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Boing Boing shows off the Marvel Comics iPad app

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:19 AM PDT

The Marvel Comics is one of the three iPad apps that actually make me want to drink the Apple kool-aid and go lay down alongside the Apple faithful to slowly drift towards a land of simple, non-multitasking computing. So far we’ve only seen screenshots and a press release for the app, but Xeni over at Boing Boing posted a quick hands-on video that sealed my fate. I think I’m going to have to get an iPad now.


Toshiba’s UX600 TV line is certified as Windows 7 compatible

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:02 AM PDT


Toshiba's new UX600 Cinema Series line of LED TVs is the first of its kind to receive a compatible with the Windows 7 operating system certification. What this means is that the UX600s have the ability to use Window 7's "Play To" feature to play music, pictures, and videos by connecting to your home network through Ethernet or wireless connectivity.

This series features 3 models at 40", 46", and 55" size at $1400, $1700, and $2400 respectively. Each model however features Toshiba’s ClearFrame 120Hz screen, 24 fps cinema mode, 4 HDMI ports, 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio along with both an Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi adapter for easy network connectivity. For more information about their specs, check out Toshiba's product page.


For the Nintendo 3DS? Sharp’s unveils glasses-free 3D touchscreen [Update: Video]

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 02:01 AM PDT

Glasses-free 3D displays for mobile devices are nothing new. Hitachi, for example, started selling a 3D-enabled handset [JP] in Japan as early as last year. The Hitachi product didn’t make much of a splash, but Sharp’s new parallax barrier-based 3D display for mobile devices (which the company announced today) appears to be pretty cool.

The panel Sharp showcased at a press conference in Tokyo for the first time is extremely thin, can switch between regular 2-D and 3-D modes, doesn’t require glasses for viewing images in 3D, and will be available with or without touchscreen capabilities. It features a screen size of 3.4 inches, 480 x 854 resolution, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and 500 cd/m2 brightness (Sharp claims the image quality is the best in the industry).

Here’s how the 3D effect works (from the press release):

This parallax barrier, which has a series of vertical slits, is incorporated into an ordinary LCD to control the path of light reaching the right and left eyes, thus creating a sense of depth.

Sharp says their screens will be used for cameras and cell phones, but there is a chance the upcoming Nintendo 3DS will have them, too. This is pure speculation, of course, but Sharp has been providing LCD displays for the Nintendo DS since 2004 (Hitachi joined one year later) – so there is a close relationship between both companies.

Sharp plans to sell both types of the 3D display (touchscreen and conventional) from the first half of fiscal 2010.

Update:
This video (courtesy of DigInfoNews) provides more insight. The Sharp representative in it explains the display can be used for games as well.


Dragon Dictation. On the iPad. For free!

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT

It doesn't really look like a dragon...We’ve been yelling at our gadgets for years to get them to work. And with Dragon NaturallySpeaking software from Nuance, they might actually listen. The mobile version, Dragon Dictation, has been available in the Apple apps store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It got upgraded to version 1.3 today, meaning iPad support. Oh yeah, it’s also free.

Essentially, if you can type it in, you can use Dragon Dictation to, well, dictate it in instead. The “Notes” feature allows you to draft documents, e-mails, world domination plans, etc. It will also work in either portrait or landscape mode.

It won’t be free forever, so go get it soon.


The iPad: Apple’s Trojan Horse

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 07:16 PM PDT

Something struck me about Apple’s handling of the iPad launch this week. Instead of countless nerds spouting off in early reviews, only a few major tech press folks got early samples. Instead, the iPad showed up in a show the missus and I watch, Modern Family.*

That’s right: instead of an overfed talking-head tech reporter pawing over the iPad on morning TV, the iPad got prime-time coverage in a sitcom. Think about the last computer company to get that kind of screen time. Only Microsoft, in their abysmal product placement in Family Guy comes to mind. But in Modern Family the iPad was a major plot point. While I’m sure Apple paid a pretty penny for the exposure, I don’t doubt the folks at ABC would have put the product in for free had Apple asked.

But this shows a very important turning point in Apple marketing. The company, in short, sees the iPad as a mass market phenomenon without peer and is treating it as such. And the iPad, in turn, will become the tool that pushes Apple even deeper into the home.

