Ramblings of Gadgetboy

Interesting AV receiver

2005-06-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Check this AV receiver out:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DCP501&cpc=SCH&srm=0

It looks like your standard run of the mill surround sound receiver, but with some notable “features”:

It’s made by Motorola (!) Never knew they were into this kind of consumer electronics, or at least, they were at one point.
It has a built-in DVD player, but has a full-size form factor. A lot of the all-in-one surround setups have a DVD player built in, but usually the connection options are quite limited. This one seems to have a good complement of AV jacks.
It has built-in digital cable TV tuner. This is really unusual. If this works with your local Comcast system, it could at the very least remove one box from your setup. At best, it might be a way to get digital cable for cheap or less…

The only thing I think it’s missing may be an auxiliary set of component inputs. It’s also not entirely clear to me if it support component outs, actually. Anyways, for $159, seems like it’s a solid deal, especially if the digital cable TV tuner works…

2005-01-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

Not really a picture of a gadget, but of a great new software tool, Picasa 2. It's made by Google and is probably one of the best picture management apps I've seen. Best part: it's free! This is a sample of a cool Collage tool it can generate on the fly.

New Apple Products

2005-01-13T02:18:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have been talking about the two Apple products announced yesterday: the iPod shuffle and the iMac mini.

The iMac mini has a really cool form factor and the price of the machine is nice on the surface, but are you really getting a lot of computing power for the money? Probably not when you factor in you get no keyboard, mouse, monitor, or other accessories to speak of, but it is a perfect 2^nd computer or a machine for people who are Mac-interested. Many PC folks are building SFF (small form factor) machines on their own using the Mini-ITX standard motherboard/case config, especially for Media Center type PCs. Love the design of the iMac mini, but not quite prepared to add a Mac to the household.

The iPod shuffle is really minimalist. It’s like the original Creative MuVo or Rio Fuse, but with support for less file formats. If you absolutely need to have an all white plug-in player, I probably would go with the Jens of Sweden players instead. I was a little underwhelmed with this device actually.

www.apple.com

Sid Meier's Pirates

2005-01-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

Great price for a great game: $29.90 today only!

http://www.gogamer.com/cgi-bin/GoGamer.storefront/SESSIONID/Product/View/001SIDP

Cool HTPC Case

2005-01-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

If you've seen the Teatro D1 Media Center PC with build in Hi-Def touchscreen monitor, you probably are in gear envy. Sadly, unless you have 6 big ones (that's 6 grand folks), forget about getting one....

...but there is a very good alternative for you DIY-ers. You can purchase the case and even the mounted touchscreen from a US company. The base case is not cheap at $395, at that price, you can easily build a Media Center PC build for under a grand that looks hot and runs cool.

More info:
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/460/build_your_own
http://www.atechfabrication.com/atech_5000_order_form.htm

Cheap File Server?

2004-12-18T14:26:00.000-08:00

And another deal on an old P3-933 system for $119. You could easily make this into a media server and it's small enough to tuck away in a closet or something.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HPVLPIII933-2B

Sushi USB Drives!

2004-12-15T22:13:00.000-08:00

OK. This ranks up there as some of the strangest gadgets I’ve encountered this year. That being said, I’ll take a spicy tuna and an unagi roll, please!

http://www.dynamism.com/sushidisk/index.shtml

Cheapest front projecter to date

2004-12-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

$599 for a Sharp front projector. Kind of low contrast (350:1) but it’s cheap!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=S339-1200&sourceid=qIZmQbnekllNAcC5@Zu2&siteid=0029407737&CMP=AFC-AFFIL

Cool Retro gaming system

2004-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

Play all your old favorite arcade games with this all-in-one system.

http://www.softwareandstuff.com/CES10438.html

It’s like a MAME emulator with a preset list of games. Comes with a Light Gun and two control pads that looks suspiciously like a Genesis controller and a N64 controller.

The best part: It’s only $20!

Woot.com

2004-12-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

This is a really cool site. It sells only one thing a day, and once it's sold out, it's gone for good. There are usually some good deals to be had here, but it's random what comes up each day. Subscribe to it with your favorite RSS reader and check it out in the mornings.

http://www.woot.com/

EDTV Plasma below $1600

2004-12-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a cheap price on an EDTV plasma. It's basically a Samsung machine with an Akai brand. You can tweak it to get a really good picture, but out of the box, it may not blow your socks off.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=697268&Sku=L250-4204

Handheld Digital VCR

2004-12-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

The portable media centers were introduced by MS this year and are pretty
slick devices. Unfortunately, they are really pricey too. Here's a deal on a
unit that's $270. The interface is a little clunky, but it does what it's
supposed to do and is just a bit more than an iPod.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=rd2780-r

1-piece Surround System

2004-11-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool device that simulates a 5.1 system in a single
speaker.

http://www.soundmatters.com/mainstage.html

It's been quite well reviewed and may be perfect for places where
setting up a full surround system is impractical. It used to sell for
$300 but it's on sale through the end of the year for $199 new, or as
little as $129 through their refurb outlet. It supports a Dolby Digital
stream (not DTS though) and can be hooked up to a beefier subwoofer if
you want more bass. This may even be a cool option for computer speakers
or a portable sound setup.

