The 404 547- Where objects in mirror are closer than they appear (podcast)

The 404 547: Where objects in mirror are closer than they appear (podcast)
On today's episode of The 404 Podcast, we discuss the future of video games and how students at the Imperial College in London are developing a pair of special glasses that allows players to control paddle movement using their eye movements! The new technology holds particular promise for people with physical disabilities that might soon get the chance to join the gaming community. The glasses are fitted with infrared light sensors and a webcam that links a laptop to the player's eyes, and although the hardware only costs $35 to make, the eye movement system itself costs around $36,000, so don't expect to control Modern Warfare with your eyes anytime soon.The big news of CTIA 2010 is Sprint announcing the HTC Evo 4g, the first available handset to run 4G in the US. Its list of accolades is impressive and blows away the competition: 4.3-inch display, micro-USB port, 8.3-megapixel rear facing camera in addition to a VGA lens on the front for video calls, and perhaps the most impressive--a kickstand! So far Sprint has rolled out its 4g network in 27 cities and plans to expand to NYC, Boston, D.C., SF, and more by the end of the year. The HTC Evo 4g certainly grabs our interests, but Jeff is shaking at the prospect of a phone worthy of replacing his 8th Palm Pre. Could this be the one? We'll get CNET's Cell Phone Editor Bonnie Chain the studio soon to get the inside scoop.Both of those stories plus an family-sized Calls From The Public on today's episode of The 404 Podcast!EPISODE 547Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang


My Best Tech Gift Ever- Beatles catalog on a USB key

My Best Tech Gift Ever: Beatles catalog on a USB key
Every day this week, a different CNET writer or editor will recall a tech or geek-centric present that left a mark. Read past stories by Eric Mack, Jeff Sparkman, and Jay Greene, and look for another installment tomorrow at midnight PT.Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by this stuff every day, but traditional technology gifts tendto leave me cold. Even the memories of unwrapping game consoles or that first yellow Sports model Sony Walkman don't stand out in a best-gift-ever sort of way.Sarah Tew/CNET Instead, I turn to a more recent holiday gift, one that combines technology and art, importantly using the former in service of the latter.In 2009, right on the heels of a pair of remastered CD box sets, the entire Beatles catalog was officially released for the first time in a digital format, but not as one might expect from iTunes or another digital download store. Instead, this was in the form of a limited-edition 16GB USB key in the shape of an apple (the Beatles finally did come to iTunes in 2010). The 16GB USB key, tucked under the metal stem of the green-apple base, contained the 14 official Beatles releases in both 320Kbps MP3 format and, more importantly, 44.1KHz/24-bit FLAC format. FLAC is a lossless audio codec, so at least in theory, it's the best possible commercially available reproduction of the source material.What's the best tech gift you ever got? Send your stories and photos to crave at cnet dot com (subject line: Best Tech Gift) for possible inclusion in an upcoming feature.But beyond that (and beyond the cute-but-clunky Flash interface you can use to access the music and some mini documentaries about each album), it was a great way to give physical form to recorded music, something that's been missing since we all stopped buying CDs and started buying (or just streaming) digital music. It's not as cool as a stack of vinyl and a couple of turntables, but it's a great desktop conversation piece, and a reminder that digital music isn't just disposable ones and zeros.Find a memorable gift for the people in your life by visiting CNET's 2012 Holiday Gift Guide.


iPhone 5S rumored to launch in August, new iPads in April

iPhone 5S rumored to launch in August, new iPads in April
The iPhone and iPad rumor mill continues to heat up.Apple is reportedly prepping the iPhone 5S for a summer release, mostly likely in August, "sources familiar with the plans" told blog site iMore. The next iPhone would sport the same design as its predecessor but with a beefier processor and better camera.People awaiting a new iPad could get some satisfaction as early as next month, according to the sources.An "April-ish" launch for the next-generation iPads, most likely the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2, is seriously being considered by Apple. From that description, it hardly sounds like the date is written in stone, and even iMore admits it's not sure what to make of that.Related storiesThe iPhone 5S rumor roundupAnalyst reiterates 'July' arrival of iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhoneiPad Mini 2 to sport Retina Display, analyst saysiPad (fall 2012) reviewiPad Mini reviewThe rumored release for the iPhone 5S may have credibility.Other sources have chimed in with a late summer launch date, most notably KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo, who projects that the new phone will be announced in June and reach the market in July.But the iPad reports are on thin ground.Apple is unlikely to release the iPad 5 so soon after the October release of the fourth-generation model and last March's debut of the third-gen edition. And the iPad Mini 2, which will reportedly sport a Retina Display, isn't likely to hit the market while Apple is still enjoying healthy sales of the current version.


iPhone 5S in pink- Watch for new colors in spring, analyst says

iPhone 5S in pink? Watch for new colors in spring, analyst says
A new year brings with it new iPhone 5S rumors. And this time around the latest from Apple could even come in pink.Analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets is all bullish on Apple this morning claiming his sources tell him that the next iPhone will arrive in May or June with more choices for customers including "more color patterns and screen sizes." Apparently White's bulls aren't seeing just red Apples, though. Rather, he believes the iPhone 5S could have as many color choices as the most recent generation of the iPod Touch:These colors included pink, yellow, blue, white & silver, black & slate... We believe the addition of color to the iPod Touch lineup was a testing ground for adding color to the next generation iPhone that we believe could be available in eight colors in total. White also says his "checks" indicate that Apple could be planning to offer a single iPhone model in different screen sizes for the first time, perhaps opening the door to a lower-priced iPhone, or going after consumers interested in the trend of bigger phones and phablets like Samsung's higher-end Galaxy line of phones.Related storiesiPhone 5S already? Possible pics leakJefferies cuts Apple stock target, cites iPhone 5S and moreThe rumor fits with the way Apple has traditionally worked and their movements of late. Testing the waters with the iPod Touch for an improvement to the iPhone and offering consumers greater choices to compete with the broadening market sounds a lot like Tim Cook's way of thinking to me. Besides, what else is there for the iPhone fan who lines up for each iteration to buy? How about a second iPhone for his girlfriend or mother in pink? Brilliant.(Via Barron's)


iPhone 5S beats Galaxy S4 as top smartphone worldwide

iPhone 5S beats Galaxy S4 as top smartphone worldwide
Apple's iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 both outsold Samsung's Galaxy S4 worldwide in October, says market researcher Counterpoint.In its latest Market Pulse report released Thursday, Counterpoint said that the iPhone 5S retained its top spot for global smartphone sales in spite of supply shortages that forced customers to wait to snag the phone. As 5S supply has ramped up, the research firm expects Apple to meet even stronger demand for November and December.The iPhone 5 took home second place in Counterpoint's rankings, leaving the Galaxy S4 in third. The iPhone 5C was No. 4, followed by Samsung's Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy S4 Mini. Counterpoint ResearchApple fared well across the world but most notably in China where its market share surged to 12 percent in October from just 3 percent in September, transforming it into the country's third largest smartphone vendor. A deal with China Mobile, which reportedly has already been reached, stands to drive up Apple's share among Chinese consumers even further."With a China Mobile deal on the horizon, Apple's iPhone 5S at all three [Chinese] carriers will for sure ignite a 'price war' boosting the overall iPhone 5S sales in China," Counterpoint analyst Tom Kang said in a statement. "This might allow Apple to even reach the No. 1 smartphone player in December or January in China."Counterpoint's monthly Market Pulse report culls its sales data from surveys of major retailers and distributors across 33 countries.


iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone said to be multicolored

iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone said to be multicolored
Apple's rumored iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone are said to be coming in a rainbow of colors, according to an article by Macotakara.While Apple has yet to confirm it's even producing the two new types of smartphone, rumors are flying about the phone's specs and appearance. The low-cost iPhone, which is said to have a plastic shell rather than aluminum, could come in white, pink, green, blue, and yellow-orange -- or, navy, gold orange, white, and gray, according to MacRumors, which translated the Macotakara article. The phone is also speculated to cost around $350 to $400.The supposed iPhone 5S, which is said to be similar in specs to the iPhone 5, could also get new colors. Besides the standard black and white models, the smartphone might also come in green or gold, according to MacRumors. Previous rumors have speculated that the phone could also come in pink. MacRumors notes that the new iPhone also might get a dual-LED flash. Apple's most recent generation of the iPod Touch already comes in several colors, which may be a sign that the company is looking to replicate this feature with its upcoming smartphones.According to MacRumors, the low-cost iPhone is reportedly expected to go into trial production as soon as next month. However, most sources speculate the phone won't come out until 2014. The iPhone 5S is rumored to be set for release sometime this fall; previously it was said that the device could hit stores as early as July.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.