V-Moda's headphone amp is also an iPhone case

(Credit: V-Moda)

Is the music from your iPhone sounding a little lifeless? The Vamp could bring your audio back from the dead with a built-in headphone amplifier and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that bypasses the iPhone's audio circuitry.

Designed for Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S, the Vamp is also a very solid-looking case that's made from "aircraft-grade metal." Inside, there's a high-quality DAC and two 150mW amps (at 32 omhs) to drive headphones of various sizes. A rechargeable 2,200mAh battery powers the setup for up to 8 hours, which isn't very impressive for a high-end headphone amp.

It also serves as a backup battery for your iPhone, which will undoubtedly leave you with even fewer hours of music.

The 3.5mm headphone jack also doubles as an optical output.

(Credit: V-Moda )

Other cool features in the Vamp include an optical audio output, which will come in handy when hooking up a hi-fi system, as well as two audio modes. The Pure mode is meant to reproduce audio naturally, while the VQ mode widens the soundstage while adding bass and treble enhancements.

This all-in-one package may sound like a godsend for portable audiophiles, but its price may give you pause. At $650, this amp is more expensive than many high-end portable varieties by brands such as ALO Audio and HeadAmp.

However, you do get a very attractive package here that should appeal to those who liked V-Moda's True Blood V-80 headphones.

(Source: Crave Asia via Gizmag)

Sony paints PS3 controller gold

here's gold in them there controllers!

(Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)

Who can deny the charm of gold?

Sony Computer Entertainment today officially unveiled the metallic gold Dualshock 3 controllerfor the PS3, due for release on October 19.

Launching exclusively through GameStop, the controller carries a hefty $54.99 retail price. However, we doubt that sum would stop the aspiring Auric Goldfingers of the world from getting one. We say this because its insanely easy to find most of the other PS3 controller colors sold online (and often at stores) for $40 or less.

This addition complements the parade of controller hues already available, including black, urban camouflage, metallic blue, deep red, classic white, satin silver, candy pink, jungle green, and several others.

The Dualshock 3 controller design for Sony's PS3 gaming console looks nearly identical to the original that debuted alongside the PlayStation 1 back in 1997. Few products can withstand the technological test of time, but Sony figured it out, and earned big accolades in CNET's Top 5 video game controllers:

Install Windows 8 From a USB Drive, Dual-boot with XP, Vista and 7

Back when the Windows 8 Consumer Preview hit the Web, we offered a basic guide on configuring a virtual machine. With Windows 8's Release Preview available and the final version inching toward completion, we figure it's a great time to offer a similarly easy step-by-step walkthrough on installing Windows 8 with a USB drive.

If you're familiar with the process, there isn't much for you to see here, but this should serve as a quick confidence booster for anyone who hasn't installed an operating system recently.

Step One

Download Windows 8 and the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool

If you're not sure what version of Windows 8 to download, we'd recommend the 64-bit build, especially if your system is relatively modern. You can read more about the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems here and the download page linked above provides system requirements for each architecture. The short of it: Windows 8 64-bit requires an extra 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage -- negligible for most users. Also, before you ask, the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool will work fine with Windows 8.

Step Two

Create a bootable Windows 8 USB drive

Naturally, to create a bootable USB drive, you'll have to insert one and it needs to be 4GB or larger. Install the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool. Once the utility opens, you should be able to browse for and select the Windows 8 ISO you downloaded as well as the USB drive you inserted. It's worth noting that your USB drive will be wiped, so save anything important. The process takes about five minutes depending on the speed of your drive. You'll see a message that reads "backup completed" when it's done.

Step Three

Install the Windows 8 Release Preview (key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF)

Needless to say, back up anything important before proceeding. If you plan to upgrade or overwrite your installation of Windows XP, Vista or 7, open the root directory of your USB drive in Windows Explorer and launch Setup.exe to begin. You'll get to choose between the two. Windows 7 users should have a painless upgrade as programs, Windows settings as well as user accounts and files are imported. However, Windows 8 won't save programs from Vista and it won't save programs or Windows settings from XP.

If you want to dual boot Windows 8 with your existing operating system, you'll have to install a second storage device or create a new partition. The former is relatively self-explanatory, just attach the drive and choose it during the installation process. The latter, however, requires a little more effort. Vista and 7 users can create a new partition with Windows' Disk Management application (Start > search for Disk Management). Once the application loads, you should see your operating system's drive. Follow these steps:

• Right click the drive that you want to house Windows 8 and choose "Shrink Volume" (Windows 8 64-bit requires at least 20GB, so shrink your current partition accordingly)
• Right click the new "Unallocated" space and create a "New Simple Volume"
• Choose the next available drive letter and quick format the partition with NTFS (you can name the volume anything, but we'd suggest something like Windows 8 RP x64)

Windows XP users will have make partition adjustments with a third-party tool such as Partition Logic, but you'll do the same thing: shrink one volume to create another. It should be smooth sailing from here as Microsoft's installation process guides you through everything. Just boot off your Windows 8 USB drive, choose a custom installation and select your newly created partition. If you're having trouble launching the USB drive, you probably just have to put it ahead of your system drive in the BIOS (look for boot options).

If you want to get rid of Windows 8, load your primary OS and launch partition software (again, Disk Management for Vista or 7 users). Delete the Windows 8 volume and extend your remaining partition into the freshly unallocated space. Removing Windows 8 could screw up your bootloader and prevent your original OS from starting properly. Don't panic, this is a simple fix. Windows Vista and 7 users can use the automatic Startup Repair, while Windows XP users will have to get their hands a little dirtier.

YouTube Party App For Google+ Hangouts Launched

A new Google+ party application has been launched by Google this week, that has been created for YouTube and is accessed from your Google+ Hangouts. The new YouTube Google+ Hangouts app enables users to create, control, save and even share playlists of videos with your friends, all from within your Google+ Hangout.

To use the new YouTube app just start a hangout and then have everyone enable the new YouTube app at the top of the screen. Once this is done Hangout users can then start adding videos for all to see. Google explains:

“Everyone can add videos in the Hangout through a search tool in the app, or remove the videos you don’t like. All your friends in the Hangout can drag and drop videos to sort the order in the playlist, or skip forward or backward to play the next one. Click the “Push to talk” button to chat with the group to give props to the best curator, or to hand out reprimands to the friend who keeps adding the 10-hour Nyan Cat video. “

The new YouTube app is now available in 60 languages worldwide, for more information jump over to the YouTube blog post.

Source: YouTube

Skype Rolls Out New Release For Mac, Windows And Linux

Skype has today released a new version of its Skype communication software. But rather than releasing different versions of Skype for different operating systems, Skype has released the same version across all major operating systems simultaneously.

Skype is now available to download for Linux, Mac and Windows systems, and brings with it a number of tweaks and bug fixes together with a number of new features.

On Mac systems the new version of Skype is now fully prepared for Mountain Lion when it is released by Apple next month for $19.99. The Windows version has a new improved user interface, and Facebook integration. Together with pinnable contacts and backward-compatible video rendering for older machines. Linux has received a number of fixes, tweaks and enhancements and now supports improved video and audio quality. 

You ca download the latest version of the Skype application from the Skype website here:Mac, Windows, Linux

Source: Skype

Apple’s Siri vs Samsung’s S-Voice (Video)

Apple and Samsung both have their own voice activated virtual assistants for their smartphones, we have seen videos of Apple’s Siri in action and also video of Samsung’s S-Voice in action.

Now we have a video comparing the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S III side by side, and we get to have a look at Apple’s Siri next to Samsung’s S-Voice to see how the two services compare.

As you can see from the video, both Apple’s Siri and Samsung’s S-Voice look very similar, although Apple will be adding a range of new features to Siri with the launch of iOS 6.

Source Gotta Be Mobile

Motorola RAZR V XT889 Announced For China

Motorola has annunced the launch of a new Android smartphone for China, the Motorola RAZR V XT889, which has had a new design compared to the existing Motorola RAZR.

The Motorola RAZR V XT889 comes with a 4.3 inch touchscreen display, there are also no physical keys on the device’s display, and it comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Other specifications on the Motorola RAZR V XT889 include an 8 megapixel camera with an LED flash and there is also a loudspeaker on the back of the device next to the camera.

The Motorola RAZR V XT889 will go on sale in China on the 17th of June, there are no details on pricing as yet.

Source GSM Arena

XAGE Launches M486 Giant Touchscreen Phone

XAGE Communication has launched a full touch dual-Sim handset ‘M486 Giant’ in the Indian market.The device is embedded with 4-inch screen, MP4/MP3 player, 3GP HD video player, audio/video recording, FM radio, 3D screen-saver, 3.2MP frontal and 1.3MP secondary camera with flash.

M486 Giant powered with 1350 mAh battery supports multi language input, 16 GB expandable memory card, bluetooth with A2DP, GPRS, MMS and JAVA games. The dual standby phone features various applications including facebook, MSN, eBuddy, twitter and yahoo.

The mini-device offers 8GB micro-card preloaded with 40 movies (English and Hindi), 25 video songs, 25 audio songs, 20 ringtones and 10 wallpapers.

XAGE M486 Giant Specifications :4.0-inch TFT-LCD touch screen
Dual SIM (GSM + GSM) with Dual standby
11mm thick and weighs 130g
 3.2 MP (1280X960 pixels) with flash, video recording (MP4) at  25 fps and 1.3MP font facing camera
FM Radio, Music and Video player
King Movie Player, Audio recorder
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP,  microUSB
256MB Internal memory, expandable up to 16GB with MicroSD (8GB card included)
1350mAh battery

Speed-trap alert

Perhaps a bit more practical is Escort Live - a social network for motorists.

The app communicates via Bluetooth with Escort's existing detectors to record sites where speed cameras have been installed or there are police officers using laser guns or radar equipment.

Escort Live uses crowd-sourcing to warn drives of speed traps and cameras

These alerts are then "transmitted to the cloud" and shared with other subscribers to warn them of potential speed-fine "threats".

"Now before you even leave your driveway you can know the best route to take," said PR director Ron Gividen.

"We have some heat coloured imaps and icons so within an instant you know: red - the speed recording equipment was detected within the last 30 minutes; orange - it's been within an hour; yellow - an hour and a half; then after an hour and a half it disappears off the map."

The system has just been launched in the US and the firm says it is exploring expansion into the Western European market.

Facebook Launches App Center

Facebook has launched its App Center for the web and mobile, and it will be available in the US initially and then Facebook will roll it out to the rest of the world at a later date.

Facebook’s App Center will offer a range of apps including popular favourites like Draw Something, Pinterest and more, and there will be around 600 apps available at launch.

The App Center features mobile and web apps, such as Draw Something, Pinterest, and Nike+ GPS, and new apps including Jetpack Joyride, Ghosts of Mistwood, and Ghost Recon Commander.

Discover the best apps for you

The App Center gives you personalized recommendations, and lets you browse the apps your friends use. It only lists high-quality apps, based on feedback from people who use the app.

You can find out more information about Facebook’s new App Center over at Facebook, it will be available in the US from today, there are no details as yet on when it will be rolled out worldwide.

RaptorFire Cronus USB Adapter Enables PS3 Controllers On Xbox And Vice Versa

At E3 this week RaptorFire has been showcasing their new Cronus Adapter, which has been designed to allow players to use either an Xbox 360 on a PS3 or vice-versa. The USB Cronus controller adapter is compatible with Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii, and can be configured using a standard Windows-based PC.

With nine customisable slots, the Cronus controller can be loaded with your personal configurations for certain games. With downloadable programmable mods also available to add even more functionality to the controller. Without the need to install separate modification chips.

Unfortunately no information on pricing or worldwide availability has been released as yet, but it expected that the Cronus Adapter will launch in a around three months for $50-$60. As more information comes to light we will keep you updated as always.

Source: Engadget : Cronus

Tactus Technology display brings physical buttons to the touchscreen

California startup Tactus Technology recently caused plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" at SID Display Week 2012. The prototype touchscreen the company presented featured buttons that can rise out of the flat surface of the screen at the user's whim, disappearing completely once they are no longer needed.

Beneath the surface of the screen are a number of microscopic channels that can be prearranged by the manufacturer, and a small amount of a clear oily substance. When the physical buttons are "switched on" by the user, the clear substance is pumped through the channels and the solid buttons magically rise out of the display. When the keyboard is switched off, the buttons disappear completely, leaving the user with a full-sized touchscreen device.

The solution appears to be more effective than previous attempts at implementing such a device. Other companies have come up with their own concepts, but the one showcased here might well be the first to reach the consumer market - the company says it will be ready by mid-2013.

In this early concept, the microchannels need to be in a prearranged pattern, such as a standard QWERTY keyboard, and cannot change their configuration - they can only appear or disappear, but the shape and position of the buttons is fixed. However, the company says the display will eventually be able to morph into a variety of different patterns that could be optimized to specific software applications.

The system is also reported to have very low power consumption. Craig Ciesla, CEO of the startup, says his team expects "less than two percent battery drain for the whole day," although such figures will obviously vary based on battery capacity and the size of the display.

While smartphones and tablets are the obvious target market, the company said the technology could also find use in the control panels of production cars.

The video below illustrates the touchscreen at work.

Exclusive! First Hands On with the Sony Cyber-shot® RX100 Camera

Compact cameras are great in that their pocket-sized form means you can always have them with you when you need to take a photo. Unfortunately this "pocketability" often comes at a price ... the small sensors manufacturers are typically limited to using provide less than stellar image quality. Sony has revealed the Cyber-shot RX100, a compact camera with a larger than usual 1.0-inch sensor which measures 13.2 x 8.8mm.

The 20.2 effective megapixel CMOS sensor in the RX100 is the same size as the one in the Nikon 1 interchangeable lens system, and around four times larger than the 1/2.3"-type used in many point-and-shoot cameras. This means it can capture photos with considerably more detail than its smaller counterparts, and should be able to cope better in low-light and produce images with low noise.

While the sensor is still smaller than the APS-C sort found in many DSLRs and those in Micro Four Thirds cameras, Sony has borrowed several features from higher-end cameras. The Sony RX100 is capable of 10fps continuous shooting in Speed Priority mode, there's a choice of auto or manual focus modes and high sensitivity goes up to ISO 25600. The camera also uses the optimized BIONZ image processor and can shoot JPEG, RAW, or both at once.

The F1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens (which has a 35mm effective focal length of 28-100mm) also features a seven-bladed circular aperture that - partly thanks to the larger sensor - can produce bokeh blurring of the background while isolating subjects in sharp focus and with a shallower depth-of-field than most compact cameras are capable of.

Measuring 4 x 2.3 x 1.4 inches (101.6 x 58.1 x 35.9 mm) the aluminum body means the RX100 is strong while still weighing just 240 grams (8.5 oz) with battery. A Control Ring that surrounds the lens body allows users to adjust exposure, zoom and other functions with a spin of the fingers. On the back there's a 3-inch (7.5-cm) 1229k dot resolution screen, which features the new WhiteMagic technology that uses white pixels in addition to RGB to boost screen brightness.

The camera benefits from a 25-point autofocus system, including tracking and flexible spot options, and Sony claims high-speed autofocus can lock onto your target in as little as 0.13 seconds. There's Full HD video recording with AVCHD (1920x1080, 50p) and MP4 (1440x1080, 25 fps) options, and you can capture 17MP stills without interrupting movie recording. Battery life is said to allow up to 330 still shots or 80 mins AVCHD video.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 will be available from mid-July 2012 with a retail price of US$650.

The following video shows the SGNL by Sony team taking a first look at the RX100.

Source: Sony