Best Electronic Gadgets For Summer 2010

July 29, 2010 by Chris Weiss

The Fourth of July is behind us, which means that summer 2010 is fully underway. The sun is shining, the ocean is warm and it’s time to dedicate more time to being in the great outdoors.

Just because you’re outside, doesn’t mean that you won’t need some gadgets and accessories to get you through the summer. Gadgets can make life outside just a little more pleasant, so consider getting a few of these handy accessories.

E-Readers–Now is the perfect time to buy an e-reader. Leave those worn down paperbacks on the book shelf and bring a whole library worth of books on your next beach or camping trip. Purchase an e-reader with an E-ink display for good visibility in the bright sun and enjoy reading wherever the road takes you. There’s never been a better time to buy with cheap, new e-readers hitting the market, and prices dropping on established leaders like the Amazon Kindle.

Cell Phone and MP3 Cases–Now’s the time when you’ll need the most protection from drops, splashes and dings. Whether running on the boardwalk or swimming laps in the pool, your cell phone, iPod or other portable gadgets are under constant threat of water, wind, earth and fire. Well, maybe not fire, but you get the idea. Find a waterproof, shockproof case and keep your investment protected from damage.

New Cell Phone–Okay, this may not technically be a summer essential, but I can’t recall a more interesting time to buy a cell phone. The top end of the market has really exploded this summer with devices like the first 4G-equipped HTC EVO, the iPhone 4 and the recently-announced Motorola Droid X. It might just be time to upgrade.

A few other odds and ends to consider this summer are new cameras, camcorders and outdoor speakers/iPod docks for your summer BBQs. Also, 3DTV is the hot, new technology of the summer; are you equipped to handle it?

Categories: Electronics, Gadgets, Music & Movies, Tech
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Microsoft Kinect Gets Priced Out (Finally)

July 21, 2010 by Chris Weiss


Originally called Project Natal when it was previewed at E3 in 2009, Microsoft’s motion-based gaming package has finally gotten a price tag. It will cost $150 when it goes on sale this fall, just in time for the holiday season.

The $150 package will offer the Kinect sensor and Kinect Adventures. This package will work as an add-on to existing Xbox 360 consoles. For those that don’t have a console (or want a new one), Microsoft will also offer a bundled package with the Xbox 360 4GB, Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” for $299.

Preordering began earlier this week and Kinect will hit retailers November 4.

Kinect updates the Microsoft Xbox 360 for Wii-like motion-based gaming. Unlike Nintendo’s console, however, the Kinect system doesn’t require any controllers, and relies on the Kinect sensor to track and register gamer motions.

Additional Kinect titles like “Kinectimals,” “Kinect Sports,” and “Kinect JoyRide,” will cost $49 each.

PlayStation will also be coming out with its Move system this holiday season.  The Move package costs $100 for the controller, camera and a game title, while the package with the PS3 system is $400. Additional controllers cost $50 and the smaller navigation controller costs $30. Move will hit stores in late September.

What do you think–do you like the $150 price tag or will you be going for the PlayStation Move?

Categories: Cutting Edge, Electronics, Industry, Tech News, Video Games
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Accessories For The Summer’s Hottest Electronics

July 18, 2010 by Chris Weiss

There has been a veritable swarming of big, publicity-making electronic releases this spring and summer, making for one of the hottest electronics markets in recent memory. From the world’s overwhelming favorite tablet–the iPad–to 3DTV–to revolutionary handsets like the iPhone 4 and HTC EVO, there are a ton of lusty gadgets on and nearing the market. To put your own personal mark on one of these popular devices or take its functionality to the next level, here are some accessories to consider.

iPad Keyboards–Swiping your 10 digits around a touchscreen is certainly ample for multimedia on the go, but if you want to do any serious typing or Web scouring, your fingers will quickly cramp from a flat, glossy, virtual keypad. For those occasions, equip your iPad with a keyboard and bring the comforts of home to your favorite portable. From folding models to the official Apple dock, we’ve got a full selection of iPad keyboards.

iPad 4 Cases–From its sharp display to its new FaceTime video chat application, the latest iPhone has been a rousing success–except for that little pr crisis surrounding reception issues. Apple has now officially admitted that there’s a problem and the only solution is to add a case and cover up the problem point. You should check with Apple for your free case first, but if they’re not offering anything you like, shop around and add a little style while boosting your bars with any of these iPhone 4 cases.

HDMI Cable for HTC EVO–With its 4.3-inch screen and kickstand, the HTC EVO is already one of the greatest multimedia powerhouses on the market in terms of cell phones. Add an HDMI cable and you can output the photos and HD video to a television, enjoying your favorite photos and video clips on a bigger screen.

Categories: Cutting Edge, Electronics, Gadgets, Music & Movies, Tech
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The Best Hulu Plus Enabled Devices

July 14, 2010 by Chris Weiss

Hulu recently announced that it will launch a paid subscription service called Hulu Plus. The service, which bears a cost of $10/month, brings more content and more flexibility to Hulu users. In addition to getting an upgrade to full seasons of a myriad of popular television shows, Hulu Plus moves Hulu off the Web browser and into other places like the living room and daily commute. Hulu apps for electronics ranging from video game consoles to tablet computers will allow Hulu Plus users to watch their favorite content wherever they want.

Samsung BD-C6900–Perhaps the most simple way of getting Hulu Plus access on your home entertainment system, the BD-C6900 is a Blu-ray player that you can find for as low as $219. The player is among the first wave of Hulu Plus-enabled devices and offers Hulu Plus access via an integrated Samsung app. Sony and Vizio devices will get upgraded with Hulu apps later this year, but Samsung devices have it now. In addition to Hulu, the BD-C6900 brings 3D TV capability.

Apple iPad–The world is still recovering from the iPad fever of 2010, and Hulu Plus is one more excuse to treat yourself to the world’s favorite tablet computer. If the iPad isn’t for you, you can also find Hulu apps on iOS 4-equipped iPhone and iPod touch models. The Hulu Plus app is already at the App Store.

Video Game Consoles–Two of the leading names in video games are set to become leading names in on-demand television content. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 will soon get upgraded for Hulu Plus compatibility. Playstation 3 will be getting Hulu “soon” and Xbox 360 will get it early next year. In the meantime, you’ll just have to settle for intense gaming action to keep you occupied.

Categories: Cutting Edge, Electronics, Gadgets, Home Theater, Tech
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Best Netbooks for Kids

July 12, 2010 by Chris Weiss

A netbook makes an obvious choice for a child’s first computer. The small size, low price tag and simple design make it perfect for a child’s needs. In fact, several companies have designed netbooks specifically for kids, featuring decorative schemes from popular cartoons and movies. Here’s a look at two solid options that can be found on Pronto Tech for under $300.

Dell Mini 10v Nickelodeon Edition–The Dell Mini series offers solid netbooks in general, and the Dell 10v Nickelodeon Edition offers a nice feature-set designed around children. Features include educational software and parental controls. The Nickelodeon Edition also brings a slime-covered design that is sure to appeal to many children. More than just a funky case, the Nickelodeon theme extends to the software, which offers creative content from the network.

Asus Disney Netpal–Child not a fan of Nickelodeon? He likely has a little love for at least one Disney character or movie, so spark his interest in computers with this Disney-inspired netbook. Designed tough, the Netpals offer reinforced hardware and spill-resistant keyboards–because even the neatest children have the occasional accident. The netbook is designed to be easy to set-up, offers parental controls and has a Disney-themed desktop and interface made just for children. It even has a Mickey-Mouse-shaped webcam and choice of ‘Princess Pink’ and ‘Magic Blue’ design.

Kid-specific netbooks are a relatively new phenomenon (both of the above launched last year), so expect to see options from other manufacturers in the future. In fact, a recent article by DealerScope indicates that children will fuel the growing netbook market in the future, so don’t be surprised if there are a lot more to choose from within the coming months and years.

For more information about kid-friendly netbooks, take a look at these two lists:

ConsumerSearch

Laptop Magazine


Categories: Computers, Electronics, Gadgets, Tech
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Nintendo Launches 3D Handheld System: The 3DS

July 7, 2010 by Chris Weiss

Nintendo unveiled its 3DS system recently at E3, and it promises to bring 3D gaming wherever you want to go. The 3DS system is a 3D-capable version of Nintendo’s popular DS portables and includes a 3D slider that adjusts the picture and allows you to see images in 3D. No goofy 3D glasses are needed for the system, which is good since you’re likely to be playing out in public.

In addition to games, the 3DS will support 3D movies, making it a poor man’s way of viewing 3D titles, which studios are likely to push during the second half of the year. The device includes two cameras for taking stills and video in 3D.

In addition to the new 3D capabilities, the new system is said to offer sharper graphics than current generation Nintendo portables and includes a touchscreen and gyroscope sensor.

It looks as though there will be no shortage of 3D games. A pantheon of game makers are behind Nintendo including ActiVision, Blizzard, THQ, Electronic Arts, Capcom, WB Games, Ubisoft and Konami. Nintendo will also produce its own games. Some titles that are in the works include 3D versions of DJ Hero, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil and Nintendogs + Cats.

Unfortunately, Nintendo remained mum about release date and availability. Let’s hope they’re thinking holiday ‘10.

Via VentureBeat

Categories: Electronics, Industry, Video Games
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Accessories for Your Netbook

July 2, 2010 by Chris Weiss

The netbook is a pretty simple concept: enough computing for your most pressing needs in a smaller, easier-to-carry package. One compromise that comes from this package is limited hardware capabilities. Netbooks don’t have optical drives and offer limited storage capabilities. If you want to take your netbook to the next level of performance, here are some accessories that will get it done.

External Optical Drives

Netbooks tend to eliminate one common feature of desktops and laptops: optical drives. If you didn’t realize this, you’ve probably found yourself reaching around the side for the DVD-RW only to find nothing there. Don’t worry, you can add an external drive and give your netbook disc-reading and writing capabilities. If you’re using your netbook for HD video, consider a Blu-ray drive.

External Hard Drives

Need more storage for your netbook? Get an external hard drive and augment your capabilities. External hard drives are especially valuable for older netbooks that are limited to a few gigabytes of storage.

USB Ports

If you find the lack of available USB ports problematic when connecting accessories, get an add-on like the Toshiba 2.0 4-Port Hub and multiply your USB capabilities.

Full Size Keyboards

Now that you have some extra USB space, consider upgrading that small keyboard to a full-sized. Yes, the small size of your netbook is part of the reason you bought it, but if you plan to use your netbook at home, you could connect a keyboard via USB  and upgrade to the convenience of a traditional typing experience. The Logitech Alto was designed specifically for notebooks and netbooks and offers the perfect form factor, raising your screen up to eye level while providing a bigger template for typing on. You can find it for a whopping 90 percent off–just $10.

Categories: Computers, Electronics
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Hulu Gets a Paid Premium Service

July 1, 2010 by Chris Weiss

HuluHulu announced this week that it will be launching a paid version of its popular site called Hulu Plus. Before you get upset at the loss of free content, Hulu Plus is complementary to Hulu’s free website, and is not designed to replace it. So you’ll still be able to enjoy the free content that you’ve come to expect on Hulu, but will now have the option of accessing more content via Hulu Plus.

Unlike Hulu, which offers a revolving door of select individual episodes of a given show, Hulu Plus aims to offer entire seasons of all of your favorite shows. This includes popular shows from major networks such as NBC, ABC and FOX. The premium service will even offer back seasons of some shows and entire catalogs of such classivs as The X-Files and Arrested Development. 720p HD content will be supported under the new service.

Hulu Plus isn’t just about more content, however; it’s about more flexibility overall. Hulu is a service that requires a computer Web browser to operate. Hulu Plus, on the other hand, will work on a variety of platforms including the iPhone, iPad and Web-enabled televisions and devices. Samsung Internet-enabled televisions and Blu-ray players and PlayStation 3 are all slated to get Hulu functionality.

Hulu Plus will cost $9.99 a month. Hulu will be debuting the new service in a gradual roll-out to invitees. If you wish to be invited, you can sign up on the list at Hulu’s website. Apparently, those that follow the service via Twitter and Facebook have an advantage for getting invited. Eventually, Hulu Plus will open up for subscribers without the need for an invitation.

