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Poll: Are you going to buy an iPad

Posted: 03 Apr 2010 05:44 AM PDT


This is the 100 million dollar question. Are you, being among the most well-informed and knowledgeable consumer base around, going to buy the iPad? It goes on sale 24 hours from now and we want to know both sides as CrunchGear’s visitors are nearly equally divided between Windows and Mac users. Sound off in the comments below and please keep the flames well tended and under control. We’re all friends here no matter if you feel iPad buyers are flushing $500+ away for an oversized iPod touch.

And now the Aussies are making bionic eyes too

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT


I remember the glory days of bionics… you know, when I’d see an article on bionic eyes and not think “Another one?” Because really, there are a lot out there. From homegrown products like Eyeborg and this lady’s webcam eye to more substantial efforts like Second Sight and the Boston Retinal Implant Program, it seems like everybody and their dog is whipping up some sort of vision substitution system. And my visual neuroanatomy professor said it couldn’t be done! In your face, Dr. Schein!

Anyway, the latest is an Australian company with a method that reminds me of the excellent 2002 Wired article that got me interested in this stuff: basically, you have a camera that has its signal sent to a set of microelectrodes, which in turn stimulate the retinal cells, which respond as if there is a light stimulus. Same approach as a decade ago, but hey, whatever works.

As I actually wrote in a paper some time ago, the limitations of this method are clear: it requires not only a working visual system in the brain (some people are “brain blind,” i.e. the problem is not in the eye proper) but a working retina, which can be a tall order; many accidents and disorders would preclude the usage of this method. But it’s not meant to be a universal cure, and a microelectrode array in the visual system would have to be unbelievably precise. Even with the system being proposed by Bionic Vision Australia, they can only make an array of 98 electrodes, resulting in a resolution of about 10×10. Better than nothing, but there will be jaggies.

Equipe watches designed to drive you crazy

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 06:30 PM PDT

Every watch needs some kind of theme, and Equipe has certainly found theirs. Inspired by the auto industry, this Detroit based company designs their watches using vehicles as their guide.


CrunchDeal: Borderlands for $25

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 06:00 PM PDT

Once you pick this game up, there “ain’t no rest for the wicked.” We all really enjoyed Borderlands here at CrunchGear, and here’s your chance to pick up your own copy for $25 at Steam. That’s 50% off, and one hell of a deal. Go. Now. You can thank me later.

Time for E-ink: Seiko announces the first active-matrix watch

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:30 PM PDT

Here’s an interesting little tidbit; Seiko just announced that they are going to producing the world’s first active matrix e-ink timepiece. That’s right, a wristwatch that uses e-reader technology to display the time. Could we be looking at the next LCD display technology?

It’s worth your time to look at the video, and not just for the glimpse of the e-ink watch. There’s also a really interesting looking timepiece at the five minute mark. At any rate, we really don’t know much about Seiko’s new project. All we do know is that the display is 300dpi, displays the time, date, and a world clock. No word on price, no availability.. No idea if it’ll even be available in the U.S.

[Via E-ink Info]

The iPad gets the Colbert Bump

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:21 PM PDT

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Stephen Gets a Free iPad
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

We’re not sure how we missed this but it’s hilarious.

Interesting: what if your OS could “see” UI elements and react to them?

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT


This video is a bit academic, but it’s an interesting idea. UI elements like buttons, scroll bars, and so on, are hard coded into windows and things, of course. But they’re also visually distinctive. What if your computer could see these interactive elements and adjust your input (say, slowing down your mouse when you hit a button) based only on that?

It’s nice to know that there are people working on crazy high-level UI stuff like this. When you think about how little windows and icons have changed since the early days, it’s kind of depressing. Maybe this kind of thing isn’t super exciting right now, but you take a few of these concepts and integrate them into an OS and it may provide a whole new experience.

PC hardware reviews are now indistinguishable from science fiction

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 04:30 PM PDT

Its worth noting that the VRM on the P7P55D Deluxe makes use of a hybrid 16+3 phase configuration, where 16 phases are dedicated to the processor cores and three to the CPU’s integrated memory controller. Additionally, the VRM contains low Rds MOSFETs, ferrite core chokes, and Japanese capacitors.

That’s from the motherboard round-up over at Hot Hardware that I’m reading right now. I know what some of it means, but seriously, if I came across that paragraph while reading Neuromancer, I wouldn’t have thought twice. Ferrite choke cores and MOSFETs? Do those plug into the flux capacitor? I may be in Generation i, but hard hardware still makes my head spin.

Video: More Red Dead Redemption gameplay for y’all

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 03:43 PM PDT

Presenting, more Red Dead Redemption gameplay footage~! You’ll recall that the game had a very long line last week at PAX East. It’s not exactly GTA in the Wild West, but that’s a fairly accurate, incredibly generalized two-second description. The question on everyone’s mind: Did they have iPads back then?

iDisplay app turns your iPad or iPhone into secondary screen – too good to be true?

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 03:16 PM PDT


How cool is this? iDisplay is an app that tricks your computer into thinking you’ve got a secondary display attached, and then pushes what would be on that display onto your iPad or iPhone. That’s… brilliant.

Continue reading…

Rugged Camera Round-Up: The Round-Up

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 03:00 PM PDT


So we’ve looked at four rugged and waterproof cameras this week: the $150 Kodak PlaySport, the $200 Fujifilm XP10, the $300 Casio EX-G1, and the $400 Olympus 8010. Which, if any, is worth your hard-earned scratch? Spoiler alert: I prefer the Casio. But here’s a quick rundown of their pros and cons if you’re not convinced.

Kodak Playsport

This one is different from the rest, being a pocket camcorder and all. Still, at $150 I found it to be a fun little gadget to have around. It’s practically an impulse buy at the price — if you can handle not being able to focus closer than 3ft or so.

Fujifilm Finepix XP10

The cheapest point and shoot in the roundup unfortunately looks and feels like it. Although it’s certainly as waterproof as the rest, its crappy buttons and generally weird design didn’t impress.

Casio EX-G1 (CrunchGear’s pick)

It’s rugged as the rest, but slimmer and easier to use, as well as providing the best still images. Unfortunately, it suffers from a lack of HD video — not that any of the others shoot particularly high-quality 720p, but it would have been nice to have. Some handy extra features round out the package — this one would be my choice. But come on, Casio, give us the high-speed video in a rugged body! That would be killer.

Olympus Stylus 8010

This brick of a camera is definitely the most rugged, and is rated to greater depths and higher crush pressure than the others. It also sports image stabilization and a handy two gigs of internal memory. However, its picture quality doesn’t match its price, and the on-screen menu was sluggish (though useful, and the tap control is interesting). Not a bad camera by any stretch of the imagination, but also not worth the $100 premium over the Casio. However, there is a cheaper version, the 6020, which I would put on par with the EX-G1.

What’s missing from this roundup? The Pentax W80 and the Panasonic TS2. They couldn’t get units out in time or just wouldn’t respond (Pentax), so no review for them. It’s too bad; I was looking forward to the TS2 in particular.

That’s the end of this little round-up. I’ll have the cameras for a bit longer, so if you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments here or in the individual reviews.

The iPad will make touchscreen universal remotes obsolete tomorrow

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 02:15 PM PDT


There is a somewhat large market for tablet universal remotes. These things have been out for a few years and generally found in the homes of the rich and famous. They can control everything from entertainment rigs to the HVAC system to a coffee pot. But the iPad will destroy the entire market for $1000+ universal remotes when it launches tomorrow while at the same time forcing home automation companies away from supporting expensive hardware and into the possibly-lucrative iPad app and accessory business.

There might be some casualities here. These companies are notiously slow to adapt to new technologies, instead forcing installers and dealers to sell old, outdated and expensive hardware. But Control4, along with some others, seem to get it and are already showing off their iPad business plans. The true winner however is consumers.

The heart of home automation systems are control units that are often stuffed in a AV closets, but control every piece of electronic throughout the whole house. Customers rarely interact with these boxes. The system is generally controlled by a series of remotes, tablets, and/or wall controllers. The iPad and iPod touch can now replace every single one of these expensive controls.

The tablet remotes themselves were actually one of the first consumer touchscreen devices and people have been using them for years. They range in size from 5 to 11-inches and run software developed by the home automation companies. The killer is their price, however, as most start over $1,000, with 10-inch models often reaching $2,500 or more.


There isn’t a single thing that iPad can do with the right combination of accessories and software that these controllers can do better. Plus, the iPad has a longer battery life, a sleeker look, and offers its nearly limitless feature set via apps where universal remotes that can display only local weather and sports scores are often considered top-tier. There’s no competition really.

Look at the Control4 iPad app release by Control UI. (iTunes link) It brings all the functions to the iPad that’s found in the official remotes: lighting controls, an AV interface, live webcam streaming, everything. It’s all there in a free app that can run on a device that costs thousands less than the other options.

Other companies are on the iPad bandwagon, too. AMX has a PDF white paper detailing how the iPad — along with other Wi-Fi-enabled devices — can work with its systems right now. Creston already has an iPod app and interface hardware, which should run fine on the iPad, although there will likely be a new app released soon to take advantage of the larger screen. Savant will be debuting off its app, ROSIE (think The Jetsons), sometime next week.

These apps are just the beginning, though. We’ll likely start seeing iPad tabletop cradles, wall mounts, and other accessories meant directly for the home automation market as companies try to find other revenue streams other than from overpriced remotes.

The iPad might also drive down the overall cost of home automation systems as the companies no longer have to support dozens of proprietary remotes. Instead they can focus their efforts on adding capabilities and functions to an app running on one platform.

Can’t you see it now? It’s Steve Jobs’ dream. An iPad or iPod in every room in every home across the globe controlling everything. Although they would probably still be too much for Ozzy.

Review: Olympus Stylus 8010 rugged digital camera

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 01:30 PM PDT


Short version: This thing could take a bullet and keep on shooting, but its chunky form and average image quality don’t impress. However, if strength and resilience are your main criteria for picking a camera, you could do a lot worse.

Features:

  • 14 megapixels, 720p video
  • 5x optical zoom
  • Waterproof (10m/33ft), shockproof (2m/6.6ft), freezeproof (-10C/14F), crushproof (100kg/220lb)
  • 2.7-inch LCD
  • MSRP: $399

Pros:

  • Feels as solid as it looks
  • Nice wide angle on lens
  • Best video of the bunch

Cons:

  • Image quality so-so
  • Heavy and bulky
  • “Tap control” doesn’t really seem that useful

Full review:

All of the cameras I’m reviewing this week make compromises, and Olympus’ major concession is size. The Stylus 8010 boasts better waterproofing and “crush-proofing” than any of the other cameras, but it’s also the biggest and heaviest by some margin. Its bricky design is probably a love-it-or-hate-it thing, and I’ll leave that to the readers to decide. Keep in mind also that while this is the most expensive camera of the lineup, there is a cheaper version, the 6020, which shares many of the 8010’s characteristics but costs $100 less.

So let’s get this clear right away: if all you really want from your camera is a truly rugged feel, the 8010 is a pretty good choice. While it’s not as sleek and sporty as the Casio EX-G1, it’s twice as solid, and the familiar squared shape is reassuring. It really reminds me of the early ELPH cameras in its layout and heft. I thought it ugly at first, but its utilitarian design has grown on me.

For its rugged credentials, here’s the roundup video where it gets tossed and goes underwater:

In addition to that, it claims to be crushproof (i.e. you sit on it or drop your luggage on it) to 220 lb, and freezeproof. I’ve got it in the freezer right now, and I’ll take it out in 20 minutes or so and see how it works. [later] It started right up and took pictures and video, but the LCD exhibited the weird, slow response you get from cold. So that part isn’t exactly protected, but the camera functions.

It’s difficult to really tell in the video above, but the 8010 seems to boast the best video of the lot. That’s actually not saying much, seeing as they’re all smeary 720p or worse, but for the record, Olympus’ seems to look the best. Here’s a still from underwater; click for full size:

That’s not so bad — but it is the best frame I could find from a period of several seconds, and you can see how little detail is resolved everywhere but on the high-contrast koi fish. Quality out of water is similarly mixed, as it is on all inexpensive video devices, but I found there to be slightly less skew and smear on the Olympus than the others. It’s only 15% better, if I had to put a number to it, but hey, it’s something.

Image quality isn’t as good. The lens is quite wide-angle, but it misses out on a lot of the detail that the Casio picked up. If you compare the photos in this set, you can see the loss of detail most clearly in the picture of the tree branch and building — or in the picture of the brick water tower. It did, however, produce exemplary photos underwater, as you can see:

The quality of those photos is largely accidental, since I was just reaching down into the water, but it’s significant that without trying, I got a couple nice pictures of those koi. The Olympus also fired its flash without hesitation underwater, which contributed to the quality. It’s worth mentioning that it also has a LED by the lens, but it’s not very bright and the option to turn it on is buried in the menus.

The main menu is easy to navigate and provides helpful previews of things like white balance and exposure changes. It’s a bit sluggish to navigate, but it gets the job done. The 8010 also has a rather unique thing they call “Tap control.” Essentially you turn it on, and then you can whack the camera in various directions to change settings, modes, and navigate the menu. It’s a cool idea, but you really have to pound the thing to make it work, and it really only seems useful in situations where you’re completely unable to operate the camera, for example when you’re wearing neoprene gloves while diving. I appreciate it, but I just don’t see it being useful to many people.

The layout of the camera is plain and functional. It seems like they deliberately chose tiny buttons for some reason — and they don’t just look small when compared with the rest of the camera. They’re actually tiny. At least they protrude nice and far and are easy to push. I didn’t have any trouble with them, although the D-pad and surrounding buttons are placed incredibly close to one another for some reason.

The HDMI port, USB port, SD slot, and battery compartment are all under the same cover, which was very thoughtful of Olympus. It feels secure and the double-lock mechanism feels like you can rely on it. There’s also a little lens cover that flips away when you turn the camera on. Little touches like that make me sure that I could rely on the camera in a savage environment.

Conclusion

I mentioned the 6020 at the beginning of the review; the differences between it and the 8010 are that the 6020 has only 1GB of internal memory, is slightly less rugged in all ways (but still rugged), and has a slightly slower lens. I think that, given the 8010’s performance and the amount of features it shares with its more inexpensive cousin, it’s hard to recommend the more expensive one. For $300 this would be a very close competitor with the Casio EX-G1 (my pick of the roundup), but at $400 it seems like you’re paying too much — that is, unless super-ruggedness is your main concern.

Product page: Olympus Stylus 8010

The FCC goes deep, deep inside the iPad

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 01:03 PM PDT


Ever wanted to see inside an iPad? Probably not, right? Well, given that there’s f-all else going on this fine Friday, here you go: the FCC teardown photos of the iPad. Dig that wild aluminium back plate! It looks like something aliens would make if they made big iPod touches.

One more image after the jump.

via Engadget

There will be a Red Faction movie. Let that sink in for a moment.

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 12:55 PM PDT

Wow, someone has been tricked into making a Red Faction movie. That blows my mind. I base this on the first Red Faction for the PS2, which I don’t recall enjoying at all. Maybe it’ll be the first time we say the opposite of, “Eh, the book was better.”

THQ has developed something called a “trans-media strategy,” which is a fancy way of saying that THQ wants to branch outside of the video game business. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, making a couple of extra dollars by tricking some production company into turning Red Faction into a movie. Although now that I think of it, Metro 2033, a THQ-published game that I bought last week (and according to the new Steam UI I have played for a whopping three hours so far), could be a good movie, provided it was done correctly.

I mean, it won’t be done correctly, so it’s best to just enjoy the game as-is.

THQ has promised that it’s going to be more than merely selling the rights to its game to some pinhead Hollywood studio, saying it’s “going to be doing the most robust trans-media plays anybody’s ever seen in the games business.”

I’m only like 200 words into this post and I’m already sick of the phrase “trans-media.” It sound so cold, you know?

Then again, video games are “good” because they’re interactive. You yourself are part of the action, and that’s a completely different experience from sitting back and watching Magnolia on your fancy TV. (That movie’s use of music is right up there with The Thin Red Line and The New World.) You can’t just shoe-horn a video game into a movie script and call it a day, as we’ve seen time and time again.

CrunchDeal: Upgrade Windows 7 starter for $50

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 12:25 PM PDT

If you bought a netbook recently, it probably came the decidedly hampered Windows 7 starter. You might have eyed the other version of Windows, but maybe you didn’t want to shell out the $79 for the Home 7 Premium. Good news for you, Microsoft is running a special promotion that will allow you to upgrade for the low low price of $49.99.

The promotion starts on April 4th, and ends on July 3rd, so you’ve got plenty of time between now and then to upgrade. There’s other news too, Microsoft also dropped the price of upgrading from Windows 7 Home Premium to Window 7 Professional. Formerly, it cost $89.99, but Microsoft dropped the price to $79.99. Not a huge discount, but at least they are giving you something, eh? Just a suggestion, if you’re curious why you should upgrade, check out the Windows 7 wiki.

[via Liliputing]

Google updates mobile services for the iPad

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 11:53 AM PDT


Don’t worry. The long national nightmare of iPad mania will soon be over. That said, Google just announced complete compatibility and a new layout for their Services on the iPad. Gmail, for example, now appears in a two column layout and uses all HTML5 rendering, thereby ensuring a seamless, clean display.

Other services include YouTube – which works with iPad sans issues – and the Google Mobile App. The Google Mobile App, for example, has been made bigger to fit the iPad’s larger screen.

Even as Google/Apple emnity flows out of Cupertino and Mountain View like lava from Mordor, it’s nice to see Google’s developers hold no grudge against their tablet-toting counterparts.

via GoogleMobile

Ask CG: Best monitor for under $250?

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 11:42 AM PDT

Reader Josh writes,

Hi CrunchGear! I have a quick question concerning LCD monitors. I need a new one but there are so many choices available I don’t know where to start. My three qualifications are that it be around 24-inches, have HDMI and costs less than $250. Obviously cheaper is better, too. I’m a gamer, but don’t obsess about framerates or any of that nonsense. Any suggestions? I’m looking to buy soon so it would be awesome if you could point me at a good sale today.

Anyone care to help out this guy? Drop suggestions in the comments after the jump.

Have a question you want to submit to the masses? Send it in to us at Tips@CrunchGear.com.

Seven more iPad alternatives

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT


We ran through the seven mainstream iPad alternatives a few weeks ago. You should know the list anyway.  They include the usual suspects of the ModBook, Notion Ink Adam, HP Slate and Dell Streak along with a few others. But there are a bunch more portables either currently available or coming out real soon that could also have made that list. Consider the following seven computers alternatives to the standard iPad alternatives.

Spring Design Alex Ebook Reader

While the Alex is really an ereader first, it’s still capable of a lot more with Android running on a 3.5-inch color LCD under the 6-inch e-ink display. Since it’s Android, everything works as it should so it can browse the web, send emails, and access the Android Marketplace via Wi-Fi or 3G. But the real magic is that the two screens can be linked so that content on the small screen can be pushed up for easier viewing on the large screen. It also handles book navigation and selection. Think of it as a suped-up Nook and instead of B&N, there’s a partnership with Boarders but any ebook standard will work. Available in either black or white at $399 and the company is taking pre-orders right now with an expected shipping date of April 14.

Advantages over the iPad

  • USB power charging
  • User-replaceable battery
  • Longer battery life with only the e-ink screen

Disadvantages

  • Smaller screens
  • Less storage

enTourage eDGe dualbook

One look at this thing and you can tell it’s something different. Two screens, combined with a hinge that also holds a speaker. It’s really not just an ereader with an Android netbook bolted on, either. It’s so much more and truly shows what the future of computer could hold for everyday joes, but more so for academia. Oh, and unlike the similar Microsoft Courier concept, this thing is real and available for $499 right now. Read our review here.

Advantages over the iPad

  • More touchscreen real estate
  • SD card slot
  • 2 USB ports
  • User-replaceable battery

Disadvantages

  • No 3G
  • Less storage

WePad

The WePad may be the most complete alternative to the iPad with Linux at the core and access to the Android Marketplace. It’s reportable going to be less expensive, as well, when it first its German retailers in the coming months.

Advantages over the iPad

  • Webcam
  • 2 USB ports
  • WePad App Store + Android Marketplace
  • Multitasking
  • Works with all ebook formats
  • Larger screen
  • Flash support

Disadvantages

  • None we can see

Lenovo Skylight Smartbook

Yes, it’s a netbook but give the Skylight a chance before scrolling down to the next iPad alternative. 10 hour battery life, 2 lbs weight, and a bright 10-inch screen are pretty standard noondays. But then throw in a 3G wireless into a thin and sleek package powered by a custom web interface and you have one tasty treat.

Advantages over the iPad

  • Full keyboard
  • USB ports
  • SD card slot

Disadvantages

  • Unproven OS (that’s a biggie)
  • No touchscreen

Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid

It’s a tablet! No, it’s a netbook! No, it’s both! An Intel CULV processor handles Windows 7 while in netbook mode and an ARM CPU takes care of the Skylight OS when the tablet is all by itself. It packs 3G, 128GB SSD all in a design that’s truly the best of both worlds. The U1 Hybrid slated for a summer 2010 release. See it in action here.

Advantages over the iPad

  • Windows 7
  • Two-in-One design
  • USB port
  • SD card slot
  • Larger screen

Disadvantages

  • No access to the App Store
  • It will probably be more expensive

ExoPC

It looks like an iPad, costs the same as an iPad, has similar tech specs as the iPad, but it isn’t made by Apple. The ExoPC might be the absolute best iPad alternative for Apple haters as long as they feel comfortable owning an obvious iPad clone. The ExoPC is supposed to be released sometime this spring.

Advantages over the iPad

  • SD card slot
  • User-replaceable battery
  • Supports Flash and Silverlight
  • Wireless and wired networking
  • Windows 7
  • 3 USB ports

Disadvantages

  • No access to the App Store
  • Shorter battery life at 4 hours

Your smartphone

And finally, your smartphone should really be considered an iPad alternative. Think about what the iPad can do and then compare it against your current phone. It could be a Palm Pre, Droid, HD2, or even iPhone. You can surf the web on these phones, edit photos, read sheet music, play electronic instruments, read comics, watch TV shows, play racing games and the list goes on and on and on. Sure, the iPad has that massive screen to further exploit those apps, but most of the functions are the same.

Reminder: Stargate Universe comes back on tonight

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 10:25 AM PDT


Stargate Universe’s season one starts back up tonight and we might finally see some the alien baddies and a space ship fight. The first ten episodes where just OK, but the series shows potential with a good cast, novel story line, and great sets/locations. Those three things also happened to be the three pillars holding up the previous Stargate shows. All SGU needs to do is tone down the seriousness a bit and run a bit more loose. That’s what Stargate always did best and truly separated itself from other shows within the genre.
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