DVICE tag:,2009-04-07:/3 2010-02-09T23:39:37Z We love technology. We want to know about it, write about it, and shake it till it breaks. Part of the Syfy Network, DVICE has a worldwide team of writers who constantly immerse themselves in the tech world, distilling the sometimes-excessive information out there to bring you only what you need to know. Movable Type Enterprise 4.24-en Sydney's 'ugliest building' gets a high-tech bag over its head tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31136 2010-02-09T23:35:24Z 2010-02-09T23:39:37Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Kevin Hall The University of Technology Sydney Tower in Australia, an old slat-stack from the '60s, has the dubious honor of being that city's "ugliest building" — a fact that isn't very well hidden on the university's own website. In an effort... ]]> ]]> The University of Technology Sydney Tower in Australia, an old slat-stack from the '60s, has the dubious honor of being that city's "ugliest building" — a fact that isn't very well hidden on the university's own website. In an effort to showcase both the beautifying and beneficial effect of sustainable design, the architects at Australian-based LAVA have proposed the "Tower Skin," a photo-voltaic sack that would update the ol' UTS clunker with today's greener standards.

The Tower Skin would, besides collecting solar energy, collect rainwater, improve the amount of natural light that gets into the building and use convective energy to help with ventilation. Oh, and it also lights up at night and looks downright purty.

It's all conceptual, though it's an interesting study on how we could improve existing buildings from the outside-in, rather than having to tear them down or rip their guts out. Check out more of LAVA's Tower Skin in the gallery below. (Or, if you happen to be reading this from Australia, you can also see the Skin in person at Sydney's Object Gallery until 28 March, 2010.)

Architecture and Design, via Inhabitat

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]]> Panasonic 3D plasma HDTVs display a rare medium, well done tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31125 2010-02-09T19:44:44Z 2010-02-09T18:18:04Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Charlie White There are plenty of 3D LCD TVs, but now Panasonic rolls out a breed of 3D that's more rare: a plasma display. The company announced Viera VT in two different sizes today, a 50-incher retailing for $4,800, and a 54-inch... ]]> ]]> There are plenty of 3D LCD TVs, but now Panasonic rolls out a breed of 3D that's more rare: a plasma display. The company announced Viera VT in two different sizes today, a 50-incher retailing for $4,800, and a 54-inch for $5,900. Just put on your 3D active shutter glasses (included with the TVs), and you're set to step into the immersive world of 3D, or so they say.

We've seen Panasonic plasma 3D TVs, and they looked drop-dead gorgeous — colorful, contrasty (like 5 zillion-to-1), and downright crispy. However, we're not sure we're willing to spend $4,800 for a 50-inch 3D HDTV with very little programming available for it yet. Our enthusiasm for 3D undoubtedly has its limits. And really, Panasonic: $1,100 for four more diagonal inches? No ship date is announced yet.

Via Geeky Gadgets

]]> Data Porn: What are people buying in your neighborhood? tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31120 2010-02-09T18:59:19Z 2010-02-09T16:53:55Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Charlie White Now you can find out for sure if you're keeping up with the Joneses. "Bundle" is a sophisticated and time-wasting website compiled from Citi credit card data that has a powerful way of showing you spending by age, income, household... ]]> ]]> Now you can find out for sure if you're keeping up with the Joneses. "Bundle" is a sophisticated and time-wasting website compiled from Citi credit card data that has a powerful way of showing you spending by age, income, household type and geographical location. It automatically knows where you are, and shows you how everybody's blowing their paychecks all around you.

My favorite feature is the short quiz that designated me a "wired thing," perhaps making me more profligate than most. There's a remarkable amount of data you can drill down to, all the way to the favorite shopping haunts of the people in your area. But really, people around here spin $893 a month on shopping? Compared to that, I guess I'm not such a spendthrift after all.

Bundle, via The Consumerist

]]> ZoomIt lets your iPhone read SD cards, finally tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31118 2010-02-09T18:13:36Z 2010-02-09T16:39:05Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Adam Frucci Want to expand the storage of your iPhone? Well, ZoomIt is a small add-on SD card reader that works with its own app to let you load photos and other data right onto your phone for easy transport. There's a... ]]> ]]> Want to expand the storage of your iPhone? Well, ZoomIt is a small add-on SD card reader that works with its own app to let you load photos and other data right onto your phone for easy transport.

There's a catch, of course. Only photos can be transferred from the app to your iPhone's photo library. That means you can't expand your storage for music, videos or apps using SD cards. So sure, you can drag data onto your phone, but you can't do anything with it unless it's a photo. But if you want to quickly dump photos you take on the field onto your phone for easy storage and viewing, this might just be worth the $60 price tag.

