CrunchGear |  |
- Daily Crunch: Moon Phase Edition
- Weekend Giveaway: Man Cave Gear For Pops
- Another Look At The Ulysse Nardin Chairman
- Surveillant Society
- “Rotary Mechanical” Cell Phone Concept Isn’t Practical, But It Looks Great
- PlayStation Boss: No PS4 Anytime Soon, We’re Advanced Enough
- 11 Great Last Minute Geeky Father’s Day Gifts
- Ever Wonder What In-Lens Image Stabilization Actually Looks Like?
- The Hacks Continue: Sega Pass Breached
- Apple Extends List Of Copycat Devices In Samsung Patent Battle
- Weird Al Talks Tech
- Hitler Speaks The Truth Regarding Stargate Universe’s Cancellation
- Cartier’s Calibre Watch Gets An Astrotourbillon
- QR Coins Will Baffle Future Generations As Their Purpose Becomes Shrouded In Mystery
- Motorola Droid 3 Launches In China, Possibly Hitting U.S. Shelves July 7
- This Better Not Be The Xoom 2
- The Story Of The Mechanical Padre
- The Legend Of Zelda: A Generation’s Awakening
- Is the PlayBook 4G Delayed Until This Fall?
- Report: HP Moves Part Of Notebook Production From China To Japan
| Daily Crunch: Moon Phase Edition Posted: 18 Jun 2011 12:00 AM PDT |
| Weekend Giveaway: Man Cave Gear For Pops Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:45 PM PDT
Well now you can send Dad what he really wants. I’m going to run this contest until next Wednesday since it’s a pretty nice price so if you win you can pretend that you meant to send pops his present all along and you can just say you weren’t sure if you could afford it or whatever and then, suddenly, you were like “I love my dad. Dammit: he gets this gear.” Here’s how to win: Comment below to enter, describing your favorite moment with dear old dad. Comment only once. Include your email in the Disqus form (NOT IN THE COMMENT PROPER) or login using Facebook or whatever. If I can’t contact you, you can’t win. I will pick a winner at noon next Wednesday, June 22. I will pick one commenter at random. Here’s what pops can win:
soundscience rockus Speaker System
soundscience halo 6 LED bias lighting kit™
Thanks to Asus and Soundscience for hooking us up.
|
| Another Look At The Ulysse Nardin Chairman Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT
Enjoy this quick run through of some of the basic features and a bit of time spent on the counterweight.
|
| Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:29 PM PDT
It’s not new, of course: “citizen journalism” has a long history before mobiles were prevalent, and the growing trend of “you report”-style news and things like Twitter streams in live reporting are as plain as the lens on your phone. And while I regularly deride the quality of camera phones, the truth is that improvements have been made that are now promoting phone-cams from joke cameras to true documentary devices. What happens, exactly, when every individual is not only a node connected to a worldwide network, but is also able to take anything they see and cause it to be made public and (efforts are made in this direction) unable to be taken down? The consequences are complex and far-reaching, and we would do well to start thinking about them now.
|
| “Rotary Mechanical” Cell Phone Concept Isn’t Practical, But It Looks Great Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:05 PM PDT
It is of course just a concept, but the idea is a modular, metal-and-wood object with interchangeable plates for different tasks. Not sure when the rotary dial will really be helpful, but hey, it’ll be nice to spin something. I’m not sure it’ll fly with that weak old Symbian OS, though. Put Android on there with a custom skin, maybe, and have a cool copper trackball or something. I don’t know. At any rate, it’s a beautiful little (theoretical) object.
