Archive for June, 2009

YouTube XL brings YouTube to your TV

Posted in YouTube by Conner Flynn on June 3rd, 2009

YouTube XL brings YouTube to your TVYouTube XL is a redesigned version of the video sharing website. It still runs in your browser window and you won’t need to go through the hassle of downloading another piece of software, as long as you have the latest version of Flash.

YouTube XL features a clean interface that doesn’t feature any ads (at least for now). Stuff that is basically clutter is gone, like suggested videos, and comments. YouTube XL will function on most devices that have a browser, and can be hooked up to your TV.

Microsoft introduces Bing Mobile

Posted in Microsoft by Conner Flynn on June 3rd, 2009

bingIn case you haven’t heard, Microsoft recently unveiled its Bing search engine in an effort to overcome Google. Now they have also brought Bing to the mobile platform by introducing Bing Mobile, which can be enjoyed across a range of mobile devices.

So far user impressions seem pretty positive. Simple and clean results are displayed in a nice format. Microsoft is hoping that you might point portable device’s browser to m.bing.com and see what the buzz is all about.

Atom PC in a toy Ferrari

Posted in PCs by Conner Flynn on June 3rd, 2009

Atom PC in a toy Ferrari Yesterday we saw a PC in a vase at Computex, today it’s an Atom-based net-top in a Ferrari. There isn’t much info about it. We simply know that it has the guts of a netbook and appears to be sticking it’s tongue out in the form of a CD tray.

The body is custom-molded as well as the optical drive tray. I proclaim thee a thing of awesomeness. Other things we would like to see PCs crammed inside? Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder, Barbie’s Dream car and the Batmobile, just to name a few.

Colorware now painting Nintendo’s DSi

Posted in Nintendo DSi by Conner Flynn on June 3rd, 2009

Colorware now painting Nintendo's DSiThe folks at Colorware are at it again. They just can’t stand plain boring looking devices, when they can instead look like the abomination above. You too can have a DSi looks like a child’s toy, for only can be $374.

Or, you can send in your own DSi and get it returned to you for just $174. It’s like dressing it up in a clown costume if you ask me. Do you love your DSi or hate it?

Turtle Beach announces Ear Force P21 headphones for PS3

Posted in Turtle Beach by Shane McGlaun on June 3rd, 2009

turtlebeachp21-sbMy son just got out of school for the summer and already he is driving me crazy. He can’t seem to play the PS3 without the explosions shaking the entire house thanks to the big woofer being cranked up on the home theater.

Turtle Beach has announced an answer to that problem with a new set of headphones for the PS3 called the P21 Gaming Headset. The headset has an inline amp for good sound and deep bass. The amp is powered by a USB connection to the PS3.

Toshiba launches its first netbook

Posted in Toshiba by Shane McGlaun on June 3rd, 2009

toshibapinknetbook-sbThe netbook market is saturated with models form different manufactures, most of which have the same exact specifications. With netbooks being the fastest growing segment in the computer market, more machines will continue to be announced.

Toshiba has announced its first entry into the netbook market called the mini NB205. The netbook has a full-size keyboard and a large track pad along with a 10.1-inch screen that is LED backlit. The machine is available in two models; the NB205-N310 comes with a stylized finish in pink, brown, blue, and white colors. The NB205-N210 comes in a fushion finish in black onyx color.

Samsung unveils Pixon 12 camera phone

Posted in Samsung by Shane McGlaun on June 3rd, 2009

samsungpixon12-sbAll of the phones I have ever owned, including my iPhone, seem to have the camera added as an afterthought. The camera on most phones is junk that won’t take a decent picture, especially in low light. The crap camera is my biggest complaint on my iPhone.

Samsung has taken a different route with its new Pixon 12 camera phone. The camera is the big draw for the device with 12-megapixels of resolution and a full touchscreen. The camera has autofocus and the user can touch the touchscreen to tell the camera where to focus in the shot they frame up.

AT&T officially launches CruiseCast mobile TV service

Posted in AT&T by Shane McGlaun on June 3rd, 2009

cruisecast-sbOne of the things I remember most about road trips when I was a kid was that it only took about an hour before I was smacking my brother in the head as we drove down the road and dad was trying to reach over the seat to beat me. Things aren’t much different today; my kids last only about an hour on the road before things get rowdy.

Thankfully, today we have all sorts of entertainment devices for our cars to keep kids occupied. AT&T has announced the official launch of its CruiseCast mobile satellite TV service. The new service has launched with 19 different channels.

Three new noise canceling headphones from Sony

Posted in Headphones by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Three new noise canceling headphones from SonySony announced three new headphones this morning. The MDR-NC300D, MDR-NC33, and MDR-N600D. The Sony MDR-NC300D is a noise canceling in ears headphone with three different modes for Noise Canceling. There’s General Mode and Movie, Airplane Mode and Train, Bus, Car, Office. It is capable of suppressing up to 98.4% of the undesired noises around you.

The Sony MDR-NC33 is capable of suppressing up to 90% of noises. The Sony MDR-N600D is an “over-head” pair of headphones capable of canceling 99% of noises.

Tongfong S30A 13.3-inch ultraportable with VIA Nano CPU

Posted in Notebooks by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Tongfong S30A 13.3-inch ultraportable with VIA Nano CPUChinese OEM Tongfong and VIA have announced the latest Via Nano based ultraportable, the Tongfong S30A. It’s just 33mm thick and weighs 1.4kg, with a 13.3-inch display, integrated DVD burner and 2GB of RAM. It uses the VIA 1.3GHz Nano U2250 processor with the unified VIA VX800 MSP and discrete S3 Graphics Chrome 435 ULP graphics, making a great HD-capable machine.

There’s room for a 2.5-inch SATA hard-drive, WiFi b/g and 10/100 ethernet, plus a 4-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard slot, HDMI and VGA ports along with two USB 2.0 ports. The standard battery is a six-cell, but it can be upgraded by removing the DVD burner and slotting in an optional three-cell secondary.

Sony’s Media Go app store

Posted in PSP Go! by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Sony's Media Go app storeThe PSP Go may not have been big news thanks to all of the leaks, but Media Go is big news for Sony. Think of it as Sony’s “Itunes” that runs on a PC to sync content with your PSP. Sense Me is the equivalent of Genius and will display related content that users might like as well, based on what it already knows and and deliver custom music playlists.

All future PSP apps will be digitaly delivered via the Playstation Store. Sense Me? That’s the best name they could come up with?

iBUYPOWER announces M865TU gaming notebook

Posted in iBuyPower by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

ibuypoweriBUYPOWER announced another brand new gaming notebook today called the M865TU and it’s 15-inches of video gaming awesomeness. You’ll have a ton of different processor options. The notebook has a starting price of $1,499 and is available in a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9800 version as well as many others. It’s also capable of up to 4GB DDR3 memory, 1,680 x 1,050 resolution on the 15.6-inch LCD display and a NVIDIA GTX 260 1GB graphics card.

As usual this offering from IBUYPOWER is custom made for gamers who want top of the line graphics and video capability. You can also get an Intel X-25-M SSD option.

Segway and Nintendo team up on Wii Fit Plus game

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Segway and Nintendo team up on Wii Fit Plus gameIf you wanted some new hardware to go along with the new Wii Fit Plus, you must be feeling disappointed, but don’t worry. There are some unusual surprises awaiting you in the game. Like a new Segway mini-game that’s been developed with Segway.

That’s right, you can use the Wii Balance Board and Wii Remote to simulate what it’s like to ride on a Segway. Oh joy. At least you won’t fall off and look like a dork. Looks like it’s a simple balloon-popping game that involves a “mole-like creature.” To operate the virtual Segway x2, just stand on the balance board and lean forward to make your Mii character ride forward. To turn left and right, you lean a Wii remote left or right.

PlayStation Motion Controller launching in 2010

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

PlayStation Motion Controller launching 2010Sony’s rumored PlayStation Motion Controller is real. Well, we knew that much. It will be launching in 2010. Sony showed it off at Sony’s E3 press conference and SCEA’s Jack Tretton claims it’s an experience “closer to real-life than anything you’ve ever seen.”

The Controller will work in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye, which will capture it’s movements for “true one-to-one tracking.” Sony showed off a bunch of demos for use with the motion controller, including sword swinging, tank-based third-person shooting, archery, tennis and drawing.

Sony PSP Go! gets official, $249

Posted in PSP Go! by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

PSP Go leaks out before E3Sony just announced the PSP Go! at E3. Haz Kirai joked that it had two names: The “worst kept secret at E3.” and the PSP Go! As expected, the slider has a 3.8-inch LCD, built-in Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage.

It’s also 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP. When you lose a UMD drive, you’re bound to shed some pounds, right? With no UMD drive, the games will load through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over the PlayStation Network. Sony says that the classic PSP will still be supported and loved on. Are you shedding a tear for the UMD? Be honest.