By Chris Scott Barr

Remember back when TVs were just boxes that were just used for watching movies, cable and playing video games? I guess that wasn’t all that long ago, since the TV I just bought a few months ago still needs another device in order to really do anything. However, soon you’ll be able to go and get yourself a Vizio HDTV that comes with all sorts of cool applications built-in.

I’ve got a small PC that sits in my entertainment center which gives me access to streaming video, audio and of course the web. With the new line of Vizio XVT HDTVs, I could almost get rid of it. Owners will have access to free streaming content from Revision3, Showtime and Pandora while also being able to subscribe to services such as Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster OnDemand, Amazon Video On Demand and Rhapsody. The icing on the cake is access to Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Yahoo Widgets.

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By Chris Scott Barr

Finally, after three different software versions, the iPhone has push notifications. Sure, it got plenty of other cool additions, but being as connected to the world as I always seem to be, this is one of my favorites. One of the first apps to roll off the line with push support is AIM.

I barely used the previous versions of the AIM app, since you had to keep it open in order to continue a conversation with someone. That’s not convenient in the least. However, if you download the latest version, you’ll be able to set the app to keep you logged in for up to 24 hours after you exit. During this time you appear online to your buddies and any messages will pop up on your phone. It’s definitely worth updating, even if you just go with the ad-supported free version.

[ AIM (iTunes link) ] VIA [ Tech Crunch ]

By Shane McGlaun

The iPod is the most successful and popular digital music player by a huge margin. With the raging popularity of the iPod a world of accessories are available from speaker systems to car chargers and all sorts of gear in between. iLuv is one of the makers of many accessories for the players.

iLuv has announced its latest iPod alarm clock that is compatible with all dockable iPods and with any other DAP using a 3.5mm headphone jack. The clock is called the iMM153 desktop alarm clock with bed shaker. The clock is offered in black, white, blue, and pink colors.

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By Shane McGlaun

I like all-in-one computers, the compact designs that put everything inside the LCD of the PC make for less clutter on your desk. The only downside to an all-in-one is that they typically offer less power than a traditional desktop PC. Shuttle has an all-in-one PC called the X50 that it debuted a while back.

Shuttle has now debuted the X50 barebones PC that the buyer adds their own storage, RAM, and OS to. The machine comes with an Intel Atom 330 dual-core CPU tucked inside the 15.6-inch touchscreen chassis. Other features include a 1.3-megapixel webcam, memory card reader, gigabit LAN, stereo speakers, and a mic.

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By Andrew Liszewski

They say once you go backpack you never go back, and if you’ve had the pleasure of using the backpack paint roller system I wrote about a few minutes ago, you’ll probably wish you could strap all of your household appliances to your back. Sadly that’s still a pipedream for a lot of us, or maybe just me, except when it comes to vacuuming!

This “ergonomic” backpack vacuum can be carried around the house on your back, which is supposedly easier than rolling it from room to room… And before you get any ideas about roaming the neighborhood at night, serving as some sort of cleaning vigilante, you’ll want to be aware that this thing doesn’t use a rechargeable battery, but instead plugs into the wall via a retractable 26 foot power cord. $169.98 from Taylor Gifts.

[ Ergonomic Backpack Vacuum ] VIA [ Likecool ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I don’t really see what’s stopping you from using this indoors, but the Weathershield BackPack Roller System from Dulux is actually designed to be used for sprucing up the outside of your home where ladders and hard to reach places makes painting particularly difficult. So the company’s smooth masonry paint comes in a special container that integrates into this backpack roller system along with an electric pump and a hose-fed handheld roller.

Loading the roller with paint is as easy as clicking a trigger, and being able to wear all of the equipment on your back means you’ve always got a free hand for steadying yourself while on a ladder or when going all Spiderman on the outside of your home. The Weathershield BackPack Roller System will set you back about $80 while the Dulux smooth masonry paint starts at about $34.

[ Dulux Weathershield BackPack Roller System ] VIA [ Gizmag ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s nice to know that in this troubled economy there are still people who are willing and able to drop over $1.4 million on a motorhome, though ‘mobile luxury apartment’ seems to be a better description for this thing. The VARIO Perfect 1200 Platinum comes with every amenity one could ever want including cherry wood accents, leather upholstery, corian countertops in the kitchen, granite flooring, a dish washer, a rain shower, mirrored sliding doors in the bedroom, LCD TVs, a satellite system and of course a Bose stereo.

But the most notable and obvious feature of the Perfect 1200 Platinum is the garage located ’round back that uses a hydraulic system to house a compact car like a Cooper Mini. Now it isn’t the first RV I’ve written about with a built-in garage, but it’s definitely the most assinine nicest.

[ VARIOmobil Perfect 1200 Platinum ] VIA [ Born Rich ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I won’t pretend to be a professional photographer, but I have taken a few good shots here and there. Growing up in the digital age, I never really dealt much with film cameras, except with my old point-and-shoot camera from when I was a kid. I know that I’m missing out, having never shot anything with Kodachrome film. Unfortunately it looks like I won’t have many opportunities in the future either.

Kodak has announced that they are ending production of their Kodachrome film. While many photographers swear by the colors produced by Kodachrome, it only amounts for around 1% of all still film sold by the company. It’s difficult to describe how it is different from other still films, but you’ll probably at least recognize this photo, which was taken with it. If you happen to stock up on this stuff, you’ll want to use it up and have it developed by next year sometime. Currently Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons Kansas is the last place that still processes it, and they will only continue to do so through 2010.

[ Kodak ] VIA [ Crave ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I’ve spent many hours running ethernet cable throughout various buildings. It’s not the most fun thing to do in the world, especially when you’re crawling around in spaces filled with particularly itchy insulation (asbestos anyone?). I’ve seen companies offer networking over powerlines, and while it’s always sounded like a convenient solution, I’ve been wary of actual speeds achieved by such devices. Belkin’s latest offering sounds like it might just be fast enough to be worth checking out.

The first major concern with any powerline networking system is how much bandwidth is lost over a distance. Well Belkin’s new Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit promises 1000 Mb/s speeds. Even if you lose a good part of that bandwidth, most network cards still only operate at 100 Mb/s. If this device holds up to its claims (and can provide a more reliable connection than wireless), it might be worth the $150 price tag.

[ Belkin ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]