Home audio

Which streaming-media device is right for you?

Whether it's someone looking to "cut the cord" and save money, or just a way to expand your on-demand video options, online streaming video is more popular than ever. But with so many options now available, what's the best solution -- be it for Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Amazon, iTunes, or any of the myriad other online video sources?

As with anything in real life, there isn't one simple, straightforward answer that works for everyone. But we've created a set of different recommendations that should work for nearly anybody, based upon your individual priorities.

The best news for anyone shopping in late 2012? Prices for excellent media-streaming devices now start at just $50, with plenty of other great options (including brand-new Blu-ray players) at less than $120.… Read more

The decade's 30 biggest tech flops

First, an admission. We ran this same story last year with many of the same picks. At the time, several readers said we were not only wrong for running it, but were downright ignorant.

As elbrado67 so eloquently put it:

We still have another year left in the decade, I would expect more from a "tech" site to be scientifically correct. You start counting with "1," not "0." Despite popular belief on the news and everywhere else, the new "Millennium" started in 2001, not 2000. Please stop dumbing everything down.

Many others … Read more

25 best concert Blu-ray discs

We've put together a few roundups of top Blu-ray discs, but for some reason, trying to do a list of the best concert Blu-ray discs was more challenging. Part of the problem is that music--and musical tastes--are such personal things that it's hard to declare something the "best" or "top" when it's more than likely that a lot of people will think the pick is bad because they simply don't like the artist or band.

That's totally understandable, so I apologize in advance if some of these picks don't appeal … Read more

The 20 most innovative consumer electronics products of the decade

Recently, with the help of some of the editors here at CNET, I put together list of the biggest tech flops of the decade. Since I'm not a negative guy at heart, it was only a matter of time before I came up with a more positive spin on the whole tech-products-of-the-decade concept that's all the rage as we approach the end of '09.

Once again, I've enlisted the help of my fellow editors, so while my name may appear at the top of this list, it's really a collective effort. That said, you can blame … Read more

Harman Kardon's jaw-dropping bullet-proof glass PC speakers

Just came across this hot little number on Amazon: a set of Harman Kardon PC speakers made out of glass. They don't appear to be available quite yet, but Amazon is taking pre-orders at $999.99.

Harman's made other clear speakers in the past, including the well-received SoundSticks II system, but these are the first to use glass--and the GLA-55s really make a statement. From some angles they have a gem-like quality, from others--namely in profile--they look almost alien in nature.

While these speakers are obviously about design, Harman's also touting the GLA-55s' "impeccable" sound … Read more

Samsung's Touch Screen Media Center Boombox

Tucked in the corner of Samsung's booth is the RTS-A1100 media center. This boombox style device houses a 4.3" touch screen for navigation of it's built-in DVD player, 80gb Hard Disc with the ability to rip CDs, Bluetooth and iPod interface. The gesture controlled device has two 20watt speakers with video out being handled by component or composite outputs. While the UI still has a way to go before launch you should be able to get your hands on it for about $499 somewhere in the second half of 2008.

D-Link simplifies home networking with 'D-Life'

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that for the bulk of home owners out there, the great promise of a networked 'digital home' has been all noise and no substance.

Despite all the hype and bluster of industry giants such as Intel and Microsoft, the promise has to date only been realised by the small percentage of the market that can afford high end products and services from specialist integrators, and a handful of technical folk armed with the skills necessary to install their own kit.

Even people with a reasonable grasp of networking … Read more

B&W liberates its speakers

Yet another nail has been placed on the coffin of the poor old wire, and this time it's British speaker manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins wielding the hammer. B&W have been showing off their wireless Home Theater in a Box solution, The Liberty. The system can handle up to eight separate channels, allowing a full 5.1 setup in one room with a two-channel system in another. Four speakers will be available when the system launches at the end of 2008: the floor standing XTW8, the bookshelf XTW2, the XTW Center and the PVW1 Sub. The system looks … Read more

eJamming helps virtual bands meet online

Just as the Internet has changed the way geographically-dispersed knowledge workers can collaborate on a document, new technology on show at CES allows musicians from across the globe to collaborate in real-time over the network - creating a 'virtual' jam session.

The technology, patented by California and Florida-based start-up eJamming, was among several new collaborative tools demonstrated by Intel CEO Paul Otellini on stage at his CES keynote, with a little help from pop group Smashmouth.

I cornered eJamming chairman and president Alan Glueckman at the Showstoppers event later in the day to discuss how the technology works.

"We … Read more