Sonos SUB, a bit about how it was made and more

In This Issue...

Sonos SUB, a bit about how it was made
Google releases Project Re: Brief, a documentary that "reimagines" some iconic ad campaigns from the past
Toshiba delays the Android 4.0 update for the Thrive tablet
Easy phone sync brings iTunes data to Samsung devices
Mozilla says "something big" is coming next week and it looks like an updated Firefox for Android
Cricket Wireless officially launches the iPhone 4 & 4S with prices beginning at a contract-free $399
Credit card fraud criminals get caught buying $1 million of Apple goods, now in jail
More Recent Articles
Search GadgeTell

Sonos SUB, a bit about how it was made

A few days back we mentioned that the Sonos SUB had come available for purchase. And well, it looks like Sonos was not entirely done sharing. They did not offer anything new in terms of a product just yet, but they did release a short making of video on YouTube. The video, appropriate titled, The making of the Sonos SUB can be see above (or by clicking the link at the bottom of the post). The video comes in at just over three minutes in length and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Sonos created this subwoofer. Anyway, if you are curious how things are made, or in this case — why that center slot was designed into the SUB then this is a good video to watch. Of course, we will offer the warning — as someone with a Sonos system — this just made me want the SUB even more.

Via [YouTube]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Google releases Project Re: Brief, a documentary that "reimagines" some iconic ad campaigns from the past

Google has released something new. And no, it is not a new product or service. In fact, it is not even an update to an existing offering. This latest comes as a documentary called Project Re: Brief. The documentary is an hour long and according to details provided — it was an “experiment to reimagine online advertising.”

Google notes that they took some iconic ad campaigns from the 60′s and 70′s and “brought them back to life for the digital age.” The result, a rather interesting video to watch. And for those not feeling like watching an hour long video showing newly remade but still old advertisements — Google does note that the video is about the ads but also about the creative process behind them.

This hour-long documentary follows the story of the five art directors and copywriters who made the original ads as they come out of retirement to "Re: Brief" their classic campaigns: Harvey Gabor (Coca-Cola's "Hilltop); Amil Gargano (Volvo's "Drive it like you hate it"); Paula Green (Avis' "We try harder"); and Howie Cohen and Bob Pasqualina (Alka-Seltzer's "I can't believe I ate the whole thing"). While major shifts in technology have reshaped the advertising business, as we learned from our heroes of the past, the basic tenets of storytelling haven't changed. We found these icons' ideas, wisdom and passion for great advertising inspiring and hope you do as well.

Via [Official Google Blog]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Toshiba delays the Android 4.0 update for the Thrive tablet

Some not so good news for those sporting a Toshiba Thrive tablet — your Android 4.0 ICS update has been delayed. The details are coming by way of the Toshiba Support forums where they note that the update should be ready for all 7- and 10-inch Thrive tablets in the fall. More specifically, the “early fall.” Of course, early fall or not, we cannot help but notice that this update was originally expected to arrive during the spring. Simply put, Toshiba missed the spring and will end up also missing the summer. This is probably disappointing news for anyone with a 7- or 10-inch Thrive and while we would like to call Toshiba to task — we are not all that surprised. Heck, at times it seems like we see more reports about Android updates being delayed as opposed to rolling-out when originally expected. That said, we just hope that Toshiba does not miss the fall.

Via [Toshiba] and [Phandroid]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Easy phone sync brings iTunes data to Samsung devices

Do you have a love for Apple’s music, video, photos and contact manager, iTunes and Samsung’s line of Android devices, the Galaxy, but feel left out out the data syncing goodness? Thanks to Easy Phone Sync software (available in Google Play) you’ll be able to use your iTunes data with your Galaxy phone, at least in the UK. Samsung partnered up with Media Mushroom, the developers of Easy Phone Sync and now offers a Windows or Mac app along with the phone application to facilitate the transfer of your valuable bits and bytes.

Great news for recent iOS deserters, but who knows how Apple will react. They have updated iTunes in the past to disallow non-Apple devices from syncing (ehem, Palm), so, if you’re in the UK (or know how to set up a VPN connection) go ahead and bring these two competing worlds together, one USB cable at a time.

Via [Android Central]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Mozilla says "something big" is coming next week and it looks like an updated Firefox for Android

It is looking like Android users will be seeing an update for the Firefox mobile browser sometime next week. The details, or should we say teaser, have come by way of the official Firefox Twitter account who offered the above image with a note that read;

“Firefox for Android. Something BIG is coming your way next week.”

That message was sent with the link to the image which as you can see shows the words “Fast. Smart. Safe.” We suspect that anyone loading a third party browser on their Android smartphone will be happy to get an update that brings additional speed along with smarter and safer browsing. With that, we will be patiently waiting. Oh heck, who are we kidding, come Monday morning we are going to be frantically checking Google Play for the update.

Via [Firefox on Twitter]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Cricket Wireless officially launches the iPhone 4 & 4S with prices beginning at a contract-free $399

We had known the release was coming, but as always, it is nice to see that it happened without delay. Simply put, it looks like those in the US now have another option when it comes to buying an iPhone 4 or 4S. The latest carrier is Cricket Wireless who have the iPhone 4 priced at $399.99 and the iPhone 4S priced at $499.99. Keep in mind, these are contract-free prices. Otherwise, both the 4 and 4S are available in black or white. The iPhone 4S is the 16GB model and the iPhone 4 is 8GB. Cricket has the iPhone paired with their $55 per month smartphone plan which includes unlimited talk, unlimited messaging (text, picture and video) and 2.5GB of 3G mobile data. And lastly, those who order an iPhone online with Cricket will get free overnight shipping.

Via [Cricket Wireless]

• Email to a friend • Article Search • View comments • Track comments •

Credit card fraud criminals get caught buying $1 million of Apple goods, now in jail

A group of criminals that purchased and sold Apple products using stolen credit card information has been busted. The family-oriented ring, composed of brothers, girlfriends and recruited shoppers was under investigation by the US Secret Service and the Manhattan District Attorney, and 16 people have been convicted, with 7 with pending charges.

“Bilal’s brothers, Ali, 25, Isaac, 27, and Rahim, 23, recruited the shoppers, the prosecutors said. His girlfriend, Ophelia Alleyne, 31, handled day-to-day operations in 2010, when Bilal was jailed in another case.
“This criminal organization was truly a family affair,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement.”

The organization had bought $1 million worth of iPod, iPad, iPhone and Macbooks and sold them in Brooklyn, NY, for the past 4 years. Its great to see the legal system in action, and its especially comforting to see the Secret Service being in the news for work-related affairs.

Via [The Chicago Tribune]