Jason Chen, Author at Gizmodo

Seagate’s BlackArmor Drives And NAS Provide More Secure Backup Than Normal Drives

Seagate just updated their BlackArmor line with three units, a 220 NAS that holds up to 4TB, a WS 100 external drive with eSATA and USB 2.0, and a PS 110 portable drive that holds up to 500GB. Their availability and pricing: • Available in late July, Seagate BlackArmor NAS 220—$449.99 for 2TB and $699.99…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 22

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Gets Official, Preorders Start July 8

T-Mobile’s second Android phone, the myTouch 3G (previously known as the HTC Magic which we reviewed here), has finally been announced in an official capacity for $200. Its official official name is the “T-Mobile myTouch 3G with Google”. https://gizmodo.com/t-mobile-mytouch-3g-google-ion-review-most-improved-5272229 It’s basically the same specs as we’ve seen in other incarnations, and it’ll work with T-Mobile’s…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 22

Play 1 vs 100 On Xbox Live With Us Now

We’re playing 1 vs 100 on Xbox Live right now. If you’re anywhere near your Xbox 360, hop on and we can use the comments as a discussion of what’s going on. https://gizmodo.com/1-vs-100-makes-you-the-star-of-a-game-show-from-your-co-5241593 AND, if you’re going to be on at 7PM Pacific (10 ET), it’s the live game. You’ll get a chance to win…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Ballmer Thinks Microsoft’s Biggest Mistake is Search

Asked if he could have just one do-over, Ballmer replied, “I would probably say I would start sooner on search.” Ballmer’s been talking about search now for the last couple years as something Microsoft needs to put more money and effort into. The failed Yahoo deal last year was one play that didn’t quite work…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Chicago iPhone 3G and 3GS Users: Send Us Your Speedtest Data!

Hey Chicago iPhone 3G and 3GS users. Want to help us out? Download the Speedtest app for your iPhone, and run it. Why Chicago? Because AT&T’s been testing 7.2Mbps there. Just download the app, run the test, and take a screenshot (home and power buttons). Then send us the screenshot via your iPhone mail client…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Palm Pre webOS 1.0.3 Update Improves Syncing, Power Performance

The 1.0.3 update to your Palm Pre doesn’t add any new apps, but it does fix a few things in Gmail, Contacts and Calendar syncing. Here’s the changelog: Feature changes to existing applications Calendar * Events created in your Google calendar-either in Calendar on your phone or in Google online-that contain a symbol or accented…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Palm Pre’s App Catalog Won’t Get Really Open Until This Summer

Palm just posted an update on their developer blog telling developers—all of whom are anxious to make apps for the Pre and start making money—that the SDK won’t be out until late summer. On the one hand, it’s good news that they’re going to get an SDK available in three or four months from launch.…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Rocky’s Third Leg USB Drive Pumps the Abs

Rocky doesn’t need anyone to hold his feet for situps. Nor do Apollo Creed or Clubber Lang. Not to be racially insensitive, but are Apollo and Clubber’s USB connectors slightly larger? Apollo’s enjoying himself a bit too much, and T is very, very angry someone’s making him exercise. The fools-per-minute coming out of him would…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 19

Our Favorite Lifehacker Posts of the Week

This week Lifehacker instructs on how to be a cheap bastard that uses a duct tape wallet, how to make your Linux machine like a Mac, how to diagnose network health and how to make your desktop look like that. • StandaloneStack for Windows • Make a duct tape wallet to match your duct tape…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 18

The iPhone and Pre Buyer’s Guide Flowchart

Still have a problem trying to decide to buy the iPhone 3GS or the Pre, despite the notes we already gave you? Do you prefer someone to guide you through the process? Like flowcharts? Then this is for you. https://gizmodo.com/palm-pre-vs-iphone-3gs-how-to-make-the-right-decision-5294428 Hope that helps. Click here, or on the image, to see the full size chart.

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 18

Palm Pre vs. iPhone in Google Search Popularity

It could be the fact that the iPhone has been available for two years, or the fact that the iPhone is available in 3000 countries to the Palm Pre’s one, but Google Trends shows much more interest in Apple’s device. You do see a pretty decent spike there at the end of the graph, probably…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 18

Google Voice Coming VERY Soon?

There has been lots of chatter about Google Voice being on the verge of being released, so keep an eye out tomorrow and early next week to see if it hits. You’ll probably have to sign up early to get a number in an area code you like. This tweet by cwalker123, a Google Voice…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 18

iPhone 3GS Review

What’s the point in buying a new iPhone if it looks exactly like the old one? Because once you start using it, the speed of the iPhone 3GS will amaze you. There’s a reason why Apple called this the iPhone 3GS for Speed and not the 3GC for “compass” or 3GV for “video recording.” Speed…

Reviews Jason Chen Jun 17

iPhone 3.0 Upgrade Process Deactivating Some Phones From AT&T (Update: Working Now)

We just got a load of tips from readers that the iPhone 3.0 update is sending their iPhone 3Gs into an unrecoverable mode where the activation process won’t complete. https://gizmodo.com/iphone-os-3-0-is-out-5294111 The message above is the one iTunes spits out if you’re one of the unlucky ones—like our own Andi—that can’t complete the upgrade. The phone…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 17

AT&T Loosens iPhone 3GS Upgrade Eligibility

If you’re an AT&T customer that isn’t eligible for a phone upgrade yet, but will be eligible in July, August or September, good news. You’re eligible starting Friday, June 19. AT&T’s just loosened the restrictions in order to allow people to who are on the verge of being able to upgrade to do so now.…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 17

Our DTV Transition Flowchart

This is our DTV transition flowchart, inspired by the Consumerist.

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 12

Running Custom Firmware on the Palm Pre Is Rather Easy

Developer Steven Troughton-Smith seems to have discovered that running unsigned (custom) firmware—even firmware that bypasses the activation process—is super easy. Not only can you use the Konami code to get the phone into dev mode, you can hold the volume-up button while it’s booting in order to set it to restore mode. Once in that…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 12

Palm Pre’s Fantastic Fonts Custom Designed By Font Bureau Type Foundry

The large, incredibly readable font on the Pre is part of why we said the OS was so usable in our review; we didn’t know Palm commissioned the fonts themselves. https://gizmodo.com/palm-pre-review-5277499 The company responsible for the font—Font Bureau—makes custom designs for “publications and corporations”. This particular one is called Prelude, and has a similar sibling…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 12

Missing Sync For Pre Helps Sync Contacts and Calendar

Palm already lets you sync the Pre with iTunes via its clever pretending-to-be-an-iPod, but that only gets music, video and photos onto your phone. Missing Sync does the rest. It’s an extension of their other Missing Sync products that are already out for BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. It lets you grab contacts and calendar (great),…

Tech News Jason Chen Jun 12

Kindle DX Sells Out In Two Days

Kindle DX (reviewed here) just started shipping Wednesday on Amazon and it’s already sold out. Either people really love that DX, or the Earth only produces enough resources to sustain manufacturing a few units at a time. [Amazon via Macworld] https://gizmodo.com/kindle-dx-review-5286789

Commerce Jason Chen Jun 12

Jason Chen

Seagate’s BlackArmor Drives And NAS Provide More Secure Backup Than Normal Drives

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Gets Official, Preorders Start July 8

Play 1 vs 100 On Xbox Live With Us Now

Ballmer Thinks Microsoft’s Biggest Mistake is Search

Chicago iPhone 3G and 3GS Users: Send Us Your Speedtest Data!

Palm Pre webOS 1.0.3 Update Improves Syncing, Power Performance

Palm Pre’s App Catalog Won’t Get Really Open Until This Summer

Rocky’s Third Leg USB Drive Pumps the Abs

Our Favorite Lifehacker Posts of the Week

The iPhone and Pre Buyer’s Guide Flowchart

Palm Pre vs. iPhone in Google Search Popularity

Google Voice Coming VERY Soon?

iPhone 3GS Review

iPhone 3.0 Upgrade Process Deactivating Some Phones From AT&T (Update: Working Now)

AT&T Loosens iPhone 3GS Upgrade Eligibility

Our DTV Transition Flowchart

Running Custom Firmware on the Palm Pre Is Rather Easy

Palm Pre’s Fantastic Fonts Custom Designed By Font Bureau Type Foundry

Missing Sync For Pre Helps Sync Contacts and Calendar

Kindle DX Sells Out In Two Days

Scientists Are Recycling Centuries-Old Bullets for a Badly Needed Toxic Compound

Amazon Drops Kasa Smart Light LED Bulbs (4-Pack) to Around $6 Each as Stock Clears Out

You Can Buy ‘Dune: Part Three’ IMAX Tickets Right Now

LA Has a Big Flea Problem. Typhus Cases Reached Record High Last Year

Samsung’s Tablet Deals Just Got Bigger, Galaxy Tab S10 Lite Hits Its Lowest Price With S-Pen on Amazon

Beats Solo 4 Headphones Are Back at Black Friday Pricing and Over 4x Cheaper Than AirPods Max

‘The Testaments’ Cast on How Their Show Mirrors Our Real-Life Dystopia

Meta to Smart Glasses Owners: Stop Hitting Yourself

Gaming Handhelds Are Getting Really Funky—and We’re Here for It

This 44% Off Portable Monitor Makes Adding a Second Screen Surprisingly Affordable

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound