Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Freak Helicopter Death Sparks Baffling Debate About Headphone Safety]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/freak-helicopter-death-sparks-baffling-debate-about-headphone-sa/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/freak-helicopter-death-sparks-baffling-debate-about-headphone-sa/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/freak-helicopter-death-sparks-baffling-debate-about-headphone-sa/#commentsFiled under: ,

Death By Helicopter Leads to Curious Questions about Headphone Safety

Reports of an aircraft crash usually result in news reports expressing doubts about travel by air, investigations into the cause of the crash, and, of course, questions regarding whether the crash could have been prevented. But what do you do if you're a news outlet and everyone else has already covered those obvious angles to the point of tedium? Easy: You find some completely unrelated detail of the story and try to blow it way out of proportion. That seems to be what Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper is up to, with a report indicating that the real problem for the man killed yesterday by a falling helicopter wasn't the spinning blades that decapitated him, but rather the MP3 player he was wearing.

The story states that the 23-year-old victim who was killed on the ground by the stricken copter, Isaiah Otieno, frequently listened to his music player while he was out and about. The implication is, naturally, that if he didn't have his player on he might have heard the copter and been able to dive out of the way.

To us, the idea that we shouldn't wear music players in public for fear of helicopters falling on our blissfully ignorant heads seems a bit preposterous -- just like last year's failed attempt to ban listening to music players in New York City while crossing the street. If you live in a city and can't safely cross the road with your ears plugged, then chances are you're going to have issues surviving on the streets anyway. And, if you have a helicopter falling in your general direction, then you have bigger things to worry about than the volume of your MP3 player. [Source: Globe and Mail]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewshelicopteripodkiller gadgetsKillerGadgetslawMP3 playerMp3PlayerweirdFri, 16 May 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago's City-Wide Security Cameras to Be Monitored By Computers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/chicagos-cctv-network-to-be-autonomously-monitored-starting-thi/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/chicagos-cctv-network-to-be-autonomously-monitored-starting-thi/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/chicagos-cctv-network-to-be-autonomously-monitored-starting-thi/#commentsFiled under: ,


Chicago residents are no strangers to the city's many CCTV cameras by this point -- if anyone knows exactly how long to stop at Roosevelt and State to avoid the red-light cam there, you let us know, okay? -- but it looks like this summer is going to bring a new twist to the city's surveillance racket: automated camera monitoring. Video from the several thousand cameras in Chicago's Operation Virtual Shield project currently comes into the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication's ops center, but starting this summer, it'll also be watched by an IBM-developed autonomous system that can be programmed to watch for specific activities or objects, like certain cars or unattended backpacks. Since the video is stored on a 60 terabyte storage array for 30 days, law enforcement can also do retroactive searches using the tech. That's a huge step up from San Francisco's useless CCTV system, sure, but we've never really believed any of this stuff is actually effective at deterring crime -- hopefully we'll be proven wrong. Check out the the full news vid at the read link. [Source: ABC7 via Boing Boing]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscctvFri, 16 May 2008 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Slim Down Your Wallet By Scanning Its Contents Into Your iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/slim-down-your-wallet-by-scanning-its-contents-into-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/slim-down-your-wallet-by-scanning-its-contents-into-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/16/slim-down-your-wallet-by-scanning-its-contents-into-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Replace your Wallet with your iPhoneWith all the high-tech toys and gadgets we carry around every day, there's one thing that's always seems to drag us back to the twentieth century: the wallet. Whether it's made of leather or vinyl or even Tyvek, the wallet feels incredibly dated and often quite bloated-- especially when over-stuffed with faded and torn membership cards. It creates an unsightly bulge that's even more pronounced with the smaller and shorter summer clothes most of us are about to start wearing

For one enterprising blogger, the solution to the overstufed, George-Costanza-style wallet is an iPhone. Albert Alberts used his scanner to digitally replicate many of his membership cards. He then created an album called WalletCards on his iPhone and loaded the images of the cards in. Surprisingly, most establishments had no problem accepting the copied cards, and bar code scanners even read them.

Naturally you won't be able to replace anything that relies on a magnetic strip or embedded RFID chip, but if you can replace everything else, you might that this trick could help you slim down that beat wallet by a good margin -- just don't try it with your driver's license. [Source: Lifehacker]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewshow-toiphonescansummeradvicewalletFri, 16 May 2008 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Creates Lab for Biometric Testing of Advertisements]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/disney-creates-laboratory-for-biometric-testing-of-advertisement/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/disney-creates-laboratory-for-biometric-testing-of-advertisement/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/disney-creates-laboratory-for-biometric-testing-of-advertisement/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've seen outfits and networks dig deep to figure out how to make ads more attractive (or just watchable, really), but Disney's taking things to an entirely new plateau. The mega-corp is establishing a laboratory in Austin, Texas which will actually test the biometric reactions of up to 4,000 people in order to better understand what types of commercials are most effective. In the controlled setting, gurus will be tasked with measuring "heart rate and skin conductivity while tracking the gaze of participants who are exposed to new ad models over the internet, mobile devices and TV screens." As expected, the entire project is being undertaken in order to discover whether it can charge more for certain spots, but we're told not to expect the findings until early next year. [Source: AP]

[Image courtesy of MSNBC]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneyThu, 15 May 2008 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubanana Announces Wearable, Waterproof uCan MP3 Player]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/ubanana-announces-wearable-waterproof-ucan-mp3-player/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/ubanana-announces-wearable-waterproof-ucan-mp3-player/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/ubanana-announces-wearable-waterproof-ucan-mp3-player/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's certainly no shortage of waterproof gadgets out there for you to take along on your next swimming or diving adventure, but if you still haven't found an MP3 player that meets your needs, you may want to consider Ubanana's new uCan device, which is at least a tad better looking than some of the other wearable options currently available. You'll have to make do with a mere 1 gigabyte of memory, however, but you will get a decent 15 hours of battery life, and you can rest assured that it'll float to the surface for easy retrieval if it slips off while you're plundering the ocean's depths (up to ten feet deep, at least). Look for this one to set you back €99 (or $150), with it set to start shipping in July.

[Source: Ubanana via Crave]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewssummernewsThu, 15 May 2008 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[RINGBO the Riding Robot is for Kids, the Song is for Everyone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/ringbo-the-riding-robot-is-for-kids-the-song-is-for-everyone/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/ringbo-the-riding-robot-is-for-kids-the-song-is-for-everyone/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/ringbo-the-riding-robot-is-for-kids-the-song-is-for-everyone/#commentsFiled under:


Why is this child so happy? It's because he's taking RINGBO the riding robot by the horns! See his glee as he cruises around for an entire hour at a blazing 2MPH? Hey, it only took six hours to charge up. RINGBO is controlled by those horn-like joysticks, and we can only hope that front panel contains an IR receiver -- one that might give parents hours of pleasure as they override their kids' intended direction. RINGBO will be shown by Airrobot at this week's Koreannovation Trade Show in NYC, so we'll be sure to bring our offspring, as it's meant for children aged 2-3 and up to 66lbs. We just want to know two things: how much, and can we cheat the 66lb weight limit? Maybe just a little? C'mon. Want to have your mind totally blown? Please watch the video after the break. Please.

[Source: Koreannovation via OhGizmo!]

Continue reading RINGBO the Riding Robot is for Kids, the Song is for Everyone

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>robotsWed, 14 May 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Films Latest Video With Security Cameras]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/rock-band-films-latest-video-with-security-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/rock-band-films-latest-video-with-security-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/rock-band-films-latest-video-with-security-cameras/#commentsFiled under: , ,

band uses cctv to film music video

The Get Out Clause -- an unsigned band from Manchester, England -- has used the eyes of the surveillance state to produce its own music video. While Britain currently has an estimated 13-million closed-circuit TV cameras (CCTV), the band only played to 80 of them around the city of Manchester. After playing its song for the CCTV cameras (and anyone else who happened to be around), the band requested the footage from the organizations that own the cameras, under the UK's Freedom of Information Act. While only about 20 of the locations eventually turned over the footage, they had more than enough footage to make a pretty solid music video.

"We wanted to produce something that looked good and that wasn't too expensive to do," guitarist Tony Churnside told Sky News.

Seems the Freedom of Information act could have saved Kevin Smith a bunch of money when he made 'Clerks.' We really wonder if this is the last time we'll see this tricky way of filming (actually, it's not, as Adam Rifkin's recent 'Look' proved). [Source: The Telegraph]


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cctvmusicsecurityvideoWed, 14 May 2008 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Honda Robot ASIMO Conducts Detroit Symphony Orchestra]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/video-honda-robot-asimo-conducts-detroit-symphony-orchestra/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/video-honda-robot-asimo-conducts-detroit-symphony-orchestra/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/video-honda-robot-asimo-conducts-detroit-symphony-orchestra/#commentsFiled under:

Stand down oh gentle readers and defenders of the flesh, we're getting reports from Detroit that the baton wielding ASIMO did not direct the human race to its doom. Instead, Yo-Yo Ma is safe and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert went off without a hitch while netting the DSO a cool million for the musical education of Grosse Pointe's children. Of course, the Honda-built robot wasn't so lucky as he got "keyed" on his walk back through the parking lot. We kid, we kid. [Source: Business Wire]

Update: Video added after the break.

[Thanks, Funke]

Continue reading Video: Honda Robot ASIMO Conducts Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicrobotsWed, 14 May 2008 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[British Regulators Move to Quiet Obnoxiously Loud Commercials]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/british-regulators-move-to-quiet-obnoxiously-loud-commercials/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/british-regulators-move-to-quiet-obnoxiously-loud-commercials/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/14/british-regulators-move-to-quiet-obnoxiously-loud-commercials/#commentsFiled under: ,


Offensively loud television commercials have been a worldwide annoyance for years, and while a number of technologies have emerged in an attempt to hush those loud-mouths, British regulators are taking matters into their own hands.

Just last week, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, which sets British TV ad guidelines, reportedly adopted a new rule establishing that TV ads shouldn't be "excessively noisy or strident." It elaborated by stating that "broadcasters must endeavor to minimize the annoyance that perceived imbalances could cause, with the aim that the audience need not adjust the volume of their television sets during program breaks."

We're told that stations who choose not to invest in the loudness-level meter (which will ensure compliance) may actually have to "turn down the sound during commercials." Of course, whether anyone chooses to actually follow these guidelines has yet to be seen, er, heard.

[Source: IHT via WatchingTVOnline, image courtesy of PaxArcana]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 14 May 2008 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Creative Debuts $100 YouTube-Ready Vado Camcorder]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/creative-gets-official-with-vado-cheapcorder/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/creative-gets-official-with-vado-cheapcorder/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/creative-gets-official-with-vado-cheapcorder/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JR.com may have let the cat of the bag, but Creative's not letting that stop it from getting all official with its new Vado Pocket Video Cam, which is taking square aim at the likes of Pure Digital's Flip Video cheapcorder. Like the Flip, Creative's offering comes packing a lowly-but-YouTube-friendly 640 x 480 resolution, along with 2GB of built-in memory (with no expansion options), a 2-inch display, a flip-out USB connector, and a promised two hours of battery life on a charge. Not exactly the most feature-packed camera out there (even for a budget model), but the $100 price tag is certainly right, and you can get it in your choice of silver or hot pink. [Source: Pocket-lint]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsTue, 13 May 2008 17:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Scarlett Johansson's Debut Album Released Online for Free]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/scarlett-johanssons-anywhere-i-lay-my-head-released-early-an/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/scarlett-johanssons-anywhere-i-lay-my-head-released-early-an/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/scarlett-johanssons-anywhere-i-lay-my-head-released-early-an/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Technically, Scarlett Johanson's album of Tom Waits covers doesn't come out for another week, but you can hear it for free, in its entirety, on Imeem starting today. In case you're not familiar with it, Imeem is a media sharing service where you can stream songs and videos from other users' collections, and is the service used by Pitchfork Media for its Forkcast.

Johansson's album, 'Anywhere I Lay My Head,' doesn't just co-opt the hipster delivery method of choice; it also snags one of the scene's favorite noise makers David Sitek, who produced albums for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and is one of the founding members of TV on the Radio. Sitek lends his frothy production style to the album and brings along a couple of pals for guest spots -- Yeah Yeah Yeahs ax slinger Nick Zinner, and the Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie.

You'll need an Imeem account to hear the album (or you can just stream it above), but handing over your e-mail address to yet another Web site is a small price to pay for free music.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdavid bowiedavid sitekDavidBowieDavidSitekexpire-images2009-5-13freeimeemmusicscarlett johanssonScarlettJohanssontom waitsTomWaitsTue, 13 May 2008 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[David Byrne Turns Building Into Musical Instrument That You Can 'Play']]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/david-byrne-turns-building-into-musical-instrument-that-you-can/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/david-byrne-turns-building-into-musical-instrument-that-you-can/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/david-byrne-turns-building-into-musical-instrument-that-you-can/#commentsFiled under:

David Byrne Creating a Musical Building

Former Talking Heads front-man David Byrne has always been a bit experimental in his artistic leanings, especially in his solo work (both musical and non). His latest project in New York City, though, takes experimental music to an entirely new scale, turning an entire building into a giant musical instrument that anyone can try for free.

The building is the Battery Maritime Building in New York City, a former ferry terminal built in 1909. It has been filled with devices that tap on girders or blow wind through heating and water pipes so that they act as organ pipes. Everything is connected to an old pump organ with keys lets anybody play a tune on the building.

The installation is called, naturally, "Playing the Building" and is a follow-up to a similar installation in Stockholm in 2005. The opening reception is coming up on May 31, and the exhibition will be open (and free) to all through August 10. [Source: David Byrne.com, via Wired]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdavid byrneDavidByrnemusicmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentsplaying the buildingPlayingTheBuildingtalking headsTalkingHeadsweirdTue, 13 May 2008 11:44:00 EST<![CDATA[HBO Brings 'Sopranos' and 'Sex and the City' to iTunes]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/official-hbo-arrives-on-itunes-standard-pricing-be-damned/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/official-hbo-arrives-on-itunes-standard-pricing-be-damned/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/official-hbo-arrives-on-itunes-standard-pricing-be-damned/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's official. HBO content just entered the digital halls of iTunes with variable pricing. Episodes of 'Rome' and 'The Sopranos' pop for $2.99 while 'The Wire' and 'Sex and the City' (yes ,the complete series) go for the iTunes "standard" pricing of $1.99. We just fired-up iTunes and confirmed it just like the rumor predicted. With Apple backing down from its strict, flat-rate pricing policy, don't be surprised to see additional content from previously iTunes-shy providers arriving in succession.

Update: 'Deadwood' ($2.99) and 'Flight of the Conchords' ($1.99) are also available with "much more" apparently in the works.

Update 2: Apple just released the PR.

[Thanks, Turki]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hboitunesTue, 13 May 2008 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA['BioShock' Video Game to Be Made Into Movie]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/bioshock-video-game-to-be-made-into-movie/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/bioshock-video-game-to-be-made-into-movie/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/bioshock-video-game-to-be-made-into-movie/#commentsFiled under: ,

'Bioshock's Underwater Dystopia Heading to the Silver Screen
Last year, top-notch first-person shooter 'BioShock' dazzled the gaming media with its engaging storyline and incredibly rich environment. It was immediately clear that a sequel was required, and developer Take-Two is currently working on it. Now, the gaming developer has revealed that a Hollywood adaptation is in the works, as well.

Gore Verbinski -- famous for his work on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films -- has been lined up for directorial duties. The screenwriter for the script has not been finalized, but John Logan, who wrote 'Star Trek: Nemesis' and 'The Aviator' is currently in talks to handle that duty.

It's always hard to know what to expect when talking about a film based on a video game, but it's got to be better than the film adaptation of 'BloodRayne' -- right? [Source: USAToday/Reuters]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockbreaking newsBreakingNewshollywoodpiratesvideo game moviesVideoGameMoviesMon, 12 May 2008 17:19:00 EST<![CDATA[How to Buy an HDTV for Your PC]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/how-to-buy-an-hdtv-for-your-pc/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/how-to-buy-an-hdtv-for-your-pc/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/how-to-buy-an-hdtv-for-your-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

How to Buy an HD TV to Hook Your PC Up to
More and more of us are putting PCs in our living rooms. Some of us are using them as media centers to replace DVRs and DVD players, while others are using them to play video games, Meanwhile, some of us just like to surf the Web, check our e-mail, or watch streamed TV shows on a 42-inch screen.

But hooking up a computer to your TV isn't always easy, and the results aren't always pleasing to the eye. So, with a little help from some Engadget readers, we're going to help you pick out the best television for use with your PC or laptop. Only the results aren't quite in yet, so, for now, we'll provide you with a few tips if you're shopping for a TV in the next few weeks.

First thing you'll want to do is make sure the TV you're considering has the right ports for hooking up a computer. Not all PCs have HDMI yet so look for TVs with a DVI, or at least a VGA port for easily connecting even older PCs.

The next part is trickier. You'll need to find a television that can disable a feature called overscan. Overscan was a necessity on older televisions due to the inconsistent framing of standard definition broadcasts. The problem with overscan is that it causes text to blur, which anyone who has ever played a Super Nintendo role playing game will be very familiar with. This makes basic computing tasks stressful on the eyes. Add to that the tiny icon and font sizes that accompany HD resolutions and you'll need glasses in a week.

Only new 1080p capable sets have this feature, but its' not always advertised, and each company has a different name for it. Newer Sony sets have overscan disabled by default on its PC (VGA) inputs. New Samsung TVs have a 'just scan' mode, and Sharp calls it 'dot-by-dot.' Surprisingly bargain brand Westinghouse HD sets are great for text because they don't perform overscan at all. The downside is poor picture quality on standard definition broadcasts. [Source: Engadget]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvmonitorsMon, 12 May 2008 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[DIYer Builds Fully-Functional NES Controller Coffee Table]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/10/diyer-builds-fully-functional-nes-controller-coffee-table/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/10/diyer-builds-fully-functional-nes-controller-coffee-table/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/10/diyer-builds-fully-functional-nes-controller-coffee-table/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nah, the idea of using a freshly-mushroomed NES controller as your coffee table isn't new, but we've got to give props where props are due on this one. Kyle Downes has just completed a painstaking project that resulted in his very own NES controller table, complete with a removable glass top to protect the unit itself. Best of all, it's way more than just a living room centerpiece. Open it up and you'll find loads of storage room for items any Big N fanboy shouldn't be without. Remove the glass covering and you'll realize that it's a fully-functional Nintendo Entertainment System control pad. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break.

[Via GeekLifeBlog]

Continue reading DIYer Builds Fully-Functional NES Controller Coffee Table

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendoSat, 10 May 2008 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[20 Best Moms On the Web]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/20-best-moms-on-the-web/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/20-best-moms-on-the-web/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/20-best-moms-on-the-web/#commentsFiled under: ,


Mother's Day is upon us, and that means it's time to pay tribute and show love to those that passed us through their birth canals. URLesque has compiled their list of the 20 best moms on the web, pulling piles of wonderful videos from YouTube.

Our favorites include the wheelchair bound granny with a submachine gun (above) and the mom who "breaks" her son's arm (Moms can be bad ass). We also love the completely emasculating video of the mohawked kid getting his thrash on when his mother interrupts to offer him an egg sandwich and give him a kiss. Adorable.

Check the out the rest of the list here. [Source: URLesque]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmothers dayMothersDayyoutubeFri, 09 May 2008 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PSP Skype Headset Finally Arrives Stateside]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/sonys-psp-skype-headset-finally-arrives-stateside/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/sonys-psp-skype-headset-finally-arrives-stateside/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/sonys-psp-skype-headset-finally-arrives-stateside/#commentsFiled under:


If you've got a PSP-2000 and a hankering for some VoIP on the run, Sony has finally brought its Skype-friendly PSP headset to US retail. Unfortunately, it won't work with those original fatty PSPs, and at $30 you've gotta ask yourself how much you'll really be using it for -- the original price was set at $20. That said, it's undoubtedly the easiest way to get up and running with Skype and in-game voice chat on the PSP, since it used to require two separate accessories to pull it off. Oh, and if you're Skype curious, be sure to check out the how-to guide over at PSP Fanboy. [Source: PSP Fanboy]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pspskypesonyvoipFri, 09 May 2008 14:21:00 EST<![CDATA[50 Years of NASA Footage Hits Discovery in HD this Summer]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/50-years-of-nasa-footage-hits-discovery-in-hd-this-summer/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/50-years-of-nasa-footage-hits-discovery-in-hd-this-summer/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/50-years-of-nasa-footage-hits-discovery-in-hd-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sure now we get live HD from the ISS like it's nothing, but much of the last half century of space exploration has never been seen by most in anything other than grainy analog broadcasts. That'll change in June once When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions debuts on Discovery Channel, drawing from more than 150 hours of NASA footage, called a cross between 'The Right Stuff' and EHD fave 'Planet Earth.' The Orlando Sentinel mentions the new doc is part of a push to ensure funding to speed further space explorations, as long as they provide more great HD opportunities we're all for it. Look for the Blu-ray boxed set July 24 for $79.95. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluraybreaking newsBreakingNewssummernewsFri, 09 May 2008 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother's Day Gift Guide: Westinghouse PT-16H610S LCD HDTV]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/mothers-day-gift-guide-westinghouse-pt-16h610s-lcd-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/mothers-day-gift-guide-westinghouse-pt-16h610s-lcd-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/mothers-day-gift-guide-westinghouse-pt-16h610s-lcd-hdtv/#commentsFiled under:



Forget the shower gel and bubble bath this Mother's Day. We say get her a gift that really makes its mark in the bathroom. The Westinghouse PT-16H610S is a 16-inch flip-style LCD HDTV that fits perfectly into tight spots-like the bathroom or kitchen. Mount it on the wall or just let it sit on any available countertop to enjoy a gorgeous, high definition picture. This sleek, slim LCD includes built-in speakers and comes in a stainless steel finish, all for $349.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 09 May 2008 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother's Day Gift Guide: Engraved iPod Nano]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-7/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-7/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-7/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Maybe Mom wants something tiny and shiny? Though it may sound like a cliche gift, the neat and petite (GB) iPod Nano is still the ultra-portable music, video, and image player that we love best. It's simply the easiest way for your Mom to stay on top of her favorite TV or radio shows (thanks to availability on iTunes and radio podcasts of most major radio broadcasts) while on the go. And though there are seven colors to choose from, we suggest the newest addition in a bright, happy pink. The 4-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $149 and the 8-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $199. The price includes free engraving on the back for any thoughts you may have for Mom on this special day.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 09 May 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[NBC Offering 'The Office' and '30 Rock' for Free on iPhone and Touch]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/nbc-offering-the-office-and-30-rock-for-free-on-iphone-and-t/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/nbc-offering-the-office-and-30-rock-for-free-on-iphone-and-t/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/nbc-offering-the-office-and-30-rock-for-free-on-iphone-and-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NBC Offering 'The Office' and '30 Rock' for Free on iPhones and iPod Touches
You might remember that last summer NBC announced that it would be pulling its shows off iTunes because it wanted to saddle its videos with more restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM) and be able to jack up its prices. Regardless of its motives, fans of NBC, Sci-Fi Channel, or Bravo shows who also had iPods and iPhones were out of luck.

But five months after the official end of the iTunes and NBC partnership, there is some hope on the horizon for the fans of at least two of NBC's Thursday-night comedies. The network has launched an iPhone and iPod Touch friendly version of its Web site featuring full episodes of two of its most popular shows, 'The Office' and '30 Rock,' with more to follow, we're sure.

Best of all, the episodes are free, unhindered by DRM, and completely lacking commercial interruption. Just don't exit Safari or you'll be forced to download the videos all over again. [Source: Silicon Alley Insider, Via: Geeksugar]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30 rock30Rockbreaking newsBreakingNewsfree tvFreeTvipod touchIpodTouchnbconline videoOnlineVideothe officeTheOfficeThu, 08 May 2008 17:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Emergency Party Button Turns Cribs to Clubs in Seconds Flat]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/emergency-party-button-turns-cribs-to-clubs-in-seconds-flat/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/emergency-party-button-turns-cribs-to-clubs-in-seconds-flat/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/emergency-party-button-turns-cribs-to-clubs-in-seconds-flat/#commentsFiled under:



Not to be confused with the absolutely worthless (sorry, the truth hurts) Big Red Button of Doom, the Emergency Party Button has a very specific purpose. Designed to take a vanilla home from mundane to spectacular in just seconds, this connected trigger basically flips a boring crib into a bumpin' club whenever you see fit. Just to give you an idea of what goes down when you mash the button, you'll see hallway lights turn off, blinds close, a fog machine come alive, speakers crank up and loads of laser lights turn active. All told, the project cost the builder just north of $600, which seems like a real bargain given what you get. Jump on past the break to have a look on video.

[Source: Emergency Party Button via Hack N Mod]

Continue reading Emergency Party Button Turns Cribs to Clubs in Seconds Flat

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 08 May 2008 14:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer KURO and Friends Hands-On]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/pioneer-kuro-and-friends-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/pioneer-kuro-and-friends-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/pioneer-kuro-and-friends-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,


We got to plant our eyeballs on Pioneer's second-gen KURO plasma display (bottom center), along with all that other new gear Pioneer released today. While all by its lonesome the new flagship display is no doubt impressive, when stacked up against the competition it becomes quite clear that this new KURO is the one to beat.

Granted, this was Pioneer's own setup designed to make us believe precisely that, but we certainly did find the new display notably blacker than its predecessor, and quite a lot better than the competing offerings Pioneer had on display. The new KURO projector was also quite impressive, and we even got treated to the much-improved start times of Pioneer's new Blu-ray players.

Gallery: Pioneer KURO and friends hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluraybreaking newsBreakingNewskuropioneerThu, 08 May 2008 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Criterion Collection Coming to Blu-ray in October]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/criterion-collection-coming-to-blu-ray-in-october/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/criterion-collection-coming-to-blu-ray-in-october/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/criterion-collection-coming-to-blu-ray-in-october/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Criterion Collection's long-awaited HD debut -- delayed by that annoying format war -- finally has a date, as well as a list of the first movies getting a definitive release in 1080p. If that wasn't enough, try this bit on for size: They won't charge viewers extra for the privilege. That's right, according to the e-mail that went out to subscribers today, all Blu-ray releases will feature HD picture and sound (no word on what codecs, although we expect nothing but the best considering the company has been mastering and restoring all releases in HD for years now), all the supplemental content and a matching (unspecified) price to their standard DVD editions.

The complete e-mail and list of a dozen movies follows after the break, along with a note that The Last Emperor will also be released in its original theatrical version on both formats for $39.95, while Walkabout will be an all-new edition. Check out Criterion's message after the break. [Source: DVD Times]

[Thanks, Erik]

Continue reading Criterion Collection Coming to Blu-ray in October

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluraybreaking newsBreakingNewshdtvThu, 08 May 2008 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Coils Seen Wowing Onlookers, Cooking Hot Dogs]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/tesla-coils-seen-wowing-onlookers-cooking-hot-dogs/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/tesla-coils-seen-wowing-onlookers-cooking-hot-dogs/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/tesla-coils-seen-wowing-onlookers-cooking-hot-dogs/#commentsFiled under:


Believe it or not, tesla coils are good for more than just creating lighting, protecting one's laptop or cranking out a sweet tune -- and the folks watching a dazzling demonstration at Maker Faire 2008 can attest to that. Apparently a group of prototype (1 / 12 scale, no less) coils were seen sparking up the evening in San Mateo, California, but it wasn't the visual energy or unmistakable hum that caused all that saliva to form in the mouths of onlookers. Oh no, it was the fact that a dozen hot dogs were simultaneously roasted and made ready for safe consumption. Check out a video of the action right after the break. [Source: OhGizmo!]

Continue reading Tesla Coils Seen Wowing Onlookers, Cooking Hot Dogs

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 07 May 2008 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Rocketboom Host Amanda Congdon Launching New Web Show]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/former-rocketboom-host-amanda-congdon-launching-new-web-show/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/former-rocketboom-host-amanda-congdon-launching-new-web-show/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/former-rocketboom-host-amanda-congdon-launching-new-web-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Introducing Sometimesdaily from Sometimesdaily on Vimeo.

The former host of Web news show 'Rocketboom,' and Web video pioneer, Amanda Congdon is returning to her roots after a couple of years in the media wilderness. Amanda spent a year at ABC News, and runs her own video blog, which hasn't been updated in about six months.

But fear not, fans of the geek lust icon and comedienne, Congdon is returning to the Web with a comedy show called 'Sometimes Daily' that promises more-frequent, if irregular, updates than her current Web video efforts. Keep checking SometimesDaily.com as the show is set to launch soon. [Source: NewTeeVee]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanda congdonAmandaCongdonbreaking newsBreakingNewsrocketboomsometimes dailySometimesDailyweb videoWebVideoTue, 06 May 2008 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[10 Least Useful iPod Accessories]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/10-least-useful-ipod-accessories/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/10-least-useful-ipod-accessories/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/10-least-useful-ipod-accessories/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Okay, so the all-singing, all-dancing iPod is great for many things: Listening to music, watching movies, and ... well, that's kinda it, actually. But, like any social phenomenon, the iPod has had its fair share of exploitation by various corporate hangers-on.

So the folks at Cracked have compiled a list of the least useful iPod accessories money can (but really shouldn't) buy, ranging from an iPod breathalyzer to a hyper-uglifying bulletproof iPod case. But the worst bang for our collective buck? It's a toss-up between the SongThong (pictured above), which was seemingly designed solely on account of the fact that the names rhymed, and the PodShave/PodShaveLady, which was designed solely on account of some designer's deep psychological delusions. Cracked succinctly summarizes the device for us:

"Great for morons and camping enthusiasts, the PodShave and PodShaveLady are electric razor attachments that utilize your iPod's battery. It costs $41.05, and supposedly can both suck up your stubble as it shaves it off, and allow you to listen to your music as you shave."

If someone gives you any of these as a gift, immediately disavow them as friends and move on with your life.
[Source: Cracked]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfunnyipod accessoriesIpodAccessoriesweirdMon, 05 May 2008 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[9X Media Shoots for Multi-Monitor Crown with 30 LCD Monster]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/04/9x-media-shoots-for-multi-monitor-crown-with-30-lcd-monster/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/04/9x-media-shoots-for-multi-monitor-crown-with-30-lcd-monster/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/04/9x-media-shoots-for-multi-monitor-crown-with-30-lcd-monster/#commentsFiled under: ,

While we wouldn't be surprised if there's at least a few makeshift multi-monitor setups out there to challenge it, as far as ready-made solutions go, it's pretty tough to beat this massive rig from 9X Media, which packs a room-busting 30 screens. What's more, you can apparently get it configured with your choice of 19- to 32-inch displays, which can be arranged in any number of of different configurations (complete with multi-screen servers). Of course, if that's a bit too excessive for you, 9X Media will also gladly sell you any number of smaller configurations, although you'll have to chat them up for a quote if you move beyond the nine to twelve screen range. [Source 9X Media via Crave]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 04 May 2008 18:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Commissioner Insists that NFL Network Will be "A Success"]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/commissioner-insists-that-nfl-network-will-be-a-success/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/commissioner-insists-that-nfl-network-will-be-a-success/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/commissioner-insists-that-nfl-network-will-be-a-success/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's no secret: the NFL Network isn't in nearly as many homes as the league had hoped when it launched in 2003. As it stands, the channel has only wiggled into 10 million abodes, whereas the NFL was estimating 32 million. At the network's third annual "upfront" presentation, commissioner Roger Goodell looked media buyers and advertisers in the eye and stated that it would "make the NFL Network a success." Not surprisingly, the biggest obstacle here is distribution, but it seems the league is adamant to find ways to broaden the channel's audience. We suppose the battles will live on, eh? [Source: Reuters]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvnflSat, 03 May 2008 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Qmotions Bringing Skate Controllers to the Xbox 360]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/qmotions-bringing-skate-controllers-to-the-xbox-360/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/qmotions-bringing-skate-controllers-to-the-xbox-360/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/qmotions-bringing-skate-controllers-to-the-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: ,


Qmotions has been hawking various specialty sports controllers for a while now, but it looks like the company is about to take the next-gen plunge with an upcoming skateboard controller called the Qmotions Big Air for the Xbox 360 -- and best of all, Microsoft is going to let the company build official wireless peripherals. That's an honor Microsoft is pretty hesitant to dole out, but it seems like the ability to wirelessly rip up some Tony Hawk swayed J Allard and co. (We hear Ballmer is a monster in the pipe.)

No word on price or game compatibility other than "skateboard games currently on the market," but look for this one to ollie into your heart sometime later this year. Amazing 1992-style animated GIF of Qmotions' PS2 XBoard controller, pictured above, after the break. [Source I4U News via Engadget Spanish]

Continue reading Qmotions Bringing Skate Controllers to the Xbox 360

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 03 May 2008 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi's 1.5 UltraThin LCD HDTVs Now Available in US]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/hitachis-1-5-ultrathin-lcd-hdtvs-now-available-in-us/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/hitachis-1-5-ultrathin-lcd-hdtvs-now-available-in-us/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/hitachis-1-5-ultrathin-lcd-hdtvs-now-available-in-us/#commentsFiled under: ,


You heard it right -- Hitachi's UltraThin 1.5 family that caused such a stir at CES is finally available for US consumers. Available in 32-, 37-, 42- and 47-inch sizes, the lot has been broken down into two distinct clans: the Director's Series (X) and Ultra Vision (V) models. Each member of the former comes with a 2-year warranty and a sticker ranging from $1,999 to $4,699, while the latter gets a 1-year warranty and price tags between $1,799 and $4,499. Curiously enough, it seems that several sets (the UT47X902, UT47V702, UT32A302/W, UT32V502/W, UT42V702 and UT37V702) may actually not yet be ready for shipping judging by their July to September availability dates, but we'll leave it to you to sort out the contradictions in Hitachi's press release with your dealer. Hit the read link for more details. [Source: The Earth Times]

Gallery: Hitachi's 1.5 UltraThin LCD HDTVs now available in US




Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvhitachiSat, 03 May 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 2, 2008]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/hdtv-listings-for-may-2-2008/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/hdtv-listings-for-may-2-2008/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/hdtv-listings-for-may-2-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • Sci Fi (1080i) has 'Battlestar Galactica' at 10 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) starts 'Ghost Whisperer' at 8 p.m., followed by 'Moonlight' and 'Numb3rs'
  • ESPN HD (720p) has an NBA Playoffs doubleheader with Celtics/Hawks at 8 p.m. followed by Rockets/Jazz
  • ESPN2 HD (720p) has Cavaliers/Wizards at 9:30 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has NHL Playoff hockey with Stars/Sharks at 10 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) has 'Smackdown!' at 8 p.m.
  • History (1080i) brings 'Shockwave' at 9 p.m., followed by the season finale of 'Battle 360'
  • TLC (1080i) lines up 'What Not to Wear' at 9 p.m. followed by '10 Years Younger'
  • HBO (1080i) presents 'Ringo Starr: Off the Record' at 11 p.m.
  • HDNet (1080i) has 'HDNet Fights presents Dream' at 10:30 p.m.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 02 May 2008 19:09:00 EST<![CDATA[NBC Clips Back On YouTube, Courtesy of Hulu]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/nbc-clips-back-on-youtube-courtesy-of-hulu/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/nbc-clips-back-on-youtube-courtesy-of-hulu/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/nbc-clips-back-on-youtube-courtesy-of-hulu/#commentsFiled under: ,

Video Site Hulu Launches YouTube Channel
You might remember Hulu, the video streaming service backed by most of the major networks, being touted as the legitimate answer to watching episodes of your favorite shows (in 6 pieces) on YouTube. Now in some sort of delicious, cosmic irony, Hulu has dragged the networks back to YouTube where it has created its own channel and is hosting clips from shows from Fox and NBC that can be seen in full on Hulu.

Right now, we only saw about 70 videos of clips from shows like '30 Rock,' 'Arrested Development,' 'Saturday Night Live,' 'Moment of Truth' and 'Family Guy.' We're still waiting for more, but it's a start in getting NBC clips, at least, back on our favorite online destinations . Next stop for NBC's return? iTunes, we hope. [Source: NewTeeVee]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfoxfree tvFreeTvhulunbconline videoOnlineVideoyoutubeFri, 02 May 2008 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Radiohead Remix Contest Receives 2,254 'Nude' Submissions]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/radiohead-remix-contest-receives-2254-nude-submissions/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/radiohead-remix-contest-receives-2254-nude-submissions/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/radiohead-remix-contest-receives-2254-nude-submissions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Radiohead has certainly been making waves lately, first by releasing its latest album 'In Rainbows' for free, then inviting fans to make its next music video, and, finally, releasing the individual elements of the song 'Nude,' inviting fans to stitch them back together however they see fit. After all was said and done -- the submission process ended last night -- the band received 2,254 remixed submissions, which are all now posted and waiting for you to pick your favorite.

While submission is now closed, voting has been extended through June 1 -- even though the band still hasn't said exactly what the winners will receive (if anything). You can view the list and vote for your favs at radioheadremix.com. The current leader, a remix from Spor, is included in a custom player above. Give it a spin and head on over to see what everyone else has submitted. And, while you can't submit your own any longer, you can still download the track and make a mix for you're own pleasure, if you're so inclined. [Source: RadioheadRemix, via Wired]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmusicradioheadremixFri, 02 May 2008 12:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Quietly Introduces Movie Purchases On Apple TV]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/apple-quietly-introduces-movie-purchases-on-apple-tv/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/apple-quietly-introduces-movie-purchases-on-apple-tv/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/apple-quietly-introduces-movie-purchases-on-apple-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We can't say we're too terribly fond of purchasing movies on a proprietary set-top-box (à la VUDU), but for those with no real attachment to physical media, Apple's looking to hook you up. Aside from announcing that day-and-date DVD releases were coming to iTunes, Cupertino has also enabled its Apple TV to purchase full-length films; prior to today, users could only rent them for a window of time. Details are pretty scant at the moment, and we're not even sure if HD films can be purchased (or if a premium is added on), but feel free to fire up your box and let us know how it goes in comments below. [Source: iLounge]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappletvbreaking newsBreakingNewsitunesFri, 02 May 2008 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[English Towns Equipping Crossing Guards with Cameras]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/english-towns-equipping-crossing-guards-with-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/english-towns-equipping-crossing-guards-with-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/english-towns-equipping-crossing-guards-with-cameras/#commentsFiled under: ,

England is already drowning in CCTV cameras, so it looks like Big Brother is starting to get creative in finding ways to deploy more: local councils are now outfitting crossing guards with camera-equipped stop signs. Yeah, crossing guards. With cameras in their stop signs. The cameras in the £890 ($1765) poles are fairly conspicuous, and the hope is that it'll curb aggressive driving around crossing zones, which resulted in 1,400 incidents last year.

There's no word on how anyone plans to measure the effectiveness of the program, but we're certain the crossing guards who get passed over for the poles and end up with the hat-mounted cameras also being deployed will have a few choice words about things. [Source: Daily Mail]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 01 May 2008 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Robotic Sentries to Descend on British Town In Contest]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/robotic-sentries-to-descend-on-british-town-for-contest/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/robotic-sentries-to-descend-on-british-town-for-contest/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/robotic-sentries-to-descend-on-british-town-for-contest/#commentsFiled under: ,

Robotic UFOs to Descend on British Town

In the U.S. we have DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which hosts regular challenges for things like cars that can race around cities sans drivers. The closest U.K. equivalent is the Ministry of Defense Grand Challenge, which tasks teams of engineers to come up with solutions to provide enhanced intelligence to troops on the ground. Competitors for that challenge are set to invade a sleepy British village next month with autonomous flying robots and other cool bits of tech.

Competitors will be tasked with having their automated sentries automatically survey the terrain to "detect, identify, monitor and report the position of a wide range of threats" according to the challenge Web site. Teams will be scored based on the number of threats identified, but will have points detracted if they need to resort to manual control of their devices. Six teams have signed up to compete. Some teams are relying exclusively on aerial bots, while others will use a combination of ground-based rovers and flying sentries to find threats. It sounds like it should be a fun show, and we can't wait for the consumer toy versions to be released. [Source: News.com]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdarpamilitarymod challengeModChallengeuavweirdThu, 01 May 2008 11:13:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Launches Karaoke Service]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MySpace Launches Karaoke Service

Our first thoughts upon hearing about MySpace Karaoke were, "Didn't April Fool's Day already pass?" and "Oh God, no." Eventually our utter horror passed just long enough to do some research on this beta service from the company that is trying to ruin personal relationships. The scariest thing we found? It has competitors!

MySpace Karaoke works like this -- first you decide that you are ready to shed all self respect and dignity, then you pick a song from MySpace's catalog of two-or-three thousand licensed tracks to sing along to, and, just like karaoke in any cheesy bar you've frequented, the words scroll across the screen for you to warble along to. The fun part comes when you decide to record and share your complete lack of tunefulness with your unsuspecting MySpace public. You can post your tracks as bulletins, embed them right in your profile, or just save them as favorite tracks. MySpace will let you store up to 10 tracks for free, any more than that will incur a small fee.

We're not anti-karaoke per se, we just think it should be confined to black out drunk nights at trashy bars. [Source: MySpace Karaoke, Via: BetaNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewskaraokemusicsocial networkingSocialNetworkingThu, 01 May 2008 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[No More Free Albums, Says Radiohead]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/radiohead-wont-be-giving-away-next-album-for-free/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/radiohead-wont-be-giving-away-next-album-for-free/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/radiohead-wont-be-giving-away-next-album-for-free/#commentsFiled under: ,



British band Radiohead announced that it won't be modeling future album launches after its name-your-own-price release of last year's 'In Rainbows.' In October of 2007, Radiohead bypassed releasing the album through a record label and allowed fans to set their own price -- yes, even $0.00 -- for the10-track set.

"It was one of those things where we were in the position of everyone asking us what we were going to do," lead singer Thom Yorke told the Hollywood Reporter, "I don't think it would have the same significance now anyway, if we chose to give something away again. It was a moment in time."

With Radiohead moving away from offering free music, we're wondering how the industry will respond now that Prince, Nine Inch Nails and Coldplay have all gotten in on the act of releasing albums for free in the past few months. [Source: