http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/articles Latest articles, updated every five minutes http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/89 Ben Bailey may be best known as the Discovery Channel’s trivia-dispensing cabbie in Cash Cab, but most people don’t realize that he’s also a stand-up comedian and gadget hound. Ben told us about the tech behind Cash Cab, his adoration for the iPhone, and why he’s a persistent self Googler.Digital Trends (DT): How do they fit all of those cameras into the cash cab without anybody noticing before you hit the lights?They’re all lipstick cameras. They’re mounted in ideal spots, and there’s lights and things that sort of cover them. People do spot them, though. People get in and go “Look, there’s a camera right here!” And stare into it.... Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/88 Grant Hill may be best known as a NBA superstar, but when he's not honing his skills on the court, you might just catch him in a heated game of Madden Football with his teammates, playing Super Mario Brothers with his daughter, or browsing virtual art collections on the Web. Grant told us how tech has helped him stay in touch with his family on the road, relax in his downtime, and promote important causes like the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, where he recently became an honorary chairman.Digital Trends (DT): I understand you're a gamer, so I've got to ask: do you ever play any of the NBA video games in your spare time?I don't necessarily play any of the basketball... Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/87 We've already spent way too much time trolling through Apple's new App Store for ways to make our iPhone 3G even sweeter than it is out of the box. We have our favorites, like the iTunes Remote and AIM, and we still love fun items like Midomi, Shazam, and Crash Bandicoot. But we couldn't help feeling that a few are missing. Here's our wish list, developers… get crackin'! 1) A video recorder: Apple says it's possible on the iPhone 3G (we saw an app or two for Jailbroken older models). So how about something "le... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/86 If actor Eric Szmanda seems awfully comfortable in his role as a nerdy lab tech on CBS’s hit crime drama CSI, that might just be because of his real-life obsession with technology. Whether programming his own online radio station or jamming out with friends in a game of Guitar Hero, he’s never shied from his geeky side. You might even run across his naked avatar in Second Life. We recently sat down with Eric to find out more about Eric’s favorite gadgets from the show, his mishaps in gaming, and his online radio project, Erockster.Digital Trends (DT): Your character on CSI is a little bit of a geek. How close would you say that is to you in r... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/85 The new iPhone is finally (almost) here, and not a moment too soon, as the original models have all but disappeared. Although iPhone 2.0 makes good on promises like 3G data speeds, Assisted GPS, and stereo Bluetooth, it's still a work in progress. Here are five things we'd like to see in iPhone 3.0. 1) More Memory 8GB and 16GB? Still?! This may have helped keep the iPhone's price down, but we are definitely ready for a 32GB version. Adding a microSD slot would be a nice touch too, though that raises som... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/tl/21993/ Windows Media Player is a media player for all your digital media (audio, photos and video) for computers running Windows XP and Vista. It is available as a downloadable application for Windows XP directly from Microsoft or via Windows Update and ships with Windows Vista as its default player. It is also available on Pocket PC and Windows mobile based devices. In the following sections, I will show you the basic interface, library management, ripping/burning audio cds to the library and how to sync your media to a portable MP3 player. This article focuses on Windows Media Player 11. The Interface Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11) is the latest version on Microsoft's Media Player. It has undergone a complete overhaul from previous versions and sports a slicker user interface. It is pretty simple to navigate and access your media by just a few clicks of the mouse. You can use it to share media with other pcs, media streaming devices (XBox360, PS3, Netgear EVA8000, etc.), to rip and burn cd's to and from your library and sync your media to/from portable media players (both audio and video). There are 5 main buttons on the interface, they consist of the "Now... Fri, 16 May 2008 11:15:06 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/84 While the term “MP3” was once synonymous with piracy and “digital music distribution” an implicitly underground activity, a bevy of pioneering digital music companies and increased record company flexibility have begun to reign in the digital Wild West, presenting appealing legal alternatives to the old ways. One company called Slacker, canned the old downloading model in favor of a new form of Internet radio, which allows nitpicking users to tune playlists to their liking without the monotony of handpicking songs – all for free. Following the release of the Slacker Portable, we sat down... Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/83 Fast on the heels of the Consumer Electronics Show, it was time to take another flight to Las Vegas for the Photo Marketing Association trade event—where digital cameras take center stage, not zillions of flat panel televisions.Digitaltrends.com covered many of the announcements made prior to the event which ran from January 31 to the day before the Super Bowl—which everybody watched on those flat panel TVs! What follows are our picks for the best in show—along with a few thoughts about the wild world of digital imaging.First of all this was a fairly boring show. This is pretty amazing when you consider a raft of new... Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/82 So here’s the skinny - we get this email from the public re-lations department for the Blu-ray Association asking if we’d be willing to come down to LA and spend 2 days in intense meetings with BD reps. Now the most recent info says that BD is outselling HD DVD 2 to 1 and there's a ton of new titles coming out for the holidays - blockbusters that can meet or exceed the recent buzz of the Transformers HD DVD. So, since we’re curious by nature, we say yes and the next thing we know we’re inside a lounge that’s filled with Plasma screens running Blu-ray movies like Spider-Man 3, 300 and Chicken Little.This is followed almost immediately by our being bused (along with... Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/tl/19536/ No doubt you've seen those big, sophisticated-looking cameras that professional photographers and hard-core enthusiasts use. Perhaps you've heard the term "SLR" and know that it refers to those big cameras. But what exactly is an SLR camera, and how is it any different (besides being so bulky) from the little digital cameras many people carry around in their pockets? This article will introduce you to SLR cameras, specifically digital SLRs. We'll help you understand what these technical marvels can do and why you may—or may not—want to invest in one. What is an SLR Camera? SLR stands for "Single Lens Reflex," and it refers to a class of cameras. Other examples of camera classes would be "Point and Shoot" (P/S) cameras, "Prosumer" cameras, integrated cameras (like in cell phones), pinhole cameras, etc. While there are many variations among SLR cameras, they all have a couple of important things that make them part of the SLR class. First, unlike P/S cameras, SLR cameras have two distinct, detachable parts: a body, and a lens. The body, also called a "back" by photographers, contains the brains and the controls of the camera. If it’s a traditional SLR camera, film’s contained in the body ... Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:26:14 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/81 It’s coming up to the end of the year (yes, you will be doing your Christmas shopping in a few weeks) and you know what that means – it’s time to look ahead to some of the things we’ll be seeing in the market come January 2008.As always, technology is a moving target, so about this time next year I’ll be doing the same thing. I should also point out: If you are in the market for a new laptop, you may not want to read this, as most of what I’ll be talking about will either be too expensive this year or not available at all, no matter how badly you pray Santa will add it to your wish list. Secondary Displays We called this “Sides... Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/393209.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:42:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/80 With the CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) EXPO Show finished for another year, one can’t help but sit back and wonder what the event was all about. (Personally, I'm still wondering.) Unlike previous installments, many products were debuted prior to the show. And while there were certainly new products introduced this year, they were trotted out in much smaller numbers than in recent memory.  It’s a surprise, frankly, given that CEDIA attendance seemed just as strong to passing observers as it did in 2006. Even more so, when one realizes the just-debuted official press release reveals that the gathering actually played host to an impressive 29,000 attendees,... Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/tl/18787/ If you are like most people, you have had to purchase a new mobile phone in the last year from one of the large nationwide wireless telecommunications providers. This article is to focus on the Windows Mobile platform and to introduce you to the top 10 applications for the mobile professional on the market today. Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:45:49 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/talk/200 The title of this article sounds like I'm writing for an Irish publication of some type, and I suddenly feel the need to talk about the Wii people and a pot of gold.That pot of gold has been elusive to both Microsoft and Sony of late. Sony has been in search of sales for the PS3, and Microsoft has just instituted a massive repair policy change and taken over a $1B (hint: that is about what a small aircraft carrier costs) charge to earnings.Oh, and as a side note, looks like an iPhone Nano is coming for those of you who took my advice and waited; I think you will be really happy you did (ok, the real link is... Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/79 While shopping at one of my local Apple stores the other day, I overheard an earnest conversation about safeguarding Mac computers against things like viruses and trojans. The customer and companion were new to Mac life and were convinced that they should be very worried about viruses. The Apple salesperson on the floor repeatedly assured them that they would not need extra antivirus protection for their Mac. The customer then argued that Symantec makes an antivirus program for Macs, therefore, it must truly be a credible threat, otherwise there would be no such products. Some antivirus products are even sold in Apple stores.I've heard similar arguments before: if companies like Symantec... Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/talk/199 I read articles like this and this and it makes me crazy that I am not doing more with what I know about telecom and the internet. I have worked on the very opposite side of where you are right now, way past this web page and the ISP you subscribe to, through all the routers and networks, the data centers - all the way back to the engineers who develop and drive the web as you see it happening. Nearly every Tuesday for the past eight years, I’ve sat on calls with a former Lucent engineer-turned-start-up-CEO-turned-acqui... Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/tl/18646/ I only have to wait one more day (if I'm lucky) to get my hands on the new iPhone. I am not above waiting in lines for the latest gadget and if ever there was a line for me to get in, this would be it. While I will most certainly document, in a future article here, my own first impressions and feedback on the iPhone I wanted to take some time up front to share what makes this particular phone so interesting to me. You will find plenty of reviews out on the Net for sure, but I was inspired to write this because I haven't seen some of this talked about so far! Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:14:35 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/78 Intel’s unveiling of their latest-generation Centrino processor technology (formerly known as Santa Rosa) for use in notebook computers in the consumer and business arenas, has of course sparked a flurry of new laptop announcements as major computer brands race to be the first to market with features like faster Intel Core Duo 2 processors. Toshiba, Lenovo, HP, Sony, Gateway, Fujitsu, Acer and Dell, among others, have made it known that they plan on embracing Intel’s newest technology. Some manufacturers are releasing products immediately, while others roll out new gear a little later. Take a tour with us now of the ever-changing landscape of Laptop land as we... Thu, 10 May 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/77 I’m an Akimbo owner as well as a tech journalist. Being a tech journalist makes me a likely candidate for having devices like the RCA Akimbo Player set-top box in my personal tech stable at home and paying whatever fees I need to pay so I can enjoy the content it provides. Imagine my annoyance (and the annoyance of other Akimbo owners) when I got a email from Akimbo stating they were discontinuing the set-top box offering in favor of other delivery methods such as the PC. After some grumpy comments in the Akimbo forums, I decided to take m... Tue, 08 May 2007 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/76 A few days ago, I bought and reviewed one of Apple's brand new, ultra-popular Apple TV entertainment systems. I wrote an exhaustive nine page review (yes, 9 pages!) and found plenty of positive things to say about the Apple TV. I also made sure to point out the negatives so as to not give a biased or intentionally one-sided report.There were two major issues I had with the Apple TV when I first tested it. Primary was somewhat disappointing picture quality when using HDMI cables. This was probably the most baffling because HDMI is considered superior to component cables; compon... Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/75 Professional gaming is something many guys and gals wielding an Xbox 360 controller or PC mouse can only dream about when Monday rolls around and they head off to their day jobs. For Johnathan Wendel, who goes by the gaming handle “Fatal1ty,” gaming is actually a full-time career which has netted him a lot of cash ($150,000 alone in one competition, for example), corporate sponsorships and the unveiling of his own PC-based gaming gear. Wendel, who specializes in crushing his opponents via the first person shooter genre, got into professional gaming in 1999 and has rapidly become one of the best gamers in the world. Wendel recently took some time from his gaming practices to chat it up with Digital Trends regarding his winning... Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/74 The annual Photo Marketing Association convention is a gathering of photo retailers, imaging geeks and manufacturers touting their latest gear. Although most of the show floor is dedicated to things the average consumer couldn’t care less about, DigitalTrends dutifully walked the aisles to uncover items of interest. Here goes:Without question the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III was the camera hit of the show. This D-SLR is amazing—even when you consider its $4500 price (due April). This beefy camera shoots an astounding 10 frames per second—and these are 10-megapixel images. I handled this digital camera and when you’re in continuous mode, the shutter moves in a dazzling blur. Granted not too many “normal... Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/73 Sony recently hosted their annual line show in Las Vegas to showcase their new 2007 product lines. The company, struggling to keep top tier market share as it battles the likes of Apple and Microsoft in various vertical CE spaces, had some flair going as they unveiled new televisions, home A/V equipment, digital cameras, digital voice recorders, personal audio systems and more. This collection of new products is of course designed to capture your dollar and hopefully continue to brighten the somewhat diminished Sony consumer electronics star. The Energy Link: Sony Does Portable USB PowerOne of the more interesting offerings from Sony interestingly enough was one of their smallest announced... Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/72 Have you ever wondered about the companies behind those cool music compilations you pick up in places like Pottery Barn and Whole Foods or at band parties? The ones with the snappy names, cool packaging and great mix of tunes? Or how about that memorable tune you hear while on hold? One of the companies behind that great music is Portland, OR-based Rumblefish. They work with independent music artists and consumer brands like Pabst, Red Bull, Adidas and North Face to entertain listeners and also raise brand awareness among shoppers. We recently caught up with Rumblefish founder and musician Paul Anthony, aka Big Fish, to ask him some questions about the fishes which rumble around his office. ... Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0500