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Japan Gets Panasonic Lumix Disney Camera

Posted: 26 May 2011 04:27 AM PDT

Panasonic Japan announced [JP] a special Lumix camera yesterday, the LUMIX DMC-FP7D (where the “D” stands for Disney). Unlike many other cute special edition cameras from Japan, the design on this model is rather subtle.

Technically, the Disney camera is based on the LUMIX DMC-FP7, a point-and-shoot device with a 16MP CCD sensor, Motion JPEG video recording at 1,280×720/24fps, a touch control UI, and a 3.5-inch TFT display.

Panasonic also throws in Micky Mouse on/off screens, icons, and photo frames.

The Lumix Disney camera is scheduled to hit Japan on June 10 (for about $370). Ask specialized online stores like Rinkya or Flutterscape if you want one but don’t live in Japan.

Media Keg: Kenwood Japan Announces New Music Player

Posted: 26 May 2011 12:02 AM PDT

Kenwood is making portable music players, too. The company announced [JP] the so-called Media Keg MG-G608 for the Japanese market today, the newest addition to their Media Keg series of DAPs.

The device has the following features:

  • 8GB internal memory
  • formats supported: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, JPEG, BMP
  • Bluetooth Ver.2.0 + EDR
  • USB 2.0 port
  • microSD card slot
  • bilingual UI
  • W46.5×H98.5×D13.5mm, weight: 55g
  • Windows XP/Vista/7 support

Kenwood plans to start selling the Media Keg MG-G608 in Japan next month for $183.

Daily Crunch: Morning Kick Edition

Posted: 26 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Leica Iterates Its Luxury Point And Shoot Series With The V-Lux 30

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:27 PM PDT


We liked Leica’s V-Lux 20, but could never really recommend it over its cheaper, nearly identical sibling, the Panasonic ZS7. Now we have the V-Lux 30, which appears to have the same relationship with the ZS10 announced in January. Looks like the same 14.1-megapixel sensor, the same 16x zoom lens, the same LCD, GPS, and so on — but different badge.

The Leica costs $750, the Panasonic costs $400. How much are you willing to pay for that Leica logo?

Why Don’t You Get Yourself A Nice Wooden Tie

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:15 PM PDT


If you’re the kind of guy that always has to have some kind of off-the-wall tie, this could be right up your alley. No, it’s not pixelated, or LED-lit. It’s made of wood. Like real reclaimed wood pieces held to one another by sturdy elastic cord. Made by Wooden Thumb, they come in large and small (how large and how small isn’t specified), both for a very reasonable $34, plus shipping.

[via NotCot]

The Pioneer AppRadio: Select iOS Apps In Your Car’s Dash For Less Than $500

Posted: 25 May 2011 01:38 PM PDT

Here it is, ladies and nerds: the Pioneer AppRadio. As the name implies it’s centered around applications in a smartphone-ish sort of way. All the big boys are here: RDIO, Pandora, and Google Maps along with the driver-centric apps of INRIX and MotionX-GPS Drive. This is possible through the Pioneer AppRadio iOS app that serves up data and app access to the head-unit from a connected iPhone or iPod touch. It lacks the native iOS support we had incorrectly heard it has, but features enough compelling features to earn a good deal of respect.

The aftermarket audio scene has been somewhat stagnant over the last decade. The biggest innovation was navigation and perhaps the addition of a USB host, but GUIs and even prices have stayed about the same. Pioneer has a real chance with the AppRadio to push the rest of the industry into embracing connected data and, in a way, learn to take a back seat to the smartphone by servering a more companion role — as it should be.

A WVGA (800 x 480) 6.1-inch capacitive multitouch serves up all the action. But there’s nothing behind it. The screen doesn’t flip down to reveal a fancy iPhone dock or even an optical drive. iPhones and iPod touches connect to the unit through a Dock Connector cable that hooks into the rear of the radio so it’s up to the installer to hide this wire.

