Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
The Google Phone could be a ploy to upset the wireless industry, or it could be an expensive niche device. Either way, it’d be a bid to take Android back from the companies that seem hell-bent on destroying it. https://gizmodo.com/why-we-all-need-to-calm-down-about-the-google-phone-5426003 Android’s most serious problem right now is fragmentation: with each new phone, it seems, comes…
Hey, look! It’s a gimmicky USB drive that actually provides a somewhat useful service! Lockface, developed by Futen in Japan, uses your computer’s web cam to identify you before letting you access its data. The flash drive holds 4GB of memory—though larger capacity models are planned—and employs 256-bit AES encryption. To use, you register several…
With all the buzz over the tiny LCD screen on the bottom of the Nook, I was excited to get some time with the Entourage Edge, a device that pairs a large E Ink screen with a 10-inch LCD touchscreen. I got that chance on Monday, when the company stopped by CNET with a prototype…
What does Lou Reed have to do with the iPhone, apart from his songs being sold on iTunes? Better sit down and brace yourself for the coming news—he’s designed an app. For the nearsighted. Ok, so it’s not just for the nearsighted, with the Lou Zoom app promising to “bring style and clarity to your…
Other Bluetooth music receivers exist, but they’re not nearly as small and glamorous as Belkin’s model here. Stream music files from your A2DP-supported phone over Bluetooth, and the receiver will pick it up, and play through the speakers you’ve connected via the supplied RCA or 3.5mm cables. It’ll detect a Bluetooth-enabled phone from 33-feet away,…
We’ve all heard about the Kindle. And most of us know about the Nook. And while Borders is not selling a dedicated eBook reader of their own, they have just doubled down on digital distribution. While Borders already sells electronic books (in ePub format), they’ve bought a fair chunk of eBook retailer Kobo. What’s this…
This new Neato vacuum cleaner has one trick up its nozzle that your average Roomba doesn’t—lasers. I’m sold! Anyone who’s ever used a Roomba robot cleaner before will know that it bumps into furniture regularly, even mounting curtains if your back is turned. This new Neato (New! Improved! Neato!) uses a Room Positioning System with…
Starting this Saturday, Wal-mart will begin selling the 8GB iPod Nano for $145 (normally $150 or so) with a free $50 iTunes gift card. The offer will go through December 24th. (In other words, no picking one up Christmas morning. Sorry.)
As predicted, the Federal Trade Commission is suing Intel for, as they put it, “[engaging] in a deliberate campaign to hamstring competitive threats to its monopoly.” This isn’t going to end well for Intel. https://gizmodo.com/the-ftc-still-wants-to-slay-the-intel-monopoly-monster-5418155 Earlier this year, Intel was forced to pay a $1.45 billion fine by the EU, and last month they had…
BenQ used to be a company that made cheap, decent gear. Now they make cheap stuff and slightly more premium stuff. I’m not sure what their first 27-incher will cost when it hits this month, but it might be cheap. And no matter what, the model should be competitively priced. The M2700HD is a 27-inch,…
A newly unearthed Apple patent application describes a process in which an iPhone could control a MacBook or iMac, remotely. Essentially, the iPhone establishes a connection with the computer, then it can control the OS in a similar manner to a TV remote. Using a virtual d-pad, users navigate through apps, open them remotely and…
The European Commission has dropped its Internet Explorer antitrust case against Microsoft, getting big concessions in the process but not leveling any $1.35 billion fines this time. https://gizmodo.com/europe-fries-microsoft-with-1-35-billion-fine-for-anti-361247 Instead, Microsoft has agreed to give customers a choice of up to eleven competitive browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera. OEMs will also be able to…
For the B&N Nook to be rooted—that is, broken open and readied for software modification—is one thing, but the real reason people are excited about hacking this ereader is obvious: they want apps. And apps they will have. https://gizmodo.com/ravaging-the-nook-a-teardown-a-spec-list-and-android-5425878 Users at nookDevs are reporting that, after a little clever input tricker, they’ve managed to get…
It’s a great divide. Many of our readers watched as video games were born and developed to this day. Others never knew a world without friends lists and Live accounts. Regardless of your background, this timeline will catch you up. (Click image for full-size pop-out.) A number of notables are missing, from 3DO to the…
The JVC XS-SR3 has a clean wraparound look and offers horizontal cradling in case you want to watch your content on the smallest screen in your home. The dock does feature Dolby Virtual Surround and can double as a computer speaker system, but the rotating holder is something I can’t quite get behind as a…
Even in beta, we highlighted Evernote as one of Android’s 30 essential apps. It takes notes, recordings and photos and syncs them online instantly, so they’re available anywhere. It’s final, and should be showing up in the Marketplace later today. https://gizmodo.com/the-30-essential-android-apps-5423053 Unlike most Android apps that have iPhone counterparts, you won’t feel like you’re getting…
What’s this? Apple approved a video recording app for the iPhone 3G and iPhone OldGee? Like, for the App Store? Yeah, it’s called iVideoCamera and it’s 99 cents. It’s pretty crappy. Okay, really crappy. Resolution is 160×213. At three frames a second. Three. And you only record for one minute. But you can share your…
Consider this fact: AT&T, a huge wireless provider in the United States, cannot reliably connect calls in New York City. [Fake Steve]
Jellio’s bench looks like an ice cream sandwich, but is just a couch covered in brown canvas and white velvet. At 48 inches long, it’s $950. [Jellio via Core77]
Google’s Nexus One has been interpreted by some press as a title inspired by the Nexus series of androids in the Blade Runner movie. Creator Philip K. Dick’s daughter, Isa, says, “We were never consulted, no requests were made, and we didn’t grant any sort of permissions.” She is consulting her legal counsel over the…