Philip Palermo

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Stories By Philip Palermo

  • On the court with the promising Qlipp tennis sensor

    It wasn't long ago that we rounded up a collection of gadgets aimed at tennis players -- everything from fitness trackers to sensor-laden rackets. But this is still a young market and we've seen several new entries since then. Equipment maker Babolat announced the Pop, a stat-tracking sensor housed in a wristband, back in August. Meanwhile, a new name is entering this growing field. A small team called 9 Degrees Freedom successfully crowdfunded the Qlipp -- a small sensor going for $99 in pre-release deals before jumping to its regular $129 price. It's a "universal" device that should work with nearly any racket and the company boldly claims it's the "ultimate tennis performance sensor." I received a pre-release version several weeks ago and, thanks to a nagging foot injury, I ended up spending far longer with the device than I anticipated. That added time gave me the chance to watch the accompanying app evolve as the Qlipp neared its December release and while the typical crowdfunding growing pains are evident, I do like where the company's going with this device.

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  • Growing Up Geek: Philip Palermo

    Welcome to Growing Up Geek, a feature where we take a look back at our youth, and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. This week, we have our very own Philip Palermo! In case you couldn't tell from that pirate / bandit / pimp / vampire pictured above, I sometimes have trouble making up my mind. It took me forever to decide what I wanted to be that Halloween -- figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up has taken even longer. It's strange to think that a few landmark tech purchases during my life helped make who I am today. Our family's first computer, the NES, a used DSLR -- just the simple act of bringing tech home and experimenting with it seemed to shape, reshape and re-reshape my projected career path.

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  • Sony's new A7R II brings more than just a resolution bump

    Sony's A7 range of full-frame mirrorless cameras has only been around for just under two years and yet there are already six members in the lineup. The company has wasted no time in filling the series with models tuned for different uses -- from low-light performance to high-megapixel applications. The A7R II, with its 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor, certainly falls in that latter category with specs that place it roughly in the same league as heavy hitters from Canon and Nikon. Still, bullet points on a page are one thing; using it in the field can uncover something entirely different. I spent a month with the expensive shooter ($3,200 for the body) and it turns out Sony's latest megapixel monster can hold its own among the big boys.

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  • Nintendo@PAX: Wii U gets 'F-Zero'-style racer, 'Kerbal' and more

    Nintendo helped kick off Seattle's annual PAX Prime gaming convention with a focus on the indie scene. The Nindies@Night event at the EMP Museum gave fans a chance to check out 19 indie games on the Wii U and 3DS -- and interact with the developers themselves. Among the highlights: Developer Shin'en showed off two-player split-screen support in its very F-Zero-esque Fast Racing Neo; Squad talked about bringing Wii U-specific features to Kerbal Space Program; and Yacht Club Games unveiled a certain shovel-wielding Amiibo figure.

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  • Babolat and PIQ team up for a pair of wrist-worn tennis wearables

    The market for connected tennis wearables hasn't exactly been around for very long, yet equipment maker Babolat has already established itself as something of a veteran in the space with its Play series line of sensor-equipped rackets. But that meant if you wanted the company's stat-tracking sensor and its easy-to-use app, you also had to buy one of its popular (and pricey) rackets -- since the sensor is hardwired to the handle. Babolat's latest entry, though, doesn't require quite as much brand loyalty. Today, the French company unveiled the Babolat Pop: a $90 connected tennis wristband that lets players track their groundstrokes, serves and other stats with any racket they want -- and, yes, that means other brands as well.

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  • Adobe's next mobile photo editor could be revealed in October

    When Adobe announced it was discontinuing its mobile Photoshop Touch app earlier this year, it hinted at greater things to come in a mysterious project code-named "Project Rigel." While it listed a vague "late 2015" availability at the time, a recent CNET report suggests we'll be formally introduced to Adobe's new offering this October. The company's latest pro-level mobile effort will reportedly come in the form of a free iOS editing app that looks to offer much of the desktop software's capability wrapped in a touch-friendly UI that won't scare away novices.

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  • Behind the wheel of Logitech's G29 Driving Force controller

    While gamers are still waiting for any official word on a PlayStation 4 entry in the venerable Gran Turismo series, there's still plenty of racing to be done on Sony's current-gen console. The recent release of Project Cars and the steady maturation of Driveclub (following its botched launch) are just two examples of the PS4's racing options. Into this growing genre comes Logitech with its $400 G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel -- the latest in its long-running G series of steering wheel controllers. While owners of the older (and non-PS4-compatible) G27 wheel may be disappointed that the company has opted to replace it, Logitech's latest entry (released alongside an Xbox One-focused sibling called the G920) could be worth the sizable asking price.

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  • I won't be playing 'Halo 5: Guardians' and here's why

    In the early 2000s, four-player, split-screen Halo was a revelation for my then-girlfriend Jenn (who would later become my wife), her two sisters and me. It was amazing, frantic, swear-filled fun. Controllers were thrown; tempers flared. But that's all sadly in the past. Last week, Halo's current custodian, 343 Industries, revealed that it's abandoning local split-screen multiplayer and native LAN support for this fall's Halo 5: Guardians. We knew from earlier reports that local campaign co-op was out of the question, at least at launch, but the Ars Technica report confirms we won't see any split-screen multiplayer modes or native LAN support. Allow me to repeat: No local multiplayer. None. In a Halo game. For me, and likely many other longtime Halo fans, the news is a bitter pill to swallow.

