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Snoop Dogg Is a Gadget Hound

by Thomas Houston, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 1:32AMFeatured Story



Born in Long Beach California, superstar MC and hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg got his start in the West Coast gangsta rap scene in the early '90s. After exploding into the rap world with Dr. Dre on The Chronic, Snoop Dogg spent his time creating some of the hottest tracks of the past decade, including 'Gin and Juice' and 'Drop It Like It's Hot,' while also finding time to star in films like 'Half-Baked,' 'Old School,' 'Training Day' and 'Bones.' (He even showed up on a Season 2 episode of 'Weeds.')

Snoop Dogg's highly-anticipated new album, the Teddy-Riley-produced 'Ego Trippin,' is out now. The first single, 'Sensual Seduction,' has been a huge success with its '70s-and-early-'80s-inspired vintage sound (and video).

We've also gathered from our various forays into celeb-studded video game events that Snoop Dogg is also huge gadget fan, so we sent him some questions, and he actually wrote us back. Read on to see Snoop Dogg's unexpurgated thoughts on the iPhone, Slingbox, and more.


What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set?

Mac, 360, iPhone, Sidekick, BlackBerry, Slingbox, chuuch


What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love/hate about it?

I use all 3 – iphone, blackberry, n sidekick


Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?

Teddy Riley and DJ Quik about qdt


Where do you go (site or service) pretty much every time you get online?

Youtube


What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop?

When they freeze up or when my sling box doesn't work overseas, ya dig?!?


Name one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop could do that it doesn't do now?

nuffin. They do it all


What upcoming gadget can you not wait to get your hands on?

Madden every year


You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?
iPod – I got music n movies on it or def my sling box


What's the most-played song or artist on your iPod?

that's a tuff question.....


BlackBerry, Sidekick, or Treo?

BlackBerry and Sidekick.


Are you getting an iPhone-if so, why?

Just got one last week.


What's the longest time you've ever spent playing a video game in one sitting and what game was it?

Madden, couple hours, I always win the tournaments when we play on tour. That's why I be playin tha longest.


Do you use/have a Mac or PC? Why?

Mac, cuz they tha shit. I can do anything on it.


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The Trippiest Optical Illusions on the Net!

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 11:54PM

Instant Test: Are You Creative or Logical?

This silhouette wins the award for coolest thing we've seen all day -- and it's not just because the tiny dancer above is in the buff. This is a little test that will tell you whether the left or right hemisphere of your brain is more dominant.

Instead of concentrating on her chest, concentrate on the woman's movement. If you see her spinning clockwise, that means you're using the right side, or more creative side of your brain. If she appears to be moving counter-clockwise, then that means the left side, or more logical side of your think muscle is superior.

At the Switched office, some of us see her going clockwise, others see her spinning counter-clockwise. At least one of us claims to see both, while another one of us opened this animation in Adobe ImageReady in order to isolate the frames to see if there's any direction-changing funny business going on. There isn't.

Take the test for yourself. Then, if you have time for a 50-question survey, compare these instant results to a more thorough diagnosis.

From Gizmo Watch

But wait! We have more optical illusions for you!


Top Five Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

by Ian Rowan, posted Feb 27th 2008 at 7:57PM


While few of us have actually received a cell phone bill as large as this poor fellow, we've all been privy to the occasional shockingly huge cell phone bill. It's no surprise, considering the ways in which carriers can hit us with hidden fees, exorbitant rates for going over our monthly minutes, or extra charges for seemingly innocuous extra feature such as call waiting. Fool us once, shame on us; fool us twice, and we find a way to cut those costs. So, take a look at our five top tips for lowering your phone bill.





1. Choose The Right Plan

The easiest solution to high cell phone bills is as simple as switching your plan. If you're not using all your monthly minutes, then downgrade to a cheaper plan with less talk time. If you're going over your minutes, then it's upgrade time. But there are other options: Whether or not you have a family, you should still consider a Family Plan, which lets you get extra cell phones and bulk minutes at reduced rates, and the best thing is that any calls to other phones on the plan don't use up any of your minutes. If you're a heavy caller, texter, and e-mailer, then consider one of the new unlimited plans, which let you do all of the above for around $99-$150 per month (again, it' s a savings if you're a power user). There are also alternatives to being stuck with a plan. Most carriers now offer a pay-as-you-go alternatives that allow you to pay for the calls you make, which is useful for those who rarely use their cell phones at all.

