Hasta La Gadget!

Last month, I celebrated the fact that Sprint was killing its bizarre ad campaign with CEO Dan Hesse. Reader response to the blog was divided–some readers said they liked the ads, while others shared my joy. A Sprint spokesperson even chimed in to say that the ads “ranked among the best wireless ads in recent months for memorability.”

Sprint also was good enough to send me its press release for two new TV, billboard, and Internet ad campaigns. The first, which (surprise!) features the Palm Pre (at least someone gets to touch it), revolves around Sprint’s Now Network, aka the carrier’s wireless broadband network. The central message appears to be the breadth of Sprint’s network and the services, information and communication available on it. The campaign launched April 6.

You can see the video on YouTube and Sprint has launched a “Sprint Now widget” that gives you a taste of the campaign. On the widget is a treasure trove of random facts that will fascinate the trivia buff.

You’ll find everything from Sprint-related factoids, such as how many text messages are being sent to the carrier’s network, to the very non-Sprint-related, such as how many babies are being born right now. You’ll also find completely useless information, such as how many people are stuck in elevators are this moment.

…

The gaming-accessories company with the puzzling yet strangely compelling name

Amazon might still make most of its money by shipping physical items to your door, but it’s clear that the retail giant knows the future of media is digital — not only is it pushing the Kindle and services like Amazon Video On Demand, it’s expanding its downloadable video game catalog to include Xbox Live Arcade games today. The process seems a little clunky at the moment — you buy a code from Amazon that you have enter into your Xbox — and it’s not exactly easy to compare prices, since Amazon charges you real money instead of Xbox Live points, but we’re not going to complain too much about anything that increases gamer choice. (Using real money actually seems like a benefit to us — we’ve never really loved the idea of points.) The service is live now, anyone going to do a little shopping?

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming

Amazon now selling Xbox Live Arcade games originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sixteen speakers come standard on the Mitsubishi LT-249 series. Go ahead, count 'em.

(Credit: Mitsubishi)

Not to be outdone by LCD TV makers touting LED backlights, 240Hz refresh rates, and stratospheric prices, Mitsubishi brings its own twist to the game of HDTV step-up-oneupsmanship with its Unisen models, each of which sports a new 16-speaker audio system.

Nestled below the pursed lips of the simulated image above, you’ll find 16 speakers, an array that even when turned off should impress visitors to your living room.

When turned on, according to Mitsubishi, the “intelligent speakers…direct perfectly balanced audio waves beside and behind you to reproduce 5.1 surround sound and create an unprecedented depth of sound experience.” We haven’t tested the system, but on paper it sounds a lot like the principle employed by virtual surround speakers like the Polk Surround Bar.

Given the price of third-party surround bars, the entry-level LT-151 series doesn’t seem too expensive.

(Credit: Mitsubishi)

If Unisen performs as well as such speaker systems, it will certainly represent the best TV sound we’ve ever heard. The question, of course, is whether it’s worth it. The Polk bar above costs about $1,000, and less expensive options like the Zvox 325 ($299) are also available that do a solid job of simulating surround.

Then there’s the myriad true surround systems out there with actual rear speakers–although they’re not direct competitors to Unisen, since the biggest benefit of simulated surround is lack of rear speakers, wires, etc.

Mitsubishi’s three series of Unisen models include 40-, 46-, and 52-inch sizes, and the least expensive, the 40-inch LT-40151, costs a suggested retail price of $1,799. Compared with competing 120Hz LCDs, like Samsung’s LN40B650 ($1699) or Sony’s KDL-40V5100 ($1499), that’s not a massive premium.

On the surface, Mitsubishi’s new sets look pretty appealing for people who want better sound from their TVs, and perhaps the company’s picture quality has improved over last year’s models, such as the LT-46148. We’ll know more when we can get one in for review.

All of Mitsubishi’s Unisen models will be available in May. Pricing and step-up details follow….

The zBoost One has a compact design.

(Credit: Wi-Ex)

Wi-Ex, the manufacturer of the zBoost line of cell phone signal boosters, announced two new products at CTIA.

Though we didn’t get the chance to check them out while in Las Vegas, we can pass on the details.

The zBoost …

Originally posted at CTIA show