All posts from CrunchGear

These stylish Puma Mopion bikes, designed by Biomega, are focused on on carrying capacity and lightness. The frames are aluminum and as you can see, differ from traditional and hardtail designs. Personally I like to keep my stuff in a rolltop like the Soyuz or Vandal, but to be honest, when I need to pick up a few things from the store, I’d rather pop ‘em in a basket than put them in with my laptop and books.
[via BoingBoing]

Looking for a very, very small USB drive? Well, LaCie has got you covered. The new MosKeyto is about as small as I can picture these things getting. It comes with a little cap and a way to attach it to a keyring, but other than that it’s just your standard tiny USB 2.0 drive.
It comes in 4GB ($18), 8GB ($28), and (soon) 16GB ($38 maybe?) flavors and also includes online storage at Wuala, in case you couldn’t find a way to store things online at the five billion free storage sites out there.

Big Avatar fan? Bought a 3D-capable TV just so you could watch it again in all its glory? Well, you might want to sit down. Panasonic and 20th Century Fox have arrived at a deal whereby the upcoming 3D Blu-ray version of the film will only be sold to people buying new Panasonic displays. It’d be for a limited time, of course, but no dates were mentioned.
A spokesman for Panasonic said they were also trying to “do the right thing” and let people who had recently bought Panasonic sets to get the disc. He wouldn’t say whether the disc would be included in Blu-ray player bundles, either.
Sounds like they didn’t really think this through. Why not just say “Avatar is getting its Blu-ray release on such and such a date, but if you buy a new Panasonic TV or Blu-ray player, you get it a month early!”

Good news if you’re a Comcast subscriber and you’ve been looking into their High-Speed 2go product. Comcast just announced that they’ve picked Novatel as the provider for the USB modems used in their mobile broadband service.
Comcast will offer both the MiFi 2200 mobile hotspot, and the Ovation MC760 USB model for individual use. Novatel claims that the Ovation is the world’s smallest EV-DO broadband modem, ideal if you prefer not to have a giant USB device hanging out the side of your laptop. The MiFi device acts as a wireless hotspot, allowing multiple users to connect to the device wirelessly. The MiFi has about 40 hours of standby time, and goes for about 4 hours of active use before you’ll have to recharge it. Pricing varies depending on location, so you’ll have to hit up Comcast’s website for the details.
[via Into Mobile]

This is pure rumor and speculation, but it’s too awesome to pass up. A number of small coincidences are suggesting that Duke Nukem Forever might be showing its face at PAX. Duke’s voice actor, Jon St. John, is doing a Q&A there, and 3D Realms and Take Two executives are behaving suspiciously. We’ll find out soon.

It’s not clear to me exactly what exactly people like Quincy Jones and Dr Dre do to make their particular brands of audio gear better. I mean, they put their name on them, probably because they are satisfied with how they sound, but is that the extent of their involvement? Well, whatever the case, Quincy Jones (a Garfield High School alumni like myself) has seen fit to put his stamp on a new set of AKG headphones.

The new line is definitely premium: the Q350 in-ears are $150, the Q701 reference headphones are $480, and the more compact Q460 is somewhere in between. They left the price out of the press release and it’s not at AKG’s site. I’m going to say $250.
The new headphones should be available in October.
Here’s the full press release:
Music Legend Quincy Jones Partners with HARMAN, Unveils New Signature Line of AKG Headphones
Three New Styles of Headphones Celebrate Unparalleled Sound Quality in Distinct Style
For more information: http://www.akg.com/Quincy
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – HARMAN International Industries Incorporated (NYSE: HAR), today announced the arrival of the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG. The premium headphone collection represents a momentous partnership between AKG and one of the most accomplished musicians of the 20th century – Quincy Jones.
Musician, artist, humanitarian – Quincy Jones is an American icon. His productions, which include the best-selling album (Thriller) and single (“We Are the World”) of all time, have garnered him an unprecedented 79 GRAMMY® nominations and 27 GRAMMY awards, more than any other living artist. His list of notable achievements is unrivaled in the music industry. The list of legendary and contemporary artists with whom he has worked includes Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Michael Jackson, Ludacris, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and Usher, among many others.
“Music is so much more than notes on a sheet of paper,” Jones said. “When it’s created with passion, with soul, we get something that is greater than ourselves – and it can move us deeply. Throughout my entire career, I have trusted only AKG to deliver the highest standard of sound – the same standard I hold myself to when I make my music.”
The Quincy Jones Signature Line includes three models: the Q701 reference-class premium over-ears, the Q460 high-performance portable on-ear mini headphones and the Q350 in-ear headphones that will boast distinctive AKG®-built quality and unrivaled audio engineering in an elegant, portable design, so music lovers everywhere can experience sound the way every artist intended for their music to be heard.
“Quincy Jones and AKG have shared a long-running passion for quality sound and the infinite power music has to connect people and touch lives,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, chairman, president and CEO, HARMAN International. “We have partnered to introduce products into the marketplace that shine a light on how important sound quality is when you’re experiencing music in all aspects of your life.”
A share of the proceeds from every set of headphones sold in the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG will go toward the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, a foundation dedicated to making music education an ongoing part of the lives of American children.
Pricing and Availability
The Q701, Q460 and Q350 headphones will be available in October 2010, in time for the holiday season, at prices ranging from $149.99 to $479.99. To experience the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG yourself or for more specific product information, please visit http://www.akg.com/Quincy. An additional backgrounder with product specifications will also be available upon request.

These prices are in no way substantiated, but in case they’re correct, we’ll have wanted to have posted them as soon as they appeared. Several sites are reporting that the highly-anticipated Galaxy Tab, with which we’ve just recently posted a hands-on, is going to be sold for a mind-blowing €699 for 16GB, and €799 for 32GB – or more. That’s around $900 and $1000 respectively. If this is true… well, nice knowing you, Galaxy Tab.
It’s also possible that this is just a random price someone thought they heard, and is now racing around the internet like wildfire. We’ll know as soon as Samsung clarifies things.

I can’t say the Folio 100 tablet, which we saw leaked a week back, is really making much of an impression on me: a customized Android 2.2 tablet running on a Tegra 2 with a 10.1″ screen — sure, not bad, but it’s not exactly original, and the price (€399, or around $500) isn’t sweetening the deal. We’ll have to get a hands-on to be sure, but I’m afraid this one might have to be relegated to the pile of Android tablets no one will remember a year from now.
One thing it is doing right is including Opera right out of the box, which will run Flash (though probably not particularly well). And actually, the interface looks pretty snappy. Good for them.
This poor thing can’t get stuff out of the Marketplace, though, so you’re limited to what Toshiba installs and makes available. To be honest, that’s a dealbreaker for most of the Android tablets out there, for me anyway.
Here’s the full press release:

Toshiba introduces its first Android based tablet computer
FOLIO 100 media tablet offers rich multimedia experience including Flash 10.1 support and features WLAN and Bluetooth
Neuss, Germany, 2nd September 2010 – Toshiba Europe GmbH today introduced its new media tablet FOLIO 100. The 25.7cm / 10.1” personal media tablet is targeted at people looking for a 100% portable and versatile device that is always at hand for making the most of their digital life. The FOLIO 100 comes with a wide selection of apps and services dedicated to media consumption, web browsing and social networking, and offers a rich multimedia experience. Easy and enjoyable to use, the FOLIO 100 has a highly intuitive graphical interface developed by Toshiba to run on top of Android 2.2 (Froyo). The FOLIO 100 will be available during the fourth quarter of 2010 throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Enjoy your digital life with your personal media tablet
“Our FOLIO 100 media tablet offers a seamless, easy-to-use experience across entertainment, social networking and mobile internet – anytime and anywhere”, said Marco Perino, General Manager Digital Life Products and Services. Offering a wide range of connectivity options, the FOLIO 100 is equipped with an SD card slot, an HDMI® connector, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth®, while a Mobile Broadband (3G) ready version will follow soon.
Versatile multi-talent with a selection of useful applications
The FOLIO 100 ships with a wide selection of applications pre- installed: amongst them Opera Mobile (web browser), FBReader (e- book reader), Document To Go® (office suite), Evernote® (notes), Adobe® Flash 10.1 and Fring®, an app that in combination with the embedded webcam allows video calls with friends and family.
Let the music play… – downloads from Toshiba Market Place
The media tablet also features Toshiba Market Place, a service that offers easy access to various download choices for multimedia content, services and apps. Music Place, powered by 7Digital offers easy access to one of the widest catalogues of music and allows easy syncing to a choice of devices. Radio Place gives access to a wide selection of IP radio services. Through the App Place, users are able to download applications compatible to the Folio 100.
A powerful personal device with endurance
Although it is only 14mm slim and weighs only 760g, the FOLIO 100 still packs a powerful Nvidia® TegraTM 2 processor that offers a perfect balance between high performance and low battery consumption. A battery life of up to seven hours1 lets the tablet work for almost a full working day without the need of a power outlet. The instant-on functionality lets the tablet be operational within less than 30 seconds. A 16GB on-board storage hosts music, videos, photos, e- mails and other data and is even expandable via SD card.
Developer portal provides support for app optimisation
“We encourage users and developers to join our Folio 100 eco system to create and offer apps, games and other content for FOLIO 100″, said Marco Perino. Toshiba already established a one-stop destination (www.toshibatouch.eu) for developers where they can get support to optimise their apps for the FOLIO100. “We also invite users to participate in the FOLIO community by suggesting ideas to developers to pursue,” said Marco Perino.
Facts & Figures*
CPU: Nvidia Tegra 2
25.7cm (10.1”) capacitive multitouch display with 1,024 x 600 pixels
Based on Android 2.2  On-board storage capacity: 16 GB
Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, WLAN (802.11 b/g/n), Mobile Broadband (soon available in certain models and countries)
DLNA® compatible
1xminiHDMI®,1xUSB 2.0 (client and hub), SD/MMC Card Reader
Supports Adobe® Flash 10.1
Rotation of displayed content on the screen by accelerometer
Webcam with 1.3 MPixel
Battery life: 7 hours (65% web browsing, 10% video playback, 25% standby)
Weight: 760g
Size: 281mm x 181mm x 14mm
Software (excerpt): Opera Mobile, Toshiba Media Player, FBReader, Fring, Document to Go, Evernote
* depending on configuration and local availability

We got an email today from Zachary at Stupid Inventor. He’s come up with a.. unique idea for taking your gaming experience outside. Apparently Zach took an old lawn chair that his mom had lying around, and attached a computer and monitor to it. He then sits in the chair, and leans back and plays Pac-Man while working on his tan. I like it, but it seems like the glare might be a little much for that monitor.

Zach, I think the next thing you need to invent is a way to get the grass stains out of those socks. Or just ask your mom.

Prepare to get hit by a ton of Sammy marketing. The commercial embedded here is likely just the first wave of Samsung’s assault on the iPad. And it seems that they’re going about it the right way, too.
The commercial simply shows off the Galaxy Tab‘s capabilities in an Apple-ish sort of way. We’ve said all along that if any Android tablet has a chance to steal marketshare away from the iPad, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab and this commercial, along with our extensive hands-on, seems to confirm our thought. Now all we need is to know is its price tag and when it will hit stores.

We actually saw an earlier version of this snakebot do this same trick a couple years back, but its skills seem to have been improved somewhat, and this video is much better anyway. If you’re interested in terrifying biomimetic robots, the BioRobotics program’s webpage is probably going to be fun for you.

The phenomenon of tilting the lens in your camera or camcorder is simply not something I understand. Is there a nationwide crisis because of people not pointing their camcorder properly? Are home movies being ruined because it’s all shots of people’s knees? It seems to me that camera manufacturers have invented a problem to solve, and their solution is weird-looking.
Samsung has been doing this for a year at least, so the PR description of the HMX-T10 as “pioneering and innovative” is hilarious to me. At $300, it’s your basic, traditional form-factor camcorder; it has a 2.7″ touchscreen LCD, a nice 10x F/1.8 zoom with optical stabilization, and… unfortunately, shoots at 1080/60i. Oops, well, that’s it.
I won’t recommend any camcorders that shoot interlaced, so my advice is to go with any of the very similar and capable cameras at or below this price, like the Toshiba H30 I recently reviewed, or one of the many pocket cams that can be had for peanuts these days. No one should pay for interlacing in the year 2010.