In a world becoming more advanced every minute, with everything from virtual reality pinball machines to the common smart phone, it's difficult to make sense of it all. U.K. design studio (and CH heroes) Troika (check out Troika on CH Video here) does just that with their recent book, "Digital By Design," a complete survey of the most innovative digital products and works of art today. Way more than your standard coffee-table book, "Digital By Design" assesses the relationships between technology, product design, immersive environments and human interaction from a standpoint of how they relate to our daily lives. Commissioned by renowned art publisher Thames and Hudson and featuring a foreword by MoMA's design curator Paola Antonelli, Troika explores intelligent design and the designers behind the objects extensively and with an objective perspective.

Graduates of the Royal College of Art, the trio behind Troika are particularly well-suited for the project, drawing on their backgrounds in graphics, communication, art, product design and engineering to create works that toy with technology's role and capabilities, most notably their recent digital sculpture, "Cloud," at Heathrow airport (see our 2006 video for examples).

The book is available at Borders and Amazon.

Will Yahoo be able to turn the tables now? Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo and CEO since June 2007 has decided to step down from his duty of CEO-manship. However, he revealed that he will retain the former role of Chief Yahoo! and will also sit on the Board of Directors.

Yang had been heavily criticized for screwing up the Microsoft deal and this move could be a result of that. Yahoo has appointed Heidrick & Struggles to search for the potential candidate and the chairman Roy Bostock along with some directors and Jerry Yang are finalizing the assessing potential ones for final consideration.

Press Release

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Hello Kitty seems to play an important role in our everyday lives as she's virtually been seen in just about any and every household device. This time round we have the Hello Kitty Cell Phone Holder that features cheeks which sparkle and a swinging head whenever there is an incoming call. Well, we suppose that works fine if you're one who like to turn your phone to Silent mode, as all those flashes and jazz could be enough to wake anyone up from their slumber (if they're light sleepers, of course), but it is pretty pointless if you have already set your phone to is normal alert level. This GSM-compatible cell phone holder will retail for $35.99 a pop.

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While many of us have our collection of nice electronic toys, most of us can't afford to walk into a store, take a look at a company like Sony's complete line of Bravia media equipment and walk out with it all. And your conscience might stop you anyway—even if your wallet could take the hit, you know enough to look around at other respectable brands, maybe some Samsung or LG equipment, and make a more informed decision.

Well today we're taking the role of "that guy" for you. Sony shipped us their latest Bravia LCD TV along with all of its modular Link components: a wireless HDMI streamer, their internet video player, an HDMI port expander and an extra slim DVD player—a set of matching electronics designed to hook nicely to the back of your Bravia TV while integrating with the display at a software level.

Setting Up
After fervently unpacking five cardboard boxes and dusting the styrofoam specs off of the jet black components, I remembered just how nice Sony's equipment can be. Everything feels solid in the hands, everything matches with the same amount of gloss and everything has the shining Sony logo that was the beacon for technological enlightenment to anyone who lived through the 80s.
But I am disappointed.

I know that most all of this stuff is supposed to hook right to the back of the television, yet I have no natural inclination as to how that happens. I see screws, flimsy clear plastic tracks and manuals in three different languages. I swallow my pride and open one up (and it's a good thing I did).

Starting with the DVD player, I learned that one must screw a mount into the television, screw the component into the mount and then make sure to plug in the three or more cords to make it work.

What? This isn't what I pictured at all. I wanted to equip this TV like a fucking gun. I wanted to lock and load, hear the fulfilling clank of metal on metal and live a Rambo montage while I prepped for an onslaught of 1080p. Instead, I was fiddling with screws and wires, scratching up my entertainment stand in a precarious position while making my sleek beautiful new TV resemble the trash bin of a wire factory.

The feeling was akin to any time you've bought cereal for the toy, only to realize that the toy was really just a 2-cent piece of rubber. And by the way, that box of cereal just cost you $3,500.

Bravia Internet Video Link - $300
The Bravia Internet Video Link was maybe the most indulgent component I had to test, mostly because I would personally never purchase this component on my own. Why?

1. It's essentially a box that puts streaming video like YouTube onto your TV (which is done by many other components as a second function) and
2. It works exclusively with Bravia TVs. The Internet Video Link uses the television's DMXe (USB) port and fits the content into the TV's XMB menu system.

Yet my alternate persona, my big spender identity who sucked down a $5 iced coffee while writing this review, enjoyed the IVL.
It really is ingenious that the system works within the television's menu system. In fact, it doesn't even have a menu system of its own. Utilizing the TV's XMB (Cross Media Bar), the interface is not so different than the PS3. Flipping through the list of content providers made way for a very intuitive experience in which I click any content provider that looks interesting, from AP to cooking classes. Once I select a clip from within their menu, fast forwarding through content or skipping ahead is extremely responsive with the user interface acknowledging my commands smoothly while allowing the clips time to buffer.

Sure, most of the content looks like crap, the compressed YouTube clips especially. But Sony's understated blue skin framed it well, adding a bit of class to often tacky content.
Especially with Amazon Unbox (tested in beta here), we see Sony's design touch can add a lot to the experience. While managing Unbox content is a pain on my TiVo, the Internet Link puts a pleasant icon skin on your media and has a multitude of simple to navigate categories that makes it all palatable. Plus, you get the same navigation bar in Unbox as you do in YouTube or any other of the services, simplifying the experience of viewing dozens of different content feeds. Simply, it's the best presentation of Unbox I've seen to date.
I'm happy again. The world is rainbows and sunshine.

Then the practical side of me kicks in. I spit out the Brazilian coffee (most of it gone by now, to be honest) and realize I've been hoodwinked. Why didn't the PS3 have all of these neat internet video channels in its XMB? I had no answer.

Bravia Wireless Link - $800
Regardless of how things may have gone with the Internet Link, I was ready to move on to the Wireless Link. It's a piece of equipment that we all hope will be a mainstay in every home within 5 years. The system streams HDMI and component video wirelessly, allowing you to reroute that DVR to a different room while maintaining a pristine HD image.
I knew there would be catches. Even $5 coffee guy could understand that the HD video would be limited to 1080i streaming, nixing the dream of watching Blu-rays in the bedroom. The second catch is even bigger. The Wireless Link transmitter does not double as an HDMI port splitter. This is a vital point, as it means that you can't double dip your home theater to two televisions. Even if it's 1 foot away, the components plug in to the transmitter, and the receiver accepts the data wirelessly.

Combine no hardline output with the 1080i transfer limitations and you realize that all content you watch will all be in 1080i.
OK, but I'm still enthused. After all, I didn't pay for this stuff. So I put it through the most rigorous test I can imagine. I play the final levels of Gears of War 2, streaming my 720p component connection from my Xbox in my living room to my TV in my bedroom (sadly, a distance of only 10 or so feet). Still, the Wireless Link really impressed me.

There's no discernible lag. Maybe if I'd been playing online in some pro tournament, I'd have noticed a slight disadvantage. But as far as I could tell, the Xbox is hooked right into the TV I'm was using. And the image quality is just as good as it had looked when I had the system hardwired.
Sony explained later that the delay between the base station and a receiver was less than one millisecond—that's faster than most LCDs can draw the image being transmitted. Not bad, Sony. My 5GHz Wireless-N network didn't even interfere, as you'd warned me could happen.

But again, there's a catch where some engineer didn't think things through all the way. I couldn't stream my PS3 at all. Neither Blu-ray nor games worked, even when I reduced the resolution from 1080p. I could catch the signal for a moment or two, then the system would give me a "not supported" message.

Bravia DVD Player - $200
Even my yuppie alter ego wasn't fooled by this one. The Bravia DVD Link may be called a link, but I know better. I know a DVD player when I see one.

Sony does promise a a few advantages with their Bravia branded item, of course. The first I discussed above, that the player could mount to the back of your set (be it in a not so glamorous way). The second is that, like the Internet Movie Link, the DVD component can hook to the television through the USB-based DMXe port.

Wait, I should rephrase this, the DVD Link needs to hook to the TV through DMXe. It won't work at all otherwise. And that's a problem, as the television only has one DMXe port.

So even though I have the HDMI hooked up correctly and even though I know most DVD players don't need USB connections to work, I am sitting here, pounding on the DVD remote that does nothing (yet, the DVD menu still auto-loads with "play movie" highlighted but unclickable, which just spites me more). The techie me is upset. The yuppie me is livid pissed.

To be fair, Sony reps believe I could daisy chain the DVD Link through the Internet Link. I had no success with this method, but maybe I'm just unlucky.

When the DVD Link is plugged in and working happily, it's fine. It's pretty much as good as any other DVD player. If you hit the "display" button on the remote, it tweaks your TV's display, as opposed to messing with DVD player options. I guess there's an advantage to this, a certain technological configuration efficiency. But the benefit is small, and to quote the words of my truly yuppie wife, "It doesn't even play Blu-ray??"

Input Link - $150
The Input Link isn't the most glamorous of Bravia accessories, but like the others, it does hook to the back of your TV after a bit of effort. It's a 5X1 HDMI port expander. It matches the other Links. And it's a hugely missed opportunity by Sony if you think about it. A module like this could sync with DMXe and mount your components straight into the XMB through Sony technical magic. Instead, it just offers some extra HDMI slots. But of all the mounting components, the Input Link seemed the most at home, fitting snugly and solidly near the inputs.

So Is It Worth It?
To be fair to Sony, $3,500 isn't an absurd amount to spend on home theater equipment—especially when we break down the sheer amount of components we reviewed here and realize that it's all name brand equipment.

But I look at the pile of electronics I've got, this mountain of Bravia, and I can't help wishing it would do more or at least be a seamless experience to use.

I had more difficulty setting up the equipment than I have home theater components in years. For each component being design around the television, it certainly didn't fit on the television very easily or even all that well.

And while Sony may or may not be on to something with their DMXe integration (I think they really could be, actually), they need to make sure that users who own more than one component—their most loyal customer base—aren't being punished for it by limiting available DMXe inputs on Bravia TVs.

The thing is, I really like the Bravia television, the use of XMB for its menu system and the idea of Sony's "Links" integrating with this very solid platform. And the Wireless Link, even at $800, is highly technically impressive and genuinely excites me about the future of home theater.

Yet at the end of the day, both my ignorant yuppie and shamelessly techie self can't help but to look at my PS3 and wonder, why oh why can't Sony focus all of their development into this machine—or at the very least, make using my TV as straightforward and gratifying as firing a loaded weapon?

In its effort to put affordable, educational notebooks in the hands of third-world children, One Laptop Per Child is reviving its Give One, Get One promotion on Monday.

The deal enables consumers to buy an XO laptop for themselves for $400, which in turn donates a second unit to a child in a developing country. The organization is working with Amazon to offer the deal, according to an Associated Press story.

Since 2005, OLPC has been striving toward the goal of producing a $100 laptop with the idea that technology can rectify e-learning and computer illiteracy issues throughout the world. The closest the organization has gotten to that price point was last year, when it sold the XO for $188. Now, the laptops carry a $200 price tag because of increased production costs.

To date, the organization has distributed about 473,000 laptops in 31 countries. A large chunk of those sales -- 160,000 units -- came from OLPC's two-month Give One, Get One promotion in 2007. Though successful, the program suffered from logistical problems, because the notebooks were being sold through multiple vendors, which frustrated some buyers with shipment delays. The organization is hoping that working with Amazon will help avoid such issues.

While OLPC has not succeeded in bringing the cost of its laptop down to $100 -- and its laptop sales are diminutive relative to the tech industry -- the XO did play an instrumental role in giving birth to the netbook category. When manufacturers such as Asus saw that there was consumer interest in inexpensive, ultraportable laptops, they ran with the idea and produced their own. It turns out that was a smart move, because low-cost netbooks are looking more attractive than ever to consumers tightening their spending as the economy continues to collapse.   

'$100 laptop' group reboots Give One Get One offer [AP]

Photo: RFMiller/Flickr

Talk about high tech gadgets, HTC is certainly on a role. For those who are addicted and just can’t stop from craving on the latest technology, HTC has announced the world’s first GSM/WiMAX headset. Unforunately, this may mean you will need to brush up your Russian, the device will be available only in Russia (at least for now) on the Yota Mobile WiMAX network. The MAX 4G appears similar to the super high-end HTC Touch HD that was recently announced with a large 3.8 inch 800×480 display and touch screen interface. The MAX 4G will support the Yota Video network and the device is capable of displaying up to nine TV channels simultaneously!

The HTC MAX 4G is the world’s first smartphone to feature the integration of GSM and WiMAX radios. With this integration the MAX 4G can switch seamlessly from GSM networks to Mobile WiMAX networks. With the addition of a SIM card, the MAX 4G can make voice calls over most GSM networks which makes it a very useful mobile to have for those visiting Europe.

The HTC MAX 4G features the same 3.8 inch, 800×480 WVGA touch screen display that is used in the HTC Touch HD. With the integrated GPS receiver you will always know exactly where you are, while the WiFi and WiMAX will ensure you have high-speed wireless data (you will be able to get proper data speeds of 70Mb/sec!).

The HTC MAX 4G is powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and is integrated with HTC´s TouchFLO 3D UI. The TouchFLO 3D UI turns Windows Mobile interface into a competent multimedia platform that should optimizes HTC MAX 4G´s 8GB of onboard storage.

HTC designed the MAX 4G for ultra high-speed access to video on demand, full track music downloads, online gaming, and file exchange for true broadband speeds.

HTC MAX 4G Features include:

• Qualcomm ESM7206A 528 MHz processor
• TouchFLO 3D interface
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Integrated GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth 2.0
• 256MB ROM and 288MB RAM with 8GB Flash drive
• 5 megapixel camera with VGA front camera for conference calls
• FM radio
• Standard 3.5mm headset jack

Its said the HTC MAX 4G will be shipping in Russia by the end of November for more than $1,000! Though, very typically, the company did not say when the Max 4G would be released in other parts of the globe.

[via BGR, Akihabara, HTC]

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