In this week’s Gadget Lab Podcast, Dylan Tweney and Jose Fermoso talk about the 2008 CTIA Wireless conference, highlighting the next step in cell phone technologies like improved haptic technology and five-megapixel cameras. In addition, they go over one of the most surprising trends from the conference: companies are actually using unique names for their products again (like Alias and Instinct), rather than the usual model number gibberish. No more 33465huv-u40! Finally, they discuss the sublimely tacky existence of David Beckham’s golden iPhone, and why it provides the Gadget Lab team with many laughs and inspiration. Thanks again for listening. Remember, you can subscribe to the podcast feed right here. (Read the full post about ‘The Wired Gadget Lab Podcast #23: The 2008 CTIA Conference, Product Naming Trends, and Beckham’s Tacky Gadget’…)
Sharp Shootin’ T.V Remote Controller Gadget shop HQ warmly welcomes the coolest and most dangerous TV remote ever!Remote controls are sometimes frustrating devices. Most of the time it’s lost. If it’s not lost, Someone else has it. Or if you in fact have it, it turns out the batteries are dead!Well the Sharp Shootin’ remote works in concordance with your normal T.V remote to allow you to change the channel, raise the volume, turn your T.V off etc, but with a model gun. See price Tags: cable, tech, gps, cellphone (Read the full post about ‘Sharp Shootin’ T.V Remote Controller’…)
We’ve praised the ring flash often in the past. The strobe surrounds the lens giving your subject flat, even illumination with none of the ugly dark shadows that characterize the crappy party photos we take with our compact digicams. Usually, though, a ringflash is an expensive and somewhat bulky piece of kit, and is designed for use with larger cameras. Marumi’s little ring-light uses LEDs instead of a flash tube, which has a couple of advantages. You can preview the light’s effect on the image, and batteries will last a lot longer. Digital photography means that the color of light doesn’t matter nearly as much as it did with film, but mixed lighting can still cause problems. (Read the full post about ‘LED Ring Light For Compact Digicams’…)
Posted Apr 4th 2008 3:32PM by Nilay PatelFiled under: cellphones, Misc. gadgetsAlright everyone, let’s review: If you’re going to put out a joke press release for April Fool’s Day, it’s important to make sure it’s actually April 1st. That’s a little lesson the folks at AbleComm apparently didn’t get, because the company’s April Fools press release about Panasonic putting partially-Ablecomm-sourced plasma screens in cell phones went out yesterday, April 3rd — and got subsequently picked up by a variety of news outlets, including us. Yep, we got punked, we’ll admit it. Unlike us, however, AbleComm hasn’t yet had the stones to issue its own retraction, instead ordering PR Newswire to completely pull the release and put out a new, PRNewswire-written three-line retraction elsewhere. (Read the full post about ‘April fool: AbleComm forgets what day it is, retracts Panasonic plasma cellphone release’…)
Posted Apr 4th 2008 6:30PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Features, GPS To say we’ve been waiting far too long for the Dash Express to escape the labs and hit the shelves would be a gross understatement, but now that this connected navigator has taken to the streets, we’re wondering if the public at large feels that it was worth the wait. During the time we spent with it on our escapades around the Windy City, we didn’t find too many chinks in the armor, but for the price, we wouldn’t be shocked to hear of people expecting more. So, is the Dash Express living up to your lofty expectations? Aside from rocking a discounted sticker, what else could be squeezed in here to make paying up sting a little less? (Read the full post about ‘How would you change the Dash Express?’…)
Yes, it’s true. Internet telephony company Jajah is participating in the iPhone Developer Program. That means in addition to its existing web-only client, there will also be a native VoIP app for the iphone this summer. You can expect the new client to be available via the App Store, which is launching sometime in June. If you recall, after a lot of speculation about what would and wouldn’t be allow to run on the iPhone, Steve Jobs said VoIP would be permissible at the SDK roadmap event last March, but that mobile carrier networks were off limits. The exact wording from the SDK agreement is as follows: "If an Application require or will have access to the carrier network, then additionally such Application: …May not have Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality." Pretty clear cut. (Read the full post about ‘Native VoIP Coming to the iPhone’…)
Had enough of the usual gang here on Gadget Lab? Think you can do better than the multitalented (but inescapably British) Rob Beschizza? Now’s your chance to show us what you’ve got.
We’re looking for an enthusiastic, eager, tech-savvy blogger to join the Gadget Lab team and help cover the most interesting and compelling daily tech news for Wired’s most popular blog. We’re not just shoveling press releases onto the web here, unlike some blogs we could mention. That’s why we want someone who can bring an intelligent, informed and entertaining perspective to our gadget coverage.
In return, you’ll get unparalleled exposure on Wired.com, plus the chance to test out, play with and write about all kinds of new gadgets long before your friends do.
(Read the full post about ‘Here’s Your Chance to Remake Gadget Lab in Your Image’…)
eMusic, together with the Music Intelligence Institute, presents this Music Intelligence Quiz developed by experts in the music field. It consists of 30 multiple-choice questions covering many genres and eras of music. The maximum number of points is 180, and there are 5 levels of music intelligence: Top 40 Radio Listener, Air Guitarist, Birthday Party DJ, Mix-Tape Master, and Musical Magician.
What’s great about this test is that, unlike other assessments out there, you are not obligated to provide a name or email address or register in order to see your results, although after you view your results eMusic invites you to check out some music suggestions based on your music intelligence level, but that’s fine.
(Read the full post about ‘Fun music IQ test brought to you in part by eMusic’…)
Posted Apr 4th 2008 1:28PM by Donald MelansonFiled under: HDTV, Home Entertainment We’d already heard it was delayed, but that apparently hasn’t stopped some pics of Hauppauge’s much-anticipated HD-PVR from landing in the hands of a moderator of the SageTV forums, who has kindly posted them for all to see. As you can see, however, it isn’t exactly much to look at, but the promised real-time H.264 compression of 1080i video from a component video source should be more enough to make up for any design quibbles. What’s more, if that same SageTV moderator is to be believed, Hauppauge should be starting to take pre-orders for the device relatively soon, possibly as early as today (it’s still expected to set you back about $250). (Read the full post about ‘Hauppauge HD-PVR shows itself, pre-order said to be coming soon’…)
The Stylophone is back, and this time with a vengeance. This updated model features a couple of sockets for you to connect a pair of decent headphones as well as a compatible mp3 player of your choice, allowing you to enhance (or murder, depending on your musical ability) your favorite songs. In addition, it coems with volume control as well as a trio of sound modes. The Stylophone is powered by a trio of AA batteries, retailing for a wee bit less than $30. Tags: Ogg Vorbis, gps, gaming, robots (Read the full post about ‘Stylophone Updated’…)