|
| PlayStation Boss: No PS4 Anytime Soon, We’re Advanced Enough Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT
With Nintendo's announcement of the Wii U at E3, and rumors of a potential Microsoft machine headed our way in 2013, you'd think that the folks over at Sony would be working long hours to make the next-gen PlayStation top-dog amongst competitors. Unfortunately, that's not the case, according to comments made by PlayStation US boss Jack Tretton in a Forbes interview. New products from competitors haven’t exactly spurred action out of the PlayStation team, and Tretton didn’t seem intimidated by his rivals in the least. He seemed specifically unimpressed with Nintendo's Wii U. "I think there's ground to be carved out for everybody, but I didn't see anything about Nintendo's announcement that said, 'Oh, we'd better get working on rolling out a new PlayStation here pretty soon,'" said Tretton. "Our attitude is kind of 'welcome to the party.' If you're looking at being a multimedia entertainment device, if you're looking at high def gaming, that was 2006 for us." Tretton said that Sony will be focusing mostly on the PlayStation 3 and Vita for right now, adding that he believes the company's current products are still on the cutting edge. "What we've seen from competition is trying to add features that already exist in PlayStation 3," said Tretton. “We invested heavily in that, we rolled a very heavy rock up a steep hill, through the launch period. But now I think that all pays off, and we've got a long run way behind it. So, I wouldn't look for any discussion of a next generation PlayStation for quite some time." Maybe even never, or at least not one that's any better than the PlayStation 3. "PlayStation 3 is really just hitting its stride," said Tretton. "And technologically, I don't think it's possible to provide any advancement beyond what we have." [via EuroGamer]
|
| 11 Great Last Minute Geeky Father’s Day Gifts Posted: 17 Jun 2011 01:54 PM PDT
That said, I don’t mind receiving a little something for my hard work. Everyone likes gifts, but there’s no reason to spend a good deal of time or money on us dads. Most national brick and mortar retailers sell great items that clearly fit within the Father’s Day gift parameters. Don’t stress over paying huge shipping fees from online retailers because you waited until the last minute. Toys-R-Us, Barnes & Noble and outdoorsy shops all sell gadgets and items your sort of nerdy Dad will love. Super Soaker / Nerf Guns — $10 and up at most department and toy stores
There isn’t a dad alive that would turn down a Nerf Gun. Sure, the kids might eventually claim ownership of Dad’s gift, but since it’s his, he can always confiscate it when he sees fit. Super Soakers however take the right dad/kid combo. While Dad might be able to use his Nerf gun at work for cubicle warfare, a Super Soaker is mainly a around the house sort of item. Buy one for Junior as well so ol’ Dad has someone to shoot. Did you know the new Super Soakers are battery powered? You don’t even need to pump them. They’re awesome. Airsoft – $44 @ Cabelas
Airsoft guns take BB guns to a whole new level. Airsoft guns often look almost exactly like a real gun, which is why us dads love them so much. You should be able to sneak out under $60 by buying a handgun model and a tub of BBs. Assault rifles start around $100, sniper rifles run $150, and machine guns run $350 and up. You could go crazy. A Lego Set – $20 and up at department stores and toy stores
LEGOs are awesome especially to us dads. Here are some tips: Buy the Star Wars sets regarding the classic trilogy, not the prequels. Mindstorms sets are sweet but expensive and the Architecture and TECHNIC kits are a sure win. The LEGO games are kind of dumb, though. Rockler Bench Cookie — $12 for 4 @ Rockler Woodworking
There are a billion uses for these little guys. Use them in the workshop, kitchen, office, really anywhere something needs to be propped up and held in place. They’re a mainstay of Rockler’s own product lines, but Sears and Home Depot both sell a knockoff if you don’t have a Rockler nearby. BTW, a Rockler gift card is also a great gift. Geek Dad — $15 at B&N
This is a fun book that features a bunch of geek projects dads (or moms) can do with their kids. I have a copy on my nightstand right now. It has instructions on how to make the best slip-n-slide ever, a phonebook swing, a working LEGO lamp and a bunch more. Or you could get The Geek Dad’s Guide To Weekend Fun, which is also sold at Barnes & Noble. Sony Portable Digital Radio — $41 @ Best Buy
This little radio is an easy winner for the right dad. It uses a digital tuner to pull AM and FM stations and runs on a single AAA battery. It’s simple, but your dad might like that. Rockets – $10 and up at hobby stores
You’re never too old to launch rockets. Dads love this sort of thing. Estes is the popular retail brand and most hobby and toy stores sell both pre-made and model rocket sets. Just make sure you also buy the launch pad and the appropriate rockets engines. (not expensive) Pro tip: You need an area about the size of two football fields to launch these sort of rockets. New cell phone case — $20 and up
Buying someone else a phone case can be a tricky task, but it can be done. Chances are the owner has grown attached to his current case, and might hate to see it go. Try to buy one that’s similar to the current one, but better. But moreover, if dad doesn’t have a case on his phone, don’t buy him one. There’s a reason he doesn’t have a case on there. Bushnell Backtrack GPS — $70 @ Bass Pro Shops
Sometimes a full blown GPS unit is an overkill. That’s where the Bushnell Backtrack comes in. It simple points you in the right direction. Dad could mark the location of his tree stand or fallen deer and the little arrow will always point in the right direction. Think if it as a GPS sans the turn-by-turn part. Roku – $80 @ Best Buy
Dad always complain there’s nothing on TV? Give him a Roku. This streamer has over 100 streaming stations available including Netflix, Amazon, and Pandora. Plus the middle tier models are now sold within Walmart and Best Buy, making buying one a non-issue. A Night Out At A Cheesy Sports Bar
Us dads are always forced to go to the fancy-pants places for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and such so why not take us somewhere fun for our little day? Get hot wings, curly fries, a crazy two-patty burger or something. Oh yeah, and dear wife? Be a doll and let him have some fun; you’re the DD for this trip. Bonus: A tie Dads young and old always need a tie. Why? Because our ties either get stained or become outdated. Most ties run $20 to $40 and you don’t have to worry about sizes as ties are a one size fit all sort of thing. Just buy one that’s not too flashy and you’ll be fine.
|
| Ever Wonder What In-Lens Image Stabilization Actually Looks Like? Posted: 17 Jun 2011 01:00 PM PDT
As it turns out… not too exciting, since the real magic is in the detection of movement and calculation of counter-movement. The little springs and servos hidden in the lens are just the last step in the process. [via PetaPixel]
|
| The Hacks Continue: Sega Pass Breached Posted: 17 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT
Nothing you don’t give out every day for free, then, but to be safe, change your password elsewhere if you’ve been affected by this hack. Probably a good idea to change your password right now anyway just in case what with half the sites on the net getting hacked. [via SlashGear]
|
| Apple Extends List Of Copycat Devices In Samsung Patent Battle Posted: 17 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT
Originally, Apple's filing only covered five devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S II, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the Infuse 4G. With the original devices, we could at least see the reasoning, even though the suit may be a bit of a stretch. There are similarities, yes, but nothing to the point where I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an iPhone 4 and the Infuse 4G. With these new devices, however, we are pretty much stumped. Apple's updated filing includes the Droid Charge, Exhibit 4G, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Prevail, Galaxy S, Gravity Smart, Infuse 4G, Nexus S 4G, Replenish, Sidekick 4G, Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy S II. To start, the Sidekick 4G, Replenish, and Gravity Smart all sport physical QWERTY keyboards, which is something we have never, nor do I expect we will ever, see on an Apple product. Furthermore, a large part of Apple's issue has to do with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which isn't even on the Replenish. Along with tossing some extra devices into the mix, Apple has also decided to add a few extra patents to the case, accusing Samsung of even further infringement. With the addition of the three new patents, Apple is officially filing a complaint against Samsung for infringement on a total of eight utility patents. Two new design patents have also been added, bringing the total to five. Samsung still has an upcoming due date for those original devices to be handed over to Apple, including the Droid Charge, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the Infuse 4G. We're also still waiting for a judge to decide whether or not Apple will have to do the same with its future devices, but that situation is a bit different, since Samsung asked for the iPad 3 and the iPhone 5 instead of products already on the market. [via MobileBurn]
|
| Posted: 17 Jun 2011 10:36 AM PDT
It’s nice to hear about Al’s creative process (“Back in the '80s when I was writing "I Want a New Duck" and "Living With a Hernia," I had to go to the West Hollywood branch of the Los Angeles public library and check out books on ducks and hernias… because even with my stupidest songs, I do research.”) and what he thinks of YouTube:
|
| Hitler Speaks The Truth Regarding Stargate Universe’s Cancellation Posted: 17 Jun 2011 10:24 AM PDT Stargate Universe might be gone, but the fans aren’t. 55,000 strong on the Save Stargate Universe facebook page, which has clearly been hacked. Who does that anyway?
|
| Cartier’s Calibre Watch Gets An Astrotourbillon Posted: 17 Jun 2011 08:46 AM PDT
|
| QR Coins Will Baffle Future Generations As Their Purpose Becomes Shrouded In Mystery Posted: 17 Jun 2011 08:20 AM PDT
These coins from the Royal Dutch Mint are legal tender and connect you to this site when scanned. It’s going to be hilarious when future archeologists find these and figure that they’re some sort of prayer or an image of a great space god we once worshiped. They come in silver and gold (5 and 10 euro denominations, respectively) and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the mint.
|
| Motorola Droid 3 Launches In China, Possibly Hitting U.S. Shelves July 7 Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:51 AM PDT
For right now, we're guesstimating a July 7 release from Verizon based on claims from Droid-Life sources, but we can't say for sure until we get official word.
|
| Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:48 AM PDT
The original Xoom started slowly rolling out back in late February. It was supposed to be the ultimate Honeycomb tablet — a sort of Nexus product. But it isn’t and the sales reflected that. It’s stupid expensive, hard to hold, lacks a USB host port and functional microSD card slot. Then there’s Honeycomb, which isn’t exactly fully cooked even now thanks to the lack of apps. It only makes sense that Verizon and Motorola would want to quickly recover from the Xoom disaster, but launching the Xoom 2 anytime soon would do just the opposite.
Motorola made their honeycomb candy and now they have to eat it. It’s their responsibility to the buyers to support the damn device. Of course, it’s also their responsibility to be a profitable company and have a solid product pipeline. The Xoom 2 better be in development. I’m not saying it shouldn’t. However, seeing how there isn’t a significant update in Android 3.x since the Xoom was released, a Xoom 2 would simply be a hardware update to address the criticisms of the original model. Support the original instead. The main sticking point on the original Xoom was, and still is, the price. It’s just too expensive but that seems like an easy fix. Motorola priced it to compete with the iPad, not other Honeycomb tablets. It was of course the original Honeycomb tablet and the first with an official MSRP. However, Motorola has yet to react to the lower price of the recently-launched Honeycomb tablets and officially drop the price on the tablet, although it can constantly be found in warehouse stores and online discount retailers for less. Enough venting. Motorola doesn’t need a new Xoom. They need to drop the price of the original and support it with a simple marketing campaign. I still don’t see how anyone besides those like us would understand the deeper meaning of the Xoom’s Super Bowl ad spot.
|
| The Story Of The Mechanical Padre Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:12 AM PDT
Radiolab has an excellent story about one of the most fascinating clockwork automatons ever made, a 15-inch high figure of a well-known miraculous monk, San Diego de Alcalá. The story is a bit apocryphal but the gist is this: the son of the King of Spain, Don Carlos, fell down a set of stairs in 1562 and fell into a deep illness due to his injuries. The King prayed to God, asking for his son to be spared with a miracle and promising a miracle in return. In a few days the boy began to heal and in the end he was perfectly fine. The King then commissioned this monk as a celebration of prayer, piety, and faith. The monk walks around, beating its chest, and lifting a cross. It’s essentially a prayer machine that never tires and it was probably one of the most miraculous things anyone had ever seen in the 16th century. From an article about the piece:
Here’s the Monk in action and you can listen to the 10-minute podcast below.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Legend Of Zelda: A Generation’s Awakening Posted: 17 Jun 2011 06:52 AM PDT
I was trying for a few weeks to write a review of the remake of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the 3DS and I couldn’t do it. It was too hard. I was lost to the experience of the thing and knew that I’d simply gush over the new graphics and old storyline and have little to say about the quality of the thing. Then, like a porcine Robert Pirsig, I began to think about the quality of the thing and why Zelda plays such an important part in my life and the lives of an entire generation. The Legend of Zelda came out at a crucial point in history. Launched in August, 1987, the game appeared on the cusp of the Iran-Contra hearings and its launch coincided with a major LA earthquake. To children of the 1970s who were just coming into their own (I was 12 then), it was a frightening and confusing time. I was too young to understand the world, yet old enough to be afraid of it. I don’t want to conflate world events with the launch of a game, but I think it’s accurate in this case and, at the very least, helps explain some of the world as we (or I) saw it. Link was us, but better. He was small and squat, looking like a boy with a too-big shield and sword, yet he was quite capable. He could run from enemies, push big rocks (with the right tools), and bomb walls. We were rewarded when he was rewarded because we were in there with him. I can’t recall how many childhood obsessions were fueled by Link’s actions including my desire to be a wizard and my research into esoterica like the Holy Grail. Pop culture at this point was looking backwards and, in a way, Zelda was the definitive example of this. Indiana Jones was digging up the past. Link was in some misty Brigadoon where kids needed swords to defend themselves and invisible enemies sprang up at every turn. Link would save the princess and, in turn, we would save the princess. Every generation gets the Link it deserves. The N64 crowds got a quasi-3D link and kids these days get a real-3D link and, when Skyward Sword launches, they will get a Link that is so far removed from the original flat, overhead view as to evoke the comparison between the walls at Lascaux vs. the work of Ansel Adams. But I think we’re lucky that we get any Link at all. Too many generations have grown up with heroes too complex for their needs. The hard-eyed superheros and hedonistic Fritzes of previous generations built men and women who lacked a certain amount of compassion. As “bad” as video gaming is for kids, it was the first medium that allowed children to identify with the characters on the screen in a real sense, and, seemingly cognizant of this, Nintendo was careful not to make those role models too violent, too valiant, or too fake.
So yes, I loved the Ocarina of Time but I’m supposed to. It’s Umami for the heart, comforting and all-encompassing, a game the envelops the gamer like a good – if flawed – book (what’s with all these flying postmen? And trains? Luckily Ocarina eschews a lot of these newer additions). But this game isn’t for me. It’s for my son and his son and then there will be a next chapter for his son’s son. Forever, into infinity, one would hope, the game will be our gift to the future. Nick Paumgarten put it best in an article about Zelda’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto: Zelda is about fear and discovery. I didn’t want to bring Miyamoto into this very much because, as much as I love Zelda, I think the cult of personality that has grown up around him clouds the value of his produce. He did his job and he did it well and his own childhood shaped our own in a myriad of ways. On visiting about a mountain and its warren of small caves that Miyamoto once explored as a child, Paumgarten writes:
Deeper, longer, and braver. That’s what I like to think Zelda made us, and I like to think that her mark is indelible.
|
| Is the PlayBook 4G Delayed Until This Fall? Posted: 17 Jun 2011 06:41 AM PDT
The PlayBook 4G was originally slated for a summer release, which works out to just a few months after the April launch of the 3G model. The delay now pushes the 4G version to almost irrelevance and paints a sad story similarly to the one I foretold before its official announcement.
|
| Report: HP Moves Part Of Notebook Production From China To Japan Posted: 17 Jun 2011 04:03 AM PDT
You don’t hear news like this too often these days, but according to Japanese business daily The Nikkei, HP is planning to shift part of its notebook production from China to Japan in the next few months. The Californian company plans to eventually manufacture all computers for sale in Japan in factories in Akishima near Tokyo. For that, HP plans to hire 50% more workers in Akishima, boosting the number of employees there to 450. According to the Nikkei, labor costs in Japan are about four times higher than in China. But with this move, HP apparently wants to increase efficiency, be closer to the market, stand out with a “made-in-Japan” moniker, and push down delivery times especially to Japanese business customers. The company wants to use existing production lines and utilize its global purchasing network in order to keep notebook prices in Japan at the same level. At the same time delivery time will go down from ten to five business days, if the report is to be believed. HP just ranked 5th in PC sales in Japan last year (10% market share).
|
Poor dad. He’s always getting shafted when it comes to Father’s Day. Usually he gets a tie or a chess set or a fancy prize-winning goat (it was a weird year that year at the Biggs house, let me tell you). But does he ever get a full home gaming/3D video/Blu-Ray playing All-In-One gaming center? With speakers? And fancy lights?
Sorry that I’ve so many of these videos but this offered a tighter and closer look at the 
One aspect of the Egyptian uprising (among the others, most ongoing) that was overpowered by the wild acclamation of social media is something that has been quietly but powerfully changing societal norms over the last decade. It is simply the inclusion, on almost every mobile phone sold, of a digital camera. When 90% of the active population can, at any time, record an event they are witness to, and transmit it to the rest of the world instantly, many rules begin to change.
The latest victim in this rash of cyberattacks is Sega, whose own gaming network and marketplace Sega Pass has been compromised. The site says it’s “going through some improvements” but 
Here's something totally baffling: in what way does 
Weird Al Yankovich has a new album out (it’s pretty epic) and he sat down to talk with 
Over the last few years my interest and respect for Cartier has really grown. Sure, a lot of their timepieces are mass produced, but they have a penchant for good, lasting design. No doubt I am not a fan of all of their watches, but little escapes from their manufacture without being really good for at least some people. Good design – as I am learning more and more – is not easy. Designing something to look outstanding and really cool for 5 minutes is really not that hard. Executing a design that looks good each time you look at it, for years, isn’t so easy. In this department, Cartier has succeeded for a long time. I find myself wondering what their secret is.
The 
The original Zelda, with its dungeons, rupees, and mysterious whistles, is like a strange song whose notes, sometimes cacophonous, came together in a rush of discovery and enchantment. 
Somehow we missed this yesterday, but it seems as if the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G is shelved until the fall. This broke during 
| You are subscribed to email updates from CrunchGear To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment