Gadget Access

I love to cook, but I’m messy and temperamental and hate to clean up. I throw things around like a little Asian, non-professional Gordon Ramsay. I tell people in my family that in exchange for cooking intricate meals, all they have to do is clean up, but in truth, I’m not sure they get the better deal. The thing that bothers me the most about my kitchen rampages is that when they’re over, I’ve almost inevitably killed any cookbook I’ve been using. My regularly used cookbooks are crunchy with olive oil, batter, and butter, and would probably taste pretty good by now if I baked them. Some pages have become hard to read and I’ve been searching for a solution to protect my precious cookbook collection.

Enter the “chef’s center” which supports your cookbook at a good reading angle, swivels all the way around, and most importantly has a crystal-clear, splatterguard which keeps your book open at the right page and safe from flying ingredients. The spring-loaded screen guard fits everything from the single xeroxed page to the thickest of cookbooks. There’s a pull-out measurement guide to help you adjust recipe servings while you cook. Then when you’re done, the chef’s center folds down flat for easy storage.

The chef’s center is $29.95 from Prepara.

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 9:57AM
Oh sure, the iHome iP99 is certainly a welcome addition to the fray, but the first iPhone-compatible clock radio it isn’t. Nevertheless, this device claims to be able to play back tunes on your handset without that sanity-killing interference that’s so common on most ipod stereo systems. While blasting out tunes, users can still expect to receive calls while it’s charging, and if you’re currently rolling sans an iphone, it’ll also play nice with all docking iPod models. Per usual, there’s an AM / FM tuner, auxiliary input, a variety of wake modes, dual alarm settings, backlit buttons and a remote control for switching tracks / controlling volume from afar. Of course, by the time this thing lands in June for $149.99, we could be testing to see if it works with an all new iPhone.

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Filed under: cellphones, Peripherals, Portable Audio

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 10:54AM
Presumably ensuring that no one views Sanyo as hypocritical, the company’s Superbright PLC-ET30L actually can throw up a fairly recognizable image even in a well-lit room. Featuring an SXGA+ (1,400 x 1,050) resolution, a 1,300:1 contrast ratio and a remarkably high 4,200 ANSI lumen rating, this PJ was undoubtedly designed to function in classrooms and boardrooms (or living rooms) that just can’t avoid ambient light. Additionally, Sanyo’s introducing the lower-spec’d PLC-XT21/L, which offers up an XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution, 1:000:1 contrast ratio and 4,000 ANSI lumens. Both newcomers to the T series line support wired networking and emit just 35dB of fan noise, but being priced at $6,495 and $4,995 (respectively), the duo is most definitely cut out for the corporate card and not your own.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

The Sony Bravia XBR6 replaces the ever popular and successful XBR4 series, and will be avaliable in a vast array of sizes. The Sony XBR6 models all feature the highest HD image format, Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels), with Sony’s Motionflow 120Hz for smooth flowing images which retail their detail.

The Sony XBR6 will be avaliable in five different sizes ranging from the 32-inch Sony KDL-32XBR6 to the 52-inch KDL-52XBR6. The other models are the 37-inch Sony KDL-37XBR6, KDL-40XBR6, KDL-46XBR6 giving a very nice selection of sizes avaliable to choose from.

Other features on the Sony Bravia XBR6 include Live Color creation with WCG-CCFL backlight technology, x.v Color for impressive colors along with a 10-bit panel and processing. New features on the Sony XBR6 models are Sony’s Bravia Engine 2 processing for enhanced image quality, a DLNA compliant Ethernet input, TV Guide IPG, an enhanced XMB user interface with 3D graphics, and Bravia Sync capabilities.

The new design on the XBR6’s look great with it’s black gloss finish and optional speaker grilles with designer colors.

Sony Bravia XBR6:

• KDL-32XBR6 (KDL32XBR6) | 32-Inch, May 08
• KDL-37XBR6 (KDL37XBR6) | 37-Inch, July 08
• KDL-40XBR6 (KDL40XBR6) | 40-Inch, September 08
• KDL-46XBR6 (KDL46XBR6) | 46-Inch, October 08
• KDL-52XBR6 (KDL52XBR6) | 52-Inch, September 08

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 8:29AM
Okay, so Jared Bouck’s kegerator-cooled PC doesn’t really sip on Hennessy, Bud Light or even Milwaukee’s Best, but it sure does a good job of pretending to be 21. Essentially, this here mod is more for show than anything, but when all’s said and done, you do have a liquid-cooled gaming rig and a nearby locale to stock your favorite beverages. After all, it’s common knowledge that you can’t stray too far to replenish your fluids during an all-night WoW raid, right? With $180, a bit of patience and some good old fashion work, you too can replace that vanilla cooling setup with one the boys are sure to swoon over.

[Thanks, Tom]

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Filed under: Desktops, Misc. gadgets

Introduce some much needed bling to your office desk with the Diamante Mouse.

It’s time to jettison that humourless and corporate-grey mouse of yours and get some sparkle onto your desktop. Studded with a panoply of glittering fake diamonds, the Diamante Mouse is a dazzlingly different and sparklingly superior computer mouse for people wanting to be lifted from the drudgery of normal workstations.

Unfortunately, these diamonds are all fake although they do boast a rather impressive sparkle. You won’t be able to pawn it for more than £27.99 though.

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 1:25AM
Oh man, the rumors were true. Asus’ EeePC 900 — the 8.9-inch model — is still plodding along on that same 900MHz Celeron M processor as the original Eee PC 701. Good news: it does run at the full 900MHz without the 630MHz cap of its predecessor (pre-overclocking, that is). Bad News: it’s not the Intel Atom proc promised at CeBIT. A potentional bottleneck when loaded with the relatively CPU heavy XP instead of the Linux-based OS. Still, we’re hoping this is a limitation in the early-launch, Hong Kong / Taiwan models only, and things will get corrected when Atom launches in June. The video after the break clearly demonstrates the multi-touch trackpad (3:50 in) which Engadget was first to discover in the FCC filing.

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Filed under: Laptops

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 15th 2008 at 12:55AM
It’s April 15th which means one thing: taxes PS3 firmware 2.30 is due. Right on cue, Sony made good on the new playstation Store and DTS-HD Master Audio sound reproduction sure to make audiophile-types lean in for a listen. The Store is acting a bit sluggish at the moment, something that’s likely to get sorted once the rolling update is completed. Nevertheless, users are claiming easier navigation and richer experience. So whatcha looking at — get out of here kid, there’s on-line updating to be done.

[Thanks, Paul R., Nathan, and everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Gaming

M70 is the name of the laptop announced by Asus, which doesn’t have a price or release date, but it sure does have good features and different options.

To start with, there are 5 choices of Intel Centrino processors, more specifically a Core 2 Duo T7500, or T7700, and other models such as the T8100, T8300, and T9300 - with the only difference for each group being the nanometer number. On the graphics card there 2 options: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD3650 with 1GB of memory, or the Radeon HD3470.

As for the RAM memory, it can go up to 4GB. Other specifications include a 17-inch LCD display with a built-in web camera, support for dual drives, optional Blu-Ray drive, Wi-Fi, and lastly, two security solutions: fingerprint reader, and facial recognition that works with the webcam.

The M70’s touch pad can turn into a control deck for video or music entertainment, when not used as a cursor platform.

via

This was a deal we had to share with our readers. Until they run out, Tiger Direct is selling these HP w2207 22″ Widescreen Flat Panel Monitors for only $249. Dang.

Specs:

• 5ms response time
• 0.282mm pixel pitch
• 1680×1050 (WSXGA+)
• 1000:1 contrast ratio
• 300 cd/m² brightness
• DVI-D input
• VGA input
• USB Hub
• Speakers
• Rotates to a vertical (portrait) screen.

Don’t wait too long. These are going to sell out quickly!

Posted in Computers, Gizmo of the Day