The Faulty iMac Saga, Chapter 5: The Moment of Truth

The iMac’s notorious flickering problem has been solved through a firmware update. And after a few weeks’ hiatus, Apple has continued shipping 27-inch iMacs. This may be it.

Can You Safely Buy a New iMac Yet?

Nope, but you might be able to next week.

Why?

There are two noted problems with iMacs—the 27-inch models in particular. First is an issue where their screens flicker. Apple released a firmware update for the problem, but it didn’t seem to fix it. However, the second firmware update looks to have been more successful. How successful?

Combing through about 30 pages of this thread (thanks Kyle), dozens have found the second update successful—and similar threads have come to similar conclusions. A few outliers still exist, but the vast consensus seems to be that the issue is nullified when the update is properly installed.

So it looks like the flickering problem is fixed for most users. This is great news—a huge breakthrough in this whole saga. If your iMac is still flickering after the update, call up Apple and demand new hardware. It finally seems safe to say, you’re probably in the minority.

But the existing, huge question mark is regarding the yellow screens. Are these fixed yet? Apple halted production lines in what we assumed as an attempt to solve the yellow screen problems (among other iMac quirks). Now they’re shipping new 27-inch iMacs again.

Theoretically, the yellow screens could be behind us. But until customers actually receive and test these iMacs, we don’t know if Apple was able to solve whatever problems are going on.

Apple most certainly hasn’t made claims either way.

What Ever Happened With Those Apple Pay-outs

We received reports from the UK, and then the US, that Apple was essentially buying back faulty iMacs for 15% over the sticker price. It was until later, however, that we learned the catch. What once looked like a pretty great deal turned out, well, mediocre. The 15% was a flat payback rate that was meant to cover both tax and shipping. We assume it covered purchasing expenses, but a money hand-out it was not. It’s also worth mentioning that this deal was handed out sporadically, and I’m not sure it’s still being offered to customers at all.

Quote of the Week

“[Apple] said they can issue me a refund via check that’ll come 4-6 weeks. That’s nearly $2600 of my money they’re going to hold for over 2 months since the day I paid for this messed up computer.”

Apple Is All In

So this is it, the big moment of truth. Without official word, we are forced to interpret the delivery freezes as both a silent admission that there were problems with iMacs and an attempt to fix them. But who knows if Apple actually solved the yellow screens. Especially if the source of the issue is really in the LG panel itself—which some suspect given similar complaints with similar Dell monitors—it’s possible that Apple can’t cure the jaundice without raising hell down at the factory, or shopping for another supplier. (This problem shouldn’t be the consumer’s inconvenience, of course.) We won’t know until we see the latest iMacs in the wild.

We’ve got a lot of sources—retail/repair spies, plenty of tipsters who are on their third or fourth faulty iMac and, of course, all of you—just waiting to share their replacement experiences. Tip us at submissions@gizmodo.com and join in.

Apple, I hope we can put these problems behind us because neither of us wants to see how bad that apple on the table can rot.

Bad Valentine: On Finding Awkward, Geek Love

Love can be difficult. Throwing tech into the mix can complicate things even more.

We’ve got tech that can put us in touch with so many people at once, but can keep us from real intimacy with our closest few: Facebook friends don’t have to meet, tweets don’t require thoughtfulness, movie dates don’t require talking, and sexting obviates touching. But we still need to get down to brass tacks for love and fucking. Uh, so to speak.

The underlying game remains but it seems like we have a lot more interference to deal with.

Of course, it isn’t that one-sided. We’re meeting people we might have never met before, and we’re engaging with them, even superficially, across barriers and distances and with immediacy impossible even a few decades ago.

But my guess is that when we spend all this time at arms length or farther, engaging in little meaningless conversations with the crowd, it’s hard to imagine we’re all as good at the one-on-one time than we might been sometime in the last century. I might even suggest from my pop psychobabble arm chair that gadget geeks who prefer to fiddle with apps at a party instead of conversing with other human beings are at least slightly damaged romantic goods. I’d be speaking about myself. And so would my girlfriend:

When Brian first brought his iPhone home, it was like he’d taken a mistress. All day, all night, he fondled its touchscreen and gawked at its shiny face. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of it for more than five minutes at a time. Like a good Japanese girlfriend, I let him get the lust out of his system instead of trying to stop the inevitable. I pretended not to care while he lay in bed smoothing his finger across the unlock bar, and sat stoically at the other end of the dinner table as he and the iPhone whispered sweet nothings to each other.

