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Sharp Baccarat SH-09C: Japan’s Newest “Luxury” Handset

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 12:40 AM PST

Japan's three big mobile carriers are offering more than 100 handsets per year, and some of them are quite unique. The latest limited edition is the Sharp SH-09C [JP], a handset developed in cooperation with French luxury crystal glass maker Baccarat and distributed by mobile carrier NTT Docomo. Read the rest on MobileCrunch.


Daily Crunch: Trip Screen Edition

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 12:00 AM PST

Ronald Reagan Library Gets Apple iPod Tours

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 09:18 PM PST

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library has recently undergone a $15 million tech renovation. The technology in the library is pretty impressive: 180 video screens, two teleprompters, a green screen and 250 iPod touches have been added to make things interesting.

The iPod touches will be used to guide visitors through the library, with audio narration as people move around. Also, the iPods will allow guests to take video and pictures to remember the experience and share how cultured you are on Facebook and Twitter. How fun!

BBC To Launch On-demand iPlayer App For Android And iPad

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 09:08 PM PST

We first heard about the BBC’s iPlayer a few years ago and for awhile it wasn’t doing too well. Then more and more people started catching on to the whole ‘watch TV on your own time’ thing, and iPlayer got really popular. I blame part of that on great shows like the UK Office and Top Gear UK — too bad the US counterparts aren’t as desirable. To keep momentum moving, the BBC is planning on taking the browser-based iPlayer to mobile devices.

Apple’s iOS will get a Flash-less app and Android’s app will require both Froyo and Flash 10.1 to run. Not only BBC content will be available; media from other companies, in what is called “inter-linking” will also come to the iPlayer. Unfortunately for us, the app doesn’t work outside the UK due to licensing restrictions, so we miss out of all the wacky British humor. But, there may be something special in the works by way of a subscription to the BBC.

Users will be able to browse the last seven days of media over Wifi and 3G, but the streaming will only happen over Wifi.

Bloodhound Rocket Car May Actually Launch Soon

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 06:33 PM PST


We first heard about the Bloodhound rocket-powered “car” back in 2008 — I never really thought it’d see the light of day, but it turns out this thing may actually get built after all. Not that I’m going to get excited about what amounts to a low-altitude jet (cool as it is). As Matt said back in ’08, wake me up when the wheels are moving the car, not vice versa.

Lots more info over at the beeb.

Nikon Makes New Coolpix Line Official

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 05:22 PM PST


Hmm, these look familiar. Oh yes, they were leaked earlier today. Most of the info you want (prices, megapixels, lenses) is there, but there’s a bit of new info here as well.

Most of the new cameras have 640×480 LCDs, which is great; low-resolution LCDs have always bothered me, especially on perfectly good cameras. The L24 and S3100 don’t have ‘em, I’m afraid.

The P300 is revealed to have a back-illuminated sensor, which helps with low light. Combined with the F/1.8 lens, this could be a pretty decent performer in low light.

The “nice” cameras (P500, P300, S9100, S6100) are coming out in March, the rest should be available later this month.

If you want more info, head over to Nikon’s press site. There are one, two, three press releases for you to read! Ah ah ah!

Begun, The EVIL Lens-Mount Wars Have

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 04:31 PM PST


The latest trend in hobbyist-level photography is the EVIL format, basically a mirrorless design that allows for interchangeable lenses. The Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2 are two of the more prominent cameras using the “micro four-thirds” design, but Sony is developing a competitor it calls E-mount, and has just released the spec for it. Will lens makers choose one over the other in a sort of niche market format war?

I’m not sure it’ll have a big effect on consumers one way or the other. Most consumers aren’t going to choose one brand of lens over another, but choose their camera based on its looks and features and get whatever lens seems economical. Sure, it’d be nice to have Zeiss and Sigma options for every mount, but in the end, what matters is whether you can get the shot. That has more to do with the camera and the photographer at this point.

The companies backing E-mount are currently Zeiss (which just announced its M4/3 allegiance yesterday), Tamron, Sigma, and Cosina.

[via PetaPixel]

Fox News Suggests Bulletstorm Is “Worst Video Game In The World”

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 03:40 PM PST


The ever-incisive Fox News has decided today to try to squeeze a little more blood from the “violence in games” stone. The issue is, predictably, the horrifically violent M-rated Bulletstorm and its sexually suggestive achievements (“topless” for cutting a dude in half, for instance). Deftly bypassing the fact that this game was made for adults and is illegal to sell to minors, the article bemoans the dangers of children playing these games and quotes a quack psychologist as saying “the increase in rapes can be attributed in large part to the playing out of [sexual] scenes in video games.” Really.

