Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only

It's hard to believe: our world-spanning network, our Internet, which is the cornerstone of free speech and free society -- which, on a good day, is capable of causing populist revolutions -- is still crippled by banal geolocation restrictions. We are, of course, talking about Amazon's two latest offerings, both of which are only available in the United States. Last week it was the excellent Android Appstore for Android, and today it's the Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Android.

Along with Cloud Player, Amazon also launched Cloud Drive, which is basically just like any other cloud storage digital locker. It's not particularly feature rich, and there's no real reason to use it over something like SugarSync or SkyDrive -- it does work outside the US, however.

Its primary purpose, as far as we're concerned, is that it stores your your Cloud Player music in a subdirectory. You get 5GB of Cloud Drive storage for free, and then it's $1 per gigabyte per year if you need more space.

The Amazon Cloud Player itself will not, to put it bluntly, blow your mind. It works, but it's very much an early, and possibly rushed, release. Let's dive in to the Web and Android players for a closer look.

Gallery: Amazon Cloud Player and Cloud Drive: on Web and Android

Continue reading Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only

Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/29/amazon-cloud-player-hands-on-review-functional-not-mind-blowin/

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Gadget Lab Notes: A Wireless Router That Looks Like a Wind Turbine

Gadget Lab Notes is an eclectic roundup of gadget news briefs and intriguing products that catch our eye.
Is That a Mini Wind Turbine? Nope, It?s a Logitech Wireless Router
Logitech?s LAN-WH450N/GR wireless router definitely wins the title of ?most uniquely designed router? in my book (at least for the moment). The turbine or fan looking contraption [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/notes-router-wind-turbine/

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Help Bob make money in Sticks, a fun physics game

Sticks is another one of those rare games where the intro is actually worth watching. It introduces you to office worker Bob, who is basically a wage slave fantasizing about a better existence.

Then, on his way back home from another grueling day at the office, he passes a huge sign which says "Sticks." This is where the game starts.

Each level has a number of coins hovering in mid-air, and your goal is to place sticks that lead those coins to Bob -- but you only have a limited amount of wood to play with. As soon as you're done placing your sticks strategically, hit the big Play button and let nature, or rather gravity, run its course. The coins will drop down, and if you place your sticks correctly, they will roll all the way to Bob.

The soundtrack is soothing and playful, and didn't get on my nerves even after playing for quite a while. All in all, a very cute game, especially for a day at the office.

Help Bob make money in Sticks, a fun physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/18/help-bob-make-money-in-sticks-a-fun-physics-game/

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MeeGo and Symbian: How Long Will the Bodies Stay Warm?

When Nokia and Microsoft announced a partnership last month, many systems and app developers interpreted the deal to mean Nokia was beginning to turn away QT Symbian and MeeGo platforms. In essence, Nokia would be dialing into Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 technology in the near future -- and, it was presumed, dialing out of its own mobile OSes.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/72158.html

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HTC invites us to 'see what's next' on April 12th

Would you look at what dropped in our inbox this morning? Good old HTC is cooking up a little somethin' somethin' for an April 12th launch in London town, for an event kicking off at 1.30PM GMT or 8.30AM ET. While consulting our solar calendars, we noticed that's when Microsoft's MIX 2011 developer gathering is also getting started, but we're sure it's just a coincidence and HTC isn't about to spring a battery of new Windows Phone 7 devices on us. In fact, if you stare at the invite's image long enough, you might just convince yourself you're looking at a bulging smartphone screen, which could indicate we're talking about the EVO 3D's European launch. You never know with these things. Whatever happens, we'd advise circling the date and making sure your popcorn supplies aren't running low.

HTC invites us to 'see what's next' on April 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/htc-invites-us-to-see-whats-next-on-april-12th/

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Attach Tablets to Pretty Much Anything With Vogel's Range of Mounts [Ipad Accessories Vogel ]

Starting off with a case for either an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab, you just attach the hockey puck-esque mount into the back, which allows it to be rotated. From there, the mount and tablet can be attached to any number of Vogel's systems. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/SdbnI26N45M/attach-tablets-to-pretty-much-anything-with-vogels-range-of-mounts

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This Is What Skype 5 For Mac Should Look Like

Skype users with any sense of aesthetic justice are pretty much in unanimous agreement that the user interface for Skype 5 for Mac is a disaster. Between the useless coverflow way of scrolling through Contacts, the using of "recently talked to" instead of "online" as a hierarchy for listing Contacts and the irrational hogging of onscreen real estate in the most recent update, I've now began to shudder every time I see the message "There is a new version of Skype available." I am not alone in thinking that the ability to video chat with multiple people isn't worth the rest of Skype 5 for Mac's UI hassles. Software Engineer Lucas Matis just wrote a nearly 2,000 word missive on how the new Skype is too confusing for the casual user, and not complex enough for someone more advanced (And why can you no longer send links while in video chat mode?).

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/CoTbhTVnfHo/

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Windows 8 Might Get a Time Machine of Its Own [Rumor]

According to WinRumors, Windows 8 will introduce a feature similar to OS X's Time Machine called History Vault. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3VxhhgjJdIw/windows-8-might-get-a-time-machine-of-its-own

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There's No Use Snapping Retro Photos if Your iPhone Doesn't Look Retro in the First Place [Iphone Cases]

For $35 you can snap up a one-of-a-kind iPhone 4 case, carved in either bamboo, walnut or zebra wood. Most of SigniCase's cases have retro cameras on the backs, but there are some plain designs (and an Eiffel tower) as well. [Etsy via @WhatKatieDoes] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_Rs7TLNUrOA/theres-no-use-snapping-retro-photos-if-your-iphone-doesnt-look-retro-in-the-first-place

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This year's hottest pocket mirror is also a USB 3.0 multi-format card reader

We always knew that the worlds of technology and popular culture were on a collision course of epic proportions, and if this isn't proof... well, you might say that proof simply doesn't exist. Brando's newest gizmo has an identity crisis that Charlie Sheen would simply salivate over, but if we had to guess, we'd surmise that a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed card reader -- complete with support for CompactFlash, SDXC and M2 cards -- does a lot more #winning with a mirror slapped onto the side. Pre-order yours today for the tidy sum of $25, or alternatively, a vial of #tigerblood.

This year's hottest pocket mirror is also a USB 3.0 multi-format card reader originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/VDLVnL7_8z0/

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Deal of the Day ? HP Pavilion dm1 11.6? Ultraportable Dual-Core AMD Fusion Laptop with Free Upgrades

Today?s LogicBUY deal offers 27% savings on the HP Pavilion dm1z ultraportable laptop.� Features include: 11.6? 720p LED screen, AMD Fusion platform, Radeon HD 6310M discrete graphics, Wireless-N, webcam, and more.� Options include: up to 8GB RAM, external Blu-ray drive, WWAN, 128GB SSD, and more.� Free upgrades include: 3GB memory, 320GB 7200rpm hard drive, 50% [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/03/29/deal-of-the-day-%e2%80%93-hp-pavilion-dm1-11-6%e2%80%9d-ultraportable-dual-core-amd-fusion-laptop-with-free-upgrades/

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How To Track Down an iPad 2 Near You [Apple]

Sure, you could camp outside your local Apple Store with cheese snacks and a few good magazines, but there's a better way to track down any iPad 2 action in your zip code. And you don't have to leave your computer. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/RUMQYH3bZl4/how-to-track-down-an-ipad-2-near-you

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