We’ve covered the best new dating sites, and even the most popular gay male dating sites, here on TechCrunch. But none of these sites capture the speed and simplicity of speed dating, where you meet a bunch of potential mates in a short period of time. South Africa-based dating site YesNoMayB nailed it. Forget all the long, detailed profiles and complicated algorithms for figuring out who you might be compatible with. YesNoMayB shows you a bunch of pictures of potential matches based on search criteria (straight/gay and age range). You vote each picture with yes/no/maybe. If you say yes to a picture, your picture will be placed in their queue the next time they review pictures. If they say yes to you, too, then the site notifies both of you of the match, and you take it from there. This works in reverse, too. If someone likes your picture, their picture will be secretly shown to you at some point, too. It’s very similar to HotOrNot’s MeetMe service (although less public). One difference is that YesNoMayB uses collaborative filtering to try and show you people who you will find attractive. So when someone who tends to vote the same way as you likes someone, they are more likely to be shown to you as well (similar to the netflix recommendation engine). To try it out, see the demo here. The basic service is free. A premium version is available with a bunch of additional features, including the ability to see new members right away (free accounts must wait five days to see new members). Premium accounts are $18/month. This service gets five stars for friction reduction as a dating service. If looks are all that matter, this is the perfect dating site for you. And if you are a woman looking for a man, keep an eye out for my picture and don’t even think of clicking anything other than “yes.” Update: I take back everything good I said about this company. Apparently the picture I submitted for my profile was not considered appropriate. Hi michael Thank you for sending us your photo but unfortunately it is not suitable for use on facespinTM. It was declined because we need to see a picture of you. As this is largely a visual dating site, we have to maintain a certain quality standard of photographs in facespinTM. For insider tips on what → Read More
Categorize this as another unsubstantiated Google rumor, but the word on the street is that Google has acquired SpaceShipOne and is putting it inside building 43 at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. No word on the purchase price, or if this was a donation, or why the ship is not staying at the Smithsonian. SpaceShipOne made headlines in 2004 when it won won the $10 million Ansari X prize. To win the prize, aerospace designer Burt Rutan and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen led the first private team to build and launch a spacecraft capable of carrying three people to 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface twice within two weeks. In 2005 Rutan and Richard Branson formed a new company to produce a new ship, called SpaceShipTwo, for a new spaceline company, Virgin Galactic. This rumor is either true or someone has played a very good joke on me. I have independently confirmed that there is some odd construction going on in building 43, although it could be something unrelated. If this is accurate, SpaceShipOne should arrive at Google on Saturday, October 21. Update: This is getting interesting. A reader emailed to point out that Larry Page is on the board of trustees of the X Prize foundation (see picture, dead center bottom), while a commenter points out that SpaceShipOne is doing just fine at the Smithsonian in Washington DC, thank you very much. If you live in Washington, will you please drop by the Smithsonian tomorrow and see if it is still there? More: I will send an iPod shuffle to the first person who sends me a picture of SpaceShipOne taken any time on Saturday, October 21, 2006. You have to verify the date somehow, although if you can’t and the picture turns out to be accurate I’ll honor it. I don’t care if it’s in the Smithsonian or on a crane being lifted into building 43 – I just want to know where it is (bonus points if you get a picture of it while being installed at Google, though). Easiest way to judge this is to have people put it on flickr or somewhere else online and put a link in the comments. Final Update: Mystery Solved. → Read More
This is really the only cool footage I grabbed this trip – most of the time we were in a conference room, van, or an off-limits area *SNIFF* – but it was fun to wander through Samsung’s techno wonderland/store. That strange glowing table halfway through is very Minority Report. You move the window over a character on the screen and you get a close up of that character in action. You’ve also got the tiny Samsung phone projector at the very end. Tres small. → Read More
MusicNation is a brand you’ll likely be sick of hearing about a few months from now. The company has built the destination site for a forthcoming super promotion by Clear Channel radio for an online music talent contest. That contest is sponsored by Epic Records, Universal Music Group, and EMI. The winners of the will receive recording contracts with Epic. Universal and EMI will cover Europe and Asia through the rest of the next year. There are any number of sites like MusicNation coming online, we’ve profiled karaoke contest site Bix, for example. Fox Interactive acquired kSolo.com for a rumored price of under $10 million in May. There are quite a few others, including SingShot and OnlineIdols. MusicNation does have a particularly well designed site (see screen shot below and on corporate page), I’ll give them that. I don’t think it’s going to work. EMI is the company making an other foray into new media with SpiralFrog, the company that will offer free music downloads that stop playing when you stop logging in to watch ads. Just like I expect of SpiralFrog, I expect that most young people will find MusicNation contrived and irritating. YouTube is having its own “battle of the bands” where the winners will go on Good Morning America and have their music turned into Cingular ring tones. I think that’s pretty corny, but at least there is already a huge community at YouTube – MusicNation is going to try and create one in a flash with an overload of advertising. The company is lead by Dan Klaus of BMG Canada, former DoubleClick CEO and now Shopwiki CEO Kevin Ryan and Ryan Nitz, past founder of DotComFailures and former roommate of FuckedCompany (and AdBrite) founder Phil Kaplan. (DotComFailures had a banner logo reading “kick ‘em while they’re down!”) Heather Green calls them a startup media Web site in the forthcoming issue of Business Week – while that may be technically true, it rubs me wrong. MusicNation says it will select winners by both viewer voting and a panel of “music industry influencers.” The company’s website says in one section that entry will be free, in two others that entrants will submit $25 with their videos to compete. In addition to a recording contract, winners will also appear on Clear Channel Radio’s in-studio performance series STRIPPED. The contest will run for 15 months. Also on the MusicNation corporate → Read More
Now this is more like it. Quanta, the large Taiwanese laptop manufacturer for like, everyone, has developed an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) I can actually get behind. (Unlike the POS I mentioned this morning.) A first for the company, the prototype UMPC is based on Intel’s Viiv platform, which if true means it could do high-def video playback and 5.1-channel surround sound, have Gigabit Ethernet and RAID support and would have to run on an Intel dual-core CPU. It would also need to run on Windows XP Media Center Edition, contrary to the Windows XP Tablet Edition Ubergizmo is reporting. Doesn’t matter really. It’s just nice to see that someone out there is working on something that looks like its actually worth replacing a laptop with. Quanta develops UMPC prototype [Ubergizmo] → Read More
Following the example set by Nintendo’s Wiimote and Sony’s SIXAXIS, In2Games “Fusion” motion-sensing controllers are joining the battle of next gen controllers. Unlike the Wiimote and SIXAXIS, Fusion does not approximate motion. Fusion actually uses “sound waves and other technical wizardry” to provide accurate on-screen depictions of your motions. To swing a bat, you’re going to have to clean up your living room a little bit and make room for the full motion of swinging the bat. Say hello to crazy (and possibly dangerous, in a funny way) console multiplayer. Since Fusion tracks all of your movements, you won’t have to aim it at any kind of sensor. In2Games has not yet announced any games that will be compatible with the Fusion, but since the sensor connects via USB, you should be able to plug it into any of your next gen consoles. I personally like the light saber, even though it looks like I can break the damn thing (and I’m an emo girl). There’s also a standard next gen Fusion controller (not pictured above) that you can check out via the link. Fusion controllers have a release date of Q3 2007 for $56. Let’s hope In2Games picks up a couple developers so we can actually find use for its controllers. In2Games Fusion Controller [engadget] → Read More
Sony, the company that used to make innovative electronics and now just delays stuff, has today introduced its latest entry into the world of high-tech delays, this time on its LocationFree TV. Just days after announcing a LocationFree TV client for its own Sony-Ericsson P990, the time-sucking giant announced that the LocationFree TV base station, the hub that the entire LocationFree TV service revolves around, would not be launched next week in Tokyo, as it had promised, so that it can do more testing. The release date has been pushed back until at least November 17. This is yet another win for Sony in the coveted Trainwreck of Technology market, as its battery recall fiasco and high-profile PlayStation 3 delays make news across the globe. Look for delays with the PSP 2 and new Walkman line early next year. Sony delays sales of LocationFree TV [MSNBC] → Read More
Due to too many returns on GeForce 7900 GT, Nvidia is forbidding its partners from overclocking the upcoming G80 cards, according to The Inquirer. The site backs up the report by bringing up how Nvidia locked down overclocking on the dual-GPU 7950 GX2 cards. However, I4U is calling bullshit on it, since its in possession of an overclocked XFX 7950 GX2 XXX. I have to agree with I4U on this one. There are a number of vendors that make their money on factory-overclocked cards that to cut out the market entirely wouldn’t be the wisest move. Let’s bet on this just being scare tactics from Nvidia so that it can sell more expensive cards with faster clock speeds. NVIDIA Says No to G80 Overclocking? [I4U via The Inquirer] → Read More