Updates and more apps come by way of a Pioneer iOS app. When an iDevice is connected it unlocks all the wonders of Google Maps including search, routing, directions and even drop pins bookmarks. The iDevice serves up reformated apps to the AppRadio and Pioneer wrangled several popular apps to hit the device at launch and custom versions of RDIO and Pandora are currently available.

This iDevice dependency comes at a price, though. While the AppRadio can certainly stand on its own without a connected device, it loses most of its appeal. Also, Android owners need not apply. Pioneer isn’t servering their kind as Bluetooth connectivity seems only for phone functions and not for streaming content or data connectivity sharing. The AppRadio doesn’t have an optical drive and I worry about the capacitive screen handling direct sunlight. Still, the AppRadio is a welcomed addition to the car audio aftermarket scene.

Pioneer hasn’t announced the price or exact release date yet, but the press announcement states that the “AppRadio will be available in late June with a suggested retail price below $500.”

Side note: big props to our graphic guy Bryce for making a nearly accurate hardware rendering based on blurry FCC pics and several emails from a tester. The OS is clearly wrong, but he nailed the button design.

RC vCar App Creates Crash-Free Remote Control Car

Posted: 25 May 2011 12:37 PM PDT

Remote control cars, while amusing, tend to get in more car accidents than life-size vehicles. If it isn't rolling off a curb, drifting into a pool, or crunching under the tire of a pick-up truck, it's just plain out of battery. For that reason, and possibly for success and profit, the folks at Pop Culture Software have launched the RC vCar application, for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad 2.

Basically, RC vCar is a virtual radio controlled car that you can drive around using augmented reality with no fear of totaling your toy. To be honest, the features of the app aren't super robust. You have five pretty standard cars to choose from, including a basic red soft-top coupe, a pick-up truck, a pink convertible, a police car with a working light, and a school bus. After selecting a car, you're taken straight to that augmented reality interface, ready to ride.

I tested the app on the iPad 2, and found that the controls were a bit hard to handle on such a large device. On an iPhone or iPod touch, I estimate the app controls would feel almost identical to a real remote for an RC car. The app was pretty enjoyable for the first five minutes, at which point I realized this is definitely more of a "for-your-kids" kind of app. If that's not convincing enough, remember… you won't find another remote control car for $.99.


Hasselblad’s Newest Camera Gets 200 Megapixels From A 50-Megapixel Sensor

Posted: 25 May 2011 12:30 PM PDT


Hasselblad is known for high megapixel counts, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. On the other hand, the engineering solution they’ve employed to create that count is really interesting. Most camera makers, including Hasselblad, increase the pixel count of their sensor by reducing the size of the photosensitive wells and pushing them closer together. This has some benefits, but also drawbacks, one of which is a sort of pixel density wall that Hasselblad has probably been running up against for a while.

But instead of making the sensor bigger or packing more into it, they created a clever hardware-software combination that might give them a real advantage over the competition.

What they’ve done is mounted the sensor on a piezoelectric motor, which moves the sensor by infinitesimal amounts and takes an exposure multiple times. This allows the single-color pixel wells to be exposed to different parts of the image, creating tiny variations which, properly processed, create more detail and sharpness. Their final output is 200 megapixels, which is almost certainly an arbitrary number they picked, a target that can be reached in a reasonable amount of exposures (six, in this case).

You can output to a CF card, but they recommend attaching a hard drive, as the final image can be around 600MB. The need for multiple exposures makes the total shot time extremely long; 20-30 seconds are required, so shots of human beings are pretty much right out.

It was actually announced a while back but technical difficulties have delayed it for a while and they’re only now selling it. At $45,000 to start, these aren’t really in our price range, but advances like this in sensor and imaging tech occasionally trickle down, and I think it’s interesting enough on its own.

North Korea Working On Making Its Own Computers?

Posted: 25 May 2011 11:45 AM PDT


A recent evening news report from North Korea showed the insides of a computer manufacturing facility, where the country claims to be developing its own PCs. A little digging has shown that one of the laptops in question is actually a super-low-cost netbook already on the market here in the US, but buying OEM hardware doesn’t mean they aren’t working on something of their own. The other PC, for instance, appears to be a bit more customized, and is made to attach to a TV, presumably to reduce cost of entry among the generally low-income households (if low-income is the correct term in a communist economy).