Geek-on-geek love isn’t all bad. Nerds use the same websites and gadgets and develop, together, the same affinities and rules of right and wrong. The challenge is, along the worldwide spectrum from geek to non-geek, everyone gets comfortable with these modern tools at different paces. What’s left, and constant, then, is human nature.

For the next few days, counting down to Valentine’s day, we’re exploring love in modern times. Our resident love doctor, Dr. Debby Herbenick, will be sharing wisdom and data to help us understand the new challenges, and we’ll all be publishing various takes on this complicated subject, as well as sharing your experiences as well.

It’s not all bad, in fact, sometimes it’s beautiful, but let’s face it, love is messy enough and adding social networks and smartphones into the mix without any established rules for how or when to use them properly, things can only get messier.

This is where our theme—and our exploration of awkward geek love—begins.

You can read all our Bad Valentine stories here.

Google Wants to Test Gigabit Fiber Internet For Up To 500,000 People

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The company is going to test this super high speed internet to “a small number of trial locations across the United States,” and give somewhere between 50k to 500k people an amazingly fast pipe. What’s the point of this?

* Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it’s creating new bandwidth-intensive “killer apps” and services, or other uses we can’t yet imagine.
* New deployment techniques: We’ll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we’ll share key lessons learned with the world.
* Openness and choice: We’ll operate an “open access” network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we’ll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

We basically read that as bridging the gap between webapps and desktop apps by making the connection so fast that most people won’t be able to tell the difference. And, forcing other ISPs to upgrade their pipes to compete with Google, since they say it’s going to be released at “a competitive price”. Think of it as the Nexus One of service providers. Google is going to make an offering that’s better than other comparable devices/services in order to make everyone else play catch-up.

So, if you want my address, Google, to know where you need to deploy the test, you’ve probably got it already. Seriously man, I need this. [Google]

Uncle Joel’s Guide to Giving Gadgets on Valentine’s Day (or, Relationship Advice from a Man Who Drinks Alone)

What’s less romantic: Buying something practical or buying something generic? Roses are right out. But can a gadget be sweet?

First thing’s first: I’m a guy. So I’m going to speak to my fellow men here. If the demographic reports are the least bit true, men make up the majority of our readership here.

And if my personal experience is any measure, it’s men who need the most help buying Valentine’s Day gifts in the first place.

That said, let’s remember the fundamental operating principle of all intergender relationships: Women are more like men than they are dissimilar. As the sage relationship counselor Miranda Lambert once advised men on the prowl, “We’re just like you. Only prettier.”

And if you’re gay, I suspect most of this still applies. Gay folk might have it slightly easier since they’re buying for the same sex, but they still need to get the romance right. If you’re buying for someone transgendered, they already told me what they want for Valentine’s Day, and it’s that you stop calling them “Optimus Prime” in bed.

First Things First Some More

Okay, answer me this: Are you buying something for a long-term partner or someone you’re trying to woo? That’ll make a big difference in the sort of gadgets that might be appropriate.

I asked some friends for their input.

Long-Term Has More Leeway

“Kourosh gave me my MacBook Air and an iPhone for Valentine’s Day two years ago. Best gifts, best hubby ever!” said Kristen Philipkoski.

Now it didn’t hurt that those are pretty spendy gifts, which, let’s face it, amps up the romance in the right situation. Especially in long-term relationships, where it shows you’re still in it to win it and big gifts don’t come off as desperate.

But don’t miss the most important thing: Kourosh bought Kristen two things that made her daily life better on an ongoing basis. He didn’t just drop a couple of grand to impress—the large amount of money showed his confidence that Kristen would love her gifts. You can take this sort of risk when you’re in a long-term relationship because you should have a good idea what sort of things your partner would really use.

Be careful, though! I once bought a girlfriend a sewing machine for her birthday, a gift she’d claimed she’d wanted for years. But when she never got around to actually using it, I couldn’t help but be hurt. That was on me—but just be aware before you invest too heavily in gadgets that imply that you want your significant other to change their behavior or which have a built-in fail state. (Which precariously includes most gadgets.)

Another pal, Ghostpony, warned, “I once bought my girlfriend a ricemaker for Christmas. Let’s just say it didn’t go over well. In my defense, it was a Zojirushi.”

