It was pretty obvious from the start that Palm’s decision to make the Pre sync with iTunes was going to cause some issues. Well Apple pulled the plug by simply issuing an update that broke the feature, and Palm responded by complaining to the USB-IF. Not only did they reject Palm’s complaint, but found that the company had violated the USB-IF policies in trying to make their handset work with iTunes. You’d think that all of this would discourage them from trying anything further, right? Wrong.
The latest version of the WebOS software (1.2.1) “resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (9.0.1).” To make things even better, you can now also sync pictures as well. If I owned a Pre, I would no doubt be happy to have this functionality. However, Palm is really pushing it. How about instead of focusing on making your phone work with the competition’s software, you make your own? That would be too much effort, no doubt. Your move Apple.
I had the opportunity to visit New York for the first time earlier this year. I have to say that Times Square is one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen. The lights and giant screens are awe-inspiring at night. Well how would you like to get one of your own pictures up on a giant screen in Times Square? One company is giving you a chance to do just that.
CanvasPop is a new company that promises to take any of your pictures from Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket (or wherever you have your pictures uploaded) and will print them on a large canvas. They promise to work with any resolution (they specifically list the iPhone as a source), and still have good-looking results. Well if you’re one of their first 500 customers, you’ll be able to put one of your own pictures up on a big screen in Times Square. It’ll only be up for 15 seconds, but you’ll receive a picture of the screen showing your picture, complete with date and time. Prices start at $30 for an 8×10 canvas, and go up.
I’ve always thought it would be fun to go surfing. However, living in the Midwest doesn’t provide all too many opportunities for such endeavors. Sure, I’ve heard about some decent surfing up in Lake Michigan, but that’s just not the same as catching big waves out in California. If you happen to live out on the coast and are looking for a good way to get your board to the beach via bicycle, check out these ACG Surf Racks.
This would no doubt be a cheaper (and more eco-friendly) alternative to strapping a board to your car, but it just looks plain silly. With the board strapped above your head, the center of gravity would be thrown off, making it harder to ride. If the picture is anything to go by, your rear tire is going to have a lot of trouble supporting all of the extra weight. No word on pricing, but these can be found in various surf shops in California and New Jersey.
If you’re a big fan of the LEGO Star Wars game for the Nintendo DS (the good second version, not the crappy first) or just happen to be a LEGO maniac (like Zack, RIP) you might be interested in this protective case for your DS Lite. Not only does it protect your hardware while still letting you open and play it, but it also features a LEGO base plate on the top and bottom that you can decorate with an included LEGO Star Wars tile mosaic, or any LEGO creation for that matter. $14.99 available from StarWarsShop.com sometime in November.
I like the idea of a portable hard drive that can survive a little wear and tear, but A-DATA has taken things to the next level with their new SH93 portable drives. No longer do you have to worry when working in the bathroom next to a bathtub full of water since the SH93 drives can survive depths of up to 1 meter for a full 30 minutes thanks to their industrial looking rubber and plastic housing.
The drives also use special cushioning materials inside to survive the military MIL-STD-810F drop test, so if you accidentally push it off a desk there’s a good chance your data will still be intact. The SH93 drives will be available in 250, 320, 500 and 640GB capacities in your choice of a red or yellow finish, though official pricing and availability hasn’t been announced.
LIFE has a pretty amusing photo gallery of 30 old-timey inventions that run the gamut from being just dumb, to downright dangerous. My personal favorites include the Baby Cage from 1937, which is essentially a wire cage/playpen for hanging your infant outside an apartment window. Goodyear’s Illuminated Tires from 1961 which were perfect for… um… well I guess that’s why they never caught on and the freaky Phone-Answering Robot from 1964 which I guess could be considered the inspiration for voicemail/the nightmares I’m sure to have tonight.
I can’t say I ever thought I’d see much innovation when it came to bicycle training wheels, but that’s exactly what the creators of the Gyrowheel have managed to do. The wheel replaces a bike’s standard front wheel and features a battery powered spinning disc inside that creates a “gyroscopic precession” force which automatically stabilizes the bike. And not only does it prevent a bike from wobbling or falling over, but according to the company it also teaches better riding techniques.
I know the idea might sound a bit skeptical, but seeing the Gyrowheel balance all by itself when placed on the ground in this video (courtesy of Bikecommuters.com) was enough to convince me the concept has merit.
A kid-sized 12-inch version of the Gyrowheel should be available for purchase in the U.S. by December 1, while a 16-inch version should be available by Spring 2010.
If you’ll recall, back in August I reviewed the Mophie Juice Pack Air. The thing has been a life-saver on a number of occasions. I love my iPhone, but some days that battery just doesn’t cut it. I’m sure that some of you guys can relate, which is why we’re giving away one brand new Mophie Juice Pack Air (an $80 value!).
If you’ve got an iPhone 3G and have ever found yourself running low on battery life when you really needed it, leave us a comment for a chance to win. Get creative, tell us why you need one of these and I’ll pick the winner next Friday. Oh, and if you didn’t like the purple one I reviewed (not my favorite color either), don’t worry as the one up for grabs is black.
Now for the legal mumbo-jumbo. The contest is only open to US residents over 18. Keyboard cats need not apply.
No one can accuse NZXT of slacking off when it comes to releasing new PC cases. We’ve got three of their latest offerings in our office, and we’ll be bringing you full reviews on each over the next week or so. First up is their M56 Classic Series ATX Mid Tower chassis.
NZXT has always found a good balance between price and performance. The M56 falls into what I’d consider the mid-range of cases in terms of pricing. But the real question is whether or not the hardware is worth the price. Read on for my full review.
Related Tags: Apple, Palm, palm pre
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