Gizmodo: Portable Media

Question of the Day: Do You Listen to an MP3 Player While Working Out?

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The news about new iPods coming out on September 9th combined with observations during my daily visits to the gym have got me wondering about how many of you use an MP3 player while working out. Based on these observations alone, it seems that somewhere around 40 to 50% percent of gym goers rely on an MP3 player to pump them up. It is a good thing too because most studies show that listening to music you enjoy while working out improves results. So, do you use an MP3 player during your workout? How do you use it? Do you exercise at all?

DIY Mini Multi-Platform Console Mod

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Retro gaming fans that enjoy a good DIY project will certainly get a kick out of the latest work of a console modder that goes by the name "Bacteria." Basically, he has devised a way to cannibalize those Plug-n-Play TV gaming units into interchangeable cartridges that can be plugged into a single, portable system (he also claims that a GBA add-on is currently in the works). Unfortunately, Bacteria continues to be uninterested in details like aesthetics and ergonomics (as we first noticed in his previous project), but that is something you can probably correct should you decide to take on the mod yourself. Hit the link for the complete instructions. [Modded by Bacteria]

Art Lebedev's Folderix Finger Folder Flash Drive On Sale

Sean Fallon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:50:00 EDT

We got our first look at the Folderix folder-shaped USB drive from Art Lebedev when it was in the concept phase. It took over a year to bring to market (that's Lebedev for you), but it appears that they took that time to subtly streamline the quirky little drive. You can pick up a 4GB now in yellow, blue or purple for $55. [Art Lebedev via Electronista]

Charge an iPod With Vodka? Sounds Educational, Incapacitating

Sean Fallon — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:20:00 EDT

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies have launched the the Bio Energy Discovery Kit, a product that they are calling "the fuel cell industry’s first direct ethanol product." The kit directly converts alcohol into electricity and can run non-stop for days on end. The purpose of the kit is to introduce fuel cell technology to students, scientists, teachers and engineers using a simple gadget that is easy to understand.

However, they claim that the kit could be the first step towards replacing conventional batteries in portable devices like iPods or mobile phone chargers. I don't know how practical a commercial application would be, or whether or not I would be willing to give up a single drop of my precious vodka, but you can pick up the kit now for $99. [Horizonfuelcell]

Question of the Day: What Do You Use to Clean Your Screens?

Sean Fallon — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EDT

A big, bright, beautiful screen is a great thing—but keeping it smudge and dust free can be annoying to say the least. This is especially true with touchscreen phones and other portable media devices. With that in mind, I came up with a two section poll that involves larger screens like monitors and televisions on one side and smaller screens like cellphones and handheld game systems on the other. But both ask the same question: how do you clean your screens?

AMPHIBX Waterproof Armbands: iPhone 3Gs and Nip-Slips Collide

Sean Fallon — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:50:00 EDT

With the Olympics in full-swing, and the watersports getting so intense that both balls and boobs are flying (NSFW link), there was no better time for H2O Audio to unveil their new AMPHIBX watersports armband. According to a recent press release, it provides 100% waterproof protection up to depths of 12 feet for both the original iPhone and the 3G version as well as almost every iPod, MP3 player and cellphone under the sun.

A ClearTouch window allows the user to freely operate the device underwater and it is buoyant enough to float to the surface when a device is inside. The armband is retailing at $70 and $80 for medium and large sizes respectively, and a companion set of headphones dubbed "Surge" is also available for an additional $60. [H2O Audio via Coolest Gadgets]

First iRiver Spinn PMP Impressions (Verdict: Lovin' It)

Sean Fallon — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:20:00 EDT

The guys over at Crave UK got their hands on the new iRiver Spinn PMP, and although they have not conducted a full review yet, their initial impressions were positive. They love the 3.2-inch AMOLED screen saying that "Images are stunning; videos are smooth and sharp." They also found the sound quality to be superb and the menus to be effective—although it may be a little too touch sensitive and the scroll wheel can be awkward at times. As far as PMPs go, the Spinn is pretty feature rich (and it is pretty damn good looking to boot). Let's hope that the love-in continues when the final verdict is handed down. [Crave]

