The SlingCatcher certainly looks different. It is billed as a universal media player which is compatible with standard or high definition TVs. This device is designed to be used with other Sling Media products. It will allow you to stream a movie from your PC onto your TV or even watch media from a USB drive on your TV. With a Slingbox you could also use the SlingCatcher to access your TV on another TV in the house or another TV anywhere in the world (it won’t stream HD though).

The SlingCatcher works with over 5,000 devices and it has a simple interface and a remote control. In order to stream from your PC you need to run SlingProjector software and browse on your computer. The SlingCatcher also doesn’t have Wi-Fi so it will need to be connected up. With the explosion in DVR products and streaming anywhere solutions the Sling Media products look a bit behind the curve to me and they seem quite expensive. You won’t get much change from $200 for this.

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You can get some terrific deals on top quality DVD equipment now that Blu-ray has taken hold as the new format. This DVD player is a perfect example at under $40. It features good picture and sound quality at 480p and the Precision Drive 3 system allows you to play damaged discs without any degradation in the picture quality. It is also capable of playing CDs and it supports the MP3 format. It supports Dolby Digital and TV Virtual Sound and has a Coaxial Digital Output.

In terms of discs it supports DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD+R, SVCD, VCD, CD, CD-R and CD-RW. It also supports the JPEG format so you can use to view digital photographs. It comes with a remote control (batteries included) and an AV cable. If you haven’t yet taken the high definition plunge and you need a new DVD player this is a great value option.

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This is an all-in-one office device from Lexmark. It is a compact design and it works as a printer, copier, scanner and fax machine. There is a 2.4 inch LCD along with a control panel full of shortcuts for easy job set-up. It supports USB or Ethernet connections or you can even set it up to use wireless. The print speed is 32 pages per minute and there is a 25 page auto feeder and a 100 sheet input tray. You can make copies at between 25% and 400% of the original.

The resolution is 1200 dpi for black and white and 2400 x 4800 dpi for color. It can handle envelopes and photographs as well as traditional documents. There is a media card reader and support for PictBridge cameras so you can print directly without a computer. It supports Windows 2000 or later and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. This is a good quality all-in-one currently available for $136.49 on Amazon.

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This is a recent release from HP. The G70 series of laptops offer high performance in a minimalist package. This model has a 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor with 3 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. There is also an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M. The 17 inch high definition display has anti-glare and there are built in Altec Lansing speakers for above average sound quality. There is a CD and DVD burner with LightScribe and a built in webcam and microphone.

The laptop has support for wireless on the 802.11a, b, g or n standards. There is a 5-in-1 media card reader and there are 3 USB ports. There are also some advanced security options including an auto lock which prevents damage to the hard drive, fast back up option via the eSATA/USB Combo port and an integrated fingerprint reader. It ships with Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1) installed and a bunch of trial software. It currently costs $587.99 on Amazon.

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After the announcement from Sony last week about the new PS3 slim and the price drop for their console Microsoft have been forced to act and they have just announced that the Xbox 360 Elite will now be offered at $299. That’s a drop of $100 to bring it into line with the PS3, although the PS3 still has superior functionality. They have also knocked $50 off the price of the Xbox 360 Pro bringing it down to $249 and they announced that once stocks run out the Pro model will be discontinued.

Microsoft have claimed that they planned this price drop for months and this may be true but there can be little doubt that Sony have forced their hand. If they really intended to swing out the price drop around about now then they would have announced it at GamesCom. The new Xbox 360 Elite will no longer be bundled with a free HDMI cable as Microsoft look to make some savings, although they claim the hardware is being sold at a profit, unlike Sony who makes a loss on every PS3 sold. The Xbox 360 still lacks web browsing capabilities and has no Blu-ray support.

This is a top quality plasma HDTV which supports full high definition at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It also has a superb contrast ratio of 40,000:1 for an incredible depth of color. As well as the contrast plasma TVs tend to be better for refresh rates and this is no exception with a super smooth 600 Hz. This means perfectly smooth action for sports and gaming. There are specific modes for watching movies or sports and you can easily view your photos or home movies on the big screen.

The device has 3 HDMI ports and a PC input as well. Panasonic have also created their own web interface and you can surf various websites and get movies on demand via Amazon Video on Demand. The TV also has an anti-reflective filter and features THX approved visual quality. The energy usage on a plasma is typically higher than an LCD but Panasonic have reduced the power consumption significantly with this range. It will cost you around $2,000 though it is currently being offered for $1,599.98 on Amazon.

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This is a high end universal remote control from Philips. It features a stunning stylish design and all the functionality you could want but it comes with a very hefty price tag attached. There is a 3.5 inch color touch screen and a docking station for recharging. The remote is pre-programmed with the vast majority of existing models and can learn from your old remote if required. You can program multiple functions at the push of a single button.

The remote also has built in wireless support on the 802.11g standard and it can access files on your PC via Windows Media Center Edition. There is a USB option as well. The remote is effective at up to 12 meters. The JavaScript based software tool ProntoScript allows you to do a great deal more if you are confident with some basic programming. You can buy a wireless extender and RF control for using the remote through walls but they cost extra which is cheeky when you consider the remote costs $679.99 on Amazon reduced from $1,000.

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Here is a portable option from headphone specialists Sennheiser. These fold and flip headphones have smaller cans and are designed to cut out any peripheral noise and let you enjoy your music. The NoiseGard technology compensates for noise around you attenuating frequencies below 1,000 Hz by up to 15 decibels. These are perfect for cutting out the background chatter on a busy train or in a noisy office.

There is a 3.5 mm double mono jack which will work with most portable audio devices and there is even a 6.3 mm stereo jack included for use with airline audio systems. The 1.6 meter copper cable is actually reinforced with Kevlar so you can be sure about the durability. These headphones are also optimized to reduce susceptibility to mobile phone interference. They come with a soft carry case and batteries and they will cost you just over $100. There is no escaping the fact that earbuds will be more effective in noise cancelling because they sit in the ear but these offer that all important comfort even if worn for long periods.

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LCD may have won the war against Plasma but you can still get some great Plasma HDTVs and since they aren’t as popular you can generally get a bit more for your money. This 50 inch model from Samsung supports full high definition 1080p resolution. It has 4 HDMI ports, 2 component, 1 composite, and it supports the CEC standard for easy control of multiple devices.

There are two 15 watt speakers built in and support for SRS TruSurround HD. One of the strengths of Plasma over LCD is the high refresh rate for smooth action and the contrast. This device has an amazing refresh rate of 600 Hz with an incredible response rate of 0.001 milliseconds. It also supports brilliant color and deep blacks. Samsung have worked on reducing the energy usage which is generally much higher with a Plasma. It may be lacking a few cutting edge features but for $1,099 on Amazon this is good value.

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There is a federal inquiry into Apple’s decision not to approve Google Voice for use on the iPhone or for sale through their App Store. It is a VoIP application which would allow voice calls to be routed over the mobile internet. This technology works on phones using Google’s Android OS and Symbian but Apple have pulled applications which use it. Apple and AT&T admitted striking a deal to prevent iPhone apps using their network for VoIP. This is obviously an attempt to protect profits because voice calls over the internet are cheaper.

Apple have now backtracked and said the application is not rejected but still “under review”. The thing is apps like Skype have already been approved and Apple’s assertion that the Google Voice app could “alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience” sounds very woolly indeed. The difference is that Skype uses Wi-Fi whereas the Google app connects to the internet via the AT&T 3G network. AT&T denied having a hand in the decision. The argument continues.