Category: Reviews

There's been some buzz surrounding Toy Fair 2010 (quite literally with this underwhelming Millenium Falcon 'copter), and the New York City event ends today. With an expected 95-percent of the show composed of Madame Alexander dolls and plush playthings for the preschool set, we embarked on a quest to find a handful of unique toys that both kids and parents will love. From robot bugs, to classic ...

Siri is a new voice search and "virtual assistant" application for the iPhone that takes "natural language" requests and turns them into actionable results. For example, ask Siri "where can I get the best sushi," and it will, using the iPhone's GPS, search Yelp to find recommended sushi restaurants near you. Using Nuance, the same speech-to-text engine that powers popular tools like Jott and ...

If you paid any attention to the news coming out of this year's CES, you heard about, and possibly already condemned, the multitude of 3-D televisions to be released in the coming year. Instead of playing blackjack or pigging out at the buffet, we spent our days in Vegas running from one end of the Convention Center to the other, only stopping to don funny glasses and dodge flying cartoons. ...

Since long before Switched was even a twinkle in the Internet's eye, we've been making the annual January pilgrimage to Sin City to pay homage to the tech gods. And every year -- sometimes days, sometimes weeks, or sometimes months after the fact -- we realize that we done got played. We inevitably find that, at some point, amid the hustle and bustle, the lights and music and product pitches, ...

We're sure you've stopped and thought to yourself before, "You know, 'Super Mario Bros.' is pretty good, but I sure wish it was more frustrating." No? Well, it doesn't matter. Even if you've never asked for someone to create a hybrid of 'Super Mario Bros.' and 'Tetris,' you're getting it, anyway. And the results are wonderfully, and childishly, called 'Tuper Tario Tros.' In this Flash game, ...

Question: I'm finally ready to move to Mac, especially with Apple's latest iMacs. I really like the design and simplicity. But which one should I get? I was thinking I should get the base model for $1199, but the big 27-incher is pretty tempting, too, even though it's another $500. Or should I spend the extra money and get the upgraded versions of the iMac? So confusing -- I thought Apple was ...

A few years ago, Bluetooth headsets were rarely seen in public, and early adopters were accused of making both fashion and etiquette faux pas. But the proliferating bans on driving while holding a phone, coupled with people's discovery of hands-free convenience, has rendered the devices standard-issue these days. And headsets continue to improve in both sound quality and features. Most ...

Hype Check: 'The Beatles: Rock Band' (MTV Games/Harmonix) What it is: A little band called The Beatles has joined forces with a little game called 'Rock Band' to create what is arguably the most highly anticipated music game to date. It includes 45 songs by the seminal British band, and a full-on visual overhaul to depict the Beatles' members and style. The game comes either bundled with ...

Question: I use my computer for most of my TV and movie watching and music listening, but my machine's built-in speakers sound bloody awful. I want a set of computer speakers that sounds good whether cranked up loud or turned down soft. And I don't want to spend a fortune. Advice: The underpowered speakers built into laptops and desktops can suck the life out of any video or song. They're too ...

What it is: The myTouch 3G, the second Android smartphone (aka "Googlephone") to be introduced by T-Mobile, after the G1, is essentially a re-branded HTC Magic. What's different about it? Unlike the G1 (the first "Googlephone"), the myTouch opts for a touchscreen-based interface, dropping the physical keyboard. The Android 1.5 ("Cupcake") operating system and marketplace have come a ...

What it is: The Olympus PEN E-P1 is the company's first Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera -- a miniaturized alternative to a digital SLR (DSLR) based on a tech standard developed in cooperation with Panasonic. The physical design and name are throwbacks to the half-frame film cameras Olympus produced from the '50s through the '80s. The E-P1, priced at $799, includes a 14-42-millimeter, f3.5-5.6 ...

What it is: Those who still think a vacuum's a vacuum have yet to encounter Dyson. The funky-looking, English-engineered line of bag-less, suctioning masterpieces is a far cry from the clunkers lining the shelves of Bed, Bath & Beyond. (You'll even find several in modern art museums around the world.) The DC22 Motorhead is the newest addition to the line of Dyson canister models. It takes ...

Question: I see more and more people carrying digital SLRs these days. And when I look at the great photos, I understand why. I'd like to upgrade from my point-and-shoot, but the choices are overwhelming. What's a good beginner SLR that can also grow with me if I want to get more serious? Advice: Our current favorite among beginner models is the Nikon D5000. It's not the cheapest -- even from ...

digg_url ='http://www.switched.com/2009/08/05/17-niche-dating-sites-for-specialty-lovers/'; There's somebody out there for everyone. And thanks to the Web, they are easier to find than ever. Today, online dating sites cater to any interest, vocation, hobby, fetish, and even shared disease. If you're single and very particular -- or you just want to peak at some of the weirder matchmaking ...

Question: I need a new digital camera. But since money is tight these days, I can't spend much over $100. Is there a camera around that price that's worth any money at all? Our Advice: Yes. These days, most camera makers sell surprisingly capable point-and-shoots for just over $100. At that price, you won't get the latest and greatest photo technology. But you will get an inexpensive ...