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[The Process: Michael Surtees Reconsiders the Weather (App)]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/14/the-process-michael-surtees-reconsiders-the-weather/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/14/the-process-michael-surtees-reconsiders-the-weather/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/14/the-process-michael-surtees-reconsiders-the-weather/#comments
 We're thrilled to announce a new video series that examines the modern creative process employed by designers, writers, typographers, artists and more. We wanted to explore how people work today, shuffling between sketching by hand and testing on tablets -- seamlessly moving between the digital and analog. In each episode, we'll give each subject a unique challenge, and explore how they approach the problem.

First up for The Process is Michael Surtees, SVD at design firm Behavior, known for its online work with BusinessWeek, The Onion and the National Geographic Channel. The principal writes for Design Notes about design, typography, news consumption and New York City, and you may even recognize his long-running #walkingtoworktoday photo project, which invites participants to tweet interesting photos (posted to Flickr) from their daily commutes.

As #walkingtoworktoday demonstrates, cell phones have become the cornerstones of our important daily interactions, communication and news updates; they deliver everything from work missives and personal texts to weather stats and breaking news (and the latest viral video). Surtees is especially interested in exploring these experiences, tracking data as it flows from Google Reader to the iPad -- or from one phone's Twitter app to another. Daily news and information has scattered to Web browsers, phones and tablets, and away from the comparatively structured print magazines and newspapers; today, no single app provides a window into everything.

Continue reading The Process: Michael Surtees Reconsiders the Weather (App)

SwitchedThe Process: Michael Surtees Reconsiders the Weather (App) originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designfeaturesmichael surteesMichaelSurteesswitchedvideotheprocesstopweather appweather appsWeatherAppWeatherAppsTue, 14 Dec 2010 13:50:00 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[Jim Campbell's 'Scattered Light', a Colossal Sculpture of Luminous Pixels]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/jim-campbells-scattered-light-colossal-sculpture-lightbulb-pixels/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/jim-campbells-scattered-light-colossal-sculpture-lightbulb-pixels/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/jim-campbells-scattered-light-colossal-sculpture-lightbulb-pixels/#commentsjim campbell
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"Most of these works -- if you pause them -- you can't tell what you're looking at," says artist Jim Campbell, as his newest installation flickers in the background. 'Scattered Light' is a 50-foot-long array on an 80-foot wide, 16-foot-high and 16-foot-deep structure supporting over 1,600 lightbulbs fitted with LEDs, which are programmed to display a low-resolution, moving image as individual pixels. Campbell has been playing with low resolution for several years now, experimenting with perception and the amount of information required to make an image recognizable in the human mind.

We had a chance to meet with Campbell at Madison Square Park in Manhattan, where three of his works recently opened to public view. 'Scattered Light' is the pièce de résistance, gently undulating in light from the center of the park. In our video interview after the break, we had a chance to walk inside the installation (which park patrons will not be able to do) as Campbell explained his concept, the execution and the tech behind this marvelous, three-dimensional field of light.

Continue reading Jim Campbell's 'Scattered Light', a Colossal Sculpture of Luminous Pixels

SwitchedJim Campbell's 'Scattered Light', a Colossal Sculpture of Luminous Pixels originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broken windowBrokenWindowdesignelectronic artElectronicArtfeaturesinstallationinterviewjim campbellJimCampbellledlightlight artLightArtlightbulbmadison square parkMadisonSquareParknew media artNewMediaArtscattered lightScatteredLightswitchedvideotopvideovoices in the subway stationVoicesInTheSubwayStationFri, 22 Oct 2010 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Jennifer Steinkamp, Digital Artist, Talks Animation and Abstraction]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/11/jennifer-steinkamp-digital-artist-talks-animation-and-abstract/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/11/jennifer-steinkamp-digital-artist-talks-animation-and-abstract/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/11/jennifer-steinkamp-digital-artist-talks-animation-and-abstract/#comments'premature' by jennifer steinkamp "Computers always want to be annoying," says Los Angeles-base artist Jennifer Steinkamp, as we discuss the installation of her current solo show in New York. She has ample reason to to worry about technology, given that her chosen medium -- 3-D animation -- is entirely computer based. Still, she takes the glitches in stride, as natural consequences of reliance on the digital. "It's just annoyances, like mosquito bites or something," she says. "Technology can always solve it."

We had a chance to speak with the 20-year veteran of 3-D art at the newly opened W New York - Downtown hotel, which served as a both a site-specific installation and a preview of her exhibition at Lehmann Maupin gallery. For the W, Steinkamp projected one iteration of her recent series 'Premature', an expanse of abstract, meat-textured tubes vibrating, slithering, and undulating across the 60-foot-wide façade of the Manhattan hotel. In conjunction with the kickoff of New York Fashion Week, the W event was co-hosted by designer Narciso Rodriguez, a "big fan" of Steinkamp's who has drawn inspiration from her work for his own. (Check out videos of the W installation and the Lehmann Maupin show after the break.)

Continue reading Jennifer Steinkamp, Digital Artist, Talks Animation and Abstraction

SwitchedJennifer Steinkamp, Digital Artist, Talks Animation and Abstraction originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-danimationartautodesk mayaAutodeskMayadesignfashion weekFashionWeekfeaturesinfocusinstallationinterviewjennifer steinkampJenniferSteinkamplehmann maupinLehmannMaupinmayanew york fashion weekNewYorkFashionWeekprojectionswitchedvideotopvideow hotelWHotelSat, 11 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Google's Nexus One Doomed to Obscurity? The Big Apple Thinks So]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/is-googles-nexus-one-doomed-to-obscurity-the-big-apple-thinks/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/is-googles-nexus-one-doomed-to-obscurity-the-big-apple-thinks/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/07/is-googles-nexus-one-doomed-to-obscurity-the-big-apple-thinks/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google Nexus One
When Google launched the Nexus One way back in January, the smartphone was supposed to be a serious contender against the iPhone, and was expected to serve as exemplar of the Android handset. By circumventing the carriers' brick-and-mortar stores, Google also hoped to usher in a new era in cell phone sales; however, it appears to have doomed itself to obscurity, instead. With no presence in AT&T or T-Mobile shops or websites, and no television marketing campaign to speak of, it seems the Nexus One has slipped under the radar of most. While a few people correctly answered that it was, in fact, "the Google phone," most guesses were, understandably, just shots in the dark.

Continue reading Is Google's Nexus One Doomed to Obscurity? The Big Apple Thinks So

SwitchedIs Google's Nexus One Doomed to Obscurity? The Big Apple Thinks So originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresgooglegoogle nexus oneGoogleNexusOnehtchtc nexus oneHtcNexusOneswitchedonthestreetsswitchedvideotopwebWed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Testing Times Square: 'What is Foursquare?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/30/testing-times-square-what-is-foursquare/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/30/testing-times-square-what-is-foursquare/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/30/testing-times-square-what-is-foursquare/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Foursquare check in
Quite frequently we hit the streets of New York City to ask random passersby if they can identify the latest gadget, app or Web site, but we don't think we've ever seen our subjects as stymied as they were when trying to identify Foursquare. Most simply shrugged their shoulders, and one poor person even thought we were giving them a math quiz. In the end, we were only able to find one urbanite who was able to tell us that Foursquare was a location-based social networking application. (You know, "checking in" to different locations?) Although, even then, he seemed to think that it was better for identifying targets for robbery than actually connecting with people.

Continue reading Testing Times Square: 'What is Foursquare?'

SwitchedTesting Times Square: 'What is Foursquare?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresFourSquarelocation-basedmososoonthestreetssocialnetworkingSwitched VideoswitchedonthestreetsSwitchedVideotopwebWed, 30 Jun 2010 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What is Android?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/23/switched-asks-what-is-android/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/23/switched-asks-what-is-android/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/23/switched-asks-what-is-android/#commentsFiled under:

Tech companies have the unbecoming habit of giving their newest gizmos misleadingly awesome names. Perhaps the most guilty party is Google, with its mobile operating system Android. While Android is perhaps one of the few viable competitors to Apple's iOS, which powers the iPhone, having a G-juiced smartphone in your pocket is not nearly as cool as having R2-D2 by your side. That being the case, we don't blame the passersby in New York's Times Square who couldn't pin down the 2010 meaning of "Android" (video below). Keep holding out, folks. We'll all have 'Jetsons'-style robo-maids any day now.

Continue reading Switched Asks, 'What is Android?'

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What is Android?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osAndroidOscellphonesfeaturesonthestreetsmartphonesswitchedonthestreetswitchedvideotopvideoWed, 23 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What is Farmville?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/16/switched-asks-what-is-farmville/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/16/switched-asks-what-is-farmville/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/16/switched-asks-what-is-farmville/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If, a year or two ago, you'd asked us what FarmVille was, we'd have said we were pretty sure that it was a small college town in southwest Indiana. We would, of course, have been wrong, but we sort of wish that we would've been right. 'FarmVille,' after all, has managed to dominate our Facebook feeds, telling us of our friends and family who trade cyber-cattle for cyber-corn, build e-barns and sell virtual tractors, endlessly and socially. There's something pretty weird about people, locked in their cubicles, fantasizing about backbreaking labor on a farm -- call it the predicament of the modern age. Fortunately, some are still ignorant of Zynga's Frankenstein, confusing it with "the place Superman grew up" (Smallville), or where milk is made (a dairy?), as our video below demonstrates. One thing is clear from our informal survey: We have no idea why the app is so popular, because no one admits to liking it, or has relegated it to "Aunt-territory" or the app "made by the dude in California who gets revenue the sleazy way."

Maybe, or let's hope anyway, our participants have been too busy tending to their real gardens to tend to worry about growing virtual greens.

Continue reading Switched Asks, 'What is Farmville?'

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What is Farmville?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvillefeaturesonthestreetssocialnetworkingswitchedonthestreetsswitchedvideotopvideozyngaWed, 16 Jun 2010 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What's a Pre?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/09/switched-asks-whats-a-pre/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/09/switched-asks-whats-a-pre/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/09/switched-asks-whats-a-pre/#commentsFiled under: ,

We hit the streets to see how effectively Palm is getting its WebOS-based Palm Pre out there into the world. Perhaps it's the fault of some horrific advertising campaigns (e.g., the creepy 'New Age meets Renaissance Fair' wench, those painfully unfunny Verizon spots), but Palm's next-generation smartphone didn't get much recognition on the streets. Here's hoping HP can make Palm into a real contender against Android and Apple.

Continue reading Switched Asks, 'What's a Pre?'

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What's a Pre?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresonthestreetspalmpreSwitched VideoswitchedonthestreetsSwitchedVideoTPOWed, 09 Jun 2010 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What Is Firefox?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/06/01/switched-asks-what-is-firefox/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/01/switched-asks-what-is-firefox/http://www.switched.com/2010/06/01/switched-asks-what-is-firefox/#commentsFiled under:

Not too long ago, we dropped by Times Square to test the crowd's knowledge of Web browsers. Surfin' the tubes has come a long way since the early days of Mosaic, and modern browsers can play games, movies and all types of other media. They've even left the constraints of the desktop to leap onto mobile devices. Although Mozilla Firefox offers countless improvements over that old standby Internet Explorer (and holds a nearly 46-percent market share), we couldn't always get a straight answer as to what the browser actually is. "An animal that created an Internet Explorer?" Yes, exactly!

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What Is Firefox?' originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfirefoxmozilla firefoxMozillaFirefoxonthestreetsswitchedonthestreetsswitchedvideotopvideoweb browserWebBrowserTue, 01 Jun 2010 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What Is a Blog?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/switched-asks-what-is-a-blog/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/switched-asks-what-is-a-blog/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/switched-asks-what-is-a-blog/#commentsFiled under: ,


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As bloggers, we were heartened to know that most of the people we asked in Times Square actually did know what a blog is. One man was quite fervently opposed to blogs, saying that he had never sought one out himself. (But we're willing to bet he's read one -- and now he's even being featured on one. Bam!) We'll just pretend that all of the negative comments about blogs were directed at those Blogger and Wordpress folk who prattle on about their daily meanderings, children and dreams. We, of course, are of a higher order. We are professionals.

More Switched Video

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What Is a Blog?' originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 May 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggingfeaturesonthestreetswitchedonthestreetsswitchedvideotopwhat is a blogWhatIsABlogTue, 25 May 2010 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Answers, 'What Is a Zune?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/new-york-answers-what-is-a-zune/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/new-york-answers-what-is-a-zune/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/19/new-york-answers-what-is-a-zune/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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We understand that Apple's brand-name recognition stretches from one hemisphere to the next, and that competitors face a nigh-impossible task of out-marketing the Cupertino giant. But, still, we expected at least a few people to get this one. Considering all the fanfare with which Microsoft released the Zune HD late last year, we'd have wagered that at least someone in the New York area would know what we were saying. Was it our pronunciation?

Continue reading New York Answers, 'What Is a Zune?'

SwitchedNew York Answers, 'What Is a Zune?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresmicrosoftmicrosoft zuneMicrosoftZuneswitchedonthestreetsswitchedvideotopwebwhat is a zuneWhatIsAZunezuneWed, 19 May 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vimeo's Blake Whitman Talks HD Video, DSLRs and Web Communities]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/06/vimeos-blake-whitman-talks-hd-video-dslrs-and-web-communities/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/06/vimeos-blake-whitman-talks-hd-video-dslrs-and-web-communities/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/06/vimeos-blake-whitman-talks-hd-video-dslrs-and-web-communities/#commentsFiled under: ,

Since its launch in 2004, the video-sharing site Vimeo has chosen a very different path from the YouTubes and Hulus of the world. Cleaner and calmer, Vimeo puts its focus on ease of use, creativity and community. We dropped by its headquarters in New York City to speak with Blake Whitman, Director of Community and Product, about the site and its role in nurturing the explosion of HD content on the Web.

While the comments on any given YouTube video tend to make us doubt the future of our species, Vimeo has nurtured a community of millions that is refreshingly positive about online video. Vimeo's introduction of HD, rare on the Web in 2007, helped to show that HD was viable, driving YouTube and others to follow suit. New HD-capable DSLRs like the Canon T2i, 7D, 5D Mark II and Nikon D3 are making it cheap and easy for enthusiasts to experiment with pro-quality video. Of course, the living room still remains to be conquered, but Blake confirms that Vimeo is working on it. As usual, expect trail-blazing from the site... and check out our interview after the break.

Continue reading Vimeo's Blake Whitman Talks HD Video, DSLRs and Web Communities

SwitchedVimeo's Blake Whitman Talks HD Video, DSLRs and Web Communities originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blake whitmanBlakeWhitmancanon 5d mark IIcanon 7dcanon t2iCanon5dMarkIiCanon7dCanonT2idslrfeaturesnikon d3NikonD3slrswitchedfocusswitchedvideovideovimeoTue, 06 Apr 2010 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[High Tech Toys in Babeland: Inside a Sex Shop for the 21st Century]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/30/high-tech-toys-in-babeland-inside-a-sex-shop-for-the-21st-centu/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/30/high-tech-toys-in-babeland-inside-a-sex-shop-for-the-21st-centu/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/30/high-tech-toys-in-babeland-inside-a-sex-shop-for-the-21st-centu/#commentsFiled under:

Spending a morning in Babeland, one of the country's most forward-thinking, pro-sex (and pro-women) toy shops, is one of those moments that simply makes us love our jobs. Sure, we got to squeal at the Skweel, and get our finger, er, caressed by the Tenga Flip (better than, say, a board meeting, we think), but we also saw firsthand what the writers at Switched discuss every day: how technology, via its ability to improve our quality of life, can bring people together.

Pamela Doan, a Babeland rep and spokesperson, took us around the SoHo boutique, demonstrating the tech-y, sexy gadgets she had in stock. Aside from making our hearts race, she also drove home the fact that, while technology provides ample reason for the curious to explore on their own, the lifelike, female-conscious and often-beautiful objects all serve to make both men and women comfortable with their own bodies. Sure, nothing was being offered in 3-D (yet), but advanced silicone, electronics with memory-capacity and iPod accessories really highlighted why it's so great to live in the 21st century. Technology is, after all, meant to make us feel good.

Continue reading High Tech Toys in Babeland: Inside a Sex Shop for the 21st Century

SwitchedHigh Tech Toys in Babeland: Inside a Sex Shop for the 21st Century originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babelandfeaturessexsex toysSexToysswitchedvideoTue, 30 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Video: Peter Molyneux and Gaming From (and for) the Heart]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/17/switched-video-peter-molyneux-and-gaming-from-and-for-the-hea/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/17/switched-video-peter-molyneux-and-gaming-from-and-for-the-hea/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/17/switched-video-peter-molyneux-and-gaming-from-and-for-the-hea/#commentsFiled under: ,

Peter Molyneux

Fresh off the plane from the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, Peter Molyneux sat down, er, took a walk with Switched at South by Southwest in Austin to chat about the roles of emotion, morality, and a sense of touch in gaming. With news of 'Fable 3,' the latest installment of his adventure-based RPG series, Molyneux was brimming with thoughts on the PlayStation Move, social gaming, and how his influence has affected the way in which designers create choice-based games.

For those living under a gaming rock for the past 15 years, Molyneux founded both Bullfrog Studios and Lionhead, and helmed groundbreaking games like 'Populous,' 'Black and White' and 'Dungeon Keeper.' Arguably the inventor of many genres (like the God game, and morality-based game), Molyneux is usually mentioned as a part of the great triad including Sid Meier and Will Wright -- part of the generation that revolutionized how gamers interact with games.

Continue reading Switched Video: Peter Molyneux and Gaming From (and for) the Heart

SwitchedSwitched Video: Peter Molyneux and Gaming From (and for) the Heart originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurespeter molyneuxPeterMolyneuxswitchedvideosxswsxsw2010the emotion engineTheEmotionEnginetopWed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NY Fashion Week: How Alexander Wang Streams Live From the Runway]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/ny-fashion-week-how-alexander-wang-streams-live-from-the-runway/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/ny-fashion-week-how-alexander-wang-streams-live-from-the-runway/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/ny-fashion-week-how-alexander-wang-streams-live-from-the-runway/#commentsFiled under:

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Fashion, an industry known for its insider-filled snobbery, resistance to change and frankly undemocratic practices, has finally joined the 21st century. Last year, when the average person thought Twitter was the sound of a small bird, the only people to get a glimpse of New York's fashion shows were the freezing (or roasting, depending on the season) editors camped outside of them. The rest of the not-so-in-the-know crowd had to wait for pictures to be posted and reviews to be written, and, even then, details of the actual events were scarce.

Since then, aside from tech aficionados at CES, no industry has seemed to embrace micro-blogging more willingly than fashion -- possibly because no industry likes to brag as much. But reading quips and tweets from those at the show is one thing; seeing the whole event, moments after the last model exits the runway, is an entirely new world. Recently deceased visionary Alexander McQueen live-streamed his show last season, letting viewers worldwide see his collection instantly. Dutch duo Viktor and Rolf presented their Spring '09 collection purely digitally to an invite-only crowd. Yet, these forward-thinking fashion-makers were alone -- until recently.

Continue reading NY Fashion Week: How Alexander Wang Streams Live From the Runway

SwitchedNY Fashion Week: How Alexander Wang Streams Live From the Runway originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander wangAlexanderWangfashion weekFashionWeekfeaturesstreamingswitched videoSwitchedVideotopThu, 18 Feb 2010 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[SMALLab Brings Motion-Capture Gaming to the Classroom]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/20/smallab-brings-motion-capture-gaming-to-the-classroom/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/20/smallab-brings-motion-capture-gaming-to-the-classroom/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/20/smallab-brings-motion-capture-gaming-to-the-classroom/#commentsFiled under:

We dropped by New York City's Quest 2 Learn school to check out Parsons the New School for Design's SMALLab-New York initiative. Institute of Play director and Parsons professor Katie Salen, known for her animation work in Richard Linklater's 'Waking Life,' is the project's capable captain, and we also spoke with Mike Edwards, co-instructor of Parsons' Exploding SMALLab course.

Similar to special effects shops for film and television, the Situated Multimedia Art Learning Lab (SMALLab) combines surround sound audio with projected video -- all responding in real time to players' actions. The interactive learning program was originally designed by Arizona State University's David Birchfield. Students, equipped with wireless controllers, play games while being tracked in real-time 3-D via 12 infrared sensors.

Founded on the idea that learning doesn't have to follow the traditional "four walls with desks" setup, the SMALLab game designers (students in Parsons' MFA Design + Technology program) are proving that collaborating via mixed media can be just as educational as using textbooks, chalkboards, and school desks.

Continue reading SMALLab Brings Motion-Capture Gaming to the Classroom

SwitchedSMALLab Brings Motion-Capture Gaming to the Classroom originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david birchfieldDavidBirchfieldfeatureskatie salenKatieSalenparsons the new school for designParsonsTheNewSchoolForDesignsmall labsmallabSmallLabswitchedvideotopWed, 20 Jan 2010 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Jeremy 'Stars' in 'The Great Porn Debate']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/12/ron-jeremy-stars-in-the-great-porn-debate/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/12/ron-jeremy-stars-in-the-great-porn-debate/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/12/ron-jeremy-stars-in-the-great-porn-debate/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We weren't surprised to see Ron Jeremy in Vegas -- after all, the Adult Entertainment Expo was just down the road -- but we were taken aback to find him and his massive... personality on the CES floor. Matched against emo-haired "porn pastor" Craig Gross, Jeremy entered into The Great Porn Debate to discuss the role of skin flicks in society and the necessity of Internet filters for preventing kids' access to adult content. In conjunction with InternetSafety.com, Jeremy and Gross hashed out their differing opinions of porn, but agreed that little ones should be kept far away from the naughty stuff.

Continue reading Ron Jeremy 'Stars' in 'The Great Porn Debate'

SwitchedRon Jeremy 'Stars' in 'The Great Porn Debate' originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craig grossCraigGrossfeaturesinternetsafetyron jeremyRonJeremySwitchedVideothe great porn debateTheGreatPornDebatetopTue, 12 Jan 2010 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[We Ask, CES Tells: 'What's the Worst of the Year?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/we-ask-ces-tells-whats-the-worst-of-the-year/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/we-ask-ces-tells-whats-the-worst-of-the-year/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/we-ask-ces-tells-whats-the-worst-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

Plowing through booth after booth in search of the best new gadgets, apps, and tech at CES always results in finding a few clunkers. We've got our list (coming soon), of course, but we decided to take the question of the worst to the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Frequently mentioned was 3-D TV, which seems to be splitting attendees; many listed it as a product they'd be buying in the year ahead, while many more panned it as a big tech failure for 2010.

Continue reading We Ask, CES Tells: 'What's the Worst of the Year?'

SwitchedWe Ask, CES Tells: 'What's the Worst of the Year?' originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>switchedvideotopSun, 10 Jan 2010 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Great CES Swindle: Five Years of Flaunting and Failing 6]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-6/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-6/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-6/#commentsFiled under: ,

2009: The Year of Getting Small

It is the unwritten destiny of all consumer electronics to be as small and convergent as possible. Despite the economy being soundly in the crapper, engineers decided to pursue that goal with a fervor, costs be damned.
  • Fulfilling the dream that apparently no one ever really cared to dream, a host of companies pumped out unbelievably small Pico and Micro and Mini video projectors. They're totally amazing, yet seem to have fallen prey to one fatal flaw: why use a projector that produces a TV-size image and requires a pitch black room, when a laptop or TV works just fine in any lighting? We love that these exist, but we also continue to strain our brains figuring out what possible circumstance would require their use.
  • Throwing caution and good sense to the wind, Sony unveiled the gorgeously styled $1,200 VAIO P, otherwise known as the netbook that didn't get the memo about being a low-cost alternative to pricey, full-size laptops.
  • While, by all accounts, it was pretty well made, LG's $1,000 watch phone joined the Pico projectors as gadget-porn with no real-world utility. And thus no future.
  • It would be an exaggeration to call the Palm Pre a failure. To the contrary, it's a pretty great product, and a million or so have been sold. Still, the hype that accompanied the phone was. If we may quote Palm's hyperbolic investor/hype man Roger McNamee: "June 29, 2009 is the two-year anniversary of the first shipment of the iPhone. Not one of those people will still be using an iPhone a month later." Ahem. You can pick your own reasons that Pre sales haven't been brisker, but we're pretty sure that god-awful ad campaign with the pasty Renaissance Faire chick hasn't helped any.

SwitchedThe Great CES Swindle: Five Years of Flaunting and Failing 6 originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>switchedvideoSun, 10 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Great CES Swindle: Five Years of Flaunting and Failing 4]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-4/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-4/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/the-great-ces-swindle-five-years-of-flaunting-and-failing-4/#commentsFiled under: ,

2007: The Year of Cloudy Vistas and Unforeseen Gamechangers


It's fitting that 2007, when the stock market was soaring to new highs, when hubris and irrational exuberance were the national mood, was also the year that produced some of the most spectacular fails in tech history.
  • Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, Palm, and the rest of the phone makers blissfully showed off their latest wares on a Monday, yet everything came to a screeching halt early Tuesday when Apple revealed the 1st-gen iPhone. One can only imagine the soiling of pants that occurred as those CEOs quickly realized that their R&D was a few years behind, and that they were stuck selling billions of dollars worth of dinosaur bones.
  • In Chapter 2 of the already painful battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD, LG announced a hybrid player that worked with either format. Warner Bros announced a hybrid disc with versions of movies in both formats. It would come to be the technological equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping chest wound.
  • The comically delayed Windows Vista was officially demoed to lukewarm praise and a lot of unfavorable comparisons to Apple's OS X. To put it charitably, it was not well received by critics, consumers, or businesses (or PCs for that matter). Sensibly, Microsoft put it out to pasture in 2009. To its credit, however, Vista's sheer awfulness did almost certainly extend XP's lifespan. Give thanks where it's due.

SwitchedThe Great CES Swindle: Five Years of Flaunting and Failing 4 originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>switchedvideoSun, 10 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CES Answers 'What Product Will You Actually Buy?']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/ces-answers-what-product-will-you-actually-buy/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/ces-answers-what-product-will-you-actually-buy/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/ces-answers-what-product-will-you-actually-buy/#commentsFiled under: ,


CES whips journalists, exhibitors, and gadget fans into a frenzy every January, and it's easy to lose sight of the near future with all the new product announcements. Yes, in only a couple weeks we, and our technologically-savvy brethren, will be playing tech support for all the new products coming out. For those that have gotten a first look at the year's newest gadgets here in Vegas, we ask 'What product will you actually buy?'

Continue reading CES Answers 'What Product Will You Actually Buy?'

SwitchedCES Answers 'What Product Will You Actually Buy?' originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>switchedvideoSun, 10 Jan 2010 11:23:00 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[Does Vegas Buy the 3-D TV Hype?]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/does-vegas-buy-the-3d-tv-hype/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/does-vegas-buy-the-3d-tv-hype/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/does-vegas-buy-the-3d-tv-hype/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Timed barely a month after the release of James Cameron's 3-D behemoth 'Avatar,' CES picked a great time to display the latest and greatest 3-D TV technologies. We've seen some impressive setups so far, but we took to the sidewalks of Vegas to poll the public. Despite having to overcome the clunky glasses, the high costs (during a recession, no less), and the label of gimmick, 3-D TV didn't draw skepticism from everyone on the streets. Check out the responses after the break!

Continue reading Does Vegas Buy the 3-D TV Hype?

SwitchedDoes Vegas Buy the 3-D TV Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d tv3dTvceshometheaterswitchedvideotopThu, 07 Jan 2010 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Polaroid Hires Her, Monster Endorses Her, But We Just Love Lady Gaga]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/polaroid-hires-her-monster-endorses-her-but-we-just-love-lady/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/polaroid-hires-her-monster-endorses-her-but-we-just-love-lady/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/polaroid-hires-her-monster-endorses-her-but-we-just-love-lady/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

She could team up with any industry in the world, but songstress and superstar Lady Gaga has a taste for tech. "Pokerface" debuted with her Heartbeats headphones, and a Wii even appeared in "Bad Romance." But yesterday, Polaroid announced that the platinum provocateur will be its new creative director, shifting parts of the brand back to the instant film development that made it famous.

So, it isn't a bad day at a gadget show when a reporter gets to stalk Lady Gaga. The Lady participated in a double-whammy announcement, securing her place as the new diva of electronics (sorry, Bill Gates). At Polaroid's press conference, the team took pains to convey that this isn't an endorsement; Gaga is part of the company.

The role is rather unclear, but Gaga turned to the audience to explain that this wasn't branding -- that there would be no cameras emblazoned with her face (or, as it were at CES, her picture hair hat made from a bright white weave). Instead, she is hoping to redefine the brand, which stopped making instant film in 2008, much to the singer's chagrin. Whatever she ends up doing, personal presentation is Gaga's trademark, so helping Polaroid enter the new decade as a retro-chic brand (a bit like the '70s camera Holga, which got a second life thanks to its gritty, artistically unreliable depictions) might be just the gig for her.

Continue reading Polaroid Hires Her, Monster Endorses Her, But We Just Love Lady Gaga

SwitchedPolaroid Hires Her, Monster Endorses Her, But We Just Love Lady Gaga originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementdr dreDrDreholgalady gagaLadyGagamonsterpolaroidproject redProjectRedswitchedvideotopThu, 07 Jan 2010 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched on the Streets: What Does 'CES' Mean?]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/switched-on-the-streets-what-does-ces-mean/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/switched-on-the-streets-what-does-ces-mean/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/switched-on-the-streets-what-does-ces-mean/#commentsFiled under: ,

No, we're not talking about what the yearly Consumer Electronics Show implies about a potentially unhealthy cultural obsession with all things geek or even what it does to the blood pressure and stomach linings among the Switched team. We hit the Las Vegas strip to see if local Las Vegas-ites and visitors know about the year's biggest consumer tech show (regularly packed with over 100,000 over-caffeinated journalists, exhibitors, and hardcore USB fans) going on just a few blocks away. How's everyone fare? Well, much better than we expected, so check out the video after the break!

Continue reading Switched on the Streets: What Does 'CES' Mean?

