When it comes to video cameras, some of us here at GD are old enough to remember when they were practically the size of shoulder-mount 3/4″ tape video cameras.

(Well, some of us are old enough to remember movie film cameras that you had to wind up with a key, but I digress.)

But we are in the 32-Gigabites-in-your-phone era, and so digital video cameras have been shrinking and shrinking.  While they’re not quite the size of hiding them in your shirt-buttons yet, Brickhouse Security has taken the idea a long way in that direction with their new Mega Mini Spy Camera Ultra.

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It never fails – no matter what precautions I take, I still need more juice for my various gadgets. Whether it’s my iPhone showing the red battery meter of doom, or a “battery is low” ping on my Bluetooth Headset, there is nothing more aggravating that realizing that I’ll need to make a charging pitstop soon; being able to quickly recharge on the go is much more preferable.

When I was on my recent trip to New York, I found that even the Mophie Air wasn’t enough to keep my iPhone going on the day we traveled to DC, and that’s why I found myself eye-balling a packaged Callpod Fueltank DUO in a local Best Buy. No one could tell me how many mAhs it held and it wasn’t marked on the box, so I held off on buying one.

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Blue Microphone has introduced their first THX certified USB Microphone.

The legend of the Yeti continues with the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone roaming the wild today. The Yeti features tools and recording capabilities usually requiring multiple microphones and devices, all with the simplicity of a plug and play USB microphone.

Unlike the Icicle adapter I reviewed earlier, this microphone has a headphone port on the bottom.  This one also has 3 capsules arranged such that you can select the specific patten you would like between Cardoid, Omni Directional or Bidirectional.  This looks like a perfect Mic for those who do solo podcasts.  The Yeti will be available in December at a MSRP $149.99.  It will be sold by Apple,  CompUSA, Fry’s Electronics, Guitar Center, other fine pro-audio and consumer electronics retailers and online at Amazon.com.

This looks like some kind of house arrest monitoring bracelet, or a baby’s teething toy, but it is actually an in air mouse designed for consumers who connect their PC or Mac to the TV. The Hillcrest Labs Loop Pointer uses Freespace motion control and pointing technology … and I guess it must work similarly to a Wii control, since hand motions control it. No matter what, it’s a conversation starter.

The Loop pointer’s distinctive design is round and ergonomic with just four buttons and a scroll wheel.  Using Hillcrest Labs’ patented Freespace® motion control technology, the Loop pointer lets consumers control an on-screen cursor with natural hand motions. Consumers can lean back, relax, hold the device in any position, and control their favorite online video sites, photo sites, music sites, and more on the computer or television screen.  Consumers can purchase the Loop pointer at www.hillcrestlabs.com/loop or www.amazon.com for just $77 as part of a current promotion.

I know! This is the remote control Homer Simpson would have wanted. “Mmmm … donuts!”

If you’ve watched Men in Black, you will remember the future Agent J sitting in a chair that resembled an Egg.  These chairs were all the rage in the 70’s and have been around since the 1950’s.  Now Acousticom.com has reinvented the Egg Chair and added 5.1 Surround Sound.

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Stereo Bluetooth is a great innovation for the freedom it grants from cables.  I was quite pleased when Apple finally added stereo Bluetooth functionality to the iPhone.  Not that being connected to a headphone cable is a huge problem, but it’s nice to be able to set my iPhone on my desk while listening to music, and still be able to move around my office without needing to pick up the iPhone and carry it with me if I’m just moving a few steps to get something off a shelf.

Mobile Action understands the appeal of eliminating wires. Their new Voiis Stereo Wireless Music Gateway adds stereo Bluetooth capabilities to home stereo and computer systems.  It has both transmitting and receiving capabilities, so you can use it to stream music from your home stereo to a pair of Bluetooth headphones, or you can use it to receive music streamed from a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as an iPhone, and play it over your home system without needing a dock.

The folks at Mobile Action were kind enough to send us a review unit.  Keep reading for our evaluation.

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Here’s the dilemma: you’re listening to your favorite music, and outside noises are not only bleeding in, they are making your music less clear. Most people would turn up the volume to block the unwanted noise and amplify their audio. The only problem is that in the process, they might also be causing irreparable hearing loss. Then there’s the matter of bass and treble – sometimes your left ear needs more bass and your right more treble, and that’s not exactly something you can set on an equalizer. How do you handle that?

Sleek Audio, a two year old company that was started by the father and son audiologist team Mark and Jason Krywko, may have the answer; but first a bit of background. Sleek Audio “began when Mark found himself dissatisfied with the sound signature of the dozens of different earphones he had tried over the years, so as a 30 year veteran of the audio and custom hearing aid industries, he decided to build his own.”

