Flickr adds video to photo-sharing site

Posted in Services by Darrin Olson on April 9th, 2008

Flickr adds video sharing to its popular photo sharing web siteFlickr announced on Tuesday that it is has added video sharing to its popular photo-sharing online community. The new video sharing feature allows any pro members of the Flickr community to upload and share video clips with others using the same scope restrictions currently available for photo sharing.

The video clips can be taken with just about any device and can be up to 90 seconds in length or have a maximum size of 150MB. Even though only pro members can upload the video, all visitors will be able to view them depending on the share level given to the video. Flicker currently has about 42 million monthly visitors to the popular photo sharing site and hosts around 2 billion photos from around the world. Adding video content is a logical next step in further growing the sites popularity and may entice many people to upload videos with some sharing restrictions which might not have done with sites like YouTube where they are almost instantly public. The site will also have the ability to tag and geotag the videos and the ability to upload straight from a camera phone.

Segway introduces RMP hyperdirectional transport

Posted in Personal Transport by Conner Flynn on April 8th, 2008

Segway introduces RMP hyperdirectional transporter
By now I think we are all on board with the fact that the two-wheeled segway is ridiculous. Anyone riding one looks like they should be leaving a trail of drool in their wake. Well, Segway just redeemed themselves with this nice piece of work. The RMP “hyperdirectional” transporter was introduced at this year’s RoboBusiness, and can hold at least one super-size 400-pound human.

It has a nice tank type look. Seems like it can do it’s thing in just about in any direction too. Aside from that my friends, details are elusive. No release date either. But the term “fifty thousand dollars” should be enough to scare most of you off.

Netflix officially interested in movies through Xbox

Posted in Digital Video by Darrin Olson on March 26th, 2008

Netflix officially looking into streaming video content through Microsoft’s Xbox 360Netflix has officially confirmed rumors that they are indeed looking into streaming video content through Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console. Spokesman Steve Swasey did not confirm that Netflix and Microsoft have any partnership currently in the works, but Netflix has started surveying existing customers to gauge their interest in a new, additional offering through the game console.

Netflix’ business model has traditionally been to provide a subscription of physical DVDs that are shipped to customer’s homes, but has been working diligently to keep up with new technologies and customer demands for streaming video. The company created a partnership with LG earlier this year for a set top box to stream video content into its customers living rooms, and last year started offering online video through computers which recently increased to unlimited content for $17 per month subscribers.

Sony brings A820, A720 and S710F Walkmans stateside

Posted in Media Players by Darrin Olson on February 26th, 2008

Sony NWZ-A820 series Walkman video and audio playerSony’s dropping some new, smooth looking Walkmans our way this week led by the NWZ-A820 which features audio and video playback with a 2.4-inch QVGA display at 30 fps, includes EX earbuds and 36 hours of battery life for audio playback, 10 for video. It comes in capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB, is compatible with Windows Media and supports MP3, AAC, WMA, L-PCM formats for audio and h.264/MPEG4 for video. Sony has also added Bluetooth into the mix along with their noise canceling technology.

Sony’s NWZ-A720 series has looks a specs very much like the A820 series but it loses the wireless Bluetooth. Sony also has a NWZ-A820K model that will not only come with the earbuds but also includes a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones to take advantage of the no-wires connectivity.

Sony series A Bluetooth Enabled PMPs

Posted in Sony by Conner Flynn on February 20th, 2008

Sony series A Bluetooth Enabled PMPs
Sony announced two series A, Bluetooth enabled Personal Media Players: the NW-A820 and NW-A829 in Japan today. Both include a 2.4 inch 320 x 240 LCD display and can playback MP3, WMA, ATRAC,ATRAC Advanced Lossless, Sony PCM, and AAC and HE-AAC audio file formats but doesn’t support DRM on WMA and AAC. They also support video file format in MPEG4, AVHC, H.264 and provide seamless wireless audio video playback to Bluetooth headphones using Bluetooth version 2.0 A2DP/AVRCP.

If you like, you can also get an optional VRC-NW10 dock that has the ability to schedule, record and store TV programs using EPG broadcast television or radio programs. The A820 has 8GB flash storage while the A829 comes with 16GB. Expect to see these around March in Japan. The NW-A820 is priced at 28,000 Yen ($260), NW-A829 at 38,000 Yen ($353) and the optional cradle at 20,000 yen ($186).

SightMate: world’s first portable video magnifier

Posted in Health by Conner Flynn on February 16th, 2008

SightMate
At first glance, you’re thinking you would never wear these right? It’s not all that dorky. Looking like Cyclops from the X-Men might just score you a hot Jean Grey. It’s not meant to be a fashion accessory anyway. The SightMate LV920 from a company called Eyetonomy is a wearable device that’s designed to correct poor eyesight for those suffering from serious visual impairments.

The system has a 2-megapixel camera with a 3x zoom situated between the eyes, which provides images on twin 640×480 displays that can be tilted up to 15 degrees for comfort. The headgear comes with a remote to control magnification and other features and it only weighs 8 ounces. It can also help those who are color blind.

Video vests turn you into a walking TV

Posted in Apparel by Conner Flynn on February 13th, 2008

Video vests turn you into a TVThis Video Vest screen certainly gets your attention. Why carry a boring cardboard sign, when you can get your message across with video, like a picket line for instance or to advertise your business. The Vest actually plays full-motion video with stereo sound so that you have a portable video display anywhere you want.

Apparently regular Joes like me and you can’t buy one due to the vest’s high cost and limited manufacturing, but you can rent one for live events and such. That really sucks because my thinking was that we could put some flat chested girls in this vest and give them a larger rack via video. It would have been my gift to them. I’m a giver.

Best Buy shines a spotlight on Blu-ray

Posted in Blu-ray by Darrin Olson on February 11th, 2008

Best Buy announced plans to promote Blu-ray as format choice for consumersRecent decisions by the likes BlockBuster earlier last year, Warner Brothers last month and Netflix just this morning are only further cementing the future of the next single high definition video format. Widening the gap today is retail giant Best Buy which has announced that they too will be supporting Blu-ray over HD DVD as the preferred format for the future.

Best Buy says they will continue to carry HD DVD products in their store as well, but will be showcasing the Blu-ray products as the emerging single format for high-definition video going forward. This move could help many consumers who are undecided about the future of video formats to make a decision and possibly make purchases that they’ve been holding out on. We also imagine that this will make life a whole lot easier for Best Buy employees working on the floor answering customer questions about which format to choose.

Vudu updates software and increases content

Posted in Digital Video by Darrin Olson on February 3rd, 2008

Vudu gets more HD content and upgraded software to compete with Apple TVVudu is making some moves to keep in strong competition with the yet-to-be-released second version of AppleTV, this time offering a software update and more high-def content. This software update to version 1.2 comes not much more than a week after Vudu gave their system a 25 percent price cut bringing it down to $295 and closer to AppleTV’s $229. AppleTV had recently announced the “take 2″ version will add on features that will allow users to download video content to the appliance without the need of a computer in between, which is a feature that Vudu possessed and AppleTV did not.

The recent software upgrade for the Vudu video system brings some new features to improve user experiences with choosing videos to download. A new indicator will evaluate the current broadband speed and indicate if the selected video will download and show well without any skips or extended delays. When searching for a video it can also recommend titles for instant start based on the connection speed.

Wrist video and calling features

Posted in Mobile Phones, Watches by Chetz on October 15th, 2007

Hyundai GSM phone wristwatchThe day is rapidly approaching when the phone watch will be here. Well, it actually came a little while ago but we’re talking about the practical phone watch day that’s soon to come. Hyundai may be the leader of the pack with its W-100, a GSM phone that you wear on your wrist. The phone watch comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity, microSD card slot, plays MP3 and video files and has a touch screen interface. It supports both the English and Chinese language so there’s that going for it too. Most of all we dig the design which doesn’t look too clumsy nor too calculator watch-ish. Loads of more photos after the leap.

Photos and Video with Instant Replay Binoculars

Posted in Outdoors by Darrin Olson on October 28th, 2006

Bushnell Instant Replay BinocularsThe Bushnell Instant Replay Binoculars allow you to use them as you would regular binoculars, watching outdoor wildlife, football games or whatever. What makes this a pretty cool gadget is that you can take 3.2 megapixel digital photos through the binoculars, and you can actually record motion video through them as well.

The Instant Replay Binoculars are just like it sounds. You can be recording events as they happen and as you see them through the binoculars, and then save them and reply them or the photos on the 1.5″ pop-up LCD screen …


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