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TUAW Talkcast 2014-06-22: Summer solstice edition!
The days have gotten just about as long as they can get here in Ye Olde Northern Hemisphere, as we marked the official beginning of astronomical summer yesterday on June 21. We're enjoying the lingering twilight, the thrill of a 2-2 heartbreaking World Cup tie between the USA and Portugal, and the debut of Apple's newest and cheapest all-in-one iMac. Should you buy into the $1099 slow-but-slender iMac, or keep your powder dry for something with a bit more horsepower? We'll ponder it all tonight -- live on the Talkcast. Reminder on new-style talkcasting: With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're using the Fuze Meeting system to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 10 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience, but browser-only will work fine. Just click the phone icon to join the audio once you're in. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 201-479-4595 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show is already in this post, and we'll be popping in right at 10 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time.
Secret of the Solstice is reborn
It's been a while since we've heard anything from Secret of the Solstice, but today we have no choice but to announce that it is no more... specifically, because the game is undergoing a major upgrade. Changing its name to Solstice Reborn, Outspark's isometric free-to-play game is getting a wide variety of improvements including an overhauled UI, a number of 3-D graphical improvements, and a wide variety of new quests and enemies added to the existing gameplay. The game is also heavily tilting toward the social networking side of play, and not just via integration to Facebook. Several new elements tie in directly to social interactions, such as the Marriage quests and the new Master and Pupil system. Whether you've never tried the original game or just want to see what the changes are, Solstice Reborn looks to be an interesting update to an older game and a fun ride for anyone willing to give it a shot. Plus, if you're into winning free trips to San Francisco, the Outspark team is holding a contest to fly you and a friend out to WonderCon 2011. Check the official forums for more info!
Five Gifts for the Mac AV Geek
'Tis the season to be buying. But what do you get for that special geek in your life? I can't speak for your geek, but I know what I'm asking Santa for this year – I just hope he's a TUAW reader. Whether he is or not, maybe going through my list will give you an idea on how to max out your credit card spread some holiday cheer this year. Dear Santa, I've been a good boy this year. I've cut back on the booze, and they don't greet me by name at the strip club anymore. So instead of a stocking full of coal, could you find it in your heart to bring me one or more of the following items on the night before Christmas? I know it's a long flight to New Zealand from the North Pole, but you've got to admit, at least the weather down here is waaaay better than in Cleveland this time of year. First of all, I'd like a shiny new 802.11n Airport Express. I like my Time Capsule (when it's not being a recalcitrant piece of junk), but the 5GHz wireless signal doesn't reach from my living room all the way back to my office. With an Airport Express, I'd be able to extend the wireless signal from my Time Capsule to the other side of the house and geek away in privacy. That way my wife won't have to grit her teeth every five minutes when the theme from Metroid goes off at 80 decibels and tells me I got a new e-mail. And since the Airport Express is 802.11n-enabled, I'd still be able to back up my data to the Time Capsule at a brisk pace. I'd also like these Shure SE115m+ earphones. I've been using a set of Shure E2cs for about three years now, and I love them, but the one big advantage the SE115m+ has is the controls built into the cord that would allow me to pause, play, and skip through tracks on my iPhone. I'd also be able to take calls, and it even has a built-in microphone. Santa, if I had these earphones I'd be able to put those white earbuds that came with my iPhone into a drawer and never look at them again, and that would make me a very happy boy indeed. You know how I like to shoot HD video, right Santa? But not those kinds of videos, because that would get me on the naughty list. My MacBook Pro does a good job of encoding video – it works pretty close to real-time – but if I had an Elgato Turbo.264 HD Video Encoder, it would go so much faster. Like 3-4 times faster. That way I could spend less time waiting for videos to encode and more time drinking helping old ladies across the street. If I'd been a really good boy this year, like if I'd won the Nobel Peace Prize or employee of the month at TUAW, I'd ask for a bona fide guitar amplifier. But since I haven't been that good, I'd settle for a Zoom G2.1U Guitar Effects Pedal with USB interface. This thing will simulate all kinds of guitar effects for me, and it'll plug right into my MacBook Pro. So far playing my guitar through Garageband has been an acceptable substitute for a real, live amplifier, but the one thing I definitely miss is all my effects pedals. Garageband includes lots of neat software effects that simulate pedals, but you can't stomp on them to switch them on and off. I know – I've tried. Last thing, Santa: if none of those other things will fit in your bag, could you just get me a big, fat iTunes gift card? I've got nearly US$120 worth of songs I want to upgrade to iTunes Plus so I can stop worrying about DRM nonsense on my previous purchases and get higher-quality music in the process. Thanks Santa. Next year I promise to be more helpful and honest and say fewer naughty words about New Zealand's telecommunications companies.
LG Chocolate Touch and Samsung Omnia 2 slated for August 23rd, according to supposed Best Buy leak
If this screen capture to be believed, August 23rd is gearing up to be one helluva day for phone lovers. According to this snapshot from Best Buy's computers, that's when LG's desirable BL40 Chocolate Touch will be making its way into the consumer world, alongside a red Xenon and a bevy of Samsung phones including Omnia 2, Rogue, and Solstice. No clue on what the Tour is doing up there dated for the 23rd, since it's already out on both Verizon and Sprint, but perhaps a major shipment is in the works. As for that M330 for September 8th? Yeah, we're not sure. Surrounding that tantalizing list from the top and bottom, respectively, are Samsung's eco-conscious Reclaim -- presumably listed for August 16th, although the date is obscured -- and a red and black "G2" from august 5th, which would undoubtedly be referring to T-Mobile's sophomore Android device, the myTouch 3G. Two weeks seem awfully close, but if this pans out, we certainly won't be arguing.
Samsung Solstice briefly observed, enjoyed
If you've been searching your soul and the shelves of your local AT&T shop for the perfect replacement for that Samsung Eternity in your pocket, the new Solstice might be the answer; granted, you lose a megapixel of camera resolution and AT&T Mobile TV support, but in exchange, you get a sleeker package, an updated UI, and the constant comfort that comes with knowing that your phone isn't more than six months old. Is it any good, though? Brighthand seems to think so, having checked it out recently and concluding that the UI is snappy -- important for any phone, but particularly critical for full touch models. The browser and call quality are also apparently quite good, so at under a hundie on contract, it certainly seems like it might be worth a look-see down at the store if you're in the market.
Samsung's Solstice touchscreen phone bounds onto AT&T
The age of the touchscreen dumbphone is definitely upon us, is it not? Today AT&T and Samsung announced the availability of the Solstice, a phone featuring a 3-inch (presumably resistive) touchscreen, TouchWiz, and lots of funky social networking tie-ins. Still, one gets the overwhelming impression that phones of this ilk are simply trying to cash in on the buzz of like-minded devices, while not bringing anything particularly notable to the table. This 3G-equipped number comes loaded with a 2 megapixel camera, microSD support up to 16GB, and... not much else. The phone will be available August 2nd for $99.99 with a two-year contract. Call us crazy, but for that kind of money, aren't there superior touchscreen devices on this network?
Samsung Solstice for AT&T spotted on official site, coming in at $99.99 next week?
Remember that midrange full-touch Samsung Infinity that was rumored for AT&T a while back? It looks like the stars are aligning for a model called the Solstice to be launching on the carrier in the next few days -- and it looks (and sounds) suspiciously like what we'd all expected out of the Infinity. Basically, this looks to be Sammy's mainstream touch offering for AT&T, with a relatively meager 2 megapixel cam, QVGA display, dual-band 3G, and not a whole heck of a lot else. The good news is that you should be getting a good deal in exchange for the light spec sheet -- Boy Genius Report has the Solstice launching this coming Sunday, August 2 for $99.99 on contract. Coincidentally, Samsung's official product directory conspicuously shows a Solstice off in the distance of its page banner, so yeah, this thing is definitely happening one way or another -- only question is whether we've got the specs, pricing, and launch date all nailed.[Thanks, Joey]Read - Samsung AT&T phone directoryRead - Specs, pricing rumors
