AT&T and eMusic Get in Tune

"Let's hear it for music!" That's the opening cry of Colourbox's obscure song "Hot Doggie" -- and if you're an AT&T mobile customer, you can download it to your phone as of today.

AT&T has struck a deal with eMusic, the #2 music download service (and the object of my repeated praise), in which people can download any of eMusic's 2.7 million songs directly to their phones. (Songs can later be transferred to a computer.)

While I'm always happy to see eMusic get more play, I was immediately struck by how un-eMusic this experience will be for AT&T customers. First, while eMusic is pretty much the least expensive download service out there (their most expensive subscription rate works out to about 33 cents per song), AT&T is charging $7.49 for 5 songs. And while eMusic stresses the play-anywhere aspect of their music (all their downloads are in MP3 format), AT&T's service currently only works on four handsets.

It's great that AT&T is exposing more people to eMusic and independent music in general, but it won't take long for people to realize it's cheaper just to buy the songs straight from eMusic and transfer them to their phones -- or just stick with their audio players.

More USB-Enabled Fragrance

It looks like that scented USB drive I mentioned last week is part of a trend: Connectland now has a USB-powered fragrance oil burner, about the size of a thumb drive but without any actual storage. Just place a few drops of oil in the hole, they claim, and your office will smell nice for the whole day. Seven bucks gets you either rose or peppermint oil and a matching burner, but I'll any oils you can find at your local frou-frou store will do the trick.

More TV on Your PSP, But Still Overseas

Sony's hatched another deal for people to watch TV without having to shell out for their LocationFree system. However, unlike the Japanese 1seg system, this one will work with old and new PSPs alike... in the UK and Ireland.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has partnered with British broadcaster BSkyB to provide films, TV shows and videos to PSP owners via a Wi-Fi download service, either on a subscription or pay-per-view basis. BSkyB also plans to extend the service to other devices in the future. No date for the rollout has been set as yet, though Sony will be announcing it late August at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.

So -- first Japan, now the UK. Any chance we'll be seeing some deals a little closer to home anytime soon?

Sony Okays Adult Movies on Blu-ray in Japan

Even with Blu-ray's current victories, there are those that think that HD DVD will eventually win the format war, largely on the basis of adult movies. They point to the fact that Sony hasn't allowed its replicators to handle X-rated movies, effectively shutting out a lucrative market.

I've said before that I don't agree with this idea, but there's an interesting new development for those who do. In Japan, Sony is now allowing pornography on Blu-ray, and they've confirmed that they're even providing technical support to adult filmmakers.

Will this shift in policy also be reflected elsewhere? It's hard to say; Japan's relationship to pornography, socially and legislatively, is different from ours. But it certainly might shake up a few arguments.

Digital Manga Coming to the iPhone

It's looking like the predicted surge in mobile-phone comics is coming sooner, rather than later -- the news out of Japan is that manga will be coming to the iPhone in the near future.

Last week in Kyoto, telecom company Voice Bank announced that they'd developed the iPhone Manage Converter with the support of Digital Manga Association Japan. The iPhone Manage Converter is designed for converting existing manga artwork to iPhone-sized graphics; the first digital manga offerings are expected to be rolling out in Japan shortly. Video Bank is also planning to open a US office, with the intent of finding a distribution partner on this side of the Pacific.

Toronto Man Thumbs His Way Through a Book

Authors who obstinately use manual typewriters may think they're hardcore, but my new hero for guerilla wordsmithing is Toronto's Robert Bernocco.

The Italian IT worker wrote a 384-page science-fiction novel during his daily commute, using his cell phone. It wasn't a Blackberry or some other thumb-keyboard model, either: Bernocco wrote the entire book in standard Italian using the T9 text-entry system on a Nokia phone. He then downloaded the text to his computer for editing. The novel, Compagni di Viaggo (Fellow Travelers), is now available on Lulu.com.

And you thought you were being productive by working out your grocery list on the train.

You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Web Cam Is About You

It may be convenient to do your videoconferencing over the Web, but I'm sure there are times you're inclined to leave your camera switched off. After all, it's not as if most offices have studio lighting, so you're not exactly going to look my best.

Klieg lights are one possible solution; another is a $29 USB web camera from Brando that includes a ring of 8 LEDs behind the lens barrel to help illuminate the camera's subject. The 1280x960 camera has a clip for easy mounting, and can swivel 360 degrees. It also has a zoom lens, for when you're ready for your close-up.

Samsung 81 Series LCD HDTVs Blacker than Black

"It is so black ... light just falls into it." So says Ford Prefect in The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but he might be talking about Samsung's new line of LCD HDTVs, if their specs are to be believed.

Due out in August, the 81 Series feature a dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1. Samsung accomplishes this astonishing rating by using its local dimming technology to turn off the backlighting LEDs in the darker areas of the image. (The added bonus is that it cuts down on power consumption. So suddenly Battlestar Galactica is a greener TV show than What Not to Wear.)

The 81 Series will range from a $2,999 40-inch model to a $6,999 57-incher.

United Ups the Tech on Overseas Flights

If you do a lot of overseas flying on United (and your company springs for the biz class), your ride's about to get much more plush.

Besides equipping international flights with seats that can recline to the fully flat position, United is adding a bunch of high-tech upgrades as well. Each seat will be equipped with whopping 15.4-inch screens that can display more than 150 hours of on-demand movies and television shows. There will also be 20 XM channels, videogames, audiobooks, children's learning programs, and the ability to create custom music playlists using 30 additional channels of content.

If you prefer to BYOC (bring your own content), you can plug in your iPod and play your own music and videos on the system (all while it recharges). Look for the new equipment to roll out this fall and be fully installed in all international 767s, 747s, and 777s by late 2009. (Click here for a demo.) Who said flying had to suck?

Spruce Up the Office With a Little USB Help

In an era when people turn to spray bottles in order to get a fresh outdoor smell, it shouldn't be too surprising that artificial scents are turning up in odd places, even in the world of electronics. (Yeah, Benq's aromatherapy projector was never released, but still, there you go.)

So I suppose that Microdia's Micro-Flash Fruity flash drive, which comes in capacities from 128 MB to 4 GB and emanates a fruity smell when you plug it in, isn't that strange. And hey, you've got a choice of four different scents (apple, orange, grape, strawberry). Mmmmm, yummy.

Cell Phone Towers Aren't Making People Sick

It looks like the writeup for cell phone-related radiation is going to be summed up as "mostly harmless." After being largely exonerated of causing cancer and confusing the heck out of bees, cell phone towers aren't making people ill in the short term, according to a University of Essex study.

For years, people have been citing the increased presence of cell phone towers as the cause of nausea, headaches, and other recurring illnesses, referred to as "electrosensitivity." However, a study carried out by Britain's Health Protection Agency, based on tests conducted in 2005, found that when a double-blind tests were performed -- that is, neither the researcher nor the participant knew if cell phone signals were being emitted -- there was no correlation between radio activity and any discomfort. The test was conducted on 158 people, 44 of whom had complained of electrosensitivity.

The Definitive Format War Battleground: Larceny

Seemingly decisive blows in the HD DVD/Blu-ray format war have been struck many times, in different arenas: movie sales, retail shelf space, pornography, Europe, Amazon, you name it. But last weekend showed that we've missed a vital demographic: criminals.

A group of thieves broke into a Seattle music and video store on Sunday morning, and made off with about $7,000 worth of merchandise. But here's the thing: echoing Snake's lament of "Oh no, Beta!" in The Simpsons, the miscreants swiped everything from the store's Blu-ray section, regardless of genre -- and left the HD DVD section untouched.

Look at it one way, and after all other factors were removed -- price, availability, and so on -- the thieves chose Blu-ray over HD DVD. Ouch. But look at it another way, keeping in mind that thieves usually pilfer movies and music because they're easy to resell, and it's like they figured they couldn't turn a profit on HD DVD movies, even with an investment cost of zero. Double ouch.

DRM-Free Roll Continues

Looks like this DRM-free thing is working out for EMI because MusicNet, the music arm of MediaNet Digital, has announced that it will offer more than a million unprotected songs starting this quarter. The tunes will be offered as higher-quality MP3s and will come from DRM-free pioneer EMI, along with a bunch of indie labels, such as Righteous Babe, Nettwerk, and Nitro. MusicNet provides content and services for digital download stores like Yahoo! Music Unlimited and URGE, so no small fish. Now let's hope that other major labels finally see the light of day. Um, yeah...

Something for Johnny Knoxville's Wish List

Japan must be a world leader in car accidents, because I can't think of another reason for Clarion's ¥49,800 (about $412) DriveEye, essentially a "black box" recorder for your car that's only available there.

A solid-state camera encased in a tough magnesium alloy, the DriveEye buffers video when its G-force sensor detects braking or a sudden stop, recording 15 seconds before a sudden stop and 5 seconds after. You can also record video manually, which Clarion pitches as a way to record nice scenery during a trip or for use in a driving school. But you just know someone's going to use it for their The Fast and the Furious re-enactments.

The Talented Sony ES Receivers

Sony might be getting a little pretentious with their naming scheme -- their ES line of A/V receivers stands for "Elevated Standard" -- but their new entries are certainly packed with features. The 7.1-channel STR-DA3300ES, STR-DA4300ES and STR-DA5300ES models (due in August, October and September and at prices of $1,000, $1,300 and $1,700, respectively) all juggle audio formats like Dolby Digital +, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High Resolution Audio and DTS HD Master Audio, as well as video formats like 1080p at both 24 and 60 frames per second. They're also Sirius and XM-ready.

However, it's the geekier features that get my attention. All of these models have optional iPod docks, and their Digital Media Port supports streaming audio from a PC wirelessly, Bluetooth compatibility, and a dock for Sony's compatible Network Walkman devices.

Most eyebrow-raising is the STR-DA5300ES's ability to stream HD content to another room. Mind you, this is through the component video output, which is a relative no-brainer (compared to, say, wireless streaming) but could mean a whole lotta cabling behind your walls.

Save Your Lap from Your Laptop

While the term "notebook" has become more popular, people still toss around the word "laptop" with ease. I'm not sure why, because many people use them on desks -- though often at angles that are bad for their eyes, necks or wrists. Even if you do put one on your lap, they quickly become shift-from-one-leg-to-the-other-tops, because things get toasty pretty quickly.

Hence the popularity of laptop stands, which are generally designed to work on your lap or on a desk. Lapworks' $29 Laptop Desk Futura, however, ably handles both. The 16-oz stand vents heat through its ventilation slots, and can work laid out flat for your lap, or folded at one of five angles to help elevate the screen and they keyboard.

And since fashion sense seems to be the theme of the day, I should also mention that in the next few months the Laptop Desk Futura will be available in a variety of custom colors.

Toshiba's Colorful Audio Players

With its six different color schemes, the iPod nano is probably the most wardrobe-friendly audio player you can find. Unless you're in Japan, that is, where Toshiba has just released the ?14,000 (about $116) U103 audio player, which comes in an astonishing 24 colors. No more guesswork -- now you can get the player that exactly complements, say, your jogging outfit.

The flash-based player has a capacity of 1 GB, plays MP3, WAV and WMA, and includes an FM radio tuner. But the real question is, how many players will you need to match every pair of shoes in your closet? Fashionistas, you'd better look into a volume discount.

TiVo Offers Up Cheaper HD Box

Want a high-def TiVo that won't deplete your child's college education fund? Meet TiVo HD, a new and more affordable version of your favorite DVR.

When the original HD-enabled Series3 TiVo debuted last year, it cost a jaw-dropping $800. TiVo HD sells for a much more palatable $300 and features the ability to record two high-def shows at once, dual CableCARD slots, and a 160GB hard drive that can accommodate up to 180 hours of standard-def or 20 hours of HD (as opposed to the original Series3 box's 250GB drive, which can handle 300 hours of SD or 32 hours of HD). Other features you'll lose by paying $500 less: the new backlit remote control and an LED on the actual box itself that supplies program info.

You can preorder TiVo HD now (according to the site, it will ship in 14 to 21 days), but don't forget the monthly or yearly service fees--$16.95 a month for the one year plan, $299 for three years prepaid, and a plethora of other options.

Sirius and XM: Cheaper Service Options?

Satellite radio isn't expensive, per se, but the $13-a-month (or $140-plus-a-year) fees do add up. Well, it looks like Sirius and XM are promising lower-priced subscription structures in hopes of helping the two companies get approval on a merger.

One plan would allow customers to go a la carte by choosing 50 channels for $7 a month, with additional channels available for anywhere from 25 cents to $6 for access to Howard Stern. (Current subscriptions give you more than 100 channels, but really, how many of those do you actually listen to?) If you do want more than 100 channels, the cost would be $15 a month. Other packages would focus on certain types of content--music, news, talk, or family, and would go for somewhere between $10 and $12.

However, there are a few gotchas. If you already own a radio, you won't be able to subscribe to this new subscription structure; you'll need to upgrade the hardware. And if the merger fails, well, don't count on any fancy new subscription packages at all.

New Zunes for Christmas, and Maybe a Little Foreign Love

We expected it, but it's nice to have it confirmed: Microsoft's next Zune players will launch by the end of the year.

For the most part, it seems as if the focus will be on making the new Zunes do things that it should have done (or done right) in the first place.

The new Zunes will feature podcast support, "expanded" video support (more codecs?) and better (though unspecified) use of Wi-Fi. (Sharing without the three-plays-or-three-days "feature?" Unlikely. Buying music from the Zune store wirelessly? Possibly. Syncing with a computer sans cables? Oh please oh please oh please.)

(Rumour also has it that one of the new Zune players will be an iPod shuffle competitor that's even tinier. The player will essentially be an SD card with a sleeve that has the player's controls. Sounds a little too small and fragile to me -- the shuffle and Creative's Zen Stone is about as small as I want to go -- but let's see if and how this plays out.)

Like I said, these are the things the Zune player should have had at launch. (It's ironic that Microsoft, whose products usually suffer from too many features, would release something with fewer features than expected.) If they'd worked more on standout features and less on appeasing record companies, they might have hit their target of one millon Zunes earlier. Because while I'm generally ambivalent to the Zune, it's really not that far behind the iPod from a usability point of view. The sound quality's about the same (to my ears), and its size, weight, interface and navigation controls are each just a few notches below that of the iPod. (Mind you, since the iPod gets so many things just right, those few notches feel far more significant.) If there were something markedly more convenient about the Zune -- say, wireless synching -- that just might make it a deal-maker for folks who might otherwise get an iPod. Which is what Microsoft wants, no?

Anyway, the other bit of news is that Microsoft will release Zunes outside of the U.S. when the company "feels it has an appealing product to offer those demographics." I'm a bit perplexed at this tidbit. Is there some reason the Zune is less appealing to Canadians than Americans?

Microsoft Sells a Million Zunes

Hey, looks like Robbie Bach's powers of prognostication aren't so far off. Microsoft did indeed make their goal of selling a million Zunes by the end of June, getting 1.2 million of them out the door since their November launch.

Of course, even before the announcement cynics were all over the statistic, saying that the one million figure only counts Zunes shipped to retailers, not those actually in the hand of consumers. Which is true, but it doesn't matter -- every company does this. So long as we're all using the same metrics, everything's cool, right?

Well, no. Those same cynics will then argue that Microsoft has flooded the retail channels, probably through some kind of strong-arm tactics, bribery or mind control. To which I answer: Enough already. One million Zunes in seven months was a lame target to begin with (more charitable term: "modest") for a purported "iPod killer"; it's as if Microsoft already knew their product was, at best, so-so -- which is ridiculous for a company with Microsoft's resources.

They have their work cut out for them. Let them enjoy their moment.

LG Unveils Luxury LCDs

LG is going high end with a new line of LCD TVs that will bear the luxe-sounding moniker Opus. Otherwise known as the LBX line, the Opus series of TVs will feature 1080p resolutions, 120Hz frame rates (for cutting down on jaggies during fast action sequences), and a color technology that reproduces a greater range of hues (92 percent of the NTSC spectrum if you want the details).

To match the top-end technology on the inside, Opus TVs will feature a sleeker design that includes rounded edges, glossy black frame, and a streamlined pedestal for setting them upright on a cabinet. Three screen sizes will be available when the line hits in September: 42 inch ($2,499), 47 inch ($3,299), and 52 inch ($4,499).

Blu-ray Beats HD DVD in... Oh, Who Cares?

A month ago I wrote that I was "endlessly fascinated" by the ways the HD DVD and Blu-ray groups declare victory in any given month. Less than a few hours later, I realized I wasn't really, not anymore. So I've been ignoring the reports that have come out since then, including the most recent bit of Blu-ray bluster based on the format's dominance in Europe (when the PS3's built-in Blu-ray player is factored in).

When I first saw the press release yesterday, I rolled my eyes and moved on, wondering when someone would announce something actually interesting. But after seeing endless blog postings and comments on the subject, I have to wonder: are people really taking these figures seriously? Or, perhaps more to the point, do people really think the two consortia take these figures seriously?

I understand that the fear of being tagged the Betamax of the next-gen optical format war pretty much forces each consortium to retaliate to the other's claim of dominance. (The Blu-ray release was, in fact, on the heels of an HD DVD camp claim that they rule Europe in hardware sales, not counting PS3s; the Blu-ray group charge that PS3s count. A lot.) But the fact of the matter is that no one really knows if hardware or software is the deciding factor in a format war, and if so, which features of that hardware and software are most important to consumers.

Even if we were to definitively state that it's a hardware thing -- that more players means clear-cut victory -- the existence of the PS3, the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on, and computer readers/burners completely muddies the waters. Looking at this recent spat, the Blu-ray group can't honestly count every PS3 because some people just bought the things to play games. At the same time the HD DVD group can't totally discount every PS3 because some people bought them to watch movies and/or play games.

In short, the old saying was right. There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. All of these press releases are little more than spin driven by fear, as well as a means of treading water until a killer blow can hopefully be landed. We should be ignoring them, not encouraging them.

Sanyo Helps You Get from Point A to B

Portable GPS units for the car are a dime a dozen these days, but that's a good thing if you're looking to buy one. The newest competitors for your turn-by-turn direction affections are Sanyo's Easy Street NVM-4050 and NVM-4070.

The higher-end 4070 features a 4-inch widescreen and comes preloaded with 1.8 million points of interest and maps of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The unit coordinates with the Traffic Message Channel (subscription required, though you get a 90-day trial) for real-time feeds on traffic tie-ups. It also comes stocked with everything but the kitchen sink: There's Bluetooth for hands-free calling, SD card slot for tunes, and FM transmitter for playing said tunes over the radio. The 4070 can even handle JPEGs and MPEG-4s (when you're not driving) for a peaceful reminder of what the kids are like when they're not screaming in the backseat of the car.

Don't have $500 to burn on the 4070? Take a step down to the 4050, a $400 unit that also features a 4-inch widescreen but loses some of the functionality like traffic info, FM transmitter, and picture/video viewing. Still not a bad haul.

Saitek Cyborg Goes Both Ways

Are you a d-pad or joystick kind of person? With Saitek's new Cyborg Rumble Gamepad, it doesn't matter quite so much.

Built for PC gamers, the Cyborg controller looks like an Xbox 360 controller with PS3 finishing. Oh, and one important detail: a detachable component you can use to physically switch the positions of the left d-pad and joystick controllers, so you can get exactly the kind of control you want for a given game. Another feature is the Previous Control mode, which allows you to turn off the joysticks and buttons you don't need.

Availability and pricing have yet to be announced.

Disney Gussies Up Music CDs, Hopes for Miracle

Disney, through its Hollywood Records label, is kicking off a new CD technology in the hopes of reversing (or at least slowing) the decline in CD sales: CDVU+ (pronounced "CD view plus"), a means of embedding extra, interactive content in a digital magazine format developed by Zinio.

The first CD to get the CDVU+ treatment is the upcoming Jonas Brothers album (titled Jonas Brothers -- easy to remember), which will include photos, lyrics, videos, and other exclusive content.

Now, I know what you're thinking. How is this any different from the Enhanced CDs we've been pretty much ignoring for at least ten years now? Um, er... well, it's in a digital magazine format. Surely that's something?

Sony and the iPod Make Beautiful Music Together

Sony unveiled a pair of iPod devices today: the ICF-C1iP and the ZS-S2iP, a clock radio and boom box, respectively. You know the drill: the iPod docks in front of the unit, where it both supplies music and gets charged. Both include remote controls. Both devices support most iPod models and come in black or white, so you're pretty much covered no matter what you've got.

The clock radio can be set to wake you up with a buzzer, the radio, or the iPod; the boom box includes a digital AM/FM tuner and an integrated CD/CD-R/CD-RW player. The iPod tray retracts if you don't want to get sand in the connector at the beach. Both units will sell for a mere $100 when they go on sale in August.

Handheld's Latest $99 Media Player

I've generally been ambivalent about Handheld Entertainment's efforts. How could I not have loved the concept of a $99 media player, and how could I not have railed against iffy resolution and poky USB transfers? But it's looking like their latest, the $99 (natch) Zvue 260, might be a winner.

Like Handheld's earlier players, the Zvue 260 uses SD cards for media storage (it comes with a 1 GB card to start you off); unlike earlier players, it looks less like a rounded, kid-safe toy. The Zvue 260 is a shade larger than a video-enabled iPod, but almost a full ounce lighter. It kind of looks like an iPod too, with a pseudo-click wheel and 2.5'' LCD -- which, thankfully, is a respectable 320x240, with up to 30 fps playback. The player supports MPEG-4, DRMed Windows Media and XviD for video, and MP3, DRMed WMA, Ogg and MP2 for audio. Not bad for a hundred bucks.

Get in Shape With Your iPhone

The iPhone moves in on territory more iPod territory: fitness freaks can now take their iPhone out on their daily workouts with XtremeMac's $29.95 SportWrap neoprene armband.

This edition of the company's armband includes a clear mask so that the iPhone's screen is protected but completely visible and accessible. That way you can still use the screen controls, or just show off that you have an iPhone -- hey, you know you wanna.

Sanyo Sharpens Up the Katana

Sanyo's Katana has kinda gotten lost in the skinny phone shuffle, but here we are with all-new versions of these colorful callers. The Katana DLX, available in platinum ice, champagne, and pink, offers 1.3-megapixel cam, microSD slot, MP3 player, and is good for access to Sprint's Music Store and TV service. The lesser Katana II, which comes in black, pink, and midnight steel, has a VGA camera and comes sans memory card slot. Both phones feature Bluetooth, wireless backup, and GPS support. The Katana II can be had for just $50 while the DLX costs $130. Both prices reflect rebates and the (sadly) now-standard two-year contract.

Forgot Your Anniversary? Blame Your Phone

A recent survey of 3,000 people revealed that the younger, tech-savvy generation might have a little problem: since they have gadgets for storing information, they're less likely to remember things like family birthdays, or even their own phone numbers.

I'm sure someone, somewhere is wagging their finger at those kids today, but honestly, so what? The current generation of under-30s simply have a lot more to remember even than us under-40s. In the ten years since I was an under-30, few of my friends had cell phones, and many didn't have e-mail addresses (and exactly one had any kind of instant-messenger contact). I'd rather use my brain cells for other things than dealing with four different kinds of contact information for every person I know.

And it's not like I've ever remembered more than five family birthdays (including my own).

Granted, it's not so much of an alarmist report (though the Reuters article declares that all these devices have "created a generation incapable of memorizing simple things"), but it does mark a shift in the way we do things, like the declining ability of people to work out math problems without a calculator.

I was going to comment that a little Brain Age ought to whip everyone into shape, but then I remembered that the survey was conducted for Puzzler Brain Trainer magazine. No doubt a little extra puzzling is just what they were hoping for.

TiVo Rates Commercial Watching

Six months after launching its tracking service for commercials, TiVo has released the data for the months of April and May, and the results are not as grim as television execs might think: Viewers do watch commercials.

Those that do particularly well--not surprisingly--are movie trailers. A commercial for the movie "Surf's Up" was the second-most-watched commercial in May, and the trailer for the film "Disturbia" was the most popular commercial in April, even beating out the majority of shows that month (including "House," the show that was airing at the time the commercial came on). But it's not only trailers that are drawing in viewers. For instance, Ford's "American Idol" commercial was estimated to be watched by 28 percent of TiVo subscribers--a higher percentage than those who watched "Grey's Anatomy."

The service randomly tracks 20,000 TiVo watchers each night, both live viewers and those watching shows on delay. A bit deceivingly, though, it counts multiple viewings of a commercial separately, so if you rewind a trailer and watch it again, then play it for your buddies, that's counted as three viewings.

Digital TV on the PSP... Overseas

Love it or hate it, you can't deny that Sony's PSP pretty much has the best screen of any portable media player. (True story: last week it took me half an hour to watch a seven-minute short because bystanders who noticed the PSP screen kept asking about watching videos on it.) But while TV viewing is a natural application for the handheld, the only such application is Sony's LocationFree system, which, like the Slingbox, lets you watch your home TV remotely.

This fall, owners of the newer, slimmer PSP will have another option: the $58 PSP-310 add-on pops on top of the new PSP for on-the-go digital TV viewing. Very cool. I can't wait to start watching Doctor Who on the train and... oh, wait, there's just one hitch: the PSP-310 catches 1seg terrestrial digital video broadcasts, which are only available in Japan. Oh, well.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

If you've added ringtones to your cell phone and set your computer to quote Tron every time the virus scanner starts, then why are you listening to the same old "ding dong" when the FedEx guy comes to the door?

You can customize your doorbell ring with the help of this $99 USB doorbell from ThinkGeek, which is powered by 3 AA batteries. Plug it into your computer, download an MP3 or WAV file no more than 30 seconds long, then attach it to your existing low-voltage doorbell wiring.

Of course there's an Anita Ward joke in there, but this is something you can have a lot of fun with. On Hallowe'en, your doorbell can pump out creepy organ music. When you're expecting a hot date (or are desperately trying to make up with your wife), it can play "Foxy Lady." The creative/cheesy/annoying possibilities are endless.

JVC's New Noise Cancellers

If you don't like sticking hunks of silicone and foam into your ears, your other option for shutting out background sound while you tune in to your tunes is a set of noise-canceling headphones. JVC's HA-NC250s are able to block out 85 percent of noise with cancellation circuitry that runs on a single AAA battery. But what's cool is that these 'phones provide sound isolation even with noise-cancellation turned off, thanks to an extra layer of protection as well as better sealing. The HA-NC250s also include a four-foot detachable cord, adapter for plugging in two sets of headphones, and a ?-inch adapter for connecting to home-theater components. They also fold flat and come with a carrying case so they shouldn't take up too much space in your carry-on. Look for these cans to hit in August for $200.

Dance, Robot, Dance

Quebec's construction holiday starts Monday, which means a huge chunk of the population are already stuck in traffic, trying to get a head start on their vacation. Meanwhile, suckers who drew the short straws are still at work, anticipating two weeks of pretty much nothing to do.

How to while away the time? Back when I worked at a computer store, this time of year was when I brushed up on my Tetris/Wing Commander/Lemmings skills, or found creative ways to hide my workmate's lunch. These days, though, even goofing off is high-tech: witness the $25 USB dancing robot, which plugs into your Windows XP or Windows 2000 computer, digs your music and dances to the beat, LEDs flashing merrily all the while.

Here's a project for gearheads: figure out a way to coordinate the robot with Yamaha's BODiBEAT, and the two of you can get down together. Next stop: Funky Town!

Dodging Lightning Bolts

About two hours ago I was all set to work through some writer's block (i.e., mow the lawn) when I happened to notice the sky darkening ominously. I waited out the thunderstorm (mostly with the help of some Krazy Kat reprints), reconnected the computer, and quite by accident hit upon this little gadget from Hammacher Schlemmer.

The $429 Thunderbolt Pro promises to detect incoming thunderstorms, long before you hear the first rumble. It also lets you know when the storm has receded a safe distance. The Thunderbolt Pro's 75-mile range gives you plenty of time to finish up your work, disconnect the computer and find appropriate reading material until the storm passes. Or to just take your iPod off. Whatever works for you.

Yamaha MP3 Player's Got Rhythm

Looks like Yamaha's offering a little sporting competition with the Nike + iPod. The $300 BODiBEAT has an accelerometer and a pulse monitor, and can transfer your statistics to your computer -- and you won't have to buy a new pair of shoes.

But there's more for those of us that are musically inclined. The BODiBEAT uses the accelerometer and pulse monitor to change the music playing so that it corresponds to your running speed. Alternatively, the BODiBEAT can create tailored workouts by playing music that gradually increases and decreases in tempo as you warm up and cool down.

The only flaw in this concept is the player's measly 512 MB capacity. For $300 you couldn't spring for a little more NAND, Yamaha?

Party Round the Wii

It's totally weird, but then again, so is the idea of swinging a remote to send a virtual bowling ball rolling down a virtual lane. Nyko is showing off a prototype of its Wii Party Station, a contraption that you can plop right down in the middle of your coffee table as you and your friends rage with your Wii.

The Party Station combines Wii staples and party must-haves. There are four slots for seating your Wii remotes, a drawer for holding other accessories, displays for tracking scores, freezable cup holders for keeping brewskies cool, and a bowl in center for Doritos and dip. Oh, and there's also a fan a la your favorite bowling alley for drying off sweaty palms.

The company is still tweaking the design, so the party's going to have to wait, but eventually you should be able to pick one up for bout $25.

Catch Some Air with Logitech's New Mouse

Back in the days when I used to teach introductory computer use to tech newbies, it was guaranteed that when I first said "move the mouse up," someone would lift the mouse off the pad. With Logitech's new $149 MX Air Mouse, that would actually be the right thing to do.

The sleek MX Air Mouse uses Freespace motion-control technology -- which I mentioned last January -- to track its movement in the air as well as on a surface. So when you're tired of messing around with spreadsheets, you can kick back and watch some YouTube videos, using the cordless MX Air Mouse remotely. Gesture commands also come into play here; Logitech gives the example of changing the volume by holding the volume button while making a circular motion to the right or left to increase or decrease volume. With a 30-foot range, the MX Air Mouse should make PowerPoint jockeys and Windows Media Center owners a bit more comfortable. The mouse should hit store shelves in August.

Hewlett-Packard Wants You to Look Your Best

How's this for a mashup? HP Labs is combining phone cameras, color reference charts, face recognition and color-correcting algorithms for a research project that will enable consumers to select the right makeup for their skin tone.

The premise is actually pretty straightforward: a woman (or anyone who cares about looking fabulous, really) goes to a cosmetics counter, gets a color-reference chart, and takes a picture of herself holding the chart up. The picture gets e-mailed to HP's servers, where the image is color-corrected, face-detection software identifies the potential customer, and the overall face color is determined. The system then references the skin tone with a database of 260 women who have had makeup products tested on them, and sends the consumer a text message with the best makeup color.

This is still all in the research stage, and HP hasn't got any firm plans to market the system, though they are in talks with cosmetics manufacturers. That's not surprising -- the system is ripe for tweaking. Cosmetics companies can make their own color reference charts and include them in magazines (thereby increasing the number of obnoxious blow-in cards), or create specialized charts for limited-edition colors. Different databases can be used depending on the manufacturer or their perceived customer bases.

Also, why should cosmetics companies have all the fun? Conceptually, there's no reason the project couldn't be expanded to other industries with color-matching uses, like finally getting the curtains to complement the couch.

iPod Goggles That Don't Break the Bank

I admit, I've been mildly curious about these personal viewing glasses that magnify the iPod's video image before your very eyes. If only I wasn't so conscious about looking like a dork, I might actually wear one of these on the plane.

With the brand-new Myvu solo edition eyewear, you may look like a dork but at least you won't break the bank doing so. Available for a hair under $200, these shades turn your teeny tiny iPod videos into a simulated 27-inch image. They also come equipped with a controller for adjusting audio and video settings, protective sleeve, cleaning cloth, as well as in-ear headphones that help shut out the sound of people snickering as they walk past you.

Microsoft's Continuing Xbox 360 Woes

While 2007 hasn't been as bad for Microsoft as 2006 was for Sony, but no one likes a one-two punch. While the company only just got around to admitting that the "red ring of death" problem is actually, you know, a problem, the company is now being sued over another console issue.

Xbox 360 owner Jorge Brouwer contends that the 360 has a problem with scratching optical discs -- especially when the unit is shifted from an horizontal to vertical position. Brouwer's not the only one complaining; among other things, rental company GameFly has warned its customers about the problem. Brouwer's attorney is looking to expand this to a class-action suit.

Here's the thing: shifting any kind of optical-disc or hard-disk mechanism while it's in use is a bad idea. It always has been. However, the claim is that the 360 sometimes scratches discs even when it's the unit is just sitting there. Microsoft says they haven't received any "widespread reports" of the problem, but then they weren't too keen on fessing up to the red-ring problem -- so in the best-case scenario for them (i.e., it really is a minor problem), they could still have a problem as the company that, um, didn't cry wolf before.

TiVo and Amazon Introduce Couch Surfing

Couch potatoes rejoice. You now have one more reason never to leave your sofa. Amazon and TiVo have expanded their integrated download service, so you can order movies and shows straight from your TV, with a few clicks of your favorite peanut-shaped remote. There are about 10,000 movies and TV shows available for purchase and rent via this new, lazy-man's method. Before, if you wanted to use the Unbox service to load movies onto your box, you'd have to go to a computer and do the ordering there. Oh, and in case you're worried about the kiddies racking up your download bill, you're required to set a PIN number that must be entered in order for any purchase to take place. Stay clear of using the kids' birthdates, and you should be set.

Keep This Mouse Away from Pandas

So Live Earth just went by and you're thinking you'd like to green up your computer a little. One thing you can do is turn things off more often. Another, more stylish way would be to get your hands on this polished bamboo mouse. It's an ordinary two-button USB mouse with a scroll wheel, except that the exterior is made from eco-friendly bamboo. (Eco-friendly because bamboo can be harvested without destroying forests.) Unfortunately the mouse is only available in the UK, so you might also want to get some carbon offsets to make up for its trip Stateside.

Proper Gadget Use Involves Keeping Your Eyes on the Road

Over the weekend, I was astonished to read that several states are preparing driver-distraction laws. Actually, I wasn't surprised about the laws themselves -- I happen to think people shouldn't talk on the phone while driving -- but by their scope. The bills don't just cover cell phones, but video games, laptops and fax machines.

At first I thought this was a case of overzealous legislation; people closing off loopholes that no one would think to exploit anyway. I mean, I understand why people talk on the phone while they drive: they figure that since both activities can be done on automatic pilot, they can multitask with little trouble. But movies and video games require a more active level of participation, so no one would try doing both at the same time, right?

Wrong, apparently. In a USA Today article on the subject, a New York state senator and a Phoenix, Arizona policeman cite cases where they've seen people watching a video while driving. In fact, since 2003 over three thousand people have been pulled over in California alone for keeping their eyes on the screen rather than the wheel. I've yet to hear of any cases of gaming (how would that be possible?) but I'm now thinking that someone, somewhere must have tried it by now.

Zune To Host Hip-Hop Concerts

I've expended a fair amount of pixels getting on Microsoft's case about the Zune, but I'll concede that they do one thing different from Apple: they stress live music. A lot. You'll find all kinds of concert listings and related band information on their site, and back when the player launched Microsoft hosted concerts featuring well-known musicians. They also recently helped sponsor Live 8.

It's a pretty good idea, as it makes use of the "social" much better than the player's wireless file-sharing feature, and it (theoretically) gets some of the energy of the live experience to rub off on the Zune brand. And where are you going to find more ardent music fans than at live venues?

Next up are three free, Microsoft-sponsored hip-hop concerts in Los Angeles (July 12), Chicago (July 22) and New York City (August 4), featuring acts like Common, Mos Def, Bilal and Large Professor. Interesting enough on its own, but I was surprised to see this blurb in the press release, attributed to Microsoft's Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Zune: "It's a way to show our appreciation to the hip-hop community for its support of the Zune brand and to bring the music to life for fans."

The hip-hop community's support of the Zune? Have I missed something recently? Is this merely press-release hyperbole (which I would expect) or have Zunes found some cachet I was unaware of? Can anyone enlighten me here?

Batter Up: Nintendo

There's no better feeling than having the peanuts and malts vendor roll around to your row at a baseball game on a beautiful summer eve. But what if you're ready to chow, and he's nowhere to be found?

Nintendo is testing out its new Nintendo Fan Network at Seattle's Mariners' baseball stadium. Fans who attend games can use one of two kiosks to download a program onto their DS Lite, then order munchies and beverages, watch a TV feed of the game, play trivia, and look at stats and scores, all from the comfort of the bleachers (or your luxury box).

Of course, personal service has its price. The program itself costs $5 for each game you attend, and if you order food, it will be delivered to your seat, with gratuity added on, of course. If the program gets positive feedback, look for Nintendo to bring it to a stadium near you.

Goldfinger Never Had a Laser Like This

I suppose that once you've managed to bling phones, iPods and even laptops, you have to start getting creative about the devices you want to make all shiny in order to attract gadget magpies.

Still, it would never have occurred to me to come up with the X-pointer, an 18-karat gold-plated presentation remote. The 199,000 Korean won ($215) device functions as a laser pointer, wireless mouse, remote control and 1 GB USB drive. Not to begrudge Chois Technology their shot at tapping into the lucrative luxury market, but wouldn't the folks who can afford this have people to do presentations for them?

"Hello, You've Reached Paris's Phone"

I thought I had it bad. My home office number is recycled from an old lighting business, and though I have to handle the occasional "where's my order" calls, it's nothing compared to what one UCLA student is dealing with.

According to the AP, Shira Barlow ended up with a new phone number after dropping her old phone in a toilet. She then began receiving a bunch of strange calls and text messages, often on the weekends between 2 and 4 am. Turns out Shira was getting messages intended for Paris Hilton, after being given Paris's old recycled number. The volume of calls and messages spiked around Paris's February birthday ("Where's the party?") as well as around her jail sentence ("It's disgusting how they treated you in there, but once again you have showed the world that you can do anything.")

Barlow has been texting thank you's back to well wishers and for now, intends to keep the number out of amusement and convenience.

More Comics Going Mobile

Ever since the iPhone was released, there's been a lot of talk about how it could change the mobile phone market, in much the same way that the iPod changed the music market. But there's another affected market that no one's really spoken of: comics.

Actually, it's not just the iPhone. The increase in larger, higher-resolution screens -- not just on smart phones like BlackBerries, and Treos, but on, say, Motorola RAZRs -- is motivating comics publishers to increase the number of downloadable comics they're making available. This Publishers Weekly article talks about how uClick and TokyoPop, who already offer newspaper strips and manga by subscription, are looking at adding more titles and exploring ad-supported comics. DC Comics is also scouting the territory, though you won't be seeing Batman on your phone soon: they've only announced plans for Flex, a Japanese manga production company they recently invested in that had already caught the mobile bug.

A little comics trivia: When Charles Schulz started Peanuts, he designed it with four square panels so that newspaper editors could fit them into any space, and with simple illustrations so that they would survive newsprint's terrible print quality. Both of those traits make them perfect for mobile phone screens. I'm kind of surprised that United Media has stayed out of the mobile comics game so far, since their flagship title works so well for mobile use.

Apple and Universal Settled, For Now

Universal may have grudgingly decided to play with iTunes -- though it's reserving the right to take its ball and go home -- but the smart money knew that was going to happen anyway. When they confirmed the new deal yesterday, it was the same day that it was reported that CD sales are still in freefall, with the first two quarters' sales 15% lower than the same period last year. Meanwhile, digital sales have seen a 49% increase.

When you put aside percentages and get to dollars and cents, the majors are still losing money -- but when the only sign of growth is in digital music and iTunes makes up the biggest slice of that pie, you'd be a fool not to sit down for another helping. (Mmmm, pie. Sorry, where was I?)

The good news is that the speculation that appeared on Wired's Listening Post blog -- that Universal was holding out for a cut of iPod sales, much like their deal with Microsoft -- didn't pan out. It was a bad idea then and it'd still be a bad idea now.

USB Microscope Gets Up Close and Personal

Here's one reason FireWire is losing market share: when was the last time you saw a FireWire microscope?

Thanko, the Japanese king of USB gadgets (both sane and insane), have released the handheld Nandemo Microscope (¥12,800 yen, or $104 US). It comes complete with LED lighting, an extension cable, and four attachments so that you can get close-up views of just about anything. The Thanko website offers up sample anatomical images, all of which make me thankful that it's limited to VGA resolution (640x480). Really, I don't need to see everything with absolute clarity.

FireWire: Will It Stay or Will It Go?

With the current Blu-ray/HD DVD deathmatch going on, it's sometimes hard to remember that competing formats can, in fact, just get along. For the past eleven years, the IEEE1394 interface (aka FireWire, or i.Link) has been the competing plug-and-play connector format to the younger and slimmer USB.

You'd be forgiven if you didn't think of it as a competition; the two formats have coexisted peacefully for quite some time, often appearing together on computers as well as video and storage devices.

But then something funny happened in the week leading up to Freedom Explosion Day (thanks for that, R. Stevens) Research firm In-Stat released a report stating that FireWire's market share had stagnated, and will be starting a long, slow decline -- led in particular by its decreasing use as a digital camcorder interface.

The 1394 Trade Association turned around and sent out their own press release stating that heavy-hitters like Dell, HP and Toshiba have been continuing to release products equipped with FireWire. It doesn't ever mention the In-Stat report, but it's obviously a "See? We're still doing just fine!" retort.

The thing is, unlike other format wars, consumers can react to this with a shrug. Macs come with FireWire and USB ports. Many PCs come with both, and FireWire ports can be added inexpensively to those that don't. Many digital camcorders come with both ports, and if you happen to have one that is FireWire-only, you can always put the tape, DVD or flash card in a camera that does USB if you need to.

When it comes down to it, this is a non-issue one way or the other. And that's a nice change of pace when it comes to competing formats, don't you think?

Europe Looks at Blu-ray Practices

Our friends on the other side of the Atlantic are at it again, and this time the European Commission is taking a closer look at potential anti-competitive practices among the two high-definition DVD camps, and in particular, Blu-ray.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the commission last month requested movie studios to send in any records related to agreements over high-def DVD formats. Since Blu-ray has more support among studios (backed exclusively by Sony, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate, and MGM), the commission is particularly interested in whether the Blu-ray peeps have been using dirty tactics to get studios to back their format. Apparently the commission has been looking at both formats for a while, but only now has shifted its attention to Blu-ray.

So what's behind the investigation? Well, HD DVD. The Toshiba-backed group has been asking the commission to investigate Blu-ray's methods when it comes to getting studios on their side. And though it may look like (or actually be) a case of sore losers, the survival of a format may be on the line.

HD DVD Goes Independent

With HD DVD's recent losses in movie sales and rental shelf space, you could say this is a sort of Long Tail strategy for the format.

Microsoft, which has invested in the HD DVD camp with the Xbox 360, has teamed up with Amazon to create the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project, which will push the HD DVD format to independent movie producers. Amazon will provide HD DVD distribution services to 1,000 filmmakers via their Customflix on-demand service, while waiving the $499 authoring fee. As an extra bonus, the Sundance Channel will be reviewing entries for broadcast consideration.

Russian MP3 Site Gets Second Life

The uber-cheap-but-not-exactly-legal Russian music download service allofmp3.com has disappeared, but in its place a site called mp3sparks.com has popped up.

Mp3sparks.com is run by MediaServices, the same group behind allofmp3.com, features a similar interface, and spouts the same disclaimer that they do in fact pay licensing fees "subject to the Law of the Russian Federation." The site also claims: "The user bears sole responsibility for any use and distribution of all materials received from Mp3Sparks.com. This responsibility is dependent on the national legislation in each user's country of residence."

Well here, the U.S. doesn't look too kindly on the the site. Visa and Mastercard have stopped accepting credit card charges from MediaServices sites, and the company is being sued by several record labels. According to the AP, there's speculation that Russia shut down allofmp3.com as a gesture to show it was dealing with piracy. Its inaction on the piracy front has been held up as barrier to Russia gaining entry to the World Trade Organization. The company behind the download sites maintains their legality, claiming that they pay royalties to a Russian licensing group. However, the music industry here says that that licensing group does not have any rights to their material.

Bring on the iPhone Accessories

We here at Digital World haven't said much about the iPhone in the last week, leaving the heavy lifting to our PC World colleagues. But where there's Apple gadgetry there are accessories, and I spent part of my Canada Day weekend sorting through various notices in my inbox.

The most obvious issue with the iPhone is protection, especially with that gorgeous screen. Power Support's got it, er, covered with their $16 Crystal Film set, a pair of sheer, transparent covers that keep the screen safe from those little nicks and scratches you'd get from tossing your $500 phone into your purse.

Then there's DLO's $25 Jam Jacket for the iPhone (pictured), a silicone case that includes headphone cord management and open slots for the proximity sensor, camera, and dock connector. You'll never have to take the iPhone out of its jacket until you have the change the battery... whenever that is.

My Own Private Holodeck

When it comes to technology, prognosticating can be as terrifying as it can be exciting. This weekend I watched Solid State Society, the new Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime movie, and was appropriately chilled. But then there's news that my fellow Canucks are working to bring one of the cooler (and usually less scary) bits of science-fiction future tech to reality: Star Trek's holodeck.

The project is called iTRAnCE (Immersive TelePresence Room ANd Collaborative Environment), and it's a joint venture between the University of Alberta's Advanced Man-Machine Interface Laboratory, TRLabs and Hewlett-Packard's HPLabs. The aim is to create 3D projections of people from remote locations as sort of the next generation in videoconferencing. The resolution is to be so high that, according to the CBC News article that tipped me to the whole thing, you'll be able to see "an eye twitch or a bead of sweat," and other bits of non-verbal communication that we take for granted in face-to-face discussion. (Or most of us, anyway.)

While lead researcher Pierre Boulanger touts the productivity benefits of such a system, I can only think of the many ways it can be abused, at the very least for countless practical jokes. I, for one, can't wait.

USB Fun for the Whole Family

So you're in your home office, with your five-year-old working on his connect-the-dots puzzle on the floor. You've finally finished that report you've been working on all week, and while the thing's printing out you decide to play a game with your kid. How? By stabbing your USB hub, of course.

The premise behind Pop-up Pirate is pretty simple: place the pirate figure in the barrel, and take turns sticking the plastic swords into the slots. When the the winner puts a sword into the right slot, the pirate jumps out of the barrel. Hilarity ensues.

I'm familiar with the Pop-up Pirate because for a while it was one of my son's favorite games. And it is actually kind of fun to play, if only for the squeals of surprise it generates from the younger players. But I never would have expected a Japanese company to put a four-port USB 2.0 hub in the base, thus putting the "fun" in "functionality."

Of course, this means that any existing toy is now fair game. USB Lincoln Logs, anyone?

Universal and Apple End Long-Term Deal

Despite supposedly selling an estimated half a million iPhones this weekend, not everything is coming up roses for Apple. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Universal Music, one of the four major music labels, has decided to not renew a long-term licensing deal to have its music sold on the iTunes Music Store.

As a source told the Hollywood Reporter, the refusal to sign a long-term deal was to give the label more flexibility should another device or service come along seeking exclusivity. However, the agreement between the two companies should continue on a month by month basis. So don't worry about stocking up on U2, Sting, and Mariah tracks for your iPod--at least not yet.

Hitachi's New TVs Bring on the 1080, Lose the Judder

Hitachi launched ten new flat-panel HDTVs (six plasma, four LCD) for their fall lineup last Thursday. All of the TVs are between 42'' and 60'', and they all boast 1080 lines of resolution (though the two H-Series and T-Series 55'' plasmas provide only "best in class" 1280x1080). However, what really got my attention was the incorporation of Hitachi's Reel60 technology in its P50V701, P50X901 and P60X901 screens.

The Reel60 system aims to correct a problem that has plagued television for most of its existence. The problem is one of mismatched frequences: television runs at 30 frames per second (fps), and film runs at 24 fps. (This is only true under the NTSC system, which is in use mainly in North America and Japan; PAL and SECAM, mostly used in Europe, runs at 25 fps. Also, although there are 30 unique images per second of broadcast video, your television actually refreshes at 60 frames per second. But we'll leave that for another day.)

A device called a telecine is used to convert a movie for NTSC broadcast, using a technique called 3:2 pulldown. Roughly (and this is very rough -- Wikipedia's entry on telecines provides a great technical explanation), this means that every so often, one image is held for an extra frame, padding things out so that one second of screen time remains one second of screen time.

For the most part, persistence of vision takes care of the irregularities this introduces to the moving image, but certain things, like fast lateral motion or spinning objects, cause a form of visual interference called telecine judder.

What Reel60 does is analyze rapidly moving video and calculates what should be onscreen at a given split-second, eliminating the troublesome judder.

Now, I haven't seen Reel60 in action. And, honestly, when I hear the word "interpolate" used breathlessly I get a little antsy. Reel60 may actually be the best thing for cinephiles since widescreen TVs, but any kind of digital correction is always tricky (as animation aficionados have known for some time). I'll have to see it to believe it.