This article (like most on the topic) isn’t worth comment, but I thought I’d point it out to our readers in case they need that occasional reminder that mainstream media is still pushing this nonsense.

[via 1up]

WSJ Says iPad 2 Will Be Faster, But Have Same Resolution

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 03:09 PM PST

The Wall Street Journal has cited (or made up) “people familiar with the matter” who say that the new iPad is in production (yep), has dual cameras (mm-hm), will have a new processor and more RAM (we hoped so) and a resolution “similar” to the first iPad (we hoped otherwise).

That is all. Return to your daily business!

The Great Valentine’s Day Nook Color Case Gift Guide

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 02:28 PM PST

You know the drill: Valentine’s Day is next week so here’s come Nook Color cases that would make great gifts. Herp derp. We looked at Kindle cases yesterday so it only makes sense to look at the B&N counterpart.

Not surprisingly, there’s a much smaller accessory market for Nook Color cases and that’s reflected in this gift guide. There simply aren’t that many to choose from and Barnes & Noble seem to understand this. The bookseller just put several very nice cases on special for the upcoming holiday. Check ‘em out. The official B&N cases are by far the best quality ones I tested.

B&N Montgomery Cover in Petal

Full-grain leather on the outside and faux suede on the inside. There’s no pockets or card holders or general nonsense; just a quality case for the Nook Color. Little plastic tabs hold the device in place, which results in a clean look. Like other case secured with an elastic band, I’m worried that it will wear out before the rest of the case, but at $35.99 you’re not exactly invested all that much.

B&N Soho Cover in Light Coffee

Think of this case a monstrous trifold wallet. It’s a lot like that with little pockets and sleeves on every flap — good for some but could certainly be unnecessary bulk for others. The case uses the same sort of plastic tabs as the Montgomery Cover above, which seem to suspend the Nook Color in the middle of the case. The leather is soft, the design is clever. I’m a big fan and it’s not a bad price either at $49.99.

JAVOedge Editor Book Case

The Editor Book Case from JAVOedge is about as simple as cases come. The Nook Color slides into a tight sleeve and there’s room on the other flap from various notes. There’s even a little elastic band on the spine that wants nothing more than to hold a pen. The build quality and material aren’t stellar, but it’s only $34.99.

Moleskine e-Reader Cover

We looked at the Moleskine e-Reader Cover for the Kindle 2 yesterday and determined that the Kindle 3 just doesn’t fit right. But the Nook Color fits perfectly. In fact, this case is one of the best made out of the bunch and a fantastic deal at $39.95. It’s a tad bit thicker if a Moleskine Volant Notebook is on the other flap, but the added functionality counters the bulk.

JAVOedge Charcoal Book Case

The Book Case from JAVOedge opens up like a reporter-style notepad. This design along with the little rear-mounted kickstand lets the Nook Color stand up. The interior flap features the same pockets as the other case from JAVOedge, but it doesn’t really make sense as the pockets face down when opened. Strange. $34.99.

M-Edge Executive Jacket

M-Edge’s cases were some of the best in our Kindle case round-up and that continues over to the Nook Color. The Exective Jacket features padded leather on the outside, a leather strap and a microsuede interior. Too bad it’s not available yet.

The Optimism Of The Gadget Maker

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 02:09 PM PST

We are at a strange point in whatever economic upturn we’re experiencing in the world economy. Things aren’t quite “right” yet, many are still out of work, and the general sense is that business spending has flatlined. However, things are looking up. How can you tell? Gadget makers are advertising again.

During the dot-com bust, and more recently during the housing crisis, gadget spending tanked and, as a result, gadgets on the aggregate were boring retreads of the same old stuff – laptops, monitors, tower PCs, and phones. Cast your memory back to 2008 when things were just getting rough. What were the the most popular devices? Netbooks: me-too machines made for the price-conscious consumer. There is nothing aspirational about a $500 6-inch EEE PC.

That’s all changing, however. The sense that gadget makers are looking at better balance sheets came during CES 2011. While the show was a snooze, you had a renewed sense of optimism that radiated from the booths lining the hall. All of them were packed and the events we attended were well-staffed and full of quasi-new merchandise. Things are changing for the better.

I believe, however, that we’re entering a new, optimistic era in gadget manufacturing. The first inkling that things were changing was Apple’s cancellation of the “I’m a Mac” ads. The ads, at their core, were mean-spirited: you use a PC so you are a dork. Microsoft followed quickly with the Laptop Hunter ads, cleaving to the current trend in public discourse of dismissing alternative ideas outright. The general gist was that this stuff wasn’t earth-shattering so the only way to differentiate was on some nebulous concept of quality and a sense of outright divisiveness.

Now, as evidenced by the video above, manufacturers feel we are entering a new era. They see an era of profit based on service sales (witness HTC’s investments in OnLive) and every product they create is life-changing. The Motorola Atrix phone, for example, with its odd laptop dock and powerful processor, is an idea that would have never taken off at a product meeting a few years ago. I’ve also noted that the Parrot AR.Drone was the product of a diseased mind, a device that has no reason to exist in a company once dedicated to Bluetooth headsets.

In short, manufacturers are taking risks. They’re taking a risk on the Xoom tablet by selling it for $800. RIM is taking a risk on the Playbook. Apple is moving aspects of iOS into OSX, changing what could be perceived as an entrenched technology in a drastic way.

This isn’t an entirely new thing, but any company that would equate a new tablet with a break from conformity is clearly marketing to a new audience. The nerds of yesteryear are gone, swallowed up by Firewire cable, and their love of speeds and feeds is diminishing. Today even Elton John is talking about the iPad 2. These are strange times to be a geek, mostly because almost everyone you meet is even geekier than you.

How long will this new optimism last? Well, as long as people are buying – or thinking about buying – manufacturers will provide. Not much has changed in the technology, but the words we’re using to describe it (“revolutionary,” “magical”) are changing and that means manufacturers are finally getting their groove back.

Alcatel-Lucent’s lightRadio Network Could Help Decentralize Mobile Data

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 02:00 PM PST


That headline definitely sounds dry, but hear me out. There’s been a gradual move from tower-based communications to more local stuff on top of buildings and so on, but this latest change might make towers extinct altogether. Alcatel-Lucent has put together a new compact radio stack called lightRadio that is small enough to be mounted on telephone poles, and could connect to the internet directly and provide packet service without ever touching a cell tower or repeater.

Continue reading…

Nikon’s New Coolpix Lineup Leaked

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 12:46 PM PST


It seems that a certain website decided to go live with some new Nikon cameras before the news was fully baked. They’ve since taken the post down, but Nikon Rumors managed to snag most of the content. So what’s Nikon got in store for us this season?

Let’s go in order from most expensive to least expensive. Most of these cameras (not the S3100 or the L24) have 640×480 3″ LCDs.

Update: Official! A little more info at the new post, and I’ve added better pictures.

The P500 ($400) is your DSLR-lookalike megazoom. It has a 36x optical zoom, takes 12.1 megapixel shots, and can do 1080p. It’s got vibration reduction and image stabilization, two different things I guess, both of which you’ll need if you’re planning on taking pictures at 36x zoom.

The P300 ($330) is the luxury point and shoot: F/1.8 4.2x zoom lens, manual settings, 1080p, improved ISO performance (3200), and a nice understated body. I’d buy this one if I had the money. Nice lens. Back-illuminated sensor for better low light.

An alternative to the P300, the S9100 (also $330) is similar but a little more zoomy. It has an 18x zoom, at the cost of maximum aperture.

Another megazoom, the L120 ($280), has a significantly shorter zoom (21x) but takes slightly larger pictures (14.1 megapixels). And its ISO goes to 11. Wait, sorry, misread that. ISO goes to 6400.

The S6100 ($200) is the nicest mid-budget “normal” camera. It’s got 16 megapixels, 7x zoom, a touchscreen display, and… a pet portrait mode. Better not to ask.

The S4100 ($180) is a sort of lower-end version of the S6100. $20 less means less megapixels (14) and less zoom (5x) but the same nice touchscreen on the back.

The S3100 ($140) is like the S4100 but with a smaller (2.7″) non-touchable LCD.

And then there’s the L24.

We’ll update and put up a new post when the official info comes in, which should clear up some of features and of course bring better pictures.

Filmy: Watch AVCHD Video On Your PS3 (For $5)

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 12:30 PM PST

Sony has just rolled out a new application for the PS3 called Filmy that "allows easy organization and viewing of AVCHD video recorded with Sony cameras on [the system]." Well, as long as it’s easy, I suppose.

The application, which will cost $5 for the full version (there’s a 15-minute trial mode to test it out), doesn’t appear to have much to it. You install it, and then it shows up under the Video section of the cross-media bar. You then plug your camera into the PS3 via a USB cable and off you go.

Presumably you’d be able to connect the same camera to your PC then stream it over to your PS3 using something like PS3 Media Server, but that’s not Easy To Use, now is it?

No, not a huge deal, but not everything needs to be.

Keyboard With “Share” Button – Hot Or Not?

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 12:00 PM PST


I can’t tell whether this is a good idea or not. On one hand, it seems perfectly logical: adding a “share” key to normal keyboards that would automatically send whatever page or image you’re on to your sharing service of choice. On the other hand, isn’t it easy enough to do this already?

The key would be context- and application- aware, so on your desktop it might upload images to Flickr, while in your browser it could share the page on Facebook, while in a game it would take a screenshot and tweet it. I’m starting to like this idea more, though of course it would add to the already unbearable noise that is the social web.

Of course, with widgets, web apps, and things like Quicksilver, sharing things is already only a few keystrokes or clicks away. Does that mean this key is unnecessary? Nah, I say go for it. Switch out “scroll lock” or something.

CrunchGear’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: Gifts For Guys

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 11:25 AM PST

Your guy is great, am I right? He’s fun, he makes you laugh, and he can, in a pinch, be counted on to do laundry. He even, occasionally, shaves! Why not reward this positive behavior the way Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, rewards an unruly dog: through forceful direction and, when the time is right, kind words and a treat.

Here are a few great items for your geeky SO this Valentine’s Day and we’ve tried to find items that you can pick up in the next few days. While it’s always nice just to go out for dinner and a movie, why not make this year a bit more special?



Leatherman Wave Multi-Tool – Every man needs a multi-tool. These things have screwdrivers, knives, and pliers stuck in a package about as big as a candy bar and they never, ever break. He’ll have this for years and every time he strips a wire or whittles down a shim, he’ll think of you. (About $80)


Louis CK’s Hilarious – Nicholas turned the entire team onto Louis CK and we all agree that he’s the best living comic out there today. His rant on cellphones and airplanes is hilarious and this movie is wild. Don’t want it on DVD? Grab it from Netflix or download it from iTunes. The best thing? You can watch it together.

WickedLasers Spyder III Pro Arctic Series – This laser goes all the way up. WickedLasers makes some crazy stuff and this amazing laser is no exception. Your lad can pop balloons, paint imaginary bombing targets, and generally freak everyone out during pub quiz. ($299.95)

Keyport Slide – It doesn’t really matter if your man has as one key or six, the Keyport Slide doesn’t care. It holds them all in a state of readiness. The latest version even ships with a flash drive and bottle opener. It’s a tad bit more expensive than a keyring at $79.99, but style doesn’t come free.

Dydo Hot Cake Mix Drink ~ Pancake Essence Beverage – If your SO is a foodie, this might be the best present in the world. It’s a drink that tastes like pancakes. Add in some Pepper Bacon Doritos Twists (about $10) and you’ve got breakfast. Barring that, pick him up a beer brewing kit ($116) from Northern Brewer or a set of ceramic knives from Kyocera ($79).


Logitech K800 – I’ve fallen in love with this ultra-thin, ultra-nice backlit wireless keyboard. The K800 has a full numerica keypad, a rechargable battery that lasts for ever, and it works with Macs (After a bit of hacking). ($99)

A Gift Card – Why worry about the fuss and muss of buying a real item? Head over to ThinkGeek or Adafruit Industries to get him a gift certificate for some real geek gear.

Extra Super Expensive Idea


A Makerbot Thing-o-Matic – This thing is a bit expensive and it takes a while to deliver, but if your man is a Maker then he may get a huge kick out of this. It’s a machine that builds parts out of extruded plastic and it’s literally amazing. If your guy already has everything, this will allow him to make everything. ($1,225)


And finally, by unanimous decision, The Ultimate Best Valentine’s Present

An All Guys Star Wars/LOTR/Whatever Marathon

1. Ensure he gets you something nice for V-Day. Confirm receipt and then explain to him what’s going to happen next.
2. Buy a lot of beer, chips, microwavable foods and a full set of his favorite movie. Invite a bunch of his friends over. Sit them on the couch for 12 hours. Leave.
3. ????
4. Return home to enjoy the company of the happiest man on Earth.

Looking For The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift? Don’t Buy Your Loved One A Star!

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 11:00 AM PST

NASA’d

We’re knee-deep in Valentine’s Day festivities here at CG, so I thought I’d take a moment to help you figure out what not to buy your significant other. One thing you don’t want to get them? A star, or any other sort of celestial property. I have just as much right to sell you the Great Wall of China as a company has to sell you a star or an asteroid. Don’t be fooled!

The big company out that lets you "name" stars is the International Star Registry. It sells kits that ostensibly let you name stars. Considering there are literally billions upon billions of stars in the observable universe it’s safe to say the International Star Registry won’t be running out of "product" any time soon.

But, wait, are you actually "buying" a star, or even giving it an official name?

Absolutely not.

There’s exactly one internationally recognized institution that has the authority to name stars and other celestial objects: the International Astronomical Union. You can’t go around willy-nilly buying up the naming rights for stars. That’s just not how it works.

Now, that’s not to say it’s not a romantic (if hack) gesture, naming a star after your loved one, but there’s really nothing official about it.

With New Report, U.S. Prepares To Update Outdated Copyright Rules

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 10:30 AM PST

Flickr’d

The wheels are in motion for a much needed update to this country’s copyright rules, but the only problem is that these new rules seem to have been written by the very same people who thrust the DMCA upon us so many years ago. What fun!

The 2010 U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Annual Report on Intellectual Property [PDF here], written at the behest of President Obama, proscribes a number of measures to be taken in order to update American laws vis-à-vis copyright and intellectual property. On the surface that sounds great: it’s about time we took an updated look at the way copyright works in the country.

But before you get too excited you’d do well to read the introductory letter and the full introduction. Nothing there really screams "updated view on copyright" so much as it does "we’re doubling down on copyright infringement enforcement." One example: go ahead and search the PDF for the phrase "fair use." Maybe I’m blind, but I can’t seem to find it. I guess fair use is one of those things that endangers America’s ability to innovate.

Some of the document doesn’t really apply to us here—I don’t recall writing too many posts about illegal online pharmacies—but there are segments that are worth your attention.

Lack of intellectual property enforcement in the digital environment, by contrast, threatens to destabilize rule-of-law norms, with severe effects on jobs and economic growth. Undermining respect for rule-of-law values impacts a range of other policy goals affected by the Internet (e g , privacy). In short, criminal laws and intellectual property laws that apply in the physical world are based on a tradition of rules, checks and balances that must be applied to and tailored to the digital world.

I agree: illegally downloading an album should probably result in a $100 shoplifting fee, and not a several-thousand-dollar lawsuit that ruins your life. Or am I being naive?


Dell Windows 7 Tablet Coming “Later This Year”

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 10:17 AM PST

The Windows 7 tablet scene is about to get a big boost from a big player. Dell just announced a whole series of new business computers and notebooks — generally stuff we pass over — but one little paragraph made the whole thing worth reading. It teases nothing less that 10-inch Windows 7 tablet aimed right at businesses. HP Slate? You’ve got some competition.

Just like its HP counterpart though, this model seems destined for the enterprise market meaning it likely won’t end up at Best Buy. It’s pretty clear that major computer makers have zero interest in releasing a consumer-oriented Windows 7 slate device even though it’s clear there’s a market for such a thing.

Additionally, Dell plans to extend its existing tablet portfolio with a 10-inch, Windows 7-based business-ready tablet later this year. The upcoming tablet is designed for end-users who need greater mobility, as well as IT organizations that demand control, security, manageability and integration with existing infrastructure investments. Dell's tablet will empower a more mobile workforce in a way that offers customers the business applications and corporate data they need, while meeting regulatory mandates and IT requirements.

That’s literally all that’s known right now. No specs and just those pics above. There’s nothing other than the paragraph above and the one line from the PowerPoint Greg’s currently sleeping through. Stay tuned.

Live From Dell’s “Dell Means Business” Event From San Francisco

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 09:59 AM PST

We’re on Day 2 of February’s crazy blast of Mobile events. Yesterday was Sprint with the Kyocera Echo; tomorrow is HP/Palm’s webOS event. Today, however, the spotlight is on Dell.

So, what’s Dell going to announce? Based on the fact that they specifically invited our MobileCrunch team, we’re hoping for something mobile. Find out all the details as they happen in our Liveblog after the jump.
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