As promised in my earlier review post, we have a giveaway for the Gadgetell readers. Up for grabs is one set of Kicker EB51 ear buds and one set of Kicker EB71 ear buds.

Due to the fact that we have two sets, we are going to have two winners.

So, with two sets of ear buds and two winners it only seems logical that we give you two ways to enter.

• Leave a comment below.
• Post the following message on Twitter.

  Contest Alert: I just entered to win a free set of Kicker earbuds on @gadgetell http://tinyurl.com/gtellkicker #gadgetell #kicker

Each person can enter the giveaway two times. In other words, each person can leave one comment and tweet one message.

Finally, this contest will run until 5PM EST on Friday November 27, 2009. Good luck!

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Last night at CES Unveiled, Dual showed off two products to take note of.  One was a stereo head featuring an innovative flip down iPod dock that costs just $99 and is found at Wal-Mart.  The other was a GPS adapter every iPod touch owner should have.  Both products looked to be priced below what I’d be willing to pay for them.

The XML8110 in-dash stereo head is pretty clever.  While many of us rely on a cradle and cables to broadcast our tunes over FM radio, this stereo head flips down to reveal an iPod dock and specific iPod controls.  At just $99, I can’t vouch for the sound quality yet, though I’d guess it is better than the FM transmitter I’ve got working now.  Beyond clever, the company is building an iPhone app to allow easier music controls at arms length.  The dock charges the phone in addition to relaying the sound to your system.  The head is available at Wal-Mart.

The XGPS300 is even more clever.  Besides being a GPS unit that connects to iPod touch (both generations), it can function as a back up battery.  The GPS works as you’d suspect, a whopping 2.2GB but free app from the app store turns your iPod touch into a sweet personal navigation device with ease.  The GPS/battery case also comes with a dashboard mount.  The case can be plugged in to both DC power when in the car and has an AUX output for your tunes.

Every question I fired at the rep came back with the answer I hoped for.  The unit is impressive and costs just $179.99 and should be shipping by months end.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

This latest release by Slacker seems to be following in the path of their recent decision to phase out of the hardware business—the good news is that there is now a Slacker app available in the Android Market.

The Android app, similar to the one for the iPhone and BlackBerry will allow you to enjoy Slacker as well as your customized music experience on the go. I will say that I downloaded, installed and began using the Slacker app yesterday and at least on my HTC Hero, it seems to run much nicer than Pandora. Of course, that was just in my unscientific testing.

Anyway, like I said the app runs well and is very nice. In fact the only drawback that I see is that it does not allow you to cache music for offline use. Which is something that you can do with the BlackBerry app. Possibly that is coming in a future version.

Additionally, Slacker will allow you to listen for free. Of course, there is a paid version available. The free version however is pretty nice, as long as you do not mind the occasional advertisement and being limited to skipping only 6 songs per hour. Those interested will be able to find the Slacker app in the Android Market.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

ZAGG is perhaps best known for their gadget skin protection that used to be on edges of helicopter blades.  Today, the company through us a bit of curve ball: they started talking about a product the company will unveil at CES in January, the ZAGG box.  As catchy as that name is, we still ask, “what’s a ZAGG box?”

Described by the company as “major technology”, the ZAGG box is the culmination of 6 years and $35 million.  At this point, it seems tough to classify exactly what this thing does: it is a media aggregator, will record, store and stream your media in multiple formats so you can watch on TV or on your iPhone (or other mobile device), and don’t forget home automation: it can hook into your HVAC, lighting or even door locks and control them.  Good luck figuring out what aisle to put this thing in at Best Buy.

“We are introducing a game-changing technology with the ZAGGbox which will appeal to everyone from geeks to grandmas,” said Brian Packer, VP of Marketing of ZAGG. “It is a very powerful system, and very simple to use.”

The ZAGG dream machine is said to cost “under $999” and should be formally launched in January 2010 shipping late Q1.  The unit was announced a finalist in the I-Stage event put on by the CEA, (Producers of Consumer Electronics Show -CES).

Press release [ZAGG]

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This news hardly comes as surprising, but according to Jim Cady who is the current president of Slacker, the G2 will be phased out sometime during the second half of 2010.

According to the details given, the hardware player does not “fit with the company’s long-term strategy” which is shifting towards the online music service as well as mobile apps.  In other words, Slacker is ditching the G2 and not coming back with any new hardware based player to replace it. 

Slacker currently offers a streaming service that is browser based as well an app for Windows based PC’s.  Additionally, they also offer mobile apps for devices to include the iPhone and BlackBerry.  Both mobile apps are nice, however the iPhone does not allow the ability to cache music for offline use, the BlackBerry on the other hand does. 

In terms of making money, Slacker is currently ad-supported, but they also have a paid option available that costs $3.99 per month.  Those that subscribe lose the ads and also get the complete song lyrics and the ability to skip an unlimited amount of tracks.

Finally, for those still interested in the hardware G2 player, it is still available and selling both on the Slacker website and also at big-box retailer Best Buy.

Read [WSJ]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

This morning, Michael Arrington over at TechCrunch has it from multiple sources that Google is prepping some sort of music service for the US.  It is unknown if it is a download service to compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon or if it is a streaming service such as Pandora or Last.fm.  What is known is Google has a tendency to disrupt the market.

From GMail to Google Docs to search, Google has shown it can hit a home run.  In contemplating Google’s big push into mobile with Android, I can’t help coming back to this move must have something to do with getting music on Android phones.  Here are two scenarios that Google could disrupt the market:

Download service

If Google has a download service for devices running Android (or just anyone with a computer) the party most likely harmed is Amazon.  Apple’s products are so tightly integrated with iTunes that most consumers don’t give downloading from Apple a second thought: it just works and it is darn easy.  Unless a significant value proposition is made, little will change.

Streaming service

If Google plans to stream music from the net (either for devices or just through a browser) we still might see some changes in music purchasing behavior.  If you’ve tried Pandora’s app on the iPhone while long distance driving, you might be as impressed with the idea as I am.  Having all that music at your finger tips is powerful and dare I say, fun.

Integrating this concept into Android or into browsers opens up the advertising opportunities and Google is an advertisement serving company.  My money is on Google getting into the streaming game though it will be interesting to see if they can make it simpler than Pandora, whose UI couldn’t be more streamlined.

Read: [TechCrunch]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

What is it?

The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are “enhanced definition isolation earphones” with a MSRP of $59.99.

What’s in the box?

• Earbuds
• 4 pairs of eartips
• 2.5-mm stereo plug adapter
• Airline dual-plug adapter
• 2 foot extension cable
• Shirt clip
• Carrying case
• User guide

The Good

One of the first things you notice about the headphones is a tag that says that you should “burn in” the earphones by playing music for 8-10 hours.  I have not seen that before on a set of headphones.  The audio quality out of the box was good and was a little better after the burn in period.  Generally, audio quality was very good.  Compared to the standard iPod earbuds, you get much better bass response and clearer sound all around.  The style of the earbuds allows for you to listen to your audio without needing to crank up the volume all the way.  The eartips act as earplugs so you can hear your audio source and not somebody sitting next to you. 

The headphones are quite versatile with multiple eartips so you can find your perfect fit.  A quick tip, your ears may not require the same sized eartip in each ear.  Don’t be afraid to admit your ears are not perfectly symmetrical. 

The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are very light, so you won’t have to worry about them falling out of your ears due to their own weight. 

For a $59.99 MSRP, you get lots of accessories to go with your headphones.  Simple things like a shirt clip and carrying case can be helpful if you wear your headphones on the go (like most everyone does).  I’ve torn up several headphone wires in my bag, but with an included carrying case, that’s less likely to happen with the iM-590.  The addition of an airline adapter, 2.5-mm adapter, and extension cable is also helpful because it can be used with any pair of headphones. 

The Bad

Many headphone cables are covered in plastic, the iMetal iM-590 wires are covered in nylon.  The nylon cable is water resistant, but not waterproof, so it might not be the best for the gym.  The cable won’t be damaged because the internal wires are coated, but the nylon could get wet.

The Crux

 
The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones provide a very good listening experience for a reasonable price.  If you are the type of person who bristles at the idea of $99+ headphones but wants good audio quality, the iMetal iM-590 may be the earbuds for you.

Product Page: [Maximo]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Livescribe, producer of the Pulse smartpen that can record writing as well as audio (voice) is expanding its line to include a pair of pens with different memory options as well as a business-focused pro pack bundle.  In the battle to replace pen and paper, the Pulse pen is an impressive tool that should be on students wish lists this holiday season.

The Pulse pen’s big draw for me is the ability to search through your notes.  Once uploaded to your computer, your notes become so much more valuable as the software identifies the words and allows you to search through them.  The audio can also be cued up and matched to your notes so you can review the salient points instead of tangents professors have a tendency to ramble on about for hours.

The Pulse Smartpen line up will now feature two models with memory of 2 GB and 4 GB.  Priced at $169 and $199, the pens come with special paper that allow special functions and desktop software to upload the data from the pen.  The 4 GB version is capable of recording 400 hours of audio.  Tough professors don’t stand a chance against the Pulse Pen.

For $249, the Pro Pack bundle paints the 4 GB pen black, includes a stand up charger and premium leather case.  The full line up is available now.  The Pulse Smartpen is available from the company, Target, Best Buy, Apple Stores, and Staples.

Product page: [livescribe] via [Venture Beat]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

What is it?

The i2i Stream is a pair of devices that lets you wirelessly stream audio from one device to another that has a list price of $119.95, but you can find it online for lower. 

What’s in the box?

• 2 i2i Streams
• 2 12” audio cables
• 2 28” audio cables
• 2 USB cables
• 2 neck lanyards
• 2 belt clips
• 1 user guide

The Good

The devices do exactly what i2i says it does.  Each device can serve as either the transmitter or receiver which is pretty handy.  You can pair multiple receivers to one transmitter.  You hook up one transmitter to the audio source and then plug in your headphones to the receiver.  The i2i stream makes any pair of headphones wireless.  The i2i guys don’t skimp on what you get with the device with plenty in the package.

The devices charge over USB using mini USB cables.  There are no annoying proprietary power supplies here.  According to i2i, you can stream and charge at the same time.  Audio quality was quite good and sounded as if you were listening via regular headphones connected to a device.  The range of the Streams is around 30 feet and we had no problems pairing the devices or staying within that range.  Multiple receivers can pair with one transmitter.

In the home, you could use the i2i to build a multi-room audio set up.  So if you are watching a movie in your living room, you can have the audio repeating in your kitchen as you go for a snack.  Additionally, since it makes any set of headphones wireless, you can use this with your A/V receiver for private listening via headphones without needing a long extension cord. 

The Bad

The price is a bit hefty at $119.95 and there is no user replaceable battery. 

The In-betweens

This is strictly an audio streaming device and cannot replace a mp3 player.  A micro SD card slot may have been nice so you can just carry this as a screenless MP3 player.  I mention these additions due to the price. 

The Crux

For the most part, there is not much to the i2i stream.  It sends and receives audio and it does that well.  The audio quality is good, but you better have a good use for it before you buy it. 

Product Site: [i2i Stream]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Crack.  Snort it, lick it, heat it and smoke it; whatever their doing, the following companies seem to have had too much.  Local hospitals are on alert.  The police force is notified.  Let’s take a look at who looks to be on the rock this week:

Table the Tablets

Every blogger that says 2010 is the year of the tablet, take one step closer to rehab.  Yes, Brian Chen, I am looking at you.  2010 may be the year some of these dream machines finally get stateside but it will be far from everyone’s favorite.  The answer is as easy as q-w-e-r-t-y.

Typing on your touchscreen smartphone is pretty easy, right?  Sure it is, you tap away with your thumbs at blazing speeds.  Now imagine your shiny new lust-worthy tablet is between your hands; now start typing.  Whoa!  Hold up there cowboy.  OK fine you say, I’ll just put the tablet down on my table and type.  But then you can’t see the screen anymore, and lap typing?  The only thing going on my lap is dancing, thank you very much.

Microsoft is ready to hit the buzzer at this point with their Courier videos.  “Stylus, stylus” they shout.  BZZZP.  No, sorry thank you for playing.  I don’t see us all going back in time to learn PDA Graffiti, do you? 

So were are stuck without a decent way to input text and without it, these dream machines will be more of a punch line at a party in six months.

The revenge of Windows Mobile

Proving that the geniuses in Redmond have more lives than a cat, their new preview of Windows 6.5 dropping soon looks pretty darn good.  I’d written them off but just like Motorola, they seem to have something going.  Our Editor-about-town got a hands on with the new OS and came away surprised.

Love the new look of Windows Mobile?  Thank Apple.  Competition rules, look it up.

Walmart hates Zune HD - wants you to too

This is my favorite story of the week.  I found working units of Apple iPods alongside bricked Zune HDs in my local Walmart.  WTF?  Who’s idea of a fair fight is this?  And that is just it: it isn’t a fair fight but I still am unsure who is rigging it.  Walmart?  Apple?  MS?  Who’s the culprit here?  Who is complicit?

I don’t like the smell of this and plan on finding out.

iPhone exclusivity ends

Hot dog!  Wait, oh what’s that?  Not in the US?  Bummer.

Seems Apple didn’t renew or didn’t chain themselves to a carrier long term overseas and are opening up the field.  Sweet, for them.

Meanwhile, back in the US, where the iPhone is still the rock star, bloggers question whether the iPhone is hurting AT&Ts image.  How much longer will iPhone fans have to endure the antics of AT&T instead of their prefered carrier?  Only Apple, AT&T and I guess the FCC know for sure.  Yep, the FCC is still considering doing something about exclusive phones on carriers.  And you can bet that fight is all about the iPhone, now the Verizon Razzle.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

I finally got around to checking out the Zune HD yesterday.  Like everyone else, I hit up my local Walmart’s newly refurbished electronic area; no special press access for me, thanks.  I like to think of it not as a snub from MS, but more along the lines that Ballmer and Co get me: I want to experience the device like a consumer would.

I found the new electronics department really nice.  I was drawn into the iPod area, took quick video on the new iPod nano, gawked at how impossibly thin they keep making the iPod touch and then saw the Zune HD.  There it sat waiting to be loved.

Physically, the player is a 10/10.  Great looks, great feel, a perfect size.  This thing is gorgeous.  But that is all I can tell you about the player thanks to the units not being powered.  Instead images were placed on their screens and would-be users can’t interact with the device.  Who wants to play with a brick?

Contrast that to the iPod where I figured out how to take video in all of 3 seconds or even the (IMO) crappy other players that littered the display next to the Zune.  How can consumers make a choice if someone was too cheap to make the units usable?  I have to assume this was Wal-Mart’s doing as they tend to script everything in their stores.

So without seeing the OLED screen, how the UI works (I can relate to older Zune models, but can consumers?), or getting the feel for the overall device, how can I choose anything besides the Apple products?  You would have to be a loyal Zunista to make an informed decision and we know that Microsoft can’t rely on that to keep the division going.

So what’s the deal?  Why does Walmart show non-working devices?  Did Microsoft look to cut some costs here?  Is it a conspiracy by Apple?  I’ve no idea, but tell us this: is your local Walmart showing off working Zunes?  Let us know in the comments and we’ll try to piece this one together.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sony is running some deals at their outlet store.  There are all kinds of deals available.  A Sony sound bar virtual surround sound system for under $150 (down from $240), the Webbie HD pocket cam for $99.99 (down from $169.99), televisions, computers, and even the old version of the 40GB PS3 for $219.99.  What’s the catch?  All these products are refurbished.  If you don’t mind your product being used by someone else, fixed by Sony, and then sent to you, this could be a good time to pick up some nice stuff on the cheap.  The PS3 is on backorder, but you can still order it at the $219 price and Sony will e-mail you when it ships.  This is a weekly deal so it will run out soon.

Store: [Sony Outlet]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome to this week’s Who’s on Crack where we delve into what appears to be narcotic-induced moves in the tech world.  This week, we’ll get as far as looking up info on a facility upstate for:

• Zune HD launches without an app store
• Look at Bing
• NYT wants into your computer
• iPhone accessories must stop

Microsoft decides it can’t compete with iPod, so it doesn’t

With all those “there’s an app for that” commercials that Apple seems to run around the clock, we would have to assume MS doesn’t watch TV.  MS launched the new Zune HD to almost no fanfare this week.  Interestingly, the new Zune HD isn’t going to be focused on apps.  It is focused on the music, dude.

Really?  And then your response is “Well, that’s not my job, that’s what the Windows Mobile is doing.”  Really, MS?  Can the Zune run Windows Mobile apps?  Did you not say this as you wouldn’t want it to seem like Windows Mobile team is dragging their feet in getting this deal together?  Then why launch now?

Even if you disagree that the rock is flowing up in Redmond consider this: the Zune HD doesn’t display video in HD.  It’s called that for HD radio.  You know, the super-awesome feature that features music ID.  The bonehead station near me displays “Everlong - Foo Fighters” for the next hour, no matter who is playing.  Genius.  And my dial up connect is broadband (there is a rubber band on my modem that has a picture of Betty Boop, ergo a “broad band”).  How do these ideas make it out of the Men’s room?

Bing goes visual

Awesome.  Forget text with its precise keywords and such, images are worth a thousand words, right?  Well, not so much when it comes to search engines as Bing launched its new visual search this week.  Our Shawn Ingram explains: “the idea of visual search is that users, when searching for terms, rather than seeing lines of text will see images of what they’re searching for.  Those images can then be sorted to refine the search.  For example, searching HDTVs will show images of all different HDTVs, while on the sidebar there are options to limit the search by brand, price, size, resolution, etc.”

Hmm.  OK, so in searching for a HDTV, the first step is to show me some pictures of black rectangles?  Fantastic help, Bing-o!  That is why you are beating the pants off Google, your black rectangle concept is the new black.  How did Google miss this?  Oh, wait, they didn’t; they’ve had this for sometime.  What?  The Bing layout is pretty much a copy of the Google layout?  I am sure that won’t help them confuse the experience with Google.  Hold up, how is Bing even still alive at this point?  What’s next week, the intro of BMail? Bdocs?  Bing Maps?  Come on, we are not fooled.

NYT hosts malicious ads

It used to be you had be hanging out in all the bad places on the net to get some malicious stuff on your computer.  Not so much anymore, in fact, places like the New York Times have become the latest victim of serving up poisoned ads.  Our Sue Walsh had this to say,

It is not yet clear how the malicious ads ended up on the site, but it’s likely it was either unwittingly served by one of the ad networks the Times uses (it’s a fairly common scammer technique to pose as a legit advertiser, join an ad network and then poison it with a rogue ad which it will then serve to all the other sites in its network.).  Aside from the warning it posted, the Times had had no comment about the matter.

As if the newspaper didn’t have enough trouble or was this more?  Was this a way for the newspaper to try to find a new income source?  I mean, if subscribers are not paying the bill, advertising fell out of the bottom, pay walls are not working, have not we driven them to trying to get paid by spammers and scareware folks?  I am not saying NYT was on the take from these guys, but really, what other way to make money do they have?  Color me unsurprised.

iPhone accessorie ad infinitum

Today in my mailbox came a press release about a pink stylus for the iPhone.  Wrong freakin’ guy to send this too.  I’ll assume it’s pink for the ladies, because as geeks, we’ve no idea how to cater to women, except to color it pink.  Awesome, but it gets better.

Stylus?  We all left Windows Mobile, so enough with the stylus.  It was cool back in the late 90s but today, it is just silly.  Yes, there are folks out there (not just women, thank you very much) who have long fingernails and the iPhone’s capacitive screen presents some challenges.  But much like the cocaine craze of the late 80s (thank you, Don Johnson), you trim a nail for this purpose and move on with life.  You don’t go sourcing a stylus to solve this.

Then there is this story over at Appletell, which I read all the time, about a keyboard that slips over the iPhone so you can have tactile buttons.  Bill Stiteler starts off with: “There are some people who hate the iPhone’s virtual keyboard: especially those who are more familiar with the Blackberry.” 

My advice for those folks: Don’t get a frickin’ iPhone!  Can you imagine the fun of sliding your phone in and out of this just to perform basic things on the phone?  It would be enough to justify mental duress.  If you need buttons, get a device with buttons.  Stop giving companies the idea that you’ll buy something like this $30 waste of everyone’s time.  The company surely can make something that addresses a real problem, not the 3.67% of you that want your iPhone to do something different.

Please stop making this stuff, Bill can write about other things, I promise.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Take a look at the soon-to-be released ViewSonic MovieBook, a personal media player with a MSRP of $149.99 (which probably means around $100 street).  So why talk about this media player over others?  The ViewSonic MovieBook can play lots of video and audio formats at a low price.  Take a look at the list: AVI, FLV, MPA, MOV, PMP, MPG, VOG, DAT, RM/RMVB, H.264 and H.263 and MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, APE, OGG and DTS/AC3.

If you have a video collection on your PC that is encoded in various formats and you don’t feel like re-encoding everything, the ViewSonic MovieBook starts to look a lot more interesting.  ViewSonic does not make you install any software to add files as that is done by drag and drop.  Also, if you’re having a hard time justifying the cost of an external battery pack for your super-cell phone, maybe carrying another PMP is the solution?

Apart from movies, the device can play music and display photos on its 4.3-inch screen at a resolution of 800 x 480.  The MovieBook also has a HD out and can display 720p video using component video cables.  There is even a remote control included so you can control the MovieBook from afar.  This version of the MovieBook does not have a touch screen, but ViewSonic is looking to bring that feature to a later version in the future. 

There is 8GB of internal storage which is expandable using the Micro SD port.  Battery life is expected to be at around five hours for video and six hours for audio.  The MovieBook will come in three colors: pink, white, and black. 

The interface is very similar to the Sony cross-navigation on the PSP and PS3.  The layout of the interface was clear, although a redesign of the hard buttons could help the navigation.  Video looked good on that 4.3-inch screen and the player was surprisingly light.  It weighs about the same as a BlackBerry at around 10 ounces (300 grams).  If this device becomes available at a $99 price point, it might do very well.

Company Site: [ViewSonic]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

While Microsoft is busy releasing the Zune HD today, Archos also pushed out its Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet on Amazon.com.  It might not be the redemption of a formerly flailing brand, though it is possibly a bit more interesting that the Zune HD.  While the Zune HD is being pushed as a major iPod competitor, the Archos 5 is being pushed as an Internet tablet that also has a wide range of media capabilities.

The Archos 5 is an interesting device in that it packs GPS and 3.5G HSDPA support into what could be used predominantly as a media player of Internet tablet.  It runs on Android, though it can only use a small number of Android apps - that list does include popular apps such as Twidroid, Craigsphone, and eBuddy.  What really shines on the Archos 5, however, is the sheer number of codecs supported.  Unless you have a media file that’s wrapped in DRM from Apple, Microsoft, or other places that at one point used DRM, chances are it will work on the Archos 5.  It can play back H.264 HD, MPEG-4 HD, MPEG-47, Flac, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, MP3, and numerous others.  With the DVR Station the Archos 5 can record your favorite shows, output HD video to your HDTV, or even stream content to your PC.

The Archos 5, with all its features, despite being a bit larger than the Zune HD and iPod touch looks to outdo both devices easily.  It can handle many more codecs, and is not restricted to proprietary software of any kind.  It comes with either flash memory or hard-drive based options ranging from 8 GB to 500 GB (with the flash versions supporting microSD cards for expanded storage).  Heck, it even has a stand built in for when you want to set it down and watch the video.  With a price starting at $249.99, it could hopefully be the media player of choice for some.  It’s a great example of just what Android can do, and looks to be a great device.

Read [Archos]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today, the Zune HD launched to very little fanfare.  Early in, Twitter was abuzz with talk of problems getting the thing to work out of the box.  This player was supposed to be the best Microsoft’s Zune unit could bring out and early pics on talk was that it could best the legendary iPod touch.

Today, the headlines are full of the exact opposite.  Things like:
“Microsoft Zune Team Launches Latest Exercise in Futility”
Microsoft Zune HD: Cool, but no iPod killer
Zune HD launches today with app strategy as scattered as ever

Even tech-man Joshua Topolsky of Engadget tweeted, “sort of wowed by the pure trouble of getting this Zune HD working properly. Poorly played.”  What is going on?

One of the biggest surprises is the lack of an app store.  MS is working with developers on specific titles that they’ll offer to Zune users for free.  But as for an application market, the company line is that is something the Mobiles Window team is working on and we don’t want to duplicate efforts.  Yes, because having a successful app store would be a total waste of time.  Either your device is worth the investment in an app store or it isn’t.  The Zune team seems to think they can sidestep the Apple App Store success by not competing with it.

The device already has had its guts displayed for all to see over at anythingbutipod.com.  According to that site, written inside the device is “for our princess”.  The site explains: “For those wondering why the inside cover says “for our princess”, one of the Zune team members passed away during the development so they decided to dedicate this device to her. A very cool memorial. ”  Otherwise the guts are small.

Maybe all those folks that thought the Zune HD would burst on the scene had their attention diverted by a little French wonder from ARCHOS.  Also available today, the ARCHOS 5 Android MID launched via Amazon.com.  The device runs on Google’s Android OS and is music, GPS, internet and lots more all in one.  This one is a bit thicker than similar devices from Apple and Microsoft but worthy of a look, none the less.  Check out PC World’s first look here.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• Apple updates nano, adds camera
• iTunes 9 drops with new features
• Palm Pixi announced and Pre price drop
• Moto adopts Android
• Sprint says call anyone, it’s on us.
• AT&T says call any 5 people.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Greetings, crackheads!  Time for another round of everybody’s favorite game: (shout it with me) Who’s on Crack.  Since we last spoke, more and more companies are showing they might be on the rock by taking some rather unusual steps.  Let’s dig right in:

• Apple makes a mistake (gasp)
• Sprint speedballs into loving everyone
• Ms. Wood calls me out for mocking Walmart shoppers
• The iTunes versus Palm Pre saga continues.  Dad is going to get on the phone soon.

Apple trips up iPods

This whole time, maybe it was Steve Jobs’ liver that drove him to make the right decisions?  Now that Jobs has had a transplant, Apple is no longer at the top of their game.  Their choice to leave off a camera is going to hurt iPod touch sales.

If we can agree that many iPod sales are upgraders, Apple’s decision to leave off the camera is going to hurt them.  By believing touch sales would hurt iPhone sales, the camera got left off of Wednesday’s announcement.  A lower model got the nod with the iPod nano receiving the camera.  Now many iPod touch users that would have run out to buy the next thing Steve sells, just aren’t.

Take Charlie Sorrel over at Wired’s Gadget Lab: “If Apple had piled the features onto the Touch, the decision would be made, and Apple would have $400 of my money. As it is, I think I’ll wait.”  That sentiment is echoed all over the net.  Whoops.

Sprint goes off wagon, gets delusions of grandeur

Sprint’s made a bold move to allow their most favored customers (the ones paying the most, of course) the privilege of calling any mobile number at any time for gratis.  Take that Fav Five.  Suck it A-List.  Sit on it, Friends and Family.  Sprint is going for the jugular. 

Imagine the meeting this came up in: 4:30PM on a Friday.  Jimmy is two beers in when his boss asks, “So if you ran the company, what would you do differently?”  Jimmy looks up at his peers, feeling the beer prop up his self worth and says with a half-smile, “Do what they are afraid of.”  Beer or crack - you decide.

The move goes so far as put Sprint back in the hunt.  Even more impressive, Sprint is throwing this at current customers for free, automatically.  Will Sprint force Verizon or AT&T to expand their offerings or will they let Sprint go this one alone and see what damage they can do.  As it stands now, Sprint looks more and more tempting.

People watching on the net

I love nothing more than to sit and watch people all day long.  Strike that, I like to sit and make fun of people all day long.  Now, the net helps my addiction and make it a little creepy - I don’t have to leave home to do it.

Thanks to sites like People of Walmart.  Our Heather Wood explains, “When you log on the site, you get the pleasure of seeing a collection of photos of real life Walmart shoppers.  Some examples?  An overweight woman in a motorized scooter with an ‘I Like It From Behind’ t-shirt, a car in the parking lot with Confederate bra decals, and a guy dressed up as Tony the Tiger roaming the aisles.”

The result: I just lost a half hour giggling at the site.  Combine this with Lamebook and you’ve got a fun lunch break.  Points to Heather for correctly pegging my humor: grade school.

iTunes kicks Palm to the curb, again.

There was this girl in high school I had a crush on.  I found her phone number and proceeded to call her.  After deciding she wanted nothing to do with me, she wouldn’t take my calls.  So I pretended to be someone else from class, that worked once. 

That anecdote pretty much sums up the Apple/Palm relationship so far regarding the Pre syncing with iTunes.  iTunes 9 again hangs up on Palm so what is next?

Well, back to my story, the next time I called, her dad got on the phone and suggested I find a better way to spend my time.  So, will we soon hear about Mr. Jobs picking up the phone and telling Palm to go take a hike?  Or will the role of “Dad” be played by the Apple legal team? 

After all, I didn’t call her back again after that.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

So you’ve narrowed your choices down to the iPod nano, the Zune HD, and the iPod touch, but you have no idea which one to get.  Gadgetell has you covered.  We’ve got a flow chart to help make your decision! 

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today’s iPod refresh tipped Apple’s concerns over cannibalizing iPhone sales via the iPod touch.  Leaving the camera off the touch surprised many and even angered some.  The backside of this move presents this questions to consumers: Do you want a video camera or do you want all the fun you’ve been hearing about the App Store?

The iPod Nano got the video camera while the touch didn’t.  The nano looks like a great little device, but the iPod touch now looks a bit like the forgotten product: no new form factor, no new must have feature (yes, the high-end is 50% faster with more space, but is that must have?).  Customers in the market for an iPod now have to choose which feature is more important to them: Video or App Store.

Putting myself in the customer’s shoes, the choice isn’t an easy one.  Apple has advertised the heck out to the App Store so much that buying a device that can’t use it seems silly.  But the new Nano looks fantastic and having a video camera that small is bound to be interesting.

In theory, if video is the desired feature, iPod touch sales will suffer as demand is shifted to the Nano.  Is Apple saying we don’t want video that much or are they saying want it all? 

Apple’s theme for the event was “it’s only rock and roll but I like it” but should have been perhaps: impossible choices.  Interesting move, Apple.  What is your take, did Apple make an error in not giving the touch a camera?

Read [Appletell]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Apple event has come and gone and for the most part, we’re looking at evolutionary changes, not revolutionary ones.  The iPod nanos got the most new features with the addition of a video camera capable of recording VGA video, a microphone, FM radio, and a pedometer.  With the radio and pedometer, the iPod nano becomes even more workout friendly. 

The other iPods like the touch and the classic can handle more music and video thanks to larger capacities, but they did not see any external redesigns.  Apple is pushing the iPod touch as a gaming machine and dropped the price on the smallest capacity one to $199.  A new 64GB model was introduced at $399.  The pricing change looks to be to compete with Microsoft’s forthcoming Zune HD. 

iTunes got some new features that helps families with iTunes 9—it’s a lot easier to share and copy music between computers.  Apple also came out with “iTunes LPs” that are kind of a throwback—you’ve got photos, notes, and music.  For videos, there is “iTunes Extras” which gives you extra features, kind of like DVD special features on your downloaded video. 

iTunes 9 also brings app management for the iPhone and iPod touch so you can organize your apps on your computer instead of your touch screen device.  The Apple touch devices got some new features in software with the iPhone OS 3.1 which includes Genius for apps so now your phone can suggest apps the way the Genius feature could recommend music.  The biggest news might be that Steve Jobs returned to give the presentation. 

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Monster, makers of pricey cables and other home theater accessories, teamed with Dr. Dre to come out with Beats by Dr. Dre specialty headphones and ear buds.  Now, the line just got larger with the introduction of “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga.”

These headphones are marketed to the fashion conscious with a unique diamond-like shape for the earbuds.  Additionally, the Heartbeats will be available in three colors: black, red, and silver.  There will be several variations on these headphones with prices ranging from $99.95 to $149.95.  They will also have Monster’s “ControlTalk” which is a built in mic and remote for several iPods including the iPhone 3GS and the buttonless iPod shuffle. 

“Heartbeats by Lady Gaga are holistically designed to deliver the soundtrack of your life with clarity and power, as well as satisfy your passion for fashion.”

You’ve got to love ad copy sometimes.  Monster went all out on this one. The Hearbeats will be available in October, 2009. 

Product Site: [Heartbeats by Lady Gaga]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories. This week there’s plenty to cover:

• Take Two pays out $20M for Hot Coffee
• Apple announced event for 09/09/09
• Gmail fails for 100 minutes, millions confused
• eBay sells majority share of Skype
• Opera 10 Released
• There can be only one Zune
• WinMo 6.5 coming October 6th
• NYU starts “Guitar Hero” themed course

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Photo from CruchGear

Samsung has already put DivX on its televisions and now Samsung’s just introduced its R1, a personal media player that can play DivX video.  The screen is a bit on the small side at 2.6-inches, so it probably is not the best for longer watching experiences.  The R1 comes in two capacities, 8 or 16GB.  From first hand knowledge, DivX video packs great quality into small file sizes, so you ought to be able to pack more videos into those R1s than if you used other codecs.  The device is already available in Europe and Russia. 

Read: [Press Release]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Logitech has just unveiled two new Wi-Fi equipped music players—the Squeezebox Radio and the Squeezebox Touch.  As for features, both models have built-in Wi-Fi which will allow you to set up your radio without having to worry about a wired connection being available and has integration with sites such as Facebook for music recommendations as well as Flickr for viewing photo slideshows.

The Squeezebox Radio is the smaller of the two units and is designed to be more portable.  It has a 2.4-inch display and measures in at 5.12 x 8.66 x 5.04-inches.  It also features a built-in set of speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack making it a truly stand-alone unit.  The Squeezebox Touch is the fancier of the two units and as you would assume by the name, it features a touchscreen display which is 4.3-inches.  The Touch also has a USB port and SD card slot that can be used to store, play or view music or photos.

As far as available content, that is pretty much wide open thanks to the Wi-Fi and you will be able to enjoy music from sites such as Pandora, Napster, Rhapsody as well as DRM-free iTunes downloads and more.

As far as pricing, the Squeezebox Radio and the Squeezebox Touch will retail for $199.99 and $299.99 respectively.  In terms of availability, the Squeezebox Radio will hit the retail market in September with the Squeezebox Touch following a little later in December.  Additionally, there will also be an accessory pack that will be available in November and retail for $49.99.

Keep reading to check out the full press release;

Limitless Choices: Logitech Brings Your Digital Music Together, Unveils Two New Squeezebox Wi-Fi Music Players
Logitech Squeezebox Radio, Logitech Squeezebox Touch Deliver All The Music On Your Computer, All The Music On Internet Into Your Home; Feature Streamlined Interface, Facebook App

FREMONT, Calif. – Sept. 3, 2009 — You’re a 21st century music lover but your stereo is stuck in the 20th century. To help bring the digital world into your home, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today unveiled the Logitech Squeezebox™ Radio Wi-Fi music player and the Logitech Squeezebox™ Touch Wi-Fi music player. Both Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players give people simple, intuitive access to a wide variety of music choices including free Internet radio, personal digital music files and music subscription services.
“Digital music and the Internet have radically changed how we discover, share and listen to the music we love,” said Sam Feng, product marketing director of Logitech’s Streaming Media business unit. “Now, millions of people are downloading music through iTunes® and listening to Internet radio stations and music services and our newest Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players bring it all together. Just plug one in and you can be ready to discover and enjoy music from around the world.”

Logitech Squeezebox Radio – Small Package, Big Sound
The Internet has changed everything, including your radio. With the Logitech Squeezebox Radio, you’ll get the simplicity of old-fashioned radio with the power of the Internet wherever you want to listen to music.

Unlike other complex Wi-Fi music systems, Squeezebox Radio sets up easily. You just plug it in, turn it on, connect to your home network and like magic, you’ve got access to a world of music – Internet radio, your personal music collection including DRM-free iTunes Plus downloads, and subscription services such as Napster®, Pandora®, Rhapsody®, SIRIUS®, and Last.fm™. And the Squeezebox Radio’s color screen can display album art, track and station information, visualizers and more.

With six preset buttons located on the side of display, at the touch of a button the Squeezebox Radio makes it easy to enjoy your favorite song, Internet radio station or playlist. With automatic brightness adjustment and a built-in alarm clock, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio is even ideal for your bedside table. And if you want to listen to music in private, a 3.5 mm jack lets you plug in your headphones.

At just 5.12 inches (130 mm) by 8.66 inches (220 mm) by 5.04 inches (8.5 cm), the compact design makes the Squeezebox Radio ideal for your living room, kitchen, bedroom – even your patio. While it’s a space-saver, the Squeezebox Radio still delivers clear sound with minimal distortion – no extra speakers required – thanks to the 3/4-inch high-definition, soft-dome tweeter and 3-inch high-power, long-throw woofer.

For your convenience, a rechargeable battery pack that is sold separately will let you move the Squeezebox Radio around your home without interrupting the music. The battery can power your Squeezebox Radio for up to six hours and recharges automatically when it’s plugged in.

Logitech Squeezebox Touch – Color Touch Screen Puts Music at Your Fingertips
So you can seamlessly discover a world of music and play it through the stereo system you already own, the Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player has a stunning 4.3-inch color touch screen that lets you easily select and play music – and even view album art. Plus, to provide a better listening experience, the Squeezebox Touch supports sampling rates of up to 24 bits at 96 kHz, delivering rich sound with very little distortion. Simply plug in the Squeezebox Touch to your existing speakers, connect to your home network and you’re ready to rock out. An included USB port and SD card slot on the back of the Squeezebox Touch also lets you access music and photos stored on flash drives and memory cards.

To put control within reach, a wall-mount bracket (sold separately) lets you put your Squeezebox Touch at eye level – near the stereo, over your kitchen table or wherever you want convenient control of your music. With the optional Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wall-Mount Bracket, the power cord and speaker wires can be run inside your walls so cords or cables aren’t dangling from your Squeezebox.

Streamlined Interface, Facebook App and Flickr Support
The intuitive Squeezebox interface was designed for speed and convenience. The color display found on the Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch help you quickly locate your favorite radio stations, playlists or music services. And, with its redesigned menu system, you can easily choose from a variety of applications to enhance your listening experience.
Plus, if you’re a Facebook fan, you can share music recommendations, as well as check out your friends’ statuses, recommendations, and full-color photos right on your new Squeezebox. Photo slide shows from the popular photo-sharing site Flickr are also supported on both new Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players.

The Squeezebox Family
Both the Logitech Squeezebox Radio and Logitech Squeezebox Touch can seamlessly integrate into your existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet-based home network, as well as with the Squeezebox family of products, which includes the award-winning Logitech Squeezebox™ Boom Wi-Fi music player, Logitech Squeezebox™ Duet Wi-Fi music player, and the audiophiles’ choice, the Logitech Transporter® Wi-Fi music player.

All of the products in the Squeezebox family work together so it’s easy to expand your system. Simply add additional Squeezebox Wi-Fi media players to any room you like and then you can listen to one song throughout your entire home – perfect for a party – or enjoy a different song in every room.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September for a suggested retail price of $199.99 (U.S.). For a limited time, a special edition Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player will be available in red at http://www.logitech.com and select retailers. The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $299.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Accessory Pack (which includes a battery pack and IR remote) is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wall-Mount Bracket is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.).

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today, Creative announced a new PMP that is already available for pre-order and is set to be on display at the IFA 2009 event.  Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models, the Zen X-Fi2 is able to store any sized media library, especially considering memory can be expanded via microSD cards. 

In addition, the device boasts a 3-inch TFT LCD touch screen, FLAC support, TV-Out, and superior audio quality using X-Fi technology.  X-Fi technology is used in order to boost sound quality, an achievement Creative loves to claim.  In fact, the X-Fi2 is set to succeed their old PMP, the Creative Zen X-Fi.  There are two X-Fi features within the audio component of the device, X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi Expand.  Basically, the Crystalizer part aims to “restore lost detail, and enhance the digital audio content to amazing clarity.”  X-Fi Expand tries to give the listener a sense of depth because the audio is designed to sound farther away from the ears, while maintaining clarity.  While this is all nice and dandy, superior audio quality can be found in good headphones; you probably won’t notice much of a difference with cheap headphones. 

More than just audio, Creative wanted to revamp the whole device making the overall music and video experience that much better.  A touch screen coupled with a larger display aims to help users view videos and photos with ease.  The ability to watch videos and view photos on a larger screen is practically a must these days, and Creative added TV-Out functionality to the device.  Owners of the original X-Fi device will notice the X-Fi2 to be an overall slimmer device with a much cleaner feel to it claims Creative. 

In terms of supported formats, the Zen X-Fi2 supports MP3, AAC, WMA, Audible 4, and FLAC.  In terms of video file supports, the device can play any video in WMV9, MP4, DivX, and XviD.  The device is available for pre-order immediately at Amazon, Creative.com, or Frys.com.  The suggested retail price is $129.99, $179.99, and $229.99 for the 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models, respectively. 

Via [Creative Press Release]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Zune HD is coming and apparently wants to shove all other Zunes out of the way.  With the impending release of the Zune HD on September 15th, Microsoft has decided that the HD shouldn’t have to share the same stigma of the rest of the Zune line.  The rest of the Zune line is now discontinued to make room for the Zune HD.

The Zune is generally considered to be a failure in its current form, even before this discontinuation.  Sales were never all that great and it failed to take any significant percentage of the MP3 player market from Apple and the iPod.  The move away from the old form factors seems to be the way the direction Apple is going as well.  The iPod classic has all but lost its appeal to the touch and even the nano.  The move makes a lot of sense given that fact, however, it also severely limits the option for those who don’t want a fancy touchscreen on their MP3 player.

Touchscreens, while very nice for allowing more screen area for apps, can be annoying for those who use their players mainly for music.  With a touchscreen there is no way to easily reach into your pocket and pause music or switch a track.  Of course, there’s also the fact that physical buttons mean you’re less likely to get fingerprints on the screen that can become so distracting while watching video.  Sure, the Zune HD looks great and is a product that is actually desirable (unlike the original Zune for most people), but it might not be Microsoft’s greatest move to make it the only option.  Of course, this also means that once the Zune HD is released, those old Zunes will be dirt cheap.

Read [Wired]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

At just 0.4” or 9.2mm, the Lubix L’Book is currently the thinnest ebook reader on the market today.  The L’Book was announced today at the IFA fair in Germany.  Unfortunately, the most remarkable part is the thickness of the device.

The rest of the specs: 6” screen, 600x800 resolution, and 128MB internal memory don’t add up to much.  The device can handle ebooks in PDF, TXT, FB2, JPG, BMP and the L’Book can handle MP3s.  It also features a SD card slot for expansion.

This product is being shown off by Lubix Europe, a company that sells Korean-made goods such as wireless iPod adapters, an MP3 player, Bluetooth headsets and the like.  This looks to be the company’s first ebook reader.

Read: [IFA]
Company Site: [Lubix Europe]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As a frequent traveler, my focus has been to shed as much as I can.  Here are my secrets to traveling light with enough tech to keep even a short attention span tech blogger like me happy.  Maybe you can find something to help you or at the very least, be able to spot me in the airport as I run for my connection.

iPhone/iPod touch

I’ve traveled with both for the past two years.  The first year with the iPod touch made me absolutely hate Wi-Fi paid providers.  These guys suck.  Just give us free Wi-Fi and I won’t be cranky no matter what is wrong with the plane or when they might get around to fixing it.  The past year with the iPhone has made me much more sane, Wi-Fi-wise.

With an app store that is in itself entertaining, finding apps is much like being a hunter.  Find the right keyword and you’ll get lucky.  Otherwise just keep scrolling.  There is something for almost everyone, no matter how small niche you like.  For example, I am yachtsman and a cyclist.  This week, I’ve been using Navionics marine app and Test Rides, a bike fitting app.  Crazy cool stuff.  But games like Deep pinball game, Scrabble, and Spider keep me busy for hours.

iPhone/iPod touch: $99 (plus 2-year contract)/$229 and up (though, with an expected upgrade to the iPod touch next month, hold off just a little bit)

Mophie Juice Pack

Yeah, about that busy for hours bit.  You need help doing that.  My battery life drains faster than a European 1 liter per flush toilet.  One delay and I fear my phone will die before I get to my hotel after the flight.  Enter the Mopie Juice Pack.

This thing is awesome.  It encases your iPhone (or the Juice Pack for the iPod touch) and provides you with instant power.  It will recharge your on board battery back to full.  Plus, you can use the case to charge your phone overnight through the case charging up both the phone and the case so you are ready to do it all again tomorrow.

For those of us that use our iPhone/touch a lot and rely on the applications for fun and business, the Mophie Juice Pack is peace of mind.  The form factor is completely livable.  I don’t feel like I am talking into a brick when on the phone; this is a magical feat all in itself.

Mophie Juice Pack: $79.99

SugarSync

Any file on my computer back in the office is on my iPhone thanks to SugarSync.  I can send the files via a secure link to my clients with a suave iPhone app and the in-the-cloud storage does the rest.  As a bonus, the desktop software automatically syncs my stuff to the cloud so I never have to worry about having the latest docs while I am on the go.  Photos, music, docs, it is all there waiting for me.  I love that.

I reviewed this a while back and just paid up to go another year.

Sugar Sync: $4.99 per month and up.

AT&T Navigator

AT&T Navigator is a must have app for traveling with an iPhone or other compatible phone on the AT&T network.  TeleNav, the brains behind the GPS, also builds navigation applications for other carriers such as Sprint and Verizon.  Forget paying extra for a rental car with GPS or hauling around a stand alone device and cables.  This app can more than do the job.

With its integration with your contact list and healthy list of POIs, Navigator voice guides you to your destination complete with visual instructions.  I’ve been using this application for some time now and it works just as you would imagine or hope.  Easy, clear and precise, the GPS navigation needs only a cell connection to download a map at the beginning of the trip or if you take a wrong turn.  Out of cell service area?  No GPS.

If there’s an airport, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got cell service.  As a bonus, there’s little chance of you leaving the rental car without your phone, so lost or stolen GPS units become no worry.

AT&T Navigator: $9.99 per month, free application.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

In preparation for the expected launch of the new Zune HD, you know - the one bloggers are all excited about, Microsoft is contacting developers of mobile applications.  Those applications that Apple keeps in our face with their marketing are apparently desperately desired by Microsoft, so much so that they are willing to pay developers to convert them to the Zune platform.  If they can’t see the potential to build for the Zune, MS will make it worth their while.

According to Business Week:

One developer of a popular iPhone application for reading Twitter messages says Microsoft recently approached him about re-creating the software to run on Zune, with Microsoft footing the bill for development costs…The programmer declined, but Microsoft’s offer speaks to the company’s legendary persistence at trying to make successes out of products that fail to excite customers the first or second time around.

One has to wonder how much cash MS has available to pay developers to build smash-hit apps for the Zune?  The Zune has sold about 3 million units in its 3-year lifespan.  The iPod by contrast sold 10.2 million between March and June of this year.  Ouch.

Then you’ve got to wonder about why this developer declined?  Too much business?  Kids at home they have to tend to?  A loathing of Zune and a strong desire not to be associated with anything Zune related?  Anything is possible.

So to you developers out there: has MS come knocking with a fat wallet for you?  If not, would you develop for them?  Let us know in the comments.

Read: [Busieness Week]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

In the age of announcing apps before they are approved, Microsoft is holding back on apps for its upcoming Zune HD device that has many of us excited.  The new player was captured over the weekend with an apps entry in the menu.  So far, Microsoft hasn’t said much regarding apps.

“Games came pre-loaded on the current version of the device, but we made a decision to take them out of the firmware update and let people choose what games they want to have for themselves—and it made sense to do this via Marketplace,” a representative told CNET News. “As before, games are free; the only difference is that people get to choose. Right now, we don’t have anything further to say regarding Apps functionality beyond what we’ve already shared.”

Perhaps Microsoft is holding back for a big reveal at product launch so the new features in the device, new apps, and that new device smell get our reality sensors all out of whack so we forget to compare and contrast with other devices?  This points to a small, by comparison, number of app titles and wishes to stop that from becoming the buzz before launch.  Not a bad move, but the apps would have to be better than say iPhone apps, not just “me too” attempts.

The app trend we are seeing today will be tough to buck.  Microsoft’s Windows Mobile team has emphasized quality over quantity and charging a higher price for quality apps as a means to differentiate their products, this could be a theme floating around Microsoft HQ and will likely extend to the Zune platform (assuming they are different?).  Can you imagine the new Microsoft TV ads?

PC: I am beat, wanna go for a beer?
Mac: Drinking beer?  There’s a crappy app for that!
PC: (smacks head)
Mac: Self mutilation? There’s a crappy app for that!
PC: Sigh (shakes head)
Mac: Bobble head?  There’s a crappy app for that!

Of course, that is just my take.  I am sure the smarter folks at MS will have Seinfeld and Gates discussing footwear again.

Read [CNET]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Most Chinese PMPs contain the same features, just branded under different names and manufacturers.  However, the Chinese manufacturer, Yinlips, has created a PMP, dubbed the Projector PMP, that is different than others in the sense that it can project images and videos up to 80 inches, or so they claim. 

Basically, the device can take any videos and DVD quality video and project them to any flat screen or surface measuring at least 80 inches.  A unique feature not often seen in devices, possibly due to high costs and impracticability.  However, if the quality of a projected video is high, I think users would definitely consider watching projected videos instead of watching videos on its 3.5 inch screen.  In addition, it comes with support for 64 bit games and includes a infrared remote control.  Unfortunately, no word on hard drive storage, touch screen, FM radio, pricing, colors, or availability.  Expect this device to only stay in the Chinese market, and hopefully we can get some more details soon on this innovative PMP. 

Read [Cloned in China]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Get caught up in a hurry with InterrupTech.  You won’t find endless chatter here.  We’ve got a timer to move things along.  

This Week:

• Paypal charges new fees, forgets to tell anyone
• Facebook Lite leaked
• Microsoft’s Zune HD gets official
• Microsoft Word banned
• Google revises Google Search Engine

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It looks like all the rumors we posted on the Zune HD’s pricing were indeed correct.  Unfortunately, the rumored date of September 8, was off and the Best Buy packaging indicating a September 15 release date was also correct.  Today, Microsoft issued a press release containing information on availability and pricing. 

On September 15, the 16GB and 32GB models alike will be available in the Zune official website, Amazon.com (since they posted the price), Best Buy (also heavily involved in rumors), Walmart, and of course Microsoft.  The estimated retail price for the 16GB model will be $219.99, while the estimated retail price for the 32 GB model will be $289.99.  The interesting part of the press release is when the pre-orders will take place.  Starting Thursday, customers have the opportunity to pre-order a Zune online at Zune.com .  Starting August 16, Best Buy will be taking pre-orders and if you go to a store on August 22 or 23 customers will be able to test out the new Zune.

It looks like with this official statement, all the rumors will subside.  The ball is in Apple’s court and it will be interesting to see what they do with it. 

Read [Microsoft Zune]

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Recently, the Zune HD has appeared on many tech blogs and websites in terms of pricing and some initial impressions.  Let’s see what we know so far about the device touted to save Microsoft’s MP3 player ambitions. 

Best Buy shows off Zune HD prices?

This morning, I wrote an article which featured images from Best Buy’s inventory.  Basically, those images revealed some very important information: pricing and an availability date.  A September 8 release date was revealed, as well as a $220 and a $290 price tag for the 16 GB and 32 GB models, respectively.  While Best Buy is a good source to confirm rumors, it would be better if Microsoft could officially state something like, “Yes, these are the prices for the Zune HD and it will be available on September 8.” 

Amazon leaks Zune HD price, same as Best Buy

Of course, that would be too easy, but today Amazon posted the pricing of both Zune models on their product listing.  As you can probably imagine, the prices they listed match with the $220 and $290 originally listed by Best Buy.  So what does all this mean?  Chances are these are the real prices for the Zune HD and they compete very well with the $275 16GB Apple iPod Touch and the $370 32GB iPod Touch.  It’s important to keep in mind September is traditionally the month where Apple reveals new iPods and slashes the pricing of old iPods. 

Bing in the Zune

Switching gears slightly now, it has been confirmed the Zune HD will have integrated Microsoft Bing searching.  While this isn’t exactly breaking news, it is nice to know Microsoft didn’t do something bizarre like have Google Search as opposed to Bing. 

Zune HD refresher

In case you forgot what makes the Zune HD hailed as the Microsoft savior, here are some enticing specs.  For starters, the Zune supports HD output, meaning it can output HD video up to 720p.  In addition, the type of screen the Zune HD uses is another strong point.  Microsoft decided to go with the OLED screen which allows for deeper colors and a more vibrant screen.  Unlike traditional LCD screens, OLED screens don’t rely on backlight, rather the organic elements within the OLED screen create its own backlight.  Furthermore, the Zune HD features FM radio, which isn’t all that impressive until you consider the fact that it features HD radio - a feature not commonly seen in MP3 players. 

With all the features listed above combined with a cheaper price tag, the Zune HD is one of the few true competitors to the iPod Touch.  It will be interesting to see how the public views the Zune HD when it is officially made available. 

Images via [Gizmodo] and [Cnet]

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The Zune HD has appeared in some pictures already and some lucky people have gotten the chance to play around with it.  Unfortunately, the pricing and availability date still remain a mystery, but it looks like we are taking one step forward to clearing that up.  A few Best Buy inventory leaks are quick to reveal pricing and availability date on the Zune HD 16 GB model as well as the Zune HD 32 GB model.  It will be up to Microsoft or Best Buy to confirm this rumor.  Based on the images, the 16GB Zune HD will be on sale for $220, while the 32GB model will be on sale for $290. 

The whole idea is for Microsoft to make the Zune HD pricing competitive with the iPod Touch pricing.  So if these prices are true, it does align correctly.  Now for the release date.  On each of the images, it says “Street Date” and September 8 is listed.  Such a date does agree with the Fall release explained by Microsoft upon the initial announcement of the device. 

Again this is just a rumor, but the pricing, availability date, and image do look pretty good. 

Via [Gizmodo]

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Get caught up in a hurry with InterrupTech.  You won’t find endless chatter here.  We’ve got a timer to move things along.  This week:

• Is the Zune HD a real competitor to iPod?
• Google CEO Eric Schmidt leaves Apple’s Board.
• Twitter meltdown.
• Palm Pre gets lots of apps, just not officially.
• RadioShack transforms into “The Shack”

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The multifaceted Creative Zii Egg comes with a load of interesting features.  Unfortunately, not much is known about the device partly because it is so new and isn’t ready for prime time action.  However, today, Creative announced that the Zii Egg would be running the Opera Devices SDK 9.7 mobile browser.

The Zii Egg, with its ZMS-05 chipset and Plaszma OS, will be the first of its kind to support this type of an Opera browser along with that specfic chipet and OS. 

Currently, a fully integrated version of the Opera browser is offered by ZiiLABS for Devices on their ZMS-05 applications processor.  The Zii EGG is the first device to use the ZMS-05 chipset complete with the company’s freshly launched Linux-based Plaszma operating system.  The open Opera browser is a clear fit for the open Plaszma and Android OS Zii Egg, as it can run “news feeds, Web mail, weather updates, social networking and other advanced Web applications.” 

In addition, Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera, had this to say about the unique opportunity to work with ZiiLabs:

“We are excited to introduce our mutual customers to the power of Opera running on the Zii EGG StemCell Computer, based on ZMS-05. Opera has made it a priority to work closely with silicon vendors in order to create winning solutions that not only exceed customer expectations, but help them get their devices to the masses even faster. ZiiLABS shares Opera’s vision of delivering valuable solutions that will reduce time-to-market and make a positive impact on the device ecosystem.”

Overall, it looks to be a good fit for Zii Egg as developers create apps for the device; it should be able to integrate seamlessly with the Opera browser.

Read [Creative Zii Egg Press Release]

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The fabled Zune HD portable music player was subject to a hands on by some lucky Zune-loving folks.  The player, destined for some consumers hands this fall, is the latest breakthrough in a line of players that strive to be slightly different.  The verdict: really good…for a Zune.

Donald Bell of CNET got to play with the Zune HD’s for a bit and learned a bunch about them.  The biggest surprises were XBOX rented content viewing on the Zune, a lightning fast but unbranded browser, high-end build feel, beautiful OLED screen, 720p output for HDTVs, and a new feature that pulls in data about the artist no matter where the music was purchased.  That is some exciting stuff for Zune fans.

There wasn’t much that was mentioned on the negative side.  One was the Zune HD despite having that HD moniker and 720p output, only natively supports 480p video.  Nothing has been said about the Zune battery, a significant issue for earlier Zunes.

Bell admits the Zune HD “won’t crush the iPod touch” but does deliver one of the richest portable music experiences.  That along ought to garner a new legion of converts.

Source: [CNET]

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If you’ve never heard of the USB Forum, don’t feel bad.  Palm has filed a complaint with the forum that alleges Apple is restraining trade.  It is an odd place for Palm to launch this kind of attack.

The USB Forum began in 1985 as a way to build support for similar connections.  Apple is a member of the Forum.  Palm aims to point out that Apple is misusing the standard of interoperability created by iTunes not allowing connection via USB to other devices, such as the Palm Pre.

It is an interesting move with no real precedent.  Apple altered iTunes to prevent the Pre from syncing with Apple’s product.  In response, Palm updated the Pre’s software to allow the Pre to pretend to be made by Apple (at least, that is what iTunes sees) and access was again granted.  Palm is looking to end this cat and mouse chase.

Palm is clearly saying iTunes syncing is important.  Palm strategy has been to convert iPhone owners and these owners carry their music organized by iTunes.  Connecting with that software is important to Palm and doing so in an easy-as-possible manner is critical.

The Forum, whose excitement is usually centered on releasing new USB standards, like 3.0 (woo hoo!), refuses to comment on the filing.  Some see the filing itself as a breach in the Forum’s intent while everyone else might like a shot at being connected to iTunes.  From the New York Times, Mike Abramsky, an analyst with the investment firm RBC Capital Markets.

“There isn’t much precedent for this case,” he said. “It’s breaking new ground. In my mind, ultimately the users are the arbiters in the outcome of these situations.”

This fight is just beginning.  Just wait until Apple lays down some patents!  This fight is going to go the distance.

Read: [New York Times]  Image courtesy of [iphoneblog.com]

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