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Hands-free “book stand” for iPad usage

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 03:23 AM PDT

Are you an iPad user? Do you like using it in bed? Do you think the device is too heavy to hold in your hands when reading an e-book over an extended period of time? Then the so-called PC Set Stand [JP], made by Japan-based Resound, could be something for you (or not).

Just place your iPad between the hooks, fix it so it won’t fall out, and move it to a position that’s comfortable enough for you to view the screen and touch it once in a while, for example to turn pages (its arms are 69cm high).

That’s actually Resound’s new marketing pitch, after they found out that their stand can used for iPads, too (the original target groups were users of notebook and portable DVD players). The company has 40 years of experience manufacturing these things and showed the stand during a recent book fair in Tokyo (see picture on top of this post).

It costs $170, but don’t expect it to go on sale anywhere outside Japan in the foreseeable future.

Via IT Media [JP]

Inside Hublot, Watch Maker Experience

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 03:01 AM PDT

The myth of Jean-Claude Biver is as much a man, as the man himself. While many people wouldn't necessarily consider the CEO of a watch brand a celebrity or an icon; to watch lovers and people working in the industry, few people have the level of respect and close to attention that Mr. Biver enjoys. And enjoy it he does. The prize for the man's calculated efforts is a sense of pride and a pat-on-the-back attitude that comes naturally. Bright faced and wide-eyed, Jean-Claude Biver (JCB) often has the enthusiasm of a teenager. Nevertheless, Jean-Claude prefers the simple joys in life, and is approachable in a way that can't be said for most men at the helm of high profile brands. Aside from his deeds as a watch maker, Biver is amusingly known second best for his famous cheese making – a true Swiss, he does not disappoint.


Scan negatives the awesome way: by taking pictures of them

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 07:30 PM PDT


If you don’t want to spend the bills on a high-quality negative scanner, but do want to get some of those old black and white 35mm rolls backed up digitally, this one’s for you. Basically, all you need to do is get yourself a toilet paper roll or two, stick them together, mount the film at the other end in an old slide mount, and stick the whole thing on the front of your camera.

I’d recommend a short telephoto lens on a crop sensor — around 75-120mm ought to be fine. Get a strong light source behind the film, double check your focus, and start snapping away.

[via DIY Photography, Gizmodo, and Wired]

Colorware brightens up your iPhone 4… for a price

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 07:00 PM PDT

Colorware announced their latest modification to the iPhone 4, which will not just protect your precious new phone, it might even help you with your reception issues. Of course, painting your iPhone isn’t cheap, but it can certainly make your phone look more individual then the rest of the iPhone users out there.

Colorware will paint your frame, back, button, SIM card tray, and earbuds in pretty much any color you choose. Of course, you’ll need to send in your phone, and it’ll set you back $250.


Curbside car chargers should start showing up next year

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 06:30 PM PDT

Given the limited range in fully electric cars, charging points are going to be an important part of the infrastructure in the future. GE has hired a designer to create the “WattStation”, a charger designed to top up your new electric car in four to eight hours.

It’s good to see someone stepping up and building out the infrastructure though, of course we all know that electric cars aren’t the ideal solution (that power has to come from somewhere) but it definitely beats gasoline based cars. While the WattStation can recharge your car while you’re at work, it’s still not as easy to use as a gas pump.

[via DVice, Fast Company]

Reset your keychain fob for a new car (or many cars!)

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 06:00 PM PDT


This is pretty great. Resetting your car’s keychain fob is something that has to happen from time to time — when a fob’s battery runs out, for instance, or you pick up an extra one. The process of pairing it is one of these rituals that I have always loved, like the special way you had to blow on your NES cartridges to get them to play.

The process is different on all the different makes, of course, but if you’ve got Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota, or Jeep, there’s a good chance the instructions are here.

