CrunchGear |  |
- Beer Hour: Takara Tomy’s Server For Canned Beer Up And Close (Video)
- i.μ’s: Hitachi Announces Two New Portable Audio Players
- CrunchGear Week in Review: Vehicle Stack Edition
- Canon Launches New Powershots, We Write Post About Them
- Canon Increments DSLR Line With New T3i And T3
- Rumor: iPad 2 To Be Announced Later This Month, Released In March
- Sony To Go After More PS3 Hackers, Including Linux Hacker Graf_Chokolo
- How Does UFC’s New & Improved Internet Pay-Per-View Stream Compare To The ‘Real’ Thing?
| Beer Hour: Takara Tomy’s Server For Canned Beer Up And Close (Video) Posted: 07 Feb 2011 03:21 AM PST
To recap, the device is essentially a holder that’s suitable for beer cans holding 350ml and 500ml. In the video embedded below, a representative from maker Takara Tomy explains that the Beer Hour stirs the beer to form bubbles (instead of using carbon dioxide) before the user pours it into a glass. Here’s the clip: Takara Tomy will start selling the Beer Hour (in yellow and black) on May 19 for $25. If you want to get the Japan-only gadget, ask specialized online store Rinkya to ship one to you.
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| i.μ’s: Hitachi Announces Two New Portable Audio Players Posted: 07 Feb 2011 02:30 AM PST
Hitachi Japan today announced [JP] two new models that will be added to their so-called “i.μ’s” line of portable audio players. Both devices offer 4GB of internal memory, play MP3 and WMA files, and are available in various “pop” colors. The i.μ’s HMP-S104, the more basic of the two devices, comes with a small screen (128×64 dots) and a USB port. It will be available in the colors you see on the pictures below (price: $49).
The i.μ’s HMP-V204 (pictured on top of this post) also features a USB port, but it offers a 2-inch color screen (176×220), displays JPEG and BMP files, and also has an FM radio built in (price: $61). Hitachi plans to start selling the players in Japan only on February 14. Ask specialized online store Geek Stuff 4 U if you really need a portable audio player from Japan.
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| CrunchGear Week in Review: Vehicle Stack Edition Posted: 07 Feb 2011 12:00 AM PST
Here are some stories from the past week on CrunchGear: "Inner City Bike" Is A Minimalist's Fixed-Gear
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| Canon Launches New Powershots, We Write Post About Them Posted: 06 Feb 2011 11:17 PM PST
Let us proceed, from most to least expensive, as usual when Canon sacks my Sunday evening. All these cameras shoot 1080p, but as with any other compact camera, it’s going to be pretty bad. Who are you kidding, you’re going to burn it on a DVD for aunt Sally or put it on Youtube for uncle Wayne anyway. As far as 1080p goes, anyway, compact cameras are the bottom of the barrel. Forget I even mentioned it. The ELPH 500/300/100 HS (in descending order)
These things are similar to one another — but how? Well, let’s just say that they are different in this way: The 500 ($300) has a f/2.0 lens with a 4.4x zoom and a 3.2″ touchscreen LCD. It’s the nice one, hence the higher number. The 300 ($250) has a 2.7″ screen and a F/2.7/5x zoom (not that different, but not as good a lens), and the 100 ($200) has a paltry F/2.8/4x zoom and a 3″ screen. Wait, the screen is bigger? Okay, sure, but the lens isn’t quite as wide-angle. Of this group, honestly, I’d go with the cheapest. F/2.8 is perfectly fine for a point and shoot, the screen is fine, and you’re really not gaining much by upgrading. These aren’t the budget models, they’ve got mostly the same guts, and they’re all 12.1 megapixels, likely the exact same sensor. Save a hundred bucks and buy a case and a little tripod so you don’t have to use the flash. The ELPH SX230
This thing is the GPS-enabled one. And it’s got an utterly insane (for a point-and-shoot) zoom factor of 14x, plus a nice big 3.0″ LCD. The 12.1 megapixels suggest it’s the same sensor as the previous group, and at $350 it’s far more expensive, so unless you’re really dying for geotagging, I’d still go with the 100 up there. I hope this has been educational. Pictures are via DP Review, since them and Canon are like this: I don’t blame you, PR guys. It’s cool. I know how it is.