Duracell's PowerSource Mini For Pocket-Sized Mobile Charging

Sean Fallon — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT

It appears that Duracell has developed an more portable and less expensive version of last year's PowerSource charger with the new PowerSource Mini. This device features a lithium-ion battery pack and a mini USB pivot arm that allows you to juice up your MP3 players, cellphones and other portable devices on the go. It also features a full-sized USB port that allows you to charge two devices at once. All-in-all the Powersource Mini should net an additional 24 hours of music on a Nano and about an hour of talk time on a Blackberry. Available now for around $50. [Tiger Direct and Duracell via TFTS and Coolest Gadgets]

GamePark's GP3X "Wiz" PMP Spy Shot

Sean Fallon — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT

It has been nearly 3 years since the original Linux-based GP2X handheld first arrived, and based on this spy shot, it appears that a second-gen version is well on its way. Naturally, not much is known about the device other than a GP2X emulator should run on it after recompiling and it is (tragically) being called the "Wiz." Let's hope not because I already bought a "Wii" so I doubt that I would be able to stomach another product with a name that stupid. [Zodttd via GP2X News]

Cowon P5 Portable Media Player Has 5-inch Touchscreen, Haptics, Usual Cowon Goodness

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:51:21 EDT

Cowon's upcoming P5 will improve on their A3 and Q5W portable media players (which we've both reviewed) with the addition of a haptics touch-feedback feature. The rest is fairly similar: a 800x480 screen, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, TV-out, stereo speakers, USB, extreme codec support and 40GB-80GB sizes. There will still be Wi-Fi, but you'll have to get it tacked on after the fact with a dongle. The Korean price is $430ish by the end of the month. No US info yet as far as we know. Maybe we can trade them an early sneak peek at Starcraft 3 for this? [Cowon via CNET]

Sarotech's Abigs DVP-260X Media Player Holds 320GB, Does 5.1 Audio and HDMI, Plus FM Transmitter

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:20:00 EDT

Sarotech's' 2.5-inch ABigs player seems to be designed by an engineer with a gigantic budget. Why? Because it's got a 2.5-inch display, H.264 and MKV support, 1080p over HDMI and 5.1-channel out, a built-in FM transmitter, a photo viewer, an e-book and both PAL and NTSC compatibility. The 160GB version is available for $278 and the 320GB version is available for $328 from Korea, which isn't all that bad considering everything you get from it. If you still want the Korean flavor of this Sarotech but a bit more US availability, there's always Cowon's PMPs. They've got not quite as massive storage, but their format support is phenomenal. [AVING]

Zune Guy Getting Rid of Zune Tattoos, Probably Replacing Them With Something Equally Embarrassing

Adam Frucci — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:22:35 EDT

This, my friends, is absolutely shocking. That guy who made himself the laughing stock of the entire internet by getting himself tattooed up with not one, not two, but three Zune logos, has decided to cover up the tattoos. It's not out of shame, however. We've known for a while now that this Adonis has no shame. The reason is much, much better.

I am done. I have had the Zune since day 1 and have noticed little improvement. I have tried my best to support them every step of the way but the recent Xbox Live announcement at E3 made me lose it. To not include Zune Marketplace or the ability to load videos from Xbox Live to your Zune made me finally give up. I am in the works of figuring the best way to get a new tattoo to cover the logo on my arm. Thanks for all the harsh comments and you will see very little of me anymore.

That's right folks, the biggest Zune fan in the world is giving up on his beloved because Microsoft didn't offer Xbox integration.

