Audio/Video, Home Theater

Gift Guide for Geeks

Amazon FireDo you have someone on your gifting list with particular taste in all things Geek?  If so, the Geeks have your gifting playbook depending on your level of investment (how much money do you want to spend?).  Below are some great gift ideas under $50, under $100, under $200 and over $200 but you can also check some geek-centric stores such as ThinkGeek, Hammacher Schlemmer and Sharper Image.  Enjoy!

Review: Kinivo M2 Bluetooth Speaker

Kinivo M2 Bluetooth Speaker SystemKinivo sent the Geeks a sample of the Kinivo M2 Bluetooth Speaker system which is a 2.1 speaker system designed for computers, smartphones and tablets for testing. I’ve tested the Kinivo speaker system using Bluetooth from a Mac, iPhone, iPad and Samsung S4 as well as NFC on the Samsung S4… yes, Bluetooth AND NFC. If you are looking for either a budget or nice wireless speaker system that plugs into AC, you should read on.
 

Review: V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Headphones

V-MODA Crossfade M-100 HeadphonesV-MODA sent the Geeks a sample of their Crossfade M-100 headphones with some interchangeable cables which included their SpeakEasy Mic, SharePlay Audio and BoomPro, CoilPro and 3-button cables.  V-MODA crowdsourced the creative process to design the Crossfade M-100 headphones tapping into audiophiles, producers, editors and DJs to fine-tune the sound and ergonomics.

 

Review: Klingg Magnetic Earphone Cable Holder

klingg-earphone-holderAre you tired yet of your headphones bouncing up and down and everywhere when you’re at the gym or on your bike or running? Instead of putting it down my shirt and out the bottom like I do, try out a Klingg earphone magnet.

Klinggs are a fairly straightforward, lightweight 2-piece accessory that secures your headphone/earphone cables in one piece (just press the cable into the slot) and then put the 2nd half on the inside of your shirt. The 2 pieces stick together using powerful neodymium magnets.

And oh yes, these are absurdly strong magnets. Pulling them apart with your hands requires a lot of force; it’s easier (and recommended) to slide them apart. Pretty much, they’re not moving once you’re wearing them for your workout.

Mobius 1080p video action camera

Review: Mobius 1080p Action Video Camera

mobius-vid-camNot too long ago, we reviewed the DR32 DashCam, and found a solid, compact HD video camera that’s perfect for your car. Next up we have a cam that you may be able to hide completely in 1 hand, the Mobius action cam. The Mobius measures a mere 4 x 2.9 x 1.1 inches and weighs only 1.4 oz but takes 1080p HD video. Ah, technology!

Introduction and Features

Like the DR32, the Mobius can also shoot 720p video, and that can be toggled using one of the 3 buttons on the on the top. While it didn’t take much time to learn what order the buttons are in and what they do, I did at first wish that the icons and buttons were colored differently from the black of the case, instead of just being stencil cut.

Review: DR32 1080p DashCam Video Recorder

DR32 Dash CamIf you live in Russia and drive a car, there may be a higher-than-average chance that you have a dashcam (video camera in your car) and that it’s running all the time. Well so goes the stereotype at any rate! But if you’re in the market for a dash cam, read on for our review of an excellent video camera, the DR32.

Design Your Dream Bespoke Man-Pad

When planning your ultimate man-pad you probably have some idea of your dream requirements. Widescreen or Projected TV? Check. Xbox or PlayStation? Check. Surround Sound System. Check. Pool Table. Check. Universal Control from an iPad? Check. Room design like something out of Alien? Double Check.

Alien Themed Cinema
Alien Themed Cinema

Perhaps the reality may end-up being something a little more budget conscious for most of us but for those who can dream big UK-based bespoke home automation company “The Private Cinema Company” are ready to turn those dreams into a reality.

Alien Themed Cinema
Alien Themed Cinema

One of the latest installation designs for the company has been an Alien themed cinema room complete with alien eggs, shadowy lighting, leather seats, surround sound, movie projection, and all the dramatic intensity of the movie the room is based upon.

The images are pretty impressive and really capture the essence of a bespoke installation. We’re big fans of science fiction movies so this design really gets us wanting to fetch the cat and load in the Blu-ray Alien Anthology set. For those for whom Alien holds little appeal the company say installations are not just limited to the man-pad as home automation can be styled into the lounge, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and even the swimming pool if you have one.

For us, it’s grab the snacks, lights out, start the movie, and make sure there is someone to cling tightly onto. I’ll bring the popcorn, you bring the Xenomorph.

To learn more head over to the The Private Cinema Company website.

3 Amazing Gadgets for your Home

Our homes are our castles and, it’s fair to say that we love to fill our castles with technology and gadgetry. While there is a myriad array of gadgets out there that you can get today, today we figured we’d give you a quick look at three (3) that we feel are particularly cool.

floor plan light switch The Floor Plan Light Switch

While only a concept idea, the contemporary-styled Floor Plan Light Switch by Taewon Hwang lets you control the lighting in your home from a single switch, with each room in the home represented on the floor plan shaped light switch.

How many times have you left a light on upstairs just as you’re rushing out the door for work and don’t have time to switch it off? No more running back upstairs or the other side of the house to turn it off to save on electricity. Here’s to this being produced!

Review: Spy Tec Inventio-HD 720P Video Sunglasses

Inventio-HD 720P Video SunglassesNew York City-based spy shop, Spy Tec, decided to enter the field of ‘spy glasses’ and build their own, the Inventio-HD video sunglasses. Here’s our detailed review.

Overview

The Inventio-HD glasses appear to be mid-ranged plastic-framed sunglasses in the style that you might see a mountain biker or perhaps a golfer or skier wearing, but not quite as stylish. But style is not the primary function of this gadget. You’ll notice the arms and frames are distinctly thicker than most sunglasses you’ll find today, but the electronics has to hide somewhere. On the bright side, they are not as ridiculously thick as the original MP3 sunglasses that Oakley put out years ago.

On the underside of one of the arms is a micro USB port and on the side of that same arm is a multi-function button that turns it on and off and stops and starts video recording. There’s no button on the other side, but given the symmetry, there could easily be one in the future, and I’m all for splitting up functions especially when a single button requires more complex sequences.

Magnavox ZV427MG9 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

All-in-One VHS to DVD converter/recorder/players: Two (2) more options

One of our most popular subjects continues to be converting VHS tapes to DVD or other digital formats, and one particularly popular product is the all-in-one Panasonic DMR-EZ47V DVD & VHS recorder. Sadly, that Panasonic product, though still wildly popular is showing its age, and now that it’s hard to come by, indie vendors are price gouging. What once cost under $300 is now over $450! So we decided to take another look at this product niche to see what other options exist.

Only a few big-name vendors like Toshiba and Magnavox still seem to be in the game of making these combo DVD/VCR recorders. Here are 2 products that we found that felt were worth your time considering: 1 each from Toshiba and Magnavox.

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