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Seagate Releases 1.5 Terabyte Portable Drive

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 05:00 AM PDT

NNeed 1.5 terabytes at USB 3.0 speeds? Need to stick it all into your pocket? Seagate, Ponch to your John, has your back. The 1.5 TB GoFlex Drive is the biggest monster in all of monsterland and features Seagate’s unique GoFlex technology that allows you to swap out the chips and the rear port to add new capabilities.

The 1.5 TB model costs $249 and is available right about now.

SEAGATE INTRODUCES INDUSTRY'S FIRST

1.5TB PORTABLE EXTERNAL DRIVE

New FreeAgent® GoFlex™ Ultra-Portable External Drive Packs a Punch with Pre-loaded Paramount Pictures Films, Unprecedented Amount of Storage and Blazingly Fast USB 3.0 Connection

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — September 21, 2010 — Designed to address the explosive worldwide demand for digital storage, Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) today launched the world's first 1.5 terabyte (TB) 2.5-inch portable external drive. Available immediately, the new 1.5TB FreeAgent® GoFlex™ ultra-portable drive delivers an all-in-one, technically advanced solution to help jump-start, build, store and enjoy libraries of digital content in one's preferred medium—whether on a Mac or PC, or a television, at home or on the go. With 1.5TB of capacity people can now store and carry up to 60 HD movies, 750 video games, thousands of photos or tens of thousands hours of digital music.

"Today's announcement is a 'triple-crown' of consumer technology—packaging record breaking capacity, blazingly fast USB 3.0 connectivity and the bonus of major motion picture entertainment—making the 1.5TB GoFlex™ ultra-portable drive an unprecedented and innovative solution," said Darcy Clarkson, vice president of Global Retail Sales and Marketing for Seagate. "Bringing this solution to market on the heels of our 3TB GoFlex™ Desk drive and the Momentus® XT solid state hybrid drive is proof of Seagate's continuing technology leadership and tradition of setting storage industry milestones."

Shipping now in the United States and rolling out globally later this year, all 1.5TB GoFlex ultra-portable drives[1] will ship with a USB 3.0 interface cable, accelerating the transfer speed of a drive up to 10x when connected to a USB 3.0 port, when compared to a USB 2.0 port. For example, a drive using a USB 3.0 connection can transfer a 25GB HD movie in under five minutes versus the 14 minutes it would take using a traditional USB 2.0 drive[2]. In

addition, all GoFlex ultra portable drives will now also ship with the new superspeed USB 3.0 cable, which will still continue to work with existing USB 2.0 ports.

"Consumers continue to push the growth of digital music, photos, and video content, and increasingly want access to this content from a variety of CE devices, including a PC," says John Rydning, IDC’s research director for hard disk drives. "Higher capacity disk drives in combination with higher bandwidth interfaces like USB 3.0 will help to make a greater number of large multimedia files more accessible from multiple devices in the home."

A key addition to the GoFlex™ family, the new 1.5TB GoFlex ultra-portable drive delivers ultimate flexibility in how people collect, protect, share and enjoy their digital libraries, all in a convenient compact package. In addition to coming bundled with USB 3.0 connectivity, the drive can be used with an array of add-on cables and accessories such as the GoFlex™ Net media sharing device and the GoFlex™ TV HD media player, that provide the flexibility to enjoy your content on a TV, a network, using a mobile device, or via the Internet.

Continuing the special offer with Paramount Digital Entertainment, a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), specially-marked packages of the new 1.5TB and the 1TB GoFlex ultra-portable drives will contain Paramount Pictures' popular film, Star Trek (2009), which can be activated free of charge. Each drive will also contain an assortment of 20 Paramount Pictures movies that can be easily and securely unlocked by purchasing a license key online. The films will be licensed for multiple devices to allow for portability and enjoyment on a Windows® OS desktop computer, laptop computer, or widescreen television, by connecting the drive to one of the two available USB ports on a GoFlex TV HD media player[3]. Paramount content will also be added to additional capacities of the GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive in October.