Multifunction printer

2004-11-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a color multifunction printer with fax capability for only $63.
Seems to have pretty solid reviews for it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002UECG6/ref%3Dnosim/techbargai
nscom/103-7079033-1031026

MCE plug in

2004-11-29T20:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.binnerup.dk/mce/mymovies.htm

cheap games

2004-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

A link to a whole pile of games on sale for under $10. All platforms
covered. Check it out!

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/clearance/clearance.asp

combo picture frame/LCD TV

2004-11-24T09:54:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty neat convergence device:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=82-109-101&dep
a=0

It's a 10'4" LCD TV with memory card slots for playing back photos or
music. It's not networked, so you can't stream with it, but would be a
cool thing to have say in a kitchen , guest bedroom, or even kids room.

Samsung Laser Multifunction $99

2004-11-18T08:50:00.001-08:00

This seems to be a good price on a *laser* multifunction printer.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10377236&dcaid=1688

$50 rebate drops retail from $149 to $99. Good only til the weekend though.Â

Samsung Laser Multifunction $99

2004-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

This seems to be a good price on a *laser* multifunction printer.

Streamload internet storage

2004-11-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

(wow, lots of cool tools and gadgets today...)

Here's another site that offers nearly free (or totally free in some
cases) online storage:

http://www.streamload.com/About/Home.asp

Use it to store music, media, files, you name it. If you download less
than 100MB a month, and need to store 1GB, it's totally free.

-a

Roomba for your lawn

2004-11-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

OK, lazy-asses. Here’s a roomba for your lawn. $179 for today only.

http://www.woot.com/woot_detail.aspx

Mulching only. Not guaranteed to avoid small pets and rodents. J

Google SMS

2004-11-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

OK, this isn't a gadget per-se, but it's a very cool tool to use with
your SMS-enabled phone.

http://www.google.com/sms/

Here are the basic directions:
1. Enter your query as a text message from your phone.
2. Send the message to the US shortcode 46645 (GOOGL on most phones).
3. Receive a text message (or messages) with your results, usually
within a minute. Results may be labeled as "1of3", "2of3", etc.
4. To get Google SMS help info sent directly to your phone, send the
word 'help' as a text message to 46645.

You can get product prices, restaurant listings, dictionary lookups,
scores, and a whole pile of stuff sent direct to your phone on demand.
Very slick!

Go to the link to find out some sample queries you can make and check
out a downloadable PDF quick ref guide.

30" LCD HDTV

2004-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=498040

This is a $1399 deal for a 30â widescreen monitor. Dellâs screen is about 2 grand. Made by Tatung. Hey, it will match your rice cooker! âº

Cheap 17" LCD monitor

2004-11-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

$199 after rebates

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=382789

It's also a pretty decent monitor, spec-wise. Get 2 with a
dual-connector video card and have tons of desktop space to work with.

Car MP3 player

2004-11-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

This is pretty cool. A cigarette lighter plug-in MP3 player device with a standard USB port. Load up a USB memory key with MP3 songs, plug it into this device and transmit to an FM station. neat

http://www.audioxtract.com/accessories.asp?PROMO=JMBNEWS102904&a=71779

512 MB CF Card Craziness: $19.85

2004-10-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is pretty damn cheap:

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10311745&adid=17070&sssdmh=dm5.98092&dcaid=17070

Not sure about the speed, but Kingston is a pretty reputable memory maker.

Buy 2 get 3rd Free Videogames at Amazon.com

2004-10-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Amazon - Toysrus.com has Buy two select PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube video games, get a third free. Exp 10/30. Many games have free shipping.

Gamecube:
$19.99 games - Code: RTGGMCBE7999
$29.99 games - Code: RTGGMCBE2999
$39.99 games - Code: RTGGMCBE3999
$49.99 games - Code: RTGGMCBE4999

Playstation2:
$19.99 games - Code: RTGPS2GV7999
$29.99 games - Code: RTGPS2GV2999
$39.99 games - Code: RTGPS2GV3999
$49.99 games - Code: RTGPS2GV4999

Xbox:
$19.99 games - Code: RTGXBXVG7999
$29.99 games - Code: RTGXBXVG2999
$39.99 games - Code: RTGXBXVG3999
$49.99 games - Code: RTGXBXVG4999

Xbox 5.1 THX Certified Speakers

2004-10-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a great deal on a 5.1 setup for your Xbox or any other sound source. These originally sold for $200 I think, but you can get them now for $50.

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/ACC10740.html

You also get speaker stands, wall brackets, cables, and a wirelss remote. I think the grilles are replaceable so you can match it with your PS2 (blue) or Xbox (green).

DK Bongos!

2004-10-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

OK. So the DK Bongo Drum controller is the coolest peripheral for a console since the Samba de Amigo Maracs for the Dreamcast. Donkey Konga is a cool "bemani" game where you tap, clap, and roll the bongo surfaces in time with music and beats. It's totally hilarious with 2 or more people.

$49 for Donkey Konga game and 1 set of bongos. $30 for an extra set of bongos.

www.nintendo.com

Disclaimer: sore palms may result...

No scratch mosquito bite fix?

2004-10-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Check out this strange device:
http://www.ecobrands.co.uk/Pages/EcoProduct/protection/protection.html

Might be good for camping

cheapo compact flash

2004-10-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

A 1GB 4X compactflash card for $55. Pretty good deal for a name brand (Lexar).

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10357345&dcaid=1688

cheapo HD MP3 player

2004-09-28T23:30:00.000-07:00

The Polaroid (?!!) MP3 player has the highest bang for buck ratio I've seen for a HD unit. The 40GB unit is only $179. If you order from the link below you can also get a high quality pair of Sennheiser headphones or earbuds for free after rebate.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=294785

Another MP3 player deal

2004-09-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

If flash-based MP3 players are your thing, you'be hard pressed to find a more compact and full-featured unit than the Creative Muvo NX FM. Wal-mart is selling the 256 MB model for only $98. Works with MP3 & WMA files, has an FM radio, voice recording, Audible book support, and works using a simple plug and play operation (no drivers required!)

Snag one today.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3132182

Rio Carbon for $219

2004-09-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

This is a hot MP3 player that's being touted as a potenital iPod Mini killer. 5GB storage, WMA support, voice recorder, and way longer battery life. Size is comparable to the mini and it actually comes with some useful accessories in the box.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90136943&dcaid=1688

Weird joke gift of the day

2004-09-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

The "Adult Vibrating Jet Flame Turbo Torch". The picture of it is even weirder than the name.

http://www.onsale.com/itemdetails/showitem.aspx?listingid=1379419

Bluetooth GPS receiver $140!

2004-09-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a great deal on the Belkin bluetooth GPS receiver. It works with Pocket PCs, laptops, and Palm PDAs with bluetooth connectivity, though you need extra software to get it to work with a Palm. It may even work with a SmartPhone if you get the right software for it. Should also work with packages like Streets & Trips.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=164017

Use code 82242 to get the discounted price.

Homebrew HDTV

2004-09-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

If you're lucky enough to receive over the air HDTV signals, the ATI HDTV Wonder card is on sale for $149. Combine this card with a PC and tons of HD space and you'll have an HDTV PVR for probably half the cost of a comparable retail solution. Rumor has it has it that the next version of Media Center PC will support HDTV recording too.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=15-116-310&ATT=Video+Device+Add+On&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r

Tailgating grill

2004-09-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ahh, football season is upon us. That means fantasy football pools, MNF, and of course, tailgating parties. While you see everyone else fumble with charcoal grills or oversized propane contraptions, whip out this baby out of your Mini Cooper - the Weber Baby Q - and start cooking.

It's a smaller version of the Weber Q grill, but still offers about 190 sq inches of cooking surface an 35lb package. The big difference between this portable grill and others is that Baby Q is a true grill with a burner tube and high quality cooking grate. Most other grills are really "griddles", so you can't get that true seared-in taste.

$149 at lots of different retail locations, but may cheaper online

http://www.weber.com/q/babyq.aspx

Portable Karaoke!

2004-09-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

For you closet Manilow/Celine/Christina/Groban fans out there, a neat portable karaoke system for under $40. This device only plays VCD formatted discs (or regular CDs, but without cheesy videos), but these are widely available for cheap. I've been able to get discs in Toronto for $10 CDN...

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=TM250YYY

Cool MP3 speaker system for $45

2004-09-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

These retail for something ridculous, like $100+, but for $45, it's a little more palatable. They fold up so you can tote them around with your iPod or player of choice.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10365151&dcaid=1688

Welcome to the new Gadgetboy Site!

2004-09-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome LiveJournal readers. Hopefully I'll be able to keep on top of this site more than the old one. In the meantime, enjoy your stay.