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Latest Gear Live Videos
Live From CES: Hands On With TiVo Desktop 2.3 Beta, Auto Transfer Support
Posted by Chris Cardinal Categories: CES, CES 2006, Home Entertainment, Smart Home,
I was definitely excited to see and explore the new TiVo Desktop. More than just an incremental upgrade, the new Desktop introduces auto-scheduling of transfers. Desktop detects if a show is part of a Season Pass and allows you to tell your Desktop client to automatically grab any new episode of that series your TiVo records. Perhaps the most exciting new feature is the inclusion of automatic transcoding and transferring to your portable devices. If you have an iPod Video, for instance, you indicate that you want your scheduled transfers to be used for your iPod. TiVo Desktop will automatically grab the shows from your TiVo, transcode them to iPod Video’s preferred format, and even transfer it directly to your iTunes library and straight to your device, if it’s docked. Another such option exists for the PSP and the ability for other portable devices is definitely there. It’s about to enter beta testing and they estimate its release date will hit around sometime Q1 2006. (Or “very soon.”)
Oh, and watch this space for an in depth video interview and hands on shot of the Series 3, along with some extra-juicy information that only we have.
Gallery: Live From CES: Hands On With TiVo Desktop 2.3 Beta, Auto Transfer Support
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Live From CES: Hands On With HP 37” Advanced Digital Media HD LCD TV
Posted by Chris Cardinal Categories: CES, CES 2006, Features, Home Entertainment, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
Stopping by HP’s rather large booth in South Hall’s upstairs, we stumbled upon their SLC3760N 37” LCD HD TV. It’s quite a mouthful no matter how you try to say it, but the TV had some stellar features that looked to function brilliantly. The TV is a uPNP device that allows you to hop on your local wireless (802.11a/b/g) or wired (100-base) network and instantly start watching media from your home’s PCs. It’s able to playback MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX, XviD (or, at least, MPEG-4), MP3s, AOL Radio and Rhapsody, and whatever photo formats you can throw at it.
It also features a 176° viewing angle, which looks quite stunning, and a 6,000:1 contrast ratio on a 720p screen. Release date is set tentatively for “early Spring” with a price “to be announced.” After trying a bit harder to eek a price out of him, he mentioned that the LCD on its own, minus all the connectivity functions, is (of course) absolutely top of the line, so you can expect to pay what a similar-quality tv might cost. He mentioned that the connectivity stuff adds only about $300 to the cost, which is pretty reasonable for such a flexible device.
Gallery: Live From CES: Hands On With HP 37” Advanced Digital Media HD LCD TV
Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock Review
Posted by Chris Cardinal Categories: Features, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Product Reviews,
I recently purchased the $34.99 Neverlate 7-day Alarm Clock by American Innovative. After a good month or so spent with the alarm clock, I thought I’d detail my experiences and let you know my results. My review, after the jump.
Click to continue reading Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock Review
Gallery: Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock Review
It sucks when your friends (or worse, friends of friends) break your shot glasses, does it not? Next time, rather than breaking out your sweet liquor gear, consider using ShotRocks to create your own breakable, edible shot glasses. The ShotRock Set is a freezer tray system that allows you to make four shot glasses out of ice at a time. The system includes a freezing base, four molds and a ShotRock serving tray that allows you to store and serve ShotRocks without having to get your fingers cold. Add a drop of food coloring to customize the glasses even further. Pick up a ShotRock system for $34.95.
Read More 
| ShotRocks
Gallery: ShotRocks Shot Glass Ice Tray
William Shakespeare Bat Cave Power Switch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
Now, we know that everyone who has seen the original Webster
Batman television series has wanted a cool secret passage in their home. When Adam West tilted back the head of his Shakespeare bust, you knew good times were ahead. Now you can own a fully-functional replica of that same statuette. Standing 21.5-inches tall, you can plug any AC-powered device into it, and the hidden power switch will fire up the device of your choose. Now that’s cool. You can pick up the Shakespeare Remote Control Bust for $295 USD.
Read More | Wicked Cool Stuff
Gallery: William Shakespeare Bat Cave Power Switch
So, it’s the holidays, right? We gotta get some holiday cheer gear up, and we thought the Bonjour Cookie Factory might be in order. This is a 39-piece cookie-making set, which dispenses cookie dough in normal and super-size amounts at the touch of a button. The set includes a motorized dispenser, traditional and large sized cookie barrels and cutting discs, decorating and filling tips, and a recipe booklet. The holidays are near, don’t go without the oh-so-apropos snickerdoodle. For only $29, you have no excuse.
(Thanks, Randall!)
Read More | TableTools
Gallery: Bonjour Cookie Factory
Simply put, the “Shower-Shower” is a product that automatically cleans a shower stall after each use. Very convenient if you have a stall-type unit, but I am unsure how it might work if you have a bathtub and shower-curtain type of setup. The unit has a control panel that allows you to set up cleaning preferences, and the cleaning arm applies a solution that disinfects, and removes calcium and lime deposits to get rid of that pesky buildup. One thing, this thing is a bit expensive - expect to pay at least $1,144.00 USD.
Read More | Shower-Shower Product Page via Strange New
Gallery: The Shower-Shower Gives Your Shower A Shower
If you are a typical American male, it might be comforting to know that you - more than likely - shave completely wrong. If you use a disposable razor with 5 or 6 blades, you are not a proper gentleman. What you should have is a brush made of badger hair for starters:
Q: What are the basic tools you need for wetshaving?
A: The perfect shave has three ingredients: a good razor, a good brush, and glycerin-based shaving cream. But the biggest difference between wetshaving and the way most guys shave today is the use of a shaving brush. A good badger-hair shaving brush is the single most important ingredient in getting the perfect shave—if you change no part of your shaving routine except to add a good shaving brush to the mix, you’ll be astounded at how much better and more enjoyable your shaves become.
This is an excerpt from an article we found on MSNBC. A lot of good information here. If we try to make the switch, expect some interesting images.
Read More | MSNBC via Utter Sarcasm
Gallery: How To Achieve That Perfect Shave
Verizon enticed us to check out the unveiling of their new phone - Verizon One. Essentially, the 5.8 GHz phone looks okay and is packed with plenty of features to make it worth the $149.99 price tag. The Verizon One is supposed to be a conglomerate of all of your communication needs in one device. For the price, the phone also has an integrated 802.11g 4-port router along with a beautiful touch screen where you can manage contacts, address books, and schedules for each family individual. Since it already has an Internet connection, you can also use Verizon SuperPages to find restaurants, theaters, locksmiths, etc. It does a pretty good job in mapping results out for you, too. While impressive, this product does have a massive downside - it’s only available to Verizon DSL customers. Good going Verizon, way to isolate potential consumers.
Gallery: Verizon One Phone Impressions
Beetle ZipConnect Alarm Clock with AM/FM Digital Tuner & iPod Connector
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Toys, Transportation,
Now this is off the hook, especially for those VW Beetle fanatics out there. Check it - it’s a Volkswagen Beetle replica with a digital alarm clock built-in to the windshield. Now, the fun doesn’t end there, as it (like all ZipConnect speaker systems) includes a ZipConnect module (with convenient retractable 18-inch cable and mini stereo plug) for playing any iPod, MP3, portable CD or satellite radio — any audio source with a headphone jack. The Beetle has working headlamps and taillights, with stereo speakers hidden in the wheels.
Read More | Sharper Image
