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Wireless Extension Cords: April Fools
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Accessories, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Peripherals, Rumors,
Good Lord! Is this for real? ThinkGeek has introduced wireless extension cords, which use microwave technology to beam power (wirelessly) up to three hundred feet.
Just plug the Wireless Extension Cord (WEC) base unit into a standard wall outlet, and plug whatever you need into the satellite unit. The WEC uses microwaves in the 7.2GHz range, so it won’t interfere with wireless networks, Bluetooth components, etc. Now, all you need to do is adjust the antennae on the two units so they are aimed at each other. Turn everything on and you have the power! The distance the WEC units can broadcast differs from situation to situation (due to interference of such things as walls, power lines, and microwave ovens), but we’ve beamed power over 300 feet!
These puppies will run you about $35 at ThinkGeek. Have a good time trying to get through checkout though…
Read More 
| ThinkGeek
Gallery: Wireless Extension Cords: April Fools
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Newsflash: No One Buys UMD Movies
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Movies, Rumors, Video Games,
It’s a shock, we know. As it turns out, those Hollywood movie releases that have been released on UMD over the past year or so? It seems no one is interested in buying them. While we are not sure if this is a surprise to anyone buy Sony, it just makes sense to us that the media would sell poorly. I mean, why would I buy a movie that I can only play on one dedicated device - especially when that device isn’t my television? If Sony was smart about the whole idea, they would have done a bit more planning. If I buy Spider-Man: The Movie, I want the game in there as well. Or vice versa. Otherwise, I am buying the DVD and ripping it to my Memory Stick. Anyways, expect to see Wal-Mart drop shelf space for UMDs altogether very soon. Even better, know that Universal and Paramount Pictures have already stopped UMD production.
Read More | Playfeed
Gallery: Newsflash: No One Buys UMD Movies
US Retailers Considering “Electronic Wallet” Purchases
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Rumors, Science,
Newly released research by Sanford Bernstein analyst Emme Kozloff, found that by using “electronic wallets” companies like Wal-Mart could save big. By using customer’s fingerprints as a payment method, companies could speed up the checkout process; reduce the potential for fraud and identity theft, and most importantly save money by lowering the transaction fee. This type of system is already in use by Albertsons, Cub Foods, and Piggly Wiggly. While this might save time at the checkout, privacy advocates are still very concerned about the process.
Read More | CNN
Gallery: US Retailers Considering “Electronic Wallet” Purchases
iPod Phone Confirmed By BenQ
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,
Recently there have been rumors that Apple is planning to release an iPod with phone features, some say within the next few months. Insiders at cell phone maker BenQ say that Apple executives have begun talking to various Taiwanese manufacturers about supplying parts for a new product. Apple has not commented on the possibility of an iPod with phone features. Some market analysts believe that if Apple does go through with its plans for an iPod with phone features, that it will have the biggest impact on Motorola, the leading cell phone maker in the United States.
Read More | SmartHouse
Gallery: iPod Phone Confirmed By BenQ
60% Of Windows Vista To Be Rewritten?
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Rumors, Software,
It came as no surprise to anyone when Microsoft announced that the consumer versions of Windows Vista would be delayed until January 2007. Following swiftly was news that Microsoft is reshaping its Platforms & Services Division (Windows and Windows Live) by bringing Senior Vice President Steven Sinofsky over from the successful Office Division, where he has worked since 1994. Steven was picked to bring the misguided division back on track and on schedule.
Today we have more news that Office 2007 will be purposely delayed to coincide with the 2007 launch of Vista, and a disturbing rumor that 60% of the Windows Vista code will need to be rewritten prior to its release. Luckily, Robert Scoble posted earlier that this rumor was completely false, killing the notion that employees were being pulled from the Xbox division (among others) to help with the rewriting of code.
Read More | Smarthouse (60% code rewrite)
Read More | Microsoft (restructuring details)
Gallery: 60% Of Windows Vista To Be Rewritten?
Pure speculation on the part of Rahul Sood (President and CTO of VoodooPC), but he seems to be of the mind that Dell will be beaming Alienware up into the Texas mothership. A quick blurb from his blog gives us an inkling into his thoughts on the matter.
- Dell is not unlike a big bad bear that has been awoken from his hibernation.
