Samsung 2008 Spring Fever Gadgets

We had a blast at the Samsung Fever Showcase looking at all the great cool stuff coming out soon, as well as what is out already. Below are some of the items that caught our attention.

Samsung Series 4 450 3-D Ready Plasma HDTV:
The first of it’s kind, Samsung always thinks outside the box and has introduced the first 3-D Ready Plasma HDTV, allowing viewers to interact with the Plasma in a truly 3-D experience. There will be accessories sold separately, such as 3-D glasses and a PC module that will truly give the 3-D experience right at home. The TV is already available to purchase.

Samsung Series 6 650 and Series 7 750 Plasma HDTV:
Samsung has partnered with USA TODAY to provide the on-demand service of keeping you up to date with sports, news, and stock information. The functionality of this on-demand system will work through InfoLink RSS service, which will provide the content directly from USA TODAY right to your screen. To access the information consumers only need to grab their remote and press the RSS button. There will also be a Wireless LinkStick Accessory so your TV can connect to the web wirelessly without long messy wires. There is also the “Touch of Color” design implemented into all the models in this line that is a subtle yet beautiful with its hue of red frame. [Read more]

SmartCapture Lite is the World’s Smallest Video Capture Device

FastVDO’s SmartCapture Lite is a device that lets you capture analog video and stereo audio so that you can transfer if to your computer and from there to your iphone, PSP, ipod or the web. Of course there are a million devices out there that do just that. So what makes the SmartCapture Lite different? It claims to be the smallest Consumer USB-based Live Video Capture Device, and indeed it is very small and looks to be the size of a USB key and it weighs just 0.3 ounces like one. Of course you also have to factor in that you’ll need to use A/V cables to connect to your TV, VCR, camcorder or camera to pull off the video and audio. The SmartCapture Lite also promises one-click content uploads to your portable devices like your ipod and it’s both Mac & PC Compatible. It retails for $99.

TV Wonder HD 650 Combo for Mac Review

My Plasma is my best friend, when I get home it’s the first thing I greet. But these days I haven’t been feeling so well and I wanted to watch TV in bed. I really didn’t want to have to pay for another cable box or get another small TV. I figured I would just turn one of my computers into a TV watching machine. So low and behold we were sent the TV Wonder HD 650 Combo for Mac from AMD to review.

Features:
Included in the box was the TV Wonder Unit for Mac, a power supply, a USB 2.0 Cable, a Driver and Application CD, and a user manual. On one side of the TV Wonder is CATV/FM and DTV coaxial connectors. The other side consists of a USB and power inputs, and on the top of the unit is 3 (red, yellow, white) Composite inputs and s-video jack for outputting to a VCR or camcorder for transferring footage. [Read more]

ATI TV Wonder Line Streams Free HD Television to Your PC

Yesterday AMD to showed us the VERY impressive ATI TV Wonder Line by Diamond in person. There is big misconception with the fact that HD quality TV can only be attained through your local cable service provider. But the ATI TV Wonder line proves that over the air HD quality television is possible and available for FREE! But somehow most consumers aren’t even aware of it, or perhaps they are but they are skeptical about its quality. We got to see the TV Wonder HD 650 Combo USB ($149) in action and the quality was excellent. Granted, the quality of the experience varies according to the reception in your area, but we were still mightily impressed by the quality of the over-the-air HD broadcasts that are available in New York City. No cable lines - no nothing. It received better reception than the plasma hooked up the old fashioned way in the suite we were in. Regular television programming streamed across the the laptop demonstration, as if I was watching my regular HDTV but in some cases even better. The picture was crisp and clear in 1080p with barely a flicker or boxy/noisy image in sight. [Read more]

iMep3 iPod / DVD / TV Boombox Tries to Do it All

Everyone loves their portable entertainment gadgets - from DVD players, to their TV, and of course that thing called an iPod. But one Multimedia Player wants to try and include everything possible into one unit for your stimulation enjoyment. The iMep3 Mp-7020388R is a kind of portable boom box that supports an iPod, has a 7 inch LCD display for videos off of DVDs as well as TV tuner. It also has memory slots and USB ports, and last but not least is a built in radio as well. Talk about an all in one entertainment system. [Read more]

