Switched

Gift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Blue Microphones Mikey (Creative, Under $100)

For those who like to get creative with sound, Blue Mikey ($79.99) is an excellent addition to your potable digital tool belt. Essentially a mic that plugs into the bottom of your iPhone or iPod, Mikey lets you capture anything from live music to lectures. You interface with the hardware as you would the iPhone's built-in mic; you can either use Apple's own voice recorder, or download some more feature-packed options as Fire and FourTrack. Since it uses your iPhone as its "computer," the Blue Mikey is infinitely smaller than most digital recorders out there (for better or worse, it's also very light). The mic is directional, and a switch on the back lets you choose between different gain levels, depending on the sound source. Field recording has never been so convenient.

Filed under: Audio/Video, iPod, iPhone, Portable Audio, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Dyson Limited Edition DC25 Blueprint

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST

Dyson Limited Edition DC25 Blueprint (Homebody, Under $1000)

Vacuum cleaners are like eyeglasses and headphones -- when you buy one, it's worth paying for quality (particularly if you live with a dog and/or significant other that sheds regularly). And once you use a "serious" vacuum cleaner, it's tough to go back. Dyson's Limited Edition DC25 Blueprint ($529.99) is arguably the nicest looking Dyson yet; the combination of stormtrooper-white shiny plastic, future-industrial lines, and a purple trim is truly a sight to behold. Under the hood sits Dyson's Root Cyclone and Ball technologies, and it comes with a bonus FlatOut head, which is ideal for getting underneath low furniture and appliances. It's still expensive, but surprisingly in line with the other DC25 models. If you or someone you know is having a midlife crisis, this thing is a much better investment than a sports car.

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Dyson Limited Edition DC25 Blueprint originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is 'DJ Hero' Worth the Hype?

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST

HYPE CHECK

'DJ Hero'

What it is: Until now, rock-and-roll has dominated the rhythm-action gaming charts. 'Rock Band' and 'Guitar Hero' both provide amazing experiences for guitars-and-drums jams, but don't really address either hip hop or dance music (i.e., electronic music). Activision has tried to remedy this situation with its newest 'Hero' game, aptly titled 'DJ Hero.' Just as 'Guitar Hero' attempts to reproduce the feeling of playing in a band, 'DJ Hero' attempts to do the same for club-centric live mixing.

Why it's different: The work of a DJ is fundamentally different from that of a traditional musician. Like 'Guitar Hero,' 'DJ Hero' comes with its own hardware. The custom controller includes a free-spinning turntable with three colored buttons on one side, along with a crossfader, a knob for effects, and a button that glows when you go into "Euphoria mode" (more on that later). Though made of plastic, the controller actually feels solid, as though it could take a beating, and the feel of the turntable and mixer are spot-on. Although the buttons can be awkward to push while scratching (particularly the one on the inside), the hardware -- unlike the guitar games -- generally does a good job of making you feel like an actual DJ (or, at least, what we'd imagine it feels like to be a DJ). Oh, and it's remarkably devoid of logos, making it a surprisingly classy addition to your living room hardware lineup.

Continue reading Is 'DJ Hero' Worth the Hype?

Filed under: Video Games, Editor's Picks, Reviews

Is 'DJ Hero' Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Jabra Stone

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST

Jabra Stone (Style-o-Phile, Under $250)

The Jabra Stone ($129.99) is the first significant step for the notorious Bluetooth headset in some time. The design effectively removes the annoying "boom" of other headsets off of your face/ear; in fact, it can actually be concealed under longish hair, should you so desire. The excellent sound quality, good battery life, and slick charger (when charging, it looks like a flat, rounded stone) make this one of the best Bluetooth headsets money can buy, particularly for the self-conscious headset wearers out there. (Unless you have very small ears, that is: the design of the earpiece is such that it's not adjustable, meaning it can be difficult to prevent from falling off.)

Filed under: Cell Phones, Peripherals, Mobile Phones, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Jabra Stone originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Alienware Area 51 ALX Gaming PC

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST

Alienware Area 51 ALX Gaming PC (Gamer, Cost No Object)

If you're trying to keep up with the Joneses in PC gaming, Alienware's Area 51 Gaming PC ($3,999 and up) is tough to beat. Housed inside one of the company's trademark love-'em-or-hate-'em "futuristic" cases, this rig is decked out with some of the best components money can buy: Intel Core i7 975 Extreme processors, your choice of ATI CrossFireX or NVidia SLI graphics graphics cards (making it great for the 3-D gaming with Nvidia's 3-D Vision Kit), and plenty of memory to keep things running smoothly). Oh, and it uses a fancy liquid cooling system to keep all this stuff from melting down inside. it's a hefty price to pay, certainly -- fully tricked out, this thing will set you back nearly as much as a small car, but the benchmarks are right up there near the head of the pack. And hey, you can't shoot nasty, earth-hating aliens with a Hyundai Accent, can you?

Filed under: Computers, desktops, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Alienware Area 51 ALX Gaming PC originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: NVidia 3D Vision Kit

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:04:00 EST

NVidia 3-D Vision Kit (Gamer, Under $250)

"3-D gaming" is one of those terms that gets bandied about quite a bit these days. And while the experience is best experienced in movie theaters, the home alternatives are finally starting to proliferate. Arguably the best option out there is NVidia's 3-D Vision Kit ($199), which connects to your PC, and displays your compatible games in three glorious dimensions (the list includes such award winners as 'Resident Evil 5,' 'Left 4 Dead,' and 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'). You'll need a high-speed 120 Hz-monitor, HDTV or projector to properly view the games, and an 8800 GT graphics card or better. While the stereoscopic goggles are a bit goofy, the gaming experience provided is quite unlike any you've ever experienced: You'll literally try to reach out and touch the graphics.

Filed under: Computers, Video Games, Windows Software, Peripherals, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: NVidia 3D Vision Kit originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Scribblenauts

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:41:00 EST

Scribblenauts (Gamer, Under $50)

Scribblenauts ($29.99) is one of those games that gets people talking. Essentially a puzzle game at its core, the experience involves inputting words (via either handwriting recognition or an onscreen keyboard) to outfit your character with different objects to solve the problem at hand. A flamethrower may be the easiest way to burn through some impassably thick brush, while a net may let you catch an intimidating shark. The game's vocabulary is rather staggering; input nearly anything you can think of and watch it manifest before you in two-dimensional glory. When your friend starts complaining about the lack of innovation in video games, hand them your copy of Scribblenauts and say, "Play this."

Filed under: Video Games, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Scribblenauts originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Glide TV

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:37:00 EST

Glide TV (Homebody, Under $250)

More and more of us are watching video content from a notebook computer connected to our television sets, but efficiently interfacing with this content has proven to be something of a challenge. Keyboards and mice can be cumbersome and unwieldy (not to mention completely unusable when there's no flat surface to place them on). So what's an off-the-grid, digital content maven to do? The GlideTV Navigator ($150) makes searching for and through your content into a truly intuitive, almost fun, experience. It's expensive for a remote, for sure, but if money isn't a problem, then your couch potato won't be disappointed, as this is a superbly designed, highly functional remote for your living room Mac or PC, or even PlayStation 3. In fact, it's probably the most elegant solution to the decades-old problem of remote-controlling your media PC yet.

Filed under: Audio/Video, Home Video, Peripherals, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Glide TV originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:34:00 EST

Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T (Novice, Under $500)

For the grandparent who has neither the time nor the interest in learning to use a computer, the ASUS Videophone Touch ($299) makes an amazing gift. Essentially, the all-in-one device allows the user to make unlimited video Skype calls, without using a computer or other hardware. The 7-inch touchscreen, built-in camera, and speaker make the whole process incredibly straightforward; assuming they have an available Wi-Fi or Ethernet Internet connection (which could be your bonus gift), you simply set up their contacts once and it's smooth sailing from there on out, thanks to an intuitive icon-based interface. Nothing quite matches the intimacy of seeing your parents or grandparents (or, for tech-savvy seniors, your grandchildren) face-to-face, of course, but video chat makes a much better alternative than the standard telephone.

Filed under: Audio/Video, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: HP Beats Laptop

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:23:00 EST

HP Beats Laptop (Media Hound, Under $2,500)

It's rare that a PC laptop makes even Mac owners look twice, but look twice at the above photo. See? The 15-inch black-and-red stunna -- essentially an HP Envy with a Beats by Dr. Dre veneer -- has a lot in common with the MacBook Pro, actually: the chiclet keyboard, the buttonless, multitouch trackpad, the slim, bezel-etched design, even the $2,299 (and up) price tag. But it's the 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM processor, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics card, networking-optimized Windows 7, and great screen that make this a multimedia powerhouse ideal for playing music, movies, and pictures while on the go or at home. Yes, the 'Beats' brand may be mostly a marketing gimmick, but it does mean that the system also comes with a pair of Beats Solo by Dr. Dre headphones ($199 on their own), an audio interface with two stereo outputs and ultra-loud output level, which makes it good for producing or performing music live. For those who produce their own music -- or trendsetters who want a distinctive-looking PC -- the $2,229 Beats Laptop is tough to beat.