All 1.5TB GoFlex ultra-portable drives are compatible with both the Windows® operating system and Mac® OS X computers. Each drive includes an NTFS driver for Mac, which allows the hard drive to store and access files from both Windows and Mac OS X computers without reformatting. The NTFS driver is simply installed once on the Mac® OS X computer, allowing it to read and write files on a Windows formatted[4] drive.

The 1.5TB GoFlex ultra-portable drive with USB 3.0 adapter is available in black and can be purchased on Seagate.com and through select retailers for $249.99.


Erwin Sattler Thesaurus – Ultimate Watch Lover’s Desk

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 04:08 AM PDT

OMG, how did I miss this release last year!? I recently learned about the Erwin Sattler Thesaurus desk, and my horology gland nearly burst. OK, so this is the ultimate watch lover's desk. It combines a pair of Erwin Sattler Rotalis winders that pop out of the surface of the desk " take-over-the-world villain" style, and drawers that store you watch related loot. I have no idea why it is called the "Thesaurus," but I will need to one help explain how awesome this thing is.


Video: Autonomous Transportation Robot MKR-003

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 02:00 AM PDT

Japan-based Muratec has developed a cute “omni-directional autonomous transportation robot for public spaces”. Dubbed MKR-003 [JP], his main selling point is the built-in “omni-directional mobile mechanism” that allows him to move anywhere, on four wheels, and all by himself (to some extent).

Designed mainly for use in hospitals, the robot boasts an ultrasonic sensor, a laser range sensor, a stereo camera (his “eyes”), voice recognition, a touch screen on his back (to display information like maps), a small LCD screen on his chest (to display messages), and the ability to speak basic sentences.

Muratec showed the robot first back in 2008 and has been working on improving it since. Its main purpose is to transport things from one point to another within buildings, including using elevators. Once an operator “teaches” MKR-003 the route, he starts delivering things on his own, avoiding obstacles on the way.

The picture above shows him dressed as Santa Claus during a performance in a Japanese kids hospital at Christmas 2009.

Here’s two short videos showing MKR-003 in action during an exhibition in Tokyo:

Via Robonable [JP]

Wi-Ex zBoost SOHO YX545 Sneaking Onto Shelves

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 12:35 AM PDT


If you have bad reception at home (who doesn’t these days, amirite?) you could do worse than look into a Wi-Ex device. These discrete cell phone repeaters take powerful signals from the outside world and snake them down into your deep, dark den or office. We’ve used a few of these over the years and the company is currently selling on a new model, the YX545, with 60db gain and 2,500 foot coverage area.

The new model costs $299 and is available now on Amazon or at the Repeater Store.

Pertinent specs include:

Dual Band: Compatible with all US & Canadian networks (except Nextel)
Wireless – Supports up to 20 users simultaneously with no need to connect to your phone to improve reception.
Improves standard voice calls but also 3G data & internet browsing.
Downlink: 869 – 894 MHz, 1930 – 1990 MHz
Uplink: 824 – 824 MHz, 1850 – 1910 MHz
Max output power (EiRP including antennas): PCS 24dBm uplink, 13dBm dowlink, Cellular 26dBm uplink, 10dBm downlink
System Gain (including antennas): PCS 55dB uplink, 78dB dowlink, Cellular 54dB uplink, 67dB downlink
Noise figure: 5dB up, 5dB down
Adaptive Gain Control and oscillation prevention
Wall-mount on rear
RF Connectors: F-type female and TNC Female
Operating temperatures: 40˚ – 105˚F

Daily Crunch: Electromagnetic Edition

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 12:00 AM PDT

AT&T launches the TerreStar Genus hybrid satellite phone for $799

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 11:09 PM PDT

Cast your mind back... back to this time last year. Surely, the first thing you thought of was the announcement from AT&T regarding the TerreStar Genus -- that WinMo-6.5-powered satellite phone that will use AT&T's GSM/HSPA network when available, and satellites when not. Yes, I remember those days. While a little later than promised, AT&T today announced that this thing of dreams and magic is available for business and government types for $799.


New Compass Finds Its Way With Light

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 07:30 PM PDT

The compass has been around pretty much forever. Current technology isn’t really that far from a magnetized sliver of metal floating on a cork, but that may be about to change. A group of physicists have been working on a new type of compass, one that uses rubidium atoms to measure the magnetic field and provide a more accurate reading.

The problem with current technology is that it can be disrupted by any large metallic mass. This can be an issue in the outdoors, where there’s large iron deposits, or in a ship, where the obvious problem arises. As a result, a compass that doesn’t use magnetics to read the the earth’s magnetic field would be a good thing. Science News reports that the physicists who have been working on the new compass found a way to pass light through a cloud of heated atoms. As the compass has moved elsewhere around the earth, the atoms change their alignment to reflect the changing magnetic field, changing the amount and angle of the light as it passes through.

At this time the technology is still in it’s infancy, but the concept is sound. All that’s left now is for the technology to pass field tests before we start to see it at the local outdoor store.


Hungarian “Stringbike” Reinvents The Wheel

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 07:02 PM PDT


Technically, it’s reinventing the wheel-shaped gear system found on most bikes. But I can never resist a ready-made headline. This weirdo bike uses a pair of pulleys instead of the chain and gears us normal people use. Hungarians are too good for gears, is that it?

Actually, there are several serious advantages to this setup. I’m no bicyclologist, so you’ll have to evaluate for yourselves whether they’re worth the weirdness.

[via Popular Science]

CrunchDeal: Get A Sony Webbie for $44.99

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:30 PM PDT

Remember the Sony Webbie? We saw it at CES last year, and it’s a nice little digital camcorder. Now you can get a refurbished one cheap from the Sony Outlet store.

The price at the outlet store reads $129.99, but if you enter the coupon code “SONYOUTLETWEBBIE” you can get it for $44.99 with free shipping. That’s a pretty deep discount for any product, much less Sony. Better hurry though, the sale only lasts until September 23rd.

[via i4u]

Leaf Camera Back Hits 80MP, Is Not For You

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:00 PM PDT

Some say that even full frame DSLRs aren’t as good as film, because they lack the resolution. That was true, and if you were a professional landscape photographer you used a medium or large format film camera. Leaf saw that the medium format film camera market really didn’t have a decent camera back, so they developed a 80 megapixel camera back.

You read that right, 80 megapixels. The bad news is that a camera at this level will cost you $32,000. And that’s just for the back. Not only will you then need to buy a medium format camera body, you’ll then have to buy lenses. Needless to say, this type of camera set up is not for the consumer, but rather a professional who makes enough money shooting Monument Valley to pay for this level of equipment. Leaf announced two products at Photokina today, the Aptus-II 12 and the Aptus-II12R. The Aptus-II12R has an internal rotating sensor, which enables you to shoot portrait and landscape easily. Somehow, I doubt Leaf will be willing to send me one to review.

[via PopPhoto]

Review: Microsoft Lifecam Studio 1080p Webcam

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:00 PM PDT


Short version: It’s pricey and rather bulky, but it’s definitely an improvement over the other HD webcams out there, and a huge improvement over piece of junk embedded in your bezel.

Features:

  • 1080p sensor
  • New design with tripod mount, tiny flareguards
  • MSRP: $99.99

Pros:

  • Seriously decent image quality in many lighting situations
  • Wider angle than most webcams
  • Tripod mount and clip make it easy to use anywhere

Cons:

  • Rather big (not portable)
  • Not a lot of 1080p video calling services out there

Full review:

The new Lifecam Studio is easy to review, because A: it’s a webcam and B: it’s probably the best webcam out there. While I do occasionally rant about misusing “1080p” on devices which cannot possibly resolve the detail traditionally associated with that resolution, this webcam does nevertheless represent a significant upgrade from the 720p Lifecam Cinema (the smaller one pictured there), and is a major leap ahead of the iSights and in-bezel webcams out there today.

Microsoft claims to have improved pretty much everything about the previous Lifecam, and while I normally take these claims with a grain of salt, they seem to be genuine here. The best way to show you is just to show you. Here are two stills, the first taken with the old Lifecam Cinema and the second from the newer Lifecam Studio. I haven’t altered them except to save them as normal high-quality JPEGs.


Look at the full-size ones to see the extent of the differences. I’m not quite sure why the top one is so much more saturated, but that’s something you can control in the image preferences anyway. Note the lack of chromatic aberration on the keys of the typewriter, the legibility of the maps, and so on. The detail really is improved quite a bit. It goes without saying that this image is way better than one you’d get from a standard built-in webcam.

You might also note that I’m not actually in focus in either shot; Microsoft does not seem to have improved the tendency of these cameras to focus on the background rather than the subject. Luckily, you can also adjust the focus manually if it’s giving you trouble with a certain lighting situation. I’ve got a lot going on in the background there, obviously, for instance, so maybe it’s confused. You’d think they’d tell the autofocus “focus on the round, bobbing thing in the middle, the thing with eyes.” It can focus ridiculously close, too, like macro close, which is occasionally useful.

The native widescreen aspect ratio is great and makes it so your image on the other screen (or your own, if you’re doing a webcast or whatnot) isn’t just a head with a little bit of stuff around it. And a widescreen image fits better if you’re doing things in full-screen as well, since nobody has 4:3 screens any more except iPad owners, and they can’t do video chat.

In fact, there are precious few ways to get your full 1080p, native widescreen self out there. Sure, you can record videos and take pictures, but for video chat, Microsoft’s Live Messenger app is the only one that currently supports the full capabilities of the Studio. Hopefully this will be changed, but it’s out of Microsoft’s hands.

There’s a little button on the top that lets you open up your contacts easily, though I don’t know if it’s really saving us a lot of time. Why not put the microphone a little closer, if you’ve got enough space for a button like that? I didn’t actually have any trouble with the microphone, but you’d think they’d want a slightly directional one on the front of the thing, not one on the top catching any ambient noise there might be.

A new addition to this edition is a tripod mount on the “foot” that grips your monitor. This is a great idea, and makes it easy to make a “communal” webcam on a tripod in a room, or wrapped around a piece of the room on a GorillaPod. It also makes it much more versatile with a laptop; no more need to turn the whole computer to change the view. In fact, the camera itself rotates in a full circle.

Conclusion

Comparing this camera to your standard VGA webcam isn’t really fair; this is a luxury item and it performs like it. At a hundred bucks, it’s still a hard sell, though: even if it performs very well, there are less opportunities for it to perform than we’d like. Until Skype and other popular video calling services get their acts together, buying this device is an act of preparation. That said, even if you’re streaming at 320×240 over DSL, you can only have the best image at the other end if you start with the best image on this end, and the best image comes out of the Lifecam Studio right now.

Product page: Microsoft Lifecam Studio

cinema studio lifecam lifecam (1) lifecam (2)


ThermalTake Announces New Gaming Headset

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Seems like everyone is getting into the gaming headset market these days. ThermalTake is the latest, with their new “Shock” headset.

No, no – you can’t actually provide an electrical shock to your opponent as much as we sometimes would like to. But what you get is a headset that features 5.1, has a noise canceling microphone, and also has an in-line audio controls so you can turn the sound down without using the PC volume controls. The Shock headset will be available in October, but ThermalTake hasn’t revealed how much it’ll sell for.

[via Gearlog]

Zune Expands Media Services In Many, Many Countries

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:49 PM PDT

The world of media distribution is a bad place to be right now. What with major labels all wanting everything from everybody, people like Apple and Microsoft vying for exclusive content, and a ton of different laws governing all this international trade stuff, I’m surprised anybody gets anything done at all. But Microsoft has put in the work and they’re rolling out their Zune music and video services to a bunch of Europe. International reader, you may be on the list.

Of course, pricing and availability for certain programs and features differs from country to country, because a simple worldwide distribution platform is a fairy tale we tell our children, or a scary tale music execs tell theirs. There are variations.

Zune’s awesome subscription service is coming to the old country, though sadly incomplete: whereas here you pay $15 for unlimited streaming and 10 “keeper” tracks you own forever, our European cousins will not be saving any tracks. Streaming only, people. In the UK, it’ll set you back £9 per month, and if you’re in France, Italy, or Spain, it’ll be €10. It’s just not the same without the keepers, but it’s still a solid deal.

Music purchase and video rental and purchase are expanding to a bunch of new countries. I’m not going to summarize; here’s what it says in the press release:

Music purchase (U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany). Expansion to these markets will enable consumers to purchase MP3s and listen on their Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 or any other device that supports MP3 format. Users will also be able to purchase music videos to enjoy on Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 and Zune on Xbox LIVE.
Video purchase (U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).Consumers will now be able to purchase movies to download and watch anywhere — on the big screen in the living room with Xbox LIVE or their Windows-based PC as well as sync it to their Windows Phone 7 to enjoy on the go.(9)
Movie rental (U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).In addition to Zune video on Xbox LIVE, consumers in these countries will now be able to rent movies for viewing on their Windows-based PC or choose to sync the rental to their Windows Phone 7.

There you have that. No word on whether the services will come in brown.

This is all preliminary to the Windows Phone 7 rollout later this fall, when it would be wise to have media services in place. The in-the-cloud ownership or rentalship of various media really is very versatile, and you’ll be able to transfer most of your purchases and rentals to any PC, your Xbox Live Gold account, or soon, your Windows Phone 7 Series Phone Series Mobile Handset. I like the idea that you can tether your phone to someone else’s computer, log into Zune from your account, and then sync stuff to your phone. I’m not sure I’ll ever actually have that pleasure, but it’s nice to know they have the media flows worked out. One account, many screens. That’s the ideal we’re all working towards, anyway, or so they say.

No, there is no update imminent for the well-loved Zune HD hardware. The many and varied WP7 handsets that will surely debut over the next few months will have to serve your gadget lust for now, if what you lust after in particular is a clipped sans-serif in a high-contrast, stylized menu system.

Full press release below.

Zune to Expand Multiscreen Entertainment Services Into International Markets

Major entertainment companies provide music and movie catalog to the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Microsoft Corp. today announced the further international expansion of Zune, its digital entertainment service. This fall, Zune will expand its music and video footprint and bring the free Zune software, Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass(1) music subscription service and enhanced features on Zune.net to new markets, providing a comprehensive entertainment experience on Windows-based PCs, on the go with Windows Phone 7 and in your living room through Xbox LIVE.(2)

“The integration between Zune, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE is an exciting expansion in our entertainment offerings,” said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business Group at Microsoft. “Zune enables users to access the entertainment they want, wherever they want it — and now, more people than ever will be able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that the Zune service offers.”

Zune software has been upgraded with new features and functionality and will serve as the Windows Phone 7 synchronization client. The new software (version 4.7) will be available to download for free in more than 20 countries, including the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain, to easily manage your personal collection of movies, music, podcasts and pictures. Zune software continues to set the standard for entertainment software, providing best-in-class experiences to organize, discover and enjoy digital media with a variety of exclusive features. For example, the Quickplay menu enables immediate access to recently played content and personal favorites, and Smart DJ(3) automatically creates playlists from your personal music collection and takes the extra step of mixing in suggested music from the Zune Marketplace. The updated Zune software will also enable instant streaming of high-definition movies, allowing you to watch some Zune Marketplace movies in HD, with no download time, directly on a Windows PC.

Zune Marketplace online store is accessible from within the Zune software and offers the ability to purchase millions of individual songs or albums from its catalog, all in MP3 format. Here, consumers can also subscribe to Zune Pass,(4) which provides unlimited downloads and music streaming capabilities from the Zune music library, including content from major music labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music and Warner Music Group, as well as thousands of independent labels. Zune Marketplace also has a large library of videos from major studios such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution for purchase or rental. Video purchases will be accessible through Xbox LIVE and Windows-based PCs, and can also be added to a Windows Phone 7. Simply buy your favorite video from Zune Marketplace and watch it on the screen of your choice.(9)

Zune.net is the perfect resource for consumers as it allows them to download the software and setup a Zune account with a new or existing Windows Live ID.(5) Zune.net will also provide Web access to Zune Marketplace so you can purchase music or use a Zune Pass to stream music directly through an Internet browser,(6) as well as purchase video content.(7)

Zune Expansion to New Markets

As Zune expands internationally, its music and video service will be tailored for each market. Genre experts will custom program Zune Marketplace and feature the top songs, videos, movies and unique promotions for each country.

The fall 2010 international expansion of the Zune music and video service includes the following:

* Zune Marketplace will extend services to several markets in Europe and beyond.
o Zune Pass (U.K., France, Italy and Spain). The monthly music subscription service will be available for 9.99 euros /8.99 pounds per month for unlimited download and streaming access to the Zune music catalog and will be accessible on Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE. The offer in the U.S. will remain at $14.99 per month for unlimited downloads and streaming access, with the ability to keep 10 MP3s per month.(8)
o Music purchase (U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany). Expansion to these markets will enable consumers to purchase MP3s and listen on their Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 or any other device that supports MP3 format. Users will also be able to purchase music videos to enjoy on Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 and Zune on Xbox LIVE.
o Video purchase (U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).Consumers will now be able to purchase movies to download and watch anywhere — on the big screen in the living room with Xbox LIVE or their Windows-based PC as well as sync it to their Windows Phone 7 to enjoy on the go.(9)
o Movie rental (U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).In addition to Zune video on Xbox LIVE, consumers in these countries will now be able to rent movies for viewing on their Windows-based PC or choose to sync the rental to their Windows Phone 7.

The global expansion of the service is the latest step in a series of milestones for Zune, including powering Bing music search results, the added ability to purchase music and video on Zune.net, and the forthcoming integration with Xbox LIVE and Kinect for Xbox 360. By continuing to integrate Zune across the most important screens to consumers, Zune provides an all-in-one music and video service for users to discover, enjoy and experience their entertainment wherever they want.

Got A Spare $100k? Buy Your Own Stargate For The Backyard

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 03:00 PM PDT

Heads up Stargate fans, the prop auction starts on the 25th. They’ve got pretty much everything from uniforms to animatronic Asgaard puppets. Always wanted a Zat gun to use on your editor? They’re auctioning one off. Fancy a Stargate: Atlantis PDA? You can pick one of those up too.

Propworx is auctioning a ton of props starting this coming Saturday. You can view the catalog online, or download it from the Propworx site. The auction itself is in Washington state, at the Science Fiction Museum of Seattle. The star of the show (no pun intended) is an actual Stargate, the one they used on location is made of fiberglass and welded steel. The bad news is that the gate is expect to sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of $80,000 to $100,000. We’ve asked Devin to pick one up for the CrunchGear offices, so no one bid against him please. I just want a hard copy of the auction catalog.

[via Boing Boing]

Graphite Kindle 3 Sold Out Again

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:30 PM PDT

Looks like Amazon has sold out of the Kindle 3 (3G version) again! If you go look at their site, it shows a shipping delay of 3 – 5 days. The white version is available now, but it seems that people really like the darker color. Of course, either the black or white Kindle 3 is a great reader, Nicholas certainly liked it.

[Via iReaderReview]

Welcome To The Future: The First Truly Portable Coil gun

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Most of the coil guns we’ve seen online have been non-portable, garage build projects. This is the best version of a portable coil gun that we’ve seen yet. The design is quite impressive, and features a display that shows you the charging level in the capacitors.

It’s quite the advanced design – the gun uses a 12V Nickel-metal battery, specially modified to be fast discharging, a controller circuit that limits the amount of voltage sent to the capacitors, and a bolt action loading system. The builder (Jason) has been working on his project for 2+ years, and the end result is amazing. You can view his report here.

[via Hacked Gadgets]

New BMWs To Sport Apple Interface, iPad And iPod Out Integration

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:00 PM PDT

The Paris Motor show is going on now. The usual car unveilings are a given, but also the shows are becoming a place for automakers to showcase and release exciting new tech. Take BMW, for example: they are known around the globe for making the "ultimate driving machines." Now, they are entering the realm of being the ultimate connectivity machines.

Right now, we are witnessing a convergence in the way we run and drive our lives. We want to be connected at all times—to anything—so long as we are stimulated. For car companies, that means giving the people what they want. And what is that? Well we don't want any more half-baked attempts at a third-party interface, no more reinventing the wheel with the interface. Instead, how about a continued consistent look pulled straight from things we’re already accustomed to. I use an iPhone; I like the interface; why can't my car's display duplicate that? Apple isn't getting into the car business anytime soon.

Since the automakers are still lost, Apple has gone ahead and built a feature into iOS4 called iPod out, practically giving the people what they want — now automakers just need to accept the loss and go for the win.

BMW doesn't want to make you learn another interface, because they know you really don't want to. Remember, they were one of the original OEMs to support the iPod.

Well now it's official, BMW will have it out this year, and it's also going to support the iPad—but they call it "Original BMW Accessories – BMW Carrier for Apple iPad Office Mode." (How official!)

What's cool about this is that finally we can expect the same experience in our car that we do from our phone. You can do it by connecting though the dock connector or better yet, Bluetooth — all navigated from the already in-car iDrive controller. The interface is Apple's own, though it's controlled from iDrive. Expect it to be similar to Front Row and to include album art.

For those with older iDrive systems, sadly there will be no upgrade. iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 and the second and third generation iPod Touches will be supported through the system. This is a really exciting turn towards a consistent interface among all cars, hopefully more automakers will wake up and drive the Apple Kool-Aid.

Note to automakers: We want to leave both our key and phone in our pocket upon entering the car. The key should open the car without the need for buttons and the phone should connect to the infotainment system with no cables. That is all we ask, it’s not that hard.

PC Game Digital Sales Have Now Outpaced Physical Sales

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:30 PM PDT

Well there you have it: digital sales have outpaced physical sales. For PC games, that is. According to the all-seeing, all-knowing NPD Group, there were 11.7 million digital sales of PC games during the first half of 2010. That compares to 8.2 million physical sales. Clearly Steam and others like it are on the right track.

What’s perhaps just as interesting is that, even though there were more digital sales, physical sales still made publishers more money. Physical sales brought in 57 percent more money than their digital counterparts. That’s probably because you’ll pay more for a PC game at a retail store than you would from a digital distribution service.

It may also have something to do with the fact that you can buy an incredible number of games from those Steam sales for very, very little money. (You could also buy old games digitally in Good Old Games, but that site has mysteriously shut down. Wonderful.)

But look at it from someone like id’s perspective. Are you going to be able to walk into a store in 2010 and find a copy of Quake or Doom 3 on the shelves? No, of course not, So that’s zero dollars for id. Now, they can offer Quake on Steam for $10, and have a whole bunch of people say, "Oh, hey, Quake, I’ve been meaning to play that; I only had an N64 when it first came out. Let me buy that right now." Easy money for id.

Conversely, look at the PSP Go and the PlayStation Network as a whole. I wanted to buy the PSP remake of Lunar the other day (go ahead, laugh; I get a JRPG itch every so often), then I saw that it’s $40. Seriously, Sony, $40 for a 17-year-old game, even if it is a remake? (Never mind the fact that it’ll take all day to download over a PSP Go’s 802.11b connection!) It’s like, do you think you could maybe try to sell me a 17-year-old game for, I don’t know, maybe $10 instead of $40? It’s not like you have to print manuals or pay shipping costs when I download from PSN. There’s literally no reason why a game should cost the same on PSN as it does in Wal-Mart or whatever.

But I digress.

(I hope that picture came out properly!)

Titanium Leica M9 Is Titanium

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:30 PM PDT


Honestly. At this point these people are just releasing a new finish for each of their cameras every few months and seeing who bites. Personally, I don’t have enough cash to be dropping used-car cash on a camera, though I might make an exception for Fujifilm’s FinePix X100, which can truly be said to be fine — in the flyest sense of the word.

[image: David Farkas; via Leica Rumors]

iOS 4′s Folders Are Cool And All, But Check Out What Jailbreakers Get

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:07 PM PDT

Man! Just when we were starting to get used to using iOS 4′s folder system, the jailbreak community comes along and one-ups the whole thing. After months of work, Japanese iPhone developer ashikase has released this preview video of FolderEnhancer, a jailbreak-only modification which.. well, enhances folders.

Check out the video at MobileCrunch >>
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