Crave: gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. - CNET

Peek at the best-looking PlayStation 4 mockup yet

Christopher MacManus — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:31:18 GMT

A mockup of the PS4.

(Credit: Andy Gilleand)

When Sony has a secret up its sleeve, the company loves to tease. If you missed last week's video enigma, Sony revealed very brief pictures of the mysterious PlayStation 4 hardware, leaving gamers in the dark about what the highly anticipated gaming console will look like.

Siri slams iPad in new Windows 8 ad

Chris Matyszczyk — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:34:02 GMT

Oh, this hurts.

(Credit: Microsoft/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

Microsoft isn't bothering to merely flex its muscles these days.

It's opening fire in all directions, because what is there to lose? Oh, perhaps money. But apart from that.

It's gone after Google in a quite chilling manner. It's gone after the Apple-Samsung phone feud.

So, in a further escalation of hostilities, a new Windows 8 ad sees Microsoft take Siri hostage, tie her up in a chair, and make her tell the truth.

The truth as Microsoft sees it, that is.

More Technically Incorrect

Now for sale on Craigslist: Google Glass

Seth Rosenblatt — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:45:40 GMT

A Craigslist ad is perhaps not the most subtle of ways to go about doing things, and that includes selling your Google Glass.

A photo from the Craigslist ad. Those sure look like Google Glass...

(Credit: Craigslist)

One Craigslister, based in San Francisco's East Bay according to the ad, is selling his or her pair of Google Glass Explorer Edition, something that's expressly forbidden by the Glass Terms of Sale.

Violating a product's sale terms is practically a rite of passage, from ripping the safety tag off a mattress to ripping CDs and DVDs. What makes this case unusual is that the Craigslister is clearly trying to make a buck: this pair of Glass, perhaps more valuable because of its rarity on Craigslist, is going for four times the market cost of $1,500.

A Google representative told CNET that the company wants Glass owners to use them as they see fit and that Google doesn't "plan on bricking any Explorer's device."

With photos of the box and bagged Glass, the offering appears to be real. What's not clear is whether the Glass are functional. This could also be a scam, aiming to reel in someone who just can't wait for next year's expected commercial release date for Glass.

OtterBox acquires rival LifeProof

David Carnoy — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:24:08 GMT

The popular LifeProof case joins the OtterBox family.

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.

OtterBox, which struggled for months to bring a waterproof iPhone case to market, has acquired rival LifeProof, which makes one of the best -- and best-selling -- tough iPhone cases.

Colorado-based OtterBox has been a leading case manufacturer for a variety of smartphones and tablets and has quickly grown to employ 650 people worldwide. LifeProof, based in San Diego and founded in 2009 by Australian Gary Rayner, employees 250 people.

OtterBox says those 250 employees are now "members of the OtterBox family and will remain in their San Diego location for the foreseeable future." Over the next 30 days, OtterBox will begin incorporating the LifeProof brand into that OtterBox family.

LifeProof just unveiled a waterproof iPad Mini case at the CTIA trade show in Las Vegas (it's expected to ship in June for $99.99), and a LifeProof case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to ship by mid summer.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it was likely in the tens of millions of dollars and perhaps even more. In 2012, OtterBox had approximately $600 million in revenues. That was up from $10.8 million in 2008. [Read more]

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Ethernet celebrates 40 years

Dara Kerr — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:25:37 GMT

A diagram from Bob Metcalfe's original memo explaining how Ethernet works.

(Credit: Palo Alto Research Center)

Most people probably associate Ethernet with a simple cable cinched with phone-like jacks. But, Ethernet is so much more.

It is the foundation for global Internet access and undoubtedly the world's most-used connectivity technology. In the annals of "techdom," Ethernet is a very big deal.

"Ethernet ranks highly among those technologies that impact day-to-day life on a global basis," IEEE Standards Association writes on its Web site. "Data center networks, PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and now the smart grid, smart meters, personal medical devices, the Internet of Things, connected cars, and more -- Ethernet touches them all in one way or another."

It was 40 years ago today that inventor Bob Metcalfe passed around a memo explaining just how Ethernet would work -- connecting multiple computers to one another to exchange messages over increasingly busy networks.

The Ethernet that Metcalfe, along with inventor David Boggs, came up with wasn't the first of such network protocols -- some precede... [Read more]

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Forget what you know, next-gen consoles change everything

Jeff Bakalar — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:28:35 GMT

For the better part of a decade the video game landscape remained mostly unchanged, complacent in a sea of sequels, motion controls, and downloadable content.

It's a generation that has lasted longer than any other before it, albeit for generally good reasons. And perhaps most impressive is that though their PC gaming counterparts have long since passed them by, these aging consoles are still able to render great-looking games.

So while the sun begins to set on what will go down as a pivotal generation for video games, we look ahead to see what owning a console will be like for the foreseeable future.

And then there were two There's no disrespect intended here toward Nintendo, but the next great console wars will be fought by two parties, not three. Sure, Nintendo beat everyone to the punch by releasing its next-generation console an entire year early, but the Wii U just barely catches up to the prowess of what PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 had been doing all along -- at least from a graphical and technical standpoint.

By no means is this a death sentence, though. Nintendo is company that needs to find itself and reposition. However that plan might play out, it most likely will not consist of picking fights with PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. (Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Graphics won't define next-gen Eye candy made a big splash at the dawn of gaming's previous generation. That will not be ... [Read more]

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Most tasteless question Apple's CEO was asked in Washington

Chris Matyszczyk — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:43:41 GMT

Keep calm and carry on.

(Credit: TMZ Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

It's not easy being the boss at 1 Infinite Loophole.

Instead of traveling around the world to expand your business and inspire your troops, you go to Washington in order to expand narrow minds and perspire at the absurdity.

You even have to find a polite way to answer Sen. John McCain when he demands to know why he's always having to update his iPhone apps.

Doesn't he have a Senate aide for that?

Still, Apple CEO Tim Cook emerged with nary a piece of stray fluff on his crisp white shirt, nor a dribble stain of sleepy boredom on his peculiar blue tie.

But just when he thought it was all over, he was accosted by a question for our times.

"Mr. Cook," asked the questioner, "Will we see a hologram of Steve Jobs at the next Apple convention any time?"

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. Steve Jobs Hologram?? Tim Cook Doesn't Exactly Deny It - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

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... [Read more]

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Smart bike handlebars have turn signals, GPS, speedometer

Amanda Kooser — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:40:00 GMT

Helios handlebars light up your cycling nightlife.

(Credit: Kenny Gibbs)

In general, bicycles haven't adopted the same high-tech features as many cars. Turn signals are done by hand, and GPS equates to using good old-fashioned brain power or the information you have on your phone. Helios Bars, a Kickstarter project, can turn a regular bike into a smart bike.

The feature list is a fun read. There are left- and right-turn signals, a headlight, GPS tracking in case someone nabs your ride, proximity lighting that senses your presence, and a visual speedometer with color-changing lights. There is also a turn-by-turn navigation feature. Rear-facing LEDS on the handlebars indicate when a turn is coming up.

The first goal of Helios is visibility. The 500-lumen headlight is the centerpiece, but lights mounted to the ends of the bars, pointing backward, also increase visibility and act as turn signals. The visual speedometer, when turned on, communicates the bike's speed based on changing colors.

Finding faces in Google Maps terrain

Michelle Starr — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:38:08 GMT

(Credit: Onformative)

Something our human eyes seem to do, without any prompting, is to pick out shapes and structures that resemble other shapes and structures. Called pareidolia, it's a form of pattern recognition -- and a good example is the way we often see a human face where only a random collection of shapes or shadows exists. This, it is now known, is the reason for the infamous face on Mars.

Our own Earth, as folded and rippled as it is, is also prone to this phenomenon when viewed from above: the Badlands Guardian, discovered on Google Earth in 2006, for example. But we're sure there are many more human-esque faces lurking in strange corners of the Earth.

That is the premise behind Google Faces, a project by Berlin design studio Onformative: can pareidolia be imitated by a machine? Using OpenFrameworks, the studio has created an application that crawls Google Maps, using facial recognition algorithms to seek out areas that look like faces.

Making faces with Google Maps (pictures)

1-2 of 9 Scroll Left[Read more]

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Gab online about Bieber's house parties, pay $5M

Christopher MacManus — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:03:31 GMT

Justin Bieber allegedly demands a social-media blackout regarding the happenings at his house.

(Credit: Justin Bieber/Twitter)

After several high-profile incriminating pictures hitting the Intertubes this year, TMZ reports that Justin Bieber wants all visitors to his Calabasas, Calif., mega mansion to sign a liability waiver restricting any social-media divulge about the goings-on behind closed doors.

The supposed waiver (PDF) isn't the friendliest welcome mat, as anyone with loose lips automatically gets pegged with a $5 million lawsuit -- plus they forfeit a few rights, including the ability to sue Bieber.

"Without in any way limiting the foregoing, under no circumstances will you divulge the details of you entering and being on the Property or engaging in the Activities by any means or through any media whatsoever, including without limitation, through photographs, video, blogging, texting, "tweeting" or posting any such information on any social-media site," says the alleged waiver.

The 404 1,273: Where overall we think it's necessary (podcast)

Justin Yu — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:42:15 GMT

Sharon Vaknin joins us on today's 404.

(Credit: The 404/CNET)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- All of CNET's coverage of yesterday's Xbox One event.

- Here's what we know about Xbox One games.

- Microsoft talks Xbox One naming, privacy and more (Q&A).

- Sharon Vaknin and CNET Reviews' John Falcone at last night's Webby Awards.

- Courts turning to UrbanDictionary as an authoritative source on slang. And here's The 404's contribution to UrbanDictionary.

- Rad fighting game backgrounds without the fighters.

- GIF creator: ... [Read more]

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Tiny crystal flowers bloom in a beaker

Michelle Starr — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:39:43 GMT

The false-colored flowers bloom almost smaller than the naked eye can see.

(Credit: Wim L. Noorduin, Harvard SEAS)

When you think of the word "crystal," you think, perhaps, of wedges of quartz stone, ice crystals, and salt -- not organic flowing forms or flowers. But by manipulating chemical gradients in a beaker of fluid, Harvard postdoctoral fellow Wim L. Noorduin has managed to control the growth of barium carbonate crystals to form very controlled sculptures of flowers, with petals, stems, and leaves.

How the crystal forms depends on the mixture of chemicals in a solution. As the chemical gradients react, the pH can change, causing the crystals to grow away from or toward the gradient, enabling Noorduin to coax the forms into leaves radiating outward, a ling, thin stem, or the petals of the flower head.

Get a free 100-photo flip-book from Groovebook

Rick Broida — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:33:50 GMT

For a mere $2.99 per month, Groovebook delivers a perforated flip-book of a whopping 100 photos, all uploaded from your smartphone.

(Credit: Groovebook)

The other day I told you about an app that lets you order Polaroid-style prints from your iPhone -- for 99 cents apiece.

Today, let's talk quantity. If you snap a lot of photos and frequently hit up, say, Snapfish or Walgreens for big batches of prints, I've got an interesting deal for you.

For a limited time, you can get a free 100-photo flip-book from Groovebook when you apply coupon code CNETGROOVE at checkout. That's a colossal savings of...wait for it...$2.99!

No, seriously. Without that code, a 100-photo flip-book would cost you exactly $2.99. Shipped. What kind of crazy craziness is this? I'll explain.

After installing the Groovebook app (Android|iOS), you simply choose up to 100 photos from your camera roll, then wait (for what promises to be a while) for them to upload.

Google Top Charts show world's searches for whiskey, more

Eric Mack — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:35:45 GMT

Have pitbulls' search fortunes been aided by the rise of a certain hip-hop star?

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Mack/CNET)

Google's top dog for last month was, once again, the pitbull. Having taken the title for most-searched breed away from the bulldog in January, the pit has stayed in the top spot for the past four months, but the German Shepherd is looking to make a move after overtaking the Siberian Husky to advance to the No. 4 position.

Engineer crafts induction-powered LED ring for love

Amanda Kooser — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:10 GMT

Here's the light-up ring lighting up.

(Credit: Ben Kokes/Enfinicorp)

Engineer Ben Kokes is a lot of things. He's an outdoor enthusiast. He's a Bronco mechanic. He's a tinkerer who builds electronic gadgets for fun. He's also in love.

I'll let him tell his story in his own words: "Once upon a time, a boy met a girl. Then a short amount of time later, the boy decided to design and build a ring for the girl, because doing things in the most complicated way possible is just what he does to show the love." To that end, Kokes made a ring. But not just any ring. It's a titanium ring with internal illumination.

Specifically, Kokes embedded an LED and copper coil assembly inside the custom ring. It lights up when it's in close proximity to an induced alternating magnetic field, more simply known as a transmitter. Kokes wears this transmitter around his arm, and whenever his loved one is near, her ring lights up from beneath the stones.

Amazon's Kindle Worlds will pay writers to write fan fiction

Lance Whitney — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:14:46 GMT

(Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)

People who write fan fiction could find a paying market for their work courtesy of Amazon.

Unveiled Wednesday, Kindle Worlds is a new publishing venture from Amazon that promises to reward both writers and the original rights holders for new fiction based on existing stories and characters.

Authors who create works of at least 10,000 words in length will receive 35 percent of the net revenue based on the actual sales price, with royalties... [Read more]

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Windows that double as cell signal boosters? Yes, please

Roger Cheng — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Ericsson had on display a window with a transparent antenna built in, allowing for superior indoor coverage.

(Credit: Roger Cheng/CNET)

LAS VEGAS -- Windows that only let in sunlight and provide a view to the outside world? That's so yesterday's news.

Ericsson believes it can do more with windows, and it had on display here a few windows enhanced with different modifications. One had a transparent cellular antenna embedded in the glass, potentially improving smartphone reception. Another was outfitted with infrared sensors around the frame, allowing it to detect swipes and taps.

Xbox Live Gold membership good for both Xbox One and 360

Lance Whitney — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:21:53 GMT

Microsoft's Xbox One.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Xbox 360 owners who have a Live Gold membership will be able to use it on the Xbox One as well.

Phil Harrison, a corporate vice president with Microsoft, confirmed to video-game blog Polygon that the same Gold membership will apply to both systems. Xbox Live Gold subscribers who buy an Xbox One won't have to ante up for another subscription.

Plus, that same single membership can be shared by multiple people, according to Ben Kilgore, a corporate vice president for Microsoft's Xbox Program Management. Each user will still have access to their own settings and customizations.

"We want to make sure that you and your son both have your own account," Kilgore told Polygon, using the example of a parent and child sharing the same Live Gold membership. "We want you log in to get your stuff, and when he logs in to get his stuff. On that console, if you have Gold, he can use Gold as well."

A Microsoft rep confirmed the information to CNET, saying: "If you have an Xbox Live Gold membership today on Xbox 360, it will carry over to Xbox One." The rep also said Microsoft will soon reveal more information about its Gold membership for the Xbox One.

Xbox Live Gold memberships offer a number of feat... [Read more]

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If Earth had rings like Saturn, the sky would look like this

Tim Hornyak — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

If Earth had rings, Congress would have even more glory to bask in, according to this Ron Miller illustration.

(Credit: Ron Miller)

The sunsets would be impossibly beautiful. The evening sky would glitter with a thousand silver arcs. If Earth had rings like Saturn, you'd only have to look up to get a spectacular show.

Veteran astronomy artist Ron Miller has created some stunning views of what our skies would look like if Earth were a ringed planet, and they make me want to launch a Kickstarter campaign to make it happen.

In a recent article for sci-fi blog io9, Miller presented his wild visions of a ringed Earth and what the sky would look like from various places on our planet.

He notes that Earth did have a ring long ago. It was the result of a cataclysmic planetary crash that precipitated the formation of the moon.

Earth: If you like it, put a ring on it (pictures)

1-2 of 6 Scroll Left Scroll Right

... [Read more]

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Xbox One preorders point to Nov. 30 arrival

Luke Westaway — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:49:36 GMT

The logo says just Xbox, but this is the new Xbox One.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Gamers desperate to splash out on Microsoft's blocky new Xbox One console needn't wait until Christmas, as U.K. retailers have already started taking preorders for the upcoming gaming gadget.

Green-hued tech retailer Zavvi is asking for a whopping 400 pounds ($608) for the Xbox One, which was revealed Tuesday at a bespoke Microsoft shindig.

That's a very high price, even for a new console, though Zavvi's 'price promise' policy should mean that if the price comes down before the console goes on sale, you'll only end up paying the final price.

Zavvi's also pegged the Xbox One as having a November 30 release date. I suspect that could be subject to change, but feels about right -- Microsoft promised that the console would be out this year, and it'll want to ensure its new toy is lining shop shelves in time for the annual Christmas spend-a-thon.

Read more of "Xbox One pegged for 30 November, with £400 pre-order" at ... [Read more]

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Logitech intros classroom-friendly Wired Keyboard for iPad

David Carnoy — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Lightning connector version of the Logitech Wired Keyboard will ship in August (click image to enlarge).
(Credit: Logitech)

We review a lot of wireless Bluetooth keyboards and keyboard cases for iPads and other tablets, but we've yet to review a wired keyboard for the iPad. It comes as little surprise then that Logitech, which makes plenty of Bluetooth keyboards, has unveiled the Wired Keyboard for iPad, which it dubs "the first iPad keyboard made specially for the classroom environment."
The keyboard will come in a Lightning connector or 30-pin connector versions and have an MSRP of $59.99. The Lightning version is due to ship in August; the 30-pin version will ship in October.

Why go wired? Well, it makes the keyboard very easy to connect. Logitech says it's a challenge for teachers to simultaneously pair multiple iPads with multiple wireless Bluetooth keyboards in the classroom. With a wired keyboard, kids can connect without any help.
Logitech says the keyboard is "spill-resistant" and has full-size keys along with iPad shortcut keys for such functions as copy and paste, Siri, app switching, and an integrated Home button. Hopefully, schools will get a nice discount if they buy multiple keyboards.
... [Read more]

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Amazon proposes a colossal biospherelike Seattle campus

Dara Kerr — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:18:14 GMT

Amazon's proposed design for its new Seattle campus.
(Credit: NBBJ)
The latest fad for tech companies' new office buildings seems to involve making them as far-out and avant-garde as possible. And Amazon is the newest firm to jump on that train.
The e-commerce giant and gadget maker unveiled a slew of new drawings (PDF) on Tuesday that reveal a series of colossal, mirrored, biospherelike domes alongside a taller rectangular building that could be its new campus. The designs were created by architecture firm NBBJ and also include a copious amount of green space and landscaping.
The intent behind the design, according to the project proposal (PDF), is to "create an alternative environment" where "employees can work and socialize in a more natural, parklike setting."
"The generative idea is that a plant-rich environment has many positive qualities that are not often found in a typical office setting," the proposal says. "While the form of the building will be visually reminiscent of a greenhouse or conservatory, plant material will be selected for its ability to co-exist in a microclimate that also suits people."

Rel... [Read more]

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GIF creator: It's a soft 'g', Mr. President

Chris Matyszczyk — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:31:06 GMT

What will the White House say now?
(Credit: White House Tumblr)
You thought it had been settled, didn't you?

You've been practicing the new pronunciation (or the old one).

And now you're going to have to think again.

Recently, the White House very presciently decided to open its own non-purple Tumblr account. It took the occasion to declare with seeming finality that GIFs -- those very files that so many people find funny -- are hard, not soft.

Hard as in hard "g." Gif like "gift." Not like "jiffy."

Some giffers fell in line. Now they will have second thoughts. For the GIF's creator, Steve Wilhite, begs to jiffer.

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Comics Web site Comics Alliance to relaunch?

Michelle Starr — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:27:58 GMT

(Credit: DC)
Web site Comics Alliance, a three-time winner of the Eisner award -- went mysteriously silent toward the end of April, to the distress and consternation of comics fans.
No word -- official or otherwise -- was heard from either parent company AOL or any of the Comics Alliance staff members. However, the lack of updates on the site since April 29, where it usually updated several times a day, seemed to confirm that Comics Alliance was being shelved and archived. This apparent move was puzzling, as the site was not losing money; quite the contrary, in fact.

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A new post on the Web site, however, seems to indicate that perhaps the whole thing was merely a hiatus. Titled ";)" (the wink emoticon), the post is a series of panels from Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" showing Superman hearing Batman's heartbeat after the latter has faked his own death.
Although we don't know why the Web site would fake us out, we bet i... [Read more]

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Staying at the Burj Al Arab? Enjoy a 24-karat gold iPad

Tim Hornyak — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:21:00 GMT

(Credit: Burj Al Arab)
It's the most golden hotel perk since gold-bar vending machines: gold iPads.
As if the Rolls Royce and helicopter services weren't enough, guests at Dubai's opulent Burj Al Arab now have access to gold-plated iPads.
The 24-karat tablets are engraved with the property's logo on the back, which also features a black Apple logo. Ironically enough, the hotel chain's slogan is "Stay different."

The iPads, meant to act as "virtual concierges," are loaded with Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) software that gives guests information on services such as dining options at the landmark property.

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The iPads were produced by Gold & Co. of London, which made a 24-karat rose-gold iPad for the hotel last October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
[Read more]

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Crave: gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. - CNET

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