The Obama administration has dumped an electric truckload of money on car and battery companies, with hopes they'll develop technology that'll make plug-powered cars suitable for the mainstream. As you can imagine, this is way bigger than just cars.
Batteries have been a bottleneck in consumer electronics for years now, and it's getting ridiculous. Think back ten years ago: you probably couldn't have imagined all the wild stuff you can do with 2009's smartphones, but you definitely wouldn't have guessed that their batteries would last less than two days. It doesn't make sense, and it's slowing things down—imagine what our gadgets could do if manufacturers didn't have to spend so much of their engineering efforts of reducing power consumption.
The problem is, truly new battery technologies require huge institutional investments, the likes of which most companies aren't able—or willing—to make. As Wired explains, we've been stuck for years, but maybe, just maybe, this 2.4-billion dollars will somehow transmute into a breakthrough battery technology that'll trickle down to our gadgets, rendering out DC adapters obsolete once and for all. Or, it'll just sink into some kind of giant corporate money hole, and we'll just have to charge our iPhone 5GS Nanos six times a day. We'll see! [WSJ]
For today's round up of available gadgets, we've got two new phones and a sleek netbook. T-Mobile hits us twice with the highly anticipated MyTouch and a trackball-less Blackberry, while Asus began shipping out a new large screen Seashell.
• To many people's delight, T-Mobile launched their MyTouch 3G into stores today. If you got a chance to preorder one, let us know what you think when you receive yours. If you're not sure if you should get one, think about what Jason said in his review: "it's essentially better than the G1 in every way. It's lighter, faster, better and supposedly lasts longer on a charge." You can buy them online and in-store for $199.99 with a 2 years service contract. [Buisinesswire]
• T-Mobile also released their Blackberry Curve 8520 today. If you've been waiting to get your hands on an entry level Blackberry without the "gunk-loving" trackball, here's your chance. They're going for $130 at T-Mobile stores or you can pick one up for only $50 at Walmart. [BGR]
• Asus is finally shipping their Eee PC 1101HA. With an 11.6-inch screen (WXGA 1,366 x 768), it is one of their larger netbooks. It features an Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, GMA 500 integrated graphics, a 160GB hard drive, three USB 2.0 sockets, a 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and boasts 11 hours of battery life (basically the same hardware Mark reviewed). You can order one online for $430. [Engadget]
Instead of creating the usual steel turnstile, the Watergate's designers used the primordial liquid as a psychological barrier. Their logic: People won't like to get their clothes wet. Obviously, they don't live in NY summer and they wear pants.
Or in other words: If they install this on the NYC subway, I would not spend a single cent on my Metrocard. It's a good idea, because most people will actually respect it. Another good thing: If something happens, people can run to the exit without having to go through gates:
Water is only a psychological barrier. Fleeing, panicking persons can escape through the gate without being hindered by any rigid media.
Clever.
An added advantage is that people in wheelchairs or carrying luggage can easily pass through them. Very clever. I hope they get popular. [Yanko Design via Dvice]
Thanko's new EMP-708LITE Vonia earbuds work by actually vibrating the bones of your skull, which is then picked up by your brain and processed as recognizable music. They are, quite literally, skull-rattling 'buds.
What's remarkable (and remarkably Thanko-like) about these is the price: Similarly designed headphones, often not waterproof at all, run for well over $100, while these are only 4280 Yen (about $45). They're waterproof down to 5 meters, which makes them great for workout swimmers (or snorkelers, I guess). Unfortunately, they're Japan-only for now, so we'll have to keep making due with significantly less cool waterproof 'buds. [Thanko via New Launches]
Pentax's P80 camera doesn't really do anything anything that original or spectacular for its time—the 12.1 megapixel sensor, 720p, 30 fps video recording, face detection and 0.8-inch thickness are all pedestrian compared to other cams—BUT it is cheap.
The $200 P80 can even detect faces at an angle and can find up to 32 of them in 0.3 seconds. It will be available in September. [Crunch Gear]
This video shows a crazy man launching himself off an epically-large water slide and landing perfectly in a kiddie pool very far away from it. Is it fake? I suspect so, but I really want it to be real.
The site that explains the stunt is all in German, save one vague video in English. Can any German-speakers descipher this and determine its validity? Please don't dash my dreams. If this is a viral ad for adult diapers or something I'm going to be really disappointed. Although it would be a great way to sell something that helps adults cope with shitting their pants, no? [Megawoosh via Today's Big Thing]
The boring answer: because it's going to form the underpinnings of the entire internet within a few years, and most major browsers—including Chrome, now—support it. The better answer: because it's really cool, enabling webtoys like this, without plugins.
A year ago, this cool (as in smoooooth) visualization, which plays music, displays fluid animations, and integrates live with Twitter, would've been something you'd have to make in Flash or Silverlight, requiring programmers to learn a new languages, and viewers to download plugins. Now it's possible to pull off using just the new HTML5 spec, which includes support for video and audio embedding, Canvas—for scriptable animations—and all kinds of other rich content that'll make current HTML-based webpages look like Geocities templates. Did I mention that YouTube could lose Flash altogether? Yeah, that.
Actually, the 9Elements design studio seems to have written their entire homepage in HTML5, so grab the latest build of Firefox, Opera or Chrome and have a look at what it can do. You'll be seeing a lot more of this before too long, and if your newest gadget's software supports it, consider it a worthwhile feature. [9Elements via Reddit]
Pentax's Waterproof cameras are super pocketable, and so I love them, but the WS80 is only rated for 5 feet. That's no better than their first gen w10 model and far worse than their W80 model rated at 16 feet.
It's good enough for a casual splash in a pool or a river swim, but not worthy of a lake or ocean jaunt. The camera has a 10mp rating, and does 720p video at 30fps, which is good news. It also has face detection and some forms of shake reduction including a movie version, and an ISO equivalent of 6400 (but like all high ISO point and shoots, I wouldn't count on that being very grain free.) The lens is a 35mm equivalent of 35-175mm.
Huh, weird. It also has a small face filter, that makes people with big faces look more attractive.
At $250, I might go up to a higher end waterproof camera or buy last year's model used.
GOLDEN, CO. (August 5, 2009)…A bold, new waterproof digital camera jumped into the swimming pool today. PENTAX Imaging Company announced the Optio WS80, the newest contender in the durable, affordable digital camera category. Available in two bold, his-and-her's designs, the water and dustproof Optio WS80 is a perfect choice for travel, outdoor activities and families. Featuring a 10 megapixel CCD and a 5X internal optical zoom housed in a slim, palm-sized body that is less than an inch thick, the Optio WS80 has a large 2.7 inch LCD with 230,000 dot resolution for easy composition. With waterproof construction that can withstand depths up to five feet (1.5 meters), the Optio WS80 captures underwater photos and video including high resolution, widescreen, HD video up to 720p at a full-speed 30 frames per second. Other features include: • Fast Face Detection technology sees up to 32 faces in as little as 0.03 of a second for easy portrait photography. • Smile Capture automatically releases the shutter when a subject smiles and Blink Detection alerts the photographer if the subject's eyes are closed during the exposure. • PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR) technology features Pixel Track SR, Digital SR, and Movie SR, stabilizing your images and video for beautiful, blur-free results. • PENTAX Auto Picture mode automatically selects from eight shooting modes for beautiful images in any setting. • Sensitivity up to ISO 6400 boosts shutter speeds to freeze subject movement for blur-free images even in low lighting.
Available in two eye-catching color options, black with orange accents or white with purple accents, the PENTAX Optio WS80 will ship in September 2009 for $249.95 USD. More information is available here: www.pentaximaging.com. Product images are available here: http://www.pentaximaging.com/press/pressfiles.html PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. # # #
PENTAX Optio WS80 Major Features Exceptional waterproof performance for underwater shooting and adventure The palm-sized Optio WS80 assures reliable waterproof performance that allows underwater photography up to five feet for up two hours (JIS Class 8 standard). The WS80 also features the PENTAX-exclusive, highly water-repellent SP (Super Protect) coating on the protective glass panel that covers the zoom lens. As a result, the Optio WS80 may be rinsed clean with fresh water if it becomes covered with dirt or sand. Coupled with remarkable dustproof capabilities equivalent to JIS Class 6, the Optio WS80 may be used without worry in many different situations where water or dirt is a major concern. High-quality images delivered by 10.0 effective megapixels Combining 10.0 effective megapixels with the PENTAX-developed imaging engine and high-performance PENTAX zoom lens, the Optio WS80 produces brilliant, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge sharpness even when images are enlarged. High-performance optical 5X zoom lens The slim, palm-sized Optio WS80 features an optical 5X zoom lens covering focal lengths from 35mm to 175mm in the 35mm format. The camera offers an Intelligent Zoom function that extends the zoom range up to approximately 28.5X for even tighter zooming in on the subject. High-quality, widescreen, HD movie recording The Optio WS80 captures beautiful, flawless HD movie clips at 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720 pixels)* at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The camera also comes equipped with advanced, user-friendly features designed to facilitate movie recording: the Movie SR (Shake Reduction) mode, which automatically compensates for camera shake during movie shooting; and the Underwater Movie mode, which automatically optimizes color settings for underwater movie shooting. *When the Optio WS80's AV output terminal is used, movie clips are output as normal image-size data. If the user wishes to play back movie clips at high-definition-TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback. High-speed Face Detection, with a range of user-friendly features The Optio WS80's advanced Face Detection AF & AE function captures 32 faces in sharp focus and perfect exposure in a mere 0.03 seconds. It also accurately detects a subject facing the camera at an angle or with a tilted head. The Optio WS80 offers other user-friendly features, including: • A Smile Capture mode automatically releases the shutter the moment the camera detects the subject's smile. • A Blink Detection function warns the photographer when a subject's eyes close at the time of shutter release. • A Small Face filter helps reduce a subject's face so that it appears smaller in proportion to the body to produce more flattering well-balanced portraits.
PENTAX OPTIO WS80 FACT SHEET CONTINUED
Triple anti-shake protection to prevent different types of camera shake Pixel Track SR mode When recording still images, the Optio WS80's Pixel Track SR (Shake Reduction) mode effectively compensates for camera shake by processing affected images. High-Sensitivity SR mode* When it detects low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting, the Optio WS80 automatically raises its sensitivity to as high as ISO 6400, making it possible to use a higher shutter speed. This effectively minimizes the adverse effects of camera shake and subject motion blur under poor lighting conditions. Movie SR mode** During movie recording, the Optio WS80 prevents blurry images by effectively minimizing annoying camera shake. * When the High-Sensitivity SR mode is selected, the recorded size is fixed to 5M (2592 x 1944 pixels). ** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting. Large 2.7 inch LCD monitor for effortless image viewing The Optio WS80 features a large 2.7 inch extra bright color LCD monitor so photographers may view on-screen images, menus and mode-settings with ease while shooting and during playback. Additional Features: • Interval shooting mode, convenient for fixed-point observation of starry skies, flowers and plants • High-speed 9 point AF system, with Auto-Tracking function, to maintain constant focus on a moving subject • Auto Picture mode automatically selects one of eight shooting modes for the optimum results in a wide variety of shooting conditions • A variety of digital filters including Toy Camera and Retro to add distinctive visual effects to recorded images • Dynamic Range adjustment prevents overexposed and underexposed areas in images • Digital Wide function creates a panoramic, extra-wide-angle image (equivalent to an image taken with an approx. 25.4mm lens in 35mm format) from two images • Digital Panorama mode creates a single panoramic picture from as many as three images • Style Watch function displays the time with pushbutton operation, even when the camera's power is turned off • Image recovery function recovers accidentally erased images • Frame composite function (with 90 frames stored in the camera) shoots or composes images with decorative photo frames
Watching live TV on your phone is something that everyone does in Japan, unlike America, so naturally they want to be able to do it on their iPhones. This USB antenna lets them do just that.
The SEG Clip works by plugging into your laptop's USB port and then broadcasting TV to your iPhone via WiFi. Simple enough! I guess I wish we could use this here in the States, but I can't say I'm too broken up about it. The ability to load your iPhone up with recorded TV and movies seems far more convenient. But hey, power to ya, Japan. [AV Watch via MobileCrunch]
As a part-time physics nerd, I get excited enough just reading Brian Greene books, so I can't even imagine what the mood's like over at the CERN dorms, where this polite advisory was allegedly posted.
But you—regular guy—probably won't run into it, Ed Bott says after hours of testing the bug this morning. Not only are the conditions are pretty specific, CHKDSK actually throws up a few roadblocks along the way to meet those conditions, and the bug's not even 100 percent reproducible—Microsoft's working on reproducing it themselves, so we'll likely see a patch for it waiting for everybody on Windows Update at launch if it really is that critical.
In the meantime, just don't follow those super specific steps to crash out your computer. [InfoWorld, ZDNet]
If your job involves giving presentations on a regular basis, you might want to look into two new offerings from Logitech—the R800 and R400 Wireless Presenter remotes.
The R800 offers a green laser pointer, LCD display (providing info like battery life, time alerts and wireless reception) and a 100-foot range. The R400 is stripped down to a red laser, navigation buttons and a 50-foot range. Both devices will be available starting in September for $100 and $50 respectively. Not bad if you are on a budget, but if you have some money to burn I would hold out for this. [Logitech]
These 45 Nano Cases are made from gutted cassette tapes and fit 4th gen iPod nanos. They're pretty much perfect; I want an iPod Nano just so I can get one of these. So awesome. [Contexture via HolyCool via TDW]
Bad news: The crazy Sukhoi Su-35 stunt was not entirely true. The pilot flew without canopy, but the ejection was on the ground. Dangerous, but not that dangerous. We tracked down the video, which shows how the eject seat works.
The clip is from Mirror Wars, an unwatchable Russian action flick about some plot to steal a secret plane to kill the President of the United States onboard Air Force One. Or something like that, who cares. Oh well, at least we don't have to watch a similar craptastic movie hoping to find the actual jump. [Thanks Dan]
While there are more than a few exceptions to the rule, most graffiti is nothing more but lame, self-serving tagging. But combine simple signatures with LEDs and slow shutter photography, and the genre is born anew:
Halo is a concept by French designer Aissa Logerot. Shaped like a bottle of spray paint, the LED light can change colors on the fly and while it's powered by an internal battery (that recharges with a simple shake of the can—a cutesy but awesome idea).
Combine this LED light with slow-shutter photography and you can freeze light graffiti in thin air without ruining a facade in the process. Of course, that non-destructive practicality probably eliminates any incentive for about 99.9% of graffiti enthusiasts. [Halo via Core77]
Apple's just squeezed out OS X 10.5.8—the last major update to ole' lame duck Leopard before it gets totally replaced—and it's loaded to the brim with bugfixes and minor updates. Check the full changelog below.
This is characteristically a maintenance update, tying up a few loose ends before 10.6 arrives. For perspective, a few of the more substantial changes: CalDav support has finally been fixed in iCal, BlueTooth and Wi-Fi stability has been tightened up, while native RAW viewing has been expanded to a few more cameras' formats. So yeah, recork that champagne. Let us know how your upgrades go in the comments—or if Apple's tucked away any surprises for us.
• Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2. • Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4. • Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences. • Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action. • Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras. • Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers. • Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times. • Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav. • Addresses data reliability issues with iDisk and MobileMe. • Improves overall reliability with AFP. • Improves overall reliability with Managed Client. • Improves compatibility and reliability for joining AirPort networks. • Improves Sync Service reliability. • Includes additional RAW image support for several third-party cameras. • Improves compatibility with some external USB hard drives. • Includes latest security fixes.
How awful it must feel to be a fancy new cable with nothing to plug into. Such is the plight of the sad NXG 20-meter HDMI 1.4 cable, whose 3D/2160p/Ethernet talents will simply go unnoticed, at least this year.
Available to system builders for a steep $380, the Y95054 doesn't seem like a fully-baked product: despite adhering to some parts of the HDMI 1.4 spec, it doesn't yet have full certification, and the feature list seems to imply that the cable might not even support 1080p, much less the super-resolved 4k set on the distant horizon—although in the future, maybe lowly, ancient 1080p output is just taken for granted? Who knows! In any case, the gates have officially opened on what may be the lamest "first on your block" race in recent memory. [DBL via Engadget]
Previous versions of the UStream app for the iPhone only allowed you to stream video from the service. Their latest offering finally allows you to record and send video to the web.
Granted, there are other applications in the App Store that already do this like Kyte and 12Cast, but UStream promises high quality video and better flexibility with regard to where your video is shared. Currently, videos can be uploaded to UStream, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, or UStream on Facebook. You can even edit videos already on UStream directly from your iPhone.
It isn't the live streaming everyone wants, but until Apple and AT&T allow it to happen, developer's hands are tied. [TechCrunch]
I enjoy the massacre of ads. This sentence will slaughter ads without a messy bloodbath.
They say magic doesn't exist, but apparently it does. Head to Lifehacker to read all about the trick, plus other considerations about message length. And if you are curious about other words that trigger this mechanism, read McKay's study. [Lifehacker and John McKay]
Could Windows 7 accomplish everything that's expected of it? Probably not, but it makes a damn good attempt. We've tested the gold master, the final version going out on October 22. Upgrade without trepidation, people. With excitement, even.
Windows 7 is not quite a "Vista service pack." It does share a lot of the core tech, and was clearly designed to fix nearly every bad thing anyone said about Vista. Which ironically puts the demon that it was trying to exorcise at its heart. What that means is that Windows 7 is what Vista should have been in the public eye—a solid OS with plenty of modern eye candy that mostly succeeds in taking Windows usability into the 21st century—but it doesn't daringly innovate or push boundaries or smash down walls or whatever verb meets solid object metaphor you want to use, because it had a specific set of obligations to meet, courtesy of its forebear.
That said, if you're coming from Windows XP, Windows 7 will totally feel like a revelation from the glossy future. If you're coming from Vista, you'll definitely go "Hey, this is much better!" the first time you touch Aero Peek. If you're coming from a Mac, you'll—-hahahahaha. But seriously, even the Mactards will have to tone down their nasal David Spadian snide, at least a little bit.
The Long Shadow of Windows Vista The public opinion of Windows Vista—however flawed it might have been—clearly left a deep impact on Microsoft. While we've got final Windows 7 code, it's hard to look 2 1/2 months into the future to predict what the Windows 7 launch will be like. However, based on this code, and the biggest OS beta testing process in history, it sure won't look like the beleaguered Vista launch at all.
If you installed Vista on your PC within the first month of its release, there was a solid chance your computer ran like crap, or your gadgets didn't work, since drivers weren't available yet. That's not how it shakes down with Windows 7. The hardware requirements for Windows 7 are basically the same as they are for Vista, the first time ever a release of Windows hasn't required significantly more horsepower than the previous one. And it runs better on that hardware, or at least feels like it does.
We ran real-world benchmarking on two test machines, a nearly two-year-old Dell XPS M1330 with 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, an Nvidia 8400M GS and a 64GB SSD, and an 18-month-old desktop with 3GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, an Nvidia 8800GT and a 10,000rpm drive. Results suggest there's little actual difference between Vista and Windows 7 performance-wise on the same hardware, as you can see:
Ambiguous benchmarking aside, our experience during the beta period was that Windows 7 actually ran beautifully, even on netbooks that made Vista cry like a spoiled child who'd had its solid gold spoon shoved up its butt sideways, so the difference isn't based entirely on "feelings." Even Microsoft never attempted to market a Vista for netbooks, but is gladly offering Windows 7 to that category.
Installing XP, Vista and Windows 7 on the same hardware over the space of a week also proved that point: Hardware just worked when I booted up Windows 7 for the first time, while my machines were practically catatonic with XP until I dug up the drivers, and gimped with Vista until I dutifully updated. Hitting Windows Update in Windows 7, I was offered a couple of drivers that were actually current, like ones for my graphics cards. Centralizing the delivery of drivers is huge in making the whole drivers thing less over whelming. (It helps that manufacturers are actively putting out drivers for their gear this go-around, rather than waiting until the last minute, as they tended to with Vista.)
Microsoft has even corrected the pricing spike that Vista introduced, even if they didn't fully streamline that confusing, pulsating orgy of versions. A full version of Windows 7 Home Premium is $200, down from $260, and if you were lucky, you could've pre-ordered an upgrade version for $50. (Microsoft says that deal has sold out, but we wouldn't be shocked to find it re-upped in the near future, possibly even as we head toward the October 22 launch.) So yes, most of the early Vista problems—performance, compatibility and price, to an extent—will likely not be early Windows 7 problems.
What's Good Windows 7 is the biggest step forward in usability since Windows 95. In fact, over half of what makes it better than Vista boils down to user interface improvements and enhancements, not so much actual new features.
Windows 7 brings back a sense of a tightness and control that was sometimes missing in Vista—there's a techincal reason for this relating in part to the way graphics are handled—moments where I've felt like I wasn't in control of my PC have been few and far between, even during the beta and release candidate periods. The more chaste User Account Control goes to that—the frequency with which it interrupts you was grating in Vista, like standing under a dripping faucet. But it actually works as Microsoft intended now, with more security, since you're less likely to repeatedly hammer "OK" to anything that pops up, just so it leaves you the hell alone.
Other super welcome improvements are faster, more logical search—in the Music folder for instance, you can narrow by artist, genre or album—and more excellent file previews, though they're not quite as awesome as what OS X offers up. (And why aren't they on by default?) There are lots of little things that make you say, "finally" or "that's great," like legit codec support baked in to Windows Media Player, Device Stage when you plug in your gadgets, or the retardiculously awesome background images.
In short, Windows 7 is what Windows should feel like in 2009.
What's Not So Good There are a few spots Microsoft rubbed polish on that still don't quite shine. Networking is much, much better than Vista—the wireless networking interface isn't completely stupid anymore—but the Network and Sharing Center still doesn't quite nail it in terms of making networking or sharing easy for people who don't really know what they're doing. I wouldn't turn my mom loose inside of it, anyway. The HomeGroup concept for making it easy to share files sounds good in theory, but in practice, it's no slam dunk. I imagine regular people asking, "What's up with crazy complicated password I have to write down? Can I share files with PCs not in my HomeGroup? What's all this other stuff in my Network that's not in my HomeGroup?"
Not all parts of the user experience are sweeter now. Microsoft, just fix the unwieldy Control Panel interface, please. And Windows Media Player's UI while you're at it. If it makes iTunes look simple, it's got problems. I'd really like to be able to pin folders directly to the Taskbar as well, not simply to the Windows Explorer icon in the Taskbar. It's kind of confusing behavior, actually—why can you pin some icons (apps or files) and not others (folders)?
Internet Explorer 8 ain't so great, either. It's better than IE7, sure, and actually sorta supports modern web standards. But you'll be downloading Firefox, Opera, or Chrome as soon as you get Win 7 up and running, since IE's not better than any of them. And while you could argue you wouldn't be so inclined to use Microsoft's own mail application either, you might, but you'll have to download it first. Instead of being app-packed, Windows 7 gives you an optional update for Live Essentials, with apps like Mail, Photo Gallery and MovieMaker. Some people might like the cleaner install, but this is a fairly senseless de-coupling—not including a mail app with your own OS? I know those European regulators are ridiculous, but come on.
I suppose the biggest thing missing from Windows 7 is any sense of daring (psychedelic wallpapers aside). It's a very safe release: Take what was good about Vista, fix what people bitched about, and voila. We get it, people want a safe operating system, not an experiment in behavioral science. But even as Windows 7 restores some of the joy in using Windows, you get the sense that it could've been more, if it hadn't been saddled with the tainted legacy of Vista. I wonder what Windows 7 would have been without Vista.
The Verdict Windows XP was a great OS in its day. Windows Vista, once it found its feet several months in, was a good OS. Windows 7 is great again. It's what people said they wanted out of Windows: Solid, more nimble and the easiest, prettiest Windows yet. There's always a chance this won't be a huge hit come October, given the economy and the state of the PC industry, but it's exactly what Microsoft needs right now. Something people can grab without fear.
You've read our final verdict, but since there's a ton of new stuff in Windows 7, we've rounded it all up here, in one easy list, with a little bonus opinionating.
The User Interface Here's everything that's improved in the Windows 7 UI. Win 7 kept the glassy Aero desktop from Vista, but added many more usability improvements on top of it. Basically, they extended the efforts of Vista to get the eye candy bar up higher while continuing to get the functionality up to match. There's the new taskbar, jump lists, Aero Peek, pinning, Aero Shake, Left/Right alignment, full-desktop gadgets, themes and new shortcuts in Windows Explorer. Again, see the big list here to get you started on what changed, UI-wise, from Vista to 7.
Drivers In addition to surface and usability improvements, Microsoft addressed one of the big complaints about Vista—drivers—with Device Stage. Device Stage gives you a way to organize the pre-installed drivers (with, hopefully, much less driver compatibility issues now) along with stuff you can do with these third-party hardware add-ons. There are services, taskbar and other popup menu integration with these devices, which you should check out here.
Media Of course there's Windows Media Player 12 and its ability to stream music to devices on the network. You select "Play to..." and up pops a menu showing what's on the network that you can pump your music or video out of. For more details on that click here, but keep in mind compatibility is constantly being upgraded, and the list of compatible devices and content formats will grow once people are using the OS en masse.
And Media Center! One of our favorite features on Windows improves on the Vista experience with usability fixes and a handful of new features like more transparency so you can keep an eye on what you're watching while navigating menus. There's quite a lot of new stuff here, so if you're a Media Center user you should familiarize yourself. As a whole, we still have the belief that Media Center is the best TV-DVR platform out there, beating TiVo for the fact that it's connected to a computer, and can be easily (and cheaply) expandable via Xbox 360s. If you can set up a CableCard PC running Windows 7, you'll be set for a while. Also, the 360 gets the new Windows 7 UI as well in Extender mode, as long as its host computer is running Windows 7.
Security It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Windows 7 is finally where Microsoft got their security implementation right. After blundering their User Account Control—a smart idea that works to make sure users don't allow programs to access sensitive parts of the system— in Vista by making it too annoying, they found a good balance in Win 7. You also have Action Center, which lets you access everything from just your taskbar, and built-in support for biometric devices.
Networking Another major complaint in Vista was networking; specifically, wireless networking and how lousy it was to use. Windows 7's implementation is much improved, and changes basic network implementation for the better as well. There's also a new concept called HomeGroup, which basically gets your multiple PCs on the network sharing files and resources with each other by joining a "group". It's supposed to be easier than the old method of joining workgroups and making sure each PC has the correct name and setup, and for the most part it is, even given the limitations mentioned in Matt's review. Check out HomeGroup in detail here.
Alternative Input For the more esoteric input devices, there's the multitouch, pen controls and writing recognition. It's basically taking Microsoft Surface and porting it to computer that you can actually use. Although no machines are on the market right now that really take advantage of the features in such a way that it really makes a difference, you can bet your ass that if the Apple Tablet pushes the tablet form factor forward, tons of manufacturers are going to follow up with machines that make use of Windows 7's multitouch inputs. And if you want to know what using 7's multitouch is like, look here for the basics, and here for the optional Windows 7 Touch Pack.
Late Breaking Features Microsoft even added new features up until the release candidate, surprising us with lots of cool tricks. There's streaming your music library over the internet with Windows Media Player and Windows XP mode, which gives you a full-fledged Windows XP virtual environment (a desktop within a desktop). Both of which are the kind of extras you wouldn't expect to be integrated inside an OS—there are third-party utilities made just to do these kinds of functions—but Microsoft wanted to give a little more to its users.
Here's one thing you should definitely read before you install Windows 7. Why you should go 64-bit. The one big reason is that 32-bit Windows only have access to 4GB of RAM, max. You may think that 4GB is enough now, but think about those big-ass apps that you'll be using in a couple years. Future-proof yourself now and go 64-bit. There won't be a whole lot of downside to making the jump.
More Bits Then there are the miscellaneous small features that are cool to have that you may not know you need until you stumble upon them a few months after you install: • Native ISO burning • Native Docx file handling • An expanded send-to menu • Virtual Wi-Fi, a way to share one Wi-Fi adapter into many for sharing a hotspot with your friends (or other devices) • GPGPU, a computing paradigm that allows your graphics card to help shoulder the burden of all those calculations. You won't see this every day, but just know that it's making your experience faster, on the whole • The calculator now has a mortgage payment calculator • Oh man, look how useful the Windows key is now • Windows 7 also ramps up the Performance Meter to 7.9 • Libraries are the new way Win 7 organizes your music and videos. It's basically a smart folder that aggregates multiple regular folders together • The Problem Steps Recorder, a way for you to automatically generate a document that goes step-by-step through whatever it is at your computer, is still there. We thought this would be taken out after the beta/RC stage, but you can still use this to generate problem reports and remotely figure out why your parents are crashing their computer whenever they "click an icon"
Win 7 vs. Snow Leopard And as a bonus, we compare Windows 7 to Snow Leopard. The Snow Leopard vs. Windows 7 feature comparison is pretty much final, but it's not a review, because Snow Leopard isn't out yet. Once Snow Leopard is released, we'll revisit the subject, in case Apple decides to sneak in something crazy at the last minute.
Extras • How to install it on any netbook • Those rumors about Windows 7 blocking third-party codecs were false. We installed a popular codec pack and it works on Windows 7 just fine. • Here are some Windows 7 concepts that didn't make it to the final release. • You can turn off pretty much every major feature in Windows 7 • Changes between beta and RC • Here's now to get Windows 7's quick launch bar back, in case you like that over how Windows 7 does things. We actually do like it, and like it a lot
Google has entered into an agreement to acquire On2 and their video compression technology. With YouTube in it's back pocket, it seems likely that Google could push this technology all over the web—giving them even broader control. [BusinessWire]
We've already brought you some great deals on Xbox 360s this week, but today's Dealzmodo features the best one yet. Check out the Rock Band 2 sets, too. They're hitting awesome clearance prices before The Beatles: Rock Band releases.
So mind-bogglingly complex that it took over a year to develop—little rubber chunks called Mouseblisters give sweaty palms better mouse gripping capability. Apparently, this will help reduce RSI and tendonitis symptoms.
It also helps to modify the size of your mouse—something that can make things more comfortable if you have big hands. Oh, and if this product wasn't already ridiculous enough, I should warn you that it is officially in "beta mode." Beware! The awesome technology behind this product may contain a few bugs! Seriously, if there is a better example of the growing absurdity of beta culture I have not seen it. [Mouse Blister via Slashgear via Gear Diary]
Hey, it worked for the Wii, so why not the iPhone? CTA Digital is now selling a rubber steering wheel to stick your iPhone into to make driving games more "realistic."
I'm sure it does improve the control, but how do you touch the screen if you need to brake or hit a nitro booster? And what if you get a phone call while playing, do you hold the wheel to your head? But hey, if you're super into driving games on your iPhone maybe this is worth the scratch to you.
A crew member walks passed a horde of robotic dinosaurs, the stars of Walking with Dinosaurs, a show playing at the O2 Arena in London this month. And they look hungry. (Click image for pop-out) [CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images]
Other improvements include a more intuitive Omnibox (that's the smart address bar, for people who don't read the Chrome Dev blog every morning), and wider HTML5 support, including plugin-free video embeds. There are plenty of themes to try out, but Google's examples in the announcement—Chrome with a wood finish?—don't bode particularly well. Windows download available now. [Google]
The infamous DefCon hackers convention is going on in Las Vegas right now. And, just a word of advice. If you're going to visit, grab your cash before entering the conference.
This completely fake ATM, equipped to skim debit cards, was discovered in the Riviera Hotel Casino right outside the hotel's security office. Conveniently, it also happened to be right out of the line of sight of surveillance cameras.
Whether the kiosk was merely a DefCon prank or a serious and malicious attempt to steal bank account information is unknown. But not having been suckered myself, I'll admit that the ATM prop is at least a little funny. And if there were a little man inside just nabbing people's debit cards, it would have been even funnier. [Wired via CrunchGear]
Rumors that Radio Shack was going to rebrand themselves as "The Shack" appear to be true. In fact, the switchover is officially slated to begin tomorrow.
To celebrate the event, The Shack is holding a "Shack Summer Netogether" from August 6th-8th involving two 17-foot laptops placed in Times Square in NYC and Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. Equipped with webcams, the two gigantic screens will stream live video and audio to each other from 3000 miles apart.
Will dropping the archaic "Radio" from their title help to boost a sinking franchise? We shall see—although it doesn't seem like Radio Shack has a prayer of becoming hip. It's kind of like your grandfather getting an earring or something. Check out The Shack Facebook page for some promotional vids. [The Shack / Thanks Joe!]
In the lexicon of stupid ideas, you will find Paul Kweton's Ring-O-Star handlebar-mounted cup holder. You might get away with a capped bottle of water—but hot drinks and carbonated beverages are entirely out of the question.
As you might expect, the design is only a concept at the moment. I mean, nobody would actually be dumb enough to produce something like this right? Uh...right? [Designboom via Wired via Likecool]
It was only a matter of time before the unbridled fandom of Nintendo and Apple transubstantiated into the ultimate hack.
In this clip, we see an OpenGL ES demo in which the Wiimote has been paired (over Bluetooth, of course) with the iPhone. The iPhone is then able to track the Wiimote's orientation in real time.
At the moment, this demo is nothing more than that—a taste of the Wiimote working on the iPhone. It'll be interesting to see if/how the project evolves from here. But imagine the potential of a game that used both the iPhone and Wiimote's accelerometers. Or heck, imagine playing a scaled down Wii Sports on your iPhone.
Let's make this happen, modders and coders who are working for free, risking Nintendo's wrath and have about 1000x more coding talent than me. I insist. [Flickr via MAKE]
We love capacitive screens as they enable all that responsive multi-touch goodness we demand. But compared to resistive screens, they lack the accuracy needed for, say, stylus character entry on phones. RIM's solution: layer 'em up, and file a patent.
If RIM's application is granted, it would allow a next-generation BlackBerry (something high-end like a Storm 3) to truly offer the best of both worlds when it comes to user input. [USPTO via Unwired View]
The Eneloop portable solar pack doesn't look quite as cool as that Energizer charger we've been waiting for, but it will supply 5 volts for 2 hours.
To juice up, you connect your USB-charging device to the included Lithium Ion booster pack, which acts as a reservoir drawing power from the panels.
Sanyo claims a full charge to the booster in good sunlight will take 3 days with one panel (¥9,000; about $100) and half that on the two-panel version (¥14,000; about $150). Available only in Japan for the moment. [Sanyo Japan via Akihabara News and PC World]
An hour with the Zune HD inspired a moment of rapture for CNET reporter Donald Bell, who breathlessly told the world "I am tentatively reaffirming my faith in Microsoft." Reading his impressions, it's easy to see why.
We got a few minutes with the Zune HD all the way back at its announcement, and everything felt and looked like something to get excited about, but that was just a taste; now we know that the Zune's relative stagnancy over the last few years hasn't been for nothing. The hardware feels "expensive, solid, and sexy" and the 3.3-inch OLED screen looks "outstanding," while the software—particularly the music playback screen and music recommendation features—sounds miles ahead of the Zune's already decent interface. It's great to hear that our hopes were warranted, but there's a bombshell buried in here, a few paragraphs down.
Speaking of Wi-Fi, the Zune's new Web browser smokes. Not since first using the iPhone have I been this impressed with a mobile web browser. There's no branding on the browser, but I was told it was cooked up by Microsoft's Internet Explorer team (makes sense). [Ed. note: It does?] Page load was snappy, and pinching and reorienting pages work just like the iPhone and iPod Touch.
As anyone who has used Windows Mobile in the last—well, ever, including the much-improved-but-still-only-tolerable-Mobile IE 6, this is a comeback for the ages. I just hope Bell wasn't swept away in the moment; if these observations hold, the Zune HD could be a certifiable Very Big Deal. Or possibly, if Microsoft wakes up and drops a cellular antenna into this thing, a Very Very Very Big Deal. [CNET]
Earlier rumors suggested that the HTC Hero might be headed to Sprint in October. This appears to have been all but confirmed through this shot taken directly from the HTC support site.
This also confirms CEO Dan Hesse's claim that an Android phone would be on Sprint by the end of the year. The question of how this will affect availability of the unlocked 3G version is unclear, but there is a good chance that Sprint will get exclusive rights to the device for a little while at least. Sprint seems like an unlikely choice, but it's clear that exclusivity on high demand handsets is the name of the game these days. And it's not surprising that Sprint would be aggressive in securing a deal given their current situation. [Engadget Mobile via Talk Android]
Could the MemoryStick become relevant again? While Toshiba readies its 64GB SDXC cards, Sony is prepping its very likely backwards-compatible 2TB Memory Stick XC. The implications for devices like netbooks and SSDs could be huge.
Toshiba's SDXC and Sony's MSXC both have claimed maximum transfer speeds of up to 60 megabytes per second, but the latter's 2TB capacity—developed with the help of SanDisk—is just crazy. The biggest Memory Stick PRO is 32GB. And while the PRO series uses the FAT12/16/32 file system, we now know the XC range will use the more efficient exFAT. [Sony via Sony Insider via Engadget]
While Sprint takes its time unrolling its 4G data network, they'd like the public to know that some cool tech will be ready to exploit the system's speed. Two newly announced routers bridge 4G data to Wi-Fi.
The Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S and the Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router are both essentially Wi-Fi routers that accept both 3G and 4G USB wireless dongles. Plug the dongle into the router and you have a Wi-Fi network that runs without a hard line.
The Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S ($160) will support up to four simultaneous Wi-Fi connections while the Cradelpoint model ($250), aimed at business users, will handle up to 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections. Both models are available now(ish) at select Sprint stores and through their website.
Sprint adds 4G to Mobile Broadband Router Portfolio as it Prepares to Launch 4G in More Markets
Any Wi-Fi-enabled device becomes a 4G device with new Sprint 4G Mobile Broadband Routers
Users can create Wi-Fi hotspots by connecting multiple Wi-Fi devices, such as smartphones, laptops and cameras to Sprint 3G/4G networks
Overland Park, Kan. – August 5, 2009 –The search for the elusive Wi-Fi hotspot is a thing of the past for Sprint mobile broadband customers. Instead of hunting for a coffee shop or other fixed hotspot, Sprint's new Mobile Broadband Router products connect multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices at 3G or 4G mobile broadband speeds where Sprint 3G and 4G networks are available.
On the heels of launching the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 intelligent mobile hotspot – which allows customers to simultaneously bridge several Wi-Fi devices to America's most dependable 3G network1 – Sprint now adds two 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Routers to its mobile broadband arsenal: Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S and Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router for business, each featuring both 3G and 4G connectivity. These devices are available for use with any Sprint 3G or 4G data plan ranging from $39.99 to $79.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges).
Used in combination with Sprint mobile broadband devices, like the 3G/4G USB Modem U300, these Mobile Broadband Routers can simultaneously connect Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones, laptops, MP3 players, cameras, gaming devices and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. Used with a broadband device, The routers provide access to the turbo-charged Sprint 4G network as it continues to roll out and access to America's most dependable 3G network virtually everywhere else. Users can enjoy secure, high-speed connections from virtually any location, whether on a family outing at the beach or doing business at a remote job site.
Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S supports up to four simultaneous Wi-Fi connections and Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router for business supports up to 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections. Both routers will support all of Sprint 3G and Sprint 4G mobile broadband USB devices. "These mobile broadband routers provide an unprecedented bridge to high-speed network performance for multiple Wi-Fi devices or multiple users," said Todd Rowley, vice president, Sprint 4G. "The addition of these mobile hotspot products offers even faster connectivity speeds to Wi-Fi users without the need to find a Wi-Fi hotspot. These two new products can potentially connect the Sprint 3G and 4G networks to the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the U.S. today."
The ability of these Mobile Broadband Routers to be used with both 3G and 4G networks will offer added advantages for a growing number of Wi-Fi users across the country. The Sprint Now Network already features 3G speeds that are faster in more places than the AT&T network.2 As the turbo-charged Sprint 4G network continues to roll out in markets across the country, customers will be able to further optimize the performance of their Wi-Fi devices, using them to connect them with the industry's fastest available network speeds.
Sprint Personal Hot Spot PHS300S is priced at $159.99 and available in select Sprint retail stores within Sprint 4G markets, telesales, business sales and at www.sprint.com. Cradlepoint MBR1000 broadband router is priced at $249.99 and is available via business sales, telesales and online at www.sprint.com (all prices exclude taxes).
The first and only national carrier to offer 4G wireless services, Sprint currently offers 4G in Baltimore and will launch 4G in Portland, Atlanta and Las Vegas in August. Sprint 4G provides average downlink speeds of 3-6 Mbps and peak downlink speeds of over 10 Mbps, three to five times faster than today's 3G service from any carrier (based on average download speeds).
The following markets are included on the list to experience Sprint 4G in 2009: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle. Also available for customers nationwide is the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300, which provides the best of both worlds - the fast 3G speeds and lightning-fast 4G speeds wherever 4G is available.
For additional information on Sprint 4G mobile broadband products and plans, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
I feel like there's an adage in here somewhere. How about this: If you have to say "oh, but it's just water!" before doing something, then you probably have no business doing it.
On a related note, it's exciting to find out there's another company besidesKomatsu that makes trucks this big. Hey, Liebherr, do you have review units?
UPDATE: More on the excavator.—Thanks, GitEmSteveDave!
What you are looking at here is the biggest disappointment in the history of disappointing toys: An awesome three hamster ball rover, complete with suspension and ejectable central ball. How can that be disappointing?
When you can't put hamsters inside, that's when. The G-Force RDV—a vehicle from the new Disney film G-Force, about some rodent military squad—runs on batteries. There's no way to put actual hamsters inside to power the machine while you steer them with the remote control, while pissing off PETA loons at the same time. Once more, Disney breaks all our dreams.
Gruber recounts the entire three-month odyssey, which began with developer Phil Crosby submitting his app in May. Ninjawords' dictionary was rejected for objectionable content, with a screenshots of the words "fuck" and "shit" in the search results. The thing is, Ninjawords is designed so you have to explicitly search for them—typing "shi" won't bring up shit, even though other dictionaries in the store will do just that. A third submission, with the bad words like "screw" and "snatch" filtered, had them rejected again—"cunt" slipped past their filter—with Apple telling the developer it would have to be rated 17+ to get approved, no matter what.
Adding insult to injury, when the developer decided to give in, censoring their dictionary and taking the 17+ rating, Apple wouldn't let them simply change the metadata to have a rating, they had to resubmit the entire app code, sending them to the back of the queue for approval. Apple didn't just gut a dictionary, they stomped on the developers throughout the entire contradictory approval process that had let through other dictionaries which even more "objectionable."
Gruber sums it up best: "Apple requires you to be 17 years or older to purchase a censored dictionary that omits half the words Steve Jobs uses every day."
I think it can be said that the App Store is actually making us dumber now. [Daring Fireball]
When a construction worker was killed in the sudden collapse of a 13-story building in Shanghai, it was a tragedy. But now, just weeks later, it's another tourist-friendly adventure!
One tour company in Shanghai has added the fallen building to their site list, a well-timed move that garnered 100 reservations on the first day the new tour was advertised. As you can see in this Fuji TV news report (fast forward to around 1:30), the tour is not so cheap at $220 a head. And not every local is thrilled to see their city represented in failed building projects.
Also, as Japan Probe points out, Fuji TV's graphical representation of the apartment falling is fairly wonderful. Keep your eyes on the upper right corner of the screen for that great moment in animation. [Japan Probe]
Following the rumor that the pricey Xbox 360 Elite would take on a more populist tack as the standard console to fight the PS3 Slim—shoving aside the current Pro—is new Arcade packaging that totally dumps the Pro. [Kotaku]
I'm not entirely sure how I pictured Netflix's shipping centers, but it definitely wasn't like this: A Chicago Tribune reporter describes his visit to one, including the "few things about the building that suggested it was not a meth lab."
Its location is top secret and its building disguised; its employees are mostly female, and unusually old; its atmosphere is silent, and its decor depressing ("a hasty mismatch of promotional posters taped to its walls like college dorm decor — a poster for Atonement alongside a poster for the direct-to-video Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief.") Workers start at 3am, and do calisthenics throughout the day, presumably to help circulation, and to distract them from the fact that their customers are insane. That's why the center's address cannot be divulged, ever—people would apparently endlessly insist on dropping their DVDs off there, like it's a Blockbuster—and why the workers' near-mechanized jobs sound bearably interesting:
Customers stuff things into the envelopes. Scribbled movie reviews, complaints, pictures of dogs and kids.
When a headline says "Computer Technology Brings 300 Million-year-old Spider Fossils Back to Life," it's time to run to the hills, and start stockpiling canned food, gasoline cans, and weapons. Plenty of weapons.
Fortunately, we are not going to be fighting against giant zombie spiders any time soon, despite the Daily Mail. Scientists from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London have been able to reconstruct a Cryptomartus hindi and a Eophrynus prestivicii using computer tomography. And while they look bloody scary, they are only 3D computer models made out of 3,000 X-ray photographies.
Note to scientists: Please don't revive any blood-sucking, web-weaving fossilized creatures from the Cambric period. Or any other creature, for that matter. Thanks. [Imperial College via Daily Mail]
I'm sure that this $29 Mobile-USB-SD/MMC Hi-Fi Speaker won't produce perfect sound, but it gets points for looking 70s retro, being tiny, and playing music both from the computer, and almost every Flash memory-based media out there.
Add the remote control, and it looks like a nice solution for people in extremely small spaces, or perhaps for a bathroom.
Recharged/Powered by USB port Built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion battery 4.5cm stereo speaker with 3W +3 W high quality sounds output Support SDHC, SD, MMC and USB memory drive playback Volume control switch Play/Pause, Prev, Next control Remote control with EQ selection On/Off switch with LED power indicator Standard 3.5mm aux-in audio plug apply with music player and digital products, e.g. PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod, PDA ... etc. Compatible with any Windows and Macintosh platforms Dimension: 107 x 110 x 113mm (approx.) Weight: 376g
This is the Smart Measure Cup. It's a simple, great idea—a measuring cup that displays precise proportions on a backlit LCD complete with unit conversion. So great, in fact, that it's been rebranded and picked up for manufacture:
Taylor Kitchenware should have their version (above) on store shelves by fall. No, it's not quite as eye-catching as the original design (even the fonts rub me the wrong way), but if a less attractive red color scheme is the price of actually releasing a good idea to the public, then so be it. [Yanko Design]
The launch date remains the same: September launch, November release. Or so we hope. Like always, remember this is just our bet based on the evidence and rumors at hand.
Say hello to BLU-TOOTH, a handmade Bluetooth earpiece holder that's probably as pointless as he is cute. Nom nom nom.
As I write this, the one-of-a-kind critter with Velcro nose can still be picked up for $7. If you miss out, his pink SWEE-TOOTH friend may still be available for adoption. [Etsy via GeekSugar]
A new 
The Obama administration has dumped an 
Instead of creating the usual steel turnstile, the Watergate's designers used the primordial liquid as a psychological barrier. Their logic: People won't like to get their clothes wet. Obviously, they don't live in NY summer and they wear pants.
These 45 Nano Cases are made from gutted cassette tapes and fit 4th gen iPod nanos. They're pretty much perfect; I want an 
Previous versions of the 
The redesigned Aero Interface is super slick with lots of transparencies and smooth animations and it actually makes Windows easier to use
Device Stage makes you want to plug gadgets into your PC
Media Player still sucks to use, though "Play To" and internet streaming features are nifty
IE8, while better, still isn't as good as Firefox, Chrome or Safari
The mess that is Control Panel—after all that UI work, what the eff, guys?
Other improvements include a more intuitive Omnibox (that's the smart address bar, for people who don't read the 
The infamous DefCon hackers convention is going on in Las Vegas right now. And, just a word of advice. If you're going to visit, grab your cash before entering the conference.
What you are looking at here is the biggest disappointment in the history of disappointing toys: An awesome three hamster ball rover, complete with suspension and ejectable central ball. How can that be disappointing?
I'm not entirely sure how I pictured Netflix's shipping centers, but it definitely wasn't like this: A Chicago Tribune reporter 
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