Gearlog

TechSaver Test: RadioShack July 4 Sale

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:33:25 -0500

RadioShack is offering 17 products at a discounted rate for its July 4 Sale. Several of the products are on sale through the end of the month, too. Orders totaling $50 or more will receive free ground shipping (except desktops, laptops, and TVs).

RadioShack doesn't have a huge stock of electronics as we all know, but from time to time it does offer great deals. To put the store to the challenge this week, I'm taking four sale items and comparing them to other retailers' prices. Let's see if RadioShack's sale on the Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS, Casio Exilim EX-Z29 10.1MP Digital Camera, Plantronics Explorer 230 Bluetooth Headset, and Cyber Acoustics CA-3402 2.1-Channel Speaker System will have you running back for more.

Tweetlog: Epson Perfection V300 Photo

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:53:37 -0500

Have a ton of old slides and prints in the closet? The Epson V300 (http://tinyurl.com/l3wcnj) can bring your family photos into the 21st century.

Any Surface is a Speaker with the K-box

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:50:17 -0500

Want to play your iPod's music throughout the room? You don't need external speakers when you've got the Kerchoonz K-box, which turns any solid surface into a speaker.

The K-box has a standard 3.5mm audio jack, so it works with any audio device. Simply plug it in to your player and the surface beneath it resonates with the music you're playing. To see it in action, check out this impressive demonstration video on YouTube.

According to the press release, the K-box uses patented Gel Audio Technology to convert surfaces into speakers. It has both a standard speaker inside for mid- to high-range frequencies, and the Gel Audio Technology for delivering bass through the surface beneath it. The result seems to be a much more balanced sound that most compact speakers can produce.

The K-box is the size of a mobile phone, and it recharges through a USB connection for a playtime of 20 hours between chargings. Get it for $74.50 US plus shipping and handling from the company site.

TechSaver: Olympus Camera, Skype Adapter, Jenson Music System

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:32:44 -0500

Apparently I have something in common with the iPhone: I also shut down in the summer heat.

1. Sing it with me: "I want to be/ Under the sea/ With a waterproof Olympus camera." I'm going to have to work on that last bit. Anyhoo, Adorama is practically giving away the Olympus 1050 digital camera for $149 with free shipping. This classy compact camera delivers 10.1 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom, and it's waterproof up to 10 feet. So take it snorkeling with no worries. Take it with you in the pool. Take those secret bathtub pics you've been waiting to try. This Olympus will still work perfectly when it's out of the water.

2. Here's a clever device for people who want to use Skype at home but aren't crazy about wearing a headset. The D-Link DPH-50U IP Telephone Adapter lets you use your exiting corded or cordless home phone with Skype. Your phone will be able to receive both standard and Skype calls. You can even forward Skype calls to your cell phone when you leave home. How does it do all this? Magic. Buy.com has it for $8.99 after $10 mail-in rebate, with free shipping.

3. It's a whole compact stereo system for $34.98 (with free shipping). That's the NewEgg.com price for the Jensen Docking Digital Music System, which plays and charges your iPod, and also includes speakers, an AM/FM radio, and an alarm clock.

Please, Silence Your Cell Phones

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:51:58 -0500

The month of July is known for cookouts, family fun, and fireworks, but did you know that July is also National Cell Phone Courtesy Month? So be sure to silence those phones before you go any further, because I want our top three tips to observe this holiday to go uninterrupted.

1. I'll put my phone on vibrate for you. Remember this handy little function? Vibrate allows you to feel the calls without interrupting everyone in the room with Beyonce's hit song "Single Ladies". This function can best be put to use when at dinner with friends, in class and at work, or on the bus. "On a Boat" may be your summer theme song, but others may be in a different zone.

Two more, after the jump.

Archos 9 PCtablet: The New Netbook on the Block

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:58:40 -0500

Archos is throwing the keyboard out the window for its new netbook, the Archos 9 PCtablet. The 9-inch screen is touch sensitive, so all typing is done on onscreeen. The design allows this netbook to weigh under 2 pounds, and it's only 0.63 inches thick.

It's not just about what's on the outside, though. The Archos 9 uses the new Intel Atom Z515 processor, boasts a 60GB or 120GB hard drive, has built-in Bluetooth, and features two antennas to receive DVBT TV with diversity reception. As a final bonus, this model comes standard with Microsoft Windows 7.

Look for the PCtablet to ship this fall; no pricing information has been announced as yet.

Images of Apollo Landing Sites Will Soon Hit the Intertubes

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:05:20 -0500

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has entered into a flawless orbit around the moon, and is now getting ready to snap images from a distance of about 31 miles above the surface, according to Slashdot.

Among the expected findings will be high-resolution, close-up images of the Apollo landing sites from 1969 through 1972, along with some of the old Soviet automatic probes.

To date, the best images we have so far were made by the Japanese probe Kaguya, the report said; they showed a white patch where the lunar module's engine had blown away dust on the surface.

TechSaver Test: Office Depot's 4th of July Savings

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:19:00 -0500

Office Depot isn't just an office supplies store; it also carries electronics and computer hardware. This week you can enjoy discounted items in Office Depot's 4th of July Savings. It's offering $30 off on digital cameras, $10 to $60 off on USB keys, up to $70 in savings on printers, up to $200 off on select HP notebooks, some freebie offers, and more. All offers expire on July 4. Place $50 or more in your shopping cart online to get free next business day delivery (Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. local time).

In today's TechSaver Test, I'm going to challenge Office Depot's sale prices on the SanDisk Cruzer USB 2.0 Flash Drive (32GB), the HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us) notebook, the Nikon Coolpix S560 camera, and the Lexmark X7675 Wireless Color Flatbed All-In-One. Is the Depot your savings hero? Find out after the jump.

eMachines Introduces All-White Budget Mini-Tower

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:58:30 -0500

Budget PC manufacturer eMachines has released a new all-white budget desktop in a mini-tower form factor, priced from $299 to $449. The computers come with a matching white-trim keyboard and LCD monitor with a 1366x768 resolution. There are three models in the line, from the cheapest ET1810-01 to the most expensive ET1300-02. As for computing power in these sleek desktops, these are exactly the type of computers that eMachines is known for. Expect budget performance and affordable prices.

Specs after the jump.

Study: Half of Mobile Subscribers Would Cut Data Plans

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:29:17 -0500

We all know the economy is a mess, but smartphones have been one of the few bright spots--yet a new study has found that there's a limit even to that category. According to research firm Strategy Analytics, nearly half (48 percent) of Americans would drop their mobile data plans completely if they had to trim expenses, MediaPost reports.

That's markedly different than what the firm found about home broadband services, which customers are far more reluctant to cut; only 10 percent would do so. "What surprised us was the vulnerability of mobile services," Ben Piper, director of Strategy Analytics' multiplay market dynamics service, said in a statement.

In addition, just 12 percent said they would cut pay TV services altogether, but 41 percent would scale back to a lower tier of pricing, the report said--which is exactly what I've done recently. In fact, my first recommendation would be for the 13 percent of mobile subscribers that don't use their cell phones at all to cancel their plans and stop paying for them, but hey, what do I know.

NASA Launches 'Free Spirit' Web Site for Stuck Mars Rover

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:08:07 -0500

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has launched Free Spirit, a Web site dedicated to keeping track of the agency's efforts to free the stuck rover on the surface of Mars, Space.com reports. NASA currently has an entire team of engineers working to simulate the rover's predicament using a test rover and several tons of simulated Mars dirt.

"People really like the whole 'free Spirit,' idea and we thought we should make it really easy for people to find updates," said Veronica McGregor, a NASA spokesperson at JPL, in the article. "In a way, we're trying to make it a campaign that everyone can get involved in."

The team is still working on the problem of a big rock situated beneath the rover's stomach, though it appears that it isn't touching quite enough to become a huge problem. Still, the situation remains precarious. "This is a very tough situation and we're not sure we can get Spirit out," McGregor said in the report. There's lots more, including a video showing the spinning wheel in the dirt, so head on over to the Free Spirit Web site at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/freespirit/. (Image credit: NASA/JPL)

TechSaver: Westinghouse LCD TV, Guitar Hero Bundle, McAfee Security

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:37 -0500

The Walkman turns 30 this week and so does TechSaver, which started life as a blue ditto sheet stapled on an A&P bulletin board. The first deal? A SpaceMaker microwave oven.

1. Shhh! This is going to be our little secret. Nobody has to know you paid only $483.99 for a Westinghouse 42-inch LCD TV. The price is so low because this is a refurbished model sold by MacMall. Your friends don't have to know that, though. Just let them be impressed by the crisp 1080p display. You'll also enjoy the 16:9 widescreen, the 1000:1 contrast ratio, and the 4 HDMI inputs. It's a no-compromise television at a super-low price.

2. Guitar Hero fans, you're going to hold your lighters in the air when you see this deal. RedOctane is selling the World Tour wireless guitar and mic bundle for the Xbox 360 for only $49.99, and that's with free shipping. They'll be no cords in your way as you wail on this guitar with a new touch-sensitive neck. The mic is wired and comes with a 15-foot USB cable.

3. Sure, you know you need security software on your computer, but it's so expensive. Well, not today. Buy.com, selling on eBay, is offering a time-limited deal on McAfee Internet Security 2009. You can get it for $11.99 with free shipping today only. Jump on it, because prices like that don't come around often.

Win a Macbook Pro from MoonFruit

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:30:42 -0500

MoonFruit, a free web-building provider, is celebrating its 10th birthday. To kick off the joyous event, the service is giving away 10 new Macbook Pros--one each for 10 days, that is. All you have to do is twitter about it.

Include #moonfruit tag in any tweet, and maybe you'll be one of the lucky winners. There has already been a victor for day one, by the name of gecko84 from the UK. So who's next?

Apple Issues Heat Advisory for iPhone 3G, 3GS

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:11 -0500

Whether anecdotal reports of iPhones overheating are true or not, Apple has taken them seriously enough to reveal the presence of a temperature warning screen for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Here's the deal: an unknown but probably very small number of iPhones have been affected by overheating, to the point that some white iPhone 3GSes have allegedly turned pink. Sascha Segan, our phone analyst, said he hasn't seen any such problems with his iPhone 3GS, however.

Apple, however, has issued what some might call a "common sense" warning: a support document that warns users not to keep the iPhone in an environment where temperatures can exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit, including parked cars.

But Apple also warns that CPU-intensive applications, such playing music or using the GPS while in direct sunlight may also overheat the iPhone.

In that case, actually using the iPhone in temperatures over 95 degrees can also trigger the temperature warning. "Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly," Apple warns.

Obviously, summer temperatures in many locations top 95 degrees.Las Vegas, for example, has forecasts topping 100 degrees for the next 10 days; Phoenix routinely climbs above 103.

So what will happen? Read on.

The Walkman Turns 30

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:01:30 -0500

Over at PCMag today, we're marking the 30th anniversary of the Sony Walkman by looking at the last 30 years of portable audio. Do you know who Andreas Pavel is, and why Sony paid him millions? Do you know what the Walkman was originally named on its first U.S. release? How 'bout the name of the first MP3 player? (Even if you think you know this one, I bet you don't!)

For answers to these burning questions and more, check out the full story at PCMag.com.

Post by Tim Gideon