Allen Iverson gets his own Zune, too

Joy Division isn't the only one that's trying to get the timing just right for a special-edition Zune. Allen Iverson's people are apparently hoping to do the same with their own exclusive version of Microsoft's media player now that his Denver Nuggets have barely secured the last spot in the NBA playoffs.

An etching of the superstar will appear on the back of a limited-edition 8GB Zune packaged with a pair of Reebok shoes called the "Answer XI Zune," according to CrunchGear. Weird.

Only 60 of these special bundles will be sold at a yet-unknown price, but that may be plenty if the Nuggets don't make it past the first round. (What is it about Zunes and shoes, anyway?)

Via CNET Crave

Battle of the iPhone touch cases

The Xylo "Touch Thru" hard-shell iPhone case we wrote of earlier this week boasted that it was "the first of its kind," but we're always dubious of such claims in the hype-driven gadget universe. Sure enough, just a few days later Uncrate is featuring a similar product from Case-Mate called the "Naked Case" that goes for the same price.

Other than bearing a far more provocative name, this acrylic case appears to do the same things its rival promises--allowing touch-screen access through a clear protective cover. (Case-Mate credits its "electrostatic membrane" while the competing Xylo talks of "ultrasonic signals." Whatever.)

It's unclear which came first, but it really doesn't matter--this is already way too much time spent on the given topic. Suffice it to say that there's more than one way to protect and use your iPhone and iPod touch screen for US$35.

Via CNET Crave

Microsoft to release a Joy Division Zune

If you're a big Joy Division fan, I've got good news for you--unless of course you're also a huge iPod fan. Microsoft is set to release a limited edition Joy Division Zune on June 10, to coincide with an upcoming DVD about the band. The player will feature an etching of the cover art from band's 1979 debut, Unknown Pleasures. Perhaps Microsoft will even throw in a digital copy of the album, though there is nothing to substantiate this postulating. There are no images available of the new Zune just yet, but my subpar mock-up at right might give you some idea. Or look below for an image of New Balances of a similar nature that came out around this time last year.



Via CNET Crave

Learn the secrets of HDR photography

Want to learn the secrets to creating beautiful HDR photographs? xTrain, a provider of online video training courses has announced a new high dynamic range (HDR) Mastery online video course by Photoshop expert Ben Willmore. HDR is the process of taking a sequence of exposures, allowing you to lighten the underexposed areas and darken the overexposed areas of a digital image to better simulate what the human eye would actually see.

The online course shows learners step-by-step the best practices of creating HDR photos. Students learn how to best choose subjects for HDR, such as watching for movement and clouds, and when to find the ideal light for HDR. Ben Willmore's HDR Mastery course is divided into four classes: Shooting for HDR, merging exposures, processing HDR files, and enhancement. The cost is US$79 to enroll. Monthly and yearly subscriptions that provide unlimited access to xTrain courses are also available.

Note: Following along with the course requires PhotoMatix Pro software, which can be found at www.hdrsoft.com for US$99. PhotoMatix Pro is what is used in the course to create the HDR photos. Having Adobe Photoshop also is very helpful to follow along, but not essential.

Via Crave CNET

First watch crams in Windows Mobile 5

Despite the best efforts of many industrious Chinese startups, multifunctional wristwatches are still far from commonplace--whether they provide music, video, phone service, or all of the above. But no market (or device) is too small for the ubiquity of Windows operating systems.

Epoq, which has already had a video watch on the market for some time, has developed what is believed to be the first wristwatch running Windows Mobile 5. Its EGP-WP98B claims to have an OLED touchscreen, 1.28GB of memory, Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth, VoIP support, and--get this--handwriting recognition. And a faux alligator wristband, of course. But as Mobile Magazine says, it might be a tad difficult to get full use out of Windows on a 1.4-inch display.

Via Crave CNET | Picture credit: Mobile Magazine

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