Make a cheapo disposable video camera reusable. Supplies:

■ CVS single-use camcorder
■ Wire cutters
■ Palm m100 sync cable
■ USB cable with type
B female connector
■ Soldering iron and solder
■ Computer


1. On the side of the supposedly disposable drugstore camcorder, remove the label warning that it can’t be hooked up to a computer. (Sure it can:You just have to hack into it. Read on, geek boy.)

2. Take the m100 cable and, using the wire cutters, snip off the connector plug (the wider of the two) from the cable and remove the exposed wires that feed into the plug.

3. Cut the B, or female, end of the USB cable, revealing the four wires. To make the next step easier, be sure to have at least an inch of bare wire exposed.

4. Solder the wires into the m100 casing’s pinhole in these positions — 6: red wire; 8: green wire; 9: white wire; 10: black wire. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the rigged cord.

5. Go to camcorderkit21.exe and install the free software made by folks with way too much time on their hands. (Thanks, nerds!) It enables you to download your video onto your computer.

6. Record a video, then download. You can only download the most recent file, so be sure to delete it off the camcorder after downloading. Next stop, the Razzies.
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