Shawn Farner

Author Archive for Shawn Farner

Apple gives the thumbs up to four third-party iPhone browsers

Shawn Farner, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [2]

Apple has given the go-ahead, and now four third-party browsers will appear in its iPhone App Store. It remains to be seen whether this move signals a shift in Apple's App Store philosophy or not, but it is quite out of the ordinary. Read The Full Story

New technology from Toshiba can better detect human forms in images

Shawn Farner, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [0]

Toshiba has developed a new breed of image-analyzing software that can more easily detect humans in images. Sure, this kind of technology exists elsewhere, but Toshiba has put it on steroids - it can now detect humans at double the speed. The technology can scan for the human form not only in still images but also in live video of up to 30 FPS. The technology would certainly be useful for security cameras and it will be interesting to see where else this kind of detection technology could be useful. Toshiba plans to conduct a demonstration in Tokyo next week at the Pacific-Rim Symposium on Image and Video Technology. As it stands now, this technology is at least two or three years out from becoming commercial.

Dell Download Store comes online

Shawn Farner, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [1]

Look out, software CDs! Dell seems to think we don't need you anymore. The Dell Download Store is now open for business and seems to be the equivalent of the iTunes Music Store or Amazon, except for software downloads. Read The Full Story

Possible Nintendo DSi price and release date?

Shawn Farner, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [0]

If you believe the little rumor birdies (or the guys over at IGN), it seems that Nintendo's DSi will be dropping much sooner than anyone had anticipated. On top of that, there's also a rumored price for the DSi. Read The Full Story

Sony noncommittal to 3D gaming on PS3

Shawn Farner, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [0]

It seems that 3D gaming could possibly be on its way to the Playstation 3 - that is, if Sony feels like it, along with countless other "if's". The company showed off a demo of 3D gaming for the PS3 but remained adamant that the demo was not a "proper" demonstration. Read The Full Story

Rhapsody Ibiza MP3 players coming from Haier America

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [1]

It looks as though two new Rhapsody-powered MP3 players are getting ready to rumble, and they won't be satisfied until they win the world title for "most uncreative model names". Haier America has announced the Ibiza Mini and the Ibiza Touch. Mini and Touch - now why do those sound familiar? Read The Full Story

Track down a McRib sandwich in your area

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [5]

Throughout history, there have been inventions that have changed our lives for the better. We look back at these innovations, these great accomplishments as examples of man's ingenuity. The latest breakthrough serves the human race by answering one very simple question - where can I find a McRib? Read The Full Story

Microsoft Songsmith can turn your life into the musical from hell

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [3]

The premise of Microsoft's newly-released music making application is simple - you just sing into your PC's microphone and Songsmith analyzes your song's notes to create a background track. If you'd like to see all the ways you can use this power for evil, watch the video after the jump. Read The Full Story

Sony’s Flex OLED Walkman concept shows up on video

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [0]

The concept videos for Sony's flexible OLED Walkman were apparently playing somewhere in the booth, and luckily for us, the folks over at Sony Insider caught some footage of it and uploaded it for the world to see. Interested in seeing what could very well be the future of portable music players? Watch the video after the jump. Read The Full Story

Real Apple fans have iPhone wedding cakes

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [1]

If I told you that we found this picture courtesy of Gizmodo, you'd probably look at it and call me a liar right to my face. I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with, however, is this beautiful iPhone cake and its wasted potential. Look at those apps - the thing isn't even jailbroken! I suppose it's fitting though; a locked down phone for a newly-locked-down man. The cake took 18 hours to make and was a gift to Bobby Casey from his new bride. Sure, it says Cingular on it, but that doesn't take away from its awesomeness one bit. It's almost too beautiful to eat, but unfortunately, the cake was eaten. At least they took pictures. Bottom line: whoever made this thing has serious talent. In fact, I wonder if she'd make us a Palm Pre cake for launch... If you're out there, get in touch!

Over 50 million served in North America for Playstation 2

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [2]

Even after the release of Sony's Blu-Ray-packing Playstation 3, the older Playstation 2 is still selling - in fact, it just hit a major milestone. The PS2 officially hit the 50 million mark recently, eight years after it was unleashed on our living rooms. Read The Full Story

BlackBerry-addict Obama has a few smartphone options

Shawn Farner, Jan 13th 2009 Discuss [0]

President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States in exactly one week - January 20. Sure, that's good news for the former Illinois Senator, but his promotion doesn't come without a little bit of sacrifice - namely, he'll have to give up his precious BlackBerry. Fortunately, the President does have a few NSA-approved smartphones he can use. Read The Full Story