The iPhone convinced millions of people that Apple makes nice phones. The iPad, in turn, will convince millions of people that Apple makes nice computers. Whereas the “halo effect” that the iPhone was supposed to have on the rest of Apple’s wares – laptops and iMacs and the line – isn’t quite apparent except in Apple’s impressive revenues, I suspect the iPad is going to push people over the hump. While you can get away with booting up craggy old Windows on your craggy old Dell while mucking about in iPhone’s sylvan glades, you’re less likely to appreciate your old laptop when its sitting alongside a device that looks like a cross between a robotic communion wafer and something out of Star Trek.

To describe this metaphorically, (and this is a horrible metaphor) think of the iPhone as a bicycle made by BMW. No one is going to upgrade to a Ford car if you’re only used to their bikes but if Ford starts to sell, say, something like an inexpensive Smart car or nice motorcycle with a little more power and all that BMW “magic,” there’s a good chance they’ll buy a Z-Series next time they’re looking at cars.

So the reason you’re not seeing geeks like us with iPads this week is simple – the iPad isn’t for geeks like us. While time will tell if this is a correct assessment, I’m almost betting on it.

UPDATE – I found some things to add. First, Apple has 91% market share in “premium PCs,” which is huge. But in lower-end PCs Windows still rules. Now what happens when a sub-$700 Apple ends up in millions of homes. Much more market share and a real halo effect across the market.

*It’s seriously a really good program. Christopher LLoyd (Frasier and Wings) produces it. I thought it would be dumb at first too. Try it.


Integrated headlight and taillights, yet this bike helmet looks cooler than mine

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 07:00 PM PDT


Do your kids hate wearing helmets because the one you got for them at K-Mart is not very "cool"? I'll bet they won't mind wearing this Lazer Urbanize Bicycle Helmet. At $100 a pop, these helmets certainly aren't cheap, but you can't put a price on safety, right? As more people take up biking to work through car-filled streets, stylish safety gear like this is going to be in high demand.

This helmet features built-in lights in the front and back not only to help you see the road better, but also you make it easier for drivers to see you. Of course, if that's still not good enough for you, you might want to look into the Superskin. The Lazer Urbanizer also comes in pink, green, blue, black, and "espresso."

[Via The Awesomer]


Interesting short on London pirate radio stations

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 06:30 PM PDT


The idea of pirate radio is sort of retro-romantic. I love it, but at the same time I have to accept that its place in history is… well, not now. Kind of like tricorn hats. However, pirate radio is more interesting to learn about than tricorn hats, and so maybe you should take a breather and watch a bunch of Brits talk about their clandestine antenna setups.

You know what’s even crazier than this? Numbers stations. These guys have nothing on the Conet Project.


DPReview’s Canon T2i review arrives

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 06:00 PM PDT


I’ve been looking forward to this camera for quite a while, and although I’ll be reviewing it later, it won’t be quite to the level of DPReview’s 30-page monster. Flagship cameras like this one get the royal treatment from the big photo sites, and the T2i is nothing if not a flagship camera.

Their extensive testing (I’m getting so used to their little props in the comparison pictures) reveals pretty much what we all knew: most of the cameras at this price point (Nikon D5000, Pentax K-x) are so close in everyday performance that choice comes down to feature set and preference. The T2i (known as the 550D elsewhere) wins out here and there, though the camera it beats most handily is its predecessor, the T1i/500D.

I’m planning on replacing my XSi with a T2i once the price comes down a bit (that is, if the 60D doesn’t tempt me too much), and this review here mainly serves to show that there are no serious new problems with the line. Now hurry up, Canon, I need to get this thing reviewed!


Moog releases Auto De-tune. We get our sanity back

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 05:45 PM PDT

Thank the audio gods. Today marks the greatest day in musical history. Well okay, not the greatest, but maybe right behind the release of the Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill. This glorious day is the day Moog’s MF-401 Auto De-tune unit starts shipping out. Now we can finally stop putting up with this.

The device uses Moog’s new Authentic Vocal Imperfection™ technology to remove any vocal modifications on a track. No longer will pop songs sound like they were recorded by a group of frenzied chipmunks on helium.

The parameters are fully adjustable, everything from warble rate, deviation range, emotive overload. It even has caterwaul rotary controls. There are also a number of preset settings including:

  • Drunk as a Sailor
  • Seattle sensitive alternative warble
  • Where did all the green room beer go?
  • Original Star Trek cast member attempts to make pop music
  • My vocal monitor is blown, so Soundman, please mix me REALLY low
  • Mrs. Miller
  • Too punk rock to turn down your !#$%&*!! stage volume
  • Cat in an alley under a full moon
  • Tone Def
  • Florence Foster Jenkins

The MF-401 goes on sale today at $799.00. But can you really put a price on staying sane?

