If you can get past the jargon the latest electronic products have benefits that make your life more enjoyable - they could even become your favourites.
Internet & Skype from your TV
The line between TV and Computer is just beginning to blur with the increasing emergence of “Internet TV” or “Smart TVs”.
Now rather than huddling around the computer, your family can check out the latest You Tube videos together from the comfort of your couch. Most of the major manufacturers have an Internet TV offering where by linking to your home broadband network you can access on-line movies, music, photos, You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and more. The content and applications available vary by brand so talk to your appliance retailer about which brands offer the content you want most. Skype on computers has become very popular with people who have family and friends living in other cities. Skype lets you communicate very cheaply and, with a webcam, have made video calls a reality to allow distant family and friends speak face to face. Now televisions with Skype capability are becoming more widely available meaning you can settle down on your couch with a cup of coffee and have a virtual conversation with friends elsewhere. You can check out some of the latest models of Skype-capable and Internet Televisions on-line at www.100percent.co.nz Time-Shifting TV
There's so much TV now but not always great TV. With MySky you can create your own TV timetable by easily recording all the programmes you really like and watch them when it suits you.
Remember how much hassle it used to be programming a VHS?!! MySky (a bit like iPods) make operation intuitive. It's all so easy and obvious. Select the programme from the on-screen guide and press the red record button. And then if you want that programme every week then press the "Series Link" green button. Now I only watch the programmes I love and I have a selection of movies to choose from on the hard drive as well. And as for the live pause feature - skip the ads, pause to make a cup of tea, rewind to catch that phrase you missed, watch just the performances on American Idol ... Choose what you watch and when you watch it. For further details on My Sky and MySky HDi visit www.skytv.co.nz Tired of Juggling Remotes?
With a Universal remote all your TV & Audio remotes can be programmed into one so that you can de-clutter your coffee table.
But don't be intimidated … when I say "programme" it's not like you have to tune the remotes into one another. In most cases you simply enter one four-digit code in for each device using the index in the manual supplied - then hey presto the remote will control that device. Sometimes there is the odd button that the Universal Remote has to "learn" but in the main you'll end up with the power of all your TV/DVD/Sound System remotes combined into one. My remote is called "Universal One" but there are other brands available - check out www.100percent.co.nz for their range or call at your local store for friendly advice. For the Love of Apples
For years we resisted buying our kids X-box, Playstation and Nintendo not only to avoid too much screen time for them but also because of the om-going cost. The consol, the accessories and then all the games - each costing $50 or more just seemed excessive. So when we finally succumbed it was to an iPod Touch.
The iPod itself cost $349 but there are so many free games available for children on iTunes that they could download a new one every week without costing a cent. Even the super popular ones like "Angry Birds" are only a couple of dollars and can easily be bought out of their pocket money. The range of free applications is enormous from games for young and old, to education, voucher downloads, directories, E-book readers, reference (weather recipes, medical, movies etc) contacts, calendars and of course the iPod itself for music, videos. Shuffle Back to the Future
Just in case we haven't said enough about our favourite Apples - iShuffle's are the best for music on the move. For running or walking they are so light and simply clip onto your clothing. They're cheap at around $70 and hold enough music to keep you going on your daily jog.
The current iShuffle is a real back to the future since it's a very similar design to the original - proving that the clip-on format is best. They even extended the approach to the new Nano but the tiny size of the iShuffle for mobility paired with an iPhone/iPod Touch for daily connectivity is much more sensible. iShuffle was the first MP3 we gave our kids once their interest in music started growing. It made them feel special without costing a bomb and if they lost it ... well it wasn't too much money. Fortunately they never did. Pocket Speakers
While MP3 players are great for personal audio on the go, sometimes you're in a situation where you want to share - the beach, the bach or just outside by the Barbie.
There's a range of portable audio speakers available - some so small they literally come with a key chain. I have two favourites when it comes to portable speakers and they are the "Wowee" and the XMINI V11 Portable Capsule Speaker. Instead of using batteries, both of these speakers are charged via a usb and give a long charge - the more expensive Wowee gives up to 20 hours and the Capsule speaker up to six hours. Both a incredible small too - the Wowee isn't much bigger than an iPhone. The Wowee has a better quality of sound since it uses "gel technology" to turn surfaces into sound and give a decent bass level rather than the tinny sound of some other devices. Plug in your MP3 to the Wowee, turn it on and then try it out on different surfaces - windows, walls even the boot of your car. Check out the video at youtube and you'll see what I mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpugGCZgtc You can't get Wowee everywhere but your local 1OO% Appliances store has it and it costs around $150. The XMINI V11 Portable Capsule Speaker doesn't have as great a sound but is a good cheaper option. |
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