Gramophone as iPod dock

For those into all things retro, here's something that's missing only the accompanying iconic mutt--the antique gramophone. Well, Hammacher Schlemmer has decided to resurrect ye old record player, more notably the iPod Gramophone, which acts like an iPod dock. It's made entirely of slip-cast ceramic to replicate the curvature and passive amplification of a French horn, but it doesn't possess a single shred of technology. Instead, the gramophone projects music using the authentic horn acoustics by simply placing your iPod's earbuds on the dock's integrated cradles, with music channels through the coiled tube resonating out of the flared bell. This can amplify your music up to 55 decibels, which is the same level as laptops. Given that this isn't exactly a high-tech way to project sound, you'll certainly be assured of those authentic gramophone-like echos and thin sonics.

The iPod Gramophone is compatible to any iPod model. It can be purchased online through the Hammacher Schlemmer Web site at US$499.95 and shipped internationally.

Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer

Creative to introduce limited-edition Red Cliff Zen X-Fi

In conjunction with the premiere of the epic movie Red Cliff in Singapore, Creative, together with Scorpio East Pictures, MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Golden Village Pictures, today launched a limited-edition Red Cliff Zen X-Fi media player. This is the first time Creative is collaborating with a movie house to launch a Zen player in Singapore. According to the company, there will be about 800 units of the Red Cliff Zen X-Fi available at selected retail outlets.

Aside from the Red Cliff external packaging, the limited-edition model will also include photos of the movie cast as well as the official movie trailer. Available only in the 8GB and 16GB models, the Red Cliff Zen X-Fi will be sold in Singapore at selected retail outlets and Creative stores and its Web site. Pricing will be the same as the non-movie versions, though the limited-edition unit will bundle in a free Zen X-Fi armband.

Directed by acclaimed director John Woo, Red Cliff is set during the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. It stars renowned actors Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

The Zen X-Fi is Creative's first media player to sport the company's patented X-Fi audio technology as well as wireless LAN. Read our full coverage of the company's launch of its Zen X-Fi in Singapore.

With Lively, Google tries its own Second Life

Google plans to unveil an online 3D social arena called Lively, the Internet giant's take on Second Life. But Google wants it to be part of your first life.

Second Life requires users to download and install a separate "client" software package that taps into the online world. Lively also requires a download and installation--Windows only for now--but then people can use Internet Explorer or Firefox to enter the virtual world.

"It's integrated with the Internet. It's not an alternate destination," said Niniane Wang, Google's engineering manager for the project. "Our intention is to add to your existing life."

Integration with the ordinary Internet takes several forms. For one thing, you can pipe in content hosted elsewhere on the Internet, including photos or videos. For another, you can embed your Lively area into your blog or, using widgets Google has written, on MySpace and Facebook Web pages. And you can email your friends a normal Web address to get them to join.

With Lively, you can set up you own online spaces--rooms, grassy meadows, desert islands, or, in the demo version I tried, simulated Silicon Valley office parks. You can change the clothing or form of your avatar (that's your online incarnation, for those of you who missed the Second Life hype). And of course you can chat, do backflips, shake hands, and give high-fives.

The idea is to bring a better social dimension to online interaction, Wang said--something more sophisticated for expressing oneself than an emoticon on an instant messenger status line.
Read more »

Sony releases non-broken 2.41 update for PS3

While the reported cases were far and few in between, last week's PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.40 rendered a select few consoles completely useless. Sony had removed the upgrade just a day after the highly anticipated patch was released and claimed it was "looking into it".

Well it seems a week was all that was needed as the very bug-free, nonbroken firmware Version 2.41 is currently available for download. All of the features we told you about appear to remain intact in addition to a newer platinum trophy icon.

We should note that if you were one of the unlucky few to get a bum PS3 as a result of the upgrade, we recommend you get in touch with Sony customer support right away. The problem doesn't appear to be fatal, meaning your console can most likely be revived--unlike those nasty red-ring-of-death errors the Xbox 360 suffers from.

Via CNET Crave

Square Enix releases role-playing game for iPod

Yes, you read it right. The new game called Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes is for the iPod, not the iPhone. In this role-playing game, you are the protagonist Ziggy who goes on a quest to save his brother from the evil Mechanical Militia. Along the way, warriors created from the songs in your iPod can be summoned to fight your battles.

According to Square Enix's press release, the gameplay is controlled by the Click Wheel (what else is there anyway) and is said to be as easy as selecting music. I guess we'll have to try the game to find out. It's slated for a July 8 release at the iTunes Store at US$4.99 per download. It can be played on the iPod nano with video, iPod classic and 5th-gen iPod.

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