It took Mark and Jason three years to develop exactly what they wanted, and then they introduced the SA6 acoustically customizable earphone. What set the SA6 apart from other earphones was that it was the world’s first to be acoustically customizable (more on that in a bit), and it could “go from wired, to wireless and back again.” The SA6 introduced another feature that I hadn’t seen before – a detachable and interchangeable cable… and they also came with a price tag that might intimidate the average user – $249.99. Granted, a die-hard audiophile probably wouldn’t blink when hearing that price, but it might be a lot to swallow for the listener who just wants something that blows away what came with his digital music player.

So how can the budget minded audioholic get great sound along with at least some of the features that made the SA6 such a revolutionary earphone? Say hello to the relatively budget-priced Sleek Audio SA1 earphone, not that you would ever be able to tell just by looking or listening.

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Some people just can’t wear earbuds; the common iPod earbud either doesn’t fit or is uncomfortable.  Imagine taking your iPod earbuds and putting a cover of sorts over the earbud’s tip.  Now imagine that the cover is also custom fit for your ear.  That is the premise behind Yurbuds.  You simply take a picture of your ear, and Yurtopia then attempts to find the perfect tip for your iPod earbuds or your favorite Bluetooth headset.  Yurbuds promise that you’ll be able to reduce the volume of your iPod or mp3 player by 40 percent, thus saving your eardrums.

Yurbuds are available on the Yurtopia web site for $19.99.  If you don’t have iPod earbuds or you would like another pair of buds to go with the covers, Yurtopia offers yurphones plus a pair of yurbuds for $29.99.

It’s been a while since I reviewed the Brickyard headphones from 2XL.  I really like  them even though their over the ear  style design can become warm on the ears. 2XL has solved the sweaty ear problem with a new style of headphones in the new 4 Corner Style of headphones.

The design of these new headphones is unique in that instead of round like traditional headphones of this style, these are square. The square shape of these headphones do not make them at all uncomfortable. Continue Reading

What better way to listen to Miles Davis music than with a new set of Miles Davis Tribute Headphones from Monster. Purchasers also enjoy an official 50th Anniversary boxed set of the artist’s seminal album Kind of Blue, featuring two music CDs, a DVD and a 24-page booklet. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Most notably, the specially crafted “instrument case” for the Miles Davis Tribute headphones features a plush blue velvet inlay with a gold-printed signature – which the company say’s is crafted to resemble Miles’ trumpet case.

Miles Davis Tribute Headphones – $399

Not all speaker sets are created equal, that much is certain.  Altec Lansing has sent me their latest — and what I consider their best — the Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra Speakers.

The Expressionist Ultra is currently the top of the Altec Lansing line.  This very stylish three speaker system boasts 200 Watts of power, and its tremendous sub woofer is bigger than the computer the system is connected to. Continue Reading

OK, so I may be one of the only people I know that hasn’t jumped on the Blu-Ray technology yet, mostly because I can’t decide if I would prefer to by a Playstation 3. But for those of you not interested in gaming, there is a great offer over at Woot! A Pioneer Blu-Ray player for only $134.99, which is not a bad deal if you are just looking for a Blu-Ray player.

Pioneer BDP-121 Blu Ray Player w/Remote $134.99 at www.woot.com

I am not one of those guys who thinks that everything goes better with Bluetooth. At the same time, I do see the usefulness of Bluetooth in a variety of items. I like using Bluetooth headset, have had some positive experiences with Bluetooth stereo headphones, and I swear by the Bluetooth speakerphone in the car. I had not, however, ever tried a Bluetooth portable speaker before taking a look at the TENQA SP-99 Bluetooth speaker.

Am I sold on this Bluetooth gadget? Let’s take a look… Continue Reading

This Western Digital WD TV Live Network-ready HD 1080p Media Player has been updated and is in stock now at Best Buy for $119.99 plus shipping (or order online & pickup at your local store). This is an update to the popular WD TV HD (USB) Media Player, access web content such as YouTube, Flickr, and Pandora. Equipped with HDMI, USB 2.0, Ethernet so you can stream content via your network. Supports AAC, MP3, JPEG, H.264/AVCHD formats. Includes remote control,

Western Digital WD TV Live Network HD Media Player via GearSponsor: Logicbuy

Lets face it, wires are often inconvenient. They look bad, can be a pain and,  at times, are more trouble then they are worth. Even still, at times it is nice to be able to connect your notebook or handheld device to external speakers with more punch and better sound.

That’s where Bluetooth comes in. As more and more mainstream devices adopt bluetooth technology the playing field for device accessories is changing. And one of the best uses of Bluetooth? Wireless speakers!

Wireless speakers are a great option with laptops and other bluetooth-enabled devices. They let you cut the cord without cutting the sound. Creative has a new offering in this area and they look good!

Their new Inspire S2 Wireless Speaker System is currently out in the UK and, hopefully, will be on the way to this side of the pond. If they do… I want!

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