So you’re part of the remnant on this earth that still owns video tapes but have run out of players to play them. Why not digitize these video tapes instead? At least you will be able to loop them infinitely on your PC, and best of all is there is no need to rewind those tapes once you’re done as everything can be done at the click of a button. ION Audio has just released its VCR 2 PC device that connects to your PC via USB 2.0, with an adjacent composite connection for camcorders, while RCA output is located on the back to playback previews on a TV. In the PAL version, you will find the SCART output as well. All digital conversion will be in the H.264 for ipod/PSP or MPEG-2 for DVD authoring formats. (Read the full post about ‘ION VCR 2 PC digitizes old memories’…)

I’m notorious for being hard on my mobile gadgets. Phones, iPods and even cameras seem to have a way of getting dropped, scratched, ran over and all around destroyed when I carry them around for too long. I like to think that I’ve gotten better over the years, as my current ipod, laptop and camera  are all still in pristine condition. While I have considered getting a rugged laptop at times due to my clumsy nature, I can’t say that I’ve ever really thought about getting a rugged desktop. If you’re working in extreme conditions and need something with a little more punch than your average Toughbook, this Vigor Evo HD from NextComputing would certainly be worth a look. (Read the full post about ‘Vigor Evo PC knows how to take a hit’…)

Only days after the announcement of the NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 Classic, there is already an NFC-compatible accessory that goes with it. The Parrot PARTY Black Edition, according to its makers, is the first in the world to commercialize Near Field Communications Technology or NFC. What this means is that not only is it small and portable, but it will be very easy to pair up with compatible devices and pump up the volume. It’s not just easy, it’s ridiculously easy. Think knocking the two devices against each other and you get the picture. Other than being NFC-enabled, this baby also comes with a built-in Class-D amplifier, two drivers that collectively pump out 6 watts of power, Stereo Widening, and a so-called Virtual SuperBass technology.

(Read the full post about ‘Parrot rolls out world’s first NFC-enabled speaker’…)

The blogs are abuzz with rumors of T-Mobile finally launching a 3G network here in the US. According to TmoNews, New York will be the first city to get the coveted high-speed connections in May. Another 24 cities will also be outfitted with 3G in the coming months. Of course this is all rumor and not confirmed, so take it with a grain of salt. And it means jack squat for us Sidekick users, until a 3G version of the Sidekick comes out. But with T-Mobile supporting 3G in the near future, that means there is more motivation for them to get out a 3G version of the Sidekick in order to keep that market going.

(Read the full post about ‘T-Mobile to launch 3G’…)

Recently the 13-inch notebook segment has emerged as being one of the most competitive segments in notebook design and also the most diverse sets of products available. This size was already quite interesting when the major players were the Dell M1330, Sony SZ, and Apple’s MacBook, but the shot in the arm came with the Lenovo X300 and macbook air. The last two made it clear that 13-inch notebooks were not only capable thin-and-light systems, but could also be designed to be sub-3lb and compete with ultraportables. Sony’s SZ is not a flyweight like the Air or X300, but rather is going for that powerful-yet-portable role. (Read the full post about ‘Review: Sony SZ Premium Notebook’…)

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 21st 2008 at 5:08AMJerry Shen, ASUS CEO, is casually twisting Eee PC fans into a tizzy this morning. At the launch of the 8.9-inch Eee PC 900 in Taiwan, he uttered the magical phrase “10-inch Eee PC” for the first time. Expected sometime later this year, Shen said that the 10-inch screen will be the biggest allowed on the Eee PC. Good for you Jerry, but we’ve got the feeling that you’ve completely forgotten about the original promise of a $200, 7-inch laptop. Surely we’re due for a price drop now that the 900 is out, right?Update: Asus also confirmed that an Atom-based Eee PC will launch at the Computex show just like we heard. (Read the full post about ‘ASUS: 10-inch Eee PC coming this year, Atom in June’…)

Instead of getting yourself at the end of a long queue for an air ticket, you have an option that can make traveling on a business trip more than luxurious. The biggies in the Market are gearing up with the idea of super luxury liners that can be adopted by those who can afford them. To start off with we have the 160,000 tonne liner called the Independence of the Seas. It will be arriving in Southampton at the end of this month. There’s also the ever luxurious Royal Caribbean liner that is in line with the biggest liners in the world. And this claim is justified since the crew on the ship serves a total of 100,000 meals a week to a total of 3,600 passengers. (Read the full post about ‘Let’s take to the sea for $1 billion’…)

From rumor to sale in about two months’ time — not bad. The Sanyo Katana LX is now available through Sprint, offering a worthy replacement to the aging Katana II at the same price point, $49.99 on contract after rebates. Fashion is the name of the game here, thanks to a trendy see-through front cover revealing an external display underneath and availability in three collect-’em-all colors: Liquid Graphite, Pacific Blue, and Elegant Pink. You’re also going to get GPS, Bluetooth, and a VGA cam — but one thing you aren’t going to get is EV-DO, so steer clear if you have a need for speedy bits. (Read the full post about ‘Sanyo Katana LX now available on Sprint’…)

Starlight Fibre Optic Lamp Oh dear. Lava lamps are back again. For about the third or fourth time. Last time, they were back ‘in’ for about six weeks in summer 2006 while on Big Brother or somesuch, before being declared spectacularly ‘out’ by the time the leaves started to fall. Such are the perils of being a fashion icon. See price Tags: robots, equipment, gear, cameras (Read the full post about ‘Starlight Fibre Optic Lamp’…)

A Japanese company called Solid Alliance is selling an Apple iPod cover that’s designed to look like RAW MEAT. It comes in a cellophane-and-Styrofoam package just like meat does. We’ve reviewed plenty of ipod/iphone cases before, but this one gets bonus points for originality. I wonder what my dog will think. iPod… It’s what’s for dinner? (Read the full post about ‘Raw Meat iPod Cover’…)