Build your own set-top box

If you're looking for a rainy weekend project and are interested in building a cool little device you can connect to your TV, here's something you may want to check out.

It's called the YBox2 Kit.

What is it exactly?

It's a kit that provides you with the parts to build a mini (fits in an Altoids box) set-top box. When you're done, you connect the assembled YBox2 to a power supply, Internet connection, and TV to display basic Internet-powered widgets.

What can the widgets display?

Currently, there are 3 widgets in the widget catalog including:

Weather - This is the default widget that YBox2 kits come with. It will display the weather for a zip code. You can customize the zip code via the web interface.

Alarm clock - It can be configured for your time zone and can also be set with an alarm time and alarm mode. The buzzer beeps and the screen flashes when its time to wake up!

Twitter (shown)- The Twitter widget allows real-time updates from your favorite Twitter user.

Overall, it looks like a fun little project that doesn't look too difficult (provided you can do some basic soldering). For more information such as assembly instructions, check out the YBox2 Kit website or to buy your own kit for $75, stop by the Adafruit site.