How to Spot a Fake Rolex

Bling
Originally uploaded by bambino333

A savvy consumer took an impromptu trip to Manhattan's infamous Chinatown last week to show you the differences between real and fake Rolexes. He writes "Of course, my watch was a textbook fake, from the shoddy materials, clear-glass backing, and the inaccurate 'date bubble."

Some of his tips include:
1) Clear caseback--luxury watches don't have clear plastic backs! Total giveaway.
2) Micro-etched Crystal--"My counterfeit watch doesn’t even attempt to mimic this feature, but many fakes will try to match the micro-etched Rolex logo that has become standard on genuine watches made after 2002. Rolex began micro-etching their coronet symbol into the crystal just below the 6 o’clock position. The mark is so small, it is often difficult to see with the naked eye, but can be identified under magnification. The detail is so precise that counterfeit models often cannot replicate the logo accurately."
3) Hand movement--if the hands, particularly the second hand--clicks or moves in a jerky way, it's a fake. The real thing has a smooth, fluid movement that just can't be copied.

Read the full story here. And remember that the best way to ensure your watch is real is to purchase at an authorized distributor.

16GB of Photo Snapping Goodness

We all are taking more and more pictures on our digital cameras, so that 2gb memory card is already starting to seem small. Does 16gb sound better? Then Panasonic is your new best friend because they will be releasing a 16gb SD(HC) card for a MSRP of $319.99 in November of this year. The is obviously aimed at professional photographers or those of you taking long trips and don't want to run out of space while traveling.

Of course if 16gb is not big enough you can always wait it out for the 32gb model from Toshiba.

Source

Voice Recognition on iPhone

I promise this won't become a iPhone only blog, but recently there has been a lot of iPhone news. Yesterday VoiceSignal ported their voice recognition system in the form of an application to control music playback. Simply launch the app and say the name of the song or artist. Check out the video below.

via EngadgetMobile

While nVidia and ATI are well known for their gaming performance, Intel is making strides to revamp their integrated graphics chip. Part of the new Santa Rosa chipset is the GM 3001 integrated graphics. This replaces their previous generation, the GMA950 (currently found in Apple's MacBook and MacMini). The GM 3001 is the first integrated graphics to be able to handle some of today's games. It has been demonstrated that Call of Duty 2, Far Cry and Battlefield 2 are playable, which is unheard of when talking about integrated graphics.

Watch the video for more



Story via HardMac

-Will S.

iPhones: $100 off @ Apple Store Online

The apple store has a little treasure trove called the Refurb Store. Apple has started selling refurbished iPhones for $100 off their retail price. So you can get a 4gb iPhone for 399 and 8gb for $499 (2 year contract still required). These products come with the same warranty as new products and in all the times I have ordered from Refurb they all looked brand new. So save some cash.

Apple iPhone Refurb Store

-Will S.

Blog Dump - 43Folders and LifeHacker

I wanted to share two of my favorite blogs with you, LifeHacker and 43Folders. Both help you become more productive. 43Folders is written by Merlin Mann (bonus points for a such a cool name). His sense of humor and wit make the site both fun to read and highly rewarding. LifeHacker is like 43Folders on steroids. It updates much more frequently and encompasses more topics. In the past week I have seen articles about personal finance, software picks, and how to lose weight. Pretty much anything to improve the way you live your life. So fire up the RSS reader and add their feeds.

-Will S.

Ever Read that Wireless Contract?

If you have read your wireless contract, you may have seen language that looks like this:

mandatory binding arbitration

If so it means that if you and your wireless carrier get into a legal argument you can not go to court. You will have to battle it out in arbitration meetings, which Wikipedia defines as "a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside of courts." Arbitration disputes drag on longer than a long-distance phone bill, which is not so fun.

The good news is that the 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals has ruled it unconstitutional. So now when you sue your wireless provider you can go to real court--mallet, funny robes, and all.

via The Consumerist

-Will S.

Call of Duty 4 Demo coming to 360

Get your gaming thumbs ready cuz' a demo of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is coming to the 360. Check out the countdown clock to help you wait out every second until it is available for free download. You have until the clock hits zero to clear out 995mb from you 360's hard drive. Happy Gaming.

Original Source

-Will S.

the tech files, ed. 3

Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff (engadget)

iCopy: Another Bad Knockoff (Rising Sun)

iPhone again

The Ugliest Cellphones Ever

the tech files, ed. 2

Would You Buy a Fake iPod Shuffle? Vote Now!

Curbing counterfeit Auto Parts (Fleet Equipment Mag)

How to Spot a Fake Auto Part (The Auto Writer)

Another Bad iPhone Knockoff (Appletell)

X-Game 360 and PowerStation 3 Could be Strangest Knockoffs Ever (Tech Blog)

How to Avoid Counterfeit Software (Seeking Alpha)

Photo: Flickr's Christos_M2001

the tech files, ed. 1

New Hologram Combats Fakes (JCN)
Black iPod Shuffle Knockoff (engadget)
China Car Makers Strike Again (engadget)
The Inside of Fake Electronics (engadget)

Photo: JC Medina

iPhone

iPhone madness is still hitting hard. I don't have one yet, but I definitely want to get one in the near future. What do you think about iPhone vs. the others?