Most Recent: iPhone
Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 3:01 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: iPod, Apple, Computer, Laptop, Technology, MacBook, Games, iPhone
iSmacked: The MacBook Backlash has Already Begun
It didn't come with the same kind of bluster accompanying the latest iPod or iPhone, but the recent launch of Apple's latest MacBooks did come with its fair share of hype. Although on paper, it seemed to be warranted. The addition of new high-end Nvidia graphic chips and multi-touch track pads made it look like the world of intense gaming, which requires high-end video components to play sprawling, graphically-intense games, may finally be coming to Mac.
The specs looked impressive but the starting price of $999 disappointed a lot of people in the market who expected more competitive price points. For the people who were looking to get the latest MacBook anyway, it probably didn't mean all that much, but it was still disillusionment enough to make Apple's stock drop. The backlash didn't end there.
Initial reviews of the new Books have so far been not-so gentle. For one, the aforementioned track pad to help navigate your way cannot be replaced if it is damaged, so you?re already in trouble if you get a little physical with your laptop. The keyboard has also proven unpopular. But if you're looking to replace it, you'll have to remove 80 screws, which is probably more trouble than it's worth.
With an adverse response to even a little moisture and some models even reportedly missing important keys (see if you can find the letter b on this model), it hasn't taken long for the MacBook hype to subside. While it seems to run high-impact applications more efficiently, the absence of Blu-Ray indicates this may be more of a gateway model, so you could be best off waiting for the next line of MacBooks, whenever that may be.
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Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 6:37 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Games, Sony PSP, Playstation, Electronics, Handheld, Sony, Technology, iphone
New PSP 2 Concept Gets Our Attention
With the recent European launch of the PSP-3000, the once-innovative handheld gaming console got some face time in a cluttered handheld market focusing primarily on phones and media players. Looking identical to the most recent PSP model, the mobile device has additional features like an improved display and a mic.
Not bad, but certainly not enough to divert our attention away from the iPhone/G1 debate. But with a new concept recently unveiled by designer Tai Chiem, the PSP could once again be worth a couple of looks.
While the images are nothing more than a concept for a fictional gaming device, the technology infused in the unit would instantly make the PSP relevant again. The most prominent (and quite frankly, the coolest) feature in this PSP concept is the roll-out, fully-flexible OLED display, ensuring a vivid screen that can be placed snuggly in your pocket.
The screen would be pulled out of a cylinder design featuring speakers on either side that would also double as gaming and camera controls. Chiem also imagines Sony embedding two joystick controls, a feature noticeably missing from the original PSP designs. Just as they have with the array of other, less-inspired PSP design ideas that have been thrown online, Sony has no comment.
But this innovative idea could very well be the future of handheld gaming and a much-needed boost for a product that has been steadily losing face in North America in the age of the iPod.
Sure, the iPhone and other handheld devices have provided some gaming options during our down time (who wouldn?t want to play Double Dragon in the back of a town car?), but most of us haven?t truly enjoyed mobile gaming since the last Gameboy device from Nintendo or the first Sony PSP. Considering there is still a demand for high-end mobile gaming, we?d keep an eye out for this new PSP model. If we?re lucky, they could see the light of day some time in the next five years.
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Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7:04 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Las Vegas, Social House, Nobu, Favorites, iPhone, Dinner, Nightlife, Treasure Island
Favorites: Joe Elevado
Having already made a major name for himself working for eight years at Nobu in Las Vegas and New York, Joe Elevado has reached new dining strata as Executive Chef at Social House in Vegas. Since opening the popular eatery and nightspot at Treasure Island, Elevado has become a rising star but still has enough time to share his favorites with How To Roll.
-Travel: I am originally from New York and love to go there to visit family and friends. Every time I do go home though, I always plan my trip around which restaurants I want to visit. The vibe in New York City is very unique and I love how you can walk to most of your destinations, and if it?s not that close it's just a cab ride away. If I can't make it all the way to NYC, San Francisco is for me. It's a city that reminds me of home and best of all it's just a hop away from wine country ... but I could go on all day about that!
-Nightlife: My favorite nightspot is at Noir Bar[at the Luxor in Las Vegas]. It has a relaxed atmosphere that isn't too loud and you can really have a night out with friends and have a conversation. The atmosphere is loungey and the bartenders concoct some great libations.
-Gadgets: My favorite kitchen gadget is my Cryovac machine. I think it?s the best thing a home cook can buy to help keep all their products fresh, especially when freezing things. I also use it when I make food for my son; it helps keep his eats fresh and organized.
My iPhone is my favorite electronic gadget right now. I was just in San Francisco and the GPS in the phone was really helpful, plus all the great applications you can download keep me going. I love Macs!
-Dining: I don't really have a favorite restaurant but I do eat a lot of pho, rice, and pasta. I really enjoy quality and you can get that anywhere, from your hole in the wall family-owned restaurant to your big celebrity chef-driven restaurants. There are too many good places to eat to just mention one.
-Hobbies: I wouldn't call him a hobby but I am enjoying my one-year-old son very much. He is starting to develop his own personality and I just really love to see him grow. He and my wife are a big part of my life; family is key.
-Vegas: The thing that I love about Vegas is its community of chefs and how we all know each other in a roundabout way. It's tight-knit, and we all try to take care of each other. Another thing I love about Vegas are the roads; it's a motorcyclist's dream.
-Social House: When you walk in, you don't realize that you walked into a 280-seat restaurant. It's a cozy space with many layers that engulf you as you walk through the entire restaurant. The cuisine lends itself to the space because everyone is encouraged to share and to get cozy with each other. It's very Asian in that everything is done family style.
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Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:34 AM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Audio, iphone, iPod, Entertainment, Bowers & Wilkins, Zeppelin, Electronics
Bowers & Wilkins' new Zeppelin iPod speakers look like a lot of things (personally we're thinking some sort of art-deco pterodactyl egg), but an iPod dock isn't one of them. This is a good thing, particularly considering how most iPod speaker designs are about as creative as a Canadian Tuxedo.
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Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:38 AM
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Alex IglesiasTagged as: Alex Woodard, Country, Singer, Songwriter, Celebrity Favorites, Favorite Things, Favorites, Interview, 3G iPhone
We sat with a rising star in the alt-country music world for this session of Celebrity Favorites. Meet singer-songwriter Alex Woodard. This dude's got some interesting favorite things.
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