Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[For the Video Hound: Vudu]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-vudu/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-vudu/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-vudu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Vudu
$399, vudu.com

About as big as a Mac Mini, the Vudu box gives you access to over 5,000 movies for rent or purchase. Vudu uses the same peer-to-peer technology that pirates use to illegally swap movies online, but for good purposes like letting you watch a movie instantly even though it's not done downloading. The service just started offering HD movies you'd actually want to watch - like the 'Bourne Ultimatum' - but the mostly standard definition (SD) movies on offer still look stunning since the box upscales video to quasi-HD quality, while the ergonomic remote is the most responsive to come along since Tivo.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideVuduSun, 23 Dec 2007 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Gateway One: a Windows PC Dressed Like a Mac]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/gateway-one-a-windows-pc-dressed-like-a-mac/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/gateway-one-a-windows-pc-dressed-like-a-mac/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/gateway-one-a-windows-pc-dressed-like-a-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Finally, an all-in-one Windows PC with some style sense. Check out the video for more on the Gateway One.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-one PCsAll-in-onePcsGatewayHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideFri, 21 Dec 2007 19:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro Mixes Business with a Little Pleasure]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/palm-centro-mixes-business-with-a-little-pleasure/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/palm-centro-mixes-business-with-a-little-pleasure/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/21/palm-centro-mixes-business-with-a-little-pleasure/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Once upon a time, you were a nobody if you didn't have a Palm-powered PDA holstered beneath your power suit. With BlackBerrys and iPhones getting all the glory, can Palm's new Centro compete? Josh Fruhlinger reports.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideiphone killersiphone-killersIphoneKillersPalmPalm CentroPalmCentrosmart phonesSmartPhonestopFri, 21 Dec 2007 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[The Cheap Light That Lasts 12 Years!]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/14/cheap-new-light-source-that-lasts-12-years/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/14/cheap-new-light-source-that-lasts-12-years/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/14/cheap-new-light-source-that-lasts-12-years/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A company that sells glow-in-the-dark-paint has invented another way to combat the forces of darkness. MPK Company, while not in league with Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker, has conjured up a new light source called Litroenergy. These self-luminous, tiny particles, called Litrospheres, have a remarkable half-life of about 12 years and are encased in a microsphere container.

In addition, they are non-toxic and do not require a source of electricity to operate, which means the technology is extremely cheap! Litrospheres are also said to be unaffected by temperature and up to 5,000 pounds crush resistant. The Litrospheres, which can be injection molded or used in paint, release no ultraviolet rays.

Litroenergy works by emitting electrons from a radioactive gas that is contained by the durable microsphere capsules. Able to transmit continuous light in virtually any color, the Litrosphere light seems to have one major drawback: It is not nearly as bright as light powered by electricity. The Litrosphere glow translates to about 20 watts in an electric light source.

The makers at MPK envision Litroenergy being used for safety purposes, such as lining life rafts or safety markings. In the future, the company sees uses extending to bicycles, sporting/camping equipment, toys and other novelty items.

Consumers should rejoice at this cheap, safe, durable and long-lasting font of illumination. Imagine putting Litrospheres in the creepy dark parts of the house, like the attic, or in alleyways that give you the willies. Which gets us thinking about its Halloween applications...

From PESWiki Via TreeHugger

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BetaVoltaicsLightLitroenergyLitrosphereFri, 14 Dec 2007 11:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell Goes Sexy With New All-in-One Computer]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



"Give in to the power of the tea," the male model, Hansel, whispered as he seduced the overcome reporter in the epic comedy, Zoolander. That's what we thought of as we entered Armani/Casa, an ultra-hip interior design locale in SoHo where fashionistas shop for their postmodern couches and Eastern-influenced coffee tables. It wasn't a home makeover mission that brought us to Never Neverland, however, as we were there to preview Dell's XPS One, the newest all-in-one home computer, which came out on November 19th and is the latest entry in the growing area of stylish, all-in-one computers.

Picking our way through the hotly attired models and Dell executives that dotted the sleek Armani/Casa homescape, we began to understand the nature of this particular computing beast... Home computing is undergoing a transformation in character, style or that je ne sais quoi these days, and the XPS One is Dell's attempt to get sexy. And make no mistake, the folks at Dell will sell their stock to Apple before letting the competition's Gateway One and the Sony Vaio L Series overshadow their own product's libido.

All black, the machine is comprised of a 20-inch, high-definition widescreen monitor that houses the computer itself, with just one cable to plug in. The only other components are a wireless mouse and an old-school infrared wireless keyboard that triumphs over the inconsistent Bluetooth keyboards from former XPS models. In addition, the XPS boasts a built-in TV tuner, whereas most PC models of this size and type, including the Gateway One, have an external tuner or none at all, like the Sony Vaio L Series.

A couple of things that we really liked were the motion sensors that, when triggered, light up the media keys and a half-circle of blue light that illuminates the slot-loading drive on the lower, right hand corner of the monitor. We also dug the great speakers that come stock with every XPS as well as the option to include a Blu-ray drive (as long as you're willing to pay more). While the cheapest XPS One goes for $1,499, the version with all of the bells and whistles maxes out at $2,399.

Overall, this computer seems to have the it sexy factor that Dell wanted to develop. Whether you're an artiste whose closet includes clothing in black or black, or just a regular consumer looking for a home computer that looks smokin' and futuristic while doing it all without the complications, this is the all-in-one product for you.

The only downside is that the models we saw at Armani/Casa are not offered with the XPS at this time.

Gallery: Dell XPS One

XPS OneDell XPS One MediaXPS One Side ViewXPS One Thre-Quarter View


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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all in oneall-in-one computersAll-in-oneComputersAllInOneDellHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideLaptop ReviewsLaptopReviewsPretty ThingsPrettyThingsXPSXPS OneXpsOneTue, 11 Dec 2007 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[USB Santa Boots Make a Heated Fashion Statement]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/usb-santa-boots-make-a-heated-fashion-statement/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/usb-santa-boots-make-a-heated-fashion-statement/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/usb-santa-boots-make-a-heated-fashion-statement/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,




Even Santa gets cold feet sometimes, and we're not talking about when he married Mrs. Claus. Japanese gadget trove Thanko has introduced a pair of USB Santa Boots, a gadgetized way to keep the feet warm during the frigid winter months. These slippers, which look suspiciously like footwear belonging to a certain white-bearded, rotund Christmas hero, are heated by a USB connection from the slipper to your computer.

We're a little torn -- as nice as toasty toes are when it's cold no matter how many pairs of socks you're wearing, there's something just not right about slippers and USB connections in the same sentence. Are they dumb, funny, or cute? You be the judge.


From 7 Gadgets Via geeksugar

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsChristmasHolidashholiday gift guideHolidayGiftGuidetopUSBTue, 11 Dec 2007 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Heat-Sensitive Coffee Mug Tells You When It's Safe to Drink]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/05/heat-sensitive-coffee-mug/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/05/heat-sensitive-coffee-mug/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/05/heat-sensitive-coffee-mug/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Proving yet again that we haven't run out of good ideas (as a species), the folks at Charles and Marie (we'll call them "Charles and Marie") have released one of the most logical items we've seen in some time. Like Sunday mornings, it's easy: The mug turns from off to on when filled with hot liquid, and then goes back to off when your beverage is drinkable again.

25 bucks is a bit on the pricey side for a coffee mug, but for the perpetual tongue burners among you (you know who you are), it's easily worth the investment in your taste buds.

Assuming it works.

From BoingBoing

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Coffee TechCoffeeTechFood TechFoodTechKitchen TechKitchenTechWeirdWed, 05 Dec 2007 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips AJL308 Alarm Clock/Photo Frame]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/03/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame-for-domestic-god-goddess/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/03/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame-for-domestic-god-goddess/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/03/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame-for-domestic-god-goddess/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Philips AJL308
A perfect bedside item, this all-in-wonder functions as a clock radio, alarm clock, and 7" digital picture frame. It's nice and small and cleanly-designed; the dual alarm clock radio will wake you with your favorite FM radio station, or your own MP3s -- all while slowly flipping through digital photos of your loved ones (it has a SD/MMC card slot and USB connection for actually getting the content onto the device). Or perhaps it's more motivating to wake to pictures of your boss looking angry? On second thought, we wouldn't suggest that. Maybe a picture of a hot cup of coffee instead? Either way, Amazon has them for cheap.

From Amazon
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Domestic God/GoddessDomesticGod/goddessHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideunder $250Under$250Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Cable Turtles]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/01/cable-turtles/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/01/cable-turtles/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/01/cable-turtles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Anybody with a lot of gadgets has a lot of cables, which can get tangled and unsightly without too much effort. The clutter-averse gadget head or neat-freak in your life will find the ingeniously-designed Cable Turtles to be useful. The doughnut-shaped rubber Cable Turtles flip inside out to reveal a central pole that is used to wrap your power cord around. When you're done wrapping, you just flip the cover back over and presto, the cable is safely tucked away for storage, or significantly shortened, if you just want less cord clutter. Since they start at $9 (for the smallest model), Cable Turtles are an excellent stocking stuffer.

From Cable Turtles

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gadget Hound, Under $10GadgetHound,Under$10HolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideSat, 01 Dec 2007 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips AJL308 Alarm Clock/Photo Frame]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/22/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/22/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/22/philips-ajl308-alarm-clock-photo-frame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



A perfect bedside item, this all-in-wonder functions as a clock radio, alarm clock, and 7-inch digital picture frame. It's nice and small and cleanly-designed; the dual alarm clock radio will wake you with your favorite FM radio station, or your own MP3s - all while slowly flipping through digital photos of your loved ones (it has a SD/MMC memory card slot and USB connection for actually getting the content onto the device). Or perhaps it's more motivating to wake to pictures of your boss looking angry? On second thought, we wouldn't suggest that. Maybe a picture of a hot cup of coffee instead? Either way, Amazon has them for cheap.

From Philips
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>$250 and under$250AndUnderalarm clocksAlarmClocksclock radiosClockRadiosdigital picture framesDigitalPictureFramesDomestic God/GoddessDomesticGod/goddessHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideThu, 22 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cooking Mama 2]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/19/cooking-mama-2/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/19/cooking-mama-2/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/19/cooking-mama-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



As fans of the original already know (and the rest of you can probably surmise), Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends ($30) is a game about cooking. The original game Cooking Mama Cook Off came out for the Nintendo Wii, but the follow up has gone all handheld. In Cooking Mama 2, you use the Nintendo DS touch screen to complete recipes that are divided into steps -- usually involving rice, fish, and chopping. Lots of chopping. So, for example, you'll wash the rice, swirl the rice around, cook the rice, chop the ginger, remove the scales from the fish, fillet the fish, steam the fish...and so on. All with the stylus. Though much of the food is of the decidedly Japanese variety, you'll make white trash favorites like hot dogs and pizza as well. There are loads of recipes for the aspiring chef; we must say, after a week of playing this game, anyone's cooking ability (or at least knowledge) will get a swift kick in the apron.



From Majesco
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cooking MamaCookingMamaDomestic God/GoddessDomesticGod/goddessDSHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideNintendo DSNintendoDsunder $50Under$50Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:16:00 EST