CrunchGear |  |
- Go get your Woot Off
- Save Dave: Twitter campaign rallies around Sirius XM’s Ron and Fez producer
- Playstation Move could come out in July
- Here’s a waterproof flashlight/video camera
- Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show is GO!
- iLuv has three new speaker systems for your enjoyment
- AppMakr adds features, now free for a limited time
- Lame: The iPad is banned at Yankee Stadium
- 2010: The year instant messaging finally died?
- Confirmed: Motorola i1 will be Boost Mobile’s first Android phone
- 3DMark releases DirectX 11 demo
- Intel to debut dedicated tablet “solution” at Computex
- elgato EyeTV HD DVR for Mac easily makes iPad-compatible versions of your favorite TV shows
- Pioneer bringing Pandora to the dashboard with new iPhone app
- UJAM Turns Whistling, Humming, And Even Tone-Deaf Singing Into Musical Masterpieces
- Monster Diddybeats, for all your Diddy music needs
- Twitter reacts to last night’s episode of Lost, the last episode EVER: It was a storytelling Ponzi Scheme
- Inkia’s iPad clone, inPad, gets spec’d out
- Audi A8 super saloon getting factory-installed HSDPA hotspot
- TV viewers now refusing to watch SD content?
| Posted: 25 May 2010 04:39 AM PDT
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| Save Dave: Twitter campaign rallies around Sirius XM’s Ron and Fez producer Posted: 24 May 2010 04:00 PM PDT
There’s a campaign brewing on Twitter that really ought to be highlighted, if only because it shows the power (well, potential power) of the site. Dave McDonald, a producer on the Ron and Fez show on Sirius XM (and part-time inventor), needs a raise. He needs a raise because he has a growing family to support. But let’s not even bring up personal reasons. The man deserves a raise because he’s a fantastic asset to the Ron and Fez show and to Sirius XM as a whole. Without a raise, Dave will have to leave the show, which is incredibly disappointing. He’s a producer of the highest caliber—competent producers don’t grow on trees, otherwise terrestrial radio might not be as dead as it is today—and yet he earns little more than an intern. If this were 20 years ago we might see picket lines forming outside the Sirius XM studios in New York, but because this is 2010, fans have turned to Twitter to send Sirius XM management a very clear message: Save Dave, Pay The Man. The rallying symbol for the Twitter movement is the above illustration, created by the eminently talented dregman. It evokes memories of the iconic Hope poster of candidate Obama and the equally moving I’m With Coco campaign from earlier this year. While candidate Obama eventually became President Obama, Conan O’Brien can now look forward to a solid one-hour block of time on basic cable. There’s different degrees of success. The Save Dave campaign, after an initial period of waywardness and disorganization, seems to have found its footing under the superintendency of Mikey Boy, a longtime friend of the Ron and Fez show. Random, misguided tweets along the lines of “hey sirius, you jerks, pay dave or else!” gave way to standardized hashtags and work-friendly—and re-tweetable—slogans. These includes the titular tweet of the campaign in Save Dave as well as We Are Loud, We Are Proud, We Love ESD [for East Side Dave, his nickname]. The role of the Davepound should not be discounted. The Davepound, for those unaware, refers to McDonald’s more vociferous fans—analogous to co-host Fez Whatley’s Whatley Posse. The Davepound has bombarded Twitter with messages of support. Distinguished Davepound member Opie, of the Opie and Anthony show, also on Sirius XM, tweeted the following two days ago:
Completely agree with @DavePound :Sirius needs to give @eastsidedave a raise. He’s a valuable asset to the Ron & Fez Show. #savedave
This tweet has been re-tweeted numerous since then. With any luck, Sirius XM brass will have noticed it, and others like it. #savedave #esd #sirius #siriusxm #davepound #paydave are all part of the Save Dave campaign. Is the campaign working? That’s something only Sirius XM management knows for sure, but the trends look promising. Early last week, when McDonald announced that Thursday, May 27, would be his final day unless his requests were met, the mood on the show and its affiliated online outposts could be described as bleak. When asked today where he put McDonald’s chances of being given a much deserved raise, fellow producer Pepper Hicks (and winner of the 2009 CrunchGear Satellite Radio Award for Personality of the Year) put the odds at 6.5 out of 10. Given Hicks’ generally glass-half-empty disposition, I think we should feel confident with that number. Twitter’s a fine tool to let the world know that you’re eating lunch, but can it affect people’s lives? Can it help ensure the continuation of excellent, excellent radio and the stabilization of one man’s situation tenuous? Here’s hoping.