If you have to explain to your girlfriend why the gift is really special, you’re off target—buying for you, not her.

If You’re Still Getting to Know Her

No matter how much money you’re ready to spend, keep it modest. Under $200, probably. And less is probably better. Lots of little gifts with which you can keep surprising her are probably the best.

iPods are a perennial favorite, but don’t let Apple guilt you into spending too much. A good rule of thumb for buying women gifts while you’re dating is to never spend so much that you’re going to make them even begin to question that you’re trying to buy their affection. Better an iPod nano than an iPod Touch, unless you’re sure they really would rather have a Touch.

If she’s already got an iPod of any sort, skip it. Sorry, but it’s just too thoughtless. In fact, I think that’s important enough to bold: Never buy her an upgrade.

Besides, if the relationship never goes anywhere—likely—you won’t feel like such a rube for spending too much money on a token.

Point-and-shoot cameras tend to go over well. Plus you can use it right then with her, which is a huge bonus. Especially when she’s taking pictures of you doing other romantic things.

Kindles and Nooks show that you have noticed she can read, or at least enjoys the way the squiggly shapes make her brains feel.

Try to keep it physically small. My gut feeling is that smaller, well-designed gadgetry is more “feminine” than something that’s pink or red. (Correct me if I’m wrong, ladies.) Plus, it makes it easier to…

Present the Present Properly, Poindexter

Valentine’s Day presents are about sending a message. “Hey, human. I enjoy your unique composition and would perhaps like to copulate in the future.” (You can use that on your card. No charge.)

Take whatever you’re giving out of its package. Unwrap the packing gauze. Charge the batteries. Load it up with music or apps or flash memory if it needs it. And by god, put it into a cute box or—if you must—a gift bag. You can make a cordless screwdriver at least borderline romantic if you put it in a nice box. (And if you’re incredibly good looking.)

However! Save the box and receipt somewhere else just in case! Don’t make a big deal out of it, but if you can tell she’s really not into it you can gently let her know that you wouldn’t be hurt if she decided to exchange it. Most stores will do gift receipts throughout the year, too, not only during the holidays. Wait until the day after, though.

Here’s the Real Secret

While the principle applies to gift-giving in general, it’s ten times as important during Valentine’s Day: If your gift doesn’t show that you’ve been paying attention, you have failed.

You can ignore everything else I’ve said if you just get this one right. Has she talked about really wanting a DSLR? That trumps my “keep it small” suggestion, provided it won’t be so expensive that it sends you into creepy attempted sugar daddy territory.

Heck, find her a nice used one and good 50mm lens on the cheap. The more your gift evidences your forethought and effort, the better it is.

A corollary: If you’re not sure that she’d like a gadget as a Valentine’s present, you might not even need to buy her a Valentine’s Day gift. Are you sure she’s expecting one from you?

Post-Gadget, Combo with Tradition

So flowers, chocolates, trips to the spa or weekend getaways? All the “romantic” stuff that just screams “I have no idea what to get you so I got you this baseline item”? That stuff is totally great in conjunction with a thoughtful gift. Give her an iPod because she lost her last one—and flowers. Give her a camera—in a box of chocolates. Fill up her Kindle with awesome ebooks—then send her to get a massage. Alone. (Sorry, but couple’s massage isn’t as relaxing.)

(While we’re on the subject: every woman in the world loves flowers. I don’t care how many times you’ve heard her say, “Oh, what a waste flowers are!” Even if she really means it, she’ll still be completely charmed when you hand her a bouquet. Any women who disagree with me should send me their address so I can send them flowers.)

(Oh, I closed my parenthesis before I got to the most important thing about Valentine’s flowers: Never, ever red roses. White or pink roses if you must. But lilies, tulips, orchids? Invariably a better choice. Ask your florist to make you something special for her. They do that, you know. Red roses are for toreadors and pimply junior high dancers.)

An Idea for Next Year

There are tons of great gifts available on Etsy. But did you know you can get the Etsy crafters to make you a custom product? Etsy Alchemy is like an inverted eBay: You describe what you want; people put up proposals and bids; you pick the one that seems best.

What’s clever about this is that, as a human process, Alchemy can be used to outsource your gift-giving and romance ideas. I’ve put up requests before that only described the woman for whom the gift was for—but made no mention at all of any specific item. Dozens of folks sprang into action, suggesting items she might enjoy based off of my description. Outsourced romance is the future.

