Gadgets Device

Sound & Vision has word that Pioneer is going to stop making plasma sets that only size up to the lowly 42-inch mark. Specifically, the intel comes from one of Pioneer’s dealer district sales managers, but Pioneer’s total non-denial—that everything is still being considered—indicates there might be a bite of truth to this. Speculation is the 42-incher space will be filled by LCD, ’specially since Sharp now owns a decent-sized chunk of Pioneer. Besides, it makes good business sense: If you got the coin to toss at one of their Kuro plasma sets, would you even glance at anything under 50 inches? [Sound & Vision] Tags: home theater, lcd, tech, cable (Read the full post about ‘Pioneer Killing Off 42-Inch Plasmas [Rumor]’…)

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Posted Jan 17th 2008 6:12PM by Donald MelansonFiled under: LaptopsIt looks like Dell didn’t exactly learn from its past misadventures with electricity, as it now seems that a number of users (including some of the staff at Crave UK) have reported similar shocking behavior from some of the company’s most recent laptops. Those problems, not surprisingly, are confined to models with a brushed-aluminum finish, including the XPS M1530 and XPS M1330, which also just so happen to have been shipped with a non-grounded two-prong connection between mains lead and the power adapter instead of a less shock-prone three-prong one. For its part, Dell finally seems to be on top of the problem and, according to (Read the full post about ‘Dell laptops packing a jolt, again’…)

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This odd-looking camera captures odd-sized pictures of 160 Megapixel – wow. Of course, this is for specialty photography and the prices for a kit can go as high as $40,000. It is interesting to see how the grips ergonomics have been worked out to help hold the beast. You can check our photo gallery to see more hardware from Seitz, or head to their website to see sample images, pricing (pdf link) and more. Tags: dap, digital, speakers, computers (Read the full post about ‘160 Megapixel Camera from Seitz’…)

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The Modem is a new art and music venue opening in Berlin that’s being built in an abandoned power plant that used to supply juice and heat to East Berlin. It’s a gigantic space, nearly 250,000 square feet in size, and it’s full of cold-war-era contraptions, knobs, levers and other fun doodads that are sure to give it a completely unique atmosphere. If the art and music are any good I would say this will be come a must-visit spot for anybody visiting Berlin. Hey Blam, please send me to Berlin to cover the opening, OK? Thanks. (Read the full post about ‘Modem Berlin is an Art/Music Space in an Abandoned Cold War Power Plant [Art]’…)

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They already pay more for Apple TV in the first place, and now it transpires that the British won’t be getting the price cut announced Tuesday for their American cousins. Pocket Lint points out that while the U.S. Apple TV tumbles in price from $300 to $230, the British edition will remain at $390 (£199). Moreover, Brits aren’t getting the HD movie rentals. Apple told Pocket Lint that they’ll hopefully arrive by the end of the year. Breaking News: No UK price cut for Apple TV [Pcket Lint] Report: Tags: gadgetry, mobile devices, pvp, buyers guides (Read the full post about ‘Report: Apple T.V. To Remain £199 in Britain’…)

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For a long time, Apple fans have been hoping for a slim and lightweight version of the MacBook to come along. Even the lightest MacBook was over 4.5 pounds (2kg). And so, after a long wait, it’s finally here. The MacBook Air. Debut at the MacWorld 2008 yesterday, the MacBook Air is currently the world’s thinnest (and may I add, the coolest) notebook in the market, measuring a mere 0.76-inch (1.94cm) in height and 3lbs (1.36kg) in weight. The Goodies It packs a punch as well, sporting a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, 80GB PATA hard disk drive, 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook-style keyboard with backlighting, super-cool iPhone-like multi-touch trackpad, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+, and an awesome 5-hours battery life on Wi-Fi. (Read the full post about ‘MacBook Air: Mac Love Is In The Air’…)

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Panasonic’s latest alkaline AA battery has made it into the Guinness World Records. The record it holds is for the longest lasting battery in its AA class and by some margin. It manages to outlast rival batteries from competitors including Duracell and Energizer by an incredible 20%. The reason for the longer lasting battery is more due to design than any new energy storage breakthroughs. Panasonic has re-designed the AA battery and has managed to free up more internal space for materials storage. The materials are also packed more densely, again increasing the storage potential. (Read the full post about ‘Panasonic Evolta AA battery enters record books’…)

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I guess having truckloads of moolah is a good thing, especially when you get to live out your childhood dreams and fantasies. Case in point - the Bat Cave Theater from Elite Home Theater Seating (Elite HTS). This unique setting envelopes you with the eerie feeling of being in fictional Gotham City’s famous Bat Cave, complete with enough chairs to enthrall your audience with the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Elite HTS has the track record prove its pedigree when it comes to over-the-top home theater systems, so this Bat Cave model is but another feather in its cap. No word on price, but if you gotta ask, you probably lack the monetary resource to remodel your home after it. (Read the full post about ‘Bat Cave Theater’…)

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Spectrum Starlight Umbrella Unique and wonderful LED fibre optic umbrella. Guaranteed not only to keep you dry but to brighten up even the dullest of days.Being black in colour with a silver lining and completely waterproof it’s an ideal gift for anyone. It has a three function switch on the handle which allows you to select a twinkling effect which creates the appearance of a beautiful star filled night sky, a static effect where all the fibre tips are lit continuously, and for the less adventurous -the off setting. Requires 3 x AAA Batteries (not supplied). (Read the full post about ‘Spectrum Starlight Umbrella’…)

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Cheapo computer manufacturer Everex has announced that its Linux-friendly 7-inch Cloudbook UMPC will be coming out as a nine-inch model—and it should be available by June. The Taiwanese PC maker is obviously gunning for a piece of Asus’ market share, as it is following in the footsteps of the Eee and releasing a model with a larger LCD—and all for under $500, claims Everex. As well as different-colored skins than the seven-incher’s basic black, there are plans to include models with more storage and memory, but these will obviously come at a higher price. (Read the full post about ‘Everex Cloud Ultra-Portable Is Given An Extra Two Inches [Everex]’…)

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