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Report: America Will Get Toshiba’s Naked-Eye 3D TVs Soon

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:01 AM PST

Do you remember Toshiba’s glasses-free 3D TV we’ve spent quite a few posts on recently? The TVs, which were introduced last October and went on sale in Japan two weeks ago, will come to the US (plus Europe and China) soon, according to Reuters.

A Toshiba representative is quoted as saying that consumers in these regions won’t get the relatively small 12- and 20-inch TVs (pictured) that are available in Japan now, but much bigger models.

It looks like Toshiba will be offering a model bigger than 40 inches and another one bigger than 50 inches internationally (and in Japan). The company didn’t provide details regarding prices or exact release dates, but the high prices in Japan ($1,430 for the 12-incher, $2,870 for the 20-inch model) clearly show they won’t be cheap.

Toshiba also said they want to boost their TV-related revenue by no less than one third in the next fiscal year (which starts in April). In the US, the company wants to increase its market share from seven or eight to ten percent.

Via Gizmodo

Joby Comes Out With iPad Accessories

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:53 AM PST

Joby announced today that they are coming out with two new “gorilla” based products, the GorillaMobile Ori and GorillaMobile Yogi. Both are for the iPad, and while one uses Joby’s ever-present flexible legs, the other doesn’t.



We had a chance to meet with Joby at the CES Unveiled event this evening, and rather then show you some boring text and still pictures, here’s the video showing how the new products work.

Daily Crunch: Elevader Edition

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

OnStar Comes To The After Market By Best Buy

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 08:29 PM PST

Most of us know of OnStar as the telematics system in many GM vehicles. Recently OnStar has made some moves to take on Ford’s SYNC, and they want you to know that they aren’t SYNC. By sticking a cell unit in the car, OnStar services are online even when your phone is out of the car.

Now, OnStar has made the move to the aftermarket segment with the OnStar mirror. A unit that can be installed at Best Buy early this year. Many of the same things that the GM built-in OnStar offers is available. Remote unlock and vehicle diagnostics are unavailable right now. There will be stolen vehicle reporting; accident alert, with built-in accelerometer; hands-free dialing; roadside assistance; and most importantly, turn-by-turn navigation.

We’re still unsure how well those features will tie in with existing vehicle systems with navigation systems. But, nonetheless it is nice to have an OnStar operator available at the touch of a button.

OnStar says that it will work with 99% of recent models, including their favorite, Toyotas’.

Available in the US in spring of 2011 for $299, plus installation, which is about $100. You can get it at Best Buy.

Press Release

OnStar Expands Beyond GM Cars:

OnStar "Blue Button" Safety, Security and Connectivity

Now Available for Most Top-Selling Vehicles on the Road Today

  • For the first time, OnStar's industry leading safety, security and connectivity services are available to consumers in a standalone rearview mirror
  • Retail product to offer key OnStar features including Automatic Crash Response
  • Available in the U.S. in spring 2011 for $299; Best Buy announced as first strategic retail partner, with over 1,100 stores; other selected retailers to follow

Las Vegas, Jan. 4, 2011- OnStar today announced that it is responding to repeated consumer requests by offering its industry leading safety, security and connectivity services for non-GM and older GM vehicles already on the road. A standalone rearview mirror packing all of OnStar's core technology will be available this spring through consumer electronics retailers, and is compatible with most top-selling vehicles from major manufacturers.

The OnStar retail product offers the key features that have made OnStar's "blue button" an icon, including Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, one-button access to emergency and roadside services, and hands-free calling, including Bluetooth connectivity.

"For years, thousands of drivers have asked us to get OnStar in vehicles that didn't feature it as standard," said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. "With the retail product that we've introduced today they certainly can. This move in to the consumer electronics space represents the biggest development in our business model since introducing OnStar as standard across all GM products several years ago. It represents a quantum leap forward in our plans to grow our business and provide a strong new revenue base for GM and OnStar from which we can further develop our core offerings in the factory-equipped market."

OnStar will offer the mirror in the United States through Best Buy, its first strategic retail partner, beginning in spring 2011. The product will also be available through other selected consumer electronics retailers. The mirror will be priced at $299, plus installation (expected to cost between $75 and $100). A range of service plans will be available, starting at $18.95 a month or $199 a year.

"We're proud to be OnStar's first strategic retail partner for this innovative offering, which is one more way Best Buy can help our customers stay connected whenever and wherever they want," said Lisa Farrell, senior vice president and general manager portable electronics customer solutions group at Best Buy. "We provide a one-stop solution for consumers. In addition to purchasing the device at Best Buy, we offer our customers the convenience of having it installed by our Geek Squad Auto Techs – all at one location."

Ingram Micro will serve as the key distributor of this product and is the main contact for interested retail outlets.

Currently, the OnStar mirror is certified to work on 99 percent of the top 20 selling non-GM vehicles over the last 10 years, or approximately 55 million cars and trucks. OnStar expects to certify additional models in the months ahead.

Key features of the OnStar mirror include:

  • Automatic Crash Response. An accelerometer built into OnStar the mirror detects the sudden shock of an impact from the front, side, or rear of the vehicle and automatically calls an OnStar advisor. If the driver doesn't respond, or responds to say there has been a crash, an OnStar advisor will direct emergency responders to the exact GPS location of the vehicle.
  • Link to Emergency Services. By pressing OnStar's red emergency button, drivers are immediately connected to a specially trained emergency advisor for assistance in situations occurring inside or outside of their vehicle.
  • Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance. If the vehicle is reported stolen to local law enforcement, OnStar subscribers can call 1-888-4-OnStar (1-888-466-7827) from any phone. OnStar advisors, available 24/7, can attempt to locate the vehicle through the mirror's internal GPS and provide the location to law enforcement.
  • Turn-by-Turn Navigation. With OnStar's most popular service, drivers can press OnStar's blue button and ask OnStar advisors for directions to a specific location or ask the advisor to find a point of interest such as a gas station or nearby restaurant. The directions are then downloaded to the OnStar system, which provides spoken turn-by-turn directions for reaching the destination.
  • Roadside Assistance. In non-emergency situations, drivers can push the blue button or call 1-888-4-ONSTAR for help with problems such as keys locked in the vehicle, a flat tire, or running out of gas.
  • Hands-Free Calling. OnStar allows drivers to make hands-free, voice-activated calls either through a Bluetooth connection to the driver's mobile phone or through prepaid packages of minutes purchased through OnStar.

All these services are available directly through the OnStar mirror, without requiring the driver to bring along a mobile phone or even own a mobile phone. In the event of an accident, emergency services are alerted even if there is no mobile phone in the vehicle, the phone is damaged in a crash or the driver is unable to use a phone.

OnStar is now in its ninth generation of technology. The first-generation OnStar product in 1996 was comprised of 38 individual components and could take up to four days to install. Now all of the technology required to deliver the OnStar experience fits inside a rearview mirror weighing only 23 ounces, and professional installation is expected to take less than an hour. This requires removing the vehicle's current rearview mirror, replacing it with the OnStar product and running an electric power source to the new mirror.

For more information on OnStar's innovation, the new OnStar mirror and a list of the compatible vehicles at launch, visitwww.onstar.com.

About OnStar

OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. OnStar safely connects its more than six million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the technology category. More information about OnStar can be found atwww.onstar.com.

Roku Hits 1 Billion Streams Served

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 03:42 PM PST

Well, it looks like Roku has had a good year. They just announced that they’ve hit a pretty significant milestone; over 1 billion streams served to TVs. This means that they’re competing with the cable companies, and gaining quite a bit of viewing time.

In fact, Roku is starting to eat into that biggest number, the “average of 36 hours” of television watched by most americans. In fact, the average Roku box owner watches a total of 11 hours of content. That’s a whole lot of Netflix and MLB.TV. Of course, keep in mind that the basic Roku box starts at $59.99, making it one of the cheapest methods of streaming Netflix to your TV out there.

From the press release:

Saratoga, Calif. – January 4, 2011 – Roku, Inc., maker of the award-winning family of Roku streaming players, announced today that the company served its one billionth stream of content. This follows on the company's previous announcement of surpassing 1 million units in 2010.

Roku streaming players continue to grow in popularity and usage as Roku makes more streaming apps, or "channels," available. In December 2010, Roku players averaged over 11 hours of playing time per week – a significant amount of TV viewing for Roku customers when compared to the national average of 36 hours per week.

"A billion streams is pretty amazing and shows just how engaged our customers are with their Roku players," said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc. "If you think about it, our active user base now matches that of a top 10 US cable company. Our core values of simplicity, great content and affordability clearly resonate with mainstream customers."

Starting at $59.99, Roku players now feature over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Video On Demand and Hulu Plus; live and on demand sports and highlights from MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter Live and NBA GameTime; music from Pandora, MP3tunes, MOG, and TuneIn Radio; photo and video sharing from Flickr and Facebook; plus news and entertainment from thousands of sources around the world. The Roku platform has become the platform of choice for top content partners looking to reach TV viewers via instant and live streaming.

Asus Finally Announces A Family Of Upcoming Tablets and Slates

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 02:22 PM PST

We knew they were coming and Asus was the one that told us (twice): Tablet, lots of tablets. Asus just pulled back the sheet on several new slate devices.

The first device out the door is a the 7-inch EEE Pad MeMo. Android powers the devices and with a Qualcomm Snapdragon is at the core that can even playback 1080p content. Asus is using a 7-inch IPS screen up front and is stylus compatible.


CES 2011: Let The Madness Begin

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:29 PM PST

Here we are again: CES. We’re all here in Vegas ready to bring everything the massive trade show offers to your interwebs. There’s going to be livestreams, hands-ons, liveblogs, all with a fair amount of debauchery. CES.CrunchGear.com should serve up all your CES needs with the UStream window embedded up top and the latest news directly underneath.

The Ustreaming festivities kick off tonight with an event called CES Unveiled, which is sort of like a mini-CES with the best from the show jammed into one room with each vendor only having a few folding tables to display their wares instead of massive booths. Tomorrow is filled with press conferences and general chaos followed by the actual show starting Thursday morning.

It’s a fast week filled with more content consumption than most can handle. We can’t. But we’ll do our best. Check the CES site often as the news flys fast and furious and the Ustream will be constant once the show is officially underway.

Is Star Wars Finally Headed To Blu-ray This Year?

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:15 PM PST

This could be among the biggest announcements to be had at CES this week. It would appear that Star Wars will be coming to Blu-ray in some capacity. That's what this invite we just received certainly hints at.


Avatar Kinect Promises Second-Life-Like Thrills Through Your XBox

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:13 PM PST

Someone sneaked past security and took a picture of something called Avatar Kinect, a system for XBox Live avatar interaction in a separate “chat room” where players talk to each other outside of the games. Considering the 3D scanning capabilities of the Kinect, it’s a pretty cool idea.

Read more…


Here Comes Some Samsung USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drives

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:35 PM PST

Ooooo, new hard drives from Samsung. Here's three that are debuting this week at CES, all of them of the portable variety, and all of them also of the USB 3.0 variety. That means they're fast.


HP Sends Out Invites For A WebOS Announcement (But Not During CES)

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:10 PM PST

This one just hit our inbox. Looks like HP’s got an announcement brewin’ up for February 9th. It’s not the surprise mid-CES announcement that some (not us) were predicting — but given how noisy CES is looking to be, that’s almost certainly for the better. We will, of course, be there.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Onkyo Looks To The ’80s For The Future

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:03 PM PST

Part of Onkyo’s CES offering are throwbacks. They borrow styling from a time when Reagan was staring down Gorbachev. A time when cartoons were good and news nightly. A time when hair was long and stereo was in. Clearly Onkyo wanted to dial up some ’80s love for their latest release. And it’s awesome.

Read More

Nintendo DS Is Now The Best Selling Console Of All Time

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:00 PM PST

Nintendo has let the world know that the DS is the single best selling video game console of all time in the U.S. Of all time~! It makes you wonder whether or not Nintendo really ought to be concerned at all with the likes of mobile phone-based gaming. After all, isn’t Angry Birds, the single most important video game of all time, now available on non-mobile phone platforms?

Nintendo has sold 47 million DS systems so far. That takes into account all the types of DSs out there: plain ol’ DS, DS Lite, DSi, and the DSi XL. I’m not sure if the 3DS will be considered part of the "DS family." Clearly it will be big.

In other Nintendo sales news, they also managed to sale 34 millions Wiis to date, having added an additional seven million last year.

Happy days at Nintendo.

Peep Wireless Promises To Create P2P Calling

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:55 AM PST

Here we go: the first outrageous claim of CES, right on time. Peep Wireless is attempting to create ad hoc P2P networks between mobile devices by turning them into “client/server viral transmitter/receivers.” What does that mean? It basically piggy backs on the phone’s wireless connection to connect one phone to the next and then route calls that way. Obviously we’re dealing with a few fatal flaws. First, if there’s only one Peep device in the area, you’re SOL. Second, carriers…
Read More

Fujifilm’s FinePix Cameras Pop Up Before CES Even Starts

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:45 AM PST

CES hasn't even officially started yet, but plenty of news is already leaking out. My bit right here: Fujifilm's top two cameras of the show, the FinePix HS20EXR and the FinePix F500EXR. There's not much out there but raw stats, but what are you going to do?


California Can Now Search Arrestee’s Mobile Phones Without A Warrant

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:30 AM PST

Flickr’d

Good news: the state of California can now seize and search your cellphone without a warrant. The new regime will only affect people who have already been arrested, so it’s not as if police officers will be able to search your cellphone at routine traffic stops. But still: yeah, it’s sorta lame. In 2011, even more of your rights will be chipped away.

The California court that ruled in favor of this new way of being referred to an earlier U.S. Supreme Court ruling that basically says anytime you’ve been arrested you automatically forfeit any right to privacy to "anything of importance they find on the arrestee’s body."

Clearly the California court has deemed that cellphones and the like are "of importance,' so they’re now subject to police seizure, presumably as they’re looking to find evidence of a crime. Back in the day, you would have expected to be served with a warrant to allow police to look for evidence, but not more.

Spy Report: A man has just accused of being "an Apple convention" at CES because John, Matt, and I are sitting on a bench writing with MacBooks. It’s slightly embarrassing. I’m not an Apple fanboy, sir, it just so happens that I bought a MacBook three years ago.

AT&T Adds 9″ Pandigital Multimedia Novel To Its Lineup

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:17 AM PST

We may as well be up front about Pandigital: we weren’t impressed by the original Novel e-reader. But maybe they’ve learned from their mistakes and have produced something a little more worthwhile. At any rate, AT&T seems to think it’s worth your time, since they’re adding the new Multimedia Novel to their selection.

Continue reading…

Smartfish Ergonomic Keyboard Splits Time Between Both Wrists

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:11 AM PST

Ergonomic keyboards are hard to love at first blush but this one looks like it will stand a chance. Smartfish is well known for their ergonomic devices so we're totally down with this new $149 keyboard. It's acceptably handsome, looks like it won't hurt to use, and it's not amazingly expensive. We'll try to grab a hands on later this week.


Video: Japanese TV Covers Super-Low Elevator Button

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 09:02 AM PST


It’s no secret that service plays a very important role in Japan, and a local TV station recently covered a pretty unusual elevator located in Fukui City in Western Japan. The reason: the elevator’s button, which is placed very close above the ground.

The button is supposed to help people carrying bags to hit it with their feet – service taken to the extreme.

Here’s the clip from the TV show:

elevator button
Hochgeladen von vietjapans. –

Via Japan Probe

Forrester Forecasts One Third Of U.S. Online Consumers Will Own A Tablet By 2015

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 08:39 AM PST

Last year, Apple created a new category of computing with the iPad. Now, every other PC manufacturer is rushing to revamp or bring out their own tablet computers. New tablets are expected to dominate at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Forrester Research put out a new forecast this morning for the growth of tablet computers. It expects the number of tablets sold in the U.S. to go from 10.3 million last year to 24.1 million in 2011, and growing to 44 million in annual units sold by 2015.


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