The Smorgasbord

The new version of the Amazon Kindle 2 is out, so I thought I would give it a review. This time around they’re really taken the time to refine the device and create something very functional, elegant, lightweight, and cool. This first thing you’ll notice is how darn thin it is. It’s only as think as most magazines. Also it doesn’t weigh much more than a standard paperback (10 ounces). The screen is more legible and battery life has been extended by 25%. It has 2GB of internal memory, and uses Sprints 3G network for connectivity (no cost for this beyond the device). One of the really cool things about the Kindle 2 is that is has PDF document conversion – you can email documents to the device and they will be converted to PDF for you to read. You can even listen to music and podcasts on the eReader. Kindle 2 only weighs a little over a pound and a half.

Here’s a video review of the Kindle 2:

There are all kinds of deals for Kindle in auctions ending now – check some of these out:

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You can also check out the price of a New Kindle 2 on Amazon now:

A couple times a year Amazon has a big Blu-Ray and DVD sale and they clear out all kinds of titles at rock bottom prices. Last time I posted this I picked up quite a few things, and I wanted to pass the savings on to you (they tend to sell out pretty quick each time they have this sale)!

The sale goes on until March 22, and there are 300 blu-ray discs as low as $13.99. You can get titles like Transformers, Iron Man, and Wall-E. There’s also a huge DVD sale as well, with prices as low as $6.49. I love these kinds of sales because I can get some great deals on good movies I was looking for – and I don’t even have to leave the house….kudo’s Amazon!

After yesterdays post about power outlet wireless adapters, I got to thinking about extending wireless router range. You can buy a multitude of devices to help extend the range of your home of business wireless (and wired) network – but there are ways to do it on the cheap you know.

I mean, you could build a cantenna. It costs less than $5, what do you have to lose? You can make one out of an old soup can – and it’s probably better than one you could buy from the store anyway.

You could also get a second router and use it as a switch or access point. What?! You didn’t know that? Of course you can. You can setup a second router anywhere in your house, and the first one will be the gateway and the second just an access point. You might even have a second router lying around you can use already.

Did you know you could change your router’s channel? Sure you can, and you probably just left it on the same channel it was defaulted to (like all your neighbors). If you’re all on channel 5 don’t you think there will be some interference? Log into your router admin screen and change it to something different, all you can do is IMPROVE the performance!

You could even make your own antenna extender for about 5 cents. I came across this video that shows you how to do it in about 10 minutes (awesome!):

If none of that works, or your just not the homebrew type – you can just buy a long range wifi antenna….here’s a bunch for sale right now:

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The other day we had to get an alarm clock for the oldest who’s know in college (who happens to have a problem getting out of bed everyday!).  I was looking for different kinds of alarm clocks online (loud and annoying ones) and I came across these different and unusual ones that seem kind of fitting being back to school time and all! Some of these could make great gifts for college students, friends, and family! Buy one now and you have one less thing to buy at Christmas time.

Puzzle Alarm Clocks that require manual intervention to turn off

Puzzle Alarm Clock
Price: $24.95
The Puzzle Alarm Clock may look childish but try saying that when you have to put it all back together in your morning haze. When you set the alarm, the puzzle pieces pop up and the alarm will not stop till you put the pieces back in their correct spot. By that time, you’re awake and the Puzzle Alarm Clock ‘s job is complete! Puzzle Alarm Clock Features: – Large and easy to Read Backlit Display – Easy to Set – Remote batteries included.- No Snooze Button. – Clock Requires 3 AA Batteries (Not included) – Color pieces may vary.

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Extra Loud Alarm Clocks

iHOME T101NS Extra Loud LED Alarm Clock – Silver
Price: $14.99
iHOME T101NS Extra Loud LED Alarm Clock – Silver

Sonic Boom Extra Loud Alarm Clock
If a Sonic Boom alarm clock can’t wake you up, you’re probably asleep for good! In addition to extra-loud beepers, their startling bed-quaking vibrators will rattle you out of any slumber. Your alarm clock will get your attention every time if it’s the Sonic Boom bedside clock with a detachable bed shaker. Variable tone and volume controls let you set the most effective alarm. Position the bed vibrator under the mattress or a pillow and it will pound the bed when it’s time to wake up! Includes AC adapter.

Extra-Loud Alarm Clock
Price: $6.99
Now you will never sleep through the alarm again. This specially designed alarmclock emits a loud alarm that you won’t be able to ignore – even if you are a sound sleeper or hearing impaired. It features an accurate quartz movement, a sweep second hand, an easy-to-read dial and luminous hands that glow in the dark. 41/2″ x 3 1/4″. Uses 1 C Battery (not included).

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Annoying Alarm Clocks

I like these annoying alarm clocks the best because you REALLY have to wake up to turn them off. The first is the “helicopter alarm clock” which shoots up in the air when it goes off, and you actually have to find it, and replace it before the alarm goes off.
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The second I remember seeing a long, long time ago when the prototype was invented by an MIT student as a project. The “clocky” alarm clock leaps from your nightstand when it goes off and just runs around the room relentlessly going off until you find it, catch it, and turn it off (at which point you should be REALLY awake!).
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The Color Pattern Geek Clock is the perfect geek gift. You’ve seen those crazy geek clocks and watches that display the time in hexadecimal format. Only hardcore geeks can read those. Why not have a clock that looks as “techie”, but anyone cal learn to read? This Color Pattern Geek Clock is the perfect solution! Everyone that comes over will talk about it – and everyone will be able to tell time using it! Cool and useful.

Check prices on the Color Pattern geek Clock

This would great to buy now and put up for one less Christmas present to buy later!

Amazon is having a 50% off Blu-Ray Movie sale! It’s really funny too, since just yesterday I blogged about the LG Blu-Ray player. I checked my email this morning and saw this sale, and wow – it couldn’t be more timely! I don’t know how much I’ll spend, but I think I’m going to get about 6 of these while I can. They’ve got some great titles on sale too, like No Country for Old Men, The Doors, Gangs of New York, The Bank Job, Pirates of the Caribbean, and my favorite “Crash”!

They have like 83 Blu-Ray titles on sale, but it only goes until August 29th. You can get a deal on the pre-order of Iron Man too while you’re in there.

The LG BH200 Blu-Ray HD-DVD Combo Player is now much more affordable than ever before, and even though Blu-Ray is now pretty much decided on as the standard for surpassing regular DVD’s in HD format – having the “HD-DVD” format option available is a bonus! If you’re wondering what the big deal is about a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD disc versus a traditional DVD movie – all you really have to know is that it’s displayed at nearly TWICE the resolution! If you thought a traditional or progressive scan DVD movie was a pretty good picture – if you own a flat screen LCD or Plasma television, you OWE it to yourself to upgrade your DVD player to Blu-Ray and HD-DVD!

Having said that – the LG BH200 is the one we picked because it not only plays in full 1080p output, but this player upscales the picture of traditional DVD’s to Full HD as well! It’s already setup to handle the “BD-Live” features touted ahead for Blu-Ray discs, but the LG “Super Blu Player” will also do MPEG’s, H.264 Quicktime, and DTS-HD audio as well. Oh, of course it has HDMI 1.3 out too. It also has S-Video and Component outs, but who would want to use those?

Guess what – it has USB “media host” too so you can set it up to access digital pics and MP3′s. Plugin your external hard drives, portable drives, or flash sticks for quick access and review of your multimedia files. The one thing we noticed was that this thing was practically silent when playing discs. It even has a network ethernet jack!

This would be a good treat for yourself and the old home entertainment center before you have to start saving to buy other people Christmas presents! Or, you could even put it away as an early present for that special someone.

Here are the best prices you can get on the LG BH200 Blu-Ray HD-DVD Combo Player:

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Ziotek Wireless Night Vision Kit

I came across the Ziotek Wireless Night Vision kit ZT-812C2 the other day, and it’s the first kit I’ve seen with “night vision”. I reviwed some wireless and IP cameras awhile back, but the Ziotek bundle has high quality picture and sound – and it’s weather resistant, meaning you can mount them outdoors. The range of the wireless cameras is over 350 feet, and the system can be used with a TV, VCR, or other monitors or recording devices. You can switch between the two monitors with the push of a button. If you monitor your home or business, this can be a great way – but I love the fact that these are wireless. That’s such an advent of technology – the ability install security without running camera wires all over!

With this two camera set you can literally see in the dark. These compact cameras provide excellent color video with sound and are weather resistant for use outdoors. The desktop receiver has an adjus With this two camera set you can literally see in the dark. These compact cameras provide excellent color video with sound and are weather resistant for use outdoors. The desktop receiver has an adjustable antenna for fine-tuning reception and a remote control so you can switch monitor channels at the push of a button. The cameras can be powered using 9V battery with battery clip or with 110VAC (battery, clip and AC adapter included).

Click to check prices of the Ziotek Night Vision Camera Kit

We need to find some “floating shelves” after the post about our new surround sound system the other day. You know, the kind that look like they’re just floating on the wall. Since we have a flat screen hanging on the wall – what the heck do we need a TV stand for? I want to get that audio equipment off the TV stand, take it out, mount it on the wall and free up room in my living room!

I’d been thinking about this for some time, and the floating shelf concept was one I had in the back of my head, but hadn’t seen anything even remotely like what I wanted at the store. I took 5 minutes to search Amazon today – and lo and behold they have exactly what I need!

This set of floating shelves is only $100, much cheaper than anything else I say, it’s quality and can hold heavy weights like a big audio video receiver, they are stylish, come in three colors, and very functional! It’s exactly what I wanted and they are on order now! You can check out the floating shelves here!

These audio rack shelves came in a close second, and if I had wanted something on the floor – this would have been exactly what I chose. Maybe when we put a system together for the basement family room this is what we’ll get!

We just bought an RCA RTD217 home theater for our living room. It was kind of unexpected, but I thought I would blog about it because it was such a good deal. I’m no audiophile by any means, and I’m pretty geeky when it comes to computers and gadgets – and I do have a flat screen LCD hanging on the living room wall. But for some reason we just never got any kind of surround sound or home theater system. Probably because I spent the money on an external hard drive or something else.

So I’m in the store and we see they have some display models on clearance – and I took a look. They had 2 DVD players and one was HDMI output that was pretty cool. But then I saw this RCA surround sound system for half off the retail. It was 250 watts (50 per speaker), a 5 disc DVD changer, AM/FM radio, but the thing that sold me was the fact that it would play CD and DVD data disks, Windows Media, DivX, PhotoCD’s – just about anything. The selling feature was the fact that it had a USB port on the front that said it would accept both USB flash drives or external hard drives!

So at half off we couldn’t resist – we snatched it up and took it home. I hooked it up to the 5 prong component cable to our flat screen, wired up the speakers, and fired it up! It has 4 levels of subwoofer, both surround and stereo modes, DVD’s were awesome (progressive scan), and we sent audio from the TV back to it so the cable could play through it on the AUX channel.

Then we brought in the external hard drive, and that’s when the surprise came in. We plugged in a 300GB Western Digital Mybook and brought up the menu on the TV. MP3′s played fine, pictures were great, but we couldn’t get it to play any video at all. Not Windows Media, DivX, MPG, anything! Arghh! We went back and read the manual and found out that the USB port only plays AUDIO!! Crap! All is not lost because we can still play data discs, but that means burning one every time. I guess we just have to get some rewritables. I still say that at half off it was a good deal. Let this be a lesson to you if you go shopping for a home theater with a USB input jack!

I am however, going to start searching for a stereo system that you can hook up external drives too and play video!! I’ve heard you can “hack” the menus of some DVD players too (through the firmware) and this is something that we’re certainly going to look into.

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