#Geek tools nxt os for mac
#Geek tools nxt os software

The brick can link with a computer, with other bricks or even with Bluetooth phones or PDAs. You connect your computer to the brick using either a USB cable or a Bluetooth wireless connection. However, you can find Mac-friendly utilities that convert. The nice-but-small LCD can display black and white text and graphics, while the brick's loudspeaker plays a variety of NXT sound files. The brick comes with four input ports (one doubles as an expansion slot for a still-hypothetical sensor hub) and three output ports.

#Geek tools nxt os for mac

Overall, the new Lego Mindstorm NXT is a promising platform for anyone interested in hobby robotics, and it is especially nice for Mac lovers.

By providing software, hardware and Bluetooth developer kits, they give the community unprecedented access to the brick's inner workings. Finally, Lego has open sourced their firmware.

#Geek tools nxt os software

Also, Lego's software now runs under OS X you can even purchase the NXT kit at your local Apple store. It provides a more-interesting range of motors and sensors straight out of the box. The Mindstorm NXT offers several significant improvements over earlier models. The more I read, the more intrigued I became. I grew curious, and peeked-just peeked-at the press releases. At least, that was my intention, but part of me still wanted to believe. So, when Lego announced the new Mindstorm NXT, I greeted the news with a fair bit of cynicism. Programming the Mindstorm brick from the Mac often devolved into an exercise in frustration. Sure, you could find third party programming tools that offered partial Mac support, but these frequently lagged behind their Windows or Linux counterparts. Lego's graphical programming environment only ran on Windows. Of course, the software side was even worse. Sure, the Robotic Invention System seemed cool when I first opened the box, but I soon found the limited selection of motors and sensors quite.um.limiting. I love the idea of building robots from preformed plastic bricks, but the actual kits always failed to live up to my expectations. I have had a long-term love/hate affair with the Lego Mindstorm line. Lego's next generation Mindstorm kits play nice with the Mac. Educational Institution and Student DiscountsД¬olumn Tag: Geek Toys Lego NXT on the Mac.