Gadgets

Buying an iPhone at Best Buy

September 8, 2008

Best Buy began selling the Apple iPhone on Sunday, becoming the first U.S. retailer to do so outside of Apple and AT&T stores. The Apple iPhone will be carrier in 970 Best Buy stores. Rich Tehrani and I decided to take a walk to Best Buy which is just down the street from TMC and take some pictures of their display.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, ITEXPO, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Wireless

We Keep Doin' the Gadget Redo ...

September 5, 2008

Consumers remain willing to spend money on consumer electronics -- for replacing older units or buying new ones with more advanced technology -- even though most homes already own those same products, according to a new report from The NPD Group.

Although 85% of consumers own DVD players and sales dropped 25% in the first half of the year, NPD reports that consumers are still interested in buying upconverter units or Blu-ray players to take advantage of HD technology, noting that sales of DVD upconverters have risen 14% in the first half of this year.

(Sounds just like what I do.)

Get more at TWICE.

Posted in Gadgets

Qik Live Streaming Mobile Video Now on HTC Phones

September 4, 2008

Qik, the popular live streaming mobile phone video app, is now available on a variety of new Windows Mobile enabled phones including select HTC devices.

New support includes:
• HTC Touch Dual
• HTC Touch Diamond
• HTC TyTn-II
• AT&T Tilt
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Qik added mobile video blogging to the Apple iPhone just last week. I was actually going to use Qik on my Verizon XV6700 HTC Apache Windows Mobile 6.1 device to live video blog Internet Telephony Expo in 2 weeks - but it isn't supported. While the HTC Apache isn't specifically listed, I'm going to try again in a few minutes to see if it works.

Posted in Gadgets, ITEXPO, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, Video Hardware & Software, Wireless

Remember When Labor Day Meant Noisy Beach Parties???

August 29, 2008

It really wasn't all that long ago when you could bring an AM radio to the beach for Labor Day, tune in Cousin Brucie and rock the sand dunes!

(Remember all of those beach party movies? Can anybody name one?

Now, with all of the anti-fun measures that are posted at the beach (no noise, no ball playing, etc.), it's amazing that you can still go in the water and swim (only between the green flags, please!).

Anyway, looks like the 2008 end-of-summer beach look is an iPod or other MP3 player -- but remember keep the sound down so you don't blow out those eardrums! -- so everyone rocks out in silence.

Ah, the living in the modern world ...

Posted in Gadgets

You Can Buy Gadgets Everywhere!

August 28, 2008

A recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has found that 25% of people would be willing to buy their gadgets from Starbucks, 30% from Ikea, 40% from Bed, Bath and Beyond and almost 60% from Home Depot.

"Electronics have become so pervasive that consumers are looking to buy these devices wherever they want," said Tim Herbert, CEA research senior director, adding, "No [retailer] is safe. If you don't reinvent yourself, there are retailers looking to capitalize on the vulnerability of CE retailers."

It's easy to see why as lines across the big box retailers blur and they look to capture more dollars from more (or, today, less) shoppers.

And innovative and lower-priced products are also making it easier for these stores to stock them -- a $159 computer keyboard with a built-in scanner from Keyscan, one of the first notebook stands with built-in iPod dock and speakers from Lifeworks and an accessory that adds voice activation to an iPod (with an iPhone version in the works) from Innotek.

And while this is exciting, don't see too many flat-screen TVs moving out of Home Depot, but then again, who would have guessed that Costco could move these big boys in such large numbers?

Posted in Apple, Gadgets

Microsoft develops Vi-Fi (Vehicle Wi-Fi). VoIP while driving baby!

August 27, 2008

A new technology developed by Microsoft in alliance with the University of Massachusetts (UMASS), and the University of Washington has resulted in a new technology called Vi-Fi (Vehicle Wi-Fi). Vi-Fi solves the problem of hopping from one Wi-Fi wireless access point (WAP) to another when signal strength diminishes. According to the article, the goal of Vi-Fi could be to power VoIP calls, Internet, and radio in cars of the future.

Ironically, Andy wrote a controversial blog this week about VoIPing while flying (using Aircell) -- well now you can VoIP while driving too! Of course, I've been using VoIP over EVDO for some time now while driving.

Posted in Gadgets, Internet, Microsoft, Mobile Phones, Satellite Radio, TMCnet, Technology and Science, VoIP, Wireless

What Gadget Are You Buying This Weekend?

August 22, 2008

It's just about prime time for back-to-school shopping so why not add a gadget to the list of pencils, Sharpies, three-ring binders, etc., that make up the usual back-to-school shopping list?

So I'm asking you: "What gadget are you buying today?"

And let's make it a lot more than a pencil sharpener (although that will come in very handy during the school year.)

Posted in Gadgets

You Be the Judge! At CES!

August 18, 2008

If you're a member of the press, an independent designer or an engineer, we want you!

(Actually, the International Consumer Electronics Show -- CES -- wants you. And that is some show! This is one that draws hundreds of thousands of people so that the Las Vegas Convention Center -- and some other LV venues -- is filled to overflowing.)

Here's what you need to know for now:

Are you able to volunteer a little of your time to judge one of the most prestigious awards programs in the consumer electronics industry?
Do you consider yourself a knowledgeable consumer electronics design professional, with expertise in any of the 34 Innovations 2009 awards categories?
Do you have at least five years of experience in the CE industry through the media or as an industry analyst or professional?

The Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program recognizes the most innovative consumer electronics products in 34 categories and has become a hallmark for the best-designed products in consumer technology.

Download the awards category guide that includes examples of eligible products within a category to assist you in selecting the categories you feel most qualified to judge.

Posted in Gadgets

Airport Gadget Kiosks from Best Buy

August 11, 2008

I've always enjoyed gadget browsing at airports (and maybe buying) and now Best Buy has upped that ante by announcing plans to add a dozen self-serve vending kiosks inside major airports across the country as part of a new pilot program called Best Buy Express.

Best Buy is partnering with ZoomSystems, a San Francisco-based vending machine company, for the project that will install the small automated stores at eight airports by September 1.

The machines will stock cell phone and computer accessories, along with digital cameras, portable data storage devices, headphones, travel adapters, electronic chargers and other gadgets.

The kiosks will be installed in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco.

Posted in Gadgets

$100 Billion Worth of Gadgets

August 7, 2008

Chinese consumer electronics ("gadgets" to me and you) revenue will reach $100 billion by the end of next year, according to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and market researcher GfK.

China is expected to grow full-year 2008 consumer electronics revenue 16.5%, the study went on to say.

Now can you imagine what this figure might be if the global economy wasn't getting so sticky?

Posted in Gadgets

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