USB and Thunderbolt devices, including networking, storage and audio drivers.

OS X and iOS Kernel Programming provides an incisive and complete introduction to the XNU kernel, which runs iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Mac OS X servers and clients. Then, you’ll expand your horizons to examine Mac OS X and iOS system architecture. Understanding Apple’s operating systems will allow you to write efficient device drivers, such as those covered in the book, using I/O Kit.

With OS X and iOS Kernel Programming, you’ll:

• Discover classical kernel architecture topics such as memory management and thread synchronization
• Become well-versed in the intricacies of the kernel development process by applying kernel debugging and profiling tools
• Learn how to deploy your kernel-level projects and how to successfully package them
• Write code that interacts with hardware devices
• Examine easy to understand example code that can also be used in your own projects Download Now »

Book Description

Congratulations! You’re on Mars Base Alpha, the first human outpost on the red planet. Don’t relax, though. It’s not all roses and unicorns up here. Mars isn’t called “The Bringer of War” for nothing! You’ve just been rained on by a meteor shower and it’s up to you—you!—to put your LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics skills to work to save the day, and the base! And that’s only the beginning of the challenges that lie ahead.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: Mars Base Command is a book of challenge. It’s about challenging yourself to design and build robots to solve problems, tough problems. Taking a similar approach to best-selling LEGO author James Kelly’s other books, this book presents a series of four challenges in the setting of mankind’s first-ever manned base on the planet Mars. Each challenge begins with a backstory to set the scene. You’re given instructions for constructing a playing field, including devices that your eventual robot must manipulate. Your job is to build a robot that will execute the challenge and garner you the most points.

The book requires the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Education Resource Set. Scoring sheets are included that allow for the book’s use in educational and group settings. Teachers can base lesson plans around the different concepts taught in each challenge. Groups and clubs can choose to run mini-competitions in which teams or individuals compete against each other in a race to save the base. LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: Mars Base Command is an excellent choice for an individual, a group, or a teacher wishing to learn about and have more fun with LEGO’s best-selling robotics platform.

What you’ll learn Download Now »

Book Description

Arduino Projects to Save the World shows that it takes little more than a few tools, a few wires and sensors, an Arduino board, and a bit of gumption to build devices that lower energy bills, help you grow our own food, monitor pollution in the air and in the ground, even warn you about earth tremors.

Arduino Projects to Save the World introduces the types of sensors needed to collect environmental data—from temperature sensors to motion sensors. You’ll see projects that deal with energy sources—from building your own power strip to running your Arduino board on solar panels so you can actually proceed to build systems that help, for example, to lower your energy bills. Once you have some data, it’s time to put it to good use by publishing it online as you collect it; this book shows you how.

The core of this book deals with the Arduino projects themselves:

• Account for heat loss using a heat loss temperature sensor array that sends probes into every corner of your house for maximum measurement.
• Monitor local seismic activity with your own seismic monitor.
• Keep your Arduino devices alive in the field with a solar powered device that uses a smart, power-saving design.
• Monitor your data and devices with a wireless radio device; place your sensors where you like without worrying about wires.
• Keep an eye on your power consumption with a sophisticated power monitor Download Now »

Book Description

If you thought your phone was smart, you should see the new Android tablets! Based on Android 3 Honeycomb, these tablets provide all the computing power you’ll need on a device light enough to carry wherever you go.

Get the most out of your Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet with Android Tablets Made Simple—learn all the key features, understand what’s new, and utilize dozens of time-saving tips and tricks.

Android Tablets Made Simple includes over 500 pages of easy-to-read instructions and over 1,000 carefully annotated screen shots to guide you to Android tablet mastery. You’ll never be left wondering, “How did they do that?”

This book guides you through:

• Finding and purchasing the right Android tablet
• Understanding the Android Honeycomb interface
• Downloading and using tablet apps

What you’ll learn

• Connect your tablet to wireless networks, including 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi
• Make video calls to your friends and colleagues
• Download and read eBooks, newspapers, and magazines in your new compact library Download Now »

Book Description

Build a robot that responds to electrical activity in your brain—it’s easy and fun. If you’re familiar with Arduino and have basic mechanical building skills, this book will show you how to construct a robot that plays sounds, blinks lights, and reacts to signals from an affordable electroencephalography (EEG) headband. Concentrate and the robot will move. Focus more and it will go faster. Let your mind wander and the robot will slow down.

You’ll find complete instructions for building a simple robot chassis with servos, wheels, sensors, LEDs, and a speaker. You also get the code to program the Arduino microcontroller to receive wireless signals from the EEG. Your robot will astound anyone who wears the EEG headband.

This book will help you:

• Connect an inexpensive EEG device to Arduino
• Build a robot platform on wheels
• Calculate a percentage value from a potentiometer reading
• Mix colors with an RGB LED
• Play tones with a piezo speaker
• Write a program that makes the robot avoid boundaries
• Create simple movement routines

Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Building the Chassis Download Now »

Book Description

With the iOS5 software and the new iPhone 4S device, Apple has another world-class hit on its hands. This sleek, highly refined pocket computer comes with everything—cellphone, iPod, Internet, camcorder—except a printed manual. Fortunately, David Pogue is back with the latest edition of his witty, crystal-clear, colorful guide: the world’s most popular iPhone book.

• Use it as a phone. Learn the basics as well as time-saving tricks and tips for contact searching by voice, texting, and more.
• Manage hour stuff in the cloud. Sync and back up your contacts and media across all of your devices with iCloud.
• Get things done. Ask Siri to send reminders, place calls, and more.
• Master notifications. Use the Notification Center to find missed messages, calendar invitations, friend requests, and more.
• Connect with other iPhone owners. Send unlimited iMessages to friends, family, and colleagues who are also running iOS5.
• Treat it as an iPod. Master the ins and outs of iTunes, and listen to music, upload and view photos, and fill the iPhone with TV shows and movies.
• Take the iPhone online. Make the most of your online experience to browse the Web, read and compose email, use social networks, or send photos and audio files.
• Go beyond the iPhone. Learn how to use the App Store, and how to multitask between your apps, organize them in folders, and read ebooks in iBooks. Download Now »