When PC Mag's Robert Heron reviewed the 50-inch Vizio P50HDM plasma display, he said:

Contrary to what TV manufacturers tell you, true high-definition (1,280-by-720) plasma displays start at 50 inches. The Vizio P50 HDM ($2,499.99 direct) is the least expensive I've seen to date, and I was pleased by its attractiveness and imagery. The picture quality wasn't flawless, and the set lacks a couple of noncritical features found on more expensive HDTVs, but it is an amazing value for a modern high-definition plasma monitor.

Well, 'the least expensive' just got $500 cheaper. We just got a press release from Vizio saying that they've cut the list price on the this PC Magazine Editors' Choice to $1,999. Happy Father's Day.

Cable TV companies are running out of bandwidth and may have trouble bringing HDTV channels to your house, at least in numbers that compare well against satellite TV and the upcoming fiberoptic systems proposed (and piloted) by Verizon and other phone companies.  David Lieberman, in his latest column, gathers the facts that tell a very interesting story.  Here it is in a nutshell.

Consumer adoption of HDTV is growing quickly. According to Morgan Stanley, HDTV will be in 26% of US households by end of year, and over 2/3 of homes by 2010.  As HDTV becomes more prevalent in homes, demand for HD content will increase dramatically.  And with only a finite amount of bandwidth in coax, cable companies have their backs up against the wall. According to Lieberman, 70% of cable bandwidth is being eaten up by analog content, which is viewable without a set-top box on a cable-ready TV.  So cable TV providers only have bandwidth remaining to distribute a dozen or two HD channels.  That puts them far behind satellite TV and phone companies.  DirecTV and Echostar both plan to launch additional satellites to add up to 150 HD channels.  Verizon wants to connect fiber to your home, and bring you 210 HD channels.  (Verizon has tested its TV service in "50 communities" across 7 states.)

So what can cable companies do?  Well, they have two options:

1. Drop analog channels, and replace them with HD content.  For each analog station that's dropped, three HD channels can be added.  But, cable-ready TV owners will be forced to pay an extra $5-10 per month for a set-top box or face a dwindling list of channels. (Comcast is going this route.)
   
2. Implement a "switched digital" solution.  All analog stations would still be sent, which means no loss of service for cable-ready consumers.  But, digital channels would only be sent when requested by the digital set-top box (like video on demand, which has high latency on my cable service).  But guess what -- CableCards then become obsolete since they can't be used for this two-way communication.  (Time Warner and Cox are going this route.)

No matter how you slice it, there are going to be victims of progress.  Especially in February, 2009, when the big digital TV switch becomes a reality.

Nokia's long-awaited N91, the first hard-drive-based phone in the US, appeared on the Nokia USA Web site with a surprisingly reasonable $599.99 price. The N91 is a Symbian Series 60 smartphone with a 4 gigabyte hard drive and 2-megapixel digital camera; the hard drive is mostly for storing music, which the phone can play in MP3, AAC, or WMA format. Support for protected WMA files bought from services like Rhapsody and Yahoo! is coming later this year, Nokia says. There's also an FM radio, if you're into whatever Clear Channel wants to bring you today.

The phone connects to the Internet via either EDGE or Wi-Fi. It lacks the 850 Mhz band, so it's better for T-Mobile folks than for Cingular subscribers. I think I must get one in.

Meanwhile, importer Dynamism is feeding geeks' hunger for Nokia's E61 "Blackberry-killer" -- a Symbian Series 60 slab-style phone with a full keyboard, Wi-Fi, VOIP software, Microsoft Office document editors, quad-band EDGE (making both Cingular and T-Mobile users happy), and a 320x240 screen. Think of it as a Motorola Q for people who hate Microsoft. This one is $549 from Dynamism, and it will probably also be sold at Nokia's new store in Chicago.

Here's how the iPhone feeding frenzy works: some random Canadian financial analyst floats the idea that Apple could work together with RIM, the maker of BlackBerry handhelds, in a research note. Not that they "will." Not that they "are." That they "could." My kidneys "could" be made of iPods, too, and that's why I have such damn good rhythm. Right. Once again, just as with the deal Apple may or may not have made with Japanese conglomerate Softbank, there's nothing to see here. No "AppleBerry." No Japanese iPhone, either.

But the fact that the unsupported rantings of a single analyst can suddenly get play on every single blog in the blogosphere speaks to the powerful longing across all of humanity for an Apple phone -- or rather, the powerful longing for a phone with a halfway decent user interface. Phone UIs, even the beloved Nokia Series 40 UI, are generally torturous compared to the software Apple churns out. But, sorry, folks, there's still no word from Cupertino that they're taking on the challenge.

As always, the problems are twofold. If Apple were to partner with an existing manufacturer and carrier - well, Apple doesn't play too well with others, and you end up with the Motorola ROKR. And if Apple were to go it alone, they'd need to start their own virtual wireless carrier, which would require permission from one of the Big Four carriers to use their network, and Apple just doesn't seem willing to go into those negotiations quite yet.

Pity. I'd like an iPhone, too.

Want another reason to get a Mac? From now to September 16th 2006, you can get a free iPod Nano when you purchase any one of these Macs: Macbook, Macbook Pro, iMac, or PowerMac G5.  The mail-in rebate is good for purchases of up to $179, so you can get the 1GB Nano, or save some significant money on other Ipods. The promotion is for Apple's back-to-school special, and it's a good one.

With the new alliance between Nike and the iPod nano, it looks like physical fitness and technology are starting to mix in the mainstream. But you might want to measure more than the distance of your last job. Why not take it a step further and measure your physical fitness?

 

The Pocket-PC Nerve-Express is a non-invasive wireless mobile device that measures your physical fitness level and your Autonomous Nervous System. Strap a monitor belt around your torso, and it sends info wirelessly to an HP iPAQ Pocket PC (which comes when you purchase the system.) The PDA's preinstalled software will spit out info and a chart about your physical fitness in terms of wellness and adaptability (which is "based on "Heart Rate Variability analysis"). The iPAQ comes with an SD card and "generic Pocket PC functions."

 

The Nerve-Express system might be painless, but the pricetag isn't: $4,950. Eh, at least you get a cool PDA with it.

 

[[from PC Magazine]]

If you're curious to take a look at and a listen to a Gearlog stalwart (who's also the host of our new Gearlog Radio podcasts), Robyn Peterson will be appearing on Fox News today (Monday, June 5) at 3:45 to talk about cable companies and the HDTV problem: With the swiftly growing demand for HD content, the companies are running out of bandwidth. Robyn will talk about possible solutions and the downsides to those solutions. Tune in!

It isn't every day that we are presented with a chance to save lives, just from using our computers.

David Baker, 43, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington, has been trying for years to find an AIDS vaccine or a cure for cancer. However, he hasn't had the funds nor the right kind of computer needed for his research.

Ultimately, the only way for him to conduct his research was to turn to strangers and their computers through networks. His research team uses the computing power from "tens of thousands of PCs whose owners are donating spare computer time to chop away at scientific problems over the Internet." The project is called Rosetta@home, and more than 60,000 people have donated their computer power to aid Baker and his team.

How it works: "The project sends work to computers that have installed the necessary free software. When the machine is idle, it figures out how an individual protein — a building block of life — might fold or contort, displaying the possibilities in a screen saver. When the PC is done crunching, it sends the results back to Baker's team and grabs more work."

If you'd like to help with the project, visit http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/ to learn about system requirements and how to download and install BOINC—a free, open-source software for distributed computing.

[Quotes from USAToday]

What if you can't afford $50K for technology masterpieces such as the Infinit M or Acura RL? Here's some relatively inexpensive technology you can add to the car you have now. These prices assume you do it yourself; otherwise, add $50 to $100 for installation.

Under $3. Get a microfiber polishing cloth to wipe the dust off your LCD display, the face of your instrument panel, portable navigation device, cell phone's face, and sunglasses. Wash the cloth every month or so. Rubbing too hard scratches a plastic surface (captured grit does the scratching, not the cloth), but otherwise this does a miraculous job of de-dusting and de-greasing plastic and glass. You might even get one free if you ask nicely at your optician; otherwise, they're $2 or $3 at a computer store (around $20 for a pack of 10).

StickyPad from HandStands is a tacky pad (like a thin foam pad covered in PostIt stickum) that holds your cell phone, iPod, or other small device more or less in place while you're cornering, though not if it's aggressive cornering. You really shouldn't leave stuff on the dash that's going to slide around, but since you're doing it anyway, this helps. Conversely, add grippy rubberized strips called egrips to the device: either general-purpose strips or cutouts premade for popular cell phones and music players.

order of sound quality starting with the best, is a line-in jack, a wired FM modulator, a cassette adapter, a wireless FM modulator, and last, a really cheap wireless FM modulator.

Under $50. There's a thriving marketplace for accessories that let you plug your iPod into the car, charge it, encase it in neoprene or leather, suspend it from a stalk, and so forth--iPod up the wazoo. So many accessories exist because there's demand for the stuff, but also because the profit margins are incredible, so merchants love to stock them. One neat example is the Griffin iStalk. Wait, I made that up. It's actually the Griffin TuneFlex ($35 street, shown above), an iPod Nano connector on top of a flexible stalk with a power adapter plug on the bottom. Plug it into the power socket and twist it so you can see and manipulate your Nano while driving (right off the road, if you're not careful). A line-out jack lets you connect to the few car radios that have a separate line-in jack or an FM modulator or cassette adapter.

Under $60. Check out the Delphi XM Roady2. This satellite radio is tiny and simple to install. You'll be listening to music in less time than it takes the bleeding to stop from the cuts you got opening the blister pack. Sirius also makes a small unit, the visor-mount Sirius One.

Under $100. Get a line-in adapter from Blitzsafe, Soundgate, or PAC Audio for your portable music player. It plugs into the car radio CD-changer jack you don't use; who buys external changers these days? For this price, you can also find iPod line-in adapters that charge, but they don't display the iPod tunes on your radio faceplate. Also under $100 are black boxes for replacement radios that return control of your steering wheel buttons, meaning the buttons that adjusted volume or changed channels/tracks will do that again with your replacement radio.

Under $200. Consider the Harman Kardon drive+play iPod adapter. Despite the control knob that broke off on my first drive+play review unit, and a high-pitched hum (the installer's fault), this device still a treat and works with just about every car. Monster Cable makes a similar device, the Monster iCruze.

Under $250. Think about a new car stereo. If you want satellite radio or an iPod connection, it's probably cheaper to buy a new radio (any brand) for $200 to $250; the iPod adapter will be $100 max (Alpine's is $30), not $200.

Under $300. Backup video or backup sonar lets you see or hear where you're backing up to. Installing one of these systems is not for the casual do-it-yourselfer, though. Even if you know technology, it may be a hassle to run signal cables from the back bumper to your dashboard. You could install a small video display on the dash, but backup cameras make the most sense if you already have a replacement in-dash radio/DVD player with its own LCD (and an auxiliary video input jack).

Soundgate makes a video adapter for some car navigation systems that weren't designed for backup cameras, but the adapter adds about $200. Prices for backup sonar or video range from $100 to $500. Most people prefer video. You can have both; video plus sonar doesn't transmit the same kind of fashion-disaster message as wearing a belt and suspenders.

Under $400. For $600 (scroll down to the next item), you can find where you're going. For less than $400, you can keep going where you're going with a good radar warning receiver, the Valentine One. Yes, they're legal (except in Virginia and DC), but then, this is a nation with a long history of watching for armed authority out and about; think Paul Revere.

Critics say radar detectors let you commit illegal acts such as speeding and antisocial acts such as using more energy than you should. Supporters of radar detectors point out that speeding tickets are more about collecting money than about safety. Excessive speed is an factor in many accidents, but it takes a back seat to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as the main cause of accidents; and failure to wear seatbelts is the leading cause of death or serious injury.

As a practical matter, radar detectors don't provide blanket immunity from speeding tickets, but they do make the odds better. And they also receive safety alerts; most construction sites now send out signals that are picked up by radar detectors to warn you of congestion and slowdowns ahead.

Under $500. This is the entry point for reasonable portable navigation devices such as the Lowrance iWay 350C ($500 street). These provide most of the functionality of in-car devices that cost $1,500 to $2,000. Look for a touchscreen (which is easier to use than buttons and knobs) and battery portability for pedestrian use; the iWay 350 has both. Also consider upgrading to a new cell phone with GPS navigation capabilities; that's about $10 a month on top of your cellular service. Verizon uses the VZ Navigator service on phones such as the Motorola V325. Also consider the TeleNav GPS Navigator and the Motorola ViaMoto.

Under $1,000. Got kids? Good (or desperate) parents install DVD players in the backs of their cars. Prices used start at $1,000 and could hit $1,500; now you can find decent units for $500 to $1,000.

A single unit in the roof is cheapest and works best for three-row seating; LCDs in the backs of the two front headrests are easier on the driver's sightlines but cost more. No need to buy a dealer-installed unit; it may cost more and have a smaller display (7 inches, versus 9 or 10 inches), and there's no connection to the car other than power, since headsets are the proper way to listen to movies. If that's too rich for your blood, portable DVD players that cost $100 to $500 are fine and can be used in hotel rooms and on airplanes.

Summer Gadgets Countdown #16: Remote Control Drink Caddy

Seems like everything for the pool is becoming motorized. And why shouldn't it be? You are in the pool to relax, so you may as well have something that can hold your drinks and pretzels and come to you.

Design: The Remote Control Drink Caddy is made of sturdy ABS plastic with an anti-tip design.

Features: It holds up to five drinks with a snack dish in the center. The dish can also be used to hold a cell phone, suntan lotion, or sunglasses.

How It Works: Operates via a remote control that works up to 100 feet away. The caddy moves at a speed of 3 mph. The remote uses a 9-volt battery and the caddy uses 4 D-batteries, which aren't included.

Price: The Remote Control Drink Caddy sells for $49.50 on FrontGate.com and for 49.99, at MontgomeryWards.com.

Lovin' Factor (1-10): 7

Father's Day is coming up, and everyone knows that Dad is impossible to buy for. So Gearlog is here to help you out...all week long. Today's gift ideas are for the Sporty Dad.

Well, there's always golf. But instead of another box of golf balls, get dad a RadarGolf Ball Positioning System ($249). A microchip implanted into the kit's special golf balls will help Dad find them after he has hit them into the woods. A handheld device will lead him to his lost ball with beeps and LCD indicators. For cheaper golf gifts, try a digital score card ($19.99) or a low-tech treat: a golf ball monogramming kit ($18.95).

If Dad prefers the All-American Game, the Digital Speed Sensing Baseball ($24.95) might be the perfect gift. The regulation-size ball instantly clocks speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, helping Dad improve his game...and maybe even letting him brag about his fastball.

If Dad's more of an outdoor sportsman, try the Remote Sonar Sensor Fish Finder ($120, at left). Hook the sensor onto your fishing line, and it will send real-time views of the hook's surroundings, as well as water-depth readings, to a wristband display. It works in depths of up to 120 feet.

And, if Dad isn't much of an athlete but loves sports trivia, grab the abc Sports Master - it's only $11.98! It has stats and trivia on basketball, baseball, football, hockey, tennis, and golf. The Web site says this gift will help Dad win "resolve any sports argument."