Devices Gadgets

Back in September we wrote about the ASUS AiGuru S1, the first certified videophone from Skype. I’m delighted to say we’ve recently got our hands on one to review and it’s an impressive piece of kit.

With the AiGuru you can make Skype video calls without the need of a PC, it incorportates Wi-Fi and a rechargeable battery so can be used anywhere within range.

You can buy the Skype Videophone for £220 from the Skype store, read our full review over on Coolest Reviews.

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Domino’s and TiVo have gotten together to allow kids to prank their parents by ordering up to $100 in pizza.  Either that or give TiVo users the convenience of ordering their pizza from the comfort of their couch.  Taking advantage of TiVo’s widgets, Domino’s is bringing ordering options to broadband-connected TiVo Series2/3/HD owners. 

Truth be told, I’ve not eaten a Domino’s pizza since I was in college, but for sake of gadgetry and the same reason I order brochures after watching 2 minute BMW ads on TiVo because I just think it is cool, I might just do this.  Imagine watching a football game and a link comes on screen that says, “you look hungry, how about a pizza?“  You click yes and 30 minutes or so later you are chowing down.  That is a utopia we all can aspire to.

There are a couple of catches; things like you can’t order a pizza on TiVo when your local Domino’s is closed, you can’t order more than $100 worth of product (which is what? 10 pizzas these days?)  I don’t know about you, but I am going to try to figure out how to hack into my neighbors TiVo right now…  And of course, I have to disclaim we don’t advise doing that.

If Domino’s pizza isn’t your thing, you can’t help but wonder what else your TiVo will help you order in the near future as they look to bring in more partners.  Perhaps more impulse buys after a commercial shows for the latest Kindle killer, or learn more opportunity.  I think TiVo is on to something big here.  I can’t wait to see the fruits of this effort.

Source: [Zatznotfunny]

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Verizon Wireless has a brand new device for those who want to remain connected to the Internet at all times (provided there is a decent signal, of course) - the Verizon Wireless USB760 Micro Modem. This device has already gone on sale since last week, being made available in a variety of business sales channels. The USB760 Micro Modem was developed by Novatel Wireless and it touts to offer customers a powerful, pocket-sized wireless broadband modem which will take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ high-speed network, relying on Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology for superior mobile surfing needs without having to look out for a Wi-Fi hotspot at all times.

Owners of the modem can take advantage of the included VZAccess Manager software that accompanies each purchase of the USB760 Micro Modem for easy connection management and automatic installation on Windows and Mac systems without having to go through the hassle of an installation process via a CD. The USB760 Micro Modem is a wee bit longer than 2″ and tips the scales at less than an ounce, making it suitable to tote around on your business trips without feeling weighed down. In addition, it was specially designed to be extremely durable, and you will find a whole host of innovative features crammed into an unassuming form factor, including a microSD memory card slot that turns it into an impromptu portable data storage device (up to 8GB in capacity).

The Verizon Wireless USB760 Micro Modem is compatible with Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems and will come with a Type-A USB port, featuring the following including an internal advanced dual-band diversity antenna, an optional external antenna for enhanced performance on the fringe areas of networks and in highly mobile environments and NovaSpeed software for optimized performance and the ability to perform both uploads and downloads at enhanced speeds simultaneously. The USB760 can be purchased for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement.

Press Release

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Have you ever seen an ad for pizza on television, and immediately wanted to order one from delivery right away? Fortunately (and unfortunately), TiVo has found a way for you to give into that impulse.

Here’s how it works: a Domino’s Pizza ad will play, and then all the viewer needs to do is use the remote to select it. You can then access an on-demand ordering screen, similar to the one used by Fandango or Amazon.com. I imagine that there will be some selection of size and toppings, and the pizza should arrive at your door within a half-hour.

This is the first time that ordering pizza via the television has ever been offered, and Domino’s vice president of marketing, Rob Weisberg, is especially proud of this new achievement.

I have to admit that this has got to be one of the most ingenious ways to market product based on consumer impulse. However, it certainly makes it one of the best ways to keep a consumer on the couch. The only time he or she needs to get up is to “get the door, it’s Dominos”. So ask yourself, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Chime in on the comment section and let us know what you think.

