Computers, Laptops, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
John Lennon Returns From Grave to Push the $100 OLPC
[Via Laptop Mag]
hggnews posts
[Via Laptop Mag]
Audio/Video, Video Games, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
Wii-and-iPhone-Hungry Kids Freak Out on Video
As far as we can tell, YouTube, and its various user-generated video spawn, were invented to embarrass children. Well, that and to share renditions of the 'Super Mario Brothers' theme.
Need proof? Just check out these videos we've found in just the last few days. Remember the kid who was really excited to get an N64? Well, he was far from alone in his excitement over consoles from the home of Mario. Just check the video above posted to Pwn or Die of 50 different kids freaking out after they open up a Wii on Christmas, including one kid about two minutes in wearing a Santa hat who will clearly never have a girlfriend.
Of course, the Wii isn't the only thing that has children turning into blathering idiots. Just check out this video of a kid who really, really, really, wants an iPhone. He wants it so bad we were beginning to think he had either a speech impediment or a developmental disorder.
Then there are the non-holiday related, but equally annoying and disturbing clips collected by Cracked that border on child abuse. We're not saying you shouldn't let your six year-old listen to 'My Hump,' (though that isn't a bad idea) just that perhaps you shouldn't encourage her to sing it while slinking about and post it to YouTube. [From: NewLaunches.com, GeekSugar, and Cracked]
Audio/Video, Editor's Picks, TV, Home Audio, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
5 Holiday-Themed Blu-ray Discs
So you're either giving, or you're about to receive, an HDTV and want something to keep the whole family busy this holiday? Well, you're in luck (sort of), since HD versions of some holiday classics have started to make their way onto Blu-ray discs. Surprisingly, there isn't much in the way of TV classics like 'Rudolf, the Red Nose Reindeer' or 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' but here are five solid holiday movies that will feel brand new in stunning 1080p high-definition.
'A Christmas Story'
Sure, this classic about the cute, bespectacled kid who wants a rifle from Santa is played over and over on TV every Christmas, but not in full, 1080p HD, which is why you'd want to invest in the Blu-ray disc. The release also includes commentary by director Bob Clark and Peter Billingsley (who played 'Ralphie'), a documentary on the 20th anniversary of the film, script pages, and, of course, the de rigueur trailer. A limited edition version comes in a retro cookie box and is big enough to wrap, making it a decent last-minute gift.
'Home Alone'
Finally on Blu-ray, this 1990 John Hughes classic starring Macaulay Culkin as the kid that gets left behind by his parents on their way to a Christmas vacation includes a load of (unfortunately SD) extras, including deleted scenes, bloopers, where the stars of the movie are now clips, and a brand-spanking new 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack.
'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Tim Burton's creepy Christmas tale – an Dia-de-los-Muertos-esque musical featuring sons by Danny Elfman – came out on Blu-ray earlier this year and looks stunning in HD. The remastered 7.1 soundtrack also breathes new life into the movie. Extras galore include everything from the previous DVD releases of the movie, as well as new content such as re-edited and new commentary by Burton, the original poem that inspired the movie, and D-Box code, which works with D-Box motion simulators that you can attach to your chair or couch (and annoy neighbors).
'Fred Claus'
The 'Wedding Crashers' director David Dobkin's humorous tale of Santa Claus's less accomplished brother (played by Vince Vaughan). While it's not quite a classic, it is funny. The Blu-ray release includes the usual extras such as director commentary, interviews with cast members, and a nice looking HD picture and 5.1 surround soundtrack.
'Elf'
Will Ferrell plays an oversized human adopted by Santa's elves who figures out he's not like the rest of them and heads down to New York. Bob Newhart is deadpan funny as Ferrell's elf Dad. The Blu-ray release includes directory commentary, a funny making of featurette with Will Ferrell, and generous deleted scenes and bloopers.
Related Links:
Advice, Editor's Picks, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
15 Last-Minute Gift Ideas
Do you need a last minute gift? End of the year office hassles, final exams, NFL playoffs, 'Fallout 3'... excuses abound, but fortunately so do last minute gift options. Here's a quick roundup of 15 late Hail Mary gifts. To make our list, each gift has to be available on December 25, so you ultimate procrastinators out there can hurriedly hobble together something before the turkey hits the oven.
Computers, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
E-Card Industry Collapsing Since No One's Reading the Greetings
American Greetings, an Ohio based greeting card company, saw its third quarter profits go from $29 million in 2007, to a loss of $193.3 million in 2008.
Not that we enjoying seeing people loss money and jobs, mind you, but we'll be extremely happy if we never have to open another e-mail from a person we haven't seen in three years featuring a poorly animated snowball fight. For that, we've got Facebook! [From: paidContent.org]
Cell Phones, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
BlackBerry-Inspired Ornament for Your Festive CrackBerry Addict
The ornament replaces the BlackBerry's keypad with "Merry Christmas" and displays candy, a gift, and a reindeer on the screen. It's far more cheerful than your real mobile device, and since the thing is completely non-functional, you won't have to worry about your tree starting to vibrate and shake whenever you receive an e-mail. Sadly, the device has sold out for this season, but if you place your order now perhaps you can get in on next year's high-tech ornament. A red and green iPhone, perhaps? [From: geeksugar]
Editor's Picks, Switched Video, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
Wacky Gifts Under $50
From: [Gizmine, ACGears, JapanTrendShop]
Audio/Video, Switched Video, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Reviews, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
Hands-On Review: i2i Stream Wireless Music
Since you have to charge each battery powered unit by USB, the i2i Stream doesn't seem to be a permanent solution for wireless audio, but the convenient size of the devices make it perfect for quick plug and play. We found ourselves streaming songs from our computer to show our friends in the living room, then using it with an iPod in the kitchen as a sort of music remote, and finally to play some late night 'Rock Band 2' with headphones (with the help of a simple RCA to 1/8" adapter from Radio Shack).
Once you get the units linked, you'll find that they work really well, but we had some occasional problems getting them to find each other when syncing for the first time. One of the units mysteriously turned off one time, and for $119 MSRP, we would like to see much more sturdy construction: The i2i Stream devices are plastic and feel cheap. Still, the system delivers what it promises, and the simple input/output design gives you an incredible number of options for linking your audio devices through the ether.
Car Tech, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
A Toy Tank to Scare the Neighbors
A company called Mark 1 Tanks, based in the UK, manufactures the six-foot long beast, which is essentially a 1/4 scale model of a German King Tiger from World War II. With all the available accoutrements, the tank goes for around $15,000. The tank has a fully working turret and a two-foot long gun with a "realistic recoil action."
It's the gift that keeps on giving (you heart attacks). (Especially when you hear how much it costs to ship from the UK.) [From: DailyMail]
Make This Christmas the Most Uncomfortable Yet, With a GotchaBox
Though they went on sale in 2006, the GotchaBoxes have soared in popularity. The empty boxes are carefully designed to look like packaging for crappy gadgets that you might pick up from an infomercial, or SkyMall. Put that GPS device in the box for the USB Toaster or the iFeast pet feeder/iPod dock and watch your friends and family squirm as they try to feign appreciation.
Of course, none of these products are real. They're ridiculous, yet frighteningly plausible. Our favorite (and everyone else's apparently) is the Visor Organizer, a hat-mounted pack that advertises the ability to hold seven pounds of crap, allowing you to ditch the embarrassing fanny-pack. The Visor Organizer box is sold out, but there are still plenty of other gag gift boxes to choose from.
Give your family the greatest gift this year, uncomfortable laughter. [From: CNN and The Onion]
iPhone, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
Wal-Mart iPhone on Sale the 28th for a Lot More than $99
Gyroscopic Golf Club Gives you the Perfect Swing?
The gimmicky Gyro Swing claims that the gyroscopic disc inside the head, which spins 20,000 times per minute, lets you "feel" the perfect swing and resists movement, keeping your swing straight and level.
The concept is interesting, and plausible (though just barely), but we certainly don't have $200 to drop on a gold club this holiday season. [From: Wired]
Gadget Store Offering Bad Gift-Wrapping Option
Gadget e-retailer, Firebox, is offering a service it's calling CrapWrap. CrapWrap allows anyone to offer the allure of a poorly wrapped gift, smothered in brown packing tape. The gifts are wrapped not by dedicated packaging workers, but by untrained warehouse workers, including forklift operators. Even lazy geeks who just don't want to take the time to do their own shoddy wrapping job can cough up $9 for hastily packaged products. [From: News.com.au]
Audio/Video, TV, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
BetaMaXmas Brings Retro Christmas TV to the Web
Remember those long Saturday mornings in the '80s you spent plopped down in front of the TV? Well, now you can relive them on the Web. The BetaMaXmas Web site features a wood-paneled living room, TV Guide, and a rabbit-eared TV, which streams classic Christmas specials on every channel. You have your pick between all of the season's finest programming, including the Grinch, 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' and Scrooge McDuck.
Just be sure to have your rabbit ears tuned correctly, or you'll be getting a screen full of snow, and we don't mean the winter wonderland kind. (Check the source code on the page for a special greeting.) [From: The Daily Dish]
Audio/Video, Switched Video, Reviews, Holiday Gift Guide 2008
Hands-on: iMuffs Wireless Headphones
In compliance with the FAA, we didn't have the chance to test out the built in microphone and make some calls, but that important feature is available should you need it. Unfortunately, we had to take our iPod out of its case to connect the Bluetooth transmitter. With the device stashed under the seat it wasn't a problem but we'd like to see the dongle put on a diet on future iterations of these headseats.
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