CrunchGear |  |
- Video: Hands-On With An Engineering Prototype 64GB iPhone
- Renesas Shows Next-Generation USB 3.0 Host Controllers
- Logitech Releases Their New Flagship 5.1 System, The Z906
- Dragon Age 2 Comes To The Mac On Day One
- C3′s High-Definition 3D City Maps Are Pretty Sweet
- So We’re Using Facebook Comments Now
- Guy Puts First Printing Of Dungeons And Dragons Up On eBay
- Review: Razer Ferox Portable Speakers
- Funny: Promo Image For Viewsonic’s ViewPad Shows OS X On Tablet
- Acer’s Media Center Remote Is A Sleek, Touchable Slab
- Microsoft Planning Successor To Zune Service?
- Project X Designs “Stealth” Customized Rolex Watch
- Eyez: It’s A Camera In A Pair Of Sunglasses
- Microsoft’s Capacitive Pen Senses Which Way You’re Holding It
- The Teradek Cube Lets Almost Any Video Camera Livestream Over 4G (Video)
- Report: Number Of Malware-Infected Web Sites Has Doubled In Past Year
- Fujifilm: We Can’t Make Enough X100s To Sell To You Guys
- First Ever Sketch Of Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone Concept
- Review: The Lorex LIVE Snap Baby Video Monitor
- Fearing iTunes-Like Domination, Hollywood Plots Netflix’s Downfall
| Video: Hands-On With An Engineering Prototype 64GB iPhone Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:07 AM PST
The backstory isn’t exactly detailed, but somehow M.I.C. Gadget got their hands on what seems to be an unreleased 64GB iPhone. All they’re stating is that the phone is not for sale and it was “definitely leaked from Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen.” True? We don’t know, but it at least seems like the real deal. The backside shows a model number of XXXXX and an FCC ID of BCG-AXXXXX — just like Gizmodo’s prototype iPhone 4. The software however registers the phone with a model number of 995-6049LL running iOS 4.1 and is not SIM-locked. Best of all though, the phone shows 64GB of storage. Interestingly enough, the casing itself seems void of any changes. Even the external antenna is the same, which seems to state that either this is a fake — possible — or Apple is following previously-set precedents and throwing accessory makers a bone by keeping the casing the same for another model year. Still, it’s anyone’s guess if this is the real deal. It is slightly different in several key areas — silver ring around the lens, symbols on the volume buttons, different faceplate — from the last purported 64GB iPhone posted by M.I.C. Gadget. You may wanna peep the video after the break before coming to any conclusions.
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| Renesas Shows Next-Generation USB 3.0 Host Controllers Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:23 AM PST
USB 3.0 is slowly but surely finding its way into the mainstream. Today, major Japanese chip maker Renesas announced [press release in English] two “next-generation” USB 3.0 host controllers, the µPD720201 and µPD720202. Designed for use in PCs and TVs, the controllers boast “industry-leading” data transfer speeds and low power consumption. According to Renesas, the effective data write speed is 40% higher than in existing USB 3.0 controllers, while power consumption was cut 90% to 4.5mW (in low-power mode). The company says that samples for both the µPD720201 (four downstream ports, $20 per unit) and the µPD720202 (two downstream ports, $10) are already available. Mass production (2 million units per month) is scheduled to begin in September.
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| Logitech Releases Their New Flagship 5.1 System, The Z906 Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:05 AM PST
To be honest, I doubt the sound is really much different from its predecessor. The new gear is nicer looking, though, and the remote and info display have been simplified. The subwoofer is 165 watts, each satellite has 67, and it’s got six channels of input (RCA, digital optical or coaxial, 3.5mm). It’ll handle Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, and will virtualize 2-channel sound, though we all know that’s hit or miss. They’re THX-certified, but so’s your mom these days. Greg’s going to be reviewing this guy as soon as it’s shipping (should be this month), so hang tight and we’ll let you know whether it’s worth spending your hard-earned GP on.
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| Dragon Age 2 Comes To The Mac On Day One Posted: 08 Mar 2011 09:34 PM PST
The original Dragon Age was a pretty good game — lots of free roaming, but also precise timelines. It wasn’t uncommon to spend 90+ hours in the main story, but at least the story had substance, just a bit long. Today, Dragon Age 2 released, and continuing on the steam from the first, BioWare has released the game for PC, Xbox 360, PS 3 and Mac OS X simultaneously. Mac gamers now have a really good game to look forward to, and on day one too. But you’ll need a pretty powerful machine. Dragon Age II needs at least a Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86Ghz or faster chip, Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later, 2GB of RAM or more and a minimum ATI HD2600 or NVidia 9400 or better video card (at least 256MB VRAM). Gamers can grab the game for $60. [via MacNN]
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| C3′s High-Definition 3D City Maps Are Pretty Sweet Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:40 PM PST
They’ve been doing it for a while now, but this most recent clip really shows what’s possible. The downside is, of course, that they have to actually get up there in the sky with their special rig to make the pictures happen. And in a place where there’s lots of construction, remodeling, and so on, it’s difficult to make those changes, where as all Google has to do is fire up Maya and make a new model. It’s a little janky up close (reminds me of playing an RTS), but give it a shot over at Yell.com.
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| So We’re Using Facebook Comments Now Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:54 PM PST
As always, we remain your humble bloggers and friends, so don’t hold this against us. Unless it’s a puppy. Then by all means hold it against us.
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| Guy Puts First Printing Of Dungeons And Dragons Up On eBay Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:40 PM PST
If you know your D&D history then you know the first run was very small and the boxes were made by Gary Gygax with some friends in his basement. This guy, who goes under the name Eruantien, has decided to pay some bills and sell this beautiful piece of history up on eBay. From the pictures, you’ll notice that this game is in amazing condition for its age, even for its probable high-use. All pieces are intact and accounted for, including the three booklets and reference sheets. This game is one of the first first batch of 1000, and also having Book #3 tells that this is a very rare find. Price is at $2500.    
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| Review: Razer Ferox Portable Speakers Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:07 PM PST
Pros:
Cons:
Full review:
^In the corners, there.^ I was excited to check these out when they were first announced, but when they arrived, I was flabbergasted by just how tiny they were. I mean really. They’re very small. As you can see in the photo below, they’re just about half the size of a can of soda. Can these things really produce any sound?
I tested them out on a few tracks from my library, and the sound is clear and quite loud, though the low end is pretty much not there. It’s kind of implied in that there’s a pretty smooth fall-off from the higher frequencies, so you can work out what it should sound like, and I didn’t notice any distortion from the speakers trying to hit lower than they should. We watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, and although of course the lower frequencies of, say, plane propellers and engine noise was only slightly audible, everything else came through loud and clear. Explosions, dialogue, and music all sounded solid, though I think that the mid-highs tended to overpower the rest. The 360-degree sound distribution is sort of a silly feature when you think about it, but it’s a handy way to let your laptop or MP3 player be a quick-setup jukebox in the kitchen, say, or at the beach. The real result, of course, is that half the speakers’ power is being directed away from you, which is just hugely inefficient. There are blue lights that fade in and out while charging, and just stay on most of the time otherwise. Why can’t I turn them off?! What if I’m watching a movie in the dark! The cable is a special one from Razer: it’s USB and 1/8″ audio on one side, and two micro-USB plugs on the other, which plug into the speakers and convey sound and power. It’s a little confusing at first, and of course if you lose the cable, you’re screwed. Fortunately the Feroxes (Feroxii?) come with a cute little carrying case that just fits them and the cable. It’s not pocketable or anything (it’s about pop can-sized), but it’ll easily fit a laptop bag or satchel.
Conclusion: These speakers are cool-looking, surprisingly compact, and produce a totally usable sound for some situations. On the other hand, if you’re at all interested in using them for serious gaming or media consumption, you’d be much better served spending your cash on a pair of good portable headphones. You can get the Nox Audio Specialist for $70, a great buy. The Ferox speakers are cool, and they certainly aren’t bad, but they don’t really hit the spot they’re aiming for; as a complement to a media player or tablet, they’re nice, but for anything more serious than that, there are better options. Product page: Razer Ferox speakers (not quite available yet)
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| Funny: Promo Image For Viewsonic’s ViewPad Shows OS X On Tablet Posted: 08 Mar 2011 03:26 PM PST
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| Acer’s Media Center Remote Is A Sleek, Touchable Slab Posted: 08 Mar 2011 02:56 PM PST
It’s basically a big touchpad like that you might use on your laptop, and you can drag, click, and do multi-touch gestures. But here’s the cool part: by pressing one of those buttons there on the right, the controls you see light up and anyone can make the plain play/pause/next and basic navigation commands. Nice feature for handing it over to a kid or parent who might not be as savvy with the HTPC. It’s Windows 7 compatible, has a “G-sensor” inside (accelerometer, I assume), and works over 2.4GHz RF. I look forward to the official release, this thing may have more features we don’t know about. [via Wireless Goodness]
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| Microsoft Planning Successor To Zune Service? Posted: 08 Mar 2011 02:00 PM PST
The Zune brand and look have been partially left behind; the “Metro” UI has elements from the Zune, but the Zune player itself doesn’t really fit in. Could there be a relaunch of Windows Media Player? That would be funny. It’s still very early in development, as indicated by Foley’s sources and a job listing that seems to indicate it’s more or less in the planning stages. We’ll keep our eyes open, though. [via WMPowerUser]
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| Project X Designs “Stealth” Customized Rolex Watch Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:51 PM PST  Project X Designs has no relationship with Rolex, but rather take new Rolex timepieces and perform various modifications on them. The results are usually very cool. Rolex modifiers are pretty common, but those who do it well are rare. The Project X Stealth watches are meant to hearken back to military Rolex Submariner (Mil-Sub) watches, and they look really kick-ass. Awful worn-torn Vietnam would have been just a bit better with one of these... don't you think?
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| Eyez: It’s A Camera In A Pair Of Sunglasses Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:22 PM PST
How about the device? Well, it’s still a concept, but they’re still claiming it will revolutionize social video sharing. The idea is that people don’t share videos because… well, they do, but you have to use a device like a smartphone and you’re limited to watching this event on the small screen. Whereas, with the Eyez, you can watch it the way you’d normally watch it, except with sunglasses on. This way you can record like an hour of video and either stream it or post it later via your phone or computer. Naturally, I’m skeptical. And I don’t look forward to the image quality from such a tiny camera or the blind framing videos will have, since there’s no feedback to the camera operator. We’ll check back with this thing when there’s a real product. In the meantime, head over to Zion Eyez and pause that video. [via Engadget]
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| Microsoft’s Capacitive Pen Senses Which Way You’re Holding It Posted: 08 Mar 2011 12:30 PM PST
And although there are precious few applications for stylii these days, the project team hopes the tech involved could be integrated with, say, a game controller or other interface device, that would know when it’s being used as a steering wheel, an FPS controller, and so on. The pen itself is one big capacitive surface, and it has an orientation sensor on the end so it can… you know, tell its orientation. The picture obviously shows a research prototype; the tech could be smaller or integrate more closely with the existing chipsets in mice and contollers and such. Hopefully we’ll see more of this thing soon.
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| The Teradek Cube Lets Almost Any Video Camera Livestream Over 4G (Video) Posted: 08 Mar 2011 12:18 PM PST
The Teradek Cube is a sort of Livestream pack, like what we used at CES, that enables one to connect their camera of choice to the world. It’s sort of like Qik, but much, much better quality. The Cube can connect to Verizon’s LTE network, with the Pantech UML290, and WiFi. This is something that would be great for Liveblogging, and almost eliminates huge broadcasting semi-trucks. Teradek has priced the Cube starting around $1600 going all the way up to $2000+ for the 4G capable model. There are also WiFi-only models for less money. The Cube is small and can connect to anything from a RED to a Canon DSLR, all of the encoding is built-in. The system is super easy to setup and you can go live with just the press of a button. Also, if you get in early, you’ll get a free month of Livestream’s premium membership, valued at $350. [via gizmodo]
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| Report: Number Of Malware-Infected Web Sites Has Doubled In Past Year Posted: 08 Mar 2011 12:00 PM PST
A new Dasient report says that the number of Web sites infected with malware has doubled in the past year. That means we’re now just short of 1.2 million Web sites out there infected with malware. Wonderful. Big deal, you say. Some 1.2 million Web sites out of the entirety of the Web can’t be so bad, right? Well, that means that in about three months of Web surfing the average person now has a 95 percent chance of running into malware. All the more reason to keep your system up-to-date and with a working anti-malware program running at all times. Now would probably be a good time to mention the release of M86 Security’s SecureBrowsing browser plug-in. It works with Firefox and Internet Explorer, and it scans URLs in order to help users browse the Web a little safer. It’s free to download. Browsing the Web with something like NoScript would also be a good idea, which gives you the added bonus of haloing make sites readable. No flashing nonsense or connections to third-party servers without your permission.
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| Fujifilm: We Can’t Make Enough X100s To Sell To You Guys Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:52 AM PST
Patience, my friend. I think it’ll be worth the wait.
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| First Ever Sketch Of Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone Concept Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:20 AM PST
It was only 135 years ago, today, that Alexander Graham Bell was awarded his patent for the telephone. And here we have one of his first sketches of the magical device. To this day, it’s unsure if he was standing on the edge of his toilet, hanging a clock, and slipped on wet porcelain before drawing this.
The description says:
[via gizmodo]
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| Review: The Lorex LIVE Snap Baby Video Monitor Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:00 AM PST
The Lorex LIVE Snap is amazing. It’s the gadget equivalent of spotting a narwhal dancing under a double rainbow. It’s without a doubt the most satisfying electronic device I’ve used in ages. It just works. Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Review: Here’s the thing: I hate gadgets. They suck. Nothing ever works. Drivers are outdated, apps are released half finished, and there are always problems with WiFi connectivity. So you then spend hours on random forum sites looking for nonexistent answers just to use the damn thing. Not with the Lorex Snap. Nope. I turned it on and it just worked. Praise Jebus.
The Snap is a wireless video baby monitor. The kit comes with one night vision-equipped color camera and an handheld receiver. There’s two-way audio and both the camera and receiver conveniently recharge from mini USB. But the best part is that it just works. Simply turn on both units and *bam* the receiver finds the camera and you’re off. Since this is a baby monitor, there are a few features tailored just for that task. Two-way audio allows you to sooth your kids from another room and the receiver can record images to a microSD card. The camera even has impressive night vision, which is a must for baby monitoring as is the sound-activated alerts. The handheld receiver can support up to four cameras and dedicated camera buttons on the receiver makes switching between them easy peasy.
The shocking thing from my perspective as a jaded gadget blogger is that all these features work as advertised. Not one seemed under-developed or hard to use. The whole kit feels a tad cheap thanks to the plastic construction, but that notion is soon replaced with amusement as it simply works great. Lorex claims that the wireless range is 450 feet; all I know is that I had no issues in my technology-saturated house. The night vision taps out at 22-feet, which is just about right for most bedrooms and a huge overkill in my little house. There really isn’t anything to hate about the Snap. It works and as a sleep-deprived parent, that’s all I care about. Set this thing on a dresser and fight with your kids from afar. Of course the battery-powered camera and remote recording capabilities have other uses as well, but that’s between you and your god.
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| Fearing iTunes-Like Domination, Hollywood Plots Netflix’s Downfall Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:45 AM PST
Shocking news: Hollywood is not a fan of Netfix. Movie studios have started to become concerned with the company’s growing influence, and they’re determined to prevent it from becoming the next iTunes, so big and powerful that it can dictate terms. The solution? Turn Netflix into a "swap meet," where users can only find low-quality movies, that is, not the top-of-the-crop Hollywood blockbusters that so many Americans seem to enjoy. The deal, as explained by Cnet, is that Hollywood used to see Netflix as a harmless company providing a cute little service to a niche audience. (The Internet? Streaming? What am I, a nerd?) But then Netflix experienced an explosion in popularity, with the company seeing a 66 percent growth in subscribers in the year leading up to last December. And given Netflix’s ubiquity—you can find it on many Blu-ray players, the Xbox 360/PS3/Wii, etc.—it’s hard to imagine a scenario where people will all of a sudden stop using the service. Unless, of course, Hollywood drains the life out of it. Since Netflix is no longer seen as a harmless little company—the studios are complaining that it’s eating in airline movie sales, DVD sales, and that cable companies will no longer pay for movie rights because Netflix eliminates movie "scarcity"—Hollywood now sees itself in a prickly situation. Do you go with the flow, and try to figure out how to make Netflix "work" for you, or do you try to eliminate the threat while you still can? I’m sure you know the answer to that one. If Hollywood were to stop playing ball with Netflix, then the service goes away, right? Who’s going to keep paying $8 per month to have access to lame movies? (This assumes you don’t already think most of Hollywood’s movies are lame.) And once people stop paying for Netflix, the company goes out of business, then the studios can resume selling us shiny plastic discs. That’s what they’re hoping will happen, at least.
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Because of a massive issue with Disqus, including a complete outage during the 
Just a little PSA in case you’re looking forward to picking up one of the amazing-looking (but ridiculously expensive) 
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