Home Automation

Netgear Digital Entertainer Elite EVA9150

Audio/Video, Home Theater, Books, Music and Movies, Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

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)

Digeo rolls out a slew of new features for its Moxi HD DVR

1 Comment / Audio/Video, Home Theater, Books, Music and Movies, Home Automation, Networking & Internet / By /

Digeo has rolled out a slew of new features for its Moxi HD DVR. If you have a Moxi DVR, then you can get these new services via a software firmware upgrade for free.

If you don’t have a Moxi, then you’ll want to consider getting one, as here are some of the new features:
…

Digeo rolls out a slew of new features for its Moxi HD DVRRead More »

Article Recap for the Week ending Apr 3, 2009

Computers, Gaming & Toys, Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Networking & Internet, Site News, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

Here’s our usual weekly summary of featured items from Gizmos For Geeks:

Starting off the week were a set of novelty Stone Ice Cubes – just the ticket if you worry about harming the planet when making ice cubes. We also featured a set of kitchen scales that has a neat pull out display.

We wondered out loud about whether or not you should jump on the Twitter bandwagon.

For those of you worried about security or just like the added conveniences and coolness factor, this doorlock might just be for you, or maybe you could just travel to the future to see if you’re going to need one with this Flux Capacitor!

Jobs have been in the news recently, so it seemed fair to post an interesting video about the Job Market and reported that workers who are allowed to surf the web at work have increased productivity!

Finally,  poor ol’ Silicon Graphics Inc. has filed for bankruptcy once again and has been bought out by Rackable Sytems.

Multi-Accessible Combination & Key-fob Doorlock

1 Comment / Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

iButton Doorlock

Keys have been around a very long time now and so have numerical door locks, but this device takes security to a whole new level. This is essentially a normal door lock handle combined with a numerical door lock, allowing you to open it with either key, a code, an iButton or a combination of these. Multiple people can be given access by giving them different iButtons. You can also restrict access based on certain times of the day and it will even lock the door behind that forgetful person.

The iButton is basically a computer chip in a key-fob sized piece of plastic that allows you to swipe against a sensor in the lock. Finally, if you’re thinking this isn’t quite good enough for you, then consider this – the U.S. Mint actually uses iButtons.

Buy now!

Price: $179.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Article Recap from the Week of Mar 27, 2009

Computers, Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Networking & Internet, Phones, Portable, Software, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

Here’s our weekly summary of featured items from Gizmos For Geeks:

There’s a new feature from Google Labs that allows you to ‘unsend’ an email just after sending. Why oh why is the Sci Fi Channel renaming themselves to SyFy?

For noisy environments, you’ll be able to get a ‘throat microphone’ from Sanwa. Home improvement buffs may like the Ultimate Musical Doorbell and wanna-be musicians should take a look at the illuminated fret guitar.

Perhaps one of the more high-end, expensive items this week was the 3G WiFi router for Cadillacs. tikitag which was an item we featured from CES 2009 was renamed to ‘touchatag’ and got some new features as well.

For all of you who crave for faster broadband speeds, VDSL2 might have the answer with the possiblity of up to 500Mbps speeds through simple copper telephone wiring.

Finally, the most important article was that there’s a new virus making the rounds and you should update your AV definitions and security patches ASAP.

Source: Gizmos for Geeks.

Filtertone Air Filter Alarm

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

Filtertone Air Filter Alarm

The Dirty Air Filter Alarm from Filtertone is a new way to reduce your HVAC system costs, whilst reducing the pollutants in your home. The EPA ranks indoor air pollution as one of the ‘top five environmental risks to public health’ and so give this tool a closer look.

The alarm simply plugs in to your air filter with little push pins and detects when the filter is clogged up, making sure that you’re not exposed to harmful toxins that have built up in your air filter and are now being blown out.  The savings will come in not straining your system in trying to blow air through clogged filters. More $ for your favorite gadgets!

Buy now!

Price: $14.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

The Ultimate Musical Doorbell

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

The Ultimate Musical Doorbell

Perhaps one of the most tacky things in home gadgets is the musical doorbell, but this little gizmo takes it so far that it actually becomes un-tacky. When installed, you have a choice of over 100 preprogrammed tunes to annoy delight your visitor with and, if that’s not enough, simply program your own – the choices are endless!

The installed tunes are pretty much what you expect – holiday, classic, the favorites, etc. but a tune book is provided just in case you do want to spend a few hours on your doorstep pressing a few buttons and wondering what the neighbors think of you. The programming should be pretty easy to do, as the buttons are arranged in a piano-like fashion, and mounting is easy via 2 little screws. Enjoy.

Buy now!

Price: $49.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

PopSci Genius Guide – a brand new online-only interactive magazine

Books, Music and Movies, Home Automation, Portable / By /

The PopSci Genius Guide - Subscription
Popular Science has launched a brand new online-only magazine called PopSci Genius Guide. Meant to be interactive, with embedded video and more, it simply can’t come to your doorstep in print form.

Almost every page has interactive spots that you can click on for more information, and those clicks typically result in the page re-orienting itself to display that info. There are videos of the authors /creators/interviewees of the featured tech inside the articles.

Even the ads are dynamic and have audio attached to them that are only activated when you turn to the page they’re on. Pretty much, this is the future of magazines. It may be harder to produce, but it’ll become easier and more magazines will need this to differentiate them from the pack, until it becomes a de facto standard. It’s easy to be blase about this, but only say 10 years ago, this would have been a prop in a sci fi movie; now it’s reality. It’s definitely worth taking a look at this even if you’re not necessarily a hardcore techie.

No subscription pricing model has been announced yet, but you can snag the very 1st issue from Zinio for $3. This issue focuses on home entertainment, and includes a guide to building the best movie room and a guide to home automation.

Scroll to Top