Digital Technology for Digital Living.
April 07, 2007
$1 Million Dollar Apple Remote Control For Sale on Amazon
Amazon.com is currently selling a $999,999.00 1/2 ounce plastic SiK rex remote control that works with the Apple MacBook Pro, iPod Universal Dock, Apple TV, Front Row, iPod Hi-Fi and is Front Row compatible.
No joke. You can see the SiK rex Amazon page here.
Sound too expensive for a little piece of plastic? What if i told you that the remote can be stored in the ExpressCard/34 slot of your MacBook Pro…
Yeah, I’m not convinced it’s worth it. But if Bill Gates is reading this…. hurry dude, there is only one left in stock!
This is obviously a just a typo. So I took a screenshot of the million dollar SiK rex remote page and posted it here on flickr in case Amazon takes the page down.
If you are still interested in the SiK rex remote control but not the million dollar price tag, you can also purchase one used or from a 3rd party on Amazon.com for only $25.
BeSocial: digg story | amazon | methodshop
methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Wireless, Video, Digital TV, DVD
February 09, 2007
Garmin GPS Review
Sometimes it’s not just about what should you bring, but how in the hell you get there. If you’re like me (a guy) you can proabably make it from Point A to Point B in record time. The problem is, Point B is not actually your destination, but somewhere a mile or two from it. Now, I’ve been wanting a GPS for years but was concerned my wife thought it too expensive of a “toy.” So I did the next best thing… I bought her one for Christmas. (Kind of like Homer buying Marge a bowling ball) And the funny thing is, she has this amazing internal compass. She hardly ever needs the GPS, so it usually resides with me.
I’ve been using it for a little over a month and it works flawlessly. The touchscreen makes inputting destinations a snap. Due to the small size and many functions, I don’t ever see myself having to buy my wife another one… till next year.
BeSocial: amazon reviews | whatshouldibring
methodshop | Comments (0) | Wireless, Portable
February 02, 2007
Nabaztag the wi-fi rabbit
The Nabaztag, a Wi-fi rabbit, is a cute piece of hardware that connects to the internet via your wi-fi network. It then moves its ears and changes colors on its belly to inform you of the latest news, SMS messages, RSS feeds and email messages. He even does Tai Chi (through the use of his ears) and the weather besides others.
With the software side to the device being open source you can expect a flow of new applications as people are encouraged to deliver new applications for it. It costs $170. It is currently selling in France for the price of 95 euros.
Reference for posting: http://www.bbc.co.uk
AndyD | Comments (0) | Wireless
January 17, 2007
MoGo Wireless Bluetooth Mouse
The MoGo Wireless Mouse is a business-card sized, Bluetooth-enabled mouse that stores and recharges neatly inside (yes, inside…) your laptop’s PC card slot. To recharge your MoGo Mouse, just slide it into the empty PC card slot in your laptop. It will fully recharge in less than an hour and provide you with enough power for about 8 or 9 hours of use.
As you can imagine, the MoGo Mouse is specifically designed for people who spend a lot of time traveling like writers, reporters and sales reps. Other mice, even those meant for travelers, usually don’t cut it. Mini-mice (aka “walnut shells”) get lost in your hand and are difficult to maneuver, and the idea of carrying a full-sized mouse defeats the entire purpose of mobility on the go.
The MoGo Mouse is a natural fit for road warriors. Storing it inside you PC Card (PCMCIA) slot is pure genius and the fact that it charges there is just the icing on the cake. The only thing I’d like to see in future models is a scroll wheel. I know that the size of it makes it hard to have a wheel but maybe a touch wheel, like one some laptops, could have been possible.
“an excellent tool for the road warrior or… minimalist.” ~ GetUSB.info
If you spend a lot of time on the road with your laptop, then the MoGo Wireless Mouse will just make your life easier.
methodshop | Comments (1) | Wireless, Peripherals
January 12, 2007
iPhone: Cisco vs Apple
If you were paying attention to all the hype building up to the Apple iPhone announcement on Tuesday, then you might recall the little snag concerning who actually owns the “iPhone” name.