ZoomIt via Gadget Lab

]]> Mehrzeller, the camper that wants to be an art museum tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31119 2010-02-09T17:29:04Z 2010-02-09T16:34:42Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Jim Nash For some people (read: Wall Street bankers struggling to spend their multimillion-dollar bonuses.), camping in a 45-foot luxury RV is too dreary to contemplate. Fortunately for them and gas refineries everywhere, a pair of German design students have created the... ]]> ]]> For some people (read: Wall Street bankers struggling to spend their multimillion-dollar bonuses.), camping in a 45-foot luxury RV is too dreary to contemplate. Fortunately for them and gas refineries everywhere, a pair of German design students have created the Mehrzeller travel trailer. Its luxurious interior is surpassed only by an exterior fit for a Tokyo art museum.

]]> Forget about stolid aluminum blocks or shining metal blisters — the Mehrzeller is a polygonal puzzle. It looks like either one of the Space 1999 ships or a discarded White Castle bag. The jumble-of-angles theme is even more pronounced inside (check it out in the gallery), where random outcroppings and nooks can almost give you vertigo.

The designers, Christian Freissling and Theresa Kalteis, came up with the Mehrzeller while at the Graz University of Technology as an example of mass customization. Their word for it is "multicellular." Buyers would go online and use something called a Configurator to design their very own Mehrzeller by, presumably, fitting together different predesigned segments, or cells. Freissling and Kalteis' site lists almost 40 companies — including BMW and 3M — as "partners" in their effort to bring the Mehrzeller to dealerships. Who knew Europeans were so into trailer camping?

Via Mehrzeller









]]> Netgear router turns 3G wireless into WiFi tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31116 2010-02-09T16:01:24Z 2010-02-09T15:16:26Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Adam Frucci Are you sick of paying for cable internet when you only use the internet for light surfing and email? Well, you could always switch completely to 3G wireless internet, provided you trust your wireless provider to not crap out on... ]]> ]]> Are you sick of paying for cable internet when you only use the internet for light surfing and email? Well, you could always switch completely to 3G wireless internet, provided you trust your wireless provider to not crap out on you.

This new Netgear router can help you do just that, converting a 3G wireless signal into WiFi your laptop can understand. Of course, it also works with traditional connections via ethernet, but where's the adventure in that?

Netgear via Engadget

]]> Apple releases Aperture 3 with some iPhoto features on board tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31115 2010-02-09T15:15:10Z 2010-02-09T15:04:27Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Adam Frucci Apple's pro photo software Aperture has never really caught on like some of its more popular software. Maybe it was the price, at $200, or maybe it just didn't deliver an experience that couldn't be better replicated elsewhere. But Apple's... ]]> ]]> Apple's pro photo software Aperture has never really caught on like some of its more popular software. Maybe it was the price, at $200, or maybe it just didn't deliver an experience that couldn't be better replicated elsewhere. But Apple's not ready to give up on it yet.

The new version of Aperture has just hit the Apple store, and it brings along with it the Faces and Places features that iPhoto users have been enjoying for some time now. Faces auto-detects who is in each photo, letting you automatically sort pictures by who's in them. Places uses geotagging to place your photos on a map based on where you took them.

Will these features be enough to get you to drop $200 on photo importing and organization software?

Via Apple

]]> Publisher cutting books down to 2,000 words and less for the Kindle tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31109 2010-02-09T14:31:05Z 2010-02-09T10:53:08Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Kevin Hall Sure, I love me some e-reading, but the one big downside is that books have too many darn words! Lucky for me a company called FT Press has my back: it's boiling down professional and self-help books into "Elements" and... ]]> ]]> Sure, I love me some e-reading, but the one big downside is that books have too many darn words! Lucky for me a company called FT Press has my back: it's boiling down professional and self-help books into "Elements" and "Shorts." The former hovers somewhere between 1,000 to 2,000 words and sells for $2, while Shorts are a little longer at $3 for around 5,000 words.

So, why take existing books and truncate them? Timothy C. Moore, publisher of the FT Press, told The New York Times that it was "a good idea to be able to provide people with shorter, more expedient, more time-sensitive" versions of books.

FT Press's approach eats into publisher profits, as it's unlikely that someone would spring for the full book after getting the best bits. The authors of the original work, however, are entitled to royalties from the online sales.

So what's next? Who knows: maybe in the future people will buy their favorite chapters just as you would a song instead of an album.

The New York Times, via GeekSugar

]]> Heineken Bot ready serve beer without the human smalltalk tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31110 2010-02-09T09:31:30Z 2010-02-09T09:49:27Z February 9, 2010 February 9, 2010 Adario Strange While the early money is that the first mass commercialization of robots will hit the sex industry, serving booze to wayward humans is running a close second. The Heineken Bot, developed by tinkerers at the UK's Middlesex University, is something... ]]> ]]> While the early money is that the first mass commercialization of robots will hit the sex industry, serving booze to wayward humans is running a close second. The Heineken Bot, developed by tinkerers at the UK's Middlesex University, is something like a cross between R2D2 and your favorite local suds pourer, only without the inane chit chat.

Using sensors mounted on its top portion, the bot can detect when your beer mug is topped off with just a wave of the hand, and can roll over to your side of the bar due to a preprogrammed area map. You can see video of the Heineken Bot in action here.

Via GizmoWatch

]]> If online newspapers forced you to pay, would you read them? tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31107 2010-02-08T23:06:45Z 2010-02-09T06:23:46Z February 8, 2010 February 9, 2010 Kevin Hall Rupert Murdoch (above, left), CEO and Sith Lord of News Corp (which owns a variety of book, magazine and newspaper publishers including HarperCollins, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal) is one of the most vocal — not... ]]> ]]> Rupert Murdoch (above, left), CEO and Sith Lord of News Corp (which owns a variety of book, magazine and newspaper publishers including HarperCollins, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal) is one of the most vocal — not to mention powerful — forces driving the idea that online news websites should charge for the content provided. Typically, news sites and blogs rely on advertising money to stay up and running.

The Wall Street Journal, owned by Murdoch's News Corp, is one such news site that charges a subscription fee for access to all of its articles. The New York Times, which isn't owned by News Corp, recently announced that it would also adopt a subscriber "pay wall" model in 2011. It's no secret that the magazine and newspaper industry is in trouble, and pay walls are seen as one way to help stop the bleeding.

Not all outlets see adopting pay walls as the way to go. Alan Rusbridger (above, right), editor of The Guardian, recently gave a speech in which he defended the virtues of free content and relying on ad revenue. One of the big fears behind the pay wall structure is the fact that it'd turn certain readers away, which would lower readership and drive down ad revenue.

Rusbridger called Murdoch out directly:

"Rupert Murdoch, who has in his time flirted with free models and who has ruthlessly cut the price of his papers to below cost in order to win audiences or drive out competition… this same Rupert Murdoch is being very vocal in asserting that the reader must pay a proper sum for content — whether in print or digitally."

More than just a different way to provide content, Rusbridger sees the Internet as adding a vital layer to journalism — an interactive, evolving one — that could be damaged by forcing regular readers of a periodical to pay. Casual readers could come and go, but "loyal" readers, as Rusbridger describes them, would seemingly be punished.

Murdoch, in response, said that he hadn't listened to or read Rusbridger's speech but that the general idea "sounds like BS" to him. He didn't say "BS" exactly, of course. He used the version not fit to print.

So, where do you stand? Sound off in the comments, and don't forget to hit up our poll below.

Read Rusbridger's entire speech here.

The Guardian, via The New York Times

]]> Oxo Good Grips Cord Catch does exactly one thing tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31103 2010-02-08T21:57:14Z 2010-02-08T21:13:09Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Peter Pachal Found in our mailbox the other day: The Oxo Good Grips Cord Catch. While we certainly love shiny electronic toys that do lots of different things, here's a product that's beautiful for its simplicity. The Catch has just one job... ]]> ]]> Found in our mailbox the other day: The Oxo Good Grips Cord Catch. While we certainly love shiny electronic toys that do lots of different things, here's a product that's beautiful for its simplicity. The Catch has just one job — saving that charging cable from falling behind your desk. And it does it with style, sporting a nicely curved design and a silver finish. It stays in place via the rubberized bottom and sheer heft (the half-ounce spec on Oxo's product page is incorrect — it actually weighs closer to five).

After using the catch to hold our iPhone charging cable for a few days, we've given it a permanent place on our desk. We do have this suggested upgrade: The Catch's cable guide should have some kind of "flaps" to prevent cords from easily popping out of it. But even with that quibble, the $7 Catch has paid for itself with time saved in cancelled expeditions behind our gadget stack in search of fallen cords.

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]]> 1080p streaming video coming to Netflix [update: maybe not], but will it matter? tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31105 2010-02-08T21:11:44Z 2010-02-09T16:59:51Z February 8, 2010 February 9, 2010 Charlie White Netflix fans, your streaming video service is just about to accommodate higher HDTV resolution in glorious 1080p. It's unclear exactly when this 1080p streaming with 5.1 surround sound will be rolled out — Netflix says it will be sometime "later... ]]> ]]> Netflix fans, your streaming video service is just about to accommodate higher HDTV resolution in glorious 1080p. It's unclear exactly when this 1080p streaming with 5.1 surround sound will be rolled out — Netflix says it will be sometime "later this year."

You'll need more bandwidth to handle the higher resolution, probably exceeding the 7 to 10 Mbps required to stream the company's 720p HD content on the Roku box, TiVo, the Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Let's hope Netflix has a better compression scheme up its sleeve for this 1080p trick, supported by Microsoft Silverlight 1080p streaming introduced last March.

All that additional resolution won't mean much unless Netflix can stream more than just a measly 6% of its movies in HD, as it does now. That's lame — even Netflix's own PR flack calls it "underwhelming." Beyond that, there's the problem of bandwidth-stingy Internet service providers, many of whom also sell pay-per-view movies on cable, balking at opening up their pipes for a competitor's 1080p content.

UPDATE: Now Netflix tells CNET the reference to 1080p streaming was a mistake. According to CNET:

"Netflix now claims that it incorrectly acknowledged 1080p streaming in the company's 2010 development road map. A Netflix representative has clarified that the company plans to bring 5.1 surround and closed captioning to its streaming HD videos later this year, though 1080p Watch Instantly is not on the books for this year."

Oh well. Netflix must think bandwidth won't be wide enough for that kind of rez, at least not this year. Or maybe it's just being coy, still planning a big 1080p splash!

Via CNET

]]> Shuttle's final night launch lifts largest window ever into orbit tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31101 2010-02-08T20:29:21Z 2010-02-08T20:39:44Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Charlie White The last shuttle to be launched at night rose off its launch pad before dawn this morning, atop a torrent of fire that seemed as bright as the sun. On board Endeavor (STS-130) is Cupola, a relatively huge bay window... ]]> ]]> The last shuttle to be launched at night rose off its launch pad before dawn this morning, atop a torrent of fire that seemed as bright as the sun. On board Endeavor (STS-130) is Cupola, a relatively huge bay window to be attached to the International Space Station (ISS) that will give astronauts the most magnificent view ever seen from space (short of taking a spacewalk). Expect great pictures from this 1.6-ton behemoth — it's 9.7 feet wide and 5 feet long with seven windows all around, including a 31.5-inch circular window, the largest ever flown into space.

Also along for the ride is Tranquility, whose technical name is the unassuming "Node 3." That module will have six "birthing locations" (or in plain terms, places to plug in more modules), three of which aren't scheduled to be used, and one will be where Cupola will be connected. Tranquility will also contain the most advanced life-support systems ever flown in space, recycling wastewater and generating oxygen.

Via Space.com

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Cupola


Cupola


Tranquility


]]> Darth Vader alarm clock wakes you up with the power of the Dark Side tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31096 2010-02-08T19:45:56Z 2010-02-08T18:12:47Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Adam Frucci Do you require a bit of motivation to get out of bed in the morning? Well, there are few people more motivating than Darth Vader, right? With this Darth Vader alarm clock, a shadow Vader will appear when the alarm... ]]> ]]> Do you require a bit of motivation to get out of bed in the morning? Well, there are few people more motivating than Darth Vader, right?

With this Darth Vader alarm clock, a shadow Vader will appear when the alarm goes off, reminding you to get out of bed or the forces of the Dark Side will overtake you. It also features a snooze button, just in case you feel the power of The Force deep inside you.

StarWars.com via Geek Alerts

]]> Portable Cinedeck lets filmmakers record and edit high-rez footage tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31095 2010-02-08T18:57:11Z 2010-02-08T21:30:53Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Charlie White Cinematographers got sick of lugging around bulky and anvil-heavy recording gear, so they designed the "extremely portable" Cinedeck, a hotshot digital video recorder that's 8 inches wide and weighs 4 pounds. It digitally records HD footage from any camera that... ]]> ]]> Cinematographers got sick of lugging around bulky and anvil-heavy recording gear, so they designed the "extremely portable" Cinedeck, a hotshot digital video recorder that's 8 inches wide and weighs 4 pounds. It digitally records HD footage from any camera that outputs HDMI or HDSDI onto its off-the-shelf solid-state drives.

