Apple releases Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Developer Preview 3 11A459e

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,

All you Apple devs out there (meaning, anyone who coughed up $99 for a Mac dev account,) hit Software Update when you get a chance because Apple just released Lion Developer Preview 3. The update, which is build 11A4593, weighs in at 1.07 GB, and looks to be an actual seed build this time around. We are keeping our eyes out for any new features or enhancements. Also, for those interested, Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 5 is also available.

Deal of the Day: 20% off Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22K touchscreen camera

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Hot Deals,

Today eBay has our Deal of the Day with a nice deal on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22K touchscreen camera.  This is a 14.1 megapixel digital camera, with 3-inch touchscreen display. they usually sell for $170, but this deal offers it at 20% off, bringing the price down to $135 - and shipping is free. Head on over if you wanna check it out:

Save 20% on Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22K

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals, or you can Like TechPromos on Facebook.

Read More | Lumix FH22K camera deal

Apple iMac 27-inch (2011) review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews,

The Apple iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,999 list) is the newest top-of-the-line iMac, and it adds second-generation Intel Core i processors (aka, Sandy Bridge) to Apple's class-leading all in one Mac desktops, along with Thunderbolt ports first seen on the new MacBook Pro laptops. It has that huge, beautiful high-resolution screen, killer (if aging) design, and it is fast, fast, fast. Your "Mac OS or die" art director already wants one. Still, it's not enough to unseat the HP TouchSmart 610-1065qd as our high-end all in one desktop Editor's Choice, given that the latter offers quad-core power, a touch-screen display, and an innovative screen reclining feature, all for about $200 less. That said, read on for our full review of the 2011 27-inch iMac with Thunderbolt.

Click to continue reading Apple iMac 27-inch (2011) review

Read More | iMac Thunderbolt

Bang & Olufsen’s first 3D HDTV costs just $85,000

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment,

Luxury home audio and video company Bang & Olufsen is entering the 3D HDTV market. The new BeoVision 4 is an 85-inch plasma HDTV with active shutter 3D, a massive profile, and a massive price tag.

The 85-inch screen weighs a whopping 300 pounds, with a motorized stand that weighs an additional 600 pounds. The screen can automatically lift up from the floor to viewing position, rotate left and right 20 degrees, and even tilt up and down slightly. The stand includes a B&O BeoLab 10 center channel speaker that gives it high-end dialog levels. The BeoVision 4 offers all of this for a whopping $85,000. Yes, that's five digits.

Don't think you can just hand over a check for $85,000 and get the HDTV, though. Bang & Olufsen requires its dealers to inspect the place where you plan to put the HDTV to make sure that the floor can handle the heavy screen and the wiring can deliver the required 220 volts to run the screen. So be prepared to entertain structural and electrical engineers in your home before you can even hope to get one of these HDTVs.

Click to continue reading Bang & Olufsen’s first 3D HDTV costs just $85,000

Bartleby’s Book of Buttons for iPad free through WWDC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Books, iPad Apps, Sales, Free Apps,

One of our favorite iPad apps for children, Bartleby's Book of Buttons: Volume I, is now being served up for free thanks fo the folks at Monster Costume. They're prepping Volume 2 of the storybook, and have decided to make Volume I (which typically sells for $4.99) free through WWDC 2011. If you've got an iPad, you should have Bartleby on it. Why? See our Bartleby's Book of Buttons review.

Read More | Bartleby's Book of Buttons Vol. 1

Deal of the Day: 39% off 1 TB Toshiba Canvio USB 2/3.0 external drive

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Hot Deals, Storage,

Today eBay caught our attention with their awesome deal on the Toshiba Canvio 1TB USB 2.0/3.0 portable hard drive, so we're making it our Deal of the Day.  This is a great price on a USB 3.0-compatible device, and these normall sell for $140, but this deal gets it to you for $84, saving you 39% off the regular price. Shipping is free:

Save 39% on Toshiba Canvio

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals, or you can Like TechPromos on Facebook.

Read More | Toshiba Canvio deal

Nikon Coolpix P500 review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Features, Product Reviews,

If you want to capture the action close up, the 12.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P500, with its 36x zoom lens, will get you right there. But with this digital camera, you get more than just an insanely long lens. Good image quality, speed, and a well-rounded feature set, are part of the deal. Just keep in mind: The P500 is big, since it houses a big lens, but you don't get a large sensor, like you would with a compact interchangeable lens camera or a Digital SLR. Read on for our full review of the Coolpix P500, and how it stacks up against the competition.

Click to continue reading Nikon Coolpix P500 review

Facebook desperately hired PR firm to run a Google smear campaign

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet,

The battle between Facebook and Google intensified this week when The Daily Beast and USA Today revealed that Facebook hired a PR firm to go after the search giant.

Last Friday, USA Today reported that PR firm Burson-Marsteller had contacted a variety of news outlets pushing a story about how Google's "Social Circle" Gmail feature violates users' privacy. The pitch was made on behalf of an unnamed client that The Daily Beast later confirmed was Facebook.

When pressed, Facebook confirmed the hire to the Daily Beast, citing concerns it had with the way Google was using its data. It was also reportedly annoyed that Google was boosting its own social-networking services with information from Facebook.

"In other words, just as Google built Google News by taking content created by hundreds of newspapers and repackaging it, so now Google aims to build a social-networking business by using that rich user data that Facebook has gathered," Dan Lyons wrote for The Daily Beast.

Facebook and Google declined comment Thursday.

Click to continue reading Facebook desperately hired PR firm to run a Google smear campaign

Video: Talking about Google Chromebooks on the news

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, PC / Laptop, Videos,

Yesterday, Google announced the availability of the Chromebook line at Google I/O 2011. You can see our news on the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and Acer Chromebook from yesterday, but I was also featured on our local news here in Seattle to talk about the steps Google is taking to move the OS into the cloud. We've embedded that clip above. Enjoy!

‘Groupon Now’ brings instant, spur-of-moment, location-based deals

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Location Services, Marketing, Startups,

Groupon has launched an instant, location-based mobile deal offering service called Groupon Now. The service offers various deals throughout the day via a mobile application or on the Web, rather than a single deal delivered to your inbox.

It's similar to the way services like Foursquare or Facebook Places offer discounts and deals, tapping into your device's GPS to peddle coupons in real-time. When you enter your location, Groupon Now lets you choose the type of deal you'd like, whether it's a half-price salsa lesson or a discount on a cheeseburger. Using your existing Groupon account, you can purchase the deal with one click, present a barcode for the vendor to scan, and claim your discount.

Click to continue reading ‘Groupon Now’ brings instant, spur-of-moment, location-based deals

Read More | Groupon