YouTube lets you turn videos into greeting cards

For the second year, YouTube on Friday unveiled a holiday feature that lets users create hosted video cards to send to friends and family. Users can select this option from any YouTube video, or from a special page that houses selected community videos and links to a user's own clips.

There's also an option to make a more personalized greeting straight from a connected Webcam. For now, only one video can be attached to a given greeting card.

When users are finished picking a video for use in a greeting card, they can choose from a handful of themes that house the video player, then add up to 230 characters of text and send the complete card to up to 25 email recipients.

According to YouTube's company blog, more than a million of these greetings were sent out last year, before the feature disappeared in January.

Via CNET News

Eyeball speakers get girly

We've seen many eyeball-shaped speakers lately, and Scandyna's curvy offerings are no exception to the trend. Now, however, the company is trying to appeal to us chic techies by painting their product pink.

Exciting? I think not. It seems every tech product comes in a pink version nowadays, like the Microsoft Zune, or the Nintendo DS.

If you love a pale, washed-out pink, and you have US$300 to fork over, Scandyna is selling the Pink Dock Pack, a pack of two Micropod SE speakers, along with an iPod dock, at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue. The iPod dock accommodates several iPod models, and both iPhones.

When it comes to color, I prefer a bolder statement, like the previous Micropod speakers that come in a variety of retro colors, or black for the more modest types.

Via CNET Crave

Turning the iPod touch into a phone

Apple may have a new mobile phone to compete with--one that runs on its iPod touch.

The MP3 player can be transformed into a mobile phone with the help of a free application from Internet telephone company Truphone.

The Truphone application allows users with a Wi-Fi connection to make and receive phone calls via voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, with other iPod touch owners, users of the Google Talk's messaging service, and customers of Truphone's Internet telephone service. The company said it expects to add the ability to handle landline calls.

The app creates a virtual keyboard on the second-generation iPod touch to dial calls, and requires the addition of a headset and microphone.

However, Apple doesn't appear to be too threatened by Truphone; the application is available for free download at Apple's App Store.


Read more »

iLuv debuts US$200 Wi-Fi clock radio

Earlier in 2008, iLuv made news with its release of the i168, one of the most affordable tabletop HD Radios to date (currently available for less than US$100). Now the company is turning its sights toward online audio with the iNT170. The bedside clock radio employs the same chassis as the i168, but it offers thousands of streaming Internet radio stations (via your home wired or Wi-Fi network) instead of HD Radio. The dual alarms can be set to wake to an Internet station, over-the-air FM, or a buzzer, and the unit offers 40 presets--20 for FM, 20 for Net radio. Sports fans take note: There's no over-the-air AM, and even those stations which are available online often black out their game broadcasts to keep from running afoul of league rules.

The iLuv iNT170 is available now for US$200. We'd expect that price to drop even further, as it competes with models such as as the RCA RIR200 Infinite Radio and Grace ITC-IR1000B. Likewise, we hope that iLuv is able to add compatibility with additional online music services, such as Slacker (found on the RCA) and Pandora (available on the Grace). But at least you won't have to worry about setting the time: the iNT170 automatically synchronizes itself with an online master clock.

Via Crave CNET

Magnetic headphone organizer prevents accidental death

The Magneat headphone organizer provides a solution to the most annoying accessory attached to your music player: The headphone cord.

The industry is a few years away from offering high-quality, inexpensive Bluetooth earbuds, so for the time being we're left untangling and tripping over long wires. As a matter of fact, just today I was walking into the bathroom (keep reading, it's OK) and my headphones got caught in the door handle. My headphones nearly pulled me to the floor and strangled me to death. Granted, Kimmy Gibler and I share a similar center of gravity, but my to-do list is long enough; I don't need to add "wired asphyxia" to the end.

Save me, Magneat! It's actually very simple, as all great ideas tend to be: You clip the device to your shirt, coat, or jacket via magnetic fastening and simply wind your headphone cord around the cylinder until it runs taut, eliminating excess cordage and preventing tangles. And that's it!

Rest assured that the Magneat isn't nearly powerful enough to erase your player and certainly won't leave any marks on your garments. The device is available now in a variety of colors and designs for US$10 each.

Via Crave CNET

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 (2240)

» Digital Cameras (988)

» Notebooks (1238)

» PC & Peripherals (1312)

» Handhelds (585)

» Printers (83)

» Home AV (1147)

» Music & Play (896)

» Gadgets (1488)

» Future Tech (396)

» Green Tech (172)

» Lifestyle (157)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (58)

» Cars (99)

» Games and Gear (248)

» Software (96)

» Web (119)

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