Bouncing Around the Web
Posted by Gary Fairchild (04/14/2009 @ 4:00 pm)
In case you missed it, here’s what’s Bouncing Around the Web:
Nikon has released what seems to be a wonderful new DSLR. It combines a 12.3 megapixel still camera with a video camera that shoots 720p video at 24fps. The best part? It starts at $730. From a high level, it looks like the D5000 is a consumer’s D90 at a more affordable price point. Well done Nikon… well done.
Via Wired
Who doesn’t love a good rumor? Or better yet, a good Apple rumor? Or better still, a new iPhone rumor? Or best of all, a new iPhone rumor backed by actual data? Yes, the new iPhone’s features may have been leaked with the release of the iPhone OS 3.0. In the OS, developers have found several interesting things like: a video recorder, auto-focus, an iPhone locator, voice control and more. Yum!
Via Wired
Nintendo has announced the release date for their new Wii MotionPlus accessory. If you haven’t heard yet, MotionPlus is supposed to give a more true 1-to-1 experience on the Wii. Things like swinging a golf club or handling a sword will act more like the real thing than ever before. It’s a pretty cool concept and I expect the final product to be solid. So look to pick one up for $19.99 on June 8 or bundled with Wii Sports Resort for $49.99 a few weeks later.
Via IGN
Posted in: Apple, Cameras, Gaming, iPhone, Mobile, News, Websites
Tags: d5000, iphone 3.0, iPhone rumors, MotionPlus, Nikon d5000, Nikon DSLR, Nintendo Wii, Wii, Wii MotionPlus, Wii Remote, Wiimote
Sweet Gadgets That Fell Short
Posted by Gary Fairchild (03/11/2009 @ 4:00 pm)
Interesting article by popularmechanics.com this week. Here they explore “5 Design Flaws that Ruined Otherwise Smart Gadgets.”

In order for a touchscreen to be successful, the user needs to feel that he is in constant control, and for this, responsiveness is key—even small lags can prove immensely frustrating. One recent offender of this rule is the Blackberry Storm, RIM’s first touchscreen phone.
Some history: Before the Storm was released, there was a lot of buzz surrounding its supposedly ground-breaking touchscreen, which depresses like a button, giving users a satisfying “click”.
But when users and reviewers actually got their hands on their device, the real shock was how buggy the whole thing was. The touchscreen suffered from long delays—often a second or more—that made users yearn for their old button-based Blackberry. And completing simple tasks took an unnecessary number of steps. For example, inputting the letter “C” involves putting one’s finger on the letter, waiting for the phone to respond by highlighting the letter, and then pushing down. All that for a simple letter.
I can definitely agree with some of this. BlackBerry, for instance, had a good vision when designing the touch-and-click function in the Storm, but the execution was less than stellar. Have you tried this thing? Press and hold, press harder, wait for it… wait for it… and click. Are you kidding me? That’s the ultra-innovative touch-screen we’ve been waiting for? Please.
I can’t agree too much with the Wii Remote. After all, they did include a wrist strap with every Wiimote. If you choose not to use the wrist strap, that’s at your own risk.
I’ve already touched on the Kindle vs. the Kindle 2 here, so I won’t go there right now.
Check out the article and let me know if you know of any sweet gadgets that have a clear miss in the design.
Posted in: Apple, Computers, Gaming, Mobile, News
Tags: Amazon Kindle, Blackberry, Blackberry Storm, Gadget flaws, Kindle, Macbook, Macbook Pro, Motorola Razr, Nintendo Wii, Razr, Razr 2, Storm, Wii, Wii Remote, Wiimote