Posts tagged Featured at Switched

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Hands-on With 'Rock Band 2'

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jul 17th 2008 at 12:15PM

If you're jonesing to get your Rock Band 2 on like we are, you'll be all over these new shots of the game's upcoming controllers that we got all grubby on today at E3.

First, the new guitars not only look better, but they will include some welcome hardware tweaks. The new axe includes an optical sensor that will make syncing the game to your display a breeze. Rather than go through that annoying tap..tap...tap synchronization scheme, all you'll need to do is hold up your controller to your display and it will figure things out with you based on your screen's refresh rate.

In addition, the new guitars have been updated with slicker fret controls that make it easier to slide from one to the other. Meanwhile, the strum bar has been tightened up a bit. No clicking, though -- the guys at Harmonix say no one "dreams of playing a metronome" anyway. A dig at 'Guitar Hero?' Perhaps, but if you're looking for some click feedback from your controller, look elsewhere.

Don't miss the image gallery over at Engadget.

Continue reading Hands-on With 'Rock Band 2'

Ex-Eagle Don Felder Hearts Treos, Computers, and His Girl's Face

by Christine Whitney, posted Jun 24th 2008 at 1:02PM

Remember that one kid in your class who wore the Hawaiian shirts and played 'Hotel California' on his guitar at each and every school talent show, 'cuz he just loved The Eagles that much? Well, he's super excited about onetime lead guitar Eagle Don Felder's new memoir Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001). Here, The Eagles' secrets will be revealed -- tensions will run high, hotel rooms will be ravaged, and fans will swoon.

Homeboy will be crazy jealous when he finds out that Felder talked to the kids at Switched about his tech secrets, and his fiancée. You heard it here first. Drop down and get your Eagle on.

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set (for down-time?

MacBook Pro, Canon camera, Treo 680, iPod, Bose noise cancelling headphones, 100 GB mini external drive, MOTU Ultralite, Guitar and cables.

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

I have a Treo 680. I love the PDA features including texting, email, contacts, web browsing, phone reception clarity and hot sync ease.

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

My fiancée telling her I love her face.

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

MySpace, AOL, Facebook, eBay, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Sharenow.com and donfelder.com. I have lots of friends and emails to attend to daily as well as keeping up with the election results and world news.

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

DROPPED CALLS. Maybe one day they'll figure out a way to make these things work.

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

I wish it could do voice texting/email so I would stop nearly killing myself while driving.

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

Flying car so I don't have to be stuck in LA traffic anymore.

You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

A satellite cell phone with a built in GPS so I can call for help....DUH

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

Alicia Keys & John Mayer. I respect artists that can sing, write and play.

Blackberry, Sidekick, or Treo?

Treo 680 – love it!!!

Do you have an iPhone?

I'm waiting for the new version to come out and for my friends to let me know if it's any better with the texting and battery problems than the first model. I'd love to have one but need the texting and e-mail features most of all. That seems to be the weakest part of the iPhone. I wish it had a keyboard.

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

I don't play video games. I'm totally spastic when it comes to doing something with my thumbs. My kids beat me every time I try. It becomes far too frustrating.

Mac or PC

Both, I have 12 computers. Here are how they are used:

2 Mac Book Pros for use on the road and in my stage show.
4 PCs – 3 in my studio for running sound applications like Gigasampler and 1 in my office for business
4 Mac G5's in my studio for Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Logic, Illustrator, Photoshop and Go Live web design.
1 Mac in my home running iTunes for my house sound system
1 Mac G5 in my graphics art studio for all graphics programs.

Yes, I'm a computer NERD.

Click Here for More Phone-Crazed Celebs

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Tresling: It's Tetris, With Arm Wrestling

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 12:11PM

Given the multitude of ways Tetris has been tweaked already, we were beginning to wonder if the spectacular mods involving the famed title were dwindling down.

Apparently not.

Tresling is a brilliant creation involving a sophisticated arm wrestling board, which converts tussling into block movements within the game. For each flinch, yank and pull, one's block turns -- if you can't maintain your position, chances are that your figure will end up all out of place. Believe it or not, it actually looks even more fun on video, so check out the heated competition in the read link below.

[Thanks, Tom]

Snoop Dogg Is a Gadget Hound

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

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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What's 4G and Should You Even Care?

by Will Safer, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 5:23PM

When people talk about the future of wireless communication, they sometimes speak of 4G, which is short for Fourth Generation Communications System. This is a still pretty much undefined area of wireless communications, but simply put, it means fast data, voice, and streaming content everywhere you go at any time. And so its also the topic of much interest for wireless companies, such as AT&T and Verizon, which just announced some of their goals for the bigger, better, faster wireless Internet.

The FCC is starting to let these companies talk about their plans for the standard, which they say will allow better applications to be developed for wireless gaming, smartphone functionality and remote control of digital video recorders, among other tasks.

While 4G functionality and devices are still a ways off from being available (and 3G is still really in the implementation stage, as well), the fact that the wireless spectrum is being made available for use and development is a big step that could lead to powerful applications being created for personal and business use -- and, of course, to new revenue streams for the service providers (and we all know that's one of the biggest motivating factors for these companies).

The 4G standard will be able to provide speeds from 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second both indoors and outdoors, with the promise of greater quality and security (and we all know that's something personal and business users want).

What could this mean for you, dear reader? Well, right now, not a whole lot. But soon you'll start to see devices and products, both wireless and plugged in at home, that are more completely integrated.

From BetaNews.

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Why You Should Wait to Buy the iPhone (Switched Podcast)

by Ben Chertoff, posted Apr 8th 2008 at 1:23PM

Touch screens meet keyboards as the latest mobile phones debuted at last week's CTIA convention. Switched.com has a full report on the phones and the rumors -- including when you should plan to buy your next iPhone. Plus: Text Messages from The Grave.

Listen Now (mp3)

Be among the first to hear the 'Switched Show' each week. Subscribe for Free with iTunes. (Or subscribe with your own podcast aggregator by using the Switched Show feed.)

Previous Podcasts:

Don't Spring for $50 HDMI Cables --Those $10 Ones Are Just As Good

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 7th 2008 at 4:21PM

Here's a secret that high-end audio and video companies don't want you to know -- those $10 HDMI cables from a generic manufacturer are just as good as their $50 top of the line counterparts.

In fact, the tech site CNET has been using "high-end" $20 cables from Monoprice in its labs for testing top of the line TVs from companies such as Samsung and Sony. And trust us, CNET abuses those cables more than you ever could in your standard home theater set up.

The truth of the matter is that as far as digital signals are concerned, the quality of the cable matters very little. Used in HDTV and most satellite and cable systems these days, digital signals don't degrade as quickly and aren't subject to interference the same way that analog signals are.

So, unless you plan on running 20- and 30-foot cables around your house, or are building an audio or video production studio, you can stick to those cheaper $10 HDMI cables and will still get nothing but a top quality image.

From CNET

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Top 11 Ways to Save Money and Time With Your Phone

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 3rd 2008 at 12:02PM

With all sorts of features available on cell phones, people rely on them to manage their lives more and more.

Unfortunately, this increased ease generally comes with a larger bill, whether users realize it or not. With that in mind, Switched presents you with some tricks that will keep money in your pocket and let you spend your time more efficiently. No need to thank us.

1. Don't pay for Directory Assistance

Rather than spending money calling information, use 800-FREE-411 to get numbers without the normal charge or dial 800-555-TELL and get weather, sports scores, stock quotes and more. If you'd rather not use your plan's minutes, text GOOGL (46645) with a search query and get your answer texted to you, free.

Start >>

Hands On With AT&T Mobile TV (and Samsung Access)

by Tom Samiljan, posted Apr 2nd 2008 at 6:01PM

We weren't too sold on live TV on mobile phones when the feature first launched on Verizon Wireless phones a year ago, but the slim and sexy Samsung Access, which we got to play around with here at the CTIA Wireless mobile phone show, may just sell us on the concept.

Imagine a Samsung BlackJack II with bigger keys and no glitchy Windows Mobile, and you pretty much have the Samsung Access. It's slim enough to slip into your pocket without creating any bulges, but doesn't skimp on features, including stereo Bluetooth, stereo speakers, 3G capability, and Video Share, which lets you do live video conferencing with other Video-Share-enabled AT&T phones.

As we mentioned earlier this week, the Access will also be one of the first phones to run AT&T's new live TV service, which comes off crisp and clear on the 2.5-inch LCD screen. (Alas, the screen quality was not really captured so well on the crappy pic we took with our iPhone, but we couldn't resist the eerie dual-candidate image that was frozen in time when we snapped this.) We briefly tried out AT&T's service, which has a few things we like over the Verizon version, including a tiny screen in the top right corner that keeps the show you're currently tuned in to playing while you search through the attractive and user-friendly guide.

One thing we didn't love, though, at least in this still-not-ready-for-prime-time iteration of AT&T Mobile TV, was the relative slowness of the channel changing. The program titles came up instantaneously as we switched channels, but the actual video took about three to five seconds to appear, which makes channel surfing less than satisfying on this little phone.

Also, what's with the crappy 1.3-megapixel camera? Sorry, but at this point, 1.3 megapixel cameras in phones should just be banned. The grainy pictures (at least when blown up) they take are more or less useless.

Then again, you probably won't be using this service for much more than a live sports game or news, right? Any TV show that's not pressing or in real-time is better watched at home on a big screen.

The Samsung Access should be launching in and around the May launch of AT&T's Mobile TV service.

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How to Work On Google Docs While Offline

by Thomas Houston, posted Apr 2nd 2008 at 4:03PM

Google has started giving users the ability to edit their Google Documents in an offline mode. Google Documents, part of Google's free online suite of office software, is a word processing application that allows you to create, view and edit documents as well as import Microsoft Word files, .txt and other popular document formats. The rest of the suite, accessible from within your browser, includes presentation (similar to PowerPoint and Apple's Keynote) and spreadsheet software.

What does the new offline mode mean? After you enable the feature, your documents will automatically be downloaded to your desktop. Now, you'll still be able to make edits and changes to your documents within your browser even if you disconnect from the Web.

It sounds complex, but the basic idea is pretty simple. As soon as you reconnect to the Web, the two versions of the Google Document -- the one on Google's server and the one on your computer -- will automatically sync. Previously, you were only able to access your Google Documents when connected to the Internet. For more information and an additional explanation, check out Google's video.

Google began rolling out access to a small group of users yesterday, but everyone with a Google account should have access within the next few weeks. Initially, users will only be able to use offline features with Google Documents, Google's free word-processor, but we expect Spreadsheet and Presentation to have it soon enough. To see if you have access to the offline mode, go to docs.google.com and search for an "offline" link in the top-right of the screen. We think it's a pretty cool feature that will come in handy, particularly for anyone who frequently finds themselves outside of Wi-Fi hotspots (like on a plane).

From Wired and Ars Technica

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Baby Names Being Derived from...Text Messaging?

by Evan Shamoon, posted Mar 31st 2008 at 6:17PM

Seems utterly absurd, but there's apparently a trend among those in the SMS generation of using abbreviated versions of traditional Christian names on their children's birth certificates -- along with "original" ways of spelling them.

Anne has been changed to An, Connor to Conna and Laura to Lora -- all, seemingly, for the sake of convenience. According to the online parenting club Bounty, there's also been quite a bit of borrowing from corporate entities: One girl born last month was born Flicity, along with other recent names like Ikea, Paprica, Caramel, Bambi, Fire-Lily, Skylark and TAME -- which apparently stands for The Apple of My Eye.

Albert Mehrabian is a psychology professor at the University of California, and has researched the impact of irregular names. He found that "less attractive characteristics were attributed to individuals with less conventionally spelled names. Unconventional spelling connoted less masculinity for men and less femininity for women [and] more anxiety and neuroticism were attributed to those with less common names."

These attempts aren't always successful, however: Last year a couple was told they wouldn't be allowed to register their son's name as 4Real. Officials in New Zealand apparently ruled that the use of a number made it inappropriate, so the couple went with their second choice....

...Superman.

At any rate, check out our gallery of text-message inspired names, some real, some fake, all kray-z!

From DailyMail

Gallery: Text Message Kids

Angela Bassett Loves Her iPhone

by Thomas Houston, posted Mar 27th 2008 at 12:14PM

Angela Bassett has worked in theater and television, but her career so far has been best defined by her work in film. In the early '90s, she found roles in 'Boyz 'N The Hood' and 'Malcolm X,' and soon gave an Academy Award-nominated performance for her portrayal of Tina Turner in Tina Turner in 'What's Love Got to Do With It.'

Angela also starred in 'Waiting to Exhale' and 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back,' and she's worked with the likes of Whitney Houston, Spike Lee, Forest Whitaker and countless others. Her newest film, 'Meet the Browns,' finds her playing a single mom returning to Georgia for her father's funeral, and she meets the rest of her family for the first time.

Angela took time from her busy schedule -- she also helps out in the community and is an Ambassador for UNICEF -- and talked to us about technology for the Switched Questionnaire.

What was the best moment you had on the set while filming?

Family dinner

What's your favorite thing to watch in HD?

Discovery Channel HD

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set for down-time?

None really, I'm too busy connecting with cast and crew.

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

iPhone. I love the touch control. And I love that it lets me have pictures, music, directions all in one place

Where do you go pretty much every time you get online?

E-mails

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

Does what it wants to do, human error

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

Tying to familiarize myself with my present gadgets!!!

You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

Computer -- lets me stay connected and informed.

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

Miles Davis' 'Anything'

BlackBerry, Sidekick, or Treo?

Treo

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

Pacman – one minute

Mac or PC?

Mac. It's compatible with my iPhone and my old PC was done for.

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Best Phones For Texting and E-Mailing

by Tom Samiljan, posted Mar 19th 2008 at 12:11PM

The iPhone is certainly the worlds' greatest iPod and portable Web-surfing cell phone we've ever seen, but its keyboard still stinks -- we can't tell you how many typos the touch-sensitive thing has forced us to make while writing text-messages or e-mails over the past eight months. That's why we recommend phones with actual, physical keyboards to anyone who tends to send a lot of text-messages or e-mails. Luckily, most of the smart phones out there feature actual keyboards. To find out the three we like best, check out the above Switched-exclusive video.

Rosie O'Donnell Tells Switched All...About the iPhone!

by Tom Samiljan, posted Dec 20th 2007 at 3:14PM

It's safe to say that Rosie O'Donnell has done it all, from stand-up and comedy movies to talk shows and even a video blog (that she actually updates regularly). She's also involved in R Family Vacations, a cruise line aimed at gay and lesbian families, which was designed to let the kids of gay and lesbian parents meet other kids from similar families. This year, Rosie and her partner, Kelli O'Donnell, who have four kids, will once again be part of the entertainment on board, along with other celebrities including Cyndi Lauper and Sam Harris. The parental pair took a few minutes to answer our Switched Questionnaire, and it turns out they're pretty stacked in the mobile phone department. To find out more, read on....

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set (for down-time)?

Rosie: We always have our Nextel cell phone plus an iPhone when I travel.

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

Rosie: We have a Nextel phone because we love using the two-way radio service with the family. It's easy for the kids to use, plus it seems to work many times when regular cell service does not.

Kelli: I also have an iPhone that I have become addicted to. There are so many cool aspects to it that I have not even figured out completely.

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

Rosie: We sent a text to our oldest son before he was beginning his swim meet race to wish him good luck.

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

Rosie: We frequently go to The Drudge Report and the Huffington Post almost every time we're online.

What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop (or any other gadget)?

Kelli: I wish that my iPhone had the two-way radio service so I did not have to bring both gadgets with me. Other than that, I am constantly amazed at how far technology has come and have very few complaints.

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

Rosie: I wish that you could iChat from your iPhone -- wouldn't that be cool?!?!

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

Rosie: There are no new items that I can think of. I feel content with what I have.

You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

Rosie/Kelli: I would bring my iPhone. You can do just about anything -- from e-mailing and surfing the 'Net to listening to music, watching movies, and taking photos -- on it. What more do you need? Well, besides someone to share it with on the island!!!!

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

We love Broadway show tunes, but we also love Annie Lennox, Robbie Williams, and a number of '80s tunes that make us feel young again!

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

Rosie: We don't play video games.

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

Kelli: I have a PC 'cause it makes the most sense with how my brain works.

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Hands-on With 'Rock Band 2'

Ex-Eagle Don Felder Hearts Treos, Computers, and His Girl's Face

Tresling: It's Tetris, With Arm Wrestling

Snoop Dogg Is a Gadget Hound

What's 4G and Should You Even Care?

Why You Should Wait to Buy the iPhone (Switched Podcast)

Don't Spring for $50 HDMI Cables --Those $10 Ones Are Just As Good

Top 11 Ways to Save Money and Time With Your Phone

Hands On With AT&T Mobile TV (and Samsung Access)

How to Work On Google Docs While Offline

Baby Names Being Derived from...Text Messaging?

Gallery: Text Message Kids

Angela Bassett Loves Her iPhone

Best Phones For Texting and E-Mailing

Rosie O'Donnell Tells Switched All...About the iPhone!

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