November 4th, 2009

LaCie Network Space 2 NAS adds torrent support, wake-on LAN; $160

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 2:31 pm

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: NAS, LAN, Network, LaCie, Network-Attached Storage (NAS), Storage, Networking, Hardware, Andrew Nusca

LaCie on Wednesday updated its Network Space 2 network-attached storage device with integrated torrent support, wake-on LAN power management and an estimated $160 price tag.

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November 4th, 2009

IronKey reveals new, ultra-secure D200 USB flash drives

Posted by Rachel King @ 1:40 am

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: USB Flash Drive, IronKey, Flash Memory, Rachel King

IronKey, the self-proclaimed “maker of the world’s most secure flash drive,” unveiled their new D200 USB flash drives this morning. Read the rest of this entry »

October 30th, 2009

Trick or Treat: Five spooky gadgets and accessories for Halloween

Posted by Rachel King @ 5:59 am

Categories: Feature, Toybox Highlights, Uncategorized

Tags: Speaker, Accessory, Skull, USB Flash Drive, USB, Rachel King

If orange isn’t your favorite color, there are plenty of other quirky, spooky ways to spruce up your gadget collection this Halloween. Here are five gadgets and accessories that would otherwise be considered odd, if it weren’t time to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve.

1. Ideal Case iPhone covers: Ideal Case has released a special set of Halloween-appropriate iPhone protective covers called the Demon series. The pointy-eared cases, available in black, devilish red and another that glows in the dark, the 100% silicone cases are compatible with both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, starting at $14.99.

2. Skull USB Drive: If you’re looking to scare your co-workers, just stick a human skull into the side of your computer. This 2-gigabyte USB stick is just plug-and-play with both Mac and Windows OS, and for only $20, it’s something you can at least use all year! Read the rest of this entry »

October 29th, 2009

Trick or Treat: Five fun orange gadgets

Posted by Rachel King @ 6:00 am

Categories: Feature, Toybox Highlights, Uncategorized

Tags: Hard Drive, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Apple iPod Nano, Camera, Gadget, Keyboards, Netbooks, Nettops & MIDs, Digital Music, Memory, Digital Media

With Halloween just a few days away, it doesn’t hurt to get in the mood a little with some pumpkin-colored gadgets for the Fall holiday. Here are five orange treats to go with your costume this weekend:

1. Sony Webbie HD MHS-PM1: If you either want to record your child’s first trick-or-treating experience or all of the best moments at a Halloween party or parade, this attractive Sony Webbie is a frugal option. Far cheaper than its competitors like the Flip UltraHD or the Kodak Zi8, the Webbie HD MHS-PM1 is typically available under $150. While its quality hasn’t been reviewed as highly as the other previously mentioned cameras, it does shoot HD footage at 720p and 1080p. Not to mention it also features a swiveling lens and a memory card expansion shot for more recording time. [Check Prices]

2. Samsung DualView TL225: Attracting a lot of hype in the last few months for its dual-screen design, this 12.2-megapixel, orange and black pocket camera is a innovative and perfect for any party or parade. On its touchscreen navigation menu, photographers can select between another of special preset functions, including night portrait, children, dawn and “perfect self-portrait.” [Check Prices]

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October 21st, 2009

Bang & Olufsen tries to make land-line phones cool again with BeoCom 5

Posted by Rachel King @ 1:53 am

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Phone, Cell Phone, Landline Phone, Telecom & Utilities, Rachel King

What’s one way of getting people to buy land-line phones again? Make them look cool. Another way is make it look like a cell phone. Bang & Olufsen has developed the BeoCom 5, a sleek, mobile phone-like device that they hope will make you want to gab on the phone at home like you are in high school again.

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October 15th, 2009

Star Trek limited edition flash drive stores new movie

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 5:30 am

Categories: Enterprise, Hard Drives and Storage, Offbeat news, Portable Media, Uncategorized

Tags: Movie, USB Flash Drive, Star Trek, Jennifer Bergen

Attention Trekkies: Whether or not you liked J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek movie (who am I kidding, didn’t we all like it?), you’ll probably be buying it to add to your collection. You can be one of the lucky bunch to grab a limited edition version of the movie placed safely inside a 4GB Starfleet Insignia flash drive.

Each drive is individually numbered, so you know it’s one of a kind. Of course, you can’t go around lending the drive to all of your friends — the drive is  loaded with DRM, but you can still share it with five different machines, and burn it to a DVD.

The movie itself only takes up about 1GB of space, so you have 3GB more to save all those Photoshop photos of your head on all of your favorite characters’ bodies.

The drive is available for pre-order at Play.com for $29 (US). [Via OhGizmo]

UPDATE: Apparently this only ships within the UK. Sorry to those of you in the U.S. who got really excited (I’m right there with you). We’ll keep an eye out for a U.S. version.

October 12th, 2009

HTC Hero now on sale on Sprint: Palm Pre or HTC Hero?

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 12:45 pm

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: High Tech Computer Corp., Palm Inc., Sprint Communications, HTC Hero, Palm Pre, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Andrew Nusca

The HTC Hero has officially launched on Sprint today, the first Google Android-powered smartphone on the carrier and the first on a carrier other than T-Mobile.

Reviewers have been keen on the device, and some have said it’s the best Android phone to date. (You can read ZDNet mobile guru Matthew Miller’s take in a full review here.)

The device is priced at $179 ($479 off-contract), a bit more pricey than its stablemate the Palm Pre.

Which begs the question: Palm Pre or HTC Hero?

Justify your love in TalkBack.

Related:

• Hands-on review: HTC Hero from Sprint is truly super
• ZDNet Reviews: HTC Hero (Sprint)
• Exchange on Sprint HTC Hero is good, but nothing beats Windows Mobile
• First impressions: HTC Hero Android smartphone on Sprint
• Image Gallery: HTC Hero Google Android device

October 5th, 2009

Vonage Mobile iPhone, BlackBerry apps arrive; free VoIP calls

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 8:05 am

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Apple iPhone, VoIP, Vonage Holdings Corp., RIM BlackBerry, Apss, Wireless LANs, Wi-Fi, Smart Phones, Wireless And Mobility, Consumer Electronics

VoIP company Vonage is finally bringing its service to Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry devices.

The free app for the iPhone and iPod touch has been approved for making international calls using AT&T’s cellular network in addition to Wi-Fi.

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October 1st, 2009

Celebrating 27 years of the Compact Disc: Does anyone really care?

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 1:15 pm

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Sony Corp., CD, Disc, Orchestra, Jennifer Bergen

Today is the 27th birthday of the Compact Disc, and I hate to say it, but I think this medium is getting a little old. Perhaps 27 years in CD time is actually like turning 87 in human time: it had a good go in the beginning, but then a newer medium came along, and now ol’ CD is just around when you need it — to tell you old stories, or to transfer files when you don’t have a jump drive.

You might think it’s a little early to be talking this way, what with vinyl and cassettes being the “old” medium, but CDs are on their way to joining their outdated friends. Don’t get me wrong, I think vinyl is timeless, and I’ve already ranted about it, but with digital music so readily available, and it costing less than CDs, for the most part, what’s the point of buying a shiny disc that’s just going to get scratched and then skip while you’re trying to enjoy it?

For the most part, you’re burning that CD into your computer anyways, right? How else will you add it to your cool iTunes playlists?

I’d like to know who of you out there really like CDs and think they’ll be going strong for years to come? Are you a die-hard CD lover, or are you more “meh” about them?

Also, just for fun, check out the list of the first 50 CDs that were issued by Sony on October 1, 1982. And to answer the question of: What’s up with that Billy Joel picture?, it was the first CD to be made by Sony. Check out the other 49 after the jump.

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September 30th, 2009

Gadget Gal's daily deals: Garmin nuvi GPS, HP Pavilion notebook, Canon flash camcorder

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 9:11 am

Categories: Camcorders, Cameras, Camcorders and Software, Canon, Cars and Automobiles, Computers, GPS navigation, Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, HP, Laptops, Toybox Highlights, Uncategorized

Tags:

A Garmin nuvi portable GPS navigator, an HP Pavilion notebook, and a Canon flash memory camcorder. Here are your daily deals for Tuesday, September 30, straight from the Gadget Gal:

1. Amazon’s Gold Box Deal of the Day is the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator in Soft Black. The GPS system has a list price of $699.99, but you can get it today for $164.99. This slim model offers voice-activated navigation, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, and an FM transmitter, among other features.

[read the review] [find the deal]

2. Get a refurbished HP Pavilion dv7-1245dx Notebook PC from CompUSA.com for $579.97, down from $1,149.99. The laptop has a 17-inch screen, and a 320GB hard drive. CNET’s review says the dv7-1245dx has an attractive design, which skips the usual gray and black. It also has good battery life for a desktop replacement.

[read the review] [find the deal]

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