I really wonder if this guy understood that tattoos were permanent when he got these. I mean, he got them on day one, during the first, unimpressive generation of the Zune's life. It was never a very exciting player out the gate, never offering anything that couldn't be found elsewhere except squirting and the pass, but he saw something there that he was convinced he would be passionate about for the rest of his life. Now, not too far in the future, he's throwing in the towel because he can't load videos on his Zune from his Xbox? Come on dude, you were so into the Zune, but you're giving up over something as silly as that? I thought you were stronger. More stubborn. More stupid. You've really let me down. [ZuneScene]

Creative's Zen Krystal MP3 Materializes Out of Nowhere

Sean Fallon — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:00 EDT

It kind of looks like a Zen Stone, and it is certainly a far cry from the Zen X-Fi, but this little MP3 player has been discovered hiding on Creative's Hong Kong site. Apparently, the 4GB Zen Krystal is designed to be a sports player with a pedometer that functions similarly to the Nike+ line. It also includes games like "Hurdle Race, Catch & Dodge and Dice Roll" as well as a Blue 0.7" OLED, FM radio, and 10 hours of playback. A price and a release date have not been made available. [Creative via anythingbutipod]

iPod Touch Firmware 2.0 Finally Out

Brian Lam — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:03:32 EDT

It's officially up for $9.95 and you can download it from iTunes. [iTunes via Macrumors]

GameChains Save Your Nintendo DS Games From a Toilet Water Abyss

Sean Fallon — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Designed by Chip Stockman and his 9-year-old daughter Caroline, GameChains are a keychain-like safety net for your precious Nintendo DS games. The chains consist of "laser-cut tabs, a powder-coated metal chain, and aggressive, but non-permanent, adhesive pads"—which is a fancy way of describing something that should keep your games out of the toilet when you are in the midst of a little "me time." GameChains are available for $9.95. [Gamechains via Slipperybrick]

Maxx Portable DVD Looks Like Future PSP on Steroids

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:36:21 EDT

The Maxx Digital PDV-8500BLK is a) a portable DVD with a 8.5″ TFT screen with all kinds of format support on both disk and flash cards, b) PSP's dumb older brother, c) a future PSP on steroids, or d) all of the above.

Features

DVD, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, SVCD, JPEG and MP3 playback

MPEG4 playback

Flash media card capability with a port for SD(tm), MMC and MS Cards

Built-in USB port

16:9 widescreen format

High-resolution active matrix TFT display

Built-in stereo speakers and anti-shock system

Includes rechargeable NiMH battery, IR remote control, AV cable, AC/DC adapters and carrying case

[Chipchick]

An MP3 Player Only the World's Ugliest Dog Could Love

Sean Fallon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Leave it to obscure Chinese manufacturers to come up with the CJ7 Dog Doll MP3 Player—a device so hideous it looks as if it was spawned in the fires of hell. Outside of its appearance, the device features 1GB of flash memory, a built-in loudspeaker and a conveniently placed USB butt port. It will only set you back $18.67, but that is still a high price to pay for a device that will surely give you nightmares. [DealExtreme via anythingbutipod]

Update: The commenters pointed out that it's the alien from Stephen Chow's new movie CJ7. I personally heard the movie was pretty awful, but I haven't actually seen it yet. – JC

ImAmp by Audiotrack Beefs Up Your Cans on the Go

AddyDugdale — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:00:00 EDT

If you like to watch a movie on the go, but find your headphones don't give you enough volume for the full-on fillum experience, then you might appreciate the ImAmp. Made by Korean company Audiotrack, the ImAmp is a separate amplifier with a couple of headphone jacks, line input and volume control. The battery takes four hours to charge, and gives you eight hours of juice. Weighing about 200 grams (including battery) the ImAmp will be available on July 1 and will cost just over $250. [GeekStuff4U and Impress]

3.5-Inch Digital Photo Frame from HP Small but Chic

AddyDugdale — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:45:00 EDT

There's been a slew of Hewlett Packard products over the past few days and, although this digital picture frame is probably the smallest of the bunch, it's pretty damn cute. Available in Europe at the moment, the frame has QGVA resolution, is SD-, SDHC- and MMC-compatible, can hold up to 45 pictures, and costs $76. Like I said, cute. [CNET Asia]

Portable Projector for iPhone is Concept from Honlai

AddyDugdale — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:40:00 EDT

On show at Computex is Honlai's portable projector for the iPhone. It's a dock-style gadget that you slot your first-gen iPhone into, beaming a smallish image onto the wall in front of you. This strikes me as such a good idea—it's currently just a concept—that I really hope Honlai, the brains behind this palm-sized LED projector, put this into production. Catch a bonus image after the jump.

