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Sony Japan’s Toy Story 3-themed Walkman S

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 04:20 AM PDT

We think Toy Story 3 is great, it’s a huge box office hit in the US, and it’s poised to replicate the success over here in Japan. Reason enough for Sony Japan to come up with a Toy Story 3-themed Walkman S [JP] for the local market. It’s not as cool as Sony’s Metal Gear Solid Walkman W, but it’s certainly cuter.

Buyers will be able to choose one of three Toy Story 3 designs (Alien, Buzz Lightyear/Sheriff Woody, Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear), which will then be engraved on the spot (in the store) or through Sony Style’s Japanese website. Just like with the Disney Walkmans Sony introduced in Japan back in March, buyers can also have a personal text added to their devices (Walkman S NW-S740/S740K/S640/S640K).

Sony also offers a Toy Story 3 clear case (pictured below).

Depending on the model, prices range from $135 to $190 (engraving included). The case goes for an extra $20. Sales in Japan started today, but don’t expect to be able to get these Walkmans outside Japan anytime soon. If you’re interested, you can try and ask specialized import/export stores such as Geek Stuff 4 U or the Japan Trend Shop for help.

Daily Crunch: Burgerdrift Edition

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Hey Apple: You’re not supposed to hold the iPhone 4 that way.

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 08:24 PM PDT


Non issue. Just avoid holding it in that way.

- Steve Jobs, on the iPhone 4 reception issue.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

That’s one elegant bike basket

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 07:00 PM PDT


Biking around with just a little bit of stuff is annoying. Say all you’re carrying is a book and your phone. If it’s nice out, you don’t want to wear a hoodie or jacket for their pockets, and bringing a bag or pack along for just one or two objects seems like overkill. Yet you have resisted the bike basket because, let’s face it, they’re dorky. This thing, however, might be right up your alley.

The Bent Basket is basically just a bent piece of wood with a simple strap system on top. Holds a laptop, a couple books, or a couple grocery items. Perfect!

If you’re interested, you’ll have to contact Faris Elmasu, the creator, directly; they’re all hand-made and probably cost a bundle.

[via DesignBoom and Swiss Miss]

Google disappears apps from phones – it’s like magic!

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 06:00 PM PDT


While this isn’t quite on the level of Amazon’s 1984 nonsense, Google did just demonstrate their willingness to remotely detonate apps they deem malicious. In this case, it was a couple dummy apps put up by a researcher — probably trying to figure out why people download what they download. At any rate, he took them off the market after a while, and the Android security team decided to nuke the remaining installs.

Continue reading…

Steve Jobs Responds To The Antenna Issue: Hold It Different Or Use A Case

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 05:30 PM PDT


By now you’ve heard about the antenna issues some people are having with the new iPhone 4. Basically, it seems like wireless signal strength degrades if you hold the lower left corner on some, but not all devices. This has been shown on video and there are many reports out there about this issue — something that is particularly troublesome for left-handed people. I’m sure a lot of people have asked Apple about the issue — I have too. So far, I have yet to hear anything back other than they’re looking into it. But one man did hear something back about the issue — from Steve Jobs himself.

Continue reading…

Zune suddenly takes real money in addition to MS points

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT


What’s that you say? An online marketplace has realized that ridiculous alternative currencies are not, in fact, the way to consumers’ hearts? And they’ve allowed for normal credit card transactions? Impossible! Yet Zune has done it. In a way. Well, Bing has, actually.

Confused? You should be. This memo from Microsoft should clear everything up for you.

Microsoft has not eliminated the use of Microsoft Points with the announcement of Zune music on Bing and the addition of the new Zune.net MP3 store. Customers who choose to purchase music through Bing or the Zune.net MP3 store can use either a credit card or Microsoft Points. Customers who purchase music or videos through the Zune Marketplace will need to use Microsoft Points. Zune Pass subscribers can also download music to keep by redeeming their credits—through the Zune Marketplace or the Zune.net MP3 store.

So. You’ll be able to pay with a card if you buy Zune tracks via Bing, but not if you buy them via Zune. You’ll still need points to do that. So really, I was lying in that first paragraph, and in the headline. But they made me lie, with their lies. Take cards or don’t, Microsoft! What the hell?

