The folks over at iPodMods.com are now helping those that bought a 5th Generation Video iPod or a Zune upgrade to a larger internal hard drive. $299 gets your portable media device 100GB, which seems like a steep price, unless you consider that there is no easier way to have this much space on your iPod or Zune (unless you do it yourself).

With in-depth installation guides that include a step-by-step procedure and pictures, this kit seems like the easiest method of expanding storage size on iPods and Zunes. If your interested, here is a list of all models from Microsoft and Apple that are supported:

To check and see which revision you have, simply browse to the settings on your iPod and click on “About”. If your model number matches any of the ones below then you can upgrade your iPod Video/Zune to a 100GB drive:

Fifth-Enhanced (5.5G) Generation (Video)

* 30GB white: MA444LL/A

* 30GB black: MA446LL/A

* 80GB white: MA448LL/A

* 80GB black: MA450LL/A

Fifth (5.0G) Generation (Video)

* 30GB white: MA002LL/A

* 30GB black: MA146LL/A

* 60GB white: MA003LL/A

* 60GB black: MA147LL/A

* 30GB U2: MA452LL/A

Microsoft Zune Digital Media Player

* 30GB Brown JS8-00003

* 30GB Black JS8-00001

* 30GB White JS8-00002

It’s not the 1st time we’ve seen the prices on the HD-DVD players drop. This time, they’re calling it a “strategic reduction” but we the consumers can think of it as “an increasingly better deal.” Looking to stave off the PS3 Blu-ray player, Toshiba is slashing the prices on all of their HD-DVD players. This means you can pick up their base model (the HD-A2) for $399 and their high-end model (the HD-A20) for $499.

Of course this still makes the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 the best deal if you’ve already bought the console and you’re looking to make the jump into HD.

[gamesindustry.biz]

Starting March 27, 2007, Systemax PC will start selling a new version of their Pursuit 4155 laptop product line, now with the Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. The Systemax Pursuit 4155 laptop is already packed with some great features like a built-in 1.3 Mega Pixel camera, several input/output ports, up to 1000 Mbps LAN, and a great processor from the Intel Centrino Duo Mobile family, and with the addition of Windows Ultimate already installed, this laptop is a great deal.

Right now, the Pursuit 4155 laptop is being advertised at $999.99, which is a competitive offer that gives consumers the option to save money on a new version of the Windows OS while purchasing a powerful laptop.

Read the rest of the story for the full laptop specifications.
(more…)

Not exactly a gadget, but if you’ve got one of those new-fangled Blu-Ray players or a PS3 around now’s the perfect time to boost the ‘ol library. Amazon is running a 50% off sale on over 40 titles, and there’s actually a few decent ones in here. Black Hawk Down, House of Flying Daggers, Memento and more than a few others.

No time limit on the sale, I guess it’ll be there till they’re gone.

[Via TheLastBoss]

Starting today, TiVo Series 2 and 3 users, as well as Windows Vista and XP users, can begin using Amazon’s new Unbox service. Similar to full-length movie and television show downloads on iTunes, Amazon Unbox will allow consumers yet another option to watch their favorite video entertainment. Those who already have a compatible TiVo DVR (unfortunately, Amazon Unbox does not support other DVR’s at the moment) can register their TiVo on Amazon and receive a free $15 to apply to videos from the Unbox service.

For users that use DirectTV TiVo or a Series 1 TiVo, or for those that have canceled their TiVo subscription, there is another option. People fortunate enough to use Windows XP or the shiny new Vista are able to use Amazon Unbox on their PC. In other words, no Linux or Mac support is available yet. Of course, there are minimum system requirements, since the videos are at near DVD-quality and could, in the future, become true 480p. Here are the specifications needed to run the Amazon Unbox Video Player:

Minimum System Requirements

OPERATING SYSTEM: The Amazon Unbox video player application is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, or Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise. The Amazon Unbox video player is not compatible with Apple/Macintosh operating systems.

COMPUTER HARDWARE: A PC with a 1.5-gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster, at least 256MB of memory, and a DirectX 9.0 compliant Video (64 MB Memory) and Sound Card.

INTERNET CONNECTION: Broadband internet connection capable of 800 kbps sustained transfer speeds.

Recommended System Specifications

COMPUTER HARDWARE: A PC with a 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster, at least 1 GB of memory, and a DirectX 9.0 compliant Video (128 MB Memory) and a Multi Channel 5.1 Capable Sound Card.

INTERNET CONNECTION: Broadband internet connection capable of 1.5+ mbps of sustained transfer speeds.

With quite a few videos to download and the main competition from AppleTV being nonexistent thanks to delays, Amazon’s Unbox may gain a lot of ground in the downloadable-entertainment market.

In a somewhat shocking development — well shocking to me — XM and SIRIUS have decided to throw competition out the window and merge as a powerful satellite radio megaton robot. From the press release detailing the agreement:

XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion, which includes net debt of approximately $1.6 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, XM shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 4.6 shares of SIRIUS common stock for each share of XM they own. XM and SIRIUS shareholders will each own approximately 50 percent of the combined company.
Mel Karmazin, currently Chief Executive Officer of SIRIUS, will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Gary Parsons, currently Chairman of XM, will become Chairman of the combined company. The new company’s board of directors will consist of 12 directors, including Messrs. Karmazin and Parsons, four independent members designated by each company, as well as one representative from each of General Motors and American Honda. Hugh Panero, the Chief Executive Officer of XM, will continue in his current role until the anticipated close of the merger.

Booyakasha. Another win for Howard Stern? I guess XM figured if you can’t beat em, join em.

I’ve recently been looking into going HD, problem is I’m not made of money. I would love to drop $3,000 on a beautiful 1080p LCD, but I’m realistic and try not to live beyond my means. I’ve been looking at different options and every cheap HDTV I’ve come across is either:

1. A no name brand or worse, a company that is known for making crappy toasters

2. Something that gets horrible reviews from users on sites like Newegg

So you can understand my skepticism when I found the Syntax Olevia 37 inch for under $700. I was originally looking for a modest 32 inch and willing to pay over $1000 so to say the least, I was a little apprehensive. Further inspection showed that TV had an overall higher than expected review score.

(more…)