Matt is a Senior Editor at TechCrunch.
Matt Burns is a family man first and attempts to be a writer second. Born and raised in the heart of the automotive world, only cars eclipse his love of gadgets. He previously wrote for Engadget and EngadgetHD before moving into the party house that is TechCrunch. He learned the retail side of electronics during a six year stint at Circuit City while studying economics at the University of Michigan.
Google is slowly pulling down Google Glass’ veil of secrecy. With each announcement, the company reveals a bit more of its secrets. This time around, the video above shows Google Glass’ UI in real world situations — you know, real world as in jumping from a plane and swinging on a trapeze. Forget about the wide-eyed concept videos; this is the real deal.
Get ready for even more Glasshole… → Read More
The Mac Pro is an endangered species in Europe. Apple decided to withdraw its towering desktop behemoth from the market after new regulations concerning power supply design hit the books. So, instead of immediately redesigning the aging desktop, Apple intends to just stop selling it with March 1st originally slated as the day of reckoning. However, with several days still left, the model is… → Read More
Last week’s hot app, Mailbox, is currently down. In a very RIM-esque fashion, the startup’s servers are not forwarding mail, resulting in a very quiet Valentines Day. I’m pretty stoked about it. I think this should be a feature.
According to Mailbox’s twitter page, the company is busy fixing the problem. They quickly issued a couple of official response but one is not very helpful. This one… → Read More
I love the idea of the Surface: compelling hardware, striking form factor, and, in the case of the Pro, smart compromises to offer a good value. But the products fail to live up to their promise. They have first generation bugs. But maybe a low-priced Surface with a smaller screen could finally help bring the Surface promise to life. It just better run Windows Phone 8 and not Windows RT. → Read More
Nintendo just announced that Google Maps with Street View is now available for Wii U systems in North America. So you now have the ability to wander around Martha’s Vineyard if you don’t have access to your tablet, computer, or phone — or pretty much any other Internet-connected device. → Read More
With just a few quick steps, it’s easy to open the phone app on any locked iPhone running iOS 6.1. From there a person has full access to the photo library, can edit contacts, send emails, text messages or even make a FaceTime call. It’s so easy that it’s downright silly.
As shown in the video here, the process involves holding down the power button and aborting an emergency call. It… → Read More
A tablet is the missing piece of Nokia’s mobile strategy. So far the company has only whispered about its plans, but more evidence of a Nokia tablet popped up at Pakistan Nokia event. For a brief moment, the stage’s screen showed a tablet, likely a 7-inch, alongside a Nokia 620 and a large desktop screen, possibly demonstrating a Surface Pro-ish device. → Read More
The Wikipad lives! After several delays, the company is ready to bring its gaming contraption to the market. The final model is different from the concepts, but it’s more portable, cheaper and much more slick. I want it.
The production Wikipad is slightly different from the early models but the messages is the same. With controls wrapping around a 7-inch screen, the Wikipad attempts to be… → Read More
I loathe using some websites. Twitter and Facebook are horrific on the web when compared to their iOS/Android apps. I simply refuse to use Zillow’s website; I’ll wait until my kids are done with the iPad to look for our new place. The same is true for Tumblr and other sites. The mobile first strategy is in full force and Microsoft needs to hop on board.
With Windows 8, Microsoft is forcefully… → Read More
Oh, HP. How you try.
The company just pulled the sheet back on its first Chromebook, the Pavilion 14 Chromebook. But in traditional HP fashion, the notebook is bulky and expensive. At $329, the most expensive new Chromebook on the market. It’s a cool $80 more than the much-sleeker Samsung Chromebook and a $130 more than the Acer C7. → Read More
And like that, The 6th Crunchies Annual Award Show is in the bag. John Oliver provided a night of laughs while TechCrunch, GigaOm and Venture Beat jointly handed out 20 awards to the best and brightest startups, founders and venture capitalists. → Read More
Tonight, at the 6th Annual Crunchies Awards, the Mars Curiosity won for Best Technology Achievement. Because, you know, science is awesome.
Presented by former Square COO Keith Rabois and VentureBeat’s Meghan Kelly, NASA “Mohawk Guy” Bobak Ferdowsi accepted the award on behalf of the whole Mars Curiosity team. → Read More
There’s a new Apple TV on the way. Per these FCC documents, the new model is physically slightly smaller and as noted by TheNextWeb, rocks an A5X SoC. With the faster core, the new model should provide a better user experience with a smoother UI and improved app performance. Plus, with the recent Apple TV update that added a bunch of features, it seems the Apple is about to make another assault on… → Read More
Say you’re building a gadget. You’ll probably need several widgets, gizmos and electronic thingymabobs. CircuitHub is now here to help. The startup launched today and is attempting to be the world’s first free online, collaborative parts library. Best of all, it works seamlessly with popular design programs. → Read More
If you’re quick, you can snag a Nexus 4 from T-Mobile right now for $199 on contract. Ever since its launch, the phone has been rather hard to purchase. Blame Google. Blame LG. But it doesn’t matter now, ’cause you can buy one right this very second. → Read More
The outcry is deafening. “The Surface Pro is priced too high!” “I’ll just get a MacBook Air!” “Microsoft is the next RIM!” “I LOVE APPLES!”
Ignore the noise and look at the situation. The Surface Pro is priced just right. For its size and form, the Surface Pro is a powerhouse computing platform and priced to sell. It might not outsell the MacBook Air but that’s okay. → Read More
It was early 2011 and TechCrunch’s comment section was overrun with trolls. Bullies and asshats were drowning out our smart commenters. We hated our commenters because, well, they hated us. So we rolled out Facebook Comments in an attempt to silence the trolls — by removing their anonymity.
But we eventually discovered that our anti-troll tactic worked too well; The bullies and asshats left… → Read More
It’s about damn time. Microsoft announced the Surface product family on June 18th. After eight months of waiting, Microsoft announced that on February 9, the fully-capable, Windows 8-packing, Intel-powered, actually-really-novel Surface 8 Pro will finally hit stores in the U.S. and Canada. The Surface Pro is the big daddy in the Surface family. Unlike the $499 Surface with Windows RT, the… → Read More
There was a time when Sony defined mobile. Its products, along with wares from its partner Ericsson, where the very best looking and performing mobile devices. But that was a decade ago. Sony hasn’t been part of the mobile conversation since before Apple crashed the party and it never picked itself up in the aftermath. But it seems Sony might be back. Its latest mobile products are stunning and… → Read More
You’ve seen the Best and Worst of CES 2013. Here’s the blooper reel. Don’t watch it around your boss or small children. The video is not safe for work – just like CES and Vegas in general. → Read More
So I’m giving the Surface RT another go. I took it down from the shelf, blew off the dust and loaded some movies on it for several trips this month. But during our CES meeting concerning the Surface Pro, I committed to giving Windows 8 a real college try. Why not, really.
This brings us to the TechCrunch Windows 8/RT app. We have one. It just launched and no one told us here at TechCrunch. → Read More
This actually works. I touched it. I played with it. And I fantasized about a bubble wrap app.
Tactus Technology stopped by our CES booth for a short demo of its crazy touch screen technology. Using microfluid technology (and a bit of magic), Tactus’s solution produces honest-to-goodness buttons that raise out of the touchscreen. And then, just as quickly as they appear, they disappear when… → Read More
Lockitron’s Cameron Robertson stopped by our CES booth for a little demo. It doesn’t take much to demo the Lockitron. It’s a little wireless device that slips onto a deadbolt and can be controlled by a smartphone. Put it on your house. Put it on a rental property. Put it on your cat.
To be honest, the story of Lockitron is much more interesting than the Lockitron itself. → Read More
Okay, hear me out. The duel-sided YotaPhone is not a gimmick. It makes sense. On the back of the YotaPhone is an e-ink display that can mirror anything displayed on the main screen. And because e-ink screens do not require battery life, these images are available even if the phone battery dies. Get it? Probably not yet. → Read More
Meet the best product at CES 2013: Razer Edge.
Simply put, the Razer Edge is a pure gaming tablet. But it’s not that simple. With the right accessories, the Edge transforms from a tablet, to a gaming machine, to a desktop. Picture the Microsoft Surface Pro but instead of being designed for productivity, it’s a portable gaming rig. → Read More
Every year TechCrunch and our partners get together to celebrate innovation at the Crunchies. This year it’s in San Francisco on January 31, 2013. The event is a star-studded bacchanal featuring (occasionally) well-dressed founders, funny onstage banter by Britain’s answer to Dudley Moore, John Oliver, and some special musical guests. → Read More
It’s day three at CES 2013. It’s a bit cold out. But here we are, for the third episode of TechCrunch Gadgets Live. We’ll be chatting with Pebble Watch. Did you hear it’s going to ship soon? Following Pebble Watch, Sphero is going to demo their latest technology and they’re going to give away to two of their robotic balls. Just like before there are more interviews… → Read More
Ignore all the noise at CES and just get a Double, a Telepresence robot with an iPad for a face. Pay someone to turn it on at CES and enjoy all the sights and sounds from the comfort of your home. Sounds like paradise to me.
In fact, just for a lark, that’s what John Biggs did one cool CES morning. Instead of slumming it on the CES showfloor with Jordan and Greg, John joined the live streaming… → Read More
LEGO just introduced the third generation LEGO Mindstorm sets. Like previous versions, a central computer controls motors and servos, essentially bringing the LEGO kit to life. This new version is heavily upgraded. And as a father, I must attest, I would use this set more than my kids. It’s that awesome. → Read More
Boxee launched the Boxee TV shortly before Christmas. At 3,000 Walmart stores. And a major feature is still in beta. Boxee is the poster child of a lean startup — they just happen to ship hardware. → Read More
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