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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Blu-Ray - The Ultimate Matrix Collection with Nebuchadnezzar

October 16th 2008 00:30

Boy oh boy are Matrix fans gonna love this!

To celebrate the Japanese release of the Matrix trilogy on Blu-ray, Warner Brothers has created a special limited edition collection featuring a 2-foot, exquisitely detailed model of the Nebuchadnezzar - the ship from the movies - which houses 7 discs.

The 7 discs are: The Matrix trilogy and The Animatrix (Blu-Ray) plus 3 additional DVDs featuring the ‘making-of’ documentaries. Seriously, I don't even care about the discs. How bloody cool is the Nebuchadnezzar? If only if they sold separately...

Anyway, appropriately dubbed the "Ultimate Matrix Collection", Japanese fans will be able to get their hands on limited quantities when it goes on sale on December 17 (just in time for X'mas, eh?) for about US$375.

Expensive? Hell yeah! But there's no stopping it from selling like hotcakes. Mark my words. [ohgizmo.com]

105

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Gadgets, Toys, Visual

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ViewSonic 22-inch N2201w 3-in-1 LCD TV

October 8th 2008 00:05

ViewSonic, the manufacturer of PC CRT and LCD monitors, projectors, LCD TV and plasma displays, etc. has just released a new 22-inch LCD HDTV/DVD combo that features an integrated ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner and DVD player.

WIth a Super-Hd 1680x1050 resolution, you can immerse yourself in a high-definition experience when watching your favourite DVDs, movies and HD TV shows. Also featuring integrated stereo speakers, HDMI 1.3, component, composite and S-video to hook up all your entertainment devices and even your PC, this TV can also double up as a PC monitor.

This multifaceted TV is great for a variety of purposes and at US$499, it won't burn a huge hole in your wallet either. [viewsonic.com]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Computers, Visual

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Samsung's YouTube camcorder

September 1st 2008 23:15

Samsung has made capturing and uploading videos onto popular video sharing site YouTube a whole lot easier and hassle free with their all-new MX20/25 YouTube compatible camcorder.

With an in-built function that records in either 720x480 or YouTube optimised mode, nothing is lost in translation while uploading from camcorder to the video sharing site via USB 2.0 connection and just the touch of a button.

Weighing 270g and with dimensions of 125(w)x60(h)x60.5(d), the MX20/25 features a wide 2.7" LCD monitor that boasts a rotation angle of 90 plus 270 degrees and a range of functions including hyper DIS, auto focus, auto/manual exposure, shutter speed and white balance, 12 digital special effects, 10 i.scene mode, back light compensation, wind cut and fade in/out.

Perfect for those avid YouTubers out there! [samsung.com]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Cameras, Visual

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World's thinnest LCD HDTV - Sony KDL-40ZX1

August 28th 2008 09:45

Come November this year, having the biggest LCD TV in your living room won't give you the outright bragging rights with your mates anymore because no longer do TVs have to be big, have crystal clear resolution - they also need to be thin; super-thin; or to be exact, just 9.9-inches thin!

That's the thickness - albeit at its thinnest point - of the latest range of Sony's ZX1 series of LCD HDTVs. To put things into perspective, that's almost equivalent to the thickness of a gadget people all over the world have been scrambling over one another to have in their hands and pockets - the iPhone.

The Sony KDL-40ZX1 doesn't skimp out on features because of its almighty thinness - LED backlighting, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 1.920 x 1,080 resolution and BRAVIA Engine 2 image processing means this is top-end stuff.

Obviously, some sacrifices had to be made in order to achieve these stunning dimensions so you will only find one HDMI on the screen itself while an external base station has a further 3 HDMI, 2 component, S-video, VGA, and a USB, mouse, and LAN port.

