(Credit: Dish Network)

Let's get the facts out first. Dish Network is now selling a "new" DTV converter box, called the TR-40 CRA, which will sell for $40 and is exactly the same as the currently released DTVPal. And that's not just our editorial spin--we've confirmed with Dish Network that the hardware and feature set is exactly the same, and Dish Network lays it out clearly on its DTVPal website. Even more confusingly, you can still order both models from the same online order form--effectively giving you the option of whether or not you'd like to pay more for the same product.

If that's not confusing enough, the history of the DTVPal and TR-40 is even more headache-inducing. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane to see how we described the situation in our DTVPal review back in June:

The Dish Network DTVPal is one of the boxes that shoppers can buy with the coupon, and we've been heavily anticipating its release since it was announced at CES 2008. Since then, however, there's been a lot of confusion. The converter box was first announced as the EchoStar TR-40 with a $40 price tag, then it was renamed to the Dish Network DTVPal, and now the latest news is that the Dish Network DTVPal and the EchoStar TR-40 are actually different products--yikes. The final story is that the Dish Network DTVPal is slated to be available at DTVPal.com on June 19, with an MSRP between $40 and $60. The TR-40 will come out at a later date at a price to be determined. If we had to guess, based on Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen's "Charlie Chat," the DTVPal will cost about $60 and the TR-40 will cost $40.

While it's easy to spin this as a win for consumers--new buyers are getting all the functionality of the DTVPal for $40 now--we can't help but feeling like Dish stuck it to early adopters of the DTVPal. Dish always promised to release a DTV converter box for $40, so why didn't they just originally price the DTVPal at $40? We always thought the cheaper TR-40 would include less functionality--to offset its low cost--but it seems that the DTVPal was just an opportunity to make a little extra profit on those who bought early.

If you're in the market to buy a DTV converter box, we have a full review of the DTVPal and it's actually one of the better boxes we've tested--although anyone buying now should get the cheaper TR-40. And if our review made you go out and buy a DTVPal already, all we can say is we're sorry.

Read our Dish Network DTVPal review.

Zune was the wireless pioneer.

(Credit: CNET Networks/C. Schulze)

We've come a long way since the 5GB iPod. Today, you can find pocket-size video players, MP3 players with tiny flash drives offering up to 32GB capacities, even digital audio players built into sunglasses. But one of the most advanced features you can find in today's MP3 players is wireless capability. This is generally split into two categories: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is the subject here, and the devices that incorporate it represent the cutting edge in MP3 players.

Zen X-Fi lets you access your music from anywhere.

(Credit: CNET Networks/C. Schulze)

Although every device listed here integrates 802.11b/g connectivity, not all of them use this functionality in the same way. First up is the Microsoft Zune, which allows users within range of one another to share music. You can also sync content from your PC over a home wireless network. Slightly similar to this is the Creative Zen X-Fi, which lets you hop on any Wi-Fi signal in order to access a centralized content library (it also throws in chat capability for good measure). Taking a different tack is the Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody, which allows Rhapsody subscribers to stream and download tracks wirelessly and lets any user access content from AOL Video and do some basic Web browsing.

The iPod Touch's Web browser is innovative, fun, and unique.

(Credit: CNET Networks/C. Schulze)

For an unmatched Web browsing experience, we have Apple iPod Touch--its touch-sensitive screen is perfect for the task. You can also download apps, stream Internet radio, and purchase songs from the iTunes music store. The Archos 605 WiFi offers a similar experience, but adds compatibility with video download sites such as Cinema Now for true on-the-go visual entertainment. Finally, there's the Cowon Q5W, a beast that seems more computer than PVP.

The Thecus N3200 features hard drive bays and a little LCD for quick management.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

I recently got a NAS device from Thecus--the N3200--and was very excited getting it out of the box. Among other things, the device looked as if it would be the first network storage device that incorporates a PCI expansion slot.

Unfortunately it isn't. There's indeed a place that reads "expansion slot" on the back of the device that looks like where you would fit a PCI card on a computer, but that's just a placeholder. As it turns out, the N3200 is the first NAS designed with a chassis to house more features than the internal circuit board has to offer. A representative from Thecus assured me that future products that share the same chassis will come with an actual PCI expansion slot.

The N3200 would be the first SOHO NAS device that has a PCI expansion slot if that slot wasn't just a placeholder.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

Other than that rather disconcerting finding, the N3200 seems a nice NAS device that offers three hard drive bays. Each bay can house an SATA hard drive up to 1TB in size. The hard drives then can be set up in RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, or JBOB configuration. The device also has two USB ports and one eSATA port for storage expansion.

Other than regular NAS features including dynamic DNS, FTP server, iTunes server, and so on, it has a few rather unusual features such as ISO Mount, where you can mount up to 200 ISO files and make their contents available to network users. This is a nice way to compact data to conserve storage space. In addition, the USB ports of the device can also be used to host a printer, USB Webcams for surveillance, or a Wireless adapter if you want to put the device in a corner where there's no Ethernet connectivity. This is the second NAS device I've seen that support Webcams, the other was the Synology DS107+, though the Synology only supports IP-base Webcams.

The N3200 is available for about $320 without hard drives, a relatively good price for a product that offers RAID 5.

This is the first storage product we've got from Thecus so check back soon for our in-depth review of the N3200.

The Air Jacket adds protection without changing the way your iPhone looks.

(Credit: Power Support)

I finally got my iPhone 3G. Love it, hate it, this is all getting old. However, one of the things I do really notice is that although the phone seems very sturdy and scratch-resistant, it attracts fingerprints and shows sweat stains easily. I have the black model and it looks dirty all the time.

For this reason, the Power Support Air Jacket for iPhone3G caught my attention Thursday. It's one of hundreds of jackets you can buy for the new iPhone, but with one unique attribute: it's very thin (merely 1mm thick), and see-through. This means your iPhone won't get any bulkier and will still show its original color. You can also choose to have the Air Jacket in black if you have the white version of the phone and aren't happy with the color.

This is probably the most uncompromising protection jacket you can get for the iPhone. An Air Jacket kit includes the Air Jacket itself, one thin crystal film, and one piece of anti-glare film to protect the LCD.

The catch? It's not cheap. As a matter fact, at $35, it's easily one of the most expensive jackets you can get for your iPhone.

The iPosture can be worn as a pendant, attached to the skin with adhesive patches, or clipped to a shirt or bra.

(Credit: iposture.com)

Thanks to nanosensor technology, your mother doesn't need to tell you to stand up straight anymore. A new gadget called iPosture will do that job for her.

The battery-operated device contains a microchip that monitors the angle of the wearer's upper chest several times per second, vibrating briefly when it senses a deviation greater than three degrees from the programmed ideal stance. Specialized software filters spurious movements, which allows the iPosture to adapt to various body types and activities--presumably stopping it from zapping you in the middle of sit-ups, for example.

It's an inch in diameter and can be clipped to a shirt or bra, worn as a pendant, or attached to the skin with special adhesive patches.

(Credit: Business Wire)

The idea for iPosture was born while Memphis, Tenn.-based neurologist and pain management specialist Moacir Schnapp and his wife, Dr. Elma Schnapp, were writing the book Young, Sexy and Healthy: The Ten Best Exercises for Your Posture.

The Schnapps cite manifold reasons to stop slouching. They say women with good posture are less prone to osteoporosis fractures; men with good posture are twice as likely to keep their balance and function as they age; and everyone who stands up straight is generally happier and more confident.

Oh, and they also note that "women with improved posture become more attractive" and "men with good posture are seen as more successful."

But lest poor-posture havers fear they'll have to lean on this device for life, the docs say it's designed to be worn for approximately four hours per day for the first two to four weeks to ingrain good behavior that will continue once a user takes the zapper off. However, the wearer should continue to use the device two to three times per week thereafter to maintain posture improvement.

The iPosture will be available online soon for around $99.95. And don't worry, moms. You can still tell your kids to clean behind their ears.

(Credit: Energizer)

Disposable lithium batteries--a market seemingly cornered by Energizer's Ultimate Lithium batteries--are great if you need enduring power. They're not great for the environment and they're too slow to use in a camera flash, but they last much longer than alkalines and significantly longer than rechargeables. At $3 apiece (based on the street price of a 4 pack), they're also someone sticker shocking. So we shouldn't be surprised that Energizer has decided to sell the Energizer Advanced Lithium version with a kindler, gentler price of about $2 each.

The company only cites the performance of the Advanced batteries to that of alkalines (Energizer Max)--claiming 4x the life in a digital camera compared with 8x for the Ultimates. So unless you can find the Advanced cells for less than half the price of the Ultimates, the Ultimates should remain the better buy on a per-shot basis.

Samsung's new Blu-ray player already seems to available, but information about it is strangely scarce.

