Pantech Android smartphones get Kinect-style, touch-free gestures [video]
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Gadgets, Technology
Tags: android, eyeSight, gestures, kinect, LTE, Pantech, technology, touch-free, Vega, video
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Written By Jordan Kahn
Korean smartphone manufacturer Pantech has never had the brand recognition of companies like Samsung and Apple in the US smartphone market. However, you may want to take a second look at their new Vega LTE device, which other than sporting some surprisingly impressive specs, also includes touch-free gestures.
Imagine waving your hand in front of the device’s built-in camera to perform Kinect-like gestures without actually touching the screen. These gestures won’t necessarily be used as the primary navigation method, but could be used for tasks like answering calls and playing music. The video below shows a woman answering a call using a touch-free gesture while her hands are covered in whatever that is she’s Keep Reading
5 News Stories That Were More Important Than Kim Kardashian Getting Divorced
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Greatest Hits, Online Video, Pop Culture
Written by: Paul Nyhart
Written By Paul Nyhart
Kim Kardashian’s divorce siphoned its way through the media today, almost poisioning any potential for the internet to have a productive or enlightening news day.
If Kim Kardashian has taught us anything over the years it’s that she’s an idiotic sociopath who can’t function away from the limelight, and if American’s have learned anything it’s that we’re the worst enablers this side of that one Uncle who always offered to buy you cigs at 16.
But what did we really learn in the world today Keep Reading
Is this what an Apple branded TV will look like?
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Apple, Blog Archive, Technology
Tags: 3D, apple, concept, design, display, HDTV, icloud, iTV, mock up, rendering, siri, television, tv
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Written By Jordan Kahn
We’ve talked a lot about all the rumors regarding a potential Apple branded HDTV. Some are calling it the new Apple TV (not to be confused with their current set-top box), some prefer “iTV” (might have some trademark issues from a 50-year old UK TV network), and we’ve even heard “Apple TV Pro”, and simply “Apple Display”.
Perhaps “Apple Display” makes the most sense given it’s unlikely Apple will release a TV that is just a television. We already have hints at a Siri voice-controlled, iCloud integrated Apple HDTV, and it’s of course possible Apple plans to keep their current (or an upgraded) Apple TV set-top box around for consumers not interested in upgrading their existing HDTV. Keep Reading
YouTube Begins Rolling Out “Cable TV Alternative”
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Online Video, Technology
Written by: Paul Nyhart
After a disastrous year for Netflix, YouTube has recently made news for their push into becoming a legitimate outlet for “TV content” that could put the squeeze on the proverbial (former?) home for streaming online content.
It’s clear that Google is stepping up its game with Youtube — long considered the home of viral videos, but not necessarily quality entertainment, .Google now has their sites on developing and creating quality programming dedicated to their online channel.
YouTube announced Friday a partnership with dozens of media companies that will create about 25 hours of new programming each day for YouTube. Some of the names mentioned with the deal included Ashton Kutcher Keep Reading
The ‘Evil Dead’ Reboot: The Demons Are Drugs?
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive
Tags: body, bruce, cabin, campbell, dead, evil, remake, synopsis
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
So the official synopsis for the new Evil Dead movie is out, and surprise, it has all the makings of being absolutely terrible.
After being stuck in development hell for years, even the most lax Evil Dead fans could bask in the news that the original Dead series could never be re-created. Alas, enter Diablo Cody (Juno/Jennifer’s Body), who’s resurrected the project. This time, it brings certain female characters front and center — only in a fashion that makes close to zero sense:
According to the official synopsis at Bloody Disgusting: Keep Reading
Movie Short ‘Kart Driver’ is Half Mario, Half Taxi Driver
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Online Video
Tags: Donkey Kong, G4, Kart Driver, Mario, online movie, Princess, Taxi Driver, toadstool
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
The Halloween-style tribute videos for old NES games continues this week with Kart Driver, which pays tribute to Mario by way of Taxi Driver, complete with Princess Toadstool in the Jodie Foster role. Keep Reading
‘Cut the Birds’ takes App Store plagiarism to another level
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Apple, Blog Archive, Gaming, Technology
Tags: angrybirds, app, apple, appstore, birds, copyright, CutTheBirds, FruitNinja, iOS, plagiarism, Rovio
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Written By Jordan Kahn
Anyone familiar with two of the most popular iOS games– Angry Birds and Cut the Rope– will immediately see the inspiration behind this blatant knock off title currently claiming top spot among free apps in the App Store.
The gameplay of ‘Cut the Birds’ is actually more of a mixup between Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, although Rovio has the most to be upset about as the main characters of the game are pretty much Angry Bird clones.
There is no shortage of games that rip-off the most popular iOS title’s mechanics and naming schemes Keep Reading
Viral Video: How Do Your Guitar Skillz Compare To This Guy On the Piano?
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, NERDCORE, Online Video
Written by: Paul Nyhart
In the “I could watch/listen to this 1000 times and not get bored” category, this video shows one amazing and talented musician’s ability to riff “on the guitar”, using an electric piano. He says the piece took him about 4 hours to put together and is mostly improv.
The only thing that might be more interesting than his music is his voice, his speaking voice that is. Assuming that he’s not playing some type of rockabilly character at the end of the video, the guy seems to be an interesting cat to say the least. I’m quietly dissapointed that he didn’t lay down any vocals to go with the guitar/piano track.
Nevertheless, the video shows off some impressive riffs, and is a great jam for any guitarists or aspiring musicians out there to fall into.
So How’s the Rest of the Gaming Industry Doing?
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Gaming
Tags: ea, lossvideo game industry, microsoft, nintendo, sales, video games, xbox, Xbox Live
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
As something of a follow-up to our recent piece on Nintendo, the AP released a few newsworthy bits on how the rest of the video game industry is faring these days. No reason you should care, if only to worry more about your Nintendo stock options and the fact that they’re doing worse than ever.
The AP acknowledged that Nintendo’s loss can be credited to the 3DS, which according to the company ‘hasn’t had many hit titles yet.”
Wii sales experienced a huge decline, and overall game sales were only about half what they were last year. In case we didn’t get the point across with our Nintendo story, it would now certainly appear that Nintendo is in some deep sh*t Keep Reading
Will All Games Be Mind-Controlled? It Might Happen Sooner than Later
Monday, 31st October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Gaming, Technology
Tags: brain, controller, coputer, electroencephalography (EEG) cap, helicopter, interface, sensorimotor, virtual reality
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
While it may look like something out of The Lawnmower Man or any assortment of late 80′s/early 90s virtual reality games that had sh*tloads of polygons,the video (which can seemingly only be viewed here http://io9.com/This-is-awesome/) represents a gigantic leap in the world of game design and brain/computer interfaces.
In other words, you very well could be looking at tomorrow’s game controller.
Via a series of electrodes and wires connected to your head — also known as an electroencephalography (EEG) cap — the test subject in the video is controlling the video game helicopter and making it move up, down, left, and right simply by thinking about said directions,to move it through those giant rings (hey, remind you of Keep Reading
Samsung ships more smartphones than Apple, but how many have they sold?
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Apple, Blog Archive, Gadgets, Technology
Tags: 4S, analyst, apple, estimates, iPhone, launch, million, samsung, shipped, sold, units
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Have sales of the Galaxy S II (practically an iPhone 4 clone) allowed Samsung to pass Apple as the top smartphone vendor?
If the analysts are to be believed, Samsung did just exactly that, surpassing Apple during the third quarter with 27.8 million smartphone shipments in contrast to Apple’s 17.1 million. These numbers account for Samsung capturing 23.8 percent of the global smartphone market (in shipments) and Apple with 14.6 percent, this according to a report from Strategy Analytics market research firm. Keep Reading
Artist Recreates Steve Jobs Portrait using 3,500 Macintosh Apples
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Apple, Blog Archive
Tags: apple's, art, jobs, lefebvre, olivier, orchard, tribute, tributes
Written by: Jordan Kahn
We’ve seen a lot of creative Steve Jobs tributes since the computer industry pioneer passed away earlier this month. Apple closed stores and posted tributes from over a million fans who wrote in to the rememberingsteve@apple.com memorial, then an iPhone 4S was sent into space in tribute of Jobs, followed by probably the most incredible hair art tribute haircut you’ll see.
Sony Pictures is even rumored to be acquiring the rights for a big screen biopic. Keep Reading
Google Maps “Street View” Moves Indoors With New “Business View”
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Technology
Tags: apps, business, feature, google, google places, photos, street, view
Written by: Paul Nyhart
Google is no longer just offering you a street view, but is looking to move indoors with the latest announcement of “Business Photos.” Google began accepting applications back in 2010 and is still accepting applications for the feature that lets users peek inside select stores.
While the service functions with the same 360 scroll and view as the “street view”, it’s worth noting that it’s not directly intergrated with Google Maps. In essence, it operates mainly through Google’s business directory “Google Places.” Keep Reading
Google TV Android 3.1 update brings Android Market apps, redesigned UI, more
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Technology
Tags: android, apps, content, google, Honeycomb, Logitech, market, new, set-top, Sony, tv, ui, update
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Written By Jordan Kahn
Google has just begun to roll out the highly anticipated Google TV Android 3.1 update that comes with, among other things, a brand new UI and support for Android Market apps (sort of).
The revamped UI provides a number of welcomed new features including the ability to customize your home screen with your most used content and apps, and a new “all apps” section just like Android smartphones. Keep Reading
First Look: “Heavy Metal” Inspires Metal Hurlant TV Series
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Online Video, Pop Culture
Tags: boobs, french, Heavy Metal, Kevin Eastman, Michael Jai White, Rutger Hauer, Teenage Mutant NInja Turtles, TMNT
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
First, the good: Packed to the brim with breasts, babes, Barbarians, swords, laser guns, and evil green marbles, “Heavy Metal” was a fantasy magazine envisioned by the French (who else?) and originally called the not-very-sexy-sounding Metal Hurlant.
It was also the inspiration for the classic 1981 animated film of the same name, which I stumbled upon as a wee lad after my dad received a month’s free subscription to HBO — scarring me with all sorts of horrible death sequences as well as my very first pair of cartoon boobs (epic win). They were good enough to warrant several accidental stumbles back. Keep Reading
VIRAL VIDEO: Father and Son Play Real Life Pacman
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Gaming, Online Video
Written by: Paul Nyhart
Written By Paul Nyhart
Just when we thought kids had sold out and had all but forgotten the classics, this video hits the internet and is on the brink of going viral.
Donning the requisite pacman colors, with dyed green hair and maize colored shirt, this father and son duo make quite the simulation for what is easily the best use of blue tape for a room not in the early stages of being painted.
Complete with sound effects and epic pacman score, this video is sure to be a delight for Keep Reading
Skrillex, Mark Ronson, and DJ Premiere Team Up for Music Documentary
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, NERDCORE, Online Video
Tags: Berkelee, Berkelee School of Music Orchestra, DJ Premier, Erykah Badu, Hyundai, Nas, Project Re:Generation
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
DJ Premier teams with the Berklee School of Music Orchestra to remix a new Nas track. Mark Ronson hooks up with Erykah Badu to write a new jazz number. Legendary Motown singer Martha Reeves and The Crystal Method get together to record a new R&B piece.
Either cats and dogs are about to start mating, or something pretty damn unique is happening under the surprisingly hip eyes of the execs at Hyundai.
It was their idea to team up with the folks behind The Grammys and put together some of the industry’s newest rising stars with the most respectable veterans of the music business Keep Reading
Microsoft Envisions the Future in New Concept Video
Friday, 28th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Technology
Tags: 2011, apple, concept, future, microsoft, Office, productivity, tablet, video, vision
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Put together by Microsoft’s director of envisioning David Jones (yes, that’s a real job) and his team, the “Productivity Future Vision” concept video below shows the company’s vision of how technology will evolve over the next five to ten years. Microsoft explained in a blog post earlier today:
“The video shows our vision for a future where technology extends and highlights our productive capabilities; it helps us manage our time better, focus our attention on the most important things Keep Reading
PBS to air hour-long Steve Jobs doc with never before seen interview
Thursday, 27th October 2011Posted in Apple, Blog Archive, Technology
Tags: apple, bio, documentary, interview, jobs, PBS, release, ronald wayne, steve, wozniak
Written by: Jordan Kahn
Written By Jordan Kahn
PBS announced in a press release tonight their upcoming hour-long Steve Jobs documentary slated to air at 10PM ET on November 2nd.
Entitled “Steve Jobs– One More Thing” (taken from Jobs’ famous tagline during product unveilings), the doc will feature interviews with Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and other industry members who knew and interviewed Jobs such as Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. Keep Reading
NES’ Duck Hunt, Re-Envisioned as a Horror Movie
Thursday, 27th October 2011Posted in Blog Archive, Online Video
Tags: Duck Hunt, Halloween, Horror, Rainfall Films, Sam Bolcomb, The Hunt
Written by: Jeff N
Written By Jeff Nau
It’s news like this that makes Halloween great, seeing as how there’s not much in the way of video game-related Halloween news (although we did scare up this great short)
Enter “The Hunt”, a re-envisioning of the NES classic as a sinister bloody horror film. Not much else to it besides that. The plot is simple: 3 dumb hunters go out in the woods hunting down the most dangerous prey known to man, aka that annoying dog (you know, the giggling one you’ve shot at one too many times), only to get quite a huge come-uppance.
Kudos to director Sam Bolcomb of Rainfall Films for giving us a clever spin on this, complete with a Cabin Fever/Wolf Creek-esue, rednecky feel to it. Almost entirely void of humor, this one might actually scare you. Keep Reading
SEASON 5 IS COMING…
More Music From Jace Hall
