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A few years back I read an enlightening article on Red Bull detailing how a series of brilliant steps turned a cough syrup soda into a world-leading energy drink. At the time, their factory employees generated $1 million apiece—a figure that almost makes sense when weighing the cost of mandatory personnel alone. Now Nintendo does…
They must be making popsicles in hell now, because Microsoft has come up with a much better way to expand your musical horizons than Apple iTunes 8’s Genius in their new Zune software: MixView. Not only is MixView much prettier and more fun than Genius-we already knew that-it’s also more useful, more informative, and it…
Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner has released a research note claiming that during “field checks” he has confirmed that new MacBooks have begun shipping to stores (from overseas). According to Gardner, the MacBooks feature “very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point.” The news either confirms the existing rumors or is…
Zune owners are getting free Wi-Fi access at McDonalds, as well as the 3.0 software today. It’s using the Wayport Wi-Fi system at about 10,000 stores, and as a Wayport spokesman puts it, it lets them “attract new customers whose digital lifestyle extends beyond their home and office.” Yep, out of the home and office…and…
Stacked-up chip technology isn’t new, but scientists at the University of Rochester have built the first properly-3D chip recently. Unlike previous attempts, with layered standard 2D chip-circuitry on top of similar layers, the new chip actually has components built into a 3D-matrix, with interconnects between layers.The neatest bit (and most difficult to design) is that…
The Zune 3.0 update is just hitting now, chaps. Go grab it, update your PMPs and tell us how it goes in the comments. You can get the files here, and get the full Microsoft spiel about what’s new here. [Thanks OMG! Ponies!]
Yeah, I know: Bluetooth car speaker/microphone systems blah blah… but this one’s got a such a battery lifespan it’s a bit different. Clipped to your car’s sun visor (or on your desk as a speakerphone) it’ll sit on standby for a full month, and if you choose to chat using it, you can do so…
Microsoft’s officially announced price cuts to the Xbox 360 in Europe: Arcades will now go for $230, 60GB Pros for $303 and 120GB Elites for $410 (that’s €179, €239 and €299 for you Euro-zoners,) representing between 10% and 18% in price cuts. It’s part of an MS strategy to “open up the ultimate in high-definition…
Back in March we raved about Casio’s EX-F1, and it’s just six months later and now Casio’s got another super-fast frame rate camera for us: the EX-FH20. It’s a smaller and lighter beast than its predecessor, but it has 9.1-megapixels, can still shoot ultra-high-speed bursts at 40 fps and high speed movies at “up to…
Previously we’d told you a September 23rd launch date for HTC’s Android-packing Dream, after a whole suite of predictions, and now there’s a new one: the Wall St. Journal is saying “late October.” That’s on T-Mobile, and it’s the announcement that’s due September 23rd according to the standard “people familiar with the matter.” Watch this…
In case you’re in the market for a new set of speakers, Logitech’s just dropped a couple that you should probably consider. Two of them, the Logitech Pure-Fi Anytime and the Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus, also function as iPod docks. The third, Logitech’s Z-5 Omnidirectional Stereo Speakers is completely USB bus-powered. Each option will set…
AT&T is figuring out options for linking U-Verse to the iPhone, and plans on eventually introducing services that’ll meld the two into an all encompassing home theater system. Features being developed include using the phone as a remote control, listening to voicemail on TV, downloading shows from DVRs onto iPhones and virtually hurling tomatoes at…
WowWee’s awesome three-wheel webcam-enabled robot will soon be roving to an e-retailer near you! The Rovio, which features a Northstar GPS system and the ability to be controlled through the internet, cellphones, and even game consoles, can be seen on Amazon and pre-ordered for $300 on Hammacher Schlemmer. The scheduled release date is Sept. 26.…
Considering just about every other laptop maker has entered the ULPC arena, it comes as no surprise that Sony’s thinking about dipping its toes into netbooks as well. Sony exec Mike Abary told Laptop Magazine to “stay tuned” about the company’s netbook plans, and added that “we are letting the pioneers of the market make…
The year is 3022. Persons of rank wear amazing lightning-bolt gloves that can fend off smallish missiles, and billowy white powdered wigs are finally back in style. The Space Olympics are being held on Zargon, but lo, due to funding issues, popular sports such as Space Disk, Space Swords and the ever-popular Space Luge may…
HP has dropped two notebooks catering to portable home theater addicts. Both computers run Windows Vista SP1 and come with Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processors, Nvidia GeForce 9600M graphics chips, 4GB DDR2 RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a DVD±R/RW drive. The HDX16 has a 16-inch 1366×768 pixel Brightview display and comes with a 320GB hard…
HPs Touchsmart all-in-one, launched earlier this summer, was a pretty good all-in-one PC, and now it got a few more features that sweeten the deal. The key updates for the Touchsmart IQ816 are that it now comes with a 25.5-inch LCD, Blu-ray drive and VESA wall mount capability. Other new features include a drive bay…
HP has two new mice out dedicated to gaming. The HDX Laser Mouse gives you five mouse setting profiles, five programmable macro buttons, and is allegedly eight times faster than conventional mice. The slightly more advanced Laser Gaming Mouse with Voodoo DNA gives you everything the regular laser mouse has, plus HP’s VoodooDNA GUI software…
OK, OK…so it’s another damn digital photo frame, but bear with me. Equipped with a 3.5-inch, 320×240 display, it may not do anything that the average frame doesn’t, yet it’s appealing to the eye. It’s simple design is appropriate for its overall lack of complexity — it has a USB 2.0 port, MP3 support, a…
I’ve never actually seen someone get hurt at an amusement park until this weekend. If you’re going to Waterworld in Concord, CA, please avoid the ride above, I think it’s called Death Shudder or Costner’s Folly or something. I captured a few shots and videos of some of the rides here with the waterproof Pentax…
