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Sing into spring movies
It's that time of year when the weather is starting to get warmer, things are blossoming, and people are generally happier. Though, while most folks may not actually break into song in real life, it happens all the time in movies, whether they're happy, sad, or even blaming Canada. This week, a wide-ranging batch of musical and music-related films helps celebrate these and other high-spirited moods.Reviews
Review: Roku 3 offers more power, new interface
The Roku 3 is a worthy successor to the 2 XS, with faster Wi-Fi, a headphone jack on the remote, and other hardware tweaks. Plus, it ushers in a much-improved user interface.News
Five standout apps and add-ons from SXSW Interactive Trade Show
We saw a hodge-podge of consumer-friendly products that stood out as different and innovative pieces of technology at the SXSW Interactive Trade Show. Here are a few of them.News
Spotify reportedly launching free streaming music service overseas
A report in Bloomberg says that Spotify will expand its streaming music service to mobile devices in 20 countries where it currently provides its desktop service. The move would give Spotify an edge over rival Pandora.Geek Tech
Barista Bot will paint latte portraits; barista jobs are safe (for now)
An automaton that can sketch out a photo of you on your next coffee? Sure!Wearablog
Review: The Fitbug Air is a not-so-smart smart pedometer
The Fitbug Air is a sturdy, accurate pedometer—but can it hold up to the competition?News
More social, blended media will control TV
Quite a few SXSW Interactive panels had a focus on social media and TV. Here are some things we can expect from social media and TV this year.Updated
Collecting live music in the digital age
Instead of tape trading and snail mail, live-music collecting is all about BitTorrent and lossless audio these days.Connected Home
Heat Meter measures energy use in real time
A new, Wi-Fi connected device called the Heat Meter allows homeowners to track propane, natural gas or oil use in real time and compare their home's efficiency with others in the area.News
Torrent live broadcasts with new BitTorrent service
Released Tuesday, BitTorrent Live opens in beta as a new way to stream live content.News
Vimeo launches pay-to-watch video service
Vimeo On Demand lets video producers charge viewers for watching movies online, with the creators setting their price and keeping most of the profits.News
Netflix takes need for speed global with worldwide ISP rankings
Netflix is expanding its rankings of Internet service providers by ranking streaming speeds from ISPs in the U.S., Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, and Sweden.Geek Tech
This robot has better handwriting than you do (and other stuff you missed)
Created by five undergraduates at the Franklin W.Olin College of Engineering, this is an automated pen that writes calligraphy better than you. Like, really.Updated
Review: TiVo Mini is a cheaper way to share (most of) the TiVo love around the house
The TiVo Mini lets you access live, recorded, and (some) streaming content from your TiVo Premiere on other TVs around the house. And it works pretty well for the most part.How-To
Get the most from your smartphone camera
These handy tips help make your smartphone the one camera you'll need in most situations.Game On
Urban blight: SimCity’s failure to launch
SimCity’s server woes set a troubling precedent for PC gaming.Reviews
Review: Paradigm Shift A2 speakers offer flexible inputs, perky sound
The Shift A2, from venerable speaker maker Paradigm, offers good sound (and just as good looks) in a desktop speaker than can be run solo or in pairs.Now Streaming
6 underwatched TV shows that you really should watch
There are TV shows everyone knows and watches. And then there are some you may not have even heard of, but are worth checking out. Here are some of those shows.News
Pandora CEO exit could shake up streaming
Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy is quitting the online radio service, which — like many of its competitors — is struggling with increasing royalty rates paid to record labels.News
Lytro hack turns any DSLR into a light field camera
A free hack and new hardware are bringing competition to the refocusing images marketplace.News
HBO’s Game of Thrones broadcast strategy aimed at thwarting piracy
Overseas audiences will only have to wait a week after the U.S. broadcast to see episodes from season three of Game of Thrones, as HBO looks for ways to stop piracy of its shows.News
Pro photographer smartphone shoot-out
We equipped three professional photographers with three different smartphones known to be the photo leaders of their respective mobile OSs, and asked them to use the phones at work for a few weeks. Here are some of the shots.Geek Tech
Automated bartender will make any cocktail you want, won’t even ask for a tip
We keep talking about how the end is inevitably going to come in the shape of giant, autonomous mechas with a hatred for mankind. As such, it can be easy to forget that machines can be friendly—so friendly, in fact, that they'll make you the perfect white Russian every time and not even ask for your number.News
France increases its anti-piracy efforts as similar measures roll out in U.S.
If you think the newly instituted six-strikes agreement between entertainment companies and major U.S. Internet service providers is bad news, be glad you don’t live in France.News
Roku introduces Roku 3, revamps user interface
As its move in the never-ending game to control the set-top box market, Roku has introduced a replacement for its high-end box, and unveiled a new user interface for its family of streaming products.News
YouTube could be key to Google’s Spotify rival
Fortune reports that a YouTube music streaming service will launch later this year and feature some overlap with Google Play Music. But the report leaves some unanswered questions about Google's plans for the music-streaming space.News
Samsung Galaxy S IV rumored to have eye-tracking, 13-MP camera, among other features
As the countdown continues to March 14 when Samsung will raise the curtain on its new Galaxy S IV, rumors about the features of the new smartphone abound.Geek Tech
MIT video tool analyzes your video uploads, spots your lies
MIT releases a video tool that lets you see hidden motions and color changes, sort of like a magnifying glass for moving images.News
Nikon’s Coolpix A redefines the fixed-lens camera sector
Nikon builds a large image sensor into its new compact, fixed-lens camera.Reviews
Review: Sonos’s Playbar is a great soundbar for its price
The Playbar is one of the best soundbars in its price range, but it can’t compete with a midrange AV receiver and a 5.1-channel speaker configuration.News
Bands build brands and fans by streaming shows
Live-streaming concerts is quickly becoming a way for musicians to connect with their audience and supplement sales. Tech companies are clamoring for a spot in the streaming space.Geek Tech
BigDog robot can hurl cinderblocks with ease, is more loyal than other robots
If you have a grudge, let BigDog protect you with its block-hurling ability.Now Streaming
Post-Oscar recovery movies
Indulging in too many important, indulgent, and lengthy Oscar movies can drain a person's appetite for cinema. Without even a single Oscar nomination among them, these more inventive, lower-budget, and much shorter movies could re-ignite jaded filmic passions, one way or another.Opinion
How to win the streaming set-top box wars
It's not clear yet who will dominate the set-top box market in the long term. What is clear is that it's an increasingly competitive space, with Intel joining Apple, Google, Roku, and others. What's the path to dominance in the field?News
Flexible glass displays still years away, says Corning
Corning recently opened an $800 million factory to produce the bendable glass.News
Pandora restricts free mobile listening to 40 hours per month, citing royalty woes
In the face of skyrocketing royalty fees, Pandora reintroduces a 40 hour per month listening cap for free mobile listeners.News
New DivX Stash stores all your online videos in one place
Launched at Mobile World Congress this week, the still-in-beta DivX Stash lets you save movies from various video sites to watch later on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.How-To
Eliminate red eye in your photo portraits
When your camera flash fires, the light bounces off the retina and appears in your photo a dot of red. Here's how to avoid it.News
Entertainment producers decry broadband data caps
Data caps on broadband service stifle innovation and hurt producers of groundbreaking video programs, representatives of the U.S. entertainment industry said Tuesday.News
Cablevision sues Viacom to unbundle TV channels
Cablevision has sued Viacom for "illegally forcing Cablevision to carry and pay for 14 lesser-watched ancillary networks its customers do not want."News
Toshiba demos ‘Lytro chip,’ converts phones to light-field cameras
The modules, which could be in phones next year, can accurately calculate depth and change focus points after photos are shot.News
Sony releases new interchangeable lens and Cyber-shot cameras
Sony has released a new crop of cameras post-CES.Reviews
Review: LifeSpan’s Bluetooth-enabled treadmill desk is flawed but functional
Lex Friedman uses a treadmill desk, and jumped—or at least walked briskly—at the chance to review a Bluetooth-enabled model from LifeSpan. Though it works, it's not incredible, he says.News
Nikon launches the D7100, a new flagship DSLR for photo enthusiasts
The new Nikon DSLR offers an upgraded processor, higher resolution, and an improved auto-focus system.Now Streaming
Great Web TV series
Streaming TV isn't just about network and cable stations whose content you can access online. There are also some pretty cool Web series worth checking out.Car Tech
Review: Griffin Technology iTrip Auto
For car stereo systems stuck in the no-input dark ages, Griffin's iTrip Auto will broadcast your iOS devices music as an FM station.News
What’s the best way to discover new music?
How does a song go viral? Is it from Internet radio algorithms or a YouTube link from your best friend? Attendees at the S.F. MusicTech Summit Tuesday debated the issue.Geek Tech
Maki the robot wants to be your 3D-printed automaton buddy
Can't think of what else you might want to use that 3D printer you bought for? Why not print a robot?Crowdfunding Spotlight
Lynx A camera is the world’s first point-and-shoot 3D modeling camera
With so much attention being poured into 3D content, it's hard not to want to be part of the action. How does one go about that? Funding the Lynx A camera may be a good first step.Reviews