- Dell knows they need to grow, and they need to be perceived as a leading edge company.
- Dell can’t crack the “cool” factor with the Dell brand.
- I’m pretty sure if offered a check (cheque for my Canadian/U.K. brothers and sisters) the guys at AW may jump at the chance to cash it.
- Dell could take on another brand and grow it as an individual brand separate from Dell – perhaps?
I think it’s easy to agree with number three, and logic dictates they follow number five. If we believe that Dell can’t “crack the cool factor”, and they were to suck up another company that does have a better gaming/performance image, they would almost have to run it as a separate entity. If not, they’d risk diluting that which they sought after so desperately. On the other hand, with the introduction of their quad-SLI rig at CES, Dell certainly stunned the community, certain members of which never would have given Dell the time of day otherwise (and possibly still won’t).
Here’s a question for you - if you don’t buy Dell because they lack “street cred”, but Alienware is appealing to you, what happens if Alienware is owned by Dell? Is Alienware still worthy, or when you look at their little alien emblem do you picture Dell’s logo emblazoned across it’s head?
Read More | Rahul Sood
Gallery: Dell To Purchase Alienware?
Microsoft Origami Project: Is This It?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors, Wireless / WiFi,
We have held off on all the Origami Project speculation, as it has mostly remained a mystery. Earlier today, the image above started circulating around the internets, and it grabbed our attention. Of course, we have no real proof that this is Origami, but if it isn’t, we do hope that it is a real product. The thing just looks amazing. As for what Origami really is, we are not yet sure. However, Scoble is quick to tell us what it is not. Okay, not an iPod/OQO/PSP/Nokia N90/Treo 700w/Palm killer. We are cool with that, but mostly because no matter what Origami turns out to be, it wouldn’t kill any of the aforementioned products. It also isn’t a portable Xbox, which we didn’t even consider, seeing as how new game consoles have a ton of fanfare behind them before ever being shown.
So what is it? If the image is even close to being real, we gather that Origami is a smart way to carry around your digital life. Sure, that will include music and video - but we think that also includes contacts, email, RSS, and email - all wrapped up in wireless mobile broadband. Our bet is that Origami is an extension of your home computing experience, but not a replacement for it.
Read More | Origami Portal
Gallery: Microsoft Origami Project: Is This It?
Okay, something tells me that MacShrine has hit the jackpot with this one. We know, we were all almost duped by the Attack of the Show fake, resulting in our mega-disappointment in Steve Jobs last announcement. However, when MacShrine posted the images that we have in this post, they were served with a cease and desist from Apple. That is normally an indication that you are showing something that they don’t want you to be showing. In the image above, you see what we believe to be called the ‘iPod AV’ docked in the iPod Hi-Fi. I am still not overly excited to see the scroll wheel integrated onto the screen itself, but maybe if I stopped eating cheese puffs while licking my fingers, it won’t be so bad. We have a couple more pictures of the (supposed) device, after the jump.
Click to continue reading Is This The iPod AV?
Gallery: Is This The iPod AV?
Video Proves Widescreen iPod Image A Fake
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Internet, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,
Not surprisingly, the widescreen iPod video device has quickly been debunked as a fake. We know the screen color and orientation look a bit off, and a video has been released showing how it was all done. Now, don’t get all glum - word is strong that Steve Jobs will be debuting a true video iPod this Tuesday - just not the one pictured above. Click on to check out the video showing how the above image was crafted.
(Thanks Yashar!)
Read More | iPod Video Image Exposed
Gallery: Video Proves Widescreen iPod Image A Fake
Is This The Real Widescreen iPod Video?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,
No idea where this image came from, but we thought it looked interesting enough to warrant a post. Might this be the widescreen iPod video we have all been waiting for? Quite possibly. If it is, please tell us the click wheel is on the back, rather than integrated into the screen. Then again, there is nothing else in the image that we can use to determine the size of this device. Could it be an Intel-powered Apple tablet? For all of you Photoshop masters out there, let us know - does the image on the screen appear to be a bit off center? Perhaps this is all a rouse.
(Thanks zxvipxz!)
Read More | Mac Shrine
Gallery: Is This The Real Widescreen iPod Video?
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