Categories: Cutting Edge, Home Theater, Music & Movies, Tech, Tech News
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Motorola Drops Its Newest Flagship, Droid X

June 29, 2010 by Chris Weiss

It wasn’t even a year ago that Motorola and Verizon introduced the lovely Droid, a handset that has been quite successful. I’ll never forget the Droid’s media blitz during last year’s World Series between the Yankees and Phillies.

Keeping pace with the light-speed deployment of bigger, newer, faster and all around sexier handsets, Motorola/Verizon have introduced the Droid X, a newer, cuter Droid that will bump the old Droid right off the top of the food chain. Much more than just an extra consonant, the Droid X brings a beefier feature set that will compete with the likes of the HTC EVO, iPhone 4 and other top phones.

The Droid X gets faster with a 1 GHz processor. Multimedia capabilities are enhanced thanks to a big, 4.3-inch touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera, 720p recording, and HDMI and DLNA output. The Droid X comes a little early to enjoy an update to Android 2.2 and will ship with 2.1. However, it will get the upgrade to 2.2 later this summer. It will also be in line for an over-the-air update to Flash 10.1. The Droid X will also feature a Wi-Fi hotspot feature that supports up to 5 devices, for an extra monthly fee.

The Droid X will ship on July 15. It will run the $200 with two-year contract that has become standard for top-end smartphones.

The Droid X is a venerable competitor in the upper echelon of the cell phone market, but lacks one key piece that could push it over the top. Both the iPhone 4 and the HTC EVO have front-facing video cameras, which allow for video calling. This feature is missing from the Droid X.

For a full comparison of how the iPhone 4 and Droid X stack up, PC World did a good article on the spec-by-spec breakdown.

Isn’t it funny how quickly top-end devices slide down the line? Last October, the 3.7-inch display, 550 MHz processor and 5-megapixel camera of the original Droid looked pretty good. Not so anymore. Some will certainly miss the slide-out Qwerty, though.

Categories: Cutting Edge, Electronics, Gadgets, Tech, Tech News, Tech On Sale
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How to Choose a Netbook

June 26, 2010 by Chris Weiss

Selecting a netbook is much like selecting any computer: you’ll want to weigh the hardware and software vs. the price and find the best value for your needs. However, there are some special considerations when it comes to netbooks that you’ll need to keep in mind while shopping. Here’s a list of some of the more important factors that will affect your netbook decision.

Screen Size

Netbooks generally range from 8.9 to 12 inches in terms of screen sizes. Smaller screens will make for a more compact, lighter device (one of the main reasons you’re buying a netbook), but some will prefer a larger screen with higher resolution.

Price

Netbooks generally range in price from $200 to $600. Like cell phones, wireless carriers offer models even cheaper with a contract. Factors such as storage, processor, operating system and screen size play a role in the price of each netbook.

Operating System

Netbooks feature Windows operating systems such as XP or Windows 7 Starter Edition or Linux-based systems. Windows will be more familiar  for most PC users, but can add to the price.

Hardware

Current netbooks are largely based around 1.6 or 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N-series processors. As far as RAM, 1 GB of DDR2 is a standard and some netbooks offer 2GB or more. In terms of hard drive storage, most netbooks offer 160 or 250 GB. Another piece of hardware to keep your eye on is the keyboard. Netbook keyboards are smaller than laptop or desktop keyboards, but vary in size. It would be wise to physically compare several keyboards to find out what is comfortable and what is too small. Netbooks with graphics cards like Nvidia ION provide better performance for video and gaming.

Battery Life

Any mobile device is only as good as the battery power that it offers. According to testing by magazines and websites like PC Authority and Netbook Reviews, netbook battery life can range drastically from under two hours to upwards of 10. Look for battery life tests of the model(s) you’re shopping for, not just manufacturer numbers.

Shop for netbooks and use our tools to narrow down your search by brand and specifications.

More reading: CNET’s netbook quick guide

Categories: Computers, Electronics, Gadgets, Tech
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