DIY iFlash for the iPhone

Reader Joe, he of the Ringtonator program we've posted about before, has sent word of a crazy cool hack-- using LEDs and a broken iPod car charger, he's created what he has dubbed the iFlash-- an external flash device for the iPhone's camera.

And it actually works really well. Apparently he used a tact switch, so there's no super coding necessary-- you just hit the button to turn the light on, and then take the picture. But he did hook it up so it's powered by the dock connection, which means all you have to do is keep it in your pocket until you need it, then plug it in and shoot away. Over on his forums, he's posted an entire how-to of the whole thing, from the dissection of the dock connector to the wiring of the LEDs. Pretty slick-- looks like maybe an afternoon's work, and it presents about as good a flash as the iPhone's camera is.

Thanks, Joe!

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Source: http://www.iphonexe.com/blog/?p=22

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Reader Joe, he of the Ringtonator program we've posted about before, has sent word of a crazy cool hack-- using LEDs and a broken iPod car...

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Thomas E. Miller

There is a really cool concept for video conferencing on the iphone, see:

http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/pages/view/entriesdetail.html?entryID=365

it is a cool concept that i have not seen on tuaw's frontpage, oversight?

September 29 2007 at 11:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

basscadet

it doesn't seem like it's emitting one big flash but it's used as a torchlight. Although this sounds less sophisticated it does protect the main unit from receiving potential leaks of current from a fully charged flash unit - and frying it. I wonder what's taking so long for 3rd party accessory makers to make one...

September 28 2007 at 1:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mike Schramm

Yes, meant LEDs of course, sorry. Not sure what happened there.

September 28 2007 at 1:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kernel Dan

D'oh... I thought maybe this article was talking about flash storage :

September 28 2007 at 1:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kishen

That guy needs to patent the thing, fast!

September 28 2007 at 12:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

imacmatt09

Wow those are some small LCD's. The almost look like LED's ;)

September 28 2007 at 12:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Leonard Fischer

The writer obviously means LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead of LCDs (liquid crystal displays). I like this blog a lot because of its wide coverage and deep iPhone coverage, but a lot of time, its accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

September 28 2007 at 12:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ryan Schmidt

LEDs.

Leave them alone, they are still crying about their 3rd party-less iPhones.

September 28 2007 at 12:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bobby

LCDs?

September 28 2007 at 12:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply