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Video: NTT Docomo’s Coolest New Cell Phones For This Winter

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:58 AM PST

We've already shown you some cool cell phones Japan's biggest mobile carrier, NTT Docomo, plans to roll out in the next few months (see the list below for a recap). But there were quite a few more worth mentioning in the company's new winter line-up (in English). Here are all of them (I left out simple updates, rebranded versions etc.). Read the rest on MobileCrunch.


Daily Crunch: Bacon Soda Edition

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 12:00 AM PST

Initial Kinect Hacking Yields Much Raw Data

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 07:47 PM PST


They sure are persistent over at Adafruit Industries. After posting a thousand-dollar bounty on an open-source Kinect driver, then raising that bounty twice, they’re hard at work on their own hacks. One of the first things that needs to happen, of course, is to figure out just what language the Kinect speaks, what tags accompany what data, how to do basic things like turn the sucker on and off and give it a legit device ID.

Adafruit put a sniffer in between the Kinect and the 360, allowing it to record the process bit-for-bit. I don’t speak hex, so I can’t tell you exactly what’s going on there, but if you’re interested in seeing exactly what bits are being passed, you can download the some of their raw log files here on GitHub.

A Quick Chat With Google TV’s Lead Dev About The Network Blockade, Apps, And Google TV Hitting The PS3

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 04:50 PM PST


In my mind, Google TV is about the most interesting product idea in recent gadget history. It’s poised, ready, not to disrupt the TV industry, but rather provide consumers true on-demand options with no extra work on the networks’ part. There’s nothing particularly novel about Google TV, but the whole concept is wrapped up as such a nice package that’s it’s hard not to like it — that is, if you can look past the first generation jitters. The platform isn’t particularly ready for general consumption just yet as it seems it fell victim Google’s “release early, release often” mantra. But it’s only going to get better with each release.

I spent some time this afternoon talking to Google TV’s product managers, Salahuddin Choudhary, about what’s wrong with the platform today and where it’s going. Let’s just say my interest was restored. Google TV will live up to its potential.

John and I worked on several of CrunchGear’s Google TV posts together as we both have units installed at our homes. We both noted that the Chrome browser seems stripped down, almost unusable for general web browsing. This was by design. Apparently Google found from various focus groups that people preferred the full-screen experience rather than having a browser on their HDTV that showed the URL bar, tabs, and all the rest standard on a desktop browser. The primary purpose of Google TV’s browser is to watch videos, not peruse Facebook or Amazon. This might change, though.

Salahuddin commented that they are working on making “the core browser tools more accessible.” after I droned on and on about how it’s a missed opportunity to at least not have those user elements be optional. I wasn’t the only one that had a hard time finding the URL bar. (it doubles as the search bar) They seem to understand user experience is key but I’m not sure it’s a top priority like it should be, a criticism that applies to the Android Marketplace as well.

I stated in our review that Google TV seems half-baked. That’s particularly true when it’s noted that apps won’t hit the system until 2011. But sometime next year, the entire Android Marketplace will appear on Google TV. Yeah, all the apps are coming to the Google TV platform: Angry Birds, Google Earth, Robo Defense. They’re committed, for better or worse, to support the entire back catalog. If you thought an iPhone app looks horrible upscaled to 2x on the iPad, just wait until the Android port hits your 50-inch LCD.

Of course I was assured that they are working on the scaling and they might look fine, but smartphone apps are fundamentally different than Google TV apps. I’m expecting a lot of disappointed GTV owners once the Android Marketplace hits the platform and they install their favorite Android smartphone apps.

But there’s going to be another sort of Android app. One designed just for Google TV and a “full range of developers” are already on board. The few apps of Pandora, NBA Gametime, Netflix are really just a proof of concept. They were included to show what Google TV could do, but I would argue that they added to the half-baked taste. Besides Netflix and Pandora, the rest are officially meh.

We talked briefly about the content provider’s stance and blocking of Google TV, but there was no hint of concern or worry like I expected. Google TV is looked upon internally as a product that works with cable, not against it. Video web portals like Hulu are just one source of content for Google TV. It also links up with Amazon VOD and Netflix, which, while they’re pay sites, do offer a fairly extensive library of content that’s free from ads. “It’s up the networks,” Salahuddin said when asked about the blocking situation.

While writing our comprehensive Google TV review, I couldn’t help but feel that the system could be a game-changer, but only if given enough time. I worried that Google wouldn’t give the platform time to mature, but those fears were somewhat subdued knowing that Sony dumped a good deal of money into developing and marketing two major products. They would keep Google on track, I thought. But after talking to Salahuddin, I feel my original fears were unfounded. Google is in this for the long haul. Google TV will be given the time it needs to grow into a consumer platform.

Oh, and my final question of “Is Google TV coming to the PS3?” was met with a surprised chuckle and quick “no comment.” So yeah, Google TV is coming to the PS3. Somehow. Maybe. I really don’t know.

Revisions: Inserted the proper name of the product manager.

More People Read E-Books On Laptops Than On Kindles

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 02:31 PM PST

A recent study by Forrester has revealed a few interesting tidbits about the e-reading populace. Most important is perhaps the $966 million figure of total sales this last year. That’s a lot of money to be coming from what is at the moment a niche market.

But the more surprising statistic, I find, is that 35% of the people polled read e-books on their laptops. It literally never even occurred to me that people did this. Yet more people are doing that than have Kindles (32%), and if you add in netbooks, that’s a fair chunk of the e-reading population that doesn’t even use an e-reader. And they’re spending! This is the segment I’ve been saying needs to be targeted with a decent sub-$100 reader. The new Kindle is close but the next one will be closer.

And of course the laptop numbers must be sliding and the e-reader numbers rising, but it was still unexpected to me.

The people using e-readers are naturally a spendy bunch, and generate far more money per capita than the average person, who maybe reads two or three paperbacks a year and has a paper or magazine subscription. But the e-reader-owning people are also early adopters, so device makers will have to try harder to get the rest of the world to follow suit.

[via CNET]

Use PlayOn For A Half-Baked Google TV Hulu Workaround

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 01:37 PM PST

Google TV is a sad clown right. All dressed up and ready to have fun, but performing in a cemetery. Hulu is blocked, along with all the network’s sites. Comcast’s Hulu-feed Fancast video portal worked for a couple of days but then the almighty overlords shut that down too. Google TV Search, which could be Google’s most useful and novel 2010 product, is pretty much useless right now. But there is one somewhat lame workaround if you must watch free online videos on Google TV: PlayOn.

Please don’t think this product restores the usefulness of Google TV. It doesn’t. But it is a reliable way to watch Hulu content, along with videos from other major sites, on Google TV.

The Google TV variant works the same way on this platform as it does on all the others. A DLNA server runs on a network-attached computer and serves up the video content through UPnP. The Google TV then sees the server through its DLNA client and provides a simple, graphical interface for video selection. It’s not pretty, but it works and is nearly impossible for the networks to block.

Since the service is through the DLNA client and not the web browser, Google TV Search does not work here. You might as well be using Hulu via a Wii or Xbox 360. The experience is no different, so please, do not use this to justify purchasing a Google TV now. The platform is still treading water. This is just a nice little workaround for current Google TV owners.

Want Android on your iPhone? No Computer? No problem!

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 01:15 PM PST

A year ago, the idea of being able to run Android on the iPhone was damn near laughable. Surely, no hacker was good enough to pull off that feat!

Then this happened, and our minds were blown wide open.

7 months later, the project has progressed enough that just about anyone can do it — in fact, you don’t even need a computer.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

E Ink’s Color “Triton” E-Paper Screens Make Their Debut

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:56 PM PST

We all knew this was coming, though whether the first to market would be the frontrunner, E Ink, or one of its competitors, has always been up in the air. Other color e-paper technologies have been bumbling along for years; Fujitsu’s FLEPia jumped the gun on color e-readers way back in 2008, and technologies from Ricoh and Qualcomm might easily have taken the lead.

But for now, it appears E Ink Inc. will maintain their grip on the e-reader market. Their Pearl greyscale displays are in all the major e-reader devices, and chances are that will continue to be the case for some time, as they have introduced a color e-paper display for commercial use well before their competition.

Their new Triton display will come in 5-, 7-, and 10-inch varieties, and E Ink seems to think that it will be instrumental in establishing digital newspapers and periodicals. It can display “thousands of colors,” specifically 4096; it’s not clear whether that number is effective or absolute — that is to say, whether it takes into account the shades created by the 16 greyscale stages. Either way, it’s a limited but not severely limited color space for books and magazines. Battery life seems to have stayed steady, which makes sense.

I’m concerned with the readability. By adding an RGB filter, you’re necessarily reducing reflectance, contrast, and possibly resolution. The newest e-ink screens have admirable sharpness and passable resolution, but I don’t know if that will translate to the new color devices (the stated specs are nearly identical, but I think in practice it will look different). As you can see above and in the Hanvon reference model at top, the color is extremely desaturated even in their carefully presented press shots. The ability to backlight color in LCDs has led to an expectation of vibrancy far beyond what this first generation of color e-paper can provide.

For that reason I doubt that Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or any of the other major e-reader makers will adopt Triton. It would be a dangerous maneuver, putting their devices closer to the iPad and other tablets, which in a hands-on comparison will take color e-readers to school. The tablet vs. e-reader debate will shape itself over the next few months as credible competitors to the iPad finally appear, and I think we’ll find a solidifying of the capabilities and technologies that distinguish the two. I have my own opinions, but they don’t signify when the industry itself hasn’t decided what makes a device what.

It’s impossible to make a judgment, however, until we see these things in real life, in their final forms. No doubt we’ll see them at CES, and probably before — so we’ll post a hands-on as soon as that happens. But like the first generation of e-paper, which was pretty weak, Triton will have to serve as a wedge and an indicator of things to come rather than a complete technology. Don’t expect it on our shores for some time, at least not in any of your familiar brands.

Here’s a little video, full of that bothersome moving typography:

And here’s the press release, for the curious:

E Ink Announces Color ePaper

E Ink color ePaper displays enabled by Triton Imaging Film will deliver high-contrast, sunlight readable, low-power performance that will revolutionize the market.

FPD International 2010

MAKUHARI MESSE, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–E Ink® Holdings Inc., the leader in electronic paper display technology, today announced the release of its next generation display technology, E Ink Triton. Triton enables color ePaper solutions, enhancing the visual experience for ePublishing markets.

"E Ink Triton marks a major milestone in the eBook revolution," said Hanvon's Chairmain Dr. Liu Yingjian. "E Ink has the right technology, manufacturing capability, and know-how to transition Hanvon's product vision into reality. With E Ink Triton technology, Hanvon is enabled to release the world's first color eBook reader today."

"E Ink Triton is a response to market need for a color ePaper display that mimics the printed paper experience," said Scott Liu, Chairman of E Ink Holdings. "Triton will compliment our monochrome product line to enable new markets."

"Color ePaper will enable richer content in eBooks, as well as enabling a broader array of other reading devices, for content such as magazines, newspapers, and educational materials," according to Paul Semenza, Senior Vice President, DisplaySearch. "We foresee market demand for ePaper displays in these applications reaching $5 billion by 2016."

Enhanced with Color

For image-rich information applications showing charts, graphs, maps, photos, comics and advertising, color displays made with Triton Imaging Film enable ultra-low power and high mobility devices with a paper-like experience. In addition to 16 levels of grayscale, Triton is capable of displaying thousands of colors. And just like E Ink's grayscale ePaper products, Triton's crisp text and detailed color graphics are fully viewable in direct sunlight.

Faster Performance

Displays made with Triton, as well as the recently launched Pearl, can perform up to 20 percent faster than those made with previous generations of E Ink Imaging Film. Whether turning a page, selecting a menu, taking notes, or viewing simple animations, Triton's update performance will satisfy today's user-interface product needs. This expands the ePaper experience and displays more dynamic content for signage or advertising.

Proven Technology

The E Ink Triton design leverages the patented two pigment capsule platform found in millions of E Ink enabled eBooks. This technology offers unparalleled image stability; pictures and text can be maintained on the screen even when the power is turned off. With this proven bi-stable technology, devices using E Ink Imaging Film have demonstrated both long life and high reliability, leading to the development of a whole new class of consumer products over the past few years.

Joby Launches Their Gorillamobile Tripod for iPhone 4

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:55 PM PST

Given that Joby has launched their ultra-bendy Gorillamobile Tripod line for just about every iOS device so far, there wasn’t much question as to whether or not they’d make one for the iPhone 4. It just took a bit longer than we might’ve expected.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

T-Mobile G2 Gets A Permanent Root Hack, Android Community Rejoices

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:40 PM PST

You remember that scene at the end of Return of the Jedi, with all the Ewoks celebrating? That’s the Android community right now: a bunch of hairy dudes dancing around, celebrating their victories over oppression.

Instead of the Emperor, the opressor is HTC’s anti-tamper system, and instead of blowing up the Death Star, their victory is … finally perma-hacking the T-Mobile G2. See? This analogy totally works. Sort of. Not really.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Conan Returns To Big Ratings Last Night, Beats Leno & Letterman

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:30 PM PST

Yesterday we (well, I) asked the question of whether or not Team Coco would follow Conan O’Brien to his new show on TBS. Survey says… apparently so! The ratings are in and "Conan" did really, really well. So well, in fact, that he beat Leno, Letterman, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert in the all-important 18-49 demo. (Advertisers, and thereby network executives, only care about one demo, and that’ 18-49. Don’t ask me why. It’s not like 18-year-old have money to buy cars or anything like that.) Bottom line, TBS has a hit on its hands.

Probably the most impressive thing is that Conan managed to draw two-thirds of his Tonight Show debut numbers. When you consider the disparity between the number of people who have NBC and the number of people who have TBS it’s even more impressive.

I didn’t even know what channel TBS was last night, so I used DirecTV’s handy Smart Search feature. I still don’t know what channel TBS is, and it’s one day later.

Most of us here at CG liked what we saw. Greg said the show was "really good," and I largely agreed. I mean, there’s a zero percent chance I’m going to sit through his interview with Tom Hanks tonight, but I’ll be there for the first 30 minutes.

All in all, a job well done for Conan & Crew.

Video: The Samsung Galaxy Tab Can Take A BB Right To The Screen

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 11:27 AM PST

This video needs context. Sure, the Gorilla Glass covering the screen on the Samsung Galaxy Tab is probably tough stuff, but I’m not sure simply surviving a CO2 BB is a testament to its strength. Greg should lend his Steve Wozniak-signed iPad to science and let me shoot some BBs at it. Otherwise this video is just dude wasting valuable Internet space. We need science!

The Self-Repair Manifesto

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 11:00 AM PST

Kyle Wiens of iFixIt posted a call to action today asking all good hackers to require everything they buy to be repairable. We asked him to comment on the current state of the gadget industry and the problems facing folks who want to fix their own gadgets.

Our relationship with our gadgets has spiraled out of control. We buy things, use them for a short while, and then replace them with the next model. Manufacturers build products that break quickly so we are forced to buy another.

The entire technology industry is constantly pushing consumers toward the new. GM invented the concept of planned obsolescence in the 1920s and corporations have since perfected it. We constantly promote cutting edge, sometimes-better-but-always-different products. I’ve certainly lost track of the year-to-year differences of the iPod Nano—but gosh, the latest ones have multi-touch! The latest iPod Nano also has a built-in non-replaceable battery limiting its lifespan to 300 cycles. If you use your iPod every day, that’s less than a year!

There’s a dark side to our gadgets, a sub-surface tension that we all know about rarely speak of. Every time we upgrade to a new smartphone or computer, we leave behind a physical trail of boring old electronic waste. That waste is real—I’ve been to the fields in Africa where children burn electronics to mine them for copper. Our never-ending quest for the new is dramatically impacting our environment. The people who are burning our old electronics don’t know how toxic this stuff is. It’s our waste, and it’s our responsibility.

That needs to stop. We have to make the things we have last longer. The 18 months we use these things are just a blip in their long lifecycle.

Let’s take a stand. Let’s start making our things last longer. Let’s tell the manufacturers that we demand the right to repair our own things. Let’s post this manifesto in every coffee house, repair shop, gadget lab, and garage in the world.

Read more on the manifesto here.

The LaCie Stark Mobile 500GB USB 3.0 Hard Drive Gives A Lesson In Style, Mobility

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 10:30 AM PST


External hard drives do not have to be stale and fake. They can look just as good as they perform and the latest from LaCie fits the profile nicely. The LaCie Starck Mobile USB 3.0 seems at first like every other external on the market, but then slowly you start to appricate the less is more design. It’s sexy.

Inside the 2mm aluminum casing is a 500GB hard drive and USB 3.0 connectivity. The good looks will cost you though. The drive will hit retailers shortly at $109.


CrunchDeals: 10% Off Megapots and V-Vessels

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 10:07 AM PST

Northern Brewer, my favorite brew shop, has 10% of their megapots for beer brewing or their excellent and amazing V-Vessel for winemaking. The V-Vessel, for example, is a $180 barrel of fun that allows you to clear the sediment from your wort just but popping out the little globe at the bottom. It has turned winemaking into a real pleasure.

Both items are 10%. You can see the vessel here and the pots here

Jones Soda Jumps On The Bacon Train

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 09:41 AM PST


The Jones Soda holiday pack is again this year and it’s going to bring a pork-splosion of fizzy goodness to your awaiting mouth. You get two bacon sodas, one tube of bacon lip balm, a bag of bacon popcorn, one pack of bacon gravy mix — all for low, low cost of $10 and a bit of your dignity. [Jones Soda via The Awesomer]

Don’t Forget To Send In Your Kinect Video Review!

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 09:00 AM PST


Remember, we’re looking for our readers to help with our Kinect review. This is a social gaming platform and therefore should be reviewed as such. So point your iPhone or Flip at you living room and ramble on video about your new gaming toy. That’s all we want. We’ll do the editing and whatnot. We just want your take on the system. But please, only send in your videos. We’re not looking for random videos you found on YouTube although your love is appreciated. Full Details

The Chevy Volt Might Only Need Its Oil Changed Every Two Years

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 08:30 AM PST

The Chevy Volt is fundamentally a new sort of vehicle and so maintenance will be a tad different. Chevy just went public with oil life numbers and it seems that with the proper oil, Volt owners who drive mainly on the battery might only have to change oil every two years. This only makes sense really as the on-board I-4 engine only kicks on to charge the battery and therefore isn’t used if the Volt is driven exclusively in EV mode.

Fluid stability is still a concern so the Volt has special drive mode called Engine Maintenance Mode that’s designed to extend the life of both the oil and gasoline. This mode will appear as option only after the Volt determines that it’s generally drove on EV mode — generally after six weeks. Once enabled, it will kick on the gasoline generator as necessary to cycle both the gasoline and motor oil. This keeps the engine well lubricated and the gas from going stale.

GM Executive Director, Electrical Systems Micky Bly via GM-Volt,

Oil likes to run at a certain temperature, and to burn off some of the water and some of the ligands that gather in oil. We call it engine maintenance mode. We'll ask if you mind if we run the engine a couple of miles just to freshen up basically, and then that will be fine.

GM recommends that the Volt, along with the rest of GM’s 2011 line, use a new Dexos 1 synthetic blend. This oil while 25-30% more expensive delivers superior life and performance over the current standard. GM is not alone in opting for this new standard. Other OEMs are expected to start factor-filling and recommending the synthetic blend starting in 2012. But be careful, according to GM’s warranty information, if an engine failure was to occur and the oil used was found not to be Dexos 1-certified, it may void the factory warranty. Fun stuff.

Sharp Shows Cell Phone With Built-In Projector

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 08:20 AM PST

The Biscuit and wooden cell phones Sharp yesterday announced for the Japanese market weren't the only ones worth mentioning. Big S also unveiled [JP] the SH-05C, a handset featuring a built-in projector that's usable for up to 120 minutes on a full battery charge.


TSA Bans Ink & Toner Cartridges From Flights. Next On The Ban List: People.

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 08:00 AM PST

The Transportation Security Administration has banned ink and toner cartridges of more than 16 ounces from both carry-on bags and checked luggage on flights within the United States or in-bound to the United States. You know why: because of that incident from a few days ago where authorities found bombs hidden inside toner cartridges.

The TSA is in a tough spot. Does anyone really think that terrorists are going to say, "Shoot, we’ve been thwarted! Let’s stop plotting against the West and instead become responsible stakeholders in the international system"?

No, of course not.

But does anyone think the TSA can say sit back and do nothing? It has to do something, even if it’s just a superficial gesture. That’s the world we live in, where our officials have to act in order to give the appearance of doing something to protect us.

I mean, you can argue the effectiveness of banning items piecemeal, but do you think the TSA can justify its funding when it does nothing in the face of an attempted attack? Politically, I mean. It needs to give the appearance of being pro-active (well, re-active, to be more accurate) to give the impression that everything is A-OK with airport security.

What does banning items one-by-one get us? Taken to the extreme, this logic would see the TSA banning people from airplanes. After all, it’s people who planted the ink toner bombs inside the luggage in the first place, so we might as well cut the danger off at the source.
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