A Final Warning: Sex Gadgets

This one is easy: If you live together or are in a similar long-term situation, these are fine. If you’ve just started sleeping together, avoid the toys. I think buying sex toys for a partner can be really sweet, but the inherent sexual underpinnings of Valentine’s Day sends it over the skeevy top in a new relationship. It’s like bringing a toothbrush on a first date.

Image courtesy of Rachel A.K.

25 New Ads to Introduce Xfinity to the Masses

Have you heard the exciting news?! Comcast is rebranding as Xfinity! We decided to help them out by calling on our lovely readers to create the first Xfinity ads, and I think they did a bang-up job.

First Place—Jeffer Mitchell
Second Place—Alexander Deluca
Third Place—Die Hard Dan

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What Is Google Buzz?

So what exactly is Google Buzz? Used on a PC or mobile, Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail and Google.com infrastructure.

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Buzz’s five key features include:

• Automatic friends lists (friends are added automatically who you have emailed on Gmail)
• “Rich fast sharing” combines sources like Picasa and Twitter into a single feed, and it includes full-sized photo browsing
• Public and private sharing (swap between family and friends)
• Inbox integration (instead of emailing you with updates, like Facebook might, Buzz features emails that update dynamically with all Buzz thread content, like the photo viewer we mentioned above)
• “Recommended Buzz” puts friend-of-friend content into your stream, even if you’re not acquainted. Recommendations learn over time with your feedback.

Google Buzz is available today, and it should creep up as a new tab in Gmail any minute.

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But What About My Cellphone?

Of course, Buzz also works on mobiles right from Google.com on Android and iPhone browsers, and it locates your position from a one button press. From here, Buzz can tailor your feed to their information on things like businesses and restaurants. More on mobile Buzz here. [Google Buzz]

Hands on

Here’s what Buzz looks like. First, the text box. No obvious word limit, as far as I can see. Don’t go dumping huge articles in here, but you can fit more than Twitter.

Once you click in, you can add links, photos and decide whether or not you want a private or public Buzz.

The Buzz listing looks more like Facebook than it does Twitter, with Likes, dislikes and the ability to respond directly to a posting and have other people see it. When someone makes a new comment in reply to an old Buzz, it bumps that entire Buzz up to the top.

What’s weird, and what Matt and I can’t figure out yet, is how some people are able to find us on Buzz. Is it searching by real name? It’s also interesting that this is tied to your Gmail account. When people do a search for you, it doesn’t seem like it exposes your actual email address, which is a good privacy protection wall.

74 Phenomenal Panoramic Planets

The point has grown cliche by now, but it’s true. Every week your submissions to Shooting Challenges blow me away. And your polar panoramas just upped that ante on every challenge to come.

Honorable Mention (non-original photography)

Subject: Denali, Alaska
Built from 9 photos
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18mm (27mm /35mm equiv.)
Aperture: ƒ/8
Shutter Speed: 1/250
As you can obviously tell by climate, I broke rule 2 because I’m a college student and don’t have time to go out and take photos, but I did want to test my hand at the challenge!
-Isaac Chambers

Second Runner Up

Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W50
F-stop: f/5
Exposure time: 1/200 sec.
ISO Speed: ISO-80
Focal length: 16mm
Flash: None
I leave my office right around sunset everyday and park on the top of a garage in the middle of downtown Charleston, SC. I saw a particularly nice sunset and pulled out my basic point and shoot (Sony Cybershot DSC-W50) and took a series of 5 pictures to stitch into a panoramic. After creating the Polar Panorama, I merely adjusted the brightness so that the buildings would show more detail.
-David Crosby

First Runner Up

I shot these with a Nikon D60, 18-55mm kit lens. This was seven 20-second exposures at f5 of the quad at Oklahoma City University.
-Robert Rickner

Winner

Camera: Nikon D5000
Lens: Tamron 28-135
ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/250
Location: Seattle, WA
I had gone out shooting trying to emulate the look of old contrasty but yet washed out photos of boats I had seen all over the harbor and its various shops and thought it would make an interesting juxtaposition using a new technique with an old look. Taken in the Ballard Harbor.
-Tyler Yates

This was the hardest week to judge yet, and I don’t know that anyone can really “win” at art. (So as always, praise our intrepid photographers in the comments.)

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Also, for those of you saying “I wish this was in a wallpaper,” just go here: [Gizmodo Flickr]

Canon Rebel T2i DSLR: 18MP and Legit 1080p Video for $899

The T1i’s not even a year old, and Canon’s knocking it down: The Rebel T2i pulls from the 7D, delivering 18 megapixels and legit 1080p video (24, 25 or 30fps) for $900.

The T2i pulls from the higher-end 7D almost the same way the T1i pulled from the 50D, though it has its own sensor that simply borrows the gapless microlens tech from the 7D, which was supposedly why it could cram 18MP onto an APS-C-sized chip without noise the size of boulders. (We’ll see if that’s the case.) The main thing you do lose from the 7D is that you only get a 4-channel readout with this sensor, vs. the 7D’s 8-channel, and it’s only got one DIGIC IV processor, not two.

It shoots at 18.1 megappixels, with an ISO range of 100-6400 (extended up to 12,800), with a 9-point AF (only the center point is cross-type though) and the 7D’s IFCL 63-layer dual-zone metering system, but adapted for the 9 AF points. Oh, and it shoots at 3.7FPS in bursts of up to 34 JPEG or six RAW.

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The 1080p video isn’t gimped like the T1i, either, with fully select framerates (30, 24 or 25fps) and manual exposure (+/- 5 stops), plus the codec’s H.264. Sound’s mono, but you can jack in a stereo mic. Cutting it down to the 720p or standard def nets you 50 or 60fps. Also, there’s a new “movie crop” mode that effectively zooms in 7x by only using the center part of the sensor, though you only get standard def video out of it.

The interface, ergonomics and controls and more like the 7D’s as well, with a dedicated movie button and quick info screen, though you can’t customize the controls quite as extensively. The body’s not quite as durable, swapping metal for polycarbonite (one of the things the extra $1000 for the 7D gets you). The screen sounds impressive: 1.2-million dots should pop out of the 3-inch display. Lastly, for memory you’ve got your choice of SDHC of SDXC.

The Rebel’s getting shuffled a bit: The T1i is sliding down to be the new mid-entry-level, while the XSi is going away, and the XS sticks around as the bottom of the barrel DSLR.

At $899 for the kit with a pretty standard 18-55mm lens, or $799 body only, this, people, is the new entry-level camera to get when it hits in March. (At least on paper.)

THE NEW CANON REBEL T2i DIGITAL SLR TAKES ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHERS BEYOND THE STILL WITH ADVANCED VIDEO FEATURES

The Family Camera is Back, Introducing the EOS Rebel T2i Featuring a Large 18-Megapixel
CMOS Sensor and Full HD Video Recording with Selectable Frame Rates up to 30 fps

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 8, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today introduced the new flagship model for the Company’s highly popular Rebel DSLR line: the Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera. Today’s photo enthusiast is looking for a camera that will grow with them as they learn, and that is a perfect description of the new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera. Retaining all of the traditional characteristics that have made the EOS Rebel series beloved by entry-level photographers and an industry best-seller, the new Rebel T2i succeeds in bridging the gap between an entry-level camera and a true pro-sumer camera.

The Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera includes a variety of new features for photographic assignments as varied as grabbing that action shot from the sidelines or creating memorable family portraits, including: 3.7 fps shooting, an ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800), a 63-zone Dual Layer Metering System, and Canon’s DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor. There are some moments in our lives where video helps capture the moment better than a still image, and the Rebel T2i offers the best of both worlds with Full HD 1080p video as well as 18-megapixel still images. The Rebel T2i DSLR continues Canon’s industry-leading trend in Full HD DSLR video capture with manual exposure control, selectable frame rates and a new external microphone input. There is also a new feature for standard definition recording, Movie Crop, which provides an approximate 7x additional zoom with no loss of image quality when shooting SD quality video.

“There is no question that HD video is the biggest trend in DSLR technology and because of this we are seeing the creativity of still photographers transferring to the moving image. Still photographers are using the various lenses and accessories they are already familiar with to create amazing video footage,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Taking that HD video quality and putting it in the hands of entry-level photographers with cameras like our new EOS Rebel T2i, we are seeing a new generation of creative digital artists emerge.”

Lights, Rebel, Action – EOS HD Video
Canon’s EOS HD video capture has helped spark a major movement in digital imaging, empowering still photographers with the ability to experiment, learn and capture stunning high-definition video through a variety of creative lenses. Continuing this imaging revolution, the new EOS Rebel T2i puts entry-level photographers on the frontline equipped with all the latest EOS HD video features including full HD video at 1920×1080 resolution, selectable frame rates, full manual exposure control and the visual options of interchangeable lenses. Manual video exposure control provides novice filmmakers with the image control they are accustomed to in a still camera, all while shooting professional-level cinematic video. Professional photographers utilize creative lighting, adjustable depth-of-field and a variety of lenses to create powerful still images and video footage, and these are exactly the tools that the new Rebel T2i gives to budding photo and video enthusiasts. Adding a new professional-level feature for EOS cameras, the Rebel T2i includes an Auto ISO function that works in all Creative Zone exposure modes including Manual where users can set a limit to the highest ISO the camera will use, enabling them to retain the lighting and look they desire for a scene. By setting an Auto ISO range, videographers can retain dark shadow areas and avoid blowing out highlight areas in a scene while still retaining the benefit of automatic ISO adjustments. The Rebel T2i DSLR captures video in both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards at selectable frame rates including Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 30 (29.97), 25 or 24 (23.976) fps, and HD 1280 x 720 or Standard Definition 640 x 480 quality video, at 60 (59.94) or 50 fps.

For easier video recording operation and familiar functionality for beginners, the Rebel T2i’s autofocus can be operated before or during video recording by pressing the shutter button half-way down in video mode. Another feature debuting in the Rebel T2i is Canon’s new Movie Crop mode, where the user can achieve 7x magnification when shooting SD video for a significantly increased “telephoto” effect. Unlike the digital zoom feature found in many compact digital cameras, Canon’s new Movie Crop mode actually crops the image directly from the CMOS sensor at full SD resolution to preserve maximum image quality and provide additional zoom power. The new Movie Crop feature is especially helpful for achieving extra full resolution zoom power when filming youth sports, such as a child running to the furthest end of a field. For better sound quality when shooting video, the Rebel T2i DSLR includes an external stereo microphone jack, a first for an EOS Rebel model, in addition to its built-in monaural microphone. These audio and video features supplement a tremendous range of additional must-have video features in an entry-level Digital SLR camera.

For enhanced viewing pleasure and easy video sharing at home, the HDMI video-out capability of the Rebel T2i DSLR includes a new Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) compatibility which allows users to play back still or video files on a CEC-compliant HDTV, using the TV remote to control the camera when connected via HDMI interface.

Camera Feature Set
The EOS Rebel T2i DSLR features a newly developed 18-million-pixel Canon CMOS imaging sensor providing outstanding resolution and light sensitivity for amazing poster-sized prints with fine detail and stunning color. The camera exhibits exceptional low-noise performance incorporating many of the same technologies used to reduce noise in professional cameras such as the EOS 7D. The Rebel T2i camera’s basic ISO range is an amazing 100~6400, and via a Custom Function, it can be extended to ISO 12,800. The outstanding ISO range combined with its noise reduction technology allows the Rebel T2i to capture outstanding low-light pictures at events such as candlelit birthday celebrations or recitals where flash photography may be prohibited.

The camera provides 3.7 fps continuous shooting for still photos, making it the fastest shooting Rebel model to date and enabling users to capture that great image of a little leaguer’s first swing. The camera features Canon’s proprietary iFCL 63-zone dual-layer metering system offering intelligent Evaluative metering with much finer segmentation than any previous EOS Rebel model. The new Rebel T2i also has an expanded ± 5 EV exposure compensation range allowing for much more versatility when shooting in extremely bright or dark environments; or when shooting HDR (high dynamic range) images.

The Rebel T2i DSLR includes a number of professional-level user-selectable Canon image processing features to enhance the image quality of in-camera JPEG files, and to tag RAW images for processing later through Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software (included with the camera). These features include Canon’s Auto Lighting Optimizer to enhance shadow detail and add contrast to “flat” scenes, Highlight Tone Priority adding up to one stop of detail in bright highlight areas, Peripheral Illumination Correction for automatic correction of vignetting, High ISO Noise Reduction with four user-selectable settings, and Long Exposure Noise Reduction applied to exposures one second or longer. These Canon image enhancements provide new photographers with professional quality automatic image correction on JPEG files right out of the camera.

The EOS Rebel T2i digital camera includes a new enhanced 3-inch LCD monitor featuring 1.04 million dots with a wide 3:2 aspect ratio, wider than previous EOS models. The Rebel T2i camera’s LCD monitor can display a full-screen video image utilizing the entire screen during playback. For maximum storage capacity the new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is the first EOS model to support SDXC memory cards. With all the new and exciting features of the EOS Rebel T2i, the Rebel series continues to provide great Canon features such as Live View, a built-in pop-up flash, and the EOS integrated cleaning system, as well as compatibility with Canon EX-series Speedlites and Canon EF and EF-S lenses allowing users to fully explore multiple creative photographic possibilities. The new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is also compatible with Canon’s new BG-E8 battery grip and new RC-6 wireless remote control for both still images and video capture.

Pricing and Availability
The Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in early March, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $799.99. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number four in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2009 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of “100 Best Global Brands.” Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

Canon T2i/550D walkthrough video:

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Super Bowl Ads 2010: Lots of Chips and Beer, Light On Gadgets

Did you blink during the Super Bowl commercial breaks? Too bad if you did, because it means you may have missed the anemic number of gadget or tech-related commercials worth talking about tomorrow at the water cooler. But! Megan Fox!

Megan Fox is an obvious choice, for obvious reasons (if she’s your thing): She had a Motoblur, and we’re a gadget blog! See? Obvious. Anyway, tweeting from a tub on her new phone, she pondered what would happen if she sent a picture of her bathing out to the world. Hijinks ensued, people were hurt, and even a gay couple somehow got distracted by the fox that is Megan Fox:

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And such is the power of Fox that there were scenes that didn’t make the final cut.

Then there was Beyonce, fresh off her Grammy performance, performing again for Vizio. Surrounded by Internet memes and celebrities, Twitter and what appeared to be an army of automobile assembly line robots (hopefully not ones from Toyota), she sang and sold that company’s Via/Internet Apps technology. Think Internet on your HDTV, not because I say so or because that’s exactly what it is, but because that’s the message Vizio assaulted viewers with during the 60-second clip:

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Tough love was the story for Intel’s Jeffrey the Robot. The commercial was supposedly for Intel’s Core processor line, but I know the truth: Robot uprising. It 20 years’ time we can all look back at this commercial, when poor Jeffrey was snubbed For The Last Time by his human overlords:

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Lastly, there’s one we actually covered yesterday. Google. Its poignant ad about a search-happy boy in love with a French girl aired yesterday, on the Internet, which is probably fitting. We’ll revisit it again here if you missed it tonight:

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Sigh.

Personally, for me the ads were a bit stale this year. Even the Bud Light beer ads, which have made me laugh out loud on occasion in years past, felt a little tired. Betty White was a standout though, and there were back-to-back ads depicting grown men in their underwear. Possibly a first there. Also a first: Seeing a two-timing baby talk about eTrade while his “milk-a-holic” girl on the side blew up his shit over a webcam.

The one Bud Light ad I will give props to, however, was their Autotune bit. It’s a stretch including here on Gizmodo, but we have a history with that app (iPhone, anyone?), and we’ll take an opportunity here to thank Budweiser for hopefully killing the tech off for good with this Super Bowl ad:

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OK, I admit it, I smiled a bit watching that a second time. Guilty.

The entire crop is over at YouTube in one convenient package (Fox’s is notably absent at the moment, although they appear to be updating throughout the night).

The Month’s Best Android Apps

It’s the “holy crap it’s been a while iPad! CES! Christmas!” edition. This month (or so), we’ve got m-m-m-multitouch maps, good eats, movies and blawgs.

To see everything on one page, click here.

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Other Android App News

• An Embryonic Build of Firefox for Android
• Motoblur Makes Its Way to Verizon via Devour
• A Neat Video of 50 Android Games
• How to Overclock the Crap Outta Your Droid
• How to Circumvent Android 2.1’s Word Filter
• T-Mobile’s Bundling DoubleTwist for Media Syncing with New Android Phones
• A Guide to Tethering Your Android Phone
• HTC’s Espresso Sense UI for Droid, If You Can Hack It
• Our Nexus One Review

This list is in no way definitive. If you’ve spotted a great app that hit the store this month, give us a heads up or, better yet, your firsthand impressions in the comments. And for even more apps: see our previous monthly roundups here. See ya next month.