What’s more convenient than having an unfamiliar subway system’s map and timetable information right there on your iPhone? Oh, what’s that, Berlin? Such a convenience violates copyright? Excellent! There’s an application for the iPhone called Fahr-Info Berlin. It’s just as I described—a free app that contains the city’s subway (“metro”) timetables; it can also work in conjunction with maps to give you an idea of which station is closet to you at any given time. The company that operates the subway, BVG, claims that the application violates its copyright. BVG, in other words, want to make money off the SUPER SECRET KNOWLEDGE of what time the next train shows up. That’s nice. → Read More
http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcrunchgear%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss&file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F985637%3Freferrer%3Dblip%2Etv%26source%3D1&showplayerpath=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Fscripts%2Fflash%2Fshowplayer%2Eswf Today in Berlin HP announced the Voodoo Envy 133 notebook that was hinted at last week in the video teaser I posted. Voodoo is aiming to take on the MacBook Air and the Envy is ready for the bout. The Envy 133 has an LED backlit 13.3-inch screen, carbon fiber body (super lightweight), multi-touch trackpad (I just tried it out and it stinks. I’ll get a full demo later on, but there’s a short video after the jump. It pinches but doesn’t do the rotation.), built-in ethernet port into the power brick, removable battery, HDMI port, two USB ports, and an express card slot. The Envy’s starting price of $2,099 is less desirable, though. Another unique and cool feature for the Envy is Voodoo InstantOn, which allows the user to boot to a Linux screen with seconds of starting up while Vista boots in the background. Check out the video. The Omen starts out at $7,000 and features a 7-inch auxiliary LCD on the front of the case and copper liquid cooling pipes. You can also add a touch of your own flair by picking from Voodoo’s Allure paint color choices, Ink designs and Iconograph patterns. Also worth noting is that the Omen will only be available to current Voodoo customers until production is in full swing. → Read More
Why anyone would hold an event during the same week as WWDC is beyond me, but I find myself in Berlin, Germany at HP’s Connecting Your World media summit. I just arrived a few hours ago after a 15-hour ordeal that started with a 3-hour delay, a missed connection in Dusseldorf and my bag is missing because the dipshit from LTU (Air Berlin) at JFK gave me the wrong baggage claim ticket and there’s no record of me checking in a bag at JFK. I’m having a great day! I need beer. Lots of beer. Anyway, I have before me the HP iPAQ 910c. The welcome packet tells me it’s the 914, but the box clearly states that it’s the 910c. I’m confused by the whole situation, but the device is pretty robust and a tad on the chubby side. The 3G Windows Mobile device is packed with Wi-Fi, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel AF camera (does video at 176×144), QWERTY keyboard and a 2.46-inch LED backlit touchscreen. It seems like a pretty solid device based on the specs and we’ll see how she goes while I’m here in Berlin. Oh, it ships June 30. → Read More
A buddy of mine who shall remain nameless tipped me off the other week that a big computer company was going to announce something really big, like, their biggest announcement of the year big. I immediately said, “it’s Apple, moron.” He said, “no, I’m not that stupid, moron.” We squawked back and forth for another few minutes and I let it be because I couldn’t think of anyone else who would be stupid enough to announce something the day after the purported 3G iPhone’s purported announcement. Lo and behold, I had the answer right under my nose the whole time. It’s actually been sitting in my inbox for a couple months, but it wasn’t until I came across this Fortune article that I put the two together. HP will more than likely announce a hybrid HP/Voodoo rig that shows off Voodoo’s taste for flair with HP’s gaggle of robust…whatever in Berlin next week. I’ll be there to cover the event, so we’ll be sure to have plenty of pictures and video. I’d assume they’re going after the likes of Apple, Dell and Gateway with something aesthetically pleasing. → Read More
Looks like S-E is finally releasing the Sofia and the Shinobu, along with two others, in an effort to sew up the musicphone market. I’m going to say “boooring, Sidney, boooring” to this, but someone out there I’m sure cares. → Read More
