Sweet dreams with new multimedia bed

Time to throw out your funky waterbeds and back care pediatric equivalent! Now there's the From Bed With Love from Nicolas Melan. This souped-up multimedia bed has a DVD player, huge plasma screen and THX-certified 5.1 surround sound system wedged on a wooden frame for the ultimate comfort and entertainment experience.

The young French designer has further promised a "nice and cool awakening" courtesy of its special luminotherapic (blah blah blah) headboard lighting and a discreet silent alarm clock a.k.a. sound canon system. The latter has the power to rouse you out of bed without disturbing your other half from his or her sweet dreams.

Well, this is pretty much still in concept stage. If you can't wait, check out the musical waterbed or Ruf-Cinema.

Via Bornrich | Photo credit: Nicolas Melan

Atari has its own version of Wii Fit

The Wii Fit isn't even out yet, and already competition is gearing up. Atari just announced that it will launch its own exercise game, called Family Trainer.

The main difference in Atari's version--other than the lack of hype and branding power of its Nintendo rival--is that it uses an interactive mat rather than the Wii Fit's Balance Board. The move is somewhat awkward because the game apparently still requires use of the Wiimote, as Tech Digest notes, and Atari's Family Ski is designed to use the Wii board as well. The games, meanwhile, sound only mildly interesting from their description: "Over a dozen frantic single and multiplayer challenges to choose from all based on outdoor challenges amusingly interpreted for the world of Family Trainer, such as river rafting, mine carting, log jumping, rope skipping, and much more."

Maybe it's just an attempt by Atari to capitalize on the Wii Fit's publicity and get some action on its flagging stock price. In any case, Family Trainer isn't scheduled for release until September, so at least it can't be given as an offensive Mother's Day gift--then again, there's always the holidays.

Via Crave CNET

First look at Wii Fit

Can a video game get you in shape? Nintendo says Wii Fit will definitely point you in the right direction. With more than 40 exercises and activities, the game helps you keep track of your BMI (body mass index) over a period of time, allowing you to become more aware of your body.

While the game may not have you losing pounds left and right, it'll certainly help you improve your balance and posture--it can even make you work up a sweat.

The Wii Fit package comes with the Wii Fit software and balance board. The board is quite sensitive, with four points of measurement able to sense the slightest of movements. You'll take part in yoga, aerobic, strength training, and balance game exercises all with the help of your virtual personal trainer. The game encourages you to participate in at least one activity a day so that you can more accurately track your progress.

Wii Fit goes on sale in the US on May 19 and will retail for US$90.



Via Crave CNET

jDome's immersive wrap-around gaming!

Looks like I just lost my bragging rights for gaming on a 100-inch screen. Someone has patented a 180-degree gaming system dubbed jDome which delivers a one-of-a-kind wraparound visual experience. Interestingly, it works pretty much like a rear projection screen and relies on a front projector to recreate the Omnimax-like effects. One of these will easily set you back by a whopping US$6,000, though its inventor John Nilsson apparently spent only around US$125 to US$200 to patent and develop the product.

We're just wondering whether anyone would like to give this a go using a white brolly instead. How's that for an inexpensive and somewhat practical alternative? Works great on rainy days, too!

Via Ubergizmo | Photo credit: jDome

Six reasons you shouldn't use the PS3 as your Blu-ray player

OK, before the angry fanboy comments roll in, let's get this out of the way: the PlayStation 3 is the best Blu-ray player on the market right now. It sits at the top of our best Blu-ray players list, we consistently use it as the reference that we judge other Blu-ray players against, and it's the only player on the market right now that supports Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and onboard decoding for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. And it will always be the only Blu-ray player that streams media, has a browser, and plays PS3 games. Virtually everyone looking to buy a Blu-ray player should go with the PS3 right now.

However, with that in mind, there are a few legitimate reasons why someone wouldn't want to use a PlayStation 3 as his main Blu-ray player. Let's check them out.

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Sony decided not to include an IR receptor on the PlayStation 3, and home theater fans have been complaining ever since. The lack of an IR receptor means that the PlayStation 3 won't work with universal remote controls, so you'll have to use the PS3 controller or the separate PS3 BD remote to control it. It's definitely a pain for anyone who is used to activity-based macros such as "Watch TV" and "Watch Blu-ray" to control their home theater.
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