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  • Building a high-end racing sim setup with $1,800 in gaming accessories

    When it comes to racing games, and especially simulator-style titles, using a standard controller is fine for casual, laid-back play. But the genre really comes into its own with a dedicated wheel/pedal setup. There are a number of affordable options out there, as well as higher-end wheels like the Thrustmaster T300RS we checked out earlier this year. Meanwhile Logitech recently announced the $400 G29 and G920 (for the PS3/4 and Xbox One/PC, respectively). But if those wheels just aren't quite high-end enough for you, Fanatec is happy to help you out. I've been using the company's modular ClubSport line to see if it can help me tame the vehicles on offer in the racing sim Project CARS. It's about as top-of-the-line as racing wheels get, but I'm warning you right now: The best doesn't come cheap.

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  • Check out Sony's 2015 E3 conference live

    Sony's setting itself up for a pretty big 2016 -- with the release of the Project Morpheus virtual reality headset, a remastered Ratchet & Clank title and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End all expected next year. But does that mean there's nothing to look forward to in the second half of 2015? Watch as Sony outlines its plan for this year and beyond at 6PM PT (9PM ET) on June 15th. You can expect the company to discuss first-party franchises (possibly including some that have yet to make their PS4 debut) as well as the upcoming roster of third-party and indie titles. Heck, there might even be a few last-gen titles that have earned the right to a "remastered" makeover. Check out the livestream below and rest assured we'll have all the news from the event in our liveblog right here. Check here for everything happening at E3 2015!

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  • Zepp upgrades its tennis game with a beefed-up app

    Just in time for the French Open, sports-tracking firm Zepp is launching a big update to its tennis app. The simply named Tennis 2.0 app works with the company's multisport sensor -- a bright, little widget that attaches to golf clubs, baseball bats and tennis rackets. We've taken a few swings with the sensor in batting cages and on tennis courts in the past, and while we praised its ease of use and the fact that it worked with most any bat/racket, we thought the accompanying tennis app lacked the depth of competing options like Babolat's Play series or Sony's Smart Tennis Sensor. Now, Zepp's significantly beefed-up app looks to address many of those concerns.

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  • Daily Roundup: Windows 10 plans, Apple Watch issues and more!

    In today's edition of the Daily Roundup, Microsoft kicked off its annual Build developer conference by showing off some of the tools developers can use to get their Windows 10 apps up and running. We also learned the official name for the company's Project Spartan browser and witnessed some of the HoloLens headset's new tricks. One tidbit we didn't learn, however, was a release date for Windows 10. Of course, Microsoft wasn't the only company making headlines today. Hulu snagged streaming rights for Seinfeld and some Apple Watch users are discovering dark tattoos can mess with the device's heart rate sensor.

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  • Chinese automaker shows off country's first EV sports car

    It shouldn't be a surprise that China is looking to zero-emission vehicles to help tackle its air-quality issues. Beijing-based CH-Auto is looking to take advantage of that push with the country's first all-electric sports car dubbed the Event. The company used the recent Beijing Auto Show to show off its sleek two-seater EV. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Event packs a 48kWh battery and can sprint to 100KPH (62MPH) in less than five seconds. As for range, WSJ says we can expect about 155 miles on a charge, while recharging takes around six hours using a 220-volt source.

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  • Volkswagen's latest 'Gran Turismo' concept is a 500HP hatchback

    For those who think Volkswagen's Golf GTI and Golf R hot hatches just aren't "hot" enough, the carmaker's latest virtual concept for Gran Turismo 6 (PlayStation 3) may be up your alley. The GTI Supersport Vision Gran Turismo offers up more than 500 horsepower in a hunkered-down, all-wheel-drive, two-door hatch that's slightly faster than its real-world inspiration. In fact, the carmaker says this virtual concept can hit 62MPH (100KPH) in about 3.6 seconds.

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  • 10 high-tech gadgets that will improve your tennis game

    The sport of tennis is no stranger to incorporating new technologies -- from the electronic line judges of the early '70s to today's Hawk-Eye system with its multi-camera array. These days, players at all levels have a variety of high-tech tools to help them up their games. We've already taken a look at how modern technology can help if you're training for golf and soccer. Now it's time to check out some options you might want to consider the next time you hit the courts. Below you'll find devices to smarten up your racquet and your shoes, as well as fitness trackers and apps designed to up your game no matter what level you are. Tennis anyone?

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  • Tinder-like Cute or Not app lets you rate pet photos

    In an unsolicited, but appreciated move, the folks at BuzzFeed have graciously created an app specifically for me. It's called "Cute or Not" and it gives me yet another avenue to share photos of my pup, Oliver. Surprisingly, though, the iOS app is also available to other people, even if they don't happen to own adorable Bichon Frises. Cute or Not lets users upload pics of their pets (cat, dog or "other") and submit them for the internet's approval -- or disapproval (you monsters!).

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  • Uber drivers in India will start collecting area data to improve safety

    Uber's connecting with a crowdsourced safety app and, eventually, local government to help improve conditions in New Delhi, India. The company announced a partnership with SafetiPin, a firm that collects location-based info and offers a "safety score" for a given area. The idea is that Uber's "partner-drivers," as the company calls them, will start collecting nighttime safety information throughout the New Delhi area -- a city where an Uber driver was accused of rape last year. Since those allegations surfaced, the company has announced various efforts to improve passenger safety in the Indian capital. In fact, Uber's partnership with SafetiPin closely follows the company's addition of an in-app "panic button" for the area earlier this month.

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  • Fuji's premium telephoto zoom packs some serious punch

    Fujifilm may still be a relatively niche player in the mirrorless camera field, but that's not stopping the company from putting out some serious lenses to go along with its well-regarded X-series cameras. With the $1,600 XF50-140mm zoom, Fuji's hoping to provide a professional-level, weather-sealed telephoto zoom that can compete with the legendary 70-200mm lenses from companies like Nikon and Canon. I spent a month with the lens to see how close the company came.

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  • Chevy is making its long-range Bolt EV concept car a reality

    Chevrolet is moving forward with its plans to build the long-range, all-electric Bolt. The crossover-style EV was unveiled a month ago as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, not far from the Orion Assembly plant, where the carmaker will begin manufacturing the electric vehicle. When it was unveiled, the company announced target specs including a 200-mile range and a price of around $30,000. Those numbers would put it in direct competition with Tesla's upcoming Model 3 EV. By comparison, Chevy's $27,000 Spark EV city car manages roughly 82 miles on a charge.

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  • Samsung's NX1 camera looks like a DSLR, but does it perform like one?

    While companies like Sony and Fujifilm continue to stuff serious camera guts into smaller and smaller mirrorless bodies, Samsung's aiming to ape both the function and the form of modern "prosumer" DSLR's with its $1,500 NX1. With a rapid-fire 15 fps burst mode and 4K video support, the company's flagship interchangeable lens camera certainly boasts some high-end specs. I spent a month with Samsung's latest to see if it can match or even exceed the DSLRs it appears to emulate.

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  • IRL: I spent a month controlling my coffeemaker over WiFi

    The unending march to bring the Internet of Things into all the things continues. While CES 2015 gave us a sneak peek at the near- and long-term future of the IoT movement, there are plenty of WiFi-connected options available today. We've already taken a close look at the Belkin Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo (phew!). Now it's time to see how useful a smart coffeemaker can be.

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  • Woman in India rape case sues Uber

    A woman who claims she was raped by an Uber driver in New Delhi last month has filed suit against the US-based car-sharing company. In a civil complaint filed yesterday in California, the unnamed woman, who's referred to as "Jane Doe," said the company put its bottom line ahead of ensuring rider safety -- especially its female passengers.

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  • Moment's camera case gives your iPhone a two-stage shutter key

    If there's one thing (and there is) I miss about carrying around my Lumia 1020, it's that phone's dedicated, two-stage camera button. Designed to mimic "real" camera shutter releases, it's a feature I've missed dearly on my current daily driver, Apple's iPhone 6. Seattle-based Moment seems to think I'm not alone in wanting a more camera-like experience when snapping pics with my phone. Starting today, the small company is taking to Kickstarter to launch the Moment Case -- a camera case it hopes will bring DSLR-like control to iPhone shutterbugs.

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  • New York governor wants statewide 100Mbps internet by 2019

    With a $1 billion plan, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hopes to have every New Yorker hooked up to high-speed internet by 2019. The administration is billing it as the largest state investment in universal broadband in the country. Just how fast are we talking, here? In most cases, the program calls for providers to offer at least 100 Mbps, or as Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot described it at a press conference, "more than 10 times the federal definition of 'broadband.'"

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  • Lytro's Illum camera is expensive, but less gimmicky than we thought

    Back in 2012, Lytro's first camera introduced folks to its light-field imaging tech -– letting users tweak focus, perspective and depth of field after a photo is taken. However, that first-gen camera's peculiar body and low-res output limited its appeal. Now, with the $1,599 Illum, Lytro's back, looking to elevate its unique approach from mere curiosity to a legitimate photographic tool. I spent some time with the beefy new model to see how far the company's come.

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  • Google asks for donations through charity 'portals' in 'Ingress'

    Google's augmented reality exploration game, Ingress, has had a pretty eventful 2014, including an iOS release back in July and the addition of user-created missions a few months later. Now, developer Niantic Labs is closing out the year by getting in the holiday spirit. In a recent blog post, the Ingress team announced its #MissionsForGood campaign, aiming to entice players on both sides of the augmented reality conflict to give back to their respective communities during the holidays. Using the recently added user-created missions feature, verified agents (level 8 and higher) can designate portals at or near local charities and add the #MissionsForGood hashtag in mission titles. The team also added a unique medal for the campaign.

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