Do you get tired of playing Madden & just want to check your e-mail? No? You sure? C'mon.....??!?! Well, for those that do, Sony's got you in their hearts, and have developed a snazzy way to browse the web on your new PS3. And kudos to them for including the ability to plugin ANY USB keyboard. 

Typing URLs with the controller is somewhat clunky as you can see from the video itself (luckily you can plug in a USB keyboard), but otherwise it'll let you open up to 6 different browser windows simultaneously and then tile them (Expose style) so you can see them all at once.

Read the rest here. 

This thing just ooooozes expensive :-P

The Grand Cinema HT5000 (pictured) features the latest TI .95-inch 1080p DarkChip3 chipset, and has a quoted contrast ratio of 5000:1. It will be made available in either a single or dual lamp configuration and can be ordered with or without SIM2’s DigiOptic Image Processor. 

Read the rest here. 

If your organizational tendencies lean towards the Monica end of the scale, the Flip UPC Barcode scanner is for you. Bad Friends references aside, for a measily $100 you can keep track of all your codes and upload them into a media management software. For that kind of green I would want it to download the album art, lyrics and tag my media with a GPS locator so I knew who I lent my DVDs to.

From the article:

The Flic barcode scanner can be used with your Collectorz.com software to quickly catalog your entire DVD/CD library. Instead of typing in lengthy UPC codes, just press the single button on the Flic scanner while holding it next to the UPC barcode. Scan up to 500 UPCs at once, then let your Collectorz.com software do the rest! Includes serial cable. Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included), Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and 9-pin RS-232 serial port.

High Definition DVD is getting closer and closer to being a reality on your PC. WinDVD 8 has officially been launched in the US and will be compatible with Vista and XP. Well Sorta, neither edition of WinDVD will be ready for the new HD CODECS out of the box. You will have to purchase an HD Upgrade Pack at an additional cost.

From the article:

Universal Player
A universal player, the Platinum version can be used to play back the latest high-definition file formats, such as MPEG2-HD, VC-1, WMV-HD and H.264 HD, as well as all the standard-definition formats like MPEG-4, Real®, QuickTime and WMV (Windows Media Video). WinDVD 8 also extends its support for DivX® multimedia technology to deliver high-quality interactive video.

UPnP Client and Server
Now WinDVD 8 Platinum supports UPnP home networks as Server or Client. Installing the UPnP Server that comes with WinDVD 8 Platinum, you can set up folders, set permissions, and make content available through the network. The Client plays back content from other UPnP-certified devices within a network. Both WinDVD 8 Gold and Platinum versions can serve as UPnP Client and work with other UPnP Servers available on the market.

I always thought the proper way to buy a set of speakers was from a shady guy in the back of an alley. Hey man, I will sell you this 20" subwoofer for $40. An ever so slightly more technical and thorough method is one presented by Sound And Vision. In a nutshell, audition audition, AUDITION!

From the article:

But before you even enter a store, take a moment to nail down your precise needs. Are you looking for a complete six-speaker surround sound system, or a simple stereo pair? Is your room big enough to accommodate tower models, or will a compact system that uses small satellites and a subwoofer be a better fit? Do you want regular freestanding speakers or on-wall, in-wall, or even ceiling models? If you can supply a list of specific information to the salesman at the outset, the transaction is likely to go down a lot smoother.

Wiring your home for a digital lifestyle can be somewhat of an ugly task and is often left to the pros. Automated Home has a story up about a house in England that was renovated and completely wired for HA duties. Nothing as extravagant as say a fully automated theater, but it is a very good look at whats involved if you want to get your whole house in on the home automation act.

From the article:

• A welcome home function incorporating a motion sensor by the front door so when you walk into the house at night the lights in the hallway, landing, kitchen and family room light automatically. The owners will never have to ‘stumble’ around a dark building with arms full of groceries.
• A ‘discreet’ scene has been set for the bedrooms. In the master bedroom, the discreet button turns on the wall, landing and bathroom lights at a very low level, effectively lighting a pathway there and back so that they don’t needlessly wake anyone asleep.
• Simulated occupancy where the house repeats previously recorded switch pushes and blind movements when the owners are out. The actions are played back at random intervals to give a very real appearance that some one is always at home.
• A porch light and architectural lighting are programmed to come on at dusk and turn off at a random time in the late evening. The rear courtyard and garden have numerous lighting circuits that allow for scene setting at night depending on how the space is being used. Infrared patio heaters have been built into the garden walls and provide heat for cooler evenings.

Onkyo has announced a couple of budget receivers that look pretty decent. The 8522 and 8222 miss a lot of the features of higher like video swtitching and scaling. However, the do make up for some of that loss with a decent price tag, iPod support,  and XM Radio compatibility.

From the article:

The TX-8522 delivers 100 Watts per channel and has three audio inputs, two video inputs, a phono input and two A/V outputs. It MSRPs at $349. The TX-8222 provides 50 Watts per channel, with three audio inputs, a phono input and two audio outputs. It MSRPs at $249.