Native Instruments’ Maschine hardware/software bundle has become a staple in the beat-production market since its debut two years ago. Now at version 1.7, its performative and production capacities have grown to the point where dance pioneers like Underworld rely on it as a standard instrument much the way an electric guitar might be used by a rock band. Maschine Mikro is the first major hardware shift for the production platform: the newly-downsized controller easily fits into a backpack and comes in at 0 less than its bigger brother. What compromises come with the smaller footprint, and what will the price tag mean for people just getting starting in the groove production game? Read on, Lil’ Dre, for our macro view of the Mikro.

Continue reading Maschine Mikro review

Maschine Mikro review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

Continue reading IRL: Thule Crossover backpack, Technocel Battery Boost and upgrading from Firefox 3.6

IRL: Thule Crossover backpack, Technocel Battery Boost and upgrading from Firefox 3.6 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget

The Museum of Modern Art in New York will open up an exhibit about the art of connected devices, called Talk to Me, on Sunday. It’s got around 200 pieces that are anywhere from thought-provoking, to weird, to beautiful, to hilarious. (I posted some of the more sustainable-oriented ones here).

Flip through the slide show below to see pieces like a choking cell phone, a sneezing radio, the Avatar Machine, anonymous peer-to-peer sharing USB ports injected into walls, and an expressions dispatcher to help aid your emotions in the age of reliance on digital screens.

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Amae is a Japanese concept of the desire for attention and care from an authority figure.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/amaeapparatus2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"The Amae Apparatus","caption":"German artist Jonas Loh made the Amae concept apparatus, which through sensors is able to interpret the wearers stress levels and display that stress to co-workers at the office. The backpack-style device emits color-coded smoke as an early-warning system in the work place. Amae is a Japanese concept of the desire for attention and care from an authority figure.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/amaeapparatus3.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Animal Super Powers","caption":"Sensor enhancing devices to show children the perception of different animals, like an ant and a giraffe. This is the giraffe device.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/animalsuperpowers4.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Animal Super Powers","caption":"Sensor enhancing devices to show children the perception of different animals, like an ant and a giraffe. This is ant device.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/animalsuperpowers1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"The Floppy Legs Hard Drive","caption":"Created by the Attenborough Design Group, which are imaginary researchers, the Floppy Legs Hard Drive stands up and moves when a liquid, like coffee, is spilled near it. ","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/attenboroughdesigngroup2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Gesundheit Radio","caption":"Created by the imaginary Attenborough Design Group, the Gesundheit Radio sneezes periodically to loosen up dust from the system.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/attenboroughdesigngroup3.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"The Avatar Machine","caption":"A suit\/machine to connect the physical world and the virtual one. Become an Avatar in real life.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/avatarmachine1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"The Bird Box","caption":"The BirdBox is an iPhone application that chirps as an alarm and fits inside the box. A digital version of the cuckoo clock.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/birdbox1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Call Me Choke Me","caption":"The Call Me Choke Me device connects cell phones and a collar that tightens around a neck. It's supposed to symbolize being constantly contacted as being choked (both pain and erotic asphyxiation, according to the explanation).","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/callmechokeme1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Crowbot Jenny","caption":"Crowbot Jenny uses a crow robot to call and communicate with crows. The group worked with the crow intelligence specialists at the University of London and the University of Cambridge.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/crowbotjenny2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Dead Drops","caption":"Anonymous usb drives injected into walls, poles and buildings, where users can upload and download anything -- at their own risk.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/deaddrops.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Expressions Dispatcher","caption":"In the age of strictly digital communications, the Expressions Dispatcher can be used to communicate human emotions that have long languished behind screens. In this piece one person wears the emoticon helmet while another person changes the expression to emote the appropriate response.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/expressionsdispatcher4.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Expressions Dispatcher","caption":"In the age of strictly digital communications, the Expressions Dispatcher can be used to communicate human emotions that have long languished behind screens. In this piece one person wears the emoticon helmet while another person changes the expression to emote the appropriate response.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/expressiosdispatcher3.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"GlowCaps","caption":"Created by Vitality, GlowCaps communicate to the patient when to take their medicine.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/glowcaps1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Happylife","caption":"Happylife is a thermal imaging camera and sensor device that is supposed to be used in a home and which records biometric data, including detecting emotions and stress levels. The concept device is supposed to keep the peace.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/happylife3.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Happylife","caption":"Happylife is a thermal imaging camera and sensor device that is supposed to be used in a home and which records biometric data, including detecting emotions and stress levels. The concept device is supposed to keep the peace.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/happylife1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Hi - A Real Human Interface","caption":"This video shows a person in a box doing a computers work, like sorting emails.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/hiarealhumaninterface.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Hierarchy of Digital Distractions","caption":"It's a little blurry (sorry for poor pic) but the Hierarchy of Digital Distractions shows all the gadgets and web services that suck up the artists time compared to actual work done at the bottom.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/hierarchyofdigitaldistractions.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Kontrol iphone app","caption":"The Kontrol iPhone app enables users to create techno compositions by making triggers on a game screen. It's hard to explain, but its really fun to play with.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/kontrol1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Momo","caption":"The Momo is an navigation device that communicates with the user through motion, and uses GPS to help with directions. It weirdly rotates and gravitates toward a location. Its supposed to be a friendly guide in unfriendly places. ","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/momo2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Mr. Smilit","caption":"Now this is just creepy. Mr. Smilit mimics the noise of a child crying to distract kids from actual crying. Probably after they've just seen the terrifying face of Mr. Smilit.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/mrsmilit1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Out of the Box","caption":"A cell phone instruction manual that combines interactive mobile tech and a traditional hardbound book. ","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/outofthebox1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Devices for Mindless Communication","caption":"If you can't read the message it says: \"Yes sweetie, I'll call tonight.\" In the age of digital communications, machines will help us return to our, er, emotional side. ","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/personaladvisor.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"PhoneBook","caption":"The PhoneBook combines an iPhone inside a book and is able to interact with the pages. You can swap out the book pages, and change the app for a new book.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/phonebook2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Short","caption":"Short is robotic footwear that can be controlled by an iPhone app, yours or another persons, to raise and lower your stature. ","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/short2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"SMS Sling Shot","caption":"The SMS Sling Shot is one part cell\/sling shot and one part building facade. A user types in the SMS to the phone and launches it at the building to prompt an interaction with the wall.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/smsslingshot2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"Square","caption":"Mobile payment company Square made it into the exhibit.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/square1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"WiFi Dowsing Rod","caption":"The diving rod of the olden days has turned into a connected device that searches for the invisible wireless connections around us.","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/wifidowsingrod2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}];

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