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| Playstation Move could come out in July Posted: 24 May 2010 03:28 PM PDT
What I’m hoping is that they really think that the E3 presentation will blow everyone away. If this report is true (LazyGamer notes that BT has been correct in this roundabout way before), I think it speaks well for the product. Even if it is a Wiimote clone, Sony has different ideas and different developers &mdsah; it could be a whole other world. We’ll be at E3, so you’ll know as soon as we do.
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| Here’s a waterproof flashlight/video camera Posted: 24 May 2010 03:00 PM PDT
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| Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show is GO! Posted: 24 May 2010 02:57 PM PDT This young lady is eight years old and produces something she calls Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show. Today she made a Drawdio, a pencil that plays music when you draw things. Mark at BoingBoing found her at Maker Faire and she seems to really enjoy what she’s doing and she has great production values, which is a big plus in videoblogging.
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| iLuv has three new speaker systems for your enjoyment Posted: 24 May 2010 02:29 PM PDT
There clearly isn’t enough computer speaker options available and so iLuv has three new solutions coming out. There’s a speaker bar, cube speakers, and even a mini clip speaker that features a clip for you know, clipping.
The new speakers are now available at i-luv’s site for $19.99, $34.99 and $39.99, respectfully.
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| AppMakr adds features, now free for a limited time Posted: 24 May 2010 02:02 PM PDT
The service, to recap, allows you create simple apps consisting of RSS feeds and other pieces of data. You create the app online and “publish” it either privately or with their help.
The company just launched a number of improvements including an “App Quality Index” which allows you to squeak through the Apple approval process as well as push notifications and photo galleries. You can create your app right here and publish it yourself. You’ll need to create an Apple Developer Account, but AppMakr will take care of most of the details. This offer is apparently for a limited time – they’re not announcing an end date – but, generally, it may be worth giving it a go if you’ve been thinking of creating a basic app.
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| Lame: The iPad is banned at Yankee Stadium Posted: 24 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT
Bad news, Yankees fans. Apparently the winningest team in the history of sport doesn’t want you sitting inside the stadium with an iPad on your lap. That’s right: the iPad is banned at Yankee Stadium! So says a poster on one of the IGN messageboards. The Bronx is burning. The deal is that the poster attempted to walk into the stadium a few days ago, only to find the security guy saying, “Sorry, you can’t take that in here.” The poster was completely refused entry. No worry: the poster went over to another entrance, slipping the iPad inside her jacket. She was then able to enjoy the game just fine. The iPad ban is part of the stadium’s “no laptop” policy. I don’t know if you can argue with the security guard at the gate the nuance, the difference, if you will, between an iPad and a laptop. This, of course, leaves the question: why do you need to bring the iPad to a baseball game? Shouldn’t you be watching the game? Oh: maybe you want to check out the MLB App while there. That I can understand. But still, you’re asking for trouble. Just leave your magical and revolutionary device at home for the day. Problem solved!
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| 2010: The year instant messaging finally died? Posted: 24 May 2010 01:30 PM PDT
Has Twitter killed instant messaging? That’s one possible explanation for the sudden and precipitous drop in instant message traffic in the past few years. A recent study shows that Britons spent an entire 14 percent of the online-time instant messaging back in 2007. Now? That number is a paltry 5 percent. Is IM dead, dying, or merely going through growing pains? There’s a few reasons why IM may have fallen out out of fashion. One is that IM services are incompatible with each other. You can’t IM your friends in London with AIM becuase they use Windows Live Messenger. You can, however, send them a quick SMS and accomplish the same thing. Or, and this is something I noticed in the few years that I’ve been out of school, is that kids, rather than merely sending text IMs to each other, will often fire up Skype and have a conversation right there. Or, again, they’ll SMS each other. Notice a pattern here? It’s all SMS, baby, especially if you connect your Twitter account to your phone. One quick text, boom, everyone knows that you think the Lakers will win the championship this year rather than just one buddy on your long buddy list. And let’s not forget that Facebook has had a built-in IM system for a few years now. Too bad Facebook is losing users left and right these days… I haven’t regularly used IM since Spring, 2008. (Google Talk? Never used it. E-mail is not IM.) Granted, I stopped signing on because I was trying to avoid someone, such is my silliness.
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| Confirmed: Motorola i1 will be Boost Mobile’s first Android phone Posted: 24 May 2010 01:05 PM PDT
Back at CTIA 2010, Motorola announced the world’s first rugged Android handset with iDEN push-to-talk functionality: the i1. At launch, Motorola was only willing to spill the beans on one carrier who’d be getting the handset: Sprint. We just unearthed some pretty irrefutable proof that someone else will be getting the i1: Boost Mobile. Yep — say hello to the first pre-paid Android handset in the US. Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>
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| 3DMark releases DirectX 11 demo Posted: 24 May 2010 01:00 PM PDT Have you ever wondered how they rate gaming laptops and desktops? Well, aside from a bunch of hand-waving and pseudo-intellectual discussion, most hardware reviewers depend on a few important benchmarks, including 3DMark 11. 3DMark traditionally pounds graphics processors and CPUs with all kinds of great stuff – I remember running 3DMark in 2001 and seeing some amazing graphics including a fun space battle scene that pre-dated Halo 2 – and then it spits out a number. FutureMark is releasing a new version of the software that will attack PCs with DirectX 11 graphics including new tessellation techniques to add amazing depth and detail to newer games. The new software will appear at Computex and will be available for use in Q3 2010. A free version will also be available for stay-at-home amateur hardware pundits.
