Into Tech

Sony took the sting of waiting 24-36 hours outside Virgin Megastore in London for the launch of the PS3 by giving the first 100 PS3 acolytes a free 46in HDTV each, worth £2,000. And a free taxi ride home.

Obviously, the TVs will be sent in the post since while getting mugged for your treasured PS3 was always a possibility, getting mugged for your PS3 and a 46in telly is a lot more likely. It was a big surprise for those queuing. Ray Maguire, Sony UK boss, took up a microphone before the doors opened and, standing in front of one of the Bravia TVs, said:

“This is a 46-inch Bravia W series. It’s an award-winning flat panel and do you know what the good news, is guys? I’m going to give you one free. Every single one of you in this queue is going to get one.”

I’d just be happy getting that requested review model, Sony.-Martin Lynch

news technology games PS3 gadgets sony HDTV

Radio microphones used in the entertainment industry could be under threat from plans to sell off airwaves.

Here’s a strange story from those paragons of sensible journalism over at Fox News. They claim that the FBI can now use the microphone on your cell phone to listen in on your conversations, even when the phone is turned off. Now, I’ve heard of special phones that are outfitted to work this way, but all phones? How is that possible? How can the FBI tap into every make of phone on every carrier when the thing is shut completely off and then have it send a signal out to their location without you ever knowing this? Not that I don’t have loads of faith in our government, but they don’t seem like they have their shit together enough to pull this one off.

I’m guessing that the fact checkers at Fox we’re too busy changing “holiday” to “Christmas” on all their scripts to figure out that the FBI replaces the phones of people they are tracking with specially outfitted models. And I’m hoping I’m right, as otherwise that’s some seriously creepy and privacy-invading business right there. Just to be safe I’m wrapping my phone in foam when I’m not using it, as there is no way I want the government knowing what I order at Subway.

Check the video report after the jump, and leave any extra info you have on this shady rumor in comments.

–Adam Frucci

FBI Using Cell Phones to Spy on You? [TechEBlog]

Here’s a strange story from those paragons of sensible journalism over at Fox News. They claim that the FBI can now use the microphone on your cell phone to listen in on your conversations, even when the phone is turned off. Now, I’ve heard of special phones that are outfitted to work this way, but all phones? How is that possible? How can the FBI tap into every make of phone on every carrier when the thing is shut completely off and then have it send a signal out to their location without you ever knowing this? Not that I don’t have loads of faith in our government, but they don’t seem like they have their shit together enough to pull this one off.

I’m guessing that the fact checkers at Fox we’re too busy changing “holiday” to “Christmas” on all their scripts to figure out that the FBI replaces the phones of people they are tracking with specially outfitted models. And I’m hoping I’m right, as otherwise that’s some seriously creepy and privacy-invading business right there. Just to be safe I’m wrapping my phone in foam when I’m not using it, as there is no way I want the government knowing what I order at Subway.

Check the video report after the jump, and leave any extra info you have on this shady rumor in comments.

–Adam Frucci

FBI Using Cell Phones to Spy on You? [TechEBlog]

Here’s a strange story from those paragons of sensible journalism over at Fox News. They claim that the FBI can now use the microphone on your cell phone to listen in on your conversations, even when the phone is turned off. Now, I’ve heard of special phones that are outfitted to work this way, but all phones? How is that possible? How can the FBI tap into every make of phone on every carrier when the thing is shut completely off and then have it send a signal out to their location without you ever knowing this? Not that I don’t have loads of faith in our government, but they don’t seem like they have their shit together enough to pull this one off.

I’m guessing that the fact checkers at Fox we’re too busy changing “holiday” to “Christmas” on all their scripts to figure out that the FBI replaces the phones of people they are tracking with specially outfitted models. And I’m hoping I’m right, as otherwise that’s some seriously creepy and privacy-invading business right there. Just to be safe I’m wrapping my phone in foam when I’m not using it, as there is no way I want the government knowing what I order at Subway.

Check the video report after the jump, and leave any extra info you have on this shady rumor in comments.

–Adam Frucci

FBI Using Cell Phones to Spy on You? [TechEBlog]

Here’s a strange story from those paragons of sensible journalism over at Fox News. They claim that the FBI can now use the microphone on your cell phone to listen in on your conversations, even when the phone is turned off. Now, I’ve heard of special phones that are outfitted to work this way, but all phones? How is that possible? How can the FBI tap into every make of phone on every carrier when the thing is shut completely off and then have it send a signal out to their location without you ever knowing this? Not that I don’t have loads of faith in our government, but they don’t seem like they have their shit together enough to pull this one off.

I’m guessing that the fact checkers at Fox we’re too busy changing “holiday” to “Christmas” on all their scripts to figure out that the FBI replaces the phones of people they are tracking with specially outfitted models. And I’m hoping I’m right, as otherwise that’s some seriously creepy and privacy-invading business right there. Just to be safe I’m wrapping my phone in foam when I’m not using it, as there is no way I want the government knowing what I order at Subway.

Check the video report after the jump, and leave any extra info you have on this shady rumor in comments.

–Adam Frucci

FBI Using Cell Phones to Spy on You? [TechEBlog]

Here’s a strange story from those paragons of sensible journalism over at Fox News. They claim that the FBI can now use the microphone on your cell phone to listen in on your conversations, even when the phone is turned off. Now, I’ve heard of special phones that are outfitted to work this way, but all phones? How is that possible? How can the FBI tap into every make of phone on every carrier when the thing is shut completely off and then have it send a signal out to their location without you ever knowing this? Not that I don’t have loads of faith in our government, but they don’t seem like they have their shit together enough to pull this one off.

I’m guessing that the fact checkers at Fox we’re too busy changing “holiday” to “Christmas” on all their scripts to figure out that the FBI replaces the phones of people they are tracking with specially outfitted models. And I’m hoping I’m right, as otherwise that’s some seriously creepy and privacy-invading business right there. Just to be safe I’m wrapping my phone in foam when I’m not using it, as there is no way I want the government knowing what I order at Subway.

Check the video report after the jump, and leave any extra info you have on this shady rumor in comments.

–Adam Frucci

FBI Using Cell Phones to Spy on You? [TechEBlog]

At least once a day I find the vast empty space between my ears haunted by some half-remembered tune. Not the whole thing mind, just enough to really piss me off. Can I remember the name of the tune or band? Can I f***.

For those of you afflicted with those frustrating moments where something is on the tip of your tongue for three days, you might want to check out Nayio’s ‘humming’ search engine. Is this a first? Who cares?

Make sure your microphone is attached, hum the tune and the engine will throw back the most likely candidates. There has to be some margin for error here so let me know how you get on and what the engine throws back for your queries. Hilarity could ensue. – Martin Lynch

[Electronics House]

news technology gadgets music online internet

If you want to record music that will sound amazing in headphones, retaining and delivering the space that the music was recorded in, this is how you do it. The KU 100 Dummy Head by Georg Neumann is a binaural recording device that has a mic in each ear, and the sound it records is strikingly true to how it would sound if the listener was in the position of the head.

And yes, this is where the name of that Pearl Jam album came from, as they used one of these bad boys in the studio. Is there anything better than well recorded, spatially-rich music on a good set of headphones? –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via NotCot.org]

If you want to record music that will sound amazing in headphones, retaining and delivering the space that the music was recorded in, this is how you do it. The KU 100 Dummy Head by Georg Neumann is a binaural recording device that has a mic in each ear, and the sound it records is strikingly true to how it would sound if the listener was in the position of the head.

And yes, this is where the name of that Pearl Jam album came from, as they used one of these bad boys in the studio. Is there anything better than well recorded, spatially-rich music on a good set of headphones? –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via NotCot.org]