gdgt Brings Social Media Fusion to Tech Space
By Dave Peterson | July 2, 2009
So, what is gdgt? from gdgt on Vimeo.
Social media is starting to see some interesting fusions. Combine aspects of Facebook, Wikipedia and Shelfari, soak the result in gadgety obsession, and you get gdgt, the new project from former Engadget editors Ryan Block and Peter Rojas. It;’s not a traditional gadget blog, more a clearing house of information about different gadgets, cameras and various pieces of consumer tech, with a community aspect that allows you talk to people who have (or want) the same devices you do. Want to know if the iPhone 3G S is worth the upgrade price from the 3G? Ask someone who’s done it. Trying to settle on a new wireless router? This is a good place to do some research.
Check it out, register the username of your choice, make some new friends and spend some time talking gadgets. Users are also invited to contribute new entries to the gdgt database. In the video above, Veronica Belmont will guide you through the basic features and areas of the site. My profile is at http://user.gdgt.com/davepeterson; I’ve just started getting things up and going there, but I’m looking forward to this new spin on gadget sites.
Topics: Web | 1 Comment »
Waterproof iPod Case Takes Tunes to the Deep Blue Sea
By Dave Peterson | June 30, 2009
The next time you’re exploring a sunken Spanish galleon at 200 feet, the moment need not be marred by a lack of appropriate tunes. H2O Audio wants all you snorkelers and divers to be able to take your iPod or iPhone on your next journey to the briny deep. The iDive300 is a clear iPod case, waterproof to 300 feet, that provides external buttons for all the audio playback functions (play, track skipping, volume, etc.) and delivers the sound to you through a pair of underwater speaker/headphones that are designed to clip onto the strap of a dive mask. Connection is made through the iPod dock connector and the case is compatible with all iPods (except Shuffles) since the iPod with Video (5th Gen). Although compatible with the iPod functionality of the iPhone, the instructions explain that interference with phone capabilities can be expected. Which is probably okay, since there’s no provision for a microphone, either. Power for the electronics built into the case is provided by 3 AA batteries. If this is the one piece of gear your underwater adventures have been lacking, you can remedy the situation for a mere $349.
Via OhGizmo!
Topics: Gadgets | No Comments »
A Wearable Display That Won’t Block Out the Real World
By Dave Peterson | June 27, 2009
The concept of wearable visor displays isn’t new. But Vuzix has an upcoming entry in the field with an interesting twist. The Vuzix Wrap 920AV not only shows the wearer video from any NTSC or PAL video out-equipped device, they’re also built as a pair of actual glasses, making them both a tad less weird looking and more usable out in the world as you can see through the lenses even as the video is displaying on them. The video field of view provided by the glasses is the equivalent of a 60-inch screen viewed from nine feet. The Vuzix Wrap 920AV is scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2009. No pricing has been set.
Eventually, I think we will become as accustomed to people making their way through daily life wearing display goggles like these as we are to Bluetooth earpieces now. The key is to integrate the experience so the wearer can both see a screen in front of their eyes, and see the world beyond the screen. The Wrap 920AV looks like a step in that direction.
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The Ins and Outs of Windows 7 Upgrade Pricing
By Dave Peterson | June 26, 2009
Do you remember when the heart of being a tech geek was knowing specs and understanding how one component would interact with another? I miss those days. Increasingly, it seems the key to making one’s way through the world of computers and personal technology is not so much about the nuts and bolts of functionality as it is the research and deciphering of companies’ terms of service, licensing and upgrade agreements.
The example from a couple of weeks ago was the sometimes conflicting (and changing while you tried to understand it) nature of the iPhone 3G S upgrade terms. This week, we have the pricing scheme for Windows 7. Many Windows users are looking forward to the upgrade as a “Vista that works”. Advance impressions from people that have run the widely available beta versions have been largely favorable. The upgrade versions of Windows 7 will be $119.99, $199.99, and $219.99 for the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions, respectively. Full versions will run you $199.99, $299.99 and $319.99. If those prices leave you a little shocked, you might want to consider the pre-order available now, where you can get the upgrades of Home Premium and Professional for $49.99 or $99.99, for a limited period ending July 11, or when they run out of the quantity allotted. There’s a limit of three copies per edition, per customer. If you upgrade from Vista, you can do a clean install or an upgrade over your existing installation. If you’re upgrading from XP or Windows 2000, you can still use the upgrade versions, but you will have to do a clean install.
Windows 7 is scheduled to ship October 22, 2009.
Topics: Computers | No Comments »