7. Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves

Terrific if you live in a colder climate, one thing you quickly learn in such an environment is that your hands need covered. And that’s not always conducive with touch screens. Better yet, you can get extra schmaltzy and pull the “cold hands / warm heart” gambit. And these are especially good for either front as they’re made with touch screen fibers in the fingers, allowing you to not only wear the gloves, but also interact with the touch screen. Best of all, they’re only $15.99 out at ThinkGeek.

6. Ballistic iPhone 4S Case

If your lady has an iPhone 4S, you know she’s put a lot of cash into it, and a lot of hard work just to get one. What better way to say “I care about the things you care about” than giving her one of the best multi-layer protection setups yet in the Ballistic iPhone 4S case? While the sentiment is certainly there, there’s no denying that a Ballistic case will do a nice job protecting your lady’s iPhone against drops and weather conditions, so it’s worth adding to the shopping list.

5. Kindle Fire

This one works delightfully on several levels. Is she a reader? It handles ebooks smoothly. Does she like mobile computing? This is a light-grade tablet. Or do you just want to get sappy? Tell her she Kindles that Fire in your heart and watch the misty-eye effect kick in. A Kindle Fire’s got just about every possible facet of gift-giving awesome you could want in your Valentine’s Day, so take advantage of the sheer array of possibilities!

4. A MP3 Player Mix Tape

This is a concept that’s steadily coming into vogue, and the perfect example of absolute customization. See, these days, MP3 players aren’t pricey. Some of them even serve double duty as USB sticks. And when you pre-fill them with your songs of choice, easily had at any of a variety of music sites, it only gets better. Couple a good shopping value together with the opportunity to make an emotional impact and that spells a smart move in the making.

3. Membership to your MMO of choice

A video game for Valentine’s Day? The hell you say!  It’s not so outlandish as you might think, as it’s been discovered that ladies like video gaming as much as guys do…okay, maybe not as much, but the numbers are closer than you’d think, and for different reasons. See, for many of the ladies, gaming is an opportunity for a social experience. And an MMO is a great opportunity for gaming to get social. Plus, it’s a game that she doesn’t have to stand around and watch you play–rather, she can play too. And if she’s playing right along side you, that’s a much, much different story.

2. Dave Barry’s A Complete Guide To Guys

Guys, we are not an open book to the ladies. In fact, much of our way of life confuses them about as much as theirs confuses us. And if you’ve ever wanted to make an impression, what better way than to hand over a complete guide to us? And let’s face it, guys, if you’ve read Dave Barry’s book, you know it’s not only funny, but it’s also disturbingly accurate. Everything from a description to our responses to the appearance of other guys in a public restroom to our relative confusion over the concept of relationships in general, Barry provides all the details you could ever want to know. And what better way to say “I love and trust you” than to hand over a primer to our most universal secrets? There’s only one way better that I can think of, and that way is…

1. 3D Chocolate Printer

A 3D printer is an impressive enough gadget by itself. It takes plastic, or resin, or even powdered metal and creates three dimensional representations of objects. With a 3D printer, you can actually create most anything you want, as long as you have the necessary instructions for it. And now, there’s currently research going on–this one might take a while to get to you–into 3D printers that use chocolate. And with that, you’ll be able to custom make anything out of chocolate. Anything. The possibilities stretch out before you, as anything you can think to make a chocolate replica of could be done with something like this.

And so, there you have it; seven great possibilities, both now and in the future, for great gifts for Valentine’s Day. Special thanks to our friends out at ThinkGeek, who dropped us a line on special Valentine’s Day gifts for the geek in your life. And for those who think this list may be a bit skewed, fear not: I consulted actual females in the list’s construction, who found it for the most part worthwhile, but acknowledged that the actual mileage on these gifts will vary.

And of course, for every one I managed to include, there are several others that I missed. So help out your fellow gadget buffs down in the comments section; what hits have you had as far as Valentine’s Day gift giving goes? What gifts have fallen short of the mark? No matter what your experience has been, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

all pics copyright their owners.

Now the Wall Street Journal has it that Google is working on a home entertainment system whose main feature will be to stream wireless music, quite probably from the company’s Google Music service:

Google’s entertainment device, in development for several years, is expected to be unveiled later this year, people familiar with the matter said.

It’s unclear which retailers would sell the entertainment device, which would stream music from Google’s online music-storage service and pipe it wirelessly to Google-designed speakers or other Web-connected devices in people’s homes, according to these people. In the future, such a device could potentially stream other forms of digital media such as video, one of these people said.

We’re certainly surprised to hear that Google is interested in manufacturing such a product and we can’t but wonder what would motivate the company to develop it. Such a device could be controlled by mobile devices including smartphones and tablets, although it’s not known yet whether they must be Android devices. But there are no details regarding its specs and features and we should be looking at some spectacular characteristics to convince users to buy one. And there’s no indication the device will be based on Android either.

What’s also puzzling is that the device will not stream, at first, movies or TV shows, which is quite a strange decision.  And while Apple is expected to make around 17 billion in the first year alone from its rumored iTV product, the home-audio hardware business is valued at $8 billion per year, so Google won’t make a lot of cash off it, at least not initially.

Not to mention that the music business is largely dominated by Apple as the company has quite an important MP3 market share and a significant iOS customer base, also devices that can download and stream music from iTunes. And chances are that quite a few iPod and iOS device owners already own an iPod and/or iOS device dock that helps them transform the device into a home entertainment system.

So why is Google so interested in creating a Google-branded home entertainment device. Is it part of the company’s future Android@Home Android-based automated home vision? Will you purchase such a music-only entertainment device?

While I can’t hear those names without thinking of Stephen King’s entire body of work–featuring wealthy misanthrope Reginald “Pop” Merrill and his ne’er do well nephew Ace–the cameras themselves look surprisingly potent, especially for smaller model point and shoots. Why? Because they’re looking to get a leg up on the competition in terms of sheer megapixels.

Named in honor of the camera’s sensor’s co-creator, the Sigma DP1 Merrill and the DP2 Merrill will both pack in fully 46 megapixels. Well, in a sense, anyway–they won’t be using a single 46 megapixel sensor so much as they will be using three layers of 15.3 megapixels each, which does sort of add up to their breathlessly-pronounced 46 megapixels. Interestingly, the DP1 and the DP2 both seem to have much the same inner workings going on as the earlier-unleashed SD1, but they will be bumping up the LCD display from 2.5 inches all the way up to three, which isn’t exactly terrible in its own right.

The problem here, not surprisingly, is that Sigma’s keeping both DP1 and DP2′s prices under wraps for now, as well as their release date. Still though, even leaving aside the nature of the megapixel count, you’re still looking at a fairly solid piece of hardware here, with more than a little going for it. As long as they can keep the prices reasonable they might get some solid interest.

But what do you guys think here? Do the DP1 Merrill and the DP2 Merrill strike you as solid entrants into the digital camera market? Or do you figure that there’s already more than enough in the camera market, between what we’ve got currently and the smartphone camera systems, to take up any slack? Just how important is the total megapixel count, anyway? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us all about it!

The patent, as first discovered by the folks out at AppleInsider,was titled “Three Dimensional User Interface Effects on a Display by Using Properties of Motion”, and details a system involving a variety of sensors as well as a front-facing camera to track eye movements and adjust the image accordingly.

It’s doubly handy, of course, that your standard iPhone already has that aforementioned variety of sensors, with everything from compasses to accelerometers and beyond already running some systems on the device. Since they’re already there, why not put them to another use? Sure, I say, as long as they don’t get overtaxed–it’s always smart to use what you’ve got, it’s never smart to use so fully that it bogs the system down.

Despite the fact that all the necessary sensors are currently in play, the issue, apparently, is that they don’t yet work together in the right way to make a 3D interface happen. That’s part of what this patent covers, as well as a variety of other potential purposes, including dynamic shadowing, and the ability to see the various sides of a 3D-rendered object. And, from the look of things, it would all be done without the need for 3D glasses, and could even be moved onto computer with the addition of front-facing cameras to the desktop or laptop involved.

