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Sony Outs Six BDXL-Compatible 3D Blu-ray Recorders With Built-In HDD

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 03:00 AM PDT

Those all-in-one 3D TVs Sony announced today weren’t enough for you? Then take a look at the six new 3D Blu-ray recorders the company showed [JP] for the first time. All models support the BDXL format (discs with 100GB capacity), and according to Sony, they just need half a second to be ready after you push the “on” button.

But superior specs come with a high price. The cheapest model costs $1,060 and features a 500GB HDD, AVC support and a digital TV tuner.

There are also models with 320GB ($1,120), 500GB ($1,500) and 1TB ($1,770) HDDs on board. These recorders have two digital TV tuners and feature DLNA support.

The two flagship devices (BDZ-AX1000 and BDZ-AX2000) come with 1TB ($2,360) and 2TB ($3,190/pictured) HDDs, respectively. These feature two digital TV tuners, DLNA support, two HDMI ports (instead of one), a memory stick/SD card slot and are equipped with Sony’s CREAS PRO chip for improved picture quality.

Sony plans to start selling all devices in Japan on October 22 (the 2TB model will go on sale on September 29). No word yet regarding international sales plans.

Sony Announces Three 3D TVs With Built-In Blu-Ray Recorder And HDD

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 02:04 AM PDT

Mitsubishi showed them yesterday, and Sony followed [JP] today: All-in-one LCD TVs that feature 3D capability and come with built-in Blu-ray recorders and HDDs. The so-called BRAVIA 2 KDL series consists of three different 3D TVs (two of which come with “2D” Blu-ray recorders only).

All TVs feature full HD resolution, a Blu-ray recorder that plays 3D Blu-rays, a 500GB HDD, double TV tuners, LED backlight, 10W×2ch speakers, three HDMI interfaces, and a USB port. 3D glasses have to be bought separately.

In Japan, the TVs will be available in three sizes starting December 5: 40 ($3,500), 46 ($4,260/pictured below), and 55 inches ($5,200/pictured on top). These are exactly the sizes of the Mitsubishi models we’ve shown you yesterday.

Sony also introduced a 26- ($1,720) and a 32-inch ($1,780) TV, but both come with “inferior” specs: a 500 GB HDD, CCFL backlight, 1,366×768 resolution, and no 3D capability. They will be released in Japan on November 30.

It Turns Out The Shapes On Playstation Buttons Aren’t Arbitrary After All

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 08:29 PM PDT


This is pretty interesting. I’ve always thought that the shapes on the Playstation controllers were chosen just to be distinctive, and so they didn’t have to use a numbered or lettered face button scheme like Nintendo’s. As it turns out, they were picked for good reason. Sony’s Teiyu Goto explains:

Other game companies at the time assigned alphabet letters or colors to the buttons. We wanted something simple to remember, which is why we went with icons or symbols, and I came up with the triangle-circle-X-square combination immediately afterward. I gave each symbol a meaning and a color. The triangle refers to viewpoint; I had it represent one’s head or direction and made it green. Square refers to a piece of paper; I had it represent menus or documents and made it pink. The circle and X represent ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision-making and I made them red and blue respectively. People thought those colors were mixed up, and I had to reinforce to management that that’s what I wanted.

I grew up with Super Nintendo, so I still think of the diamond-formation buttons as A, B, X, and Y (and have to communicate them as such – “hit X! No, the SNES X!”), but it’s nice to know that there was some reason behind the shapes and colors.

The whole little article is worth reading. When you’re designing the fundamentals of a new franchise, it pays to play it simple and have good reasons for everything you do.

[via Gizmodo and Joystiq]

Samsung Galaxy Tablet Spy Video

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 07:50 PM PDT

Samsung’s Galaxy tablet is showing much promise, but of course no one has actually seen one until now. The Chinese gadget site Giz-China managed to find what is obviously a spy camera video showing some of the functionality of the Android tablet. Make sure you give it a few seconds to load, and check out the video after the jump:

LightCap Is A Combo Lantern And Water Bottle

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 07:00 PM PDT


It sounds a bit random, but this could actually be handy if you’re biking and camping. I mean, it’s not some big breakthrough or anything, but a solar-powered LED lantern might just be a handy thing to have on your bike, and it’s a 1-liter BPA-free water bottle as well. Good present for the outdoorsy cyclist type in your family.

