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Lithium Bibi: Panasonic Shows Extra-Light E-Bike

Posted: 25 May 2011 02:48 AM PDT

Panasonic announced [JP, PDF] a new electric bike for the Japanese market yesterday, the so-called Lithium Bibi F BE-ENSF63. And while the bicycle looks rather bland, it has own distinct selling point: at just 19.9kg, it’s the lightest e-bike out there, according to Panasonic (among those that come with a shopping basket, at least).

Panasonic says they used a special aluminum alloy for the frame and a small battery (25.2V/3.1Ah) to achieve the weight. The assisted travel range stands at 20km in eco-mode, 15km in automatic mode, and 11km in power mode.

The 26-inch bike will go on sale in Japan on June 27 (price: $1,220).

Panasonic Rolls Out 3 New “Xacti” Camcorders

Posted: 25 May 2011 02:07 AM PDT

They have dropped the Xacti brand name, but the three new camcorders Panasonic (which bought Xacti maker Sanyo in 2009) announced [JP] today are essentially Xactis. All models feature full HD resolution and will be released in Japan on June 25.

The HX-WA10 (pictured above) is the only model that’s waterproof (up to 3 meters). It comes with a 16MP sensor, a stereo mic, mini HDMI/USB/SDXC interfaces, essentially no internal memory (80MB), and a 2.6-inch LCD (price: $550).

The HX-DC15 (pictured above) is basically the same camera as the HX-WA10, except that it’s not waterproof, comes with a 3-inch LCD and 16GB of internal memory. At 162g, it’s also 70g lighter (price: $610).

Panasonic is positioning the HX-DC1 (shown above) as an entry-level model. The camcorder features a 14MP sensor, no (80MB) memory, mini HDMI/USB/SDXC interfaces, a stereo mic, and a 3-inch LCD (price: $425).

Daily Crunch: Two Turntables And Two Tablets Edition

Posted: 25 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Amazon Fires Back With $164 Kindle 3G With Offers

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:57 PM PDT

Amazon is now offering the Kindle 3G, originally $190, for $164 with “offers.” This new version integrates 3G wireless alongside Wi-Fi, something the new Nook pointedly does not have. This new version will also include offers aka advertisements, allowing you to see a bit of flimflammery with your regularly scheduled ebook.

The Kindle Wi-Fi with offers costs $114, twenty dollars less than the Wi-Fi Nook. Both are available now.

Product Page

Introducing the Lowest Price 3G E-Reader – Kindle 3G with Special Offers for Only $164

Same features as latest-generation Kindle 3G – free 3G wireless, Pearl E Ink display, up to two months of battery life and more – plus sponsored screensavers and money-saving special offers

SEATTLE—May 24, 2011—(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Last month, Amazon.com introduced Kindle with Special Offers, a new member of the Kindle family that gives customers access to money-saving special offers. Just five weeks later, Kindle with Special Offers became the bestselling member of the Kindle family in the U.S. Today, Amazon announced that it is now making special offers available for Kindle 3G. Kindle 3G with Special Offers is available starting today for only $164 and ships immediately. At just $164, Kindle 3G with Special Offers is the lowest price of any 3G e-reader, and includes the latest Pearl electronic ink display. Learn more about the entire Kindle family, including the $114 Kindle with Special Offers and the new $164 Kindle 3G with Special Offers, at www.amazon.com/kindle3G.

"Kindle is the bestselling e-reader in the world. It's been just six weeks since we introduced the new $114 Kindle with Special Offers, and already customers have made it the bestselling member of the Kindle family," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "In response to customer requests, we're now making these money-saving special offers available for Kindle 3G. You will get all the features readers love about Kindle 3G – free 3G wireless, global wireless access, Pearl electronic ink display that's easy to read even in bright sunlight, access to over 950,000 'Buy Once, Read Everywhere' Kindle books – all for just $164 – the lowest price for any 3G e-reader."

Special offers that will be available in the coming weeks include:
· $10 for a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card – customers loved this offer, so we're making it available again in time for Father's Day
· Save up to $500 off Amazon's already low prices on HDTVs with a unique 20% discount on 200 HDTVs from brands including Sony, Panasonic, LG, and VIZIO
· $1 for a Kindle book, choose from thousands of books including Water for Elephants and the Hunger Games trilogy
· Spend $10 on Kindle books and get a free $10 Amazon.com Gift Card

Kindle 3G with Special Offers includes all the same features that helped make the third-generation Kindle the #1 bestselling product in the history of Amazon.com:

Free 3G wireless , no annual contracts, no monthly fees
Global 3G coverage means books in under 60 seconds in over 100 countries and territories
Paper-like Pearl electronic ink display, no glare even in bright sunlight
Lightweight 8.7 ounce body for hours of comfortable reading with one hand
Up to two months of battery life with wireless off eliminates battery anxiety
Kindle Store with over 950,000 books – largest selection of the most popular books
Seamless integration with free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone

Kindle 3G with Special Offers is available for immediate shipment to customers in the U.S. at www.amazon.com/kindle3G.

Kobo Touch Vs. New Nook In Specs

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:15 PM PDT


We’ll soon have both of these new e-reader devices for review, but a quick comparison seems in order since they’re so similar on paper. Both are going to be available in early June, and both promise a frills-free touchable reading experience. How do they differ? Let’s run down the specs:


*Battery life is not a standardized measurement, and per-day use is not specified.

So the Kobo is slightly smaller and lighter, while the Nook supports images and supposedly has that great battery life. Then there are the intangibles. Which has the nicer interface? Which has social features you’ll actually use?

There really isn’t much to decide on here. What matters is the in-hand feel, the speed and ease of the touch operation, and the readability of the text, which depends on the rendering engine as well as the screen.

No clear winner on specs means it’s down to the real review. We expect to have these devices in our hands during the next couple weeks, and we’ll be sure to compare them very closely.

Pics Or It Didn’t Happen: The Dell XPS 15z Vs The MacBook Pro

Posted: 24 May 2011 02:09 PM PDT


I’m a few hours late to this party thanks to Disrupt, but damn, the Dell XPS 15z is a blatant MacBook Pro ripoff. I’m all for companies taking notes on competitor’s products but it seems like Dell failed to do anything but simply copy almost every notable design cue of the MBP. It had to be deliberate. The MacBook Pro is an iconic design and save the contoured design of the the XPS 15z, I can’t find anything worthwhile that’s different.

It’s like Dell looked over Apple’s shoulder and copied everything, then changed a few answers so it would be so obvious. They even copied one of Apple’s wrong answers.


Let’s start on the left panel. Most of the ports are lined up in a row besides the audio input and output ports are on the opposite side. The battery meter is in the same location with the same convenient, but strangely larger button. Dell even copied Apple’s worst design decision of placing the only two USB ports right next to each other, so close that you can’t plug in dongles or flash drives along side cables.

The similarities are even more clear when you open the lid thanks to a resesed backlit keyboard with color contrasting keys flanked by two rectangle speaker grills. Sure, that sort of discribes a good deal of PC notebooks, but it screams MBP clone especially when the black bordered screen is considered, too.

I’m anything but an Apple fanboy. My main computer is a PC and I use a Droid X. Hopefully those admissions will grant me a little leeway when I state that companies should look to Apple. They should be leaning on one of the most profitable CE companies. But not like this. No doubt at least some people will buy the new XPS 15z just because it looks like a MBP but from where I sit, I cannot see how Dell improved upon Apple’s long-used design. Price doesn’t count since this notebook starts at $999. The XPS is slightly thicker, arguably worse looking, and only a touch lighter. What am I missing, Dell?

[Thanks for the bottom left pic, CNET. See their review here.]

Hackathon Hacker Builds Working iPhone-based Torrent Streamer

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:59 PM PDT

Carnegie Mellon student and a future Google intern Sohail Prasad built a working torrent streamer at this weekend’s TC Hackaton and demoed it to us today after tweaking a few things. The product will be available soon at Nowstre.am and Sohail is trying to figure out a more, shall we say “legal,” use case for the product.

The app allows you to grab a torrent link, pass it to the interface, and then begin streaming the video instantly. We saw it work at Disrupt but, obviously, he wants to assure you and the MPAA that he means no harm.

You can sign up for the beta or you can see the product in Sohail’s demo video below.

 

Video: Check Out BlaBlabLabs’ 3D Body Scanner/Printer At TC Disrupt

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:05 PM PDT

BlablabLab and 3D Systems (along with some help from Sonos) set up an amazing exhibit at Techcrunch Disrupt. Essentially, it’s a 3D scanner/printer that grabs a 3D copy of your body and then prints it out into a 3-inch high figurine. It is, in short, magical.