[Aving USA and Displayblog]

iRiver Volcano T7 Is MP3 for Chewing Gum Diehards

AddyDugdale — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EDT

Available in five colors, the Volcano T7 is the latest DAP player. Reminiscent of a memory stick and with a small OLED display, it's available in both 2GB and 4GB versions. There's also a USB 2.0 port, an FM radio, and an equalizer. There's also a recording function, both for voice and radio. Now available in Europe in five colors—white, black, pink, blue and chocolate—the Volcano T7 costs the equivalent of $48 for the 2GB and $78 for 4GB. [Akihabara News]

Newman's Cool Man MP3 Player: Pin it to Your Uniform For Extra Flair

Sean Fallon — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EDT

If you haven't quite reached your flair quota, or you are hopelessly stuck in the 1980's fashion-wise, you will probably love the Cool Man MP3 from Newman. The device features and OLED display, support for MP3 and WMA, a built-in microphone and most importantly, a high-tech safety pin that puts high-tech holes in your shirts and jackets. No word on pricing, but it had better be super cheap. [imp3 (translated) via PMP Today]

Albatron Rocker Mini Tablet Has Windows CE and Not Much Heft

AddyDugdale — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:30:00 EDT

An ultra slimline tablet from Albatron has been unveiled at Computex. The Rocker has a seven-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, 128MB flash memory, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, a webcam, and SD and MMC slots. Weighing just 343 grams, the battery runs for six hours on a single charge, and it runs Windows CE. Not too shabby, really. [Aving via JKK Mobile]

Spirit of St Louis Boombox Gives Your iPod Retro Aviation Chic

Kit Eaton — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:50:00 EDT

Forget the boringly-plastic iPod boomboxes we've shown you before: I want one of these. It's in period aviation "Spirit of St Loius" style: wooden cabinet, shiny dials and satisfyingly chunky switches, meant to look like a WWII battlefield radio. Inside there's an iPod dock, CD player and AM-FM radio that's also an alarm clock. It's powered by 8 "D" batteries, so you can haul it along to picnics in the park, and measures 19 x 8.7 x 7.9-inches. The one drawback: its price is also satisfyingly chunky at $586. [Product via BBGadgets]

Apple's Back to School Deal Is All About the Benjamins and the 8GBs

AddyDugdale — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:30:00 EDT

As we reported yesterday, Apple's Back to School deal is up and running today, and this is what you get: a free 8GB Nano or 8GB iPod Touch after your rebate. Students or teachers using the deal will get $100 off a MacBook, $140 off an iMac, $200 off a MacBook Pro, and $230 off a MacBook Air. Back to School runs until September 15. [Apple Store]

MSI Wind Given 4.5 Out of Five By Laptop Magazine

AddyDugdale — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:15:00 EDT

"Good computing punch and excessive endurance" is Laptop magazine's verdict of the MSI Wind. The 500-buck UMPC was put through its paces by the team, who put together a bunch of pros and cons.

Among the UMPC's favorable features were its relatively big 10-inch screen, a fast boot time and a long battery life—over five hours, in fact. The reviewers also praised its comfortable keyboard and the one-touch TurboDrive CPU overclocking.

