We blogged back in March that Google had finally finished up their work on turning GrandCentral into Google Voice. Now they’re taking the next logical step which is to open it up to more than old GrandCentral members. If you had requested an invitation, keep your eyes peeled to your e-mail – you may receive an invite soon!
Meantime, check out the quick video overview of G Voice:
HDMI has a new specification, version 1.4, which will allow for 2 new things: bi-directional audio via an audio return channel and data transfer via the Ethernet spec. So that can mean even fewer cables. Of course, it can mean even more consumer confusion.
On the bright side, having an Ethernet channel built into the cable will mean being able to hook up your AV devices with each other and your home network without extra cables. Devices that support the new spec may be out as early as next year.
The HDMI 1.4 spec can be downloaded from the HDMI Licensing organization‘s (founded by a number of big name electronics manufacturers) website.
Don’t know what to get Dad for Father’s Day? How about an Amazon.com gift card where he can get just about anything he (really) wants. This is great too when you need gadget gift ideas, but can’t think of them. Nerd gifts isn’t tough any more!
Get on it soon, as you only have a few days left.
While style is usually an Apple trait and is typically last on Microsoft’s mind, they seem to have got it right on this one – the Zune HD. This is the latest in the line of Zune players and is beautifully angular to fit in with the modern world. This new 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen Zune can browse the internet via WiFi, play movies and snag digital radio feeds – hang about, this is starting to sound like an iPod Touch (bar the design). The player is available in silver (pictured) and black.
When hooked up to the TV, playback can be produced at 720p for a superior high definition image and a hookup between the XBox Live Marketplace TV/video service has been confirmed. The limited announcement from Redmond has left many users wondering whether or not this is some sort of PSP rival and will support XBox games and is it going to develop into some sort of Zune phone? Let’s just wait for the release in the fall!
More info at Zune.net.
Bang & Olufsen have launched their new very top-of-the-line plasma HDTV coming in with a screen size of 103-inches, making it one of the biggest on the market today and with Bang & Olufsen you know you’re getting quality… and that you’re going to have to pay through the nose for it.
The BeoVision 4, to give it is proper title, sits comfortably on the floor when not in use and as soon as you want to power on, it will raise itself off the floor to the optimal viewing position and mysteriously grow its 10-channel Integrated BeoLab loudspeaker out of nowhere, bringing it up to screen level, a process which reverses when it’s put into standby or switched off. Seemingly the ultimate couch potato system, the Beo5 remote can be programmed to control equipment from all over the house from the basic use of AV equipment, right up to closing your curtains or covering your pool over.
If you’re after one, you better order quick as there is a 3-4 month waiting list because every one is built to order with customer specifications and installed specially at every location. As for pricing, the floor model comes in at $111,000 the wall-mounted (no motorized stand) version comes in at $93,000 – providing you can still afford a wall to put it on.
More info from the manufacturer
Price: starting at $93,000
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)
Panasonic is trying to help folks who still have questions about the upcoming US transition to DTV (digital/HD TV) in June by hosting a couple of live Q&A sessions tomorrow (Jun 4) at 4PM and 7PM ET.
You can get more info at their Living in HD website, which also has tons more info on High Def products, usage, connectivity and more.
Incidentally, they are also running a sweepstakes this month and are giving away a product a day.
You can also get more info on the switch to HD at the DTV Transition website.
This week saw us yearning after some ‘appliance 2.0’ technology including ‘connected’ washers/dryers and a freezer failure sensor kit.
We reviewed a poster printing service which we thought was pretty good.
The Easy iPod Media Sharer‘s name says it all – useful family gadget. We do love our Gmail; their new lab is cool – an Inbox Preview feature.
We feel that President Obama is taking the right approach in creating a Cyber Czar position.
Everyone knows the feeling of seeing your friends have thousands of songs on their iPod, while you only have a measly collection in comparison. The Easy iPod Media Sharer allows two iPods to transfer songs, videos, and files between two iPods.
Of course, any songs transferred with digital rights management (DRM), mainly songs bought through iTunes, require proper authorization. The neat thing about this gizmo is the speedy way it transfers the data. It claims transferring some songs in seconds, approximately 600KB/sec.
The Easy iPod Media Sharer is actually pocket size measuring about three inches long and 2 inches wide. Great to throw in your laptop bag, purse, or even a pocket to share songs on the go. This handy gadget is perfect for anyone who enjoys gathering a collection of songs, or who has multiple iPods and wants to keep them all up to date in a quick and easy way.
Price: $99.95
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)
This past week we took a look at the very beautiful (although perhaps not awfully practical) glass foosball table from Teckell. We reviewed a powerful nutrition scale to help you keep an eye on what you eat.
Virgin Galatic is looking to offer uber short long haul flights and we reported on the new bill that may overturn the current online gambling ban in the US.
Google is always tweaking and improving their products and they’ve added tasks to G Calendar..
In the media center category, we featured the latest Netgear networked multimedia device – the Entertainer Elite, but in even bigger news, it looks like MvixUSA is about to roll out their much-awaited next-gen Media Center Player, successor to the MX-780HD.
A little coupon love to finish things off – $25 off SmartHome!
Netgear hasn’t given up on their networked multimedia devices, even after a somewhat shaky start with their EVA700. One of their latest models, the EVA9150 features video, audio and photo streaming from your PC or Mac or even your NAS to your (HD)TV.
It includes an HDMI port and can upconvert to 1080p, already support WiFi-N, and includes 500GB of storage. It can also reach out directly to the Internet and pull back Flickr images, RSS feeds, YouTube video (of course) and Internet radio.
Among the multitude of formats it supports: AVI, DivX, MP3, MPEG4, MKV, FLAC, AAC and WMV.
Would have liked to see GB Ethernet, but hey, that’s what the next model is for, right?
Buy now!
More info from the manufacturer
Price: $399.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)