Two members of the BlablabLab group have manned the gear all day and they’ve scanned quite a few attendees, presenting them with a finished figurine in about 15 minutes. The system uses three Kinect sensors that creates a 3D cloud of points and then the pair cleans up the figurine and adds smoothing and webbing to keep small parts from breaking off. They tried to scan me but they ran out of plastic for my Vladimir Harkonnen-like rotundity.

Check out the video above for a closer look at the hardware and process.

Amazon, Please Do Not Make The Kindle Touchscreen

Posted: 24 May 2011 12:35 PM PDT

I’m a big fan of my Kindle DX. It’s literally my favorite gadget. I love the form factor, the large screen, the relatively good battery life and the keyboard. Amazon could eliminate any of those items and my love would still be just as strong. The Kindle DX is perfect in my eyes. It’s so perfect that just the thought of Amazon ditching the buttons in favor of a touchscreen pains me as deeply as The Road.

That’s the trend now: touchscreen e-ink screens. Within the last 24 hours, Kobo and Barnes & Noble introduced models with new touchscreen e-ink displays. It’s a fantastic step in low-power consuming displays with really quick page refreshes and battery life. The new Nook has a 2-month battery. All good. Even the touchscreen is great technology with good-enough sensitivity. But I don’t want it in my next Kindle.

The beauty of e-ink screens is text looks fantastic. It looks just like text — or it’s the closest thing to paper print as technology gave us yet and the latest Pearl screen is awesome. But I don’t want to touch it. I don’t want to wipe my screen or worry in any fashion about the screen. True, e-ink screens aren’t LCD screens. They don’t have a glossy overlay that naturally sucks the oil out of my fat fingers. E-ink screens are generally finger-friendly. Still, why do I want to control the device with the screen?

In many ways this is BlackBerry versus iPhone. Touchscreen versus keypad. But it’s not the QWERTY keypad that I necessarily I care about. It’s the thought processes involved that are naturally inherent with touchscreens. They need to be cared for differently. Suddenly a screen protector is a must-have accessory. You’re going to be touching and prodding it after all.

Of course companies like Kobo and B&N needed this step. They needed something to make them fundamentally different from the Kindle. Touch control is, well, different for these companies but actually old news for the e-reading market. The Sony Reader Touch came out in 2009, which wasn’t exactly a blockbuster hit.

I just worry that a touchscreen will cause the Kindle to ditch its luddite charm. Even my grandma is comfortable with my Kindle. People understand buttons and I’m not saying the human race as a whole is too dumb to grasp the concept of a touchscreen. But there is certainly a sub-set of users that are hesitant to embrace the technology in their much loved device and I’m a card carrying member.

A Watch Created In 1969 Could Sense Heart Attacks… But Wait, There’s More

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:57 AM PDT


In 1969 a young inventor patented a unique heart-attack-sensing watch that used the wearer’s pulse to regulate the time. That’s right: there are no quartz crystals or tuning forks in here. The system senses your pulse and shows information on two registers – the standard, optimal time and a dial that runs faster or slower depending on the user’s current heart-rate. You’d then be able to tell if your heart rate was too wild or unsustainable and could help you avoid heart attacks.

There is also a unique alarm that goes off when you’re experiencing arrhythmia. In short, it will tell you when you’re having a heart attack.

But the best thing? The very best thing? The inventor of this device was Herbert Zeppo Marx AKA “The Handsome Marx Brother.” After Zeppo left the group he became an engineer and began a company called Marman Products that, in addition to the watch, made the clamp that held the Fat Man nuclear bomb in its bay.

You can see the full patent here and here’s Zeppo and Groucho hamming it up in Horse Feathers.

via Hodinkee


Apple Looking To Set Up Shop In NYC’s Grand Central Station

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:55 AM PDT

Apple has a habit of setting up retail stores in iconic locations all over the world, much like the ones at the Louvre in Paris, under the Pearl Tower in Shanghai, and in London's Covent Garden. Even though the Big Apple already enjoys four Apple stores, Apple's location-based habit has yet to be satisfied as the tech giant is rumored to be setting up shop in New York City's landmark Grand Central Station.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the newest flagship location will be a part of Apple's Apple Store 2.0 retail overhaul, which also includes outfitting employees with iPad 2s and implementing larger interactive display screens. The new location should take over 15,230 square feet currently occupied by Metrazur Restaurant, set to close July 1. We have yet to receive any official word from Apple on the new location, nor have we seen any timeframe for a store opening.

