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Google Desktop, meet Linux. Google’s Beijing eggheads developed the app to run on Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Suse and Red Flag flavors, giving Penguin-heads quick access to Gmail, local files and Web searches. Google Desktop for Linux uses KDE or GNOME and is currently available in 10 different languages. Google Desktop goes Linux [News.com] → Read More
http://www.kyte.tv/flash.swf?embedId=3226436&appKey=MarbachViewerEmbedded&uri=channels/6118http://www.kyte.tv/images/updatenotice.swf If you’re waiting in line for iPhone and you’re feeling like a total loser, you’re not. Blogstar Robert Scoble is with you, camped out in front of the Apple store in Palo Alto, hoping to be the first to get his hands on the Thing. But that’s not the fun part. What’s cool is he’s live video-blogging from the line, and uploading as he can. If you wanna see what other line-sitters are dealing with (comfortable weather, friendly co-fanboys), then have a look at his Kyte.TV account and drink it all in. Can you smell the iPhone coming? It’s almost here, man. You know we’re going to be all over it tomorrow. We’ve made sure that all of us here are under curfew tonight, and Vince’s parole officer will make sure he’s up early tomorrow for the big day. Join us, won’t you? Scoble’s Kyte TV [via Josh at Online Video Service] → Read More
Plantronics has two, count ‘em, two new headsets — one cancels noise out, the other keeps noise in. The Voyager 520 is a noise-canceling Bluetooth headset “featuring robust noise-canceling technology for business-quality performance”. It’ll set you back $99.99, available in August. For the less-mobile (but still pretty mobile), there’s the sound-isolating .Audio 480 Virtual Phone Booth headset “for laptop multimedia and Internet conversations.” It’s the smallest computer headset that Plantronics has pushed out yet. Analog version available for $89.95, USB for $109.95 — also available in August. I have a Gamecom Pro1 headset from Plantronics and it’s real, real nice. Good stuff outta Santa Cruz, California. Plantronics Delivers Superior Sound and Noise-Cancellation with New Voyager Bluetooth Headset Plantronics Launches the .Audio 480 Virtual Phone Booth Headset → Read More
Ok, to understand the video after the jump, you must watch this video that you’ve probably seen before. Ok, seen it? Great. Read the rest of this entry to see the fun. → Read More
I guess it’s wireless boom box Thursday here at The CG, what with Parrot’s PARTYand now the Sony VAIO WA1. This little guy works in tandem with your PC and/or Wi-Fi network to spread nothing but house music’s most memorable beats. Sony’s probably thinking that people don’t really want to listen to music on their computer’s crappy speakers nor do they want to string miles of speaker cable along the floor. Like I said, the WA1 can either piggyback your Wi-Fi network, combing it for playable music, or you can use the included USB wireless dongle. Both accomplish the same task: wireless music all over the house. The WA1 supports all the standard music formats and has 128MB of on-board RAM for local music storage. I’m more of a huge audio system kinda guy (well, theoretically) but walking around in a cloud of music is always, um, neat. $350 neat? Well… Sony’s wireless streaming boombox: the wi-fi hi-fi [Gizmag] → Read More
With so many Bluetooth headsets around, I could see where it would be easy to dismiss the Sound ID SM100. The company’s more than likely unfamiliar to you — unlike Nokia, Plantronics, Motorola and Sony Ericsson that are everywhere — and family and friends probably will not have heard of them either. Hell, I didn’t know about them till a couple months ago. Also, having tested a bunch of headsets over the years, I’ve learned not to be overly optimistic about any manufacturers’ claims of echo-reduction and noise-cancellation technologies. So, when the $129 SM100 actually turned out to be a great little headset that not only lived up to its claims, but had a handful of features I haven’t seen on other devices, it was a pleasant surprise. → Read More
The Boy Genius has gotten his grubby, child-like paws on an internal AT&T memo stating that employees must offer to pre-qualify customers’ credit before activating the iPhone. If your credit’s in the tank, you’ll have to pay a $250 security deposit. Trouble is, you can’t activate the iPhone in store and if you fail the credit check, you can’t pay the $250 over the phone. You have to return to the store. If you get all bent out of shape about the $250 security deposit and decide to take your money elsewhere, you’ll be taking exactly 90 percent of it elsewhere because they’re gonna charge a big fat 10 percent restocking fee on open iPhones. As an alternative, if you fail the credit check, AT&T will supposedly offer you the chance to use the iPhone on a prepaid basis as a Go Phone. Full article plus links to the leaked document at The Boy Genius Report… AT&T Internal Apple iPhone documents leaked… [Boy Genius Report] → Read More
Bluetooth crazy Parrot showed off two new music playing widgets at the British Invasion-themed Pepcom trade show thing last night. Pictured above, the Parrot PARTY (yes, its name is in all caps; no, I don’t know why) is a small stereo boom box of sorts that hooks up to your A2DP-compatible cellphone or anything else that works with Bluetooth. Once paired with the device of your choosing, the PARTY outputs up to six watts of music per channel. There’s also a line-in jack for your iPod and whatnot. You won’t confuse it with the sound systems from Ibiza’s clubs or anything, but its small size—21 ounces including its rechargeable battery—should make it easy to the beach or park or whatever. May I suggest Armand Van Helden’s Killing Puritans? → Read More
As the summer blockbuster season heats up, so too is Hollywood’s use of ads targeting mobile consumers. Users who click ads for Paramount’s Transformers, Universal’s Knocked Up, and Warner’s In the Land of Women go to a mobile Web page to select theater times and locations. “AdMob helped us deliver an innovative, cost-effective campaign to help us reach our audience on their mobile phones, where they can find show times or learn more about the movie,” said Dave Martin, director of interactive media at Ignited Minds, an L.A.-based agency handling the Universal Pictures interactive media account. AdMob → Read More
Pentax announced an update to their ever-popular K100D dSLR, which is a simple-to-use, entry-level model that even your mother could use. So what’s new with K100D Super? Building on rock solid features like the Shake Reduction system is a ground-breaking Dust Removal system commingling with SDM lenses. If that isn’t Super than I don’t know what is. Hmmm. How about the 6.1-megapixel APS-C side CCD with an 11-point autofocus mechanism, 2.5-inch LCD and ISO 3200? That’s surely enough to whet your appetite. You’ll have to wait until August to pick one up and be sure to bring your piggy bank because it’s going to cost you $599.95. Press Release → Read More
Pogue answers just about every question you could have about the iPhone. Do you care? Do you want to buy one? Feel like watching his cheesy video, again? Yeah, you do. Often-Asked iPhone Questions [New York Times] → Read More
Steve Jobs will give the whole Apple team a pep talk later today in preparation for the iPhone’s launch. Apple employees will gather at “Town Hall,” which reeks of Big Brotherness, where they will hear Jobs give his last speech before the big launch. Since the iPhone’s launch, right or wrong, is probably the biggest launch in electronics in quite some time, I imagine Jobs will be as happy as he can be (since he’s a jerk and all). Engadget has the whole “go team!” e-mail. All kidding aside, I wish Jobs & Co. the best of luck. I just hope it’s not 900 degrees tomorrow when we’re covering the launch. Steve Jobs to make a rare company-wide speech tomorrow [Engadget] → Read More
“Who makes the Apple iPod? Here’s a hint: It is not Apple.” With those 12 words, University of California Berkeley-professor Hal Varian begins an excruciatingly detailed look at where each of the 451 parts that make up the iPod come from and how the countries that supply these parts figure into the United States’ trade deficit. I hate to ruin such a gripping plot line for you, but the end result is that it’s hard to tell where everything comes from because, for instance, Japanese companies like Toshiba — who supply hard drives for the iPod — get the parts for their hard drives from different companies in different countries. → Read More
You may already be familiar with Nielsen, the company that tracks and monitors TV viewing habits. Only they don’t want to be known for just that anymore. No, they want a piece of that sweet, up and coming cellphone business. So it purchased a company—Telephia—in order to track and monitor cellphone use. With Telephia’s technology now its own, Nielsen will be able to tally all the minutes you’ve used, all the Web pages you viewed, music you’ve listened to, et cetera. All this so Nielsen can turn around and say to advertisers,”Golly gee, it seems kids like visiting… Well, wouldn’t you like to know? We’ll tell you, but it’ll cost you…” That presumes, of course, that people, in large enough numbers, do anything other than use their cellphones to make calls and take dumb, blurry pictures. Seeing as though I have no interest in paying anything for HOT RINGTONEZ, well, there’s not much to track I guess. Nielsen Adds to Cellphone Tracking [New York Times] → Read More
I know the PS3 and Xbox 360 users are going to be crushed to find out that Midway will be making five of their hot hot upcoming games just for Nintendo systems. Two of the titles, Cruis’n and Game Party will be exclusive Wii titles, while Ultimate Mortal Kombat, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends: Imagination Invaders and The Bee Game are for the Nintendo DS. See? You’re crushed, right? While at first I thought Cruis’n was a new game about trolling for trannies, apparently it’s just an all new version of the classic Midway arcade racer. Game Party, on the other hand is a collection of classic skill games from around the world, from American sports venues to European gathering spots (darts, table hockey, hoop shoot). Both will be available in November. Details about the other games after the jump. But I warn you, it’s some pretty spicy stuff. → Read More
Apple is beefing up security for ‘iDay’ by mandating that the store manager and one other poor bastard sleepover Thursday night. They’ll be napping between the stock room and Genius Bar. I sure as heck wouldn’t stand for that. I’d demand overtime and a nice expense account for the night. The Apple stores will open at 10 a.m. on Friday and all the madness can finally begin and END. Those of you residing in Tulsa, OK and Glendale, WI will be happy to know that you’ll be getting retail stores just in time for iDay. Does that make you giddy? Apple retail stores to host nationwide employee sleepover [Apple Insider] → Read More
It’s become perfectly clear how Blu-ray will squash HD DVD and win the ‘war.’ They’re going to be giving away five free movies as a promotion in Q3 when you purchase a Blu-ray player or PS3. I don’t think HD DVD can afford to let this one slide (though they ran a similar promotion a while back). They’ve got 60-90 days to turn things around or they’ll be closing up shop. Toshiba may have an entry-level player for $299, but the five free movies bundled into the promotion discounts any Blu-ray player $100-$150. That’s pretty sneaky, Sony. But during a war I suppose you do whatever it takes. UPDATE:Hit the jump for a list of movies → Read More
I just posted on the Swaptree private beta and upcoming launch. You can actually join right now, and there are no limits on signups. Just go to swaptree.com/techcrunch.htm and follow the instructions. Let me know what you think. → Read More
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