• AppleCentral Network:
  • Tech Support
  • |
  • Open Source
  • |
  • Apple News
  • |
  • Register Domains
  • |
  • SSL Certificates
  • |
  • iPod Deals
  • |
  • Mac Deals
  • |
  • Mac Book Shelf
  • AppleCentral Home
  • MacTech Magazine
    • About MacTech in Print
    • Issue Table of Contents
    • Subscribe
    • Risk Free Sample
    • Back Issues
    • MacTech DVD
    • MacTech Archives
    • MacTech Print Archives
    • MacMod
    • MacTutor
    • FrameWorks
    • develop
  • MacNews.com
    • MacNews News
    • Blog
    • MacTech Reviews and KoolTools
    • Whitepapers, Screencasts, Videos and Books
    • News Scanner
    • Rumors Scanner
    • Documentation Scanner
  • Apple Expo
    • by Category
    • by Company
    • by Product
  • MacForge.net
  • Job Board
  • Advertising
    • Benefits of MacTech
    • Mechanicals and Submission
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Submit Apple Expo Entry
  • User
    • Register for Ongoing Raffles
    • Register new user
    • Edit User Settings
    • Logout
  • Contact
    • Customer Service
    • Webmaster Feedback
    • Submit News or PR
    • Suggest an article
  • Connect Tools
    • MacTech Live Podcast
    • RSS Feeds
    • Twitter
You are not logged in. [Log In] AppleCentral » Forums » Mods and Hacks » Laptop Mods » Misc. Mods » Backlight
Register User    Forum List        Active Topics    FAQ
Topic Options
Hop to:
#463295 - 10/29/05 11:43 AM Backlight [Re: REDJONN]
Anonymous
Unregistered


I have a 1.25 GHz Al Powerbook running 10.3.9, with backlit keyboard. I want to make my keyboard backlight breath like the light on the latch button when it is asleep. I figure this is going to take some firmware hacking or something. But I don't even know where to start, or if this is possible.

Anyways, You all have the permission to tell me this is a worthless project. I just thought It might be fun.

Post edited by: HandsomeRob, at: 2005/10/29 11:44

Top
#463296 - 10/29/05 02:24 PM Re:Backlight [Re: REDJONN]
mordaskyt Offline


Registered: 01/25/05
Posts: 360
Well first of all its very a cool idea. I don't know how the keyboard backlight is wired, but it may be as simple as adding a splice from the little pulse LED on the front of the powerbook to the leads of the keyboard's LED, asuming they are accessable. try to add a small plug or connector (the common kind found throughout laptop wiring) so you can still disconnect the keyboard. I tend to think in hardware terms, I don't know if this is possible via software.
_________________________
PB G4 15" 1.2ghz - Pismo G3 400 mhz - iBook G3 500 "Jukebox"
"SawSmurf" G4 500 - Quicksilver G4 Dual 1ghz modding...

Top
#463297 - 10/29/05 03:01 PM Re:Backlight [Re: REDJONN]
JediJoker7169 Offline
Awesome

Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 477
In terms of the backlit keyboard, can one be modified to work in a 1.33 GHz 12" PB? I've always wanted to be able to work well in the dark because... Well... It's just that cool. Or if one can't be modified to work, can some kind of backlight be well implemented? EL would obviously work the best, but also would be expensive, and I'm sure it would be hard to fit around all the nooks and crannies of the keyboard's underside. And I'm sure whatever it was would also suck power like mad, of which this model is already lacking. I've seen some iBook mods that use fiberoptics, but they look kinda splotchy. I'm looking for a more uniform backlight.
_________________________
Cheers! :-)
- JediJoker

Current:
- "ProBook:" 15.4" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz
- Mac Classic II
- Old PowerBook

Moved On:
- "The Book of Power:" 12.1" PowerBook G4 Aluminum 1.33 GHz
- Purple iMac

Top
#463298 - 12/09/05 02:56 PM Re:Backlight [Re: REDJONN]
xbetterforworsex Offline


Registered: 10/28/05
Posts: 32
JediJoker7169 wrote:
Quote:
In terms of the backlit keyboard, can one be modified to work in a 1.33 GHz 12" PB? I've always wanted to be able to work well in the dark because... Well... It's just that cool. Or if one can't be modified to work, can some kind of backlight be well implemented? EL would obviously work the best, but also would be expensive, and I'm sure it would be hard to fit around all the nooks and crannies of the keyboard's underside. And I'm sure whatever it was would also suck power like mad, of which this model is already lacking. I've seen some iBook mods that use fiberoptics, but they look kinda splotchy. I'm looking for a more uniform backlight.


I've been thinking about this a lot as well. I've seen some fiber optics that were done well. The one thing my buddy and I were discussing might actualy work. (But probably not haha)
We were thinking of putting a bigger LED (if it will fit) or brighter LED into the sleep light. Useing fiber optic tubeing you can run the light to each key, with the tubing being enlarged toward the end.And then tape off around the under part of the key so that the light is concentrated at the specific key and will seem less like a pin spot.. That's really as far as we got... I know there are going to be spaceing issues and such. haha it's pretty half brained but it could be sort of a jumping off point.

Top
#463299 - 12/09/05 03:21 PM Re:Backlight [Re: REDJONN]
macDeviant Offline


Registered: 02/14/05
Posts: 491
where would you splice power from? i have a 15in Albook, i was thinking about doing something similar.

macDeviant
_________________________
2.4gHz 15" MacBook Pro, 1.66gHz Core Duo Mac Mini, 2.5gHz G5 QUAD, 733mHz Quicksilver, 450mHz G4 Cube, 700mHz G3 iBook, 350mHz Sawtooth G4, 350mHz Revs. A and B B&W G3, 16mHz Powerbook 100, 8mHz Macitosh Classic.

Top
Previous Topic
View All Topics Index
Next Topic

Tweet

Preview

Moderator:  Acumowchek 
Print Topic
Switch to Threaded Mode
Publications, Articles and Industry Discussion
   »MacTech/MacNews Article Discussions
   »Apple World
Marketplace
   »Deals and Special Offers
      »Expired Offers
   »Trading Warehouse
Mac
   »Hardware
   »Software
   »Servers, Security, and Networking
   »Programming, Web Dev & Scripting
   »Windows and Virtualization
   »Cloud and Online Services
Mobile Technologies
   »iPhone Apps, AppStore, and iTunes
   »iPad, iPhone, iPod and Apple TV Hardware
Mods and Hacks
   »General Mods
      »Techniques
      »Miscellaneous
      »Mod Logs
   »Laptop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Desktop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Peripheral Mods
      »iPod Mods
      »Misc Mods
   »Software Hacks & Mods
General Discussion
   »Site Feedback & Issues
   »Stan's Lounge
   »Soapbox
Now Software Support
   »Announcements
   »Now X
      »FAQs
      »Discussion
   »Now Up-to-Date & Contact
      »Community Help
      »Tips and tricks
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
Board Rules · Mark all read
Contact Us · AppleCentral · Top

MacTech Only Search:
Community Search:

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
  • SPREAD THE WORD:
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine
  • Generate a short URL for this page:



AppleCentral. www.applecentral.com
Main office: 805-494-9797
Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.
All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.
Generated in 0.065 seconds in which 0.052 seconds were spent on a total of 13 queries. Zlib compression enabled.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.5.8