Filed under: Cell PhonesAlright, so we don't have much info on this one yet, but we couldn't resist bringing this story to your attention. A substitute teacher in Bixby, OK is accused of using a very unusual teaching aid when subbing in for a class of 14- and 15-year-olds. According to a number of the students, the unnamed teacher took out his cell phone and showed them pornography on it.It's unknown just what sort of porn it was, or where it came from -- these are the sorts of details you can't really expect a local news channel to pursue, apparently. There's no word from the substitute teacher himself, who is no longer working for the school and has directed all contact to his lawyer. A smart move that, much smarter than bringing porn to school and showing it to minors!Well, at least he didn't serve it up at a news conference.From KOTV.comRelated Links: Top Five Raciest Ads On the Web Viewing Porn at Work Even Easier With New Tech Politician Blames Porny PowerPoint on Son  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Music Hound, Video Junkie, Creative Type, $250 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide Verizon Wireless recently released the FlipShot by Samsung, a snazzy new 3-megapixel (MP) camera phone with swivel 'technology.' The crisp 240x320 pixel phone display swivels 180 degrees to allow for different viewing angles and easy sharing of multimedia with friends. To activate the camera, you just open the clamshell halfway and swivel the display 90-degrees towards you and begin shooting (similar to the Nokia N93 camera phone). The pictures can be resized from the high-end of 2048x1536 to the low end of 160x120 for ease of sharing videos through text messages and MMS (multi-media messaging), or you can even print them wirelessly using PictBridge. Most phones coming out from Verizon these days support the EV-DO high speed data networkm, and the FlipShot is no exception. You can stream music and video from Verizon's V Cast Music and Video service or even quickly download songs that catch your fancy. You can then store your downloaded songs and video on up to 4 -gigabytes (GB) of memory via the MicroSD slot provided (card sold separately of course).The FlipShot is also quite reasonably priced at $199 with a 2-year contract with Verizon Wireless, and is sure to be appreciated by creative types and amateur shutterbugs everywhere. From BetaNews.com Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, YouTube, Windows Software, Webware, Mac SoftwareAdobe Flash Player just got a bit of an upgrade the other day, one affectionately known as 'Moviestar.' The third update to Flash 9 adds a couple of features that may not immediately mean that much to the average user -- support for the H.264 codec, AAC audio support, and hardware graphics acceleration. So what does that mean for you, the web-video-obsessed public? It means a much greater quality video experience is on the way. Supporting H.264 (the same codec used by Quicktime) means that HD video in your browser is just around the corner. Imagine watching that great video of the skateboarding dog in 1080 lines of resolution. The hardware acceleration in the update also means that better quality video rendering and scaling to full screen will finally make it possible to watch YouTube videos not only in high-def, but also in full-screen high def. These features are even available in the Linux version, which is the first time Adobe has kept the Linux version of Flash current with the Windows and Mac versions.The only problem is the current version of Flash CS3, the application used for building Flash based applications, players and sites, doesn't support the new features, and no time table for an update has been set by Adobe.From BetaNewsRelated links:Christian YouTube is the Fastest Growing Site the NetHow to Watch TV Online - For FreeYouTube's Online Editing Tools Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesDespite all the stories that claim video games are corrupting our children, plenty of good news regarding video games is also surfacing lately, much of due to Nintendo's charge to expand its market to non gamers. This was spurred on by the success of games like 'Brain Age' among senior citizens, and now the Wii is finding even more success in strange places, like physical therapy offices. Some therapists are now using the device as a fun prescription, a means to force patients to focus on things like balance and coordination and do so in a confined space. The bowling game in 'Wii Sports,' for example, requires good timing and some reasonably precise movements, and, best of all, can be played without swinging a real bowling ball around. The Wii Balance Board, coming to the U.S. sometime next year, should make the console even more attractive, allowing the Wii to chart gamers' balance as they perform simple calisthenics, simulate ski jumps, and play silly games that involve leaning.Now if only if were actually possible to buy one of the things before Christmas.From ReutersRelated Links: Nintendo Targets Women & Grandparents Study Shows Video Games Make Senior Citizens' Brains Sharper Want a Wii for Christmas? Get in Line.