Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA['Shazam' App Doubles As Lip-Synch Detector]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/shazam-app-doubles-as-lip-synch-detector/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/shazam-app-doubles-as-lip-synch-detector/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/shazam-app-doubles-as-lip-synch-detector/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shazam Doubles As Lip-Synch Detector
The New York Times Gadgetwise blog has found an interesting use for Shazam's iPhone app -- detecting lip-synchers. It turns out that true live performances will turn up as unrecognizable when you attempt to identify them with 'Shazam.'

The app takes the snippets of a song that you record, digitizes them, and creates a type of numerical signature based on the rhythm and melody. In a true live performance, a drummer won't hit the snare on the same millisecond he did while recording, and the vocalist will miss that high note by at least a few cents. These differences might be completely unnoticeable to the human ear, but a computer will catch even the tiniest variation.

Continue reading 'Shazam' App Doubles As Lip-Synch Detector

Switched'Shazam' App Doubles As Lip-Synch Detector originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreiphonemusicshazamtopMon, 23 Nov 2009 16:19:00 EST<![CDATA['Cable Drawings' Take Cords Center Stage]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/cable-drawings-take-cords-center-stage/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/cable-drawings-take-cords-center-stage/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/cable-drawings-take-cords-center-stage/#commentsFiled under: ,


While most of us organize excess lengths of cable by hiding them from view, an artist named Maisie Maud Broadhead has decided to expose the detritus of modern technological life and put it to decorative use. Her 'Cable Drawings' are wonderfully simple in both concept and material, but it's really that Rococo panel-molding design that does it for us.

Broadhead calls the cable arrangement an "installation," but we see it as more of a design concept. We're immediately going down to the hardware store for more cable fixings, so we can fancy up our walls with those gnarly heaps of ethernet cords piled under our desks. [From: Maisie Maud Broadhead, via 1 Design Per Day]

Switched'Cable Drawings' Take Cords Center Stage originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcablesdesignhomeorganizationtopMon, 23 Nov 2009 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Father Spoke Only Klingon to His Infant Son]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/father-spoke-only-klingon-to-his-infant-son/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/father-spoke-only-klingon-to-his-infant-son/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/father-spoke-only-klingon-to-his-infant-son/#commentsFiled under:

Cruel Father Spoke Only Klingon to his Infant Son
We're pretty sure that what Minnesota man d'Armond Speers did to his child could easily be defined as cruel and unusual punishment. For the first three years of his son's life, Speers spoke only a foreign language to him as part of a personal experiment in linguistics -- that's the cruel part. The unusual part is that he didn't even speak a real (nonetheless useful) language to him -- he spoke Klingon.

That's right, Speers decided to put his computational linguistics Ph.D. to use by trying to ensure his son would never be able to communicate with anyone outside of the nerdiest members of a Star Trek convention. Worst of all, Speers claims he isn't even a huge 'Star Trek' fan, according to City Pages, a Minneapolis/St. Paul news blog. So was he was doing this just for fun? Apparently so, since Speers grew bored of his experiment after three years when he decided that his son was, "definitely starting to learn it." Now a teenager, his son doesn't speak a word of Klingon, and is able to converse fluently in English, something we're very happy to hear.

Continue reading Father Spoke Only Klingon to His Infant Son

SwitchedFather Spoke Only Klingon to His Infant Son originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geekklingonlanguagelinguisticsmoviesstar trekStarTrektopweirdThu, 19 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Dancepants Like This (Which Power iPods), Baby, They Were Born To Run]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/dancepants-stop-the-jams-when-you-stop-moving/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/dancepants-stop-the-jams-when-you-stop-moving/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/dancepants-stop-the-jams-when-you-stop-moving/#commentsFiled under: ,

For many of us, music is the only way we can get through a grueling session at the gym. But if you've ever wanted to feel more in touch with your MP3 player or to sync appropriate music to your run, a new pair of pants may be just the thing.

The new Dancepants Kinetic Music Player is, basically, a hamster wheel for music lovers. Although it may look like any other pair of track pants you might see flashing by as you eat an ice-cream cone on a park bench, the Dancepants actually have a built-in generator that can power your MP3 player -- as long as you keep moving. The conceptual pants convert the kinetic energy generated with each stride into electric energy, which in turn fuels your music. So, as long as you keep going, the music flows. Once you stop, the music dies.

Until we find out the minimum walking speed at which the pants can work, we'll probably opt for the couch and a laptop. But if you are bold enough to take the Dancepants out for a spin, allow us to make a couple of playlist suggestions. [From: Designboom, via: Engadget]

SwitchedDancepants Like This (Which Power iPods), Baby, They Were Born To Run originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dance pantsDancePantsexercisegreenmp3mp3playermusicnoveltytopweirdWed, 18 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[After the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The hype machine is a cruel, cruel beast. It builds us up, only to let us down. For every piece of technology that's taken off, there's another handful that failed to live up to the buzz. To honor these fallen ideas, CNET UK has compiled a "Whatever Happened to..." list of the past's most remarkably unremarkable tech.

Remember Sony's MiniDisc? Yes, the colorful plastic cartridge promised that it would become the best, most portable way to listen to music. Well, it didn't. Blame the MP3, if you like. Or go further back, to Apple's LISA. The bulky $10,000 computer was one of the first to use a graphical interface, but it never took off, either. On the bright side, Apple did learn from its mistakes, and certainly knows how to push product these days. There's also the doomed Amstrad Emailer, which arrived about five years too late, and Motorola's Rokr E1, which was promptly owned by the iPhone. Although it's not included on CNET's list, we couldn't go without mentioning Sega's Dreamcast console. We still shed a tear when thinking about what might've been if gamers had only supported the platform.

It's fun to reminisce, but in most cases, we're better off without these failed technologies. Don't believe us? Trade in your iPod for a MiniDisc player, or your iPhone for a Rokr -- just for a day. [From: CNET UK]

SwitchedAfter the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellphonecomputerfailurehypelistmicrosoftsonytechnologytopSun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Nerdy Guy Electrifies Aboriginal Didgeridoo]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/nerdy-white-guy-electrifies-aboriginal-didgeridoo/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/nerdy-white-guy-electrifies-aboriginal-didgeridoo/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/nerdy-white-guy-electrifies-aboriginal-didgeridoo/#commentsFiled under:

Ancient Aboriginal instrument, we'd like you to meet modern technology. Who can you thank for this introduction? A nerdy white guy, not even from Australia.

Musician and geek Kyle Evans took a didgeridoo, which is an Australian wind instrument, and modified it because he was interested in combining organic sound with modern technology. Evans can manipulate the noise that the custom-built instrument makes thanks to mounted modules. Data is sent via Bluetooth to a computer, which interprets the info using a software program that turns it into sound. Evans describes the process on his blog, and he even includes photos and videos, too. If you've never heard a didgeridoo, think of the sounds of the smoke monster on the television show 'Lost.'

Evans's invention won't change the music landscape like the electric guitar did, but it's pretty cool (and funny) to watch him play the instrument (video after the break). Honestly, we're just thankful Evans isn't wearing traditional Aboriginal garb while he plays. [From: Yaktronix, via Ubergizmo]

Continue reading Nerdy Guy Electrifies Aboriginal Didgeridoo

SwitchedNerdy Guy Electrifies Aboriginal Didgeridoo originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aboriginalbizarrebluetoothdidgeridooinstrumentmodificacionmusictopwirelessSun, 15 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for November 12, 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/hdtv-listings-for-november-12-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/hdtv-listings-for-november-12-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/hdtv-listings-for-november-12-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has 'FlashForward' at 8 p.m., 'Grey's Anatomy' at 9 p.m. and 'Private Practice' at 10:01 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has 'Bones' at 8 p.m. and 'Fringe' at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has 'Community' at 8 p.m., 'Parks & Recreation' at 8:30 p.m., 'The Office' at 9 p.m. and '30 Rock' at 9:30 p.m
  • WGN (1080i) has 'WWE Superstars' at 8 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has 'Survivor' at 8 p.m., 'CSI' at 9 p.m. and 'The Mentalist' at 10 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) airs 'The Vampire Diaries' at 8 p.m. and 'Supernatural' at 9 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has 'TNA! Impact' at 9 p.m.
  • History (720p) brings 'Gangland' at 9 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' at 10 p.m. and 'The League' at 10:30 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has 'American Chopper' at 9 p.m. and 'Street Customs' at 10 p.m.
  • NFL Network (1080i) has Bears/49ers football at 8 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has South Florida/Rutgers college football at 7:30 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has Florida/New York UFL football at 7 p.m.

