Gadgets Base

Some see watches as symbols of a bygone era and that is just what Crispin Jones thought as he designed my new favorite watches.  The Accurate model two hands read” Remember, you will die” as it tells time, urging you to seize the day.  Another model alternates messages every half hour ranging from complimentary, “you are blessed” to derogatory, “nobody likes you”.  The third is dubbed the Decider which alternates “yes” and “no” around the edge allowing you to refer to it for split second decisions.  I am sure there is a disclaimer in the packaging.

A statement from Crispin Jones about the design of the watches: 

“Today everyone has a mobile phone to do the really functional timekeeping, this means that the wristwatch is free to do something a bit different. The watches I design reflect and comment on society, both on the role that time plays in all our lives and also on the social impact of technology.

Buy: [Mr Jones Watches] via [Josh Spears]

Apple has certainly gotten a lot of buzz with their latest offering, the MacBook Air. There are a few Air’s out in the wild now, including John Mayer who was showing his off on a recent trip. The Air still is a little bit away from hitting the hands of us regular folk, however the reviews from the big guys are starting to trickle in. Lets see what they have to say:

Walt Mossberg; All Things Digital

If you value thinness, and a large screen and keyboard in a subnotebook, and don’t watch DVDs on planes or require spare batteries, the MacBook Air might be just the ticket. But if you rely on spare batteries, expect the usual array of ports, or like to play DVDs on planes, this isn’t the computer to buy.

Edward C.Baig; USA Today

Given the compromises, I don’t expect anyone to use Air as their only computer. But it is a yummy machine for people who spend a lot of time traveling.

Steven Levy; Newsweek

These omissions are troubling–especially to someone in a down-turning economy deciding whether to spend a premium sum for a computer with subpremium storage. Still, simply using the MacBook Air, as I’m doing right now in writing this review, is rather copasetic. Though I can quibble with a few of Apple’s choices of what to take off, the product’s dimensions and design make the case that the losses were not in vain. The things that Apple left on were the ingredients for a quality computer. And did I mention how thin it is?

David Pogue; The New York Times

The new MacBook also runs cool, can use Windows and wakes from sleep in one second. Finally, of course, it’s free from viruses and spyware, and comes without any installed junk heap of trialware.

Even so, the Air isn’t for everyone. Bargain hunters, feature counters and people who don’t see the value of elegance — in general, the same people who despised the iPhone before it came out — would be better off with a bigger, less expensive, more complete laptop. Thanks to the small drive capacity, limited connectors and missing DVD drive, the Air doesn’t make a great primary computer, either.

But as a satellite machine for travelers, executives and presenters, it’s spectacular. Full-size screen, full-size keyboard and five-hour battery in three-quarters of an inch? Get psyched; this laptop is a razor-thin slice of heaven.

Overall it seems fairly safe to say that this should be more of a companion than a main computer. Some of the common complaints were the lack or available ports, and more importantly the lack of battery life. Most reporting closer to a 3.5 hours of life as compared to the estimated 5 hours. A good thing to note was that some reported the MacBook Air will run cooler than other Apple laptops, which for anyone who has used a Powerbook or MacBook Pro, that will be welcome news.

Image [John Mayer]

Posted Jan 24th 2008 3:35PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
There’s no telling how legitimate these shots might be, and it’s quite clear that these screens won’t be giving us any juicy details about Windows 7 anytime soon, but we couldn’t pass on images that purport to be the first from a super-secret test build of Windows 7 seeded to “key partners.” So, anything to see here? Not that we can tell, from the looks of things we’re looking at a copy of Vista with the name “Windows 7 Ultimate” tacked on, but there’s no telling what’s happening under the hood. We know we can’t wait to pay another few hundred dollars for a barely noticeable upgrade to Vista that will re-break all driver support, how about you?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Posted Jan 24th 2008 2:08PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Laptops, Wireless
Ouch, we just tested and confirmed that one of the smallest (and thus likeliest to fit) USB EV-DO modems around, the Sprint / Novatel U727, won’t even come close to fitting in the cramped, foldaway USB port on the MacBook Air. Most flash drives will probably be okay, but it looks like 3G users will either need powered USB hubs or a USB extension cable to get online where WiFi isn’t available (read: most places).

Gallery: Adding insult to injury: USB EV-DO modems won’t fit in the MacBook Air

When you’re on the bus or subway, or anywhere that people tend to be sitting for long periods you tend to notice that many of them are listening to MP3 players. What’s more is that you can almost always pick out the ones rocking out to an iPod by their iconic white earbuds. Most people I know that carry an iPod still use the same earbuds that came with the player because they like the way they look and sound. Well if you’re one that likes the look, here’s a giant pair you can sit on your desktop.

Yes, these are extremely cheesy, but I suppose if you’re a huge Apple fanatic you might be proud to have them sitting on your desk. If you’re wondering, these are actually 500 times the size of your regular iPod earbuds. They draw their power from either your computer’s USB port or from a standard wall outlet. No word on pricing or availability.

Source: UberReview

<!– ch_client = “gadgets”; ch_type = “rpu”; ch_noprice = “1″; ch_width = 468; ch_height = 90; ch_color_title = “#B40505″; ch_non_contextual = 1; ch_nosearch = 1; ch_default_category = “89″; ch_font_title = “Arial”; ch_font_text = “Arial”; ch_sid = “Coolest Gadgets RPU”; ch_alternate_css_url = “http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/rpu2.css”; ch_target = “_blank”; var ch_queries = new Array( ” 500XL Speakers are giant iPod earbuds” ); var ch_selected=Math.floor((Math.random()*ch_queries.length)); if ( ch_selected

Posted Jan 24th 2008 12:47PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
We knew Dell and Microsoft would be giving some of their gear the Bono treatment this week, but the two companies and the AIDS-in-Africa relief project unveiled their partnership in style today at Davos. Just like we’d heard, the XPS m1530, m1330, and XPS One machines are all going crimson, as well as the 948 AIO printer. Microsoft’s kicking in a special (PRODUCT) RED-themed edition of Vista Ultimate to keep things special on the OS tip, and obviously you’ll feel better about things with donations of $50 - $80 of each machine’s purchase price going to RED, and $5 on the printer (hey, those margins are low enough as it is). All the new stuff should be available by the end of the week in the States, and by January 31 in 30 additional countries — or right now for your viewing pleasure in the gallery.

Gallery: (RED) XPS M1330

Just in time for Valentines Day, Apple announced a new color iPod, pink of course. What can I tell you that you don’t already know about the nano that plays video? That the 4GB model costs $149, the 8GB iPod costs $199? It includes free engraving on the back and free shipping when purchased at Apple’s web store or Amazon.

And …it’s pink.

Posted Jan 24th 2008 11:40AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Recent announcements on iTunes rentals certainly caused a stir amongst the neglected Mac-masses, but it looks like the online rental game is about to get a little more cutthroat for fanboys and fangirls everywhere. According to a new report (and backed up by an earlier blog post), streaming content for Netflix subscribers is headed to Mac screens in 2008 — if everyone has their way. During the company’s Q4 earnings call this week, the snail-mail service hinted that this would be the year that streaming rentals would come to Mac users due to the advent of DRM options that play nice with Apple’s gear (namely, Microsoft’s Silverlight technology). Combine this with news that the company plans to offer all-you-can-eat online rentals for $8.99 a month, its intentions to bring a STB to market with LG, and a possible game console partnership — well, it all adds up to stiff competition for Apple and other challengers, despite what they say.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Read - Netflix: Mac Streaming Coming This Year
Read - Instant watching on Mac, Firefox, and more

Today officially begins the FCC auction of the 700MHz spectrum.  All eyes are on the big fish in this pond wondering how this auction will play out.  There are fears Wall Street’s tanking may tarnish this auction, but I think not.  The potential for the third tube of connectivity is seen by many as a new path forward bursting with new revenue opportunities.

You know I am excited.  I’ve had this day circled on my calendar and I am routing for Google.  I figure they’ll push the bidding to the minimum and stop there so as to enact the open rule they helped get written into the contract.  Hopefully from there, someone with, you know, a network will pick it up and run with it.  Or the telecos could sit back and watch Google hold onto something it may not be able to do anything with… Ah the drama over the FCC.

More as it develops.

Read [Google Phone]

Posted Jan 24th 2008 8:37AM by Chris Ziegler
Filed under: Features, Wireless
We’ll admit, wireless spectrum auctions aren’t the most exciting thing in the world — but as wireless spectrum auctions go, the FCC’s 700MHz auction kicking off today is a doozy. What’s it all about and what does it mean to you? Head on over to Engadget Mobile to find out everything you need to know (and a few things you don’t) about the FCC’s multi-billion dollar spectacular!