It’s a fairly exciting idea, really, but the question of the day will be just how useful something like this might be. Oh, sure, it’d be a lot of fun to have a 3D iPhone interface, but could it work without bogging down the system? If it could, I could see some appeal in there, so it only really remains to be seen if they actually make this one happen.

What do you guys think here? Figure a 3D iPhone interface would be something to see? Or would it just be a recipe for eyestrain and slower performance? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us how much a 3D iPhone interface appeals to you!

Not much is known about the Samsung Galaxy Camera’s exact composition as yet, but there are suggestions out there, and the picture they’re painting at this early stage of things is very interesting in its own right. Since we already know that Samsung has a variety of mobile devices already out, and that the newest stuff includes cameras in a variety of powers and resolutions, to release a device specifically named “camera” means they’re likely to focus on the picture-taking aspect of the product.

Considering that Samsung products already packing cameras are sticking to resolutions around the eight megapixel level, a specifically-geared camera would likely up that resolution, possibly to 16 megapixel or even more. Plus, if the issue of Android gets involved, it’s entirely possible from there that internet access–whether via wi-fi or 3G, or maybe even both–would become a part of the package, and allow for constant uploading of pictures to cloud storage, or possibly just easy uploading to various sites like Facebook or YouTube.

Some have even compared the Samsung Galaxy Camera to the Polaroid SC 1630, a device that, when it made its appearance at CES a few weeks ago, was thought to be a cell phone, until it was discovered to be little more than an unusually small camera. And if Samsung does indeed launch a dedicated camera, it would allow them to keep their smartphones on the slim side without having to continually upgrade the cameras, and thus, make them larger.

It’s an impressive idea–certainly an audacious one if nothing else, especially given the recent shuttering of Kodak’s pocket camcorder and point and shoot line of cameras–but what do you guys think about this one? Figure that Samsung might be readying an unexpected line of Android-driven cameras for us to see? Or do you figure that this patent may be just a precautionary measure to keep other companies from entering the market? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

Following the recent announcement of Kodak’s bankruptcy filings just about three weeks ago, they’ve gone one step farther and declared an end to their operations not only in point and shoot digital cameras, but also in pocket camcorders and digital photo frames. They’ll be shutting down the production lines (at a cost of who knows how many jobs) before July of this year.

So what will Kodak actually be doing now that they’re out of a major part of the industry? Well, word is they’ll be focusing their attentions on a combination of things, including brand licensing, enterprise services, photo labs, and, just a little surprisingly, photo printers. But if you’ve already bought a Kodak, especially recently where the warranty would still apply, then there’s no cause for alarm as Kodak intends to honor the warranties on products already purchased.

Naturally, it’s distressing to see a major name like Kodak pull out of the market. But considering how markedly the market has already changed, what with smartphone cameras rapidly proving every inch a match for both pocket camcorders and point and shoot cameras alike, it’s not too surprising. And seeing Kodak keep its photo printer line intact also seems like a smart idea, given that there will always be at least some demand for devices to get photos off of hard drives. And, at least for right now, no smartphone looks like it will pack a tiny printer to run off copies of the pics on its internal storage.

But what do you guys think about this one? The end of an era staring us in the face? Smart idea for Kodak to get out of old lines and into newer and more likely lines? No matter what you think, we always like hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

The show is set to hit Thursday night, and can best be described by two of the greatest words to be used in terms of describing any concert: “live” and “free”. As for the time of the event, it changes based on your location, with the event set to hit at 7 PM on the west coast of the United States, and 10 PM for the east coast. You’ll be able to get in on this via several methods, actually, including iTunes’ desktop client and, if you want to see McCartney take on the big screen, your HDTV can accommodate, assuming you’ve got an Apple TV set top box.

McCartney is reportedly getting in on this as a means to promote his upcoming album Kisses on the Bottom, which can be found at iTunes right now, and is no doubt hoping the live show will get people interested in the download, possibly during the show itself.  And this isn’t Apple TV’s first foray into live events, either, but it is likely to be the simplest so far, especially after Apple’s broadcast of London’s iTunes Festival, which actually required users to use AirPlay to get the show on their bigger screens.

Smart idea? I’d say so. Nothing like taking something people would ordinarily want to do, like watch a free concert staged by one of the biggest names in the industry, and make it accessible through the platform you want more people using anyway. Anyone who’s been vacillating between the various set-top boxes may well tip the scales one way or another at the possibility of more free concerts.

But what do you guys think? Would anyone buy an Apple TV for the shot at more free live shows down the line? Or do you think that Apple won’t get much mileage out of this concept? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

That being said, while the support for both tablets and smartphones is nice to see, this story does come with a slight catch in terms of availability. At this time the service is only available to Optik TV customers in British Columbia and Alberta. Plus, the service, despite being called “On The Go” is not so on the go for those using an iOS device. You see, Optik TV on iOS requires a Wi-Fi connection while on Android, Wi-Fi is recommended but not required.

“At TELUS, we’re listening to our customers and introducing more fun, flexibility and mobility to their Optik TV experience,” said Joe Natale, Chief Commercial Officer, TELUS. “Optik TV for Xbox 360 and Optik on the go are two more examples of fun and innovative services that make it clear Optik TV is not your average TV service. It’s exciting for us at TELUS to bring this kind of innovation to life for our customers. Stay tuned, we are committed to bringing a steady stream of cool, leading edge ideas to Optik TV.”

Moving past the disappointing and into the remaining information and features and we have the following; the ability “to view a selection of commercial free TV On Demand shows and movies.” The Optik TV On The Go apps will allow users to watch the content as well as pause, rewind and fast forward.

Some of the available content is coming from Super Channel, Hollywood Suite, Family Channel, Disney XD, Disney Jr and Baby TV in English, French and Mandarin with the promise of more to come “throughout 2012 and beyond.” Otherwise, the Optik TV apps (for both iOS and Android) are available by way of the respective app stores and are available for use at no additional charge for Optik TV customers.

Bottom line here, if you happen to be an Optik TV subscriber living in British Columbia or Alberta you may want to fire up the Android Market or iOS App Store and download the app.

According to the details coming from the press release announcement, those networks will include the following; “MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo.” And for those who like keeping score, this means that Amazon will now have more than 15,000 movies and TV shows available for Prime Instant Video subscribers. Some of the other networks that are included are CBS, Fox, PBS, NBCUniversal, Sony, Warner Bros and Disney-ABC Television.

“Over the last year we have received fantastic customer feedback about Prime Instant Video. We are constantly working to improve the service by adding the shows that our customers enjoy the most,” said Brad Beale, director of video content acquisition for Amazon. “This deal with Viacom brings Prime customers and Kindle Fire users thousands of comedies, kids’ shows, reality TV and much more from some of the best cable networks available. We now offer more than 15,000 movies and TV shows in Prime Instant Videos and are working hard to add even more great content.”

But getting back to the task at hand — the new content from Viacom. Some of the shows will include The Hills, Jersey Shore, The Hard Times of RJ Berger and several seasons of The Real World from MTV and Chappelle’s Show and The Sarah Silverman Program from Comedy Central as well as episodes of iCarly, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Yo Gabba Gabba from Nickelodeon along with Hot in Cleveland from TV Land.

Otherwise, for those not yet Amazon Prime subscribers, the price comes at $79 per year and in addition to the movies and television shows you will also get two-free day shipping from Amazon.com as well as the ability to borrow Kindle books (one per month) with no due date.

iTunes added an optional Genius Sidebar around iTunes 8 or so. The sidebar (a pun on the Genius Bars which appear in real-life retail Apple Stores), offered users suggestions for new music or whatnot based on their current music collection. Apple patched out the Genius Sidebar in iTunes 10 in favor of Ping integration, but they returned it quietly after a user revolt. Now the same Genius Sidebar has come to the Apple TV, offering recommendations for movies and TV shows based on what you already have in your collection.

In the main menu of your Apple TV, under both “Movies” and “TV Shows”, you’ll find a new option called “Genius” which will offer some suggestions. This is a pretty minor upgrade, but it will help folks find new content that they make like.

For Apple, it can only help them sell more Movies and TV Shows through iTunes. Plus, this minor update to Apple TV may just lend credence to the iTV rumors. Since late last year, rumors have persisted that Apple is preparing to come out with a smart HDTV, maybe dubbed iTV (though one doubts it, due to the British TV network of the same name) with iOS integration and maybe even an appearance from Siri. If Apple is silently upgrading the features of Apple TV, does this mean that they’re paying attention to their TV offerings and about to drop a major product announcement on us?

How many more, you ask? Turns out that Redbox managed to pick up 10,000 kiosks from NCR, paying fully $100 million for the locations (which breaks down to about $10,000 a location), and that represents the bulk of NCR’s holdings. Reports suggest that NCR agreed to the sale following a previously posted loss of around $13 million, though no one’s quite sure if it was the Blockbuster Online kiosks driving the loss or it was their other business. Interestingly, there’s also word of a new supplier arrangement between NCR and Coinstar, so it looks like a pretty big win-win all the way around.

We’ve already seen yesterday that Redbox and Verizon just entered an agreement to work together on a streaming service, and now with the acquisition of a variety of DVD kiosks, it’s clear that Redbox is going all out to be a new force in video. What’s even more interesting here is that that deal we talked about earlier between Netflix and Warner Brothers? Well, Redbox got offered the same terms, embargo included.

Redbox, reportedly, refused.

Now what that means is that, while Redbox will now be paying more for its DVDs, it won’t be suffering from the same kind of delay that Netflix will. So while Redbox may well end up hiking its prices a bit (they’re actually already pretty low), they’ll be very well-placed indeed to take on the rest of the competition out there, now pretty much limited to Family Video and the various mom-and-pop outlets in the physical sector, and Netflix and Blockbuster in the by-mail. Plus, with a streaming service and game rentals at some kiosks, they’ll have a pretty competitive recipe on hand indeed.

But what do you guys think about this one? No matter what your platform of choice is, be it physical, by-mail, or streaming, we definitely want to hear from you! So head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think of Redbox’s latest moves!

Barclays analysts are reporting that, should the Apple television actually make it to market, it will do so in a big way, taking fully five percent of the total television market, and bringing in $17 billion in revenue for Apple. That’s not all at once, of course, but rather over time. The Barclays report further suggests that Apple’s television likely wouldn’t just be a television, but rather serve a whole variety of other purposes as well, like music, gaming, communications and even some productivity applications.

But as for a release date, the Barclays report suggests that this one will be waiting a good long while, at least until 2013. Or at least fiscal year 2013, which for Apple begins in October. This in turn keeps in line with some suggestions that Apple may be looking to have this one out by the end of the year. Plus, of course, there’s the always-present (especially at that time of year) suggestion of a launch in time for Christmas shopping season, and if Apple can bring this massive chunk of market destabilization into play in time for Christmas, well, there’s no telling what they could do.

And with good reason; it’s a fair bet to suggest that anything Apple already does, like their massive iTunes library or their various communications efforts and the like, would be not only brought into play here but even exemplified somewhat, providing not only access but also access on the largest screen that Apple has put out yet.

I’m actually looking forward to this one myself; not that I’m not plenty happy with my current television, but it will be exciting nonetheless to see what Apple actually does with the concept. But what about you guys? Anyone else looking forward to this? Or do you just figure it’s going to be another overpriced hunk of Apple hardware? No matter what you think about this one, we always like hearing from you, so hit the comments section and let’s talk Apple television!

The VooMote Zapper is a small device that plugs into the dock connector port of your iOS device of choice–iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad, as long as it has some kind of internet access and an up to date version of iOS–and allows it to serve as a universal remote. You’ll need to download an app for it–which is why you need the internet access on the device, and the app itself is free–but once you have the app in hand, your device will then be able to serve as a universal remote, changing channels and adjusting settings and the like.

I actually tried a VooMote Zapper not so long ago, and found the experience to be reasonably solid and fairly robust. It wasn’t exactly what I was used to, sure, but it really struck home for me why Steve Jobs was said to be reconsidering the whole concept of television in his final days. There are some distinct possibilities here, and when you consider how many people already keep a device on hand–like their iPod, iPad or iPhone–for use during commercial breaks anyway, it’s not exactly a far cry to see people using the devices to control the television while they’re watching and then turn to the devices for entertainment during the commercials. Or, as some do, using both devices at once to blog or tweet about what they’re watching at the time.

You’ll be able to pick one of these up for $69.99 in your choice of colors: black, red, gray or green. But what do you guys think about the VooMote Zapper? Figure this is the kind of thing that could put some new life in your home theater gear? Or do you figure that this is a waste of $70 while you’ve already got a perfectly good remote that came with the television? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and tell us all about it!

Basically, the new remote, which is set to release with an as yet unnamed smart TV sometime this year, has taken out most of the buttons and replaced them with a nice touch screen field and some voice recognition systems, said to be approximately the same as those currently in use on the ES8000 smart TV that Samsung showed off back at CES 2012 a few weeks ago.

It brings together a combination of Bluetooth and more standard IR connectivity for better reception (and if you’ve ever tried changing the channel at an odd angle or from better than ten feet you know how useful that could be), but leaves some buttons behind, like those controlling the channel and volume settings. They’re also, seemingly, in the same place they usually are, so those carefully ingrained remote habits won’t go to waste.

There’s even some word that suggests at least some universal nature here, as you’ll be able to use this on Blu-ray players. Though just how far you’ll be able to go with it (will your cable box or audio gear work with it?) is as yet unclear, the concept is still fairly interesting.

Personally, I like this idea. A handful of buttons to keep the concept from being too new for the late adopters to work with, but with some new features and edge for those who like the early adoption looks like a nice compromise system. And while its exact nature as a response to potential releases from Apple is strictly conjectural, it’s not hard to think that they’re looking to get themselves an early edge ahead of any possible release. Samsung’s been a big wheel in televisions for some time now, and it’s easy to see that they’d want to lose as little market share as possible to Apple.

But what do you guys think? Is this a hedge against future Apple releases? Or is this just a new path for Samsung? Anyone like the way it looks, or is it just a gimmick to get attention? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

Previous rumors have said that the iTV would use the iPhone and iPad as remote controls, and the iTV may even have Siri integration. The newest rumor, coming from analyst Peter Misek, is that Apple will be partnering with AT&T and Verizon in order to get their hands on exclusive and non-exclusive content. This rumor is a bit baffling, considering that Apple already sells TV shows and movies through iTunes and therefore has in-roads with all the major TV networks and movie studios.

Misek also predicts that Apple won’t be producing their own video content. In an era where companies like Netflix are producing their own TV shows in an attempt to cut out the Old Media content providers, Misek says that Apple won’t go that route. Misek said that doing that has “lower margins and higher risks”.

All the recent interest in the Apple iTV started with last year’s Steve Jobs biography where author Walter Isaacson wrote that Jobs told him he had “finally cracked” the formula for a smart TV with an easy user interface. Apple may also not want to concede the smart TV market, as Samsung, LG, Sony and others have started coming out with HDTVs that can browse the web and run their own apps.

Word on the street is that Rogers Communications and BCE Inc. are companies Apple is already negotiating with for a future Apple iTV partnership. The two Canadian companies could become “launch partners for its much-hyped Apple iTV, a product that has the potential to revolutionize TV viewing by turning conventional televisions into gigantic iPads,” The Globe and Mail reports. In fact, it seems that both Rogers and Bell are testing the device, although an actual image of Apple’s first iTV has not been leaked at this time and neither Apple nor the Canadian wireless services companies are willing to confirm anything at this point. :

“They’re not closed to doing it with one [company] or doing it with two,” said one source who is familiar with the talks. “They’re looking for a partner. They’re looking for someone with wireless and broadband capabilities.”

Another source, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Rogers and Bell already have the product in their labs.

