Touch and hold on drum sounds to hear the beat and adjust levels.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

Figure (99 cents) lets you create a song with three tracks — drums, bass, and synth lead — through a series of taps on a beautifully designed touch interface. The easiest way to get started familiarizing yourself with Figure is simply by touching record, then holding drum sounds to lay down your first beat.

Once you’re satisfied with your beat, touch the red Bass tab at the top to add a bass track. You’ll see three circles at the top with Rhythm on the left (number of bass notes per eight bars) and Range in the middle (this adjusts what part of the scale your notes will come from). On the right side of the interface you’ll see a circle divided up into pie pieces illustrating the steps of the scale — the actual notes you are playing. Figure automatically makes sure you’re in tune, only using notes from the same key. Once you’ve filled out the loop, let go and listen to your drum and bass lines.

Touch and swipe left and right in the yellow area to play notes that fit to the beat.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

Now that you have the basic components of the song, it’s time to add some lead synth. Just like the bass, … [Read more]

Related Links:
Should I break up with my iPhone for Nokia’s Lumia 900?
Audyssey’s potent little Lower East Side desktop speakers
More HTC handsets with Beats headphones? Probably not
OEM Audio Plus delivers car sound in a box upgrade for Scions
Apple should dump the iPod Touch

HTC's One X Android smartphone is quad-core in Europe and dual-core in the U.S.

(Credit:
Photo by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

Smartphones Unlocked is a monthly column that dives deep into the inner workings of your trusty smartphone.

When HTC first announced that U.S. versions of the HTC One X wouldn’t bear Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor, my gut reaction was: that’s a darn shame.

I was looking at things the wrong way. If you’re HTC or Nvidia, losing the bragging rights of introducing the U.S. to its first quad-core phone months before anyone else is a bummer. (Of course, with no quad-core phone in our market, it’s still anyone’s game.) But if you’re the typical consumer, you might wonder how you pulled the short end of the stick. After all, the more processing cores, the better the phone, right?

If you’re going to use the number of cores on your phone as the single metric for performance, you’re doing it wrong. — Greg Sullivan, Senior Product Manager for Microsoft

Maybe not. A tremendous amount of detailed architecture and circuitry go into processor chips, which can make understanding their exact effects on performance a serious undertaking for most. (Note, if you… [Read more]

Related Links:
‘HTC Evo One’ appears hours before Sprint launch
What makes the new iPad tick: A peek inside
New iPad’s performance gets iPhoto reality check
HTC One X could be Sprint’s first LTE smartphone
A quad-core Windows 8 laptop more ultra than an ultrabook?

The animation shows the Titanic splitting in two and plunging into the depths.

(Credit:
Video screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET)

Just in case his billion-dollar blockbuster wasn’t realistic enough for you, not to mention the new $18 million 3D version, James Cameron has created another film about the Titanic, which presents its final minutes in stunning detail.

“From iceberg to bottom, it’s never been animated so precisely and so dramatically,” the Canadian ubermensch and premier Titanic obsessive says in the trailer to “Titanic: The Final Word With James Cameron,” which premieres on the National Geographic Channel on April 8.

Having logged more than 30 dives to the Titanic wreck and a record for recently reaching the Challenger Deep alone, Cameron is uniquely suited to investigating the disaster. He’s often said he made the feature film just so he could dive the wreck itself.

Nonetheless, he assembled a team of eight experts for the documentary, which also features a 42-foot Titanic replica.

Related stories

• … [Read more]
  
  Related Links:
  James Cameron hits the world’s floor — and returns
  Cameron and Branson race to bring urgent attention to oceans
  Amazon’s Bezos to raise Apollo rockets from watery grave
  Titanic on Twitter: Living history one tweet at a time
  The 404 1,018: Where we get all our ducks in a row (podcast)
  
  

The app that can't be filtered out of your life.

(Credit:
Instagram)

Instagram seems to be on a mission to add hipster photo filters to all your mobile devices this week. First, the long-awaited Android version of the popular iPhone app dropped and quickly racked up over a million downloads, and now an update opens up support to tablets and Wi-Fi devices in the Android universe.

