Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/nintendo-3ds-hands-on/#comments Nintendo 3DS The best way for me to start off my hands-on with the Nintendo 3DS is to be completely honest about my relationship with the Nintendo DS; I love the little split-screened device. I have a white Lite from 2007, and have never found the need to upgrade. That was until the E3 Expo last year, when Nintendo trotted out these little guys to a crowd practically electrified with excitement. But the 3-D hype, unless we are missing something, has failed to move past "hype" to "trend." Even the 3DS's initial promise as being the little device that could (without glasses) has been slapped with health warnings, and is not as cost-friendly as its Lite little bro. So, to be frank, I had high expectations, and the 3DS had quite a task ahead of itself.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy

SwitchedNintendo 3DS: Not a Gaming Revolution, Still Makes Hands Happy originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsaqua blueAquaBluecosmo blackCosmoBlackfeaturesgaminghands-onhandsonmiinintendonintendo 3dsNintendo3dsNintendogsreviewsvideo gamingvideogamesVideoGamingFri, 25 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Google eBooks for Android: Hands-On]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/google-ebooks-for-android-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/google-ebooks-for-android-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/google-ebooks-for-android-hands-on/#commentsGoogle eBooks for Android While we've been waiting for the iPad and iPhone versions of Google eBooks to land in the App Store, we put the Android version through the paces. While it's not the most feature-filled e-reading app available on Android, it is slick, polished and easily the best non-NOOK and non-Kindle e-reading app for the platform. There are some limitations, like the lack of simple bookmarking and the absence of any sort of highlighting and searching tools. Most confusing, though, is that you can browse your collection and open the settings in landscape mode, but books are locked in portrait. (Not a huge deal if you ask us -- landscape is great for websites, not so much for books). We also were a little irked that shopping for books isn't integrated into the app -- tapping 'Get Books' kicks you out of the app and into the browser. Overall, however, Google eBooks provides a pleasurable reading experience, which is ultimately the most important thing. Check out the hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Google eBooks for Android: Hands-On

SwitchedGoogle eBooks for Android: Hands-On originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsebooksebookstoregooglegoogle ebooksGoogleEbookshandsonswitchedvideotopMon, 06 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Moog Filtatron for iPhone Makes Wonderful Noise]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/19/moog-filtatron-for-iphone-makes-wonderful-noise/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/19/moog-filtatron-for-iphone-makes-wonderful-noise/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/19/moog-filtatron-for-iphone-makes-wonderful-noise/#commentsHere at Switched, we love things that make noise. And when it comes to noise-making, few names have a stronger pedigree than Moog. The granddaddy of electronic music has released Filtatron, an iPhone app based around the classic Moog Ladder Filter that gives the company's analogue effects and synths their distinctive sound. You can use the digitally modeled classic filter to manipulate input from your iPhone's mic, recorded audio samples or the built-in oscillator. Filtatron even has a small bank of effects for adding distortion or delay to your sounds. While the preset samples and sound settings are fun to play with, you really unlock the power of the app when you start processing tones from the oscillator and your own recorded clips by manipulating them with the pads. You can change practically any settings or levels using the pads, allowing you to sweep through delay levels, play the oscillator or pump up the distortion. The pads are split in two so that you can alter two settings at once.

In our short hands-on with Filtatron, we were impressed with its responsiveness and the quality of the sounds it produced. Our one complaint is that some of the controls were tough to manipulate on the iPhone's tiny screen. (An iPad version should help to alleviate that problem.) Grab Filtatron for $4.99 if you're in the mood to create your own beautiful dissonance, but be sure to check out our hands on video after the break (as well as the official teaser from Moog).

Gallery: Moog Filtatron

Continue reading Moog Filtatron for iPhone Makes Wonderful Noise

SwitchedMoog Filtatron for iPhone Makes Wonderful Noise originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appselectronic musicElectronicMusicfiltatronhandsoniosiphoneiphone appIphoneAppmoogmusicSynthesizertopTue, 19 Oct 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Mint Robot Mop Reviewed: Tasty and Refreshing, Scares Our Swiffer]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/mint-robot-mop-reviewed-tasty-and-refreshing-scares-our-swiffe/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/mint-robot-mop-reviewed-tasty-and-refreshing-scares-our-swiffe/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/mint-robot-mop-reviewed-tasty-and-refreshing-scares-our-swiffe/#commentsMint Robot Mop

What it is:

The robot cleaning revolution apparently has arrived. Years after the first Roombas were introduced into homes around the world, Neato stepped up to the plate with its impressive XV-11. Now, just a few months later, Evolution Robotics has launched its own proprietary floor-cleaning robot, the Mint, and it has some solid sweeping skills of its own.

Why it's different:

In some ways, the Mint is a bit of a throwback. Rather than vacuum, it goes for a simpler process of cleaning your floor with wet and dry cloths. In this sense, it's competing with Roomba's Scooba floor cleaner, as it's useless without a vacuuming counterpart, robotic or otherwise. There's no spraying involved, either. You attach either a wet or dry cloth (included) to the bottom of the device, or use Swiffer dry pads in their place. The robot find its way around with the aid of the "NorthStar" Navigation Cube, which you place facing the middle of the room to help it keep track of where it's gone and where it still needs to go. The Mint approaches sweeping and mopping differently. When sweeping, it generally moves forward, turns, and repeats, and, when mopping, it moves in a back-and-forth "scrubbing" motion.

Gallery: Mint Cleaner Review

Continue reading Mint Robot Mop Reviewed: Tasty and Refreshing, Scares Our Swiffer

SwitchedMint Robot Mop Reviewed: Tasty and Refreshing, Scares Our Swiffer originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EvolutionRoboticsfeatureshandsonhouseholdirobotIrobotRoombamintMintRoboticVacuumNeatoRoboticsNeatoXv-11reviewsrobotsroombatopvacuumMon, 11 Oct 2010 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Crowdmap Makes Disaster Response More Accessible, We Go Hands On]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/crowdmap-makes-disaster-response-more-accessible-we-go-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/crowdmap-makes-disaster-response-more-accessible-we-go-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/crowdmap-makes-disaster-response-more-accessible-we-go-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

screenshot of crowdmap

Since it launched three years ago, Ushahidi has played an increasingly crucial role in natural disaster and crisis relief efforts by allowing citizens to report violent incidents as they happen. Whenever the open-source software receives a notification from a user, it uses data collected from text messages, news reports or the Internet to geographically map the incident in real-time. In recent months, the system has been used to provide instantaneous maps of the Gulf oil spill, and, most notably, to help locate victims trapped under the rubble of the earthquake in Haiti.

The only problem, though, is that Ushahidi, in its original form, wasn't exactly the most user-friendly of platforms. "It's not that an average computer user couldn't do it, but it's intimidating," developer Brian Herbert told the New York Times. "It's not just, 'double-click this icon to install.'" Now, however, Ushahidi has been redesigned for less technologically inclined users, and is available through a Web-based application called Crowdmap. We spent some time on the revamped site, and here are our initial impressions.

Continue reading Crowdmap Makes Disaster Response More Accessible, We Go Hands On

SwitchedCrowdmap Makes Disaster Response More Accessible, We Go Hands On originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdmapdisasterdisastersGulfCoastGulfOfMexicoOilSpillGulfOilSpillhaitiHaitiEarthquakeHaitiReliefhands onHandsOnIncidentreportreportstopushahidiviolenceSun, 15 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands On With OnLive: On-Demand Gaming Scores, but Still Clouded With Issues]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/hands-on-with-onlive-on-demand-gaming-scores-but-still-clouded/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/hands-on-with-onlive-on-demand-gaming-scores-but-still-clouded/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/hands-on-with-onlive-on-demand-gaming-scores-but-still-clouded/#commentsFiled under: , ,

OnLive
Although, for a time, the video game industry valiantly staved off the recession while other enterprises suffered, console game sales did eventually stagnate before precipitously dropping. Online gaming currently thrives, though, particularly with enormously popular titles like Zynga's 'FarmVille' and 'Mafia Wars.' Other services like Xbox Live, which reportedly generates billions in revenue, also demonstrate that certain aspects of gaming can experience resounding success while still producing absurd profits.

Given the colossal audience of social networking sites and streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, the adoption of such financially sound models by the video game industry represents a boundless and untapped gold mine. Enter OnLive, a service that seeks to provide video games instantly to users (on an array of devices), while also enabling trash-talking friendly networking. Currently experimenting with an invitation-only, pre-release program, OnLive showcases industry veteran Steve Perlman as CEO, and claims stalwarts like AT&T and Warner Bros. among its supporters.

The cloud-based game service, which also plans to release a MicroConsole in the fall, won't require lengthy, storage-sapping downloads. But will it provide seamless, uninterrupted gaming at a competitive price? That question, as well as numerous others, remains to be conclusively answered.

Continue reading Hands On With OnLive: On-Demand Gaming Scores, but Still Clouded With Issues

SwitchedHands On With OnLive: On-Demand Gaming Scores, but Still Clouded With Issues originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresgaminghandsononliveplaypassreviewstopvideo gamesVideoGamesTue, 10 Aug 2010 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[MOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

MOG
Until recently, if you wanted to listen to music on your smartphone through a premium-paid service, you only had a few options, such as Rhapsody and Rdio. Fortunately, MOG, another music-streaming service, comparable to Rhapsody and Rdio, has just appeared on the scene with apps for both iPhone and Android. Read on to see how MOG sets itself apart.

Continue reading MOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On

SwitchedMOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappCloudComputingfeatureshandsoniPhoneMOGMusicMusicStreamingrdiorhapsodytopWed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Swype App Makes Texting on Android Phones a Breeze]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/24/swype-app-makes-texting-on-android-phones-a-breeze/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/24/swype-app-makes-texting-on-android-phones-a-breeze/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/24/swype-app-makes-texting-on-android-phones-a-breeze/#commentsFiled under: ,

Likely inspired by the masses of people obsessed with texting, Cliff Kushler, co-inventor of T9, has one-upped himself with the release of Swype, a text-entry app now available on Android phones. Appropriately named, Swype gives you the power to swipe words into existence instead of frantically pecking at your touchscreen. With only a single instance of finger-to-screen contact, you tap the first letter of the word, then glide over to the next letter and then the next, and release your finger when a word is complete.

The easy part is indeed the swiping, which works as well as advertised. However, adjusting to a new typing system's quirks (and Swype is chock full of them) is tricky. Swiping double letters, for instance, is hardly intuitive. Halting mid-swipe over the letter that needs to be doubled only kills Swype's chances of recognizing the word you are trying to type. Instead, you loop around the letter, informing Swype that you intend it to be doubled.

Continue reading Swype App Makes Texting on Android Phones a Breeze

SwitchedSwype App Makes Texting on Android Phones a Breeze originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidAndroidAppfeatureshandsonmobilereviewsmartphoneswypet9textingtopThu, 24 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands on With 'Super Scribblenauts': Now, With More Words]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/17/hands-on-with-super-scribblenauts-now-with-more-words/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/17/hands-on-with-super-scribblenauts-now-with-more-words/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/17/hands-on-with-super-scribblenauts-now-with-more-words/#commentsFiled under:

The original 'Scribblenauts' game for the Nintendo DS was somewhat revolutionary. In some ways, it was a group game, as people argued over suggestions and solutions. For others, it was the first time they were really, truly mentally engaged by a handheld game. Lastly, it proved what we already suspected: wordsmiths with diverse cultural knowledge (like us!) could play games too!

With a brilliantly simple premise, 'Scribblenauts' asks the players to solve simple puzzles by writing objects into life. That was it; just write. The game's knowledge base was impressive, riddled with Easter Eggs like "Cthulhu," "Keyboard Cat" or just, "Win." Initially, it got rave reviews and is generally cited as being a creative little game with infinite replay value. However, the mechanics were just awful. 'Scribblenauts' played as if all of the R&D went into the dictionary and the avatar and his movements were an afterthought. Hours were spent trying to release objects, or stop Maxwell (the protagonist) from making horribly dumb moves. We forgave the game for its missteps because this wasn't about agility or smoothness, but puzzle-solving.

