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Reviews
Kodak Zi6 Pocket Camcorder Lightning Review
2:20 PM on Mon Sep 29 2008
By Benny Goldman
8,238 views,
23 comments
Latest by Mixiboi: From Kodak's site it supports OS X [www.kodak.com] System Requirements WINDOWS WINDOWS OS XP SP2 or VISTA INTERNET EXPLORER 6.0 or higher MACINTOSH MACINTOSH OS X 10.4 more »
Pocket camcorders
RCA EZ300 Pocket Camcorder Shoots HD for Frugal Filmmakers
It looks like RCA is trying to best their own high marks with the Small Wonder EZ300, an HD-capable pocket camcorder that's seriously cheap. In addition to shooting 720p HD video (and along with Kodak's Zi6 making HD the pocket cam standard), the EZ300's 2GB internal memory is expandable by 16GB via SD slot, which gets you nine hours of hi-def footage. RCA says it's optimized for low-light, hopefully a major improvement over the EZ210, but I'll have to see it to believe it. The EZ300 runs on a Li-ion battery and doesn't shoot macro, but at $160 it's cheaper than the Zi6 so you've got a tough choice to make. [RCA]
Reviews
The Gadget: Slacker G2, a slimmer, updated version of the original Slacker portable internet radio player.
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Lightning Review: Slacker G2 Portable Radio
The Gadget: Slacker G2, a slimmer, updated version of the original Slacker portable internet radio player.
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Storage
1.5TB FreeAgent XTreme Anchors Onslaught of Stylish Seagate Hard Drives
That there is the grandpappy of those leaked Seagate hard drives, the 3.5-inch, 7200RPM, 1.5TB FreeAgent XTreme. It connects via USB 2.0, FireWire 400 or eSATA, the latter of which transfers files at a blazing 3GBit/second. Available in October, the $300 LED-filled drive comes in three more sizes starting at $160 for 500GB. Seagate launched a whole slew of other HDDs too, including 5400RPMers, 2.5" slim drives in four colors and two Mac-ready drives that'll save you the inconvenience of running Disk Utility for $40-$70 more than their PC-counterparts. Catch 'em in pics and press release down below. More »
Music
Slacker Internet Radio Comes to BlackBerry for Lazy-Ass Music Lovers
Slacker, the Pandora-esque internet radio service, will release a free app for BlackBerry phones next month. It's remarkably similar to their own hardware—users choose pre-programmed stations or build their own, and songs are downloaded directly to the phone's memory card, so they don't require Wi-Fi or a cell connection to play. Telling Slacker what songs you like and don't like tailors the stations to your tastes, almost like getting a Genius Playlist of songs you don't have to pay for or otherwise acquire. Up to 8GB of free music that changes all the time? Almost sounds too good to be true. [Slacker]
12:30 PM on Thu Sep 11 2008
By Benny Goldman
4,954 views,
21 comments
Latest by Brian D: RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie announced the new feature (again, not available until next month) during a keynote speech Thursday morning more »
Microsoft
Microsoft BlueTrack Mouse: Laser Precision On Any Surface
Following the other poorly kept secrets from Redmond this week, Microsoft officially announced their game-changing BlueTrack mouse that's been making the rounds lately. The BlueTrack takes the best parts of optical and laser mice and adds a massive blue beam to create a precise mouse that works on almost any surface. Seriously, I tested it out on granite, carpet, wood, and Samuel L. Jackson's bald head*, and it tracked impressively the whole time. The 2.4 GHz BlueTrack comes in two varieties: A $100 rechargeable full-sizer and a $80 mini that runs on AAs. It's out in November, press release after the jump. More »
CEDIA 2008
Sony VAIO RT All-In-One PC Is A 25.5" Widescreen, HDMI-Filled, Video Editing Monster
The VAIO RT is Sony's beast of an all-in-one PC, an "extra-widescreen" (read: 16:9) 25.5" display, created with designers and video editors in mind. It's big feature is that it not only has an HDMI-in port in order to work with HD content, but it also has an HDMI-out, for connecting a second monitor. Other features include a Blu-ray recordable drive and up to 1TB of hard drive space. It also comes loaded with 8GB RAM, a multi-card reader and a built-in digital TV tuner. Of course, you're still stuck with Vista, but with all that power underneath you should do just fine. Unfortunately, the RT has a beastly price tag to match—it starts at $3300—when it arrives this fall. Press release down below. [Sony] More »
Digital Cameras
Olympus' tough-as-nails Stylus 1050 SW updates the 1030 SW with a tap-control feature that makes it easy to take pictures in extreme environments. While the specs are nearly identical to the 1030—10.1MP, 5 feet shockproof, 10 ft. waterproof, 14°F freezeproof—he 1050 uses an accelerometer to allow button-free control. Tapping the top, back or sides of the camera cycle through different options, so you can make adjustments to your pictures even if you're wearing gloves. It'll be out in October, and for $300, I'd tap that. The Stylus 1040, one of the best looking Olympus point-and-shoots we've seen, down below.
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Olympus Hazard-Proof Tap-To-Snap Stylus 1050 SW and Its Skinny Sidekick, the 1040
Olympus' tough-as-nails Stylus 1050 SW updates the 1030 SW with a tap-control feature that makes it easy to take pictures in extreme environments. While the specs are nearly identical to the 1030—10.1MP, 5 feet shockproof, 10 ft. waterproof, 14°F freezeproof—he 1050 uses an accelerometer to allow button-free control. Tapping the top, back or sides of the camera cycle through different options, so you can make adjustments to your pictures even if you're wearing gloves. It'll be out in October, and for $300, I'd tap that. The Stylus 1040, one of the best looking Olympus point-and-shoots we've seen, down below.
