CrunchGear |  |
- Sony To World: Don’t You… Forget About Our E-Readers… Don’t Don’t You
- Japan Gets Gundam VISA Card
- Word Lens Translates Words Inside of Images. Yes Really.
- A Chiming Silver Swan For Your Morning Edification
- Panasonics New VIERA TV Lets You Record Full HD Content On SD Cards
- Daily Crunch: Squid v. Pleo Edition
- LG Confirms The LG B’s Existence, Will Show It At CES
- RIM’s PlayBook Tablet Not To Arrive Until March
- Nikon Gives You A Chance To Shoot With A Nat Geo Photographer
- Surprise, Apple’s Premium Rechargeable Batteries Give Little Bang For The Buck
- Goodnight, Sweet VGA
- Leather iPod Nano Watchband Wants To Be Tough
- TabGrip, An Unusual iPad “Case”
- Nexus S Gets Torn Down… Like A Boss
- Review: DODOcase for the iPad
- Syfy Cancels Stargate Universe
- Ple0rb Now Shipping: Get Your Dino On For $469
- Tsovet Limited Edition SVT-AT76: Familiar, But Yet Exclusive
- Video: Finally, A Good Use For The Moon’s Surface
- Hyundai Outs The Equus User Manual iPad App
| Sony To World: Don’t You… Forget About Our E-Readers… Don’t Don’t You Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:11 AM PST
Considering they just launched the products in November over there, I suppose it’s an important milestone. The fact remains, however, that they didn’t cite numbers whereas Amazon sold “millions” of Kindles while B&N is making 18,000 NookColors a day and is selling most of them.
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| Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:01 AM PST
Sumitomo will start accepting applications for the so-called Gundam x VISA International Card this Monday (the bank will charge users a flat fee of $38 per year for using it). 5,000 lucky customers will get the RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. G30th HG 1/144 Scale figure, which features the VISA logo on its shield (see above). Via Nari Nari [JP]
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| Word Lens Translates Words Inside of Images. Yes Really. Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:00 AM PST  Ever been confused at a restaurant in a foreign country and wish you could just scan your menu with your iPhone and get an instant translation? Well as of today you are one step closer thanks to Word Lens from QuestVisual. The iPhone app, which hit iTunes last night, is the culmination of 2 1/2 years of work from founders Otavio Good and John DeWeese. The paid app, which currently offers only English to Spanish and Spanish to English translation for $4.99, uses Optical Character Recognition technology to execute something which might as well be magic. This is what the future, literally, looks like.
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| A Chiming Silver Swan For Your Morning Edification Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:55 AM PST Hail, kinsman! Doth thou wish to clap eyes on my silver swan automaton? She doth dance and jape thusly: she is wound by a mechanism worked by a silversmith and hidden from view and slowly, ever slowly, she plays a tune of haunting beauty on a glass organ.
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| Panasonics New VIERA TV Lets You Record Full HD Content On SD Cards Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:44 AM PST
Panasonic Japan announced [JP] the TH-L42G3 today, a new VIERA TV whose unique point is that it lets you record content in full HD resolution directly on SD cards. The 42-inch, full HD LCD TV supports SD, SDHC (up to 32GB) and SDXC cards (up to 64GB). Panasonic says that a 64GB SDXC card, for example, is enough to store about 5 hours of full HD digital TV content (at 24 Mbps). Users can also plug in an external HDD via USB to record content. Spec-wise, the TH-L42G3 features a IPSα panel with LED backlight, Ethernet, two HDMI ports, VIERA Link, video-on-demand connectivity, and DLNA support. Panasonic plans to start selling the TV in Japan on February 18 (price: $1,800).
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| Daily Crunch: Squid v. Pleo Edition Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST |
| LG Confirms The LG B’s Existence, Will Show It At CES Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:02 PM PST
Just hours after LG’s unveiling of the dual-core, Android-powered Optimus 2X, a different Android-powered LG superphone rocketed out of the rumor mill: the LG “B”. In a totally out-of-character move (not just for LG, but for any mobile hardware company), LG has gone ahead and confirmed the rumored handset’s existence. Read the rest at MobileCrunch, where we’re already looking for the LG C and D. >>
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| RIM’s PlayBook Tablet Not To Arrive Until March Posted: 16 Dec 2010 09:00 PM PST
RIM has never officially stated a release date for the PlayBook, but many people expected it to come out before February. The earnings statements made by the executives stated that we shouldn’t expect to see RIM receiving income from the PlayBook until after February. RIM has said that the PlayBook will only appeal to a niche of certain users, which we’ve discovered to be true of their Blackberry products, which continue to battle against Apple’s products.
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| Nikon Gives You A Chance To Shoot With A Nat Geo Photographer Posted: 16 Dec 2010 07:39 PM PST
The contest runs until January 26, and the final winner will be announced in February. Nikon has arranged for National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths on a photo excursion during the spring of 2011, and Nikon will provide the winner with a brand new D7000 DSLR and private tutoring from a Nikon product specialist. This sounds like a golden opportunity for someone, and I know I’ll be entering and trying to win.
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| Surprise, Apple’s Premium Rechargeable Batteries Give Little Bang For The Buck Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST
Crave decided to do some admirably unscientific, but probably accurate, tests on a couple batteries. He found that the Apple batteries powered a flashlight for slightly longer than Duracells, but cost three times more. Energizers beat ‘em both. Keep that in mind when you’re getting batteries for your point and shoot or flashlight this season. If all you care about is price, get you to a Costco or outlet store and get a hundred-pack.
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| Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:30 PM PST
Although I can’t say I really even remember the last time I had to use a VGA port, I have fond memories of this venerable graphics standard. Let’s just have a moment of silence for all the 640×480 games, applications, and images out there. We’ll hold a proper wake when the poor thing is actually discontinued. Le sigh.
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| Leather iPod Nano Watchband Wants To Be Tough Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST
Well, regardless of my opinion, there’s a new watchband out there, and it doesn’t look half bad. If you’re partial to chunky, large, watchbands, this is the one for you. Made from leather, it’s available in either brown or black, with burnished brass looking hardware. The band will set you back about $43 each, but you’ll have to find a friend in Japan to send you one; they’re probably not going to be available in the US. They will be available in Japan sometime in January. [via Technabob]
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| TabGrip, An Unusual iPad “Case” Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST
At $50, it’s about what the other cases cost. It’s not quite as protective or stylish as they are, but to be honest I can see this thing being pretty useful for the around-the-house iPad.
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| Nexus S Gets Torn Down… Like A Boss Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:06 PM PST
The biggest feature that differentiates the Nexus S is probably the screen. But it’s pretty much the same screen as a Galaxy S, except the “Contour” display has a curved glass surface (as you can see below). The display itself is flat, but still fused to the glass, so if you crack it you’ll have to replace the whole thing.
The motherboard is different from the Galaxy, probably to accommodate the increased storage chips and possibly some extra stuff relating to the NFC capabilities. The Galaxy’s is stuffed up at the top of the phone, while the Nexus’s sort of hugs the battery, which appears to be more or less the same one, at 1500mAh. Otherwise it’s mostly the same components, same suppliers. The teardown actually looked pretty simple, and they rate it 7/10 for repairability. I don’t think you’ll be soldering any extra memory onto this thing, but if the camera goes on the fritz, it won’t cost you a hundy to replace.
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| Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:17 PM PST
Short Version: The Dodocase is about as close to perfection as iPad cases get. The materials are beautiful, and the craftsmanship is spectacular. It has a few quirks inherent to the materials used — but as long as you know what you’re buying, you’ll be happy. Also, this case could probably get you laid.
Long Version: I tend to be a bit of a stickler when it comes to reviews, finding things to nag about in even the finest products. It’s not that I’m a cynic, or even naturally critical; I just really expect products to be worth the asking price. At $59.99, the Dodocase is worth the asking price.
Now, the Dodocase is not a be-all, do-everything case; it won’t protect your iPad from being crushed by a truck, it doesn’t double as a battery, and it won’t wash your hair. It doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is: a simple, elegant, hand-crafted case designed in the same vein (and built with many of the same practices) as a classic, hardback leather-bound book. And man oh man, does it pull that off well. For a better idea of just what goes into these things, check out this video: Too long, didn’t watch? In short, a handful of folks crank these things out in a little workshop in San Francisco, using traditional book binding practices. The outside of the case is wrapped in faux (but rather legit looking) leather, with the innercase lined with any one of eight colors. Then comes the wood: inside the case is a holster of sorts, handcrafted from bamboo to hold your iPad in place. As Bamboo doesn’t naturally offer up the best grip, the corners of the interior are lined with a thermoplastic elastomer (read: super grippy rubber). Going into the review, these grippy rubber corners were one of my early concerns; in researching the case, I found a handful of reports from users complaining that the rubber corners on their Dodocases had started to peel. Dodocase minus rubber corners = oh-god-my-iPad-just-hit-the-floor-and-exploded, so that wasn’t something I wanted to miss in my review. So, I sat there and popped my iPad in and out of the Dodocase a few hundred times; no pealing. I shot an email to the team — turns out, they worked with 3M to come up with a stronger glue for the thermoplastic rubber/bamboo combo, so the pealing issue had been done away with. So, yeah, I took my iPad in and out a few hundred times for nothing. The things I do for you guys!
Beyond protecting your iPad and looking pretty, the Dodocase also doubles as a stand for landscape viewing. Due to the leather-ish material used to wrap the exterior, it does this better on some surfaces than it does others. On a smooth surface, like a desk, you’re limited to a pretty tight set of possible viewing angles — lean it too far in either direction, and it’ll slip in an instant. On any textured or soft surface, like a couch, a bed, or your belly (laying down and putting this thing on your gut is actually a pretty damn nice way to watch Netflix), you’ve got a lot more flexibility. It’d be nice if Dodocase could figure out some way to make the edge that touches down just a bit less slippery, but that’d be tough to do without tarnishing the aesthetics. A few people have asked me about wear and tear. After about a month of near-constant use, the Dodocase is showing some wear — but not in a bad way. Think of your favorite book. One that you’ve taken a good few trips through, as made evident by the wrinkling of the binding. That’s the same way the Dodocase wears; where it creases, it shows its age. This doesn’t take away from the look at all, though — to be honest, it actually looks sort of classy.
Speaking of looking classy: you remember when I said earlier that this case could probably get you laid? I was only half joking. There’s something about carrying a leather-bound item (be it a book, a journal, or an undercover iPad) that seems to make people think you’re interesting. In the month that I carried this, it served as a conversation starter no less than ten times. If I had to nitpick over any one thing, it’d be the quality of the decorative label (in classic terms, the “bookplate“) on the left side of the interior. It’s printed at a somewhat low DPI, so the quality of the printed image just doesn’t stand up to close inspection. Additionally, the label itself gets dirty pretty quick, given that it’s often exposed to whatever crap is on your table when the cover is folded back. Fortunately, you can peel off this label and do what you will with it without leaving any adhesive. With other products, I probably wouldn’t mention it; here, though, it stands out as not meeting the quality of the rest of the product. Finally, one last thing worth noting: this case makes me enjoy reading books on the iPad more. I’m not too big of a fan of reading on a tablet (or a Kindle, for that matter), as years of holding books that certain way have made it impossible for me to get comfortable snuggling up with a creaseless slab of glass and metal. There’s something about the Dodocase, though — I think it’s the book-like fold of the binding and the faux-leather beneath my fingers — that just makes it all seem right.
I don’t keep the Dodocase at all times, anymore; it’s just a bit too heavy for that (as opposed to a bare iPad, that is, primarily because the iPad is just so friggin’ light.) I think of it as sort of a dinner jacket for my iPad. If I’m going out, I toss my iPad in the Dodocase before slipping it in my backpack; it adds just a bit of glam, while protecting the important bit from most elements that might come its way. Pros:
Cons:
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| Syfy Cancels Stargate Universe Posted: 16 Dec 2010 02:44 PM PST
Here’s a good thread on Reddit about the cancellation. What a waste. Did you know it was nominated for two Emmys this year? Probably best to move Warehouse 13 to a different station and shut down the whole station.
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| Ple0rb Now Shipping: Get Your Dino On For $469 Posted: 16 Dec 2010 02:15 PM PST
The dino costs $469 and includes a number of new features:
The kit includes a tug-of-war toy as well as fun new moves based on the Pleo’s improved sensing network.
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| Tsovet Limited Edition SVT-AT76: Familiar, But Yet Exclusive Posted: 16 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST
Behind the standard Tsovet face is a mechanical Swiss automatic ETA 2892-2A movement, which is housed in 48mm aerospace-grade 316L stainless steel and covered with sapphire glass. Just like other Tsovet pieces, this one is finished with a matte PVD coating, that gives it the unique look and feel. All nice, yes, but it’s the Swiss automatic movement complete with a sweeping second hand that really sets this one apart — and justifies the $1,895 price tag. Like it? Better hop over to Tsovet and put your name down for one. The run is limited to 25 units. [Tsovet via Gear Patrol]
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| Video: Finally, A Good Use For The Moon’s Surface Posted: 16 Dec 2010 01:30 PM PST
MODERN TIMES from BC2010 on Vimeo. Click through for the behind the scenes video, which is just as impressive.
Behind the Scenes from BC2010 on Vimeo.
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| Hyundai Outs The Equus User Manual iPad App Posted: 16 Dec 2010 01:00 PM PST
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Hot on the heels of Amazon and B&N’s 
During a recent earnings call with RIM, several executives made comments suggesting that the 
This would be one of those “once in a lifetime” opportunities. Nikon has announced a contest that will allow an aspiring photographer to go on an exclusive photo excursion with a National Geographic photographer. Apparently they’ll also throw in a D7000 in order to make sure you’re ready to take some great pictures.
We’ll file this one in the Duh drawer of the Department of Obvious Things. It turns out that 
Is it just me, or is this iPod watchband thing getting old? Jobs makes one off-hand comment during a product announcement and suddenly a cottage industry pops up. 
Of course, they’re nowhere as slick as 
After many long months of waiting, the Ple0rb (Pleo Reborn, I guess they’re trying to say) is ready to ship. If you recall, the 
Tsovet makes some nice avator-inspired timepieces. That’s a fact. The 
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