Archive for September 24th, 2009
Alienware announced some new systems recently, including their latest desktop box, the Aurora ALX. The biggest news about the Aurora is the inclusion of the new ATI Radeon HD 5870 card. Reputed to be the current “top of the heap” when it comes to video cards, it’s being tested all over the web.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: alienware, Aurora ALX, Headline, Radeon
Sleep apnea sufferers have long had to use the dreaded CPAP mask, but there may soon be an alternative. Medical researchers have discovered that a small implant, attached to the hyperglossal nerve, is capable of ending your sleep apnea and probably saving your marriage.
First Look: Nikon D300s
24, Sep 2009
We just got our Nikon D300s, and it’s looking good. I’ve taken a few beauty shots for you, and shot some video with the camera as well. First impressions are good, but that’s to be expected as it’s based on the the excellent D300 body. We’ll be comparing the D300s to a D300 in our full review to help you decide if you want to upgrade or not.
Sample video and pictures inside.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: d300s, first look, Headline, Nikon
Microsoft shows some heart inside the Zune HD
24, Sep 2009When the FCC took apart the Zune HD, we noted that the test unit had “For our princess” written on the inside of the shell. Nobody knew what to make of it at the time, but now that it’s in the production units it’s clear that it wasn’t a one-time thing. As it turns out, [...]
Fitness gadget Fitbit was a hit at last year’s TechCrunch50, where it created a ton of buzz and was a runner-up for the top prize. Of course, we all know that it takes hardware companies longer to launch than software startups and since last September, Fitbit has been working tirelessly to refine the product, establish distributions channels and tweak its online platform. Now we won’t have to wait any longer, since Fitbit will officially open up to the public on Tuesday. The site you see currently is the beta version and will feature a redesign as well on Tuesday.
So what does Fitbit do? The sleek little device clips onto your clothing and tracks your movement, sleep and calorie burn throughout the day and night. Fitbit, which costs $99, uses the information it gathers about your movement to help you determine how much exercise you’ve been getting and how many calories you’ve burnt. It can also tell you how many steps you have taken and how well you’ve slept, all based on its internal motion detector. By clicking a little button on the device, you’ll see a small blue LED screen that will alternate between the steps you’ve taken, the calories you’ve burned, your distance, and gives you a gauge of how high your activity level is. This is shown via a small flower that will grow as you exercise more (though I’m told that you will be able to switch your icon).
This thing, let’s be honest, is not the most elegantly designed handheld device. But seriously, it’s an all-in-one Genesis system with 20 games on it and a 2.4″ screen for $50. I have no problem with that. Do you?
I’m waiting to hear back on what games this thing comes with, but you can be sure [...]
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: CrunchArcade, genesis, Headline
Canon Rebel 1500D/T1 incoming?
24, Sep 2009
One sweet day, Canon will unify its naming conventions, and I won’t have to put slashes in post titles ever again. But until that time, we’ll just have to deal with this dual naming nonsense. You may remember the T1i, a camera I advised against getting because of its ridiculous 20 frames per second video mode. The T1 fixes that, but doesn’t appear to change too much else.
Despite Serkan’s disappointment at the lack of anything particularly new at TGS, there’s still a good amount of new gaming info coming out of there. While the newest and coolest stuff isn’t playable just yet, there are some pretty compelling trailers for the games we’re all looking forward to in 2010.
First, I have to put [...]
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: CrunchArcade, tokyo game show, video, Videos
A real, hand-made bamboo bike
24, Sep 2009
So this is a bike made entirely of bamboo. That’s right – there’s no metal under those tubes. The maker put his entire process on Instructables and seems to be able to ride the thing without it exploding on him. However, he uses epoxy and other stuff to keep it together, which is slightly disconcerting.
Verizon: No Pre for us, thank you
24, Sep 2009
In a rather surprising move considering Verizon’s lack of compelling handsets, the nation’s biggest wireless carrier has decided it’s going to pass on the Palm Pre, if reports are to be believed. This is a serious blow to Palm’s aspirations, and their stock took a 5% hit as if to rubber-stamp it. Although the team here is divided over Palm’s new efforts (and advertising strategy), I think we were all secretly rooting for Palm just a bit. After all, WebOS is impressive and the Pre and Pixi are solid little devices — but Verizon doesn’t think so, or at least not anymore.
Nobody can deny that sales have been underwhelming — half a million is about where I’d place them, which is no way to launch a giant-killer. That’s Verizon’s first complaint, and you can’t really blame them. Okay, strike one.