Casinos on lookout for iPhone card-counting app
We've all seen the movies where the hot-shot gambler slips up and finds himself hustled off to a back room where a genial but brutal casino manager calmly breaks a few fingers while issuing a stern warning never to come back. Films like The Cooler, 21, Rounders, Casino and many others have made this kind of scene, even if it's not always about card counting, a staple of our imagination.Yet card counting--a complex practice that gives practitioners a way to determine the optimal times to bet in blackjack--prevails to this day. And it's not even illegal, though being caught at it is sure to lead to a hasty expulsion from a casino, at best, or even the kind of back-room visit discussed above. What is definitely illegal, however, is the employment of any kind of electronic device that aids players in counting cards.And that's where "A Blackjack Card Counter," and perhaps a few other iPhone apps come into play.Earlier this month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, itself tipped off by the California Bureau of Gambling Control, issued an alert to "all non-restricted licensees and interested parties"--the state's casinos--warning of the emergence of iPhone card counting apps. "This blackjack card-counting program can be utilized on either the Apple iPhone or the Apple iPod Touch...Once this program is installed on the phone through the iTunes Web site it can make counting cards easy," Nevada Gaming Control Board member Randall Sayre wrote in the alert. "This program can be used in the 'stealth mode.' When the program is used in the 'stealth mode' the screen of the phone will remain shut off, and as long as the user knows where the keys are located, the program can be run effortlessly without detection."And, as Sayre pointed out, "use of this type of program or possession of a device with this type of program on it--with the intent to use it--in a licensed gaming establishment, is a violation" of the law.For its part, the makers of "A Blackjack Card Counter," an Australian outfit called Webtopia, couldn't be happier about the attention being paid to its app as a result of its potentially illegal nature."Since the Nevada Gaming Control Board warned casinos about 'A Blackjack Card Counter' there's been an unprecedented demand for this app," Webtopia wrote in the tool's official App Store description. "Now you can see what all the fuss (is) about at a very reasonable price."According to Webtopia, the app "allows any blackjack player, professional or amateur, to keep track of their blackjack card count." Among the features it offers are a "count vibrate," which vibrates the iPhone or iPod touch "when the true count reaches the value you specify...This is particularly useful when using stealth mode."Webtopia also cautions users of the app that, "This card counter is great for learning to count cards or for playing blackjack with your friends. While counting cards is deemed legal, electronic card counting devices are illegal in many casinos. Therefore I would not recommend using this app in a casino as you could get into a lot of trouble."And in an interview, Webtopia's Travis Yates, a 35-year-old developer in Cairns, Australia, said that the stealth features of the app--which allow players to surreptitiously hit buttons updating the count on the iPhone while its screen appears black--came as a result of feedback on earlier versions of the app."It's the features people were asking for," Yates said. "The was very simple at the start. It's my understanding that the app isn't illegal, so I thought, 'Why not?'"Yates also said that since the Nevada Gaming Control Board put out its alert, sales of the app have risen to around 500 a day, after lingering at 10 or so a day previously.Apple did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.In a story in the Las Vegas Review Journal, Howard Stutz wrote that the Gaming Control Board leaves it up to individual casinos to decide their own policies regarding the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices. But he added in the story that, "After iPhones came on the market in 2007, Harrah's Entertainment halted their use at the World Series of Poker." 'Card Counting Practice,' from Bacon Bear Productions, is another card-counting app for the iPhone. It offers a disclaimer that, 'This app is for entertainment purposes only. Counting in casinos may be hazardous to your health.'Bacon Bear ProductionsIn an interview, Stutz said, "It's actually unusual that a (Nevada Gaming Control Board) memo went out. It's kind of interesting that they were forthcoming about this."To Sayre, of the Gaming Control Board, it would indeed be abnormal to issue a public statement about new cheating technology."But this technology is available and can be utilized for appropriate as well as criminal conduct," Sayre said in an interview, "and because (mobile) phones are of such prevalent use in all walks of society, because this phone can be used in this capacity, I thought that it was appropriate to notify the entire industry that this capability was available."Sayre added that the application can be used legitimately--outside any Nevada casino--to help people learn advanced blackjack techniques.While "A Blackjack Card Counter" might be the only iPhone app specifically called out by the Gaming Control Board, it is by no means the only app that purports to at least teach card counting techniques. Others currently available on the App Store include Card Counter and Card Counting Practice, the latter of which warns, "This app is for entertainment purposes only. Counting in casinos may be hazardous to your health."Of course, to some people, the dangers of being caught using apps like this to count cards might even be worse than having a Vegas tough guy break some fingers. They might decide to take away your iPhone.
Reader poll- What's the best free online backup solution-
Reader poll: What's the best free online backup solution?
A couple weeks ago I asked you to name the best free backup program for Windows.And, boy, what a response! Hundreds of people chimed in with dozens of great suggestions, ranging from Windows 7's built-in backup utility to folder-syncing backup hacks like SyncToy.Today, let's talk online backups. I'm a big believer in the diversified backup plan, one that combines local and cloud-based solutions. The reasons should be obvious: an external hard drive can be stolen, destroyed in a fire, or even wrecked by malware. That's less of a crisis if your data also lives online.Services like Carbonite and Mozy give you unlimited and 50GB of storage, respectively, for around $6 per month--not a bad deal given that they're highly automated, uploading and updating designated files and folders in the background.Still, nothing beats free, which is why I've tapped a variety of services to cover my backup needs.For starters, MozyHome Free offers 2GB of that sweet, sweet automated backup, which is great for small but critical documents: Word and Excel files, Quicken records, maybe even an Outlook PST file. Just set it and forget it.You can accomplish something similar with free accounts from Dropbox and SugarSync, both of which will automatically sync selected files and folders to their servers (and, conveniently, other PCs and devices). Dropbox gives you 2GB; SugarSync, 5GB.What about backing up big libraries of photos and music? Microsoft's Windows Live SkyDrive offers 25GB of storage at no charge. Alas, there's no easy way to sync files and folders to the service; you have to add them manually, which is OK for one-time uploads, but a hassle for adding new stuff.Same goes for Box, which recently offered Android users 50GB of free cloud storage (which is also accessible from your desktop). There's no sync option (not for free, anyway), so it's not ideal for all kinds of backups.Personally, I'm using Google Music to back up my music library. For zero dollars I get space for 20,000 songs, and Google's Music Manager utility automatically syncs from folders, iTunes, and/or Windows Media Player. Likewise, Google's Picasa photo editor for Windows can sync my photos to Picasa Web--but here the free space is limited to 1GB. For a paltry $5 per year, Google bumps it to 20GB.That's just a smattering of the free online-backup options currently available. Know of any other good ones? Hit the comments and share your suggestions for low- and no-cost backup.
A couple weeks ago I asked you to name the best free backup program for Windows.And, boy, what a response! Hundreds of people chimed in with dozens of great suggestions, ranging from Windows 7's built-in backup utility to folder-syncing backup hacks like SyncToy.Today, let's talk online backups. I'm a big believer in the diversified backup plan, one that combines local and cloud-based solutions. The reasons should be obvious: an external hard drive can be stolen, destroyed in a fire, or even wrecked by malware. That's less of a crisis if your data also lives online.Services like Carbonite and Mozy give you unlimited and 50GB of storage, respectively, for around $6 per month--not a bad deal given that they're highly automated, uploading and updating designated files and folders in the background.Still, nothing beats free, which is why I've tapped a variety of services to cover my backup needs.For starters, MozyHome Free offers 2GB of that sweet, sweet automated backup, which is great for small but critical documents: Word and Excel files, Quicken records, maybe even an Outlook PST file. Just set it and forget it.You can accomplish something similar with free accounts from Dropbox and SugarSync, both of which will automatically sync selected files and folders to their servers (and, conveniently, other PCs and devices). Dropbox gives you 2GB; SugarSync, 5GB.What about backing up big libraries of photos and music? Microsoft's Windows Live SkyDrive offers 25GB of storage at no charge. Alas, there's no easy way to sync files and folders to the service; you have to add them manually, which is OK for one-time uploads, but a hassle for adding new stuff.Same goes for Box, which recently offered Android users 50GB of free cloud storage (which is also accessible from your desktop). There's no sync option (not for free, anyway), so it's not ideal for all kinds of backups.Personally, I'm using Google Music to back up my music library. For zero dollars I get space for 20,000 songs, and Google's Music Manager utility automatically syncs from folders, iTunes, and/or Windows Media Player. Likewise, Google's Picasa photo editor for Windows can sync my photos to Picasa Web--but here the free space is limited to 1GB. For a paltry $5 per year, Google bumps it to 20GB.That's just a smattering of the free online-backup options currently available. Know of any other good ones? Hit the comments and share your suggestions for low- and no-cost backup.
Exclusive hands-on- Get the full version of Hulu on your iPhone (or iPad) with PlayOn
Exclusive hands-on: Get the full version of Hulu on your iPhone (or iPad) with PlayOn
The new iPhone app works much the same way, streaming the content from Hulu and other sources from a base PC on your network to your iPhone. Simply download and install the PlayOn software on a laptop or desktop (there's a two-week free trial), and have it run in the background. Once you install the PlayOn app on your iPhone, it will see the PC and connect, then let you choose from a variety of media sources. Navigation within the app is as clunky as it is on the Xbox 360 or PS3, and Hulu especially requires a lot of scrolling to find a specific program. A good workaround is to sign in to your Hulu account (there's a tab to enter your log-in info on the PlayOn server app on your PC), then add shows to your personal Hulu queue, which is easy to get to on the iPhone app. Even though this is an iPhone-only app, we managed to get it installed and working on an iPad as well. Image quality was fine on the smaller iPhone screen; blown up for the iPad it was clearly low-res, but still watchable. [Update: a PlayOn rep says the company is working on adding support for higher iPad-resolution streams in the very near future.]Watching "Justified" on Hulu via the PlayOn iPhone app.Hulu is the main attraction here, especially if paying $20 or so per year sounds preferable to the $10 per month Hulu Plus plans to charge. Many of the other channels built into the software, such as Netflix and Pandora, are already duplicated by native iPhone/iPad apps, but some are unique, including Comedy Central, CBS, and PBS (these are all essentially repackaged versions of what these broadcasters offer on their respective Web sites). Though the PlayOn iPhone app largely works as advertised, the prerelease version we tested did crash occasionally, and it required a very robust Wi-Fi connection. If one has a properly configured UPnP router, it's possible to stream the content to your iPhone remotely, without having to be on the same Wi-Fi network (but we haven't been able to get that set up properly yet). One major shortcoming is the lack of transport controls while watching a video. The onscreen controls are limited to volume, pausing, and rewinding to the start of the episode (as the PlayOn software on your PC is transcoding as it streams, so media player shuttle controls probably wouldn't work--and in fact, fast-forwarding and rewinding even on the Xbox 360 or PS3 with PlayOn is iffy). PlayOn for the iPhone hits the iTunes App Store on July 15, and is free to download, but keep in mind that it requires the sold-separately PlayOn media server software.
The new iPhone app works much the same way, streaming the content from Hulu and other sources from a base PC on your network to your iPhone. Simply download and install the PlayOn software on a laptop or desktop (there's a two-week free trial), and have it run in the background. Once you install the PlayOn app on your iPhone, it will see the PC and connect, then let you choose from a variety of media sources. Navigation within the app is as clunky as it is on the Xbox 360 or PS3, and Hulu especially requires a lot of scrolling to find a specific program. A good workaround is to sign in to your Hulu account (there's a tab to enter your log-in info on the PlayOn server app on your PC), then add shows to your personal Hulu queue, which is easy to get to on the iPhone app. Even though this is an iPhone-only app, we managed to get it installed and working on an iPad as well. Image quality was fine on the smaller iPhone screen; blown up for the iPad it was clearly low-res, but still watchable. [Update: a PlayOn rep says the company is working on adding support for higher iPad-resolution streams in the very near future.]Watching "Justified" on Hulu via the PlayOn iPhone app.Hulu is the main attraction here, especially if paying $20 or so per year sounds preferable to the $10 per month Hulu Plus plans to charge. Many of the other channels built into the software, such as Netflix and Pandora, are already duplicated by native iPhone/iPad apps, but some are unique, including Comedy Central, CBS, and PBS (these are all essentially repackaged versions of what these broadcasters offer on their respective Web sites). Though the PlayOn iPhone app largely works as advertised, the prerelease version we tested did crash occasionally, and it required a very robust Wi-Fi connection. If one has a properly configured UPnP router, it's possible to stream the content to your iPhone remotely, without having to be on the same Wi-Fi network (but we haven't been able to get that set up properly yet). One major shortcoming is the lack of transport controls while watching a video. The onscreen controls are limited to volume, pausing, and rewinding to the start of the episode (as the PlayOn software on your PC is transcoding as it streams, so media player shuttle controls probably wouldn't work--and in fact, fast-forwarding and rewinding even on the Xbox 360 or PS3 with PlayOn is iffy). PlayOn for the iPhone hits the iTunes App Store on July 15, and is free to download, but keep in mind that it requires the sold-separately PlayOn media server software.
The 404 679- Where we delivereth thy podcast episodeth (podcast)
The 404 679: Where we delivereth thy podcast episodeth (podcast)
Summer is officially over and no one is happier with the sun's absence more than The 404 Podcast. Fall also happens to be the ideal season for Renaissance faires, and this weekend I checked out Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park up by the Cloisters.DragCloseThis content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Unfortunately, I didn't see anyone in a centaur costume, but I did witness a "real" jousting tournament, not to mention a falconer and Black Wolf the Dragon Master himself, from the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog segment at the Clone Wars premiere. Tune in to the first half of today's episode to hear the rest and click the slideshow below for photographic evidence of my nerddom.Switching gears to the only tech story in the rundown, Toshiba introduces the Regza 12GL1, the first line of 3DTVs that don't require a set of cheesy glasses. The 20-inch flat-panel display provides "nine different perspectives of each single 2D frame," which are then "superimposed...to create a three-dimension impression of the image."Don't worry, we're totally confused by that quote as well, but we also think it's really funny that you have to sit 3 feet away to get the 3D effect. The Toshiba 20GL1 will be for sale in Japan later this year for $2,900, so now might be a good time to take out that second mortgage.Enjoy the show!Justin's Renaissance faire adventures (photos)...See full gallery1 - 4 / 5NextPrevEpisode 679PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Summer is officially over and no one is happier with the sun's absence more than The 404 Podcast. Fall also happens to be the ideal season for Renaissance faires, and this weekend I checked out Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park up by the Cloisters.DragCloseThis content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Unfortunately, I didn't see anyone in a centaur costume, but I did witness a "real" jousting tournament, not to mention a falconer and Black Wolf the Dragon Master himself, from the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog segment at the Clone Wars premiere. Tune in to the first half of today's episode to hear the rest and click the slideshow below for photographic evidence of my nerddom.Switching gears to the only tech story in the rundown, Toshiba introduces the Regza 12GL1, the first line of 3DTVs that don't require a set of cheesy glasses. The 20-inch flat-panel display provides "nine different perspectives of each single 2D frame," which are then "superimposed...to create a three-dimension impression of the image."Don't worry, we're totally confused by that quote as well, but we also think it's really funny that you have to sit 3 feet away to get the 3D effect. The Toshiba 20GL1 will be for sale in Japan later this year for $2,900, so now might be a good time to take out that second mortgage.Enjoy the show!Justin's Renaissance faire adventures (photos)...See full gallery1 - 4 / 5NextPrevEpisode 679PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
No up-front costs to sell music on Audiolife
No up-front costs to sell music on Audiolife
This is a big deal. As any self-financed musician knows, CD manufacturing is a big investment. Print runs for CDs with a jewel case and nice color insert generally start at 1,000 for close to $1,000, though you can get away with spending a few hundred bucks for a short run, if you're willing to pay quite a bit more per disc. This is all well and good, if you sell all of the CDs you print. If not, you're left with some expensive drink coasters. Instead of charging you up front, Audiolife takes $5.49 from the sale of each physical CD. That's slightly more than CD Baby, which charges a $35 one-time fee, plus $4 per CD sold. But, of course, CD Baby assumes that you've already paid to manufacture CDs. Audiofile will also let you design and sell T-shirts (they keep at least $4.82 per shirt, depending on the type of shirt) with no minimum purchase, and create and sell ringtones either from MIDI files or samples of the actual song (they'll pass along 50 cents per download, but the phone company sets prices). The online store isn't a static Web site, but rather a widget that you can place on your band's home page, or on social-networking sites like MySpace, which is still a necessity for musicians (though it's been surpassed in total users by Facebook). If you're only interested in digital distribution, Audiolife may not be the best deal. They take a cut of $3.00 of each album download and $0.30 of each single-song download sold through your online store, and don't distribute them to third-party stores like iTunes. In contrast, CD Baby lets you keep 91% of all revenues from downloads, minus its one-time up-front payment of $35 and any fees from third-party stores, and Tunecore takes no cut but forces you to pay an annual fee of $10 per song or $20 per album. Both of these services will redistribute your songs through major stores such as iTunes. I've read through the Audiolife FAQ, and I can't find any obvious gotchas--artists retain the rights to their music, deals are nonexclusive with other distribution sites, and their bulk price list looks pretty competitive with Disc Makers, if you want to buy a bunch of CDs to sell at shows, give away in press kits, or send to radio stations. With no up-front costs or exclusivity contracts, there's not much to lose--if you find out that Audiolife isn't serving you well, you're free to move on.
This is a big deal. As any self-financed musician knows, CD manufacturing is a big investment. Print runs for CDs with a jewel case and nice color insert generally start at 1,000 for close to $1,000, though you can get away with spending a few hundred bucks for a short run, if you're willing to pay quite a bit more per disc. This is all well and good, if you sell all of the CDs you print. If not, you're left with some expensive drink coasters. Instead of charging you up front, Audiolife takes $5.49 from the sale of each physical CD. That's slightly more than CD Baby, which charges a $35 one-time fee, plus $4 per CD sold. But, of course, CD Baby assumes that you've already paid to manufacture CDs. Audiofile will also let you design and sell T-shirts (they keep at least $4.82 per shirt, depending on the type of shirt) with no minimum purchase, and create and sell ringtones either from MIDI files or samples of the actual song (they'll pass along 50 cents per download, but the phone company sets prices). The online store isn't a static Web site, but rather a widget that you can place on your band's home page, or on social-networking sites like MySpace, which is still a necessity for musicians (though it's been surpassed in total users by Facebook). If you're only interested in digital distribution, Audiolife may not be the best deal. They take a cut of $3.00 of each album download and $0.30 of each single-song download sold through your online store, and don't distribute them to third-party stores like iTunes. In contrast, CD Baby lets you keep 91% of all revenues from downloads, minus its one-time up-front payment of $35 and any fees from third-party stores, and Tunecore takes no cut but forces you to pay an annual fee of $10 per song or $20 per album. Both of these services will redistribute your songs through major stores such as iTunes. I've read through the Audiolife FAQ, and I can't find any obvious gotchas--artists retain the rights to their music, deals are nonexclusive with other distribution sites, and their bulk price list looks pretty competitive with Disc Makers, if you want to buy a bunch of CDs to sell at shows, give away in press kits, or send to radio stations. With no up-front costs or exclusivity contracts, there's not much to lose--if you find out that Audiolife isn't serving you well, you're free to move on.
Easily save Web pages, documents in iTunes for use with iOS devices
Easily save Web pages, documents in iTunes for use with iOS devices
Step Two. We now have to tell PDF Services that it can save PDF formatted files to iTunes. Open a new Finder window and click on your Home Folder (your username). Click Library, then PDF Services. You may notice other aliases in this folder (Evernote, for example, takes advantage of this function). Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiSwitch to your first Finder window and drag the iTunes alias into the PDF Services folder in the second window. You can also rename the alias to something like "Save PDF to iTunes" (the file name is what shows up in the Print Dialogue Box).Step Three. Find a Web page that you'd like to save for reading later on your iOS 4-enabled device with iBooks installed. For the purposes of this hint, I used Matt Rosoff's article on iPhone Atlas Handicapping the mobile music services. From the application menu bar (in this case, Firefox) choose File > Print.Step Four. In the Print Dialogue Box that appears, look at the lower-left corner for the button that says "PDF". Click it to reveal the drop down menu for PDF Services. Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiChoose "Save PDF to iTunes" (or whatever you renamed your iTunes alias). If iTunes is not already open, it will launch and add the PDF to the Books section, ready to be synced the next time you plug in your iPhone or iPad.Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiStep Five. Sync your iPhone or iPad. Be sure you have checked to sync Books in your device preferences. You can now launch iBooks on your device and read Web pages or other documents saved as PDFs right from your iPhone or iPad.Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiBe sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.Submit a fix to MacFixIt! Email Us.
