Gadgetell Listens: Gibson Presents: Hot Tones on HDtracks
Posted November 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM by Natesh Sood
Section: Audio, Computers, Desktops, Reviews, Originals, Web, Downloads, Websites, Online Music/Video, Features
I first wrote about HDtracks originally in October and I thought it was a pretty cool service. At that time, I wasn’t able to test out their HD music.
Recently, Gibson partnered up with HDtracks to offer their own special album in HD and I quickly jumped on the opportunity to listen to the music in HD. Before I start talking about the quality of the music, I want to briefly go over the download and installation process. This way if you want to purchase something off HDtracks, you will know how it works ahead of time.
Installation
Basically, you first have to make an account and then decide what music/album you are going to buy. After that, you have to download a program, which is connected with your online account. In addition, it makes a new folder on the desktop called My HDtracks Music and all downloaded music automatically goes there. On your own time, you are able to download and pause the music you have opted in purchasing. For some odd reason, once I opened the program on my desktop to begin the downloading process, it didn’t work right away and I had to close the program and then open it. Once I did that, it worked fine. 
HD Music - is it really worth it?
Music, just like videos, come in different quality standards. Some are specially encoded to take up less space on your hard drive, meaning that such music won’t be as of high quality as music that is fully uncompressed which would take up a lot of space. Now, when I downloaded the Gibson album, I went with MP3 format encoded in 320kbps, I figured that most people would download it this way as well. However, you can also download it in AIFF and FLAC formats. Once the music started playing, I could definitely hear the difference between this and my normal music. The song seemed to have much more “life,“ if you will, as well as a lot more clarity. It was possible to hear the individual notes and instruments during the song.
Final opinions
I love music, but all I really need are normal songs, it doesn’t have to be high quality or HD. For me, I would spend my $2.49 on a single song or $15.98 for an album somewhere else. That being said, if I really cared about my music and wanted the absolute best quality, I might be inclined to purchase my music from HDtracks. If they lower their prices a bit, I could see them becoming pretty popular.
Download the Album [HDtracks]
iPhone status indicators tell you about your phone, save battery life
Posted November 23, 2008 at 12:02 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - Apple wants to incorporate some sort of dual backlight system into their devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch in order to show the user the status of their phone without killing battery life. MORE »
Wal-Mart leaks out full Black Friday deals
Posted November 23, 2008 at 10:14 AM by Natesh Sood
Section: Video, HDTV, Computers, Desktops, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Imaging, Camcorders, Digital Cameras
You may remember about a week ago when Gadgetell posted the doorbuster/main sales from Wal-Mart. Recently, they have unveiled their full Black Friday sales, and I must say, they are looking pretty good.
They only have 2 camcorders listed for sale and one is the Pure Digital F230 camcorder which is selling for $79.00. The other is the Samsung SC-DX103 Black DVD Camcorder. It comes with a 2.7-inch wide LCD screen, 34x Optical Zoom, and SD memory expansion. This camcorder will be on sale for $179.00.
CDs and DVDsI won’t go through all the CD’s and DVD’s that they have on sale, but most of them range from $2-$15.
Desktop ComputersFirst off, they are selling HP’s A526 photo printer for $49.00. Need more storage space? Wal-Mart has the Seagate’s 3.5-inch 500GB external hard drive for $69.00.
Next, we have Dell’s I531S-115W, which comes with a 19 inch LCD screen, 4GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard drive all for $598.00. The other computer they have for sale is HP’s Pavilion a6683w-b computer which also comes with a 19 inch monitor, 2GB of RAM, and 160GB hard drive - all for $398.00.
Digital CamerasFirst, we have Kodak’s CD1013 10 megapixel camera, which is selling for $79.00. Next, we have Kodak’s ZD8612 Big Zoom 8mp camera, which is selling for $149.00. Lastly, we have Samsung’s 10.2mp camera which is an early bird special selling for $69.00.
GPSLet’s talk about the Garmin Nuvi 200. It comes with a 3.5-inch touch screen, preloaded maps of the U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, 2D or 3D maps, and turn-by-turn voice guidance. This GPS will be selling for $97.00.
Next, we have the Magellan RoadMate 1412 for $147.00. Also from Magellan is the Triton 400 handheld GPS for $168.00.
HDTVsFor HDTVs, I will list them from the smallest screen to the largest screens.
First, is the Sansui 19 inch LCD HDTV, which is an early bird special and will be selling for $178.00. Next up is Samsung’s 32 inch 720p LCD HDTV, which will be selling for $498.00. Next, we have the Samsung 40 inch 1080p LCD HDTV, which will be selling for $798.00. Now, we have the Polaroid 42 inch LCD 1080p HDTV, which is an early bird special and will be selling for $598.00. We have another 42 inch HDTV from Samsung, which is a 720p plasma and sells for $698.00. Now, we are at 46 inches with Samsung’s 1080p LCD HDTV, which will be selling for $1098.00.
Lastly, we have the biggest and arguably the best HDTV from Wal-Mart - the Samsung 50 inch Plasma HDTV, which is an early bird special and will sell for $798.00. For all Wal-Mart Black Friday deals check out: [BFads]
BOOM! Top Apple news for the week of 11-16-2008
Posted November 23, 2008 at 09:10 AM by NEWS
Section:
We may not cover Apple 24x7… but we know someone who does! Here’s a few of this week’s hottest from Appletell to get you started…
What is it like to work for Apple?Apple 24” LED Display not shipping as expected?Ocarina Wars: A challenger appears!iPhone updated to Firmware 2.2 right on scheduleAdobe and ARM partner to optimize Flash for ARM powered devices
So Hot Right Now: Top 10 Gadgetell posts for the week of November 16, 2008
Posted November 22, 2008 at 01:03 PM by NEWS
Section:
Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week? Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!
Wal-Mart Black Friday ads leak out“Continuing with the many ads that have already been leaked out, Wal-Mart has leaked out a few of their ads. Wal-Mart isn’t set to officially release what they’re going to sell until November 24,…“ MORE »Microsoft to offer free virus protection“You’d think that with all the viruses, malware, spyware and what not on Windows, Microsoft would offer some sort of protection. Well, actually it does, currently the service costs $49.95 per year and is called Microsoft Live OneCare. It’s one of the…“ MORE »HP introduces the TouchSmart TX2 laptop“ HP is rolling out their newest TouchSmart and it’s a Tablet PC. What’s the big deal? Well, Gadgetell got a chance to actually play with the HP TouchSmart TX2 and it is really something. At first blush, the TX2 looks like…“ MORE »Some GPS deals to consider on Black Friday“ One of the hottest gifts this holiday season is going to be GPSs. Everyone, at some point in their life, has gotten lost multiple times while on the road and owning a GPS these days seems almost as…“ MORE »Breaking: BJ’s Black Friday deals“ BJ’s, the land of bulk buys, is looking good for Black Friday this year according to a flyer I just got handed. The deals range from in-store deals to online deals at bjs.com (how there were able to secure that domain…“ MORE »Snow white Android G1 phone delayed?“Rumors this morning suggest T-Mobile was hoping to spring a fresh white G1 phone for the holidays. The word is there is a problem with the white paint causing the delay. The Android phone was launched only in basic…“ MORE »Your Wii is being held hostage“ Getting the newest games console has always been hard, and the Nintendo Wii is no exception with ‘Out of stock’ signs adorning many games hardware outlets. In addition to unrelenting demand, would be buyers are facing constraints from an unlikely…“ MORE »LG’s hot new touchscreen at AT&T“ Check out this one: LG’s Incite. The 3G world phone has some impressive features as well as an interesting price tag: $199. The lineup of $199 touchscreen phones in the AT&T stable is getting crowded. So how…“ MORE »Microsoft rolls out new 3.1 update for the Zune“ Today, Microsoft has officially released the new 3.1 update for the Zune, which comes with a few major additions such as four new games as well as some general improvements. First, let’s begin with the new game updates. …“ MORE »Dell rolls out 32GB SSD equipped pink, red Inspiron Mini 9’s in Japan“ Remember that red colored Inspiron Mini 9 that Michael Dell was spotted carrying around during the All Things Digital conference this past May? Well, it…“ MORE »
Gadgetell Roundup: HDTV sales on Black Friday
Posted November 22, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Natesh Sood
Section: Video, HDTV
As Black Friday is coming closer and closer, more and more sales are made available for the public. The guys over at BFads have put together a nice piece about how to buy a HDTV and more importantly, what sales will be taking place. Keep in mind that these sales are the best deals and not all of the deals taking place on Black Friday.
HDTVs Under 26 inchesThe cheapest HDTV under 23 inches was Dynex’s 19 inch 720p LCD HDTV. This comes with a contrast ratio of 800:1, a response time of 5ms, 1 HDMI input, Energy Star certified, 2 speakers, a maximum resolution of 1440 x 900, comes with a stand, and has a 4 star rating on Amazon. Right now, it is priced at $229 at Best Buy, but will be on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy.
Next, we have the a 26 inch 720p LCD HDTV from Westinghouse. This comes with a identical contrast ratio of 800:1, a response time of 8ms, 2 HDMI inputs, a 1366x768 Resolution, 2 speakers, wall mount as well as a stand, it is also Energy Star certified, and has a 3 star rating on Amazon. Right now, it is available at Target for $429.99, but will be on sale at Target for $299.99.
That’s a wrap on the HDTVs under 26 inches.
32 to 37 inch HDTVsFirst off, we have a couple of 32 inch HDTVs from companies such as Dynex, AOC, and Toshiba. The Dynex TV is a 32 inch 720p LCD HDTV with a contrast ratio of 1200:1, a response time of 6.5ms, 2 HDMI inputs, integrated HDTV tuner, 1366 x 786 Resolution, 2 speakers, and is also Energy Star certified. This HDTV is available right now at Best Buy for $449.99, but will be available at Best Buy on Black Friday for $399.99.
Next, we have AOC’s 32 inch 720p LCD HDTV. It comes with a contrast ratio of 4500:1, a response time of 8ms, 2 HDMI inputs, 1366x768 Resolution, and built-in ATSC/NTSC tuners. It is available right now at RadioShack for $599.99, but will be available on Black Friday for $399.99.
Lastly for the 32 inch HDTVs, we have the Toshiba 32 inch 720p LCD HDTV. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of information available on this TV, but it comes with a response time of 8ms, 2 HDMI inputs, ATSC/NTSC tuners, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and has a 4 star rating on Amazon. It is currently available for $749.99, but will be available at Circuit City for $449.99.
Moving on, we have one 37 inch 720p LCD HDTV from Element. It comes with a contrast ratio of 1200:1, a 8ms response time, 1 HDMI input, ATSC/NTSC tuners, an aspect ratio of 16:9, and a 3.5 star rating at Circuit City. It is available right now at Circuit City for $599.99, but will be on sale for $499.99.
That’s a wrap on the 32-37 inch HDTVs.
40-47 inch HDTVsLet’s begin with Dynex’s 42 inch 720p Plasma HDTV. This HDTV comes with a 30000:1 contrast ratio, 3 HDMI inputs, 1024 x 768 Resolution, 20W speaker system, 16:9 aspect ratio, and has a 4 star rating at Best Buy. It is currently available for $699.99 at Best Buy, but will be on sale for $599.99.
Next up, we have a 42 inch 1080p LCD HDTV from Sharp. This 42 inch TV comes with a 2000:1 contrast ratio, a 6ms response time, 3 HDMI inputs, built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, PC input, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It is currently available for $1,399.00, but will be available on Black Friday for $779.99 at Dell.
Lastly for the 42 inch HDTVs, we have the 42 inch 720p Plasma HDTV from Panasonic. It comes with a 15000:1 contrast ratio, 3 HDMI inputs, aspect ratio of 16:9, built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, and has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. It is available right now for $999.99, but will be available for $699.99 at Sears.
Now, we have a 46 inch 1080p LCD HDTV from Sharp. This HDTV has a contrast ratio of 1500:1, 6ms response time, 2 HDMI inputs, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 3 star rating on Amazon. It is currently available for $1399.99, but will be available for $899.99 at Sears on Black Friday.
That’s a wrap of HDTVs from 40-47 inches.
50-52 inch HDTVsLet’s begin with Samsung’s 50 inch 720p Plasma HDTV, which comes with a 30000:1 contrast ratio, 3 HDMI inputs, NTSC, ATSC, and QAM tuners, SRS TruSurround XT audio, Energy Star certified, and has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. It is currently available for $1399.99, but will be on sale at Circuit City for $899.99.
Next up, we have the Sharp 52 inch 1080p LCD HDTV. It comes with a 2000:1 contrast ratio, 6ms response time, 4 HDMI inputs, a 1920 x 1080 Resolution, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It is available right now for $1899, but will be on sale for $1499.99 at Circuit City.
That’s a wrap on HDTVs from 50-52 inches. Time for the last category.
60 inch plus HDTVsLet’s begin with the Mitsubishi 60 inch 1080p DLP HDTV. It comes with a 800:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 3 HDMI inputs, 2 10W speakers, 16:9 aspect ratio, 3D ready, and has a 4.5 star rating at Amazon. It is currently available for $1,499.99, but will be on sale for $999.99 at Best Buy.
Lastly, we have the Mitsubishi 65 inch 1080p DLP HDTV. It comes with a 800:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 3 HDMI inputs, NTSC, ATSC, and QAM tuners, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. It is currently available for $1999.99, but will be on sale for $1199.99 at Circuit City.
I’m sure many shoppers will be shopping for HDTVs this Black Friday as well as the holiday season, so it is important that you know exactly what you are looking for - hope this helps!
Read [BFads]
Hot gaming news for the week of 11-16-2008
Posted November 22, 2008 at 09:20 AM by NEWS
Section:
No need to scour the interwebs for hot gaming news, Gamertell‘s already done that for you! Here’s a look at this week’s top stories…
Circuit City’s Black Friday 2008 video game deals revealedTarget’s Black Friday video game sales might hit the markSam’s Club’s 2008 Black Friday ad possibly “doctored”Black Friday 2008 video game deals roundupMicrosoft promoting New Xbox Experience with contest, plenty o’ Microsoft Points
Get drunk faster thanks to technology
Posted November 21, 2008 at 09:21 PM by Christian Milsom
Section: Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle
I think I can give you one thing most people like and one thing most people hate. Beer and waiting (in that order of course!). There are been novelty gadgets for beer ever since novelty gadgets have been invented, but this is something new, innovative and something you could see in bars and stadiums before long. I give you, the TRUfil from Scotsman Beverages Systems: the gadget to provide beer without the waiting.
Let me give you important information first: this machine can give you 10 pints in 10 seconds. That’s right, a pint in one second.
This is not only great for bars and clubs where you will no longer have to wait for a slow waitress, but also for stadiums where getting something quick is quite important. This is, in fact, where it has been aimed at, but don’t think that it would look out of place in a trendy bars. It comes in a very modern Pac-Man-esque shape, with a small circular control panel, a larger one for the cup, and holed grating around for collecting spilled beer. It is very sleek, with a metallic finish complemented by blue lights encircling the panel and dispenser. And guess what? They move when it is filling up! How cool will that look when you’ve had a few! Another reason that it looks cool is because it is fairly flat and although that may sound stupid at first, consider how the beer gets in the glass. What it actually does is fill the glass from the bottom, eliminating foam and allowing for the amazingly rapid filling times. Obviously, you need specially designed glasses, but that is a small side effect of this innovative gadget, especially considering that it can even add ice from the top. Presumably, they will be coin operated so that you can self serve: increasing the speed of your pint even more. Yes, it may detract from some of the tradition of a bar, but who cares if it has flashing blue lights! It was first shown in the Brau Beviale exhibition and I think that it could soon be available throughout the country.
It really is an innovation in the drinks market and I think you may also find soft drinks manufacturers catching on to the idea. I would too and I hope they will make it for the domestic world so I can get one at home. I just hope that they will serve more than one type of drink.
Vedict: Incredibly cool, although you may find yourself buying more just to see it in action!
Source [FoodBevhttp://foodbev.com/ArticleDetail.aspx?contentId=1778]
iPhone is number 1 in mobile ads
Posted November 21, 2008 at 08:00 PM by Shawn Ingram
Section: Apple, Communications, Cellphones, Mobile, Web
We all know the iPhone has become quite popular. Just look around next time you’re in a place with a lot of people—whether it be a subway, train station, airport, city street or college campus, chances are you’ll see at least one person with an iPhone walking around. They almost seem to mock those of us who are stuck with Verizon or other carriers that aren’t AT&T (well, until the Storm, that is). There are actual numbers to prove that the iPhone is popular: mobile ad traffic.
According to AdMob, an ad network for mobile websites and apps, the iPhone is the leader in ad traffic for mobile devices. It holds 4.1 percent of ad requests for October. That doesn’t sound like much, but it comes out to 236 million requests in one month. In July, it was only 28 million requests. Of those 236 million requests, 62.8 percent were from the U.S. That’s pretty impressive considering the iPhone is still the number 2 phone in the U.S., behind the Motorola RAZR. 5 percent of the requests came from the UK, with another 8 percent coming from all of Asia.
If nothing else, the numbers show us just how popular the iPhone is compared to other phones. Apple trails in percentage of requests based on manufacturer, coming in fifth with 5.1 percent, but that’s still impressive. Nokia with its large selection of phones leads the market with 36.3 percent worldwide. In the U.S., Apple is second only to Motorola. What strikes me as strange is that fact that RIM and HTC both fall short worldwide and domestically. But, they do have a much smaller, if not diehard, niche market that can’t compete against the universal appeal of something like the iPhone, at least until the Storm and more Android phones are released.
Read [InformationWeek]
Asus unveils the brushed-metal Eee PC 1002HA
Posted November 21, 2008 at 07:19 PM by Robert Nelson
Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops
We first saw details on the Eee PC 1002HA back in late-October. Asus has recently shown the netbook off at a media event and with that comes a nice image.
Feature wise, this model is nothing to get overly excited by. Most of the features are the same as we have come to see as “normal” for a netbook. To begin with, the Eee PC 1002HA will have a 10-inch display, as well as an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.1n and it will be running Windows XP. Otherwise, the 1002HA will also have a few available options for storage including both SSD and standard hard drives.
Moving on from the specs, the exterior casing is what makes this particular model stand out. The exterior is sporting a pretty nice looking brushed metal. It was also noted as being “a sturdy, upscale-looking chassis.“ In addition to the brushed metal on the exterior, the wrist rest also includes the brushed metal.
As for pricing and availability, the Eee PC 1000HA is expected to begin shipping in early-December and start at $499 and go up depending on configuration.
Read [CNET]
Channel your inner child while checking Toys R Us’s leaked 2008 Black Friday ad listing
Posted November 21, 2008 at 06:30 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Several sites are reporting that the Toys R Us Black Friday 2008 ad listing has been leaked. An ad scan isn’t available for confirmation, but if the leaked list is real there will be plenty of electronic, mp3 player and game deals for kids and “big kids.” MORE »
iPhone updated to Firmware 2.2 right on schedule
Posted November 21, 2008 at 06:00 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - Just as rumored, Apple has released the 2.2 firmware update to the iPhone. The update includes all of the rumored features and more. MORE »
Patriots QB joins forces with OLPC
Posted November 21, 2008 at 05:20 PM by Sue Walsh
Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady has announced he is teaming up with the One Laptop Per Child project and buying 1,500 of them to send to children in Uganda. They will be shipped to his sister Nancy who works with the Infectious Diseases Institute there.
“One Laptop Per Child is an education-based charity located in Cambridge whose mission is to provide many of the world’s poorest children with their own computer,” No. 12 writes. “After meeting with the group, I committed to buying 1,500 laptops and sending them to my amazing sister who is doing a mission in Uganda right now and will hand deliver them to the kids she and I met last year.”
The $199 mini laptops, called XOs, have 7 inch screens that swivel and fold down, turning the laptop into a tablet, 3 USB ports, an SD slot, webcam, built in Wi-Fi, and are solar powered. They run on Linux with a simple interface called Sugar, and have a 433-MHz AMD Geode CPU, 256MB of 166-MHz DDR333, and 1GB of flash memory. They are clearly not cutting edge technology, but for kids who’ve probably never used a computer before in their lives, it’s enough.
Right now Amazon is offering a “Buy One Give One” promotion. For $399 you can buy an XO for yourself and give one to a poor child overseas. Check out Amazon.com for more details.
Read [Boston Herald]
Verizon employees suspended for accessing Obama’s call records
Posted November 21, 2008 at 04:12 PM by Sue Walsh
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Computers, Security
Verizon Wireless has suspended several employees it says accessed call records belonging to a now inactive phone owned by President-Elect Barack Obama. The employees will not be paid during their suspension and are under investigation.
“We apologize to President-elect Obama and will work to keep the trust our customers place in us every day,“ according to a statement attributed to Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam. “Those who have accessed the account improperly and without legitimate business justification will face appropriate disciplinary action.“
Sources say the phone in question has been inactive for several months.
It is well known that Obama is an enthusiastic Blackberry user and is seldom seen without it. Washington insiders say it’s likely he will have to give up his beloved e-mail device once he takes office in January as a result of the Presidential Records Act. The act mandates that all presidential correspondence be entered into the official record and if requested be presented for public review.
However he has also stated he plans to have a computer in the Oval Office, making him the first President ever to do so. If President-Elect Obama is asked to go offline, it’s likely he won’t do so easily!
Read [PCWorld]
Dell quietly adds artwork options to the Mini 9, Mini 12 lineup, also adds pink, red
Posted November 21, 2008 at 03:14 PM by Robert Nelson
Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops
This is for the folks who had their hearts set on grabbing an Inspiron Mini 9 or Mini 12 netbook from Dell, but were not really feeling the black or white options. Rest easy, because Dell has announced some new design options as well as the pink and red colors for both the Mini 9 and Mini 12.
The new colors are officially being called “Cherry Red” and “Pretty Pink” and sadly they are both coming with a $25 premium. Hopefully, Dell will have a change of heart on that added cost. If you remember back, the Apline White originally had that same premium, but it was quickly removed.
As for the artwork options, there are five designs available, all of which are from artist Tristan Eaton. As for that extra cost involved with the artwork, these designs add an additional $50 to the purchase price. Keep reading to check out some images of the five available artwork designs…
Product [Dell]
Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition
Posted November 21, 2008 at 02:24 PM by JG Mason
Section: Audio, Communications, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack, Features
This is where we call out the tech moves that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack. This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity.
This close to the holidays, everyone is hoping what is bolted down to the table withstands the storm. (No, not that Storm). Here is what caught my eye this week:
AT&T Marketing text messagesWhat are these guys thinking? Texts are the “hey baby” of the new era, the “come hither,“ the “I am at 34th and 8th freezing my A$$ off, where r u?“ AT&T, this isn’t your playground to send me marketing messages like:
“AT&T Free Msg: Need ideas for a great holiday gift? AT&T can help. Add a line to your already discounted plan. Visit an AT&T store or call 800-423-2851. Reply stop to end mktg msg.“
This is offensive; one, because you made me drop everything for that lame advert? And two, because you think putting AT&T Free Msg in front makes it ok? Save the spam for email.
Oh, and thanks for the idea of putting “AT&T Free Msg:“ into all my text messages to give your store employees hell with when I refuse to pay. But it says free, just like the others… Crack heads.
Still going with this despite my admonishment back in September? Fine, freaks. They just announced you can buy Akon’s new masterpiece digitally, on CD or on an Slotmusic card. The Slotmusic card will feature images, music video and a documentary on the man’s life. But Akon thinks it is more than just that:
“To me, slotMusic is the return of the album in all its glory, but updated for today’s mobile world.“ - Akon
Is that so? The return of the album? Hmmm, let’s see: forcing me to buy stuff I don’t need, like track #4 where you thought it was a good idea to just let the drum machine go for a bit… yeah, you are right, that sounds a lot like the return of the album. It too will fail. (note: I’ve not actually listened to Akon’s new album track #4, but I still think this is a safe bet)
RIM, assuming you were not duplicitous in the leaks, I am going to let you off the hook. I don’t think the storm around the Storm is really your fault. You built a neat phone. You built a phone some will love. Unfortunately, thanks to leaks, the expectations of this phone were so high. Almost all the reviewers gave it an “OK, but I’d rather have something else” review. Isn’t that the “its not you, its me” excuse? “I just need some space with my iPhone to figure things out.“
You want to create a real storm? Drop the Flip price another $50.
Apple, really? This is the love you show us? I spend the inordinate about of time updating my OS to 2.2 this morning only to find 2 major issues for me: no frickin’ street view and still un-iPhone-optimized search results by using the search box in Sarari? Come on!
Street view ought to be an easy thing. GPS isn’t required for this function so what is the deal? Touch owners want this function and not including us in the fun just seems mean.
The search results thing seems like an easy one, but I am no programmer. I can tell you, as a user, I love the Google search results optimized for the iPhone screen. No scrolling around, the time-saving suggestions as you type, I love it all. What I don’t love is hitting my google.com bookmark every time I want to head there. Having the search bar not take advantage of this just seems lazy. Or maybe I am the one who’s lazy. Whomever it is, it ought to be fixed.
What do you get when you take two Gadgetell guys and two demos of HPs new tablet/PC? Mixed results. Our editor Iyaz was at HP’s launch earlier this week and was wowed. Last night, I got a demo of the new unit and everything went wrong. Tough to get it in touch mode, tough to select things, back to a stylus. While I can give out huge kudos to HP for realizing that touch can’t just be an alternative input method, it has to be functional UI changes like they did on the big awesome-looking all-in-one desktop/tuner, I can’t help feel that they missed the mark.
I ended up leaving the demo feeling that HP had realized we (you and I) really don’t know what we want from a touchscreen on a laptop. Do we really want to multi-touch photos? Do we really want to just rotate them in 90 degree intervals? Is it only for pictures? HP’s software chops are impressive, very impressive. But, this new laptop just seems crack-o-licious. I can almost hear someone hollering, “I don’t care if consumers don’t want it or use it, just build it.“
I expect Iyaz to tell me how wrong I am on this and that’s cool. He really like the option to close windows just by touching the screen vs. using a trackpad to finally get to the upper right corner. That just seems like a lame use for it, like buying a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California to keep in a garage. Just saying.
And I haven’t even touched on Black Friday shenanigans. What did you see this week? Let us know what I missed in the comments.
A special word of thanks to Exec. editors Adam and Doug for sharing their personal peeves with me this week.
HTC Touch Pro now available with Alltel
Posted November 21, 2008 at 01:08 PM by Robert Nelson
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile
Alltel has joined the ranks of Sprint and AT&T and have added the HTC Touch Pro to its smartphone lineup. The Touch Pro will set you back $379.99, however there is a $100 mail-in-rebate available, which assuming you get that back, will bring your final cost down to $279.99. In addition, in order to get that pricing you will also need to sign a 2-year agreement.
As for the specs, the Touch Pro is running Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with a customized version of the TouchFLO 3D user interface. Otherwise, the handset has a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen display, GPS, Wi-Fi, a 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, stereo Bluetooth and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
The HTC Touch Pro can be purchased directly from the Alltel website, as well as in-store.
Product [Alltel]
iPod touch tricks
Posted November 21, 2008 at 12:42 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - iPod Touch Hacks may be a site focusing on jailbreaking, but they’ve just compiled a list of built-in tricks of which any iPod touch/iPhone user can take advantage. MORE »
Swedish iPhone users get MMS, what about everyone else?
Posted November 21, 2008 at 12:20 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - iPhone users in Sweden now have another reason to avoid jailbreaking their phone. MORE »
Are you secure? Here’s a “Top 5” list of free security software downloads
Posted November 21, 2008 at 11:05 AM by Jodie Andrefski
Section: Computers, Security, Software / Applications, Originals, Web, Downloads, Features
Just about all of us have probably been hit at one time or another by a virus, trojan, or ended up with that dreaded blue screen of death. It’s certainly not fun when it happens. These days, simply running Norton in the background often just isn’t enough. Thankfully, there are several really good programs out there to download (free!) that help us to protect our computer from any nasties trying to worm their way in.
Some favorites that are really worth a try:
Ad-Aware 2008This perennial favorite of many is an anti-spyware program. Keep in mind that the free version does not detect viruses, so I wouldn’t really suggest using this as a first line of defense. That said, I still put it on the list since there have been times it picked up things that other programs missed. For what it is meant to do it does a good job. It scans your RAM, your hard drives and external storage devices, and the Windows Registry. Ad-Aware looks for what the program name suggests—advertising, data-mining, or tracking components.
It is easy to use; scanning and deleting any corrupt files is done with a few simple clicks. My one complaint is that scan time in the ‘08 version seems to take much longer than previously. Ad-Aware 2008 (22.7MB): Download
SpyBot Search and Destroy
Spybot has been around a long time; it’s one of the original anti-spyware programs. Even more than just the “scan and find the adware and other naughty modules” feature of the program; I like the other goodies they package in. One handy thing it offers is the ability to check the system registry and what apps are showing up at system start-up. You can then get rid of any you don’t want. They also offer a Secure Shredder to totally destroy files and a Hosts File which blocks adware from even hitting your system. I know of some people that find that feature a bit annoying; I deal with it for the fact that it really does keep me from having to deal with a lot of extra junk hitting my system.
This is a nice program because it is good if you aren’t especially familiar with running spyware scans. It is very easy to operate and user-friendly. For those who know what they are doing, it also offers an “Advanced Mode” with some extra options. It is one of the faster scans out there and has over 30 language options, so international users aren’t left in the dark.
SpyBot Search and Destroy 1.6 (14.38MB): Download
Avira AntiVir Personal
The latest version practically has more numbers behind it than my social security card. 8.2.0.334 for the curious among you. (That’s the version number, not my social security number to clarify). Avira is probably one of the best free anti-virus scans out there. It runs a very thorough system check for both malware and viruses, with a just as thorough quarantine. This is in spreadsheet form and gives the option of either scanning again, deleting, or restoring files and more. It allows users to pick their scan too which is nice: full system scan, a customized scan, or they even have pre-loaded scans you can choose from.
The one con to the program is it has its own occasional ad pop-ups/placements. The program isn’t lightning fast, but it isn’t a total dog either by any means. It does have a “real time Guard protection” running in the background, as well. Although some may not like the idea of that just on principle, it really doesn’t affect system performance.
Avira AntiVir Personal (23.96MB): Download
Avast Home Edition
Ok, now this one does have more numbers to it than my social security card. Version 4.8.1229.80923. Now if you can get past that, Avast is really a great program. The creators say the latest version is even better than the previous editions at finding trojans, rookits, and backdoor viruses. They are also proud to boast that they are a “complete ICSA & Checkmark certified antivirus, Checkmark certified anti-spyware & anti-rootkit package.“ The program really does earn its stripes.
The on-demand scanner is easy to operate. You pick what you want it to do and press the Play button. It also has an on-access scanner, which will scan most e-mail clients, IM services, P2P, Network traffic, and more. You can adjust the sensitivity level for these scans to set it just the way you want it. The “standard” scan runs fairly quickly, though the boot scan took longer. However, you do have the option to skip this. They offer up some nice cleanup tools if anything is found on your system as well. Avast Home Edition (26.19MB): Download
Trend Micro HijackThis 2.02
Warning: Use this program with caution! This one is not really designed for the novice. A Hijack This scan lists the contents of core areas of your Registry and hard drive. It picks areas that are used by hijackers as well as legit programmers. It doesn’t search out certain programs or URLs; it picks the way the hijackers make you hit their site. Because of this, you will see files that you do not want to delete on the list. Lots of what you see is just going to be customizations. This is not one of those programs where you run a scan, check the box for what all comes up and simply hit delete.
If you are not sure what you are looking at after you run the scan, save the log. It saves it as a text document for you, and you can either ask someone who is King Geek, or go to a forum (like castlecops) and post it there to get some feedback before you wipe something you need. Hijack This is really a program to use when you have something down deep in your system that you just aren’t having any luck removing with the standard spyware removal process. It’s definitely powerful, so use with care. Trend Micro Hijack This 2.02 (793.3K): Download
Google launches Searchwiki
Posted November 21, 2008 at 10:02 AM by Shawn Ingram
Section: Web, Google
Another day, another new product or feature from Google. Well, at least it seems that way sometimes. Usually, there isn’t much added to the search function of Google, the updates tend to be to Gmail, Maps, or new products. This time its different, Google has actually found a way to change, and possibly improve searching the web using its search engine. Its called Searchwiki, and it isn’t as intimidating as it might sound.
In a nutshell, Searchwiki allows you to customize your searching if you search for things often. It allows you to move results up to the top of the list where it might not appear normally. You can also remove sites you don’t think fit the category or you just don’t like. There is one thing to know, however: these results are only for you. Google will remember them for you, but the results won’t go to the top for everyone else. So even if you add Gadgetell to the top of your list when you search for “gadget” it unfortunately won’t happen to everyone else.
The other main feature of Searchwiki is the ability to take notes on search results. Maybe you find a site you need some information on, but not until you get back to your computer. Now, you can sign into your Google account, move it to the top of that search, and write a note to yourself why you needed it. Remembering what you searched for isn’t even necessary, as you can click the link on the bottom of the Google search page to view all of your Searchwiki notes.
This being such a new feature, I can’t rightfully comment on how much I’ll use it, but it can possibly serve a purpose. I doubt I’ll use it everyday, or even often, but some people might end up doing so. It might be an easy way to put down notes on websites between computers, and is easier than writing it down on paper at least. Given time, chances are a few of us might find something useful about Searchwiki. For now in my mind it remains a “hey, that’s pretty cool” feature.
Read [TechCrunch]
Bring the net to your TV: Sony Bravia leads the way
Posted November 21, 2008 at 09:00 AM by JG Mason
Section: Video, HDTV, Web, Web Apps, Websites, Online Music/Video
Sony announced they’ve added some new partners for their connected Bravia TVs. These TVs, when hooked up to broadband, bring the net experience to your living room. Sony is doing this in an extremely controlled fashion.
How controlled? One at a time, baby. That is right: they added CBS which uses Flash 10 for content, as does Hulu but Sony does not have a partnership with them. You’ll have access to their partners via a special link, not a browser. Curious?
Of course you are! So was I. So I asked Sony and got:
We don’t disclose software for the device. Sony works with each content partner to provide the best user experience possible. The CBS channel was developed exclusively for the Sony BRAVIA Internet Video service and is not in any way affiliated with other services or devices like Hulu.
Current partners include Slacker, Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Dailymotion, CBS; Yahoo!, Men.Style.com, Sports Illustrated, blip.tv, CondeNet’s Style.com, Epicurious, Wired.com, Concierge.com channels, Sony Pictures’ Crackle, and more. Big brands are getting into this.
This raises some serious questions in my head. Questions like:
Could a Hulu partnership be in the works? Who else might be included in this partnership Could Sony be charting a new course forward by cutting out local affiliates and bringing content straight from there studios to their TVs? Would it mean big trouble for the likes of cable companies? Would Sony care?If you’ve got any answers, let’s talk about them in the comments.
Source [ecoustics]
MySpace loving BlackBerry users break download record
Posted November 21, 2008 at 08:00 AM by Robert Nelson
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Websites
RIM has just announced that the recently released MySpace app for the BlackBerry has been a record breaking success. The app was originally made available just one week ago on November 13, and since then it has seen more than 400,000 downloads.
According to Jim Balsillie, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Research In Motion;
“This rapid adoption is a reflection of an evolving consumer lifestyle where social connectivity and information access are more important than ever.”
And how true that statement is, it seems that those 400,000 downloads allowed users to send and receive more than 15 million messages and also update their mood and status a whopping two million times. I guess despite the previous availability of a Facebook app, there were still plenty of users itching to get on MySpace.
Read [Business Wire]
Black Friday 2008 video game deals roundup
Posted November 21, 2008 at 07:13 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - A nifty, bullet-point list of stores offering Black Friday 2008 deals on video games, game systems, accessories andother game-related goodies… MORE »
YouTube testing HD video and improved audio
Posted November 20, 2008 at 10:05 PM by Shawn Ingram
Section: Web, Websites, Online Music/Video, Google
YouTube has always been the scourge of those of us who like to watch really good looking video. Not just the quality of the content, but the actual video quality. It first started out with high quality videos that were a pretty big step up from the normal quality. Now, the site is taking the quality up in two ways. First with video and also with sound.
Possibly the biggest improvement to those who care most about the poor video quality is the availability of HD video. To be more precise, 720p HD video. It might not look much different than the high quality in the standard YouTube video screen, but put it in fullscreen and there is a definite improvement. It looks just about as good as the 720p trailers from Apple.
This isn’t available for all videos, but you can add “&fmt=22” to the end of any video URL to see if it has HD video. Elephant’s Dream, The Helium Project and Where Is Matt all have HD video, though unfortunately, the official Monty Python channel’s black knight scene does not.
The second improvement is one to please audiophiles: Surround Stereo! A lot of the sound on YouTube is painful to audiophiles and this should help a bit for at least the few videos that have the high quality stereo. This should help a bit for all those people who use YouTube to preview songs of artists they might want to buy (possibly from the handy links below the video).
Chances are it won’t make a bit of different to most users, but to those who will care, it is a huge step forward. YouTube is finally becoming the video hub for everyone, and not just those who can deal with bad video and audio quality.
Read [Wired]
Get your game on with the Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse on sale for $29.99
Posted November 20, 2008 at 09:47 PM by Jodie Andrefski
Section: Computers, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Gaming, Accessories, Miscellaneous, Peripherals, Mice / Keyboards
If you have a gamer on your shopping list, you just may want to check out this sale at Newegg.com. They have the Logitech MX518 on sale for only $29.99 (after mail in rebate) with free shipping.
The MX518 utilizes the award-winning MX Optical Engine. This Engine gives you a major dpi-resolution at 1600. Because of this resolution, you get pixel-by-pixel accuracy in your positioning, which obviously does wonders for your game.
The mouse has eight buttons (no scrimping here!), and gives up to 15g of acceleration and spot-on aiming with very little mouse movement. You also get the SetPoint software with your mouse. This software is exclusive to Gaming-Grade mice. It is totally innovative, and lets you pick between 5 “custom level sensitivity settings”; this ensures that you get just the perfect feel and movement for you.
The MX518 gives you in-game switching to three different sensitivity levels. You can choose from 1,600, 800 and 400 dpi resolution, which will help ensure exact targeting and quick evasion. It’s been specially designed for major gaming sessions, featuring a contour grip design, and a sculpted thumb support. You can play this baby for hours.
The Logitech MX518 got great customer reviews everywhere I checked. Everyone seemed to totally love the “on the fly sensitivity adjustment.“ Most say they went back and bought another for other systems they owned; they loved it that much.
So, if you know a gaming freak, or just happen to be one yourself. . .at the sale price of 29.99 with free shipping to boot, the MX518 is probably worth setting your sights on.
via [newegg]
Kingston announces 64GB DataTraveler USB flash drive
Posted November 20, 2008 at 09:13 PM by Robert Nelson
Section: Peripherals, Storage
Portable storage seems to be increasing rather quickly, and the latest to see a nice increase is the DataTraveler 150 USB flash drive from Kingston. The DataTraveler 150 is now available in storage capacities up to 64GB. Personally, I am far from needing anything this large, but would imagine that there are plenty of people that will be happy to see this size available.
The one downfall here is the price, the MSRP is listed at $177. Of course, you could always opt for the smaller 32GB, which is priced at a little more affordable $116. Aside from the pricing, the DT150 has the usual features and support found with USB flash drives. It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems and measures in at 3.06 x 0.9 x 0.47-inches in size.
Read [Kingston]
Yahoo finally getting their act together
Posted November 20, 2008 at 08:08 PM by Christian Milsom
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Web, Websites, Google
Earlier this week we heard the news of Jerry Yang resigning as CEO of Yahoo, the result of a painfully disappointing year for the company that saw failure after failure. They have watched their grip on Internet search slip through their fingers and they are in danger of slipping into the worlds of anonymity and the pages of history. However, things are looking good for Yahoo fans with two positive pieces of news.
They are both an attempt to fight back at Google’s search domination, both in the mobile phone and PC sectors. The first is a deal sealed with T-Mobile with the “One Search” button. Yahoo have been poor at closing deals recently; however, this catch is definitely one that should help them in the future. T-Mobile has agreed to put the One Search button on their phones, thus allowing users to quickly get to a search engine and helping Yahoo by making it theirs. This kind of quick search has been available for a while, but only as a download and it would appear that phone users are reluctant to download it. By making it available on the front screen of all T-Mobile phones Yahoo hope to boost traffic. There is a fair degree of strangeness here, though. T-Mobile has recently released the G1 handset (which uses Google’s Android), something that has undoubtedly increased interest in Google and they reportedly have a strong relationship with them. T-mobile has refused to comment on whether or not the G1 will have this button!
Glue search pagesThe second release is Glue search pages. This was first tested in India in May and the beta was released late yesterday (Wednesday). The idea of the search is that it aggregates text, images and videos onto a single search page making it easier for users (hopefully) to find information and thus getting more traffic for Yahoo.
“This iteration of the beta is centered around gathering insights about how people use topic pages focused purely on helping people discover information and browse through images, videos, articles, etc.,“ said a Yahoo spokeswoman
Will it work?
The beta will be released as a standalone program first before becoming part of the overall online search engine. The idea is that it will give more diverse and all encompassing results which will hopefully attract users away from Google’s honeypot. But will it work? I fear it may bee too cluttered and take too long to load, a problem Yahoo already suffers from in comparison to Google. Nevertheless, the future is looking slightly brighter for Yahoo. Source [InfoWorld]