Continue reading Hands on With 'Super Scribblenauts': Now, With More Words

SwitchedHands on With 'Super Scribblenauts': Now, With More Words originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leapster Explorer
Earlier today, we visited our good friends at Leapfrog, all of whom were very excited to show off their latest learning toy -- the Leapster Explorer. The Explorer is the latest update to the company's Leapster line of gaming handhelds. Past devices have been rather basic affairs, making even the Gameboy Advance seem powerful in comparison. And while the Explorer isn't going to be mistaken for a PSP, it does drastically improve on the technology, and offers thorough integration with other Leapfrog products.

Gallery: Leapster Explorer

Continue reading Educational Leapster Explorer Is a Gaming Handheld for the iPhone Generation

SwitchedEducational Leapster Explorer Is a Gaming Handheld for the iPhone Generation originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>educationedutainmenthandsonleapfrogleapletsleapsterleapster explorerLeapsterExplorerreviewstopvideogamesTue, 08 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Unveils Official iPhone App, Switched Goes Hands On]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/twitter-unveils-official-iphone-app-switched-goes-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/twitter-unveils-official-iphone-app-switched-goes-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/twitter-unveils-official-iphone-app-switched-goes-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

Searching the iPhone app store for "Twitter" turns up plenty of apps, but not one named "Twitter." In fact there was no such thing as an official Twitter app for the iPhone, until today. For newcomers to the microblogging service, this caused a bit of confusion, so Twitter decided it was time to get some officially sanctioned apps out -- including one for the iPhone. Smartly, instead of starting from scratch, it snatched up the highly polished and very popular Tweetie.

A month after announcing the purchase, the newly re-branded app, simply called Twitter, is now available for free in the app store -- making it easier for the less patient or savvy users to get tweeting.

Gallery: Twitter app for iPhone

Continue reading Twitter Unveils Official iPhone App, Switched Goes Hands On

SwitchedTwitter Unveils Official iPhone App, Switched Goes Hands On originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 May 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefeatureshandsoniphonetoptwittertwitter for iphoneTwitterForIphonewebWed, 19 May 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Hotmail Overhaul Aims to Unclutter Your E-mail, Lands This Summer]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/18/hotmail-overhaul-will-unclutter-your-mobile-life-coming-this-su/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/18/hotmail-overhaul-will-unclutter-your-mobile-life-coming-this-su/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/18/hotmail-overhaul-will-unclutter-your-mobile-life-coming-this-su/#commentsFiled under:

Hotmail redesign
Microsoft veteran Chris Jones couldn't have been much more direct: while Hotmail is still a major player -- the top worldwide, in fact -- the mail client is underperforming in the U.S. and is "just behind on a bunch of features" compared to its competition. And so began our briefing today on a completely revamped Hotmail, the rollout of which hits around July or August this year. What we saw was incredibly encouraging, but it's not without some nagging issues. Let's break it down by Microsoft's own self-proclaimed pillars of the revamp -- follow us after the break for impressions!

Continue reading Microsoft Hotmail Overhaul Aims to Unclutter Your E-mail, Lands This Summer

SwitchedMicrosoft Hotmail Overhaul Aims to Unclutter Your E-mail, Lands This Summer originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 18 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emailfeatureshandsonhotmailmicrosoftmicrosoft hotmailMicrosoftHotmailsoftwaretopwebappsTue, 18 May 2010 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad: The Switched Review]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/05/apple-ipad-the-switched-review/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/05/apple-ipad-the-switched-review/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/05/apple-ipad-the-switched-review/#comments
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The iPad, Apple's new "magical" tablet device whose months of hype claim that it will save print media, kill laptops and redefine the computing experience, is finally here. As expected, many camped out at Apple Stores nationwide, but, aside from Saturday's launch day theatrics at 9 a.m., crowds were subdued compared to those attending the frenzied iPhone launch of 2007. Steve Jobs introduced the device by describing a computing space currently unfilled by either smartphones or laptops. We got to spend a long weekend with the device, so read on to see how Apple's iPad holds up.

Continue reading Apple iPad: The Switched Review

SwitchedApple iPad: The Switched Review originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadAppleIpadfeatureshands onHandsOnipadreviewsMon, 05 Apr 2010 17:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Rebel, Rebel, How Could We Know? Canon T2i, We Love HD Video So]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/29/rebel-rebel-how-could-we-know-canon-t2i-we-love-hd-video-so/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/29/rebel-rebel-how-could-we-know-canon-t2i-we-love-hd-video-so/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/29/rebel-rebel-how-could-we-know-canon-t2i-we-love-hd-video-so/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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Canon's elegantly executed Digital Rebel T2i is one of those rare gadgets that inspire admiration and affection in a way usually reserved for humans. The T2i is a big upgrade from its predecessor, the Rebel T1i, which lost out to Nikon's D5000 when Switched recommended a beginner SLR (single-lens reflex) last summer. The new T2i incorporates a sensor nearly identical to Canon's popular 7D (a favorite camera around the Switched and Engadget offices), which means you're going to get rich colors, accurate exposure, good low-light performance and stunning video.

Continue reading Rebel, Rebel, How Could We Know? Canon T2i, We Love HD Video So

SwitchedRebel, Rebel, How Could We Know? Canon T2i, We Love HD Video So originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camerascanoncanon t2iCanonT2idslrdslr videoDslrVideofeatureshands onHandsOnreviewsslrt2itopMon, 29 Mar 2010 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search App Brings Drawing to Restaurant Search]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/24/yahoo-sketch-a-search-app-brings-drawing-to-restaurant-search/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/24/yahoo-sketch-a-search-app-brings-drawing-to-restaurant-search/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/24/yahoo-sketch-a-search-app-brings-drawing-to-restaurant-search/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yahoo! Wants You To Draw Your SearchYahoo!'s recently launched Sketch-a-Search is one of the most interesting apps we've seen in a while for the iPhone. The app lets you search for local restaurants by drawing a circle (or triangle, square or trapezoid) with your finger around the area in which you're trying to find a place to eat.

The app gathers your GPS coordinates on launch, and then you tap the "sketch" button in the middle to get started. Simply draw a shape around the area where you want find a restaurant, and from there, you can filter out results based on rating, atmosphere (such as "romantic" or "family friendly"), and cuisine.

In our brief hands-on, the app worked well enough, though the drawing was a little buggy at times (it sometimes lagged and didn't always follow our finger perfectly). Additionally, the filtering was limited by the lack of users applying tags for both atmosphere and cuisine in our trial neighborhood, West Brighton (on the north shore of Staten Island). Check out a quick hands on video after the break.

Continue reading Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search App Brings Drawing to Restaurant Search

SwitchedYahoo! Sketch-a-Search App Brings Drawing to Restaurant Search originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands onHandsOniphone appIphoneApprestaurantrestaurantssearchsketch-a-searchyahooyahoo sketch-a-searchYahooSketch-a-searchWed, 24 Mar 2010 07:20:00 EST<![CDATA[AIM Adds Facebook Chat and Twitter to its Service]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/11/aim-adds-facebook-chat/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/11/aim-adds-facebook-chat/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/11/aim-adds-facebook-chat/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hands On With The New AIM Beta and Integrated Facebook Chat
AOL, our parent company, has released a beta version of its once dominant AIM instant messaging program. While AIM has been toppled as the most popular IM service by both Yahoo! and Windows Live, it's aiming (get it?) to lure new users by integrating Facebook chat.

Now, in addition to compiling updates from Facebook, Twitter, and other social services in your "Lifestream," AIM will allow you to directly communicate with your Facebook friends. The edge over its competitors may be fleeting, though, as Facebook announced today that it has moved its chat system over to the open Jabber/XMPP protocol, which also powers Google Talk. This means that chatting with Facebook users in programs such as Pidgin, iChat, and Adium is possible.

We spent some time getting reacquainted with AIM in its new 7.2 form and found the Facebook integration seamless. The Lifestream feature remains a simple way to check Twitter or Facebook if you have a smaller number of friends, but we were bothered by its requirement that we allow it to post to our Wall.

Other irritations with the program (which caused us to ditch it in the first place) still remain. AIM still attempts to install the AIM toolbar, change your homepage, and hijack your search engine preferences. And, by default, it's set to launch the moment you start Windows.

Those who still use and like AIM will find plenty to like, but given some of the continuing annoyances, we don't see it winning many converts.

Check out the gallery below to see some of the new features in action.

Gallery: AIM Integrates Facebook Chat

SwitchedAIM Adds Facebook Chat and Twitter to its Service originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimaolfacebookhands onHandsOninstant messagingInstantMessagingtopThu, 11 Feb 2010 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Light Touch Pico Projector Creates Touchscreen Out of Anything]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/light-touch-pico-projector-creates-touchscreen-out-of-anything/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/light-touch-pico-projector-creates-touchscreen-out-of-anything/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/light-touch-pico-projector-creates-touchscreen-out-of-anything/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rumors of the Light Touch projection system have been in the pipeline for a little while, and we finally got to do a hands-on demo with the device here at CES. The basics: Light Touch converts any flat surface into a 10-inch screen, from tabletops to walls -- and it's interactive. The surprisingly bright, high-resolution image responds to touch, thanks to an infrared sensing system that tracks the user's finger movements with relatively rapid response.

Using a holographic laser projection (HLP) system, Light Touch displays images without scanning, resulting in a clearer picture. Since the company claims that the "image is always in focus," we picked it up, tilted it, and attempted to prove them wrong. But readers, LBO speaks the truth. Check out our hands on video after the break.

Continue reading Light Touch Pico Projector Creates Touchscreen Out of Anything

SwitchedLight Touch Pico Projector Creates Touchscreen Out of Anything originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onHandsOnlight touchLightTouchswitchedvideotopFri, 08 Jan 2010 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[iHome Shows Off New iPhone App-Equipped Docks]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/ihome-shows-off-new-iphone-app-equipped-docks/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/ihome-shows-off-new-iphone-app-equipped-docks/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/08/ihome-shows-off-new-iphone-app-equipped-docks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

iHome Demos Docks Integrated with iPhone App

When Apple launched the iPhone OS 3.0 back in June, one of the features that most thrilled us was the one that allowed apps to interact with specially designed accessories, like docks and blood sugar monitors. Sadly, in the months since, very few new devices have taken advantage of the feature -- especially widely available, consumer-oriented devices. That may change now that iHome, claiming to have received a direct challenge from Apple, has developed the 'iHome+Sleep' app and a pair of compatible alarm clock radios. Hopefully, the floodgates have been opened.

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SwitchediHome Shows Off New iPhone App-Equipped Docks originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alarm clockAlarmClockcesaudiohands onHandsOnia100ia5ihomeihome+sleeptopFri, 08 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-On: Palm Pixi at New York Fashion Week]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/14/hands-on-palm-pixi-at-new-york-fashion-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/14/hands-on-palm-pixi-at-new-york-fashion-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/14/hands-on-palm-pixi-at-new-york-fashion-week/#commentsFiled under:


For one week every six months, even the most backwards, style-un-savvy New Yorker turns into a bit of a fashion nut. New York Fashion Week takes over the fair city, sending flocks of twig-legged girls dashing down Broadway, trying to get into (or out of) shows. Resident fashion nerd Leila Brillson takes the whole thing seriously while the rest of the staff admires her unflagging commitment to prove nerds are indeed stylish. So when she texted from the shows "New Pixi is here! Let's play," we figured this would be a great time to sneak into the festivities and do what we do best: play with other people's technology. A hands-on gallery and review after the jump.

Gallery: Palm Pixi

Continue reading Hands-On: Palm Pixi at New York Fashion Week

SwitchedHands-On: Palm Pixi at New York Fashion Week originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fashion weekFashionWeekhands onHandsOnnew yorkNewYorkpalmpalm pixiPalmPixipixitopMon, 14 Sep 2009 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Unveils Front LCD-Screen and Wi-Fi Cameras]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/13/samsung-unveils-front-lcd-screen-and-wi-fi-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/13/samsung-unveils-front-lcd-screen-and-wi-fi-cameras/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/13/samsung-unveils-front-lcd-screen-and-wi-fi-cameras/#commentsFiled under:


Today in New York, Samsung announced three new touchscreen point-and-shoot cameras: the TL225, TL220, and CL65. While the CL65's network-connected capabilities are impressive (discussed below), the TL style's 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front of the camera seemed to be Samsung's biggest announcement.

Going after the social networking crew, Samsung has placed a tap-activated screen on the front of the TL220 ($299.99) and TL225 ($349.99) so that you can frame your self-portraits while holding the camera at arm's length. While it might seem like the seven-blade razor of the camera world, the front screen also displays a countdown for timed shots (instead of a flashing light) in hopes of getting blink-free group photos. In case you just can't keep your kid entertained and focused on the camera while snapping photos, the screen will also display an animated clown (or other downloadable images).

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SwitchedSamsung Unveils Front LCD-Screen and Wi-Fi Cameras originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewscl65handsonsamsungTL220TL225Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on With the Kyocera Neo E1100 Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/12/31/hands-on-with-the-kyocera-neo-e1100-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/12/31/hands-on-with-the-kyocera-neo-e1100-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/12/31/hands-on-with-the-kyocera-neo-e1100-phone/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The NEO E1100 Cellphone

What it is: The Neo E1100 is the newest value model phone from Kyocera, available from U.S. Cellular. Its set of features is excellent for its price point: 1.3 megapixel camera, speakerphone, Bluetooth, micro USB connector -- these are seldom seen together in one phone for under $30, especially one as stylish as the Neo with its sleek flip-phone design.

What We Like: There's no doubt about it, the Neo E1100 device brings a lot of style for a small amount of coin, proving that you don't have to spend hundreds for a cool phone. The svelte (1.6cm) reflective black body is subtly tapered and the reverse hinge design of the flip part of the phone is one of the sturdiest we've seen.

The physical features of the Neo will blow away those of you expecting a slimmed down RAZR style phone. The phone's front is divided by a thin blue OLED light strip ("light-pipe"), which also wraps around the camera and gives the phone a HAL 9000 vibe. The effect is nice enough when inactive, but incoming calls or texts fully illuminate the pipe, which breathes like the standby light on your MacBook in what is certainly the coolest light show we've ever seen in a phone. Incoming calls are revealed on the small LED screen on the phone's face, which is hidden in the glossy black finish. And we do mean hidden: it's camouflaged so well that you cannot see the info screen until it's illuminated.

Continue reading Hands-on With the Kyocera Neo E1100 Phone

SwitchedHands-on With the Kyocera Neo E1100 Phone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands onHandsOnkyoceraneoWed, 31 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Getting Dirty With Mio's 'Knight Rider' GPS]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/26/getting-dirty-with-mios-knight-rider-gps/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/26/getting-dirty-with-mios-knight-rider-gps/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/26/getting-dirty-with-mios-knight-rider-gps/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mio Knight Rider GPS

We may be a little overexcited about Mio's Knight Rider GPS unit, but we're not about to apologize for that. This is one beautiful union of K.I.T.T. and navigation that was meant to happen since the day LCDs and GPS chips first hung out. With that out of the way, we have some hands-on impressions.

The unit feels solid and small enough to be portable while the screen remains just big enough to be of use. A nice anti-glare coating looks to keep things visible during daylight hours. Yes, standard fare, but this can be a very apropos way to get to that date you've set up with that cutie you met on Hoffspace.

Peep the gallery at Engadget and don't miss the video after the break.

Continue reading Getting Dirty With Mio's 'Knight Rider' GPS

SwitchedGetting Dirty With Mio's 'Knight Rider' GPS originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpshands onHandsOnknight riderKnightRidermiosummernewstravelThu, 26 Jun 2008 15:01:00 EST