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Millennial Media: Android OS Grew By 47 Percent In July, iPad Requests Up 327 Percent

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 05:04 AM PDT

Mobile ad network Millennial Media is releasing its monthly mobile mix report today. According to Nielsen, Millennial’s ads reach 63 million of a total of 77 million mobile web users in the U.S., or 81% of the U.S. mobile web. In July, Android OS grew at a faster clip than in June, with requests increasing by 47 percent, compared to a 23 percent growth in the previous month. Since January, Android OS requests have grown 690 percent. Android has also surpassed RIM to became the number two OS on the Millennial network (surpassing RIM).

Apple ad requests increased 24 percent month-over-month, but are actually down 15% since January. However, iPad requests continue to show massive growth, rising 327 percent in July. RIM ad requests increased 18 percent month-over-month, rising 66 percent since January.

Video: Giant Snake Robot ACM-R5

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 04:21 AM PDT

Another cool robot from Japan. This time, it’s a huge snake robot, made by the Hirose-Fukushima Lab at Tokyo Institute of Technology. The researchers say it’s not a fun project but that they aim at finding out how snakes can move forward without legs (?) and how a snake-shaped robot could be used for practical applications.

As you can see in the video embedded below, the ACM-R5 moves like a real-life snake – even in water. Each joint comes with its own CPU, motor and battery to make sure they can work independently.

The robot was first shown back in 2005. Here’s a video Tokyo-based DigInfoNews shot of the newest version just a few days ago:

Japan Gets Titanium Blue PS3 And Gran Turismo 5 Bundle

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 01:41 AM PDT

It was first revealed in 2006, it took Sony years to develop it, but now we finally have a release date (at least for Japan): Gran Turismo 5 will go on sale in this country on November 3 [JP]. And not too surprisingly, Sony Japan will be offering a special bundle that includes a PS3 in an “original” color, namely Titanium Blue.

The console in the so-called Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack will have a 160GB HDD on board, a Dualshock 3 controller, and a limited edition of the game. This limited edition not only comes with a 308-page “Gran Turismo Magazine” but also gives buyers the chance to download 5 special cars to use in the game: Audi R10 TDI, Honda NSX GT500, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Nissan GT-R GT500, and McLaren F1.

The bundle will cost $420, while the game will retail for $93. This blue PS3 follows the white model Sony unveiled for the Japanese market just a few weeks ago.

Daily Crunch: Plein Air Edition

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 12:00 AM PDT

This Is The Way The World Ends: With A Woot Off!

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 12:00 AM PDT


Just a heads up to all you out there in intarwebs land, it looks like we’ve got another Woot Off!

Microsoft Flight Simulator Is Back – Minus The “Simulator”

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 09:13 PM PDT


The next iteration of Microsoft’s venerable flight sim was teased at Gamescom today, and it’s looking good. I remember having a ton of fun in 4.0; hopefully this reboot will bring interesting stuff like space or Bing integration. My nostalgia-cup runneth over.

It’s being developed internally, but that and the loss of the word Flight from the title (maybe someone from the Windows Phone 7 Series team tipped them off) is all we know.

My $1.9 Million Ride in a Bugatti Veyron

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 07:46 PM PDT

In an experience that we can only describe as “Matt’s Wet Dream,” I ride along with a Bugatti test driver in the Bugatti Veyron, a car that can go up to 249 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds.

It is the most amazing car I’ve ever ridden in. The acceleration is completely unexpected – first gear was like going down a huge roller coaster. All the force of that acceleration was a punch in my ample gut and I literally felt like I would have flown out of car if I hadn’t been strapped down. As Ferris said, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

Want: Porsche Design Aviators

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 07:00 PM PDT


I just recently lost my favorite pair of sunglasses (a pair of silver Randolph Intruders, if anyone on Capitol Hill found them), so I’m in the market for a new set of shades even though summer’s mostly over. You never know. So it’s fortuitous I came across these gorgeous old-school Porsche Design P’8478 aviators… though at $409 they’re out of my price range by an order of magnitude.

[via Notcot]

Bathys Bomb Timer Watch Hands-On

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 06:40 PM PDT

This is a working prototype of Bathys' upcoming Bomb Timer watch - and it is very cool. I want to make two things clear from the start. First, as I said, this is a prototype, and will undergo a few changes before production. This includes aspects of the case, dial, and movement finishing. So again, this is a test... this is only a test. Second, the name Bomb Timer (while open to interpretation) has a very specific meaning. You'll see in the images below, a small vintage Hamilton clock that was mounted in cockpits, and other areas of bomber planes. These small clocks were bomb timers, and provided necessary timing information to bomb drop operates to know exactly when to release their payload. Pre computer and GPS bombing was a pain when trying to hit specific targets, especially when in cloudy skies. Thus precising timing instrumentation was required when attempting to hit targets with an accuracy much of the time.


UW Engineers Are Testing A Mobile Device For The Deaf

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 06:20 PM PDT

Researchers at the University of Washington have been working on a mobile device for transmitting ASL (American Sign Language) using video. The device has just entered into field testing this year, and researchers hope to be able to make a device that will use just 30kbps to transmit video, while extending battery life by using motion detecting algorithms.

It’s interesting reading about this project, to be honest the first thing that came to mind would be the obvious use of the iPhone and FaceTime. The difference is that the UW device has been optimized for video, and require significantly less bandwidth than FaceTime. User response has been positive so far, with the test group reporting that the MobileASL is actually easier (and faster) to use then text messages or email.

Regardless of potential issues, this is a great idea. I have friends who are deaf or hard of hearing, and this is something that they will definitely be interested in which it hits the consumer market. One thing is for certain; it’s going to be easier for cops to spot them talking on the phone while driving.

New Bose Headphones Are Made For Mobiles

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 06:00 PM PDT


No, that picture is not Kratos’ new weapon in God of War 3, though you could be forgiven for thinking so. It’s Bose’s new pair of in-ear headphones, which incorporate an inline mic and volume control and have little hooks that keep the units in your ears. I feel like they’re making some assumptions there about the size and shape of consumers’ ears in general, but I’d have to test them out to be sure.

Note to PR people: when your product goes in someone’s ears, try not to make it look like a weapon. The reflections aren’t helping.

Along with the mobileness, you get the usual Bose quality (some would say “overrated but decent”) but no noise cancellation or extra tips (yet). $130 gets you the MIE2 mobile-enabled headphones, $100 the IE2 without mic and remote. There’s an Apple variant called the MIE2i that works with iPhones and such — and surprisingly does not cost more. You missed out on a few extra bucks there, Bose. You’re slipping.

[via CNET]

BookBook Makes Your iPad Into A Leatherbound Book

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 05:30 PM PDT


Looking for a distinctive case for your iPad? No? Well, I’m going to tell you about one anyway. I’ll be quick. Remember the BookBook case for MacBooks? No? Well, here it is. Now there’s going to be one for the iPad — and it doubles as a stand.

You won’t find me with one of these. I’ve got too many actual books that look like this, I’d lose the iPad. Oh yes — feel the smugness.

Viewsonic Going All-LED Backlighting By 2011

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Good news: traditionally-illuminated displays are going the way of the dodo. Viewsonic is phasing out all non-LED displays and hopes to only have LED-backlit units by early 2011. It probably wasn’t that hard of a choice to make; LEDs are getting cheaper and cheaper, and their cachet in the market is getting greater and greater.

The next change is local-dimming versus side-lit LED displays, or perhaps even (dare I dream?) OLEDs. Bring on the contrast!

Review: Sceptre 27-inch LCD Gaming Monitor

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 04:30 PM PDT


Short Version: Everyone wants a big monitor. They’re great for browsing, writing, editing pictures, video, playing games – pretty much everything that you do on your PC. Sceptre is known as a lower end brand, but does their 27-inch “gaming” monitor perform to a gamer’s expectations? Yes, but not without some problems.

Features:

  • 27-inch screen (1920×1280)
  • DVI, VGA, and HDMI inputs
  • 2 ms response time and 60,000:1 contrast ratio
  • $399 MSRP

    • Pros:

  • Really big screen
  • Good viewing angle range
  • Crisp display

    • Cons:

  • Base is somewhat limited in movement range
  • Large monitor requires lots of desk space
  • Color management can be an issue

Product page

Sceptre-bottom Sceptre-front Sceptre-rear

Full Review:
Sceptre has a reputation as being a bit of an also-ran, bargain product. But if you’re looking for a larger monitor for playing games or surfing the web, I’d recommend their 27-inch monitor with absolutely no reservations. My problem is that I expect a bit more from my displays, such as color accuracy and the means to adjust it. That’s not to say that there’s anything desperately wrong with the monitor, it just feels like it could be better.

The on screen controls are as you would expect, and easy to navigate, however I would have liked to see better control over the color. There are several pre-set color choices, labeled “Movie”, “Gaming”, and “Text”, but all they really do is change the color temperature. Of course, the majority of your color adjustment will take place in your operating system, so this isn’t a major issue. Be aware that if you want to use this monitor for anything that requires color accuracy (like working with digital photos) you will need to calibrate this monitor.

For gaming, the Sceptre x270W works great. The large size and high resolution makes it perfect for this, and the 2ms response time means there’s no smearing when you’re playing an FPS. The screen is bright and crisp, and it’s excellent for watching movies as well.

I also found that the base is supportive, but limited in its range of motion. This isn’t a huge issue, but it was slightly annoying when I was setting up the monitor initially. If you move or adjust your monitor a lot, it might be more of an issue.

Conclusion: Overall, I like the Sceptre x270W monitor; it’s large, easy to read, you can generally pick them up fairly cheap, and they aren’t bad looking on your desk. The DVI, HDMI, and VGA inputs make it work with pretty much everything, I could definitely see myself plugging my Xbox into the Sceptre if I was limited on space. The $300 street price doesn’t hurt either, that’s pretty reasonable compared to other monitors of the same size.

iPad Killed With Shotgun – Film at 11

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 04:00 PM PDT

Ahhh advertising. You think you’re so clever, killing a harmless iPad with a shotgun slug. All you’re telling me is that the company you’re talking about can afford to waste money on destroying expensive electronics. Don’t you know that money could have been spent on more humanitarian efforts? Of course, I’m feeding into the whole thing by showing you this video, aren’t I?

Thermaltake’s Mobile Fan 12 Is An External Internal Computer Fan

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 03:30 PM PDT


It’s approaching surface-of-the-sun temperatures here in Seattle, and no one in this city owns a decent fan, because… why? Luckily, my job involves me sitting very still in front of a computer while my cool-looking while my single totally inadequate retro chrome fan does a poor job of cooling my apartment.

Enter Thermaltake, maker of quality computer cooling goods. They’ve enclosed one of their standard case fans in a standalone wire frame, so now both your CPU and your palms will have dedicated cooling systems. It sounds silly, but I love it. It’s USB powered, and has a dial so you can put its speed at anything from 850 to 1500 RPM. It can get pretty loud, apparently, so I suspect they’ve got a silent one upcoming.

At only $25 (less than $15 street), I think it’s a steal.

[via ExtremeTech]

THQ’s uDraw GameTablet Is… A Wiicom Tablet

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 02:47 PM PDT

Thank god another peripheral maker has made something that I can pun on with “Wii.” The other options are getting stale. So, this Wiicom tablet (reference, if you’re not clued in) is an accessory that lets you draw inside Wii games. Great! Not sure many games were really crying out for this, since you already control a free cursor and “drawing” games work better on a DS, but hey.

It’ll ship with a sketching program that lets you save or replay your doodles, and there is a drawing-based platform on the way as well as the inevitable Pictionary. I’ll take pencil-and-paper Pictionary any day, because it’s amazing, but I know the joy that is Anticipation, so I won’t begrudge those who choose the Wii version.

More info and a video hereabouts.

New, More Spacious PS3 Models Confirmed And Priced

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 01:07 PM PDT


The highly popular PS3 Slim is getting the inevitable variations, and they actually seem like pretty good deals to me. We heard about the 320GB Move bundle going for $400 a few weeks ago, but the rumors were off by a bit on the cheaper version. It’s not a bundle, but Sony is updating the 120GB PS3 to be 160GB, but keeping the same $300 price tag. You’ll see these hit the street sometime before the holidays.

Price drops, generous bundles, functional motion controls… who are you and what have you done with Sony?!

Video: Dragon Age 2 Debut Trailer (Has No Gameplay Footage)

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 12:31 PM PDT

BioWare has released the debut trailer of Dragon Age 2. If we were to subtitle the trailer and/or game, I'd go with "Dragon Age 2: There, Is That Enough Attitude For Ya?"

The game comes out on March 8, 2011.

If the game is as "easy to access" (read: dumbed down) as many believe it to be, remembers this: if you want the definitive BioWare RPG, Baldur's Gate is still pretty easy to find. No idea how well it runs on modern versions of Windows and with fancy video cards, but that's what hours upon hours of message board-assisted troubleshooting are for.

I'd also like to organize a boycott of pre-rendered trailers. It's nearly 2011: the days of computer-generated videos or trailers "wowing" me are long since past.


Sign Of The Apocalypse? North Korea Has A Twitter & YouTube Accounts

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 10:30 AM PDT


It’s an army of re-tweeters!

North Korea, now embracing social networking. That is quite literally the last place on Earth I'd think would debase itself by tweeting what it are for breakfast, but here we are. Well, to be fair to the North Koreans, they're tweeting things that are far more sinister than "just ate an egg sandwich, was only okay." No, it's things that threaten the existence of the Unites States and its South Korea allies. Social media: bringing people together.

The deal is that North Korea, which I think we can agree is a pretty reclusive country (if nothing else), has decided to embrace social media to better get its message out there.

What's the message?

One YouTube video says, "Those who enjoy setting flames of war are bound to burn in those very flames."

I think when we criticise Hollywood for its terrible dialogue we should cut it a but of slack: the "bad guys" themselves are putting out terrible words to begin with!

Then there's the Twitter account that periodically sends out links calling for the destruction of America and the current South Korean regime. Blah, blah, same old, same old.

A fun, pointless story, yes.

Happy to help.
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