The TV-computer and one of the laptops are aimed at education, allowing for transmission and interaction with instruction videos, dictionaries, language programs, and so on. The office computer has the usual office apps and a browser.

A spokesman said “The devices and programs of these computers were designed and developed purely using our own expertise,” and the report shows them being assembled, but the discovery of the Sylvania netbook seems to give the lie to that idea at least partially. On the other hand, the OS looks original, and may be the Red Star Linux variant they’ve been working on.

Other countries, like India and China, are also exploring the idea of manufacturing and programming their own computers, in order to reduce reliance on western corporations like Intel and Microsoft.

More screenshots of the report can be found at North Korea Tech.

CrunchDeals: G2, Sidekick 4G Free With Contract At T-Mobile

Posted: 25 May 2011 11:21 AM PDT

If you're short on cash and desperate for the speedy joys of 4G connectivity, go ahead and cancel your late-night plans for tomorrow. The pink carrier is offering the T-Mobile G2 and the Sidekick 4G smartphones during its After Hours special tomorrow night, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. And get this: they're free. Of course, you'll have to sign up for a new two-year contract with T-Mobile to participate in the deal, but the good news is there's a pretty good chance you can get out of it once AT&T swallows T-Mo.

In case you're unfamiliar, the T-Mobile G2 is a Android 2.2 Froyo-powered smartphone sporting a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 5-megapixel camera with flash and capable of video capture in 720p, and a 800 x 480p 3.7-inch display. The Sidekick 4G maintains all of the traditions of the name it bears, with some added awesomeness. The Sidekick has a spring-loaded QWERTY keyboard, a rear and front-facing camera, and runs Android 2.2 Froyo.

[via Twitter]

This Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcyle Was Just Spontaneously Given Away At Disrupt

Posted: 25 May 2011 11:14 AM PDT


Enamored of the shiny orange Brammo Enertia electric motorcyle adorning the stage during the latest presentations here at Disrupt NYC, Michael Arrington decided that it should be given away. Never mind that it wasn’t ours to give, and that we were already significantly over time. Once the idea took hold of his mind, he was not to be dissuaded, and after a short talk with Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher (conveniently present backstage following a panel on next-generation motoring), it was a done deal.

Read the rest…

Help Save Aunt Beru And Uncle Owen’s Homestead And Get A Nice Watch

Posted: 25 May 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle Owen! The Lars Homestead is the actual building used during the filming of Star Wars and it still exists – in a considerably diminished state – in Tunisia. The igloo house is now falling apart but a group of dedicated film buffs – and one watchmaker – want to return the home to its original, super sci-fi state.

You can donate to the Save Lars fund or take part this Kickstarter project that includes a unique watch with a face containing sand from the actual homestead. If you pledge $77 or more you get a real, quartz wristwatch with a small, clever container that holds sand and dirt from the location and keeps, presumably excellent Tatooine time. For $103 or more you get a Premium edition of the watch including an engraved back and handsome aurebesh numerals.

You can also grab t-shirts and other Lars collateral from the Kickstarter page and you can help save a landmark in sci-fi history.

Project Page


KINGMAX Introduces World’s First 64GB MicroSD Card

Posted: 25 May 2011 09:36 AM PDT

A powerful phone with less-than impressive storage space is potentially one of the most peeving situations imaginable. And apparently KINGMAX seems to agree, as the Taiwan-based manufacturer has debuted the world's first-ever 64GB microSD card, which should be sufficient for just about everyone. The 64GB microSD card from KINGMAX can store approximately 30,000 digital photos (in their original resolution), more than 2,000 albums, or 24+ hours of 720p HD video. The card touts a Class 6 rating, or in other words, the card can read and write data at speeds up to 48 Mbps. What's more, KINGMAX added error correction control, and promises low energy consumption, all protected by a lifetime guarantee.