[via WSJ]

Dell Debuts The XPS 15z, “Thinnest 15-Inch Laptop On Planet”

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:34 AM PDT

Despite the fact that Dell failed to appear on Microsoft's list of manufacturers for Windows Phone Mango devices, the tech giant did make news of its own this morning, with the introduction of the XPS 15z laptop. Dell calls this the "thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet," at just .97 inches thick.

With second-gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the XPS 15z sports an optional 15.6-inch full HD display in 1080p, and a back-lit keyboard with adjustable brightness. The new laptop from Dell also features NVIDIA graphics with 3DTV play capabilities and Optimus technology to automatically switch to power-saving mode under lighter workloads. The 15z also has an optical DVD drive.

The 15z offers 4GB standard memory, upgradeable to 8GB, and features 2 USB 3.0 ports, USB/eSATA with PowerShare, HDMI 1.4 out, a mini display-port, and a built-in nine-in-one card reader. Dell's XPS 15z also comes with a 1.3-megapixel webcam with dual-array digital microphones and stereo speakers. With built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, The XPS 15z touts up to eight hours of battery life, and is the first in a series of thin Inspiron and XPS products from Dell.

Dell's XPS 15z is available now online at Dell's online stores in the U.S. for $999, and retail availability should begin soon.


Evernote Releases Chrome Extension

Posted: 24 May 2011 09:00 AM PDT


Evernote, once described to me as “my remote brain”, is releasing a new Google Chrome extension today to make clipping and saving webpages easier than ever. It’s optimized to grab the body of any blog post on any site. It automatically recognizes the structure of any post, and “captures it beautifully without any need for the user to select anything” and it works as advertised.



The Evernote extension works in Chromium as well as Chrome, for those that prefer their browsers open source.

I’ve been playing with GimmeBar recently, too, which does pretty much the same thing as the Evernote extension. GimmeBar uses a bookmarklet, rather than an extension, so should be browser neutral. GimmerBar doesn’t have the smarts to intelligently determine the relevant portion of any particular page, though, so you’d need to highlight it manually. Manually! As if!

I kid. GimmeBar is cool, and you should sign up. And you should install the Evernote Chrome extension. And don’t forget to floss.

Lark’s Silent Alarm And Sleep Monitoring System Lands At Apple Retail Stores

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:50 AM PDT

Lark, a silent waking system that wakes you silently and naturally, is announcing big news today. After launching at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco last Fall, the company is announcing the public availability of its product and a retail deal with Apple stores in North America.

Lark’s system involves an iPhone app and a small band that you wear across your wrist while sleeping. You set the iPhone app to the time you need to wake up and the app will transform your phone into a night time alarm clock. The band includes a small device and sensor with bluetooth technology that will vibrate at the time you are supposed to wake up. Plus there’s no more jarring, loud alarms; so your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband won’t be woken up by your alarm.

Read More

Hands On With Seiko’s New Sportura Alarm Chronograph Watch

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:44 AM PDT

One of Seiko’s new “nicer” mainstream watches for 2011 is this really attractive Sportura Alarm Chronograph watches. The Sportura range has always captured my attention pleasantly – for offering attractive designs, logical functions, easy to read dials, as well as competitive pricing. This model is really a treat, coming in a few versions that borrow design cues from the higher-end Ananta collection.

Read the rest here…

Microsoft Officially Announces Windows Phone 7.1 Mango With 500 New Features

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:23 AM PDT

Today at Microsoft's Windows Phone VIP Reception, president of mobile communications Andy Lees and senior Windows Phone product manager Derek Snyder gave us a quick rundown of what to expect out of the newest version of the Windows Phone platform, WP7.1 or "Mango."

Though he didn't have time to cover all 500 new features, the focus will certainly center around communication, applications, and the way we use mobile internet. Along with the current service offerings in People Hub such as Facebook, Hotmail, and Gmail, Microsoft has gone ahead and added LinkedIn and Twitter. Mango will also bring with it a Groups feature, allowing multiple people to communicate across a multiple platforms, while simultaneously integrating those people's profiles, pictures, and a group history of all events and communication shared. Instead of only being able to communicate with groups that all share the same hardware maker, Mango employs Windows Live Messenger and Facebook Chat to keep you connected with friends, including those with other phones.

