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Gear Live has recently written about a couple of iPod Shuffle knock-offs but the Samsung YU-U1 seems like more - perhaps an iPod Shuffle killer! The YP-U1 features a retractable USB plug, a small screen with 128x64 resolution to let users select tracks, and functions as a mass storage device. The YP-U1 seems aimed squarely at the on the go user market who wants to carry both their files and their music with them at all times. It’s coming soon in both a 512MB and 1GB version for $100 and $150 respectively.
Read More 
| engadget
Of course, if spending $7,000 on the NUVO Robot doesn’t seem outlandish enough for you, you can always spring for the lacquered and gold-plated NUVO Japanism. It will still watch your stuff for you and send you the occasional SMS alert, plus, gold rules.
Read More | Product Page
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Very nice way to blow some cash right here. If you house is full of gadget love, check out the NUVO robot. Straight out of Japan, it’s about 15 inches tall, and about $5,500. However, it will keep a watchful digital eye on all your stuff while you are off gallivanting. It will even snap images and send them to your cell phone so that you know that it isn’t slacking off.
Read More | ZMP Inc.
Latest Gear Live Videos
We have always been fond of Vaja due to their high quality product offerings, which are basically leather cases for common gadgets. They have now launched a customization service which will allow a purchaser to have text, an image, or a combination of the two printed right on the leather. You can also customize the colors of your new leather case as well. Finally, you can choose whether or not to have a clip added to the case. Each option has a cost associated with it, but it is certainly a great way to get a unique product. We will see if we can get our hands on one.
Read More | Vaja Choice
The biggest surprise out of this lineup is a Ridge Racer game straight for launch. This game was scheduled for a much later 2006 release. I wonder if the game is ahead of schedule or if this is a rush job on Namco’s part. For a full list of 2005 Namco games on all platforms, click below.
Read More | Pro-G
In one of our recent podcasts, we have talked about the Gizmo Project and how it compares to Skype. One of the most unique features about Gizmo that is not found in Skype is the handy recording feature. This plugin for the Windows version of Skype allows you to not only record your conversations to MP3, but integrates them to Microsoft Outlook in an email if you wish. To add to the integration, you can actually view your contact’s information, check online status, and connect to someone right in Outlook.
Read More |Skylook
Why Do Shopping Sites Turn Down Negative Consumer Reviews?
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Features, Internet, Misc. Tech,
The Wall Street Journal Online has published an interesting article today on the customer review posting practices of several big-name online retailers like NewEgg. The article points toward the growing trend of websites that solicit or otherwise encourage users to submit reviews of their site, products, and business practices for posting. While some tout a very open policy of posting almost any review, the majority have filtering processes to decide which reviews will be made public. The filtering process can be as simple as software that weeds out reviews which include foul language or as complicated as a multi-member staff that read all the reviews. Read on for our thoughts on how these places should handle customer reviews.
Click to continue reading Why Do Shopping Sites Turn Down Negative Consumer Reviews?
Sony Still Considering Apple OS for PS3?
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,
An article on the UK’s Sony website mentions the fact that although the jury is still out on what OS the upcoming PS3 will use, the Cell Processor is powerful enough to handle either a Linux-based environment or “Apple’s Tiger.” The article’s mention of Apple’s OS X has only fueled the fire of fans dying to see Apple strike a partnership with Sony, solidifying an iconic and powerful team to go up against Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Whether or not the Apple OS is the right fit for Sony is yet to be seen, but I’m certainly interested in seeing Apple and Microsoft have yet another arena in which to duke it out.
Read More | Sony.co.uk
Sony Pays for Inventing Fake Movie Critic
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Corporate News, Movies,
Sony will end up paying over $1.5 million to theater-goers for advertising movies using a fabricated movie critic named “David Manning.” Between 2000 and 2001, Manning’s name and fake reviews were part of the advertising campaigns for “Vertical Limit,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “The Animal,” “Hollow Man” and “The Patriot.” Anyone claiming to have purchased a ticket to these movies between August 3, 2000, and October 31, 2001, can join a class-action settlement in which Sony will reimburse the ticket-buyer $5 for every ticket purchased, up to 4 per movie (2 adults, 2 minors). Personally, I got tickets for at least 2 people to “Hollow Man” and “The Patriot,” which means I’m in for a cool $20. Plus, seeing how “Hollow Man” is one of the worst movies ever, anyone who called it “One helluva scary ride!” (which the made-up Manning did) should owe me $5 (which the made-up Manning now does).
Click on the link below to read the details of the settlement with Sony and find out how to receive your reimbursement.
Read More | Official Court Notice of Settlement
Every once in a while you stumble across a piece of software thats so simple, yet so well implemented that you stop in your tracks and wonder why you didn’t think of it. MenuCalendarClock is one of those pieces of software - it adds a mini calendar to your OS X menu bar, with a drop down pane that displays upcoming appointments. I had been using the dashboard iCal widget until I discovered this, but it fails to give you that “at your fingertips” information and the ability to see your calendar events for a couple of days in the future. At $18.95 the price for the registered version seems slightly more than I had hoped for but it’s so well writen and useful that I think I’m going to register my copy. The free version adds the date and day of the week to your menu bar, and a drop down calendar for quick reference - Bravo Objectpark Software for such a well implemented and functional application.
Read More | MenuCalendarClock via Lifehacker
