Author: Jordan Crook

Google has officially shut down registrations for its #ifihadglass round of Google Glass pre-orders/applications.

The competition was first announced on February 20, alongside a video asking prospective Google Glass buyers to take to Twitter or Google+ using the #ifihadglass hashtag to explain why they deserve one of the first-ever Google Glass Explorer Editions. Along with the social post, users also filled out an application here.

Today, however, the window has closed.

Google didn’t say just how many sets of Google Glass would go out in this round, but the slow and steady approach makes sense for a product like Glass. Rather than let anyone get a try, Google is ensuring that only the most die-hard Glassholes get the device, which is still in its developer/beta phase.

With more people using the product, Google buys itself a bigger test base and lures in developers without disappointing anyone. The company timed the competition nicely, letting The Verge’s Joshua Toposlky go hands-on with Google Glass on Feb. 22.

What’s it like to use Glass? @joshuatopolsky of @verge goes behind the scenes w/ @projectglass goo.gl/zjCUg #ifihadglass

— A Googler (@google) February 26, 2013

There were some pretty interesting submissions made via Twitter, which you can browse here. This is one of my favorites, considering that Google Glass was spotted on eBay earlier this week, and has been subsequently removed.

#ifihadglass I would sell it on Ebay because enough foolish people overvalue and overestimate its usefulness.

— Matt (@matttk) February 28, 2013

In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait for Google to open up another round of pre-orders.

If you’re a hard-core gamer, the name Turtle Beach most certainly means something to you. We met with the tournament-grade headset maker to discuss their new Seven series of headsets, originally debuted at CES.

There are three different models in the line, the XP Seven (meant for all consoles, PC, and mobile), the Z Seven (meant for PC and mobile) and the M Seven (mobile only). Both the XP Seven and the Z Seven come with a special Audio Control Unit (or ACU) that lets you adjust even the most minute details of the audio.

For example, you can set the speakers to be loudest toward the rear, letting you catch on to anyone who might be sneaking up behind you. You can also adjust the headset so that footsteps and gunshots can be louder, while the actual game sounds are much lower. There are eight different pre-set configurations you can build on your own, making it quick and easy to switch from one game to the next and still enjoy the best possible audio for each.

Users also have the ability to mix in music from their phone, answer calls, and chat with other players using the XP Seven. You can even remove the microphone and just use these bad boys as your main headphones. Plus, the plates on the ear cups are removable, so you can buy various colors to customize your headset.

At $279, the XP Seven is on the expensive side, but with the extra advantages they bring it’s well worth it if you game every day.

The Z Seven model has all the same functionality, but is meant for PC and mobile only, while the M Seven doesn’t come with an ACU but does bring console-quality sound to mobile gaming.

All three models are available now, so click here if you’re interested in learning more.

After experiencing a roller coaster pre-production period, the folks over at FormLabs have announced that the Form 1 3D-printer is entering into full production.

The “large majority” of Kickstarter orders set for delivery by the end of April. They’ve purchased enough components to build out over 1,000 Form 1 3D printers.

The company first launched the Form 1 on Kickstarter to an awesome reception, scoring over $2.9 million in pre-orders after asking for a mere $100k.

But before the company could begin production, it was hit with a patent infringement lawsuit from 3D Systems, which also accused Kickstarter of promoting the allegedly infringing product.

FormLabs pressed on, and is now ready to begin full production of the 3D printer.

FormLabs claims that it can offer better accuracy than competitive 3D printing offerings, like the Makerbot, at a similar price.

According to FormLabs, the team will begin by vigorously testing the first small batch of Form 1 printers. After that, the company plans on setting exact ship dates.

The gap between a full-fledged PC and a touchscreen tablet has finally found a bridge in the Microsoft Surface Pro. The Windows 8 device will be available for purchase on February 9, but we got a sneak peek with the Surface Pro and took it for a test spin in the Fly Or Die studios.

So what’s the verdict?

Well, both John and I agree that this is some of the best work we’ve ever seen out of Microsoft. The company sent some mixed messages with the Surface RT, which was more of a web-browsing, email tablet with a cute keyboard than a full-fledged computer.

But the Surface Pro steps up where the RT fell short, letting users load up any programs they want. It’s the difference between a working, usable computer and a pet project by Microsoft engineers.

As it stands, we’re both very excited about the prospect of a real and powerful Win8 machine to finally stand alongside similarly powerful OS X devices.

We’re both still a bit hesitant towards Windows 8. The Surface Pro rides the line between old, Classic Windows and the new “Metro” UI. The developer base needs time to figure out the Metro side of Windows 8, and having the desktop model as a backup helps ease the transition.

Will it be the most popular consumer gadget on the market this year? No.

But does it prove that Microsoft can be a powerhouse in the hardware realm? Absolutely.

Two flies.

With all the time, money, and embarrassment Apple has offered up on the altar of Siri, it’s only a logical next step to see the virtual personal assistant migrate over to Mac OS X.

The question is not if, but when?

And we may be getting closer, as Apple has listed a job posting looking for a Siri UI Engineer with a few hints at OS X integration.

This isn’t the first we’re hearing of a potential Siri rollout on the desktop level. In November, 9to5mac reported that Siri and Apple maps would be present in the next version of OS X.

The job listing calls for an engineer “responsible for implementing the content that appears within the conversational view.”

They call it a “broad-ranging task,” considering all the various applications Siri must interact with to be useful, and all while conserving the limited resources of mobile devices.

“We take every application that Siri interacts with, distill it down to fundamentals, and implement that application’s UI in a theme fitting with Siri. Consider it an entire miniature OS within the OS, and you get a good idea of the scope!” the listing reads.

Yet, nowhere in the job posting is there mention of iOS specifically. There is, however, mention of Mac OS X. Under key requirements, Apple asks for knowledge of all of Apple’s development APIs (both iOS and Mac OS X), as well as “familiarity with Unix, especially Mac OS X.”

Obviously, the listing is still very ambiguous, but it signals that Apple is beefing up Siri for something new. And as AppleInsider astutely notes, Dictation has already found its way onto the desktop (just like it did on the iPad before Siri showed up in tablet-form).

It all adds up, but we’ll have to wait on Apple’s word before we know for sure.

Microsoft has been ramping up its retail presence in the past year, and has today announced that it will introduce five new stores to the U.S. over the course of 2013.

The exact dates of the store openings have not been disclosed, but the company promises they’ll be ready to go by summer.

Here are the new locations where Microsoft will have a retail presence:

• Natick Mall, Natick, Massachusetts
• Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Pioneer Place, Portland, Oregon
• The Somerset Collection, Troy, Michigan
• Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois

This comes on the heels of a recent announcement of six new U.S. stores, in San Antonio, Miami, Beachwood, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and St. Louis. That’s a total of 11 new stores in 2013, to go along with the 29 already-operational Microsoft stores in North America.

The company said in 2011 that it has plans to open 75 new retail stores over a two- to three-year period. 2013 has only just begun, so unless Microsoft plans on launching nearly half of its goal in 2014, I would expect to hear a few more announcements like this one in the coming months.

Here’s what Redmond had to say about it:

Our customers continue to tell us that they value our stores for connecting them to the best of Microsoft. This delights us to no end. From the newest touchscreen laptops, desktops, and tablets running Windows 8, to Windows Phones, to Xbox and Kinect consoles and accessories, to a wide array of first and third-party software titles, our goal is to introduce you to the best choice, value and service we have to offer.

Microsoft is clearly making a big push in the retail segment, but in terms of the competition, they’ll have a ways to go before the have the same retail presence as Apple. In fact, Apple has retail stores in every one of the five new locations.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet has been anything but shy, leaking all over the place and posing for a few hands-on pics.

But today’s scoop from French blog Frandroid marks the first time we get a real idea of its size, as the latest leaked photos show the Galaxy Note 8.0 next to the Galaxy Note 2.

Context is a beautiful thing.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is Samsung’s next big tablet venture, according to recent rumors, presumably meant to take on the iPad mini. As you can see in the images, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has very similar design language to the latest Galaxy Note, and even the Galaxy S III to an extent. Perhaps most notable, however, is Samsung’s seeming insistence to keep this tablet in portrait mode, as noted by the home and navigation buttons on the bottom.

In terms of the competition, the GalNote 8.0 bears a striking resemblance to the new Nook HD 7-inch tablets, with curved edges and a relatively thicker bezel.

Today’s leak marks the first time we’ve gotten a glimpse of the 8-incher with its S-Pen, Samsung’s version of a high-quality pressure-sensitive stylus. To me it looks a tad thicker than that of the Galaxy Note, but that’s potentially because it’s pictured next to the much-smaller Galaxy Note II smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is rumored to have a 1280×800 resolution display, Android Jelly Bean, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM along with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing camera for video chat. We expect to see this bad boy at MWC in February, and by then we’ll be able to confirm all these specs for you fine readers.

Until then, these pics will have to do.