Read More

B&N Unleashes A New Nook: Touchscreen E-Ink, 2 Month Battery, $139

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:31 AM PDT


Barnes & Noble just unveiled the latest and greatest Nook e-reader device at a special NYC event. It’s a simple device, really. In fact B&N stated that this revamped Nook is the easiest to use e-reading device on the market. The touchscreen enabled Nook, sorry Kobo, is said not to feature any page turning latency and has a battery that last up to two months, which is double the current Kindle’s battery life.

A 6-inch Pearl E Ink screen is front and center on the sleek device. It’s rather light at 7.5 ounces in a casing that’s just 5 x 6.5-inches. It’s tiny. Barnes & Noble is understandably proud of its latest creation and proudly stated on stage that the new Nook features 37 less buttons than the latest Kindle. (Not having a QWERTY keyboard would do that)

The new Nook hits at a very Kindle-like $139 price. The unit ships June 10 with pre-orders starting today on Nook.com. The original model is also still available for a new, lower price of $119 for the WiFi model and $169 for the 3G model — while supplies last, as the old device is essentially discontinued.

We got some hands-off impressions at the event, and the touchscreen appeared fairly snappy, but didn’t provide much instant feedback. The device really is small, but the screen is of course the same size as the competition.

nook Nookfirst_homescreen nook tcdisrupt_flickr-005-1298 tcdisrupt_flickr-010-1303


Live At The Barnes & Noble Event In New York

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:57 AM PDT

We’re coming at you live from the Barnes & Noble superstore/cafe/public bathroom on Union Square where we hope to see an update to the Nook line. It’s my understanding that we’ll be seeing a new Nook Color Device with priced at about $140. Update this page as we live blog the event with bated breath.


9:55am – Facing down a phalanx of black-shirted B&N employees wearing Nook shirts. Waiting with Techno music playing.

10:00am – They’re asking us to turn off our cellphones. Things are starting shortly.

10:02am – Two minute warning.


10:03am – Playing the music for the loading screen for OS X Tiger.

10:04am – Playing a commercial. “Til all the plots are wrapped up.” “I will read.”
William Lynch on stage. Talking about advances in digital reading market. Nook momentum: 25% of the ebook market. Leading in physical book market at 17%. Nook Color is “Best tablet value in the market.” 2nd only in tablet sales to the iPad. Nook ecosystem. Well over 1 million apps downloaded.
Cloud services run millions of transactions.

10:08am – B&N Promise – the customer service team “add value” to the buying experience.
First to launch lending, popular quote sharing service. Basically recapping current Nook specs. Kids books, free Nook reading in B&N stores, etc. Nook newstand allowing folks to read magazines on the Nook color.
10:11am – Change and improve the future of reading. Nook Color is a home run. Still a segment in this large market that wants a simple, pure reading experience. Reading from a letter: “My family and I are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for my grandmother. She hasn’t embraced technology. I’m wondering why you haven’t created a version of the Nook for her.”

All new Nook. About five inches tall. Four inches across. Very tiny Nook with black and white screen. One buttom bottom center and page turning buttons on edges. Easiest to use e-reader ever created. Best e-reading product on the market.

6-inch touchscreen display.
7.5 ounces.
5×6.5 inches
2 months on a single charge.
No pageturn latency.
Soft touch paint on back and the bezel.
Expandable
$139.
50% increase in contrast.
Infrared touchscreen interaction.
“Everything is just a touch away.”
“Our customers like to read forever.”
“If I charge my device today, I’ll be reading well past the 4th of July.”


“Built-in Wi-Fi”
Also launching myNook.com, a new service for choosing books and buying them online. Personalised screen savers.

10:28am – William Lynch back. “Breakthrough product.” Available for pre-order immediately. Shipping on or around June 10.
10:29am – And that, my friends, seems to be it. Please hold for a hands-on.
scaled.IMG_1273 scaled.IMG_1273 scaled.IMG_1272 scaled.IMG_1276 tcdisrupt_web-001-1284 tcdisrupt_web-001-1285 tcdisrupt_flickr-001-1287 tcdisrupt_flickr-002-1290 tcdisrupt_flickr-003-1291


Sharp Plans To Introduce Android AQUOS PHONE Brand Worldwide

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:19 AM PDT

They have been talking about this for years, but Sharp today officially announced they will bring their AQUOS PHONE brand to countries outside Japan. The press release (in English) is rather vague (no dates, prices or exact target markets), but Sharp says there will be a "global smartphone" that can be used anywhere, including China. Read the rest on MobileCrunch.


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