| MF Doom Sneaker Speakers are perfect for the supervillain rapper who has everything (video) Posted: 22 May 2011 10:41 AM PDT Back in March, Nash Money showed off a pair of Nike Air Force 1s that he had turned into desktop speakers -- pretty rad, but hardly flashy enough for a supervillain / rapper. The professional sneaker customizer has significantly stepped up his game after being commissioned by Sneaker Freaker Magazine, creating two pairs of speakers from some giant suede Pumas. Nash consulted MF Doom for the project, and the masked emcee offered up suggestions like "sci-fi and laser guns," "modern architecture and geometry," and "mad exclamation marks." The finished Sneaker Speaker Doomsday Edition (how timely is that?) Models have mic inputs and red, green, and blue lights with eight effects, like speed control and a dim function. They've got plenty of power and can can only be fired up by someone with the key -- in this case Doom and the magazine, both of whom walked away with a pair. That is, as much as someone with high-end speaker components in their shoes can walk away with anything. Click the source link for more pics or check a "making of" video after the break. |
| The Protect IP Act: Google's Eric Schmidt squares off against RIAA and MPAA Posted: 22 May 2011 09:00 AM PDT Protecting intellectual property sounds like such a noble cause that you'd have to be a anarchistic free-market extremist to be against the idea, right? Actually, we don't think Google CEO Eric Schmidt is particularly extreme in any definable way, yet this past week he spoke with gusto, railing against the proposed Protect IP Act, which is was designed to "prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property." If passed into law, it would give the government the right to shut down any "Internet site dedicated to infringing activities" -- "infringing activities" largely being of the sort that allows dude A to download copyrighted item B from dude C when it's unclear whether dude C has legal rights to be distributing B in the first place. So, you know, it's targeting the Pirate Bay and its ilk, giving government officials greater power to sweep in and snag the domains of such sites. Schmidt calls this approach a set of "arbitrarily simple solutions to complex problems" that "sets a very bad precedent." The precedent? That it's okay for democratic governments to go and kill any site they don't like, something Schmidt says would only encourage restrictive policies in countries like China. While we don't think China really needs any sort of encouragement at all to keep on building up its Great Firewall, we tend to agree that this is a much more complicated problem than the Act makes it out to be. That said, one must admit that Schmidt's opinions are necessarily somewhat swayed by the knowledge that any such law would also have a negative impact on the business of search engines in general. But of course no such volley of words could go unanswered from the two shining knights of copyright protection, the MPAA and RIAA, which mounted up their corporate blogs, rode down from twin castles full of lawyers, and collectively told Schmidt he's full of it. The MPAA spun Schmidt's comments into some sort of act of civil disobedience, saying that "Google seems to think it's above America's laws." Meanwhile, the RIAA called the statement "a confusing step backwards by one of the most influential internet companies." Obviously it's only going to get nastier from here, so buckle your seatbelts, place your bets, and hang on to your BitTorrent clients. |
| Hyperkin's PS3 Remotext weds Blu-ray remote with keypad controller, DualShock 3 frets Posted: 22 May 2011 07:17 AM PDT With the PSN finally back up, it's time for important things -- you know, messaging your buds for a Black Ops pwning spree or hitting up Netflix. Hyperkin's Remotext for PS3 wants to help you get back into action with its hybrid remote / controller / chatpad. It features a slide-out Blu-ray remote panel, QWERTY keypad -- better positioned than SONY's offering -- and two analog nubs with a near-complete set of gaming controls. There's no sign of rear triggers, and Bluetooth connectivity is absent too, but it does come with a wireless USB receiver and rechargeable battery so you're not left scrounging between the couch cushions for AAs. Although we're doubtful it'll prove functional for gaming, it could be appropriate for PS3s that spend more time sitting at the movies than getting their Move on. The DualShock 3 shouldn't have much to worry about, but we'll find out at E3, when the Remotext will be officially showcased. There's no word on pricing or availability yet, but if you're dying for more in the meantime, a press release is beyond the break. Show full PR text HYPERKIN LAUNCHING PS3 REMOTEXT AT E3, 2011
Remotext Offers full range of Functions Including QWERTY Keypad and DVD/Blu-Ray Control
NEWPORT BEACH, CA (MAY, 2011) – Hyperkin, a recognized and trusted brand of video game peripherals, has announced the upcoming launch of the PS3 Remotext. The PS3 Remotext, which will be launched at E3 in June, includes a full QWERTY keypad and DVD/Blu-ray Control. The Remotext enables you to text other players on the Playstation Network, or use its dual analog sticks and buttons to navigate PS3 games. The PS3 Remotext will be on display at Booth # 417, South Hall.
The PS3 Remotext allows you to easily control the playback of Blu-Ray movies, DVDs, CDs and media streams on the PS3 system. It also features a slide out QWERTY keypad that enables you to text other players on the Playstation Network or you can use its dual analog sticks and buttons to play PS3 games. Simply attach the included USB receiver to an open port on the PS3 system and you can control your PS3 system with ease.
Product Highlights:
· Complete DVD/Blu-ray Media Control
· Full Slide Out QWERTY Keypad
· Directional Analog Control
· Rechargeable Battery
· USB Charge Cable
· Full Remote Control
· Includes Receiving Dongle
· Available Summer 2011
· SRP: N/A
"The PS3 Remotext is a great solution for texting and watching movies," states Steven Mar, Hyperkin's Business Director. "It has everything you need to access all of the PS3's major functions, providing an easy-to-use way to control and enjoy the system." Mar continued: "We are eager to exhibit this and our other line up of new products at E3 and anticipate an enthusiastic response from the media, retailers and consumers." |
| TMS RamSan-70 SSD packs 2GB-per-second throughput, up to 900GB capacity Posted: 22 May 2011 05:48 AM PDT There are SSDs and then there are SSDs -- the Texas Memory Systems (TMS) RamSan-70 is definitely the latter, packing 900GB of high-speed SLC NAND flash onto a single half-length PCIe card. Boasting an incredible 2GB-per-second sustained external throughput, this near-terabyte solid state drive is clearly overkill for most of us, considering that it's guaranteed to have a sky-high price (once details are released). Instead, the "900GB Gorilla," as it's come to be known around TMS HQ, is destined for high-end servers -- though we certainly wouldn't object to clearing out a slot in our desktop, if by some miracle we can afford this monster when it starts shipping in four to eight weeks. Show full PR text Texas Memory Systems Unleashes the 900 GB Gorilla
Texas Memory Systems, Inc. introduces the new high-performance RamSan-70, a 900-GB half-length PCIe card featuring Toshiba's newest 32nm SLC Flash.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The RamSan-70 "Gorilla" is a high-performance, half-length PCIe card with 900 GB of usable SLC Flash capacity. Delivering 330K IOPS and 2 GB/s of bandwidth, it offers higher performance and greater capacity than any other half-length SLC Flash PCIe card.
Texas Memory Systems, Inc. (TMS), maker of The World's Fastest Storage®, introduces the new high-performance RamSan-70, a 900-GB half-length PCIe card featuring Toshiba's newest 32nm SLC Flash. The RamSan-70 carries on Texas Memory Systems' tradition of delivering a complete integrated RamSan® storage solution on a single board.
The RamSan-70 is the first product powered by Texas Memory Systems' new Series-7 Flash Controller™. Based on high-performance Xilinx FPGAs and a PowerPC processor, the Series-7 Flash Controller handles all Flash management functions without impacting the host CPU. It incorporates patented Texas Memory Systems reliability technology, yielding an expected lifespan of 6-10 years. Its proprietary enterprise-level reliability features include chip-level RAID and an advanced ECC algorithm, correcting more errors than required by the manufacturer.
The Series-7 Flash Controller is field-upgradable, ensuring that Texas Memory Systems customers will always have the best performance and latest features. The Series-7 Flash Controller, combined with Toshiba 32nm SLC Flash, provides the enterprise-level performance and reliability customers expect from The World's Best Flash Storage™.
"IT managers are always looking for ways to increase I/O performance, reduce latency, and improve overall system efficiency," said Jeff Janukowicz, Research Manager for Solid State Storage Technology at IDC. "A PCIe Flash SSD, such as Texas Memory Systems' RamSan-70, can solve many of these issues for IT managers and delivers a cost-effective solution for most demanding enterprise applications."
Designed specifically for the OEM market, the RamSan-70 is the ideal in-server storage solution for data warehousing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), sophisticated data acquisition, scientific computing, and web content.
"The RamSan-70 establishes new capacity and performance standards for direct-attached storage customers," said Dan Scheel, President of Texas Memory Systems. "With this next generation of PCIe SSD innovation, we will continue engineering The World's Fastest Storage for the full spectrum of customers."
The RamSan-70 is scheduled for initial delivery in 4-8 weeks. For more information about the Gorilla, swing by http://RamSan.com/Gorilla.
About the RamSan® Series-7™
RamSan® Series-7™ storage products represent the 7th generation of the RamSan product family, beginning with the first RamSan system in 2000. RamSan systems can be configured with Flash or RAM storage media, and are available in form factors ranging from PCIe cards to 4U rackmount systems with 10 GB/s bandwidth and 1,000,000 (1 million) IOPS. The variety of RamSan configurations available allows the user to choose the best configuration for their application's needs. All Series-7 RamSan products deliver cost-effective performance and reliability.
About Texas Memory Systems, Inc.
Since 1978, Texas Memory Systems, Inc. (http://RamSan.com) has designed and built solid state storage systems that accelerate demanding enterprise applications. Its award-winning RamSan® product line, known as The World's Fastest Storage®, has continually delivered fast, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to a broad range of enterprise and government clients around the world. All Texas Memory Systems products are designed and manufactured to the highest standards of excellence in Houston, TX, USA. |
| Apple Store celebrates 10th anniversary with 2.0 experience, iPads locked in Lucite (video) Posted: 22 May 2011 04:02 AM PDT We already wished the Apple Store a happy 10th anniversary, looking back to see what's changed (and what hasn't) in a decade of retail presence. Now Apple's tweaking things even more, launching the so-called Apple Store 2.0. iPads have been scattered throughout, deployed to run as mini-kiosks and providing information about various products on display. Users can learn more about any particular gadget on the tablets, figure out pricing, and even hit a button to have a sales associate swing by -- for when turning around and saying "excuse me" is just too much work. The new system has already launched in Australia and, while it's hardly the shocker some thought Cupertino might unleash on us and certainly won't revolutionize your retail experience, it's better than a dusty 'ol YouTube video. Update: In case you had any doubt that this is coming to the US as well, we just received a pic from inside a US retail location showing the same sort of display. We've added that below. [Thanks, Khan] |
| Apple patent application reveals an LCD with switchable, privacy-protecting viewing angles Posted: 22 May 2011 02:48 AM PDT Don't you hate it when the guy next to you on the subway is looking over your shoulder, watching you screw up in Fruit Ninja? Well, Apple could have predicted your discomfort -- back in November 2009, before the iPad was anything more than a unicorn, the company applied for a patent on an LCD display with adjustable viewing angles, explicitly designed to "shield the display away from unintended viewers." According to the filing, the display would include steering modules made of liquid crystal material, which aim the so-called scattering modules that sit on top of them. The top layer then redirects the light, making it possible to narrow down and alter the viewing angle. The patent specifically calls out cellphones and laptops, paving the way for discreet displays on MacBooks and iPhones, though the broad phrase "other portable electronic devices" leaves plenty of room for iPads and iPod Touches. No word, of course, on when or if Apple will secure this patent and if so, what devices might incorporate such screens. We may just be seeing this concept go public now, but it seems consumers could use this even more today than they did back in the fall of '09, when all they had to worry about was a stranger squinting at their 3GS' 3.5-inch screen. |
| NC governor will let cable-backed bill restricting municipal broadband become law Posted: 21 May 2011 11:20 PM PDT We've repeatedly hammered Time Warner Cable (and its big-cable cronies) for crying to the North Carolina legislature about municipal broadband. TWC claims it can't compete with taxpayer-backed ISPs such as Wilson, NC's Greenlight -- and that it shouldn't have to. In fact, Greenlight and four other municipal providers came about specifically because corporate players refused to provide inexpensive, fast broadband. And now that local governments have proven they can provide it, the cable companies have cried foul, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into select political pockets all the while. That's the drama so far, and now a bill restricting municipal broadband -- mandating that providers pay taxes similar to private companies, for example -- has landed on the desk of Governor Bev Perdue. She won't veto the bill, meaning it will soon become a law; for whatever it's worth (read: not much), she also refuses to sign it. The reason? Here it is from the horse's mouth: I will neither sign nor veto this bill. Instead, I call on the General Assembly to revisit this issue and adopt rules that not only promote fairness but also allow for the greatest number of high quality and affordable broadband options for consumers. The legislation strikes a blow against public ISPs in a country that ranks ninth in the world for broadband adoption and download speeds. And that, apparently, is what "fair competition" looks like in the US. [Image courtesy of IndyWeek] |
| Mimics helps you cope with your Sync-less existence (video) Posted: 21 May 2011 08:57 PM PDT Much as we hate to admit it, we can't all afford a fancy new car with Sync or Mini Connected inside -- I mean, come on, we're not made of money, people. Thankfully, it seems MP3Car has a pretty slick and affordable solution to the problem of fumbling with your iPhone when you should probably be focusing on the road and not crashing into things. Mimics is an in-car solution that transmits the contents of your handset to a touchscreen display in the vehicle's dash, letting you listen to music, use GPS, take calls, and check email without having to deal directly with the phone. The system is available now for pre-order at $630 for the full version, $530 for people who have standard double DIN-sized radio openings in their cars, and $205 for hobbyists who want to put the thing together -- here's hoping they're parked when they do. [Thanks, Sean] |
| How would you change Samsung's Galaxy S 4G? Posted: 21 May 2011 07:17 PM PDT Oh, sure -- Samsung's Galaxy S II should be hitting American airwaves quicker than you can say "Where'd my weekend go?," but we're living in the here and now, aren't we? Now that you've survived whatever scare was scheduled for today, it's time to get back to what matters most: answering fictional questions. This week's episode of HWYC involves the T-Mobile variant of Samsung's heralded Galaxy S. Yeah, this one's been around the block on other carriers before, but that makes our prodding all the more pertinent. If you had the power to overhaul T-Mob's Galaxy S 4G, would you? And if so, how? Upgrade the battery? Change the construction material? Toss a fresher copy of Android on there? Feel free to let us know in comments below -- you've managed to live another day. Won't you do something worthwhile? |
| Google is blocking Android Market movie rentals on rooted devices because of copy protection Posted: 21 May 2011 04:33 PM PDT Rooting your Motorola Xoom won't stop you from getting an LTE hardware upgrade, but it will throw up a roadblock if you're trying to watch movies rented from YouTube / Android Market. Android Central points out a Google support document that details the "Failed to fetch license for [movie title] (error 49)" message users will see when they try to play a movie on a rooted Android device. Only Xooms with Android 3.1 have access to the service right now, but once support rolls out to all Android 2.2 or higher devices in a couple of weeks some will have to choose between their superuser privileges and Google's nascent movie offerings (at least until someone figures out a workaround anyway). So far rooting and jailbreaking hasn't put a stop to other movie rental services for mobiles (iTunes, Netflix) so even if Google blames the movie studios for the policy, it seems like an odd restriction for the company behind the "open" platform to have. |
| US lags in broadband adoption and download speeds, still has the best rappers Posted: 21 May 2011 03:01 PM PDT U, S, A! We're number nine! Wait, nine? At least according to a recent broadband survey by the FCC, yes. The good ol' US of A ranked ninth (out of the 29 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) in fixed broadband penetration on a per capita basis, and 12th in terms of pure percentage -- behind the UK, South Korea, Iceland, the Netherlands, and plenty of others. Though, granted, these nations lack the sprawling amber waves of grain that America must traverse with cables. The US also trailed in wireless broadband adoption, ranking ninth yet again, behind the likes of Ireland, Australia and Sweden. Worse still, even those with broadband reported slower connections than folks in other countries. Olympia, Washington had the highest average download speeds of any US city with 21Mbps (New York and Seattle tied for second with 11.7Mbps), but was easily topped by Helsinki, Paris, Berlin, and Seoul (35.8Mbps). Well, at least we beat Slovenia... if only just barely. |
| Hulu Plus on TiVo promos pop up in stores and online, suggest launch soon Posted: 21 May 2011 12:37 PM PDT Although TiVo announced it would offer Hulu Plus back in September we're still waiting for it to arrive on those Premiere DVRs. Twitter user @dlayphoto spotted these materials in their local Best Buy promising six months of the $7.99 / month service for free with the purchase of a new box -- with a new price tag -- although it's hard to see if this will apply to existing users as well. The URL on the cards leads to a (now deactivated, but larger screenshots are over at Zatz Not Funny) page where TiVo owners can input their serial number and email address to get access. Judging by the dates on the promotions, things should get rolling within the next month or so, but we'll let you know when we hear something official. |
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