pink

Peter Jenner helped launch some of the most influential and soul-stirring rock 'n' roll bands ever recorded in Great Britain or anywhere else. But what does the former manager of such acts as Pink Floyd and The Clash know about the economics of digital music?

Apparently, Jenner has spent some time considering the current state of affairs in music. The former Cambridge University economics lecturer has some ideas on how the industry should proceed.

"Attempts to stop people [from] copying are clearly a waste of time," Jenner said on Wednesday at the Westminster eForum. "Not only are … Read more

I hope you are sitting, and not standing. For this is in fact the final episode of Gadgettes. Yes, it sucks. But the show will always live on in the archives. Before you start re-listening to every single past episode, enjoy our final sendoff where we (appropriately) cover nearly all of the segments from the show.

After years and years of failed coffee mugs, we decide to air out the dirt on the ones that suck... and possibly even cover a few things that could be considered "technology" too.

All The Mugs We Have Tried OXO “liquiseal” coffee mugs

Planetary Design Tumber Mug

Contigo AutoSeal http://bit.ly/cgDqaS

Thermos Sipp

This one looks good: Bodum Anywhere Travel Mug… Read more

Microsoft's introduction of the Kin One and Kin Two on Monday answered a lot of questions about the company's long-running, secretive "Pink" effort. But the unusual devices also left a lot of folks scratching their heads.

Well, CNET is here to try to clear some things up. We'll try to answer as many questions about the device as possible. And, if we missed one, just let us know and we'll do our best to track down an answer.

Also, be sure to check out Bonnie Cha's initial hands-on look at the Kin.

Who … Read more

On Monday, Microsoft finally took the wraps off of Project Pink and revealed two new phones targeted toward the younger generation of social butterflies.

The Kin One and the Kin Two will be available from Verizon Wireless starting next month, and, as CNET Reporter Ina Fried states, the phones are for men and women anywhere between the ages of 15 and 30 who want to broadcast their every thought, sight, and sound and want to know what their friends are up to as well. As a result, a lot of the phones' functions are built around the social-networking experience.

We got some hands-on time with both the Kin One and the Kin Two, and we're still trying to pinpoint our exact feelings on it. Overall, we think the premise is good but there are also some head-scratching omissions and the pricing of the devices and services plans will be key. We'll have to wait a bit longer to hear those details, but in the meantime, here are some of our initial thoughts on the hardware and the user interface.… Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--The Kin isn't the iPhone and it doesn't have to be.

That was the message from both Microsoft and Verizon Wireless executives at the launch of the new smartphone line on Monday.

Instead of focusing on apps, the Kin focuses on bringing together in one interface all the social networking and other tools that the "upload generation" wants in its phone.

But executives also took pains to characterize the Kin One and Kin Two as entry-level smartphones, not part of the feature phone market that they admit is in decline.

Instead, they tried to create a new niche aimed at those who are really into social networking but haven't gotten what they want on their phone.

In an interview, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices President Robbie Bach and Verizon Senior Vice President John Harrobin made their case for their new family of phones. Here's an edited transcript:

A couple real quick questions. Add-on applications, yes or no? Bach: From a marketplace standpoint, there's certainly a video and music marketplace. There isn't an app marketplace, but we do support over-the-air (upgrades), so we have an opportunity as we get feedback from customers to add additional things if we choose.

We had to make a choice early on, are we going to do an integrated experience or one that is an app-specific experience. We chose from the start to be an integrated experience and I think you see that. We concentrated on the apps we thought this audience would want...Twitter, Facebook, that all comes with the device.

The user picks up this phone and they don't have to install anything. They don't have to start anything. They just have to enter their account.

Zune video--is that over the air or do you download that from your computer?… Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--The fact that Microsoft and Verizon picked a nightclub to launch the Kin tells you a lot about their target market.

The short and squat Kin One and the wider-screened Kin Two are two shapes for the same idea--the mobile phone for those who want to broadcast their every thought, sight, and sound--"lifecasters," as Microsoft's Robbie Bach called them. Although many phones have Facebook or Twitter applications, social networking is at the heart of the Kin. Sharing has its own dedicated green button and is at the center of the Kin experience.

The target demographic is men and women between 15 and 30, said Bach, who runs Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices unit. The two companies said the phones would launch next month, but didn't say exactly when during the month, nor would either company talk at all about pricing.

Aside from their shape, the two devices are very similar. Both are touch-screen sliders running the same software. The Kin Two has a better camera (8 megapixels versus 5MP), double the memory (8GB versus 4GB), and a bigger screen.

These aren't a run at the iPhone. Bach stressed that Microsoft's general smartphone play is the Windows Phone 7 operating system, which will start showing up on devices this fall. In fact, there's not even an app store for Kin users to go to, although Microsoft and Verizon can push updates or add-on programs themselves over the air.

There are several key things built into the Kin, including the first phone implementation of the Zune service. The phones can play Zune video and music that is loaded onto the device from a PC, and Kin owners can also stream music over the air while they're on the go. … Read more

During an event Monday morning, Microsoft announced that it has teamed with Verizon on a pair of feature phones for the youthful Facebook crowd. The Kin One and Kin Two are the first in the Windows Phone family to come with the Zune music service. The following is a record of our live coverage from the event:

SAN FRANCISCO--Microsoft and Verizon on Monday will be introducing two new feature phones, code-named Turtle and Pure, aimed at the always-connected messaging crowd.

The pair of slider phones, each with a touch screen and keyboard, can be thought of as successors to the Sidekick line that Microsoft got with its Danger acquisition. Part of a long-running internal project called "Pink," they will be heavy on social networking and also will be the first phones to be able to access the Zune music service.

How will they stack up against the iPhone? They're not really intended to compete with Apple's juggernaut, but they may well help Microsoft regain its footing in the phone business. Plus, adding scale to the Zune community could help make the Zune feature of Windows Phone more compelling.

We'll be at the event--the start time is 10 a.m. PDT--where the phones will be unveiled, bringing you the action right here as it unfolds. So bookmark this post and check back for all the details.

9:21 a.m. PDT: The press is huddled outside Mighty, the club where Microsoft is holding the event. They haven't let us in yet.

So far, I haven't gotten anyone to confirm rumors the devices will be dubbed "Kin."

9:57 a.m. PDT: We're all inside the club. Lounge music playing softly as Ritual Coffee Roasters brew is being served to warm us up. Nothing going on yet. Various video monitors are running a slideshow of images similar to those on the invitation. The main screen carries the Sharp, Windows phone, Verizon, and Vodaphone logos.

10:00 a.m. PDT: We just got the five-minute warning.

10:02 a.m. PDT: Confirmed: It's Kin One and Kin Two. Microsoft's Kin site is live here, with pictures and details. … Read more

This episode had a number of potential titles. Nerd Alert, Nerd party, Nerdgasm... but we honed in on the one that really encapsulates the sheer nerditude of stuff covered in today's show. Let your inner nerd shine through.

Nerdgasm: HTC Evo 4G

Pong and BSOD belt buckles

Cell Mate headset heads-on

Binary Flow, officially the hardest watch to read ever

Sticker pockets change everything

It’s About Time, Best Edition Evar. Luxury watch made from dinosaur crap

What a Concept Heatswell coffee cup grows a sleeve when hot liquid is poured in… Read more