(Credit: Best Buy.com)

Panasonic and Yamaha have already had their Cedia Blu-ray plans leak out, and we suspect the same may have just happened to Samsung. A new Samsung Blu-ray player, the BD-P2550, has appeared on Best Buy's Web site, and is apparently ready to ship for $500. Although the Best Buy listing is pretty light on information, we were also able to track down the manual (PDF link) for the BD-P2550 online, which reveals that the BD-P2550 will sport 7.1 analog outputs, Dolby TrueHD onboard decoding, a USB port, and an Ethernet port. It's not yet apparent whether the player is Profile 2.0 compliant, but the inclusion of both the USB port and the Ethernet port seem to indicate it will at least be Profile 2.0-ready, like the BD-P1500, which means it can gain access to BD-Live features after a firmware update sometime in the future.

Beyond the manual and the listing on Best Buy, images posted by a member of AVS Forums seem to confirm that the BD-P2550 will feature HQV video processing. We're usually pretty skeptical about branded step-up features like HQV, but we've seen excellent performance time and time again from players with HQV processing, so we expect it to be a significant feature if it's true. The old Samsung BD-P1200 also featured an HQV processor and although it's had its share of troubles, we always found it had excellent image quality on both Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.

We've contacted Samsung to find out more about the BD-P2550 and will update this entry as we receive more information.

The SoundDock Series II is similar looking to the SoundDock Portable--but it doesn't take batteries.

(Credit: Bose)

Like a lot of other iPod audio speaker companies, Bose is introducing a GSM-shielded "Works with iPhone" certified version of its iPod speaker system, the SoundDock. It's calling this one the SoundDock Series II and it says it's been "updated to more closely resemble the clean and distinctive lines of the Bose SoundDock Portable digital music system." Priced at $299, the SoundDock Series II will be available in early September in glossy black for a $100 less than its portable sibling. Meanwhile, the original SoundDock can be had for around $220.

Here are a few other highlights from the press release for those who care:

The system features a new auxiliary input that lets users connect other audio devices, such as an MP3 player, portable CD player, or music-enabled phone. It provides dock-and-play simplicity and will charge an iPod or iPhone while in use. No additional setup is required. An included infrared remote controls the system and basic iPod and iPhone functions, including playlist navigation, from across the room. Volume controls are located on the unit.

The SoundDock Series II system maintains a small footprint, measuring just 6 5/8 inches high by 12 inches wide and only 6 1/2 inches deep.

The SoundDock Series II system works seamlessly with the iPhone 3G and original iPhone models. It also works with most iPod models, including iPod Touch and any iPod featuring a click wheel, including all Nano, Mini, Photo, Video, and Classic models.

Bose SoundDock systems sound good, but you can today get better-sounding systems that cost less and have more features. For instance, it would have been nice if this model had an AM/FM radio. A clock and alarm would have been nice additions as well--especially for $300.

The Sony PlayStation 3 has a lot of settings that pertain to Blu-ray playback.

(Credit: CNET)

I had a question regarding hooking up my PS3 to my Panasonic TH-50PZ800U HDTV. I want to use my PS3 as a Blu-ray player for my TV. Would you be able to tell me the best settings/configuration for watching Blu-ray movies? Thanks. -- Khurshid, via e-mail

Well, Khurshid, it's no secret that the PlayStation 3 is the best Blu-ray player-- it's the reference Blu-ray player we use here at CNET, and we're not the only ones. To get the most out of your PS3 as a Blu-ray player, however, you'll need to get the settings right. What follows are the settings we use for our reference PS3 units here at CNET for testing HDTVs, including your Panasonic. The two menus referenced below can be found under the main Settings menu.

... Read more

(Credit: Aston Martin/Jaeger-LeCoultre)

As if Aston Martin DBS owners don't feel enough like James Bond while driving, Aston Martin and luxury watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre have announced the AMVOX2 DBS transponder watch. The transponder watch will allow wannabe-007s to lock and unlock their DBS coupe by pressing the open and close positions respectively on the watch's glass.

The wristwatch features a prominent DBS logo, as well as bezel and dial details designed to reflect the gauges of the DBS. Aston Martin says the transponder module only adds a few grams to the weight of the watch and that the electronics inside have been shrunk to half the size of the same system in the DBS key.

For security and safety purposes, the transponder system can only be paired to the DBS at the dealership.

The AMVOX2 DBS transponder watch will be available in titanium or a very un-James-Bond pink gold this December and should add a whopping 27,500 euros (about $41,000) to the DBS's $262,000 suggested retail price.

As much as we like the idea of keyless entry hidden in a slick-looking watch, it'd be nice if the watch included more advanced smart-key tech, such as proximity detection or keyless start, or more 007-worth features, such as a laser cutter or remote detonator.

(Credit: Aston Martin)