CES 2008: JVC P Series LCD TVs With iPod Docks

Well we have come across alarm clocks with iPod docks, BBQ’s with iPod docks, even a toilet paper dispenser with an iPod dock, and now there is a LCD TV with one. Which out of all of these, I think makes the most sense finally. JVC is the innovative giant behind this latest launch which many now probably are hitting themselves saying “geez that seems so obvious why didn’t I think of that?!” What is being called the TeleDock is available on the JVC-P series of LCD TV’s. The sizes range from 32 to 52 inches and will even boost a 1080P resolution on one the models.
[Read more]

400 Disc DVD Changer Houses Your Whole Movie Library

DVD changers aren’t a new technology at all, but I was quite taken a back when I spotted a 400 disc DVD changer. I’m inherently lazy and as a result much of my DVD collection sits around collecting dust just because I’m often to lazy to get up and switch DVDs out of their cases and in to the DVD player. If I had one of these behemoths, I could have access to my whole library of DVDs in an instant. This is truly a lazy persons dream. Hard drived based entertainment players are great and all, but they are limited in what you can get on them. [Read more]

iViewer Lets You Watch Anything you Have on Your PSP or iPod on your TV

Even though we’ve never heard of Homer Technology, the iViewer HTM 9000 sounds like a pretty useful entertainment tool. The iViewer lets you wirelessly playback files coming from any multimedia source to a NTSC, Pal or Secam TV. The iViewer claims to work with the iPod, the PSP, digital cameras and camcorders. Though the web site isn’t very descriptive, we gather from the specs that the iViewer sends the files to your TV via its mini antennae. [Read more]

Voice Activated Remote Control Because Even Using a Remote Requires Too Much Energy

Remote controls were invented because people were too lazy to get up and change the channel. The inVoca 3.0 Voice-Activated IR Remote encourages television watchers to become even lazier. With the InVoca, you don’t even have to push a button to switch channels. The remote learns the voices of up to four users and can recognize up to 50 commands. The remote will also control VCRs, DVD players, the cable box, a satellite receiver and your home theater system. The coolest of its commands would have to be saying “Movietime” which will power up your TV and DVD player and even open up the DVD tray. [Read more]

TVersity Lets You Send Dvix Files To Your XBox 360 or PS3

TVersity is a neat free application that lets you do all the things that DRM supporting companies don’t want you to be able to do. For example, the software lets you stream DIVX files from your PC to your XBox 360 or PS3. It also lets you play internet audio, image and video streams, RSS feeds and podcasts on to your TV. You can enter your own urls or select from bundled audio and video guides, and you also get to play your entire PC’s media collection on your connected device. The basic rule is that if it can play in Windows Media Player, TVersity will enable it to play on your TV. [Read more]

In-Dash Car Stereo and DVD Player with TV Tuner

The In-Dash Car Stereo isn’t just a bargain, it’s also a useful entertainment center piece for your car. The In-Dash DVD player also has an AM/FM radio, a TV tuner for access to local stations and a 3 inch display screen. It’s also got a smart removable faceplate so you don’t have to worry about it luring thieves in to your car. A remote control, filter and fuse box cable is included all for just $79.99.

ITC One, the Compact Home Entertainment System with Xbox 360 & iPod Dock

Setting up a complete home entertainment system is a very complicated under taking  - between choosing components and setting up all the equipment and cables it can be pretty overwhelming. The ITC One is a truly unique all in one system that contains a X-box 360 with HD DVD player, a HD PVR, AMX Netlinx Control system, a Bryston Digital Surround Processor, ICEpower High End D-Class Amplifiers, a 4.3″front touch screen, an Ipod video dock and a remote control. Granted, the $19,900 will keep this out of average people’s homes, but we are still digging this all-in-one concept a whole lot.