Pricing and availability have yet to be announced, but it shouldn't be too long before we get some word on when and where we can pick up this impressive new microSD card. Plus, we expect that KINGMAX will want to get this on shelves as soon as possible, lest some other manufacturer come up with a 64GB microSD card and beat KINGMAX to the punch.


Digital Foosball Table Is A Foosball Table That Is Digital

Posted: 25 May 2011 09:02 AM PDT

Do you like foosball AKA fussball? Do you like digital things? Well, you’re in luck because this foosball table is digital. Using a photosensor and an Arduino board, this table allows you to transmit the score to iPhones and other Wi-Fi devices. There is also a method for scoring and sharing scores using web apps.

Sadly, the game doesn’t play itself (which should be the next step for these guys) but it’s a pretty cool hack. You can build one of these yourself or you can enjoy the video above.

Project Page


Ollie The Socially Awkward Blimp Wants To Be Your Friend

Posted: 25 May 2011 08:39 AM PDT

Ollie from Pritika Nilaratna on Vimeo.

Ollie is a blimp. He flies around and follows people and doesn’t want to intrude but just wants to chat if you’re not too busy. It gets excited when you talk to him and then floats around “exploring” his surroundings until he notices something interesting. He likes funny stuff. He’s also made of foil and floats around autonomously and flaps his cute little fins when he’s happy.

Yep. It’s a robotic blimp that has the emotional range of a shy, flying toddler. And he’s amazing and you can build one yourself.

Designed and built by Parson’s grade Pritika Nilaratna, Ollie is an open-source product and you can build your own using this Instructable and all of his code is available online.

Ollie is a blimp-based autonomous and ambient robot that dwells in human habitats. Ollie is equipped to demonstrate humor and patterns of delicate emotions. Ollie is observant, often flying in a manner suggesting curiosity for the world around him. Ollie reacts to voices by excitedly flapping his wings, communicating his friendliness and eagerness to be noticed. Ollie is often socially awkward and unobtrusive. Ollie wants to know about humans and yearns for their attention. Ollie is a performer.

Project Page


Since 2009 Kickstarter Funneled $60 Million To 24,000 Crowd-Funded Projects

Posted: 25 May 2011 08:09 AM PDT

Kickstarter began as a way for bands to fund projects without asking for money from Grandma. Now it’s the go-to site for thousands of self-funded projects and the company recently surpassed the facilitating of $60 million in funding of random music albums, films, and gadgets created by ordinary people.

At TechCrunch Disrupt NYC, John Biggs sat down with Kickstarter’s Yancey Stickler along with several successful Kickstarter gadget makers: Dan Provost from Glif and Cosmonaut, Rafael Atijas of the Loog, and Sean Bonner from Safecast. It was through the magic of Kickstarter that all these gadgets were funded and later created. It’s rather scary to think of a world without the Glif, right?

Kickstarter is a place where projects can be funded by ordinary people. Simply put, it’s crowd funding. Since launching in 2009, Kickstarter has hosted 24,000 projects, with gadgets making up only about 20%. Film and music are the biggest draw. Not everyone is successful, though. Out of that number, only 8,500 have met their funding goal with the majority going to the film category who has seen $20 million; technology and design category has $7 million in successful projects.

The slightly low success rate prompted Yancey to give tips to potential kickstarters. First, use Kickstarter to make an object, not a company. Make something tangible. This is especially true for gadget makers. Second, tell your story about why you’re creating this project and show passion. Rafael Atijas, maker of the Loog guitar, chimed that constant updates and transparency is key. Kickstarter projects are, after all, funded by ordinary people who are often passionate about their “investment” but also about the people involved. Communication is key.

Kickstarter is growing at a rapid pace. The site sees 300 proposals a day and sifts them through a slight filter. Yancey stated that they “don’t fully curate” but there are certainly safeguards in place to ensure projects meet a few criteria — they don’t accept charities. As with many crowd-sourced sites, growth will continue as the site’s reputation grows. The successes of the Glif and Loog sing a great tune for Kickstarter in gadget circles while the five Kickstarter films at Sundance and the Oscar nominated Sun Come Up documentary does the same in that circle.

Set Your Living Room To Turbo With This NES Advantage Lamp

Posted: 25 May 2011 08:00 AM PDT


Do you need a little something for your retro-gaming man cave? Something that says “I’m a classy guy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t beat Contra in one life,” perhaps? This lamp might be your style.

While I’d rather be using this Advantage controller to take down the 8 Robot Masters, I also support the repurposing of such retro devices, which would otherwise be just gathering dust in an attic somewhere.

This one in particular was a one-off, and has been sold, but it looks like you’ll be able to nab later projects by following @RecycledRetro on Twitter or

[via Red Ferret]

How Omega Uses Liquidmetal In Watches

Posted: 25 May 2011 07:25 AM PDT

The modern arms race with watches isn't about gears and pinions, but rather materials. It may appear that brands are hot on beating each others’ movements but they know that such a war would be a joke. The race for the most accurate movement slowed to almost a halt when quartz watches hit the scene, and there are almost no new viable complications to be invented. The secrecy and excitement in the world of high-end watches is all in discovering, creating, and exploiting the hottest new materials.

Read the rest here…

Japan’s Newest Cute Camera: Doraemon’s Bell×CASIO EXILIM EX-Z800

Posted: 25 May 2011 07:22 AM PDT

Another month, another special edition camera from Casio: this time it’s blue cartoon cat Doraemon (super-popular in Japan and many countries in Asia) that gets the Exilim treatment. Technically, the so-called Doraemon’s Bell×CASIO EXILIM EX-Z800 [JP] is nothing special, but it’s – as you can easily see – designed to be a hit with kids.

Technically, the cam is based on the EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z800 (14MP CCD sensor, 2.7-inch LCD display, 27mm lens (35mm equivalent) with 4x optical zoom).

But obviously, the design is the main selling point here: buyers get Doraemon on the body of the camera, special on/off screens (see above), and a total of 9 Doraemon-related “virtual stickers” that can be included into every shot taken with the camera (see below).

Casio plans to sell the camera (in Japan only) in August/September but already accepts pre-orders. If you’re interested, visit specialized online shopping services like Rinkya to get one shipped over to you (price in Japan: $365, including a Doraemon special edition pouch).

This Plastic Delivery Truck Is The Future Of UPS

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:34 AM PDT

There isn’t a better way to catch my attention than using a Star Trek analogy. Well, done UPS.

It's kinda like how in Star Trek III, Scotty sees a lot of unexplored potential in the ol' Enterprise, but the brass are telling him she's scrap because the new Excelsior's “transwarp” engine is the only future worth having. Then we learn the Enterprise is still the only hope for their mission, while the Excelsior can't cut it. Granted, there was some sabotage in there somewhere… but the underlying message is the same!

UPS is constantly trying to counter increasing fuel prices. This is likely true with every company in transportation, but UPS recently announced and demo’d its mostly plastic delivery truck that’s 40% more fuel efficient than the current. By ditching the sheet metal for plastic, these trucks are said to be 1,000 lbs lighter. This allows for a smaller diesel engine, which lends greatly to the lower fuel consumption. But back to that Star Trek line.

It seems by way of that Star Trek story that UPS doesn’t see next-gen powertrains being reliable enough for widespread use just yet. Current technology can be further advanced while the bugs are being worked out of upcoming tech.

It’s not like UPS hasn’t already embraced EVs. The company blog points out that they already have 1,900 EVs delievery packages. But these are smaller vehicles whose limited range cannot match that of the classic diesel trucks. This truck is an intermediary step whose innovations seem easily carried forward to the EV age. Fast Company explains that this truck is part of the firm’s goal to increase efficiency 20% across its entire fleet by 2020 over the baseline established in 2000.

The plastic brown trucks are still in the prototype stage so your UPS man will still be driving the ol’ ironside for some time.
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