Etymotic Research announced today that it would be launching a new division called E.D.G.E. Acoustics. The goal of the new division is to produce enhanced definition gaming earphones. The E.D.G.E. line is said to represent the pinnacle in gaming earphones by applying sound isolation and audio accuracy to harness various audio components heard in games. The product line will be launched at the Game Developers’ Conference next week. I’ll be there and will be sure to check these out. In my experience though, open-air earphones are the best for gaming. The vast majority of pro gamers use open Sennheisers. Oh well, I’m intrigued nonetheless. E.D.G.E. Acoustics → Read More
Many religious people see mystical images of Christianity in everyday items. To believers, that’s not just a potato chip, that’s the image of the Virgin Mary. But it wasn’t food imagery that excited the Ugandan town of Gulu, but the image of Jesus atop a cellphone tower. According to Eric Odongo, he “…saw clouds on top of the mast and that Jesus appeared to be standing amidst clouds. I saw Jesus standing on top of the mast. He was standing between two people and was putting on a white cloth. His hair was black.” If this is the Second Coming, it marks an auspicious way for the Son of God to make an entrance. Rejoice! For he comes with angels and seven trumpets to free us from two-year contracts for our lousy phones. Forever and ever, Amen. Jesus appears atop mobile phone mast [The Register] → Read More
It’s no secret: walking around with a Bluetooth headset on just to walk around with a Bluetooth headset on means that you’re a douche. No, really. If you take offense to this, look in a mirror. See the Bluetooth thing on your head? Yeah, see, you’re a douche. At the very least a tool. Now then, does that mean that if you wear this uber-tiny Sagem Bluetooth headset that you’re less of a douche? With its slight profile that a person wouldn’t even notice from twenty feet away? That costs only around $100? No, friend, it means you’re an undercover douche. Sorry about that. Don’t like it? You can start by not walking around with one of these in your ear, no matter how sexy it is. If you’re driving, OK, that’s cool. But don’t be that guy. While you’re at it, that new slim phone of yours would probably fit nicely into a pocket, not a belt holster. Try it, I think you’ll like it. Bluetooth Headset H4 [Sagem Online] → Read More
Facing tough competition from MVNOs like Amp’d Mobile and Helio, both of which offer unlimited calling/data plans, Sprint will be testing out unlimited access plans in the San Francisco Bay area. One plan will offer unlimited voice calling, messaging, and phone-based Web browsing for $120 a month, while another plan will consist of the aforementioned plus unlimited PC data access for $150 a month. Not bad Sprint, not bad. I really like what I’m hearing. Currently the plan is only in a trial phase but hopefully that’ll change when Sprint realizes people would love an unlimited plan for a reasonable price. Sprint Faces Off Against Hip MVNOs [Phone Scoop] → Read More
The NY-based team at Clipmarks just launched 2.0 of their product, a unique web clipping system that allows you to take just the paragraphs, sentences, or multimedia you want from a page while maintaining a link to the original document. Their CEO, Eric Goldstein, was a lawyer who was fed up with cutting and pasting citations into a Word file only to discover that the 100 page mess became unreadable and unusable. He and his team launched a first iteration of the product, which Marshall looked at months ago, but the latest version is considerably more fully-featured and quite interesting. The product is a Mozilla/Firefox or IE plugin that brings up an interactive clipping menu. When you scroll over text, Clipmarks highlights it and allows you to clip it to an email, to a blog — many CMSes are supported including WordPress and Blogger — to print, or just save. The clips are stored on the Clipmarks server and can be “popped” to the front page to share with other readers. These popped stories allow voting and there is a running tally of popular stories on the homepage. Goldstein mentioned that there is no way to vote against a story so stories can only rise in the ranks or peter out, not be demoted by nefarious popularity gamers. This social aspect is second to the actual usefulness of being able to grab snippets of text, store them, and even use them in blog postings. There are a number of Javascript things that perform similar tasks, but the formatting choices and methods afforded by Clipmarks is inconspicuous and potentially addicting. In the brief time that I used it, I was able to grab videos, individual sentences, and even whole posts and drag them to a number of locations. There is a huge Clipmarks button that appears next to the menu bar in Firefox and things get really annoying if you hit it accidentally and start seeing blocks appear over everything on a page, but this is a small price to pay for the functionality afforded. Clipmarks → Read More
Looks like not all is going well in the land of T-Mobile. The company has changed its policies and have told customers with Java-enabled phones (read: almost every handset) and data plans that they’re not allowed to install third-party network applications. Why the harsh change in policy? T-Mobile claims security issues but we all know it’s a load of crap designed to prevent independent phone sales. With this ban in place, this means no Opera Mini, no Google Local, no full version of Gemdrop, no nothing. From now on if you want anything installed on your phone, you’ll have to go through the hellish T-Zones interface to pay for overpriced applications and games. If T-Mobile wants to stay in the game and not lose out to Cingular even more, it better start changing its policies back to normal post haste. T-Mobile Bans Others’ Apps On Their Phones [Slashdot] → Read More
