SparkFun intros IOIO for Android, a hack-free breakout box to get your mind spinning

Meet any seasoned techie, and so they’ll likely spin whimsical tales of computing’s early days, and the challenge of finding a sensible use for a tool with seemingly limitless potential (you recognize, like feeding your cat whenever you sleep). a brand new product from SparkFun promises to bring this old-school awesomeness into the smartphone age: introducing IOIO (pronounced yo-yo), a breakout box that allows any Android 1.5+ device to govern electronic circuits from within Android’s applications. Designed in collaboration with Google, Spark’s PCB connects for your phone over USB, working its magic through a Java library that hooks into your apps. This DIY paradise will begin shipping in a number of weeks, and will be yours for $49.95 on pre-order. We’ve already witnessed some clever mods with IOIO, and when it sent a genuine alarm clock ringing, we couldn’t help but smile. Crack one yourself after the break.

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This post is tagged: alarm clock, breakout box, Collaboration, electronic circuits, java library, whimsical tales