Speaking of relaxing, after mowing the lawn, I like to lay back in the hammock and listen to some tunes. To fully engulf myself into the sound, I reach for the Aerial7 Chopper2 headphones. These headphones are designed to give you optimal sound from your iPod™, BlackBerry™ or any other MP3 player or phone. What’s cool about the Aerial7 Headphones is most of them are compatible with the iPhone™ and Skype™. With a 3.5mm adapter and built in slim profile microphone you can listen to your favorite music and not have to worry about missing a phone call. If you are more of an “in ear” person, check out the Aerial7 SUMO line of headphones. They offer the same great sound, and also feature the slim line microphone. If you go to www.aerial7.com, you can certainly find the style and design that fits your style. GET TO THE CHOPPER!!! Sorry, had to do that, please read in your best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice!!
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I found a really cool gadget from Crosley Radio. The Crosley Revolution™ turntable will truly rock your world. Yes, that is right the Crosley Revolution™ plays record albums! You remember those right? The cool thing is the Crosley Revolution™ can play your 45s or full albums through your FM Stereo, through the built in speaker, or my favorite option you can connect it to your computer and record them into audio files which can be converted to MP3 files. I know what you are saying, you can download the MP3 files on-line, guess what not every record is on iTunes! Find those records in the basement you haven’t heard in years, convert them for your iPhone and rock out to your favorite tunes. Another cool thing about the Crosley Revotution™ is it is portable. It takes up very little space, and can run on AC or batteries making it easy for you to move all around your house. It was fun to find records I have not downloaded, or couldn’t download and hear them again. Check out the Crosley Revolution™ at www.crosleyradio.com.
Crosley iJuke
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a Jukebox! Tracking down a real 45’s (if you know what that is) record jukebox is next to impossible, so I turned to my friends at Crosley Radio! Known for their audio products, I knew Crosley would have something cool. The iJuke® Premier is a desktop jukebox which has an iPod dock and CD player. With blinking neon lights, and authentic jukebox look, this not only would look great in any game room, but it sounds great as well. Listen to your iPod or favorite CD using the fully functional remote control. The iJuke® Premier is lightweight, so on warm summer nights I bring it out on my deck and relax to my favorite tunes. My goal is to find a spot where I can upgrade to a full size Crosley Jukebox! If you have that person on your list who has a cool game room or mancave and is impossible to buy for, check out www.crosleyradio.com and check out all their unique audio products.
Does dad own a motorcycle? Cardo Systems’s G4 PowerSet is a Bluetooth headset that helps motorcyclists stay connected while riding. The Cardo System’s G4 PowerSet comes in a package of two that are paired together to help riders communicate with one another. The G4 Powerset has some great cool features. First you can communicate with another rider with a range of up to 1 mile! Secondly, with the Click-to-Link™ feature, if you see another rider with a G4 PowerSet, you can easily connect to communicate with that rider. Thirdly, with the multi-device connectivity, you can listen to your MP3 player or connect to your cell phone in addition to talking to your riding partner. Fourth, having the windscreen mouthpiece will reduce the amount of bugs in dad’s teeth! For more information or technical specs, visit them on-line at www.cardosystems.com.
If you can’t make it to your local Hooters to watch the big game, turn your living room into a theatre with the Casio Green Slim Projectors. During the Super Bowl this year, I was projecting the game in stunning 1080i High Definition Video onto a screen that measured 9 feet x 5 feet! Typically projecting an image that size you lose quality, however this was certainly NOT the case with the Casio XJ-A150 projector. The Casio Green Slim projector is so easy to set-up; my 13-year old daughter had it up and running to watch a Boston Bruins game while I was out running errands. One of the best features of the Green Slim projectors is the projector can run up to 20,000 hours without changing lamps with up to 3,000 lumens. What does that mean to you and I? It means a quality picture that your neighbors will be talking about for weeks! You can connect to your laptop for stunning presentations, or use the HDMI input to connect to most High Definition video devices. The sleek design which measures 11.69×8.26×1.69 (LxWxH) makes the Casio Green Slim Projector extremely portable. I can’t wait to get this projector outside on a nice summer night to entertain the neighborhood with a game or movie. For all the technical specs on the Casio Green Slim line of projectors, visit www.greenslimprojector.com.
I have been looking for a camera somewhere between the new compact digital cameras and the high end digital SLR cameras. Olympus has answered the call! The Olympus Pen E-PL1 gives you a compact digital camera with the ability to change lenses like a high end SLR. The Olympus Pen E-PL1 gives you 12.3 megapixels and the ability to shoot video in 720p high definition. Read the rest of this entry
The Orb MP-1 is something every music lover needs. Are you tired of lugging around speakers, or hooking your iPod up to your stereo? I know I am! I want to control all my music and not be limited to where my iTouch or Android is located. Simply hook up the Orb MP-1 to your stereo system, and you can control all the media from your computer with the Orb Controller for your iPod, iPhone or Android and free Orb Caster on your computer Windows or Mac. Read the rest of this entry
The Eye-Fi is one of the best gadgets for your digital camera. Simply put, the Eye-Fi is a wireless SD memory card. Thats right, a wireless memory card. You can upload your pictures directly from your digital camera to your computer and even Facebook or any other social media sites. You can also geotag your photos which will automatically tag where the picture was taken. This was so easy to set-up; I was uploading pictures to my computer and social media sites within minutes. You can pick up to 35 wi-fi networks on a single card. Read the rest of this entry
For a real special gift, give mom or dad something personal. This is the ULTIMATE gift idea that I GUARANTEE he/she will LOVE! Heck, you dont even have to give me credit for the idea, just hope they dont read this column. The Kodak Easyshare S730 Digital Picture Frame. I know what you are thinking, what makes THAT the perfect gift? Here is what you do, prior to giving the Kodak S730, take it out of the box and pre-load it with pictures of the family. Kodak makes it extremely easy to upload pictures as the Easyshare S730 Digital Picture Frame comes with 1 gig of memory built in so you dont have to worry about external drives and formatting nightmares. They will love the quick touch border that will help them navigate through the pictures and the picture finder feature that helps find pictures from the same date to help show memories from specific trips. The 7 inch digital screen shows vibrant Kodak colors in every image, there is even an option to divide the screen into different sections showing multiple pictures at once. The Kodak Easyshare S730 Digital Picture Frame is very affordable; however pre-loading it with pictures makes it priceless! For all the specs and details visit http://store.kodak.com!
Here is a gift mom and dad can share! The iLuv iMM183 Dual Dock Alarm Clock will keep their relationship strong as there will never be a fight to see who gets to charge their iPod using the iLuv iMM183! Why you may ask? The dual dock in dual dock alarm clock is not only because there are two alarm settings, but there are two iPod docking stations which both charge your iPod or iPhone at once! Once you choose which one to listen too, the sound from the iMM183 is impressive! There are some other features which I think are pretty cool. You can setup the iMM183 for NOAA alerts. I walked into my room the other day and saw there were flash flood warnings for my area in New Hampshire. If you have an iPhone, you can receive a call while docked! Simply hit the answer button and the call will be on speaker phone utilizing the iPhone microphone and the iLuv speaker system. While listening to your favorite tunes, the remote control allows you to easily navigate through your favorite playlist. Whether (yes that was a pun) you use the iLuv iMM183 as an alarm clock, weather alert or an additional docking station, the iLuv is perfect gift for mom & dad. For all the features and other great iLuv products, check them out on-line at www.i-luv.com.
Only seven letters in the alphabet separates i from p. However when it comes to 1080i and 1080p the difference is huge! What I am talking about is high definition television. I thought I had it good with a 60 inch 1080i high definition tv in my living room. That was until the LG SL90 LED HDTV showed up at my door. Honestly, I cannot believe how great this picture looks. The picture seems to jump off the screen. I love seeing changes in technology and LG Electronics seems to lead the way! One nice thing about the LG SL90 is LG has given you plenty of opportunity to get the best out of all your inputs. There are a total of four HDMI inputs giving you plenty of room for a blu-ray player, gaming system, HD-DVR or satellite receiver. The hidden speakers add to the sleek design which will fit in any room in the house. Mounting options make it easy to wall mount, or place on a table top. To truly see LG Electronics leading the way, visit their website at www.lge.com.
To ease the pain of being away from home, check out the Aluratek WiFi/Wireless Internet Radio. The Aluratek Internet Radio can bring 11,000+ radio station with you from anywhere in the world. Being able to listen to your favorite radio station will keep you up to date with news and information from your hometown. Team up the Aluratek Internet Radio with the Altec Lancing Expressionist Plus speaker system and you have yourself one great sounding system.
The Altec Lancing Expressionist Plus speaker system can also hook up to your iPod, computer or any other portable device giving you great sounding audio. Visit www.aluratek.com for information on the Aluratek WiFi/Wireless Internet Radio or www.alteclancing.com for information on great sounding speaker systems.
Philips makes some great gifts that are perfect for the holiday season. In keeping with the iPod touch/iPhone theme earlier, the Philips DC315 docking system would be a great gift for the business executive on your holiday list. What is cool about this system is you can dock your iPod touch or iPhone, connect the system to your PC via a USB cable and synchronize your contacts, to-do list and calendar. All that with the ability to accept calls via your Bluetooth connection and an audio system that sounds great, all while charging your iPod touch or iPhone. Read the rest of this entry
There will be a bunch of people who get a new High Definition Television for a gift. What these people will soon realize is picture quality is only half the need for a great viewing experience. Then they will start to look into expensive 7.1 surround sound systems that are not only costly but nearly impossible to hide all the wires around your living room. Well for great audio; look no further than the Polk Audio SurroundBar® SDA® Instant Home Theater. Im torn in picking out its best feature. Great sound that fills the room has to be the best feature right? Or is it the ease of setting up this self contained system with wireless subwoofer that can be up and running within minutes, or is it the price? It all comes back to the great sound of this little bar. The best compliment I can give the Polk Audio SurroundBar® SDA® Instant Home Theatre happened the other day. While getting ready for the big game, I had three different people tell me my TV sounds so much better than theirs. I had to explain to them that TV manufacturers are trying to make HDTVs so small now they are cutting and sacrificing when it comes to sound. I had to point out the SurroundBar as it blends in so nicely with my system. They, like me, were in shock when they heard the Polk Audio SDA® Surround Sound. I could go into all the technical details of why this sounds so great, but it would be better said from the audio gurus at Polk Audio. To get a sense of how this system works, visit www.polkaudio.com. If you dont understand all the technical aspects, I can tell you with movies or playing a game on your Xbox360, you will be hard pressed to find better audio.
Kodak has to be one of the first manufacturers you think of when you think of taking great pictures. Well Kodak has done it again with the new Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. There is no excuse for missing any special moment as the Kodak Zi8 offers full HD 1080p quality video with a pocket size camera. The feature I like best about the Kodak Zi8 is unlike many other pocket video cameras, the Zi8 has a built in five megapixel camera. If you want to share your photos or videos, the Kodak Zi8 has a built in USB adaptor and software that lets you easily upload to your favorite social media sites. With an optional high speed SD card, you can record hours of HD video, and photos. Another nice feature is the rechargeable Li-Ion battery which saves you money and time replacing batteries over the life of the camera. For all the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera has to offer, visit them on-line at www.kodak.com.
This time of year not only brings in the holidays, but some great TV as well. You have the FedEx Cup, NASCAR, NFL, NHL and a variety of programming. To keep up with all that is going on, you need a universal remote that is easy to use and can stand up to the constant clicking! I have had several universal remotes; however there was always one device that just wouldnt communicate with the remote. The Philips Prestigo SRT9320 universal remote control is the first remote I have had that completely controls my DirecTV receiver, DVD/VHS combo unit and my surround sound system! The nice thing about the Philips Prestigo is it was extremely easy to program all these devices, and is a breeze to use. There is no need to try to remember which channel is ESPN or the Golf Channel, as once the Prestigo is programmed, you can use the channel logos that show up on the digital screen to select the channel you like. It is a lot easier to look down and see the Golf Channel logo, click and you are watching in no time. You can also set-up activities such as watch a movie that will turn on the DVD player, television and surround system with all the proper settings for optimal viewing! It doesnt matter who you are shopping for www.consumer.philips.com has products for everyone! Philips offers great electric shavers for mens grooming, products for new moms, Spa-at-home products for her as well as their signature consumer electronics products such as HDTVs, Blu-Ray DVD players, MP3 Players, home theatre systems and anything else you need! Philips Electronics is truly one stop shopping for all your household needs.
With the holidays approaching quickly, its time to start looking around for those cool little gadgets that will make a great present or perhaps a stocking stuffer. The iBlink headphones would make a great stocking stuffer this year. As soon as the iBlink headphones showed up at the house, my 12 year old daughter confiscated the package and instantly hooked these up to her iPod. What makes the iBlink headphones different is you get to see the beat of the music. The iBlink headphones, light up and pulse to the beat. The fact that the iBlink headphones has noise isolation is a good and bad thing. Of course its good because you can hear the sound better, however it turns into a bad thing quickly when people who cannot sing dont realize how loud they are singing! The iBlink headphones have an MSRP of $29.99 which makes these a great option to replace the standard headphones that come with many MP3 players. The iBlink headphones has the sound of headphones you would receive from headphones in that price range. If you are looking for true high fidelity sound, you will end up paying the price, but the iBlink headphones are perfect for my daughter and I believe would be perfect for yours. Check them out on-line at www.myiblinkusa.com!
You may think you are ready, but without the next two gadgets are you really ready? If you are a fantasy football player knowledge is the best thing to help your game. Everyone knows when a key player is hurt the rush is on to pick up their back-up. Those who delay and wait for the scroll on regular TV are those who are usually way too late. If you are building a Man Cave to watch the big games, you have to have the proper equipment. The Man Wall is a MUSTS for the Ultimate Man Cave. The Man Wall comes with a 42 Vizio Flat Panel LCD HDTV, THREE 26 Vizio Flat Panel LCD HDTVs, 100 Watt Panasonic 5.1 Home Theatre System, and a 7-Foot sports ticker with built in computer. But what would watching the game be without your favorite beer? Well the Man Wall has a built in Kegarator (keg size refrigerator) with tap! To see the technical specs and everything the Man Wall has to offer, check out their website at http://www.hybridspacefurniture.com/the-man-wall/. Now I ask again, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??
When it comes down to watching your favorite sports teams or playing video games in your man cave, you could purchase a 60-inch high definition television OR you could watch them on 120-inches from the Epson 72 MovieMate Projector.I have a 60-inch high definition television in my living room, but let me tell you there is nothing like heading down to the man cave and watching or playing on 120 inches of an incredible picture.Taking up an entire wall playing Madden Football or watching a game is like being on the field.Dont have a lot of space in your man cave?Thats OK too as from only 6.5 feet away the Epson MovieMate 72 projector can still project over 80 of 720p high definition picture.The other nice thing about the Epson MovieMate 72 is it is very easy to set-up using an HDMI connector or standard RCA plugs.The built in DVD player makes it extremely easy to watch your favorite movie.Priced at about the same or a little less than an HD television set, I will tell you this is an attention getter when you turn this on and people see the picture quality.When playing a multiplayer game, there is no need to squint when two or four players divide the screen.There is also a computer connection, so if you have a presentation for work, you dont have to worry if there will be a projector there, just pack up the Epson MovieMate 72 and you are on your way.For all the Epson MovieMate 72 has to offer, check out www.epson.com. When it comes down to watching your favorite sports teams or playing video games in your man cave, you could purchase a 60-inch high definition television OR you could watch them on 120-inches from the Epson 72 MovieMate Projector.I have a 60-inch high definition television in my living room, but let me tell you there is nothing like heading down to the man cave and watching or playing on 120 inches of an incredible picture.Taking up an entire wall playing Madden Football or watching a game is like being on the field.Dont have a lot of space in your man cave?Thats OK too as from only 6.5 feet away the Epson MovieMate 72 projector can still project over 80 of 720p high definition picture.The other nice thing about the Epson MovieMate 72 is it is very easy to set-up using an HDMI connector or standard RCA plugs.The built in DVD player makes it extremely easy to watch your favorite movie.Priced at about the same or a little less than an HD television set, I will tell you this is an attention getter when you turn this on and people see the picture quality.When playing a multiplayer game, there is no need to squint when two or four players divide the screen.There is also a computer connection, so if you have a presentation for work, you dont have to worry if there will be a projector there, just pack up the Epson MovieMate 72 and you are on your way.For all the Epson MovieMate 72 has to offer, check out www.epson.com.
Available in 4, 8, 16, 80 and 120 gig versions there is one for every style of mom. Imagine mom showing all those cute pictures of you growing up to all her friends, or listening to some of her favorite music while gardening. One thing I really like about the Zune is the built in FM tuner. Mom can listen to her favorite football game or NASCAR race if she is out and about working in the yard. She can also download her favorite television shows or movies to watch whenever she wants. The Zune software is built in making it extremely easy to load, and with built in wireless sync you can load using your home network with no cables. The screen is easy to read with a simple navigation screen to go from music, to videos, to pictures or the FM tuner. For a cost mom can download audiobooks from audible.com or other on-line libraries. Also, for $14.99 per month, she can subscribe to Zune Pass where she can access unlimited music downloads. With different styles there is a Microsoft Zune for every mom. Check out all the information about Microsoft Zune at www.Zune.net.
If you ever want to slip away in your own little world, I highly recommend the Creative Aurvana X-Fi noise canceling headphones. These may not be my wifes favorite as a few times when the kids were running wild; I was testing the noise cancellation feature and didnt hear her calling. The sound coming from these headphones is truly amazing. I wear the Aurvana X-Fi headphones with my eyes closed and it feels like I am in my own tiny universe. Three different settings allow you to pick the best sound for your listening style. The settings are noise canceling, X-Fi CMSS-3D® and X-Fi Crystalizer®. Noise canceling is just as it states, eliminating 90% of background noises. X-Fi CMSS-3D® gives you virtual surround sound while watching a movie from your MP3 player. X-Fi Crystalizer® enhances digital music giving you details you may never hear from your standard audio headphones. Probably the best feature of the Creative Aurvana X-Fi noise canceling headphones is the price. With an MSRP of $299.99 these headphones cost far less than their competition and sound far better. For all the features, benefits and technical specifications visit us.creative.com.
Chestnut Hill Sounds GEORGE is one such product. George is a tabletop audio system that is sending shockwaves through its competition. Chestnut Hill Sound based in Newton, MA has hit a homerun as powerful as a Manny Ramirez or David Ortiz smash out of Fenway Park! If you have an iPod, the George music system is a 125% Gotta Have Gadget.
One of the coolest features of George is the remote control. The remote actually mirrors the menu on your iPod. So if you can navigate an iPod, you will feel right at home using the George remote control. So while your iPod is docked to the unit, the remote control gives you the exact same menu, as you would have if you were looking at your iPod. If you decide you would like to switch to the radio, a simple push of a button and you are listening to your favorite radio stations. There is no longer an AM/FM button, as George has the bands integrated into one BANDLESS tuning system. To make it even easier to find your favorite station, you dont have to remember which button is programmed to a specific station as the 24 pre-set buttons display the station. Its great when I am using my treadmill as I take the remote, place it right on the treadmill and I have full control of my iPod with great sound.
All these features are nice, but why do you purchase a unit such as this? The answer is simple, the sound! George has a sound that simply fills any room. I can honestly say, Move over Bose, there is a new sheriff in town and his name is George. FIVE speakers in this compact system gives you incredible sound from any device. I still cant verify where the five speakers are in this compact unit, but I will tell you the sound from the moment I turned it on has been outstanding.
At a MSRP of $499 (including charging stand), George offers much more than many similar priced or even higher priced units. Ease of use, great sound all in a compact device are just a few reasons why George should find a place in any room in your house. Visit them on-line at www.chillsound.com.
Something I enjoy almost as much as golf is video production. I actually graduated from college with a degree in video production and worked in the video industry for some 15+ years. So when it comes to video products I tend to be a little pickier than most people. A few products that I really enjoy come from Pinnacle. The first is the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick. The PCTV HD Pro Stick is a USB TV Tuner for your PC. What most people dont realize is the best high definition signal you can get for your television is FREE. You dont need cable or satellite. Remember those old rabbit ear antennas prior to cable? That antenna can get you crisp uncompressed high definition video. The PCTV HD Pro Stick can accept signals from an antenna or cable. I remember watching NASCAR on my tv and the Ryder Cup in high definition on my pc through the PCTV HD Pro Stick. Its as easy to set-up as a cable box and before you know it you are watching crisp HD video on your PC.
I also enjoy editing my own videos and creating personal DVDs. The Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus editing software is extremely easy to use. Everyone has that one Uncle or Aunt who always has the video camera at special events. The Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus editing software would be the perfect gift for them. Features are easy to use for the beginner to the seasoned pro. After you edit your videos, you can use existing DVD menus to add that final personalized touch. Ask my nephew Kailen Richards about how cool it is to have your own DVD. I edited together his football game, and mixed in photos to music with a menu with his name in a very short time. There arent too many smiles bigger than a 5-year old watching himself on TV. Of course I created a monster, as my wife now wants me to take all our old family videos and put them onto DVDs. Well thanks to the Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus editing software it should be relatively easy. Check out all the cool video products Pinnacle has to offer at www.pinnaclesys.com.
I have been a big fan of the iPod video or now known as the iPod classic and thought there was no reason to upgrade. That was until I got my hands on the iPod touch. All the features that I loved in my iPod classic are incorporated into the iPod touch, plus so much more. The best feature is being able to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. Its great to be able to roll over in the morning before a round of golf and check the weather radar to know what to wear before I even get out of bed. Also, it was incredibly easy to connect to the iTunes store and download an album. Every day it seems I find something cool about the iPod touch. There are applications and games that can be purchased or free for download to add to your iPod touch experience. So if you want to check the weather, browse some videos on youtube or check the latest scores everything is at your fingertips with the iPod touch. Of course the main feature of the iPod has always been the music. With all the added features of the iPod touch, it was nice to see Apple didnt forget that it was all about the music. Browsing albums, artist and tracks is even easier with the big video display. A simple turn of the iPod touch and you are in widescreen mode making everything bigger and better. I have had the iPod touch for a few months now and it seems like everyday I find something new to do with my iPod Touch. Since I received my iPod touch, there has been a new version released with a built in speaker and new sleek design. At night I listen to my favorite playlist to relax before I fall a sleep, and in the morning I am checking the weather or checking my e-mail before I start the day. There are so many application you can download (some for a fee) to enhance your iPod touch. Some of my favorites are the 1000s of games, a cookbook, drink guide or my local weather radar. The iPod Touch easily connect to your wi-fi and is extremely easy to load your favorite mp3 files through iTunes. For more information on the iPod touch and some of the new features, visit www.apple.com/ipodtouch
I was at my nephews last football game taking videos. The cool thing was I was using a digital camera, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is far more than a digital camera. How many times have you taken a picture and had to retake the picture because someone blinked, moved or did something else that just ruined that one picture? The Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 has a burst mode that takes up to 60 frames per second. So as you are getting ready to snap the picture, the EX-F1 is already recording the frames surrounding the shot. So when reviewing your picture, just scroll back a few frames and there is the picture with everyones eyes wide open. In addition to the burst feature, the Casio EX-F1 can take High Definition Video. You chose between standard 6-megapixel digital photos or recording HD video. There is no need to carry around a camcorder and digital camera any longer. The Casio EX-F1 gives you everything you need in one compact camera. Just a warning if you are going to use the 12x zoom, you may want to make sure you have a tripod. Although the Casion EX-F1 has some image stabilization, it is very difficult to keep a steady hand at 12x zoom. The HD video looked awesome and together with the Pinnacle Studio Pro editing software I was able to make a great DVD that stood up to my 60 inch HDTV. For all the technical specs visit Casio on-line at www.casio.com/products/Cameras/.
