Because smart people who are good at solving problems with DIY methods or life hacks also happen to be very good at the Internet and because people who are good at the Internet also happen to be very good at finding DIY methods or life hacks to solve problems, it seems like we’ve come to a point where we already know how to solve all of technology’s minor annoyances with simple DIY hacks.
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Sanwa hits back with their new USB-powered multimedia speakers, the MM-SPL7U. Available in both black and white color options, these magnetically shielded speakers come with a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack plug, a convenient headphone jack on the front and promise to deliver a maximum power output of 4W (2W + 2W). The MM-SPL7U retails for 2,604 Yen (about $26). [Product Page]
Google Chromecast was a nice surprise that Google rolled out earlier this month, making a solid attempt to find its way into the streaming entertainment industry (again) with a $35 dongle and simple setup. Though cheap, the device has run into criticism over its lack of content, which is presently limited to Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play. That will be changing soon, however, as Redbox Instant and Vimeo gear up to add support for the device, and others consider following.
Vimeo is a video-sharing website akin to YouTube, but perhaps of a higher-caliber, offering quite a bit of artistic videos, short documentaries, and similar content. According to the folks over at Gigaom, the video company confirmed that it will support Chromecast, eventually finding its way onto the device. Said the company’s vice president, “We’re excited about the emerging opportunities bridging mobile to Connected TV and we look forward to offering Chromecast support in our products.”
Then there’s Redbox Instant, which is similar to Netflix, allowing users to rent DVDs from their familiar red kiosk boxes found in convenience stores and other locations, as well as watch certain content via online streaming. Redbox likewise gave confirmation to Gigaom that it will be bringing its service to Chromecast. Neither it nor Vimeo’s availability on the Google device has a set date, however.
In addition, it also looks like some other services will be available in due time, among them being the maker of media centers, Plex, which tweeted: “Wow, lots of interest in Chromecast and Plex. Yes, we’ve ordered a few of them :-)” A spokesperson for the company is also quoted as saying that it is both optimistic about and looking into the device.
All of this follows hints that surfaced last week that HBO Go support could be coming to the device, which would be available to those with an HBO account. While content options on the Chromecast are still slim at the moment, those who have already got their hands on the device – as well as those who are waiting for their orders to ship – will have more robust entertainment options in the coming months.
SOURCE: Gigaom
Chromecast to gain Redbox Instant and Vimeo, others to follow is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The Monarch GI-Z8 is another powerful desktop PC from Dospara that sports a 3.50GHz Intel Core i7-4770K processor, an Intel Z87 Express Chipset, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 2GB graphics card, a 16GB DDR3 RAM, a 2TB hard drive, a DVD Super Multi Drive, a 750W 80PLUS certified power supply and runs on Windows 8 64-bit OS. Price itself is set at 189,980 Yen (about $1,933). [Product Page]
Galaxy has recently released a new graphics card called the GeForce GTX 760 4GB OC Edition. Codenamed GF PGTX760-OC/4GD5, the card is packed with 1152 CUDA Cores, a 256-bit memory interface, a core clock of 1058MHz (1110MHz Boost Clock) and a 4GB of GDDR5 memory set @ 6008MHz, and features DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. The GeForce GTX 760 4GB OC Edition is priced at 37,980 Yen (about $386). [Product Page]
The startup behind a “wearable smart vibrator” called Vibease has taken to Indiegogo with hopes of raising at least $30,000 from fans.
That sentence kind of speaks for itself, doesn’t it? I mean, I could probably insert some suggestive wording from the campaign description (“People often forget that the brain is the biggest sex organ.”), mention some of the high-end rewards (100 vibrators!), embed the campaign video (which is sometimes hilarious, sometimes awkward, and often both), and call it a day.
But here’s the thing: I’m genuinely not sure whether or not this is a terrible idea. I mean, if I say “smart vibrator” (or, even worse, “Internet of Things-connected vibrator”, which is the shorthand we were using around the office) it’s easy to laugh and roll your eyes.
At the same time, I wonder if that comes from a combination of suppressed Puritanism and immaturity. If we genuinely think that everything in our lives is becoming increasingly smartphone-controlled and Internet-connected, why would we exclude sex? (Co-founder Hermione Way has argued that the Valley sometimes forces entrepreneurs to make a false choice between seriousness and sexiness.) Sure, the idea of a remote-controlled vibrator as a tool for long-distance relationships seems awkward, but is phone sex any better? Is this the future we’ve all been secretly hoping for?
For what it’s worth, Vibease has validation from other tech industry organizations, having been incubated by the Founder Institute and the Haxlr8r accelerator for hardware startups. It also received an at least semi-positive response from investors when Way made her pitch in a segment on Bravo’s “Start-Ups: Silicon Valley” TV show (it’s okay if you missed it, so did everyone else) and from the judges (including my boss Alexia Tsotsis) at the Dublin Web Submit.
So hey, maybe there’s a real business here. Or maybe I and everyone else in the Valley have become so numb to crazy startup ideas that this seems almost normal. Almost.
Update 1: I failed to mention that although the company is only now crowdfunding the vibrator itself, it actually launched its Android app last fall.
Update 2: Just to be clear, I don’t think vibrators are inherently funny. I do think a “wearable smart vibrator” marketed with repeated references to Fifty Shades of Grey is inherently funny (which, again, doesn’t make it a terrible idea, maybe). You may adjust your estimations of my maturity accordingly.
Sure, Mountain View slowly infused Maps with Zagat content after acquiring the brand, but now it’s revamped the outfit’s mobile apps on Android and iOS, along with its website, to boot. As you’d expect, users can wield the apps and website to find venues with searches and map-based browsing, and catch up on news and videos from the service’s editors. In this fresh incarnation, Google’s lifted a registration requirement that was previously necessary to peruse reviews online. Schmidt and Co.’s redesigned experience only covers restaurants and nightlife in nine cities, but will include hotels, shopping and other points of interest in a total of 50 US cities over the coming months. In the meantime, Zagat promises its existing ratings and reviews for spots in those markets will soon be available on the web. Hit the bordering source links below to grab the reimagined applications.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Google, Google Play, iTunes
Even with Twitter adding two-factor authentication
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AT&T has added to its in-home wireless offerings with new Wireless Home Phone and Internet plans that utilize the carrier’s LTE and HSPA networks. For now the service is only being offered in the eastern United States, but could eventually be rolled out to subscribers across the nation. Furthermore, it can be tacked on to an existing Mobile Share plan.
The plans are currently being offered to markets in Maryland, Eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Virginia, Washington D.C., and select areas along the east coast. The plans start at $20 per month, which allows for unlimited calls in the US. From there, it goes up to 10GB of data for the Internet aspect of the service for $60 monthly, and capping out at 30GB a month at $120. After the maximum data for the user’s plan is reached, there’s a $10 charge per extra GB.
As for the system itself, it is as simple as you’d imagine a wireless setup to be: there’s a modem, which plugs into a power outlet, as well as a phone jack for connecting a wired home phone. The phone then works as a standard telephone, and the modem serves as a wireless modem for using the Internet. Up to 10 devices can be connected to the network.
Likewise, because of the portable nature of the system, it can be moved and used in whatever location the user prefers as long as there’s the carrier’s network available. As mentioned, the service can be used in conjunction with a Mobile Share plan for those who find that more convenient, with the price coming in at $30 a month for voice service and up to 10GB of data.
AT&T isn’t the first to offer such a service, and Verizon has one that is very similar called HomeFusion Broadband. As Fierce Wireless noted, the pricing for AT&T’s new service is identical to the pricing of Verizon’s HomeFusion, which lacks the voice functionality. For those who want a home phone and Internet that’s easy to take anywhere, this is certainly an option, but those who use a lot of data will find the 30GB data cap very limiting.
SOURCE: Fierce Wireless
AT&T unveils LTE wireless home phone and Internet plans in eastern U.S. is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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