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Hot Gadgets and Technology
Employees Not Getting Paid for Boot-Up Times, Sue Their Employers [Work Sucks]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Lawsuits, Lawyers, SOFTWARE, Suits, work sucks
For office drones at big companies such as AT&T, United Health Group and Cigna, booting up their computers at the start of the day and waiting for them to shut down takes some decent time. Like 20 minutes at the start and end of the day. And they sure don't like the fact that their weasely employers have decided to not pay them for that time. So, of course, they're suing.
All three of the above companies have been hit with lawsuits dealing with the issue, and lawyers who tackle it are making a decent buck off of it. One the one hand, the companies claim that people aren't working while their computers boot, instead chatting with coworkers or having a coffee. On the other hand, if you have to be in a cubicle, you're working, and it's not the employees fault that their crap computers take so long to get revved up.
But hey, this is America, so we'll leave it for the courts to decide. [TaxProf Blog via The Inquirer]
Casio EX-FH20 Budget Super Slow-Mo Camera Lightning Review [Reviews]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Cameras, Casio ex-fh20 review, Clips, Ex-fh20, Galleries, Lightning reviews, Pics, Review, Reviews, Video, digital cameras, ex-f1, lighting review, slow-mo
The Gadget: The Casio EX-FH20 camera, bargain brother to the popular EX-F1. It features 1000 fps slow-mo video, a 40 fps burst mode for still shooting and a 9.1-megapixel sensor, as well as good ol' 720p at regular speeds, all for just over half the price of the original slow-mo star. galleryPost("exfh20lightning", 3, "");
The Price: $600
The Verdict: Casio did a great job of bringing the power of the EX-F1 down to a beginner's level for the EX-FH20. The functions on the new camera are more streamlined than its bulkier predecessor: missing are the dedicated shooting mode switch dial, the multi-use focus/zoom ring and separate buttons for video and still capture from the F1. But on the other hand, the FH20 bests the F1 in a couple places, with its 9.1MP sensor and 20X optical zoom, compared to 6MP and 12X in the original. The on-board video editor is still there and simple to use for cutting down lengthy slow-mo clips. And whaddya know, it takes decent (albeit more point-and-shoot than DSLR quality) pictures too, as seen in the gallery below. galleryPost("exfh20burstshots", 6, "");
newVideoPlayer("/slowmoexfh20_giz.flv", 476, 376,""); 
But we know what you really want to see: how the slow motion video compares to the original exploding Mentos-capturing beast. As seen in the clip above, it does the job much like the original. You give up some video frames when opting for the budget cam—it records 210, 420 and 1000 fps instead of 300, 600 and 1200 fps—but that's not a huge difference. And while 1000 fps video shrinks is at a paltry resolution of 224x56 pixels—even measlier than the original—it doesn't get as dark as the F1's output tended to, so you'll have slightly more clarity in the crazy slow but still mostly novelty setting.
newVideoPlayer("/othervideoexfh20_giz.flv", 476, 376,""); 
It also shoots other types of video well. The 30 fps-210 fps "She Walked in the Room" mode is still there, and is a fun way to make otherwise typical activities look extremely epic. Also, 720p HD video is crisp and clean, and doesn't have the nasty "jello effect" when panning that cheaper camcorders designed specifically for this purpose often suffer from.
If you choose an FH20 over the F1, you sacrifice more than just not-as-slow-mo video. Without separate buttons for video and stills, you lose the ability to capture images while you record video, a great feature in the last model and the hardest thing to lose. Also gone is ultra-fast 60 fps LED strobe flash option, but it can still fire off 5 fps with the standard flash firing (vs. the F1's 7 fps). Most of the other features remain, though slightly dialed down: 40fps high-speed burst shooting (with resolution dropped to 7MP) instead of 60fps on the F1, and smaller sizes for slow-mo video as mentioned earlier. And you better bring some rechargeable batteries—gone is the rechargeable Li-ion, and this camera eats four AAs like they were a delicious piece of cake. But with the steep discount over the F1 and the more direct, easier to use interface, for those who mostly want to shoot slow-mo video while taking a few pictures on the side it's not a hard sacrifice to make. [Casio]
What you gain with the EX-FH20 over the EX-F1:
• 9.1MP camera sensor over 6MP
• 20X optical zoom over 12X
• Easier interface for beginners
• $400 in your pocket (vs. the EX-F1's $1000 price tag)
What you lose:
• Slow-motion video size and frames (EX-FH20 records in 210, 420 and 1000fps at 480×360 224×168 and 224×56 respectively—EX-F1 records in 300, 600 and 1200fps)
• Taking still shots while shooting HD video
• 60fps LED flash strobe mode
• 20 fps of burst still shooting (down to 40 fps compared to 60 before)
Once again, if you can't get Giz's slow-mo song du jour out of your head, here's the Amazon MP3 link. [Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap]
And if you're still humming the song made famous by the Harlem Globetrotters, here's an Amazon MP3 link to that too. [Sweet Georgia Brown by Brother Bones]
Roofus Robot Eats Snow For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner [Robots]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Cleaner, Robots, Roofus, Snow
Roofus is a robot that can do the job of 25 men cleaning up snow. Which is great, because who wants to have a job in this economy? I mean, do you have caterpillar tracks, two electric motors, one petrol engine, capability to carry 550 pounds of snow on your back, remote control link, and your skin is shiny orange? If you said yes to any of these, you don't need a job shoveling snow. Go to the next available circus and/or government agency.
Roofus also has a range finder system built-in. It doesn't only eat snow either: By using different peripherals, it can perform many other functions, like Lawnmowing, plow ending, road cleaning, and brush.
Call for Ridiculous Packaging Photos for Hall of Shame [Packaging]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Eco-Friendly, Environment, Packages, Packaging, Ridiculous Packaging Hall of Shame, Waste, bigpic=true, gadgets, hall of shame
We've covered a few before, but since you guys keep uncovering examples of companies supplying you with gizmos in ridiculously voluminous packaging, we're building a new Hall of Shame to give these things a home, and embarrass the perpetrators.
Oh, and in the spirit of Amazon's "frustration-free wrapping promise," and the vicious gash I got in my hand last week when unwrapping a simple flashdrive, let's bundle overly-protective gadget wrapping in there too. You know— those "plastic-wrapped in seven different bullet-proof layers" blister packages, in a box, in a cellophane wrapper that even a chainsaw can't free-up inside of half an hour.
We need your photos, chaps.
Simply email me with the subject line "packaging hall of shame" at keaton@gizmodo.com with your pics and a few words to describe your packaging woes.
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Review [Review]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Computers, Dell, Dell Mini 12, Dell inspiron mini 12 review, Dell mini, Dell mini 9, Inspiron, Mini, NetBooks, Notebooks, PCs, Review, Top, mini 12, mini-notebooks
The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is a bit confused. It packs an Intel Atom processor, which makes it a netbook. But it also has a 12-inch screen, which exceeds our definition of what a netbook can be. On one hand it's a natural evolution of the genre in an ever growing screen size arms race, topping the 10-inchers like a razor company adding another blade. On the other, the Inspiron Mini 12 reaches a size and pricepoint that makes it comparable to far more capable systems from Dell in the same pricerange.
But rather than focus on philosophy, I'll say that the Inspiron Mini 12 feels better than any netbook I've used to date...even if it cheated a bit in the process.
Design
The build of the Mini 12 is excellent. Even with the extended battery, it feels light and easy to toss around. But it's more than the weight that makes it so comfortable to carry. Its bottom has a sandpapery texture, which grips a hand with confidence.
You'll also notice that the side profile is tapered along the bottom edges. I don't know that it makes any difference in how the computer actually rests on a table, but it looks nice enough.
The Mini 12's keyboard is still not full-sized, but it's adequate to feel comfortable and satisfyingly clicky. Meanwhile, the trackpad does leave something to be desired. The texture is simply off to me, simultaneously smooth and bumpy, it almost feels like a skin rash. The right and left mouse buttons below tend to recess when pressed more than any laptop I've ever used. It's and off-putting sensation at first, but I grew to appreciate the mechanical feel.
As for the screen, it's a luxury to use. The experience is completely different than an 8.9-inch display that you find in most standard netbooks nowadays (including own Dell's Mini 9). There's decent color, solid contrast, and sharp 1280X800 resolution...but just moderate brightness. The max setting was just adequately bright, which considering the fact that LCDs fade with time, is something to keep in mind—especially if you like to fry your eyes like I do.
The biggest surprise of the testing had to be how cool the system ran. The bottom didn't heat my lap at all, feeling only lukewarm to the touch. I can only assume that the larger case mixed with a low wattage processor dissipates heat very well. However the engineering worked out, I'll take it.
But if there was one thing I would change, it would be the charging and power light. It sits on the hinge in a prominent position that you can see even when closed, but it's far too dim, and it's viewable from a very limited range of angles. Put it this way, for the first day I had the system, I thought Dell had omitted this light altogether.
Ultimately though, it's just a nice looking machine that feels great to put yours hands on, a far cry from the humble original Eee and something you'll be proud to pull out at board meetings and pretentious coffee shops alike.
Function
So here's the rub: While I love the Dell design, the hardware/software combination has slowed the Mini 12 to barely usable levels. The model I tested was the $550 base system with a 1.33GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and 40GB hard drive. That system should be alright for XP (though we'd love to see a 2GB RAM upgrade option), but it's just not enough to power Vista. And you can only buy the system with Vista.
The system crawls with constant multi-second stalls, and effective multitasking is pretty much impossible. Sadly, there's not much more to say on the topic. Simple mental math tells us that this system shouldn't be running Vista as it skirts the minimum requirements of Home Basic, and our real world testing shows us the same thing. Of course, Vista alone doesn't mean you should pass over the Mini 12. Just expect to reinstall the OS with the purchase and come to terms with the fact that your paying licensing rights for an OS that you won't use.
Battery Life
I tested the battery life through MPEG4 video playback with the default processing settings and the screen at max brightness (max, to me, is the ideal viewing brightness).
Base 3-cell Battery - 1 hour, 20 minutes
Extended 6-cell battery - 4 hours, 2 minutes
At a glance, this 12-inch Dell system looks to about as power efficient as the 10-inch MSI Wind, though it loses about 20 minutes on the 3-cell battery (we're guessing through a combination of more computational rigorous testing methods and a larger screen). Keep in mind that if you expect to hang out around a plug, the AC adapter is quite light, lacking any big power brick to speak of.
Back to Square One
Without opening the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 box, I would have expected exactly what I encountered—a solidly built system that shouldn't be running Vista. But even loaded with XP, and even in the $600 configuration that we'd recommend (1.6GHz Atom, 60GB hard drive, 1GB RAM and 6-cell battery), the system still begs the question of value. A slightly smaller, equally powered MSI Wind will run you $350. And you can get a slightly bigger Core2Duo Dell laptop for $600 easy.
It's true. From a performance standpoint alone, there's almost no question that the Dell Mini 12 isn't "worth it." But if you don't want to squint at a screen yet you still want a system that breaks the 3-pound barrier, then it's hard not to be a little infatuated with the Mini 12. Just rip Vista off that thing as quickly as possible. [Dell]
Dealzmodo: 15 Cheap Blu-ray Players as Low as $200 [Dealzmodo]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Blu-Ray, Cheap blu-ray players, Deals, Dealzmodo, Home Theater, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Sylvania, Top, bd, panasonic
There's no question that Blu-ray is still not as inexpensive as DVD, whether you're talking about the players or the discs themselves. But prices have come down in time for the holidays, especially if you're willing to settle for an early generation model or a refurb.
In fact, we have a list of 15 Blu-ray players that don't go for $300 or under just on Black Friday; they go for that little every day if you're willing to do a quick online search. Here are all 15 models, many with links to decent deals if you're too exasperated to search yourself.
Magnavox (NB500MG9)
MSRP: $298
AVG $220
Panasonic (DMP-BD30)
MSRP: $499.95
AVG $250
What We Said
Panasonic (DMP-BD35)
MSRP: $299.95
AVG $200
What We Said
Philips (BDP7200)
MSRP: $399.99
AVG $240
What We Said
Samsung BD-P1000
MSRP: $999
AVG $200 at low end
What We Said
Samsung BD-P1200
MSRP: $799
AVG $200 at low end
What We Said
Samsung BD-P1500
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
What We Said
Sharp BD-HP2OU
MSRP:$399
AVG $250
What We Said
Sharp BDHP21U
MSRP: $349.99
AVG $250
Sony BDP-BX1
MSRP: $499
AVG $290
Sony BDP-S300
MSRP: $499
AVG $250
What We Said
Sony BDP-S301
MSRP:$499
AVG $230
Sony BDP-S350
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
What We Said
Sylvania NB500SL9
MSRP: $349.00
AVG $200
Sylvania NB501SL9
MSRP: $289.99
AVG $220
15 Blu-ray Players Under $300 (And Some as Low as $200) [Dealzmodo]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Blu-Ray, Cheap blu-ray players, Deals, Dealzmodo, Home Theater, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Sylvania, Top, bd, bigpic=true, panasonic
There's no question that Blu-ray is still not as inexpensive as DVD, whether you're talking about the players or the discs themselves. But prices have come down in time for the holidays, especially if you're willing to settle for an early generation model or a refurb.
In fact, we have a list of 15 Blu-ray players that don't go for $300 or under just on Black Friday; they go for that little every day if you're willing to do a quick online search. Here are all 15 models, many with links to decent deals if you're too exasperated to search yourself.
Magnavox (NB500MG9)
MSRP: $298
AVG $220
Panasonic (DMP-BD30)
MSRP: $499.95
AVG $250
Panasonic (DMP-BD35)
MSRP: $299.95
AVG $200
Philips (BDP7200)
MSRP: $399.99
AVG $240
Samsung BD-P1000
MSRP: $999
AVG $200 at low end
Samsung BD-P1200
MSRP: $799
AVG $200 at low end
Samsung BD-P1500
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
Sharp BD-HP2OU
MSRP:$399
AVG $250
Sharp BDHP21U
MSRP: $349.99
AVG $250
Sony BDP-BX1
MSRP: $499
AVG $290
Sony BDP-S300
MSRP: $499
AVG $250
Sony BDP-S301
MSRP:$499
AVG $230
Sony BDP-S350
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
Sylvania NB500SL9
MSRP: $349.00
AVG $200
Sylvania NB501SL9
MSRP: $289.99
AVG $220
RebateStatus.com Files For Chapter 11, Your Rebate May Be Affected [Rebates]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Bankrupcy, Cpg, Rebates, Rebatestatus.com, mail in rebates
One of the nation's largest rebate processing firms, CPG (RebateStatus.com) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. What does that mean for you? Well, if you happened to mail-in a rebate form with a company that CPG works with, your check may be in limbo because they don't have the money to cash it. At this point, exactly how the situation will be handled is unclear—but there are a few things you can do to get things under control. Dealnews is recommending that anyone who has a rebate check or is expecting one not cash it because it may bounce and result in an NSF fee. Instead, you should hang on to it until more details become available (this goes for rebates that have not been submitted as well). If you are not sure whether or not your rebate is invovled, a partial list of affected companies is available after the break.
Partial list of companies that have dealt with CFG in recent months:
Acronis Software
ACTIVSION
Advance Auto Parts
Antec
AVG
Bed Bath & Beyond
BIC Corporations US - Shaver Division
BFG
Bridgevine
Canon
Citibank
costco
Fujitsu
Home Depot
Logitech
Motorola (Surfboard cable modems)
Natures Earth Products
Nero
Panda Distribution
Pandigital
PC Tools
PriceGrabber
Rosewill (Newegg house brand)
Samsung
Smith Micro Software
Tabletops Unlimited
TrendNET
Westinghouse
XFX
ZeroTherm
Zyxel
Naturally, the best way to tell whether or not you are affected is to head on over to rebatestatus.com and check on your submission. You may also want to try and call any of the numbers listed on your rebate form on the off chance they can provide more information. I would expect an official announcement from CPG (or something from the company you purchased the item from) with details on how to proceed sometime in the next few days. [Dealnews and Fatwallet and Tampa Bay Business Journal Thanks Luis!]
The Tech Specs of HD Netflix Streaming [Streaming]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under 360, Bitrates, Entertainment, Movies, NetFlix, Netflix hd, Netflix hd bitrate, Streaming, Streaming Media, Vudu, Xbox 360
Hats off to Netflix. Without really being prompted, they've released their HD encoding/streaming specifications for the world to see. The company revealed that they originally considered a WMV3 (Windows Media Player 9) codec running at 4000kbps and 5500kbps, but opted instead for a similar Microsoft codec, the VC1AP running between 2600kbps and 3800kbps—which should provide a better experience for those of us with lower bandwidths.
While Netflix offers 24fps movies in their native frames per second, their other content peaks at 30fps. The company researched the 60fps content found on Blu-ray discs, they realized that they'd be better off reserving that sort of quality for another era. Good call.
While it's a bit unfair to compare bitrates across codecs, Vudu's premium HDX material is still the top dog in streaming, supplying encoded rates ranging between 9Mbps and 20Mbps. Then again, most of us can't watch that footage in real time. [Netflix via CNET]
BuildingPorn: The Dubai Skyline-in-Progress [Architecture]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.19.08 under Architecture, Dubai, buildings
The Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, is at 160 stories and counting, with the tower due to be complete next September. But it's not the only tower under construction in Dubai, not by a longshot. No, the city appears to be sprouting up from the ground like a bunch of weeds, with as many cranes as buildings. And now, The Big Picture has nearly 30 amazing shots of the city in transition. Hit the jump for another of my favorites and then head over to The Big Picture for the rest.
[