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| Intel to debut dedicated tablet “solution” at Computex Posted: 24 May 2010 12:32 PM PDT
CarryPad has the audio clip but the man basically stated the chip will be physically thinner than the current crop of ULV chips. Of course it’s also designed for lower power consumption and heat output, which is a must for a tablet. The VP didn’t let anything else slip, though, so we’re going to have to wait until Computex for any more details.
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| elgato EyeTV HD DVR for Mac easily makes iPad-compatible versions of your favorite TV shows Posted: 24 May 2010 12:30 PM PDT
Mac users may get a kick out of this, the elgato EyeTV HD. It’s a DVR solution that works with your cable and satellite channels, sending everything to your Mac instead of a plain ol’ TV. From there you can watch or edit whatever you’ve recorded. Easy as pie. Why would you need such a device? Perhaps you don’t own a TV, but you want to be able to DVR every episode of “American Idol” or “The Best of PRIDE Fight Championships? Hook up the EyeTV HD to your Mac, and off you go. It’s a niche product, yes. That said, it does seem to be fairly thorough. You connect the device to your cable or satellite box via component cable, then connect the device to your Mac via USB. You install the software, then let her rip. The device encodes all video with h.264, which makes it easy to create iPhone or iPad-friendly files. Who needs to join shady BitTorrent Web sites in order to download iPhone-ready episodes of The Simpsons when you can make them on your own, legally. At least I think it’s legal, you never can tell with the DMCA. She’s $200.
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| Pioneer bringing Pandora to the dashboard with new iPhone app Posted: 24 May 2010 12:23 PM PDT
The two worlds are bound to collide eventually with a truly integrated solution, but until in-dish systems offer mobile wireless modems, a smartphone is currently required. Ford is bringing a very similar solution to first its 2011 Fiesta line later this year, and has plans to roll it out to future Sync vehicles next year. Ford’s system, however, works with Android and BlackBerry phones instead and works over Bluetooth while Pioneer’s system relies on a USB cable. Perhaps relying a mobile phone rather than building in the function isn’t all that bad. Many users that will want this function likely already have a smartphone and possess the technical know-how to connect the two. But building in the function will no doubt introduce the platform to more users. The market will no doubt decide the future.
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| UJAM Turns Whistling, Humming, And Even Tone-Deaf Singing Into Musical Masterpieces Posted: 24 May 2010 12:01 PM PDT  We all have them: those brief, spontaneous little melodies that pop into the back of our heads, undoubtedly destined for greatness if only we had an ounce of musical talent or a five piece band at our disposal. Well, now you wannabe-maestros have your chance. UJAM is a new startup making its debut today at TechCrunch Disrupt that can turn your humming, whistling, kazoo-playing or not-so-in-tune vocals into something people might actually want to listen to. And it's really, really cool. There's plenty of advanced technology working in the background, but to the user, the site really seems like magic. Whistle a few notes of 'Ode to Joy', and in seconds you'll hear your tune played back by a grand piano. Or an electric guitar. Or a full orchestra, complete with sweeping crescendos that somehow fit your tune perfectly. You can swap between these options in a few clicks, tweaking the results until they suit your fancy. If you happen to sing a few notes out of key, UJam will fix them for you. And if you play an instrument (or at least, try to), you can also use this to quickly turn your one-man show into a full band.
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| Monster Diddybeats, for all your Diddy music needs Posted: 24 May 2010 11:52 AM PDT
Dost thou love Diddy? Then do not squander Diddy, for that’s the stuff life is made of. Monster has just announced the avilability of the Diddybeats earbuds in black, white, and pink for $179. Best of all? Les Diddybeats includes a free track from Diddy’s latest album, Last Train to Paris. But wait! There’s more. Actually, that’s it. They’ll be available at Best Buy and, because they didn’t mention much about the audio, expect these things to be a little bass-heavy and actually fairly good, although the price is a bit high. Although folks complain about Monster all the time, I’ve been impressed with the Dr. Dre Beats, so these should be on par with those.
Additional note regarding Diddybeats and BlackBerry®:
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| Posted: 24 May 2010 11:30 AM PDT
@RonnieBQuotes Lost = story-telling Ponzi Scheme
Lost ended its glorious run last night. While I stopped watching the show about two years ago, I fully recognize that my fellow Americans absolutely love the show. In fact, they love the show so much that they’ve been tweeting about it non-stop. Come, let’s explore how the Twitterverse responded to this great TV moment! Here we go!
The final message of Lost: dogs are awesome. #lostfinale
Sadly, BP waited too long to hire Jack to plug up the Gulf of Mexico oil leak with a giant cork. #lost
End of LOST yesterday… End of 24 tonight… It’s the end of the world, as we know… and I feel fine.
Sin cervezas Polar, Venezuela sería como la isla de Lost. Nadie sabría que coño hacer y porque estan aqui.
That was it? That's the big secret? Castaways were in an Italian restaurant the whole time?! Oh, wait, that was an Olive Garden ad. #lost
#LOST – You completed me.
can’t wait for lost, lepidus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiB6QokvyCk
I think that sums of pulse of America (well, there entire world, what with that Venezuela tweet in there). There’s approximately 80 zillion tweets dedicated to Lost in the past 24 hours, so this represents a fraction of a fraction of a fraction… One question: Should I pick up the show again? I stopped with the season that ended in Spring, 2008.
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| Inkia’s iPad clone, inPad, gets spec’d out Posted: 24 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT
It seems both the WiFi-only inPad 701 and the 3G-equipped inPad 702 are powered by the 600Mhz Rockchip RK2808 that’s found in many Chinese clones. They will be available with either a 128MB or 256MB of RAM and 4GB or 16GB SSD. Both models will also sport 2 USB ports, a MiniHDMI, a 2200mAH battery, and WiFi. Still interested? Pricing and availability still isn’t available, but we kind of don’t care. The device seems woefully underpowered and probably won’t provide an iPad-meets-Android experience. Ping us when someone does that.
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| Audi A8 super saloon getting factory-installed HSDPA hotspot Posted: 24 May 2010 10:30 AM PDT
Autonet is GM’s and Chrysler’s high-speed provider of choice. This system is a bolt-on solution. The self-contained device, just needs power and a subscription to broadcast WiFi throughout the vehicle. But while it’s a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a tad ugly and Audi doesn’t do ugly. Audi’s system is integrated totally into the vehicle. From the press release.
So yeah, you just slip in a SIM card and you’re off. Hopefully Audi’s owner, VW, plans to offer this cross-platform rather than keeping it tied down to a $100k car. The world doesn’t need cars with Tegra-powered Google Earth navigation. But we need rolling hotspots and now.
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| TV viewers now refusing to watch SD content? Posted: 24 May 2010 10:00 AM PDT
There’s a handy option in the DirecTV menu guide for “HDTV Channels.” On the rare occasion when I’m actually sitting in front of the TV looking to “channel surf” (more like “menu surf” nowadays), it’s only “HDTV channels” I’m concerned with. Nearly halfway through 2010, it has come to the point where, unless I absolutely have no other choice, I simply won’t watch a network unless the program is in HD. Has it come really come to that? That, unless a show is in HD, you’ll simply skip it? Pretty sure I first heard of this last week on the radio, I think on Ron and Fez, that for the first time ever TV networks are starting to see their ratings decline specifically because they’re not in HD. That is, people now refuse to watch TV unless it’s in HD! How wild is that? I mean, assuming it’s true… It probably means a few things. One, biggish networks that aren’t in HD yet should now be shaking in their boots. For whatever stupid reason, DirecTV hasn’t picked up the HD feed of Fox Soccer Channel. That doesn’t mean much to most people, but when given the choice between watching a Premier League game in SD on my HDTV or watching the same game with a tiny online stream (which is probably illegal but who cares?) on my computer, freeing me to play simultaneously play some Steam games in windowed mode, then I’m absolutely going to go with the stream. I will go out of my way to watch an HD feed of a game, subjecting myself to TV’s controls for 90 minutes, but in 2010 SD sports broadcasts really ought to be outlawed. I’d almost rather listen to an audio play-by-play than watch an SD image on my HDTV. I should stress that Fox Soccer Channel does, in fact, have an HD feed, it’s just that DirecTV hasn’t picked it up yet. Boo! This could also mean that smaller TV networks are doomed. If people are now skipping SD content altogether, how can Some Niche Channel survive? It’s not exactly cheap to record and air HD content, so the little guy may be squeezed out. Or maybe this isn’t true at all? I’m pretty sure only something like 50 percent of TVs in America are HDTVs, so these people aren’t going to miss something (HD broadcasts) that they never would benefit from anyway. I’ll throw it to you guys now: do you still watch SD content on your HDTVs? Again, I pretty much don’t, but I realize my opinion may not exactly line up with a “normal” person’s.
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