Hasta La Gadget!

JVC’s been trying to get back into the HDTV game via its recent partnership with Vizio maker Amtran, and just took another big step by unveiling the flagship BlackSapphire SL series. The new models boast high-end touches like tiny bezels, ultra-thin profiles and an edge-lit LED “adaptive backlight.” You’ll also get built-in WiFi, SmartTV with apps like Netflix, Pandora and a Slingbox client, Xinema-Sound audio with simulated surround-sound, and passive 3D with four sets of included glasses. Interestingly, JVC decided to launch the series with rather small 42-inch and 47-inch models, though Amtran told CNET that larger sizes are also in the works. Also unusual in a flagship is three-digit pricing: $799 for the smaller SL42B-C and $899 for the SL47B-C. Considering the sticker shock we’ve had lately, however, we’re all for keeping things small in that regard. Both models will be up for grabs later this summer.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: CNET

While the cross-platform integration of Apple’s Maps was announced at WWDC earlier this summer, the latest beta build of iOS 7 shows one key change to the mobile version that makes it suck just a little bit less than before. But only slightly.

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Leaked from today’s 404 episode:

– Viscera Cleanup Detail lets you mop up the gore first-person shooters leave behind.

– 26 sounds that are almost extinct.

– PCWorld exits print, and the era of computer magazines ends.

Ep. 1302: Where we make first contact

Episode 1,302

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You can pick your picks.

(Credit: Capacitron)

Few things go better with a face-melting guitar shred solo than a synchronized light show. OK, maybe a synchronized light show with a smoke machine. If the Firefly Pick meets its Kickstarter goal, you won’t need a crew of roadies and lighting designers to rock out with colorful flair.

The Firefly is an LED guitar pick with a sensor system that helps it flash in sync with your music, putting a light show quite literally at your fingertips. The battery-powered gadget can be recharged via Micro-USB.

The addition of the lighting technology, sensors, and algorithms means this isn’t going to be a four-for-a-dollar pick. The pledge price is $49. This does give you several options. The Firefly Original responds to playing motions. The Firefly Duo flashes one color on the way up and another on the way down. The Firefly Insanity adds an element of randomness by choosing its own color for down-strokes.

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With the wide spread of the Samsung device family resulting from the sustained success of the Samsung Galaxy smartphone line comes devices like the Galaxy Prevail II. This device is being offered for under $200 in the United States without a contract with the mobile data carrier Boost Mobile, and it’s doing so with specifications that aren’t half bad. While the LG-made Google Nexus 4 brought on the sub-$300 off-contract smartphone to the masses with decent hardware, here Samsung does something extremely similar.

Though this machine isn’t bringing the same value that the Google Nexus 4 brought as LG made the effort with Qualcomm’s first quad-core processor and a fine combination of display and camera power, Samsung’s efforts with the Prevail II do bring a scaled-down collection of features that make such an off-contract offering one to watch.

On the other hand, because this machine is being offered with Boost Mobile, it’ll have difficulty finding footing in the public space the same way as Google’s Nexus 4. Google has one massive amount of advertising power, and Samsung does too, but the big S isn’t about to spend a mint on this release the same as they have with their hero line, or even their second or third-tier releases in the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab lines.

The Samsung Galaxy Prevail II, with its modest display (4-inch WVGA, that is) running with Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean alongside a 5 megapixel camera on its back will be long forgotten unless Boost Mobile does an unforeseen amount of public push for its release. Inside we’ll find a host of Samsung’s family connections – wireless, cloud-based, and otherwise, and the company would do well to make it clear that this machine – this small release – will be the least expensive way for the average consumer to get in on the fun.

Have a peek at our hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S III mini for a rather similar close-up view of the hardware here, while the software is set to be a lot closer to what we’ve seen with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini we’ve seen much more recently.

Samsung Galaxy Prevail II aims to change definition of “entry level” is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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