Even though Apple unveiled the iPhone in San Francisco this week, Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc., announced a product called the iPhone on December 18th, 2006. The Linksys iPhone is a Web-enabled telephone handset capable of making calls over the Internet using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP).
So how can two different companies lay claim to the “iPhone” name? That’s the problem… they can’t.
Linksys, actually owns the “iPhone” trademark because of a Cisco acquisition. A company called Infogear registered the “iPhone” name in 1996. Then Cisco then absorbed the “iPhone” trademark when it acquired Infogear in the year 2000.
So what happens now? It’s all up to the lawyers. Cisco filed a lawsuit against Apple yesterday in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Basically Cisco and Apple need to reach a settlement or Apple will have to call their iPhone something different like iChat Mobile.
According to the NY Post, Cisco thought it had reached a deal with Apple. The two companies were reportedly engaged in heated talks over the “iPhone” name the past few weeks leading up to the Apple iPhone announcement.
“We sent them final terms on Monday, but we never got approval back,” Cisco spokesman John Noh told The Post. “We’re very open to sharing the trademark. We made that clear. But then they went ahead and used the name without our permission.”
Apple has been trying to get the iPhone name away from Cisco since 2001 when they first released the iPod. Will Apple finally be successful? They obviously have something up their sleeve or they wouldn’t have halted talks with Cisco and just announced the iPhone this week. It will be interesting to see what happens these next few months.
Apple plans on releasing the iPhone in June 2007.
methodshop | Comments (1) | Mobile Phone, Music, Wireless, Portable, VOIP
January 10, 2007
Apple Announces iPhone, Apple TV
Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Apple, a company known for innovation, has been very fortunate in this regard. In 1984 they introduced the world to the first Macintosh and changed personal computing forever. Then in 2001 Apple introduced the first iPod and redefined the music industry.
Today Apple introduced 3 revolutionary products: widescreen iPod, mobile phone, and internet communicator. But there’s a catch… these revolutionary products aren’t 3 separate devices. They are all rolled into one product called the iPhone ($499 4GB, $599 8GB).
The iPhone (GSM+EDGE) has a touchscreen interface with multitouch capabilities. That means you can use multiple fingers at the same time. How can such a small device have an advanced multitouch interface? The iPhone runs the Macintosh operating system OS X. How did Apple fit an entire operating system into a tiny phone? I don’t know. Magic?
The iPhone syncs to your computer just like your iPod. All your media (music, videos, podcasts, etc.) as well as contacts, email amd calendars will sync to your iPhone. You can even add any any IMAP or POP email account. Yahoo users will like this next perk. Yahoo is giving all iPhone owners free IMAP email. You normally have to pay extra for this feature.
Web browsing on a mobile phone was probably one of the worst user experiences you’ve ever encountered. Well those days are over. The iPhone uses the Safari browser and can smoothly navigate complicated sites like Google Maps.
And if all this iPhone business wasn’t enough, Steve Jobs also announed Apple TV ($299) - a way to enjoy your media on your big screen TV. Anything you put into iTunes (content from iTunes, DVDs you’ve ripped, videos from YouTube, etc.) can be wirelessly transmitted to your Apple TV box.
The Apple TV has 802.11 WiFi (b, g + n) and will automatically sync from your PC.
More Apple TV specs:
- 40GB HD
- 720p HD video
- componet
- RCA
- USB 2.0
- ethernet
- WiFi
- HDMI
methodshop | Comments Off | PVR, Music, Wireless, Video, Digital TV, Software
November 26, 2006
A Pain in the Wii
You will probably either sympathize or laugh at this latest story coming from the console gaming community. According to last Saturday’s Wall Street Journal (subscription required), gamers are finding that the new Nintendo Wii can be a real pain in the neck… back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc.
In case you are unfamiliar with the Nintendo Wii, the controller it comes with is a wireless, motion-sensitive wand-like device. Gamers wave the controller around in the air and depending on which type of game you are playing, the controller can be anything from a sword, gun, tennis racket, or even a steering wheel. However, since the console debuted in mid-November, Nintendo Wii owners are complaining of aching backs, sore shoulders, and even something now called “Wii elbow.”
Here are a couple quotes from the WSJ article from Nintendo Wii owners:
Blaine Stuart of Rochester, New York, mistakenly whacked his fiancee, Shelly Haefele, while playing tennis and also accidentally hit his dog while bowling despite the message Nintendo flashes up on the screen before each game which says: “Make sure there are no people or objects around you that you might bump into while playing.”
Ryan Mercer, a customs broker in Indianapolis, lifts weights several times a week. But that hasn’t helped much with the Wii. After playing the boxing game for an hour and a half, his arms, shoulders and torso were aching. “I was soaking wet with sweat, head to toe — I had to go take a shower,” he says. And the next morning? “I had trouble putting my shirt on,” says the 21-year-old avid gamer.
So what do the doctors think about all this? Lana Kang, an orthopedic hand surgeon, had this piece of advice, “It’s just like athletic play…. Stretch out and be sure to take care of any injuries afterwards.”
With the rate of obese children skyrocketing worldwide, you’d think people would be congratulating Nintendo for combining gaming and exercise, not complaining. Oh well. Grab another Big Mac and wait for the next generation of gaming consoles to come out. Maybe they’ll feature ‘mind control ‘ so you don’t even have to lift a finger to play.
methodshop | Comments Off | General, Wireless, Console, Toys
October 26, 2006
Touchscreen iPod Rumors
If the latest round of touchscreen iPod rumors are true, you may want to revise your holiday wishlist.
Touchscreen iPod rumors have been circulating around the Internet for awhile now. Even MethodShop.com posted some touchscreen iPod patent pictures back in February. The new twist to this story is that the touchscreen iPod might have a wide aspect ratio screen. This would make a lot of sense since Apple recently started selling movies on iTunes.
The new widescreen rumor originated from an anonymous executive at an iPod accessories company who spoke to someone at TrustedReviews. How reliable is this anonymous executive? Your guess is as good as ours. Anyway, here’s what Mr. Anonymous had to say:
“In a very matter of fact tone I was told that the product was not designed for the current generation of device, but the official 6G iPod… which is to be released in December. His company’s device only comes onto the market shortly before then and would benefit hugely because the new iPod would sport a screen that filled the full side of the device and consequently offer higher resolution video… This is why Jobs isn’t afraid of the Zune,’ he said, though he had no knowledge of whether wireless would make an appearance.”
This might help explain Steve Jobs dismissive attitude last week:
“Jobs is unimpressed with Microsoft’s Zune, which allows users to exchange songs. ‘It takes forever,’ said Jobs. ‘By the time you’ve gone through all that, the girl’s got up and left!’”
Adding more fuel to the fire, here’s what Gizmodo had to say about the widescreen iPod rumors:
“One thing’s for sure, if this widescreen iPod is released in the next two months, the Microsoft Zune with its old-fashioned 4×3 screen and crippled WiFi will be slam-dunked.”
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Wireless, Portable, Video
September 26, 2006
Mercedes with Backseat iMac
Perhaps there should be a German version of the popular MTV show Pimp My Ride. German car customizer Mattes Interieurtechnik built a Mercedes CLS with an integrated backseat iMac. Mattes even carefully covered the outer edge of the iMac in leather to help it blend in with the cream colored interior.
Where are the cables? Mattes didn’t want any wires to clutter up his masterpiece, so he made sure to get a wireless mouse and Bluetooth keyboard. I wonder if he integrated the iMac into the speaker system so his passengers can be backseat DJs.
You can check out some more pictures here.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Digital Radio, Music, Wireless, Motorised, Toys
August 28, 2006
Free Google WiFi Internet
Thanks to Google, residents in Mountain View, California have one less monthly bill to pay every month… their Internet.