Besides functioning as a digital recorder and high-rez playback unit, this versatile box's on-board Intel Core2 Extreme quad qx9300 processor powers a fast Windows PC inside, letting you hook up a mouse, keyboard and a larger monitor to edit together your shots using whichever Windows editing software you prefer.

Shipping next month is the first Cinedeck/Extreme model, capable of handling resolutions up to 1080p. Later this year, the company will roll out versions for 3D shooting, higher-rez 2K film work, and even a model that handles footage from those sweet 1080p-shooting digital SLR cameras. Pricing starts at $7995, so you can see it's intended for pro use on film shoots.

Here's the press release with more details:

]]> Cinedeck Defines New Category, New Standard for Ultra-Portable, Cinema-Grade DDR Systems for Production Community

Cinedeck Debuts Industry's First Camera-Mountable, Extremely High Quality Recording, Monitoring, Playback and Editing Device

NEW YORK, NY (February 9, 2010) -- Cinedeck (www.cinedeck.com) today announced the debut of the world's first camera-mountable, HDMI/HDSDI recording, monitoring, playback and editing device for the production community. Designed by cinematographers for cinematographers, Cinedeck defines an entirely new category of extremely portable, affordable, platform agnostic, cinema-grade recording and monitoring solutions for anyone with an HDMI or HDSDI camera.

Cinedeck is:

Extremely Portable: measuring 5"x8"x3.5" and weighing less than 4 pounds, Cinedeck is camera-mountable and stores (with all cables and accessories) in a space no larger than a shoe box;

Affordable: Cinedeck costs less than a week's rental of similar quality tape deck and focus monitor;

Massively Compatible: Cinedeck records from nearly any HDMI or single/dual link HDSDI camera and source files are platform agnostic: recording media compatible with Mac, PC or Linux; Support for a wide array of codecs and file formats, including CineForm in both AVI/MOV wrappers, and MPG2 MXF.

Versatile: it's an extraordinarily robust cinematographer's toolkit with complete VTR and monitoring functionality: preview, focus assist, record, play back, downconvert, and transcode, all in the form factor of a standard on-camera monitor.

"Cinedeck was born from years of experience in the field, lugging so-called portable and very expensive tape and direct-to-disk solutions through the Panamanian rain forests, Turkish deserts, and on the back of jeeps hurtling down pot-holed roads of Kazakhstan - we finally said, this is ridiculous- we can do better," said Charles d'Autremont, founder and creator of Cinedeck. "Cinedeck is a cinematographers dream-come-true, because it was conceived and developed by working Cinematographers. We decided to create a new standard for portability, quality and reliability, and most of all, to make it affordable and accessible to everyone."

Richard Mills, head of engineering for On Sight (www.onsight.co.uk), a one-stop production, post production and distribution services firm based in the UK, had this to say about Cinedeck: "We've earned a reputation throughout Europe, not only for our creative approach to our clients' needs, but to also bringing highly innovative, efficient technology solutions to a creative project. cinedeck is the neatest solution we've seen so far for rugged, highly versatile production. It's an excellent solution!"

cinedeck Key Feature Highlights
Record: Cinedeck captures edit-ready, platform agnostic, 10-bit 4:2:2 or 12-bit 4:4:4 CineForm digital intermediaries in MOV or AVI format, as well as other industry standard codecs and formats, via HDSDI or HDMI and records to highly-reliable, rugged solid state drives for maximum compatibility and reliability.

Monitor: Cinedeck monitors video in real-time, much like a standard on-camera focus monitor and uses the on-screen histogram for proper exposure. Audio is monitored via on-board headphone jack and recording levels can be viewed on-screen.

Review: Cinedeck plays back shots instantly via on-screen transport controls, or via wireless physical transport controls.

Edit: Cinedeck is the first device of its kind to enable users to edit dailies on-site. Leveraging a NLE software of choice, as well as an optional dual-boot OS, Cinedeck recommends using an external VGA monitor and pointing devices for optimal workflow.

Cinedeck/Extreme:
8/10 bit 4:2:2 recording via HDMI/HDSDI
12bit 4:4:4 recording via dual link /3G HDSDI
SD - PAL/NTSC
HD - 720P 50/59.94/60 and Varicam
HD - 1080 50/60i - 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/5994,60 P/PSF
*Not all framerates available in all codecs/quality settings, and results may vary depending on recording media.

Cinedeck/Extreme will be available in March in limited quantities and is priced at $7995. For more information, or to purchase Cinedeck please visit www.cinedeck.com. In the UK/Europe please contact Extreme Facilities at www.extremefacilities.co.uk

Additional models, including Cinedeck 3D, Cinedeck/2K, Cinedeck/422 and Cinedeck/DSLR will be announced later this year. Details will be formally announced at that time.

About CineDeck
Created by cinematographers for cinematographers, cinedeck is redefining mobile, digital cinematography by delivering the industry's first extremely portable, affordable camera-mountable cinema-grade DDR and editing system. For more information, please visit www.cinedeck.com.

Via Cinedeck







]]> Live your hovercraft dreams with a remote control tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31094 2010-02-08T17:16:38Z 2010-02-08T16:27:50Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Adam Frucci When I was a kid, I thought hovercrafts were going to be the vehicle of the future. And why not? They ditch wheels for floating around on a cushion of air! Alas, it was not to be. But that doesn't... ]]> ]]> When I was a kid, I thought hovercrafts were going to be the vehicle of the future. And why not? They ditch wheels for floating around on a cushion of air! Alas, it was not to be. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy hovercrafts in remote-controlled toy form.

The RC Hoverpod lets you do just that, using downward-blasted air to scoot this diminutive vehicle all over the place. Just stay away from bumps. I'm pretty sure the speedbump is what kept hovercrafts from ever catching on, so you'll want to keep your toy version from falling into the same trap.

I Want One of Those via Coolest Gadgets

]]> Qisda phone delivers an insane 1,280 x 1,024 resolution tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31092 2010-02-08T16:28:22Z 2010-02-08T16:59:15Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Adam Frucci How high a resolution do you need on your phone? The upcoming Qisda QCM-330 offers a whopping 1,280 x 1,024 resolution on its 4-inch screen, which is higher than many laptop screens. The phone is being unveiled next month at... ]]> ]]> How high a resolution do you need on your phone? The upcoming Qisda QCM-330 offers a whopping 1,280 x 1,024 resolution on its 4-inch screen, which is higher than many laptop screens.

The phone is being unveiled next month at the CeBIT tradeshow, and it looks like it'll be coming to Europe on Vodafone. How such a high pixel density will look on such a small screen has yet to be seen, but just spec-wise, it's impressive. We're looking forward to seeing more details of this monster once it's officially available.

Unwired View, via Slashgear, via Gizmodo

]]> Real Time Canvas Clock: a snapshot in time tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31090 2010-02-08T15:42:53Z 2010-02-08T13:37:38Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Leslie Shapiro When is a picture of a clock more than just a picture? When it's actually a real clock. The Real Time Canvas Clock is a stark picture of an old-timey desk clock, except this picture shows the actual time &#8212... ]]> ]]> When is a picture of a clock more than just a picture? When it's actually a real clock. The Real Time Canvas Clock is a stark picture of an old-timey desk clock, except this picture shows the actual time — mounted flush to the canvas is a real clock mechanism.

The clock runs on one AA battery and the clock's mechanics are accessed from the back of the canvas. This simple work of art will set you back $36. While all the world is going 3D, it's nice to see some good old-fashioned 2D media catching our eye.

Tech Fresh via Coolest Gadgets

]]> ]]> Are Klipsch Image X10i earphones too good for the iPhone? tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31073 2010-02-08T14:43:56Z 2010-02-05T22:19:30Z February 8, 2010 February 5, 2010 Charlie White Tiny earbuds made of aluminum have been a Klipsch specialty for a couple of years now, and now the company adds to its stable of the world's tiniest cans with its high-end Image X10i in-ear headset, now sporting iPhone capability.... ]]> ]]> Tiny earbuds made of aluminum have been a Klipsch specialty for a couple of years now, and now the company adds to its stable of the world's tiniest cans with its high-end Image X10i in-ear headset, now sporting iPhone capability. Let's give them a listen, as well as try them out on our iPhone 3GS, determining if they're really worth their unusually steep $350 price.

]]> When Klipsch says it wants you to "feel your music, not your headphones," it's not kidding. These little suckers are so small, you can barely tell you have them in, yet there's a tight seal between the oval-shaped ear buds and your ear canal. That's one reason why you can clearly hear all the bass and glorious fidelity these delectable baubles have to offer.

Comparing these minuscule ear speakers with our favorite iPhone-friendly headphones of the moment, the comparatively gigantic Dr. Dre Beats, the Klipsch Image X10i holds its own. Even though it's about 20 times smaller than the huge and ear-smothering Beats, the X10i's bass feels and sounds almost as thunderous, while its highs are every bit as crisp and its midrange equally well-defined. They're the best-sounding, most comfortable earphones I've ever encountered.

This headset is built specifically for Apple cellphones, but its sonic quality far exceeds the usual compressed fare we listen to on our iPhone 3GS. The new features of the X10i include easy volume adjustment, play/pause/track skip controls, call answering, and good-sounding mic for iPhone. These functions worked beautifully on the iPhone 3GS. Too bad the volume control doesn't work on the iPhone 3G. Nevertheless, these are some fantastic earbuds, perhaps worth $350 if music, comfort and coolness are that important to those of you with golden ears and lightly compressed music. If not, opt for the slightly bigger Klipsch S4i with similar features for $250 less.

Via Klipsch









]]> Canon EOS Rebel T2i: new king of the cheap DSLRs? tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31071 2010-02-08T14:00:00Z 2010-02-08T19:21:40Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Charlie White Canon just surprised the photo world with this fresh announcement, showing off its EOS Rebel T2i that will take its place atop the company's Rebel line of lower-cost digital SLR cameras. This 18-megapixel powerhouse is the beneficiary of a lot... ]]> ]]> Canon just surprised the photo world with this fresh announcement, showing off its EOS Rebel T2i that will take its place atop the company's Rebel line of lower-cost digital SLR cameras.

This 18-megapixel powerhouse is the beneficiary of a lot of trickle-down from Canon's twice-as-expensive EOS 7D camera. That means you'll be able to get a $799 camera (body only) with such advanced features as 9-point autofocus, a 63-zone dual-layering metering system just like the 7D, a 3-inch live-view smudge-resistant viewfinder, ISO of 100- 6400, and 1080p video shooting at 24, 25, or 30 frames per second with an external mic input.

Canon's not saying yet when this relatively cheap camera ($899 with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 image-stabilized kit lens) will be available, but soon thereafter, the company's going to need to raise the bar on its higher-end cameras just to keep up. And whoa, Nikon, you have a lot of catching up to do now.

UPDATE: The T2i (also known as the EOS 550D) shoots some really nice video, too — take a look, or see it in 1080p directly on YouTube:

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Impressive specs for the EOS Rebel T2i:

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Specs (not official from Canon, but from our notes):

The Rebel line:
XS: entry-level (XSi to be dropped off Rebel lineup)
T1i: midlevel
T2i: flagship

18-megapixel Digic 4 imager

3.7fps, burst rate of 34 jpegs, or 6 raw

ISO 100-6400, can extend to 12,800

9-point autofocus, adopted from 30D. Center point being high precision at 2.8

h.264 codec

In-camera editing

63-zone dual layering metering system

Video rez is like the 7D:
1080p/24 /25/ 30
720p at /50 /60
640x480 at 50 and 60

Manual exposure

External mic input

Movie crop - only works in SD mode, still get full rez by zooming into center of frame

3-inch LCD 3:2 aspect, 1.04 million dots. Smudge-resistant, anti-reflection coating

HDMI with CEC compatibility (HDMI mini port), control image playback, index display, shooting info screen, image rotation, slide show and movie playback with TV remote control

SDHC memory card, SDXC compatibility

Sensors are similar to 7D, but T2i has 4-channel readout (7D has 8-channel)

63-zone metering (same as 7D), but adapter for 9 focusing points instead of the 7D's 19

+5 or -5 for HDR shooting

CMOS sensor designed for T2i

Contours are like the 7D, chassis and body are polycarbonate like Ti1

Dedicated live view video movie

Accessories:
New battery and battery grip BGE-8

Remote control RC6: 2-second delay or instant

No release date announced yet.

$899 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 image-stabilized kit lens, $799 body only












]]> MercuryHouseOne pod home offers solar-powered living tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31088 2010-02-08T11:13:24Z 2010-02-08T11:48:17Z February 8, 2010 February 8, 2010 Adario Strange Increasingly, the problem of creating sustainable, eco-friendly solutions extends beyond transportation and is moving into the realm of home building. Europe-based design team A&V first came up with a concept design and then executed their vision that is the MercuryHouseOne.... ]]> ]]> Increasingly, the problem of creating sustainable, eco-friendly solutions extends beyond transportation and is moving into the realm of home building. Europe-based design team A&V first came up with a concept design and then executed their vision that is the MercuryHouseOne.

The tiny raindrop-shaped structure is not just futuristically styled, but also features a highly efficient set of solar panels on the top of the building allowing energy to flow into the home year round. You can find out more about the design and possible real world applications for the structure here.

Via Tuvie

]]> RollerGen charges your devices with pedal power tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31081 2010-02-07T16:56:49Z 2010-02-07T17:21:02Z February 7, 2010 February 7, 2010 Michael Trei When I was a kid, I had dynamo powered lights on my bike. They worked great as long as you were moving along, but quickly dimmed if you slowed down or stopped. Now a California company called High Tide Associates... ]]> ]]> When I was a kid, I had dynamo powered lights on my bike. They worked great as long as you were moving along, but quickly dimmed if you slowed down or stopped. Now a California company called High Tide Associates has updated this technology for the 21st century with the RollerGen, a bike mounted generator that charges your portable electronics.

Rather than the wimpy 3-5 watts of my old dynamo, the RollerGen can spit out a whopping 30 watts, which get stored in a small battery called the BOS (bar of soap). This sits next to the generator in a small rack over the rear wheel, and there's enough extra room for your electronic gizmos.

This all sounds great, but I wonder how the RollerGen works in the rain. Also, at $495 for the complete system, it seems pretty darned expensive compared to the alternatives.

RollerGen, via GeekSugar.com

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]]> Glowing walls made from graphene will make lamps redundant tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31078 2010-02-06T17:12:47Z 2010-02-06T17:11:44Z February 6, 2010 February 6, 2010 Michael Trei Forget those compact fluorescent bulbs, or even fancy LED lighting. Scientists in Sweden and the USA say they have developed lighting panels using the wonder material graphene, which one day could make the basic lamp redundant. The material can be... ]]> ]]> Forget those compact fluorescent bulbs, or even fancy LED lighting. Scientists in Sweden and the USA say they have developed lighting panels using the wonder material graphene, which one day could make the basic lamp redundant.

The material can be fashioned into large energy efficient flexible sheets called LECs (light emitting electromechanical cells) that can cover an entire wall or ceiling, filling the room with an adjustable and even source of light. We've seen how OLED technology promises a similar approach to lighting, but the scientists say the graphene panels are much cheaper to produce, and don't contain the metal alloy indium tin oxide that makes OLED panels tricky to recycle.

No word on how long we'll need to wait before you can buy LEC panels at your local hardware store.

ScienceDaily.com, via Treehugger.com

]]> Weekend project: build your own photo booth tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31075 2010-02-05T22:56:40Z 2010-02-05T22:56:41Z February 5, 2010 February 5, 2010 Kevin Hall Want to impress your Super Bowl visitors this weekend with more than 7-layer dip and mini-sandwiches? Have some extra time on your hands? Happen to have 66 feet of salvaged particle board sitting around? Well, even if you don't meet... ]]> ]]> Want to impress your Super Bowl visitors this weekend with more than 7-layer dip and mini-sandwiches? Have some extra time on your hands? Happen to have 66 feet of salvaged particle board sitting around?

Well, even if you don't meet all of those requirements, this is still a pretty neat project. Roommates Jandra, Priya, and Ruella cobbled together their very own apartment photo booth for pretty cheap, though they got a little help and used their heads to keep the price down. Still, none of it is stuff you couldn't find at a hardware store or IKEA.

Check out the full list of instructions here.

Via Apartment Therapy

]]> Child's rocking horse is a kinetic power generator tag:dvice.com,2010://3.31072 2010-02-05T22:02:45Z 2010-02-05T20:59:52Z February 5, 2010 February 5, 2010 Kevin Hall Ah, children: those lovable balls of built-up energy. If only there was a way to harness that force? That's exactly what designers Aaron Tsui, Irina Kozlovskaya, Jasen Mehta and Sergio Silva had in mind when they came up with "Rocco,... ]]> ]]> Ah, children: those lovable balls of built-up energy. If only there was a way to harness that force? That's exactly what designers Aaron Tsui, Irina Kozlovskaya, Jasen Mehta and Sergio Silva had in mind when they came up with "Rocco, the energy pal."

Rocco is a rocking horse that, when rocked, charges up its flashlight ears. These ears can then be used as a regular old flashlight, or — appropriate for kids — as a nightlight. It's a great idea, but, like all things designed for kids, I could imagine it backfiring. You're sleeping, say, while your little terror is up too late with way too much energy. What happens next? One of the runts, now armed with a fully-charged flashlight, barges into your room and wakes you up.

Still, let's just imagine we go the nightlight route instead, and Rocco's power is something used only for good.

Rocco is one of the entries in the Greener Gadgets Competition in NYC.

Rocco, via Inhabitots

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