We’ve told you about XStreamHD once or twice before. You can forget the format war because we all know physical media is going down the pooper. I like where XStreamHD’s head is at with streaming 1080p video and 7.1 channels of DTS-HD Master Audio (lossless audio). But it does more then movies, too. You can watch TV, listen to your music and play games via satellite. Did I mention it acts as a DVR and it has an integrated PBX phone system for VoIP? And you can record three HD broadcasts at once. It even plays nice with DLNA devices like your PS3. → Read More
http://www.crunchgear.com/video/player.swf?movie=linksysinterface.mp4.ff.flv Linksys’ new interface is probably the most useful I’ve seen in a network peripheral. Each items pops up as a little icon and shows full information including IP address and potential problems. The system also allows unattended updates. → Read More
[photopress:Hi_Res_ReadyNAS_DUO_front_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image] NetGear release a heady 8 products today including a new home storage NAS with redundant drives and wireless devices with improved HD streaming over WiFi complete with increased range. → Read More
I’m going to save you the shenenigans and snark by just pasting what Vizio sent us. Essentially, they’ve got 32-inch plasmas for $689 and 50-inchers for $1,399 — 1080p, naturally — and a few new surround sound systems and LCDs. They have a new LCD line called Envy which is a little sexier than the standard line. We’ll hit the booth tomorrow to see what is really up over there. → Read More
The SPOT is a handheld GPS device that communicates via satellite to call for help or just check in with loved ones. The orange device reports your current position and lets you map your trek on Google Maps when you get back to civilization. The little device is actually pretty cool and comes in blaze orange for hunters and hikers. We’ll have a full hands on later but until then it seems like a good idea. SPOT is ideal for the growing market of outdoor enthusiasts, specifically when they are backpacking, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, ice and rock climbing, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or participating in recreational maritime activities. Experian® Simmon’s Research estimates that the qualified outdoor enthusiast market alone exceeds 64 million consumers in the United States. SPOT is also ideal for those who need to notify others of their status after a natural or man-made disaster. The National Association for Search and Rescue estimates more than 50,000 search and rescue missions are initiated each year in the United States alone. Many of these missions are undertaken without search and rescue knowing the exact location of the missing party. SPOT removes this unknown by providing GPS location coordinates that are accurate to within 20 feet. SPOT can also be used for commercial lone worker safety applications for those businesses with employees operating in remote areas outside the range of cellular and other wireless communications. It is also a valuable safety tool for any person who drives their automobile outside of cellular coverage or for emergency messaging during natural disasters such as hurricanes or other situations when cellular or land-based communications may be damaged or unavailable. It costs $149.99 with a $99 subscription. Monthly subscriptions are coming soon. → Read More
[photopress:IMG_0303.JPG,full,center] From the makers of the Mosquito comes the Vamp, a scary-looking bat robot with an ugly carapace that can fly around inside and outside. It should be available now and costs about $40. Compacted into a 12” wingspan, the i-Fly VAMP™ is the world’s smallest R/C ornithopter, all the while maintaining pure flying control in both indoor and outdoor settings. Using a built-in lithium polymer battery, a simple 20-30 minute charge allows the i-Fly VAMP™ a soaring flight time of more then 10 minutes. Product Page → Read More
[photopress:MX_W1_Set__Large_.jpg,full,center] I pray that Kleer actually takes off but after seeing ideas like this try and fail to gain traction — Zigbee, anyone? — I’m a little dubious. Anyway, Sennheiser just launched the first Kleer compatible headphones which allow you to listen to any Kleer-enabled MP3 player and even share your music with others. The MX W1 headphones are completely untethered, which means each of them look like a little Bluetooth headset and are not connected by a wire like the RCA model. They will be available in May 2008, no pricing available. Kleer → Read More
I think it’s time we shut down the Internet. A new version of the so-called Google OS, gOS will be available next week. Dubbed “Rocket,” this new version has Google Gears support for hot offline action and includes: Virtual desktops: Available on the desktop, allowing easy grouping of applications across multiple desktop spaces · Online Storage Drive: available on the desktop, allows easy online backup and file sharing powered by Box.net. · Adobe Flash 9 for Linux: preloaded, allows instant use of YouTube, gBooth, Google Talk · Updated Wi-Fi Manager “Exalt”: for improved reliability While it’s not amazing, it’s nice to know it’s out there, you know? It’s like “Hey, gOS, whatcha doin’?” “Nothin, just raisin’ the profile of Linux by upsetting purists.” → Read More
[photopress:bbeat.jpg,full,center] I’m kind of weaning myself off of music while I run. It lets me concentrate a bit more on, say, finishing a race in less than 6 hours. However, the Bodibeat by Yamaha might be just what the doctor ordered. It is a music player that senses your current heart rate and changes the music depending on your effort level. Strolling casually away from a murder scene? NIN. Running from creditors? Black Sabbath. Sleeping? Maybe whale song. I doubt Yamaha will be able to sell this thing but it’s interesting to see them move into the music player market, however small a share of said market they currently own. Who knows? Maybe I’ll pick one up and, given my current state of health, rock out to “The Chicken Dance” while walking to to the fridge. It should be available in the next few months. Product Page [Warning: Horrible Flash Ahead] → Read More
[photopress:SlingboxPRO_HD.jpg,full,center] Need 1080i content every-freaking-where in the world? Get ye a $399.99 SlingBox PRO-HD. This monster can send digital TV and HD content almost anywhere, provided your pipe is fast enough to support the upload speeds — Sling suggests FiOS. Blackberry fans will be happy to note that they will now be able to watch Slinged (Slung?) content on their wee handhelds. The software will be available for $29.99 later this year. → Read More
BIZARRO LAS VEGAS (AP) – With the eyes of the world turned to Sin City for this year’s Computer Electronical Show, tech giant Norcent has announced two of its highly anticipated products, the LT series of LCD televisions and a digital camera. Crowds of people are already lining up to view Norcent’s offerings, causing Nevada Governor Gibbon McShandy to declare a state emergency. With National Guard troops massing on the scene, hungry HD fans are clamoring for Norcent’s 42-inch 1080p set for $1,299 and their 19- and 22-inch sets, $299.99 and $379.99 respectively. The 10-megapixel DCS-1050 should cost $179.99 and takes photomechanographs. Norcent’s world-famous CEO Slithe Markinson is arriving by autogyro this afternoon to quell the crowds and to announce his plan to colonize Mars. → Read More
Dag nabbit! Garmin just launched the Forerunner 405, a sexier, sultrier GPS watch that doesn’t look like a domino is trying to rape your wrist. It can be used indoors and outdoors and measure heart rate. There’s also a Virtual Partner feature that will challenge you during your runs. Umm… and there’s no damn dongle. It’s all wireless. And you can rub the bezel to change functions. And it starts at $299. Shoot me now. → Read More
It’s mobile a TV and no, you can’t have it yet. Prognosticating always gets you into trouble, but I’ve been keeping my eyes on announcements from CES and want to make a few basic predictions. While I can’t promise any of this will happen, I do know that these things have to happen in order to maintain the endless whirlwind of innovation and improvement we’ve been seeing in the past few years, especially when it comes to media and home theatre systems. With that in mind, let’s jump right in. → Read More