Coby’s TV-DVD1296 DVD/MP3/CD Player Has a Handle for Easy Portability

Coby’s TF-DVD1296 isn’t the most stylish portable DVD player we’ve ever seen, but where it lacks in stylishness, it makes up in practicality. The TF-DVD1296 has a 5.6″ full color LCD screen that will play DVDs, or TV stations. It also features an AM/FM radio,  it can play CDs and MP3 files, it has built-in speakers and it has AV inputs so that you can connect a device like an VCR or video game console in to it. A remote control, car and AC adapter are included with the package. And last, but not least, it’s got a practical handle for easily grabbing it to take with you. Overall, the TF-DVD1296 seems like it would be great for traveling, whether it’s for traveling in a car, or if you just need a portable entertainment DVD/TV system that can easily carried from room to room.

Meivo TV is the iMac for PC Users

The new iMac is really tough to compete with, but according to Stuff Magazine, Meivo’s E4300 touts enough features to give it a try. The Meivo is a slick 22″ all in one media center PC and TV. A Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of ram, 250GB hard drive, bluetooth and 1.3megapixel camera come standard. Unfortunately 250GB isn’t much nowadays, though it does have an eSata port for expanding it. And while not as good looking as the iMac, the Meivo is very nice looking and it looks like it would fit right in with your living room easily. Pricing begins at £899.00. (Source: Stuff Mag, November ‘07)

Sky HD Designer Box Collection

Behold, the Sky HD designer collection isn’t just beautiful, it will add a dimension of pop to any home cinema set up. Available in 5 designs, each designed by a different artists, the £300 boxes aren’t that outrageously priced -they are HD after all. And they even come with matching remote controls. These make that skin pasted on your Xbox 360 look pathetic, eh? Unfortunately, you’ll have to be located in the U.K. to be able to use one of these. As for us in the good old U.S. of A.? We’d be happy if our HD cable boxes weren’t plagued with bugs, forget about having time to make them look pretty.

TVMicro Express Brings TV to Your Mac and iPod

The TVMicro Express is just a little bigger than your average USB key, but it instead of memory it sports some cool entertainment features for Mac users. The TVMicro Express allows you to watch Cable TV or over the air Analogue TV on your Apple computer. You can even use your own front row remote to navigate channels. The device also allows you to pause live TV and its included software allows you to watch recordings on your Mac and then export them to your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV via itunes. And for $69, if the TVMicro Express can do all of that with aplomb, it’s a good deal.

Kiara’s Plasma TV Fireplace

Some people want their big TV to be the center of the living room while others are more humbled and would rather have their TV tucked away and concealed. For those of you who are humble, Kiara’s TV fireplace or cabinet is a great way to hide your television. With the push of a button, your TV can be automatically lifted in to view above your fireplace or cabinet. And we’re talking about a real burning furnace fireplace, not a fake-out. With the TV Fireplace set-up, you can even hang a mirror or painting above the fireplace because When the TV glides up, it will glide up safely in front of it.

Coby’s TF-DVD1591 with Slot Loading DVD Player

Coby has got a new 15″ TFT LCD monitor that also doubles as a TV. As a computer monitor, it sports a kind of sad 1024 x 768 resolution, but the built-in TV tuner sweetens it. But what really makes the Coby’s TF-DVD1591 slick is the slot loading DVD player on its side. Other specs include a 500:1 contrast ratio and built-in speakers. You can grab the TF-DVD1591 for just $293.

FreeTube Offers Free Streaming TV Stations

When we heard about this site, we were kind of hesitant. We’ve seen free software that claims to get you access to free streaming television channels but the selection always tends to suck. However, unlike those software programs, FreeTube allows you to watch streaming TV stations - there is no software to install and no subscription is required. The selection of channels is also really impressive. They have 497 channels, including everything from the SciFi Channel to HGTV. Do they have everything you would find on Cable? No, but who can complain when it’s free. The only technical requirement is that you have a web browser, and for people on Macs, you’ll need to download the flip4mac plug-in.

iPirate FM transmitters Designed to Match the iPod Nano

Stylz’s iPirate FM Transmitters are designed to be a perfect match to the 2nd generation ipod Nano. It does remind us very much of the iTrip Nano, except that we like these color choices better. The iPirate is available in pink, blue, black and silver and retails for £24.99.

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