Ultra Cool Gadgets

More than just a wireless music system, Xmod Wireless features X-Fi technology that makes your MP3’s and other compressed music files sound better than the original CD. It plays all of the music from your PC wirelessly throughout your house and since it doesn’t rely on your home network, there are no delays, dropouts or interference to deal with, and no IP addresses to configure. Simple to setup with no software, or drivers to install and works right out of the box.

Features
X-Fi Wireless Music System
Connect the Xmod Wireless transmitter to your PC and desktop speakers to enjoy Xtreme Fidelity music.

Play music from your PC wirelessly in any room
Make your MP3s sound better than CDs
Connect in seconds–no configuration needed
More than just a wireless music system… way more.
Upgrade your PC sound system to Xtreme Fidelity audio

Restore the detail and vibrance to compressed music such as MP3s and iTunes
Expand stereo music and videos into virtual surround sound

Customer Feedback:

1. The Xmod Wireless comes in 2 parts, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter connects very simply to your PC via USB and it functions as a USB soundcard, applying X-Fi sound enhancement to any sound or music that is passed through it. Compressed audio like AAC, WMA and MP3 files are upscaled to 24 bit quality and surround sound effects can be added.
You have to experience this to appreciate it. It really does make your music sound better. Sometimes the improvement is more subtle than at other times, but the quality X-Fi provides really shines when you connect the receiver end of the Xmod Wireless to a good set of speakers that you might have in your theater or family room.
So, on to part 2 of the package. The wireless receiver. This enables you to control and listen to your music anywhere you place the receiver in your house. Your PC music collection is streamed around the house with top notch quality and fidelity. I have my receiver connected to my theater setup and the sound is fantastic. You can purchase additional receivers if you’d like to play your music in multiple rooms.

2. First off, this product is incredibly easy to setup. Everything just worked right off the bat. About the only hitch was I had my transmitter placed to close to my lap top which caused interference, but Creative did a great job of communicating this limitation. Sound is crystal clear and the device is attractive and compact. I plan on buying additional receivers for the bedroom, the kitchen and den. BTW I plan on using 2.1 computer speakers since they give great sound and are very affordable. I strongly recommend Logitech speakers since they always have great sound and build quality.

The Creative X-Fi Wireless Music system allows you to play the music from your Xdock or Xmod wireless transmitter anywhere you have speakers, up to 100 feet away. Great for parties or making everyday activities in your home more enjoyable, this system lets you keep your player in one room, while listening to your favorite songs in another. With the X-Fi, you never have to worry about delays or dropouts, and you don’t need a home network or special drivers. This system is also incredibly easy to use: Simply plug it into your powered speakers or home theater receivers and the X-Fi automatically connects and receives music. Then you’re free to play, pause, and skip through the songs on your iPod, ZEN, or PC.
The X-Fi uses innovative technology to deliver crystal clear sound with all the highs and lows intelligently enhanced. It also expands your stereo MP3s and digital movies into virtual surround sound. Voices are centered in front of you and ambient sounds are moved all around you. For added convenience, the included remote controls iPod or ZEN playback when connected to an Xdock or PC music playback that connects to an Xmod Wireless. The best part of this system is that it’s expandable, which means you can add as many X-Fi Wireless Receivers as you like within the 100-foot range.

Technical Details:
- X-Fi Wireless Receivers play the music from your Xdock or Xmod Wireless transmitter wirelessly in another room. Add as many as you like to enjoy Xtreme Fidelity music throughout your home.
- Enjoy a wireless system that’s made for music–no delays, no dropouts and no home network needed.
- Adding an X-Fi Wireless Receiver is simple–just plug it into your powered speakers or home theater receiver. The X-Fi Wireless Receiver automatically connects and receives music–it’s that easy.
- Play, pause and skip through the music on your iPod, ZEN or PC. The included remote controls iPod or ZEN playback when connected to an Xdock or PC music playback when connected to an Xmod Wireless.

Customer feedback:

1. If you are like me and enjoy listening to online videos — for me it’s news, history, etc. — then this product is for you. It is a tremendous step over the older technology I had. Last I looked on Amazon, it was for sale for about 50 percent off, so I bought an additional unit. I would have paid twice the price; that’s how highly I think of this product.

2. The product itself is awesome. It really is. I was so impressed, that in addition to the dock being setup in the living room, I have 2 receivers. One in our bedroom, one in the office. SLICK!!! I was working in the garage all day, and took my wife’s iPod bucket out there, and connected the receiver from my office to the line in of the iPod bucket. My wife loves it, because on laundry day, she can run the wash on the first floor, and fold her wash on the second floor without missing a single song. AWESOME!!!

The product is used in a vehicle to hook up an Ipod to a vehicles audio system. Once installed it has a five button navigation controller which controls the Ipod. The screen is like what Ipod userssee on their Ipod. There is a backlit LCD screen which mounts on the dash so the driver never takes there eyes off the raod to control the Ipod. The product can be hooked using an audio aux in, an FM wireless transmitter, or an optional FM transmitter.

Technical Details
- Backlit 128 x 64-pixel LCD screen.
- It puts a familiar Ipod display menu on a backlit display.
- You control your Ipod without taking yur eyes off the road.
- It is easy to install with either FM or aux-in.
- It provides most of the scanning functions you already have with your Ipod.

Customer feedback:

1. The short of it is that this unit is sweet! It works well, looks well and almost behaves as good as an iPod. Before this I had adapted an iPod docking station and a NaviPod remote such that I could see my iPod display and control it with the remote. But this is better and I’ve since done away with that setup. Some would contend that it’s better to buy an interface cable and leave it at that. But that doesn’t look professional. I like to keep the iPod hidden away where it can’t be seen and instead have this elegant interface to control it with. The only reason it gets 4 stars is because the interface doesn’t quite work exactly like the iPod. That’s a bit of a bummer for us iPod junkies. But overall it still does a great job. Well worth the $200. I had tried the Alpine unit (I have an Alpine head unit) and returned it because of the pathetic interface. But this unit is nice. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

2. Don’t know what the person below is talking about — this unit is meant to be wired directly into your factory or aftermarket head unit via RCA plugs — NOT FM modulation! That being said, the unit can also be wired via the CD changer port located on the back of most head units, or via FM modulation (wired or wireless). However, the best sound quality comes from either the RCA or CD changer interfaces. FM modulation (wired) will give reasonable sound quality if you live in suburbia or rural areas — if you’re an urban dweller, however, you may be subject to a little or lots of static. So, if you’re willing to shell out the money for this unit, then be willing to fork over a bit more to ensure you have the BEST connection interface.
Aside from all that, installation of this is a breeze. Even if you’ve never installed anything in your car before — or have no xp with car stereos, you WILL be able to handle this yourself. Of course, be prepared to spend a day investigating the nether regions of your car’s dash/console if you want all the cords/wires to be hidden.

The Sirocco Wireless Home Audio Bridge uses your computer’s existing wireless network to receive any and all audio formats streamed from your PC. It is an ideal wireless speaker solution to deliver your music to your speakers or home theater system. With both digital optical and analog outputs for 6 channels, Sirocco can easily connect to most audio systems and supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound output.Anything that your PC can play, Sirocco can receive through the airwaves. Playlists from any music player or from any store, in any format. PCM, WAV, WDM, AAC and all protection schemes are legally and securely streamed from your PC to your home audio system.Setup of the Sirocco is straight forward. Connect the unit to a PC using the included RJ-45 cable. Do not connect to the unit through a router. Run the included software on the CD, have the program detect your wireless router and save the settings. Now you can disconnect the RJ-45 cable and connect the Sirocco to your home audio or computer speakers. The Sirocco will receive audio signals from your computer through your wireless network. The Sirocco supports both optical digital and analog connections to connect to a home stereo. There is also the ability to connect speakers directly to the Sirocco. Standard front, center and surround speakers can be connected. PC based surround speaker packages work well.

Technical Details
- Uses your computer’s existing wireless network to receive any and all audio formats streamed from your PC
- An ideal wireless speaker solution to deliver your music to your speakers or home theater system
- Easily connects to most audio systems and supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound output
- Can receive through the airwaves anything that your PC can play

Customer feedback:

1. I received this today after returning a couple of wireless media products my wife had bought me. All I wanted to be able to do was play music from WMP on my laptop through my home stereo system without running wires everywhere or a physical connection everywhere I wanted to use it. This product does exactly what i was hoping it would do. It uses my home wireless network to transmit a signal to my stereo regardless of where I am in my house (or my back yard, deck, basement, etc.). Now I can control volume on WMP or Sirocco’s panel, eliminating the need to run back inside when my outdoor speakers are too loud, and I can control the music from anywhere. I definitely recommend this product.

2. I originally got an Apple Airfoil on the recommendation of the retail store sales guy. BIG mistake. It only plays iTUNES source, and I had problems setting it up, and in the locations I have the WLAN AP and the Airfoil, I could not find a way to prevent frequent drop-outs.
I returned the Airfoil, and took the risk to online order a Sirocco based on the spec sheet. Well, I am absolutely thrilled! It is exactly what I wanted — a wireless sound card. Took less than 5 minutes to install, no dropouts, supports WEP and WPA, and plays any audio stream your computer sound card plays. And the software suite is suprisingly stable and feature-rich for such a new product.
As an unexpected bonus, the sound quality is also exceptional. This is a well-engineered product. Don’t think twice if you want a wireless sound card.

The Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter is the simple way to add or upgrade wireless connectivity in your notebook computer. Just slide it into your notebook s PC Card slot and enjoy incredible high-speed wireless network access while retaining true mobility.

Technical Details

* High-speed Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) networking for your notebook computer
* MIMO technology uses multiple radios per band to create robust signals for maximum range and speed, with reduced dead spots
* Operates in the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands–choose the one with least congestion in your area
* Also connects to Wireless-G, -B, and -A networks
* Compatible with Windows XP and Vista

Customer feedback:

1. At first, my experience with this card was very similar to the other reviews. The connection was extremely slow and I could not get it to switch from wireless-A to wireless-N. I could only use A on the 5.0 GHz frequency or G on the 2.4 GHz frequency. I tried restarting my computer, trying with and without my firewall and security software, restarted my router, et cetera, and the connection remained poor. However, once I turned off the wireless network monitor (the green icon that appears in the lower right after you install the driver) and simply connected through the Windows “choose a wireless connection” screen, my connection was very fast, reliable, and otherwise just like being connected with an Ethernet cable. Since then, I have had no problems and I no longer use the wireless network monitor that came on the installation CD. I am not recommending that you disregard the installation instructions, but I do recommend not using the wireless network monitor afterward. Just connect via Windows and the connection is great.
As I type this, there are two walls between my router and the wireless adapter and I still have signal strength of 4 bars (out of 5) and speed of 162 Mbps. Nearer to the router, I routinely get 5 bars and 297 Mbps.

2. Wow! I went from a top of 54 MPS to 270 MPS! That is along with the Linksys WRT600 N wireless router. Internet speed test was about 4000 KBS before I used this adapter, now I am hitting 11849 KPS. I love it!

The Linksys WUSB300N Wireless-N USB Network Adapter lets you access the fastest and most advanced wireless solutions currently available. With this unit enabling your PC or laptop, you can run media-intensive applications at amazing speeds, without the hassle or expense of stringing a lot of wires. The Linksys Wireless-N USB Network Adapter uses the very latest in wireless networking technology, Wireless-N (draft 802.11n). By overlaying the signals of multiple radios, Wireless-N’s Multiple-In, Multiple-Out (MIMO) technology multiplies the effective data rate. Whereas ordinary wireless technologies are confused by signal reflections, MIMO actually makes use of these reflections to increase the range while reducing dead spots in the coverage area. This means the signal travels farther, maintaining wireless connections at up to three times the distance of standard Wireless-G, so the farther away you are, the more speed advantage you get. This Wireless-N adapter is fully backward compatible, so it works great with standard Wireless-G and -B routers, but when both ends of the wireless link are Wireless-N enabled, you can experience increased throughput by using twice as much radio band, which allows speeds up to 15 times that of standard Wireless-G.
To help protect your data and privacy, this wireless adapter can encode all its wireless transmissions with iron-clad, 256-bit Wireless Protected Access (WPA2) encryption. Yet, despite a robust and deep set of features and functionality, configuration is simple and easy with an included web browser-based configuration utility. The incredible speed of Wireless-N networking is ideal for media-centric applications like streaming video, gaming, and voice-over-IP telephony, and gives you plenty of headroom to run multiple media-intense data streams at the same time, without worrying about a degradation in performance.

Customer feedback:

1. I got this with my new linksys wireless-n router and this little thing works great. In a part of the house where I barely got a signal from my old dlink w-g router I know get a 70-80% strong signal with speeds between 250-350mbps!
I highly recommend this adapter to anyone. That stand, although it comes with the adapter, is not needed. The retail comes with an extra ~1ft long usb extension cord. Remember: All Linksys wireless-n adapters and routers are backwards compatible to w-b/g.

2. I have had three different USB network adapter in the last one year. Linksys WUSB300N Wireless-N USB Network Adapter is the most stable and fastest one.
Prior to this one, I had a similar product from Belkins. Everytime I restarted my machine, somehow the device couldn’t start by itself and I often had to unplug it and plug it back in to get it recognized. With Linksys WUSB300N, nothing like that happens. As soon as the computer starts, the device starts to work correctly.

With Xbox 360 Wireless Headsets you can pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family or neighbors. Wireless Xbox 360 gaming headsets allow you to freely move around as you play. Hear every nuance of the game - from an opponent sneaking up behind you to your teammate¿s voice right next to you. Trash talk online & Block out distractions at the same time. The Turtle Beach Ear Force X3 wireless xbox 360 headsets are everything you need for an amazing gaming experience.

Product Features

* Stereo Expander to provide a wider sound field for richer, fuller sound
* Bass Boost - just like turning up the sub-woofer on a home theater system.
* Automatically adjusts incoming Xbox Live chat levels during loud game moments, so chat from teammates isn’t lost in exciting parts of the game play. When the game volume quiets down, the chat level smoothly returns to the normal volume setting.
* The headphones are designed for long battery life and will automatically shut off
* Microphone monitoring - lets gamer hear own voice along with other chat

Customer feedback:

1. Pros of the X3s:
* Set up takes about 3 minutes. Plug and play.
* The earphones are comfy — even on my big, adult head
* Wireless
* Can “hear” yourself talk through the headphones
* “Bass boost” option mode (a switch near the volume)
* TWO volume dials: one for overall gameplay, another for Xbox Live chat. For example, I love Call of Duty 4, but you are unable to turn off the lobby’s default music in between games. With the other headphones, I had trouble hearing folks. The X3s enable you to dial down the music altogether — so you just hear the chat in the lobby.
* Mute button
* Surround sound is good … you can tell where the bad guys are coming from

CONS:
Sound quality is good — but not amazing. But remember that these are wireless. The wired headphones have a bit of an advantage in overall sound quality.

Tip: With the Turtle Beach X3s, unlike ALL of the other headphones, under the “voice” personal options 360 menu, select the default “Play Voice through Headset” and not “both headset and speakers.”

2. Love the Turtle Beach X3 headset. The ability to independently control the background noise from the chatter of fellow players is key! The default headset Microsoft gives you sucks. If you play Call of Duty 4 your game stats will improve by more than 20%. You can now play late at night and not wake anyone. You can hear fellow players foot steps in the game. The ability to turn up/down your fellow players is critical. I love being able to mute racist lobby chatter, but crank critical team mate intel in the game.
One KEY piece of info is that if you hear clipping in voices or folks complain that they can’t hear you it means you need fresh batteries.

The Ear Force X4 wireless headphones push your Xbox 360 gaming experience to a whole new level with the thrill and realism of Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. Pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family, or neighbors. Freely move around as you play. Hear every nuance of the game – from an opponent sneaking behind you to your teammate’s voice right next to you. Trash talk online. Block out distractions. Feel the game expand all around you and become a better player. Conventional Xbox 360 communicator headsets compromise the gaming experience by covering one ear for chat, leaving only a single ear for game audio from the speakers. The Ear ForceX4 Wireless Headphones overcome this problem by playing both the game audio AND the online chat on a single set of high fidelity headphones. The result is the intense experience, privacy, clarity, and competitive edge of PC headphones on the Xbox 360 platform. The Ear Force X4 Xbox 360 Wireless Headphones let you totally focus on your game play and not become distracted by the noise around you. With Dobly surround sound pumped right into your ears, you can hear every nuance of the game all around you in a way that isn’t possible when hearing it as background sound with speakers. In addition, because the Xbox Live chat is mixed in with the game signal, you can hear what everyone is saying right in the middle of your head, enabling you to communicate more effectively with other players.

Product Features

* Dolby Pro Logic II provides surround sound from PLII encoded audio and also enhances stereo
* Hear XBOX Live Chat plus stereo game sound with a heart-thumping bass boost that adds sonic realism
* Dynamic Talkback lets you hear chat even when the game gets louder; Separate controls for game and chat volumes.
* Eliminates game sounds picked up by chat mic; mic monitor lets you hear what you’re saying
* Digital input for highest XBOX sound quality, plus analog input for TV and other audio sources

Customer feedback:

1. Lightweight and everything as advertised. I wish the ear cups were a little larger, but the wireless feature is a huge blessing. I recommend if you can afford them. I have had two other 5.1 headphones, and these are the best.

2. I bought the X4’s hoping they would have addressed the hissing and they had not. That being said the X4’s have very good 5.1 sound. The hissing is at its loudest when the cable from the puck is plugged into the headphones. If I’m playing single player games I do not plug it in and they sound great. Even with the cable plugged in the hissing is only detremental when there is no game sounds or in a lobby and hardly noticeable in the heat of action.
A nice feature is the fact that I can receive 5.1 surround on my X4’s and X3’s at the same time which is nice for watching movies with the wife and not waking up the baby (and yes the X4’s do sound better than the X3’s in a side by side comparison over 5.1). Another nice feature is that it has an optical out so if I want to play the sound through my receiver and surround speakers I just turn on the receiver without rewiring.

The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is the first ever rechargeable mouse and backlit keyboard solution. Microsoft’s exclusive charging hub allows you to recharge both the mouse and keyboard in one easy-to-use place. Meanwhile, 2.4 GHz Bluetooth technology allows you to connect wirelessly right out of the box using “First Connect Technology” from up to 30 feet away with virtually no interference. Give yourself room to move; wireless mouse and keyboard products let you work without worrying about tangled wires. Plus, you’ll know when power is low when the battery status indicator senses battery life is running out. An intelligent power system adjusts battery life depending on performance needs.
Integrated USB ports in the charging station give you the flexibility to download images from your digital camera or plug in your thumb drive or other USB device–right from your desktop. You’ll also appreciate intelligent backlighting on the keyboard, which comes on automatically when you approach the keyboard and turns off when you’re away. Backlit keys only glow when the lights are low, saving valuable battery life.

Technical Details

* 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Technology - Connect wirelessly right out of the box with First Connect Technology for up to 30 feet with virtually no interference
* Battery Status Indicator - Know when power is low and battery life is running out
* 4 USB Ports - Flexibility to download images from your digital camera or plug in your thumb drive or other USB device, right from your desktop
* Rechargeable Mouse - A battery status indicator flashes when batteries need recharging
* 4-Way Scrolling - Scroll four ways for greater efficiency and comfort with Tilt Wheel Technology

Customer feedback:

1. The nicest feature on this keyboard is the backlit keys. Every key and button is evenly lit in a soft white light. The backlight activates as soon as your hands get within about an inch of the keyboard. It dims, brightens, or shuts off depending on the light level of the room. You can also set it to never come on, or to go straight to maximum brightness once you begin using it, regardless of the light level. Plus it looks great.
The touch pad on the keyboard is more functional than you would think given its size, but it’s no replacement for a mouse or even a normal laptop touchpad. It’s more useful in the directional pad mode for controlling Media Center.

2. I’ve had mine for 10 days and it’s just what I was looking for. It’s not a gaming keyboard and there’s no numeric keypad, but this should be clear from all the information readily available. To understand why I waited all year for this to be released, I need to say something about my room setup. First, there’s no ceiling light; there are 2 lamps and they are situated on the opposite wall. The room is large and light from those lamps barely illuminates the computer desk. For a long time I’ve resorted to a Kensington USB FlyLight to view the keys on my keyboard.
For this reason alone backlighting was the Number One priority on my keyboard shopping list. Early this year I read about the 8000 on Gizmodo and to my surprise Microsoft had not only added backlighting, but everything else:
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
- Proximity sensor to preserve battery life particularly with backlighting turned on.
- Ambient light sensor.
- Slightly curved ergonomic design (better than the ‘wave’ in my opinion).
- A well thought-out charging cradle into which both the keyboard and mouse can be stylighly plugged in at the same time.
- A USB Bluetooth Dongle that plugs into a USB port on the charging cradle; the cradle plugs into your computer via USB 2.0.
- They even threw in an extra USB port on the charging cradle!

An ideal partner for any high-end computer, the ultra-slim Logitech diNovo Edge delivers the ultimate in feel and response. The revolutionary TouchDisc with hyper-speed scrolling and pixel-perfect control makes trackpads obsolete. A slim recharging base doubles as a keyboard stand. Work longer thanks to the longer-lasting Li-Ion batteries, and more securely via Bluetooth wireless technology. Combine it with the world’s most advanced mouse, the Logitech MX Revolution, for a premium desktop experience!
PerfectStroke key system: A precision micro-scissors mechanism distributes typing force evenly across key surfaces, making every stroke natural and fluid.
Stylishly sleek: Laser-cut from a single piece of Plexiglass and set in a brushed aluminum frame, the diNovo Edge makes a bold statement. Only 11 mm thick!
Elegant charging base: Put your keyboard on display while charging via the slim base/stand. Advanced Li-ion batteries recharge faster and last longer.
TouchDisc scrolling: A new type of touchpad, the TouchDisc unifies scrolling, selection, and cursor control. Scroll at hyperspeed with a touch of your finger.

Technical Details
- PerfectStroke key system - A precision micro-scissors mechanism distributes typing force evenly across key surfaces, making every stroke natural and fluid.
- Stylishly sleek - Laser-cut from a single piece of Plexiglass and set in a brushed aluminum frame, the diNovo Edge makes a bold statement. Only 11 mm thick!
- Elegant charging base - Put your keyboard on display while charging via the slim base/stand. Advanced Li-ion batteries recharge faster and last longer.
- TouchDisc scrolling - A new type of touchpad, the TouchDisc unifies scrolling, selection, and cursor control. Scroll at hyperspeed with a touch of your finger.
- Backlit stealth controls - Hidden hot keys light up at a touch, and fade into the background when not in use. The touch-sensitive volume slider gives you precise, fingertip audio control.

Customer feedback:

1. If you are in the market for a good utilitarian cordless keyboard to use, this might not be the best choice. But if you like unique, stylish computer gear, that still works well, then this makes a nice addition to your desktop. Even if you don’t get a chance to show it off to your friends, you’ll enjoy looking at it sitting in its charging stand, or on your desk. It must hold a pretty good charge, because I’ve only charged it once in the month that I’ve had it. So if you’re thinking the charger is too cumbersome to take with you on a trip, you don’t have to worry about it; you won’t need it. And at about 1/2″ thick, it won’t take up much space in your bag. You could hook it up using the built-in bluetooth in your computer, but unless you’re starved for USB ports, the receiver is about the size of a small flash drive (unlike the previous DiNovo Desktop). It connects instantly too, so you won’t spend ages trying to figure out why it’s not connected.

2. This is definitely a professional’s keyboard. It’s got a soft enough touch not to cause strain when you’re typing for hours, but enough resistance, travel, and sudden reduction of resistance (I forget the proper term for how the key’s resistance goes away once you’ve registered a keystroke) to allow you to type accurately. Being only 11mm tall, you don’t need one of those cumbersome wrist rests — your hands are barely above the table that you’re typing on, so your posture is just naturally good. The keys are also a very good size — I’m a touch typist (not trained; everyone becomes a touch typist if they type enough) and the keys are spaced very well to allow you to touch type without mistakes.
That the keyboard is pretty doesn’t need further comment; it’s also very solid. The first thing I noticed when I took it out of the box was that the keyboard was really solid. It may not be a cheap keyboard, but it’s not made cheaply, either.