No word on price or Australian availability - the press release is in Japanese - but it could very well be a case of "if you gotta ask...". [sony.jp]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: 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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BenQ unveils the sleek E900HD designer LCD

August 11th 2008 05:18

BenQ has unveiled a very sleek designer LCD monitor with an 18.5-inch, 1366x768 display for the Asian (including Australia), European and Latin American markets.

Not only is the E900HD stunning to look at, it features the innovative energy-saving technology by halving the number of lamps in the apparatus from four to two without any negative effect the brightness of the monitor screen. This results in a hefty reduction in power consumption by 25% and a decrease in carbon dioxide production by 25%.

Senseye Photo Image Technology Redefines Visual Enjoyment.
The BenQ E900HD features five pre-set modes for various viewing applications including:

- Standard Mode for reading such as web browsing
- Movie Mode for the best visuals
- Dynamic Mode for viewing images in well-lit environments
- Photo Mode for sharing photos from your most recent trip
- sRGB Mode for obtaining consistent, true-to-film images in all sRGB-compliant devices

The Senseye Photo Image technology also automatically sharpens images for you with by fixing blurs, getting rid of 'red eyes' etc.

Prices in Australia to be announced. [benq.com]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Computers, Visual

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Nintendo Wii2 on the way and it maybe Mind Controlled

August 1st 2008 03:48

Nintendo Wii 2 in 2010?

Could it be true?

As Nintendo’s stocks go through the roof and the Wii and DS continue to sell faster than Sonic the hedgehog at full blast this week comes confirmation that rather than relax with success the Wii 2 is currently in development.

A possible Wii 2 remote

Saturo Iwata, the President of Nintendo spoke to Forbes stating that the company is “always preparing for the next hardware” but that ultimately, it’s the games and the experience that will sell a console.

“The hardware is a kind of box that consumers reluctantly buy in order to play our games,” he said. Adding that the next-gen Wii is still very much “under development.”

“It’s natural for the current customer to expect Nintendo is going to once again do something different,” he said. “If the people are expecting so many different things from Nintendo, it’s going to be difficult for us to go beyond that expectation again.”

Speculation is already amping up that “something different” may include Nintendo embracing the newly tested Neural Headset Technology effectively making the Wii 2 the first mind controlled gaming platform.

T3 magazine even ran a feature story this month exploring the possibilities of such radical technology being put on the fast track through Research and Development. The images on this page are from that latest issue of T3.

Mind Control to Major Tom

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Gaming, Toys, Visual

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The Wrist Watch Recorder

June 13th 2008 03:25

Audio Time Piece

The Wrist Watch recorder

Remember the days when a phone was just for calls, watches just told the time and a cigar was just a cigar? Well those simple technologies have come along way in a short time.

Cruising around a site called spycatcheronline.co.uk you will find a host of covert equipment that lays to waste the theory a banana is just a banana. One product that caught my attention is the kind of thing I dreamed of as a kid watching james Bond films, it’s a voice recording watch.

Boasting 1GB of memory for hours of wrist directed dictation the time piece itself looks rather elegant considering its novelty attraction. Coming complete with USB compatibility the watch also doubles as an MP3 player.

A built in rechargeable battery facilitates up to 9 hours of additional power on top of a separate independent source. Durable and practical it is shock and water proof so your portable voice recorder/music player.

Note to self....

Details from spycatcheronline.co.uk:

Supplied with - Stereo earphones, AC Adaptor, USB data cable, CD Driver and Instructions.

Windows 98 driver all later operating systems should work automatically without external drivers.

Specifications:

1GB flash memory.
Total recording capacity: up to 500 hours.
Nearly 9 hours of battery life when fully charged.
Recharge time: 4 hours on first charge, 1.5 hours on subsequent recharges.
USB port for playback and charging.
AC Adaptor
Internal rechargeable battery, 1 1/2 to 2 hours to fully charge.
USB 2.0.
MP3 compression.
Voice recordings stored as .WAV files
Operating system Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/MAC OS 9.X/MAC OS X,Linux 2.4

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Toys, 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.