This month Google launched their free wireless Internet service called Google WiFi Mountain View. The service is completely free to the 72,000 residents of Mountain View and is not supported via ads. It covers the 12 square mile radius of the town and is comprised of some 380 access points.
Speeds have been reported at 1Mbps and Google is hoping that their product will convince many residents to drop their DSL & Cable offerings. Although these speeds aren’t super fast, Google’s free alternative will be something that most people will embrace. People who still want their high speed connections will have to pay for it.
If you’re not in Mountain View don’t despair, Google has teamed up with Earthlink for a more ambitious project - providing wireless Internet service to the San Francisco area. The San Francisco service will be a little different from the one now available in Mountain View in that it will be tiered. The free service (300 Kbps) will be supported by ads. If you want higher speeds (1 Mbps) without the ads, then you will have to pay monthly subscription fee.
So what is Google really up to here? Is Mountain View and San Francisco just beta cities for something much bigger like national WiFi? Google has been quietly buying up miles of “dark fiber” across the United States for years. Add that fiber network to the Wimax routers and chip sets slated to hit the consumer market next year and Google could wipe out the telecom and cable companies before they knew what hit them. Think about it… Google could instantly become a national ISP, phone (VoIP) and TV provider for the entire country.
It sounds easy, but consider the deployment difficulties of a national wireless network. A single WiFi base station can only cover a limited area. With overlap you are probably talking about 300-500 base stations per square mile depending on terrain. I’m no math major, but how many base stations would Google need to cover the entire United States? Over a billion? If Google did decide to build a national network, they’d probably have to hire all those former cable and DSL employees just to repair and maintain this massive network.
National WiFi domination… something to think about.
Sources: Techie Diva, News.com
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Broadband, Wireless, Video, VOIP
June 14, 2006
LoJack for your Laptop
Did your brand new MacBook get stolen already? Hopefully you had Undercover installed.
Undercover is an application that aids in the recovery of a stolen Macintosh. It works by transmitting the internet location (internal and external IP addresses and the router address) of the stolen Mac and by sending screenshots as well as images from any connected cameras. At one point these screenshots will sooner or later reveal the thief’s identity (e.g. when chatting, reading and writing emails). Combine that with images from any connected cameras and you have a very powerful recovery tool.
As you can imagine, Undercover can be especially useful for owners Apple MacBooks with built-in iSight cameras.
But once you know the location of your stolen laptop, then what? Go knock on the thief’s front door and get your ass kicked? No way. Orbicule, the makers of Undercover, then works with local police and law enforcement to help recover the stolen Mac. And if things go wrong, Undercover switches to plan B and simulates a hardware failure, forcing the thief (or someone who bought the stolen Mac on eBay) to return it to an authorized reseller. To alert the reseller, Undercover will start displaying full-screen messages and it will shout that the Mac has been stolen.
Owning Undercover is like having both a private detective and a LoJack for your laptop. Not a bad idea considering that 600,000 laptops were stolen in the USA during 2004 and only 3% were recovered. If only they made Undercover for iPods…
Undercover is only $30 and comes with a money-back guarantee. For more information check out: http://orbicule.com/undercover/
read more | digg story | methodshop.com
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Broadband, Wireless, Portable, Software
June 12, 2006
Cell Phone Jammers
We’ve all wanted to strangle them before. There’s nothing worse than some jerk blabbing away on their phone while you’re trying to enjoy a movie, meal at a restaurant, or a nice quiet nap on the bus/train ride to work.
You can try to send the offending mobile blabbermouth a few evil looks or the old “courtesy cough” but those passive aggressive gestures rarely work.
If you really want to silence a dopey chatter box, then you’ll need to acquire a cell phone jammer.
methodshop | Comments (1) | General, Mobile Phone, Wireless, Portable
March 24, 2006
Illegal Howard Stern Downloads Rampant
Didn’t get a Sirius satellite radio yet? Miss hearing Howard Stern in the mornings? You’re not alone. FM ratings have plummeted since Stern left terrestrial radio and people who didn’t make the move to satellite are looking for other places to get their daily Stern fix.
According to TheRawFeed.com, illegal downloading of Howard Stern’s Sirius satellite radio show is “rampant.” At first, the amount of avid Stern downloaders was relatively small. That all changed after the Los Angeles Times reported that bootlegged versions of the Stern show are easily available on file-sharing networks like BitTorrent. This Los Angeles Times article didn’t go unnoticed. As a result, illegal Howard Stern downloading has increased radically.
BitTorrent isn’t the only place to find illegal versions of the Howard Stern show. Grab a FM radio and scan through the channels slowly. You might just hear Howard. Pirate radio stations in New York and New Jersey are broadcasting Stern’s morning show over unused portions of the FM spectrum.
But the easiest and most reliable way to hear Howard Stern each and every morning is to just cough up the $0.40 a day and get a Sirius satellite radio.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Digital Radio, Wireless
August 26, 2005
PSP Web Browser
PSP users got something to cheer about this week. On Wednesday, Sony officially announced the next PSP firmware update, 2.0. The new firmware will let users surf the Internet from wireless “hotspots” using the device’s built-in Wi-Fi functions.
PSP owners have several ways to upgrade the firmware on their PSP:
- downloaded it with a wireless connection using the PSP’s Network Update function
- downloaded it to a Mac/PC and then transfer the firmware to the PSP with a USB cable
Another great feature of the 2.0 firmware update is the ability to play more types of music files. The MP4 audio codec was added allowing the playback of MPEG-4 based AAC audio files as well as WAV (Linear PCM).
The 2.0 firmware update is only for customers who own the PSP (PlayStation Portable) model number PSP-1001. If you don’t know what model PSP you own, take a look at the serial number located at the bottom of your PSP. The last seven digits of the serial number should end with PSP1001.
You can download the PSP Firmware System Update 2.0 here.
[Syndicated post via MethodShop.com]
methodshop | Comments (1) | General, Music, Wireless, Portable, Video, Toys, Software
June 20, 2005
Wireless Nation.
A new Aussie directory listing independent wireless hotspots has launched called Wireless Nation. Currently they claim over 1028 hotspots listed. The only issue is that there is a $10 fee for a year. Which in itself isn’t a lot of money, but when I don’t use many hotspots it’s not going to pay back anytime soon. There is currently a free 30 day trial, so at least you can get a feel for it.
The interesting feature is the WAP enabled service though. So the mobile warrior doesn’t have to rely on smoke signals and can use their phone to check for a location.
Beyond its web service, this Australian owned and operated site provides a WAP enabled service so the closest hotspot can be found anywhere using any appropriate mobile phone. Features include a search by postcode, price, member ratings and reviews.
Gadgetman | Comments (4) | Wireless
May 30, 2005
Stealing Broadband.
The Australian IT section has a tiny little article, Broadband vanishes into thin-air, that yet again talks about the insecurity of Wi-Fi.
John Leung, of Glen Waverley in Melbourne, said he had noticed a big spike in the amount of data being downloaded on his broadband internet account.
“The downloads were during working hours when I am not at home and the computer is switched off,” he said. “I suspect it’s probably a neighbour but (I’ve got) no idea who can it be.”
Mr Leung said the wireless link was not secured at first “as I thought the possibility of someone leeching off me was pretty low, but I guess it wasn’t”. Luckily, the downloads did run up a big bill, falling short of the account’s monthly limit.
Gadget Lounge knows someone who had a similar experience. They weren’t so lucky and it cost them several hundred bucks.
Last year we pointed to a similar but more interesting article. We suggested that everyone using wireless might want to take some precautions.
So, don’t use the default or a generic password for your Wireless Router. Even better, a few extra simple measures include adding a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key, or with newer routers the WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) key, and turn off the SSID (Service Set Identifier), which isn’t possible on all routers (like an older Apple Airport Base-station). If you feel the need, go that extra mile and only allow the MAC Address of the computers you intend to use. Alternatively, leave the network wide open and score major Whuffie!
Gadgetman | Comments (1) | Broadband, Wireless
April 13, 2005
Where is my Gadget?
You should be starting to get excited…. its out there… the technology ingredients are falling into place…
Hard Drive capacities are increasing (This animation is a crack-up)
Liquid lenses will allow small devices to zoom & focus without the need for traditional bulky glass lenses just like your eye! (well.. for those of us without glasses at least)
WiMAX should provide DSL equivalent speeds (for those of us living close enough to cities anyway).
And then with VOIP we should be able to slash the costs of calls to anywhere in the world!
Screens are getting more flexible
And there is even some decent software to run the thing with!
Add in to this companies like HTC (the makers of the O2 mini, and other things), Samsung (making phones with hard drives and high resolution, 7Megapixel! cameras), and Archos (who have been pushing the boundaries on portable media products ), along with many, many other companies….
And the final result of all this?
No one knows yet… but its a fair bet that Gadget Lounge readers will be lining up to order one!
Tell us what you’d like to see in your device in the forum.
Random | Comments (1) | General, Mobile Phone, Broadband, Music, Wireless, Portable, PDA, Digital Camera, VOIP
December 12, 2004
Aussie’s Get A WiGLE On.
One of Gadget Lounge’s regular readers has sent us news on an Australian Stumblers Group at WiGLE. What the hell is WiGLE you might ask. Well it’s the Wireless Geographic Logging Engine, and it’s all about plotting world wide Wi-Fi networks on maps. The concept is that people who War Drive, upload their logs to provide data for the world wide map. The U.S. map is particularly amazing. Filled to the brim. Australia needs some work, and hence Ice_Cold’s new group. Check his Whirlpool post for the details.
Gadgetman | Comments (2) | Wireless
December 10, 2004
Zensonic Z500.
Finally, a company that gets what convergence really means, almost. Zensonic has announced they’ll release a DVD player that is networkable, via wireless or gigabit, and can play a range of media via optical disc or via a USB 2.0 hard drive (like the Apple iPod). Codec support includes Windows Media Video 9, DivX XviD, MPEG-4, QuickTime MPEG-4, MPEG-2, MPEG-1, JPEG, TIFF, RAW, high definition FLAC lossless compressed format, OGG, AAC, MP3, Windows Media Audio 9 (including digitally rights managed WMA9), and CD Audio.
In addition it also supports HighMAT (High Performance Media Access Technology). HighMAT is a standard way of organising digital media files on burned discs for easy browsing and playback through a DVD player or other digital player. It is already implemented in Windows XP, Ahead Nero and other popular CD/DVD writing products and solves the problem of confusing, unordered lists of files on burned discs, instead presenting easy to navigate interfaces.
The Z500 server software is not only available for Windows, but also Mac OS X and Linux.
The only missing feature is DVD recording in the unit and perhaps a tuner card so it can record straight from TV. Ah well, perhaps the next unit.
Slated to be available in March for $AU429.
Details thanks to Digital Connect News.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | PVR, Music, Wireless, Video, Digital TV
December 08, 2004
Wi-Fi-Less Christmas.
Careful with those Christmas lights. The Register has found some might interfere with your Wi-Fi.
It has come to BT’s attention that an extremely small percentage of seasonal lighting, which can be used both internally and externally may cause interference with the broadband service.
When the lighting control unit is set to any mode other than a steady state it may generate high levels of radio frequency noise and may cause the broadband service to lose synchronisation.
“Investigations have revealed that the broadband service may be impacted where the lights do not meet the standards necessary for customer equipment marking,” it said.
So far, only a few dozen instances of flashing Christmas lights felling broadband have been reported. Incidentally, similar advice had to be issued last year.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | Wireless
