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Fujifilm now lets you view 3D pics taken with its REAL 3D W1 on 3D TVs

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 04:01 AM PDT

Do you remember the FinePix REAL 3D W1, the “world’s first” digital camera that lets users shoot photos (and movies) in 3D? Announced by Fujifilm back in September 2008, the device, which you can see pictured below, became official one year later (Fujifilm in the US, for example, sells it online for $600).

For those lucky owners of said camera who also plan on getting a 3D TV soon, Fujifilm in Japan has announced [JP] the HDP-L1, a so-called “HD memory card player” (pictured on top of this post). Once plugged into your brand new 3D TV via HDMI, the small device lets you view 3D pictures and movies you made on the W1 on the TV screen (all you need to do is to put an SD or SDHC card with the 3D material into the player).

Fujifilm says the player also has a USB 2.0 port to connect to your computer (both Windows and Mac work), and it’s good to go with conventional 2D pictures, too.

The HDP-L1 will go on sale in Japan on April 27 (price: $45). Fujifilm hasn’t announced anything yet regarding international sales (the device is already listed in English on the company’s global site though).

New firmware update: Sony readies PS3 for future 3D games

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 03:02 AM PDT

Sony, which just recently scrapped Linux as an alternate OS for the PS3 with firmware update v3.21, released v3.30 today. The mandatory update neither brings Linux back nor features anything substantial per se (it gives you new sorting options for trophies). But with it, Sony readies the console for future 3D games and other 3D content.

As reported multiple times over the past months, virtually every major electronics maker on the planet, including Sony, bets high on 3D as the next big money maker. And for Sony, which offers everything from 3D TVs to 3D-capable sound systems, the PS3 is one of the main pillars.

The company says:

(…) this update preps the PS3 system for some upcoming new features, including 3D stereoscopic gaming, which is coming soon to PS3, in time for the launch of Sony's 3D BRAVIA TVs.

Needless to say, these are dreams of the future for most of us, but the update is probably great news for those who can go out and get one of these expensive 3D BRAVIAs sooner than us – provided Sony is actually able to offer compelling 3D content for their console.

iFixit attempts to usher in a new age of user-repaired devices

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 12:01 AM PDT


You’re probably familiar with iFixit. We link to their teardowns and home fixing guides all the time on CrunchGear; they mostly focus on Apple, and their light and informative tone is a welcome addition to such a dry topic as hardware disassembly. Well, they’ve decided that merely providing help for Apple users isn’t enough, and are today launching a “global repair community” with the aim being user-level repairs of any device.

Such a project is well-timed; the relationship between user and manufacturer is becoming more one-sided. It doesn’t trouble you that the devices we use every day are so poorly documented, or constructed in such obscure ways, that one has to be an Apple-qualified technician or Dell customer service person to fix a simple problem? I’ve actually had a long post gestating on this very topic, and now iFixit has gone and eaten my lunch.

But good for them. It’s Earth Day, after all (as of one minute ago, if this deuced scheduler has worked correctly), and the consumption rate of devices has given them the air of disposability. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course: with some very minor exceptions, gadgets like the one you’re reading this on and the one in your pocket are full of toxic materials and non-reusable bits, both of which end up (back) in the hands of destitute Chinese laborers. Even device recycling services have a pretty weak success rate due to the fast-changing nature of the business. Can’t use last year’s logic board or chassis with this year’s models, can we now? And many don’t trust used electronics. Better to make the gear we have last longer, assuming we can master our neophilic tendencies.

The model iFixit is hoping to grow on is (naturally) a social one. After all, they are not in possession of every device ever, and wouldn’t have the time to do detailed teardowns even if they were. They’re relying on an existing community of users (and you, dear reader) to provide teardowns and some detailed instructions where necessarily, working along some basic guidelines. Guides will be editable, with a reputation system will promote helpful and accurate guides and contributors. They’ll be freely available online or as downloadable PDFs. I imagine the whole thing will be paid for by offering tools and replacement parts for popular devices. Or maybe they’ve got a goose somewhere that’s laying golden eggs. I think Palm had one of those for a while, but it may have recently quacked its last. Honked, whatever.

Currently they have repair manuals for every Apple device out there, covering a number of fixes, replacements, and troubleshooting tips. Their users have posted teardowns and manuals for a bunch of game consoles, cameras, mobile phones, and others — but of course, the devices of the world are like grains of sand on an infinite beach. And the beach is getting bigger every day. You think that’s a contradiction, but I say you just can’t handle this high-level stuff. Increase the quality of your understanding, lest your reputation score be affected. The point is that they’re going to need a lot of content creators.

I think this is an unmixed bonanza of good stuff. People commonly consider their devices black boxes only fixable by “experts,” and not just with stuff like iPhones and laptops. Faulty headphones, discolored HDTVs, clicky hard drives… even car stuff. If you’ve got motive and opportunity to take a screwdriver to ‘em, all you lack is method. With luck, this iFixit database will grow like crazy, and it’ll become a standard resource like Wikipedia or CrunchBase. Whether internet-goers at large will be capable of following the directions (or even motivated to try) is still an unknown. But I’m guessing as the “black box” fix-it bills begin to swell, people may attempt home repairs if only to save some cash. Warranty? I think we all know most problems occur right after it expires.

If you’ve got expertise and a few obscure devices sitting around, think about contributing. It can be your Earth day contribution.

Daily Crunch: Discovery Edition

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Dell leak outs a gaggle of smartphones

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT


It looks like some internal Dell material has spilled out onto the internet, but am I the only one who finds this stuff suspect? I see lots of spelling errors and some questionable features. The vagueness of some of the specs and the very un-Dell phrasing of a lot of this stuff makes me think this is an outside contractor pitching Dell with some design ideas. If they are real, I’m guessing this is a mockup team inside Dell that’s pitching mobile division higher-ups with their idea of where Dell should be heading in the smartphone world. At any rate, there are pretty pictures, so let’s take a look.

Continue reading…

Video: Android running on the iPhone

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 06:56 PM PDT

Consider my mind blown.

There have been a lot of (poorly) faked videos portraying Android running on the iPhone over the last few years. Lots and lots. Like a ridiculous amount.

Well, this one’s real.
Read more at MobileCrunch >>

Wait a second, this cheapo MP3 watch actually looks great

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 05:30 PM PDT


I can’t be the only one that thinks this brandless Chinese MP3-player wristwatch is tastefully designed. And really metal? With an audio recording feature as well? Hell, this is SkyMall -quality material. It’s only got 4GB of space, but if the watch is really regular size, that’s actually kind of generous. Plus, it tells the time.

There’s not much else to say. It’s a random Chinese gadget-watch. But it’s hot. I’m telling you, with the headphone plug on a chain? $44!

[via 7Gadgets]

Kid-friendly programming app an unfortunate casualty of Apple’s new app policies

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT


Apple’s new restrictions governing the code origin of apps for App Store have been widely discussed. My position, in brief, is that it’s unquestionably Apple’s prerogative to do so, but it’s just more fuel for the fire. Especially when the collateral damage is to such plainly non-threatening apps as Scratch, an app designed for accessing the eponymous introductory programming language backed by none other than Alan Kay.

Because such a program obviously accesses, and in fact has its roots in, the foreign APIs and code that Apple finds so abhorrent, it was removed from the app store. Right. I’m not saying Apple shouldn’t apply its own rules on a case-by-case basis, but this is exactly the kind of constructive, rich app that people have been saying will be blocked by the 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 restrictions. I can’t muster any outrage, only share in Kay’s disappointment that a platform he envisioned and engendered decades ago will not be able to be used to its full extent.

Kay is quoted as having said to Jobs, after the iPhone event, “Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world.” Unfortunately, a world ruled by Jobs isn’t exactly what we all envisioned it to be a few years ago.

[via Wired Gadget Lab]

MSI’s newest GX640 gaming notebook is fast, affordable

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:30 PM PDT

MSI announced the latest in their stable today, the GX640. Built around the Intel Core i5 processor and ATI Radeon HD5850, it’s definitely a contender in the gaming notebook arena. In fact, it’s been selected as the notebook of choice by the number one pro-gaming team in North America.

The GX640 comes standard with the previously mentioned Core i5, an ATI Radeon HD5850 with 1GB of DDR5, and 4GB of system memory. It’s packing a 15.4 inch screen, so it’s relatively portable, and the 9-cell battery should help with battery life. The Gx640 is available now at Amazon.com with an MSRP of $1099.

From the press release:

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – April 21, 2010 – MSI Computer Corp., a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, is proud to announce the availability of the new 15.4-inch GX640 gaming notebook. The GX640 comes locked and loaded with Intel's powerful new Core i5 processor and the ATI Radeon HD5850 graphics card with 1 GB DDR5. It is the gaming notebook of choice for Evil Geniuses, the number one ranked professional gaming team in North America.

"When you're competing at the absolute highest level, your equipment has a huge effect on your performance," said Alexander Garfield, Executive Director of Evil Geniuses. "Our professional gamers stay on top of the competition with the help of the world's finest gaming Notebooks from MSI Computer. They give us the edge we need to bring home championship after championship."

GX640's new GPU supports DirectX 11 graphics, future-proofing the notebook for the next generation of games and 3D graphics. Its Core i5 processor improves battery life by as much as 15% and features Intel's new Turbo Boost technology which can increase overall performance by as much as 30%, ensuring smooth gameplay.

The new lightweight notebook is housed in a stylish brushed aluminum case with fire engine red accents The GX640 features a raised chiclet keyboard, for increased accuracy and comfort while typing, and clearly marked W, A, S and D keys for quick response while gaming.

The GX640 ships with a 15.4-inch LCD screen with 1680×1050 resolution, 4 GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB hard drive 7200 rpm, a 9-cell battery, Bluetooth connectivity and Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

The GX640 is priced at $1099.99 and is available now at Amazon and will be available on Newegg later this month.

Did your HTC Hero turn red? This poor guy’s did

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:22 PM PDT

What the heck? A reader sends in this image of his HTC Hero. It apparently changed color as it began to heat up. Insanity.

As I changed from a 1st gen iPhone to an HTC Hero I was very satisfied with it. Until it started getting very hot and turned into a redish color as well. While HTC told me to send it in, which I did on March 7, and they will replace the chasis I still dont have it back. As I was thinking about the Desire or Evo 4G I am really sad about the way how HTC treads their customers. So, I might wait for the iPhone 4G now.
6:16 So, while blogging about all the “cool gadgets” we should buy, can you be the voice for us as well and maybe post this?

Has anyone else seen this? The reader sent his in but HTC still hasn’t sent it back.

Benjamin Franklin gets a makeover

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:00 PM PDT


Are you tired of the old $100 bill? I know I am! As a highly-paid industry expert and jewel thief, I sleep in a nest of them. So boring! So easy to fake! But now Benjy’s got his groove back with this new hundy. I can’t wait to light one of my solid gold cigars with one of these… although I think the new microlens array might be toxic when burned.

Okay, who am I kidding. It’s a rare day indeed when I even get to see a hundred at a distance, much less in my hand. But I know what one looks like at least, although soon even that knowledge will be outdated. Seeing as it’s a popular target for counterfeiting (how surprising!), the $100 bill has been outfitted with a number of high-tech security measures. Holographic liberty bells, a strip of microlenses that creates the illusion of movement in different directions… or something like that. The announcement was just made yesterday and I haven’t had a chance to stop by the Treasury, so I’m going to have to take MSN at its word.

I’ve rather liked the redos for the other bills, personally, and I’m always impressed by how crazy foreign currency is when I go abroad. Bills different lengths so blind people can tell them apart? Hmm, what a good idea that was like fifty years ago. Yet every day in America, an average of 7000 blind persons are scammed by unscrupulous cashiers because all our bills have the same dimensions.

This information brought to you by the letter $.

[image: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images]

Nokia sales chief suggests cell phone cameras will supplant DSLRs in near future (we laugh)

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:30 PM PDT


All right, everybody ready? Point and laugh!

I mean really. I’d write a few paragraphs on why this idea is so silly, but they’ve done a perfectly good job of that at the Register. Maybe he was only half-serious. Still: point and laugh, everybody.

We’re doomed: The U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t know the difference between text messages and pagers

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

So this is either great or dumb, and I’ll leave it to you to make up your own mind. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a sexting case, in which police officers have sued their sergeant for reading sexually explicit messages that were supposed to be privately read amongst themselves. The question is, did the sergeant violate the officers’ privacy by reading the messages?

It got weird when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court asked what’s the difference between a text message and pager.

Now, there’s two schools of thought here. One is to say, "Oh My God! These old people have no idea what they’re talking about, they shouldn’t even be sitting on the bench!" And if they truly don’t know the difference between a text message and a pager, or anything along those lines, then we’re pretty much doomed. Is it too much to ask to have the country’s highest court to understand the everything things people have to deal with?

The other is that the justices do, in fact, know the difference in a practical sense, but are asking simply to make sure they’re on solid legal footing.

I’ll only address the first point because it’s the most pertinent here. For all the work of people like the Electronic Frontier Foundation trying to educate the public on law and technology, it’s a complete waste of time if the judges on the bench don’t know the difference between iPod and iPad, between uploading and downloading, between Internet Protocol and Intellectual Property.

I actually had a conversation with an EFF lawyer back during CES, and he pretty much said just that: you could walk into a courtroom with a rock-solid case, but if the judge doesn’t understand the technological details of your argument you might as well be speaking Aramaic.

We’re probably a few years away from having people who grew up with technology (as we know it today) sitting on the bench. And even that doesn’t solve the problem: I should hope that when I’m 50 years old I don’t understand a damn thing what the kids are doing technologically. I’ll be all, "I remember when the iPhone was leaked…" and some punk kid will be all, "What’s a phone?"

Technology will always outpace law. What are you gonna do?

Assassin’s Creed II DRM finally removed – by pirates

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 01:30 PM PDT


You know how in Facebook, there’s no “dislike button”? Well think of that in this case: I’m not “liking” or supporting piracy, but consider this post a continuation of our “dislike” of Ubisoft’s faulty, ridiculous DRM scheme. Said DRM has prevented thousands, perhaps millions, of legitimate buyers of the game from playing it — and now, a leading group of hackers has put together a solution that rids the game of the DRM scourge.

It’s been some time since AC2 was released, and it’s likely that it has sold perhaps 80% of the units it was ever going to. Some would say that Ubisoft sold more units because people found they couldn’t pirate the game. That may be true for a few sales, but I think the PR effect was greater. Many people are not buying the game on principle or simply because they can’t rely on their internet connection (or Ubisoft’s servers) and don’t want to risk it. And the feeling towards DRM and Ubisoft right now is nothing less than total disgust.

Ubisoft makes great games, but if they’re going to saddle them with DRM like this (other versions of which lasted even less time), a lot more people are going to stop paying for them.

Lastly, a little shout-out from the group, Skidrow:

Sort of a “good game” from the people Ubisoft will never be able to beat. And anyone ever else notice that no one in the scene can spell?

Zero Punctuation on Just Cause 2

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 01:00 PM PDT


I didn’t play the first Just Cause, and I’m waiting until I build a new rig to hit this one up, but Yahtzee clearly is in the “I’m holding back because this game was pretty damn fun” mode. I want him to do 3D Dot Game Heroes, because that game also looks fun as hell.

Asus Eee Keyboard available for pre-order at Amazon

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 12:30 PM PDT


It’s been a long time since we first met, Eee Keyboard. You’ve changed a lot. Well, not that much. But you’re not quite as compelling as you were in early 2009. HTPCs are being integrated with our HDTVs now, and our smartphones and tablets are becoming universal remotes for them. I’m afraid there’s not a lot of room for a doodad like yourself… but I’m reporting you for old time’s sake. What, you’re $600 now?!

Yes, the long-awaited Eee Keyboard is available for pre-order, as we knew it would be, over at Amazon. I’m afraid Asus might have missed the boat on this one, though. I mean, between this thing and an iPad, what is the average consumer going to pick? Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

[oops, via Netbooked]

Tactile vest helps patients recover balance

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 12:00 PM PDT

Researchers at UCLA are working on a new device intended to help patients who have lost their sense of balance. The device will help the patient to recover and learn how to move normally again.

The device is sewn into a vest, and worn by the patient. Accelerometers on the shoulders detect when the the body rotates or tilts, which provides feedback to the wearer. The control system uses pneumatic activators to inflate a series of 2.5cm silicone balloons in the vest, which then provides feedback to the patient. I’m assuming the finished product will look a little more refined than the prototype pictured.

[via Medgadget]

Review: VC Audio Pro recording / audio editing app

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Most recording apps are fairly limited in what you can do with your recording once you’ve made it. VC Audio Pro from VeriCorder is the first multitrack audio editor for the iPlatform and is primarily aimed at journalists making field interviews and whatnot. While the editing and sharing capabilities are pretty powerful, VC Audio Pro is limited by its inability to add and edit audio not recorded with the app.

Its a three track editor that allows you to move and split apart audio files, add volume automation, and add fades where needed. The interface takes a little figuring out, but everything is accomplished with either a single or double tap of your fingers.

I was unable to find a way to import other audio clips into the app. So if you wanted to add a theme song to your story you’re out of luck. Finished clips can be uploaded directly by secure FTP over Wifi.

The recording quality of the iPhone mic is nothing to write home about, so if you want better quality recordings, you can use one of many external microphone for the iPhone. VeriCorder carries its own line.

$5.99 in the iTunes app store.

Zeus keylogger affects Firefox, Internet Explorer users doing online banking

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Ooh, this is a nasty one, isn’t it? There’s a computer virus out there called Zeus that targets users engaged in online banking. It affects users running Firefox and Internet Explorer—a fair chunk of all Internet users, then. As always, the best policy here is to keep your wits about you as you browse the Internet.

There’s nothing novel about what Zeus does as it’s merely a keylogger. It sees you go to your bank’s Web site, then records your username and password, then that info is sent to a server somewhere in the dark alleyways of the Internet.

Zeus has a list of sites that it keeps tabs on, and once you visit that site if kicks into high gear.

Again, it affects both Firefox and Internet Explorer, so be sure to keep your anti-virus definitions up to date. Or, I suppose, you can switch to Safari (or other WebKit-based browsers) or Opera. I know I’ve been using Opera in the past few weeks. My concern is that I’m going to turn into an “Opera guy,” going around all day saying how great Opera is.

All these browsers are the same to me; they all load Drudge just the same.


OMG! Fake Five Fingers appearing everywhere

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:22 AM PDT


Just when you thought it was safe to buy some nice VFFs for your wedding, Chinese pirates are creating knock-off five fingers with names like Mupuk Five Fingers. While I’d normally say live and let live when it comes to Chinese piracy – after all, what can we do about it? Cry? – I’d recommend avoiding these guys at all costs. It’s odd enough wearing VFFs running and wearing sub-par fakes could be delitirous to your health and well-being.

Generally, if it’s too good to be true it probably is. VFFs cost about $125 and are worth it if you have issues with your feet, ankles, or knees. These fakes could pull apart or hurt you in ways you don’t want. In short, anyone selling them below $80 is suspect right now.

Here is a list of fake VFF sites. Both the good folks at Birthday Shoes and I agree: Avoid at all costs.

vibramfivesfingers.com (Note the “S”)
vibramofficial.com
vibramfivefingersstore.com
vibram-five-fingers.cc
vibramfootwear.com
topvibram.com
unshoessales.com
tefta.lot.my
dhgate.com
handbagsboots.com
pickmbtshoes.com
fivembt.com
jordans-cheap.com
eurluxury.com
tradevv.com
zhengshi-trading.com
tradetang.com
glauke.com
b2bsharing.com
timberlandshow.com
fbikey.com
martorder.com
sotobuy.com
mbtshoes-store.com


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