Technology news and Product Reviews - Digital Trends

With the holiday season fast approaching, we can safely assume that demand for the new iPhone 5 will surge to some degree, though even now it appears that Foxconn, the company charged with assembling the device, is feeling the pressure. Speaking to reporters after a business forum on Wednesday, Foxconn boss Terry Gou said, “It’s not easy to make the iPhones. We are falling short of meeting the huge demand.” Gou’s comments appear to back up a… Read More

With the release of the first of Peter Jackson's much-anticipated Hobbit trilogy less than two months away, theater owners are having to come to terms with the fact that, while the movie will be released in a format that allows it to be projected at the increased frame rate of 48 frames per second, that enhanced release will be limited to a small number of theaters in the US, based around two particular theater chains. Warner Bros. had… Read More

So much for that early October shipment date Grove teased us back in September! But no complaints here; we finally got our hands on the latest handcrafted case for the iPhone 5 and it's already gearing up to be one of the more unique cases available out there. But is it worth the $80 price tag? Here's your first look at the finished product. Look and feel Based in Portland, Grove is known for creating handmade, organic products… Read More

For a lucky few, there comes a point in life where you have the flexibility to focus less on what’s necessary and more on what you want. And needless to say we were fairly certain we wanted a 2012 Jaguar XKR before one showed up to our offices a few weeks back. It’s the type of luxury sports coupe that aspires to be right up there with Porsches’ seminal 911, the Maserati Gran Turismo, and BMW’s 6-Series, the 2012 Jaguar XKR is a beast of a car… Read More

Apparently, it's far easier to fight Darkseid and the demonic hordes of Apokolips than it is to break new ground in the digital distribution world. After all, DC Entertainment's line of monthly comic books - including such hit titles as Batman, Green Lantern, Justice League and Action Comics - are more than a year from their much-publicized New 52 relaunch (from September 2011), but only now will they be offered on… Read More

For casual computer users, keeping in step the fast-moving computing world can be a frustrating conundrum. When does added convenience outweigh the price of an upgrade, and the burden of readjusting to a new environment? If you've been humming along just fine with an old OS despite the arrival of Mountain Lion for Macs this summer or Windows 8 for PCs this fall, you may feel like an upgrade is pointless. But at some point, the age of your… Read More

We’ve all heard the expressions “you get what you pay for” and “nothing in this world is free” before. But as any online-savvy computer user can tell you, if you spent some time in cyberspace you might beg to differ. Literally hundreds of free programs are available (as downloadable software or online-only applications) that are guaranteed to increase fun and productivity but won’t cost you a dime. And while these offerings might not be as… Read More

At a recent Hisense event, we were told that the XT880 would be coming soon to Chinese markets, but, at the time, no official plans to unleash it on the U.S. market were discussed. Well, the unofficial has been made official...officially.  According to a recent statement,  Hisense will show off the (take a deep breath, now)  XT880 2160p 4K UHD 3D Smart TV to U.S. consumers at CES 2013.  We've already taken a close  a look, and,… Read More

A newly published Microsoft patent shows the Redmond, Washington-based computing giant may soon have the ability to monitor Xbox users through their Kinect hands-free controller. The system would allow content providers, like movie studios or record companies, new ways to monetize their goods. Only problem: The technology sounds like something straight out of 1984. Microsoft's patent, entitled "Content Distribution Regulation by… Read More

It’s been five years since Ford and Microsoft launched the Sync in-car infotainment system and, despite getting its share of criticism, the system has made it into five million Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Sync debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2007, and one was one of the first systems to allow drivers to sync (get it) their smart phones and other devices with their car’s systems. It allows drivers to make hands-free phone calls,… Read More

When Airbnb sent out an email two weeks ago encouraging renters to offer rooms at a discounted rate to help Hurricane Sandy victims, I applauded the startup's efforts at giving back to the community. Today, as a nor'easter heads back to the tri-state area even though some victims are still without power or have been evacuated from their homes, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a collaboration with Airbnb, helping… Read More

Lately, headlines have been bulging with news of new products fretted with frills. That’s all well and good, but the audiophile in us is pleased to see sound quality take center stage every now and then. The Major 50 FX 50th anniversary headphones from Marshall sport a vintage black & gold finish, but the company hasn’t hung around for fifty years by dint of their designs. Their 'phones tend to sound solid and these should be no… Read More

A couple of years ago, President Obama was having dinner with Silicon Valley movers and shakers, including an ailing Steve Jobs. Although no recording of the dinner has been made available, legend has it that the President asked Jobs what it would take for Apple’s manufacturing jobs to come back to America. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” replied Jobs. Whether that is true or not, during the campaign both President Obama and Governor Romney… Read More

Having trouble getting through this Wednesday? Here’s a little levity to get you over the hump: Boombotix has announced toay that  it will be releasing a new iteration of its popular Boombots line of portable speakers this winter. The line, which has been dubbed “the Artist Series,” overlays the Boombots with funky, chaotic, and edgy skins, crafted by street artists, to spice up the traditional portable speaker aesthetic.  The Artist Series… Read More

French carmaker Renault is looking to revive the defunct Alpine sports car brand, and it may get help from an unexpected source. The French giant is looking to British boutique carmaker and Formula 1 team Caterham to make the 21st century Alpine happen. According to Autocar, the project will yield two sports cars, one badged as an Alpine, the other a Caterham, that will use a common platform. Caterham will build its version in England, and the… Read More