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October 30, 2004

SCOTTeVEST TEC Sport Coat and Hidden Cargo Pants Review

How often have you been in a situation where you had to dress up? Whether it is a formal event, or just going to work in corporate American, many a Gear Live reader has felt the frustration of having to sacrifice gear for looks. I mean, honestly, how many pieces of gadgetry can you carry around in a sport coat and dress pants? Not much. Well, not much until SCOTTeVEST came around. I tried out their TEC Sport Coat and Hidden Cargo Pants at a wedding, and report back with the results after the jump.

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So, obviously I am into my gear. Recently, I had to attend a wedding, and wanted to bring "the usual" with me. I am talking about my wallet and keys, an iPod, digital camera, cell phone, PDA, magazine, etc. Luckily, SCOTTeVEST had just sent me their TEC Sport Jacket and brand new Hidden Cargo Pants for testing. This was the perfect opportunity to test out a product, and see if it was up to task.

If you are unfamiliar with SCOTTeVEST, let me catch you up. SCOTTeVEST's founder, Scott Jordan, decided one day that belt clips just weren't good enough to carry the myriad of devices he needed to have with him throughout the day. When searching clothing stores didn't give him anything suitable, he set out to create what he needed instead. The result was SCOTTeVEST Technology Enabled Clothing. You can find our interview with Scott Jordan here. We were quite pleased when we reviewed the SCOTTeVEST Three.0 Spring jacket. The difference, though, is that was more for leisure and these items are for business.

SCOTTeVEST Hidden Cargo Pants

I know you may be wondering what the point is for having technology enabled business wear, but when you look at it beneath the surface, it become more than apparent. Businessmen carry around more technology than you might think. PDA's, cell phones, laptop computers, pens, wallets, maybe an MP3 Player...you get the point. While most companies have been comfortable to provide the urban wear for this demographic, SCOTTeVEST has stepped up to cloth the gadget-loving corporate types.

So, how did the clothing do in testing? Pretty good I'd say. Let's first look at the TEC Sport Jacket. This is a navy colored sport coat which looks like every other sport coat on the outside. Look on the inside panel, and you will find an amazing amount of storage options. Now, while it doesn't have the thirty-something pockets that other coats may have, the 14 hidden pockets provided here are more than enough. I was able to carry all of the items I needed, plus a couple of extra things that the missus felt was best for me to carry around rather than her since I had the extra space. Crap.

SCOTTeVEST TEC Sport Jacket

Combined with the Hidden Cargo Pants, the ensemble looked great. While they aren't sold together in any sort of package (although I think a Corporate Package deal including the Sport Jacket, Hidden Cargo Pants, and TEC Tie would be excellent), they go together quite well. The pants have to be the greatest designed pair I have ever worn. Ever. Even when I am wearing the baggiest of jeans, I can still feel the things I have in my packet. While wearing the Hidden Cargo Pants, I felt nothing. Well, that isn't exactly true. During testing I did put a regular sized camera in my pocket, and I did feel it when I sat down. However, who would put a camera in their pant pocket?

The pants have more compartments that you would really need, unless you had a busy day planned. And even then, you shouldn't run out of space. The pockets all have magnets that are strong enough to hold then closed, but too weak to cause any alarm over them damaging any of your data.

The Hidden Cargo Pants have a lot of room for anything you might need.

In an interesting experiment, I was able to utilize the SCOTTeVEST Personal Area Network (PAN) with both items in conjunction with each other. The PAN is a unique way of wiring your tech so that all the wires are simply out of the way. The wires go through the lining of the coat rather than the outside, freeing you of the tangled mess you are used to. I put a cell phone in the pant pocket, and plugged in a hands free set. I then brought the wire up through the PAN in the jacket, and out at the collar. I was then able to simple put it in my ear. No need to take the phone out and fumble around to getting everything set up right. The PAN might seem gimmicky at first, but give it a try and you will find that it is just brilliant.

If you are looking for a pair of pants for leisure or for business, the Hidden Cargo Pants are it. I personally believe that every man should own at least one pair of these pants. They are stylish, and allow you to carry your things in your pockets without sacrificing comfort.

Check out all the space in this one!

Of course, if business chic is more your thing, then you are wondering how the Sport Jacket will perform. Well, while it isn't perfect, it performs very well. The negative here is that most men like their sport coats to be somewhat fitted, rather than on the baggy side. Because of this fact, some items that feel fine in other SCOTTeVEST products end up feeling a little bulky in this one. That is not to say that this makes it a bad purchase - you just need to know what you are getting. You can still fit many, many items in this jacket with no problem.

Both of these items are great, and are unique in that you won't find anything exactly like them anywhere else.

FINAL VERDICT
Just before this review was going to be published, Scott Jordan from SCOTTeVEST confirmed that they will indeed be selling a package deal to include the Hidden Cargo Pants, TEC Sport Jacket, and TEC Tie! Now, I haven't had a chance to review the tie, however, I can speak for the other two products. While they are also available separately at the SCOTTeVEST website, we have scored them as a combination because they just go together so well. It would be a perfect score, except for the fact that some items that you may want to carry in the sport jacket don't feel as natural as they do in other SCOTTeVEST products. Nonetheless, there is no better package for the gadget loving businessman. Look professional, and remain the coolest man at the water cooler SCOTTeVEST style.

AVAILABILITY
Corporate Website: www.SCOTTeVEST.com
Pricing: TEC Sport Jacket: $249.99 available in Navy, Hidden Cargo Pants: $109.99 available in Khaki and Army Green

- Andru Edwards

Posted by Andru at 04:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

A Look At The iPod Photo

So the iPod Photo is the next big thing in the portable digital audio player world, right? At least that is what Apple would have you believe. Our friends at Digit Magazine have gotten their hands on the newest incarnation of Apple's beloved MP3 player line, and report back with their findings. How does it compare to the iPods of yesterday? Is the color screen and photo option worth shelling out the extra cash? Digit seems to think that there are a few things missing from the overall package (such as the iPod Photo taking longer to sync on a Windows PC), but in the end still come away happy.

Read More | Digit Magazine

Posted by Andru at 12:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 29, 2004

XBOX Owner Sues Microsoft

Reuters is reporting that Sean Burke has filed suit against Microsoft because his XBOX system stopped reading discs (games, CD's, DVD's, etc.) after less than one year of use. Many XBOX owners can relate, as XBox hard drives are known for crashing. 'The defective XBox's stop working after minimal usage, after unreasonably, unconscionably, unusually and unexpectedly short amounts of time,' the lawsuit said. The suit will probably become class action, and seeks to represent anyone who has purchased an XBOX since the 2001 launch. I don't think this will hold up, as electronics fail all the time. We'll see.

Read More | Reuters

Posted by Andru at 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Treo 650 Vaja Cases

Due out by next week, Innova Cases is ramping up to offer new Treo 650 owners their specialized brand of quality leather protection. I love the sexy angles they have on their site. These cases allow easy access to all commands, along with access to the headphone jack, camera, and sync ports. If you like to keep your gear scratch free, Vaja cases are among the best, but you do pay a hefty premium. These will retail for around $100.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Posted by Hector at 04:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 27, 2004

Sony PSP Announcement Extravaganza: Price, Battery Life, Release Date

Today Sony made some major long-awaited announcements for its upcoming portable handheld. First off, it's going to be released this year in Japan, on December 12th, as has been promised. Secondly the price will be 19,800 yen, which is $185 US, according to this handy conversion table. Battery life is expected to be between 4 and 6 hours for game titles and a continuous 4 to 5 hours while watching video. For about $230 USD, Japanese gamers can also opt to get the system with a host of accessories, including earphones with in-line remote, a soft carry case with a strap, and a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo. Many folks are now planning to get both this and the Nintendo DS, considering the pricepoints.

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Read More | USA Today

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October 26, 2004

iPod Photo Details

Continuing on with the Apple news for the day, here is the skinny on the new iPod Photo:

The unit has a 65,000 color screen with 220 by 176 pixel resolution. The battery life has been bumped up to 15 hours per charge (so why can't the black and white iPod have more than 12 hours?), and iTunes will import album art for display purposes, and will also be responsible for synching photos to the iPod. Supported applications for image management are iPhoto (for Mac users) and Adobe Photohop Elements or Album on the PC side. As for iTunes, in order to synch your pictures you will need to download the new version 4.7.

The cost of the iPod Photo will be $500 for the 40 GB model and $600 for the 60 GB. I am sure they will be popping up on the free stuff sites soon enough. If you can't wait for that, Apple is scheduled to begin shipping the new iPod's within the next two weeks.

One of the nicer features of the iPod Photo is that the dock has an S-Video out (along with regular video) that can be used to play slideshows (with or without music) on any television. In fact, if you are using a widescreen display, the iPod will adjust the photos automatically for that aspect ratio!

Posted by Andru at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

U2 iPod: Special Edition

If you are in the market for a 20 GB iPod, and are also a die-hard U2 fan, then the U2 iPod Special Edition is right up your ally. For just $349 USD you will get Apple's first ever colored iPod, which you can see is black with a red click wheel. Turn the iPod over, and you have each member of U2's autograph. With your purchase, you will also receive an exclusive U2 poster and the signature white iPod earbuds.

If $349 USD sounds a bit steep for a 20 GB iPod, this unit also includes an iTunes Music Store coupon you can use to get $50 off the purchase of "The Complete U2" album. Also remember, if you want to get your regular 20 GB iPod painted elsewhere, it will cost you $99 USD.

Posted by Andru at 11:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Gear Live Playlist: Talib Kewli, Cake, Black Keys, Medvillain, Bright Eyes

In this installment of Playlist, we look at some young bands that will factor heavily in the near future of the music industry, as well as a band that just can’t let the past go. A couple of rap groups, a couple of rock bands, and a Collection Essential that is only two years old. Buckle up for Playlist.

NEW RELEASES

Cake- Pressure Chief

Some bands like to put out albums that progress musically and show their maturation as artists. Then there is Cake. Scoring radio hits during the 90’s with “The Distance”, “I Will Survive” and “Sheep Go To Heaven”, Cake seems almost cryogenically frozen since their 90’s glory. But redundancy has its strong points, such as accessibility. Fans of Cake’s previous four albums will not be turned off by “Pressure Chief”, which is a spirited romp through horns and the voice of lead singer John McCrea, the distinguishing piece to all things that are Cake. Highpoints on “Pressure Chief” are the Bread cover “The Guitar Man”, the solid “Waiting” and “Tougher Than It Is”. So if you are a fan of Cake’s past, you will be a fan of Cake’s present, and “Pressure Chief” gets a 6/10.

Talib Kweli – Beautiful Struggle

Talib Kweli’s solo debut in 2002 garnered a lot of critical attention and underground rap’s golden boy made good. “Beautiful Struggle” is definitely the sound of Kweli moving towards commercial rap from the conscious underground rapper, but it is a very good sound. “Beautiful Struggle” is less socio-political, but the message songs are washed down better with a few party anthems. “Around My Way” is based around The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”, which makes Kweli sound a bit too much like Puff Daddy robbing the 80’s of all their great songs. But Kweli’s raspy delivery and solid rhymes definitely save the day, and solid production give the rapper a foundation to work with. Track’s like “Broken Glass” with its hard driving beat, the smooth “I Try”, and the rapid “We Got The Best” make “Beautiful Struggle” a great rap album. All in all, a 7/10.

RECENT RELEASES

The Black Keys – Rubber Factory

Blues infused garage rock made by a guitar and drums duo from the Midwest. Sound like any other bands you know? White Stripes comparisons aside, The Black Keys are an incredible band and “Rubber Factory” is a balls out rock record that will restore your faith in rock music. “Rubber Factor” resurrects the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, with incredible guitar riffs, and raw bluesy passion. Recorded in a former tire factory, “Rubber Factory” has a spacious feel, especially on tracks like “Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down”, where the bad-ass guitar of Dan Auerbach is allowed to run free. The Kink’s cover “Act Nice and Be Gentle” is incredible. There are some really high points, and without any weak tracks, “Rubber Factory” is amazing.

Madvillain – Madvillainy

Madvillain is the collaboration of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib, which is underground rap’s version of the dream team. The soundscape of this record, the beats and music, are sliced up jazz records, put back together in an amazingly smooth, laid-back sound. But the highlight of this disc is definitely the rhymes of MF Doom, an underground rapper that has been around for a decade, under assorted aliases, such as Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, Daniel Dumile and Zev Love. MF Doom’s forte is incredibly intelligent and poetic lyrics that just blow your mind with their cadence and quickness. Highlights on the album are definitely “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “America’s Most Blunted”, both laid-back tracks that showcase MF Doom’s rhyme skills. The only downside to “Madvillainy” is the filler. With 22 tracks on the album, 6-8 are just plain filler, but those can definitely be looked past. “Madvillainy” definitely finds itself on the short list for best rap album of the year.

COLLECTION ESSENTIAL

Bright Eyes – Lifted, Or The Story Is In The Soil, So Keep Your Ear To The Ground

The fourth album from prodigy Conor Oberst and friends, Bright Eyes is the second coming of Bob Dylan, the great hope for pop music, nothing more, nothing less, and “Lifted” is one of the best albums of the last ten years. Songs written without any pretense, lyrics that are so naked and open that you almost feel bad for hearing them, like you are reading Oberst’s diary. Musicianship that quickly makes you forget the fact that Oberst was only 22 when recording “Lifted”, instruments that make it sound like an entire orchestra was used in production. “Lifted” was released in 2002, and immediately garnered loads of critical attention, landing on Rolling Stone’s top albums of 2002. Songs range from the angry rock of “Method Acting” to the country tenderness of “Laura Laurent”, from the ballroom feel of “False Advertising” to the almost punk rock of “Lets Not Shit Ourselves”. Record stores and magazines tried to lump “Lifted” into the emo world, but that doesn’t do this album justice. “Lifted” is music, it is incredible music, that doesn’t allow itself to be pigeonholed. This album will make you hopeful of what pop music can be, and pop music has a bright future with more releases from Bright Eyes.

Posted by Andru at 10:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

FreePalms.com: Get Your Free Palm Pilot

Want a free Palm Pilot? Well, the next site in the recent wave of free offer sites has arrived - FreePalms.com. The site has come under a bit of scrutiny from visitors, due to it's design being a carbon copy of how Gratis Internet designs their websites. Many wondered if the site would even turn out to be legit. Burke Jones, the person who runs FreePalms.com, sent us a message which may or may not ease your minds, which you can read by clicking the link below.

FreePalms.com currently offers the Tungsten C Communicator, Zire 72, and the Tungsten 3 to those who complete the site requirements. Click here to sign up.

From Burke Jones:

Hello! I must say that I am very surprised with the events that have transpired today. I have received two e-mails from people asking about the freepalms.com site. So I thought it would be good to post here and at freeipodguide.com to clear up some issues.

Here is one:

I've noticed you're the operator of www.freepalms.com; can you shed some
light on a few questions?
1) Why the mimick of the gratis affiliate sites?
2) Are you really giving out palms?
3) Why did you start freepalms.com?

Here is my response:

Thanks for the well thought out questions - now for some honest answers....

1. This entire project has been in the works for a while. However, much to my surprise this is the second email like yours I have received today. I was wondering what was going on. When I logged into the site today I was really surprised at the activity. Although the site is live on the net, my developer jumped the gun. Evidently he started an Adwords campaign and the news spread fast. We are in the process of a complete site redesign which should be live in 3 to 4 weeks. It was never my intention to officially launch the site with the look that it currently has - in fact I am embarrassed that it was launched looking so much like a Gratis site. Gratis is a great company, and I never intended for our site to go "public" looking like theirs. We are in no way associated with Gratis.

Let me stress that the concept and terms WILL remain, the site will be getting a completely new look that is unique for freepalms.com. Now that the site is actually "live", although much earlier than I had hoped, we will be running it like a business from this point forward - and users that have signed up have nothing to fear. Just expect sometime in the next month for the look to completely change. I am unhappy with my developer for jumping the gun - he says he just wanted some actual users - and what he has started is unstoppable.

2. Yes, we will be giving out Palms for those who legitimately complete the process and our thorough fraud control review.

3. We have been involved in internet marketing thru actual e-commerce sites and affiliate marketing for the last several years. We wanted to expand and take our business in a new direction. While this is a new direction for our company, I am confident that our team will skillfully and fairly handle any bumps in the road.

---------------------------------------------
If anyone has any further questions I will be happy to answer them - lets keep comments to this thread if possible.

Burke Jones
Tactical Gear Inc.
FreePalms.com

Posted by Andru at 03:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

iPod Photo Is Official

Previous reports have been confirmed, as Apple announced the new iPod Photo line today. Here are some images for now - and they are gorgeous. The Apple iPod Photo is available in 40 GB and 60 GB models, and both music and photos sync with iTunes 4.7. Back with full specs in a bit.

Posted by Andru at 01:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

T-Mobile Sidekick II For $24.99

Yes, you read that right. What is arguably the hottest phone currently available right now for all the hipsters out there can be had for just $24.99. The T-Mobile Sidekick II (a.k.a. HipTop 2) is a great device, combining a cell phone with internet browsing and an IM client. The negative? It only works with T-Mobile, so good luck finding reception. Some things are just too good to be true.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | T-Mobile Sidekick II for $24.99
Read More | Gizmodo Review - Sidekick Good, T-Mobile Bad

Posted by Andru at 10:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 25, 2004

Rio Vaja Cases

Didn't get to mention it on the Rio Carbon review a while ago, but the carry case that comes packed with the unit itself is a real piece of crap. It's quite hard to slide the Carbon out of the case, and though it allows access to the power and scroll wheel, it completely covers the display. Enter Vaja and its wonderfully crafted cases, made specifically for the Carbon. Vaja makes some really classy leather-based cases for a variety of portables, and just seeing that I could access the D-pad and the screen makes me want to have one. Plus you can get them custom-embossed with whatever text you'd like. There is a downside, of course. Cases are about $55, and that's without tax, shipping, or embossing.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Posted by Hector at 04:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sony MP3 Players That Actually Play MP3's

It seems that the stubborn Sony has finally had to concede to the consumers. Sony has released the Walkman NW-E99 and the NW-E95, with 1 GB and 512 MB of flash memory, respectively. It's what we hope is a start to all of Sony's devices supporting the MP3 format natively, rather than forcing a conversion to their proprietary ATRAC3 format. These players are available for purchase in the UK, but the price might need a little tweaking. The cost of the 512 MB player is $200, while the 1 GB version is a whopping $300. We are still waiting for the firmware upgrade which would make the 20 GB NW-HD1 Sony Network Walkman also support MP3. Well Sony?

Posted by Andru at 08:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

palmOne Launches Treo 650

We haven't been too impressed with the latest offerings from palmOne. The new T5 really could've used some built-in WiFi and voice-recording, and the slider design in previous models were an unnecessary mechanic. Hopefully, today's introduction of the new Treo 650 will get folks excited again. It's considered an evolution of the 600 model. Some key new features include an improved 312 Mhz Intel PXA270 processor, a new 320x320 High resolution TFT screen, built in Bluetooth, non-volatile flash memory, a removable battery, and a new connector. The camera is still .3 megapixels. I've had some limited experience with the older model and my big thumbs really couldn't come to grips with the little keyboard. Still, this is one of their better overall devices. The Treo 650 will be available as either a digital dual-band CDMA/1xRTT or a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone, with pricing to be set by individual carriers. Carrier availability is expected to begin later this year in the US, with worldwide rollout to follow in 2005.

Posted by Hector at 06:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 24, 2004

Try XM Satellite Radio For Free

If you have been on the fence about paying for a satellite radio subscription (or if you just like free stuff), you may be pleased to know that XM Satellite Radio is offering a free 3 day trial subscription to anyone interested. The best part? You don't even need a credit card to sign up.

There are a few drawbacks, however. I signed up for the trial to see how the online version worked. First of all, although it's XM Satellite Radio online, know in advance that you will not be getting satellite quality sound. Instead, you will have access to a myriad of station at 33 kbps. In addition, if you are a Firefox fanboy, be prepared to fire up Internet Explorer if you want to use XM Online. Also, you will only have access to 75 XM channels. This is about 50 channels shy of XM's full satellite radio offering.

Still, it's nice to have so many selections available right at your desktop.

Read More | XM Radio

Posted by Andru at 01:30 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 21, 2004

Game Publishers: Stop Overpromising!

When Fable came out, everyone got to see if all the hype (and cool features expressed by Lionhead Studio head Peter Molyneux) is worth anything. Depending on where you go, you'll find glowing reviews to so-so reviews, mostly depending on if that person expected more (with good reason), or could just live with what the game actually provides. I personally feel that game reviews should be based on what the game has done right and wrong, rather than what I wanted to see, resulting in nitpicking every little detail.

But in this case, is it wrong to expect more? The Gear Live editors present their case after the jump.

Dorian: Look at companies like Nintendo, Valve and Bungie for instance.

Nintendo almost never reveals much about their games before release. The bulk of the game is left for us to explore on our own, and I think most gamers are the better for it.

Valve did the unthinkable, and for almost five years managed to develop Half-Life 2 without revealing anything until E3 right before last September's ill-fated launch (forget arguments about how ready they actually were).

Bungie has been very tight-lipped about Halo 2, at least as far as single player is concerned. Outside of the 10 minute footage of New Mombasa from last year's E3, almost nothing has been revealed, leaving all the details about what was not in the first Halo: Online Multiplayer.

We can probably think of other examples of game devs who kept their mouths shut and left most of their cards up their sleeves. But Lionhead Studios didn't manage to do that; they told us every single idea that popped up in their heads, as if they were brainstorming their ideas out in public. While not outright promising these features, most gamers were expecting more than what they got. Is that so wrong in this case?

Also in the news is Polyphony Digital's long waited Gran Turismo 4, and the stripping of the online multiplayer mode. While they gave no exact reason, one can extrapolate that they couldn't get online working in time for the holidays, and Sony didn't want to let their potentially biggest seller release past the lucrative holiday season. So instead of delaying the game, just take out the mode and sell the "upgraded version" at a later date. While on the surface this sounds good, they haven't said whether the upgrade will be at budget pricing, full price, have a trade in for the old version, or allow for save file compatibility between versions. There are a lot of unknowns, and it's well within reasons for those who were looking forward to racing online come December to be disappointed.

So, who's to blame when devs talk of features that don’t ultimately make it? Does it all even matter?

Well obviously, the game devs themselves should show a little more restraint whenever being interviewed, especially when the game is in a pre-beta state. At that point nothing is set in stone, and this very same thing can happen as with Fable. It might be hard to resist nowadays, in this instant information age we live in. (It seems like you can't click a few web pages without running into a movie or TV show spoiler or people, for lack of a better word, "pirating" the latest software or games, even before they hit the stores (also another topic for another day). But for the greater good, talking about only that which won't spoil the entire experience seems like the best way to go.

As for you, the game players, the best way to take reading all these features and interviews on games is to take it all in stride. The only time you can honestly trust any report on a game is the actual review, so sit tight, don't read up too much on a certain game if you want to be surprised, and hope for the best. Worse case scenario, if the game isn't what you were expecting, either rent it or just don't buy it. Or do what every savvy game player does nowadays: vent about it on a message board.

Gran Turismo 4: Online no more

Hector: I think you're hitting all the nails on their heads, Dorian. On the one hand, you don't want a development house to promise things that won't be in, and on the other, fanboys are starved for game information.

There is an acceptable solution though. Take UbiSoft and its Prince of Persia sequel. They're letting us in on the improved features, but through playable demos . The trick for development houses is to wait until they have something tangible. The trick for us is to be patient. It's hard waiting around for the review; without an early taste of the game, you wouldn't have things to look forward to. Good, playable, and near-finished impressions are useful when they're done right.

You're right though, people should check reviews from a source they can trust before making their final purchase. Message boards are also great, especially for hearing gripes about a game.

UbiSoft shows Prince of Persia: Warrior Within features after they are implemented.

Doug: Having been a videogame player for 99% of my life, I have always been a believer in "less is more". There is something to be said about not knowing and finding out for yourself. When Doom 3 came out the hype was unreal and graphically so was the game, but the playing experience fell a little flat to some people. Having used this as an example, when Unreal Tournament 2004 came out, in my mind it came out the traditional way, no big fan fare other than a playable demo available for download (a playable demo of the final version, not a beta version) so I was able to see the final version of the game and not what should in the version that will be hitting store shelves. Which method do you think succeeded more, the Doom 3 over hype or the traditional success of Unreal Tournament 2004.

Everyday I read gaming websites and magazines and love nothing more than hearing the line "It came out of nowhere." This line has been used with games such as FarCry, Sphinx, Between Good and Evil, and many more and although they may not have sold well (FarCry sold fairly well but still not up to Unreal or Doom standards), the game was amazing. The reason it didnt sell well is because it didnt follow the traditional path of bombarding the customer with ads promoting the game, they were going to let the game go solely on the experience the end user will have.

I just preordered my copy of GTA: San Andreas and I am avoiding reading anything about it other than the game trailers available on the official website because when I get a game, I want to discover what it has to offer for me and not what I am told to expect. This is of course a sequel so I know what to expexct but with a new franchise, such as XIII or Timesplitters that came out a year ago, I wanted to be surprised as well so I can learn as I go and get out of the game what I want and not have that affected by user reviews or what the developer tells me to expect.

As you can see, personally, I like to know as little as I can before purchasing a game. If it looks really good on the box and maybe the one movie trailer I see about it, I will buy it, and if I don't want to take the plunge and just buy it, well then, there is always Blockbuster and Gamefly!

Nintendo is always secretive regarding upcoming products.

Andru: You know, I have always looked down on Nintendo for their overbearing silence on what is going on at their development houses. I remember when Retro Studios confirmed that a Metroid Prime sequel was in the works without Nintendo's official permission to do so. The studio was frowned upon by the Big N. Why? Well, with the recent events, I can now see why. Nintendo has always told us just enough to get us excited. At E3 they gave us a Legend of Zelda trailer, but didn't say much of anything about the game. We saw it in action, and thusly, came to our own conslusions about the game. If we develop an expectation and the game doesn't have that specific feature, that is our fault - not Nintendo's.

However, when you have Sony talking up Gran Turismo's online mode for years, and then all of a sudden announce it was not going to make it into the final version, it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of gamers who have been waiting for the game for all these years. The company put that concept into the minds of their customers, and obviously it became an expectation. It makes the developer look weak when they can't meet their promises.

On a similar note, when Lionhead Studios talked up all the features in Fable (formerly Project Ego), it was exciting. They said that anything you did in the game as a young person would have a direct influence on the game world as you grew up. The catchphrase was "For every action, a consequence". They promised a completely open environment in which you could explore anything and everything. Both of these things simply turned out to be untrue. Lionhead did make an apology recently, stating they may have been overzealous. However, if they hadn't overpromised so much then maybe Fable would have scored higher across the board since people would discover it for themselves. It's hard to give a game a 9/10 when you are expecting an 11.

Looking towards the future, the next big thing will be the handheld wars. Nintendo never announced any Nintendo DS features until they were absolutely confirmed. Sony, on the other hand, has been talking about advanced features in the PSP that they aren't even sure will make it into the final product.

So game publishers, stop overpromising. Let your games sell themselves, instead of your PR representatives. Have some faith in the developers talents, just like in the old days. Yes, your game may sell well, but when expectations aren't met you can expect the sequel not to do so well.

Posted by Andru at 01:13 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

Xclef 100 GB MP3 Player

While they aren't the biggest name in the portable MP3 player world, it certainly has the largest amount of space in an MP3 portable to date. The Xclef 500 in now available in a, wait for it, 100 GB model. What's better, the unit costs just $450 USD. The Xclef 500 is recognized as a normal USB drive, and while it can hold up to 25,000 music files, it can also be used as a backup device. Other features include an FM tuner and recorder, analog and optical line in recording, all with a 20 hour battery life. Look for the Xclef 500 100 GB model to be on store shelves in early 2005.

Posted by Andru at 11:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" - Stolen

In what might be described as the height of irony, Rockstar's next foray into theft and mass murder, has itself been stolen and has begun making its rounds through various 'warez' sites. Not to worry, since it won't effect next week's release on Tuesday. Even if you did find a copy, you'd need a modded PS2 in order to play it, so potential users are in the vast minority. We're seeing a trend here. Last week, Microsoft faced a similar theft, when a French copy of "Halo 2" was also snagged and distributed. I'm sure you'll also remember the "HalfLife2" code theft as well.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Read More | CNet

Posted by Hector at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 19, 2004

DVD Release List: 10/19/04

This week is a little light on the cool movies with good special effects meter. I mean, you have Van Helsing which utilized some nice effects, but the movie was horrible (wasn't it?). Then you have others like Xena, which just sucked altogether. Oh hell, go pick up Arrested Development. It might not be a movie, but you can at least let out a few laughs.

DVD RELEASE LIST: October 19, 2004

• Van Helsing
• Arrested Development - Season 1
• Garfield - The Movie
• Ed Wood (Special Edition)
• Xena Warrior Princess: Season Five
• Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection, The Premiere Volume
• Hellboy: Director's Cut
• A Cinderella Story
• Born on the Fourth of July: Special Edition

Posted by Andru at 12:12 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 18, 2004

Special Edition U2 iPod

There have been quite a few rumors over the past few days regarding Apple's upcoming announcement at a U2 event next week in San Jose, CA. If you have watched any primetime television recently, you have probably seen U2's Vertigo music video/iPod commercial. Apparently, a deal has been struck which will result in a Special Edition U2 iPod. The iPod would be similar to any other you might buy from Apple, except it will have the entire new U2 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb preloaded on it along with other choice cuts from the bands history. Oh, and it will probably be black. You can also expect that the new album will be exclusive to iTunes for a predetermined amount of time, before becoming available in other music stores.

Read More | Forbes

Posted by Andru at 10:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Near The Top of Our Lust List: The Sony PSP

With all the recent Nintendo DS coverage, we at Gear Live didn't want you to think we're not looking forward to Sony's upcoming portable. Just last week, it was announced that the PSP would support MP3 playback as stored on a Memory Stick Duo card, sold separately. With analogue controls, a vividly bright screen, wireless capability, and UMD disc-based storage (read: more detailed and richer sounding games), what's not to love? In addition, it will provide about the same graphical processing power of a PS2, which is leagues better than Nintendo's upcoming DS. Third party support should be strong as well, as evidenced by Activision's recent announcement that it will be launching versions of SpiderMan 2 and Tony Hawk's Underground 2 with the unit when it arrives here in the states early next year.

Much more PSP love to be found by clicking here for the PSP Thread on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Posted by Hector at 08:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 17, 2004

Free Stuff: The Internet's New Craze

How would you like a free iRiver H320? Maybe a free TiVo or ReplayTV is more your style. If watching your favorite shows on the go is your thing, then a free portable media center sounds about right. No, these are not scams, schemes, or hoaxes - they are the real deal. And it's the latest craze sweeping the internet. Not convinced? Click on one of the links above, and sign up. You will be on your way to expensive electronics at no cost to you. We take a closer look after the jump.

Many a Gear Live reader has been the recipient of a free iPod, free flatscreen TV or monitor, and recently a free Dell Dimension PC. We have many articles showcasing the Gratis Internet websites advertising the promotions. Many thought they were scams, and paid no attention. That is until their friends started receiving expensive electronics in the mail, at no cost to them.

Gratis Internet has been around for quite some time, giving out free DVD's, CD's, and even condoms. They recently took a gamble and decided to start giving out high priced items in exchange for referals. Word of mouth, rather than advertising, has paid off for Gratis Internet. Many other websites have decided to follow suit, trying to one up Gratis Internet's business model. There have been many small time acts, but recently one group of sites caught our attention. Not only do they give you a free item upon completing your referal requirements, but extra referals earn you a bonus gift!

PVPs4Free allows you to choose from an Archos AV420, iRiver PMP-120, Creative Zen Portable Media Center, or a 10" Samsung portable DVD player. The bonus gift here is a choice between Shure E2C headphones, or a $100 MusicMatch gift certificate.

MP3Players4Free offers a choice between an iRiver H320, a Rio Carbon, a 20 GB iPod, or an iPod mini with your choice of color. Earn a free gift, and you can choose between an iTrip, an iBeam Laser Flashlight, or a $20 iTunes or MusicMatch gift certificate.

Finally, DVRs4Free offers the latest 80 Hour Series2 TiVo, or 80 hour Replay TV. Earn a free gift, and you can choose between a Harmony Remote 688 or a 6 Month TiVo subscription.

It will be interesting to see how these offers do compared to those tried and true Gratis Internet offers. The links above will allow you to sign up and get started on your way toward free gear. If you sign up under any of the links above, we will post your referal link right here in this article for all to see.

Posted by Andru at 08:45 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Color-Ware XBOX Paint Mod

A couple of months ago, ColorWare took our iPod and gave it the golden treatment. After such a stellar job, we decided to find out what they could do with a game console. We sent ColorWare our regular black XBOX along with a controller, and they sent them back white as snow. We take a closer look after the jump.

So, if you haven't read our review on Color-Ware's iPod coloring services, I suggest you check it out now. This company is the real deal, and you can expect top notch, curteous service. In fact, the service is so good, that we decided to try it out a second time. Color-Ware colored our XBOX, and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the others just can't compare.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
You can expect this review to be shorter than most, simply because there isn't much more to add that we haven't already stated before regarding Color-Ware. However, there are some console-specific issues that we would like to address. First, functionality. You can rest assured that Color-Ware takes tremendous care in the products you send them. I was able to plug in the XBOX and controller and play them perfectly. The only distraction I had was when I kept staring down to look at the beautiful work they did on the controller. Take a look:

The other issue you may worry about is the actual paint job. At $99 for console coloring (controllers cost extra), you would expect a job well done. Again, great job here. We asked if ColorWare would be willing to paint the XBOX jewel a different color than the console. They told us they could, but preferred not to since they don't do that for real world customers. This just speaks volumes for their credibility. Upon close inspection of the unit, the detail and effort put into the job was immediately apparent. Just look at how precise the job was performed:

FINAL VERDICT
I thought Color-Ware did a great job, however there was one negative that caused me to bring the score down just a tad. I fully expected that the whole XBOX would be painted the color chosen, however this was not the case. Color-Ware does not color the back air vents of the XBOX. Now, in my situation, I actually thought that made the paint job look even better. However, this may not be the case for everyone who expects the fee to result in a completely colored console. If this doesn't bother you (and really, how often do you look at the back of your console?), then Color-Ware just can't be beat. Go ahead and check them out at www.colorwarepc.com. Here are a few more images of the XBOX:

Posted by Andru at 02:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 14, 2004

AT&T Mobile Music Store

We all know how frustrating it can be to hear a song on the radio that you like, but not know the name of it (or the artist who sings it). What if you liked it so much that you wanted to purchase it? Well, with AT&T's new mMode Music Store along with the Music ID service, all you need is your cell phone. All you need to do when you hear a song playing is dial #ID on your phone, and hold it up to the speaker for 15 seconds. You will then get a text message giving you all the 411 on the track, as well as the option to purchase the song (or a related ringtone). Sounds interesting. From AT&T:

"Now consumers no longer have to scribble down the names of songs they've discovered and wait until they get home to download them onto their computers," Sam Hall, vice president of mMode services for AT&T Wireless, said in a statement. "The convenience and immediacy of our mobile digital music store lets users remotely explore and buy digital music while on the move."

Posted by Andru at 11:20 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Gear Live Playlist: Public Enemy, Interpol, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41, Eyeada & Abilities

This week's Gear Live Playlist takes a look at one of the most controversial alblums of all time, along with new releases by Interpol and Sum 41. If you want something with more of a mixed flavor, we have a review of the Garden State Soundtrack. Get this week's music fix after the jump.

NEW RELEASES

Interpol – Antics
A follow up to 2002’s magnificent “Turn On The Bright Lights”, “Antics” is all you can ask for in a sophomore album. “Antics” is the sound of a great band maturing, moving in the right direction, and taking a step toward a long and fruitful career. Although Interpol often gets comparisons to bands like The Strokes and other new garage rock, Interpol features more mature songwriting, much clearer vocals and more complex instrumentation. Great songs include “Narc”, “Slow Hands” and above all, the riotous “Not Even Jail”. Rock music’s future could do a lot worse than Interpol, a New York band that captures the spirit of garage rock, but casts aside the low-fi guitars and screeching feedback. The album reaches a high point with the surf guitar intro to “Public Pervert”, one of the better songs of the year. Great album, and it makes me already anticipate their next, an 8/10.

Sum 41 - Chuck
Following up their gold record, “Does This Look Infected”, Sum 41 chose to get even more melodic, while keeping all of their trademark aggression and pop punk style. With the first single “We’re All To Blame”, Sum 41 also prove they have grown up a little, and gotten a bit political. The album is named after a United Nations representative who brokered their safe return from a trip to the Republic Of Congo. Overall, “Chuck” is a lot darker than any of Sum 41’s previous efforts, dealing more with loss and politics than the party boy anthems of some of their previous efforts. The slow tracks on “Chuck”, especially “Slipping Away” and “Pieces”, weaken the album, and make Sum 41 look like a fish out of water. All in all, “Chuck” is ok but disappointing, a 7/10.

Jimmy Eat World – Futures
2001’s “Bleed American” introduced Jimmy Eat World to the world, and sold a million and a half copies. How do you follow that up? By releasing an incredibly dense and complex album full of incredible hooks and lyrics that make you realize emo music can grow up. Kicking things off with “Futures”, a track with an incredible guitar intro, Jimmy Eat World lets you know quickly that they have grown up musically. The melodic “Jenny” should find itself to modern rock radio, and could be a big hit. But the strongest track on the album is also the first single, “Pain”, which uses the emo two singer method to perfection. The slow track “Drugs or Me” is exquisite and heart breaking, the idea of loving someone who doesn’t love themselves. Watching them go from someone you love to some drug ridden shell, “If only you could see, the stranger sitting next to me” puts it perfectly. In the end, Jimmy Eat World has definitely released their best album yet, and one of the best of the year. “Futures” is what emo can aspire to become, a 9/10.

RECENT RELEASES

Garden State Soundtrack
I’m going to come clean, I am not a big fan of movie soundtracks. Sometime in the 90’s, movie soundtracks lost any continuity and became just a random group of songs grouped together onto the same plastic disc. There are rare exceptions, and “Garden State” is definitely one of them. Each song carries the same somber but optimistic tone, a sly smile instead of jumping around for joy. “Garden State” was assembled by the director of the movie, so the soundtrack is basically a handpicked mixtape that conveys the same emotions and message as the film. The artists on “Garden State” are very eclectic, from the mainstream sounds of Coldplay and The Shins, to the indie styles of Iron & Wine, Remy Zero and The Cary Brothers. By far the best track on the album is an acoustic number by former Men at Work lead singer Colin Hay, “I Just Don’t Think That I’ll Ever Get Over You”, a heartbreaking song about the agony of losing someone. Also included are tracks by electronic musicians Thievery Corporation and a song by the king of sadness Nick Drake. So, all in all, “Garden State” is a bit bleak and morose, but if you are in the mood, no one has done sad but hopeful this well in awhile.

Eyedea & Abilities – E&A
I don’t think I am the only one who is extremely sick of modern hip hop. I used to be a huge rap fan, but then came the age of “bling bling” and nothing but guns and Bentleys. I mean, if I believe every rapper I hear, there are around three million Bentleys sold each year. I yearn for the days of Rakim and Chuck D, when rappers were intelligent and beats were original. Inspiring hope for a hip hop rebirth is Eyedea & Abilities, a modern day Eric B. & Rakim, one rapper, one dj, mixed with some intelligent, socially conscious lyrics and finally a dash of incredible basslines. Hailing from Minneapolis, (also the home to another rapper of the same style, the critically acclaimed Atmosphere) Eyedea & Abilities have seemingly been insulated from the gunplay and drug deal boasts of New York City and LA. This lends itself to original lyrics that don’t use the typical rap world’s hackneyed topics as crutches, in other words, Eyedea & Abilities aren’t just writing about money, guns & hoes. So, if you are sick of what rap has become, and hopeful about what it can be, grab this album, you won’t be disappointed.

COLLECTION ESSENTIALS

Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
In the late 80’s, hip-hop had ten years under it’s belt, and a whole lot of unresolved issues. With the emergence of NWA, Public Enemy, Ice T and others, the days of LL Cool J topping charts with “I Need Love” were definitely over. The West Coast now had it’s gangsta rap, with tales of gangs and drive bys, but the East Coast had something even more powerful, the socio-political fury and intelligence of Chuck D and Public Enemy. Following the intro, “It Takes A Nation of Millions” dives right in with the classic “Bring The Noise”. Although the song was much bigger commercially when remade with Anthrax, this version is much clearer, so you hear lines like “Radio stations I question their blackness, they call themselves black, but we’ll see if they play this”. Public Enemy was making a statement: hip-hop was not going to be disco music, a gimmick music made for the sole purpose of playing at a party. Rap music had something to say, and you were going to listen damn it. With the mostly simple, driving beats provided by Terminator X, and the angry, smooth cadence of Chuck D, this album is classic after classic that will resonate for years to come. The only downside to “It Takes A Nation” is the sole weakness of Public Enemy, the extremely annoying Flavor Flav. Honestly, if Public Enemy had just been a one MC and one DJ group like Eric B. & Rakim, they would have released even more classic albums than they did. But with tracks like “Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos”, “Rebel Without A Pause” and “Prophets of Rage”, “It Takes A Nation” belongs in everyone’s collection.

Posted by Andru at 12:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 12, 2004

Rumor: 60 GB iPod With Color Screen and Video Out?

ThinkSecret.com is reporting on a rumor as old as time itself (ok, thats a slight exaggeration, but am I the only one who feels like this has been a rumor for the longest time?). The rumor of a 60GB iPod has been around for a while as well as the rumor of a color screen. Now, according to ThinkSecret.com, it will only be a rumor for about 30 to 60 more days. The device (as mentioned earlier) will have a 60GB hard drive capabable of holding up to 20,000 music tracks and 25,000 photos. Of course file size and quality will affect these numbers but not by much with such a large drive. The screen size will remain the same, but the two inch screen would be in color, and of a higher resolution. Big news is the new video out option to view all your photos on your television/projector. Apparently, the iPod would sync not only with iTunes, but also with iPhoto. If this ever materializes, look for the new iPod to cost $499 USD.

We will have more on this as the story becomes official, until then, remember, its only a rumor (but hey, wasn't the internet created for rumor sites about Apple?).

Read More | Think Secret

Posted by Doug at 10:20 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Philips Streamium HDTV 23PF9976i

There are more and more adding wireless networks to their homes, as the technology has come down in price quite a bit. After taking that plunge, most try to make future purchases based on whether the device has integrated Wi-Fi or not. It's understandable, as you have invested in the technology in the first place. Philips is finally ready to release their Streamium HDTV. What does one have to do with the other? The Streamium 23PF9976i is an HDTV with integrated 802.11g Wi-Fi.

Philips claims the TV is "future proof" as well. This simply means that the TV will check Philips servers for updates on codecs and other features throughout its lifetime. Sounds nice, but that's not all the Wi-Fi does. The main attraction of this unit is that it can stream audio (MP3, MP3 Pro, PCM, WAV), video (MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, XviD), and photos (JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG ) over your network and display them on its 23-inch high definition screen. It also boasts a built-in FM tuner, and if that isn't enough, you can stream internet radio as well.

So what's the price? So far, Philips hasn't made it public. We can expect an announcement soon, though, as the Streamium HDTV is set to be released in November. While 23-inches might seem small, it is the perfect compliment to your Streamium Boombox. Right.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | eHomeUpgrade
Read More | Streamium

Posted by Andru at 09:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

DVD Release List: 10/12/04

Today's DVD Release List might seem a bit skimpy at first, until you take a closer look. Then you realize that all these releases are ho-hum, with the exception of the fourth season of CSI. That is unless you like overdone comedies (like The Nutty Professor), or overdramatic dramas (like The Day After Tomorrow). Enjoy!

DVD RELEASE LIST: October 12, 2004

• Taxi - The Complete First Season
• Reversible Errors
• The Ren & Stimpy Show
• Raising Helen
• The Nutty Professor: Special Collector's Edition
• Invader Zim 3: Horrible Holiday Cheer
• The Day After Tomorrow
• C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation - The Complete Fourth Season
• 5ive Days to Midnight

Posted by Andru at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 11, 2004

FOX Box Sets for $14.99

In what looks to be an awesome deal, Amazon is offering FOX Season One Box Sets for a cool $14.99. Included in this deal are:

24
The Simpsons
Futurama
Millenium
In Living Color
Roswell
Angel
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
King of the Hill

If you want to get in on it, act fast!

Posted by Andru at 02:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ask the Gear Chick

With all the email we get at Gear Live regarding technology, opinions on what people should buy, and the like, we figured it was time to start a mailbag column. We thought long and hard about how to go forward with the new column, and it soon became obvious. We needed a Gear Chick. Is there anything better than a woman who loves tech? Didn't think so. They are a rare breed, and it took a while for us to find that one woman who fit the bill - but we did it.

Meet Lauren, the new Gear Chick. She will be answering your emails on all things related to gear in Ask the Gear Chick each week. You can reach her at gearchick@gearlive.com. Here is her first column:

Welcome to Ask the Gear Chick. It isn't too often that you see a chick on Gear live but with my new column, that might just change things around here! Here's the basic idea:

You write me an email and ask some questions. I will pick a few to answer each week and you'll get an honest answer or opinion from a real tech girl.

I'm Lauren and currently a student at Western Connecticut State
University in CT. I'm planning to pursue a career in early childhood
education, specifically preschool. However...I love all kinds of tech
gadgets and toys. Basically, buying new things and trying them out is
a hobby of mine. My favorites have to be digital cameras/web cams and
cell phones.

My first experience with tech gear was with my lovely NES system. I
was 5 years old and shared it with my twin brother. Mario Brothers 3
was, and still is, my favorite game for that system. My aunt bought it for us because my mother could never afford any of that. I didn't even have a TV in my house so I had to play it at my grandmothers. I guess not being able to have all that makes you want it more and encourages you to work for it.

Since then, I've gotten a bit more advanced with my gear. After
getting a job, I became more interested. I could actually buy the
things my friends had and what I wanted. In the past few years I've
gotten a number of computers, game consoles, DVD players, cell phones
and MP3 players.

My most recent purchase was an LG VX3200 cell phone which I absolutely love. It's a very light phone, only weighing 3.5 ounces and stands out from other phones due to its silver/blue coloring. The battery life is excellent, I only have to recharge it every 3 days. Other features include voice mail, voice dialing, color screen analog roaming speaker phone and speed dial. Overall its a great little phone, fits easily in my pocket and does its job well.

I am also in love with my new digital camera. It is a Canon Powershot
A85 and the best I've owned so far. I get crystal clear pictures every time and never have to worry about low light, shadows, or anything of that sort. My favorite features include Postcard Mode, the 1.8" color LCD with up to 10x playback zoom, and especially the voice memo that can be attached to pictures taken. I got it for $275 and have yet to have a problem. With all of its great features, its worth at least 3 times as much!

So now you know all about your new columnist. Get those questions in!

Posted by Andru at 11:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Creative Zen Micro

Continuing the latest industry trend of releasing portable audio players with a smaller amount of drive space, Creative has developed the next competitor to the iPod mini. The Creative Zen Micro is just 3.3" x 2" x 0.7" and offers 5 GB of storage space, along with an FM tuner and voice recording. In addition, the rechargeable battery will be removable and lasts for 12 hours. The Creative Zen Micro employs similar technology to the Zen Touch, utilizing a vertical touchpad. You can expect to find the product in stores in time for the holiday season.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | Gizmodo

Posted by Andru at 09:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Half Life 2 Review Scans

The long awaited Half Life 2 PC game is finally about to ship. In fact, those who purchased the download version have already had the game pushed to their PC's - but cannot play it until the launch date. Instead of staring at the file download that taunts you, check out the scanned review out of PC Gamer UK. From the looks of it, this might be one game that actually lives up to its hype.

Read More | PC Gamer UK via Tekstop

Posted by Andru at 08:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 08, 2004

Nintendo Reveals DS Launch Lineup

Continung today's Nintendo DS coverage, Nintendo has finally released the lineup of launch games available for the Nintendo DS due out in the states on November 21 (and Japan 10 days later). Some big name third party games will be out along with several Nintendo developed titles as well. This news along with the most recent story mentioned earlier on Gear Live regarding downloading content wirelessly and another report about Nintendo commenting on the PSP battery life shows signs of a good week for Nintendo, the DS, and most importantly, Nintendo fans. Stay tuned for more Nintendo DS and Sony PSP news as it comes in. For now, continue reading the story below to find out the complete lineup of launch games for the Nintendo DS.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | Yahoo! News
Read More | GamerFeed

The following games are titles which Nintendo expects to launch with the Nintendo DS on November 21, or between then and the end of the year in time for the holiday season:

Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft)
Feel the Magic XY/XX (Sega)
Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts)
Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
Ping Pals (THQ)
Rayman DS (Ubisoft)
Ridge Racer DS (Namco)
Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 (Electronic Arts)
The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)

In addition, Nintendo plans on the following games being available for the Nintendo DS in the next year. Note, these are the confirmed titles. There are many, many more in development for release next year as well:

Advance Wars DS (Nintendo)
Animal Crossing (Nintendo)
Bomberman (Hudson)
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Square Enix)
Frogger (Konami)
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (Electronic Arts)
Metroid Prime: Hunters (Nintendo)
Need for Speed Underground (Electronic Arts)
New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
Viewtiful Joe (Capcom)
Wario Ware Inc. DS (Nintendo)
Yoshi's Touch & Go (Nintendo)

As far as pricing, Nintendo has stated that its first party Nintendo DS titles will retail for about $29.99. Third party pricing will be at the choice of the publishers.

Posted by Doug at 09:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Treasures From Noble Collection

Man, how cool is this! Yesterday I received a catalogue from the Noble Collection company, which showcased some really beautiful sculptures and replicas for your desk or home. If I had room in my current place, I would totally jump for some Lord of the Rings gear, like the replica shown here. I also liked the Constellation Draco Compass and the Da Vinci Flying Machine. Very classy conversation pieces, indeed. Check out their entire online catalogue, or even better, order a print copy so that you can see them close-up in nice setting. You'll be impressed.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Posted by Hector at 07:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Nintendo DS to Offer Wireless Downloading

While the ability to share one cartridge for two systems is nothing new...being able to do so wirelessly is. Even more interesting though, are Nintendo's ideas to offer downloadable demos from wireless kiosks at various game stores. The most eye-catching idea of all however, would be plans to wirelessly download a new Pokemon by having your Nintendo DS at the movie theatre when a given scene plays out on the franchise's film. I knew there had to be an easier way to get that blasted Mewtwo!

  "Yeah, you wish."

  Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

  Read More | CNet

Posted by Hector at 05:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 07, 2004

Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller

In what has got to be classified as truly weird, and probably downright non-functional, Nuby Tech is developing a new controller for the Nintendo Gamecube which is inspired by the upcoming Resident Evil 4. While special game-based controllers are nothing out of the ordinary, usually it is just a different color scheme with controller remaining pretty much the same. Not so here, as my standard Gamecube controller looks nothing like a chainsaw. While it may be nice for collector's, I don't see much gameplay ability here. Look for the controller in stores in January.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Board

Posted by Andru at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Use GMail Filesystem As a Virtual Hard Drive

We all know how great Google GMail is. People have been clamoring for invitations to Google's email service for months, and those that have it flaunt it. Well, since pretty much no one is going to fill up their Google mailboxes with actual email anytime soon, why not use the space for something more useful? GMail Drive is just the thing, as it turns the filesystem used on your GMail account into a virtual hard drive. It will show up as a drive within Windows, and you can drag-and-drop files directly to your Google webspace! The downside? You can not upload files larger than 10 MB, which is the GMail attachment size limit. More info on the product:

GMail Drive is a Shell Namespace Extension that creates a virtual filesystem around your Google GMail account, allowing you to use GMail as a storage medium.

GMail Drive creates a virtual filesystem on top of your Google GMail account and enables you to save and retrieve files stored on your GMail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive literally adds a new drive to your computer under the My Computer folder, where you can create new folders, copy and drag'n'drop files to.

Oh, and speaking of Gmail, the Gear Live Gmail Giveaway is still in full effect. Click around, you may just nab yourself an invite.

Posted by Andru at 10:17 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Hack Your XBOX To Run Mac OS X

With all the various XBOX hacks available, you would think that most would be satisfied with having huge hard drives in their consoles to fill with games. Of course, it's not the right thing to do, but it is the truth. Well, never underestimate the power of the geek. You can now run a completely full (and completely slow) version of Mac OS X on your XBOX. It does take some work, and it is through using the PearPC emulator through an XBOX Linux install - but it's still very cool. If you want to try and install OS X on your XBOX, you can find all the instructions here.

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RELATED:
Mod Your XBOX Without a Mod Chip
XBOX Media Center

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Google to Swallow Up Books

With any business, you need to keep growing or else risk getting overcome by your competitors. Google is really on the mark, looking to start a service that will allow people to search through book text using their engine. Users of "Google Print" will be able to view information about a book and browse select pages, though not the whole book. The pages will also contain links to booksellers, in the classic Google-ad tradition.

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Read More | CNN

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October 06, 2004

The Joys of Digital Audio

The music industry is going through a serious transformation and resurgence these days. Part of the reason for this is the popularity of portable digital music players, such as the Apple iPod and the Rio Carbon. In fact, a recent study found that the global market for mp3 players will generate $58 billion by 2008. You have to wonder, what is it that makes digital audio so enticing in the first place? Today Gear Live takes a look at the allure and the functionality of the MP3 world, so that we could all understand what the fuss is all about.

PORTABILITY

CD’s are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With so many MP3 services available, it’s becoming a lot easier to find your favorite artist, whether the genre is jazz, instrumental, hip-hop, rock and beyond. This means we don’t need to carry around those bulky CD cases any longer. When you’re commuting to work on the train, you’ll have less of a chance of falling on someone because you’re busy fishing through a CD storage case.

With 5 GB of space on a player, you could store about 80 full albums worth of music, all in the palm of your hand. The LCD screens on most players also allow you to browse through your tracks, and hand-select the exact song, from the specific artistor album that you’d like to hear. No more fumbling around while standing on a moving train or bus. Just scroll, click, scroll and you’re in music heaven. Best yet, all this accessibility can fit right in your pocket. Plus, if you’re stuck without a radio, digital audio can be played from a PC or Mac, using players like Winamp or Windows Media Player.

TRANSFERS

The size of your average MP3 file is around 5 megs, assuming an average bitrate. This means you can store about 140 songs on a single CD either for storage or for playback on a CD-based MP3 player. That’s a far cry from the usual 15 tracks when songs are in their native format. With the proliferation of USB devices, you can also now transfer songs from one PC to another and then back to your player at pretty quick speeds. I keep my songs organized in specific directories so I have one folder or "album" per genre. If I need a quick pickup of a few titles, I search for the directory I’m in the mood for, and drag and drop the songs I need to the player.

LONGEVITY

CD’s and DVD’s can scratch up, despite what proponents will have you believe. Having songs in digital form means that they retain their integrity from storage to playback, for as long as you have them, assuming you have some decent virus protection on your PC, of course.

Here's the benefit: If I need to make a copy of a few songs unto a CD for playback on a non-MP3 device, I can. Windows XP comes with that function built right in. Find the songs you like in your Explorer window and select “Copy Songs to Audio CD”. Simplicity itself. You’ll find you can make all of your Slow Jams albums you need for your special night with a loved one. If you lose the CD, just burn another, and it will sound exactly the same.

NO MORE SKIPPING

You know how bummed out you were when you forgot to check if your new CD player had skip-proof 30-second memory? Heck, even those with 60 or 90-second buffers are prone to music skips if you jog hard enough. Not so with flash-based MP3 players. Because they offer no moving parts, there’s no chance of a song bouncing on you. Hard drive based players are also less prone to skips as well, but they're not completely skip-free. For this reason, many manufacturers now sell arm-based strap-cases for players so that there's less movement when working out or doing other strenuous activity.

DOWNLOADS

You’re going to save yourself trips to the music store. Just about everything can be downloaded from the comfort of your own home. Even Virgin Records needed to get itself into the act, by offering its own new monthly subscription-based music service. Many artists even offer free MP3’s on the web if they’re relatively new and need to get some buzz out there. With a cable connection, you can have a song on your computer and in your MP3 player in less time that it takes to hear the song itself. With wireless Internet access catching on, things are going to get even more interesting.

These are just some of the joys I’ve experienced with this new but exciting technology. Sure, you need a decent PC with a good USB connection, and a high speed modem get the most out of the digital music world, but then again you need that for digital photos as well, so consider it a multi-use investment.

Great-sounding, ultra-portable, and easily attainable music is worth it.

Sound off on your love for digital music on Gear Live’s Message Boards.

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World Cyber Games Competition Heats Up

In San Francisco, the World Cyber Games Championship is offering a total of $400,000 in prizes for its finalists. Players are pit against each other in a variety of first-person shooters including "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero," "Unreal Tournament 2004" and "Halo", along with other titles such as "FIFA 2004" and "Need for Speed Underground." The World Cyber Games began in 2001 with players from 37 countries in its first year. This year is the first time it has been held outside of Korea, and from now on organizers plan to hold it at different cities worldwide, including Singapore next year. Good to know that you can make a living doing almost anything you love. The little fella here on the right is supposed to be the WCG Mascot.

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Read More | CNN

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Samsung SCH-A790 Review

Finally, Verizon Wireless is adding a GSM phone to their product line. In fact, it is the first phone in the United States that can roam on both GSM and CDMA networks. Not bad. The reviewer notes that while it is nice to finally have GSM on Verizon, GSM roaming is going to cost you a pretty penny. It seems Verizon is slowly starting to offer the features that those on other carriers already have, starting with the Motorola V710 with Bluetooth. Now if only they would make these things as user friendly as the other carriers. And what the hell is up with the keypad?

Read More | CNet

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October 04, 2004

Nokia 7710: Cell Phone TV Is Coming

Exactly one year from when it was originally announced (with a version that was never actually released to the market), Nokia is going to take another crack at entering a new market. Just like with the N-Gage handheld convergence device, this item also had to be redesigned before retailers and consumers were willing to accept it. The new phone, the Nokia 7710, is designed to be used as (hold on to your seats) a phone first (not many single use devices anymore, remember when a cell phone was a cell phone?), and second, as a mobile television (the quality is not yet known). Due to the massive market share Nokia has (1 out of every 3 phones sold around the world), there is almost no better company to push this new technology. The service will first be used in Britain on a trial basis before it is hopefully released elsewhere.

Read More | Reuters UK

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Extreme Makeover: Yahoo! Edition

Yahoo! released a preview version of its new homepage design which they are claiming will be simpler and more intuitive to what the user wants to see. The web-site directory section, which used to dominate much of the Yahoo home page, will now take up much less room. The news headlines are higher on the page and the entertainment section will be updated more frequently throughout the day. The redesign of the home page coincides with Yahoo's big push of the new "My Yahoo" section which has been extremely popular since its introduction. Customization and listening to its users is definitely something Yahoo is placing plenty of importance on.

Read More | Yahoo! News

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Legal Concert Downloads: A Look at the Tech

So we are now in the maturation phase of the online music world, past the infancy when there was a mad rush to Napster, Kazaa and their brethren. Although those P2P options still exist, there are now legal download options such as iTunes, legal Napster and several others. Even audiobooks have gone MP3, with sites like Audible.com offering the newest novels in formats ready for MP3 players. But I want to look at a niche that has been flourishing since the beginning of the web, and still is an incredible, legal and mostly free option when you want to hear some great music. I am talking about downloading the concerts of bands that are “taper-friendly”, which means the band allows fans to record concerts and distribute them freely. So we’ll take a look at the history of this concept, what it looks like today, and how to get your hands on some great shows.

THE BEGINNING OF "TAPE TRADING"

The obvious beginnings to recording shows came with the original “taper-friendly” band, The Grateful Dead. Although people were recording concerts prior to The Dead in small numbers, The Grateful Dead revolutionized the process. Basically, The Dead gave their permission for fans to bring recording equipment into concerts and tape the entire concert. In later years, “tapers” were even given spots near the mixing board, where the audio sounds the best, and power hookups for their equipment. You may be asking yourself, what did The Dead get out of this? Well, the most obvious answer is that as these tapes were copied over and over, more people heard their music. Lets just say The Grateful Dead were never very “radio-friendly”, with their twenty-minute jams and all, so “tape-trading” gave them another outlet to get their music to the masses. Another positive for The Dead was that “tape-trading” gave their fans a sense of community, a sense of being a part of the band, which didn’t exactly hurt their following. Once other bands saw the effect “tape-trading” had on The Dead, many quickly followed suit.

FROM TAPE TRADING TO THE WORLD OF .FLAC, .SHN, and FTP

One of the big downsides to trading actual audiocassettes is that as each audiocassette is dubbed, the copies get further in audio quality from the original. People who received copies of copies of copies of copies, of a recording that wasn’t even studio-quality to begin with, started to wonder if their wasn’t a better way. Tapers were stuck until the advent of the Internet and digital taping equipment. Quickly following the thousands of pages of “XXX” and “Make Money Quick” websites, FTP servers were at the forefront of web usage. Suddenly you could dub your Dead cassettes onto your computer, and share them with friends without shipping, without re-dubbing, and without audio loss. But then came a new problem, the audio files were huge and the recordings were still being done on cassette, a format that does not lend itself to pristine audio quality. In the late 90’s, it all started to come together for “tape-traders”. The advent of the DAT, and then the mini-disc made taping at digital quality possible. The audio could then be moved to a computer without any audio-quality lost. With the only problem now being large file size, tapers started to tinker with .mp3’s, but .mp3’s are a “lossy” compression, meaning that when you get an audio file that small, you have lost some audio quality. Although that doesn’t seem like a big deal, when you copy a copy of a copy, it starts to multiply. So two new formats have been developed, with both having their positives and negatives, and both having their fans and detractors.

.SHN vs. .FLAC

The first of the formats to catch hold was .Shn, or Shorten. Basically, Shorten files are completely loss less, and result in .Shn files that are 50%-70% smaller than the original .wav file. Shortens were quickly being traded over ftp, or burned on to CD-R’s and traded by mail. Popular trading websites like Etree.org are very large advocates of Shorten files, and has become a meeting place where people can trade Shorten files. More recently, Flac files have taken the momentum away from Shorten, because of Flac’s claim to be completely lossless and 5%-15% smaller than their Shorten counterparts. Almost all new concerts on extremely popular Archive.org, are available in Flac format, and new audio players are being released with Flac support, such as the Rio Karma and The Squeezebox, something Shorten cannot claim. Switching these formats to wav files for cd burning, or to mp3 for further compression, will require separate software, which can be found at both format’s respective websites. Popular media players like WinAmp will play both formats effortlessly, but you may have problems with other media players. But what you will find is both formats are alive and well in the trading world, and both offer completely loss less audio.

WHERE TO GET YOUR DOWNLOADS AND THE LEGAL CONCERNS

One of the great things about the trading world is that these artists have requirements that concerts available for free can never, ever be sold. Bands that allow taping have rules for tapers, and selling concerts is always a no-no. But beware, bands like Dave Matthews Band and Phish allow the trading of many of their concerts, but also release some of their concerts themselves commercially, and sell them on their website or in music stores. You may be asking yourself, how do I tell the difference? Well, any of the concerts on the sites I am about to tell you about are completely legal and free for all. Websites like Archive.org, which in March 2004 passed the 10,000 concert mark, and allows super-fast free downloads of all of their shows. Archive.org even recently added a feature so that you can stream the show, without downloading the files. There are band specific sites like antsmarching.org, which has a large database of downloadable concerts by Dave Matthews Band, which may be a better resource if you are looking for concerts from a specific band. Another resource is the website of the actual band, with many having forums on which you can arrange a trade with a fellow fan. But as long as you download these concerts legally, and do not sell them yourself, you are completely in the free and clear. So if you are looking for a legal, free way to get your hands on a show that you went to, or just wish that you had, give concert trading a try.

- Greg Norton

Posted by Andru at 09:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's a Tungsten T5! Umm...OK!

I was as surprised as you were when I found out the PDA we hinted at last week was actually going to be palmOne's Tungsten T5. For $399 you get: 215 Megs of storage space, portable drive functionality, a 320 x 480 display, MP3 playback, and Bluetooth. While I love the form factor, I still find it a little steep, plus it's sorely lacking Wi-Fi. And this is supposed to be their high end model.

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Read More | PalmOne

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SpaceShipOne Claims X Prize

Well, it looks like SpaceShipOne has won the $10 million Ansari X-Prize as it reached over 368,000 feet above the Earth. A couple of months ago we reported on the ships first trip to space, which was a success. The prize rules require the winning team to send a piloted craft up to the 100-kilometer altitude (the accepted official distance of outer space) twice within a two week period. The craft must also bring with it enough baggage to represent the weight of two average passengers. On today's flight, that baggage was in the form of teddy bears, toys for charity, and other personal mementos.

Mojave Aerospace Ventures, the company that funded the SpaceShipOne project, spent over $20 million to get this far. While a $10 million prize does not sound like much of a reward, there are already many companies that are ready to license the technology, one of which is Virgin Atlantic. Virgin plan on investing $25 million into a commercial space flight division called Virgin Galactic which will be based on SpaceShipOne technology.

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Read More | CNN

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The Sound Princess (Only in Japan)

In yet another OIJ (only in Japan) story, we now introduce you to "The Sound Princess," the first real attempt to world peace (not really). Everyone can relate to being in a quiet bathroom waiting for someone near you to flush a toilet, turn on the faucet, or leave the room so you can "mask the cruder noises of nature," now this most awkward of situations seems to be a thing of the past thanks to "The Sound Princess" from the leading Japanese toilet producer Toto Ltd. The way the Sound Princess works is the user passes her hand over a sensor, and the convincing sound of a torrent of water comes from a speaker, thus eliminating the awkward silence. Now, the waiting game in the cut throat world of toilet manufacturers to see who tries to take back the crown of most creative "plug-ins" for the toilet.

This toilet does in fact have a good purpose, statistics have shown that women flush the toilet several times to cover up the "crude noises" and they are using much more water than they should be so The Sound Princess will cut down on water use as well as related utility costs.

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Read More | Yahoo! News/AP

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October 01, 2004

Netflix and TiVo Joining Forces

Seems like a match made in heaven, right? According to USA Today, the two companies are joining forces to deliver movies on demand to TiVo's set-top boxes via the interent. Netflix is really playing its cards right though, by stating that the deal will not be exclusive to just TiVo. They would be free to deliver movies to other boxes, including those offered by cable and satellite companies. While this will certainly help cut down on all the DVD skipping we get from the scratches on shipped discs, we're also wary of the waiting time it would take for movies to be downloaded to the box, which might be as long as the movie itself.

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Read More | USA Today

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Samsung Developing Tiny Drive for Cell Phones

In a move to get you to upgrade the cell phone you just got last month, Samsung is working on a miniature drive technology for its future models. Though there are no details as to when they might become available, a Samsung spokesperson said that a 0.85-inch drive is indeed "in the R&D stage." Toshiba and GS Magicstor have already announced plans to build drives of that size, which will also likely be used for cell phone storage. Maybe now we'll be able to see the video for "Flap Your Wings" with our ring tones.

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Read More | CNet News

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