Nine Inch Nails iPhone App Awaits Apple's OK

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame has revealed details on a new innovative iPhone app currently awaiting approval from Apple that's offers fans a range of interactive features.

The pioneering musician, known for openly embracing the post-CD era with music and video downloads including torrent distribution, fan remixes and the power of social media, has been developing the app since last summer when he saw fans standing in line for a NIN gig taking and sending photos.

Reznor revealed to Wired magazine and on his Twitter feed plans to use Twinkle, an iPhone Twitter app from Tapulous, as the basis for his free app.

The app is billed as a mobile window on all things NIN: music, photos, videos, message boards, and even NIN fans via a GPS-enabled feature called Nearby.

Nearby is "kind of like Twitter within the Nine Inch Nails network," Rob Sheridan, Reznor's long-time collaborator told Wired magazine.

A feature on the new iPhone app's Nearby tab will enable fans to post messages and photos from their iPhones to the Web site and have them appear on Google Earth.

"You can post a message or a photo by location, and if you're at a show you can see conversations between other people who are right there," added Sheridan.

Microsoft Office 2007 Update Due

Microsoft Corp. announced Thursday that it will start pushing Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2) to customers this month.

In an entry to the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) blog, Cecilia Cole, a Microsoft program manager, said that the service pack would be posted to the update service in April. She did not name an exact date, but said that more information would be published on an Office-specific blog "later this month."

When Microsoft releases updates for WSUS users -- who are almost exclusively enterprises that feed their systems patches from their own servers -- it also makes those same updates available on Microsoft Update, the similar service for consumers and small businesses. Microsoft Update, a superset of the better-known Windows Update, provides patches for Windows and some of its other software, notably Office.

Microsoft first talked up Office 2007 SP2 nearly six months ago, when it said it would ship the update between February and April 2009.

Office 2007 SP2 includes support for Open Document Format (ODF), the document format used by the open-source OpenOffice.org; boosts the performance of the Outlook 2007 e-mail client; adds the ability to uninstall service packs; and contains all the bug fixes and security patches released since Microsoft rolled out SP1 in December 2007.

Microsoft did not issue a service pack blocking tool for Office 2007 SP1, and apparently will not for SP2 either; searches on the Microsoft site failed to dig up any mention of a blocker. It has crafted toolkits to block other updates, however, including one to keep the new Internet Explorer 8 from reaching PCs.

Office 2007 debuted at retail in January 2007, concurrent with the launch of Windows Vista.

Archos 5 firmware adds GPS car holder support, new file browser

We tell ya, the Archos 5 is becoming more inviting by the week. Late last month we saw a much-wanted high-def video plug-in come to light, and now an even newer firmware is adding a few more fantastic amenities. For starters, the v1.6.53 software adds GPS car holder support -- something the Archos 605 acquired last April. Essentially, it enables the device to comprehend map and routing data piped in via the hardware mount, and we should point out that it arrives with TeleAtlas maps for eight regions of Europe, North America and Russia. Additionally, users will definitely spot an all new file browser with drag-and-drop and multi-selection functionality, not to mention the TV Snap-on app that enables the unit to store several different channel lists. For the full changelog and to get that download rolling, give the links below some lovin'.

Sony patents PSP-controlled spy car

Check it out, all you budding G. Gordon Liddys -- if the usual assortment of spy gadgets isn't doing the job, Sony's got something in the works that should be right up your alley. According to a little site called Siliconera, Sony's European arm has filed a patent for a remote-controlled car uses the PSP as an interface. This bad boy is equipped with a camera that feeds video back to the hand held and allows the user to upload the footage to a website. If that weren't all, the patent makes mention of an augmented reality racing game incorporating virtual markers and paths that the players physically create -- that is, the junk in your apartment is incorporated into on-screen game play. Innocent fun, right? Well, perhaps -- at least until Iran gets involved. They're still pretty bent by the whole squirrel thing.

MSI's Wind U123 netbook gets unboxed

We already caught MSI's upgraded Wind U120 (which goes by U123, if you must know) sitting pretty at CeBIT last month, but the crazy cats over at PortableMonkey have gone and got a model fresh in the box. Needless to say, this retail edition (which is hitting Japanese shelves any moment now) didn't stay packaged up for long, but we are happy to say that we've been cordially invited to feast our eyes upon the unboxing process. Right out of the gate, we have to share the disappointment in the lack of a rear panel for easily accessing the internal RAM and HDD, but at least the Atom N280 is a (minor) step above what we've grown accustomed to. Check the read link for all the pictorial delight.

Gigabyte T1028 netbook / tablet gets the hands-on treatment

We've already seen Gigabyte's T1028 netbook / tablet up close, and even gotten a glimpse of the user manual, but the folks at UMPC Portal have now finally come though with a proper hands-on of the device, which looks to confirm that it does indeed deliver the goods, if not quite justify its $600+ price tag. What's more, as welcome as that swiveling touchscreen is, it looks like it's the little touches that really push this one over the edge, including an all too often omitted ExpressCard slot, built-in 3G, 802.11n WiFi, some actually accessible upgrade options, and an apparently faster than usual 2.5-inch hard drive. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown (including some benchmarks) and, of course, plenty of pics.

How would you change HP's MediaSmart Server ex485 / ex487?

Now that you've had a few months a stream all manners of media throughout your home and backup your small cadre of computers via one of HP's new MediaSmart Servers, we're interested in seeing just how you'd change this bad boy. HP popped in a faster processor and a bit more RAM in order to make sure these, um, actually worked as advertised, but we're certain even that hasn't satisfied the hardcore critics in attendance. Have you been totally satisfied with your ex485 / ex487? Has the server handled all the Windows Home Server functions with ease? Are you noticing any lag? Are you happy with the file support, heat output and overall styling? Feel free to rant uncontrollably in comments below -- just keep it under control.

Packard Bell's new DOT S and DOT M netbooks for Europe

Acer-owned Packard Bell is taking Acer's latest and greatest netbooks and rebadging them for the European market. The 10.1-inch DOT S swipes most of its specs from the Acer Aspire One D250, while the DOT M (pictured) goes for the 11.6-inch Aspire One's guts. There do seem to be a few aesthetic differences, however, with a fancy textured palm rest, silver touches to the trackpads and a tweaked lid. The DOT S will be available this week for 299 Euros, while the DOT M hits at the end of this month for 399 Euros.

Apple releases iPod Shuffle VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1 upgrade

You know what really gets on our nerves? When we're listening to Van der Graaf Generator (look it up!) on our newfangled iPod Shuffle and it pronounces the band's name wrong. Seriously, this is an important function. Without it working flawlessly, how are we going to know the names of the tracks we purchased on the iTunes store and placed on the device ourselves? Thankfully, someone at Apple has heard our prayers, and as of today the VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1 is available via Mac OS X software update (we're assuming that it'll pop up on the company's website at some point). The 17MB download corrects pronunciations for several artist names, as well as correcting a few "minor bugs." What bugs? Apple hasn't said. They also haven't said which names will now be pronounced correctly in that cold, robotic voice, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that Klaatu is among them. Remember Klaatu? They were pretty sweet.

Intel applies "stars" ratings to processors, processors lose self-esteem

It looks like those confused by the multitude of Intel processors out there needn't linger in indecision any longer, as Intel itself has now come up with a new scheme that it hopes will help simplify the buying process significantly. As you can see above, that consists of a new rating system that gives processors between one and five stars, which Intel says indicates "relative performance, not a price-performance type of thing." As you might expect, the five-star rating is reserved for the like of the Core i7 and Core i7 Extreme, with the one-star ranks apparently occupied solely by various Celeron processors -- the Atom, it seems, is in a class all its own. Somewhat less notably, Intel has also taken the opportunity to roll out some spruced processor logos, which should already be showing themselves in stores along with displays featuring the new star rating system.

Wearable blood pressure monitor: portable and fashionable

We've seen some wild ideas when it comes to blood pressure -- including, yes, underpants -- but this newest device, a small monitor attached to the hand, which can be worn 24 hours a day for continuous monitoring, strikes us as having the potential for extreme usefulness. The monitor works differently than regular old blood pressure cuff, using a method called pulse wave velocity, which measures the pulse at two points along an artery. Built by a team of engineers at MIT, this prototype could boast a lot of advantages over monitors, including its portability, its ability to see long-term patterns of rises and falls in pressure, and of course -- you wouldn't have to be at the doctor's office to use it -- which is bound to take a little stress out of the equation. The device is moving toward commercial production and Harry Asada, leader of the MIT team, sees the possibility for monitoring conditions such as sleep apnea in the future as well.

Apple anxiously awaits the selling of their billionth App download celebration

Apple's going all out in anticipation of a landmark for the company -- the downloading of one billion apps in the App store. Not bad for nine months of work, if you think about it: over 110 million a month, in fact. About 27 million a week... well, you get the idea. Oh yeah, they're giving away a bunch of stuff too, so be sure to check that out if the mood strikes you.

iFrogz EarPollution DJ Style headphones urban-hipster review

Look at that will you, just look at it. That's a pair of $50 iFrogz EarPollution DJ Style (heavy on style, light on the DJ) headphones we've been testing for the last week. As you can tell by the colors, graphics, faux-chrome accents, and over-the-top bulk, these headphones are meant to communicate a statement just as tersely as they'll strum your cochlear nerve. If you don't care about posturing cool, if you're the type who walks the sidewalk wearing a Bluetooth headset in staunch oblivion to ridicule, well mister these aren't the headphones for you. For the rest, click through for our expert urban-hipster review honed by years of knee-jerked responses to trends, ironic facial hair, and a taste for thrift-store clothing. With cred like that, how could we be wrong?

Gallery: iFrogz EarPollution DJ Style headphones hipster review

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Build quality and comfort

The materials here are, how should we say, good enough. The 1.2-meter cable with 3.5-mm plug is just the right length to reach the audio player tucked inside your skinny front pocket or shoulder bag. Too short if you're a DJ, which you're not, so get over it. The chrome is fake, the fit is a bit rigid, and the padding on the headband is almost non-existent and could be a bit more supple around the otherwise plush earphones. The DJ-inspired hinges offer variable (and therefore suspect) resistance -- the left speaker is harder to rotate than the right on our review unit. Not that we'd expect much better from this class of "lifestyle" headphones. Besides, who cares about long term build quality with these? You'll likely replace them to match your new Vespa jacket come autumn or they'll be stolen or lost long before you manage to cause them any real harm.

While these iFrogz aren't the most comfy headphones we've tried (they're close), we've made it through marathon stretches of 3+ hours (twice) without suffering any serious injury to our fragile egos or form. They'll certainly get you back and forth to the cubicle farm each day in stylish comfort and fold up, nice and compact when you arrive.

Hint: You can deftly slide a single can behind the ear -- the ultimate in DJ poser moves -- to engage in what people with social skills call "verbal communication."

Sound

The sound is decent, about exactly what we'd expect for this market segment and price. To these ears, the iFrogz 50-mm driver brings a fuller sound with deeper (but not by much surprisingly) bass than the standard buds shipping with Apple's gear. They're not even close to the head rattling thump of Skullcandy's bass amplified Skullcrushers ($70) but definitely superior to the relative limp sound produced by Skullcandy's popular $50 Hesh-series of comparable urban headphones. A decent showing for iFrogz since Skullcandy is king of this market based on our casual observances of the beautifully unaware. Just don't kid yourself into thinking that you're buying these EarPollution cans based on the quality of the listening experience alone.

Wrap up

Besides looking the part, the iFrogz EarPollution DJ Style headphones also serve the purpose of adding a soundtrack to your life, dampening the city hum, and thwarting requests for change from vagrants with dirty outstretched palms. Oh, and chicks dig 'em. Lets wrap it up with this; we've had more ladies and dudes stop to ask us about these headphones in one week than seven years of wearing white earbuds. They're like a puppy without all the high-pitched yowling and mess.

Sprint employees now training with the Palm Pre?

We're not totally sure here, but it sounds like Sprint employees are now being trained on the anxiously awaited Palm Pre. Over at PreThinking, they seem to have gotten their paws on an internal Sprint email that says that "employees can expect training to start in April as well as multiple communications to get them excited and ready to help our customers" for the Pre. Being of a curious nature, they apparently followed up to ask if the training had indeed begun, receving this mysteriously veiled reply: "I would like to inform that Sprint is in the process of providing the training for the new Palm Pre. Once it's launched, Sprint will be ready to serve their valued customers regarding the Palm Pre." We've seen the new ads all over the place, and it was really only a matter of time, so we're not exactly shocked and awed at this one, but you tell us: what does it all mean?