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Tech NewsImeem Inks Deals With Big Four for Free Music, Its Soul [Updated]
The media-sharing/social networking site Imeem has inked a deal with Universal Music, making it the first site of its kind to forge unholy bonds with all of the Big Four. Update: The WSJ’s issued a correction of the original source article. Under the deal, Universal gets a “payment each time a user listens to a … Continued
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Tech News
All Giz Wants: A Real Universal Remote
All Giz Wants isn’t about wanting what we have now. It’s about wanting what we should have now, what’s technically possible but practically improbable. Here’s an item I’ve been (wet) dreaming about for some time—a universal remote that’s really universal. I don’t mean to control both a Blu-ray player and an HD DVD player. I … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsGadgets
Newspaper Brick Maker Transforms Funnies into Yule Logs
The Newspaper Brick Maker is the perfect device to add a little eco friendly to your pyro transgressions. You fill the brick maker with wet pieces of newspaper. The brick maker (and a bit of your muscle, were sure) smashes out the liquid while smashing together the paper. Allow the brick to dry and, at … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsGadgets
New AIBO PS Rumors Grow, PlayStation AIBO?
It looks like Kotaku’s word on a new AIBO was fairly solid, because a new [still rumor] from Stuff talks about an AIBO PS (or AIBO PlayStation as we read that). Controlled through a PS3, the AIBO PS will appear as an avatar on the PS3 XMB (menu system). Personalities will be downloadable off PSN … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsGadgets
Darth Vader Wii, Please Don’t Buy it Now for $15,000
The Star Wars Vader Edition Wii is pretty hot. While we could honestly do without the Star Wars theme in our living rooms (at least while company visits), the black finish and corresponding red LED gives us visions of just how good a touch of the dark side could be for the Nintendo Wii. Screw … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsCommerce
Amazon Taking Kindle and Whispernet International?
A new rumor claims that Amazon wants to take their Kindle e-reader international. And while such a feat isn’t a big deal for most of its competition, the Kindle’s Whispernet service (a free EVDO connection allowing the downloads of books, etc from the Amazon store) will need a new partner to work across Europe (along … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
EchoStar Splits, Sling Media Could Reap the Benefits
According to a recent SEC filing, Sling Media’s parent company, EchoStar, has formally changed its name to the DISH Network —a move that better aligns the company with its core satellite TV service. A spin-off company called EchoStar Holdings was also formed and, as part of the move, it will be taking over the Sling … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
Tech News
LG Tabletop HD Radio/iPod/CD System Is a Flash Gordon Space Football
During the LG CES sneak peek, we saw the PC12 Table Top Audio System, a sleek, extra shiny system with a lot packed inside its compact body. There’s a “vacuum-loading” CD player, a hidden 30-pin iPod connector on top, and an HD Radio receiver buried within. A USB connection in the back lets you hook … Continued
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Tech News
LG Sneak Peeks Spring 2008 LCD and Plasma Line with 120Hz, Wi-Fi and New Looks
On a snowy day in North Jersey, LG decided the time was right to introduce most of the LCD and plasma TVs it would be showcasing at CES. The hotshot model was the LG70 LCD featuring a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, four HDMI 1.3 jacks, USB 2.0 for pictures and MP3s, and Wi-Fi (in its LG71 … Continued
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Tech News
Second-Gen LG Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Player Shipping Now For $999
We just met with a high-ranking source inside LG, who tells us that their second-generation Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player is shipping now for the MSRP of $999. Think that’s too much when you can get separate Blu-ray and HD DVD players for the grand total of less than that? Well, just wait until after Christmas, … Continued
By Jason Chen -
Tech NewsCommerce
Amazon vs. Wal-Mart: MP3 Store Showdown Before iTunes Final Battle
Click to viewNow that EMI and Universal have seen the light and started offering music in DRM-free MP3 format—and according to well-founded rumors, Sony and Warner are also exploring a DRM-free launch in 2008—online music stores finally have the means to get iPod-friendly and take on iTunes. As you know, iTunes only offers AAC files, … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech NewsGadgets
Nyko Wireless Nunchuk, Wiimote 2.0
Nyko’s gone and done what many of us expected from the Wiimote in the first place—they’ve created a wireless Wii Nunchuk. You know, because despite all the motion freedom Wii may promise, gamers are still tethered between controllers like dogs on a leash. Here’s the lowdown: Nyko simply replaced the nunchuk altogether—which isn’t a bad … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
Glass and Gold Center Channel from Perfect8 a Snip Compared to its Speakers
Swedish audio firm Perfect8 has introduced a glass-and-gold center channel that it sees as the perfect accompaniment to its FORCE speakers. Perfect, that is, if you’ve got $40,000 to spare. Still, that’s a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of the 6’7″ speakers, which weigh 350 pounds each. You’ll find a gallery and … Continued
By AddyDugdale -
Tech News
Kenwood’s Audio System is USB-Compatible, Skinny
Kenwood has brought out three slimline iPod-compatible audio players that can connect to your computer via USB. There’s a CD player that plays CDs and CD-R/RW also an AM/FM radio and it supports WMA as well as MP3s. Full specs of the CLK – 5i-S / W and CLK-7i-S are below. CLK-7i-S Silver CD/MD/USB 2x … Continued
By AddyDugdale -
Tech News
How Blade Runner (and Other Old Movies) Get Remastered Into Sweet, Sweet High Definition
When a movie gets remastered for HD, it takes a lot of time and effort to get it looking its best. Sure, studios can do a cheap and dirty transfer and deliver you a shoddy, compressed, crappy looking disc, and many do, but for big-name movies, there’s a ton of work that goes into it. … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
Sharps 1080p AQUOS LCD TVs Are Optimized For Gaming With “Vyper Drive”
The 32-inch, 1080p AQUOS (LC-32GP3U) LCD TVs from Sharp are optimized for gaming by allowing gamers “quick access to the side terminal inputs,” as well as activating “Vyper Drive.” It’s a dorky name for a feature, but it’s supposes to cut lag time between console input and TV display so you won’t have to miss … Continued
By Jason Chen -
Tech News
Just How White Does Tide Get Your Consoles?
Our friends over at Kotaku did an interesting whiteness comparison between the Wii, 360 and the newest PS3. Reminding us of one of those teeth-whitening before and afters you see around midnight on every channel, the PS3 dominates the (competition?) with absolutely stunning, pearly whiteness. The Wii holds its own with a solid, “standard” white. … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsGadgets
Mitsubishi to Show Laser TVs at CES
According to DigiTimes, Mitsubishi is on track to demonstrate their laser TVs at CES, even if only to select, private groups. This updated rear-projection, DLP technology promises to produce beautiful images while being less expensive than its peers (with one manufacturer claiming the bill of materials to be as low as $50 to $200 per … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech NewsGadgets
Teac’s Wall-Mounted iPod Dock with CD Player Has Sub, NXT Speakers
Japanese audio company Teac is letting you have it up against the wall next week, with the release of the MC-DX32i iPod dock, AM/FM tuner and CD/CD-R/RW player. Expected to cost around 30,000 , ($270) the flat-panel system comes with all the gear you need to wall-mount it. Specs are below. 5W x 2 channel … Continued
By AddyDugdale