CrunchGear

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• Console beeps and nerds play the Tetris theme
• Pomera: Digital notebook with foldable keyboard (video)
• USB eye-warmer
• Daily Crunch: Melty Edition
• Nerdbots: throwbacks to the tin toy era
• Powered cooler to replace ice at picnics – and you ask why there’s an energy crisis
• Windows 7 install base overtaking OS X
• The twee-est iPod speakers on the planet
• Contest: 10 free codes for Pet Acoustics Pet Jingles app
• Roccat’s new USB hub looks like it wants to sting you
• Lock, Unlock: An Arduino-powered robotic lock
• Review: Samsung Behold II
• Tekken 6 update should improve online playability
• Use a fuel cell to see how drunk you are this holiday season
• Something about Web scams, and the sites that still support them
• Video Review: TwelveSouth BassJump
• First DJ iPhone app lets you mix beats without listening to them.
• Datel files lawsuit against Microsoft to ‘restore competition’ re: memory cards
• Amazon announces better battery life and native PDF support for the Kindle
• Gift Guide 2009: Gifts for the Technologically Impaired

Console beeps and nerds play the Tetris theme Posted: 25 Nov 2009 05:15 AM PST I’m a big fan of people who do fun stuff with computers and so I am a big fan of this. These guys programmed 20 computers to play one note over and over. The resulting cacophony turns out to be a beep-boop version of the Tetris theme. The project is simple, using the internal speaker of each computer in the class to play a different channel (instrument) of the tetris theme. All computers are linked with the upd protocol, so not all the computers are synchronised, but for now it will be good!

Pomera: Digital notebook with foldable keyboard (video) Posted: 25 Nov 2009 04:22 AM PST Japanese stationery maker King Jim announced the Pomera DM20 [JP] today, an ultra-compact handheld device that’s based on a “less is more” concept. The so-called digital notebook, which is unfortunately Japan-only at this point, is only made for one purpose: It lets you make notes. No email, no web access, no gaming, nothing but writing texts or quickly jotting down your shopping list. And apparently, the general concept did attract enough users, as the DM20 is a major upgrade of the DM10 King Jim started selling last year. The new model has a 5-inch TFT VGA screen (monochrome, 640×480 resolution), a 89MB of internal memory, a microSD and SDHC slot (SD: 2GB max., SDHC: 16GB max.), a USB port and (Japanese) cell phone connectivity. Its foldable Japanese QWERTY keyboard in the 145 x 100 x 33mm body is the main selling point. King Jim will start selling the Pomera DM20 in Japan on December 11 for $380. You could ask the usual suspects The Japan Trend Shop or Geek Stuff 4 U to get one shipped outside this country but King Jim states the device is only compatible with Japanese Windows (it won’t work with Macs at all). Watch this video to see how the Pomera DM20 looks in action:

USB eye-warmer Posted: 25 Nov 2009 02:40 AM PST Infamous USB gadget maker Thanko can’t be stopped, it seems. They gave us USB-powered shavers, USB-powered neckties and even USB-powered boob warmers. And today the Tokyo-based company started listing the USB eye warmer [JP] in their online store. As you might expect, it warms your eyes. Thanko says the thing is the perfect solution for geeks who want to relax their eyes, just like when you put a hot wet towel on them. Users can plug the device directly into their Windows or Mac machine’s USB port (the eye warmer supports USB 1.1 and 2.0) and switch it on or off with a button. Thanko sells the eye warmer for $22 on their website. As their English online store closed down just recently, you’ll need to contact import specialists like The Japan Trend Shop or Geek Stuff 4 U to have them get one for you.

Daily Crunch: Melty Edition Posted: 25 Nov 2009 12:00 AM PST Nerdbots: throwbacks to the tin toy era The twee-est iPod speakers on the planet This Horgan Becket media cart is somewhat expensive Putting phones in the deep freeze won't actually destroy them Powered cooler to replace ice at picnics – and you ask why there's an energy crisis

Nerdbots: throwbacks to the tin toy era Posted: 24 Nov 2009 06:00 PM PST These cute little robot figures are strictly for decoration, but they hearken back to a day when decorative figures were our toys. Do none of you remember the fun we had with immobile, poorly-molded Star Wars figurines and the original tin robots these ones emulate? Toys are a bit more complicated these days — not that I don’t enjoy them too. These Nerdbots are made from household items, and remind me a bit of what might happen if you went around the house zapping things with the All Spark. They’re pretty expensive at around $200 (they’re one-of-a-kind), but if you can’t spare the bread, they look easy enough that you and the little you could put some together some rainy Sunday. [via Apartment Therapy]

Powered cooler to replace ice at picnics – and you ask why there’s an energy crisis Posted: 24 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Here’s the thing. I appreciate innovation. This rechargable portable refrigerator looks handy. Handy if you live in a world without ice. I mean really now: there is more water than anything else in the world, and you possess the means to freeze it in your very own home. Once you decide that you’d rather use up about a gazillawatt of energy to keep a couple drinks cold rather than reach into get your hand cold for one second, then you’ve gone too far. It’s like buying a rechargeable shirt that pushes your chest in and out. Why not just breathe? Yes yes, that’s all well and good, but where do I buy this miracle of refrigeration, you ask? Apparently at Bed, Bath and Beyond. This is the Beyond part, I’m guessing. Oh, and it costs $450. MM-HM! It’s no more than you deserve. [via Crave]

Windows 7 install base overtaking OS X Posted: 24 Nov 2009 04:30 PM PST There’s no real cause for alarm here, but it might be a good talking point (or at least something to be aware of) that Windows 7 is nose and nose with OS X for install numbers, according to stats published by Net Applications. This isn’t really significant in and of itself, as it was sure to happen at some point or another. The fun part is that both sides can use it as ammunition: “We sold more copies in a month than you’ve sold in ten years!” or “A month later and only 5% have upgraded? Either Windows 7 sucks or you’re all stupid, or both.” Good points all around, guys. The total share of the net commanded by Windows 7 (and by OS X, as they’re currently tied) is around 5%. Windows in its various forms makes up 95% of web traffic, a statistic I found surprising. Windows’ total proportion has gone up a touch since the 7 launch, but that’ll likely revert soon as redundant installs and such are cannibalized.

The twee-est iPod speakers on the planet Posted: 24 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST I think we can all agree that these require a collective “aw.” Then again, I’m guessing the sound is somewhat… anemic. They’re cute, but I prefer the look and sound of my Muji cardboard speakers (–>). Plus, they’re compatible with anything with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Either one would make a good present, I think. [via Akihabara News and Gizmodo]

Contest: 10 free codes for Pet Acoustics Pet Jingles app Posted: 24 Nov 2009 03:30 PM PST If you got excited reading about the Pet Acoustics app for pets, but were dismayed by the whopping $2 price tag, here’s some holiday cheer that might help your heart grow three sizes larger: we have ten codes for the Pet Jingles holiday app from Pet Acoustics! And just like Santa, we’re going to make a list, and check it twice. How do you get on that list? I’m glad you asked! To enter our little contest, just send an email to contest@crunchgear.com with the subject “PET JINGLES”, and include a picture or video of you and your pet sharing some holiday cheer. Whether it’s listening to Ol’ Blue Eyes croon some carols, or making a snowman together, or decorating the family tree, the cuter the better! The cuteness is strictly for our viewing pleasure, as the codes will be doled out first come, first served – so act fast. Your picture or video will be posted when we announce the winners, to help spread holiday cheer to all the CrunchGear readers! And for those of you that have already bought the Pet Jingles app, or will buy it because you don’t win the contest, you can feel extra good about yourselves: a portion of every sale of Pet Jingles goes to the American Humane Association!

Roccat’s new USB hub looks like it wants to sting you Posted: 24 Nov 2009 02:57 PM PST Would you make a monitor that had a fake arm sticking out of it, brandishing a knife at the viewer? I would, too, but we would never sell any because people find that sort of thing scary. I don’t know why. But whatever the reason, it’s the same as why they’d be afraid of this Apuri USB hub from Roccat. It looks like a tripodal scorpion ready to thrust its barb into your hand should you attempt to unplug that thumbdrive. I try to make my computer look as menacing as possible, so guests aren’t tempted to tamper with it, so I might have to get one of these. The sting is actually for your mouse cord to travel over, so it doesn’t drag all over your desk, catching pens and flinging them down for your pet to gnaw on. I can’t overstate how skeptical I am of that feature working as advertised (though I’d love to be surprised), and besides, if you’ve got enough cord between it and the mouse to let it move freely, wouldn’t that necessitate the hub being rather far back on your desk? Well, it looks cool, at least. If it seems like the kind of thing you’d like, pick one up here for $57. Yeah, kind of steep for a USB hub, but everyone loves a freaky looking gadget, right? Well, you and I do. Oh, I know now. It reminds me of that thing. [via Red Ferret]

Lock, Unlock: An Arduino-powered robotic lock Posted: 24 Nov 2009 02:30 PM PST Arduino-Controlled Lock from nootropicdesign on Vimeo. This kit uses a CD-ROM drive and an Arduino board to build a clever robotic lock. This dude used a bolt to create the project and it’s voice activated. I’d be a little worried that anyone could come up to the device and say “Unlock,” but what do I know about robotics. Also, that bolt looks flimsy. Maybe he could make a new system that shoots spikes through the floor?

Review: Samsung Behold II Posted: 24 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Short Version: T-Mobile’s 4th Android device has a lot going for it. 5.0 megapixel camera, all the smartphone basics, WiFi, 3G, GPS, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. But it feels kinda cheap, runs Android 1.5, and for $229.99? No thank you. I remember when Android was the cool hip new thing. Well, it still is, but the Behold II marks the end of when Android phones are unique. Every feature on this phone has already been done the same or better by someone else. Let’s start with the body. The phone is a bit heavier than my HTC Hero, but for some reason it feels cheaper. It’s just a hair taller and about the same width and thickness. You have 6 dedicated function buttons on the front, along with a 8-way directional selector. The left side has a volume rocker, and the right holds two buttons. One for the camera and one attached to the screen lock. The top holds the microUSB port and headphone jack. An expandable microSD slot is behind the battery door, and there is no physical keyboard. The interface was nothing to get excited about. You get three customizable home screens and a Google search bar. But the tab to access your apps is that arrow on the left side of the screen. It takes some deft maneuvering not the hit that when you’re trying to go the left screen. Perhaps the most unique feature on this device is the Cube. I’ll just let that sink in for a moment. The Cube is, as you might have guessed, a cube with a different multimedia function on each face. With a flick of a finger you can spin the cube and select the function you wish to activate. You can’t customize it however, so you’re stuck with YouTube, the Amazon MP3 store, Facebook, your photo folder,  your audio player, and the video player. About the funnest thing you can do is swing the phone, and since the Cube is tied to the accelerometer, it’ll spin. Good for maybe two minutes of chuckles. So at the end of it all, its just another Android phone under T-mobile’s belt. It hit stores last week if you want to go grab one, but why when you can get the Droid for cheaper? The Behold II is $229.99 with a two-year contract.

Tekken 6 update should improve online playability Posted: 24 Nov 2009 01:30 PM PST You’ll find that opinions vary with respect to Tekken 6’s netcode. I didn’t run into too many problems, but others certainly have. What are you going to do, right? Come November 26, you can, I don’t know, apply the update that will hopefully clear up some of those glitches. So that’s what you can do. Namco (I’m not typing Namco Bandai more than once) will push the update in two days, and it will do a number of things to help alleviate any online issues you run into. For one, the game will better optimize your opponents based on location, ping, etc. to hopefully find a better match. The strength signal bars have been tweaked, making them a little more accurate. Oh, and "The fight data will be optimized in order to reduce the bandwidth load on the host's console." So it sounds like it may help y’all. You know what may also help, fellow Xbox 360 players? Smashing the controller against the wall, then buying either one of those MadCatz controllers or a full-on arcade stick. The standard Xbox 360 controller is rubbish at the game. In other Tekken 6 news, the PSP version of the game is out today. I know nothing about it, but I can’t imagine the PSP being too wieldy when playing a fast paced fighting game.

Use a fuel cell to see how drunk you are this holiday season Posted: 24 Nov 2009 01:00 PM PST Worried that Uncle John might be hitting the Night Train a little too hard this holiday season? Well, now you can keep a closer eye on him, and avoid that lawsuit when he crashes into that parked cop car. Sure, breathalyzer technology has been around for years. So have portable versions. This however, is the first portable breathalyzer that uses a fuel cell. See, the problem is that most breathalyzers use semiconductors to test for blood alcohol levels, however they are subject to false readings and have a short usage life. The Lifeguard Breathalyzer is available online, for $299.95. Odds are you won’t have one before Thanksgiving, but maybe you can get one before the end of the December.

Something about Web scams, and the sites that still support them Posted: 24 Nov 2009 12:30 PM PST Truth be told, I have no idea why I’m about to write this post, other than the fact that it’s in my little writing queue. You can’t fight City Hall. Here’s the deal: the Federal Government of the United States spent a bunch of money investigating various online marketing scams. How they work, what makes people fall for them, etc. Consumers lost some $1.4 billion to such scams. The problem is that, despite the investigation into several businesses who engaged in these untoward business practices, companies that rely on them—Priceline, Orbitz, and Classmates.com are mentioned—haven’t shown any interest in severing ties. Let me rephrase that: Sites such as Priceline and Orbitz utiliyze the services of companies like Affinion, Vertrue, and Webloyalty. Its those companies (Affinion on down) that the Federal Government has a problem with. What problem? Consumers are apparently tricked, in a sense, to sign up for certain programs (loyalty rewards programs, for example). Then "mysterious" charges start appearing on credit cards. Then people get angry: "Hey, I didn’t sign up for this nonsense!" "Oh yes you did. If you check the fine print, you agreed to give us the naming rights of your first-born son." An exaggeration, obviously, but that’s the basic give and take of it. I have no idea how people fall for such things. Like I wrote a little while ago, a little common sense goes a long way when it comes to preventing scams, imagined and otherwise, from ruining your life.

Video Review: TwelveSouth BassJump Posted: 24 Nov 2009 12:08 PM PST Well, that was quick. We just wrote about this thing today and suddenly it arrives at the house. I installed it and was quite impressed. The depth of the music improved immediately with plenty of bass and a richer sound. Turning it off makes the music almost tinny, which is odd. I was quite impressed. It may be worth the $80 if you listen to a lot of music out of your laptop. Product Page

First DJ iPhone app lets you mix beats without listening to them. Posted: 24 Nov 2009 12:00 PM PST If we applied Moore’s law to the art of DJing, we would probably get something like Amidio’s Touch DJ app. Gone are the software DJ’s who replaced the original vinyl DJ’s. Now you can spin beats on your iPhone or iPod touch without listening to them. Wait, what? Touch DJ utilizes a innovative new method of mixing that they call visual mixing. Essentially, the app displays the waveforms of the two tracks side by side, and separates the bass pulses from the rest of the track. This way, you can see where the beat lands and sync your songs without having to hear them beforehand. You get everything else you would want from DJ software, live sampling, looping, pitch bending, tempo control, etc. It has a separate MP3 / M4A library from iTunes, meaning you have to import your tracks into the app before you can use them. But Touch DJ equally sets the volume level across each of them based on RMS power. It’s available now from the iTunes store.

Datel files lawsuit against Microsoft to ‘restore competition’ re: memory cards Posted: 24 Nov 2009 12:00 PM PST Another Xbox 360 lawsuit? Oh, yes! Datel, which makes all sorts of video game accessories, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft because it "has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves." The lawsuit is intended to "restore competition." Microsoft hasn’t responded to Datel’s legal eagles. I can think of a few ways to end this post. One is to say, well, Microsoft has the right to license accessories for its hardware, and if it chooses not to allow Datel’s stuff on there, then there you go. (The lockout worked by disallowing memory cards above a certain size from being recognized by the Xbox 360.) The other is to say, Datel provides a much needed service by offering memory cards of a certain size; Datel wouldn’t make them if people weren’t buying ‘em. You’ll note that you can stick any ol’ hard drive inside the PS3, so it’s not like there’s an industry-wide conspiracy against being able to add storage to your system. Not that I’ve ever had any use for an Xbox 360 memory card.

