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!

Mac360 directed me toward an app that I don't have any real use for, but I wish I did. Homebrew Formulator is a Filemaker runtime application, which means you don't need Filemaker to use it. The important thing to know is that Homebrew Formulator is all about helping you make your own beer - brew your own brew, if you will. It lets you manage and design your very own beer recipes and store them in a flexible and powerful database. It includes beer styles from the most current BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Style Guidelines, a mash calculator, brewing water calculator, carbonation calculator, yeast repitch calculator and even a hydrometer correction calculator. Those words (other than the word beer) mean nothing to me, but to those who practice the art of fine homebrewing, it's probably important stuff.

Who knew that there was so much math involved with something as sublimely simple as beer?

I drink a lot of beer, but I will be the first to admit that I don't know a damn thing about making it. I know how to buy it and I know how to drink it. Usually I even know when to stop drinking it. I appreciate fine beer like some people appreciate fine wine - only without all that bothersome knowledge. I do think it would be very cool to make my own beer, however, and if I am ever inspired to brew more and drink less, this will be the first app I turn to to get me started.

You'll need Mac OS X 10.3.9 or better and Intel-based Mac owners will be glad to hear it's Universal Binary. The good news? Homebrew Formulator is free, as in beer. And on that note... will one of you toss me a cold one?

Last week, I mentioned the HomebrewPSP Converter from the same people that make iPSP, and commented on how I thought they would soon have an update that would allow users of PSPs running v1.5 firmware to run homebrew apps and emulators without having to swap memory sticks.

Well, my prediction was right. Get it now. It even has the option to automatically put the converted game on a PSP that you've mounted on your Mac. Very nice.