Microsoft’s Live Mesh is designed to share data between all your computing devices using the net as a hub, and it’s just gone private beta. So about 10,000 of you have the opportunity to join up to this “cloud computing” beta, and see how easy it is to port data between your mobile phone, PDA, work computer, home PC — basically any device that supports Windows.
Maximum PC has reviewed AMD’s tri-core 2.4GHz Phenom X3 8750 CPU. It performs like you’d expect—in between quad and dual cores. Fine, but it’s US$195. You can pick up AMD’s top quad core, the X4 9850 for only US$235, or Intel’s Q6600 (which mercilessly beat down the X4 9850 in benchmarks) for US$224 now, or hell, US$200 in a few weeks. So just get a quad core. Maximum PC also hints that a Core 2 Duo might keep pace with the tri-cores, but they’re keeping that under wraps for now, bastards. [Maximum PC]
Don’t want to flog a dead horse, but if you’re one of the few people buying up HD DVDs on the cheap, EzyDVD is selling movies cheaper than you can buy them on DVD. It’s an exclusive offer for people who already bought bargain HD DVDs from them, but I don’t think it will matter. It’s also limited to 24 hours before it goes public, so get in early.
[EzyDVD]
Google’s StreetView will be launching in Australia some time this year. The cars have already been driving around, taking photos of the street – and anyone who happens to be in them.
While there are some people whinging about privacy concerns, others have been trying to show off. Like this kid in the US. Google’s Streetview cameras captured his attempt at Google fame as it turned from “kid riding a bike” to “kid lying on his back on the footpath“.
Needless to say, hilarity ensued. Our warning: If you see a car driving around with a bigass camera mounted on top, don’t try and show off – it will only end in tears (of laughter for the rest of us).
Hit the link for the whole raft of pictures chronicling the event.
I love high-fidelity audio. There’s nothing quite like being able to hear every note in your favourite piece of music. I’m also a big fan of red-hot molten lava. So these new Pioneer speakers will need to make their way into my car sooner rather than later.
Of course, they’re not actually made from molten lava, but from volcanic rock. In particular, the cones are made from basalt, which is ideal for speaker cones because “it’s rigid, heat resistant and delivers more detailed and accurate sound”.
Apple’s bought itself a chip company, P.A. Semi that could make chips for future iPods and iPhones. The company was founded by Dan Dobberpuhl, lead designer of Alpha chips, who last year announced a 64-bit dual core processor that is said to be about 300% more efficient than the nearest competition, using only 5 to 13 watts at 2GHz.
Rugged and waterproof cameras are great, but they’ve got a lot of improving to do in general design before they’ll be good in the outdoor. I mean, someone just keep me from losing these things.
AU:Not sure what the problem is – I took three waterproof cameras with me to Fiji and never had any dramas. I found that I was more careful because of the fact that you use them in different situations, like swimming. Maybe it’s a US thing…
newVideoPlayer("slomonature_giz.flv", 475, 356,""); Tomato violence only marks the beginning of my love affair with the Casio’s Exilim EX-F1, aka the Hiro Nakamura supercam. It’s crazy addictive. Last weekend I went looking for fast-moving objects to capture in slow-mo, and in my backyard I came up with a freakin’ menagerie of unexpectedly interesting little beasties.
newVideoPlayer("ironmanhd_gizmodo.flv", 520, 248,"");
Although no scientific research has actually been done, recent statistics that I just made up state that 98% of Gizmodo readers are excited about the upcoming Iron Man movie.
That’s why we’ve gone and spoken to our friends at Paramount Pictures to grab us 5 Iron Man prize packs to giveaway. What’s in the prize pack, you ask? Well, there’s a double pass to see the film when it opens in cinemas nationwide on May 1, plus there’s an Iron Man webcam, worth $60.
Now, we know you want to win. And competition’s going to be fierce, so I’m going to demand some creativity here. Simple creativity, but creativity nonetheless. To enter, you’ll need to compose an Iron Man Haiku. Five syllables, seven syllables, then five syllables about the man in a red and gold Iron suit. Doesn’t sound too hard, does it?
The entries will be judged by Robert Downey Junior’s favourite Gizmodo AU editor (I have that on good authority) next Wednesday, so get cracking. And if you want to see what an Iron Man webcam looks like:
Thanks to all the people that pointed out my typo. I hadn’t had my coffee when I wrote it. Fixed now though.
Even though this is UK and Ireland only, NDrive’s G800 GPS is notable because it’s the first GPS system we’ve heard of that uses real photography for navigation. How did the company get aerial views of everywhere in the UK? We have no idea. It also comes with videos, photos, e-books, music, games, FM transmitter, a 4.3-inch screen and Bluetooth. If you live in the rest of Europe, excluding the Southeast portion, you can purchase maps for your country. Something tells us the aerial photo views aren’t for the entire country, because that would be ridiculous and take up so much space on the drive, but we can’t find any specs on their website that indicate otherwise. [NDrive via Smart Devices Direct via Red Ferret]
