Jul 31

How would you change Apple’s iPhone 3GS?

Posted in: Apple, Features, HowWouldYouChange, HWYC, iPhone, iphone 3g, Iphone3g, smartphone, Today's Chili

Some might argue it’s the most subtle update in the iPhone family thus far, but Apple’s iPhone 3GS still seems to be moving the sales meter, regardless. The latest and greatest iPhone officially hit the market a few weeks back, and even though Apple claims that demand is still far outpacing supply, we’re of the belief that most everyone who wanted one has managed to snag one by now. During our time with the unit, we definitely didn’t find too many reasons to upgrade from the already solid iPhone 3G, but given that you probably did anyway, we’re eager to hear how things have turned out. Did you upgrade from a prior iPhone to this? Are you joining the iPhone family for the first time? What gripes have you found impossible to ignore? Are you still up in arms about AT&T’s inability to provide MMS / tethering service? Are you, like us, completely roiled by the unit’s lack of multitasking abilities? Go ahead and let it rip in comments below — we’re guessing Apple has about 11 months or so to take your opinions to heart.

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How would you change Apple’s iPhone 3GS? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 31

PlayStation 3 slim listing pops up on Amazon Germany

Posted in: amazon, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, rumor, rumors, sony, Today's Chili

Here’s something fun to start your weekend with. Amazon’s German site now has a listing for “PlayStation 3 Konsole slim” from Sony Computer Entertainment, and really, it doesn’t take years of foreign language class to figure out that English translation. It’s listed as “platform independent” (har) and has its own Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), but on the flip side, we’re lacking a picture, release date, or any other tangible details. Can’t say we’ve got a feel for the site’s track record on random listings, but after all the rumors and possible sightings as of late, it really makes ya wonder.

Update: In case you’re wondering about that picture that now appears in the listing, it looks like a fan render that a customer has uploaded to Amazon.

[Thanks, Mitchell B]

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PlayStation 3 slim listing pops up on Amazon Germany originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 31

Windows 7 RTM reviewed

Posted in: Today's Chili

Windows 7 is more than Vista done right, but you can’t deny that it’s based on Microsoft’s embattled operating system. Despite improvements made over two service packs, users never took …

Originally posted at The Download Blog

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Jul 31

Brain Carpet microelectrodes could help translate thoughts into actions more effectively

Posted in: science, Today's Chili

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a new, more precise way of placing microelectrodes on the surface of the brain to enable patients to turn thoughts into action. Led by Bradley Greger, a professor of bioengineering, the “Brain Carpet” as it’s called, represents a “modest advance” in techniques already in use. The Brain Carpet makes use of smaller microelectrodes, and also employs many more than are usually used. The method involves sawing off the skull of the patient, then placing 32 electrodes about 2mm apart on the surface of the brain. Though they’ve conducted tests on just a handful of patients — all epileptics — the technique, they believe could also be used to help people control their prosthetic limbs much more effectively. The electrodes allow detection of the electric signals in the brain which control arm and hand movements. In the tests, patients have successfully controlled a cursor on a computer screen following the operation, and they see applications for brain-machine interface devices in the future. There’s no word on when the Brain Carpet will move from the research to reality phase, but the group’s findings have just recently appeared in the journal Neurosurgical Focus.

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Brain Carpet microelectrodes could help translate thoughts into actions more effectively originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 31

Digital City No. 43: CrunchPad vs. Apple tablet, plus Sony’s new EyePet

Posted in: Today's Chili

Episode 43 of the Digital City, where special guest Natali Del Conte joins us to talk about the ethics of news organizations uploading street fighting videos; the CrunchPad vs. Apple’s hypothetical tablet,

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Originally posted at Digital City Podcast

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Jul 31

Quick hands-on with the Zune HD

Posted in: Today's Chili

I got a few minutes of hands-on time with Microsoft’s forthcoming Zune HD at a Microsoft event on Thursday, and I came away thinking that Microsoft might finally have a contender.

Of course, it inherits all the benefits of the current Zune–a more visually interesting (if not always more …

Originally posted at Digital Noise: Music and Tech

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Jul 31

FCC queries AT&T, Apple on Google Voice iPhone app rejection

Posted in: app, Apple, AppStore, att, breaking news, BreakingNews, Google, government, itunes, Today's Chili

Yeah, we’re pretty much all peeved by Apple suddenly ejecting all traces of Google Voice from the app store, but now it looks to have drawn the ire of the Federal Communications Commission, as well. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the agency has sent out three letters, one each to Apple, AT&T, and Google. To the latter company, it asked for a description of the Google Voice app and whether previous Google apps have been approved for the store (it has, but that’s another interesting story). To Cupertino, it’s asking the phone manufacturer to explain itself over the sudden exorcism and what involvement, if any, AT&T had in this decision. The report doesn’t make a direct indication of what the letter to the carrier said, but we can imagine it’s similar to what Apple got, plus some doodles at the end of a stick figure letting out an exasperated sigh. In a statement today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said it “has a mission to foster a competitive wireless marketplace, protect and empower consumers, and promote innovation and investment.” Hey Julius, while you’re at it, can you see about Skype and Slingbox for us, too? Thanks.
Update: TechCrunch has published the three letters sent out, all very interesting reads. The FCC asks Apple specifically if any approved VoIP apps are allowed to be used over AT&T’s 3G network, and more generally what are the “standards for considering and approving iPhone applications” and more details into the approval process. It also asks for the contact information of all developers of rejected Google Voice apps, presumably for further investigation. In the Google letter, it seems to be asking if Voice will be able to be utilized in any capacity over the web, without inclusion in the iTunes store. Unsurprisingly, a number of questions to Apple and AT&T concern the carrier’s involvement in which apps or types of apps get rejected. All companies have until August 21st to respond and can request confidentiality on all or portions of their response.

Update 2: AT&T spokesman Brad Mays has sent us a statement denying any involvement in the app store process: “AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it,” he says. That said, its involvement in Slingbox’s rejection certainly does raise some eyebrows here.

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FCC queries AT&T, Apple on Google Voice iPhone app rejection originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 31

Jailbreaking software already works for 3.0.1 iPhone update

Posted in: Today's Chili
(Credit: Matt Hickey)

So Apple on Friday released an update to the iPhone OS (3.0.1) that takes care of an SMS vulnerability. It’s a fairly important patch, and usually when Apple updates the iPhone OS, jailbreakers have to wait until the Dev Team comes out with a …

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Jul 31

LEDSAUR Tyrannosaurus Rex desk lamp makes chewing through paperwork less monotonous

Posted in: light, Today's Chili
We’ll be straight with you: it was pretty much love at first sight for us and dinosaur bones, and while we’ve always harbored a secret desire to someday acquire a real T-Rex fossil for our private collection, the LEDSAUR is probably our best shot at anything even close to that. Besides taking on that famous shape we love, this carnivorous piece of lighting is pretty stylish, with each of its vertebrae represented with an LED. The lamp is made of stainless steel, it’s bendable, and it comes with a remote control. It’s sadly only available in Japan for the time being, and runs between $115 and $270.

[Via CrunchGear]

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LEDSAUR Tyrannosaurus Rex desk lamp makes chewing through paperwork less monotonous originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 31

Windows 7 on MacBook Pro: Nice, but still has poor battery life

Posted in: Today's Chili

I have had Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (release to manufacturer) for a few days. This is, of course, a legitimate copy, not the leaked copy that you can download from the Internet. That’s the good news.

The bad news is I have to test it, which has been lot of work. We tested the new operating system against Windows Vista SP2 and Windows XP SP3. Overall, Windows 7 offers a much more pleasant experience than Windows Vista. Everything works more smoothly. The new OS takes less time to launch applications, and it’s nice just to browse around its functions and features–it’s also very pretty. However, it is slower than Windows XP, except for the boot and shutdown times, where XP has always been a drag.

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