[via Hack A Day and Lifehacker]

BeerBot shirt is… a shirt with a bottle opener on it

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 05:20 PM PDT


Call me crazy, but this seems like it would get old real fast. And by “get old” I mean “actually wear out.” There’s a reason we don’t append tools to thin sheets of cotton. But hey, if you want to be the life of the party (in the “that guy” sense, anyway), this BeerBot shirt may just help you out.

Be prepared to fend off angry Futurama fans, though. It’s a pretty blatant Bender ripoff.

GE introduces their own home energy management system

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 04:47 PM PDT

While home energy management options have been around for a while, this is the first time someone like GE has come out with a product to help you manage your home energy usage.

GE just announced their Nucleus energy monitor, which shows you how much power your device is drawing at any given moment. It’s more then just another Killa-watt though, because it’s designed to communicate with a PC or smartphone. The new device will track energy usage for up to 3 years, helping consumers to better manage their energy usage. Long term, GE plans on building the power management system directly into appliances, allowing consumers (and potentially utilities) to shift them into power saving mode during peak usage times.

[via Green Tech]

This is a game? Peter Molyneux talks Milo and Kate for Kinect

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 04:00 PM PDT


While I wasn’t particularly impressed by the responsiveness or precision of Microsoft’s Kinect controller for the 360, it does have its charms. It knowing where you are at all times and having a microphone built in are great features, and may produce some interesting games yet. But I’m despairing of Milo and Kate, the uncanny valley playground created by renowned gamesmith Peter Molyneux.

You probably remember seeing pictures and video of Milo in the earliest demonstrations of Kinect, back when it was Project Natal. There’s a kid, and he stands there in your TV, catching things you throw to him, responding generically to your questions, and so on. They’ve also made him look pretty realistic, which is going to creep a lot of people out.

Most troubling, though, is the fact that this is a game at all. While life is often imitated by art in, say, the gritty realism of Heavy Rain or the stylized life lite of The Sims, it’s never just… aped.

Here’s a snippet of gameplay from the demo, as summarized by Game Life:

Then Milo goes back to the house, and has dinner with his parents. As he eats, you clean up his room — picking up papers from the floor and wiping dust off the walls — all with hand movements. While you’re cleaning, you overhear a conversation between Milo and his parents, talking about the move.

Now, I consider myself a pretty open-minded guy. Obviously games and media don’t have to be epic or violent in order to be fun. But usually there’s some reason for it to exist. Even people playing Nintendogs often do it because they can’t have a dog, or can’t spend enough time with their dogs. What fantasy is capable of playing out in Milo and Kate? The desire to mentor some kid and clean up after him? There are real kids in the world who could use some mentoring! But more importantly, what is fun here other than the novelty of Molyneux’ creepy simulacra?

The ability to teach and shape an entity was interesting in Black & White, because your creature was both mirror and amanuensis. It wasn’t just a pet — it was your representative and often your only way of effectively interacting with the game world. There’s plenty to say about the flaws of that game and its sequel, but at least they got that part right. I suspect that I had more of a connection with my Tiger (or even with such a creature as your horse Agro in Shadow of the Colossus) than I could ever have with a Milo or a Kate.

One interesting tidbit, though: Molyneux also let slip that Milo’s “mind” isn’t actually on the disc. Animations and basic behaviors, sure, but Milo’s mind will be cloud-hosted, constantly updated with information from every Milo owner out there. Here’s one cloud function I can get behind. AI engines automatically collating and responding to thousands of user inputs does seem a little Robocalyptic, but it may also lead to interesting gameplay.

Molyneux’s remarks were made at the TEDGlobal 2010 conference in Oxford. His brand of visionary, yet slightly disconnected, thinking seems a good match for the TED group.

Intel: “Best. Quarter. Ever.” (punctuation mine)

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 03:30 PM PDT


Intel has released its financial report for Q2 2010, and things are lookin’ good. I know finances aren’t really the focus of CG, so let’s stick to the interesting bits:

  • Atom sales are up 16% to $413 million (they’re appearing in more than just netbooks)
  • $2.9 billion in net income, i.e. profit (they’re doing gooood)
  • R&D spending was $3.25 billion (that’s a lot of R&D)

So they’re doing pretty awesome. Not that I’d expect anything else; we’re entering a recovery period, and people who have been putting off buying PCs for the last few years are opening up their wallets to buy all these bargain- and mid-priced PCs powered by Atoms and old Cores.

Man, it took forever to find that “Bunny People” ad

Total Recall Or Total Bull? Some Perspective On The iPhone 4 Antenna Frenzy

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 02:31 PM PDT

Given the amount of coverage about the iPhone 4 antenna issue, you’d think it was the first sign of the apocalypse or something. It’s one thing for tech blogs to talk ourselves in circles about an issue, it’s another when the mainstream media starts leaning on the story in a major way. I mean, this was Keith Olbermann’s number one item on Countdown last night. And local broadcasts across the country are devoting time to it. I mean, the random people sitting next to me in the cafe are taking about it right now for chrissakes. It has become coffee house conversation. Seriously.

It’s time to take a step back and get some perspective about what’s going on here.

Boeing gets in on the drone action with the hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 02:30 PM PDT


What’s with the ominous names for these things? You’ve got the Predator, the Taranis, the EATR, and now the Phantom Eye? I guess there’s a bit of psychological warfare going on there. You don’t want the enemy to look up and say “Maybe we shouldn’t… what if there’s a Model BAE-2455G up there somewhere?”

So when Boeing unveiled their new unmanned high-altitude aircraft, they had to go with Phantom Eye. Sounds like an enemy from Secret of Mana. The part of Boeing that made it is even called Phantom Works. Actually, I know someone who worked there, and she said it wasn’t as cool as it sounds.

The craft has a 150ft wingspan and the big bulb is its liquid hydrogen tank that powers (or cools) its engines — kind of a liability if you’re in bullet range, but at 65,000ft I don’t think there’s much of a risk. Eventually it’ll be able to stay in the air for four days at ~170MPH, giving it a range of… (calculator app) 16,000 miles. That’s a lot of miles. A commenter notes that they’re almost certainly not telling the truth about their propulsion method, so there’s that to consider as well.

More info over at Boeing.

[via Treehugger]

Newish Toshiba Canvio external drives for Mac: not very exciting, but hey

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT


When I say “new,” I mean “not new at all.” These Canvio drives have been around for a while in their original forms, but this Mac-themed refresh gives them grey and white colors and OS X backup software. They come in 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB capacities for $100, $120, and $140 respectively.


CrunchGear Mini-Meetup in Tokyo

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 01:10 PM PDT

Greetings from Japan. I’m here looking at some gadgets and would love to see some of our Tokyo readers. We’ve planned a very small meet-up tonight at 7pm JST at Akasaka Joe [Plancast link] but here’s the kicker: the place is only big enough for about 40 people. You must RSVP via Plancast or email.

If you have a start-up you’d like to discuss, I’m amendable to meeting on Thursday night somewhere with some folks. Drop me a line directly at john@crunchgear.com. I’m staying in Shinjuku. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing some of you in a very cramped space tonight!

Android based Cruz Reader and Cruz Tablet coming in August

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 12:12 PM PDT

Prepare yourself people, the tablet/e-reader wars are about to heat up. Virginia based Velocity Micro announced their new “Cruz” line today, consisting of the 7″ color Cruz Reader, the 16:9 Cruz Tablet, and the kid-friendly Cruz StoryPad. The most interesting part? The entire Cruz product line runs the Android OS.

A kid friendly e-reader? That actually sounds like a brilliant idea. The Cruz StoryPad provides a kid friendly, drop resistant, multimedia based platform to “help your child read, learn, and interact using a simple and intuitive touch interface”. The StoryPad has a 7-inch screen, simplified navigation, and pre-installed content. Available in pink, blue, or green, the StoryPad will have and MSRP of $149. A bit steep, but as a parent, I think it’s an excellent concept.

Next we have the Cruz Reader. Yes, it’s another e-reader, this one has a 7-inch screen, 800×600 full color touch screen navigation (going for the magazine market), built in wifi, and a full web browser. Because it’s based on the Android OS, it also comes with a built in dictionary, notepad, calendar, alarm clock, contacts list, and “other useful apps”. MSRP on the Cruz reader is $199, pushing into a rather difficult price point. We’ll see what happens in August though.

Finally we have the Cruz Tablet, again featuring a 7-inch screen, 800×480 capacitive display, and built in wifi. Keep in mind the entire Cruz line runs Android, so you can reach your own conclusions about what exactly you’ll be able to run on the thing. It does come with 4GB of built in storage, with an 8GB SD in the box for pictures of puppies, or kittens, or your favorite car. MSRP is $299, and again, the entire Cruz line will be available this coming August. Can they compete with the other products out there? Time will tell, and we’ll definitely be trying to get one to review.

From the official press release:

Velocity Micro® Announces a Family of Android™ based color E-readers and Tablets

Cruz line launches with 7" color Cruz Reader™, 16:9 Cruz Tablet™ and kid-friendly Cruz StoryPad™

Richmond, VA – July 13, 2010 – Velocity Micro, the premier builder of premium, high performance desktop computers, notebooks, and peripherals, announces the debut products from a captivating and affordable line-up of Android powered mobile devices. Taking e-readers light-years past e-ink, the Cruz Reader features a sleek design, touch screen display, and tons of multimedia features. The Cruz Tablet offers the same multimedia capabilities as the Cruz Reader with more storage and a multi-touch screen. Perfect for kids, the Cruz StoryPad offers a touch screen, interactive content, and intuitive interface. Best of all, the Cruz line starts at just $149.

"Since 1992, Velocity Micro has been dedicated to building remarkable consumer electronics," said Randy Copeland, President and CEO of Velocity Micro. "With the development of the Cruz line, we were able to take those enthusiast sensibilities and package them for the mainstream consumer to create a product that's not only amazing, but affordable as well."

At under one pound and about a half inch thick, the $199, 7" Cruz Reader goes everywhere you do, making it perfect for students, avid readers, frequent flyers, and techies. Additional features such as video playback and web browsing provide a much richer experience than traditional e-ink readers at a more reasonable price than a tablet.

Key specs and features include:

· Crystal clear 4:3 ratio, 800×600 full color touch screen display – ideal for viewing ebooks and magazines, plus web pages and movies
· Google Android Operating System
· 802.11b/g wifi and full Web browser support
· High res video and high quality audio playback with no proprietary content restrictions
· Built-in Dictionary, Notepad, Calendar, Alarm Clock, Contacts, Games, and other useful apps
· Built in accelerometer, tilt activated
· Enough built in storage for hundreds of books
· USB and SD card slot for upgradable storage, including a 2GB SD card
· Up to 10 hours of use and over 24 hours of standby time, with a replaceable battery
· Access to over 2 Million ebooks via included Borders E-book library portal application
· Access to the Cruz Market™, an open content portal for downloading apps, magazines, and videos from a broad array of content providers.

At $299, the Cruz Tablet offers a truly mobile experience at an affordable price, finally giving consumers an Android-based tablet alternative.

Spec and feature upgrades include:

· 7" 16:9 ratio, 800×480 capacitive display – great for viewing widescreen video
· 802.11n wifi for faster wireless connectivity
· Integrated microphone for voice recording
· 4GB of built in storage with an 8GB SD card in the box for additional storage of high res photos, video, and music

Rounding out the Cruz line, the $149 Cruz StoryPad packs tons of multimedia features into a kid friendly, drop resistant package, letting children read, learn, and interact using a simple and intuitive touch interface. Features include:

· 7" 4:3 800×600 full color touch screen display
· Simplistic and intuitive navigation
· High res video and high quality audio playback
· Preinstalled audio book content – reads classic stories as the child follows along
· SD card for additional storage
· Available in pink, blue, and green

The Cruz Reader and Cruz StoryPad will be available from most major retailers and direct from Velocity Micro in August with the Cruz Tablet following on September 1st. For more information or to sign up for e-newsletter updates, visit www.CruzReader.com.

LaCie’s Xtremkey is probably the ruggedest USB key of them all

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 11:34 AM PDT


For probably two years now I’ve been using a Corsair Survivor thumbdrive, a reliable little guy that’s more or less waterproof and crushproof. I think it’s pretty tough, and whenever I have serious backup to do under 32GB, I’m sure to use it. Well, loyal as it’s been, it may have just been supplanted by the latest in the “key” series from LaCie.

The Xtremkey has an alloy shell that seals up and protects what’s inside against… well, just watch the video.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. But just so you have the numbers, it’s waterproof to 100m, drop-proof to 5m, temperature-proof to 392°F down to -58°F. And it’s 10-ton truck proof.

It also seems to be a reasonably fast USB 2.0 device, at 30/40MBps read/write performance. Looks pretty damn solid. I’ll have to put it up against my Survivor to be sure, though.

Incase’s upcoming iPhone 4 cases look, well, like cases

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 11:29 AM PDT

Incase’s wares are among the best iPhone accessories. They make good stuff and the iPhone 4 cases look no different. There will be four different series — Slider Case, Snap Case and Protective Cover with additional styles, including the Perforated Snap Case — launching at the end of July with more coming shortly afterwards. Click through for a gallery showcasing the upcoming cases.

Ryz Media’s My TV Remote turns your iPhone into a Universal Remote for $10

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 10:16 AM PDT

$10. That’s how much it costs these days to turn your iPhone into a universal remote, thanks to Zeev Braude, co-founder of Ryz Media. Universal remotes traditional cost between $150 to $1000+, so $10 is a freakin’ steal.

The app is called My TV Remote (iTunes link) and it’s free. You can then pay $9.99 via in-app purchase (inclusive of Shipping and Handling) and get a little infrared emitter shipped to you. Plug the emitter into your headphone jack and voila! Now you can use your iPhone to control your TV.

Hit the jump to see how it works:
Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Mars in the spotlight of Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 10:00 AM PDT

OK, this is great. It’s an updated version of Microsoft’s WorldWide Telescope, and it’s all about Mars. Microsoft spent three years developing this new version of the application, with its engineers put together after studying super high-resolution Nasa photos. The result is, much like Google Earth, you can zoom around the Red Planet, taking in the sights and sounds right from your computer.

There’s a desktop client (Windows-only) and a Web client—the Web client seems just as capable as the full desktop client, so no worries there.

It’s pretty easy to use, as you might imagine. With a few clicks you’re hovering right over Olympus Mons, the tallest known mountain (well, it’s technically a volcano) in the Solar System.

If I’ve helped take up two minutes of your day then I’ve accomplished what I set out to accomplish. Plus, you may learn a thing or two.

And how weird is it that the same company that can produce something so iffy as Office 2087 can also produce this?

Walmart now accepting preorders for its $199 Kinect bundle

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 09:34 AM PDT


It’s no secret that retailers love them some gaming system bundles. Easy money. Traditionally they include a random 3rd-party accessory pack along with a sub-par game. However, Walmart’s Kinect bundle is a bit different. For $50 over the $149 MSRP, it includes one of the for launch games that retail for $60 ($60! That’s insane btw. Solid work, Microsoft) and a $30 Walmart eGift card. That’s actually a smart buy.

The deal is only good with pre-orders placed before July 23, 2010. If you’re planning on buying the Kinect anyway, why not hop on this offer. Unless you’re into overpaying — or waiting for the reviews.
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