Man, it’s a good thing that Microsoft managed to snag that exclusive deal with Netflix back in August of last year. Otherwise PS3 and Wii owners might have the same access to the rental giant’s instant streaming library. What’s that, the PS3 already has it, and it’s just been announced for the Wii? Never mind then.
That’s right folks, despite whatever deal Microsoft snagged with Netflix, Nintendo has just announced that they will also offer the ability to stream Netflix movies to the Wii. As with the PS3, a special disc will be required in order to use this functionality, leading me to again believe that Microsoft’s “exclusive” deal technically only prevented the other companies from installing the software directly onto their consoles.
The discs will begin shipping out sometime this Spring, but you can sign up for them now. Aside from the minimum $8.99 unlimited streaming plan from Netflix you will not have to pay any additional costs. Again the trade-off is having to use a disc every time or paying for an Xbox Live subscription, personally I don’t mind popping the disc in my PS3.
There is one small drawback to using the service on the Wii, as opposed to the other two consoles. Since Nintendo’s console doesn’t output in HD, you will obviously be limited to watching movies in SD.
What with all of those 3D TVs that everybody was flogging to death at CES last week, it sure would be nice if you could, you know, create your own 3D video content. This camcorder from DXG has just about everything you’d expect from a consumer video cam, except that it’s got an extra lens next to the first to let you take stereoscopic vids. It’s cheap, too, at only $400.
Cheap 3D recording? I know, you’re thinking there must be a catch. And there is, and it sucks. The catch is that the camcorder takes 3D video in Motion JPEG, and it seems likely that you’ll only be able to watch that video (in 3D, anyway) on a 7″ digital video frame that DXG includes with the camcorder. So yes, it doesn’t matter if you have a 3D TV or not, since you probably won’t be able to play back this camcorder’s 3D recordings on it.
The camcorder, with the video frame included, should be available this June.
This TV from Haier (I guess they’re an electronics company or something) doesn’t just feature wireless HD… It’s totally, completely wireless. Wireless power, folks. What does it take to transmit 3 gigs per second of 60hz 1080p plus 100 watts of electricity? A gigantic antenna is what, as you can see right in front of the distracting jerk with the ponytail who got in the background of my shot:
We talked to the Haier reps about just what exactly would happen if you got in between the antenna and the TV, and while they said that it was perfectly safe, I’m going to assume that that’s just PR-speak for, “it’ll definitely turn you into a super hero while giving you some form of cancer.” We have no information on when you’d find something like this in your house, but the wireless HD probably won’t be available before 2011, about the same time as non-chafing lead underpants.
Technically it’s just another speaker system designed to be strapped to a pregnant belly to provide the fetus with music to further its mental development before it’s even born. But the Ritmo Advanced Sound System can also be used to talk to your baby while it’s still in the womb with your iPhone, so in a roundabout way, it’s kind of like your fetus’ first cellphone. Sure, the only response it can give is a kick or two, but to be honest there are plenty of times when I’d love to be able to kick someone on the other end of a cellphone conversation as well.
The device, or at least the speakers, can be later removed from the belly straps and attached to a crib or stroller after the baby is born, providing enriching or soothing music and sounds while they’re sleeping or playing. The Ritmo Advanced Sound System is available now for a special introductory price of $129.99.
What has your dog done for you lately? If you’re lucky, maybe you get something fetched once in a while. Big whup. Erik Schiegg hit on a way to make his dog useful for a change, by equipping it with a solar charging vest. The dog runs around outside all day, and Erik’s phone gets charged thanks to the solar panel on the dog’s back. While this may not be as efficient as a stationary solar panel, most of us don’t have the space or money for one of those, and this is a cheap and easy DIY solution to mobile solar charging… Think hiking and camping trips and stuff.
You can easily wire up something like this yourself; all you really need is a solar panel (which you can find at online hobby shops) and a battery pack. Or you can just buy one of these and a roll of duct tape. Your call.
After spending a week in Vegas for CES, I was less than thrilled to come back home and find more snow on the ground. This means trading in my shoes for boots as I go wandering around outside. But even boots don’t always have the grip one needs for traversing the frozen landscape. That is why these particular boots have a little extra grip hidden underneath.
These boots seem much like any other, and can be worn whenever you like. However, when the time comes that you need that extra bit of grip, you can take the two red pieces of plastic tread and reverse them. On the other side are a number of tiny spikes to grip on the snow and ice. Granted, you’ll need to mess with putting them back the other way before stepping inside anywhere. Unless you do a lot of outdoor work in bad winter weather, I think that these $200 boots might be overdoing it.
If you’re subconscious self-conscious (sorry, still feeling the effects of CES) about making too much noise when you’re going you-know-what in the you-know-where, you can now get yourself a special stool because apparently just sitting isn’t manly enough. Based on exhaustive research involving a tea pot and a toilet bowl, the Pee Without Noise Stool puts you closer to the, um, action, keeping unwanted sounds to a minimum. And what will you be paying to save face the next time you’re in the loo? How about $76 for a wooden ‘Eco’ model or $98 for a ‘DX’ model which is made of polyurethane instead.
I’m kind of glad I only caught the tail end of that Cold War, because living with public service announcements like this on the wall would be kind of a downer.
After a week of wall-to-wall 3D TVs at CES it’s nice to find something different and unique to get that nasty taste out of my mouth. And this Sand Shaper more than fits the bill. It’s a simple handheld tool that allows you to create near perfect spheres out of compacted sand or even snow, for those of you living under a blanket of white these days. Creating the spheres looks to be more about the technique than the device itself, but the Sand Shaper seems easy enough for even a toddler to use. Check out this video to see what I mean.
I can’t seem to find any pricing info on the company’s website or where to buy them, but I can’t imagine it would be anything more than $10 at most.
Update: Get em’ here for $12 a pop, or a set of 4 different sizes for $40. Thanks to everyone who provided links in the comments.
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