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Sony Xross Fade Dual iPod DJ Dock Is Wiggity Wack
The $500 Xross Fade DJ system is Sony's hard-to-pronounce dual iPod dock kit for mixing songs. It may have some rad-looking bass reflex speakers and dual subwoofers, but it's unfortunately gimped as far as DJ features go—you can cue and crossfade between songs, a technology straight outta 2005 and something you could do on a PC with moderate iTunes skills. There are also some presumably lame-ass drum beats you can lay top of your tracks to spice them up, but not much more. Seriously Sony, what gives? DJing is just no fun without some "wikki wikki." Press release down below. [Sony]
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PMPs
Archos just revealed what that curtain tease was all about: the 6th Gen Archos 5, 5G and 7 series PMPs. The 4.8" flagship 5G ditches the tired interface and buttons of the Gen-5 device for a slick UI and touchscreen-only operation. It's got Wi-Fi, HD video support, web browsing, email, a huge HDD (up to 250GB), and built-in HSPDA 3G connectivity. It's also got dock connectors, GPS, DVR, video/audio recording and more. In short, it's everything that the iPod touch isn't, and I got to touch it.
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Archos Gen-6 5G PMP is 3G Web Surfing, HD Video, Touchscreen Beauty
Archos just revealed what that curtain tease was all about: the 6th Gen Archos 5, 5G and 7 series PMPs. The 4.8" flagship 5G ditches the tired interface and buttons of the Gen-5 device for a slick UI and touchscreen-only operation. It's got Wi-Fi, HD video support, web browsing, email, a huge HDD (up to 250GB), and built-in HSPDA 3G connectivity. It's also got dock connectors, GPS, DVR, video/audio recording and more. In short, it's everything that the iPod touch isn't, and I got to touch it.
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How to Disable the App Store Kill Switch Using Your Jailbroken iPhone
Stephen Colbert spoke, and the people listened: The kill switch that lets Apple remotely remove applications on your iPhone can be disabled with the push of a button. All you need is a jailbroken phone and the updated BossPrefs app found on Cydia. Simply choose "Disable Apple App Killswitch" in BossPrefs and Bob Barker that puppy into oblivion. This isn't the only way to get rid of the kill switch, but it's the easiest we've seen and can quickly be toggled on or off. Just be careful: if Apple wants to remove an app, they probably have a pretty good reason for doing so. [Thanks Alan, bryonbrock!!]
Must...Sign...
William Shatner, Other B-Listers Start Signing Autographs In Personalized Video Form
At a time when the $2 billion per year autograph business runs rampant with counterfeits, it's tough to ensure your memorabilia is authentic. Thanks to LiveAutographs.com, a website that shills personalized video "autographs" from B-listers like Carmen Electra, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the cast of Lost, that problem may soon be obsolete. Trekkie and TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington recently praised the service after paying $150 for a message from William Shatner, which took three months to arrive. Joke's on you Mike—I got a video from Shatner in an hour, and it only cost me iMovie and elbow grease. But for the last time Bill, my name isn't "Jackass". [LiveAutographs via TechCrunch, Reuters]
7:00 PM on Sun Aug 17 2008
By Benny Goldman
5,489 views,
25 comments
Latest by Pwnieboy: @krizoitz: The writer of this article must have more Emmys. @Yifkong: Oh man, I almost blew diet cherry coke zero out more »
Food
iBlessing and ParveOMeter iPhone Apps Make You a Kosher Keeping Mensch
Sorry Gentiles, you'll want to step aside for this one.
Listen up bubbelahs, now that the shiksas and sheygets are gone let's kibbitz. Your diet? Not so great. Lucky for you, two new iPhone apps are designed with kosher-keepers in mind. iBlessing tells you the correct brachas for meal time, and ParveOMeter helps your milk and meat stay separate. So wipe that schmutz off your punim, get off your tuchas, and let me show you how they work.
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Riaa
Pandora Internet Radio Can't Take Royalty Rates, Will Likely Close the Box
Pandora, the internet radio station built around your tastes, will probably be going out of business soon. After getting slapped by the CRB with exorbitantly high royalty rates to continue playing music, founder Tim Westergren says the company is facing a "pull-the-plug" situation. There's one congressman trying to help Pandora and it's million plus users, but the service is bleeding money in the meantime and its future looks grim. I'll be very sad to see it go, since being reintroduced to it recently through their excellent iPhone app. What great idea do you have for us next, CRB? [ReadWriteWeb]
threats
Stephen Colbert Isn't Afraid of the iPhone's Kill Switch
What's the #1 threat facing America? According to pundit Stephen Colbert, it's the hateable iPhone. After discovering it has a kill switch to remotely remove malicious apps, the phone went straight to the top of Colbert's Threat Down list—even edging out bears. He says the switch is designed to "kill you", and though that may be wrong for now, you never know what Steve Jobs is cooking up in Cupertino. But Stephen isn't afraid of death; he stares the iPhone down Clint Eastwood-style—until his mom calls. Oh, he also trashes Zunes and shows us his feminine side with that SATC ringtone. Clip above. [Colbert Report]
2:30 PM on Sun Aug 17 2008
By Benny Goldman
19,737 views,
30 comments
Latest by wenderson: People, stop complaining, it's supposed to be funny, not acurate. more »
Reviews
The Gadget: GirlTech Stylin' Studio, a drawing pad with built-in webcam and bundled PC app to give virtual makeovers to yourself, your friends, your enemies and even—as you can see in the gallery below—Gizmodo staff co-workers.
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Lightning Review: GirlTech Stylin' Studio
The Gadget: GirlTech Stylin' Studio, a drawing pad with built-in webcam and bundled PC app to give virtual makeovers to yourself, your friends, your enemies and even—as you can see in the gallery below—Gizmodo staff co-workers.
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Communication