According to the same report, the iTV can be controlled by voice, using the same Siri virtual assistant that’s found on the iPhone 4S, or by hand gestures, which is something we definitely expect from Apple considering its existent work on Kinect-like patents for such technology that could find its way into various Apple products in the future.

Equally interesting is the fact that users will be able to use a virtual keyboard in order to “surf the web, conduct video chats and use social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook – all without any physical interface.” On the other hand, the report fails to mention iPhone, iPod touch and iPad integration, but I think it’s safe to assume there will be an “app for that” – control the iTV using mobile iOS devices.

Anyone even more excited about an Apple iTV yet?

Lilyhammer, featuring Steven Van Zandt (formerly of The Sopranos as well as the E Street Band where he served as a guitarist), follows a New York mobster who ships out to Norway in a bid to start his life over again in a whole new environment. The first season offers up fully eight episodes lasting 45 minutes each, and was developed by a Norwegian production company then sold to Netflix.

This isn’t the only original content Netflix has on tap, either; starting in 2013, a new lineup of Arrested Development episodes are slated to arrive on the streaming service. Though on an unusual note, it seems that Lilyhammer isn’t available in the UK, going against some earlier indications that Netflix’s original content would roll out on Netflix systems all over. But it might be more of a phased rollout than anything else.

It’s not so much this series by itself that’s a big deal, but rather, what it means. Perhaps the biggest impediment to getting streaming content available in a much wider range has been one of content. From Netflix to Apple to Microsoft, streaming video providers have seen first hand the difficulties inherent in getting content out of a system with a vested interest in keeping content available essentially via its current structure. The studios prefer brick and mortar video stores to kiosks, the cable networks want to stick with cable, and the online ventures are pretty much staying where they’re at.

But when a Netflix–or conversely, a Microsoft or a cash-flush Apple–starts developing its own series for release on streaming, then you’ve got a whole new ball game on your hands. If the studio system is cut out by cash-rich tech companies developing their own series for distribution, now you’ve got a system in which the studios are competing on one ball ground and the tech companies are on another wholly different ground. But considering that, in many cases, the two overlap (Comcast, for example, would find itself offering both classes of service), you’ll likely see some very intense infighting as a result.

But what do you guys think about this? Should the companies interested in streaming work to make their own content? Or is streaming simply doomed media? No matter what you think, hit the comments section and let’s talk about it!

That being said, while the updated version of the app brings more features and easier access to previously available features — it still does what is important, stream (or cache) music and allow for playback over Wi-Fi and/or cellular connections. In terms of using the app, for those who are new, Rdio comes with a free 7-day trial however once that runs out you will have to shell out for an Rdio Unlimited or Rdio Unlimited Family account. And just for reference, the Unlimited account is $9.99 per month for one user and the Unlimited Family account is $17.99 per month for two users or $22.99 for three users. Otherwise, the changes for this app are broken down as follows;

• Streamlined Top-level Navigation – All-new home screen design gives one-click access to key features in the app
• Convenient Control – Take advantage of Android Ice Cream Sandwich’s new remote control client to manage playback controls on the lock screen, including viewing controls and album art
• New Releases – Be the first to listen to new albums and singles on the day they are released, and access new albums released up to two weeks prior
• Top Charts – Check out recent chart-topping albums
• Recommendations – Discover more music by exploring fresh album recommendations based on your listening history
• Enhanced Search – In addition to searching for artists, albums, and songs, you can now search for Playlists and People
• Synced collection and playlist views – View only the music you have synced for offline listening, without the need to go into offline mode
• User Profiles – Search, browse, and follow other Rdio users; discover new music by seeing their activity, who they follow, their playlists and more

And of course, these new additions come in with the features that were included in the previous version such as Activity, Collection, Heavy Rotation, Playlists and Listening History as well as a “variety of settings to control syncing and streaming.” Bottom line, the Rdio app has an update waiting in the Android Market.

That being said, Redbox will soon begin offering on-demand streaming, however they will not be doing it with Amazon. Instead, coming by way of an official press release announcement — Redbox has partnered with Verizon.

“Verizon and Coinstar, Inc. today announced the formation of a joint venture that will create a new choice for quality- and value-conscious consumers seeking a simple and affordable way to access the video entertainment they crave.  The venture’s services will offer all of the convenience, simplicity and value of Redbox new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc rentals combined with a new content-rich video on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon.”

And for those wondering, while we are looking at this as Redbox having partnered with Verizon — the details of the partnership break down as follows;

“The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.”

Regardless of which company has the majority stake though, this looks like it could be good news for the end user. After all, more competition generally helps move things along in favor of the user. Of course, we are going to have to wait and see what happens before we get super excited.

Anyway, the details as to what to expect are still rather scarce. So far it was noted that the “product portfolio” wold be introduced during the second half of 2012. More to the point, here is what was provided at this point in time;

“It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer.”

The Verge revelead the survey sent by Best Buy (see gallery below), which describes a non-existent Apple HDTV – this is what the retailer calls the product, which we currently refer to as the Apple iTV – and here’s what Best Buy proposes:

Please read the concept below carefully as it will appear only once. The next 4 questions will be based on this description.

Be one of the first to get the all new 42’’ Apple HDTV at Best Buy for $1499. Apple finally reinvents what a TV can do:

• 42’’ 1080p LED flat panel display
• Incorporates Apple’s operating system (iOS) found in its current Apple TV set top box which allows you to purchase and stream movies and other entertainment from the Internet
• Download and use apps from the App Store. Can you imagine playing Angry Birds on a big screen in your living room?
• Supports Apple’s new iCloud service for storing movies, TV shows, and music content that you’ve purchased from iTunes and beam them to your Apple HDTV.
• Use you iPad or iPhone as a remote control, and do everything from controlling your TV, to purchasing new shows and swapping content between your Apple devices and the iCloud service
• Built-in convenience with built in iSight camera and microphone for Skype
• In addition to iTunes, stream content from popular sites such as Netflix, YouTube and flickr
• Available for $1499

Then Best Buy asks customers whether they would buy the product or sign up for the service, whether they would like/dislike the product, whether the product would solve a problem or fulfill a need, and whether the Apple HDTV is “different from other products/services currently available?”

Best Buy’s survey is certainly interesting, and it’s suggesting various Apple iTV features that we either expect or have seen in recent and older rumors. What’s also interesting is that Best Buy is suggesting that the new Apple TV will also be used as a gaming rig, something we’ve talked about in the past. Is Best Buy trying to mislead customers into believing a 42-inch Apple TV will cost $1,499, thus being more expensive than current models available from the retailer? And how does Apple feel about this unexpected survey?

We’ll remind you that Apple does not pitch customers such surveys. In fact, according to various interviews with late Steve Jobs, the company’s co-founder and former leader, Apple is not likely to ask users what they want from new products. Instead the company would just show us what we need and how it’s supposed to work.

Let’s hear it from you, potential Apple HDTV buyers, does the 42-inch machine described about sound interesting to you?

Nevertheless, a report from Digitimes now says that Apple is not likely to start selling its first TV models next quarter because the company isn’t able to secure enough TV display supply. Apparently Apple needs Sharp IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) displays for its upcoming TV models, with Samsung and LG focusing on OLED display technology:

Apple reportedly has sought to source IGZO panels from Sharp for the production of iTVs as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, which unveiled their 55-inch Super OLED and AMOLED TV models, respectively, at CES, both have regarded OLED TVs are their killer products for 2012, and therefore the two Korea-based companies are unlikely to share OLED panel production capacities with Apple.

Once it starts IGZO panel production, Sharp will be able to produce 32-, 46- and 55-inch displays, although the company will probably refrain from sharing with the press any deals it may have with Apple for such displays. Furthermore, Apple has not confirmed yet in any way that it will produce a TV set this year, and while there’s plenty of speculation regarding the sizes of a future Apple iTV units or the special content Apple will offer TV buyers, there are no official details about the products at this time.

Not to mention that Apple may be busy with other product launches in the following months, including the iPad 3, the next-gen MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, and even the iPhone 5/6, which is said to launch in summer. Therefore, with such a full calendar, Apple may want to postpone the launch of an Apple iTV regardless of display supply availability. We’ll be back with more news on Apple’s first TV set, but in the mean time let us know what TV size you’d be interested in and how much would you pay for such a product?

7. Grill N Chill

It’s no secret to folks who have been reading for a while that I love gadgets that serve multiple functions. I love it when the car packs a blender, or when the vacuum can send text messages, or when the refrigerator can show videos. And that’s why the Grill N Chill got my attention. One side of the Grill N Chill offers a two-layer grilling surface, while the other side offers up a draft system for hooking it into a keg. Grilled meat and draft beer in one place? How can that be better? How about they throw in a stereo? Now you can listen to some music, or the pregame show, whilst grilling meat and handing out beer. And that multifunctional joy makes this well worth looking into.

6. Cruzin Cooler

A great one for warmer environs where you can have part of your Super Bowl party outdoors, the Cruzin Cooler is again one of those great multi-function gadgets that I’m so enamored with. This time, they’ve figured out a way to combine a cooler and a scooter into one package, and yes, include an electric motor. You’ll be able to cruise around your party riding a beer cooler, and can pass out your payload at will, preferably before you’re the one passing out. Spectacularly awesome no matter how you slice it, but of course, drinking and driving is never recommended, as at least one operator discovered when he got a DWI charge for riding one of these around while drinking.

5. BeerTender

No multifunction gadgetry here, folks, but what this will do for your Super Bowl party cannot be expressed fully in mere words. See, sometimes, you want a keg, or you want draft beer, but you can’t get hands on one. Well, if you can get Heineken or Newcastle draught kegs, then you can get the BeerTender involved. The BeerTender will keep your beer at a constant 37.4 degrees, and keep said beer not only cold but also fresh for the almost disturbingly long time frame of 30 days.

4. The Grill Sergeant Apron

While it’s entirely possible to grill without the benefit of an apron, adding an apron to your grilling experience gives you the ability to carry a whole lot of extras: condiments, implements, and the like. But the Grill Sergeant Apron will not only allow for these things to be held, and in large quantities, but you’ll also get a bandolier of canister-sized holders to wear across your chest, capable of holding a full six-pack of your canned beverage of choice. And the whole thing comes your way in a jungle camo pattern, so when you need to storm the beach head that is your grill, the Grill Sergeant is ready to cover your six.

3. Blacktop 360 Grill

Sure, we just recommended a grill, and a magnificent one too, but this grill will actually take grilling up a notch even over the Grill N Chill. Not only is the Blacktop portable, but it can handle a variety of things that the Grill N Chill won’t. See, not only does this grill meat at temperatures of up to 650 degrees on an infrared grill, but it also offers up a flat griddle, a warming plate for buns and the like, but at the center of it all lurks a 20 ounce deep fryer. Thus, you can grill burgers, toast buns, melt cheese, fry bacon, and deep fry side dishes all in one shot, plus keep it all warm. No beer, sure. No stereo, sure. But all this takes is a small propane canister to turn it into a multifaceted grilling machine.

2. Bose Lifestyle V-Class Home Entertainment System

The plain and simple here, folks, is that you’re going to need big sound. Big. You want everyone to hear every hit, every grunt, and every word of the play by play when the whole thing is going, and one of the best ways to get really, truly choice home theater sound is from Bose. Just about everything I’ve ever heard of Bose is incredible, putting out huge, ultra-clear sound from speakers often no larger than your hand. I use the Bose Lifestyle V-class here, but most of Bose’s systems will do the job, and do it very well. You’ll get 5.1 channel surround sound, 1080p video upscaling for up to six sources, a dock for your iPod, and the capability to distribute audio to as many as 14 different sources. Pipe the pregame show audio outside. Run the game sound in the bathroom so no one ever misses a play, even when all those snacks and beer come back to haunt you. The options are endless, and Bose sound is a great way to watch.

1. Samsung UN60D8000Y LED Television

I sweated on this one. Believe me. I’m personally a projector kind of guy, so suggesting a television wasn’t easy. See, I went with a television on this one for a couple reasons. One, it’s got the number of ports you’ll need to get everything you need hooked up. The refresh rate is better to ensure the least amount of blurring in the playback possible. And this little beauty not only has a 240 Hz refresh rate for smooth images, but also 3D capability, full 1080p playback, and the crowning glory, a 60 inch LED display. There’s a reason this one’s part of Best Buy’s Magnolia collection, which is a mark of serious quality in the home theater market. And when the Super Bowl is over, you’ll be able to get a load of streaming content thanks to the Smart TV aspect of this. A great picture backed up by great sound is going to go a long way to making your Super Bowl party truly, well, great.

And there you have it folks, from pre-game to post-game, from food to drink and the necessary home theater gear to make the game look every bit as good as live, you’ll be needing a substantial quantity of gadgets. And from the functional to the fun, we’ve got a huge list of them right here.

But what do you guys think? Did we miss anything? What gadget makes your Super Bowl experience complete? No matter what you think, we always love hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Super Bowl!

all pics copyright their owners.

The Jambox Big, which made a brief appearance out in the FCC’s hands, is set to be an upgrade–in most senses of the term–of the original Jambox. It offers up a 3.5 mm audio jack, ensuring it will work with most any device that uses 3.5 mm headphones, which includes a wide variety of devices starting with iPods and iPhones, and going outward through a litany of names and offerings.

It’s said to include a 60 inch USB cable for extra connectivity options, and it puts all this in a package measuring a surprisingly hefty 10.1 inches by 3.2 inches by 3.7 inches, and weighing 2.7 pounds with a battery life of right around 12 hours on a single charge, which is up from the original Jambox’s ten hour life. It will also come in your choice of colors: Red Dot or Graphite Hex.

Oddly, perhaps the most important details of all like speaker wattage is as yet unclear, but based on current reports, this may only be the start of the lineup from the folks at Jawbone, who may well be working other versions of this one. Also unavailable across several reports so far is pricing and release dates, which makes some sense in that the product itself hasn’t even been officially announced yet.

I’m somewhat in favor of soundbars and other such speaker augmentations for portable gear, especially when they have batteries, as it will allow for use in areas you wouldn’t otherwise expect. If you haven’t yet tried showering to music, I wholeheartedly recommend the practice, and battery-powered speakers and portable gear makes the idea much less dangerous than it could be.

But what do you guys think here? Figure that the Jambox Big could put a big punch in portable music? Or do you think that the Jambox Big should add one key word after its name: “Mistake”? No matter what your stance on this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think of the Jambox Big!

The promotional art–which may be just an artist’s conception, though some believe that it may be actual corporately-sanctioned promotional art–in question even provides some insight on the nature of the OMD, including that it’s about to join the ranks of the mirrorless cameras (like the Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera we’ve been following for the last couple of days), and offer up several interesting features to boot like an electronic view finder system (perhaps like that of the MicroOLED system we heard about not too far back either) that in turn allows control over a variety of functions, including the Art Filter system, color temperature, exposure levels and more.

It’s a DSLR, too, so you know that added quality and a hefty price tag will also be a part of things, as the camera itself is said to be a 16 megapixel monster with an ISO range shooting all the way up to 25,600, a five-axis image stabilization system, a super-fast autofocus system and, just to top it off, a nine frame per second burst shooting mode.

Nice enough by any stretch, and the word is that Olympus will come down from on high to announce the OM-D formally February 8th, which is just under a week away. And considering that this thing will likely be sporting at least a four figure price tag, it’s going to be tough to keep an audience for this one, I’d say, unless of course they’re professionals or folks who otherwise don’t think twice about dropping a huge pot of money on a camera.

But what do you guys think here? Will the Olympus OM-D find an audience when it emerges? Or will this new DSLR be just a flash in the pan? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Olympus OM-D!

In a note to investors, Gene Munster from Piper Jaffray mentioned that Apple is already in talks with a “major TV component supplier […] regarding various capabilities of their television display components.” Munster concludes that Apple is on track of launching its own connected TV by the end of the year, although details on future TV sets are not exactly available.

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle seems to be the providing unique content for the new product and Munster believes that Apple would not consider making a play for the TV business without a solid plan of delivering great content to Apple TV buyers. As for the plan itself, the analyst has three scenarios in which Apple could offer unique content that would be tailored:

1. Apple could simply enable its television to manage a consumer’s live TV service from within a unified interface much like TiVo does, partnering with MSOs [i.e. the cable companies]. As Apple was developing the iPhone many investors expected the company to become an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). Instead, the company partnered with AT&T (then Cingular) to bring the iPhone to market in the U.S. Similarly, Apple could choose to avoid the cost and effort of entering the live TV services business and simply partner with MSOs to deliver live, cable TV to the Apple Television. While this would be the easiest and most likely option, it would also be the least revolutionary. Technically, this option would function much like TiVo does today: partnering with MSOs and offering a unified DVR/guidance software interface to make search and discovery easier for the viewer. In some ways, a connected TV’s software is the biggest differentiator that Apple can bring to the table, so this option could still result in a new and fresh product for the television market. Apple could also supplement this with its iTunes Movie rental and purchase service directly on the television.

2. Apple could offer access to live TV from network channels in combination with other web-based video services. One middle-of-the-road option could be for Apple to deliver live TV from network channels (either over the internet or over the air) to the Apple Television. Apple could then leverage a new App Store for the Apple Television to supplement the basic live TV features with Netflix, Hulu Plus, or any content provider that chooses to build an app for the television. In this instance, Apple would also likely continue to offer its iTunes movie and TV content through the iTunes store to the Apple Television.

3. Apple could offer monthly subscriptions, on an a-la-carte basis, for live TV packages with content from content providers. Clearly the most challenging option, if Apple truly wanted to control the entire television experience – which, again, the company chose not to do when entering the smartphone market – it would have to become a virtual MSO (Multiple Services Provider) and offer monthly subscriptions for live TV services. Such an offering would be unlikely given existing licensing arrangements between content providers and service providers as well as the fact that it lies outside of Apple’s core competencies, even in media. That said, it would enable the company to control the entire experience and possibly deliver new features that are currently unavailable through existing television service providers and CE device makers.

Unfortunately we have no idea at this time what Apple is cooking. The company proved time and again that it can sell brand new products and that it can reinvent various niches. It also has an amazing digital store that’s filled with lots of content that’s ready for future “iTV” owners. But what’s currently available from iTunes, when it comes to TV shows and movies, can already be played on any big-screen TV connected to an $99 Apple TV. No need for paying thousands of dollars (guesstimate) for an actual Apple iTV set. In addition to great, unique content, Apple should also make sure its Smart TV will stand out of the existing crowd of Smart TVs by being even smarter than every competitor – that means bringing all those iOS apps, or part of them, to the new TV platform, which is one step away from attacking the console gaming business and the TV business with one swift blow.

Are you considering buying an Apple iTV set this year in case Apple does launch one in time for Christmas? Anybody interested in a Google TV?

Lensbaby lenses, and similar optic gear, have often included selective focus capabilities, and the new line of macro converters allows for even better control. You’ll get a set of two, one an eight mm converter, and the other a 16 mm converter. The two, in turn, can be stacked to allow for as much as a 24 mm converter to be made from the two devices, which in turn will allow for ultra-tight zooming depending on the kind of lenses and optics you’re using. You’ll be able to, at last report, get down to anywhere between zero (using the eight mm converter with a Composer, Composer Pro, and Scout with Fisheye) and 8.13 inches (using the eight mm converter with the Composer with double glass) with these in place.

Even better, for those of you who enjoy your Fisheye and Sweet 35 optics, you’ll be able to use these new macro converters with them. Our tipsters even included a photo taken with both the 16 mm converter and the Sweet 35 together, which you can find directly below.

The pair come available for $50, and you can actually find them right now out at Lensbaby’s web site. Better still, they even come with a hard carrying case so that you can actually get them to your shooting site with a minimum of risk.

They’re a bit of a niche product, granted, but for those of you out there who want to shoot some really impressive pieces and want to do so relatively inexpensively, the Lensbaby macro converters will be just the place to start looking.

But what do you guys think? Anyone out there seeing a value in a set of Lensbaby macro converters? Or are your pictures coming out just fine without them? No matter what your stance on this one, head on down to the comments section below and tell us all about it!

Give Vizio all kinds of credit for good timing, their first foray into the market, the 58-inch CinemaWide television, will land on shelves just in time for the NCAA basketball playoffs–otherwise known as March Madness–and offer up a pretty impressive tech loadout to go with it. Not only will users get an absolute treat of a 58 inch LED screen, they’ll also get 3D functionality, as well as access to streaming content from Netflix and Hulu Plus, among others, a Bluetooth remote (with built-in QWERTY keyboard making finding what you want to watch, even if it’s not basketball, as easy as typing in a name) and, thanks to the wider 21:9 aspect display, you’ll be able to switch to a standard 16:9 format as you like and then browse your smart TV apps while you watch television. This is, of course, great for those pesky commercials they insist on showing every so often when you don’t feel like running a DVR skip over them.

While the 58 inch model–the XVT3D580CM, if you want the full product name–will be out in March, it won’t come cheap, setting you back fully $3499.99. But later on this year, your wallet will get something of a break by being able to get this in 50 inch with the XVT3D500CM, and if price is no option for your home theater, they’ll take it all the way up to a 71 inch monster with the XVT3D710M.

Don’t know about you folks, but I’m impressed, and it’s looking like a pretty sweet showing indeed for the crew out at Vizio, who in recent years have been somewhat hampered by some buyers’ perception of them as a bargain seller of last resort. This looks like quality hardware, even if it’s going to be entirely too rich for a lot of people’s blood.

But what do you guys think? Anyone looking forward to getting one of these in their home theater arsenal? Or do you figure the price will scare people away from Vizio’s foray into the upscale? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and fill us in!

And as is generally the case with a fairly major new product announcement, we’ve got specs. Pentax is telling us that the K-01 offers up the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens, though it will work just fine–if a little awkwardly–with the original lineup of K-series lenses. Meanwhile, the resulting 40mm lens can offer aperture settings to f/1.8, and not only will you get a 16.28 megapixel CMOS sensor, you’ll also get a three inch LCD display, shake and dust reduction systems, a six frames per second boost mode for still photography and 1080p video in your choice of 30, 25, or 24 frames per second as well as an ISO range starting at 100 and going clear up to 25,600. Plus, that video will get a boost from an instant start button and a built-in stereo microphone.

Best of all, it comes in an aluminum casing so that it’s surprisingly lightweight, and it does indeed come in your choice of three colors: the understated black and white, and a yellow for those feeling a bit saucy. Prepare to shell out big, though, as the K-01 will set you back fully $750 for just the camera, or $900 with the 40mm lens included.

It may not look like that impressive of a piece of hardware, but what’s quite certain about this is that it’s priced like an impressive piece of hardware and it certainly has no lack of features. The only question will be if you want to shell out a full grand on this kind of hardware, which might make sense if you take a lot of pictures, especially professionally.

So what do you guys think about this one? Is Pentax wildly overestimating the market with the K-01? Or do they have the right idea and are offering up just what the people want? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Pentax K-01!

The current word is that Samsung is looking to get in Lotus Glass for use with the line of OLED televisions we’ve been hearing about from them for the last few months too, as well as with certain parts of their mobile line, starting with the Korean market and hopefully working its way outward from there.

Lotus Glass is said to be not only more durable than regular glass, but that this delicacy also allows for it to be assembled into a series of much more complex panels, something that will no doubt be extremely helpful to Samsung as the OLED televisions they were showing off out at the 2012 CES event were much, much thinner than we commonly expect to see from even OLED televisions, so a new kind of ultra-tough glass that allows for extremely thin panels is going to be a huge help to Samsung’s home theater ambitions, not to mention giving their mobile gear–tablets and smartphones alike–that little extra resiliency that will help them compete with Apple.

It looks to be a pretty smart move overall for the crew out at Samsung, whose work with Corning on this one looks like it should pay off big dividends in the form of improved hardware. And hardware improvements would be quite a help for them considering the pasting they’ve been taking from the folks at Apple for some time now in the mobile hardware division, and the huge amount of competitors in the home theater arena.

But what do you guys think here? Figure that Lotus Glass will be just the help Samsung needs to get back in the game? Or do you think that just the addition of new, thin, and tough glass won’t be enough to turn the tide? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section below and tell us all about it!

Back in May 2011 we heard that the new iPod nano will dump the clip and instead feature a camera, but that never happened. Instead, Apple went for minor updates for its iPod nano and iPod touch lines last year, deciding not to launch new products during the “Let’s talk iPhone” event. But things could be different this year, at least if the images below shows an actual Apple product.

As you can see in the picture, we’re looking at an iPod nano that still has the clip, but also packs a camera, a feature that some iPod nano users will enjoy. However, don’t expect extraordinary camera features from such a device. We’re probably looking at a 1.3-megapixel or 2-megapixel shooter here, as Apple is apparently working with different prototypes at the moment. M.I.C. Gadget reports:

According to our factory sources, Apple have problems with the lens aperture for the next-gen iPod nano, the iris is not functioning correctly to allow the advantages of the low aperture to be utilized. Every shot was overexposed. Apple intends to correct its mistake, but the problem still exists in this prototype that is manufactured two months ago. What’s more, a 2-megapixel camera was tested, but it was unsatisfactory — the photos look washed-out and flat. The good news is… this 2-month-old prototype is close to final product, the UI is done.

Previous iPod nano generations used to come with cameras on board, so it wouldn’t be that surprising to see Apple toying with the idea again. After all, most mobile devices out there have some sort of camera, so why not put one inside the upcoming iPod nano too?

As for availability dates, the publication is suggesting that Apple will launch the new nano at some point in the first or second quarter of 2012, which is highly unusual for Apple’s product release cycles. Would you buy an iPod nano 7G with a camera on board?

Images via Apple.pro

It’s pretty easy to understand why Stringer is stepping down, at least from a video game perspective. Throughout his tenure, he’s had to deal with a number of disasters, from the original $599 price point on the PlayStation 3 (a factor which some claim contributes to the PS3′s consistent third place ranking this generation), to the PSN hack that brought the service down and kept it offline for more than a month last year. In short, he’s probably very exhausted.

Indeed, Kaz Hirai will have a lot on his plate when he enters the President’s office on April 1st, but for what it’s worth, Stringer has faith that he’ll be able to help Sony bounce back from a rather unimpressive few years:

Kaz is a globally focused executive for whom technology and the cloud are familiar territory, content is highly valued, and digital transformation is second nature. I believe his tough-mindedness and leadership skills will be of great benefit to the company and its customers in the months and years ahead. I look forward to helping Kaz in every way I can so that succession leads inevitably to success. It was my honor to recommend him to the Board for the positions of President and CEO, because he is ready to lead, and the time to make this change is now.

Even though Sony has had its share of missteps lately, if there’s one many who can lead the company to success in the next gaming generation, it’s probably Kaz Hirai. Whatever happens once Hirai takes up the monikers of President and CEO, it will definitely be interesting to see which direction he leads the company.

What do you think? Will Sony prosper with Hirai at the helm, or will it fail? Head down to the comments section and share your opinion!

It’s being called Update 3.2_2012012601, and that long string of numbers is more than just a tongue twister–a whole lot more indeed. The biggest additions to the lineup that come with that update are some boosts to Chrome’s performance–which in turn some believe might well bring the experience of older devices up to par with the experience of newer devices that Sony was showing off out at CES a couple weeks back–and support for 3D Blu-ray playback.

This definitely gives the older devices a much-needed extra boost, and a boost that Sony will no doubt welcome now that Logitech bugged out of the Google TV market, leaving Sony the only game in town before the upcoming releases said to be in the works from the crews out at LG and Vizio, among others, coming soon to the market. And if Sony wants to make as much hay as possible while the sun shines, adding on extra features by way of a simple product update is a great way to do that.

The question that remains, of course, is will Sony be able to get new faces in the door in sufficient number to keep their Google TV line afloat in the face of upcoming competition. A tall order by any stretch, especially considering the sheer number of non-Google TV devices already on the market, but updates like these should go a long way to help.

But what do you guys think? Anyone out there with a Sony Google TV looking forward to the updates? Or do you figure the end result here will leave Sony wanting for business? No matter what your opinion on Google TV, we always like hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section below and let us know what’s on your mind!

The rumored device, the K-01, is a mirrorless camera said to offer up 16 megapixel resolution, just like the K-5, but also add on Pentax’s own KAF mount, a three inch LCD display, onboard pop-up flash, and full HD video support with external microphone input. It will provide all these features at a rumored weight of just 1.2 pounds, with the battery, and come in your choice of three different colors. It will also offer up a set of three new lenses, including the kit lens, a 40mm f/2.8. Early pictures circulating around the device also suggest a fair possibility that an HDR toggle will make an appearance as well.

Many have previously held the belief that–as far as digital cameras go, anyway–if it comes in a variety of colors, it’s not a good camera. I personally don’t hold to that one, myself, having seen several fine point and shoots that come in different colors, but the belief is still there. And in this case, we might well find out just what this one has to offer.

A Pentax product announcement is reported to be taking place tomorrow, and some are thinking that the K-01 might make its debut at said appearance, though that’s not a done deal as yet. Still though, it’s got plenty of camera buffs out there wondering just what Pentax has up its sleeve, and I’m certainly on that list myself. What has me especially curious is what Pentax has in mind to take on the wide array of smartphone cameras out there, which are rapidly emerging as a power to be reckoned with, especially given that they come with plenty of other features that regular point and shoots just can’t offer.

But what do you guys think here? Will Pentax be bringing out its mirrorless K-01 tomorrow? Will we see something completely different? Or will this announcement prove to be more mere speculation in the crazy world of tech? No matter what your stance on this, head on down to the comments section and fill us in!

While originally, the Regza 55X3 was available on a much more limited scale in Japan back last November, the current word out of the supply chain suggests that they’ve already started mass production on these impressive new systems. Interestingly, Toshiba isn’t actually supplying the panels on this one, but rather, they’re coming from AU Optronics.

But no matter who’s supplying the panels on this one, there’s still plenty of reason to be looking forward to these. The biggest reason to look forward to them, of course, is the fact that they’re 55 inch televisions operating at 4k2k resolution, or 3850 x 2160, if you prefer having the number resolution in hand. It also boasts 240-zone intelligent backlighting systems, as well as a lenticular panel built into the television itself, offering 3D that doesn’t need glasses to operate, and can accommodate up to nine viewers with its viewing angle. And, in case you’re a little skeptical about picking up a 3D television at that kind of resolution because there’s not much material that will work with it, be of good cheer as the Regza 55X3 can convert 2D content to 3D.

There are downsides here, though, as that 2D to 3D conversion will take a lot out of the resolution, dropping it back to 1280 x 720, which isn’t bad by itself, but is a pretty huge step down from that original 3850 x 2160.

And of course, you know this isn’t going to come cheap. They’re currently selling for around $10,000 out in Japan, so you can probably figure there won’t be really substantial discounts on this one when it makes its appearance in other markets, which it’s set to do sometime this quarter, or in the next two months.

Personally, I’m happy with Toshiba hardware: I actually just went to a new Toshiba a while back and have been very pleased with its performance, and this from a guy who spent five years with Philips. But what do you guys think about this one? Anyone actually want to drop that kind of money on a Regza 55X3? No matter how you feel, head on down to the comments section and let us know!

The app arrives priced at $29.99, which will sound like a familiar price if you had ever checked out the SlingPlayer app on any of the other supported mobile platforms. Otherwise, the version of the app that is in the Amazon Appstore has been released specifically for the Kindle Fire. And yes, this one comes in addition to the regular Android version that can be found in the Android Market.

The SlingPlayer (Kindle Fire Edition) Mobile app has arrived at version 1.3.7 and measures in at a scant 3.6MB in size. Bottom line here, if you are familiar with the way the Sling Player set up works — this will all be familiar. For those who are new to Sling, this app (along with a set-top box hooked up to your home setup) will allow you to stream your home television (over a Wi-Fi connection) to your Kindle Fire. In short, you can take your home television as well as your recorded DVR content and even any over the air broadcasts with you.

And lastly, for those needing a little bit more, here is how the Appstore listing describes the app;

Watch TV Anywhere, Antyime
Watch your home TV and DVR from anywhere on your Kindle Fire. When connected over Wi-Fi to a Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD (Slingboxes sold separately), the award-winning SlingPlayer app will play anything you can watch on your TV at home on your Kindle Fire. Now you can change channels, control your DVR, and watch your favorite live and recorded shows.

Full Remote Control
Extend your living room TV experience to your Kindle Fire with a SlingPlayer app. Flip through your local channels with the virtual remote control. Pause, fast-forward, rewind, and schedule DVR recordings. Watch video on demand and even pay-per-view programs. Never miss another show or game — whether you’re in the backyard, out to lunch, or on the other side of the world. It’s your TV. Don’t let it be trapped in your living room. Set it free!

Give Razer credit for sheer chutzpah, as they’re citing the “relentless pursuit of quality” as the primary reason behind the delay. They’re also promising they’ll stop relentlessly pursuing quality long enough to actually ship an item this February. And for those of you who’ve been caught up in the waiting, you’ll not only get your shipping comped, but you’ll also get coupons for a free t-shirt and a flask. And if that deal sounds familiar, it should, as it’s the exact same deal they made the last time the Tiamat got delayed, though this time it looks like they’ve added free shipping to the pot.

And for those of you not already familiar with the Tiamat–or for those of you who’ve been waiting so long for the thing to ship that you’ve forgotten just what it is you’ve preordered–it’ll pack in padded leatherette ear cups, a retractable mike with noise filtering, and a variety of extra controls for a customizable audio experience on a headset providing simulated 7.1 channel surround sound.

Considering these were selling at $179.99 for the 7.1 channel version, it’s not surprising a lot of people are probably pretty upset by now. Still though, the offer of assorted freebies does sort of take the sting out.

So what do you guys think here? Anyone preorder the Razer Tiamat headphones? Are you starting to get a little annoyed with the lag in delivery times? Or are you okay with how things are working out since Razer keeps you fairly regularly updated and sufficiently bribed with free goodies? No matter how you feel about this one, we always like hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

The MicroOLED EVF was originally geared toward military and medical applications–so seeing it on our shelves may take a little while and cost pretty big once it gets there–and frankly, it shows. Allowing for as much as  a 5.4 megapixel monochrome display (at a resolution of an almost frightening 2560 x 2048), or if you want the full 16 million color display, you can have it at 1.3 megapixels, the whole thing fits into a display that measures just .61 inches diagonal, which would allow it to fit in most any camera you care to name. But it only gets better from there, as it will also put up a contrast ratio of up to 100,000 to 1, and do so while consuming a meager .2 watts of power.

Sadly, the complete picture on this one is as yet not present–we don’t know just when MicroOLED’s impressive new viewfinder will start rolling out, on what models we’ll be able to find it, or what this wonderful new addition will do to price tags, but we do know that this is a solid piece of hardware that will likely be welcomed by anyone who wishes we could stop using optical viewfinders.

In general, I’m in favor of most anything that improves the camera experience, and that’s been something that’s sorely needed since the rise of smartphones with cameras sufficiently powerful to make even Rolling Stone photographers happy about them. Though it does need to be done without putting a whole lot of extra burden on the consumers’ wallet, something that’s been taking quite a beating of late.

So what do you guys think? Looking forward to finding MicroOLED EVF devices on your camera of choice? No matter what you think about these, hit the comments section below and tell us what’s on your mind!

Basically, the patent details a kind of MagSafe-style system that not only holds a cable in place, but also allows it to transfer data–sounds or content and the like–across a wireless connection. This serves two important purposes: one, it removes that superhighway for water and dust and the like, and two, it actually allows the peripheral to be used normally. And, it also allows for devices to be made where the male end of the connector on the peripheral itself is no longer left exposed, and thus vulnerable in its own right.

It’s a clever enough idea, and would allow for hardware to be made in one solid block, cutting way down on the potential for dust and water to get in (couple this programmable magnetic connector concept on with the HZ0 Waterblock system to come out of CES and you’ve got a seriously potent combination in terms of keeping water out of your hardware), and thus making your devices more resilient. Of course, at the same time, you render the old cables and peripherals useless, so some kind of intermediary solution may be required, but that’s not outside the realm of possibility either, even by as little as an adapter plug.

But what do you guys think about this one? Like the thought of using magnets for plugs? Or would you rather stick to the port and plug approach we have now? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think about Apple’s programmable magnetic connectors!

We all know that there’s a delay between many movie’s release dates and the time they land on Netflix. That all you can rent for one price plan does some pretty nasty things to studios’ plans to actually sell their DVDs. After all, why buy it when you can watch it for a nigh-pittance as part of a plan at Netflix? So many of the studios insisted that, if Netflix wanted to buy DVDs from them to rent, they’d need to wait to put them on shelves, otherwise they simply wouldn’t sell them. And Netflix agreed, knowing that it needed the DVDs to survive.

Well, now, not only is there an embargo on renting certain titles on Netflix, there is now an additional 28 day wait to even add the titles to your rental queue. So not only can you not rent a movie for, at last report, 56 days after it releases, you can’t even add it to your queue for the first 28 of those days. Once you even can add it in the first place, you’ll then have to wait another 28 days to get it.

This move is likely geared toward getting people to forget about Netflix, a practice which seems somewhat pointless anyway as more and more people use it for streaming purposes and less for DVDs, and then for catalog titles that they can’t find at what remaining video stores there are left anyway. Admittedly, I spent a lot of time morose on my drive home from that Blockbuster Video closure, thinking that the next generation might never see a video store (and I spent most of my high school off hours working in one!), but if Warner et al keeps the heat on, we may well get a resurgence after all, for good or ill.

But what do you guys think here? Figure we may be going back to the old fashioned video store? Or will you never leave Netflix / Blockbuster regardless of what embargoes are put in place? No matter what your stance, hit the comments section below and fill us in!

The patent goes into some detail about the current state of the remote control industry, including a description of something we’d been hearing Steve Jobs say a lot just ahead of his death about how unnecessarily complex most common button-driven remote controls were, and how they were in sore need of simplification. And that’s where Apple’s new remote, as described in the recently published patent, would come in.

Instead of having to work with, as Apple describes it, a “table full of remotes”, Apple looks to consolidate the process into what looks like a tablet with a variety of features available to it. See, Apple realized that, for the most part, while you need all the buttons on a remote control to do everything the device it controls can do, there are certain functions that are used much more than others. Seriously, take a moment and go look at your remotes. Any of the paint wearing off a couple of label buttons? Yeah, mine too. So Apple looks to fix that by offering up a single remote that controls a variety of devices quickly, rapidly, and without a whole lot of time spent on the learning curve by using a Bluetooth or wi-fi connection to get the device’s complete command set onto the tablet.

Frankly, I never found remote controls all that complicated. And Apple’s approach is great as long as your devices all use Bluetooth or wi-fi connections to connect to the remotes; there doesn’t look to be much love here for the straight IR kind of connectivity, though that could be either forthcoming or just overlooked in the current patent. There are a lot of older devices out there that could make use of such a system (even I admit I’d love to consolidate all my home theater remotes down into one handy tablet, where I could flip a page for the Blu-ray player and the like), but if they can only connect by wi-fi or Bluetooth, it may not work out quite so well.

But what do you guys think here? Figure there’s room for Apple’s incredibly universal remote? Or do you figure it will wind up being too niche a product to survive? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and fill us in!