Filed under: Computers, Laptops, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: HP Beats Laptop originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Seagate FreeAgent Theater+

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST

Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ (Media Hound, under $250)

You've got a hard drive full of movies and television, but playing these digital files where they're meant to be played -- on your living room TV/receiver setup, rather than your computer -- can be tricky business. Though its interface is light years behind that of Apple TV, the FreeAgent Theater+ ($150) excels in flexibility: The device can play nearly any file you throw at it (WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, and VOB, to name just a few). Also, 720p and 1080p files play back without a hitch, and the device even makes sense of complicated folder hierarchies and file names. Media hounds will be best served by putting all of their content on an accompanying Seagate FreeAgent hard drive (which plugs into the device), but for overall bang for the buck (especially for folks with loads of downloaded movies and TV), it's still a great value.

Filed under: Audio/Video, Home Video, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:51:00 EST

Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale (Sports Fan, Under $250)

Self-improvement, body-opmtimization technology is coming at us fast and furious, and the Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale is one of the best implementations yet. It's a simple concept: Set up your online profile, and every time you weigh yourself on the scale, your weight and body mass is sent via your Wi-Fi connection to your online account. This means that weight and body fat levels can be tracked over time, which is rather fascinating to see, particularly when you start taking notes on what you're eating on particular days, what you're stressed out about, etc (all of which you can do online). The best part is that it all just works: Setup is super simple, thanks to smart hardware and a user-friendly Web interface. Multiple people can track themselves simultaneously, too; the thing is smart enough to actually know who is standing on the scale each time. So, the Withings Wi-Fi scale may be an ideal gift for the fitness obsessed and/or diet-prone in your life, but at least you'll be able to use it, too (assuming you live in the same place).

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Moshi Voice-Controlled Alarm Clock

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST

Moshi IVR Alarm Clock (Homebody, Under $50)

Even vampires know that there's really no good way to wake up out of a deep slumber, but Moshi is trying to help late sleepers make a go of it. The Moshi IVR Alarm Clock ($49.99) is, somewhat surprisingly, the first alarm clock that responds to voice commands. Saying "Hello Moshi" starts things off, and then users simply speak to the device, using commands like Set Time, Set Alarm, Turn Off Alarm, and, of course, the all-important SNOOZE. Plus, it provides a humanized machine for folks who woke up on the wrong side of the bed to direct their anger towards (rather than a pillow/mattress/significant other).

Gift Guide: Moshi Voice-Controlled Alarm Clock originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Wacom Bamboo Pen + Touch

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST

Wacom Bamboo Pen + Touch (Creative, Under $100)

Wacom has long been the de facto purveyor of pen tablets for both Mac and PC, and the Bamboo Pen and Touch may be its sweetest option yet. This $99 job plugs into any computer's USB port and effectively lets your beloved creative effectively draw with a cordless, battery-free, and pressure-sensitive stylus. This plastic drawing area on this newest rendition does a great job of replicating the friction and feel of paper, while the "Touch" factor adds MacBook- and iPhone-style gesturing (two fingers down to scroll, pull apart to zoom) functionality to boot. Plus, the intuitive software and small footprint means the creative flow won't be interrupted.

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Wacom Bamboo Pen + Touch originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Mobia Treadmill

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST

Mobia Treadmill (Sports Fan, Under $5000)

Particularly for those without an extra room in the house, exercise equipment can be a rather serious commitment -- large machines in the middle of the living room do not a serene environment make. Enter the Mobia treadmill, designed by renowned studio Frog Design. The nicest looking treadmill you're going to find is also forward-thinking in terms of the workout: It combines the forward motion of a treadmill, the stepping motion of a stair stepper, and the low-impact benefits of an elliptical machine for a low-impact exercise session. It will cost you an arm and both legs, but if it means years of regular exercise for the active loved ones in your life, then the $2,000 you'll need to plunk down for this baby is well worth the investment.

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Mobia Treadmill originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: NPR Radio

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST

Livio NPR Radio (Homebody, Under $250)

Okay, so it's not just for listening to NPR, but for those who can't imagine anything better than a cup of lemon-ginger tea and an episode of 'Fresh Air with Terry Gross,' this is about as good as it gets. This $199 Web radio connects to your home Internet via either Ethernet or Wi-Fi to play any of Livio's index of over 16,000 other worldwide webcasts, and is pre-programmed to play back all local NPR stations, making it a no-brainer for Mom or any other NPR-loving newbie. Users can even search for a specific program, station, segment, or guest by entering search terms with the device's control dial. Audio I/O lets you play your MP3 player through its speaker, or, you can connect the device itself to a larger sound system. Oh, and it's nice-looking addition to any home, to boot.

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: NPR Radio originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Philips Wake-Up Dock Light

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST

Philips HF3490 Wake-Up Light (Gadget Head, Under $200)

The iPod docking functionality definitely takes a back seat here. Instead, the Philips' HF3490 Wake-up Light ($199) tries to make life a bit easier by gradually increasing in intensity to ease users out of their slumber, with 20 shades of light to push through those heavy eyelids. The alarm comes with four preset nature sounds, as well as the aforementioned iPod/iPhone docking action to go for the ears in case the serene approach doesn't work. Last but not least, a "dusk simulation" is made for getting overworked, overstimulated brains to sleep, gradually dimming the light and sounds to send tired folks to that happy place.

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Philips Wake-Up Dock Light originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: PlayStation 3 Slim

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST

PlayStation 3 Slim (Gamer, Under $500)

If you've been holding off on buying a PlayStation 3 (PS3) for one of many reasons -- it's too expensive, it's too big, it looks too much like a George Foreman Grill -- then you may have run out of excuses with the PS3 Slim. This smaller, lighter, quieter, and more energy-efficient hardware comes in at a perfectly manageable $300, and the beautiful matte design won't bother than non-gaming aesthetes in your house (nor will the Blu-ray functionality, of course). Like more recent iterations of the PS3, it won't play your PlayStation 2 (PS2) games, but that's a small price to pay; it comes with a 120-gigabyte (GB) hard drive and a Wireless DualShock 3 controller, which means you'll be gaming right out of the box. (As long as you buy a game with it, that is.)

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: PlayStation 3 Slim originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift Guide: Panasonic GF1 Camera

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:09:00 EST

Panasonic GF1 (Gadget Head, Under $1000)

Gadget heads, take notice: the Panasonic GF1 ($800) is a ridiculously nice camera to shoot with. Because it uses the new Micro Four Thirds standard, it essentially allows for most of the benefits of a dSLR -- interchangeable lenses, and thereby excellent image quality -- without all the bulk. The solid, sturdy metal body is definitely too big for your pocket, but it's not a pain to leave around your neck for long periods of time, either. Full, easily accessible manual control, excellent image quality (if not quite up to the standard of quality dSLR), and a superb screen make this arguably the coolest camera to own right now (excluding Leica, that is).

Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Panasonic GF1 Camera originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lazy Passwords Leave 21K Routers, Cams, Phones Open to Attack

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST

In the "yet another thing to be paranoid about" category comes a report that nearly 21,000 routers, webcams and VoIP products are wide open to remote attack, simply because their owners have committed the ultimate sin: failing to change the manufacturer's default password for the devices.

The study was performed by Ang Cui, a grad student at Columbia University's Intrusion Detection Systems Laboratory, which has sponsored the likes of DARPA and the Department of Homeland Security. Researchers have now scanned over 130 million IP addresses, and discovered nearly 300,000 devices to be remotely accessible. And the 21,000 devices with default passwords are, of course, the most vulnerable -- "runts of the litter", if you will.

Continue reading Lazy Passwords Leave 21K Routers, Cams, Phones Open to Attack

Filed under: Computers, Web

Lazy Passwords Leave 21K Routers, Cams, Phones Open to Attack originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Freedom' Web-Blocker Takes You Off the Grid -- for the Evening, Anyway

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:35:00 EST

In an attempt to regain her personal freedom, New York Times writer Peggy Orenstein attempted the unthinkable: going offline. But it took more than removing herself from the Internet. It took removing the Internet from her. Temporarily, at least.

In her research, Orenstein stumbled upon an application called Freedom, which blocks the user's access to the Internet for up to eight hours at a stretch. The only way to get back online is rebooting your computer, which Orenstein considers enough of a "cumbersome" and "humiliating" hassle to deter users from getting back online.

The program came from the mind of Fred Stutzman, a graduate student in Information and Library Science. Some time ago, Stutzman lost his ability to effectively write (something he'd been able to consistently do by going to a certain cafe) when said cafe decided to offer Wi-Fi. Now, Stutzman's (Mac-only) program is downloaded more than 4,000 times a month, and he's still a regular user, himself.

"We're moving toward this era where we'll never be able to escape from the cloud," Stutzman says. "I realized the only way to fight back was at an individual, personal level." [From: New York Times]

Filed under: Computers, Web

'Freedom' Web-Blocker Takes You Off the Grid -- for the Evening, Anyway originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exercise Bike Coming to the Wii Next Year

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST

Now that the Nintendo Wii has become the village bicycle of exercise accessories, the metaphor is rapidly approaching its natural conclusion; a Wii exercise bike attachment is on its way.

German publisher Bigben Interactive is developing a Cyberbike in conjunction with its own eco-themed game, which pits players against pollution as they maneuver the bike through land, sea, and air. The device will also work with 'Mario Kart Wii' (the only other game yet announced as compatible), and the mega-sized packages will land in stores this January.

Continue reading Exercise Bike Coming to the Wii Next Year

Filed under: Video Games

Exercise Bike Coming to the Wii Next Year originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Sony PSP Go Worth the Hype?

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:20:00 EST

HYPE CHECK

Sony PSPGo

What it is: Sony's third crack at creating the ultimate handheld gaming system. PSP Go takes what Sony has accomplished with the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and squeezes it into a significantly smaller form factor, and embraces a whole new approach to getting games onto the device. Sporting graphics output roughly equivalent to that of the PlayStation 2 (if not better in some respects), the PSP has been the brawny, straightforward alternative to the Nintendo DS -- no touchscreen, no dual screens, but significantly better graphics output and tech specs. Now shrunken to nearly iPhone-sized proportions (if somewhat thicker), PSPgo isn't, however, a more powerful system than its predecessor -- in fact, it uses the same processor and holds the same amount of RAM as the last PSP.

Continue reading Is the Sony PSP Go Worth the Hype?

Filed under: Video Games, Editor's Picks, Reviews

Is the Sony PSP Go Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best New Bluetooth Headsets for Your Phone

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:22:00 EST

A few years ago, Bluetooth headsets were rarely seen in public, and early adopters were accused of making both fashion and etiquette faux pas.

But the proliferating bans on driving while holding a phone, coupled with people's discovery of hands-free convenience, has rendered the devices standard-issue these days.

And headsets continue to improve in both sound quality and features. Most new devices utilize one or more noise-canceling technologies, such as dual microphones and voice optimization (which suppresses ambient noise for less distortion). Some headsets use a boom (which extends the microphone closer to the mouth), and better in-ear designs either eliminate the dorky ear loop altogether or relegate it to an optional add-on.

Some of these Bluetooth devices boast A2DP technology in order to wirelessly stream music from a phone. And designers are finally paying attention to fashion, not just functionality.

To help you find the best match for your ear, we've taken some of the newer Bluetooth headsets out for a test drive, using them on calls everywhere from noisy city streets to wireless-saturated offices and homes (where there's a lot of potential interference). We evaluated them on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent) for sound quality, ease of use (especially for tasks like pairing and answering calls on the fly), comfort, and aesthetics (you know, so you don't look like a 'Bluetool' while you're wearing it). Take a look at our favorites.

Continue reading Best New Bluetooth Headsets for Your Phone

Filed under: Cell Phones, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, BlackBerry, iPhone, Reviews, Mobile Phones, BlackBerry 101

Best New Bluetooth Headsets for Your Phone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Device That Grows Meat in Your Kitchen Wins Design Prize

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:59:00 EST

Meat "ethics" are about to get even more complicated.

For electronics manufacturer Electrolux's recent design competition, first place went to a device that creates meat and fish by heating animal cells and growing them into edible food.

While still in the design phase, the Cocoon would theoretically replicate real meat by synthesizing the compounds that make it up. The controversial product would heat food packets containing muscle cells, oxygen and nutrients. "This will create 100% pure meat without the need for animals to be killed and with no risk of contamination," said Cocoon creator Rickard Hederstierna, a 27 year-old Swedish design student. "It will change everything."

Continue reading Device That Grows Meat in Your Kitchen Wins Design Prize

Filed under: Visionaries

Device That Grows Meat in Your Kitchen Wins Design Prize originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hood-Wearing 'Jedi' Thrown Out of Supermarket

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:24:00 EST

A Jedi can do nearly anything he puts his mind to. Except, it seems, shop for groceries.

The man who started the International Church of Jediism, Daniel Jones, is claiming that he was "victimized over his beliefs" by staff at a Tesco supermarket in North Wales.

For those Jedi agnostics out there, the church apparently requires its 500,000 worldwide members to cover their heads (with a Jedi hood, of course) in public. Jones claims that he was forced to leave a Tesco supermarket when he refused to remove his hood, which the store managers insisted was a security threat.

Continue reading Hood-Wearing 'Jedi' Thrown Out of Supermarket

Filed under: Web

Hood-Wearing 'Jedi' Thrown Out of Supermarket originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Zune HD Better Than the iPod?

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST

Hype Check:

Zune HD

What it is: You've no doubt heard of Zune -- Microsoft's much-hyped personal media player (PMP) -- but you may not have seen much of it. Unfortunately for Microsoft, the device hasn't exactly caught on with the mainstream, with Apple's iPod (not to mention iPhone) still dominating the space. Zune HD is the Zune's third iteration and it comes in 16 -gigabyte (GB) and 32GB varieties, a 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen, support for HD Radio and downloadable apps, and a Web browser.

Why it's different: Why would you get a Zune HD rather than an iPod? A big selling point is the tight integration of Microsoft's own 'all-you-can-eat' subscription-based music service, making discovering new music a slick, fun and affordable experience. It has a screen that tops even Apple's, HD Radio, and the ability to output HD-quality 720p video to your television set. In other words, it actually does some things that the iPod doesn't.

Continue reading Is the Zune HD Better Than the iPod?

Filed under: Audio/Video, Advice, Editor's Picks, Portable Audio, Reviews

Is the Zune HD Better Than the iPod? originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is 'The Beatles: Rock Band' Worth the Hype?

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:23:00 EST

Hype Check:

'The Beatles: Rock Band' (MTV Games/Harmonix)

What it is: A little band called The Beatles has joined forces with a little game called 'Rock Band' to create what is arguably the most highly anticipated music game to date. It includes 45 songs by the seminal British band, and a full-on visual overhaul to depict the Beatles' members and style. The game comes either bundled with Beatles-themed instrument controllers, or as a standalone game that can be played with any 'Rock Band'-compatible instruments.

Why it's different: You may not have noticed, but the Beatles' back catalog has never been released digitally -- no iTunes Store, no Amazon Music Store. And, of course, no Beatles song has ever been featured in a music game -- neither 'Rock Band,' nor 'Guitar Hero.' So, it's something of a coup that MTV and Harmonix (the game's publisher and developer, respectively), have scored approval to Rock-Band-ify the Fab Four's back catalog. The game was developed with creative input from Apple Corps (the Beatles' label), as well as with that of surviving band members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Even the gameplay, though fundamentally the same as prior versions of 'Rock Band,' includes some new ideas, the three-part vocal harmony system being the most significant.

Continue reading Is 'The Beatles: Rock Band' Worth the Hype?

Filed under: Video Games, Editor's Picks, Reviews, Back to School

Is 'The Beatles: Rock Band' Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smartphones to Overtake Desktop PCs by 2011, Say Analysts

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:11:00 EST

Remember how some time ago, we started to hear that Japanese people primarily used cell phones to access the Internet, rather than computers? And remember how we thought that seemed kinda ridiculous and impractical?

Yeah.

According to a report by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) analyst Mike Abramsky, smartphone sales will surpass PC sales worldwide by the end of 2011, right around 400 million units a year, for those keeping score at home.

Continue reading Smartphones to Overtake Desktop PCs by 2011, Say Analysts

Filed under: BlackBerry, iPhone, BlackBerry 101

Smartphones to Overtake Desktop PCs by 2011, Say Analysts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Doesn't Hate MP3s

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:51:00 EST

We live in an age when the fidelity of our music is seemingly less important than our ability to easily access, transport, and share it. As vinyl records were eventually replaced almost entirely by CDs as the predominant music format, MP3s and other files have now become the standard. They are digitally compressed (to varying degrees), making them sound significantly 'thinner' (read: lower sampling rates) than their disc-based counterparts.

But composer and Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood sees things a bit differently. "They sound fine to me," he told the New Yorker when asked whether MP3 was a satisfactory medium for his music. "They can even put a helpful crunchiness onto some recordings. We listened to a lot of nineties hip-hop during our last album, all as MP3s, all via AirTunes. They sounded great, even with all that technology in the way. MP3s might not compare that well to a CD recording of, say, string quartets, but then, that's not really their point."

Continue reading Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Doesn't Hate MP3s

Filed under: Audio/Video, Celebrities

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Doesn't Hate MP3s originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMS Picture-Messaging (Finally) Come to iPhone September 25th

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:54:00 EST

In a sign that AT&T may finally be inching its metaphorical head out of its collective nether regions, the company will be bringing the "far-out" technology of MMS (plain, old 'picture messages' to the rest of us) to the iPhone on September 25th.

The date falls a few days past the end of summer, the initially projected time of release, but AT&T's Brad Mays insists the move was made only to provide its customers with the best possible experience. "We support more iPhone customers than any other carrier in the world, so we took the time necessary to make sure our network is ready to handle what we expect will be a record volume of MMS traffic," he said in a prepared statement. "We truly appreciate our customers' patience and hope they'll understand our desire to get it right from the start."

And yet despite the appreciative words, it's clear that AT&T's head remains firmly in (that nefarious) place; the company has said that tethering will not be an option in the near future, due to the network's inability to handle the resulting traffic. Oh, and one final bit of lameness: MMS will only work on iPhone 3G and 3GS models. And on nearly every other cell phone made in the past five years. So original iPhone owners have to, well, deal with it.

To be fair, we should also point out that phone calls on any model iPhone still suck. Yay, AT&T! [From: TUAW]

Filed under: Cell Phones, iPhone, Mobile Software

MMS Picture-Messaging (Finally) Come to iPhone September 25th originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iPhone App Spreads News of Disease Outbreaks

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:14:00 EST

For a culture that feeds ground-up, dead cows to living cows in the name of economics, we sure do get paranoid when it comes to disease. And there's no better sign of that paranoia than the Outbreaks Near Me iPhone app, which allows users to access disease outbreak information.

The app is based on the free HealthMap Web site, but improves upon it by letting users add to the knowledge base. When there's public-health trouble in the area, users can share the information with the rest of the community.

"Say you're in a clinical setting as a patient or clinician and seeing lots of unusual cases of something," Clark Freifeld, a founder of HealthMap and Ph.D. student in MIT Media Lab's New Media Medicine Group, told Wired.com. "You'd be able to note that down and submit it into the system." Mere hours after the app's release, HealthMap had already been informed of an illness at a school.

The service won't rely solely on man-on-the-street input, however; it takes information from various accredited news sources, as well. The idea, though, is that user submissions will start to relay preliminary warnings before official services are able to react. "It's about empowering citizens in the cause of public health to both provide them with information and allow them to contribute information to share with others," Freifeld explained to Wired.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled meal of chicken raised on chicken, cow raised on cow, etc. [From: Wired]

Filed under: Cell Phones, iPhone, Mobile Software, Mobile Phones

New iPhone App Spreads News of Disease Outbreaks originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Game Scores Guinness Record

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST

So, how do you know if the press loves your video game? Well, one way would be to see if Guinness decides it's the "Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever." Such has the case for 'Batman: Arkham Asylum,' released last week on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

It's a rather unscientific poll, obviously. Review scores are themselves a problematic and imprecise thing, and aggregating them only furthers the problem. It does, however, make a strong point, as we consider 'Arkham Asylum' to undoubtedly be the surprise hit of the year. Its sly combination of stealth gameplay, solid action, and well-paced Batman lore has had fans and critics alike singing its praises.

Granted, superhero games have never exactly been the gaming medium's cream of the crop; most often, they're just bold, shameless attempts to squeeze extra money out of a particular franchise, a mere addendum to a cinematic release (*cough* 'Catwoman' *cough*). Still, it's an impressive achievement, and further confirmation that Rocksteady Studios is on to something. [From: PC World]

Filed under: Video Games

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Game Scores Guinness Record originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockstar Bringing Grand Theft Auto to iPhone

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:00 EST

The seemingly inevitable has finally become reality: Rockstar is bringing the 'Grand Theft Auto' franchise to the iPhone. It's happening sooner than you would think (this fall), but it's unclear whether it will be a top-down style game -- much like the recently released 'GTA: Chinatown Wars,' and hearkening back to the series' roots on PC and PlayStation -- or a third-person situation, like the forthcoming PSP game of the same name.

When released earlier this year, the DS version of 'Chinatown Wars' scored high marks. The graphics were a major issue, but players can expect a significant upgrade in this capacity, thanks to the iPhone's drastically higher resolution and sheer computing horsepower.

Continue reading Rockstar Bringing Grand Theft Auto to iPhone

Filed under: Cell Phones, Video Games, iPod, iPhone, Mobile Software, Mobile Phones

Rockstar Bringing Grand Theft Auto to iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ikea Changes Typeface, Upsets Fans

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST

Ikea, the can-do-no-wrong Swedish purveyor of cheap designer furniture and meatballs, appears to have finally done something wrong. And it involves fonts.

In a decision to change its branding, the company has gone with a new typeface to represent itself, and the move is causing quite a stir on the (to be fair, easily stirred) Internet.

The new font is Microsoft's ubiquitous Verdana, which the software company actually created to be used on screens, and not paper. "It has open, wide letterforms with lots of space between characters to aid legibility at small sizes on screen," Simon l'Anson, creative director at a London digital-consulting company, told Time. "It doesn't exhibit any elegance or visual rhythm when set at large sizes. It's like taking the family sedan off-road. It will sort of work, but ultimately gets bogged down."

Continue reading Ikea Changes Typeface, Upsets Fans

Ikea Changes Typeface, Upsets Fans originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texting While Driving in Utah Could Get You 15 Years in Jail

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:51:00 EST

Texting while driving is a really bad idea, no matter where you are. But texting while driving through Utah is an even worse idea, and can actually result in up to 15 years in prison if you hit someone while doing so.

The state's new law, which took effect at the beginning of the summer, enforces the same penalities on those texting behind the wheel and causing a fatality as those who drink and drive, causing the same result. It means that the act is no longer relegated to "accident" status, and instead places it firmly in the "reckless driving" category. The move comes after a texting-related crash that killed two scientists.

The law mirrors recent studies, which have shown that driving while chatting away on a cell phone poses the same risks as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level -- and that driving while texting doubles the risk.
While strong measures against texting drivers are being taken in many states, it's often difficult to prove guilt, largely because a driver can claim to be dialing, changing the music on their iPhone, or one of a several other alternatives.

And what's the deal with texting while stopped at traffic lights? We vote that that should be legal. [From: NY Times]

Filed under: Car Tech, Cell Phones, Mobile Phones

Texting While Driving in Utah Could Get You 15 Years in Jail originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artist Imagines Mythical History of 'Pong' Paddles, 'Tetris' Blocks

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:20:00 EST

One of the newer and more interesting voices in video game journalism, the French magazine Amusement makes its home somewhere in the odd, rather untested space between fashion and games.

The latest issue includes more of the publication's consistently fantastic photography, including a very special series of photographs from the magazine's Made of Myth feature. In creating the series, photographer Marc Da Cunha Lopes imagined video game subjects and their components, taking up actual, physical space. From there, he wondered: if those fantastical objects were real, where would they be constructed? Answering that question with imaginatively built sets, Lopes then took pictures of Arkanoid's specialized bouncy bricks, Pong's paddles and numbers, and Mario Bros.' infamous 1-UP mushroom in its unfinished state.

Amazing stuff. And not that it matters, particularly, but we're just stuck wondering: what's real and what's Photoshop? [From: Amusement]

Filed under: Video Games

Artist Imagines Mythical History of 'Pong' Paddles, 'Tetris' Blocks originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to Lower Your Monthly Tech Bills

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST

Ditch your magazine subscriptions (since you can get most of them for free)

For every hobby or interest, there exists a corresponding magazine. And most likely, there's also a way to get a free subscription to that magazine. About.com has a pretty comprehensive listing for free six- and twelve-month subscription opportunities. If you don't see your desired title among those listed here, try a simple Google search (example: "cat fancy free subscription"), and you may just score a freebie. One caveat: Getting a free subscription usually entails giving up your e-mail address to an avalanche of online offers (often for more magazines), so make sure you enter an e-mail address where you're willing to receive spam.

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Filed under: Green Tech

How to Lower Your Monthly Tech Bills originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to Lower Your Monthly Tech Bills

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST

Get your newspapers delivered to you for free (and we don't mean online!)

Sure, you can read the news online, but the pleasure of sitting down with your favorite printed newspaper in the morning with your beverage of choice isn't quite the same when you're staring at a computer screen. If you're into business news -- you know, so you can figure out how to make millions so you won't need free stuff anymore -- you're in luck: Both the 'The Wall Street Journal' and the 'Financial Times' offer an impressive four weeks of free newspapers delivered to your door six days a week with a paid one-year subscription. The offers are only good for new subscribers, and for the whole package to remain free, you'll have to cancel before the freebies run out. You have been warned.

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Filed under: Green Tech

How to Lower Your Monthly Tech Bills originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dyson D22 'Motorhead' Vacuum: Does It Live Up to Its Heavy Metal Name?

switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST

What it is: Those who still think a vacuum's a vacuum have yet to encounter Dyson. The funky-looking, English-engineered line of bag-less, suctioning masterpieces is a far cry from the clunkers lining the shelves of Bed, Bath & Beyond. (You'll even find several in modern art museums around the world.) The DC22 Motorhead is the newest addition to the line of Dyson canister models. It takes up a little over a square foot, weighs 18 pounds, and trails the user as he or she maneuvers the hose attachment of choice.

Why it's different: Canister-style vacuums are nothing new. But Dyson's DC22 is an attempt to match the power and performance of a much larger upright model. The company also added a new, small, lighter motor that boasts 88,000 spins per minute (way fast) while ditching standard carbon brushes (which release particles into the air).

Continue reading Dyson D22 'Motorhead' Vacuum: Does It Live Up to Its Heavy Metal Name?

Filed under: Editor's Picks, Green Tech, Reviews

Dyson D22 'Motorhead' Vacuum: Does It Live Up to Its Heavy Metal Name? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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