HTCPedia’s Drop Test of the New HTC One X

I’m happy they did this. I don’t know that I’d be able to destroy a shiny new phone.

Enjoy the carnage.

SleekSpeak Speaker Kickstarter Project Funded, Ready to Give Bicyclists Better Audio

This is what I love about Kickstarter.

A product like this might not have been made by a larger company, as its appeal is somewhat niche–but this is a cool idea, and even though I dont bike very often I want one!

SleekSpeak is a bluetooth speaker which clips to a bike’s handlebars giving the rider access to louder GPS notifications, and is safer for playing music than listening on headphones.

StickLabs claims 12 hours of battery life off its rechargeable battery, and it should retail for $100 once it’s available in July.

Hit the jump for the full press release! +Continue Reading

Android App of the Week: Can I Stream It?

I love it when a great little web service gets its own standalone app. Nothing wrong with going to a browser, but on our mobile devices, an app is usually faster.

The app also helpfully links you to other information like IMDB, and if you sign up for an account, you can save your searches for notification once movies become available to stream. Can I Stream It? is a great little web service which we use a lot while producing Movies You May Have Missed.

It’s a movie searching service which will quickly show you if you  can stream or digitally rent/buy a film, and keeps track of services like Youtube, Amazon, and Netflix.

If you’re really into film like we are, this is a great service which helps feed our instant gratification, movie watching needs.

Can I Stream It? on Google Play

PCWorld Ranks AT&T Fastest Average 4G Download

Now remember this is AVERAGE download…over thirteen cities; but PCWorld has ranked AT&T the fastest average download over LTE, and Verizon fastest average upload.

Also of note was T-Mobile winning the 3G race with average speeds besting Sprint’s WiMAX.

They do a decent enough job of explaining their testing methodology, but I’m still shocked to see Sprint’s average that low. WiMAX has been very good to me, and in LA I average three times PCWorld’s national average.

Anywho, congrats to AT&T, their network is super green, and it already looks like they’re gearing up for a data war with number one seed Verizon. Game on!

You can read up on the PCWorld test, and drop us a comment below. What carrier are you with, and what kinds of speeds do you see?

Canon Expanding Cinema Line Up of Cameras with EOS-1DC and C500

Now here’s something interesting.

Before NAB is officially underway, Canon has quietly dropped a bomb on the landscape of cinema cameras. The EOS-1DC and C500 were unceremoniously unveiled today, boasting feature sets designed to appeal to film makers.

The 1D C looks very similar to the pro line of SLR cameras we’re used to, essentially using the same body design as Canon’s 1DX. What’s new, however, is the ability to shoot 8-Bit (4:2:2) video at a max resolution of 4096×2160.
The C500 looks to be a big brother to the recently announced C300, and also has a resolution improvement over it’s smaller sibling. It’s capable of recording 4K 10-bit (4:4:4) video at 60 fps. Dropping resolution down to 2K (close to that of HD TV’s 1080p) will allow for even faster frame rates, up to 120fps.

There’s a lot of additional info in this press release (available after the jump), and some new lens announcements, but it’s very clear that Canon is taking the digital cinema-style video market very seriously.

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Android App of The Week – Flixster

This app has been around for a little while, but recent refreshes and support for new services prompted me to give it a second look.

I’ve been using Flixster since it first started on Facebook as a way to rate movies you liked. As a social plugin to a social network, I didn’t think it was particularly useful. At its core, one might say that the exact same functionality could be found in services like Netflix or Amazon, and without the benefit of actually being able to rent or buy films.

So why revisit it now? +Continue Reading

Following Up on Android Audio Recording

So a little while back I wrote an editorial on the state of audio recording on Android, and it got me thinking.

As an owner of an Android tablet (A Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9) , would I be able to go on a trip, leave my laptop at home, and still record, edit, and send audio files? Would I still be able to do my work?

If you read my first editorial, then you already know that Android does not support any kind of USB mic. They can be powered, but Android doesn’t know what to do with them–so that’s out.

Also, the DAC built into the Galaxy Tab is pretty crappy, so even in quiet environments, using the built-in mics or the mic on a wired headset, you get a lot of hiss–so that’s out.

However, I do have a Zoom H4n, which is perfectly capable of recording audio all on its own. The drawback to using the H4n is having to move the audio to a computer to edit and send.

If the Tablet can pull the files from the H4n then it’s peanut butter jelly time.

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Android App Updates: Plume and Gmail

In lieu of an app review, there were two app updates I was really impressed with this last week.

We’re FINALLY starting to see some progress from app developers in updating their software to better fit into the ICS vibe. All the more important as so few phones and tablets actually have Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s a real bummer when you see all the features of an app you might be missing out on because your device’s manufacturer is behind the curve.

With that said, let’s revist Plume, and take a quick peak at GMail! +Continue Reading

Second Impressions: The Nokia Lumia 900 with AT&T LTE

Another product launch, another AT&T party!

This time the “LTE Limo” was driving around Hollywood to celebrate the release of the Nokia Lumia 900.

Now this wasn’t my first experience with a 900, as I got a little face time with one at CES. The Lumia was definitely the high point of this year’s Electronics Show for me, but since then I’ve been able to play with a few more premier phones.

Can a phone make a second impression as lasting as its first? +Continue Reading

The @%^&ing Nikon D800 vs. Canon 5D mkIII Shootout

This is one of the most fun comparison videos between these two monster cameras… Even though I do shoot Canon…

Fair warning, it’s a touch NSFW… Just sayin…

Lensbaby Bringing the Composer Pro to Popular Mirrorless Cameras

Do you have an Olympus PEN? Or a Sony NEX? Or a Panasonic Lumix G? Or a Samsung NX?

Well good news for you!

You now have access to Lensbaby’s Composer Pro tilt shift lens mount compatible with their entire line up of optics–including the Sweet 35 and Edge 80.

I’ve always enjoyed Lensbaby’s line up of creative photography tools, and now owners of mirrorless systems will be able to get in on the fun!

Full details after the jump…

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VisionResearch Announces Phantom Miro M320S High-Speed HD Camera

This little camera looks like a beast.

Have you been looking for the cinema-style output of the Phantom Flex motion picture camera?

The M320S features a 3.2GPx/s throughput, which means you will be able to shoot 1500 frames per second at a resolution of 1920×1080. Ultra-high-speed for super slow motion sequences!

Plus, this little camera can be configured to accept F-, C-, PL- or EOS lenses, including automation support for Canon EOS lenses.

This looks like it’ll be a handy tool for a variety of fields including cinema, scientific research, and engineering.

More deets after the break. +Continue Reading