Git yours for thirty clams over at Sollights.

[via Inventor Spot]

Matrix Key System Lets You Lose As Many Keys As You Want

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 06:16 PM PDT


This is an interesting invention. The idea is that this lock lets you lose a key and simply use the next one in a preset series — no need to find the old one, it won’t work once you “pair” the new one. It works by using the new key to knock a little disc out of the way of one of the pins, changing the “combination” required to open the lock.

Of course, if you lose your keys, you still can’t get into your home. But this does simplify the process of changing your lock. It’s also proof against bumpkeys, so you don’t have to worry about that.

You can see a video of how it works here.

[via Reddit]

CrunchDeal: Shuttle Barebones SX8J3

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 06:00 PM PDT


In the market for a small form factor PC, but not sure what to buy? Check out Shuttle’s special 3-day sale on Newegg. The box we’re talking about is the Shuttle SX8J3, a LGA 1366 motherboard jammed into a tiny case, all for “sub-$450″. Be aware that the price drop won’t show up until tomorrow (8/26) and only lasts three days. Shuttle products rarely go on sale, and this particular system typically retails for $529.99, so this is a pretty deep discount.

Sony Quietly Releases Streaming Netbox For Your TV

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT

We didn’t get an official announcement, but it looks like Sony is going to be selling their own version of a Netflix and Amazon video streaming netbox. Get this though, the Sony product plays the much wanted MKV and DivX files – something conspicuously missing from other company offerings. The Sony product (who’s name we don’t have yet) runs on wireless N, supports 1080p, has a USB storage connection, and is controlled via Sony’s iPhone and Android apps. Price is expected to be at $130, and Gizmodo says that should see them around the end of September. We’ll update you as more information becomes available.


Review: SteelSeries 7H Gaming Headset

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 04:01 PM PDT


Short version: SteelSeries makes great keyboards and mice, but headphones have always been a weakness of theirs. The 7H isn’t bad, really, but considering what’s out there for the same price or less, it’s a hard set to recommend.

Features:

  • 50mm drivers
  • Interchangeable ear-cushions (leather and cloth)
  • Disassembles for travel
  • Retractable microphone
  • MSRP: $129.99

Pros:

  • Decent sound, mic sounds good
  • Easy to break down for travel
  • Robust and meaty 1/8″ jacks

Cons:

  • For $130, they feel pretty cheap
  • Fit isn’t very customizable
  • Inconvenient cord length

Full review:

I don’t know what it is with SteelSeries’ headphone line. First, there was the dismal 5H and great-sounding but utterly impractical Siberia. They updated the Siberia, and the new pair is pretty solid, but it feels cheaper than the old one. They updated the 5H, same complaint. And now we have the 7H, and although they’re a decent pair of headphones, I really don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth.

It seems strange how little the headphones are like the rest of the SteelSeries lineup. I’m typing this on a 7G keyboard and using a Xai mouse, but I’d never pick their headphones for my go-to pair.

The 7H is a bit anonymous-looking. Understated is one thing, but these are anonymous. They’re relatively light, though, which is good — and the ability to break them down into pieces (the headband breaks off from the cups, and the cord disconnects) is nice and easy to do.

The fit is… a little weird. They clamped my head pretty hard, and I didn’t feel like the weight was being properly distributed. The headband part is practically squared off, and seems to only barely touch the top of my head. The cups seemed a little small, but they made a nice seal around my ears, especially with the leather cushions. I actually liked the more breathable cloth ones for longer sessions, but for isolation the leather is the way to go.

There’s a retractable mic, which you kind of have to jiggle back into its place, but it’s not much of an inconvenience.

More puzzling was the cord, which at one meter is long enough for a laptop, but not nearly long enough for almost anything else. It includes a two-meter extension cord, but who wants ten feet of cord? Why not have two 1.5-meter cords? The cord itself is nice, though; it’s got a braided coat and feels heavy-duty. The actual plugs are well-built, chunky, and easy to grip, something a lot of audio devices fail to consider.

In the middle of the cord is a little puck remote, which, while tastefully designed, is a little too minimal. There’s a mic on/off switch and a tiny volume control, but no clip with which to attach to your shirt — something I’ve always found helpful on other pucks.

I’m concerned about the build quality, though. On the Logitech, Razer, and most recently the Nox headsets I’ve reviewed, I’ve never been concerned about the build. Nor on other Steelseries product lines, which have generally felt pretty solid to me. But no, like most of the other headsets from SteelSeries, the 7H feels hollow and chintzy, especially the earcups and remote. My fears were confirmed when, while trading earcup cushions, one of the pins that holds the cup on snapped right off and is at this moment rattling around in the right earpiece. And hey, I’m no Hercules, I was just pulling the piece off like normal. Pretty unacceptable.

Conclusion

Although the sound of these headphones is perfectly good, I just don’t enjoy wearing them — as opposed to the cheaper and lighter Razer Carcharias and Nox Specialist headsets, which are both light and comfortable and produce good sound. Sorry, SteelSeries… better keep trying.

Product Page: SteelSeries 7H headphones

Sharp Will Have An E-Reader Of Its Own Later This Year (And Maybe A 3D One In The Future)

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Today we find discover, first-hand, the horrors of machine translation. The deal is that Sharp plans to take on Apple (and thus, the world) by releasing an e-reader of some sort. Sharp also plans on releasing 3D smartphones (think Nintendo 3DS, technology-wise). But I dare you to figure that our from Google's translation of the original story.

Beyond that there's not much to this.

Sharp will release the e-reader here in the U.S. before the end of the year (it'll be released in Japan in the fall).

Sharp also threw out the possibility of a 3D e-reader at some point, which just seems ridiculous to me.

But again, have fun digging through that translation. It took us a good while to figure out what was going on!

Sony Releases Three High-End LCD TVs

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:43 PM PDT


Feel like spending a lot of money on a brand new HDTV? Sony’s got you covered. The new line of high-end Bravias just got announced, and hey, let’s be honest: we all wish we had one of these things sitting in our living room. Let’s take a look at their vitals.

The three NX810 models differ only in size, and there’s not a lot of room for editorial here, so you’ll have to excuse me for just paraphrasing what it says in the press release.

  • 1080p/240Hz/3D capable
  • DynamicEdge LED Backlighting with local dimming
  • Built-in Wi-Fi, Bravia internet video and widgets
  • LightSensor™ adjusts backlight with room light

Interestingly, they fail to mention the inputs and outputs. I’m guessing that at this price, you’re going to be getting pretty much everything you need. Multiple HDMI, component, etc.

The new line comes in 46″ ($3000), 55″ ($3700), and 60″ ($4700) varieties. They all come with two free Blu-ray movies and a voucher to download some 3D demos from PSN. First one’s free and all that.

Is This Internet Explorer 9?

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:30 PM PDT


A Microsoft Russia site promoting the launch of Internet Explorer 9 (coming September 15) may have dropped a screenshot by accident. There it is; sorry it’s not bigger. But you can get a general idea of the changes that have occurred.

Before anything else, it should be noted that the image on Bing, according to commenters at CNET, was used back in December of 2009. So if this screenshot was “live,” then this is from a six-month-old build of IE9. Of course, Microsoft has a habit of locking down its products several months before launch so marketers have a fixed feature set with which to work, so it’s possible that this IE9 is more than some pre-alpha.

So what’s new? Well, the tabs are placed in a truly unfortunate position to the right of a new combined search/address bar, and the home/favorites/mystery buttons are all the way over to the right. I’m afraid it’s a bit of a confusing strip of UI, what with round buttons, square buttons, non-button buttons, and, incredibly, separate stop/reload buttons instead of integrated.

A new look and a new engine may make IE9 the best IE yet, but they’re lagging so far behind Firefox and Chrome (which is likely to expand significantly in coming months with Chrome OS) that I imagine the team is pretty dispirited. Here’s Mozilla offering nightly builds of the new beta Firefox, trying out entirely new features with little fanfare, and here’s Microsoft planning a big launch for features we’ve had in other browsers for months or years.

Well, there’s nothing for it but to wait and see.

Nike Patenting The Power Laces From Back To The Future II

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:17 PM PDT


We’ve had no shortage of cool kicks in the last year. Adidas has led the pack with Star Wars shoes, winged shoes, and even some awesome ZX Spectrum shoes. But Nike, looking to pretty much one-up everyone in the business, is attempting to patent an automatic lacing system. And yes, it is exactly like the Nike Air Mag in Back to the Future II.

Here’s the summary from Nike:

An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.

Could this possibly be even slightly for real? The description in the patent application really does describe what seems to be a working system. My guess is they’re doing something to coincide with the upcoming Blu-ray release of the Back to the Future trilogy, perhaps a giveaway of a few novelty pairs. But hey, why not get the patent and make a few more while they’re at, right?

[via Dime, Nice Kicks, and Metafilter]

Dino-lamps For Your Home Or Office

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:00 PM PDT


So you’ve finally moved into the corner office, and you’re looking for that special decorator piece that really says “I’ve made it” in the corporate rate race. Well look no longer, because I’ve found the perfect product for you – the dinosaur lamp. You know you want one.

Brando has four different models available: the fierce T. Rex, the flighty Pterodactyl, the gentle Diplodocus, and the horny Triceratops. Prices range from $58 for the T. Rex, to $24.90 for the Triceratops. Some assembly is required of course, and the light bulb is not included with the model. Rawr.

Apple’s Flawed TV Strategy: It’s (Not Quite) The Cloud, Stupid

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 12:11 PM PDT


When looking at the current incarnation of Apple TV we find a tragically flawed device that overshot and underperformed at the same time. Essentially an iPod Classic with HDMI out, the Apple TV had a pitiful hard drive and a useless OS unless hacked. In the end, it was more expensive and more underpowered than anyone liked and competitors quickly filled the niche, offering format agnostic streaming boxes with Netflix support and devices like the Xbox 360 that allowed UPNP access to content on your network.

In the end, I got rid of my Apple TV even after hacking it to oblivion. I tried to love it. I really did. Unfortunately, however, I probably won’t be going back to the platform, even if the $99 mini-iTV Apple TV thinger appears on September 1st. Here’s why.

For once, Apple is way late to the game when it comes to a media device. While they perfected the smartphone and the MP3 player (come on, even you flamebois have to admit they did a good job with the iPod and iPhone line), they won’t be able to catch up to the devices that already exist. The iTV will mimic a number of devices, some with a massive install base already, so there is almost no reason to suggest the iTV unless Apple has something amazing up their sleeve.

There are two reasons to own an iTV or any other box including offerings from Seagate, Roku, and Western Digital (I reviewed most of them here and found the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus to be best of show): Netflix streaming and home network connectivity. While a 99 cent TV show rental sounds good on paper, folks already have DVRs for their favorite shows and if they don’t have cable they’ve figured out other ways to get TV shows. And that’s where the Apple TV or iTV fails.

The current Apple TV experience depends on having an instance of iTunes open somewhere on your network. Barring some magical trick where Apple allows you to stream music and video you own from its own servers, I think the 172GB of music I have on my hard drives isn’t going to hitting the cloud anytime soon. The iTV will presumably allow you to do a few things:

  • Stream audio and video from an open iTunes instance on a Mac or PC
  • Stream audio and video from apps like Netflix, Pandora, and whoever else wants to make an app
  • Stream rented and purchased video from Apple’s servers, where applicable

    However, all of these functions require you to stay in Apple’s walled garden and will allow no local storage except, perhaps, for Time Capsule access over the network.

    While these limitations are fine for the average user, I doubt the average user is quite ready to cut the DVR cord and go completely iTV. Therefore, you only have power users to please and those users are already getting their content from elsewhere on the web. To those users, the Apple TV is useless. At best you must transcode your video so the Apple TV can handle it and at worst you can’t play the video at all. For example, high-def video in the MKV format is a bear to play on iTunes and presumably only H.264 will be supported for all video, which requires lengthy transcoding.

    Again, we’re positing based on suppositions. This is never a good way to talk about a device, but given previous experience with Apple TV and knowing Apple’s history when it comes to lock-down, I’m really worried that even at $99 I won’t be watching Mad Men on my Apple TV/iTV any time soon.


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    Boxee Adds Movies To Its Lineup

    Posted: 25 Aug 2010 12:00 PM PDT

    Some Boxee news for you, as we all sit back and watch the Barcelona-Milan friendly. (Good to see Ronaldinho get such a nice reaction from the Camp Nou crowd. I haven't seen him this happy in years!) The company has decided to add a Movie component to its much celebrated TV-watching interface. The gist is, just as you can watch TV programming with Boxee, you'll be able to watch movies. Boxee has initially teamed up with EZTakes, Indie Movies Online, MUBI, and Openfilm.

    There's really not much more to the news than that, other than that Boxee acknowledges that the Movie interface is still a little "rough around the edges" and that they're looking to add more partners in the future. But you probably knew that already!

    Apple sends out invites for their annual September “Special Event”

    Posted: 25 Aug 2010 11:07 AM PDT

    Fun Fact #1: Every September for the past few years, Apple has held a press event in San Francisco. More often than not, this event has focused around music, media, and the iPod line.

    Fun Fact #2: Invites just went out for this year’s September happening, and we’re on the list. The shindig goes down at 10 a.m. on September 1st — so whether you’re hoping for an iPod Touch with a camera or an Apple TV iTV that runs iOS apps, be sure to tune in early for our live coverage.

    Metroid: Other M Impressions

    Posted: 25 Aug 2010 10:41 AM PDT

    I’m going through a bit of the new Metroid game by Team Ninja, the same guys who made Ninja Gaiden and I’m pleased to report that the game, although a departure from the tamer Metroid games, the injection of real emotion and a bit of (non-bloody) space horror adds considerably to the game.

    I’ve only run through the first few sections but I’m already kind of hooked. As a former Metroid lover – I haven’t played the francise since a few titles on the GBA but I loved the original concepts and it was probably one of the greatest games ever for the NES – it’s nice to see good old Samus chilling in her morph suit and all of the old enemies are there including those spiky turtle Geemer things.

    The game will be available on August 31 and is worth a look if you’re into the franchise.
    Product Page

    Hands-On First Impressions: Amazon Kindle 3

    Posted: 25 Aug 2010 10:00 AM PDT

    In my hands right now, ladies and gentlemen? The latest version of the Amazon Kindle, known colloquially as the Kindle 3. Here's what's what.

    The Kindle 3 is Amazon's latest effort to drag book publishers, kicking and screaming if need be, into the digital era.

    The Kindle 3 is smaller, lighter, and brighter than previous Kindle models.

    To what degree? It's 21 percent smaller than the previous model, and 15 percent lighter. It's less like holding a paperback in your hands than holding a Blu-ray case.

    The display is an E Ink creation, its latest generation technology called Pearl, which actually debuted with Amazon's earlier Kindle DX revamp. It's good news for the average user: contrast is said to be 50 percent better than previous versions, partially owing to the lighter background.

    It's still a black-and-white display, which I understand has upset some of you. But as I've argued many times in the past, if all you're reading is text, color isn't exactly vital. Unless you're reading children's books or a book on the best photography of the decade, the lack of color isn't an issue in the slightest. Do you need a color display to read The French Revolution, or Barça: A People's Passion? I think not.

    Seeing as though the Kindle 3 arrived some 30 minutes ago, it wouldn't be prudent to give any "final thoughts" quite yet. I really don't think 30 minutes, 15 minutes of those were spent taking photos, is enough time to get a good enough feel for the device.

    So, tune in later!

    k7 k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6 k8


    Immortality Via Valve’s Team Fortress 2 Hat-Describing Contest

    Posted: 25 Aug 2010 09:00 AM PDT

    Probably should have mentioned this yesterday, but such is life. Valve is running a fun little content wherein you get to DESCRIBE HATS~! in Team Fortress 2. The name of the contest? "The First Ever Hat Describing Contest." Two thumbs up.

    It really could not be simpler.

    On Valve's forums there's a series of posts featuring various hats. You're to take that hat, and come up with its backstory.

    I'd come up with one right now, but I've just received a very important package that I have to attend to.

    What can you possibly win here? Should your description win, Valve will actually use it on the game. That's pretty neat, right?

    Your words will forever live in the minds of Team Fortress 2 gamers!
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