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Gear Lover - by Craig Hill

The SkiGym simulator looks like it's going for realism rather than the silly fun offered by the Wii, but some people probably want an accurate depiction of brief exhilaration before the inevitable faceplant.

The SkiGym hooks up to a PC to use the included game Alpine Ski Racing, or it can be used as a standalone gym. The game includes 32 different courses from 18 real-world mountains, just to add to the realism. It's available for a bank account-crushing $2300, which if I'm not mistaken could purchase a pretty sweet ski trip, but if you're loaded and scared of crashing, give it a look.

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Computers, Fitness, Home, Visual

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Brother Develops HD Sewing Machine

January 2nd 2009 13:51

If you're still watching TV in standard definition, think about wha Brother have developed. They have just announced the world's first sewing machine with a built-in camera to display your work on an "HD" screen.

The QuattroT 6000D seems to have some good ideas. 56 LEDs illuminate the sewing platform while its "InnovEyeT Technology" provides a bird's eye view of the needle, which can be enlarged for a better view of precision work. Plus, the camera allows the fabric to be auto-positioned (with the help of a sensor positioning sticker) for automatic embroidery.

Brother QuattroT 6000D

The screen itself, by Sharp, is a 32-(square)-inch display with 260,000 colors. It's not quite gameday ready, but we're sure that it tracks a mean cross stitch.

No word on price at the moment, but we may see more of the QuattroT 6000D at CES should we lose a button or become bored by endless rows of cameras and TVs.

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Computers, Gadgets, Home, Visual

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New In 2009: Wireless HDMI

January 2nd 2009 11:57

A multitude of companies have various wireless HDMI technologies, but there's no set standard (two warring factions need to settle the fight before we can have interoperable products). The technology is there, now it's just a matter of logistics and handshaking. With luck, by next Christmas, you'll be able to add it to a sub-$2000 1080p projector for the ultimate no-mess home theater.

Belkin FlyWire

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Home, Visual

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New In 2009: A Decent Sized OLED TV

January 2nd 2009 11:46

The Sony XEL-1 OLED television was met with great enthusiasm when it was released in 2008, but there was a catch; its screen size was a only 11 inches. While we can't expect 50-inch screens just yet, we do anticipate a very expensive mid-sized set, between 27 to 32 inches, to hit the market in some form in 2009. Sony actually showed off a prototype that was 27 inches at CES 2008, so it remains what will be seen at CES 2009.

Sony OLED XEL1

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Home, Visual

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New In 2009: Cheap Blu-ray Players

January 2nd 2009 10:40

It is possible that such players could be priced under $100, and LG have announced they will have expanded services such as Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, and perhaps even Amazon VOD, Hulu and Rhapsody. If LG start, it is only a matter of time before the other companies start competing for the download dollar.

LG has announced that their 2009 line of "Network Blu-ray Players" will not only include Netflix, but YouTube support along with CinemaNow downloads. They will unveil this new line of players next week at CES.

While many may interpret all this connectivity as a sign of actual home theater/internet convergence, a more skeptical onlooker may see LG hedging their bets on Blu-ray to entice consumers into buying new media players.

LG Blu-ray With Netflix

MEDIA RELEASE FROM LG

LG ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES NEW STREAMING CONTENT PARTNERS FOR ITS NETWORK BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS

LG to Offer Consumers Unparalleled Access to Streaming Entertainment from CinemaNow, YouTube and Netflix

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Dec. 30, 2008 – LG Electronics today announced the expansion of network entertainment options for its Network Blu-ray Disc players through new alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube.

Available on new LG Network Blu-ray Disc Players in the first half of 2009, these new services complement LG’s instant streaming from Netflix and advanced Blu-ray capabilities to deliver consumers an exceptional entertainment experience. (In 2008, LG was the world’s first manufacturer to stream movies instantly from Netflix on a Network Blu-ray Disc Player.)

CinemaNow – an innovator in digital entertainment technology, delivering high-quality movies, TV shows and videos to users through online connectivity – and YouTube – a leading online video community for people to discover, watch, and share originally created videos – will be available in LG’s 2009 line of Network Blu-ray Disc players to be unveiled next week at the 2009 International CES.

“As millions of U.S. consumers view and download movies or TV shows through the Internet, they are demanding easier ways to access content and more home entertainment options,” said Tim Alessi, director of product development, LG Electronics USA.

“From Blu-ray to instant streaming from Netflix to CinemaNow and YouTube, LG is bridging the gap between packaged media and video-on-demand services to provide entertainment solutions for consumers’ demand for content,” he said. “With these new alliances, LG continues its innovation leadership by allowing consumers easy access to multiple entertainment options in one device.”

CinemaNow: Instant Streaming of Hollywood’s Latest Hits

CinemaNow has pushed the envelope of digital video distribution, becoming the first Web site to offer Pay-Per-View movies from major studios and the first broadband distributor of high definition (HD) content. Collaborating with CinemaNow will enable LG Electronics to offer consumers access to more than 14,000 titles from the major movie studios, broadcast and cable television shows, more than 250 independent film titles and music videos from all major labels. Key benefits include the capability to:

* Browse the entire CinemaNow premium content catalog, including latest Hollywood hits,
* Instantly stream content to enjoy on compatible devices, and
* Access and watch movies purchased from other CinemaNow-powered stores.

“We are extremely pleased to be providing CinemaNow premium content services to these innovative new products from LG Electronics that are helping to drive convenient consumer access to digital entertainment at home,” said Mark Ely, executive vice president of strategy, Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), parent company of CinemaNow.

YouTube: Original Streaming Video Content

Leading the way in providing unlimited access to online content, LG’s alliance with a prolific online video community, YouTube, will allow consumers to instantly stream millions of Web videos directly from the Internet to an LG Network Blu-ray Player for viewing on their television (without a personal computer). Key benefits include:

o Unlimited access to millions of videos on topics such as current events, instructional videos for hobbies and interests, comedic and viral videos and

o Easy searching, thumbnail previews and multiple screen size viewing options.

Netflix: High Definition Instant Streaming

Now available to consumers as a free on-line upgrade, LG’s first Network Blu-ray Disc Player (BD300) now delivers a growing number of Netflix titles in high-definition (HD). This new access to high-definition streaming content enhances the existing standard-definition streaming service that LG and Netflix first brought to consumers in 2008.

Future LG Network Blu-ray Disc Players will also offer consumers a variety of ways to enjoy more than 12,000 choices of movies and TV episodes from Netflix. Netflix members owning these devices pay one low monthly subscription for unlimited DVD rental and unlimited streaming.

LG’s full line of Network Blu-ray Disc Players, additional new content alliances and other new products will be revealed at the LG Electronics CES press conference on Jan. 7, 2009 at the Venetian/Sands and will be on display at the 2009 International CES – Booth #8214, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Audio, Home, Visual

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Own your very own Astronaut Moon Watch

August 19th 2008 06:32

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Alaska Project

Buzz Aldrin wearing the original Moonwatch

If you were a child of the 70’s then you were probably like me. Fascinated with all things astronomical, wanting to be an astronaut (or better still Steve Austin, that’s the Six Million Dollar Man, not the roid boy synchronised rumbler) and intrigued with any of the technological breakthroughs needed to survive a journey beyond the confines of the stratosphere.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch was originally designed by N.A.S.A back in the era of Disco and Farrah Fawcett posters. Now for the first time the public can finally access this Rolls Royce engine of indestructible timepieces.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch alaska project

The most unique Timepiece

The only Watch ever to be certified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for all space missions, as you would expect its built to withstand all obstacles that come with space travel. Able to cope with the incredible pressure of re-entry, from Gizmodo:
“Its anodized aluminium body can withstand temperatures from -148 to 260° Celsius”.

Omega defines a millenium

Coming in one colour choice solar flare red, there has been no official price tag attached. BUT, with a run of only 2,000 scheduled for release it’s a pretty safe bet that only those able to afford a the quarter of a million dollars for the Virgin Spaceflight will be able to afford this important collectors item.

The advertising begins

Story from Gizmodo.com

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Home, Visual

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Gadgets for Mother’s Day - Part 1.0

May 7th 2008 00:10

Sonaki Vitamin C Showerhead

The Sonaki Vitamin C Showerhead

Here in Oz its Mothers Day this Sunday. Shopping for mum can sometimes be easy if you pay attention to what your mum talks about when out at the mall. Other times finding a gift for the women who brought you into the world seems a complex ordeal.

Do you go for the practical solutions to her problems or try to find that holy grail that expresses every volume of your love and admiration. Perhaps something that’s fun and would make her feel like a young girl. This two part post aims to offer some technological ideas for that special lady’s annual day.

A popular place to start is Beauty gadgets. For 1000’s of years better ways to maintain health, wellbeing and appearance has been a goal of civilizations. In the new millennium personal grooming and hygiene has seen some marvels of invention arrive. Some an extension of what has come before, others a culmination of knowledge.