An Xbox 360 should be seen and not heard

Everyone knows that the Xbox 360 is the best console in the world (flaming in comments section below please). The only problems are the deafening noise it makes when it's on and its hideous reliability problems.

It turns out that those problems are both easy to solve, as long as your name isn't Microsoft. The folks at Quiet PC have developed a solution that means your 360 can be very quiet, and much less likely to suffer red rings of death. A quiet 360 is also more useful as a media centre too, which will appeal to many people.

The trick is to rehouse the 360 in a better-ventilated case. This, combined with a large rear-mounted fan, should keep your 360 cool while you play intense games for hours on end. It's even possible to water-cool this set-up, if you're so inclined, with ports at the rear for the water intake.


Read more »

A US bank predicts Apple-connected TV in 2011

Even though Macworld is officially history, many Apple observers, including US investment bank Piper Jaffray, are speculating on the next "big hit" from the famous Cupertino company. According to a lengthy report from its analyst Gene Munster, Apple could be launching its own brand of connected TVs with built-in DVR function as early as 2011. Furthermore, these displays will also connect to Mac computers, iPhones and iPods for synchronizing recorded programs over a wireless network.

In the meantime, Munster is predicting an enhanced Apple TV featuring live TV recording to arrive by the end of the year, which sounds pretty logical for a stop-gap solution. Having said that, it seems our senior research analyst has a rather unique take on the CableCARD, judging by this excerpt in his report:

"With the use of a CableCARD for digital HD TV signal, Apple could effectively replace the home entertainment system (including a music stereo, cable box, Blu-ray/DVD player, and gaming console) with an all-in-one Apple television," Munster said.


Read more »

Report: Pioneer to exit TV business

Pioneer will no longer manufacture televisions and plans to spin off its DVD player business into a joint venture with Sharp, according to a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper.

The company is reportedly exiting the TV business rather than continue to incur losses in that division. This latest report comes a few months after Pioneer announced it anticipated huge losses at the end of its fiscal year in March and plans to lay off 2,000 workers.

Pioneer had built itself into a widely respected maker of plasma televisions, but last March said it would not make the plasma panels anymore because of skyrocketing costs and mounting losses in its TV division. It tapped Panasonic to provide the panels instead, but that deal appears now short-lived. Another clue this was coming: Pioneer showed no specific models of TVs at CES last month.


Read more »

Canon rolls out new XEED projector

The SX800 is a completely new addition to Canon's LCoS-based XEED multimedia projectors. It is brighter and offers a higher picture resolution compared to the competition, thanks to its high 3,000 ANSI lumens and 1,400 x 1,060 output. According to Canon, this entry-level XEED does not exhibit screen door effects which are characterized by faint grid-like patterns onscreen, ensuring smoother and crisper presentations as well as video playback.

To get you up to speed, the SX800 offers automatic keystone adjustment and input detection capabilities, while zoom and focus fine-tuning are motorized for added user convenience. The projector will also readily accept two PC video inputs, though all these niceties come with a relatively high sticker price of S$5,499 (US$3,949.01). The Canon XEED SX800 is scheduled for launch at the end of February in Singapore. No other details were available for the rest of Asia.

"Chuck" in 3D falls flat

NBC's Chuck was aired in 3D in the US recently, and it left many viewers wanting to do exactly that with the paper 3D glasses: Chuck them.

The overriding opinion of many people interviewed who tuned in to the 3D television event was disappointment.

"I thought it was a gimmick and did not add anything to the show," said Jamie Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. "The red/blue (glasses) did not look good and gave me a headache."

The 3D promotion was intended to raise awareness of 3D movies, specifically ones coming to theaters soon, like Monsters vs. Aliens from Dreamworks. But the entire effort may have been wasted if it just left a bad taste in the mouths of potential ticket buyers.

Intel sponsored the distribution of the red and blue paper glasses because Intel's InTru3D processing technology helped Dreamworks Animation create the 3D versions of its films.


Read more »

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (2226)

» Digital Cameras (978)

» Notebooks (1233)

» PC & Peripherals (1309)

» Handhelds (584)

» Printers (82)

» Home AV (1144)

» Music & Play (892)

» Gadgets (1480)

» Future Tech (393)

» Green Tech (172)

» Lifestyle (157)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (57)

» Cars (99)

» Games and Gear (247)

» Software (94)

» Web (115)

Previously...

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Hot Topics

Subscribe to
Crave

What's Hot

apple apple inc. apple iphone apple ipod asia battery camera game google inc. iphone microsoft corp. microsoft windows mobile phone photograph singapore smart phone software sony corp. video

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads