Take a look!

Consumer Reports’ new reliability data provides consumers with more detailed information for specific brands. Panasonic, whose 50-inch TH-50PZ700U plasma model was recently named Consumer Reports’ best flat-panel TV ever tested, had very few repairs, only a 2 percent average repair rate, in both LCD and plasma categories. This new reliability data reinforces Consumer Reports long-standing advice that consumers skip the extended warranty when buying a flat-panel TV.

FLAT-PANEL TVs: LCD AND PLASMA

Consumer Reports found little difference between the average repair rate for LCD and plasma TVs – overall, they both had a 3 percent repair rate. Among LCDs, Dell (which recently stopped selling its own brand of TVs) and Hitachi were among the less reliable brands, as were Philips plasma TVs. Aside from Panasonic, other brands with low repair rates include Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Toshiba and JVC in LCDs. For plasma sets, Panasonic, Pioneer and Samsung also had low repair rates.

Among the tiny percentage of sets with problems, most repairs were free, presumably because they were covered by the manufacturer’s standard warranty. The few respondents who paid out of pocket for repairs spent an average of $264 on LCD sets and $395 on plasma.

REAR-PROJECTION TVs

Consumer Reports frequency-of-repair charts cover microdisplay sets using DLP and LCD rear-projection technologies. Toshiba and RCA DLP sets stood out as the most repair-prone. Hitachi LCD-based sets were more repair-prone than Sony and Panasonic sets of this type.

About one-quarter of repairs involved replacing the bulb, an issue unique to rear-projection TVs. Many bulb failures occurred early in a set’s life and appeared to have been covered by a standard warranty. Respondents who paid for any repairs out of pocket spent $300 on average.

Unlike the flat-panel reliability analysis, the rear-projection analysis includes sets covered by an extended warranty. For these sets, warranties were much more prevalent, with about 40 percent of respondents having one, than they were for flat panel sets. Repair rates for the two types are not directly comparable. Taking this into account on average, flat-panel sets are still much more reliable than rear-projection sets with their average 18% repair rate.

Despite the relatively high repair rate for rear-projection TVs, CR still finds that buying the often expensive extended warranty and service contracts that salespeople offer is not a good idea. Consumers who insist on buying an extended warranty for their rear-projection TV set should consider one if:

– They want to buy a TV from a more repair-prone brand because it’s low-priced.

– The TV will be used for 5,000 hours, the claimed life of many bulbs, within the time covered by an extended warranty, and the warranty covers bulb replacement.

– The warranty does not cost more than the bulb ($200 to $300) or 15 percent of the TVs price, whichever is less. CR recommends bargaining for a lower price; warranties have a high profit margin.

The full HDTV Ratings are available in the December 2007 issue of Consumer Reports, available wherever magazines are sold. Portions of the report will be available on http://www.consumerreports.org/.

They’re hot, sometimes heavy, and there’s even rumors about them causing sperm-count problems in men.

A year ago I blogged about the LapWorks Laptop Desk 2.0 and Ultralight, which I’ve used ever since.

There’s a growing movement lately of people who use their laptops at work or at home, plopped down on their desks, and that’s where a new gadget comes into play. LapWorks’ new Aluminum Desktop stand solves a lot of heat and mobility issues with laptops that have a tendency to sit on desks.

Your desktop computer, (the big thing in the box remember?) is built to stay put with fans directing airflow through the case. Laptops, on the other hand, often need to be propped up to let air get underneath, to the battery, which prevents overheating.

In my mind, the Aluminum Desktop Stand solves this problem and is proven to cool down laptops by nearly 25 percent.

Check it out for yourself.

Modulus, according to a press release, is a leading MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) company that specializes in putting this video over the Internet and broadcast/television systems.

Both sides seem pleased.

“As consumers demand more high definition video and interactive services, the need for advanced compression technology is increasingly important,” said Dan Moloney, President, Home and Networks Mobility business, Motorola, Inc, Modulus Video has a powerful architecture and product development framework that is well suited for continued technological advancement.”

“Through this acquisition, Modulus Video will become part of a world-class organization in a highly strategic market segment. Our team will benefit from Motorola’s rich heritage and leadership of video delivery expertise,” said Bob Wilson, Chairman and CEO of Modulus Video. “Modulus Video will bring to Motorola a software-centric platform that ensures flexibility, reduced cost and fast development time.”

Modulus will become a wholly-owned subsidiary, and Motorola has said it will allow them to continue their Sunnyvale, Calif., operations, which will save jobs in the area.

“iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are all born with the ultimate pointing device — our fingers — and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse.”

I am actually going to paste the rest of the press release here because of its uniqueness. If nothing else, you will absolutely know the name of the product when you’re done reading this:

iPhone is a Revolutionary Mobile Phone

iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows users to make calls by simply pointing at a name or number. iPhone syncs all of your contacts from your PC, Mac(R) or Internet service such as Yahoo!, so that you always have your full list of up-to-date contacts with you. In addition, you can easily construct a favorites list for your most frequently made calls, and easily merge calls together to create conference calls.

iPhone’s pioneering Visual Voicemail, an industry first, lets users look at a listing of their voicemails, decide which messages to listen to, then go directly to those messages without listening to the prior messages. Just like email, iPhone’s Visual Voicemail enables users to immediately randomly access those messages that interest them most.

iPhone includes an SMS application with a full QWERTY soft keyboard to easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. When users need to type, iPhone presents them with an elegant touch keyboard which is predictive to prevent and correct mistakes, making it much easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones. iPhone also includes a calendar application that allows calendars to be automatically synced with your PC or Mac.

iPhone features a 2 megapixel camera and a photo management application that is far beyond anything on a phone today. Users can browse their photo library, which can be easily synced from their PC or Mac, with just a flick of a finger and easily choose a photo for their wallpaper or to include in an email.

iPhone is a quad-band GSM phone which also features EDGE and Wi-Fi wireless technologies for data networking. Apple has chosen Cingular, the best and most popular carrier in the US with over 58 million subscribers, to be Apple’s exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the US.

iPhone is a Widescreen iPod

iPhone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets music lovers “touch” their music by easily scrolling through entire lists of songs, artists, albums and playlists with just a flick of a finger. Album artwork is stunningly presented on iPhone’s large and vibrant display.

iPhone also features Cover Flow, Apple’s amazing way to browse your music library by album cover artwork, for the first time on an iPod. When navigating your music library on iPhone, you are automatically switched into Cover Flow by simply rotating iPhone into its landscape position.

iPhone’s stunning 3.5-inch widescreen display offers the ultimate way to watch TV shows and movies on a pocketable device, with touch controls for play-pause, chapter forward-backward and volume. iPhone plays the same videos purchased from the online iTunes(R) Store that users enjoy watching on their computers and iPods, and will soon enjoy watching on their widescreen televisions using the new Apple TV(TM). The iTunes Store now offers over 350 television shows, over 250 feature films and over 5,000 music videos.

iPhone lets users enjoy all their iPod content, including music, audiobooks, audio podcasts, video podcasts, music videos, television shows and movies. iPhone syncs content from a user’s iTunes library on their PC or Mac, and can play any music or video content they have purchased from the online iTunes store.

iPhone is a Breakthrough Internet Communications Device

iPhone features a rich HTML email client which fetches your email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics right along with the text. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can be reading a web page while downloading your email in the background.

Yahoo! Mail, the world’s largest email service with over 250 million users, is offering a new free “push” IMAP email service to all iPhone users that automatically pushes new email to a user’s iPhone, and can be set up by simply entering your Yahoo! name and password. iPhone will also work with most industry standard IMAP and POP based email services, such as Microsoft Exchange, Apple .Mac Mail, AOL Mail, Google Gmail and most ISP mail services.

iPhone also features the most advanced and fun-to-use web browser on a portable device with a version of its award-winning Safari(TM) web browser for iPhone. Users can see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on iPhone’s multi- touch display with their finger. Users can surf the web from just about anywhere over Wi-Fi or EDGE, and can automatically sync their bookmarks from their PC or Mac. iPhone’s Safari web browser also includes built-in Google Search and Yahoo! Search so users can instantly search for information on their iPhone just like they do on their computer.

iPhone also includes Google Maps, featuring Google’s groundbreaking maps service and iPhone’s amazing maps application, offering the best maps experience by far on any pocket device. Users can view maps, satellite images, traffic information and get directions, all from iPhone’s remarkable and easy- to-use touch interface.

iPhone’s Advanced Sensors

iPhone employs advanced built-in sensors — an accelerometer, a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor — that automatically enhance the user experience and extend battery life. iPhone’s built-in accelerometer detects when the user has rotated the device from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display accordingly, with users immediately seeing the entire width of a web page, or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio.

iPhone’s built-in proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away. iPhone’s built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.

Pricing & Availability

iPhone will be available in the US in June 2007, Europe in late 2007, and Asia in 2008, in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone will be sold in the US through Apple’s retail and online stores, and through Cingular’s retail and online stores. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple’s new remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.

iPhone includes support for quad-band GSM, EDGE, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR wireless technologies.

iPhone requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS(R) X v10.4.8 or later and iTunes 7; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2). Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended. Apple and Cingular will announce service plans for iPhone before it begins shipping in June.

But hold-on America, you can only use iPhone if you have Cingular. If not, you’re out of luck.

1. DLO HomeDock Deluxe: A home entertainment center for the iPod which is the world’s first iPod dock that lets you view and select your iPod’s music on your TV screen, allowing you to navigate, select and play your songs using the included 18-button remote control.

2. Memorex iFlip: A video viewer for iPod which allows you to enjoy the video content stored on your iPod on a larger screen. It also charges your iPod and has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 5 hours of video playback.

3. Logitech AudioStation: Just add your iPod to create a full-function stereo that fills any room in your home with high-performance sound.

4. SpeckTone Retro: An iPod speaker system with a 1950′s Retro style. Very good sound output and strong bass, thanks to a bottom-side subwoofer. The SpeckTone is a stark departure from the ordinary, but don’t let the old style fool you. The sound quality of the SpeckTone is worthy of a strong endorsement.

5. Sharper Image iSoother: A ZipConnect speaker system for your iPod or MP3 player, an AM/FM digital radio, a backlit LCD talking alarm clock and a Sound Soother with 20 environments all played through dual built-in aluminum-cone stereo speakers. The universal ZipConnect module (with retractable 18-inch cable) allows you to conveniently connect and listen to music from any audio player with a headphone jack.

6. Apple iPod Hi-Fi: Fill your home with sound, not stereo components. Keep your music collection at your fingertips, not in countless CD cases. Change the way you experience digital music. iPod Hi-Fi delivers crystal-clear, audiophile-quality sound in a clean, compact design.

7. Bose SoundDock: Enjoy the songs on your iPod like never before. The Bose SoundDock digital music system is specifically designed to expand and enhance your enjoyment of the music stored on your iPod.

8. iHome iH26: The perfect portable alarm clock for when you are on the go with your iPod and iPod shuffle. The iHome iH26 comes with a carrying case with a handle to protect both itself and your iPod during your travels, and lets you not only listen to the music on your iPod, but fall asleep and wake up to it as well.

9. JBL On Time: A high-performance sound center that lets you wake up to music stored on your iPod. Just connect your iPod, MP3 player or other music source to JBL On Time and experience clean, powerful and dynamic sound.

10. Klipsch iGroove HG: Designed to leave no room unrocked, the new Klipsch iGroove HG is a convenient all-in-one digital music system that delivers audiophile-quality sound everywhere you need it.

About iPodnanomart.com
The website, launched in September, is a comprehensive resource for information about The iPod and iPod nano technology. iPodnanomart.com includes an extensive library of information about iPod products and accessories, and a comprehensive collection of user driven information about the iPod family.

10. SONY PLAYSTATION(R)PORTABLE PSP(TM)

Who says games are just for kids? Even executives will love the fun and excitement of the Sony Playstation(R) in transit! Much more than simply a mobile Playstation, the PSP(TM) is a lightweight and compact portable entertainment center with MP3 and video playback capabilities, a high- resolution 4.3 inch color TFT LCD screen, built in stereo system, input/ output connectivity and more. Games may be played online against other players via the 802.11 b Wi-Fi feature and users will simply adore the wide variety of cinema entertainment on this amazing handheld.

9. NOKIA N72 CELLULAR PHONE

Savvy and chic, the Nokia N72 cellular phone not only incorporates the latest advancements in cellular technology, but enhances its users’ smart and sophisticated sense of style. This mega-hip phone comes in both pearl pink and gloss black with a matching wrist strap and headset while allowing for photo and video enhancement with Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition. Furthermore, the N72 has USB 2.0 connectivity, Bluetooth capability, is available in Tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900) frequency and allows for up to 20 MB of internal dynamic memory. Tech-savvy and chic!

8. APPLE(R) IPOD(R)

The true definition of entertainment in transit, Apple(R) has released its 5th generation of luxury audio devices just in time for the holidays. Now available in a thinner design and five stylish colors, the iPod(R) 5G holds up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 photos and nearly 100 hours of video for endless media and audio entertainment while traveling, shopping or just hanging out at home. It seems like everyone has an iPod(R) these days so don’t let your loved one be left out!

7. BOSE QUIETCOMFORT(R) 2 ACOUSTIC NOISE CANCELING(R) HEADPHONES

Air travel is more hectic and cumbersome than ever, but at least you can enjoy some peace and quite during the flight! If your loved one has had enough of jet noise, flight announcements, crying babies and other airline noise pollution, then get them the luxuriously designed Bose Quiet Comfort(R) headphones. Their patented noise reduction technology was specifically engineered for airline travel, and blocks out all background sounds while providing a clear, rich audio experience for movies, music and much more.

6. TOMTOM ONE PORTABLE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH BLUETOOTH COMPATIBILITY

Navigation systems are sizzling hot gifts this year and if your special someone spends a lot of time in the car on business, then the TomTom One is perfect. The TomTom ONE portable GPS navigation system combines the portability and cutting edge technology of a GPS touch screen with an elegant and simplistic design. User friendly and compact, the TomTom One includes a Plug & Go pre-installed memory card, which means there’s no need to download or manage complicated software, and contains the latest and most complete maps available. With the TomTom One, the user is ensured a quick safe route with door-to-door navigation from anywhere in the country. And since that special someone will be singing your praises each time they use the TomTom to avoid a traffic jam, it’ll be the gift that keeps on giving!

5. SAMSONITE DUAL WATTAGE CONVERTER KIT

A must have for the ladies! Never “fry” your gadget again while traveling overseas! The Dual Wattage Converter kit allows you to use your travel iron, hair dryer and other appliances around the globe by converting 240-volt foreign electricity to US standard 120-volt. Its five county coded-adapters help the traveler to easily plug into corresponding outlets in the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North and South America. And to put it’s value in perspective, it could be mean the difference between your special someone attending that big sales meeting with spectacular curly hair, or a flat, lifeless ‘do!

4. LINGO TR_2203 PACIFICA TALK TALKING TRANSLATOR

Nothing’s more frustrating than not being able to communicate properly when asking directions, ordering a meal or stumbling through basic conversations in a foreign land. With the Lingo TR_2203 Pacifica Talk Talking Translator, your favorite traveler will no longer have to learn a foreign language to converse overseas. This state of the art translator converts over 200,000 words and 25,000 useful and popular phrases in 10 different languages, and then teaches the user how to phonetically pronounce the words at the touch of a button. Also acting as a business organizer, the Lingo TR_2203 allows the user to store all appointments, contacts and memos, provides metric and currency conversions and holds real world time in over 200 cities. Light and compact (5.5 ounces), the Lingo Pacifica Talk 10 is small enough to fit in a shirt or pant pocket and has an easy-to-use keyboard.

3. DELPHI XM MYFI(TM) PORTABLE SATELLITE RADIO

As hectic as traveling is, it can be equally dull. With the Delphi XM MyFi(TM) Portable Satellite Radio, however, your special someone will never be bored. They’ll enjoy real time content from a huge array of custom radio stations, 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. This incredible portable audio device additionally incorporates the XM Ultimate Playlist, up to 5 hours of fresh content and a host of XM channels (with no computer downloading or list management) live from coast to coast by satellite feed. The Delphi XM MyFi unit can also wirelessly transmit to any FM radio speaker system, car, home or portable device and comes complete with a large, illuminated LCD display, personal stock ticker, sports score ticker, alarm clock and more.

2. IGO JUICE70 UNIVERSAL NOTEBOOK POWER ADAPTER

OK, let’s face it … without enough “juice,” even the most sophisticated and valuable gadget is worthless! That’s why the iGo Juice70 is near the top of our list. The portable iGo Juice70 Universal adaptor weighs less than 9 ounces and allows for the recharging of notebook computer power as well as a second media device (such as a cellular phone or MP3 player) simultaneously.

… and if we can get a drum roll from the Little Drummer Boy …

1. SLINGBOX(TM) BY SLINGMEDIA

About KoolConnect

KoolConnect Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of advanced digital and HD media on demand solutions to luxury and upscale hotels worldwide. KoolConnect was the first company to offer HD VOD in the hospitality industry and today serves nearly 20,000 rooms in prestigious properties in the US, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai and Caribbean. To learn more about KoolConnect, visit http://www.koolconnect.com/.

We have entered the age of Playstation 3 and Wii.

Sony will sell its 400,000 American units promptly and unleash 6 million units by March, according to a CNNMoney article. The same coverage also points out a glitch in backwards compatibility rendering dozens of previous Playstation and Playstation 2 games unplayable. Sony does plan to fix the problem though. Almost 90,000 units of Playstation 3 left store shelves bare in Japan after its launch there last week.

The Nintendo Wii launches on the 19th to high anticipation and one of the better backward compatibility options which enables users to obtain and play games from the NES days.

Interestingly enough, both companies have been quiet with advertising lately. CNN noticed this too:

While there’s been plenty of talk about the PS3 and Wii, television ads have been scarce. Sony (Charts) started running some unusual PS3 ads in the past week, but Nintendo has been silent. Fils-Aime said that’s very deliberate.

Both companies have poured their coffers into development and the hype is certainly there, but something is missing for the PR guy in a useless yet entertaining advertising sweep; a cola-wars commercial battle between Sony and Nintendo with Microsoft scarily coming in as RC Cola just hasn’t been there. Wouldn’t you have loved to see a commercial where a Playstation 3 eats a Wii, or a Wii moves it’s magic “nun chuck” wand and makes a Playstation 3 disappear?

Alas, nobody does it like Coke/Pepsi and Bud/Miller.

The advertising clearly wasn’t a necessity, however, as even Ebay has to put limits on how much the Playstation 3 can be sold for.

Shares of Sony and Nintendo had been mixed today with Sony finishing slightly down and Nintendo finishing slightly up today in trading.

Is it Zune season?

Microsoft’s iPod killer came off its leash today. The WiFi-enabled personal music player enables users who are in close proximity to share their media with one another. The line looks promising with equivalent Microsoft versions of Apple’s Nano and Shuffle expected with flash media storage and Internet compatibility anticipated. Zune may also become a VoIP phone eventually, and CNNMoney reported an iPod phone is in the world. Zune also has an FM tuner on board if you’re feeling saucy.

Both companies will fare well with their computer and portable media products this season, however. Neither looks like they’re throwing a death blow quite yet, and the explains why both companies stocks were flat today. Apple was down slightly on anticipation of Microsoft’s Zune taking some kind of a swing at iPod’s virtual lock on the portable media market.

That’s the Rag for now. Now get out there and spend. If you need early gift ideas, CNN has a few ideas.

According to the report, which originated at the UK Register, over 70 schools in the UK’s country of Cumbria took fingerprints from students and provided a database of the results to local law enforcement officials. Thus, instead of the police getting fingerprint database from arrests and legitimate means, schools have forced children to submit their identities to the government.

Reaction has been passionate so far as lawsuits are considered, and one cause, Leave Them Kids Alone, has appeared as a repository for concerned and angry parents. The ramshackle website lists related news articles and developments. One article from the Telegraph shows nursery children have been fingerprinted at ages as low as three, a plan one Scottish official called “totally over the top and bizarre.” The nursery’s reason for taking toddlers’ fingerprints? They wanted to make sure children returned their library books on time.

Distressed parents and supportive officials are now getting together to determine the best course of action. Their cries seem to be resonating at some levels. The UKs Evening Telegram and Post reported one city has promised parents this practice will not go on in their schools.

One official told the paper that in regards to fingerprinting: “Dundee City Council does not operate this system in any of its schools. It ran in some schools years ago, but was dropped. The scheme was analysed (SIC) at the time, and it was decided not to progress with it.”

The same article did report, however, that biometric recognition systems have been used in the past to allow children to purchase school lunches in place of the traditional “milk money.”

Adding to the individual rights controversy, Engadget also reported Walt Disney World has started to collect the fingerprints of everyone that enters their parks and store mathematical representations of the same in a database. The report cites the necessity to protect Disney from ticket counterfeiting as the reason for taking prints off each park visitor.

This is a frightening state of affairs as Magic Kingdom and Epcot join Area 51 and NORAD as facilities you may need to provide fingerprint scans to access.

One British company may have found a way for both next-generation formats to exist in harmony.

New Medium Enterprises has developed technology to put multiple layers, containing multiple video formats, on single disks, which can be duplicate cheaply, removing consumer confusion in purchasing next-generation movie formats.

Consumer confusion breeds hesitation and hesitation breeds slow sales. If this technology takes off, it would be the first time in home-movie history, that two previously competing formats were able to thrive in co-existence.

CNN reported the company has created a method to write multiple layers to a single disk, cheaply, with a decreased risk in low yield or bad disks.

The technology hopes to result in a world where Sony’s Blu-Ray and Toshiba-backed HD-DVD can both succeed. It’s a great idea and something that does have a lot of potential, but I do not think this will happen. One technology will inevitably surpass the other and like betamax and laserdisc, this town ain’t big enough for two formats.

Blu-Ray has been the early leader, but its price has hindered any kind of brand explosion. Both formats have suffered from a mass of sub-par titles as different movie studies feel the waters.

Some people are saying, “why bother” and there is genuine consensus that we should just stick with DVD.

These same people, however, thought VHS would survive against DVD–which was also expensive at the time.

So why bother with this technology?

Look at the prices of traditional DVD players and 5.1 home theater audio/video receivers. They are dropping at a very rapid pace. The next generation of home video can produce DTS ES 7.1 digital sound standard and 1080p high-definition resolution.

DVD is not high-definition. It looks and sounds great, but we are still at the point where a $5,000 plasma television really can’t do what it’s meant to do under current technology.

Only time (read: the 2007 holiday shopping season) will tell.