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Multitasking Earbuds Stress Great Design, Not Sound

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:41 +0000

Product: Remix Remote Earbuds

Manufacturer: V-MODA

Wired Rating: 6

V-Moda’s new Remix Remote earbuds are a fender bender at the intersection of form and function. While the design is loud and eye catching the audio impact is fairly negligible.

The black and silver ‘buds fit comfortably in ear and deliver mediocre sound: mids and highs are decent but lows are crappy and there’s little separation. They’re also supposed to invoke the sense of listening to live music. That isn’t quite true; never once did the Remixes fool us into thinking we were in a concert hall. What is true? How well they deflect outside noise. During our testing we completely missed someone shouting at us on the street as we were rocking out to ’90s pop tunes. (Janet Jackson what?!)

The earbuds also double as a hands-free set. There’s a lightweight, built-in remote that lets you easily switch between music and calls with the touch of a button. However, the included plastic supports (for securing the buds to your ears while running) cause the remote to rise to just a few inches below the chin. This proved to be a bit awkward; the remote bangs against your chest if you’re out for a jog.

Call clarity was good on our end, but callers consistently had a hard time hearing what we were saying.

At best the Remixes are a hundred-dollar headphone upgrade — certainly better than the standard issue crud buds Apple doles out with its products. At worst, they’re fancy looking, yet curiously effective, earplugs.

WIRED Want to tune out the rest of the world? Shove these in your ears. Easy to toggle between headphone and hands-free mode.

TIRED We’ve heard better sound from similar priced earbuds. Woeful mic fuzzes the punch line of your awesome jokes.

Street Fighter IV At The Apple App Store

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:41 +0000

San Francisco is hosting the Game Developer’s Conference this week with one of the attendees being Capcom, developers of portable Apple version of Street Fighter IV.

As of last night, the game has been released on at the Apple app store and is compatible with both the iPhone and iPod touch. You can download the game for $9.99 which comes with a Dojo training mode to brush up on your fighting skills or you can just go straight into competition. A total of 8 combatants are also available including Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Abel, M. Bison, Blanka and Dhalsim.

One of the criticisms of the Apple version of Street Fighter IV was the use of a virtual thumbstick and four controller buttons on the touchscreen. As was to be expected, reviews on this are mixed with some adjusting just fine to the new format while others missing the use of the physical hardware. However Bluetooth technology is a component of the game so if you really want to take it to the street and go multiplayer, that option is available.

USA Today

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Street Fighter IV At The Apple App Store |
Apple News | Post tags: Apple

Twitter URL Shortener To Combat Phishing Scams

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:41 +0000

If you’ve used the 140 character social networking site, Twitter, for any length of time, you’ve probably been inundated with direct messages pushing everything from online pharmacies to the best porn sites and everything in between.

Many of these spam messages are also laced with website addresses that result in Twitter users falling victim to a phishing scam. Up until now, Twitter has had a more reactive approach with these malicious links by undoing any damage as necessary including unlocking and/or resetting hacked Twitter accounts as necessary as well as suspending the offending accounts.

However, things are about to change according to Del Harvey, the director of Twitter’s Trust and Safety team. According to a blog post on the company website, Twitter has developed a URL shortener similar to what Google introduced some time back to assist with their ranking methology. With Twitter, website links sent either through an email notification or a direct message will be shortened using the twt.tl shortener.

By deploying this technology, Twitter has effectively launched their own anti-spam program as they will be able to identify and intercept malicious links as well as prevent their spread. Twitter will also be able to neutralize bad links that were sent by an email notification that resulted in their users clicking on the link.

Via: TFTS, Gaj-it

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Twitter URL Shortener To Combat Phishing Scams |
Online News | Post tags: google, Twitter

Rock Band 3 By 2010 Holiday Season

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:41 +0000

Rock Band 3 will be released later this year and just in time for the Christmas shopping season. The game is the third installment of this highly popular music franchise with Harmonix Music Systems confirming that MTV Games will be responsible for the publication of the game while Electronic Arts will handle the distribution duties. A similar arrangement amongst the trio was also in place with launch of the earlier titles: Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band.

According to a Facebook status update, Rock Band 3 “will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again.” However, specifics about the new game are few. We don’t have any information about which gaming platforms will be supported though the earlier versions were available for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Playstation 3 and Wii.

Additionally, it’s not clear if Rock Band 3 will offer an import function similar to what what present in version 2 whereby gamers could import music from the original game for a fee of $5.

As the launch date approaches, this information as well as details about new features and song selections will become apparent.

Via: USA Today, CNET

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Rock Band 3 By 2010 Holiday Season |
Online Gaming | Post tags: gaming, Playstation, wii, xbox 360

Dell Mini 5 “Streak” Leaked

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:41 +0000

We knew that the Dell Mini 5 tablet pc will be launching in the US and we’ve heard quite about the Dell tablet as of late. When the tablet does launch in the US, it’s expected to be branded as the Dell Streak.

The hardware specifications on this Android tablet will include a 5-inch WVGA touchscreen display with 800×480 pixel resolution as well as an accompanying 5MP integrated digital camera with auto-focus/flash, a front facing camera for video conferencing and a 30-pin docking connector.

What’s new with today’s leak is the variety of color finishes available including Red, Pink, Blue, Black and several custom Dell Design Studio finishes. Assuming the leak is accurate, expect to see the Dell Streak also come packaged with an Amazon content partnership deal which will result in a full suite of Amazon apps (book reader, video streaming app, audio player) bundled on the tablet.

Now all we need is verification of a release date and final launch price.

Via: Engadget, ZDNET

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Dell Mini 5 “Streak” Leaked |
Consumer Electronics | Post tags: Dell

Pentax 645D With 40MP Sensor

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:40 +0000

There have been a few teasers about an upcoming Pentax DSLR which has now been made official. The Pentax 645D medium format DSLR comes with a 40 megapixel sensor lens that has been developed by Kodak as well as an AFOX IX+ autofocus system with 11 sensor points.

Additionally, it includes a large glass prism viewfinder with an approximate 98% field of view, a 3.0-inch color LCD with 921k pixel resolution and dual memory card slots that support both SD and SDHC cards.

The digital camera also features lightweight construction that keeps the total weight down to 1480g (with battery and 2 SD cards), yet its semi-rugged construction that includes a magnesium-steel-alloy frame and 70 seals reduces the risk of physical damage as well as offers a degree of protection from the weather and dust.

The camera will retail in the Japanese market this May for about $9,500 USD with an additional $1,100 needed for lens. There are no further details as to if this camera will be released in North America.

Via: Electronista, Inquistr, Ubergizmo

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Pentax 645D With 40MP Sensor |
Digital Camera Gadgets | Post tags: kodak, Pentax

Sceptre 24-inch Chrome LCD TV

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:40 +0000

A shiny chrome finish is something that is typically found on high priced cars and motorcycles that are often accompanied with images of vehicle owners wiping clean the chrome trim. It’s not something normally seen with computer equipment, though Sceptre is about to change that with their 24-inch chrome LCD TV.

The X240CC-FHD looks great. The display comes with 1080p video support, 1920×1080 pixel resolution, 4000:1 contrast ratio and a 2ms response time, thereby offering a good home entertainment experience and if you’re looking for a “green solution”, this display has you covered there as well as it is Energy Star 3.0 compliant and is said to use 40% less electricity.

The functionality of the chrome display is further expanded with the inclusion of a USB 2.0 port that can be used to serve up digital pictures or tracks from your music collection.

The only challenge with a chrome finish is reflective glare, especially if the device is positioned near a window that is prone to receive an abundance of natural sunlight. However, with technology moving into all areas of the home, this device would certainly complement the stainless steel appliances in the kitchen if you so choose.

The chrome HD LCD TV is available through a variety of big box stores such as K-Mart, Target and Costco and if you’re preference is to buy online, that can be done through newegg.com with pricing set at $399. As a final note, the chrome finish is not the only choice available. The displays are also available in pink, red, black and blue, though chrome is what sets it apart.

Via: Slash Gear, Hexus

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Sceptre 24-inch Chrome LCD TV |
Consumer Electronics | Post tags: display, lcd, Sceptre

New Hard Drive Technology Could Impact XP Users

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:40 +0000

Officially, Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows XP end of life date will be in 2014 and until that date, Microsoft will continue to release security patches for the XP operating system. By 2014, a significant number of users will have already upgraded from XP to Windows 7, but there will be many that will remain on the older OS until support has terminated. We have seen this in the past with other Microsoft operating systems as well.

However, a recent report from the BBC appears to indicate that upcoming hard drive technology that could be available as early as 2011 may force XP users to upgrade if and when their hard drives fail. Since the days of the DOS operating system, formatted hard drives came with blocks that were 512 bytes in size. Back then, hard drives were small and so a smaller block size was not an issue.

Today, large hard drives are common with 1TB drives and up seeming to be the standard. With the larger sizes, maintaining a smaller 512 byte sector is inefficient resulting in wasted space due to the requirement of a small gap between sectors. As such, hard drive technology will adopt a new standard of 4k sector sizes which amounts to eight times less wasted space.

Operating systems such as Windows 7, Vista, OS X Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard all function normally with the 4k sector size, but XP was released before the 4k sector size was finalized and hence is not compatible. There is some discussion currently underway to have the new hard drives emulate or pretend to use 512 sector sizes so that XP works correctly. The only issue with this is XP users will notice a slow down in write speeds which could make “a drive 10% slower.”

Via: BBC, Gadget Venue

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

New Hard Drive Technology Could Impact XP Users |
Online News | Post tags: microsoft, XP

Google Apps Marketplace

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:40 +0000

The industry trend for some time now has been to develop a product and to subsequently launch a marketplace that offers additional applications and functionality for the base software. Google already has this with their Android marketplace for Android devices and now, the search giant has launched a Google Apps marketplace which over time will extent the functionality of a users Google apps account.

As Google puts it:

The Google Apps Marketplace offers products and services designed for Google users, including installable apps that integrate directly with Google Apps. Installable apps are easy to use because they include single sign-on, Google’s universal navigation, and some even include features that integrate with your domain’s data.

The marketplace is still in its infancy but given enough time, this has the real potential of growing into a valuable resource and could potentially offer a wide variety of tools ranging from basic accounting to customer management.

So far, there are some free applications available, but there are also over 50 companies that are selling paid applications, including Intuit Online Payroll, Manymoon (project management) and Professional Services Connect (PS Connect) for real time decision analysis.

Be sure to check out the YouTube video below that further details about the integration process.

Via: Gadget Venue, Google Blog

© Coolest Gadget Reviews, 2010.

Coated brings you the coolest gadgets and best geek toys.

Google Apps Marketplace |
Online News | Post tags: google

Motorola’s Backflip Will Make You Come Unhinged

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:58:15 +0000

Product: Backflip Smartphone

Manufacturer: Motorola

Wired Rating: 5

It’s about time Motorola did something crazy. The Cliq was predictably sleek. The Droid was pragmatically chunky. But AT&T’s new Backflip is just … odd.

At first glance the touchscreen channels the Cliq, but flipping it over reveals an exposed QWERTY keyboard. The phone opens like a reverse clamshell, and once you swing the keyboard around through 180 degrees, it’s facing you, resting beneath the screen. And, get this — hidden away on the back of the touchscreen is a small navigational touchpad (called the “Backtrack”) used for scrolling and selecting menu items.

Of course, this odd design choice inspired a slew of questions around the office: “Won’t the exposed keyboard type in your pocket?” (No.) “Will it snap if you open it the wrong way?” (Absolutely.) “Wait, so that touchie-nippley thing is on the back? Why?!” (We don’t know either.)

At 4.7 ounces it has a satisfying pocket weight, and its slightly cramped 3.1-inch touchscreen — though not as vibrant as other phones — is mostly responsive. We were able to squeeze out 320 minutes of talk time, while also tinkering with the usual multimedia and productivity accoutrements (music, video, GPS, 3G/WiFi data, and mobile TV).

Despite its running an older version of Google’s Android OS (1.5), all the bread-and-butter phone features make cameos on the Backflip and perform as expected.

Unfortunately, even though this is AT&T’s first Android phone, it isn’t a blank canvas like the Nexus One or Droid. Like T-Mobile’s Cliq, the Backflip runs the Motoblur Android skin. This take on the Android OS eschews the standard, grid-like home screen in favor of a widget-based user interface. On the bright side, these widgets are customizable and run the gamut in terms of functionality: News, weather, search and a bevy of social networking sites are all fair game.

Unfortunately, running more than a handful of these widgets simultaneously proves problematic. Not only does the Backflip’s 528-MHz processor start to get sluggish, but the on-screen presentation of simultaneously updated feeds from Facebook/Twitter/E-mail/Text/Weather/RSS is of location-aware, real-time data. It’s just too much.

Motorola attempts to address this by offering multiple home screens (accessible via left- and right-finger whisks), but there’s only so much one can do with 3.1 inches.

Although hardly great at presenting data, the Backflip’s icon-driven interface does offer a silver lining. With the right widget combination (and savvy placement), we were able to get a snapshot of every social facet of our lives on one screen.

However, when a co-worker asked to borrow the phone, we were suddenly a bit reluctant to hand it over. Why? Because pretty much anyone who sees the home screen has access to the explosion of personal data spewing out there. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing (unless you have secrets to keep), but it perfectly underscores our issues with the Backflip. On top of its plodding performance, the phone only excels at serving one type of user: the mobile-tweeting, Facebook-feeding, geo-tagging oversharer.

Unless you fall into that category, it’s just not worth bending over backwards to use the Backflip.

WIRED Creative design balances style and function. MicroSD port lets you pack it full of tunes. Supports Android Marketplace for app downloads. QWERTY keys are large, easy to use. Beefy hinge keeps the phone from swinging around wildly. 5-MP camera (with flash!) takes decent pictures. Charges through micro-USB port.

TIRED One of the weakest Android offerings to date. Replaces Android’s Google search with Yahoo. Underpowered and responds at a glacial pace while multitasking. Filled with AT&T-branded bloatware. Flimsy battery door. Screen is too small for its icon-heavy UI.