Media centers seem to be all the rage nowadays, as high definition movies and television shows, as well as higher quality picture and music have started to invade the market. While some recent additions to the media center families, like AppleTV and distinguished models from several startup companies have been impressive, none have really captured the idea of replacing a Tivo, computer, amplifier, receiver, Netflix deliveries, media players, DVD player, and catch-all computer … until now.

As Alienware describes it, the Hangar 18 can do just about anything:

* Watch - Watch, pause, and record your movies, TV shows, photos, and internet videos on your widescreen TV in high definition
* Listen - Listen to all your favorite songs and artists with Hangar18’s onboard 5.1 surround sound amplifier
* Share - Wirelessly stream all your media to other PCs, mobile devices, and media extenders throughout your home.
* Download - Download content from all over the internet to one secure location to store and share with your home and others.

Full details and more pictures inside!
(more…)

This gorgeous little number is Canon’s new TX1 digital camera, and Canon wants you to think of it as a hybrid imaging device. Its tall, camcorder-style design gives engineers more front-to-back room to work with, permitting Canon to fit a 10x optical zoom lens inside. The lens retracts into the camera body when powered off. Consider yourself teased.

If you’re not rubbing your legs together in lusty anguish, then this will send you over the top: the TX1 also records HD video at 720p. Optical image stabilization and a 1280×720 30fps movie mode should make for excellent quality video, allowing you to ‘have it all’ in one sleek package.

Canon packs in the latest in their digital processor line, the DIGIC III, giving it 2.2 frames per second continuous-shooting speed. Throw in Face Detection autofocus and ISO settings from 80 to 1600, and this ultracompact is set to catch anyone’s tech-loving loins ablaze. Look for this very soon, set to sell for about $500.

Engineer Isaac Daniel has created a piece of technology that inspires a “why the hell didn’t I think of that” slap to the head, GPS embedded shoes.  The idea came from an incident involving his son where the boy had gone missing.

The product, which will hit stores next month is designed to work in tandem with a 24-hour monitoring service which people can call to track whoever is wearing the shoe.  Unfortunately at this stage of the game it’s for emergencies only, (I wonder if spying on my girlfriend on Friday nights would be considered an “emergency”).  

Currently the sneakers are available in six different designs and resemble running shoes.  They also have an “on/off” switch to activate or deactivate the GPS functionality.  This functionality can be turned on or off automatically via the monitoring station just in case the user is unable to do so.

Sounds like a pretty neat idea.  Now if they only put them in a pair of Timms…

[Via Wired]

Normally I boycott anything Kleenex does, but damnit this won me over. Head over here and create your own piece of art you know you want to.

[via bowels of Digg]

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking cause I’m a cracka that this is a racial thing. Well, it ain’t. I may be the only person on the planet, but I happen to love my Zune and today, I actually had to give my black one back to Microsoft (I had it on loan for a month or so). When I saw that I had to send it back today, I was saddened … greatly. Well, thanks to the large amounts of gold I found in Vegas a couple weeks ago, I just went ahead and actually spent my own money on the damn thing.

Since I had the black one before, I decided to give white a spin. And you know what? It’s HOT! Now I hear brown is da shit (no pun intended), but white is pretty damn slick. Why am I writing this? Well, I just wanted to let y’all know where I stand on the Zune and if you’re thinking of picking one up, I suggest you go for white. I hear it brings all the girls to the yard.