SwitchedSwitched on the Streets: What Does 'CES' Mean? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumer electronics showConsumerElectronicsShowswitchedvideotopvideoThu, 07 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[CES Unveiled Video: Sneak Peek at the Year's Geekiest Week]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/ces-unveiled-video-sneak-peek-at-the-years-geekiest-week/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/ces-unveiled-video-sneak-peek-at-the-years-geekiest-week/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/ces-unveiled-video-sneak-peek-at-the-years-geekiest-week/#commentsFiled under:


Our camera crew tagged along last night at CES Unveiled, and we got some hands-on time with some of the coolest new gadgets coming out of Vegas. Check out the video after the break for a preview of what to expect once the show kicks into full gear tomorrow.

Continue reading CES Unveiled Video: Sneak Peek at the Year's Geekiest Week

SwitchedCES Unveiled Video: Sneak Peek at the Year's Geekiest Week originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces unveiledCesUnveiledswitchedvideotopWed, 06 Jan 2010 19:23:00 EST<![CDATA[David Gray Talks iPhones, Downloading, and the Music Industry's Failures]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/05/david-gray-talks-iphones-downloading-and-the-music-industrys/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/05/david-gray-talks-iphones-downloading-and-the-music-industrys/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/05/david-gray-talks-iphones-downloading-and-the-music-industrys/#commentsFiled under: , ,

English singer-songwriter David Gray sat down with us to talk tech. Though he's made the giant leap into modernity by using an iPhone, he's only recently started downloading music. Sometimes the uninitiated often have the clearest perspectives, and all the downloading led to an epiphany: "you can get any piece of music, any time, anywhere." He goes on to rail a bit on the music industry's failed attempts to reinvent the CD over and over.

One of Gray's favorite apps is FourTrack, a music recording app he uses for taking down musical ideas. Check out the video after the break!

Continue reading David Gray Talks iPhones, Downloading, and the Music Industry's Failures

SwitchedDavid Gray Talks iPhones, Downloading, and the Music Industry's Failures originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david grayDavidGrayfeaturesswitched questionnaireSwitchedQuestionnaireswitchedvideotopvideoTue, 05 Jan 2010 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Camera Pro Chase Jarvis Preaches iPhone Photography]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/18/chase-jarvis-best-camera/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/18/chase-jarvis-best-camera/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/18/chase-jarvis-best-camera/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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Our culture is more saturated with images than ever, but we're also more involved in creating and spreading those pictures through easily available technology and the Web. Cameraphones -- the standard phone type now, rather than the exception -- are plugged straight into the Web, enabling uploads in just a few clicks. Wi-Fi storage cards, as photographer Stephen Ferry explains, are shattering even that final gap in the "immediacy circuit." In other words, photos can be spread worldwide milliseconds after the shutter is pressed, an unbelievable process even 10 years ago.

We walked New York's High Line with pro photographer Chase Jarvis, known for his empowering affirmation that the best camera is the one that's with you. These days, it's far more likely to be your phone's camera than a traditional shooter, and Jarvis suggests not sweating the lower quality sensor and lens. Sure, having a high-end SLR would be great, but what's more important, he says, is capturing the moment, be it a home run at a little league game or the way light is reflecting on a window. To that end, he's created Best Camera, an iPhone app that lets you shoot, apply multiple filters and effects, and share via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and the Best Camera photography community. Check out Jarvis's discussion of mobile photography, tips for shooting, and the app in the video after the break. We've also included some of his iPhone shots in a gallery to give you some ideas to get started.

Continue reading Video: Camera Pro Chase Jarvis Preaches iPhone Photography

SwitchedVideo: Camera Pro Chase Jarvis Preaches iPhone Photography originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best cameraBestCameraChase JarvischasejarvisfeaturesphotographyswitchedhandsonswitchedvideotopFri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[We Poll the Populace: 'What is a Poke?']]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/16/we-poll-the-populace-what-is-a-poke/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/16/we-poll-the-populace-what-is-a-poke/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/16/we-poll-the-populace-what-is-a-poke/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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In the cold, dark days pre-Facebook (BFB, as we say in these parts), a "poke" was a polite way a nurse described the feeling of a shot to a patient, or an annoying thing siblings did to each other in the backseat of a car. When we signed up for the Web wonderland that is The Book, there were several options underneath a person's profile: "Message This Person", "Report This Person", "Add This Person as a Friend," and "Poke This Person." When our parents logged on, they frantically called us, demanding to know what sort of sick world we encouraged them into. "What was a 'poke?'" They begged, and is it bad that they did it to Uncle Artie?

What we told them: A poke is not much, actually. A friendly way of saying hi, an online method of flirting, or even a prelude to a threat. The problem with pokes is that, five years after Facebook launched, we don't know the proper response. A poke back, and then back again, threatening to evolve into a never-ending poke war? Ignore it and let it fester on our home page? Delete the poke and get on with our life? The best advice is, just confront it head on, and send a message, "Hey, (no) thanks for the poke." We have complicated thoughts on the complex matter, so we took to the streets to see if the New York public could more adequately tell us what exactly the elusive poke was. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading We Poll the Populace: 'What is a Poke?'

SwitchedWe Poll the Populace: 'What is a Poke?' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfacebook pokeFacebookPokefeaturespokeswitchedvideotopvideoWed, 16 Dec 2009 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA['What is Google Wave?' Stumps the Streets]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/02/what-is-google-wave-stumps-the-streets/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/02/what-is-google-wave-stumps-the-streets/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/02/what-is-google-wave-stumps-the-streets/#commentsFiled under: ,

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The days of extreme hype preceding the release of Google Wave invites were torture for geeks like us. Everyone wanted access to what was being touted as the next generation Google product, sure to make e-mail, tweeting, and face to face communication ancient history on its release. The Wave invitation was like a prom date: desired, a sign of acceptance, and the hardest thing to get in town. Yet, the adrenaline rush subsided after the invite hit our inboxes. We were left staring at our screens wondering how exactly we were supposed to be using it. We tried group chat and creating documents, but were left scratching our heads. If we, the keepers of geekdom, were this flummoxed, how would the average, non-pencil-pushing Web user fare?

We have faith in the users out there, after local and visiting New Yorkers talked Twitter, guessed on SMS, and pondered over flickr. So feeling adventurous, we brought up the Wave, hoping someone had answers we didn't. See how well we all did after the jump.

Continue reading 'What is Google Wave?' Stumps the Streets

Switched'What is Google Wave?' Stumps the Streets originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresgooglegoogle waveGoogleWaveswitchedvideotopvideoWed, 02 Dec 2009 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched Asks, 'What is an SMS?' Save My Soul? Send Me Something!]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/25/switched-asks-what-is-an-sms-save-my-soul-send-me-something/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/25/switched-asks-what-is-an-sms-save-my-soul-send-me-something/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/25/switched-asks-what-is-an-sms-save-my-soul-send-me-something/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In our quest to discover just how nerdy we are, we continue to head to New York's Times Square to ask the crowd to define the terms we use at Switched every day. Most flunked on Flickr but many could talk about Twitter, so we kept the faith that, just because we knew what a "tweet" was doesn't make us hopeless nerds.

Our next question tested our subjects' attention to detail. Most of the people we spoke with guessed that SMS messaging is colloquially known as texting. Yet, when asked to explain the acronym, the answers ranged from educated guesses (we would have thought "standard" was in there, too) to slightly perverted (sir, we believe that's "S and M" you are thinking of), to downright funny. The answer, for the record, is a "short message service," but we think we'd also prefer "Save the Mothership" more.

Continue reading Switched Asks, 'What is an SMS?' Save My Soul? Send Me Something!

SwitchedSwitched Asks, 'What is an SMS?' Save My Soul? Send Me Something! originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuressmsswitchedvideotopvoxpopWed, 25 Nov 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Kidrobot Founder Talks Butts, Bunnies, and His Empire of Vinyl Art]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/kidrobot-founder-talks-butts-bunnies-and-his-empire-of-vinyl-a/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/kidrobot-founder-talks-butts-bunnies-and-his-empire-of-vinyl-a/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/kidrobot-founder-talks-butts-bunnies-and-his-empire-of-vinyl-a/#commentsFiled under:


Paul Budnitz has amazingly sent young adults scrambling after collectible vinyl figures as if they were children after toys. And toys, in essence, those figures are, but not in the child-friendly sense of the word. (In fact, Budnitz points out that his company's products often come armed with cigarettes and machine guns.) Kidrobot, which Budnitz conceived while collecting figurines during a stay in China, is famous for its small and affordable art pieces designed by underground and mainstream artists, graffiti writers, and musicians.

What started as a pastime has become an international phenomenon; collectors camp out to get limited-edition Kidrobot figures, and people like Karl Lagerfeld and Matt Groening have gotten in on the design action. Kidrobot crosses cultures, claiming a strong following among comic book readers, alternative rock fans, hip-hop stars, and even us gadget nerds (who have the colorful creations brightening up our cubicles). And that's precisely what Budnitz set out to do: to give young (but not too young) individuals a way of "collecting art" without breaking the bank, and to brighten their lives with beautiful, hilarious, or just outright interesting art objects.

Continue reading Kidrobot Founder Talks Butts, Bunnies, and His Empire of Vinyl Art

SwitchedKidrobot Founder Talks Butts, Bunnies, and His Empire of Vinyl Art originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureskidrobotswitchedvideotopvideoFri, 20 Nov 2009 12:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Love for Our Tweeps: People Answer 'What Is Twitter?']]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/love-for-our-tweeps-people-answer-what-is-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/love-for-our-tweeps-people-answer-what-is-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/love-for-our-tweeps-people-answer-what-is-twitter/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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Last week, we took our cameras to the streets and inadvertently stumped roughly half the people when we asked, "What is Flickr?" This time, we decided to try our luck by inquiring about Twitter, and, for the most part, everyone had an inkling as to the micro-blogging powerhouse's raison d'être.

Since people are now apparently tweeting 27 million times a day, this should come as no surprise. Not only do we chronicle our outrage over a contentious election via tweets, the Twiteratti have even taken to academic discourse. A zeitgeist has been ignited by 140-character streams of culture.

So what answer most aptly captured the Twitter Experience? "Like, if someone's going to the bathroom, you can know that...I guess that's when they tweet." Precisely.

Continue reading Love for Our Tweeps: People Answer 'What Is Twitter?'

SwitchedLove for Our Tweeps: People Answer 'What Is Twitter?' originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresswitchedvideotwittervox popVoxPopSat, 14 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA['What Is Flickr?' Question Flummoxes Folks on the Street]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/what-is-flickr-question-flummoxes-folks-on-the-street/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/what-is-flickr-question-flummoxes-folks-on-the-street/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/what-is-flickr-question-flummoxes-folks-on-the-street/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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We'll admit that, as tech journalists, we live in a bit of a self-imposed bubble when it comes to Internet goings-on. ("What do you mean, 'You've never heard of a meme?' ") So we decided to take our cameras to the streets of New York and descend upon the less compulsively-geeky masses to ask, "What is Flickr?"

Though the image-sharing behemoth Flickr -- now millions of users strong -- celebrated its 4 billionth photo upload last month, we apparently confused a fair-sized cross-section of people walking through Times Square. But all was not lost: despite the fact that some couldn't tell us "what the Flickr is," we mercifully found some of our own ilk, from teens to more mature passerbys, to legitimize our inherently techy career focus. (Mom, Dad, we're doing powerful important work, here.)


Continue reading 'What Is Flickr?' Question Flummoxes Folks on the Street

Switched'What Is Flickr?' Question Flummoxes Folks on the Street originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresflickrswitchedvideotopvox popVoxPopFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Comedian Frank Caliendo Does 'Street Fighter' Impressions]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


You may know him primarily for his work as John Madden, Andy Rooney, or one of a hundred other well-known celebrities, but master impressionist and comedian Frank Caliendo recently shed those facades for a rare moment of (somewhat) serious gadget and video games talk. The man of infinite voices told us (in more than one voice, including those of 'Street Fighter' characters) that he juggles his gadgets and games as easily as he does his multiple personalities. In an ironic iTunes twist, he tells us that even he is not immune to being duped by impostors -- well, imposter downloads, at least. Caliendo will be performing his live show in Las Vegas through December 1, but if you happen to see the act and run into him afterward, you might want to think twice before asking him to leave you a funny outgoing voicemail message. We had to learn the hard way.

Continue reading Comedian Frank Caliendo Does 'Street Fighter' Impressions

SwitchedComedian Frank Caliendo Does 'Street Fighter' Impressions originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comedyfeaturesfunnyswitchedquestionnaireswitchedvideotopFri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nooka Founder Matthew Waldman Talks Watch Design]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/nooka-founder-matthew-waldman-talks-watch-design/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/nooka-founder-matthew-waldman-talks-watch-design/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/nooka-founder-matthew-waldman-talks-watch-design/#commentsFiled under: ,

Back in the late '90s, when brand designer and specialist Matthew Waldman waited for a client, he passed his time like anyone, looking at the clock. Waldman, who has always been fascinated by object meaning and form, was struck by the strangeness of the dial. The clock make-up didn't seem natural; minute and hour hands wouldn't make sense to anyone who didn't know how to tell conventional time.

So taking his talent for branding and design, Waldman in 1997 sketched a square clockface, which used fractions and bars to indicate time in, what he dubs, "an intuitive interface to tell time." First he took his idea, along with the retro and sci-fi imbued approach, to Seiko, which licensed his designs. There, he named his project 'Nooka', an ambiguously ethnic name that has Waldman's modus operandi ("new") within the word itself. Setting out on his own, Waldman founded Nooka in 2005, which in just four years has became known as a manufacturer of futuristic, mostly digital, rubberized and mesh alternatives to traditional watches.

Today, Nooka's Manhattan offices are bustling, filled with collaborations that teamed the brand up with everyone from graffiti artists and fashion labels to musicians and Sponge Bob, and Waldman himself has branched out with high design wallets, toys, and even a fragrance. The location is like a toyshop from the future, with colorful vinyl figures and taped, cutout collages on the wall as inspiration. Sitting down to discuss his projects with Switched, Waldman emphasized that infusing technology with design is a great way to rethink anything mundane, not just watches, but the digital devices lent themselves to his forward-thinking tinkering. And to that, we say, it's about time. nooka.com

Continue reading Nooka Founder Matthew Waldman Talks Watch Design

SwitchedNooka Founder Matthew Waldman Talks Watch Design originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesdesignfashionfeaturesnookastyleswitchedvideotopwatchesWed, 14 Oct 2009 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Finger Piano Share: Play Real Pianos From Your iPhone, Remotely]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/11/finger-piano-share-remotely-play-real-pianos-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/11/finger-piano-share-remotely-play-real-pianos-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/11/finger-piano-share-remotely-play-real-pianos-from-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The iPhone increasing lets you do many things, but playing a real piano in real time so far hasn't been one of them -- at least until this past week at CEATEC, the annual consumer electronics show held in Tokyo, Japan, which we were fortunate enough to attend. On display at the Yamaha booth was one of the more impressive iPhone apps we've seen to date: Called Finger Piano Share, since it lets up to 10 people remotely play a real piano from their iPhones via Wi-Fi (the piano must be of the MIDI-enabled Disklavier variety, of course).

You'll see a bit of what the app looks like in the above video. You tap a virtual key on your iPhone screen, and the real key plays on the piano. Finger Piano Share lets you play music of your own creation, improvise along with other folks simultaneously for some kind of abstract jam session, or play pre-programmed tunes by following onscreen prompts, a la 'Rock Band.'

Continue reading Finger Piano Share: Play Real Pianos From Your iPhone, Remotely

SwitchedFinger Piano Share: Play Real Pianos From Your iPhone, Remotely originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstoreaugmented realityaugmentedrealityceatecceatec2009disklavierfeaturesfingerpianoshareiphoneappsjapanmobileappsmusicpianoswitchedvideotopyamahaSun, 11 Oct 2009 23:18:00 EST<![CDATA[What's Big in Japan? Eyeball iPhone Remotes, 3-D TVs and Smart Cams]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've spent the past week here in Tokyo taking a look at some of the latest gadgets on display at CEATEC, the annual Japanese Consumer Electronics Show. It's a great place to see everything from cutting-edge TV technologies that'll end up stateside next year to stylish mobile phones that'll (sadly) never find their way out of Japan.

And then there's the oddball stuff that probably shouldn't be let out of the convention center, like the iPhone you control with your eyeball, which you'll see in the above video. Yes, it's weird, but it's one of the reasons we keep coming back every year, even braving killer typhoons to get to the convention center. Check out the clip to see what else blew us away this year.

Continue reading What's Big in Japan? Eyeball iPhone Remotes, 3-D TVs and Smart Cams

SwitchedWhat's Big in Japan? Eyeball iPhone Remotes, 3-D TVs and Smart Cams originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biginjapanceatecceatec2009eventsfeaturesjapanswitchedvideotopFri, 09 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[If the Nintendo DS and a Laptop Had a Kid, It Would Look Like This...]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/if-the-nintendo-ds-and-a-laptop-had-a-kid-it-would-look-like-th/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/if-the-nintendo-ds-and-a-laptop-had-a-kid-it-would-look-like-th/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/if-the-nintendo-ds-and-a-laptop-had-a-kid-it-would-look-like-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If the Nintendo DS and a random laptop hooked up, the Sharp Mebius would be their love child. The unique-looking netbook features two different LCD screens, the main one being 10.1-inches, and the second being 4-inches and doubling as a visually-enabled trackpad-cum-touchscreen. The 'trackpad' screen is the world's first optical sensor LCD, which essentially means it stays bright and can handle more than two fingers to perform functions (take that, iPhone!). This sensor-enabled trackpad can be used to control the laptop (zoom in on docs, for example), edit photos, play music, crunch numbers (with a touch-sensitive calculator), flip through e-books, and more.

The Mebius came out back in May in Japan, but we were so impressed with it in person here at Tokyo's annual CEATEC consumer electronics show that we had to take a closer look, which you'll see in the above video. By the way, the Mebius is available at Japanese import site Dynamism for $999, complete with English-language Windows (and free tech support).

Continue reading If the Nintendo DS and a Laptop Had a Kid, It Would Look Like This...

SwitchedIf the Nintendo DS and a Laptop Had a Kid, It Would Look Like This... originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biginjapanceatecceatec2009eventsfeaturesjapanmebiusnetbooknetbookssharpswitchedvideotopThu, 08 Oct 2009 22:31:00 EST