Step Two. We now have to tell PDF Services that it can save PDF formatted files to iTunes. Open a new Finder window and click on your Home Folder (your username). Click Library, then PDF Services. You may notice other aliases in this folder (Evernote, for example, takes advantage of this function). Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiSwitch to your first Finder window and drag the iTunes alias into the PDF Services folder in the second window. You can also rename the alias to something like "Save PDF to iTunes" (the file name is what shows up in the Print Dialogue Box).Step Three. Find a Web page that you'd like to save for reading later on your iOS 4-enabled device with iBooks installed. For the purposes of this hint, I used Matt Rosoff's article on iPhone Atlas Handicapping the mobile music services. From the application menu bar (in this case, Firefox) choose File > Print.Step Four. In the Print Dialogue Box that appears, look at the lower-left corner for the button that says "PDF". Click it to reveal the drop down menu for PDF Services. Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiChoose "Save PDF to iTunes" (or whatever you renamed your iTunes alias). If iTunes is not already open, it will launch and add the PDF to the Books section, ready to be synced the next time you plug in your iPhone or iPad.Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiStep Five. Sync your iPhone or iPad. Be sure you have checked to sync Books in your device preferences. You can now launch iBooks on your device and read Web pages or other documents saved as PDFs right from your iPhone or iPad.Screen Capture by Joe AimonettiBe sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.Submit a fix to MacFixIt! Email Us.
Ears-on with Audio Technica's ATH-W5000s
Ears-on with Audio Technica's ATH-W5000s
The W5000s offer wooden enclosures, a frequency response of 5Hz-45kHz, 102 dB/mW sensitivity, 40 ohms impedance, 53mm drivers and a neodymium magnet. In addition, 3-millimeter gold-tipped, oxygen-free cabling helps ensure excellent delivery of sound to the sensitive drivers. We're used to these specifications in high-end cans, but what always differs is comfort and sound quality.Although the W5000s are certainly comfortable, the D5000s are more so. We borrowed three audio fans' heads from the Crave office to decide between the two, and the D5000s were unanimously declared to be the most enjoyable to wear.Bear in mind we're operating on first impressions here--our full review after exhaustive listening and testing will be with you next week--but we're pleased so far with the performance from these cans. Immediately, the W5000s demonstrate their strengths with clarity, high-frequency emphasis and an enjoyable mid-range, making them undeniably capable of conveying blistering detail.Yet despite AT's patented "Double Air Damping System," we feel the low-end performance was less prominent. It's an extremely clear bass, full of beefiness in the mid- and upper-bass, but that low-end rumble doesn't deliver the skull-shaking, club-mimicking explosiveness needed by bass nuts. This won't be an issue, we feel, to many listeners, but if you crave more boom for your buck, you may well prefer Denon's bass-heavy D5000s.Overall, the W5000s deliver a crystal-clear sound with a fairly warm voice, but noticeable emphasis in the treble. Expect the full lowdown next week when our review drops, but the 'phones are on sale now for around 415 pounds ($819). Until the review's ready, feel free to check out our round-up of high-end heaphones, our article about why lossless audio is important (we're looking at you, iTunes shoppers) and of course, our review of two high-end headphone favorites: Denon's AH-D5000s and Sennheiser's open-backed HD 650s.May peace and massaged ear drums be with you.(Source: Crave UK)
The W5000s offer wooden enclosures, a frequency response of 5Hz-45kHz, 102 dB/mW sensitivity, 40 ohms impedance, 53mm drivers and a neodymium magnet. In addition, 3-millimeter gold-tipped, oxygen-free cabling helps ensure excellent delivery of sound to the sensitive drivers. We're used to these specifications in high-end cans, but what always differs is comfort and sound quality.Although the W5000s are certainly comfortable, the D5000s are more so. We borrowed three audio fans' heads from the Crave office to decide between the two, and the D5000s were unanimously declared to be the most enjoyable to wear.Bear in mind we're operating on first impressions here--our full review after exhaustive listening and testing will be with you next week--but we're pleased so far with the performance from these cans. Immediately, the W5000s demonstrate their strengths with clarity, high-frequency emphasis and an enjoyable mid-range, making them undeniably capable of conveying blistering detail.Yet despite AT's patented "Double Air Damping System," we feel the low-end performance was less prominent. It's an extremely clear bass, full of beefiness in the mid- and upper-bass, but that low-end rumble doesn't deliver the skull-shaking, club-mimicking explosiveness needed by bass nuts. This won't be an issue, we feel, to many listeners, but if you crave more boom for your buck, you may well prefer Denon's bass-heavy D5000s.Overall, the W5000s deliver a crystal-clear sound with a fairly warm voice, but noticeable emphasis in the treble. Expect the full lowdown next week when our review drops, but the 'phones are on sale now for around 415 pounds ($819). Until the review's ready, feel free to check out our round-up of high-end heaphones, our article about why lossless audio is important (we're looking at you, iTunes shoppers) and of course, our review of two high-end headphone favorites: Denon's AH-D5000s and Sennheiser's open-backed HD 650s.May peace and massaged ear drums be with you.(Source: Crave UK)
Retina Display iMac to debut in October-
Retina Display iMac to debut in October?
An all new iMac will reportedly debut around October, with a high chance of sporting a Retina Display. At least, that's the latest scuttlebutt from DigiTimes.Citing the usual "upstream supply chain sources," DigiTimes claims that Apple's suppliers will start shipping components for the new iMac this month. Those sources also said that Apple is looking to expand its Retina Display across all product lines, which means the new iMac has a "high chance" of getting the high-resolution screen.Apple is reportedly pushing the Retina Display for all its products in a bid to outshine its rivals in screen resolution. Since Retina Displays are an expensive component, other PC vendors are unlikely to jump on the higher-resolution bandwagon at this time.Beyond launching a new iMac this year, Apple will also refresh both the iMac and Mac Pro next year with brand new models, according to the sources.Related storiesMac Pro, iMac updates: Wait till next year?The Once and Future Mac desktop: sorting fact from rumor post-WWDCApple desktops get (almost) no love at WWDCAs with many reports from DigiTimes, this one should be eyed with some skepticism.It seems doubtful that Apple would debut a new Retina Display iMac as late as October and then push out yet another refresh next year. October also seems an unlikely launch date as Apple will certainly be busy unveiling the new iPhone and kicking off iOS 6 around that time.Another report also throws DigiTimes' intel into question. The New York Times' David Pogue recently said that an Apple executive told him that new models of the iMac and Mac Pro are in the works but "probably" won't be released until 2013.
An all new iMac will reportedly debut around October, with a high chance of sporting a Retina Display. At least, that's the latest scuttlebutt from DigiTimes.Citing the usual "upstream supply chain sources," DigiTimes claims that Apple's suppliers will start shipping components for the new iMac this month. Those sources also said that Apple is looking to expand its Retina Display across all product lines, which means the new iMac has a "high chance" of getting the high-resolution screen.Apple is reportedly pushing the Retina Display for all its products in a bid to outshine its rivals in screen resolution. Since Retina Displays are an expensive component, other PC vendors are unlikely to jump on the higher-resolution bandwagon at this time.Beyond launching a new iMac this year, Apple will also refresh both the iMac and Mac Pro next year with brand new models, according to the sources.Related storiesMac Pro, iMac updates: Wait till next year?The Once and Future Mac desktop: sorting fact from rumor post-WWDCApple desktops get (almost) no love at WWDCAs with many reports from DigiTimes, this one should be eyed with some skepticism.It seems doubtful that Apple would debut a new Retina Display iMac as late as October and then push out yet another refresh next year. October also seems an unlikely launch date as Apple will certainly be busy unveiling the new iPhone and kicking off iOS 6 around that time.Another report also throws DigiTimes' intel into question. The New York Times' David Pogue recently said that an Apple executive told him that new models of the iMac and Mac Pro are in the works but "probably" won't be released until 2013.
Retail sites see 27 percent traffic jump on Christmas Day
Retail sites see 27 percent traffic jump on Christmas Day
Following suit with other major holiday shopping days, Christmas Day also saw a jump in online traffic this year. According to marketing firm Experian, the top 500 U.S. retail sites had 27 percent more online traffic on this year's Christmas Day compared with last year. A total of 115.5 million people in the U.S. visited sites like Target, BestBuy, Sears, and Apple's online store.Looking at the past seven-week period, online retail traffic went up 10 percent over 2011, and each major shopping holiday had traffic increases this year, according to Experian. Thanksgiving had a 6 percent increase, while Black Friday had a 7 percent jump, and Cyber Monday went up 11 percent. Of the sites that saw the most traffic on Christmas Day, Amazon won out, with nearly 25 million visitors. It was followed by Walmart with more than 7 million visitors and Target with more than 3.5 million visitors. Amazon has also been the most visited site throughout the entire holiday season.According to Experian, many of these shoppers were searching for tech gifts -- tablets topped the charts as the No. 1 most searched-for product. The marketer tracked traffic from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day and saw that visits to Apple's iTunes store increased by 193 percent, while the store on Apple's Web site saw a 155 percent increase. The top product search terms people queried were iPod Nano, iPad Mini, and iPad 4. For Amazon, the top product search terms were Amazon Kindle, Kindle Fire, and Kindle.
Following suit with other major holiday shopping days, Christmas Day also saw a jump in online traffic this year. According to marketing firm Experian, the top 500 U.S. retail sites had 27 percent more online traffic on this year's Christmas Day compared with last year. A total of 115.5 million people in the U.S. visited sites like Target, BestBuy, Sears, and Apple's online store.Looking at the past seven-week period, online retail traffic went up 10 percent over 2011, and each major shopping holiday had traffic increases this year, according to Experian. Thanksgiving had a 6 percent increase, while Black Friday had a 7 percent jump, and Cyber Monday went up 11 percent. Of the sites that saw the most traffic on Christmas Day, Amazon won out, with nearly 25 million visitors. It was followed by Walmart with more than 7 million visitors and Target with more than 3.5 million visitors. Amazon has also been the most visited site throughout the entire holiday season.According to Experian, many of these shoppers were searching for tech gifts -- tablets topped the charts as the No. 1 most searched-for product. The marketer tracked traffic from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day and saw that visits to Apple's iTunes store increased by 193 percent, while the store on Apple's Web site saw a 155 percent increase. The top product search terms people queried were iPod Nano, iPad Mini, and iPad 4. For Amazon, the top product search terms were Amazon Kindle, Kindle Fire, and Kindle.
Researcher- Mac notebook batteries can be hacked
Researcher: Mac notebook batteries can be hacked
The chip that helps control your Mac notebook's battery could be the latest target for attackers. A report in Forbes today details the findings of Accuvant security researcher Charlie Miller, who claims to have found rather lackluster security guarding the firmware that controls various notebook battery functions and data stores. Culling through a battery firmware update Apple released back in 2009, Miller pulled out two passwords that would grant access to that firmware, giving would-be attackers the ability to alter readings sent back to the OS and even add small software programs that stay off the hard drive. Miller noted that he outright permanently disabled seven notebook batteries during testing.A key part of the exploit, Miller told Forbes, was that the batteries use the same passwords, making it an easy hack once you have the right credentials. Potentially complicating that is the fact that Apple builds its batteries into its notebook computers versus making them removable. That change began in 2009 with the 17-inch MacBook Pro, and trickled down to the other models, resulting in considerable battery life gains at the expense of easy replacement. This means if a battery were to somehow be compromised, it's a trickier fix. At the same time, it means potential attackers need to gain control of that system before they can do anything, short of taking apart the machine.So far the hack is a proof of concept, and has not yet been documented in the wild. Miller told Forbes he plans to detail the exploit as well as show off a fix at next month's Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.An Apple representative declined to comment on Miller's findings.
The chip that helps control your Mac notebook's battery could be the latest target for attackers. A report in Forbes today details the findings of Accuvant security researcher Charlie Miller, who claims to have found rather lackluster security guarding the firmware that controls various notebook battery functions and data stores. Culling through a battery firmware update Apple released back in 2009, Miller pulled out two passwords that would grant access to that firmware, giving would-be attackers the ability to alter readings sent back to the OS and even add small software programs that stay off the hard drive. Miller noted that he outright permanently disabled seven notebook batteries during testing.A key part of the exploit, Miller told Forbes, was that the batteries use the same passwords, making it an easy hack once you have the right credentials. Potentially complicating that is the fact that Apple builds its batteries into its notebook computers versus making them removable. That change began in 2009 with the 17-inch MacBook Pro, and trickled down to the other models, resulting in considerable battery life gains at the expense of easy replacement. This means if a battery were to somehow be compromised, it's a trickier fix. At the same time, it means potential attackers need to gain control of that system before they can do anything, short of taking apart the machine.So far the hack is a proof of concept, and has not yet been documented in the wild. Miller told Forbes he plans to detail the exploit as well as show off a fix at next month's Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.An Apple representative declined to comment on Miller's findings.
Reports- Apple won't get 'iTV' without a fight
Reports: Apple won't get 'iTV' without a fight
The Apple TV might soon be called the iTV. But U.K. television network iTV won't be happy about it.Speaking to Pocket-Lint in an interview, Mike Large, iTV acting group director of communications, said his company values the iTV brand and has "vigorously defended" it in the past. He stopped short of saying iTV would go to court with Apple, but indicated his company plans on being the only firm to use the iTV name."iTV has a very strong brand, and a highly valued IP," Large told Pocket-Lint. He went on to say that licensing the name, another option for the company if Apple decides to change the Apple TV's name to iTV, wouldn't be acceptable because it could "muddy the waters."Although Large didn't want to target Apple directly, the U.K.'s Mirror publication spoke with an anonymous source within iTV who was more direct, saying that the company would fight until the bitter end to make sure Apple can't use its name."You only have to look at recent problems with the iPhone 4 to see not everything Apple produces is gold dust," the source told Mirror. "We all take our iTV brand very seriously and we'll do everything in our power to protect it."Of course, Apple might decide to keep the Apple TV moniker. It could also decide to use iTV in the United States (iTV doesn't own the trademark in the States) and call it the Apple TV elsewhere. It could also, of course, call it something entirely different.An Apple spokeswoman said the company "does not comment on rumors or speculation."
The Apple TV might soon be called the iTV. But U.K. television network iTV won't be happy about it.Speaking to Pocket-Lint in an interview, Mike Large, iTV acting group director of communications, said his company values the iTV brand and has "vigorously defended" it in the past. He stopped short of saying iTV would go to court with Apple, but indicated his company plans on being the only firm to use the iTV name."iTV has a very strong brand, and a highly valued IP," Large told Pocket-Lint. He went on to say that licensing the name, another option for the company if Apple decides to change the Apple TV's name to iTV, wouldn't be acceptable because it could "muddy the waters."Although Large didn't want to target Apple directly, the U.K.'s Mirror publication spoke with an anonymous source within iTV who was more direct, saying that the company would fight until the bitter end to make sure Apple can't use its name."You only have to look at recent problems with the iPhone 4 to see not everything Apple produces is gold dust," the source told Mirror. "We all take our iTV brand very seriously and we'll do everything in our power to protect it."Of course, Apple might decide to keep the Apple TV moniker. It could also decide to use iTV in the United States (iTV doesn't own the trademark in the States) and call it the Apple TV elsewhere. It could also, of course, call it something entirely different.An Apple spokeswoman said the company "does not comment on rumors or speculation."
Report- Study finds iAds twice as effective as TV ads
Report: Study finds iAds twice as effective as TV ads
The first study results on the effectiveness of Apple's iAds are reportedly in and they appear favorable for Apple and its advertisers.The study, obtained by Advertising Age but not publicly released, was reportedly funded by Apple and one of iAds early advertisers, Campbell's, but conducted by research firm Nielsen. The results of the study are noteworthy, especially when comparing iAds to television ads, according to AdAge. (We asked Nielsen for our look at the results but Nielsen says it's proprietary information for Apple and Campbell's.)According to AdAge, Nielsen claims that people exposed to iAds in the study were twice as likely to remember the ad than people who watched a television ad. In addition, five times as many people reportedly remembered the Campbell's brand from the iAd.In what is surely an important factor for advertisers, the rate that iAd viewers reported intent to purchase the advertised products was four times that of television viewers.Nielsen didn't say how many people were involved in the survey, only that the TV and mobile surveys were conducted separately and it was a five-week analysis.It's also important to note that Campbell's iAds were "weighted to reflect the iPhone and iPod Touch universe in terms of age, gender, and income, while TV survey results were weighted for a general TV audience," reported AdAge.Apple launched iAds in April 2010 to provide a more interactive look and feel to mobile advertising.
The first study results on the effectiveness of Apple's iAds are reportedly in and they appear favorable for Apple and its advertisers.The study, obtained by Advertising Age but not publicly released, was reportedly funded by Apple and one of iAds early advertisers, Campbell's, but conducted by research firm Nielsen. The results of the study are noteworthy, especially when comparing iAds to television ads, according to AdAge. (We asked Nielsen for our look at the results but Nielsen says it's proprietary information for Apple and Campbell's.)According to AdAge, Nielsen claims that people exposed to iAds in the study were twice as likely to remember the ad than people who watched a television ad. In addition, five times as many people reportedly remembered the Campbell's brand from the iAd.In what is surely an important factor for advertisers, the rate that iAd viewers reported intent to purchase the advertised products was four times that of television viewers.Nielsen didn't say how many people were involved in the survey, only that the TV and mobile surveys were conducted separately and it was a five-week analysis.It's also important to note that Campbell's iAds were "weighted to reflect the iPhone and iPod Touch universe in terms of age, gender, and income, while TV survey results were weighted for a general TV audience," reported AdAge.Apple launched iAds in April 2010 to provide a more interactive look and feel to mobile advertising.
Bill Murray Answers the Internet's Questions About Garfield, Fans and the Other Funniest Stories of His Career
The Reddit AMA has become the Internet’s version of Inside the Actors Studio, and everyone fancies themselves a regular James Lipton. There have been some fantastic celebrity interviews on the website, but Bill Murray’s could easily be the best. The actor was promoting his role in the upcoming TheMonuments Men, about a ragtag platoon sent to rescue artworks from the Nazis during World War II, due in theaters on February 7. Perhaps the most amusing story Murray shares is about his involvement with the Garfield films. “I only read a few pages of it, and I kind of wanted to do a cartoon movie, because I had looked at the screenplay and it said ;Joel Cohen; on it. And I wasn;t thinking clearly, but it was spelled Cohen, not Coen,” he told a Redditor. Hilarious. The rest of the AMA is equally brilliant. Read some of our favorite highlights, then head to the thread for the full Murray experience. On the movie he had the most fun with: Well, I did a film with Jim Jarmusch called Broken Flowers, but I really enjoyed that movie. I enjoyed the script that he wrote. He asked me if I could do a movie, and I said “I gotta stay home, but if you make a movie that i could shoot within one hour of my house, I’ll do it.” So he found those locations. And I did the movie. And when it was done, I thought “this movie is so good, I thought I should stop.” I didn’t think I could do any better than Broken Flowers, it’s a film that is completely realized, and beautiful, and I thought I had done all I could do to it as an actor. And then 6-7 months later someone asked me to work again, so I worked again, but for a few months I thought I couldn’t do any better than that. On his oddest experience while living in Japan filming Lost in Translation: The oddest… well, I was eating at a sushi bar. I would go to sushi bars with a book I had called “Making out in Japanese.” it was a small paperback book, with questions like “can we get into the back seat?” “do your parents know about me?” “do you have a curfew?” And I would say to the sushi chef “Do you have a curfew? Do your parents know about us? And can we get into the back seat?” And I would always have a lot of fun with that, but that one particular day, he said “would you like some fresh eel?” and I said “yes I would.” so he came back with a fresh eel, a live eel, and then he walked back behind a screen and came back in 10 seconds with a no-longer-alive eel. It was the freshest thing I had ever eaten in my life. It was such a funny moment to see something that was alive that no longer was alive, that was my food, in 30 seconds. On one of his best memories about meeting a fan: The best experience with a fan? It happens sometimes where someone will say “I was going through a really hard time. I was going through a really hard time, and I was just morose or depressed.” And I met one person who said I couldn’t find anything to cheer me up and I was so sad. And I Just watched Caddyshack, and I watched it for about a week and it was the only thing that cheered me up. And it was the only thing that cheered me up and made me laugh and made me think that my life wasn’t hopeless. That I had a way to see what was best about life, that there was a whole lot of life that was wonderful. And I happen to know (from her own spirit) that that person has really triumphed as an artist and as a human being, and if it’s just a moment when you can reverse a movement, an emotion, a downward spiral, when you can quiet something or still something and just allow it to change and allow the real spirit rise up in someone, that feels great. I know I’m not saving the world, but something in what I’ve learned how to do or the stories that I’ve tried to tell, they’re some sort of representation of how life is or how life could be. And that gives some sort of optimism. And an optimistic attitude is a successful attitude. On filming Groundhog Day: Well, that part was fine, the filming of the scenes over and over because you know that;s what the story is. The scripts is one of the greatest conceptual scripts I;ve ever seen. It;s a script that was so unique, so original, and yet it got not acclaim. To me it was no question that it was the greatest script of the year. To this day people are talking about it, but they forget no one paid any attention to it at the time. The execution of the script, there were great people in it. It was a difficult movie to shoot because we shot in winter outdoors. If you ever get to go to Puxatawney, you should go, it is one of the few things that is BETTER than advertised. It;s really something to see. But doing the movie, shooting the scenes over and over, it;s like an acting challenge. It;s like doing a play and those same scenes over and over and again, so you can try to make it better or deeper or funnier than you made it previously.
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