Ever wish you could have TiVo’s user interface for the PC platform? Well your wish will be coming true shortly as TiVo and Nero announced yesterday that the two companies would be bringing TiVo’s user interface (UI) to the PC platform via a Nero based DVR application. No word on when this would actually happen but a DVR application is something that Nero sorely needs to complete their suite of applications that comprise Nero 8 Ultimate Edition. So which would you rather have? TiVo’s UI or Windows Media Center’s UI? Personally.. I’ll take Media Center any day.

[Check it out via PC Magazine]

Technorati Tags: TiVo, Nero, DVR

I do believe I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift for the office. It’s called “Shocking Tanks” and it’s basically a set of two remote controlled tanks and two R/C controllers. The concept is easy enough - you have one person operate each of the tanks using an R/C controller and then have the tanks try to take each other out using the infrared cannon.  When a tank registers a hit, this where the “fun” begins. The person operating the tank getting hit, gets a little electric jolt through the controller. There are two shock levels labeled “Wimp” and “Tough Guy” and yes.. this is not suitable for those under 14. There’s a review of it here at TechRepublic. There’s even a funny YouTube clip of people playing with it:

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Shocking Tanks

Microsoft and Bungie were hit with a $5 million dollar lawsuit last week for Halo 3 and the Xbox 360 console. According to Ars Technica, the suit contends that Halo 3 “routinely, consistently, and systematically ‘froze’, ‘crashed’, or ‘locked up’.”. This then “disrupted gamed play” on the Xbox 360.. and yes.. warrants a $5 million dollar lawsuit against the two companies. The plaintiff in this suit is Randy Nunez and he’s trying to get a class-action status for the lawsuit.

I try not to rant on things like this but I just can’t help myself here. I’m sorry to say this but I really do hope Mr. Nunez’s lawsuit gets laughed out of the courthouse. Seriously now.. $5 million dollars?? For a frigging video game and a game console which adds up to what? $400 dollars at most including LIVE subscription fees? Ok. sure maybe we can count in the broadband access too. Shall we count in the # of hours the man played the game when he could have done something else with his life? Sure..

Geez.. I’m sorry but we all know the Xbox 360 console has some overheating issues and guess what? Microsoft has publicly owned up to it (though it did take them some time) to a tune of a $1 billion dollar charge against earnings! To blame your console’s demise on Halo 3 is complete hogwash. If anything - Halo 3 is stressing the console out as much as Gears of War did and thus that COULD be causing the console to freeze.. but don’t blame the game. Blame the console - or better yet - RETURN the console to Microsoft to fix! They’ll do it.. and you’ll be happier in the end.

Alas.. I suppose we all have the right to make a buck or two eh?

Ridiculous though.. utterly ridiculous. OK.. my ranting is over.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Bungie, Halo 3, Lawsuit, Xbox 360

Verizon Wireless subscribers have a new smartphone to choose from in the form of the Verizon XV6800 (manufactured by HTC). The XV6800 is a side sliding smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard. Specs include:

• Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS
• Support for EV-DO and Wi-Fi
• 2 megapixel digital camera with autofocus and flash
• Support for video capture and playback
• 2.8 inch 65K TFT color touchscreen display with QVGA resolution (240 x 320)
• Bluetooth 2.0 support
• 256MB internal memory
• microSD slot
• Slide out QWERTY keyboard
• Voice command capable
• Speakerphone
• Wireless Sync capable
• Measures 4.3 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches and weighs 5.8 oz
• 324 minute talk time
• 340 hour standby time

The Verizon XV6800 is available online for $399.99 including a 2 year contract and will be available in stores starting on December 5th.

[Check it out via MobileBurn]

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, XV6800, Windows Mobile, Smartphone

Are you having a hard time finding the new Zune 80GB media player? Well consider getting the unit from ZuneOriginals.net then. The website is finally selling Zune 80’s that can be customized with your own personal engraving or a combination of engraving and artwork or just artwork only. The best part? The customizations are entirely free of charge - just pay for the Zune 80 player.

[Check it out via ZuneSphere]

Technorati Tags: Zune Originals, Zune 80

Casio is set to introduce a black colored version of the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8 digital camera. Spec wise, it looks like everything should be the same as the silver one now on the market. Features of the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8 include:

• 8.1 megapixel resolution
• 7x optical zoom
• Capture video in MPEG-4 H.264/AVC format
• Powered by Exilim Engine 2.0
• 2.5 inch Super Bright LCD
• 34 Best Shot Modes
• 10 Movie Best Shot Modes
• 11.8 MB internal memory
• Support for SDHC, SD, MMC cards

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Casio, EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8

The folks at Mouse Computer (yes.. Mouse Computer..) are now selling a Shuttle lookalike called the Easy Cube 40S. Features of this white cube system include:

• Windows Vista Home Premium OS
• Intel Core 2 Duo model E4500 running at 2.2 GHz
• 2GB RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel 945G Express Chipset
• DVD+-R burner
• USB 2.0, IEEE1394 ports
• Ethernet LAN
• PS/2 ports

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: Mouse Computer, Easy Cube 40S,

ComputerWorld has published a review of the ultra-portable Sony VAIO TZ191N notebook here on their website. This 11.1 inch beauty is nearly every road warrior’s dream - not simply because it packs an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Sprint Mobile Broadband Wireless WAN, integrated camera, 2GB of RAM and a black carbon fiber case.. but because it forgoes the traditional 2.5 inch notebook hard drive with a 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD). Ahh.. fast boot up times, lower power consumption, and no moving parts (aside from the optical drive) - oh so sweet!! Here’s the verdict on this sweet light notebook:

If your principal needs are e-mail, Web browsing, and the occasional memo or small presentation, then the portability that the Vaio TZ191N affords may make it a good choice. Its quiet operation makes it a good option for presentations in small quarters. Otherwise, you may be better served by other alternatives.

About the only complaints I would have with the system is the size of the SSD drive (it’s just too small) and the overall cost of the system (a bit too high)

[Check it out via CrunchGear]

Technorati Tags: Sony, VAIO, TZ191N, ComputerWorld, Review

Looking more like a combination Craft-matic bed and something out of 2001 : A Space Odyssey, the Hollandia Platinum-Luxe Elite sleep system combines high tech goodness into a bed platform capable of providing up to a dozen individual massage programs. On the tech side of things, the Hollandia sleep system integrates a 32 inch Sony Bravia HDTV system, Sony DVD/CD changer, 5 speaker surround sound system, subwoofer, and iPod docking station while the bed itself comes with massage programs designed to knead away all that stress you have in your body. Seems pretty cool but honestly.. I hate the look of the head and foot-boards.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Hollandia, Platinum-Luxe Elite, Bed

Who out there is looking for a combination hairdryer and wireless hidden camera? Come on.. you know you’re out there! The folks at “My Safety Now” are selling several different models of the “Hairdryer Wireless Hidden Camera” which features the following:

• 1/3″ Sony CCD (B/W) 1/4″ CCD (Color) image sensor
• 400 lines of resolution for black and white and 380 lines of resolution for color
• Min. Illumination: .05 Lux (B/W) 1 Lux (Color)
• Lens: 3.7mm Wide Angle

Prices range from $325 dollars to $514 dollars depending on the features you’d like to have in that hairdryer of yours. The high end one comes with a high power 2.4 GHz transmitter and something called X-Vision. Um.. yeah.

[Check it out via Crave, Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: My Safety Now, Hairdryer Wireless Hidden Camera