Definitely the best April Fool’s bit I’ve seen all day.

via [SynthGear]


First pre-production Volt rolls off the line

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 05:30 PM PDT

Things are looking good for the Volt. Chevy said that the first pre-production Volt rolled off the line yesterday. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can buy one yet, but it’s still a pretty huge deal. For the future!

When a pre-production car comes off the line, it’s typically used for quality control purposes, and to ensure that the manufacturer is set up for the actually production run. Hopefully this means that we’ll see the Volt sooner, rather then later.

[via TreeHugger]


Here’s the latest A-Team trailer and you must watch it

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 04:56 PM PDT

I was going to work in “I pitty the fool” phrase into that headline but you’ve already been subject to enough lame jokes seeing as it’s April Fool’s Day. But seriously, you must watch this trailer. Tits is the only word to properly describe it. [via Giz]


And now we wait for someone to jailbreak the iPad

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 04:26 PM PDT


Whether you’re excited about the iPad or not, you really have to admit that it’s a beautiful piece of hardware. What people disagree about is whether it’s worth having around, what with Apple’s chokehold on content and the limited inputs. Hell yeah, it is! But for flicking my way through word documents, watching scaled-down HD content in mono, and designing presentations? Nah.

It’s not until one of the thousands of hackers out there, with teeth sharpened on jailbroken iPhone apps, gets their iPad and cracks the mother wide open, that we’re going to have the real fun. And I have reason to believe that’s going to happen mighty fast.

Why do you think Apple neglected to include USB slots and an SD card slot? Because obviously they want you to buy the pre-approved games and apps from the App Store. Sure, those will be nice. Tower defense games are going to be fun as hell, and I’m looking forward to the big Diablo-esque dungeon crawler that’s surely in development. But brother, I want to play me some arcade games! I want a custom file browser, and support for obscure video formats! I want unfettered access to the device I just paid $500 for!

The single input is the big issue, but the dock is essentially a USB-to-iPad cable. Sync everything over that, even — dare I dream — driver support for multiple wireless controllers? I’m thinking how perfect this thing is for couch or travel gaming — but I’ll be damned if I’m going to limit myself to the App Store. Bring on the DOS emulators. Bring on dual-boot with Chrome OS.

The limitations are very few. With the iPhone, it still had to function as an iPhone — adding forbidden functionality on top of that was difficult and broke often. But the iPad is far less tethered to its OS, and I get the feeling that’s going to result in a bonanza for people willing to hack it.

See, here’s the thing. It’s not just that the iPad is a great device. You may or may not think it is; personally, I think it’s incomplete and compromised by Apple’s control fetish. If I pay $500 for this thing, I’m not buying an Apple product, I’m buying a beautiful touchscreen device that has hackers and developers the world over drooling over the possibilities. You may dislike that it’s the Applest Apple product ever to come out, but you can’t argue with the numbers being sold and the hardware itself. Decent CPU, discrete GPU, responsive touchscreen, familiar resolution — it’s a tablet computer, whether Apple wants to let you use it as one or not. I don’t know about you guys, but in my world, the consumer decides what the device is for, and the iPad is a great place to prove it.


Adios, Usenet: UK High Court rules against Newzbin

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 04:00 PM PDT

Thus begins the countdown to the Death of Usenet. It’s capitalized because it’s important. The High Court in the UK has ruled against famous Usenet index site Newzbin, saying that the site can be held liable for the copyright infringement of its users. Hear that? That’s the sound of the world’s Usenet users screaming “OH DEAR GOD NO!” You knew this day was coming.

For the unfamiliar, Newzbin and sites like it store NZB files, small text files that point the location of actual files. These sites are easily searchable, so you can look for “the wire s01″ and all of The Wire’s first season episodes would pop up. You can sorta think of NZB files as torrent files: there’s nothing in the NZB file itself other than directions of where to get actual files.

Doesn’t matter, says the High Court, that constitutes copyright infringement.

No details of the court’s ruling have been publicly released just yet, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Newzbin will be forced to shut down till it no longer offers offending files. Since that’s pretty much the raison d’être of sites like Newzbin…

Incidentally, when I spoke to a lawyer from the Electronic Frontier Foundation at CES last January, he said Usenet as we know (knew?) it had two years to go before lawsuits would kill it. This Newzbin ruling looks to be step one in that slow death.

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Photo


“Go green” with the 7pipe Pro

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 03:20 PM PDT

As time goes on, we’re seeing technology start to show up in all kinds of unexpected places. For example: the DVD kiosk, shoe insoles, and now the pipe. And when I say pipe, I mean a “420 friendly” pipe.

The 7pipe Pro is unique in the fact that it uses a glass insert, instead of the standard metal style. Typical pipes of this style are made metal or wood, and have a tendency to taint the flavor of your smoke. It’s also considered to be more healthy, as seen by the popularity of water pipes and other related goods. The 7pipe Pro also features an interchangeable mouthpiece, carb control, and an easy to adjust flame height. MSRP is $72, with replacement glass selling for $11.


Is this nice looking browser really Internet Explorer 9?

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 02:40 PM PDT


Seeing as today is April Fool’s Day and the source of this pic is some random Chinese site and it looks great unlike previous versions, let’s tread carefully here, m’kay. But that pic is supposed to be of IE 9.

The overall design clearly follows the same design cues found in Windows 7 Mobile: sharp lines and solid colors. Gone are all the extra buttons, labels, and craziness that have become standard in Internet Explorer. There are only basic navigation buttons, text-input bar, and pages/settings buttons. That’s on par with Chrome, which is saying a lot considering the last few versions of Internet Explorer have seemingly been an exercise in clutter.

Maybe this is the new Internet Explorer. Combine the sleek look with the hardware-accelerated browsing demo’d yesterday, and some folks might actually switch back to IE. Release the right product and anything can happen. I switch back to PCs from Macs because of Windows 7 and I don’t think I’m alone. [LiveSino via Download Squad]


Like flying games? Mad Catz launches the Cyborg F.L.Y. flight stick

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 02:14 PM PDT

Ever since the days of playing F-15 Eagle on my old Atari 800xl, I’ve had a weakness for flight games. Now days of course there aren’t that many of them, but I can still appreciate the need for a good flight stick. Mad Catz just announced the release of the F.L.Y.9 wireless flight stick. I think I want one.

The F.L.Y.9 is part of Mad Catz Cyborg line (we told you about their mouse at CES). That means that it’s customizable; you can change the handle length, handle rake angle, and head angle. Mad Catz set this thing up nice too, it features an integrated lap mount, but you can still remove the feet if you want to build something a little more geeky permanent. The F.L.Y.9 is currently available only for the Xbox 360 and is compatible the latest 360 games, including H.A.W.X, and Ace Combat 6. MSRP is a quite reasonable $99.99.

From the press release:

San Diego, March 31. 2010 Mad Catz™ Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz" or "the Company") (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider today announced the launch of the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick, the first licensed wireless flight stick for the Xbox 360 video game console. The F.L.Y. 9 will be released under the Mad Catz' Cyborg premium gaming brand.

An evolution of the successful line of Cyborg flight sticks for PC, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9is compatible with flight simulation and flight combat games. In addition to its cutting-edge design and several enhanced features, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 is designed to deliver a wide range of adjustability, comfort and air-combat accuracy to the Xbox 360 audience.

Stored and located in the base of the Stick, the integrated adjustment tool allows gamers to customize and tweak several aspects of the Flight Stick anatomy. Gamers can adjust the handle length, handle rake angle and head angle, resulting in a truly personalized gaming experience.

Ideal for flight combat games such as Tom Clancy®: H.A.W.X., or more realistic flight titles such as IL-2 Sturmovik™: Birds of Prey, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 features Throttle and Twist Rudder controls for complete maneuverability and a unique base design featuring an integrated lap mount and removable feet allowing gamers the flexibility of playing at a desk or in front of the TV.

Utilizing the same secure wireless technology featured in the official wireless Microsoft® Xbox 360 controller, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 connects directly to the Xbox 360 with no need for an external dongle or adaptor.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, "The Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 continues the expansion of our new premium gaming line of Cyborg-branded products which we recently re-launched with the Cyborg R.A.T. range of pro-gaming mice. Building on key features, design sensibilities and the ergonomic adjustability made so popular with our Saitek-branded flight simulation products, we are able to deliver a unique and highly-realistic flight stick for console owners. This is a continuation of our strategy of developing products that evoke a passionate consumer response and enhance the game-playing experience.""

The Mad Catz Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick for the Xbox 360 video game console is expected to be available worldwide in Spring 2010 for an expected MSRP of $99.99 / £79.99 / €89.99.


Review: Casio EX-G1 rugged digital camera

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 01:40 PM PDT


Short version: The coolest-looking and slimmest camera in our roundup may also be your best bet. If only it had better video, the EX-G1 would be the best choice by far. As it is, it still gets my recommendation.

Features:

  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 3x optical zoom
  • Waterproof (3m/10ft), shockproof (7ft), dustproof (dust)
  • Slim design
  • MSRP: $300

Pros:

  • Layout and build quality are excellent
  • Image quality is great
  • Slim and sexy

Cons:

  • No HD video (no high-speed for that matter, come on Casio!)
  • Extra fiddly bits are easy to lose
  • Twist-to-open SD and port cover not the most secure

Full review:

I was surprised when I saw this camera announced. I mean, it’s nice to put out a rugged camera, and the EX-G1 looked nice, but Casio has a leg up on the rest of the industry with its high speed sensor tricks, and if they could have put that into this thing (plus 720p video), I would have declared it the winner sight unseen. But as it is, the camera has neither HD nor high speed video, hoping instead that its slim body and pretty design will set it apart. And so they do.

This little guy performed just fine in my tests, although for some reason its underwater pictures turned out badly. I’m not holding that against it, though, since it was mainly fish placement issues.

The EX-G1 is the best-looking and slimmest camera in our roundup, though it’s as much a psychological distinction as a physical one. Right next to the brick-like Olympus, it’s only a few mm slimmer and actually slightly wider end-to-end. Its funky shape and tapered edges, however, make it feel a lot smaller, and it seems to go more naturally into a pocket than the Stylus 8010 or even the relatively compact Fuji.

But Casio giveth, and Casio taketh away. The EX-G1 is the only camera in the roundup that doesn’t shoot in 720p or better. I mean, given the quality of 1080p video on the Playsport, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you like working in 720p so you can put it right up on your TV with no stretching or reprocessing, this is definitely a minus. The 848×480 widescreen video isn’t bad, but it’s about the same quality as the HD on the other cameras. This is really the main point against the camera: if you need or really want HD, even crappy HD as most cameras these days have, then the EX-G1 is not for you.

Here’s a still from the underwater footage shot for the above video. Lots of chroma noise, as you can see:

Interestingly, though, I found that the Casio had the best still image quality of the three cameras. It’s a little bit over-sharpened and the white balance is different from the Fuji and Olympus, but there’s a lot of detail, the exposure is good, and Casio’s “Best Shot” modes are occasionally useful. In shooting up close (nearly macro) the Casio was far and away the winner (Casio, Olympus, Fujifilm) — I suspect with a little tweaking in Program mode I could have made the others a little better, but they were set to macro/close-up and in good light; I think the results are admissible. You can also see the clarity of the Casio’s shots if you look at the full-size centers of the building and cherry tree (in this set); there’s more fine detail and I feel the color is more accurate.

The Casio also sports a little triple-LED recording light, which is pretty awesome. It’d be nice to have a hardware on/off switch, but it’s easy enough to do in the quick-access menu and really, cameras have enough buttons already. It’s not particularly bright, but it could be the difference between picture and no picture underwater or at a party. Probably helps with AF, too.

The layout and ergonomics of the EX-G1 were my favorite by far. The Fujifilm’s buttons were mushy and hard to press, and the Olympus, while simply and functionally laid out, were not nearly as intuitive or accessible as Casio’s. The separate still and movie buttons press easily, the raised D-pad is clicky and would be easy to operate even with numb fingers, and I never once hit a button by mistake or had trouble getting one to recognize that it was being pressed.

The I/O ports are reached by twisting a little dial, which is clever except that you only have to turn the dial like 20 degrees before it opens. Since it’s up near the shutter buttons, I foresee a few accidental openings in this camera’s future. There are also a few extra items that come with the camera: little bumpers for the left side, which you attach with microscopic screws. I’m thinking they’re probably mostly ornamental, and they end up making the camera a little bigger anyway. And there’s a little doodad that you’re supposed to keep on the lanyard which you can use (though it’s not required) to open the battery compartment. I see that thing lasting about a month. It seems like these little extra plastic bits were ideas Casio brainstormed early on but couldn’t come to an agreement about which to implement and how — so you’re stuck with a couple little baggies and some screws you’ll be puzzling over in five years. “What are these things for?

The quick menu is handy for switching modes, though I question some of the additions — “Make-up” and “Vibrant landscape” are two modes that you can switch on and off which probably could have stayed buried in the menus somewhere, as they just clutter up the main screen. But the LED controls are there, as well as movie format, AF mode, and all the stuff you need to adjust quickly for various situations.

The Best Shot mode, as I noted, is occasionally useful. Modes like “Pet” and “Sunset” I can do without, but it has a time-lapse feature and a “pre-record” mode that lets you capture the last few seconds of video when you hit the movie capture button. Handy stuff, though not as versatile as the non-rugged Exilims.

Interestingly, the EX-G1 uses MicroSD instead of regular SD. It’s not really a problem at all, but of course a MicroSD adapter is one more little thing to carry around. Capacity is a concern if you never unload your camera, but hey, there are 32GB MicroSD cards now, and I’m still rocking 4GB on my DSLR. I don’t think it’ll really be an issue.

Conclusion

Although it’s a bit of a spoiler for tomorrow’s Olympus review, I’m going to go ahead and say that the EX-G1 is my pick for this roundup. It’s more compact than the others, takes great pictures, has some handy extra features, and it’s cool-looking to boot. The lack of HD video may be a deal-breaker for some, but those who can see past the numbers will know that the quality of the 720p on cameras like this is no great shakes, and 848×480 is sufficient for scuba diving videos. Now Casio, get started on a slow-mo-capable version of this thing!

Product page: Casio EX-G1


Make a paper iPad for fun and profit

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 01:36 PM PDT

All this iPad crap is getting out of hand. It really is, but yet I’m here perpetuating the hype with this Macworld instructional video on how to make a paper iPad. I’m clearly driving the bus to hell. This could be great fun if you use the Daniel Tosh video after the jump as a guide.


Review: Lowepro SlingShot 202 AW

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 01:00 PM PDT

Short version: The SlingShot 202 is a strange bag. It’s not really a backpack, although you do wear it on your back, and it’s not really a messenger bag, but you do put the strap over your shoulder. It’s kind of a strange combination of both, taking the best of each and combining them into one bag. Surprisingly, it works pretty well.

Features:

  • Holds DSLR, and up to four lenses
  • Stowaway weather cover
  • Quick access from the side
  • MSRP: $109 ($89 street)

Pros:

  • Little details really make the bag
  • More comfortable than a messenger
  • Easier access than a backpack

Cons:

  • Feels like there should be more space for the size
  • Only available in one color scheme

So there’s a problem with camera bags. They can be really comfortable to carry, but getting your gear out is a hassle (backpack). Or you have a bag that’s not as comfortable to carry, but you can get at stuff fast (messenger bag). The SlingShot line combines the best of both into one bag. You wear the SlingShot over your torso like a messenger bag, but it sits on your back like a pack, rather then on your hip. This makes the pack really comfortable to wear, particularly when compared to a messenger bag that can get uncomfortable after extended use.

If there’s any one theme with this SlingShot, it’s functionality. The bag feels extremely well thought-out, from the type of zipper pull, to the little pocket that pulls out of the bag to hold the feet of your tripod. The main compartment is designed to be opened from the side, after you shift the bag from your back to your front. This allows you to easily access your camera without taking the bag off. The main compartment has space for your DSLR body, and up to four other accessories like lenses and flashes. The main compartment’s flap is held partway shut by two quick release buckles; by releasing the buckles, you can open the compartment completely, which allows you to access your other gear. There’s also a mesh bag on the left side of the main compartment that holds a microfiber cloth attached to the inside of the bag.

There are other little features like this all over the bag. The top compartment zips open to reveal another mesh bag, this one intended for the camera manual, as well as another zip pocket for your filters or gels. There’s even a weather cover concealed in the bottom of the pack that stretches out to cover the SlingShot as needed when the weather turns bad. Even the cover is clever, in that it has an elastic band with velcro designed to fit over the shoulder strap so the cover won’t slip off.

Conclusion: The SlingShot 202 AW is a great field bag. You’re not going to be able to fit all of your gear in this bag, but you won’t want to. It’s a bag intended for the outdoor photographer, not someone who needs 4 umbrellas, 5 Speedlites, and what have you. The SlingShot 202 is also available in two other sizes, the 102 AW and the 302 AW. The 102 is a slightly smaller version, and the 302 is slightly larger. Both have all the features that make the SlingShot series so great, the only difference is the overall size. I wholeheartedly recommend the SlingShot product line. LowePro makes great bags and this is no exception. The SlingShot 202 hits that sweet spot of being both extremely functional and affordable.

Product page


Team Fortress 2 – Law Abiding Engineer

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 12:30 PM PDT

Awesome. I’d rather see the TF2 version before the crap out of Hollywood. Watch the real trailer after the jump to to be even more impressed. [via JoelJohnson]


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