Hasta La Gadget!

This post sponsored by Best Buy

I’ve been a home theater buff since the earliest surround-sound systems came out back in the 1980s. Since then, I’ve seen my home theater transform from a 25″ Trinitron CRT with a Betamax Hi-Fi deck, giant speakers and a standalone Dolby processor to a razor-thin 64″ plasma TV with a Blu-ray player, a couple of game consoles and a 7.1 surround system.

Not only are today’s home theater options so much more refined, the image and sound quality is often more pristine in your home than in today’s crummy multiplex theaters. With that in mind, I though I’d throw out some ideas for home theater holiday gift-giving.

The centerpiece of any home theater these days is the screen. I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to picture quality, and must have the best possible image quality. If a screen 64″ or under is big enough for you, then I personally recommend going with a plasma set. My personal fave has to be the Samsung 8000 series plasma TV ($2899.98 USD). I’ve got the 64″ model in my media room and I couldn’t be happier with the display.It’s got an amazing Full HD 1080p panel, with stellar black levels and an beautifully sharp and cinema-like picture. I’ve actually got the 2011 model, but the latest version adds even more features, especially in terms of the Internet “Smart TV” capabilities, with full support for Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, Blockbuster and more. While it’s not the least expensive TV you can buy, you can’t beat the cinematic image quality for the price. It’s also got full support for 3D. That said, for some of you guys, bigger is always better, and you can’t go wrong with Epson’s latest PowerLite 3020e Home Cinema projector ($1799.99.)

This beast can output a full 1080p image at sizes up to 180 inches! It packs in a bright 2300 lumen light source, so you can even watch in a room without great light control. I also love how it offers wireless HDMI for up to 5 devices, so you don’t have to worry about running wires from your video sources to the projector. The image is brought to life using three 1920×1080 LCD panels, offering a substantial 40:000 to 1 contrast ratio. Like the Samsung flat-panel, it also supports active 3D.

While some home theaters can really take over a dedicated space, with today’s big flat-screen TVs making their way into our living rooms, sometimes that’s all you need. However, many of us can’t really stand wires running all over the place and surround sound speakers taking up room in our main living space. That’s where soundbar technology comes into play. And while there are dozens of soundbars on the market these days, I’m still a fan of Yamaha’s models.

Their innovations with simulated surround sound have impressed me for years, and now they’ve got some very reasonably priced options if you don’t want to drop nearly $2000 on their top-of-the-line model. The Yamaha YSP-2200 does an awesome job simulating 7.1 surround sound from a single small bar that sits at the bottom of your HDTV.

The slim 3-1/8″ tall bar offers 3 HDMI inputs so you can connect multiple devices, as well as an ample, but compact subwoofer for deep bass. It’s also got an auto-calibration feature which can optimize sound for your room nearly instantaneously. The virtual surround is very impressive, and you’ll really think there are speakers behind you – especially if you have a square or rectangular room.

If your gift recipient is already set with their TV and sound system, not to worry. I’ll be following up in a couple of weeks with some more gift ideas for taking home theater to the next level with gifts under $300.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” Technabob received compensation for writing it, however, we only recommend products or services we find interesting or have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

I’ve been so busy recently that I haven’t yet finished campaign mode on Halo 4, but I’m gradually making my way through all of the missions. One weapon that I have yet to stumble onto (other than in Infinity multiplayer mode) this time is the classic energy sword. I’m sure it’ll turn up sooner or later, as it’s the ultimate melee weapon. But I suppose if I want one right away, I could always go for this energy sword lamp.

The lamp is made from laser-cut acrylic that’s been shaped and polished in the form of the glowing and deadly Covenant weapon. The top part of the lamp is made of transparent blue, while the base is made from translucent dark blue acrylic.

Each lamp is made to order by Pete Belcher of The Back Pack Shoppe, and sells for $75(USD), which seems very reasonable for what it is. Halo fans can order one here.

From the looks of it, the tip of this thing is just as sharp and pointy as the weapon in the game, so don’t pick it up and start swinging it about. You’ll poke your eye out, kid.

Short Version

Bag week is long over, but one of the sport packs we had left over kept grabbing my attention with its hardshell tablet pocket and comfy, ventilated mesh back support.

So I decided to carry around the Pelican ProGear U145 backpack for a few days and have been left mostly satisfied, and a little worn out.

Long Version

Features:

• Impact-protected sleeve for iPad
• Plastic, rugged grab handle
• Water bottle pocket
• Ventilated mesh back and strap support

Info:

• 19.75″ x 12.50″ x 6.50″
• MSRP: $109.95
• Product Page

The Pelican ProGear U145…

… An intense, impact-proof backpack. It’s fitted pretty heavily with plastic — both the grab handle and the iPad sleeve have a thick layer of plastic for protection and/or ruggedness — and even looking past the plastic, the backpack is made for adventure with extra rugged materials. It’s not compact or even stylish like some of InCase’s latest products, but it does keep your gadgetry safe and sound.

Buy the Pelican ProGear U145 for…

… the iPad owner that loves his tablet almost as much as he loves adventure. The Pelican ProGear backpack makes sense for the rock climber, scuba diver, hiker, or anyone who likes to bring their gadgetry out into the wilderness. But the modern-day urbanite may see some value here, too, considering how much the average human gets bumped and bruised walking through Manhattan.

Because…

… if you live a rough-and-tumble lifestyle, you’ve already experienced the pain of a cracked screen or dented chassis on a gadget, and don’t ever want to feel that way again. The Pelican ProGear line of backpacks lets you rest assured your expensive tablets, etc. are tucked safely away from the dangers of the outside world.

Click to view slideshow.

Your next Mac could be assembled in America. Apple is assembling at least some of the new, ultra-thin iMacs in the U.S. The backside stamp containing the serial code and FCC logo generally says “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” But several owners of the new model quickly discovered their machines were made in the good ol’ US of A.

Apple has long made its products in the U.S. Its Elk Grove, Calif., complex opened in 1992 and retrofitted from a distribution center into a manufacturing plant in 1995. During the iMac’s heyday, it employed more than 1,500 people and pumped out computers seven days a week. The plant made its last computer in 2004 when then SVP of Worldwide Operations, Tim Cook, consolidated Apple’s manufacturing in what would be a successful move to maximize efficiency and margins.

The Sacramento Business Journal noticed in September that Elk Grove’s workforce had grown 50 percent on the year. This could be the location of the iMac’s secret manufacturing base.

Apple has yet to comment on the findings. It’s unclear at this point where the new iMac is being assembled in the U.S. It could be Elk Grove. It could be a U.S.-sourced third-party manufacturing facility. At D10 in May of this year, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that Apple’s strength was not in manufacturing. He also noted in his chat with Walt Mossberg that he hoped that someday Apple could assemble products in the U.S.

As noted by the stamp on the back of the iMac, the computer is not “made” within the U.S., but rather “assembled” there. Per the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the latter denotes a product that contains foreign-made components where the principle assembly, in which a substantial transformation happens, takes place in the U.S.

There has been a sort of call to arms in the wake of the U.S.’s economic downturn. Once the heart of America’s economy, manufacturing jobs simply disappeared over the past generation. Apple wasn’t alone in outsourcing its manufacturing and assembly to third parties. Foxconn, Compal, and other OEM/ODMs saw significant growth over the last decade, as HP, Dell, and Apple (among many others), turned to these manufacturers to make their wares. But now, as the U.S. attempts to regain what was lost, having the little label “Made in the USA” (or assembled) is in vogue.

Not all the new iMacs are assembled in America. Our review tester is adorned with the normal “Assembled in China” message. It’s unclear at this point how to identify a Made-in-America unit from a Chinese model while the computers are still in the box. But there has to be a way; there has to be a way to show Apple that Americans prefer computers assembled by Americans.

The United States Navy has been using specially trained dolphins for a number of years to find mines in waterways around the world. Currently the Navy has 24 specially trained dolphins that can find them more and Navy personnel of mines. The Navy has 80 dolphins in total within its $24 million Marine mammal program.

The Navy has announced that it plans to begin replacing the dolphins with unmanned underwater vehicles starting in 2017. The dolphins use their unique echolocation capabilities to find underwater mines and warn personnel so the mines can be avoided or removed. The unmanned underwater vehicles that will place the dolphins will use a broadband sonar system to perform the same task.

The robotic underwater vehicles will use low-frequency broadband sonar to perform a similar task at a greater distance and for longer duration. The unmanned underwater vehicles will also be able to operate without the need for manned support boats or surface-based assistance that the Dolphins require.

The Navy likens its dolphin mine hunting program to programs that use dogs to detect bombs and drugs in airports and other locations around the world. The dolphins in the Navy’s program will be reassigned for other tasks. What exactly those tasks will be is unknown at this time.

[viaPCMag]

Navy to retire its mine hunting dolphins by 2017 is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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