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersIt appears as if this whole Wi-Fi on airlines thing is finally taking off (sorry, couldn't help it). Four months after announcing that it intends to put Wi-Fi on some of its planes, American Airlines is starting to reval some specifics on the plan. Wi-Fi access to a broadband data connection will be provided by Aircell (which has also partnered with Virgin) on transcontinental 767-200 flights starting in 2008. The best part is the price, which we were worried about back in August when we heard the first rumblings of this program. How much, you ask? Well, it's going to cost $0. Thats right, it's free. Not to be out done, JetBlue yesterday announced that it, too, would be offering free Wi-Fi on some of its planes -- as long as you're using it to access your Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, or BlackBerry Mail. This amounts to nothing more than a tease. The airline might as well not offer anything at all.So far, efforts to bring the Internet to the air have failed. And pretty miserably, we might add. Connexion and Lufthansa (among other international airlines) teamed up a few years ago, but the service was shut down last December since no one seemed willing to pay for it. Will these new efforts succeed where past ones have failed? In the case of American Airlines, we'd say there is a strong possibility, since it's offering access to any site, just like on the ground! And it makes a lot of sense to focus only on long-haul flights, since a long 14-hour flight to Tokyo is exactly when you need to be getting online. Let's just hope people don't start using Skype or other Internet phone services and yap away the hours.From CrunchGearRelated links:American, Lufthansa Adding In-Flight Wi-Fi Virgin America Details In-Flight Internet United Adds Cool Gadgets to First and Business Class  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Car Tech, Cell Phones, Cameras, Computers, Video Games, Holiday Gift GuideSo the sporty person in your life already has everything: the jersey, the hat, even the football-shaped phone. But does he (she?) have a computerized golf putter? What about a bicycle speaker? We didn't think so. Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for jocks and sports fans for some tech gift ideas you probably haven't already considered.Click Here --> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersSo listen to this, casual users of copied software: If you get caught violating U.S. copyright laws, by, say, copying and distributing songs and movies illegally, you could face up to 10 years in prison and pay a cool half-million dollar fine. Sounds frightening, right? Well, not to a some politicians who are supporting the "Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007." The bill calls for increased penalties and the creation of specific offices to track down and combat piracy. To anyone who either follows U.S. politics or the copyright wars of late, it should come as no surprise who is really behind this bill. Its primary political supporters have received plenty of campaign donations from both the MPAA (the movie industry association) and the RIAA (the music industry association). The always-on-the-offensive RIAA recently won a $220,000 settlement from Jammie Thomas, who was found guilty of sharing a whole 24 songs online. Many considered that sum to be outrageous, but this new bill could make penalties and fines even harsher and higher.Still downloading tunes illegally? If so, you might want to think twice before you do it again.From TorrentFreakRelated Links: Mom of Two Stung With $220K RIAA Penalty RIAA Defendant Appeals $220K Fine Juror Calls RIAA Defendant a Liar  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  With his mind apparently grasping onto distant memories of cruising down the autobahn in his black Audi A4, a German man was stopped yesterday by police, after they caught him doing 40 mph down a high street in Geseke, Germany -- in his electric wheelchair.The 54 year-old Guenther Eichmann was apparently a former engineer, and had modded his wheelchair's engine to burn rubber. Doing 40 in a 20 zone, he was actually going twice the speed limit, which we'd translate into kilometers-per-hour for you, were it not for the fact that our collective head would explode. Eichmann's "vehicle" was confiscated by the cops (kinda harsh, right?), and he was slapped with a £300 fine, or roughly nine billion US dollars. From AnanovaRelated Links:Wheelchair powered by the mind Teen builds electric unicycle  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cameras, YouTubeA video that depicts a man arguing with, and then being beaten by, a swarm of teenage girls on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York, is currently under investigation by the New York City Police Department.Kadejra Holmes, an aspiring filmmaker from Harlem, uploaded the video on November 7, but when she was asked about the video by investigative site The Smoking Gun, she pulled the video. She denied being part of the gang of girls, and has since disappeared from YouTube completely. Luckily (or not), CourtTV grabbed the video, and we have it here above. Meanwhile, the New York City Police department is looking into who was involved in the apparent crime, and whether or not the beating was staged by Holmes.To us at Switched, the attack looks real, but it is interesting that the attackers smile at the camera in a couple instances. Either way, it's a nerve-wracking viewing experience. See the video by clicking above.From The Smoking GunRelated Links:Thieves Caught on Video, Posted to YouTube - Help the Store Owner Catch 'Em! Oprah Launches Her Own YouTube Channel Friday YouTube Fix: Woman Taunts Polar Bear Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Cell Phones, Cameras, Video Games, Gift NewsRemember the breakup when she (or he) got your gadget? Whether it was the flat screen TV, laptop computer or robot vacuum cleaner, original ownership is often a point of contention when it comes to divvying up the domestic gadgets during a breakup. Well, it's been awhile, but the British have saved the day. Online electronic retailer Pixmania and law firm Lloyd, Platt & Company have brought the prenuptial agreement into the 21st century with the "E-nup". While not legally binding, the E-nup is a document that gadget junkies will find extremely useful before deciding to live in sin. Picture waving it in the air as you channel Perry Mason: "It says right here in the E-nup that you signed that the Xbox 360 is mine!" And even though it won't make or break a case, the courts might smile upon some evidence of ownership, should it go that far. At worst, the E-nup is another sign that love means never having to say, "Fine, that gadget is yours."From Shiny MediaRelated Links:The Switched Holiday Gift GuideRIAA Defendant Appeals $220K Fine Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersIt seems like every day brings the launch of a new YouTube knockoff that offers fancy integrated video players and the ability to upload user-created content. Few of these upstarts seem to have a chance compared to Google's juggernaut ... except for the porn-focused ones, of course, which seem to be doing quite well. Conversely, a Christian-focused alternative is also finding quite a bit of success by letting believers strut their faith for all the Web to see.GodTube was launched last January by Chris Wyatt, a former producer for CBS. It mostly offers user-generated Christian programming, like a number of parodies of popular songs re-written to include Christian overtones, (some funny, some not) and, of course, plenty of preaching. Much of the site's content is a little more controversial, however, including a number of videos attacking Mormonism and one in which an atheist holds a Christian at gunpoint and asks him to die for his faith.So, perhaps not everyone can appreciate the content, but surely everyone can appreciate the traffic. In August GodTube was the fastest growing Web siteon the 'Net according to comScore, an Internet marketing company. GodTube tauts 1.6 million unique visitors a month, an impressive figure for an upstart, but not quite a threat to YouTube's stats yet, estimated to be somewhere around 50 million per month.From USA TodayRelated Links: How To Watch TV Online - For FreeHow To Watch TV Online - For Free Nokia Says Social Networks Will Replace TV Networks Is There Hope for the Apple TV?  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Google, iPhoneGoogle aficionados who are lucky enough (or dumb enough, depending on your perspective) to own an iPhone can finally stop complaining about uneven functionality with that search giant's apps: In addition to releasing yesterday's Gmail upgrade, the company created an iPhone-specific version of its home page and related services. The new page offers easy-to-access tabs for many Google services, including calendar, Gmail, Docs, etc. -- all with interfaces specifically designed for use on the iPhone's smaller screen, of course.The search box even got an upgrade. Now, in an effort to save you some time trying to type out search terms on the cramped touch-screen keyboard, the Google search page will offer search suggestions as you type.From LifehackerRelated Links:Gmail Gets Major UpgradeApple Sued Over iPhone's Visual VoicemailNew Google Maps Mobile Finds Your Location With Out GPS Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Editor's Picks, Gadget Head, Music Hound, Creative Type, Man / Woman Who Has Everything, $5000 and Under, Features, Reviews, Holiday Gift GuideHype Check: Gibson Robot GuitarOn December 7, guitar enthusiasts around the nation will be able to get their callused hands on the Gibson Robot Guitar, a first-of-its-kind, self-tuning instrument packed with a computer and motorized tuners. This special edition Les Paul will initially only be available in limited quantities -- 10 guitars for each of 400 retailers across the nation. What it does: The Robot Guitar has a built-in tuner, a CPU, and motorized tuners that turn to increase or decrease the pitch of each string individually until the whole guitar is in tune. The on board computer is also used to switch from standard tuning (EADGBe) to a host of alternate tunings and even set intonation.What we like: The preset alternate tunings such as DADGAD and Open D (DADF#AD) are great for the forgetful and impatient. The Robot Guitar switches to alternate tunings much quicker than a person could, and the user can even change the presets for custom tunings, in case your playing style is less Son House and more Sonic Youth. And the intonation mode is a real cash saver. The computer guides you through adjusting the string saddles until you have perfect intonation, which guarantees pitch-perfect playing along the entire neck of the guitar. (With standard guitars, this adjustment is performed by a professional in a repair shop, which means parting ways with your instrument for a period of time and coughing up about $50 for the service.)Then there is the paint job, a gorgeous coat of super glossy "silver burst" that goes from a subtle silver in the center to a beautiful, bright blue around the edges. This particular color was designed specifically for the Robot Guitar and is sadly not available on any other instrument from Gibson, but we hope thischanges soon. Most importantly, this ax maintains that classic Les Paul tone -- thick, buttery, and smooth. In fact, it sounds so good, it almost feels like cheating. Even a novice can sound like Jimmy Page with a Les Paul strapped on.What we don't: There isn't much to dislike about this thing. The tuner occasionally had trouble picking out the last string or two when tuning, which slowed down the process, and if the guitar is just slightly out of tune, it's actually faster to adjust by hand in most cases. Our biggest worry with the device is the construction. The guitar feels solid enough, but pulling out and pushing back the tuning knobs for manual adjustment made us a little nervous. Repairing the guitar is also bound to be an expensive proposition should the tuner, computer, or motors fail. You won't be able to take this to your local music shop for repairs. Does it live up to the hype: Surprisingly enough, yes. When we first heard about this thing we were skeptical -- a guitar that tunes itself comes off as a bit of an unnecessary novelty, but Gibson's newest innovation proved its usefulness to us. Not to mention that playing 'War Pigs' on any Les Paul is a wonderfully satisfying experience.Price and where to get it: $2,499 at select Gibson retailers across the nation. You can find the nearest one here.Related Links:Is the Amazon Kindle Really the iPod of Books?How to Get Rid of Killer Bacteria in FoodHype Check: Verizon VCAST Mobile TVWhat we don't: There isn't much to dislike about this thing. The tuner occasionally had trouble picking out the last string or two when tuning slowing down the process, and if the guitar is just slightly out of tune its actually faster to adjust by hand in most cases. Our biggest worry with the device is the construction. The guitar feels solid enough, but pulling out and pushing back in the tuning knobs for manual adjustment made us a little nervous. Repairing the guitar is also bound to be an expensive proposition should the tuner, computer, or motors fail. You won't be able to take this to your local music shop for repairs. Does it live up to the hype: Surprisingly enough yes. We'll be honest, when we first heard about this thing we were skeptical. A guitar that tunes itself sounds pretty lazy and comes off as a bit of a novelty, but Gibson's newest innovation proved its usefulness to us. Not to mention that playing 'War Pigs' on a Les Paul is a wonderfully satisfying experience.Price and where to get it: $2,499 at select Gibson retailers across the nation. You can find the nearest one here.Related links:Is the Amazon Kindle Really the iPod of Books?How to Get Rid of Killer Bacteria in FoodHype Check: Verizon VCAST Mobile TV Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, MySpaceLet this be a lesson to you: Take breaking up a little more seriously and try not to embarrass your soon-to-be ex anywhere that others might see. This was learned the hard way by video blogger Sandra Soroka who ditched her beau via a Facebook status update.The real mistake was posting an image of the status update on Digg, where scorned, geeky, men decided that Sandra had gone too far. Her Flickr account was hacked, all her photos deleted and replaced with a 'lol cat.' Horrifying. We would just like to thank Sandra for putting her neck out there and confirming what any person with a sense of decency probably suspected -- breaking up via Facebook status update is a bad idea.From ValleywagRelated links:Facebook Under Fire for Spyware Ad SystemFacebook to Drop 'is' From Status UpdatesLosing Face on Facebook - Five True Stories Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments