Best Gadgets World

Rumors have been flying around that Steve Jobs will announce downloadable movie rentals via iTunes during his keynote speech tomorrow. The rumor pegs the price per download as being $3.99 per movie. That’s pretty close to what you’re going to pay for a new release at your local Blockbuster store. What does this mean for Netflix? It’s obvious that they’re a little worried about it, as they have announced unlimited streaming rentals for customers on their $16.99 a month plan starting today.

For me, this is a no-brainer. I’m currently a Netflix subscriber, and will be affected by this (not that I ever used the 17 hours per month that I was allotted before. Since I only pay around $17, that’s only a buck more than if I rented four movies from iTunes. Looking at my Netflix plan, I get 3 DVDs at a time, plus all of the streaming movies I want. Why would I switch?

I will point out that there are a couple of pitfalls to steaming movies from Netflix. First, you only have a selection of 6,000 titles, thought that’s still not too bad. The quality of the movies aren’t the best, but not horrible. My biggest complaint is that I need to hook up a PC to my TV and then open up Internet Explorer (it doesn’t work with Firefox, anther complaint) if I want to watch a movie on a decent-sized screen. In all, I think Apple is going to have a tough time taking a significant share of the market from Netflix. Then again, you never know what they have up their sleeve.

Source: TechCrunch

<!– ch_client = “gadgets”; ch_type = “rpu”; ch_noprice = “1″; ch_width = 468; ch_height = 90; ch_color_title = “#B40505″; ch_non_contextual = 1; ch_nosearch = 1; ch_default_category = “89″; ch_font_title = “Arial”; ch_font_text = “Arial”; ch_sid = “Coolest Gadgets RPU”; ch_alternate_css_url = “http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/rpu2.css”; ch_target = “_blank”; var ch_queries = new Array( ” Netflix offers unlimited streaming movies to customers” ); var ch_selected=Math.floor((Math.random()*ch_queries.length)); if ( ch_selected

For the hunter and/or assassin (or both) on your gift list, you might want to consider the very cool Night Scope Illuminator from Xenonics. This company is known exclusively for the development and production of advanced, lightweight and ultra-high intensity illumination products that serve the military, law enforcement, public safety and private sectors.

Their new SuperVision Illuminator was specifically designed for commercial and military applications. It makes it impossible to miss an unsuspecting prey in the dark (even if the stalker is a terrible shot).

This infrared illumination device, when used in conjunction with the SuperVision night system, claims a high definition display that reveals everything that would otherwise be in total darkness; every leaf on a tree, every hair on the back of the poor little deer (or former dear) you are about to shoot.

The SuperVision Illuminator is a very new product that will be shown at the up and coming Shooting, Hunting Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT), which will be held in Las Vegas at the beginning of next month.

The question is: Will the deer unite and come forward with a new protective night scope all their own?

Only time will tell.

In the mean time, keep dancing.

Read [Mobile Mag]

Posted Jan 14th 2008 12:48PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Laptops Those looking for something a little less nostalgic than the Amiga OS to put on their OLPC XO may want to head over to the always handy OLPC News website, which now has not one but two step-by-step tutorials for installing Ubuntu on the little green laptop. As you might guess, however, neither option is exactly the most straightforward of OS installs, but they should be easy enough for anyone with a little Linux experience under their belt. Of course, given the OLPC’s somewhat limited capabilities, you’ll also need more than just the laptop and an Ubuntu CD to get things rolling — namely, a USB drive or SD card with at least 600MB of space and another computer running Linux — but we’re guessing those requirements won’t be much of a problem for anyone considering the move to a decidedly less kid-friendly OS.

[Image courtesy of moocapiean]

Posted Jan 14th 2008 12:26PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Microsoft, the ever-present target of scorn from the little guy, has once again been hit with antitrust charges in the EU, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal today. This time it’s charges related to the company’s refusal to disclose “interoperability information” for a variety of products, including Office, which is keeping competitors from marketing compatible software (we’ve heard complaints of this type from Open Office users for some time). Additionally — just as we reported in December — Norwegian web browser outfit Opera is stepping up to the plate, alleging that Redmond’s inclusion of Internet Explorer with its ubiquitous operating system leaves little room for rival companies to enter the game. Considering how Microsoft’s last antitrust case went in the EU, this may bode poorly for the giant, though a ruling in favor of reforms could benefit the end user. Stay tuned to this space for more information as we get it.

In the wake of the announcement of a joint LG/Netflix set-top box at CES, the Associated Press is reporting that Netflix plans on lifting the limits on internet viewing for most of their customers.Until now, Netflix imposed limits on how long subscribers could watch streamed movies. Those who paid $16.99/mo. could stream up to 17 hours per month. only those subscribers with the $4.99 for two DVDs per month will still have limits on the “watch instantly” service. The change is set to take effect this Monday the 14th.

With all the buzz surrounding the presumed entrance of Apple into the movie rental biz, it seems a safe bet that the power of Netflix’s user base (over 7 million) will be excellent leverage against the iTunes store. And with the new set-top box coming sometime this summer, Netflix seems to be positioning itself for it’s second act beyond the optical disc market.

Read [Associated Press]

Ever hear a bump in the night? You know that late hour when you stumble into something on the way to the bathroom, or when you’re trying to sneak in without disturbing your partner (or bunkmate)?

Philip’s new motion-sensitive SpotOn illuminates your path as you pass by (about 15-20 seconds) with a subtle white light. Powered by three subtle LEDs bulbs (battery operated and batteries included!), it attaches almost anywhere with stick-on tape (included). Handy for hallways as well as the back of your closet or deep cupboards.

Fumble free forever!

Price: $15.99 at Amazon.

Posted Jan 14th 2008 8:41AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable VideoSplendid news on the Canadian front — it seems as if that proposed tax on digital recorders and storage devices (you know, like Apple’s iPod for instance) will actually not come to pass. According to Judge Karen Sharlow, the board “had no legal authority to certify a tariff on digital audio recorders or on the memory permanently embedded in digital audio recorders.” The ruling enables all music lovin’ Canucks to breath a sigh of relief, as it makes tacking on fees ranging from C$5 ($4.95) to C$75 ($74) in order to “compensate the recording industry for music that was copied” illegal . From here, a decision still needs to be made to clarify the legality (or illegality) of copying music from discs to DAPs, but at least we’re seeing a touch of levelheadedness in the music biz, regardless.

[Via ArsTechnica]

Posted Jan 14th 2008 5:17AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Cellphones
Mmmm, the LG Prada (AKA, LG-KE850) was just turned out in silver. 18 European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will see the new version of LG’s touchscreen later this month. Besides the color change the phone now features a proper on-screen QWERTY, not just T9 — thank you LG! Really, that’s all we could hope for.

Gallery: LG’s silver Prada gets a new on-screen QWERTY

[Via Akihabara News]

Posted Jan 14th 2008 2:56AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable VideoIt wouldn’t be the first time a company has used the press to bolster their negotiating position. Nevertheless, after saying the “iPhone model was not suitable for China” back in November, a spokesperson for China Mobile now says they’ve “terminated” discussions with Apple to bring the iPhone to China. China’s largest carrier gave no reasons for the decision though the fee sharing agreement is likely a contributing factor. Well Steve, there’s always China Unicom.

Posted Jan 14th 2008 3:36AM by Thomas RickerOh noes. An independent investigation launched last week into an alleged multi-million-dollar slush fund has raided the homes of Samsung chairman, Lee Kun-Hee, and six other Samsung execs. The chairman and the executives are already banned from leaving the country. The investigation saw some 50 investigators seize documents and a laptop from Lee’s Seoul villa after a search lasting several hours. Samsung, for its part, has denied the long whispered bribery claims, made formal by its former chief lawyer last year.