AudioVideo

Incorporating home theater systems into an existing space can be tricky for many consumers. With technology constantly updating and design elements always changing, it can be difficult to purchase the right home theater for an existing room.

As the “LG Techorator,” Doug Wilson is helping consumers understand how to integrate design and technology in their homes. “Techorating” is the concept of combining technology and interior design so that a “techorated” room works together as one, unified space.

According to Doug, individuals often don’t take sound into consideration when upgrading a room with new technology. When consumers invest money in a home theater system, they should ensure they are getting a great sound experience. Read more

Looking for something different to watch tonight? Instead of heading to the video store, consider downloading a movie. It's a great way to get instant gratification if you want to watch a movie right away, especially while traveling.

In order to download the movies, you just choose a movie from a site, download it and play it in a movie player. Some content providers even allow viewing of movies on multiple computers. You can also watch downloaded movies on computers or on TVs if they are properly configured. Making downloadable movies work on TVs requires a digital media adapter (made by Netgear or D-Link), an Xbox, or a receiver like an AT&T Homezone or TiVo (where you can download movies through your provider to the receiver). Read more

Epson’s new Ensemble HD Home Cinema System is a unique home theater solution designed to turn any room into a high-end screening room. It includes everything needed for a home theater, including an Epson projector, 100-inch motorized screen, audio/video controller with integrated DVD player, Atlantic Technology surround sound system, universal remote, all necessary mounting brackets and cables, and a wire management track system.

The Ensemble HD Home Cinema System is available for a suggested retail price of $6,999 for the 1080p system, and $4,999 for the 720p version. Read more

Whether you’re playing the Playstation 3, XBOX 360 or Nintendo Wii, you need high-performance cables for maximum video and audio performance. Monster Cable now offers a full range of advanced cables, including HDMI-capable products designed specifically to let gamers achieve the very best resolution from every type of system. Here are five of the company’s cables that help people make the ideal connection to their video games.

XBOX 360
Trying to get the most out of Halo 3? Read more

By Jeff Zbar 
www.chiefhomeofficer.com

For years, this home officer has griped about the sad realities of mobility. Sure, our technology is getting smaller and smaller. Wireless phones, cameras, PDAs and MP3 players all fit in our pockets. Heck, most can even fit in one pocket all at once. But the bricks and cables that power them require cargo pants or cavernous laptop bags – which in short order are converted into rats’ nests of tangled cables. And no one has created a laptop insert into which we can organize all our devices, cords, cables, bricks and the like. But what if… What if one device could solve the power and empowering woes of the modern road warrior? A solution could just be the CallPod by ChargePod. This funky little gizmo can charge up to six devices – at once. Read more

Many people settle for mediocrity, while others demand “the best”. We have always tried to help guide our readers toward unique products or services that help them attain the best things in life.

Doubtless, everyone reading this article has a computer monitor or two, and most likely one or two HDTV sets in their homes. It is a well-known fact that neither monitors, nor televisions, leave the factory properly calibrated--- especially televisions. With so many new flat-panel sets on the market (the average Best Buy store alone now displays approximately 140 sets on the floor on any given day) manufacturers try to do whatever they can to make their particular products attract the eyes of buyers. To do this they often crank up the brightness and color way beyond normal, accurate levels--- because in a brilliantly lit showroom situation, the brightest TV usually catches the customer’s eye first.

Many people take these expensive sets home and never realize that they're missing half the potential picture quality. The picture on a well-adjusted big-screen set (or even computer monitor) after calibration, is strikingly better than when it first comes out of the box. Read more

LG's new Tabletop Audio System (model LFD850) has enough power to perform as a main home audio system but is also small enough for the bedroom or other close quarters. The LFD850 features made for iPod direct docking and a USB Media Plus port for playback of music, photos and video.

The LFD850 features Immersive Sound Technology, which automatically adjusts volume levels based on the acoustics in the room and also incorporates LG's parabola design 3-inch speaker, which boosts the sound quality even further. The LFD850 also has red ambient lighting for its easy to use touch panel controls. Read more

Do the words "wireless home control" and "automation" make you think of "The Jetsons," complete with flying cars and a robot maid? Home automation has been around for years. New technology and more practical, affordable applications are now bringing the benefits of home automation to ordinary people.

What exactly is wireless home automation? Simply put, wireless home automation gives you automatic control of things around the home -- meaning the control of appliances through a device such as a remote control, cell phone or personal computer. Basic systems have been around for years, but have been plagued by poor performance, high prices, complicated set-up and operation, and in many cases, the need to rewire the home. Read more

Western Digital has just doubled the amount of HD DVR recording hours for DISH Network customers with the introduction of its My DVR Expander external hard drive. The 500GB external hard drive simply plugs directly into DISH Network’s ViP Series HD DVR via USB cable (included) to instantly gain an additional 60 hours of HD recording or approximately 300 hours of standard-definition recordings. A low power-consuming hard drive and no-fan passive cooling system reduces energy consumption by 30% and makes it quiet enough for use in living rooms and bedrooms.

This is the second drive in the My DVR Expander series. The first is compatible with TiVo and Scientific Atlanta cable boxes. Read more

Have you ever heard of bird diapers?
Interested in a talking toilet paper dispenser?
What about a motorized ice cream cone?
A handle for carrying your turkey around the kitchen?
Looking for a Kosher Lamp?

These aren't gag gadgets from some lame late night talk show skit. They are actual, real products that you can buy today. Maybe you already have?

Americans love their gadgets--and Gadget Nation takes you behind the scenes and introduces you to the men and women who have spent countless hours and money, (in some cases cashing in their 401(k)), trying to turn their gadget idea into a gadget bonanza. Read more