Wow! What a Nice Chumby...I Mean Streaming Internet Device!

The other day I went to a friend of mine's office and he started showing off his Chumby to me. Now as I.........okay that didn't exactly sound right so maybe I better start over. The other day I went to a friend of mine's office and he showed me his Chumby Internet Device. I'd have to say it was pretty impressive and quite unique. We know the Chumby has been out since late last year but this is the first time we actually found someone using it. Basically the Chumby is a wireless internert device that's a tad smaller than your typical alarm clock that streams content to "widgets" on the device.

The device is capable of streaming radio, news, weather and a lot more. I didn't get to spend much time with the device so I'm not quite sure how I'd use it but I'd assume it would set next to my computer and serve as a background tool while using my main computer. The Chumby might also be a great beside table device to keep an eye on your late night Ebay auctions. We'll work on getting a review unit to give you more of a detailed look but we wanted to let you know the Chumby is a pretty cool device.

Here's a few more details from Chumby.com:

What's a chumby?

The Chumby is a compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web: news, photos, music, weather, celebrity gossip, webcams, sports scores - using your wireless internet connection. Always on, it shows - nonstop - what's online that matters to you.

How does it work?

Just plug it in, connect to your wireless network, and use your computer to choose a playlist of "widgets" (the bite-sized applications that run on a chumby - check them out on the Browse Widgets page). And if, say, you want to see news, the surf report, and traffic in the morning, and animations, web cams and eBay auctions at night, you can group widgets in "channels." Watch constantly updated info, or use interactive widgets that take advantage of its touchscreen or motion sensor. You can even share widgets and send ecards to other people's chumbys.

With over 600 widgets across 30 different categories such as weather, social networks, photos, sports, news, entertainment, videos and much more, you'll find lots of stuff you'll love.

The Chumby is bit pricey at just under $200 but with a touchscreen and motion sensor, this just might be a cool little device to have around the house or office.

At Chumby.com

Chumby at Amazon.com

Grace Audio Spices Up The Pool With Waterproof Wireless Speakers

Well now that the summer weather is here we are spending more and more time outside and often times that involves a pool. A great thing about pool parties is having some nice music playing to set the mood. Well the good folks over at Grace Audio have come up with a killer idea. Floating, waterproof speakers that can stream your music all over the pool. These fun looking devices just bob along in the pool belting out cool tunes as you enjoy the nice summer weather. The base unit supports streaming to 10 separate speakers so no matter how big your pool is this should have you covered. With the ability to be submerged up to 9 feet these should be rugged enough for even the craziest of pool parties. They claim a range of up to 150 feet from the base unit with the battery lasting for six hours.

The base unit with one speaker is $150 and each addition speaker is $99. If you have a pool and you entertain a lot this seems like a great way to impress your friends and supply good music to the party.

via engadget

Wireless Speaker System For Your iPod

Having your iPod as the center of your music hub has become a very common occurrence these days. Everyone seems to have some system in their house where they plug there iPod in and can enjoy all their music over speakers a lot more powerful then the mini earbuds they are use to. Well Griffin has taken the concept a step further with speakers that detach and can be placed anywhere. This allows you to place the speakers in a location that might be better suited for listening to your music without you having to take the entire music station with you.

They are claiming a range of 150 feet for these speakers which would be very cool if you were having some people over and were hanging out in the backyard lets say. Setup a playlist and bring the speakers outside with you, stick them out of sight and enjoy some sweet music on the patio. The speakers have built-in rechargeable batteries that they claim can hold a 10 hour charge so unless you are planning on having an epic all night party these will be able keep playing for the entire night.

These look like a great solution for someone that just wants a simple product that allows them to use their iPod as their music streaming device and doesn't want to have to bring a bulky base station where ever the party has moved to in order to hear the music. No need to undo any cables and mess up the neat entertainment center. Just bring the speakers and be done with it. Use the included remote to control the iPod and you have what for some will be the perfect listening station.

via gizmodo

Review: Rocketfish - Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse

We've been using the Best Buy in-house brand Rocketfish Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse over the past few days, and think this is a pretty amazing product. At $99, the Rocketfish™ - Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse is perfect for using with a large screen TV because of the Bluetooth wireless media functions, and dedicated media player controls on the keyboard and mouse. It's also really solid when paired with our Dell XPS laptop on a stand. What we really like is the fact our laptop didn't have Bluetooth, but now it does - which allows for faxing - wireless headphone use and other neat Bluetooth networking features.

Comes packed in a combo box that includes the Bluetooth dongle,
mouse, and keyboard - all wireless.

Product Features

• Up to 60' wireless range
• 104 keys and 10 one-touch multimedia keys let you conveniently work, surf the Web, or control digital media
• Laser mouse features 4-way scrolling, 4 multimedia keys and ergonomic rubber side supports for quality functionality and comfort
• Acts as a Bluetooth hub, so you can transfer digital media to and from your computer or Bluetooth device (Bluetooth adapter included)
• Includes USB Bluetooth adapter, CD driver, User manual, 4 AA batteries (2 for keyboard; 2 for mouse)
• PC compatible

Continue reading: "Review: Rocketfish - Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse"

EWOO - Wireless iPod Remote for iTunes with Color Display

We keep seeing the Zicplay remote called EWOO and think it looks really solid. At last, iPod and iTunes users will be able to fully control their music and video libraries around their home using the EWOO remote control. Why? Because of the color screen that mimics the iPod's screen and functionality.

The EWOO is supplied with a dock for the iPod, and an USB adapter to control and browse iTunes on the computer. On EWOO’s color TFT screen users can explore their libraries as intuitively as with the iPod or with iTunes. Connect the EWOO dock to your audio-video equipment and take advantage of the 2.4GHz technology to move around within a radius of 100ft (30 meters) while accessing easily all your music. You can now browse your music while comfortably seated in your sofa.

The EWOO will be available at $149 (149 €) during the second quarter of 2007 in the United States and Europe.

At Play-EWOO

Oono Transmita 2.4G Wireless Audio Transmitter

We just found these rather inexpensive yet - OUT OF STOCK wireless music transmitters from Oono. From the site it appears they will be releasing a newer version but for just under 70 bucks these look like a steal. We'll let you know when the new ones are available.

Why limit yourself to only being able to listen to your favourite downloads and MP3 playlists on your headphones, when you could be enjoying them on the best speakers in your house? Now there's no reason at all with the Oono Transmitter that not only frees your digital music from small speakers but also frees you from your MP3 player. Simply plug the Transmita in and you can enjoy your music anywhere in the house.

At Oono Transmita 2.4G Wireless Audio Transmitter

New Hi-Fi is X-fi Wireless Music System

The X-FI sounds like a music streaming dream come truee. It's more than just a wireless music system, Xmod Wireless features X-Fi technology that makes your MP3's and other compressed music files sound better than the original CD. It plays all of the music from your PC wirelessly throughout your house and since it doesn't rely on your home network, there are no delays, dropouts or interference to deal with, and no IP addresses to configure. Simple to setup with no software, or drivers to install and works right out of the box.

Features

• X-Fi Wireless Music System
• Connect the Xmod Wireless transmitter to your PC and desktop speakers to enjoy Xtreme Fidelity music.
• Play music from your PC wirelessly in any room
• Make your MP3s sound better than CDs
• Connect in seconds--no configuration needed
• More than just a wireless music system... way more.
• Upgrade your PC sound system to Xtreme Fidelity audio
• Restore the detail and vibrance to compressed music such as MP3s and iTunes
• Expand stereo music and videos into virtual surround sound

Connect

• Connect the Xmod Wireless transmitter to your PC and desktop speakers in seconds, no drivers needed.

Enhance

• X-Fi technology breathes life into your songs by restoring detail and expanding your music and movies to surround sound.
• X-Fi Crystalizer technology restores the detail and vibrance to your compressed music and movies. All the highs and lows are intelligently enhanced so you'll hear everything in crystal clarity.
• X-Fi CMSS-3D technology expands your stereo MP3s and digital movies into virtual surround stereo speakers or headphones. Voices are centered in front of you and ambient sounds are moved all around you

Wireless Technology

• Experience Xtreme Fidelity music throughout your home
• Enjoy a wireless system made for music - no delays, no dropouts and no home network needed
• Wireless setup is simple - just connect the X-Fi Wireless Receiver to your home entertainment system or powered speakers in any room up to 100ft. (30m) away
• Listen to ALL of your music wirelessly in Xtreme Fidelity--even Internet radio, podcasts, subscription music and songs purchased from iTunes

At Creative Labs Xmod Wireless Music System with X-Fi Technology

Linksys Wireless-B Music System WMLS11B

We've been looking for a bunch of different options besides just a wireless speaker option for the house. The Linksys Wireless-B Music System lets you bring the digital music stored on your computer to your Home Entertainment Center, without running cables through the house, much like wireless speakers but a bit better. The Wireless-B Music System sits by your home stereo and connects to it using standard consumer electronics cables. Then it connects to your home network by Wireless-B (802.11b) wireless networking, or if you prefer, it can be connected via standard 10/100 Ethernet cabling. You can also tune into thousands of Internet radio stations from over 100 different countries around the world. Oh and it's also Rhapsody friendly.

At Linksys Wireless-B Music System WMLS11B