Amazon announces better battery life and native PDF support for the Kindle Posted: 24 Nov 2009 11:30 AM PST Amazon announced some major changes to their Kindle e-book reader today. Specifically, it stated that they’ve worked out a way to increase battery life by 85%. That means that the new firmware update will allow you to leave your Kindle on (with the wifi active) for about 7 days before you need to recharge. Additionally, the Kindle will now support Adobe’s PDF format natively. Previously, you had to convert PDFs in order to view them on the Kindle. In addition to the PDF functionality and improved battery life; the firmware update also adds the ability to manually control your screen rotation and makes it possible to convert your PDF files to the Kindle format. To read more about this update or to download it manually go here. [via ZDNet]

Gift Guide 2009: Gifts for the Technologically Impaired Posted: 24 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST If you're like me, you've got a fair number of family and friends who don't quite share the same level of enthusiasm for technology as you. But the thought of buying someone a gift that wasn't a gadget? Insanity. Pure insanity. In that spirit, here's a list of products that ought to make easy-to-use gifts for the technologically ambivalent in your life. For the Information Junkie: WikiReader ($99) The WikiReader is a handheld device loaded up with every Wikipedia article available. It uses two AAA batteries, requires no data connection whatsoever, and features a power-sipping monochrome screen that works in direct sunlight. It's the perfect gift for your yarn-spinning know-it-all grandpa, except now he'll actually get his facts straight. When it's time to update the WikiReader to the latest articles, Gramps can have a new microSD card sent to him twice a year for $29 (just pop it in behind the batteries) or you can download the update yourself for free and load it up for him. Product Page | CrunchGear Hands-on For the First-Time Computer User: Litl Webbook ($699) As the resident computer expert in your family, to hear that someone who's never used a computer before wants to "see what all the fuss is about" and wonders if you can teach them how to use it should send chills up and down your spine (and up and down again). The new Litl Webbook removes an entire layer of the traditional operating system, providing direct access to music, movies, photos, the internet and more. Everything is kept "in the cloud" and all system updates are pushed to the device automatically. There's a two-year return period, 178-degree viewing angle touchscreen, and the device flips over into "easel mode" to double as a digital photo frame. Product Page | CrunchGear Hands-on For the Music Lover: SanDisk slotRadio ($79.99) Take the portability of an MP3 player, strip out the hassle of loading music onto it, and you've got SanDisk's slotRadio player. Once you've grown tired of the 1,000 popular songs included with the player, pick up another card preloaded with 1,000 additional songs for between $30 and $40 apiece and spread across genres such as Classical, Rock, Oldies, Country, and more. Pop out the old card, pop in the new card. Boom. Simple like tapes and CDs, newfangled like an MP3 player. Product Page | CrunchGear Review For the Bookworm: Amazon Kindle ($259) You'll probably want to drop some hints before you gift an e-book reader to someone, just to get an idea about whether or not they'd actually use an electronic gizmo for reading. Our own Devin Coldewey is in his late twenties and he won't touch an e-book reader with a ten foot pole, opting instead to throw on a cardigan, light up an academic-looking pipe, and read a book the old fashioned way. He likes the smell of paper or something weird like that. If you're able to plant the e-book seed successfully, though, the Kindle should be easy enough to use for just about anyone. And it doesn't require a computer, so there's that. You could go with one of the other wireless e-book readers, but the Barnes & Noble "nook" is sold out and there's loose talk that Sony's Reader Daily Edition might be waylaid until after the holidays. Product Page For the Neatnik: iRobot Roomba (starting at $129.99) It's a strange world when a robot is a vacuum and the entire combination is as simple to operate as hitting a single button. That's Roomba for you, though. Perfect for the compulsive cleaner in your life, the Roomba series gets into corners and around furniture, finds its way back to its charging base, and makes the mundane chore of vacuuming a thing of the past. Truly anal neatniks may complain that Roomba misses a spot here and there but, hey, that just gives them something to clean by hand – and that's the gift that keeps on giving. Product Page

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