I always think of the Penny Arcade comic above whenever I see this stuff. These point systems just baffle me. I’d do it if there were cool ways for me to, say, earn points in games by doing tricks or something — but if every point is just equivalent to a dime or something? No thanks.

[via Ars Technica]

Clean your monitor with a hamburger? Don’t forget the bacon!

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 04:15 PM PDT

So you want the rest of the office to think you’re a bit odd, and you’re looking for a way to keep you monitor clean. Have I got the product for you. Take what is essentially a plush hamburger complete with lettuce, two patties, an extra bun, and some cheese, and you’ve got the oddest monitor cleaning device ever.

If the hamburger version doesn’t do it for you, there’s always the cheeseburger. The cheeseburger version has a single patty, cheese, and pickles. Still cleans your monitor up nicely. The “Big Burger” version is $15, the “Cheese Burger” is $14, and the “Bacon Lettuce Burger” is $14 as well. All three version are available only from J-List, home of the weird stuff you can find on the internet.

Pepsi’s new extra-carbonated “Strong Shot” asks you to wait 15 seconds before opening

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 03:30 PM PDT


Warning! The beverage you are about to drink is HIGHLY CARBONATED. Please allow 15 seconds before opening this drink.

Why oh why don’t we get these awesome Japanese drink variants here in the U.S.? Video over at Gigazine. By the way, in Japanese it’s the SUTORONGUSHOTTO.

[via Inventor Spot and The Awesomer]

And now there are camera problems with the iPhone 4?

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 03:01 PM PDT

Ah, the joys of first-batch Apple hardware. In addition to the hardware issues we’ve been seeing reported, there is now a group of users claiming that their rear-facing camera is refusing to work at all. Apparently the shutter graphic just stays closed, and none of the buttons work. This occurs in the camera app or any app that calls in the picture-taking function, like Facebook.

Continue reading…

Activision is a scaredy-cat, won’t support Move or Kinect

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 03:00 PM PDT

Bad news for Activision fans that were hoping to use the Move or Kinect; the publisher is convinced that the high prices for the new peripherals are going to prevent people from adopting the new technology. So don’t expect to see Call of Duty or Guitar Hero using Move or Kinect any time soon.

Activision’s COO stated recently that while the company is interested in movement-based gameplay, they are reluctant to get too heavily into the Move and Kinect technology. The major concern? Price. Activision has expressed concerns about the price of the new peripherals, despite the fact that several of their licenses (like Tony Hawk and Rapala Fishing) are ideal for this type of controller. Will the Move and Kinect controllers take off and make Activision change their tune? Only time will tell.

[via Joystiq]

Pop quiz: can you identify these lightsabers’ owners?

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 02:30 PM PDT


Okay, look at the picture. See how many of those you can identify. And then click it; the full-size version has the owners on it. I could definitely pick a couple out, but it’s actually remarkable how well-designed they all are. The craft that goes into awesome movie props is amazing, and the aesthetic of the lightsaber appears to be one of the few things left intact by the newer Star Wars movies.

[via Sci Fi Wire]

Intel prepping x86 version of Android 2.2 for summer release

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 01:30 PM PDT

We’re all excited for Froyo to hit our compatible Android handsets, but don’t forget that there’s a whole Atom-based Android community as well. Those little x86 tablets and netbooks desperately need the speed boost, and Intel aims to be ready as soon as possible. They’ve already started porting, and they’re planning a summer release. I haven’t been impressed by the larger Android devices, but maybe they just needed a little 2.2 magic.

Nice to know as well: all Intel’s coding and porting efforts will be open-sourced on completion. Can you feel the love?!

[via Phandroid]

Intel: GPUs aren’t 100 times faster than CPUs, just 14 times. Nvidia: Oh no!

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 12:30 PM PDT


This is pretty funny. You’ve probably seen some of the propaganda over the last year or so about how GPUs are orders of magnitude faster than CPUs at certain tasks, due to their parallel processing engine. Intel got tired of hearing about it, I guess, and decided to debunk the myth. They set out to disprove the notion that a GPU can be 100 times faster than a CPU. They kind of did it, but I think this is what is termed a Pyrrhic victory.

Interestingly, they chose a rather old GPU and a comparatively new CPU to compare: an Nvidia GTX280 and a Core i7 960. Maybe they chose on price parity? Whatever the case, they found that while indeed the GPU advantage was not as great as suggested, it was significant: 2.5 times faster on average and up to 14 times faster in certain situations.