The news is more salt in the wound of scorned iOS users who were apparently under the impression that their Vegas honeymoon with Instagram would live forever, but times are changing and it doesn’t make sense for many apps to be monogamous these days.

Related stories

• iPhone users: Android is ruining our Instagram club
• Instagram for Android: The good, the bad, the ugly
• Instagram for Android grabs 1 million downloads on first day

The update also makes another key upgrade, allowing app install on an SD card, while also fixing so… [Read more]

Related Links:
Instagram for Android is now available
Instagram logs 2K signups a minute
Instagram for Android: The good, the bad, the ugly
Instagram clicks with Hipstamatic
iPhone users: Android is ruining our Instagram club

(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)

Congrats to Dianna S. of West Sacramento, Calif., for winning the IoSafe Solo G3 in last week’s giveaway. The external hard drive should come in quite handy for backing up all her data, but this week’s prize will come in handy in case you need to call for back up.

Up for grabs is the Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch for Sprint. Aside from having the longest name in cell phone history, the Android smartphone offers a spacious and sharp 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen, a dual-core processor, and support for Sprint’s 4G WiMax network.

In addition, the handset features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera and a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera that takes excellent photos and can record 1080p HD video.

Normally, the Samsung Epic 4G Touch would retail for $499.99 off contract, but here’s your chance to get one for free. (Note: You will be responsible for signing up for your own voice and data plan.) How? Well, there are a few rules, so please read carefully. There will be a test.

• Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the Join CNET link to start the registration process. If you’re already registered, there’s no need to register again.
• Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it’s funny or insightful, it won’… [Read more]
  
  Related Links:
  Crave giveaway: Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (16GB, Wi-Fi)
  Crave giveaway: Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 dual-band N900 router
  HTC wants One to be its Nexus-like premium line
  Crave giveaway: IoSafe Solo G3 external hard drive
  Android Atlas Weekly 91: Segues? We don’t need no stinkin’ segues! (Podcast)
  
  

Panasonic updates its entry-level ILC

While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 isn’t perfect, it’s still my favorite choice for snapshooters looking for a faster, better camera but one that’s similar enough to a point-and-shoot that they’re not forced out of their comfort zone. The GF3′s small size, well-designed touch-screen interface, fast performance, and solid photo quality — and, for its type, a more-or-less reasonable price — make it a compelling option. With the DMC-GF5, Panasonic makes some subtle updates and enhancements that improve on the GF3 for that same snapshooter.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 (photos)

1-2 of 11
Scroll Left
Scroll Right

• … [Read more]
  
  Related Links:
  Panasonic Lumix GF5 leaked by fashion model
  Apple update supports Nikon D4, Canon G1 X
  Digital Camera RAW update supports more cameras
  Panasonic prices its 2012 Blu-ray players
  $399 iPad 2 a Kindle Fire killer?
  
  

The Samsung Galaxy Note ditches Gingerbread thanks to this Android 4.0 leak.

(Credit:

RootzWiki)

Samsung has been a bit of tease when it comes to exactly when we might see Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy Note — and nobody likes a tease, especially in the rooting and modding community.

At first, Samsung told us to expect the upgrade sometime in the first quarter of 2012, and then as March was winding down, the update was pushed back. Now, a leaked version of Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy Note has been posted at RootzWiki and the reaction in the community so far seems to be quite positive.

The leaked version of Android 4.0 apparently includes support for the tablet/smartphone hybrid’s S Pen stylus and RootzWiki’s internal tester provided this list of working features on the current build:

<... [Read more]

Related Links:
Samsung starts bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to Galaxy S II
Android Ice Cream Sandwich coming to Motorola Droid Razr and Razr Maxx, April 4
Galaxy Note gets Android 4.0 later rather than sooner
LG Optimus Vu available unlocked, but not cheap
Another Samsung Galaxy S III image paints a clearer picture

The Canon EOS 60Da is designed for taking photographs of space.

(Credit:
Canon USA)

The ceaseless succession of new Canon and Nikon SLRs has a certain predictability, but an unusual model came out of left field today: Canon’s astrophotography-oriented EOS 60Da.

The 60Da is a close cousin to the Canon EOS 60D, a higher-end 18-megapixel model geared for enthusiasts. But the 60Da has one big difference: its infrared filter has been modified so it doesn’t screen out so much “hydrogen-alpha” light, a deep-red 656.28-nanometer wavelength of light produced by excited hydrogen atoms.

By letting in about three times the amount of hydrogen-alpha red as a regular 60D, the $1,500 60Da can capture much better photos of energetic nebulae, Canon said. It’s due to go on sale this month.

Related stories

• http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-eos-60d-body/4505-6501_7-34157106.html
• First look at the Canon EOS 60D
• Prizefight: Canon EOS 60D vs. Nikon D7000

Canon has experience in this market: In 2005, it released the EOS 20Da for a… [Read more]

Related Links:
Phase One goes industrial with aerial, repro cameras
Nikon caught using Canon 5D Mark II video footage
Rafe Recommends: Camera Awesome is what it says
Zeiss announces fast–but not cheap–15mm lens
Five creative projects for the avid photographer

Common cents: Take a penny-leave a penny tray manufacturers would seem to have dark days ahead.

(Credit:
Tim Hornyak/CNET)

When I was a kid growing up in Montreal, I spent more than a year filling a big brown bottle with pennies. When they reached the top and I poured them out, I was crushed that they totaled less than 20 bucks.

Ever since, I’ve had little love for the lowly Canadian cent — it’s 2.35 grams, mostly steel, and has been nothing but dead weight in my pockets. The government now feels the same and has announced that the Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing pennies this fall.

“Pennies take up too much space on our dressers at home,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in announcing the federal budget. “They take up far too much time for small businesses trying to grow and create jobs.”

Desjardins Group has estimated that the coin costs businesses $150 million a year in counting and transport costs. Meanwhile, it costs a penny and a half to mint every penny, and cutting it will save $11 million annually, according to the Department of Finance.

At least Canada is only losing on its pennies — the Mint says other Canadian coins cost “well under face value” to produce.

Not so south of the border. It costs the United States Mint 2.41 cents… [Read more]

Related Links:
Google hands over $5 credit to Wallet customers, report says
Apple granted patent for kid-friendly mobile-payment tech
PayPal to launch redesigned digital wallet this spring
Square Card Case is now an improved ‘Pay with Square’
Isis strikes mobile commerce deals with VeriFone, Ingenico

Common cents: Take a penny-leave a penny tray manufacturers would seem to have dark days ahead.

(Credit:
Tim Hornyak/CNET)

When I was a kid growing up in Montreal, I spent more than a year filling a big brown bottle with pennies. When they reached the top and I poured them out, I was crushed that they totaled less than 20 bucks.

Ever since, I’ve had little love for the lowly Canadian cent — it’s 2.35 grams, mostly steel, and has been nothing but dead weight in my pockets. The government now feels the same and has announced that the Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing pennies this fall.

“Pennies take up too much space on our dressers at home,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in announcing the federal budget. “They take up far too much time for small businesses trying to grow and create jobs.”

Desjardins Group has estimated that the coin costs businesses $150 million a year in counting and transport costs. Meanwhile, it costs a penny and a half to mint every penny, and cutting it will save $11 million annually, according to the Department of Finance.

At least Canada is only losing on its pennies — the Mint says other Canadian coins cost “well under face value” to produce.

Not so south of the border. It costs the United States Mint 2.41 cents… [Read more]

Related Links:
Google hands over $5 credit to Wallet customers, report says
Apple granted patent for kid-friendly mobile-payment tech
PayPal to launch redesigned digital wallet this spring
Square Card Case is now an improved ‘Pay with Square’
Isis strikes mobile commerce deals with VeriFone, Ingenico

(Credit:
CNET)

What makes a game addictive? Obviously your answer to that question will depend on what type of games you like to play, but certain games have a way of breaking down those barriers when they have just the right mix of challenges, rewards, and overall feel.

If you had never heard of Angry Birds, a description of the game probably wouldn’t entice you to play. But once you fling your first bird at a structure and hear the sounds as it flies through the air and takes out the pigs, suddenly you start to want to chase that perfect 3-star rating. Few games have just the right mix to keep you playing, but when you find one you can’t wait to jump back in whenever you get a spare moment.

This week’s collection of iOS apps are games that keep you coming back for more. The first is a puzzle game that challenges you to reach the goal using your mind as well as your reflexes. The second has you solving puzzles while navigating unique cylindrical 3D gameboards. The last is a fun mix of adventure and RPG that might one of the best I’ve played in the genre.

On some levels you'll need to first figure out your strategy before making your first flick.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

Fibble ($1.99) is a puzzle game that has you touching the screen t… [Read more]

Related Links:
Great sling shot games that aren’t named Angry Birds
Angry Birds Space blasts into orbit
Next-level platformers on iOS
Apple’s new iPad: Hands-on
Too soon to call warm iPads ‘heatgate’

IoSafe’s Solo G3 external hard drive can withstand extreme abuse (but no, those are not bullet holes).

(Credit:
IoSafe)

Tomorrow, as we’ve mentioned, is known in some quarters as World Backup Day. While we at Crave like to think of every day as Backup Day, we also understand that life (in the form of laziness, procrastination, and lack of a backup device) can get in the way of even the best backup intentions. This week’s giveaway is here to help.

The winner will score an IoSafe Solo G3 external hard drive. As CNET’s storage and networking reviewer Dong Ngo has personally discovered, the disaster-proof SoloPro lineup can survive serious abuse. For its part, the Solo G3 is designed to withstand temperatures up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit, submersion in 10-foot-deep water for up to three days, and other extreme conditions (but, hey, don’t get carried away).

The Solo G3, like its predecessor, houses just one 3.5-inch internal hard drive. However, unlike the previous version, it sports a fanless design… [Read more]

Related Links:
Migrating to SSD: Get yourself a new computer without getting one
Top 5 solidly priced SSDs: The state of solid-state
What to do about SMART errors in OS X
How to build your own external hard drive
LaCie 2big Thunderbolt series review: Just about right

No, I don’t actually read the New Yorker, but I do read Edge Magazine, which is like the video game equivalent. (Fun Fact Eric)

(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)

Don’t overlook this screen. While it doesn’t offer the same pixel density as the new iPad‘s Retina Display, it’s still one of the most impressive I’ve encountered, offering deep blacks and an unmatched contrast ratio by tablet standards.

While games looked vibrant and well-saturated with color, there was an unfortunate side effect on background textures.

The full review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has more on that admittedly cryptic statement as well as many other amusing anecdotes.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 in all sorts of positions (photos)

1-2 of 8
Scroll Left
Scroll Right

• [Read more]
  
  Related Links:
  Sony Tablet P: At what price dual screens?
  iPhone to get 4.6-inch Retina Display, report says
  Best 4G smartphones right now (roundup)
  Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy?
  Why I’m buying a new iPad, despite my own advice
  
  

iPad Global Speed Test

We tested the cellular speed of Apple’s new iPad in four different cities: San Francisco, London, Singapore, and Sydney.

The first test used the Speedtest.net app to test theoretical download speeds measured in megabits per second. The country whose iPad achieves the highest number wins the test. OK, I guess you can’t really “win” a test, unless it’s a con-test!! Yeah, so this wasn’t just a test, but also became a friendly competition between countries.

Ah, but synthetic benchmarks–where theoretical maximums are sometimes easily achieved–are one thing and real-world tests, something completely different.

To get an idea of real-world performance, each territory downloaded the same Youtube video. The first country to buffer the entire movie (as indicated by the light gray bar) won the second (con)test.

We used Verizon’s 4G LTE network to test in San Francisco, but didn’t actually test in front of the Golden Gate Bridge as the service in that particular area was pretty crappy. We instead found an area that gave us full bars and tested there.

Unfortunately, the iPad isn’t compatible with 4G networks in every country and alternative networks had to be found. In Singapore we used M1′s HSPA+ network. London went with Vodafone, and Telstra’s Next G … [Read more]

Related Links:
Five non-surprises from first ‘new iPad’ reviews
Here’s who should buy the new iPad
New iPad not quite running circles around iPad 2
Apple’s new iPad: Hands-on
iPad 3 rumor roundup