There’s been a lot of talk of whether or not the Nintendo Wii will have component cables available at launch for users that own big-screen TVs and want to run Wii games in progressive-scan. Yesterday, Nintendo of America commented on the subject telling us that the Wii will support 480p via component cables the day the console releases. The component cables must be bought separately for $29.99, and are only available through online retail outlets like EB Games, Best Buy, Gamestop and Circuit City. Nintendo didn’t say why the cables were only available online, but it’s not like this is the first time they’ve done this anyway. We saw the same type of thing going on when the GameCube released. And before you ask, no, GameCube component cables will not work with the Wii. Probably because the input of the Wii (guessing) looks like it’s going to be USB. Looks like I’m going to have to order components for the Wii before I even get the console. Nintendo Wii: 480p At Launch Confirmed [ign] → Read More
I’m not really sure why anyone would need this product. It seems to me that people would be well enough aware that they’re stressed out. Nevertheless, if you feel that the quantity of your stress is in question, then perhaps you should take a look at the Stress-o-Meter. Simply place your fingers in the grooves and the meter lights up to inform you just how stressed you actually are. Apparently it measure vibrations to detect stress levels—completely sound medical analysis there, really. It’s available for about $21. Stress-o-Meter [via ubergizmo] → Read More
Boost Mobile, the hip-hop MVNO, is moving into the popular hybrid plan market with three new plans for those who don’t qualify for (or want) the credit-munching post-paid plans most of us use, but also don’t like the nail-biting pay-as-you-go aspect most prepaid plans feature. All under the “Premium Prepaid” brand, Boost is offering three plans that all include unlimited walkie-talkie usage. The $30 plan is basically a regular pay-as-you-go plan at $.10/minute. For $50, you get the same with 400 included minutes, with overages at $.10, and for $70 you get 600 minutes, and unlimited nights and weekends, with overage still at $.10. If you don’t want to be tied to a contract, these new hybrid plans (Helio and Virgin Mobile offer similar programs) aren’t a bad way to get your mobile on, though advanced features like mobile high-speed data still aren’t a standard option. Hybrid Prepaid Arrives at Boost Mobile [Wireless Week] → Read More
PicLens is a new photo viewing plug in from CoolIris. The tool lets user watch a full screen slide show of any photo series from Flickr, Photobucket, Facebook, and image search results Google, Yahoo!, and Ask. The software is sparse on features and user control so far, but it’s so visually compelling that you’ll likely enjoy using it quite a lot anyway. This first version is available only for Safari. CoolIris is a company we’ve written about here before. Their flagship product to date has been a browser plug in that provides pop up previews of search results and other web pages. Some people like it, but others (myself included) find it more jarring than useful. This new product is much more fun to use. CoolIris also offers a free ring tone creation service, something a number of companies are starting to do. After downloading the plug-in, pictures on any of the supported sites display a two box icon when hovered over. Clicking on that icon takes you to a full screen view to launch a slide show. Only the images that are displayed on the page you launched PicLens from are currently viewable in the slide show (so 18 in Google images, 24 in Flickr) and there doesn’t appear to be any way to change the speed the images are displayed at. As a first proof of concept though, it’s great. It’s an easy thing for any Safari user to download and use for enhanced image viewing. Hopefully a Firefox plug-in will be offered some day. The company says a Windows version will be available soon. There’s probably no way to monetize it directly, wrapping ads around thumbnail images is risky enough – putting a post roll advertisement after a slide show of some one else’s images in full size would be impossible. → Read More
Verizon Wireless is going daily with access to its V-Cast service. Currently, the V charges its customers $15 a month for the privilege of watching unlimited shorts from sports and the news. The new plan allows customers to sign up for one 24-hour period, where it’s all you can eat, then the love stops, and you awake with a hangover and no recollection of where you are or how you got there. It’s $3 a day, which isn’t bad when you consider that Verizon’s competitors charge $2 a clip. That’s too much to spend on anything Kenny Chesney. Verizon Wireless Customers with V CAST-Enabled Phones Can Now Access V CAST with a Daily Subscription [Verizon Wireless Press Release] → Read More
In the words of Ali G, “What is legal?” In the case of Sony vs. popular online retailer Lik-Sang, importing PS3s, PS2s and PSPs into Europe from Japan is not. Judge Michael Fysh found Lik-Sang guilty of selling intellectual property rights that belonged to Sony, when it sold Sony PSPs to Europe. After the court ruling, a Sony rep stated: The law is clear; grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCE is illegal. Therefore, we will utili[z]e the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this. Ultimately, we’re trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not – in PS3′s case – backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty. So far, Sony has only gone to court over the intellectual property rights of the PSP, not the PS3. But it seems as though it will do all it can to keep the PS3 from being imported into Europe, even go to court again. All this makes everything much harder for European gamers who are already facing a four month delay of the console. It also hurts Sony’s reputation in Europe, which is already plummeting since it couldn’t keep its promise of same day launch for all three markets. First no Gears of War in Germany, and now no PS3 importing in Europe, it looks like the gaming industry isn’t fitting in well with Europe at the moment. Sony Says No To Importing Playstation 3 [pro-g] → Read More
We’re all fans of the Meizu Miniplayer here, thanks to its iPod Nano-like size and its iPod Video-like functionality. So it’s good news to us that they’ve just released an SP edition of their 1, 2 and 4GB players. The SP edition goes for an average of $30 cheaper than the standard editions, but according to Meizu, the quality is just the same. For those of you unfamiliar with the Meizu, it’s a flash-based player with MP3 and OGG support for audio and WMV and Xvid support for video. It has a scroll pad instead of a scroll wheel, and a screen that’s just about the same size as the iPod 5G. These SP editions are only available in the Chinese market as well, so this is just a heads up for when the prices propagate into America. Meizu [via dapreview] → Read More
Panasonic’s Achilles-like (indestructible unless you hit it at the right place) line of notebooks just got a refresh with two models, the CF-30 and the CF-19. These two notebooks passed such tests as 26 drops from 36 inches, vibration in ground vehicles, water spillage on the keyboards, extreme temperature, dust and altitude resistance. Also known as the “infant” series of tests. The CF-19 is the tablet-like notebook on the left, and the CF-30 is the standard notebook ont he right. Both have Intel Core Duo and an 80GB hard drive, plus up to 4GB of RAM, GPS, Bluetooth, WLAN, and some 3G capabilities as we saw here. The 3G is both EV-DO and HSDPA, meaning you’re good to go on Sprint, Cingular and Verizon. Panasonic ToughBook CF-30 and CF-19 Announced — Brightest Notebook Screens Ever [NotebookReview via Coolest Gadgets] → Read More
Not exactly tech, but news that might interest a few of you nonetheless. Variety reports that Universal and Fox have pulled out of the “Halo” film. Sources close to the issue have cited financial squabbles as the root of the studio desertion. A representative for Peter Jackson, who is producing the film, stated that Universal called a meeting in an attempt to reduce Microsoft’s profit just days before the two studios were to provide initial payment of $5 million. Jackson and pals rejected the reduced offer and the studios exited stage left. It is rumored that Universal and Fox got cold feet at the prospect of the film costing upward of $200 million, but Jackson’s people deny that sum was ever a possibility, stating that $128 million was the only value ever discussed. In the meantime, preparation for the film continues and Microsoft is already courting a new distributor for these sure-to-be-blockbuster. We’ll keep you posted as more develops. ‘Halo’ pic loses its studios [Variety] → Read More
. Nyko’s releasing a wireless guitar controller for the upcoming Guitar Hero 2, featuring their trademark wireless Nyko technology and the two-tone black and red color of the Gibson Explorer. 1up had a chance to try the controller, and says all the buttons feel in-place and that the guitar should hit shelves next month for around $59.99. We’re not sure whether Red Octane will sue them like they did The Ant Commandos, makers of the Freedom V Wireless Guitar. If you’re curious to see how that one works, check out our review. Nyko’s New Guitar Controllers [1up] → Read More
to be like Bond is a bit tougher to answer, that is unless you’re Sony. The Japanese powerhouse is offering you, flabby Joe, a limited edition VGNTX007C “Spy Gear” pack with Sony’s Vaio TX Notebook and a 7.2-megapixel Cyber-shot camera. The Vaio TX has a 11.1-inch LCD, weighs 2.8-pounds, and has 11-hours of battery life with the extra battery. The Cyber-shot DSC-T50 can shoot up to ISO 1000, has a 3.0-inch LCD, and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. All quite nice until you see that its asking price is $4,299 Canadian, or $3,774 US. Unless you’ve got Her Majesty’s Secret Chequebook on you, you’ll probably want to stay away from this one. Product Page [Sony Style] → Read More
The Freedom V Wireless Guitar controller was developed by TAC (The Ant Commandos) for one of the biggest Playstation 2 hits ever, Guitar Hero. The game puts you on stage to rock out to classic tunes while strumming along and matching the on screen notes. The whole process is similar to Dance Dance Revolution, but a whole lot more fun (and a whole lot less homoerotic). In my opinion, Guitar Hero is best played as a social game, when you’ve got some drinks, a group of people and some room to have fun. The biggest drawback to the licensed guitar controller you get when you buy Guitar Hero is that it’s not wireless. Having a chord around and sitting close to your TV while you’re rocking out to Black Sabbath just takes away from the experience. TAC sent me its new and improved Freedom V Wireless Guitar controller, and I quickly got a bunch of friends together and had a Guitar Hero party to test it out. → Read More
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