By the way, you will have to pay in cash, as there is no credit-card setup on the program.

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Whenever I see one of those yellow triangular caution signs with the black silhouettes of people walking, I am always disappointed that I don’t see one of these black outlines actually crossing the street.

I guess we have just accepted those yellow caution signs with the silhouettes. So why not have one of your own on your desk? This is the sole purpose of the Stick Figure Caution Sign.

This little knick knack, for lack of a better word, allows the user to pose an ebony stick figure in whatever pose he or she wants. It is reminiscent of those wooden figures that art students use to make full-body sketches, and this comes with 16 points of articulation.

So if you spill your drink and you want to create a “Slippery When Wet” sign by your desk, this is just what you need. You could get really creative with this. For example, you can make this guy dance on his hands like the figure on the right, and create a “Breakdancing Zone”.

If you want to get this little guy on your desk, feel free to surf on over to ThinkGeek, a site that has a lot of cool stuff. Be prepared to spend a low price of just $11.99.

Any idea how you would pose them? Go ahead and leave a comment. Keep it clean, though.

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by Darren Murph, posted Nov 16th 2008 at 6:06PM
Well, would you have a gander at this spectacle. Some “Dan” character over at Peek has gone and stolen our thunder, completely dashing our hopes of hosting up a “How would you change” article on the outfit’s e-mail only handheld. All (nonexistent) personal beef aside, we’d wager that this scenario is actually far more beneficial for end users, particularly since you know the company is all ears. Over at the Peek blog, the outfit pleads with users and spectators to chime in on how the handheld could be tweaked (in “minor” ways, mind you) in order to be superior. Additionally, it’s looking to open up a set of APIs for the public in order to facilitate the hacking of Peek for its own betterment. We always said this thing would be way more appealing with Opera Mini loaded on there alongside a VoIP application, and lookie here, the price has stooped to $80 with no contracts attached. Consider our interest finally piqued. Ugh, that was awful.

[Thanks, Jacob]

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Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 17th 2008 at 1:24AM
Okay, so maybe Memorex’s Profile 1.1 MVBD-2510 was only $269 from the get-go, but busting through the unofficial $150 price barrier is a pretty big deal for Blu-ray. Granted, we’re totally expecting a few more to join the fold come Black Friday, but who’s not all about buying from the comfort of one’s home versus braving frigid temperatures only to catch eight airborne diseases and shave 2.85 years from your life due to statistically significant levels of stress on a day off? Bottom line: $139.99 for a BD deck is pretty darn cheap (even for Woot’s standards), and even if there’s no BD-Live support baked in, it’ll still handle the 1080p basics. Order now, debate later.

[Thanks, Jamil]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 17th 2008 at 3:35AM
You know the drill: for $399 you buy one OLPC XO laptop and a second is sent to a child somewhere in the developing world. Same deal as last year only now with the help of Amazon’s powerful retail reach. Devices begin shipping in about 30 days — a bit longer outside the US. Naturally you can also just gift the $199 laptop direct to a kid of OLPC’s choosing. About the quickest way to become a donor short of meeting a hotel stranger in possession of roofies and a bathtub full of ice.

[Via PC World]

Read — US site (live)
Read — UK site for rest of world (limbo)

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Filed under: Laptops

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 16th 2008 at 6:09AM
It was inevitable, really — now that ARM processors are bound for netbooks and the like, it follows logic that ARM would tag team with Canonical to bring along Ubuntu support. The two firms have collaborated in order to “bring the full Ubuntu Desktop operating system to the ARMv7 processor architecture (targeting the Cortex-A8 and Cortex -A9 in particular) to address demand from device manufacturers.” They even go out of their way to assert that this is all about bringing Ubuntu to “new netbooks and hybrid computers,” though we’re still hopeful that the OS will find its way into even more diminutive ARM-powered devices in the future. Sadly, you’ll have to wait until April of 2009 to see the fruits of this so-very-special relationship.

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

FROM GAMERTELL - Dance Dance Revolution: The Musical is promised to be a “futuristic dance spectacular” that “fuses unmerciful Japanese rave music with deeply regrettable sophomoric comedy.” No, really…
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