And so what, as Dylan fans might say, was blowing in the Wind? Not much—a single-bar mouse button, the below-average wireless throughput, and the limited tech-support hours which weren't toll-free either. This is how Laptop summed the ten-incher up:

If there were a Survivor: The Mini-Notebook series, and each of the ultra-low-cost notebooks were incrementally eliminated, the MSI Wind NB would be the one left standing. Unlike its competitors, the Wind NB offers the complete package, including an adult-size keyboard, a larger 10-inch screen, and a very capable Atom processor. This system's solid performance, stellar 5-plus hours of battery life, and $499 price make it the best all-around mini-notebook to date.

Tempted? [LAPTOP]

Gigabyte M912 Spotted, Photographed, Drooled Upon

Mark Wilson — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:20:00 EDT

We'll probably hear finalized details tomorrow when it's officially unveiled at Computex tomorrow, but here's the first shot of the Gigabyte M912. An 8.9" convertable touchscreen laptop packing an Atom processor, it's supposed to be another promising entrant to the lightweight, budget laptop ring. Hopefully we'll know just how budget Gigabyte means within the week. [engadget China via engadget]

Asus Photo Frame Lets You Use It As a Secondary Display

AddyDugdale — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:40:00 EDT

The UFOTO UF735, a digital photo frame from Asus, has another use than just holiday snaps: its sub-display function lets you hook it up to your computer and use it as a secondary display. The seven-inch hi-res (800 x 480) screen has 128MB of internal memory, a USB 2.0 port and earphone jack, and supports CF/SD/MMC/MS/xD memory cars and USB Flash Drive. Available in pink, blue and silver, there's no indication on pricing or availability just yet. [Akihbara News]

iHome Alarm Clock Rotates Because It Can

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:30:00 EDT

While the iPod touch is capable of rotating to tweak the video aspect ratio, most docks make you choose one way or the other. But the iHome iH41B dock will actually rotate with your iPod, and its digital clock display will adjust to match. For those of you who just own standard iPods, the iH41B is still compatible. So fulfill all those dreams of docking your MP3 player at a 90-degree angle. And never let someone tell you that you can't do something again. [iHome via Crunchgear]

iRiver Spinn Analog PMP Gets UK Release Date

Jason Chen — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:50:00 EDT

The iRiver Spinn, which we saw back at CES, is finally getting a release date. It'll be available in August in the UK in 4, 8 and 16GB models. It'll have Flash support plus a 3D graphics chip to give its UI a little more flashiness, but its analog controls will still be present, as will its 3.2-inch 480x272 screen. No US date yet, but the fact that it was shown at CES makes us believe there's a US release due some time. If not, there's always Fedex. [Crave UK]

This Skinny BenQ T850 Packs a Fat Touch Screen

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:10:00 EDT

BenQ's gear is usually pretty standard stuff, but the new T850 is pushing the envelope a bit. Claiming to be the world's thinnest 8MP camera at 14.9 millimeters thin, it also manages to squeeze in a large 3-inch LCD display. But the neatest part is that after you take shots with up to 3X zoom and 1600 ISO, you can tap, circle and swipe your way through the photos. I'm not quite convinced that touchscreens are needed in a well-designed point-and-shoot, but as long as the controls are optional, it's certainly not hurting anyone. No word on price yet. [BenQ via Crave]

PSP Plays Better With DualShock

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:00 EDT

The PSP controls are not horrible—though that analog nub leaves something to be desired—but the DualShock is a far more comfortable controller. Now the fine citizens at AcidMods have hacked the PSP hardware to work with the DualShock. Requiring no changes to the firmware, all functions but the brightness and volume are mapped to the controller. And it seems to work perfectly:

Maybe the best part is that the right analog stick has been mapped with the D-Pad buttons. So while it's still not quite perfect for an FPS, it feels better than the alternative. Damn I wish the PSP had two analog sticks. [acidmods]

How My Wife Castrated My DVD Collection

Mark Wilson — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:50:00 EDT

My wife always hated my DVD collection. A testament to my bachelorhood prominently sitting on a set of shelves in our living room, she would glance over at it like an unwanted dinner guest who had long finished desserts and was now lighting up a cigar in our living room. Drunk.

She'd been warming me up to the idea for months, unsuccessfully. We would ditch the cases and file the media neatly into more efficient storage boxes. And given that a.) I wanted to be a good husband b.) we're soon moving from our large house into a tiny city apartment and c.) I'd get to keep using the cases of my 100+ video games, I finally gave in to her request.

Here's the sequence of painful events that followed.

During a quick trip to one of those red and white office supply stores, she picked up a set of boxes (coffins) and sleeves (coffin liners). Then on one particularly sunny afternoon, she sat down at our coffee table and transformed into some split personality I'd never seen in the 12 years I've known her. With crisp, militaristic movements, she quickly studied each case, noted its contents, and ripped its silver heart from inside.

And she didn't shed a tear.

I realize that the future of my movie collection is with digital downloads and that all this packaging is horrible for the environment. I know that with current technologies, it's just plain stupid to waste your shelf with codecs better suited for hard drives. But that didn't make the experience any easier.

"Maybe we could just keep the box sets intact," I offered.
"Why?" she responded, her eyes emotionless like a killing robot.
"They're just nice to have. I like looking at them," was all I could say. That was enough to keep a few on display.

But I knew how defeated I sounded. Many of these DVDs hadn't been watched in years. And a sickening amount of them were never even opened before the unceremonious gutting by my wife. So why had I bought them in the first place?

I think that I just liked having them on the shelf. It wasn't about having a particular movie to watch. It was about owning a particular movie.

To her credit, my loving wife was being extremely thoughtful in her digital cleansing (while I was too distraught to help). She noted all sorts of details from each box that I might want to know, like bonus features and episode titles. And when I pressed her again on keeping some of the more loved cases around, she reminded me that her larger plan was to store the DVD cases for when we move back into a house one day, or at least a larger apartment.

"So we're going to store the storage?" I ask.
"Why not?"
"That's ridiculous. We'll just throw them away."

After all, I have iTunes' Cover Flow and programs like Delicious Library to curb that craving for packaging and album art. But still, my stomach dropped with every case tossed to the wayside, my trophies of consumerism simultaneously helpless and useless upon our rug.

At the moment, my once-cherished shelf of DVDs stands as a temporary monument to a once-thriving civilization. The cases sit empty—soulless—awaiting a trip to the trash in fleeting tribute to an era gone by.

New Harold & Kumar DVD Goes Choose Your Own Adventure

Mark Wilson — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

I can't speak for you, dear reader, but I was once a Choose Your Own Adventure addict. While the other kids on the playground were dropping acid and huffing, I was flipping to page 67 with a finger firmly bookmarking page 15...just in case. The new Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay DVD will celebrate this narrative choice of yore as you can "change the course of the film." Here's what we know from the box description:

DUDE, CHANGE THE MOVIE! Interactive feature puts you in control of Harold and Kumar's trip! Select from new and alternate scenes to change the course of the film! Many possible options!

Whether or not this is one or two scenes that have little effect on the story or quite a few that can lead to completely different outcomes is yet to be seen. Just watch out for the "Neil Patrick Harris has sodomized your car, The End" screen. [videoETA]

This Is How Guitar Hero Works on the DS

Mark Wilson — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:45:00 EDT

We long wondered just how it would be possible to play Guitar Hero on the DS in the upcoming Guitar Hero: On Tour. There was this big attachment thing and this pick thing and this "will people really play this in public?" thing. Now a new video explains the process in excruciatingly cheesy detail. Looking at the hardware this closely, I'm betting that the stylus (pick) is going to induce a lot more whining than the fret buttons. What do you think? [Kotaku]

TiVo Cheats on Amazon for Disney Content

Mark Wilson — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:57:00 EDT

While TiVo's offered Amazon Unbox downloads for some time, apparently TiVo isn't opposed to playing the field. The company just signed another video on demand partner, Cinemanow, to bring in Disney content. Their library is tiny with only 1,500 titles and we're not certain whether TiVo will only be accessing their Disney content. But there are two things we really like about this deal.

