CrunchGear

CrunchGear

Link to CrunchGear

Thanko Sells USB-Powered Cat-Face Allergy Mask

Posted: 04 Feb 2011 02:27 AM PST

We haven’t covered anything coming from Tokyo-based crazy accessory maker Thanko in a while. But yesterday, the company started selling its newest super-silly USB gadget: an allergy mask [JP] that not only will make the wearer look like a “cat” (well, kind of) but also comes with a built-in mini fan (see picture below).

The fan is supposed to make you breathe easier (?) and is powered by USB (I guess you need to figure out a way to hide the USB cable and stay connected to a computer when using the thing).

Thanko sells the mask in their Japanese online store (price: $25). Ask Thanko partner Geek Stuff 4 U if you really need to get one shipped outside Japan.

“K-r BONNIE PINK MODEL”: Yet Another Pentax DSLR Special Edition

Posted: 04 Feb 2011 01:05 AM PST

Pentax seems to have a sweet spot for digital cameras with funky designs, and this time it’s the Pentax K-r that will receive a limited edition treatment. Pentax today announced [JP] the so-called K-r BONNIE PINK MODEL”, a redesigned version of the camera, which was released last year.

Bonnie Pink is the name of a fairly famous Japanese pop star.

Technically, Pentax didn’t change anything, apart from adding a boot screen that shows the singer’s logo. Buyers will get a DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL BONNIE PINK MODEL lens that’s bundled with the camera.

The camera will be limited to just 100 units (price: $1,100). Pentax will start selling it next month: ask specialized online store Rinkya if you want to lay your hands on one but don’t live in Japan.

Daily Crunch: Mega Launch Edition

Posted: 04 Feb 2011 12:00 AM PST

Nintendo’s 3DS Industrial Design Subtleties, Explained

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:29 PM PST


When I first saw the 3DS six months ago, and even later when I saw the official pictures, I pretty much just thought of the 3DS as a slightly chunkier DS. But of course the people in charge of designing it know better than that, and when you’re making a device that will be held for hundreds of hours by tens of millions of people… every little thing counts.

Nintendo’s president, Satoru Iwata, whom I see oftener than I see some members of my family these days, interviewed the design team for the 3DS, talking about what the hard decisions were, what came down from above, what their ideas were, and so on.

It’s actually quite interesting — I like these little peeks behind the veil, like when you get to see the original sketches of the Pac-Man maze and stuff like that. They don’t shy at details, and it’s nice to hear how hands-on Iwata himself was in the process as well:

Iwata:The reverse taper was designed so the system would be easy to open, but if something hit it, all the force would hit one place, so it had a drawback when it came to durability against impact from dropping.

Akai:Right.

Ehara:I thought the shape might have to change.

Iwata:You talked about that during the second presentation.

Ehara:Yes.

Akai:But we didn't want to change the design, so we searched for a stronger synthetic resin.

Iwata:You instinctively knew that you couldn't produce that design unless you found a stronger material.

Akai:Yes. Looking for a new material was the first thing I did after moving to the Research & Engineering Department.
Iwata:And what did you come up with?

Akai:A material Nintendo has never used before. A type of high rigidity nylon with glass fiber in it. It's stronger than other more common resins, but less suited to mass production.

Iwata:It does sound like it would be difficult to shape.

Akai:It is. You fill the metal mold7 with the resin to shape it, but it's tough because of the glass fiber in it. As you repeat the process, the mold begins to wear, so we were concerned the lifespan of the mass production equipments would be shortened.

So if you end up buying a 3DS, you can be sure it was designed with love and care, and for keeps.

Read the full interview over at Nintendo.

[via 1up and Siliconera]

Obama’s Plan For 1 Million EVs By 2015 Might Be Impossible

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:38 PM PST

There’s a lot of buzz out there surrounding EVs; why shouldn’t there be? So far, the mass marketed EVs: the Volt and the Leaf, with the Focus Electric and Tesla Model S on the way, are pretty exciting. The offerings seem to be pretty solid, but as of right now, the cars aren’t selling in huge numbers. Adding to the gloomy forecast, a panel of experts thinks EVs are over-hyped and Obama’s plan to sell 1 million EVs by 2015 might be impossible.

While we hope to make it to a million in the next few years, the panel concluded that it may be difficult unless major changes occur. John D. Graham, Dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, said that, “President Obama's dream is appealing and it may be achievable, but there are big barriers to overcome before the mass commercialization of electric vehicles will occur.” So what barriers is he talking about?

Not to be party poopers, the panel suggests that the government needs to fund the roll out more aggressively and spend more on research. It’s quite an infrastructure change and there needs to be an “unusual degree of cooperation between industry and government, and a clear focus on the needs and concerns of consumers,” said Gurminder Bedi, a Ford executive involved with the panel. The panel does say that one of the greatest challenges for consumers is price. Not only are EVs overpriced, but requiring a $2,000 home charger will turn people away.

New EV incentives are being planned that will allow for customers to get an instant $7,500 tax credit at purchase, something they have to claim during tax season now. It’s a difficult balance. Lobby for government incentives too hard and the people will get mad at the whole EV program. Don’t push hard enough and companies risk missing out on a business opportunity.

Personally, my thoughts are this: it’s only 2011, a lot can happen in the next 4 years. What’s the motive behind this panel? Let’s not pack up and go home yet. The Focus Electric and the Model S aren’t even out yet. What do you think? You can read the entire study here.

[via DailyTech]

8-Bit Mega Man Straps Serve No Purpose; Buy Them Anyway

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:00 PM PST


What would you do with these little straps? Attach them to your cell phone? Hang them from nails on your Mega Man shrine? Keep them in a secret drawer or maybe under your pillow? Use your imagination. You can’t buy just one, though: ~$44 gets you eight, and there are apparently nine in the set. And you might get duplicates? What the hell?

I don’t know. All I know is it’s Mega Man related, so up it goes on CrunchGear.

[via GameSwag, Rockman Corner, and GoNintendo]

eStar From Navistar Is Another Electric Delivery Van

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 04:33 PM PST

There’s another electric van on the market, though a much bigger one. It’s called the eStar EV and it’s made by Navistar, the same company that makes those huge International trucks. The van hits that industry standard 100 mile range, but it can do it while carrying 4,000 lbs.

The thing about commercial vans is that they’re big; so housing large battery packs isn’t really an issue. The eStar has been designed from the ground up to be an electric vehicle, giving it an advantage over gasoline converts. Don’t expect to take this on the highway though, it can only go 50 mph, so you may end up seeing these 102 hp green machines only in cities. The 80 kWh lithium ion battery charges in 8 hours over 220v. Pretty neat stuff considering the designer clearly spent too much time watching Blade Runner.

Verizon iPhone 4 Pre-Orders Begin Shipping Already

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:08 PM PST

Did you order up a Verizon iPhone when the pre-order system went live this morning? Might want to check your inbox. In what is quite possibly the quickest turnover in the history of major launches, it looks like these things are already floating around on transport trucks around the country.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch, because we’re the only place on the entire Internet talking about the Verizon iPhone. >>

Motorola Cancels Android 2.1 Updates For The CLIQ XT, Will Stay At Android 1.5

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:06 PM PST

Hey, T-Mobile CLIQ XT owners — you might want to take a seat.

You know that Android 2.1 update you were promised a few months back? The one that got delayed a few times? Yeah, about that.

It’s not going to happen.
Read the rest at MobileCrunch, where the only thing we hate more than broken promises is broken hearts. Oh, and sour cream. That stuff is nasty >>

Motorola Atrix Hitting AT&T On March 6th: $500 With The Laptop Dock, $190 Without

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:05 PM PST

Though the gadget-loving world is still debating just how useful the Atrix’s crazy little Laptop Dock accessory really is, this handset pretty much stole the show at CES on its uniqueness alone. A month later, AT&T has revealed all the pricing/ordering details.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch, unless you live in Canada in which case you should probably save your bandwidth for important things like emergencies and what not >>

And You Thought Tape Drives Were Extinct – Fujifilm Packs 5TB Onto New Cartridges

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:30 PM PST

This news isn’t really… applicable to many of our readers, I think, but it’s still cool. The tape drives used as archival backup systems for many companies are the last thing that occurs to people when they think of cutting-edge technology, but the truth is that as long as there is an infrastructure and companies relying on the tech, it’ll keep on being supported. And the latest advance comes from Fujifilm, who in the latest generation of tape cartridges has managed to quintuple capacity.

Yes, the new T10000C drives hold up to 5TB each, owing to a new BaFe (Barium-Iron) coating that they apply “thinly and lubricously.” What that means I will leave to your imagination. They’re being made for Oracle, who uses them in their enterprise server and datacenter systems. Not stuff you see every day, but probably stuff you’re indirectly accessing more than you think.

At any rate, I just wanted to say hell yeah, love the magnetic tape. Keep it up, old-school storage guys.

[via Tech-On and Computing.co.uk]

Formula One Pilots Decry Technology Creep: ‘It’s Just Not Enjoyable’

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:00 PM PST

Red Bull Racing's "number two driver," Mark Webber, seen here with a cat, has just about had enough of technology ruining all the fun of Formula One racing. Several new systems have been put in place in many of the cars this year, but the systems go overboard with the technology, apparently. Not only that, but the reliance on all this technology may be distracting, as Webber says drivers ought to be 100 percent focused on the road, but now they're practically being asked to jailbreak their car while trying not to veer off into the gravel.

Veteran pilot Rubens Barichello, of Williams, is also at wits' end.

The real negative was that we couldn’t just concentrate on driving. It’s just not enjoyable – pressing buttons, changing gear, pressing and holding.

One more driver hates it, and that's Nico Rosberg, of Mercedes.

You push the button and the thing goes down at the back, so you feel the car get lighter and then you release the button again before the braking and you think: ‘Jeez, what if this thing hasn’t actually gone back to its old position?’ Then you’re off in a big way. It takes a bit of trusting.

Sounds like a nightmare, "push the button and this thing goes down at the back."

Maybe Formula One should go back to its routes, as seen here. Scarves and goggles all the way.

Chinese New Year Ushers In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Sale

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 12:30 PM PST

Look at your calendar. That's right, it's Chinese New Year. What does that mean? One, fun photos, and two, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iOS is 50 percent off. The sale lasts until Sunday.

First Commercial For Xperia Play Leaks

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 12:14 PM PST

Just in time for the Super Bowl, the first commercial for the Xperia Play, AKA the Playstation Phone, has leaked (or was unleashed). No dates or pricing; it’s just a teaser. But since they’re starting the push, we can probably expect more specific announcements over the next few weeks, probably at MWC.

And what are these, some totally unconfirmed specs as well? Yay!

Continue reading…

U.S. Military Looking To Bring M4 Carbine, M16 Rile Into The Modern Era

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 12:00 PM PST

Wiki’d

The U.S. military wants to upgrade the rifle that its servicemen use to spread liberty around the world. The current mainstays, the M4 Carbine (pictured here) and the M16 Rifle, introduced to a generation of teenagers thanks to the Call of Duty franchise, are getting a little long in the tooth. The M16 goes back to the 1960s, while the M4 carbine goes back to the swinging 1990s. And while the military has added upgrades to the rifles, the fact is these things aren't gaming PCs: you can only upgrade them so long before they're no longer useful. Lives are literally at stake, you know.

The military has asked various arms manufacturers to come up with a rifle that would better serve the current needs of today's soldiers, namely something that won't jam up or overheat in places like Afghanistan. The fanciest, most advanced weapon in the world is useless if it keeps jamming up on you.

What to expect from the next-generation rifle? The Wall Street Journal says to be on the lookout for "futuristic sights" and the ability to handle better ammunition. (One of the complaints about both the M16 and M4 is that the 5.56mm cartridge isn't quite as effective as the military would like to see. And by "effective" I mean lethal.)

All the more reason to stand in owe (I guess that's the word to use) of the versatility and effectiveness of the AK-47, which is still kicking around out there. In fact, a book, The Gun, came out a few months ago that talks about the gun. I'm only a little bit into it, but what I've read was pretty neat.

Bremont Mustang P-51 Watch

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 11:59 AM PST

The dial of the Mustang P-51 watch feels about as busy as it needs to be to support the themed. It is also a highly useful dial with some neat features. Powering the watch is a modified Bremont "BE-54AE" automatic movement. This is essentially a highly modified Valjoux 7750 with a GMT module. The movement has further been COSC Chronometer certified. Bremont placed a centrally mounted GMT hand, made it a 30 minute chronograph, and added an internal rotating bezel. The internal bezel is nifty using Bremont's Roto-Click system that makes it easy and precise.


Video: Ride Along On China’s 310 mph Maglev Train

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 11:28 AM PST


The Transrapid in Shanghai Looks like a heavenly chariot to me. No TSA gaterape, you’re not packed in like cattle and there’s something to look at during the entire trip.

Hop The Paywall And Read The Daily For Free

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 11:07 AM PST


News Corp finally released The Daily into the wild world of the iPad yesterday. The app costs $.15 a day, which gets you the newspaper-style news aggregation and internet interactivity. It’s certainly clever, but there’s a way to sidestep the subscription and get just the articles without any of the flashy nonsense for free. Interested? Of course you are. (Just don’t tell Peter)

Andy Baio created this simple Tumblr linking every article from that day’s edition of The Daily. (Pro tip: subscribe to the RSS feed) This is possible as The Daily allows users to share stories and editorials over social networking sites but prevents non-paying customers from simply browsing TheDaily.com. Of course this sort of link dump kills a lot of the sexy appeal of the iPad news app, but it could also become and invaluable service for bloggers looking to link to a article from the publication.

There’s no telling how long Andy can keep this up partly because of the work involved and News Corp might have words with Tumblr about his linking. Of course there’s Tumblr’s connection issues, too. But chances are copycats will pop-up in the coming days or even hours that preform the same service. Just remember though, every time you sidestep The Daily paywall, you’re taking cash away from CrunchGear alum Peter Ha‘s dirt bike fund.

Sorry, PC Gamers: Battlefield 1943 & Onslaught Have Been Cancelled

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 11:00 AM PST

Still waiting for the PC version of Battlefield 1943? You're going to be waiting quite a bit longer, I'm afraid—which is to say you're going to be waiting forever as the game has been cancelled. Dice says it wants to focus on making Battlefield 3, the next game in the popular series, "the best Battlefield ever," hence the cancellation. No use diverting resources to what amounts to a noisy distraction, right?

In a post on the company's official blog, Dice General Manager "King" Karl Magnus Troedsson (note: I made up the "King" nickname) said that the decision to cancel Battlefield 1943 and Onslaught, an expansion for Battlefield: Bad Company 2, was a "hard" one, but one taken with the best interests of the Battlefield franchise in mind.

Our goal is crystal clear: we're going to build the best Battlefield game ever, and we'll do whatever it takes to make this the biggest launch in DICE's history…. our talented teams will focus on delivering the greatest possible gaming experience in our next behemoth release. We're confident this will lead to an even better experience in Battlefield 3, not only on PC, but on all platforms.

Let's not forget that Dice delivered the generally well-received Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam expansion pack a few months ago.

Battlefield 3 doesn't have a release date, but I'd be shocked if it's not released later this year. Along with Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad, it'll be among the biggest PC releases of the year. Word.

A New Xbox/Mad Catz Branded Wireless Headset On The Way?

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 10:51 AM PST

If you’ve ever wanted a different Xbox wireless headset other than the offering from Microsoft, you’ve been out of luck. You see, Microsoft uses proprietary wireless to connect to their headsets, which means no one else is getting a piece of that pie. While that’s nice and all for Microsoft, it hasn’t really offered much for people wanting something more. That notion isn’t likely to change either, but they are working to get a new headset out there with Mad Catz.

Under the Tritton name, the Mad Catz wired headset line, Microsoft and Mad Catz will offer a co-branded wireless headset line. The plans include both wireless stereo and Dolby 5.1 headphones. No pricing or release date are known at this time, but Mad Catz expects the headsets to be available in time for the 2011 holiday season.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)