Nvidia took the opening for all it was worth:

It’s a rare day in the world of technology when a company you compete with stands up at an important conference and declares that your technology is only up to 14 times faster than theirs.

To be fair: we can’t really expect unbiased judgment from either side, and the tests in the paper are too complex to be boiled down to a “oh it’s this much faster” talking point. I just think the drama is hilarious.

[via TG Daily]

PSA: Futurama returns tonight, make sure you set your DVR!

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 12:00 PM PDT

Just a friendly reminder, Futurama returns to Comedy Central tonight. And while I made a joke about setting your DVR, please watch it live. Particularly if you are a Neilsen family. It’s only going to stay around if you watch the show, and the networks still think it only counts if you watch it live, and not record it on your DVR and watch it later. I think this is foolish, but whatever.

At any rate, the Futurama’s triumphant return is tonight at 10pm eastern time. Try not to miss it people.

[via SciFi Squad]

Electrolux will clean the oceans of plastic debris, then make vacuum cleaners

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 11:15 AM PDT

Did you know that, according to Electrolux, a Swedish appliance manufacturer, there are gigantic piles of plastic debris floating about our planet’s oceans? Some of these are as big as the state of Texas! Way to go, humans! So, Electrolux’s proposal? Collect all that trash, then turn it into vacuum cleaners. You couldn’t make that up if you tried.

The name of the project is Vac from the Sea, and it’s a noble goal, certainly. You don’t want all that trash floating about on the oceans, do you? Or maybe you do, I don’t know. Seems like something that should set off your Spidey-sense, though.

The vacuums created with the trash are then totally recyclable. That solves two problems: no more trash in the oceans and introducing more sustainable products into the human circle of life.

Look, it’s not an iPhone 4 story. Be grateful. If I had it my way I’d turn CrunchGear into ZonalMarking for the month.


Google celebrates the World Cup with a goooooaaaaalllll

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Ha! How did I miss this? Go ahead and search for something on Google, then scroll to the bottom of the page. Notice anything?

And now we can all celebrate Italy’s elimination from the World Cup! (Thanks, Carlos!)

Video: Medal of Honor multi-player beta videos

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 10:00 AM PDT

Medal of Honor, also known as Modern Warfare With Beards, has a public multi-player beta that’s happening right now. It’s exciting! (But not as exciting as seeing Italy knocked out of the World Cup.) GameTrailers has a couple of videos of the multi-player beta in action that may interest you. Hey, at least it’s not iPhone 4-related!

Look, I’m sure it’s a fine game, but it’s the same damn thing over and over again. Surely I’m not the only one who’s a little burned out on the entire genre?

What I need is a good strategy game. Come on, Civilization V…

via Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Live From The iPhone 4 Launch At SF’s Flagship Apple Store

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 08:58 AM PDT

It's finally here. After months of anticipation, the launch of Apple's iPhone 4 is upon us, and dozens of people are currently lined up in front of San Francisco's flagship Apple store to get their hands on one. Unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to live close to an Apple Store (or has the time to go stand in line at this ridiculous hour). Which is why I'm braving the early morning once again to give you all a vicarious taste of Apple's devotees at their finest. I'm equipped with a Nexus One live streaming with Qik. Last time I faced this line during the launch of the iPad, I had an Apple sticker covering the Nexus's Google logo to throw any particularly rabid Apple fans off the scent. Unfortunately it seems that I've exhausted my supply of Apple stickers — this could get nasty.


While you’re waiting in line for your iPhone 4, why not help animals you’re killing

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 08:53 AM PDT

Thankfully, not much of the iPhone 4 is made of plastic but it still takes a lot of oil to make that fancy touchphone of yours. The guys at SquareSpace and a number of other partners are collecting money to help clean-up efforts in the Gulf and ask for our help, especially on this day of days. What will you be telling your kids happened fifty years from today, provided we’re all still alive and not living in some Road-esque fever dream of ecological collapse and cannibalistic blood cults? The beginning of the end of the Great Spill or the launch of a slice of silicon wrapped in metal?

That’s what I thought.

Anyway, they’re up to almost $7,000 right now so I suspect a few more dollars would help out a few more pelicans.

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