SwitchedHDTV Listings for November 12, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvlistingsThu, 12 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Spica Speakers Combine Water, Light, and Sound]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/spica-speakers-combine-water-light-and-sound/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/spica-speakers-combine-water-light-and-sound/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/spica-speakers-combine-water-light-and-sound/#commentsFiled under:


We've always been told that water and electricity don't play nice together, but designer Yuki Yamamoto has come up with a beautifully novel, and harmonious, collaboration between the two. Presented at this year's Design Tide Tokyo show, Spica is a relatively simple concept. From what we can tell, water and light are married within a tall glass container, with the speaker below. The reverberations from your music spur the back-lit water to pop and dance along.

Since our Japanese translator is off today, we sadly can't give you any tech specs. We can direct you to the video, which we're posting after the break, but it might only frustrate you, as we're guessing the Spica won't hit the market anytime soon. Still, we've already decided on the first (obvious) music selection we'll play through the device. [From: Designboom]

Continue reading Spica Speakers Combine Water, Light, and Sound

SwitchedSpica Speakers Combine Water, Light, and Sound originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdesign tide tokyoDesignTideTokyospeakersspicawaterThu, 12 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Robots Dance to the Beat and Into Our Hearts]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/robots-dance-to-the-beat-and-into-our-hearts/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/robots-dance-to-the-beat-and-into-our-hearts/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/robots-dance-to-the-beat-and-into-our-hearts/#commentsFiled under: ,

Robots Dance To The Beat and Into Our Hearts

Finding information about this gem of a viral video (posted below the break) has been tough. All we know is what we've been able to glean from a YouTube posting -- that Yongchul Lee, from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), put together this impressive demonstration of robots getting down.

The song is "Nobody," a 2008 hit from the K-pop group Wonder Girls and the first track by a Korean act to break into the United States' Billboard Hot 100. The tune is certainly a good one, but the stars of the show here are the dancing robots. They strut their stuff in perfect sync with the music, and do an impressive job of recreating the shoulder rolls and hand claps performed by the group in the single's video. The best part is the finale B-boy breakdown, which finds the adorable blue bot flipping into a handstand and kicking his little metal feet in the air.

Continue reading Robots Dance to the Beat and Into Our Hearts

SwitchedRobots Dance to the Beat and Into Our Hearts originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancingdancing robotDancingRobotnobodys watchingNobodysWatchingrobotviral videoViralVideowonder girlsWonderGirlsThu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Just Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A reader writes: I need a good TV for my living room specifically, and I've decided that LCD is the way to go. I definitely want good video quality and I'd like to keep it under a grand if I can. Please... just tell me what to get!

What up, reader? While the screen-size arms race is destined to continue forever (We fully expect to see a 120-incher any day now.), it turns out that the sweet spot for a typical living room is 40 or 42 inches. A TV around that size is big enough to let you lose yourself in a movie, but won't squat in the corner like an electronic elephant once you turn it off. With that in mind, we're pretty hot for Samsung's LN40B550 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV ($950 list, but lower at many places).

Continue reading Just Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room

SwitchedJust Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresjusttellmewhattogetpanasonic viera x1PanasonicVieraX1samsung lcdsamsung ln40b550SamsungLcdSamsungLn40b550topWed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray Releases This Week]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/blu-ray-releases-this-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/blu-ray-releases-this-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/blu-ray-releases-this-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Up - Blu-rayBig week for Pixar fans as the latest animated feature, 'Up,' is released, along with the Pixar classic 'Monster, Inc.' Warner continues to release catalogs, but with the size of its catalog, it could probably release four a week every week and still never finish. For the most part this is a good week for Blu-ray but we know you are with us when we say that next week is what we're really waiting for as 'Star Trek' was probably the best movie to hit the theaters this year, and it hits Blu-ray next Tuesday.
  • 'Up' (Walt Disney)
  • 'Monsters, Inc.' (Walt Disney)
  • 'The Ugly Truth' (Sony)
  • 'Godzilla' (Sony)
  • 'Heat' (Warner)
  • 'Logan's Run' (Warner)
  • 'Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut' (Warner)
  • 'The Negotiator' (Warner)
  • 'Mamma Mia!' (Gift Set) (Universal)
  • 'Near Dark' (Lionsgate)
  • 'Red Heat' (Lionsgate)
  • 'Spread' (Anchor Bay)
  • 'World's Most Beautiful Sunrises & Sunsets' (Digital Enviroments)
  • 'Ballast' (Kino)
  • 'The Echo' (Image)
  • 'The General' (Kino)
  • 'Kingdoms Of The Coast' (Razor)
  • 'The Line' (Maya)

SwitchedBlu-ray Releases This Week originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayHD ReleasesHdReleasestopTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:58:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for November 9, 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/hdtv-listings-for-november-9-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/hdtv-listings-for-november-9-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/hdtv-listings-for-november-9-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • CBS (1080i) has 'How I Met Your Mother' at 8 p.m., 'Accidentally On Purpose' at 8:30 p.m., 'Two and a Half Men' at 9 p.m., 'The Big Bang Theory' at 9:30 p.m. and 'CSI: Miami' at 10 p.m
  • Fox (720p) brings 'House' at 8 p.m. and 'Lie to Me' at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) airs 'Heroes' at 8 p.m. and 'Trauma' at 9 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has 'Dancing with the Stars' at 8 p.m. and 'Castle' at 10:01 p.m.
  • ABC Family (720p) has the season finale of 'Lincoln Heights' at 8 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) airs 'One Tree Hill' at 8 p.m. and 'Gossip Girl' at 9 p.m.
  • USA (1080i) has 'WWE: Raw' at 9 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has 'Little People, Big World' at 8 & 8:30 p.m., 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' at 9 p.m. and 'Cake Boss' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Steelers/Broncos Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m.

SwitchedHDTV Listings for November 9, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvlistingstopMon, 09 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for November 6, 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/hdtv-listings-for-november-6-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/hdtv-listings-for-november-6-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/hdtv-listings-for-november-6-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • CW (1080i) has 'Smallville' at 8 p.m.
  • USA (1080i) has 'Monk' at 9 p.m. and 'White Collar' at 10 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has 'Ugly Betty' at 9 p.m.
  • MyNetworkTV (1080i) has 'WWE: Smackdown' at 9 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) brings 'Ghost Whisperer' at 8 p.m., 'Medium' at 9 p.m. and 'Numb3rs' at 10 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) presents 'King of the Crown' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has 'Law & Order' at 8 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Cavaliers/Knicks at 8 p.m. and Spurs/Blazers at 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) airs Boise State/Louisiana Tech college football at 8 p.m.

SwitchedHDTV Listings for November 6, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvlistingstopFri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Studio Attempting Huge, World Record-Breaking Movie Screening]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/studio-attempting-huge-world-record-breaking-movie-screening/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/studio-attempting-huge-world-record-breaking-movie-screening/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/studio-attempting-huge-world-record-breaking-movie-screening/#commentsFiled under:

The Telegraph reports that Pinewood Studios, a film company based in Britain, aims to break the world record for largest movie screening when it shows the 1996 film 'Mission: Impossible' at the studio compound this Saturday. The Tom Cruise thriller, which was filmed at the studio, will be shown to a drive-in audience on a screen measuring 240 feet wide and 60 feet tall. If it goes off without a hitch, the showing would smash the current record, set in Norway back in 1996, when 'Independence Day' was shown on a screen measuring a paltry 132 feet wide. The company is looking at the event as a chance to show off its newest technology, especially as it's in the midst of a massive expansion that, they hope, will enable the studio to rival Hollywood in size and splendor.

The feat seems pretty daunting, if not impossible. Project manager Paul Wigfield told the Telegraph, "'Mission: Impossible' seems the perfect choice to beat the existing world record and it will look absolutely sensational." We understand the impetus behind the choice, given the corporate tie-in to the company, and -- don't get us wrong -- it'll probably look super cool. We just think there might be a few alternatives that would be a bit more appropriate. [From: The Telegraph]

SwitchedStudio Attempting Huge, World Record-Breaking Movie Screening originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mission impossibleMissionImpossiblemoviesprojectortom cruiseTomCruisetopworld recordWorldRecordFri, 06 Nov 2009 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blue Microphones Mikey (Creative, Under $100)

For those who like to get creative with sound, Blue Mikey ($79.99) is an excellent addition to your potable digital tool belt. Essentially a mic that plugs into the bottom of your iPhone or iPod, Mikey lets you capture anything from live music to lectures. You interface with the hardware as you would the iPhone's built-in mic; you can either use Apple's own voice recorder, or download some more feature-packed options as Fire and FourTrack. Since it uses your iPhone as its "computer," the Blue Mikey is infinitely smaller than most digital recorders out there (for better or worse, it's also very light). The mic is directional, and a switch on the back lets you choose between different gain levels, depending on the sound source. Field recording has never been so convenient.

SwitchedGift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieshgghgg-100hgg-creativemicrophonesmicsFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes Auto-Censor Targets '50s Doo-Wop]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite its staid and strict stance against nudity and racy apps, Apple is continuing its unofficial practice of turning perfectly harmless words into demeaning slurs. Apple's censoring depends on a program that scans the iTunes database for dirty words, replacing the offending letters with asterisks.

The problem with this auto-censorship is that it doesn't recognize context. As a result, innocent words are sometimes altered, ironically and immediately making people think of those alternate, more devious usages. According to the Guardian, the latest to fall prey to the asterisk is the style of music known as "doo-wop," whose name contains a word sometimes used as a slur against Italian-Americans. The word, with which many people were probably unfamiliar prior to the asterisk fiasco, appeared as "w*p" throughout iTunes as of this morning (it's since been changed back to doo-wop).

It's probably time to let the auto-censor go, Apple. Since you're now worth over $170 billion, you should probably be able to hire some human scanners. You know, ones that could actually discern between musical genres and racist terminology. [From: The Guardian]

SwitchediTunes Auto-Censor Targets '50s Doo-Wop originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appledoo wopDooWopfunnyiTunesmusicracismtopFri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for November 5, 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/hdtv-listings-for-november-5-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/hdtv-listings-for-november-5-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/hdtv-listings-for-november-5-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has 'FlashForward' at 8 p.m., 'Grey's Anatomy' at 9 p.m. and 'Private Practice' at 10:01 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) brings 'Bones' at 8 p.m. and 'Fringe' at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has 'Community' at 8 p.m., 'Parks & Recreation' at 8:30 p.m., 'The Office' at 9 p.m. and '30 Rock' at 9:30 p.m
  • WGN (1080i) has 'WWE Superstars' at 8 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) airs 'The Vampire Diaries' at 8 p.m. and 'Supernatural' at 9 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' at 10 p.m. and 'The League' at 10:30 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has 'American Chopper' at 9 p.m. and 'Heavy Haulers' at 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Virginia Tech/East Carolina college football at 8 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has Real Salt Lake/Columbus Crew MLS action at 8 p.m.

SwitchedHDTV Listings for November 5, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvlistingshtopThu, 05 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Floor-to-Ceiling 'Wall of Sound' iPod Dock Would Please Phil Spector]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/floor-to-ceiling-wall-of-sound-ipod-dock-would-please-phil-spe/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/floor-to-ceiling-wall-of-sound-ipod-dock-would-please-phil-spe/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/floor-to-ceiling-wall-of-sound-ipod-dock-would-please-phil-spe/#commentsFiled under:

If Stanley Kubrick and the Beastie Boys ever got together and decided to design an iPod dock, it would probably look a lot like the latest monolithic, instant-party machine to hit the market.

Brothers' new 'Wall of Sound' iPod speaker (sharing the name of Phil Spector's legendary production technique heard on classics like the Crystals' 'Da Doo Ron Ron') is the perfect way to intimidate friends and deafen neighbors. Billed as the "most powerful iPod speaker on the market," and "possibly the most powerful speaker of all time," the WOS features 28 elements, a frequency response of 40 Hz to 20,000 kHz, and weighs in at a healthy 225 pounds. But the most striking thing about the WOS is its sheer size. The thing's ginormous; just look how it dwarfs that helpless, trembling iPod sitting next to it. And it's more than a little scary.

That's not to say, of course, that we wouldn't drop the $4,000 it costs on this beast. We totally would. Especially if, as we suspect, the dial goes to 11. [From: Wall of Sound]

SwitchedFloor-to-Ceiling 'Wall of Sound' iPod Dock Would Please Phil Spector originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioipodspeakerstopThu, 05 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[HDTV Listings for November 4, 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/hdtv-listings-for-november-4-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/hdtv-listings-for-november-4-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/hdtv-listings-for-november-4-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

What we're watching tonight:
  • Fox (720p) has Phillies/Yankees World Series Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has 'The New Adventures of Old Christine' at 8 p.m., 'Gary Unmarried' at 8:30 p.m., 'Criminal Minds' at 9 p.m. and 'CSI: NY' at 10 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) brings 'Mercy 'at 8 p.m. and 'Law & Order SVU 'at 9 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has 'Hank 'at 8 p.m., 'The Middle' at 8:30 p.m., 'Modern Family' at 9 p.m., 'Cougar Town' at 9:30 p.m. and 'Eastwick 'at 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has 'Nip/Tuck' at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has 'Mythbusters' at 9 p.m. and 'Time Warp' at 10 p.m.
  • Comedy Central (1080i) airs 'South Park' at 10 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has 'The Ultimate Fighter' at 10 p.m
  • TLC (1080i) has the series premiere of 'Flowers Uncut' at 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has the season premiere of 'House of Payne' at 9 & 9:30 p.m. and 'Meet the Browns' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • Syfy (1080i) has 'Ghost Hunters' at 9 p.m. and 'Destination Truth' at 10 p.m.
  • Travel (1080i) has 'Man vs. Food' at 10 p.m.
  • DirecTV (1080i) has 'Friday Night Lights' at 9 p.m.
  • History (720p) has 'Nostradamus Effect' at 9 p.m. and 'MysteryQuest' at 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Heat/Wizards at 7 p.m. and Mavericks/Hornets at 9:30 p.m.
  • Cartoon Network (1080i) has 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' at 8 p.m.

SwitchedHDTV Listings for November 4, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvlistingstopWed, 04 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Grado iGi Earphones (Media Hound, Under $100)

To the audio obsessives who consider the quality of their sound gear a way of life, the mere mention of the name Grado elicits the kind of response usually reserved for Santa or, well, Steve Jobs . Since most Grado headphones are priced in the relative stratosphere, its new iGi model ($89) is a welcome entry-level sampler for the iPod generation. As with all in-ear models, they offer the side benefit of blocking out virtually all outside noise mostly because they're inserted deep into your ear canal -- like you-better-pay-for-dinner-and-a-movie-first type of intimacy. The iGi's don't compare with some of Grado's more legendary over-the-ear models, but you'd be hard-pressed to find better quality sound from such a reliable brand at anywhere near the cost.

SwitchedGift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earbudsgradohgghgg-100hgg-mediahoundIEMigiigi earphoneIgiEarphoneWed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST