CEDIA 2006: Hannspree Super Crazy LCD TVs September 15, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment
Hannspree is generally known for having some odd LCD TVs and the tradition continues at CEDIA. Hit the jump to see some more of Hannspree's more unique LCD TVs.
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CEDIA 2006: Blurry Booth Babe Edition September 15, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Custom installers and home theatre nuts like babes too, right? Sure they do! I don't know what these ladies are trying to promote, but I don't really care. I apologize for the blur—I blame the crappy lighting on the show floor. I'll keep my eye out for some more babes, but they are pretty rare.
CEDIA 2006: Optoma HD81 1080p DLP Projector, Stoked with HDMI September 15, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment
CEDIA 2006 is bringing the 1080p out of the woodwork, and now Home Theater Company tosses its hat into the ring with its Optoma HD81 Full HD DLP projector. So what if I mixed my metaphors—it's spitting 1300 lumens, and look at all those inputs in the back, too, such as RGB and even pro-level BNC. And what's that, six HDMI ports? Cool, it's a switcher. It will sell for €6,700, or about $8500.
HD81, the Full HD DLP video projector [Akihabara News]
Steal This Camera: 24-Karat Gold-Plated Minox DC1011 Carat September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras
Nothing says "steal me" quite like a pair of white earbuds or a 24k gold camera. The Minox DC1011 Carat appears to fit the bill, a compact digital camera with 24-karat gold plating and ten 2-millimeter diamonds surrounding its lens. Never mind that it's a 10.1-megapixel camera with a 2.5-inch viewscreen and a 3x zoom.
For those less well-heeled, there's a Minox DC1011 camera without all that glitter, undoubtedly at a more earthbound price. How much is this golden embodiment of farce? No one's talking just yet.
Minox DC1011 Carat [Let'sGoDigital]
Stealthy Camera Lighter: Take a Shot, Light a Fatty September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras
While you're on your way to getting rid of that filthy habit, might as well have a versatile Zippo-esque lighter in your pocket, and this one has a 640x480 camera on board that can hold 30 pictures in its 64MB memory.
Might offer some good stealth in a pinch, or when you're on that next spy mission. Not exactly high-tech, it hooks up to USB 1.1 to send your pictures back to the mothership. And oh yeah, it can light those stogies, too. It's the same size as a regular Zippo, and that crappy camera on board doesn't raise the price too much—it's $30.
Product page [HotGadget, via CrunchGear]
Bistro Table Patio Heater Keeps You Warm Even in a Blizzard September 15, 2006
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There's less than a week until Autumn arrives, and we're already starting to feel a chill in the air. That's why you'll need to start thinking about warming up that chic sidewalk bistro where you hang out. The Bistro Table Patio Heater can help, keeping its heat down low where you need it rather than blowing almost of its heat up into space like those tall heaters do.
Fueled by propane, this swank-looking table has a hammered bronze powder coat finish, and can run for 26 hours per tank at its High setting, and 45 hours on Low. Now you can party all winter long out on that patio—just fire up the patio heater and you're good to go. Available now, it's $359.
Product Page [Outdoor Leisure]
Melitta ME1MSB Smart Brew Coffeemaker Shows You Weather Reports September 15, 2006
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Okay, all you wonks who complained that we had a coffeemaker on the Giz the other day, keep scrolling. Now that the whiny geek is gone, let me tell you about the Melitta ME1MSB Smart Brew Coffeemaker, a 10-cup pot that uses Microsoft SPOT (Smart Personal Objects Technology) to give you almost-live weather data from MSN Direct right there above its button pad.
There's no setup, subscription or Internet connection required—it's all broadcast to you via the FM band. Plus, the coffeemaker automatically grinds and brews that java for you, so you can load it up with beans and water the night before and be greeted with a steamy carafe of that jitter-inducing manna from heaven.
What a great idea, to have a live weather display on a coffeemaker. That's exactly the place you're standing when you're wondering what kind of day it's going to be outside. Spot-on use of SPOT, but you'll pay dearly at $199 when it's available November 15.
Melitta ME1MSB Smart Brew Coffeemaker With MSN Direct [SpotStop]
Leica Intros Digilux 3, V-LUX1 and D-LUX 3 at Photokina 2006 September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras
Besides its big intro of the Leica M8, the company also rolled out three other retro-futuristic-looking cameras at Photokina in Cologne, starting off with the Digilux 3. It's the first all-digital Leica camera, and it's a DSLR with a mirror reflex system giving you through-the-lens shot composition. It also has image stabilization built into its Leica D Vario-Elmarit 2.8-3.5/14-50mm lens. Even though it's all-digital, it still has analog operating procedures such as an exposure ring and manual setting rings for aperture, zoom and focus on the lens. Looks like a highly effective blend of the old and the new.
Two more way-cool Leica cameras, after the jump.
OSIM iGoGo: Wireless Massaging MP3 Player Ushers in Age of Teledildonics September 15, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
The age of teledildonics draws ever closer with the OSIM iGoGo, a 128MB MP3 player that can communicate wirelessly with two massage units. Distribute these rectangular devices on those spots that get you hot (and/or those of your comely young companion), and turn the music up to 11. It'll get you where you want to go. But aren't the little massagers the wrong shape? Maybe there's a more anatomically-correct version in the pipeline. It's $437.
OSIM iGoGo (128MB) [c|net Asia]
Zune vs. iPod: About the Same Size, Both Stuck in 4:3 September 15, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Here's a couple of accurate comparisons that clear up any misconceptions you might have about the Zune compared to the iPod. In that first picture on the left, you can see that the Zune's half-inch larger screen is in the same aspect ratio as the iPod's: old-style 4:3. And even though the Zune's screen is depicted in press photos as being sharper than the iPod's, both have a resolution of 320x240.
The second comparison is of the physical size of the iPod and Zune, where their width is just about the same but the Zune is just a little bit taller. Seems like the general impression was that the Zune was much bigger than the iPod. Well, it is, but not by much. Anyway, guys, let's have a 16:9 screen next, mkay?
Zune vs iPod, a few interesting notes [Your Technology Slavior]
Mobcharger Portable Emergency Cellphone Charger September 15, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
The folks behind Mobcharger are talking it up as a solution to the all-too-common (?) of running out of cellphone battery life just when you need it most, like when a bear is chasing after you. If your cellphone's battery dies, plug in the Mobcharger and you'll be able to talk for up to 90 minutes, or leave on standby for 480 minutes. It comes in different models for the myriad cellphones (one for Samsung phones, one for Motorola, etc.) and requires that the cellphone in question already have been charged at least once before. It's expected to retail for less than $10 or thereabouts.
Product Page [Mobcharger via The Red Ferret Journal]
CEDIA 2006: HomeLogic Controlling Everything From UMPC, Motorola Q, Too September 15, 2006
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HomeLogic has finally found a suitable task for ultra mobile PCs (UMPC), those solutions looking for a problem that have been pretty much useless up until now. Why not run the all-encompassing HomeLogic OneHome home control software on a UMPC? Heck, the Samsung Q1 shown here can do everything the HomeLogic's own touchscreen does, plus kinda do PC-ish stuff, too.
So it looks like that's working out pretty well for HomeLogic at CEDIA 2006, where the company is showing its software running on all kinds of unlikely things, such as the Motorola Q Smartphone. The company also showed demos of its software running on Windows CE. What's next? Controlling everything in your house from your car's built-in GPS system? Don't laugh.
HomeLogic shows automation on UMPC and Motorola Q phone [Talkabout: CEDIA]
80GB Enhanced 5G iPod Unboxeed, Compared With Regular 5G September 15, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
The gang over at iLounge already got their hands on an 80GB enhanced 5G iPod and have the pics and comparison shots to prove it. (Apparently, full-size iPods that Apple announced on Tuesday are referred to as "enhanced," though the new, brighter screen has supposedly been shipping with regular 5G iPods for a little while now.) While unboxing is all fun and good, how does this enhanced iPod perform?
As for the screen's brightness, well, technically, it is brighter, just don't expect to have it leave your jaw on the floor, especially while viewing indoors. The new earbuds that Apple is including with these iPods now has silicone rubber edges, so they're no longer as torturous to wear. What's more, there more bass heavy, pleasing today's popular music fans, what with their hip hop and heavy metal.
It's worth noting that the side-by-side comparison shots do show how much better the enhanced 5G iPod handles colors when compared to the older 5G. Full reviews are forthcoming, so strap in.
Apple Computer iPod with video (Enhanced Fifth-Generation) [iLounge]
Samsung YP-T9B On Its Way: Tiny, Video-Playing with Bluetooth, Too September 15, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
While fanboys fawn over iPods with their short feature list, Samsung brings the IP-T9B, the little MP3 player that could, stoked with stuff that everybody really wanted Steve Jobs to announce at Tuesday's love feast: video playback (although it's only 15 frames per second at 208 x 176 on a 1.8 inch screen), Bluetooth support for wireless headphones, FM radio with voice recording, a couple of 3D games thrown in for the fun of it, and a nice long 30-hour battery life (6 hours for video). Supported formats include MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF, AVI, RMVB and MPEG-4.
We're a little bit closer to knowing when the Samsung IP-T9B will be available, because it's just been spotted in China. These are the first high-quality pictures we've seen of this attractive little 4GB multimedia player, which is less than a half an inch thick and weighs just 1.7 ounces. It's so small it might be too small, especially for video playback. Also missing: Apple's unique user interface, click wheel, integration with iTunes, bla bla bla. Good luck with this one, Samsung. And Apple, start your copiers! Don't worry, you can settle up in court later.
Samsung YP-T9B: Bluetooth-enabled YP-T9 [c|net Asia]
Delphi SkyFi3 XM Satellite Radio Spotted, Has Removable Storage September 15, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Sharp eyes have spotted Delphi's upcoming SkyFi3 portable XM Satellite Radio. By far, its biggest attention getter is the fact that it has a microSD card slot, letting users store up to 500 songs and 10 hours of XM programming. There's also a 30-minute replay feature, so in case you want to hear a song that aired 25 minutes ago, you're in good hands. The microSD card slot means that the SkyFi3 is the first portable satellite radio with removable storage. You can just hear the RIAA's lawyers packing their briefcases.
Like the Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix before it, the SkyFi3 lets users tag songs that they fancy for later downloading on Napster. Good thing XM partnered up with a winning online music service.
The electronics Web site where this first appeared lists the Delphi SkyFi3 as coming out in October for $199.
Product Pre-Oder Page [JJI Electonics via Orbitcast.com]
12GB PNY MaxFile Attaché USB Microdrive September 15, 2006
READ MORE Storage
PNY has been releasing USB drives for a while now, constantly upgrading their storage capacity and adding features. This time, they've upped the capacity to 12GB with the latest MaxFile Attaché. It includes software that syncs user data—documents, MP3s, pictures, etc.—between systems. And all that data won't take too long to transfer over since the transfer speed supposedly tops out at 11MB/s.
The 12GB MaxFile Attaché is bundled with a groovy protective case and a USB extension (whatever that is). It should be available today, retailing for $$169.
Product Page [PNY via Fareastgizmos.com]
Leica M8: Best of the Old and New September 15, 2006
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Leica goes a long way toward recapturing its glory days with the M8, which harkens to the time when the company's famed rangefinder, mirrored reflex system and fine lenses ruled the camera world. In fact, the M8 is the first digital iteration of Leica's M-series, and naturally, its combination of old-school metal body and digital technology takes advantage of every lens ever made by Leica since 1954.
The 10.3 megapixel shooter also brings a wide range of sensitivity, with a basic ISO 160 speed that maxes out at ISO 2500, giving you exceptional available light performance. The feature list is long for this luxo-sport Leica; it's packed with the best of both analog and digital worlds. This might be the most important release at Photokina 2006. You'll pay dearly for this Teutonic excellence, though, it's $4795 for the camera body only; the lenses ain't cheap, either.
Leica M8, Exclusive Preview [Digital Photography Review]
CEDIA 2006: First Look at Monster's Einstein Intelligent Home Control System September 15, 2006
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I got a chance to sneak into a custom installer-only demo that was showing off Monster's very hush-hush Einstein home control system. This system supposedly makes up the "home of the future." It's pretty fancy, but we'll have to wait and see how futuristic it really is. The system is made up of six creatively named components. Jump to see the low-down.
Pardon the low-quality picture above, they wouldn't let me get any closer (I think because they were non-functional units, disguised as functional units).
Nucleus: This is essentially was it sounds like. The Nucleus is the brain center of the entire Einstein system. It is where you set up programming, communication and other overall aspects of the Einstein system. It can also be controlled by a variety of devices, including Bluetooth-enabled cellphones and VoIP devices. It has dual 80 GB hard drives running RAID.
Photon: This is a 200-disc changer. One of the highlights about this unit is the ability to play two separate DVDs at once, on different displays around the house. I'll get to how multiple displays are used in a bit. The Nucleus can have up to five Photons connected, therefore 1,000 DVDs stored and up to 10 simultaneous streams of movies (given that your network can handle that).
Neutron: This is the storage unit. It can store up to 7.5 TB of data. Allows ripping of music CDs to the unit, no DVDs, though.
Astro: The Astro is a SIRIUS satellite radio tuner capable of 3-zone. Meaning it can stream three separate stations in different rooms, for example. This is the lone unit featured that can function stand-alone.
Electron: Remember how I mentioned streaming DVD's to multiple TVs. The Electron is what makes this happen. The Electron is an individual unit that will go with every TV/home theatre in your house. It connects to the Einstein system via a cat6 network and allows you to use all functions of the entire Einstein system anywhere in the home.
Tron: This is the remote control that controls the entire system. Like mentioned above, Bluetooth phones, Wi-Fi devices, and VoIP devices can do some controls, but Tron can do everything. It is fairly large—.maybe six-inches diagonal and the Monster folks seemed to believe this is a remote that will travel around with you from room to room. It's a little too big for that.
More details on this system, including true, functional units will be on display at CES and we will be there to give you the scoop. The hard launch will be in March of 2007 for custom installers only with the Einstein system moving into a more consumer electronics market a few months after. The estimated price for this entire system, which includes one of every product mentioned above, is $8,000, which isn't that bad compared to some of the competitors.
CEDIA 2006: Pelham Sloane PSynergy 1700 September 15, 2006
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My man Bob, who happens to be a Pelham Sloane employee, shot me an e-mail this morning asking me to swing by their booth. I won't lie, I had no clue who Pelham Sloane was and what they had to offer, but now I am mightily impressed.
Pelham is the lone gem of CEDIA by providing something more computer-y and less home theatre-y. The PSynergy 1700 is an all-in-one computing solution. It may just look like a display, but it is an entire, powerful computer and sweet touch-screen display. The machines run Windows Media Center and are powered by Pentium M processors. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave automation, Biomentric fingerprint reader, PCMCIA, USB, PCI, TV Tuner, 7.1 audio, component outputs, two Ethernet ports and more.
This is the kind of machine that would be perfect around the house. Kitchen, hallway, living room, wherever. For the consumers, Worthington will be selling these machines for roughly $3,000 or so. Hit the jump for more pics.
CEDIA 2006: Niveus Media Centers September 15, 2006
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These things are bananas, yo. Big, sexy, beautiful, quiet, powerful and amazing are just a few words to describe these media centers being show on display here at CEDIA. This ain't your Granny's media center. Hit the jump to see all of the details and some ass pictures (of the media center, perverts).
I got the run down on the highest end model from Niveus, the Denali Limited Edition. Go big or go home, right? This thing has up to 4 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, CableCARD support, four TV tuners, Core 2 Duo, Ethernet, HDMI, HD DVD, Wi-Fi and that isn't even cracking the surface. The Denali also uses Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling that has no fans and uses a boatload of conveniently placed heatsinks to keep it nice and cool.
Nintendo Wii Hits UK on Dec 8th September 15, 2006
READ MORE Consoles , Gadgets , Games , Home Entertainment , Software , Wireless
Wii will launch in the UK on December 8th and will cost (a lot) at £179 with games costing in the region of £34-39.
The good news of course is that the Wii, unlike the PS3, has not been delayed until next March – which was rumoured – but the somewhat disappointing news is that £179 price tag, which is a lot more than the Japanese and US tags of £115 and £133, respectively. Still, anyone buying consoles in the UK is well used to getting crapped on when it comes to price. Should it stop you? Hell no! The console will come with one wireless Wii remote controller, the nunchuk and five Wii Sports games on one disc, as standard.
Anti-Drunk Car From Nissan September 15, 2006
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Nissan is planning a canny solution to those nights when the police find you polluted drunk, kneeling naked in front of your car with the keys in your ass, while trying to light your cigarette from the headlights. Robin Williams truly is a genius when he stops making soppy movies.
Nissan is hoping to prevent things getting too far by developing an anti-drunk car that won’t even bother starting until you’ve passed some kind of tests. At the moment, this might involve breathing into a straw-like tube on the driver’s side which will breathalyse you and then decide whether or not you are sober enough to drive. If not, the engine remains dead. A spokesperson said:
“Nissan is also studying a device that requires drivers to enter personal identification numbers of many digits, which may be a difficult task if they are drunk.”
So now, in addition to a Japanese car telling you, ‘The door is open’ it will soon be able to add ‘You are pissed – get a taxi'. – Martin Lynch
Via Bornrich
news cars life technology geek
CEDIA 2006: Crosley Digital Jukebox September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio
I first heard about Crosley last month when we saw the iJuke iPod Jukebox. This was pretty sweet, but I stopped by the Crosley booth today and saw something even sweeter. This is the iTunes Digital Jukebox from Crosley.
It is a full-sized jukebox that comes loaded up with a large touchscreen and is powered by a Mac Mini. There are USB ports on the front of the jukebox for iPod, keyboard, or any other device. You can network the jukebox to your existing network to stream music, rip music directly to it via CD, or connect to the iTunes music store or any other music service to get the beats flowin'. This comes loaded up with a basic Mac Mini and touchscreen for roughly £2,500 and it should be shipping in a couple months.
Product Page [Crosley]
Jalopnik G-G-Gadget Car: Hydrogen Driven Chevy Sequel and BMW Hydrogen 7 September 15, 2006
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This week saw the introduction of two vastly different concept cars running engines powered by people love hydrogen and since that's a pretty innovative deal, let's take a moment and walk through the technology behind these two technological wonders-on-wheels, and the two diametrically opposite ways they address bringing hydrogen fuel cell power to the people. How could two hydrogen systems be so different? Well the first one, by the 'merican Revolution of Chevy, is a fully hydrogen-powered system and the other, by the German luxe powerhouse of BMW, is a gasoline-and hydrogen-powered system. What are the chances of success of either or both of these technologies in actually making it to market? Will they be fuel efficient? Will they look cool?
Jump!
Nodus Psyclone PSP Speaker Dock Has T-Amp Inside September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Peripherals
Here's a PSP speaker accessory that might be able to keep up with its gorgeous screen. Inside, it's got a T-Amp, that little £15 set of digital circuitry that can keep up with audiophile level equipment. Nodus almost sells us on the idea of better sound while gaming, but duh, you can't play a PSP while its inside a cradle. Clearly, the sell is movies...but how much juice do you need when the screen is only so big? No word on the number of drivers, the power output, or whether or not anyone even plays PSP anymore.
Nodus Psyclone[Nodus]
Klipsch Wall Subwoofer RW-5802 Drives Rats Insane September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio
Here's an idea—build a subwoofer into a wall to save some space, and turn the deadspace behind your drywall into a resonating chamber. Actually, I'm not certain these subs aren't sealed around the back. It would make more sense if they were, because any serious thumping could start pushing fiberglass out your wallsockets.
Two 8-inch subs with special aluminum cones anodized to give it a ceramic coating. Supposedly second in strength only to diamond. Rigidity = good for nice, taut, bass. Oh, all that room you're saving? You'll need to use to rackmount the 500-watt RSA-500 amp that powers it. £250 for the sub, £380 for the amp. Oh CEDIA, you're sooooo for rich guys.
Klipsch Wall Subwoofer RW-5802 [audioholics]
Microsoft Zune Song Sharing Demo Video September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Portable Media , Wireless
Microsoft Zune Video pt. 2 [Mobility Today]
AviX DVP-370Vx is an In-Car DivX Player September 15, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Portable Media
As if GPS navigation, iPod connections, and handsfree Bluetooth calls weren't distraction enough, Sarotech is going to launch the DVP-370Vx wireless in-car DivX player for the Asian market. [Insert Asian driver joke here].
The Sarotech player can play DivX, Xvid, MP3s and JPEGs—if you're about to die, why not have a slideshow of your family with you—and works with Windows, Mac and Linux. Since there's no screen on this thing, we're assuming this is wirelessly broadcasting video to whatever screen you've got in your car. The unit has English, Japanese and Chinese, so if you're really interested in DivX watching in your vehicle, feel free to import this whenever it's released. Just please drive somewhere far away from us.
Sarotech to launch in-car wireless DivX player 'AviX DVP-370Vx' [AVING]
Idolator Is Gawker's New Music Blog September 15, 2006
READ MORE Online
The Giz likes more than just gadgets. We get games. We even get cars, sometimes. But Gizmodo does not compute music. No. Music, to our cyborgorian brains, is just more data to be jacked from CD, put on MP3 player. Gawker's new blog Idolator? They understand music.
Idolator is all about music, and how the internets saved indie music from the suits. Yay!
And how the suits bought out the internets with their garbage bags of monies. Noooesss! Anyhow, we find it as confusing as we find girls terrifying. Huh? What's this? Zune posts? Wheee!
Speaking of buying out, Idolator is run by Industry Whores, just like Giz.
Idolator [Idolator]
HTC Working on the Libra, a Smartphone With Both a Keypad and a QWERTY September 15, 2006
READ MORE Smartphones
The upcoming Libra Windows Mobile device from HTC is quite a bit smaller than the slide-out QWERTY devices on the market now from HTC. This one looks, for the most part, like a standard dial-pad enabled phone. However, there's a three-row QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the side, compared to the four row QWERTY in the larger devices.
The phone should be available in CDMA form in Q1 2007, and GSM form shortly after. It should support EV-DO Rev. A, so Verizon and Sprint users will get this one first. No other specs have been released yet.
HTC Libra To Support EVDO Rev. A [Phonescoop]
CEDIA 2006: Hands-On With the Logitech Harmony 1000 September 15, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Home Entertainment , Peripherals
Remember a couple days ago when we broke the story about the fancy pants Logitech Harmony 1000 do-it-all remote. Well I got a chance to sit down with a Logitech rep for a bit of a hands-on experience, and I must say, it is the cat's pajamas and more.
Jump to get the full rundown, including the price.
Synchronica Mobile Manager Protects Your Stolen Phone With a Scream September 15, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones , Software
The Mobile Manager software from Synchronica, when installed on your phone, can remotely lock or delete data to ensure that thieves don't access sensitive information on your device. Not only that, when remotely activated, the software and make the phone play back an insane female scream designed to alert people that the phone's been stolen.
The only way to disable the scream is to reflash the internal memory of the phone. Otherwise, removing the battery or shutting off the phone will disable the scream, but render the phone useless—it's off, duh.
The Scream [Synchronica]
Product Page [Synchronica]
Microsoft Zune In Action: Real Video of The UI September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Portable Media
Here's a video of the Zune in action. You can see the the textured/stylized backgrounds with the white text on it, the huge album art—we love that—the browsing, and video playback. The videos are viewed horizontally, so you'll have to turn your Zune sideways.
Also shown is the FM playback, where you can see what station and what artist and track are playing, something that's quite useful. Then there's the Zune to Zune connection, where this unit is receiving 8 pictures from another Zune. How soon is this phrase "Man uses Microsoft player to harass women on underground with pictures of his genitals" going to show up on in the papers?
Microsoft Zune Video [Mobility Today]
The 8GB Nano Unboxed September 15, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Portable Media
Eager shoppers have already ran out and bought the 2G iPod Nano and took pictures of the unpacking ceremony. The new packaging sure looks nice, and from our firsthand experience, the Nano is still as tiny as ever.
We prefer the old Nano design, but we wouldn't say no if someone gave us one for free.
8GB iPod Nano [Flickr]
CEDIA 2006: Tit Bitchin' Media Décor Plasma TV Frames September 15, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Home Entertainment , TV
Media Décor is a company that specializes in making art and mirror frames that can conceal plasma or LCD televisions. They have mirror frames what will display as just a mirror when the framed television is off, and display the television when on. They also have artwork frames that will roll down artwork when the TV is off, and roll up the covering artwork when the TV is on. Kind of, neat but that isn't the important part of this post.
The important part of this is what the Media Décor representative thinks of Gizmodo. Here, allow me to quote him: "Oh, Gizmodo! I love you guys. You are the tits." Yes, this guy just said our blog was "the tits." Anybody else out there think we are the tits?
Hit the jump to see more pictures of their products.
Scientists and Engineers Working On Hijack-Proof Plane September 15, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
The hijack-proof plane concept is a part of a four-year, 35.8 million Euro project to develop a plane that's as impervious as possible to terrorist plots. The advanced technology can monitor passengers via video and microphone, bar entry to the cockpit unless there's a correct fingerprint ID, and avoid collisions with buildings or mountains by automatically changing trajectory if the plane detects one in the way.
Also, there's a program that matches passengers to luggage, a biometric camera to match passengers with their identities, and an electronic nose to detect explosives when the passengers board. All this stuff will probably take many, many years to make it onto aircraft.
Scientists test hijack-proof plane [This is London via The Raw Feed]
CEDIA 2006: Toshiba Cinema Series Pro LCD TVs September 15, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment , TV
Toshiba announced the addition of two Cinema Series Pro models to their line of REGZA LCD TVs. These are very high-end TVs. They were created specifically for hi-fi lovers and custom installations. There will be 42-inch and 47-inch models available. The displays feature PixelPure 12-bit processing that prevents banding and artifacts. Also integrated into these 1080p displays is Colormaster Pro, an advanced color management feature.
The oddest features is the addition of "Thinc mail" to these televisions. It is an e-mail program integrated into the TV. Send those massively long e-mails with the convenience of a television remote. 
The Ethernet adapter on the television also allows for MP3 streaming via a PC.
The 42LZ196 42-inch model will retail for £1800 and the 47LZ196 47-inch model will retail for £2400. Both of which will be available in September.
Shuttle XPC P3100 Gaming PC Hands-On September 15, 2006
READ MORE PC
The Shuttle XPC that we used with the iz3D Gaming Monitor deserves a mention as well. The XPC P3100 unit is quite small and generates barely any noise, thanks to its Silent X technology.
Inside, there's a 3.4GHz Pentium 4 550 LGA775 processor, a 150GB SATA Western Digital Raptor, 1GB of DDR2 Kingston RAM, 16x DVD+RW, and a PNY nVidia 7600 GT video card. It p