Best Laptops Under $500

by Tom Samiljan, posted Feb 19th 2008 at 11:47PMFeatured Story

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on a laptop. Thanks to cheaper chips, more efficient software, and the fact that an increased amount of our computing is done online (meaning your computer doesn't need to be as powerful), plenty of notebooks can be had for less than $500 (in fact, Intel is developing new technology that will help push powerful PCs to the under-$250 price point). We scoured the tech landscape and found five laptops that will do all your basic computing needs, and then some, but still keep your budget balanced. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any Mac-based laptops – even in the used/refurbished bins – but you'll have to take that up with Steve Jobs. In the meantime, check out our picks for best bargain-basement laptops.






The Windows One: Acer Aspire 5315

Acer's full-fledged Vista-enabled mainstream laptop may not be the fastest, sturdiest, or prettiest, but it'll certainly do when you absolutely, positively have to have Windows for less than $500.

Who it's for: Students on a budget who still need Windows-compatible software (such as PowerPoint and Word for class preparation); parents and grandparents who don't want to do much more than word-process, balance the checkbook, or surf the Web.

What we like: The huge 15.4-inch LCD screen is great for movie-watching and slideshows, and the built-in stereo speakers are surprisingly powerful (considering they're made of plastic!). Sure, it's 6.2-pounds -- more than twice as heavy as the MacBook Air -- but that's not as heavy as we expected at this price point. It has three USB ports, which is generous. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable to type on, and includes a one-touch key for wireless and battery management, and a Wi-Fi on/off button. Most other laptops in this price category don't have a DVD/CD-RW drive, so music rippers and DVD watchers will be pleased that the Acer Aspire does have one.

What we don't: With no dual-core processor (just a Celeron 450) and 1-gigabyte of DDR2, this baby can be slow to start and a bit lethargic when running several programs at once. Battery life – at just over two hours – can leave you stranded at the Internet café if you're not near a power outlet. Plus, the plastic casing feels a bit cheap.

Verdict: It does the trick for $500, but if you have an extra couple of Benjamins, go for the Aspire 4710, or any laptop with a dual-core processor.

Cost: $500 (the version we tested out was available exclusively at Wal-Mart for $470, but you can search around online for similar deals).

Top 7 Holiday E-Cards

by Colin McDonald, posted Dec 24th 2007 at 11:12AM

'Tis the season to spread holiday cheer by inserting photos into ridiculous cartoons (after you've finished shopping, of course)! Here are the top 7 options that you can use to keep things fresh, because friends, family, coworkers, and all of your targets deserve a uniquely festive brand of e-spoofing.


What are these crazy foreigners doing? Dive in and find out...

Our Computer Monitor Pick: Samsung Syncmaster 245T

by Switched Staff, posted Dec 23rd 2007 at 10:35PM


It's crisp. It's colorful. It's widescreen and it swivels. Plus, the Samsung Syncmaster 245T has HDMI inputs in addition to standard DVI and analog inputs. A 24", better-than-1080p TV, computer monitor and swivel head all for $800? Looks sweet to us.

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Top Tech Toys for Tots

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Dec 23rd 2007 at 4:22PM

Smart Cycle

Parenting is hard enough without having to come up with the best gift ideas. You're bombarded by TV ads, which don't really tell you enough, and your child deserves a present that's cool, that's tech, and that maybe ISN'T EXACTLY THE SAME gift that all his or her little classmates will be getting this year.

Here at Switched, we asked our inner child -- and an actual tech-lovin' Mom -- to help us compile a list of the best tech toys for tots. Here's what we found...

Smart Cycle

The Smart Cycle (Mattel, $99.99) is a physical arcade game that connects easily to your TV. Just pop in a supported game cartridge and your child will happily pedal away, burning up all types of energy and leaving you free to pay some bills or start dinner. Cartridges focus on areas such as learning, discoveries, games and races -- and, of course, there are multiple levels that wee ones can can move up as they get better. Smart Cycle also teaches upper and lowercase letters, numbers and counting, spelling, problem-solving, shapes, matching and spatial reasoning.

Our Best TV Pick: Pioneer Kuro Elite 50-Inch Plasma HDTV

by Switched Staff, posted Dec 21st 2007 at 11:10AM


For the videophile who's been really, really good this year, there's no better way to say "I love, but I'd like you to stop talking so much" than by giving the top-of-the-line Pioneer Kuro Elite 50-inch PDP-5010FD. With picture quality so pristine that, from 3.5-feet you can see the film grain -- but not the pixels -- this TV will leave anyone speachless.

Gift Pick: Burton Sleeper Hoodie Holds Gadgets and More

by Evan Shamoon, posted Dec 17th 2007 at 6:39PM





HYPE CHECK: BURTON SLEEPER HOODIE
.

What it is: Burton's Sleeper Hoodie is designed for the busy air traveler, but should be a big hit with everyone from bands who spend weeks at a time tour buses, to those of us who like to catch a nap on the bus on our way to work. Inside the neck rests an inflatable neck pillow; blow it up, and you've got immediate, built-in head support. (Much better than resting your head on the corner between the seat and the window, much less the person next to you.) It's also got hidden compartments for your MP3 player (lower left), passport (inner left), and even your earplugs (it comes with a pair). It even has thumb holes in the sleeve cuffs for those with cold hands, and zippers under the armpits (with mesh in between) for when you get all hot and bothered (like during the spaghetti scene of 'Lady and the Tramp'). There's more: a light shield pulls down to block out the glare of the sun-like reading lights your neighbor refuses to turn off (if not fully block out those fluorescents lining the cabin wall), and a headphone port for wiring your music inside the shirt. It feels like something to add to your essential travel arsenal -- and since it looks and feels like a regular hoodie when disengaged, you can even where it when you get wherever it is you're going. As long as it's not Tahiti.

Why it's different: Most sweatshirts don't do anything other than zip up. This one does about everything except cook you breakfast.

What it costs: $100

What we like: For those that travel long distances, this thing is a lifesaver. It's incredibly versatile and feature-packed, and this sort of combination of technology and fashion is long overdue. The ability to adjust your temperature actually works in practice -- finally avoid sweaty armpits during boarding, and the thumb holes really do keep your palms warm, no matter how high they decide to crank the AC. The whole thing just feels very well thought-out and designed.


What we don't like: Rather than the wrap-around style neck pillow that they sell in airports, the inflatable pillow in the neck is more of a log-shaped affair. It still works – even without anything to lean against, you can just rest your head on either of your shoulders – but the full wrap-around action would have been even better. Also, while the design is great if you're into big graphics (we love the line-art airplane), it's perhaps not the most subtle thing in the world – this thing might not fly with the over-50 business set (pun intended).

Does it live up to the hype? Yes. We love it. It's an incredibly useful piece of gear for those of us that take long trips (or perhaps lots of short ones, requiring sporadic naps), and feels like it will last many, many hours of airtime. It's a heavy-duty sweatshirt, and for $100, you can't really argue with the comfort and peace of mind it give you – even when sandwiched between two fatsos (loudly eating sandwiches) on your flight from LA to London.


Gallery: Burton Sleeper Hoodie -- Up Close




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Dell Goes Sexy With New All-in-One Computer

by Alon Avdi, posted Dec 11th 2007 at 4:44PM



"Give in to the power of the tea," the male model, Hansel, whispered as he seduced the overcome reporter in the epic comedy, Zoolander. That's what we thought of as we entered Armani/Casa, an ultra-hip interior design locale in SoHo where fashionistas shop for their postmodern couches and Eastern-influenced coffee tables. It wasn't a home makeover mission that brought us to Never Neverland, however, as we were there to preview Dell's XPS One, the newest all-in-one home computer, which came out on November 19th and is the latest entry in the growing area of stylish, all-in-one computers.

Picking our way through the hotly attired models and Dell executives that dotted the sleek Armani/Casa homescape, we began to understand the nature of this particular computing beast... Home computing is undergoing a transformation in character, style or that je ne sais quoi these days, and the XPS One is Dell's attempt to get sexy. And make no mistake, the folks at Dell will sell their stock to Apple before letting the competition's Gateway One and the Sony Vaio L Series overshadow their own product's libido.

All black, the machine is comprised of a 20-inch, high-definition widescreen monitor that houses the computer itself, with just one cable to plug in. The only other components are a wireless mouse and an old-school infrared wireless keyboard that triumphs over the inconsistent Bluetooth keyboards from former XPS models. In addition, the XPS boasts a built-in TV tuner, whereas most PC models of this size and type, including the Gateway One, have an external tuner or none at all, like the Sony Vaio L Series.

A couple of things that we really liked were the motion sensors that, when triggered, light up the media keys and a half-circle of blue light that illuminates the slot-loading drive on the lower, right hand corner of the monitor. We also dug the great speakers that come stock with every XPS as well as the option to include a Blu-ray drive (as long as you're willing to pay more). While the cheapest XPS One goes for $1,499, the version with all of the bells and whistles maxes out at $2,399.

Overall, this computer seems to have the it sexy factor that Dell wanted to develop. Whether you're an artiste whose closet includes clothing in black or black, or just a regular consumer looking for a home computer that looks smokin' and futuristic while doing it all without the complications, this is the all-in-one product for you.

The only downside is that the models we saw at Armani/Casa are not offered with the XPS at this time.

Gallery: Dell XPS One

  • XPS One
  • Dell XPS One Media
  • XPS One Side View
  • XPS One Thre-Quarter View


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