Hasta La Gadget!

I’m flying out to San Diego for Comic Con early tomorrow, so on this week’s edition of PCMag After Hours, we’re getting fired up the show. We’ll be talking about fanboys (and fangirls), outlining a convention survival guide, and previewing what we’re most looking forward to.

We’ve got Timmy Williams from IFC’s The Whitest Kids U Know in the studio, and Mike Nelson (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Blair Butler (G4’s Attack of the Show), Alex Zalben (of the comedy troupe Elephant Larry), and the cast of BBC’s The Mighty Boosh on the phone.

You can tune in to a live video stream of the show tonight at 5:45 PM ET at U Stream, or download it from PCMag.com or via iTunes on Friday.

And keep checking back later in the week for Gearlog’s Comic Con coverage!

Obviously, an MP3 player’s foremost purpose is music playback, but these days people are using their devices for much more than just that. You can view photos, watch videos, even play games in some cases. But perhaps one of the most popular side dishes people like to enjoy is …

Originally posted at MP3 Insider

A report has surfaced in Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun that Toshiba, one of the top backers of the HD DVD format, will be releasing a Blu-ray player before the end of 2009.

Toshiba lost with this player; why should it release a Blu-ray player?

(Credit: Toshiba)

It’s a fascinating concept. the company that spent years trying to tell the world that Blu-ray is inferior is now looking to tell those same people that it really is worthwhile. Wow.

I understand that Blu-ray is becoming more popular. I know that it’s slowly, but surely, gaining market share in the disc market. But it’s not the only way to bring entertainment to the masses.

The vexed consumer

Tech companies have nothing unless the consumer base trusts them. Whether it’s faulty products that break that trust or poor business practices, once it’s broken, it could lead to financial ruin. That’s precisely why I don’t see why Toshiba would want to release a Blu-ray player.

During the war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, Toshiba did all it could to highlight issues with the competing format. It explained why its format was better. And it did everything it could to make Blu-ray look less desirable.

Even after the war was over, Toshiba didn’t stop with the Blu-ray bashing. In an interview with TechRadar last year, Toshiba’s deputy general manager of HD DVD, Olivier Van Wynendaele, said his company “wouldn’t change anything that it did” with its HD DVD strategy.

…

Originally posted at The Digital Home

Devotec Industries has mostly kept itself occupied with solar chargers and the like to date, but it looks to be branching out somewhat with its latest product, which appears to be one of the first solar-powered Bluetooth speakers to hit the market. Obviously designed primarily with portability in mind, the Solar Sound packs a pair of 2W speakers, along with a retractable 3.5mm cable to accommodate your non-Bluetooth devices, a built-in mic for some hands-free calling when paired with a phone, a nifty touch panel display, and a promised 8 hours of use from the internal battery (which recharges in 12 to 24 hours from the solar panel, or four hours via AC or USB). Sold? Then you can pick one up right now for $79.

[Via TestFreaks, thanks Vincent D]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Devotec debuts Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’m pretty square, fashion-wise. I own few intentionally ironic t-shirts, and fewer skinny jeans. Buchanan bags on my style choices regularly. That’s why, when he ordered me to ditch my old backpack, I picked Timbuk2’s new HAL.

I am not going to lie. What got me excited about HAL wasn’t fashion. Besides the Kubrickian name, the allure was a long skinny laptop slot, with its own zipper access, right up against your back. The $120 pack (one size: medium) can hold a 17″ MacBook Pro, or any laptop that’s 15″ wide and 11.5″ from front to back. The reason for the separate zippered compartment should be obvious: Airports. No longer do you have to reach into a fully packed piece of luggage and pull out the most buried object. It’s not exactly one of those TSA approved bags, but when I flew with HAL, I was pleased by its convenience.

HAL has a lot of pockets, a prerequisite of a gadget guy like me. Besides the laptop slot, there’s a spacious main compartment for large objects, plus a nice series of pockets on the back face. One is the traditional “organizer” pocket, with lots of silky subpockets for precious items like checkbooks, passports and portable hard drives. There’s an outer pocket—one I typically refer to as the “speed rack”—where I keep all sorts of odds and ends, SD cards, pens, 30-pin iPod cables, Flip cams and guitar picks. They fit.

There’s also a funny side pocket, opposite the laptop slot, that I will identify as the “wine pocket” since it’s just right for fitting a 750ml bottle of wine. Would you then attach a straw out of the zipper hole and then up over your ear, for quick drinking? I suppose it depends if the wine is white or red. (A 40oz might also fit, but I didn’t have one handy.)

If you’re more a fan of the wacky tabacky, you’ll enjoy the little pocket on the back. It’s subtle, but it’s not exactly concealed. I mean, cops would probably look there (especially cops who read backpack reviews on Gizmodo), but it’s probably a decent way to hide small amounts of contraband from your parents, guidance counselors and parole officers.

What’s great about HAL is that it wears the bulk well, but doesn’t look empty when it’s empty either. I guess what I mean is that I am sick of backpacks that “show” like a pregnant lady, and this one hangs, nice and casual, whether it’s empty or fully laden. And, on the fashion tip, it’s got skinny straps. Apparently people like Buchanan think fat straps are uncool. I was not aware of this, but now I am.

I do have three complaints, mostly minor. There’s no padding on the bottom of the bag itself, so carrying DSLRs and other expensive hardware takes some added caution. It may make sense just throw a rectangle of foam padding in there, to be on the safe side. As I said, the “speed rack” fits all of my fast-access crap, but it has a zipper that runs down the side, so there’s a risk of losing said guitar picks and SD cards.

My final complaint may put me back in custody of the fashion police: There’s no place to strap an umbrella or bottle of water on the side. Certain crap like that, I want to be able to access fast. I can put a dry umbrella in the side wine pocket (as you see in the pics) but what happens when it’s wet? This may be me letting practicality get in the way of good style sense, and I’m willing to concede in order to keep up with the backpackerati—and in Buchanan’s good graces. I just thought you should know. [Product Page]

In Brief

Stylish but not over the top; looks good full and empty

Enough variety of pockets to satisfy gadget geeks

Places to put both weed and wine

Not the cheapest backpack on the block, but quality makes up for some cost

Not enough padding in the main compartment

Nowhere to put a wet umbrella

Top photo by the multitalented Chris Mascari