1. Some of Cinemanow's content will be available in HD. (Unbox will soon be offering HD as well.)
2. TiVo is clearly not opposed to offering more VOD partners. (C'mon Netflix!!!)

A man can dream, can't he? Also of note, TiVo has confirmed that YouTube support will be coming this summer. Here's the full press release:

TIVO TO OFFER MOVIE RENTALS FROM THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS ON DEMAND

TiVo now offers movies from all major studios directly to the television set

ALVISO, CA - May 28, 2008 - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced that TiVo subscribers will soon be able to download movies from The Walt Disney Studios to their broadband connected TiVo® DVRs directly from the TV.

Titles will be available to rent through an agreement with Disney-ABC and CinemaNow, a digital entertainment provider of high-quality Hollywood movies and TV shows across multiple platforms, and the latest partner to join TiVo's broadband efforts. The companies will offer the movies for a 24-hour rental period in standard definition, with many also available in high definition.

"We are very excited to be working with Disney and CinemaNow. Adding Disney movies really delivers on TiVo's promise to offer the best television entertainment experience with unlimited content choices that are easy to navigate across broadcast, cable, and broadband using one device, one remote, and one user interface," said Tara Maitra, Vice President and GM of Content Services at TiVo Inc.

"TiVo has always delivered a superior experience," said Dan Cohen, executive vice president of pay television and interactive media, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "We're pleased that their subscribers will be able to enjoy our extensive catalog of new releases and classic library titles."

The service is available to all broadband-connected TiVo Series2™ and Series3™ subscribers later this year. TiVo offers more than 30,000 titles through Amazon Unbox, Music Choice and more than 50 other content providers. The company recently announced that TiVo subscribers will be able to access YouTube videos directly on the TV via the TiVo DVR this summer.

Wall Of Sound Is Predictably Not Build From Bricks

Mark Wilson — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

In Wall of Sound, artist Maia Urstad has used hundreds of CD players to recreate the classic stone fences bridging farms in Norway. We realize there's a deeper statement here about recycling. We hope that statement is "start building more badass boombox fences in Norway." [ADW and Maia via MAKE]

Amazon Offering Free TiVo HDs With Many TVs

Mark Wilson — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:40:00 EDT

Amazon is offering a free TiVo HD with select television purchases, and not just the crazy-expensive ones, either. You can pick up a 40-inch Samsung (720P, 8000:1 contrast and 2 HDMI ports) for $947.71 and score the free TiVo (which currently runs about $230 on Amazon). The offer is also good for select Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, and Mitsubishi models, just make sure you select the "Add both to cart" purchase option or you'll buy the TV ala cart. [Amazon]

Submersible Speaker Looks Like Sci-Fi Prop, is Wireless, Illuminating

Kit Eaton — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:50:00 EDT

Looking like something Kubrick would've had lying around on the deck of his movie spacecraft, this speaker is designed to add some tunes to your poolside frolicking. Submersible down to 9 feet for up to 30 minutes, it's also weatherproof so can tolerate exposure to the elements. It connects wirelessly to a powered transmitter-dock with an audio-in for an MP3 player, has a range of 150 feet and around a six hour battery life. One transmitter can even support up to 10 speakers. Each speaker also has four ultra-bright LED lights: adding a little moody illumination to your nighttime skinny-dip, perhaps? Available now for $149.99 for base and a speaker, extra speakers are $99.99. [NeimanMarcus via 7Gadgets]

Hope Everybody Likes Touchscreens...

Mark Wilson — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:30:00 EDT

This year, 341 million touchscreens will ship worldwide. But according to research firm iSuppli, we ain't seen nothing yet. Because by 2012, they claim that these shipments will double (682 million units) with the people of 2013 loving touchscreens even more (833 million units for a market of $6.4 billion). If you're one of those people who hates touchscreen technology, it might be a good time to exit the planet. Sorry. [PCWorld]