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| Canon Increments DSLR Line With New T3i And T3 Posted: 06 Feb 2011 10:45 PM PST
The T3i and T3 also have aliases, as per the Canon usual: 600D and 1100D respectively. And as usual, you’d expect the big number to be the superior item, but as usual, no. Details! Inside! Also, the press release is one space away from “empowering them asses.” It’s the same thing when you think about it.  The 18-megapixel T3i/600D is the next version in the “enthusiast” line of DSLRs, above the budget level but below the more robust and weighty 60D and 7D. The primary enhancement seems to be the addition of a swivel LCD. It’s the same screen as last year’s T2i, which is to say 720×480 and great, but now it can be pulled out and twisted and such, not unlike the 60D. The auto mode now also adjusts “picture style,” which isn’t much of an improvement, since the auto mode already adjusted “exposure, focus, white balance, and Auto Lighting Optimizer,” leaving little to the “style” setting.
Crop lines for square, 16:9, and 4:3 aspect ratios can now also be viewed while shooting video, which is nice, but other than that it doesn’t appear that the video function has sustained any improvements. That’s not a bad thing, since in my opinion the T2i was already the leader in the enthusiast zone, but you’d think in a year they might add a few frames to the FPS. It continues to take 1080p at 24/25/30fps. There’s now a feature called “Movie Digital Zoom,” a tarted-up digital zoom that claims an”extra boost without a loss in video quality,” a claim I don’t believe for a single second. The T3i will be available at the beginning of March for $799.99. If you don’t need the twisty screen, the T2i will be available for considerably less at the same time, with almost exactly the same capabilities.  The T3/1100D is the budget DSLR, but don’t make that into a bad thing. Its 12-megapixel sensor will do 720p video at 30 or 25fps. Great, but its LCD is only 320×240 and not swivel-able, so you lose quite a bit there. Historically the 1xxxxD models have performed somewhat worse than the x00D/x50D models, but not to the point where it’s a problem. And hey, it’s $599.99, two hundred bucks less, so if you’re looking for a basic DSLR that’ll also do some solid video, this isn’t a bad deal. Personally I’d say you should spring for a T2i, but that’s just my opinion. The new kit lens now includes new IS algorithms, but I’d still spend the extra $100-$150 to get a really basic prime or wide-angle-zoom. Get the body-only, don’t bother with the kit, and buy a lens with the money you save. Pictures courtesy of DP Review… since who sends pictures of a new product out with the press release? What, you want the press release? Oh all right, enjoy: CANON EMPOWERS THE MASSES TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO WITH THE NEW EOS REBEL T3i AND EOS REBEL T3 DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS Two New Speedlites and a New EF-S Lens Round Out the Photographic Journey LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 7, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the EOS Rebel T3i and EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR Cameras, providing numerous intelligent high-end features at attractive price points. Complementing the award-winning EOS Rebel T2i DSLR, the EOS Rebel T3i, Canon's new flagship Rebel, offers fun and easy-to-use features for beginning photographers, and the EOS Rebel T3 provides a more attractively priced option for those looking to experience the pleasure of shooting with a DSLR camera. For the young enthusiast learning photography or the adult looking to learn more, Canon's new Feature Guide instruction will walk Rebel T3i users through functions and provide recommendations for various settings, a great hands-on learning tool. Point-and-Shoot users looking to step-up to a DSLR will enjoy the T3i camera's Scene Intelligent Auto mode, the most intuitive automatic camera mode available in a Canon Rebel camera to date, providing complete scene analysis and optimized settings. One of the most sought-after and requested features for a DSLR camera is now part of the new EOS Rebel T3i, Canon's three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, ideal for properly composing those difficult overhead shots. Comfortable, lightweight and affordable, Canon's new EOS Rebel T3 is a great camera to welcome users to the world of DSLR photography. "Everyone today is a photographer, and for those looking to capture stunning images and do more with photography, Canon has introduced the EOS Rebel T3i and T3, offering the right balance of high-end features and easy-to-use guidance at a great price. So regardless of experience level or budget, there is a Canon Rebel camera suited to a user's needs and lifestyle," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. Boasting Canon's EOS HD video capture, 18-megapixel resolution, a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, new Scene Intelligent Auto, new Video Snapshot technology and new Feature Guide instruction, the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR has plenty of reasons for Mom and Dad to step up to a DSLR. Canon's new EOS Rebel T3 DSLR camera offers users a small, lightweight interchangeable lens camera with fun options. The Rebel T3 features HD movie capture, 12-megapixel resolution and Canon's new informative Feature Guide, to help educate and instruct users as they capture great images, along with the inherent speed and low-light image quality of a Canon DSLR camera. Both new Rebel models are compatible with Canon's complete line of more than 60 Canon EF and EF-S lenses. New EOS Feature Guide Canon has also included a new EOS Feature Guide on both new Rebel cameras with an enhanced Quick Settings Screen that now includes detailed descriptions of camera settings. The EOS Feature Guide is designed to help first-time users and beginning enthusiasts better understand each camera setting with descriptions and guided recommendations for when to utilize certain settings. Along with an explanation of camera settings and modes, the Feature Guide includes easy-to-understand directions of how to use particular settings such as aperture adjustment in Canon's Creative Auto mode: Basic + Function Canon helps beginners get more creative with photography by letting even the most entry-level novice make camera adjustments with easy to understand setting options. In automatic shooting modes such as Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Action and Night Scene, Canon users can access a quick menu screen to make adjustments as per the scene's ambience. When shooting in one of Canon's "Basic Zones" users can make adjustments as per the scene's lighting or scene type. An easy-to-read menu lets you select an ambience setting from Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, Cool, Brighter, Darker to Monochrome, while a Lighting setting allows users to select from Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light or Sunset. Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera An A+ for Automatic Mode Canon aims to make everyone a better photographer and has enhanced the capabilities of the Rebel T3i's automatic mode with new Scene Intelligent Auto technology, re-branding the green mode dial setting with a boxed "A+" design. This new camera setting now takes Picture Style into account as part of the camera's "Auto" setting. By analyzing faces, colors, brightness, movement, and contrast, the camera will dynamically adjust picture-style parameters to match the subject and control vividness. Previously, the automatic setting on a Rebel DSLR adjusted exposure, focus, white balance, and Auto Lighting Optimizer, however on the new Rebel T3i, Picture Style Auto is also taken into account as part of the new Scene Intelligent Auto technology. By incorporating this fifth parameter the camera more intelligently analyzes scenes and adjusts settings based on the subject matter being shot. So when the camera is photographing a face it will reproduce more natural skin tones or blue skies for more vivid landscapes, a flashy red car for more saturated color and evening sunsets for more expressive images. Fun Rebel Features For the first time in a Rebel DSLR, the new Rebel T3i features a large Vari-Angle three-inch Clear View LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings for bright clear viewing from any angle. The large Vari-Angle screen helps compose low-angle or overhead shots whether capturing still images or Full HD video clips. Photographers will enjoy the convenience of capturing an overhead shot of a parade or low-angle shots of their children on the Vari-Angle screen. Canon's new EOS Rebel T3i DSLR gives creative photographers some fun in-camera tools that enable users to apply Creative Filters to images after they have been shot without altering the original file. Canon's new Creative Image Filters, familiar to Canon PowerShot and EOS 60D users, help make a great image more dynamic by creating an altered copy of the image through any of Canon's four artistic filter options: * The Soft Focus effect filter helps dramatize an image and smooth over shiny reflections. Each of these filters can be applied to a captured still image in-camera to create a second "filtered" JPEG version, leaving the original JPEG file unaffected. Another addition to the camera's Live View function is Canon's new Aspect Ratio feature whereby the Live View screen can display cropping lines for 1:1, 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios in addition to the standard 3:2 ratio. These cropping lines make it easier to compose images in Live View, and they can help to expedite printing when using Canon's supplied Digital Photo Professional software. Custom aspect ratios are also applied to JPEG images captured directly in-camera. EOS HD Video Specs The EOS Rebel T3i with Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution in selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p will grab the attention of film students and independent filmmakers alike. The Rebel T3i incorporates two Canon proprietary technologies for rendering amazing HD video, a DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor and a large APS-C–sized CMOS sensor capturing fine detail and color with an amazing cinematic depth of field. The Rebel T3i DSLR allows for three video recording modes – Full HD and HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio, all at selectable frame rates. EOS HD Video: Ready For A Close-Up When shooting Full HD video, the Rebel T3i digitally provides additional zoom power without sacrificing quality. The new Movie Digital Zoom feature, a first for Canon DSLRs, allows users to achieve 3x to 10x magnification while shooting Full HD video. Unlike standard digital zoom for still images, Movie Digital Zoom crops the video image directly from the CMOS sensor at Full HD resolution to preserve video quality and still provide amazing additional telephoto power beyond just the lens. The Movie Digital Zoom feature is great for those times when the lens isn't enough to get you in close, but this feature provides the extra boost without a loss in video quality so a child's smile on stage is just as clear and bright. EOS Video Snapshot Canon's new EOS Video Snapshot feature borrows some innovation from Canon's VIXIA line of camcorders for capturing, assembling and playing fun-to-watch video clips. EOS Video Snapshot enables users to capture the video highlights of family vacations, parties or milestone events, with the same ease as taking photos. Consumers can now record a series of two-, four- or eight-second video clips automatically. The scenes are assembled by the camera into continuous Video Snapshot Album files for easy playback and can even be further edited in camera or through Canon's Video Snapshot Task software on a compatible personal computer for added flexibility and fun. Valuable Additional Features Along with the adjustable LCD screen, the new EOS Rebel T3i DSLR features a class-leading 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, a proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, a 9-point Autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. Capable of capturing kids at play or wildlife on the move, the Rebel T3i can shoot up to 34 consecutive full resolution JPEG still images or up to 11 consecutive RAW images at speeds up to 3.7-frames-per-second to either SD, SDHC or new extended capacity SDXC memory cards. The Rebel T3i includes an ISO range from 100-6400, allowing it to capture beautiful images without the need for a flash during milestone events such as birthday celebrations, yet it still includes a built-in pop-up flash for those times requiring a little extra light. For the first time on a Rebel camera, the T3i features a built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter making it even easier to do multi-flash shoots and provide images with greater ambience. The new Integrated Speedlite settings are now even easier for beginners shooting with multiple flashes. Pricing and Availability The Canon EOS T3i Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in the beginning of March, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $799.99. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon's new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99. It will also be available in a second kit version with Canon's EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1099.00. Rebel T3 Digital SLR Camera Canon is happy to introduce a chic camera for beginners to ease into the exciting world of DSLR photography and videography; the new EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR camera. The Rebel T3 is designed to be the camera that can be expertly handled by anyone and allows great-looking photos to be taken with ease and style. The Rebel T3 is excellent in low-light shooting situations and simple to handle and operate. Putting big imaging power in a small body, the new EOS Rebel T3 DSLR features a 12.2-megapixel Canon CMOS image sensor, a proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, a 9-point Autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. With individual pixels measuring roughly 10x larger than a pixel from a point-and-shoot camera sensor, the Rebel T3 is able to absorb more light with less noise, making it ideal for capturing high-quality images in dimly lit situations. The increased efficiencies in gathering light also make the camera better suited to freeze fast-moving objects such as capturing images of children at play at speeds up to 3-frames per second. Compatible with SD, SDHC or new extended capacity SDXC memory cards, the Rebel T3 also shoots 1280×720 HD movies for amazing image quality for both stills and video. The Canon Rebel T3 features an ISO range from 100-6400 for capturing beautiful images in various light settings while also including a built-in pop-up flash. Designed for easy operation through the camera's mode dial, users can go from taking great still images to great video quickly and easily, with simple to understand icons and buttons. Pricing and Availability The Canon EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers at the end of March, and will be offered in a kit with Canon's new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $599.99. New Kit Lenses Along with these DSLR cameras, Canon is also introducing a new kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens, the standard kit lens for both the Rebel T3i kit configuration and the Rebel T3 kit configuration. The new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility with the advantage of Canon's optical lens-shift image stabilization system that yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction. The version II of this lens includes new IS algorithms to distinguish between normal photographing and when the camera is panning to automatically provide the optimal level of image-shake correction. New Canon Speedlite 320EX and Canon Speedlite 270EX II The new Canon Speedlite 320EX is designed to provide DSLR users with a lightweight and versatile external flash solution. Along with the new Speedlite 320EX regular flash functions, it includes a built-in LED continuous light option that is capable of providing full-time illumination for short distances when shooting video on a DSLR or PowerShot digital camera. Ideally paired with the new EOS Rebel T3i, the new Speedlite 320EX enables bounce flash shooting with six positions including ceiling bounce for vertical shooting, and rear-wall bounce. The Speedlite 320EX also includes a new remote firing function and can remote fire any EOS DSLR camera that has a built-in wireless remote control function or Integrated Speedlite Transmitter such as the new Rebel T3i, EOS 60D, or EOS 7D DSLRs. The new Speedlite 320EX provides photographers with all the great lighting options Speedlites are known for with the added capability to shoot HD video with a full-time LED light option. The new Canon Speedlite 270EX II, the successor to the popular 270EX Speedlite model, is a compact, lightweight external flash option for Canon cameras including select Canon PowerShot models. Ideal for use with the new EOS Rebel T3, the new Speedlite 270EX II uses only two AA batteries and enables bounce flash shooting with four position steps from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Like Canon's high-end Speedlite flash models, the 270EX II allows users to control flash functions and input settings using the camera's LCD monitor. The flash also features a quick-lock mechanism and a metal mounting foot for secure and easy attachment and reliable contact. In addition to the features of 270EX model, the Speedlite 270EX II adds a remote firing function similar to that of the Speedlite 320EX. Both new Speedlites can also be used as slave flash units in E-TTL wireless autoflash configurations with other E-TTL compatible EOS and PowerShot cameras. Canon's Speedlite 270EX II is the new compact and versatile lighting tool for photographers empowering them with multiple light options, compact-size and portability. Pricing and Availability The Canon Speedlite 320EX is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in April for an estimated retail price of $249.99. The Canon Speedlite 270EX II is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in the beginning of April for an estimated retail price of $169.99. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with 2009 global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World's Most Admired Companies 2010 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of “100 Best Global Brands.” Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei.To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.
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| Rumor: iPad 2 To Be Announced Later This Month, Released In March Posted: 06 Feb 2011 04:36 PM PST
Later this month, we may get to see what Apple has planned for the next iteration of wildly successful iPad. There have been many rumors about what features iPad 2 will have, but none have been specific enough to offer a date. All we really know is that it has almost been a year since the iPad was released and the next one is coming pretty much any time now. Japanese blog, Macotakara, says that Apple is waiting for the Chinese New Year to conclude (Feb 17) before announcing the next-gen iPad. They also say that Apple plans to start shipping shortly after in March. Regardless of the rumors validity, iPad 2 is on its way soon. [via Macrumors]
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| Sony To Go After More PS3 Hackers, Including Linux Hacker Graf_Chokolo Posted: 06 Feb 2011 04:15 PM PST
Sony is apparently going after more hackers than just George Hotz and fail0verflow. Sony is looking to get DMCA suits against all PS3 jailbreakers who share Sony’s source code on Github. Well-known PS3 hackers Waninkoko, KaKaRoTo, Hermes, Kmeaw and Graf_Chokolo have been named in documents to Github requesting all docs and posts from the users, as well as all contact information.
This comes just a few days after Graf_Chokolo claimed to have a fully stable version of Linux running on the PS3 with all of the GameOS features. Graf_Chokolo posted a comment on XorHack saying:
He also shared photos of his hacks. We’re unsure if all his [via dukio]
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| How Does UFC’s New & Improved Internet Pay-Per-View Stream Compare To The ‘Real’ Thing? Posted: 06 Feb 2011 11:20 AM PST
NeuLion announced a deal a few days ago to bring "a brand new service for UFC offering the most interactive, far-reaching digital experience yet." Last night's UFC 126 was the first pay-per-view event to receive the NeuLion treatment, so I decided to check it out to see what all the fuss was about. Fair warning: There will be spoliers. First, who's NeuLion? The company describes itself as "a leading IPTV company providing a comprehensive suite of technology and services to content owners and aggregators." Its partners include MLS, the NHL, the NBA, Bellator Fighting Championships, and now UFC, which is by far the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. Non-sport clients include Dish Network and several international organizations I'm not too familiar with, including Latin America's JumpTV and Scandinavia’s ScandiTV. UFC 126, broadcast live from Las Vegas, featured Anderson Silva front-kicking Vitor Belfort into next Tuesday, fast-rising sensation Jon "Bones" Jones guillotining Ryan Bader, who's an altogether excellent wrestler, and the UFC debut of Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Japan's most famous mixed martial artist—excepting Kazushi Sakuraba, of course. Too bad he lost.
What do you get for your $44.95? (Fun fact: The event was free on ufc.tv in Germany and Austria. Gotta build that audience somehow: UFC was thrown off the air in Germany about a year ago.) Naturally there's a high-quality Flash livestream—there was a noticeable bump in quality once Jones vs. Bader began—but that's always been available on previous official UFC streams; it's nothing to brag about. That the steam jumped around in bitrate was annoying but to be expected. (I should think my Internet connection, with 101 mbps down, can handle a mere Flash stream!) The NeuLion-ness begins with the ability to choose from multiple camera angles: the standard broadcast camera, cameras from each fighter's corner, and an overhead camera. These disparate camera angles can be viewed simultaneously in a "quad view" mode. Similarly, there's a picture-in-picture mode that allows you to hover a secondary camera angle window on top of your primary camera angle window, which remains at full-size. English and Spanish-language audio feeds are available, as well as each fighter's corner's audio feed. If you, like me, studied Portuguese in college for seemingly no reason then you could have listened to Anderson Silva's corner bark orders at him for the duration of the fight. Well, the duration of the round. Good, clean fun, but I think I'm correct in noting that Strikeforce launched a multi camera angle online stream last year, too.
On the right-hand side lies an "enhanced view," which contains a live chatroom where you can talk to other folks about the on-screen action. Fans can also score rounds in this panel. Will you, unlike pretty much every judge out there, be brave enough to give a round a 10-8 score, or perhaps the even rarer 10-10?
A built-in Twitter panel follows the #UFC and #UFC126 hashtags. Now the question on everyone's mind: is this better than a traditional pay-per-view that you'd buy from your cable or satellite TV provider? I'm going to say no, it's not, but it's getting there.
First off, I can't imagine too many people will want to huddle around a laptop to watch a sports event, though I suppose you could connect your computer to your TV and watch it that way. I'd imagine the number of people who know how to day that, much less are willing to do that, is effectively zero. UFC tends to be a communal viewing experience: you invite your friends over, order a couple of pizzas, the whole nine yards. You stand to lose that here. For $10 more I could have ordered the HD version of the event from DirecTV and watched it on my 50-inch TV. That said, I did enjoy the experience. The livestream was of a high enough quality that I didn't feel like I was watching a YouTube video in 2006 (or an illegal stream), and the same can be said of the audio quality: top-notch. It's not Dolby Digital, but what are you gonna do? The multiple camera angles certainly added the the whole experience—I believe "immersion" would be the word to use—but I often found myself sticking with the standard broadcast camera. The chat room was largely No Buys (read: lame), but that's to be expected: people in live sports chatrooms tend to be rather prickly. "So-and-so sucks" and so forth. Stop trying to get yourselves over, sirs. It should also be said that if usage-based billing were to ever make its way to the U.S. this service would wither and die. (And you need more evidence why cable companies would love to charge by the gigabyte? It makes things like Internet pay-per-view streams prohibitively expensive, pushing people back to plain ol’ pay-per-view where they get a nice cut of the action, sharing that revenue with the likes of UFC and WWE.) My biggest concern is price: $45 is simply too much money to ask for a livestream of sometimes dubious quality, particularly when a proper HD pay-per-view from the cable company (in my case, DirecTV) is a mere $10 more. As much as people like to hate on Comcast and Time Warner and the like, the fact is your HD pay-per-view isn't going to "buffer" at inopportune times. Until all of the kinks have been worked out, UFC would do well to experiment with their stream prices. The card last night was one of the deepest in history, so $45 doesn't sting as much as it would have stung for, say, last September's UFC 119. Why not price some of the "B" events at closer to $30 and make them impulse buys? Then again, UFC fans tend to be among the most affluent in all of sports, so maybe Dana White & Co. are right to charge whatever they want. Another annoyance is the fact that you're only given a 24-hour window to watch the event. That's in direct contrast to Dragon Gate USA and Ring of Honor Internet pay-per-vew (iPPV) events found on GoFightLive.tv. There, you buy the event (typically $15) and can watch it on-demand forever, usually beginning the very next day.
If nothing else, UFC should be commend for trying to bring its product into the Internet era. While it's true that the company is suing everyone under the Sun in an effort to eliminate illegal Internet streams—a difficult task at best—at least it's offering viable alternatives to would-be customers. (Kid Yamamoto’s fight aired on the company’s Facebook page for free, as seen in the above grab.) The RIAA used to sue everyone, too, but it never really offered a legal alternative to sate the obvious demand for digital downloads. No, Apple had to drag the music industry kicking and screaming for that to happen.
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Linux is officially back on PS3 3.41. It's even better now 
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