Concierge Mobile is now online, giving the popular website branch of Conde Nast’s Traveler magazine added Mobile 2.0 functionality. The service itself is ingenious in its simplicity; if you find a listing you’re interested in, and feel like taking it to go for later, you click the small cellphone icon above the title. A txt message is sent to your phone containing the URL to a mobile-friendly description, with the address and phone number. You can send several of these notes to your mobile and cycle through them, much like old Hypercard stacks. The service correctly recommended Salumi’s here in Seattle, and displayed the correct information, allowing me to sample again the best pork sandwich in the city. The best part is that the service is free, and compatible with almost any mobile phone with Web access. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re a frequent traveler looking for the best most cities have to offer, it should be in your bookmarks today. Concierge Mobile → Read More
Can someone give this guy a hand for craftsmanship? Not only did a Japanese guy take the time to recreate a Nintendo Famicom (aka NES) out of wood, but he turned it into a guitar, complete with a gamepad headstock. Some of the tiny details include a cartridge right behind the bridge, real, wood buttons on the headstock, and a second controller below the high E string. I’d love to kick out the jams on this thing for sure. Though I’m a bit curious as to how the tone sounds. Nintendo Family Computer guitar [Boing Boing] → Read More
Hello MobileCrunch readers. The guys at CrunchGear have been tasked to update and moderate MobileCrunch and we will soon be ramping up with a new lead reporter focusing on Mobile 2.0. Before we begin, however, I’d like to get your input on what you’d like to see here. We will definitely be running M2.0 profiles, just as the Oliver did, but we’d also like to bring some of our gadget-happy content to this site, with your kind indulgence. CTIA is coming up, and we will focus on the hardware, services, and software that will make the next generation of mobile phones — read: post iPhone — revolutionary in both form and function. I’ve also decided against adding much of CG’s snark and snarkability to this site, allowing you a brief respite from the usual panapoly of genitalia jokes so prevalent in today’s tech press. I will be “heading” this site and can be contacted at john at crunchgear dot com. I hope to have MobileCrunch addresses available soon, but you know where to find us. Thank you and we look forward to your readership. → Read More
Remember StarTAC? You might not, it’s been a good decade since the popular Moto hit the scene back in the days of analog phone service, but at the time, it was a big deal. It was the first “clamshell” cellphone to hit the US market, as well as the first to feature a “vibrate” function, and was so small and light that you could actually carry it in your pocket without gearbulge. The RAZR, it could be said, is the spiritual successor to the StarTAC (even in the sense that eventually they were everywhere). StarTAC is back, though, as Moto preps a retro-ish line for the Korean market called the StarTAC III*. These are modern GSM handsets, but without many of the features modern phones have, such as an external LCD display or digital camera. Chances are, Moto’s hoping the nostalgia for the phone is high amongst first-time phone buyers, as this low-end phone will probably be aimed at them. If the marketing hits the mark, though, you could be seeing a lot of this phone. If you go to Korea. Motorola’s StarTAC III [Moto's Korean Site, via Unwired View] *Bonus points if your first thought was a “Search for Spock” joke. → Read More
http://www.podtech.net/player/podtech-player.swf?bc=3F34K2L1 If you haven’t taken the time to try out the new Ning today, Robert Scoble has filmed an excellent demo of the product (basically the same demo I saw yesterday) from CEO Gina Bianchini. There’s a lot of coverage from other bloggers as well. → Read More
Image courtesy of Gizmodo With Apple TV almost out, Sony knew it needed a competitor that was overpriced and flawed – just like plenty of other Sony products. Sony’s Internet Video Link aims to be just that, costing $300 and basically possessing the streaming media functions from a PS3. As far as content goes, there’s partnerships with AOL, Group, Yahoo!, and others. Sony Pictures will also be offering Spiderman 2 in HD, a move that screams “Like us!” Oh, and the device only works with a few Bravia TVs. Enjoy. Not. Hit the jump for a shot of the interface. → Read More
Are you lame? Do you always like to be one step behind the pack? An underachiever? Then we’ve got some TVs designed with you in mind. Sony has announced some thin, rear projection HDTVs that are supposed to be 22% smaller than your standard rear projection set. Lined up is the 50-inch KDF-50E3000, the 46-inch KDF-46E3000, and the 37-inch 37H1000. The first two drop in July, with the latter coming out in May for $1300. Why you wouldn’t just shell out the cash for a 42-inch LCD is beyond me, but to each his own. Sony Adds Three Skinny Rear-Screen Projection TVs to Bravia Line [The Giz] → Read More
Sony today has introduced a new line of its digital Cyber-Shot cameras in the T-series, launching with a pair of decent-on-paper, slim point-n-shoots. Coming in black, silver, or red (pictured), the T100 is a mighty picture taking machine, with 8-Megapixels of resolution, a 3-inch LCD, and 5x optical zoom (of the Carl Zeiss variety, of course). The T20 is a slightly more pedestrian version of the above, though it includes a pink option, something that we’re seeing a lot of lately (market to the girls, Sony, do it!). Besides the blush casing, the camera has a 2.5-inch LCD and a 3x zoom, but retains the 8-Megapixel power of the previous. Sadly, Memory Stick is the storage format, but that’s not at all surprising. One neat touch Sony has added to the cameras, though, is the ability to output directly to a hi-def video monitor via component. This is remarkable in that Sony normally goes for Sony-to-Sony, Sony-to-all is a new step and could be telling of things to come for the company. The cameras have a built-in slideshow function, meaning after you make your party snaps, you can replay them directly. Neat. Press Release [Sony] → Read More
Truthfully, I didn’t expect Apple to sell 14 million iPhones by the end of 2008, but who am I to back up a claim like that? The investment firm Goldman Sachs is saying that by the end of 2008, Apple will sell more than 14 million iPhones total. Although 14 million is impressive, the firm predicts that only 4 million will be sold in 2007 alone. 2008 is where it picks up, with a total of 10.5 million predicted being sold. If you thought droves would switch for the iPhone though, think again. Only 15% of US respondents and 30% of UK respondents said they’d switch carriers. Perhaps the iPhone has a bit of winning over to do after all. Goldman Sachs sees 14 million iPhones sold by end of 2008 [iLounge] → Read More
I was talking to some folks who knew people who worked at Sony and they are pissed. Essentially the marketing budget gets eaten up by things like this — a 1080p 3LCD TV with a slim-line design — and the rest of the company gets the shaft. This model, the KDF-46E3000, is a thin rear-projection that comes in 37-, 46-, and 50-inch models. Say what you want about Sony TVs, but this battle is over, guys. The average consumer wants 42-inch $1,500 plasmas from Costco, not a 37-inch fatscreen with WEGA on the front for $1,300 which is how much 37-inch model is. If you price out the plasma Sonys with similar specs, you’ll be in for a rude surprise. → Read More
I’ve seen a lot of Bluetooth headphones in my day including offerings from Koss and Plantronics but these are a pair that I could probably wrap my head into… errr… you know what I mean? Wrap around my head? The Sony DR-BT21G uses all the latest Bluetooth protocols and pairs with both phones and a whatever Bluetooth dongle you care to use. No price and it looks like Asia-only right now. It has a 20 to 20,000Hz response range and looks like it sounds great. Sony does stuff like this well and probably needs to rethink its stronger stuff and stop futzing with eReaders and Mylos. → Read More
Self-Measuring Football Makes You Feel Like Peyton Gotcha! Spider Torture SnoopStick: A Big Brother for the Only Child Soundwave: Transforming, MP3 Playing Decepticon! New Version Of Wiimote Out In Stores → Read More
I have to hand it to Ning – it took them well over a year after their initial beta launch to fulfill their promise of allowing “anyone” to create social applications, but they’ve done it. Ning relaunches tonight with new functionality and an interface that allows even the most novice of web users to create their own highly customized social network in moments. The site has been down most of the day – the new stuff should be online around 10 pm PST. Until today, creating new applications in Ning required at least some programming knowledge, unless you simply cloned an existing application. For the first few months after it initially launched it was so hard to use that basically no one was – I called it a dead application. I’ve softened on the company since then, giving them their requested time to fully bake the service. After seeing a demo earlier this afternoon, I’m now willing to offer a full mea culpa. The new Ning is an impressive and useful service. The New Ning Ning can be used to create a fully functional and customized social network in minutes (click on image to right for larger view). There are some screen shots included at the end of the post showing the app creation interface. The first step after naming and describing the new application is drag and drop desired modules- such as text boxes, RSS feeds photos, forums, blogs and videos – into the application in the area you want them. Adding the “members” module, for example, shows a list of the networks most popular members within that module. Customizable themes and templates can then be applied (again, by clicking and dragging, no coding), a logo uploaded, etc. The creator decides if it is a public or private network, and member profile questions can then be added. For users who want to do more customizing, CSS and HTML files can be uploaded. Very few aspects of the application are not customizable. The application is then ready to launch. It’s completely free, and Ning offers a la carte upgrades like the ability to add your own Google Adsense code for $20/month, and domain name aliasing for $5/month. Even before today’s launch, Ning CEO Gina Bianchini says growth has been strong and steady. Nearly 30,000 applications have been created to date, up from less than 5,000 a year ago. Page views → Read More
