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[Snoop Dogg Is a Gadget Hound]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/snoop-doggs-favorite-gadgets-by-snoop-dogg/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/snoop-doggs-favorite-gadgets-by-snoop-dogg/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/snoop-doggs-favorite-gadgets-by-snoop-dogg/#commentsFiled under: , ,



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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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebrityfeaturedfeatured storiesFeaturedStoriesfeaturessnoop doggSnoopDoggswitchedquestionnaireThu, 10 Apr 2008 01:32:00 EST<![CDATA[The Trippiest Optical Illusions on the Net!]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/09/the-trippiest-optical-illustions-on-the-net/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/09/the-trippiest-optical-illustions-on-the-net/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/09/the-trippiest-optical-illustions-on-the-net/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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!



Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funoptical illusionsOpticalIllusionstrippyWed, 09 Apr 2008 23:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Five Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/27/how-to-lower-your-cell-phone-bill-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/27/how-to-lower-your-cell-phone-bill-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/27/how-to-lower-your-cell-phone-bill-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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.


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cheap GeekCheapGeekWed, 27 Feb 2008 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Laptops Under $500]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/laptops-under-500/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/laptops-under-500/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/laptops-under-500/#commentsFiled under: ,

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).


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresLaptop Buying GuidesLaptopBuyingGuidesTue, 19 Feb 2008 23:47:00 EST