CrunchGear |  |
- Review: Chrome Buran weather-proof laptop messenger bag
- Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing. You’re fired!
- The UltraMega Weekend Giveaway: $500 gift card from Lottay.com
- This dude made a Zelda game in C++. What did you do this year?
- Now that is a special edition
- Toy Story 3 to hit IMAX 3D on June 18, 2010
- CrunchDeals: Torchlight, $10 on Steam
- KLM considering handing out e-book readers to passengers (bad idea)
- Poll: Do you plan on seeing Avatar this weekend
- Game Boy hacked into a TI-83. That is all
- DECAF, the anti-Microsoft COFEE, pulled. It was a stunt designed to rally y’all.
- The Kindle DX is out of stock at Amazon, ships in 4-6 weeks
- Bag Week: Chrome Soyuz weather-proof laptop backpack
- Nook shipments pushed back again? Nearly impossible to cancel orders?
- In Photos: Handsome, timeless tattoo set
- Rackspace Goes Down. Again. Takes The Internet With It. Again.
- Psystar.com is dead
- Wii Maracas perfect for Maraca-based games
- Bag Week: Crumpler King Single
- Netflix sued in privacy suit over releasing movie rental records (in a roundabout way)
| Review: Chrome Buran weather-proof laptop messenger bag Posted: 19 Dec 2009 05:06 AM PST
Pros:
Cons:
Full Review: Here’s a video tour and brief review so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. I’ve been through quite a few messenger bags, but it never really occurred to me that I should get a weather-proof one. I can see now that there is a significant difference, and while I don’t intend to use whatever bag I have as an umbrella, or leave it in the rain, or wear it while surfing, it does add a feeling of security. Because, as you may know, there are things that happen to bags other than rain. Coffee and Beer are probably the most common things to hit a bag that I bring with me everywhere, and who here hasn’t accidentally set their stuff down in puddle or something? It’s nice to know that you can throw pretty much anything at the Buran and it’ll shrug it off. As for the bag itself, it’s a good one, but it wouldn’t be my main bag. Mainly because of the placement of the cargo compartment: between the laptop portion and your back. That means if you pick up a couple apples at the store, or have a large book or pair of headphones in there, they’re going to be squished up against your hip when you walk. If you’re willing to risk that, or if you’re used to it from previous bags, then it’s no problem. But I personally prefer the cargo part to be on the far side of the laptop compartment. For carrying anything less bulky, though, the smaller pockets are just fine. Power brick, headphones, a notebook, an energy bar — plenty of space for those. It’s a good bag, just not suited for people who carry a whole lot of stuff, or for people who are picky about where pockets are (like me). But the weather-proofing does take a lot off your mind if you live in as wet a city as I do. Matt here again. Just like with the Soyuz bag, I’ve been using the Buran as well. This one is more my style being a casual messenger bag. There isn’t anything fancy here. It’s just a good utilitarian notebook messenger bag. The construction and materials are top-notch. I bet this bag will out-last me. But like Devin says, there isn’t much to it. There are three pockets on the front and two within the main compartment, with one being the padded notebook sleeve. The bag doesn’t have a dedicated pocket for your MP3 player, cell phone, sunglasses or insulin pump. The Buran doesn’t have any of that nonsense and I like it.
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| Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing. You’re fired! Posted: 19 Dec 2009 01:47 AM PST Who cares if this dude’s story of getting fired from Microsoft for not enthusiastically saying Bing is made up, mocking Steve Ballmer is good fun. Watch out for the NSFW language though. Things get a little out of control.
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| The UltraMega Weekend Giveaway: $500 gift card from Lottay.com Posted: 19 Dec 2009 12:58 AM PST  Good morning. We have a week until Christmas and we've been pounding out giveaways left and right. We've had Smart Pens, Olive Hi-Fis, and your own personal Ninja for a year (didn't see that one? There's a reason.) But today we're here to announce the final big giveaway: a $500 gift card towards anything you want from the kind folks at Lottay.com. Here's what's up.
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| This dude made a Zelda game in C++. What did you do this year? Posted: 19 Dec 2009 12:36 AM PST
A French dude named Christopho has created The Legend of Zelda: Mystery of Solarus DX, essentially a fan homage to the Zelda world. It comes complete with the requisite durdle-durdle-string-string music of the original series as well as a back story so convoluted that Tingle himself might have something to do with it. However, it kicks ass.
The game works under OS X, Windows, and Linux and is truly a sight to behold. Give it a download.
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| Posted: 18 Dec 2009 08:14 PM PST
So what exactly is in this cornucopia of survival horror ephemera? Well, in addition to the “normal” special edition of the game, you get shirts, a promotional costume they used at shows, a replica of the gun from the game, a VHS tape of the game’s music (?!), and about 500 other things. It was put up on Yahoo! Auctions in Japan, and sold for… are you ready for this? It was sold for 300,000¥, or around $3300. Mother of god! Even a mint copy of Radiant Silvergun will only go for a few hundred!
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| Toy Story 3 to hit IMAX 3D on June 18, 2010 Posted: 18 Dec 2009 07:45 PM PST
Plus the whole cast is back: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Michael Keaton, Don Rickles, R. Lee Emey. Even Timothy Dalton is in the new one. If Avatar doesn’t convince the general public that IMAX 3D movies are awesome, Toy Story 3 definitely will. Everyone enjoys a good Pixar film. [CNNMoney & SlashFilm]
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| CrunchDeals: Torchlight, $10 on Steam Posted: 18 Dec 2009 07:44 PM PST
It’s a randomly-generated, monster-smashing lootfest and I enjoyed every second of it. I’m partial to this kind of thing (I even enjoyed the comparatively interminable Titan Quest) but Torchlight is great fun that, as a bonus, can be played on pretty much any computer due to basic (but still cool-looking) graphics. It’s straightforward enough that non-hardcore gamers who need presents will enjoy it, too.
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| KLM considering handing out e-book readers to passengers (bad idea) Posted: 18 Dec 2009 07:02 PM PST
But as fun and exciting as free e-books seem, it would be a technical nightmare. Your mom barely knows how to use her cell phone, let alone a newfangled e-book reader. KLM might as well hire a Geek Squad agent for every flight. I can see it now. *Bing* Someone in seat 21 A just pressed the attendant button because they couldn’t figure out how to read the New York Times. *Bing* Now someone can’t see the small font *Bing* “How do I read my email on this thing?” *Bing* *Bing* *Bing* Maybe it would work if KLM only handed out a few e-book readers to the first class stiffs. I could see that. But to stock an ebook reader in the back pocket of every seat seems damn expensive and unnecessary. I, for one, would rather save a few bucks on my flight than have access to an ebook reader. [Trading Markets via e-reader-info.com]
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| Poll: Do you plan on seeing Avatar this weekend Posted: 18 Dec 2009 06:15 PM PST
Are you going to see Avatar this weekend?
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| Game Boy hacked into a TI-83. That is all Posted: 18 Dec 2009 05:30 PM PST
As a side note, I love that hackers like this guy are capable of complicated hardware transplants, but can’t seem to build a tripod. [via The Daily What and Technabob]
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| DECAF, the anti-Microsoft COFEE, pulled. It was a stunt designed to rally y’all. Posted: 18 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Ladies and gentlemen: we were worked. The other I mentioned DECAF, which was promoted as the anti Microsoft-COFEE. While I still don’t understand people’s fascination with the forensics tool, DECAF promised to protect users against whatever the hell COFEE does. Only it doesn’t: DECAF is a scam. Well, “scam” is a harsh word, more like “and let this be a lesson to you.” I believe those are called “teachable moments” in politics circles these days. (See: that beer summit from a few months back.) Anyhow, here’s what’s up: the people behind DECAF created the software in order to raise awareness vis-a-vis security. The idea was to get DECAF out there, stir up some media hype (hi!), then WAM! you with the real deal. Basically, the DECAF guys want you to help. They want want you to help bring awareness to the vast field of security and forensics. DECAF was put together by two people, and yet the idea (an “anti-COFEE”) ricocheted around the Internet. If you can tap into the people who believed in DECAF and tun their energies into something constructive and positive, then all of this would have been worth it. via Seattle P-I’s Mircosoft Blog
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| The Kindle DX is out of stock at Amazon, ships in 4-6 weeks Posted: 18 Dec 2009 04:30 PM PST
It’s kind of ironic that I found this TechFlash story minutes after I stated at the bottom of the latest Nook story that we haven’t heard of any Kindle shipping issues. It seems like I need to get another monitor just for ebook news these days. That will make a total of five.
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| Bag Week: Chrome Soyuz weather-proof laptop backpack Posted: 18 Dec 2009 03:50 PM PST
Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Full Review: Rolltop bags are extremely common here in Seattle, where lots of people emulate bike messengers, wearing tiny hats and riding fixed-gear bikes in the rain. Rolltops are part of that deal, but I’ve always liked them because the standard crescent zipper style seems very grade-school — and it’s always the part that wears out. And this particular backpack combines the best of the zipper styles with the best (and the unavoidable issues) of rolltops. Here’s a video tour/review so you can get a feel for it: That pretty much sums it up. It’s got a ton of room, it’s admirably waterproofed, and it’s comfortable to wear. I took it on a few rides and walks around town and it seemed well-balanced, well-padded, and although I thought it would seem bulky, it really feels quite compact on your back. It’s really excellent.
The matter of taste is this: basically, the Soyuz isn’t an everyday backpack for a lot of people. The cargo compartment is big but you can’t count on anything staying organized in there, and it also squishes pretty good against your back (I found out the hard way with some bananas). There’s also no water bottle compartment and fewer pockets than are found on your average Eddie Bauer backpack. I don’t say these are bad things, but they are things you should be aware of. It’s not a high school backpack, it’s pretty much a Seattle-blogger-with-a-bike backpack. Which explains why I like it so much. I guess the price might be considered an issue. $180 is a lot of money for a bag not filled with precious gems, but this is a 10-year backpack, you know what I mean? It’s got a lifetime warranty and it’s built to withstand a lot of abuse (though abuse isn’t covered by said warranty). At any rate, the Soyuz is my new go-to backpack whether I’m just biking down to the coffee shop or going on a weekend trip somewhere. Matt here. I also have been using this backpack around town the last few weeks but in a different capacity then hipster Devin. Where he bikes and walks around Seattle, I drive around my mid-Michigan town. The only walking I do is to the gas station around the corner to buy my daily Mountain Dew. This is not a backpack for me. Sure, the Soyuz is comfy to wear properly, but it’s also somewhat awkward to wear on only one shoulder as I would casually. I can totally see it being a great weatherproof biking backpack though. I, however, only ride my bike in the summer to the playground with my family and wifey would divorce me if I brought along a laptop. But I still love the bag. The dry sack storage and slim design are sweet, but it just doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
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| Nook shipments pushed back again? Nearly impossible to cancel orders? Posted: 18 Dec 2009 03:03 PM PST
Frustrated by the delay, he successfully completed the cancellation process on BN.com only to get an email several hours later that stated his order cannot be canceled because it “has entered the shipping process” even though according to B&N’s own website, the Nook will not ship for another three days. Now that’s some bull. The Nook is hot and rightfully so with the dual-screen setup and Android hackability, but this is not the way to treat early adopters. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and you want these people on your side. Hopefully there is a plan to compensate the folks whose orders have been constantly pushed back. Even a free e-book credit might be enough for some to forget the frustration. B&N clearly has a problem here. The last few Nook stories that have popped up have all been about delayed shipments and limited availability. The retail market will not even get the device until early next year. But we haven’t heard anything about the Kindle not shipping on time despite the device being the most popular item sold on Amazon.com. Just saying.
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| In Photos: Handsome, timeless tattoo set Posted: 18 Dec 2009 02:51 PM PST
For many people, the decision to get a certain tattoo is based on a perceived notion of timelessness – the death of a good friend or family member, your spouse(s), barbed wire, etc. – and I think this guy nailed it, too. Unless something crazy happens, like a controller that's somehow newer than the Xbox 360 controller comes out someday. Like I said, crazy. [Deviant Art via Geeky Tattoos]
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| Rackspace Goes Down. Again. Takes The Internet With It. Again. Posted: 18 Dec 2009 02:19 PM PST Another day, another Rackspace outage. The hosting company had a complete and total failure today that took down a number of big sites on the Internet, including ours. This has been happening all too often in recently months, including downtime just last month. The failure apparently originated in the company's Dallas-area server farm. Some other sites that are currently include: 37signals, Brizzly, Scoble's blog, all of the sites hosted by LaughingSquid, Tumblr custom domains. This is another bad blackeye for the company, but they are generally responsive with other issues we've had throughout our time with them. But until they can prove to be more reliable, we've decided to get a backup version of TechCrunch up and running at another datacenter, for when someone inevitably trips over a powercord at the Dallas Rackspace center again.
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| Posted: 18 Dec 2009 02:17 PM PST
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| Wii Maracas perfect for Maraca-based games Posted: 18 Dec 2009 01:30 PM PST
The product description says it all. "With the Maracas for Wii you can enjoy those Maraca based video games as if you were actually celebrating a big fiesta!" Ah yes, all those Maraca based video games. Let's see, there's…
…and countless others I'm forgetting. Only $11, too! Wii Maracas [Amazon via Toys for Child]
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| Bag Week: Crumpler King Single Posted: 18 Dec 2009 01:00 PM PST
Pros:
Cons:
Crumpler bags are extremely well-designed, and the King Single is a fine example of this. It’s a backpack yes, but the way the weight is carried and the straps are set up really improve the way that the bag fits. This is not a standard day-pack, the strapping system is more what you would expect to see on an actual hiking pack. In addition to the standard shoulder straps, the King Single also has a chest strap (to keep the shoulder straps from sliding off) and a waist strap (to help you carry the bulk of the load on your hips, instead of the your shoulders). Moving into the bag, the first thing you notice is the color. The bag sent to me to review has a tangerine interior. While it’s not the color I would have chosen, it’s normally zipped up anyway, so not a huge issue. Just be aware if you order the green/brown bag you’re going to need sunglasses when you open it. The cloth has an excellent texture to it, almost plush to the touch; I’d have no issue trusting my delicate electronics to the inside of this bag. There are several large zip pockets on the inside of the bag, and one extremely well padded laptop slot against the back with an organizer on the front of it. The laptop slot closes with a massive velcro patch, which will definitely keep your computer secure while you’re move about. I like the King Single. It’s not perfect, the organizer pocket size is definitely a problem, but other then that it’s a perfectly usable product and I wouldn’t have any issue recommending it to someone looking for a decent laptop backpack that will last pretty much forever. In fact, it’s worth mentioning that Crumpler warranties their bags for life. While the King Single is not cheap at $155, I feel that it is worth the price. Just make sure you don’t get that tangerine interior. PS – The Crumpler site is worth a visit just to check it out, it is pretty damn cool in its own right.
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| Netflix sued in privacy suit over releasing movie rental records (in a roundabout way) Posted: 18 Dec 2009 12:30 PM PST
Netflix is in a spot of trouble. The movie rental company has been sued by a woman who claims that it ostensibly revealed her sexual orientation. Against her wishes, obviously. Such an act amounted to an invasion of privacy, the suit argues. So here’s what’s up. Netflix ran a contest that encouraged users to come up with a better movie recommendation algorithm. As such it provided a bunch of data (movie reviews) to a bunch of people. The thing is, the data was fairly revealing: if you write a glowing review of, I don’t know, Milk, someone would be able to comb the Internet for other similar reviews. Then said investigator finds the very same review on IMDB, puts two and two together, and identifies you. (This sorta reminds me of a story my old professor told me. Some guy at an Apple Store sent him a nasty e-mail because of a critical article he wrote about article. He took the e-mail address, found a message board name, found a Facebook account, found a place of work, then called the Apple Store to tell his manager, "Hey, your guy is writing some interesting e-mails to me. Please ask him to stop. kthxbye.) The lawsuit is looking for Netflix to cough up $2,500 for each of its 2 million customers. That’s quite a bit of money, yes. Movie records are considered private information, something that dates back to the Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination hearings in 1987. (That’s where the term "borking" comes from.) You should know that the lawyer behind the suit sued Facebook and reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the site just recently.
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Short Version: A rugged, reliable, and attractive bag — but its layout may not be suited to those who like to pack in lots of stuff.
Hoping to snag a 
I only had one issue with it that wasn’t a matter of taste. The velcro on the front flap doesn’t always align up right; I don’t know why they didn’t go with longer strips like they did on the Buran, which closed like a charm every time.
This is somewhat unusual in the realm of laptop/cargo bags, they normally just put some shoulder straps on there and call it good. I was disappointed by the lack of a carrying handle on the top however – it seems like that would be a logical addition to the design. Both shoulder straps are equipped with d-rings, which made a really convenient place to clip my 
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